The History Of Devereux's Regiment - Continued

Devereux was made Governor of Malmesbury and his regiment became the garrison on 16th June 1644.  From this time on, the regiment was supposed to be paid for but, in Devereux’s ‘Remonstrance’, he claims “that he raised a Regiment of Foot at his own charge in Wiltshire,” and “was Ingenere of Malmesbury and drew all the works himself.”  He also had under his command three troops of horse and a company of dragoons.

The regiment, at the same time, had two commanded parties.  One serving under Alexander Popham and the other under Sir William Waller on the Cropredy Bridge campaign.  About this date a major outpost was set up at the old manor at Great Chalfield.  This is now owned by the National Trust.

Initially, this was put under Capt Dymocke’s command.  The importance of this outpost grew as more and more Royalist garrisons were erected in the vicinity, particularly at Devizes.  As a result, Lt Colonel Pudsey took over command.

Throughout the remaining months of 1644 and the following year, Devereux’s hung on to their two main garrisons, despite visitations of whole Royalist armies on the county.  Their numbers, however, were too few to hold all the outposts.  Pinnel House, near Calne, surrendered on 28th December 1644, and Rowdon House near Chippenham was captured after siege in February 1645.  Lacock House (also National Trust) was also temporarily held and then evacuated at the same time.

In the summer of 1645, Sir Thomas Fairfax entered Wiltshire at the head of the victorious New Model Army, having taken the Royalist fortlet at Highworth Church.  He requested Nicholas Devereux to re-garrison the fortlet for Parliament.  This request was carried out immediately and within a week, had beat off an attack from the Farringdon garrison, a force with whom the Regiment were to cross swords many times in the coming months.  In September 1645 the New Model Army was again back in Wiltshire to mop up remaining enemy garrisons.  Devereux’s, supported by Pickering’s, re-captured Lacock House, whilst the main army besieged and took Devizes Castle.  This effectively cleared Wiltshire of Royalists who were then limited to raids from Farringdon and Oxford.  To counter these threats, outposts were set up at Lechlade and Marlborough.  Although Capt William Moore defeated a large Royalist force in the water meadows outside Lechlade, Devereux himself was nearly captured at Marlborough in January 1646, only escaping by jumping from a window.

After March 1646, even these raids finished and elements from Devereux’s garrisons were ordered to the sieges of Farringdon and Radcot House which surrendered with the Royalist capital of Oxford in June 1646.  This virtually brought an end to the First Civil War and in September 1646 Parliament decreed that the Wiltshire garrisons should be stood down and paid off.  It appears that 1st October 1646 marks the disbanding of Devereux’s Regiment as such, although there is evidence that some of the officers at least served on in different units in Ireland. Some alos seem to have gone into Colonel Pride’s regiment.

Nicholas Devereux retired to Westminster with his family.  He spent the next nine years or so trying to get back some of the £4,374 owed to him by Parliament.  At the same time he was trying, without success, to get a post in Ireland so that he could rebuild his home at Balimagir, near Wexford.  He died in London in 1665.

 

Top: Arms of Malmesbury, modifed by us to use as a logo