Sir William Vavasour’s Regiment of Foot

Royalist regiment of foot serving mainly in the Gloucestershire area

• August to September: Siege of Gloucester
• September: First Battle of Newbury
• September: Taking of Tewkesbury
• October: Loss of Tewkesbury

• February: Battle at Painswick
• Based at Worcester
• June: Loss of Tewkesbury
• June: Besieged at Sudely Castle
• August: Skirmish at Redmarley?

• July to September: Besieged at Hereford?
• August to September: Besieged at Bristol??
• December: Surrender of Hereford?

Used matchlock muskets in 1643 as per powder & match issues.

Led a regiment in the Second Bishops' War. Served as Lt Col of the The King’s Lifeguard Regiment of Foot but was captured at Edgehill and imprisoned at Warwick, then Windsor. He escaped from Windsor and rejoined the Lifeguard in April 1643. In June 1643 he left to take up an independent command in Herefordshire and South Wales, where he was governor of Hereford. He was dismissed from Royalist service after the loss of Bristol and went overseas to fight for Sweden.

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642

• Colonel William Vavasour
• Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Traherne (3) Ment. I.O.
• Sargeant Major Villiers Ment. I.O.

Led a regiment in the

• Captain Barrell Ment. I.O.
• Captain Matthewes Ment. I.O.
• Captain Thomas Monington I.O. Radnors.
• Captain William Phillips (1)
• Captain Francis Robinson I.O. L + W

• Lieutenant Joseph Boulcot I.O. Herefords. to Capt. Barrell
• Lieutenant John Godwyn (2)
• Lieutenant Lewis Morris I.O. Monmouths. to Sgt. Maj. Villiers

• Ensign Edward Morgan I.O. Carmarthens. to Capt. Matthewes
• Ensign Philip Traherne I.O. Herefords. to Lt. Col. Traherne

From original research by Victor Judge aka BCW user 1642

PRO. C115/12/6513

Commission for William Phillips to be Captain of one Company of Foot in the Regiment of Sir William Vavasour 1644 check details

2136. Journal of Sir W. Vavasour's military motions. Pro- Feb. ceedings in the neighbourhood of Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Ledbury, Taynton, Upleadon, Maismore, Minster worth, Micheldean, Worcester, Ross, Hereford, in concert with Sir W. St. Leger, Col. Crofts, and Sir J. Wintour. Original. (Seven pages.) Endorsed by Hyde. Calendar of Clarendon papers

E.308.23 William Vavasour deserted the service and came up to London. Oct-Nov.45

WO.55.459.227 8.6.1643

Received out of his Majesties stores for the use of Collonell Vavasours Regiment of Foote Powder 30lb, Match 40lb, Muskett Shotte 30lb. John Godwyn Lt.

Add. Mss. 18981 f. 26

May it please your Highness I came hither to have lady Lady luck to kiss your Highness hands heer, but so since this cannot be untill tomorrow, I beseach you give me leave to trouble your Highness with a relation of a little blow which we gave yesterday to ye rebells, I had a party out of 550 horse & 700 foote, they went to Painswick & other places to fetch in contribution, Massey drew out 1200 foot & 150 horse, fell upon our men in Painswick but wee kild above 100 in ye place tooke two Lieutenants & 28 souldiers. Masseys brother shrewdly hurt, and he himself escapt very narrowly; wee only lost one man, I shall troble your Highness noe further but rest, Your Highness most humble servant,

Will. Vavasour Worcester 6th Febr. 1643(4).

PB240055

Phillip Treherne of ye City of Hereford a Lieutenant Colonel for ye King.

Harl. Mss. 4713 f.227

To Henry Lord Percy

'My Lord, we have taken Painswick with ye loss of some men, and wast of much ammunition, the rebells have posessed themselves of many howses whilch will be taken in by canon. I must therefore desire your Lordship to sende mee 20 Barrells of powder more with some hand granadoes; and if you please to lend a mortar peece I shall be able doe his Majestie ye better service and your Lordship will much oblidge by it.

William Vavasour Painswick 29.3.1643. I beseech your Lordship send som mor cannon bullets.'

(TW note - this must be 1644?)

• Colonel William Vavasour’s Regiment of Foot 2nd Bishops' War
• Sir William Vavasour’s Regiment of Horse