Prince Rupert of the Rhine for a speedy success in the north. In November 1644 Rupert was appointed General of the entire Royalist army, which increased already marked tensions between him and a number of the King's councillors. By May 1645, and now desperately short of supplies, Rupert captured Leicester, but suffered a severe reversal at the Battle of Naseby a month later. Although Rupert had counselled the King against accepting battle at Naseby, the opinions of Digby had won the day in council: nonetheless, Rupert's defeat damaged him, rather than Digby, politically. After Naseby, Rupert regarded the Royalist cause as lost, and urged Charles
Columbjohn the Rebellion": The Royalist position improved in 1643 and Columb John ceased to be an isolated Royalist outpost when Prince Maurice and his army reached the area in the summer of that year. It was probably in recognition of his service in providing a Royalist garrison that Acland was awarded a baronetcy, of Columb John in the County of Devonshire", and was appointed Sheriff of Devon, by King Charles I in 1644. In 1645 Sir John was one of those present in the City of Exeter during the siege by Parliamentarian forces commanded by Generals Cromwell and Fairfax, who made