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
Longford, Newport the Battle of Longford was fought here. On 25 March 1644, Colonel Thomas Mytton, commanding 500 Parliamentarians, was headed for the Royalist ("Cavaliers") strongholds of Lilleshall Abbey and Lea Castle, paused at Longford that was garrisoned by Parliamentarians ("Roundheads") to rest his men. There, however, Colonel Vaughn and Colonel Ellis leading local Royalist forces found Mytton and routed him. Having driven of Mytton, the Royalists then besieged the small garrison which took shelter in Longford Hall. The Hall held out for a week before surrendering to the Royalists 2 April 1644. In the late fall of 1645, Oliver Cromwell appeared