Local Battles

Massie put into action his plan to develop garrisons away from Gloucester soon after he arrived in December. But even earlier, soldiers from Gloucester had been called upon to support parliament forces near Worcester.

Gloucester troops were called on twice in September to support Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes against Lord Byron in actions around Worcester. On neither occasion did the Gloucester men link up with their colleagues in time. On September 23^rd the Parliamentary Commander, the Earl of Essex, took Worcester, despite losing the battle of Powick Bridge to Prince Rupert on the previous day. With Cirencester in the hands of allies, Massie captured and garrisoned Sudeley Castle in late January. This was to prove a short-lived success, however, when Prince Rupert assaulted and took Cirencester in early February, before turning back to Gloucester to demand its surrender. That demand met with polite but determined refusals from both the military and civilian authorities in the city, and Rupert withdrew. In mid February a royalist Welsh army set up camp at Highnam, from where they threatened the city, but in late March Massie, and Waller his overall regional commander captured the entire army, at great cost to the king.