When it appeared to King Charles I that no agreement with Parliament over the government of the kingdom was possible, he left London on 2 March 1642 and headed for the north of England. The inconclusive result of the Battle of Edgehill prevented either faction from gaining a quick victory in the war, which eventually lasted four years. Many men from both sides fled or fell out to loot enemy baggage, and neither army was able to gain a decisive advantage.Īfter the battle, the King resumed his march on London, but was not strong enough to overcome the defending militia before Essex's army could reinforce them. Both armies consisted mostly of inexperienced and sometimes ill-equipped troops. After the Parliamentarian artillery opened a cannonade, the Royalists attacked. The next day, the Royalist army descended from Edge Hill to force battle. Late on 22 October, both armies unexpectedly found the enemy to be close by. In October, at his temporary base near Shrewsbury, the King decided to march to London in order to force a decisive confrontation with Parliament's main army, commanded by the Earl of Essex. Both the King and Parliament raised large armies to gain their way by force of arms. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642.Īll attempts at constitutional compromise between King Charles and Parliament broke down early in 1642. The Battle of Edgehill (or Edge Hill) was a pitched battle of the First English Civil War.

Under armour jacob nottingham