Colonel Matthew Wise’s Regiment of Foot

Welsh Royalist foot serving in the West Country in 1645

• July: Battle of Langport

• February: Battle of Torrington
• March to August: Besieged at Pendennis Castle

Likely either black or white colours at Langport, where two Royalist regiments fired on each other by mistake.

Colonel Matthew Wises' Regiment of Foot

Colonel Matthew Wise

Lieutenant Colonel

Sargeant Major Robert Rustat I.O. L + W

Captain Herbert Rimbron I.O. Glamorgan. Captain John Morgan I.O. Brecon. Captain

Ensign Lyson Harry I.O. Glamorgan. Ensign William Morgan I.O. Brecon.

Raised in 1645 Served at Langport battle with Colonel John Slaughters Regiment of Foot and later at Collumpton with them in October 1645.

The Regiment almost certainly had Black Colours at Langport

Anglia Rediviva. Battle of Langport

‘whereupon their Regiment of White Colours; and Black Colours of Foot before ever they engaged,marched away apace.’

Armorial bearings Sa 3 Chevronells ermine.

E.340.16

E.264.25 Perfect Occurrences of Parliament 3-10.10.1645 News from Major General Masseys Quarters. ‘Sir, Prince Charles is at Launson [ Launceston ],Greenevill is not yet come out of Cornwall,Major Generall Harris commands the siege before Plimouth,and hath betweene fifteen hundred or neere two thousand horse and foot: Gorings Headquarters at Tharverton [ Thorverton ],part of his foot lye at Silverton,and part of them at Bradninch,and two Regiments at Colehampton [ Collumpton ],commanded by Collonel Wise and Collonel Slaughter,they are fortifying on the East part of the towne,and likewise the Church.There horsequarters about Broadcliffe [ Broadclyst ], BishopsCliffe,Humiterscliffe,Plumtree,Kew,Stoak,Butterley,Hetherix,and in all the villages betweene that and the South sea,and do command the Country by parties as far as Autree,and Hunniton,over Keesbeene and Luppit,and intend to eat out that part of the Country,that we may have no provision in the Castle,they are forced to retreat.Goring being lately in debate whether he would give battle or not this year,it was resolved by him upon the question after argued,that he knew Massey had 5000 foot come to him,but that if he came further into the Country,he would give him battle,But if Fairfax come down,he must be forced to intrench himself into Exceter’. From Milverton the 2. of October 1645

Chudleigh Churchwardens Book

Item for wood for ye guards & for sickmen for Col: Wises Regiment from 18. Nov. 1645 till 10 Decemb: following being 23 dayes & in all 45 seames, £3.”

The Regiment was in Pendennis Castle and the 3rd Article of the Terms of surrender states

“That Colonel Wise and all his Officers and soldiers of his regiment or as many as desire it to be shipt in Falmouth Harbour and landed in Swansea in Wales and those that are of Cornwall be landed at Looe and those of Devon at Yalme.”