Explanation: The source material indicates that the Second Battle of Newbury took place on October 27, 1644, not 1643. This engagement was a significant event during the First English Civil War.

Explanation: The source indicates that Parliamentarian victories at the Battle of Cheriton and the Battle of Nantwich occurred in early 1644, which was *prior* to the Second Battle of Newbury in October 1644. These earlier successes had weakened the Royalist position.

Explanation: The source states that the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller, despite their personal animosity, met near Oxford in June 1644 and made the strategic error of *dividing* their armies, rather than keeping them combined.

Explanation: After his forces were threatened near Oxford in June 1644, King Charles I executed a night march to escape towards Worcester, not London. This maneuver was part of his strategy to avoid being cornered by the Parliamentarian armies.

Explanation: King Charles I achieved a victory at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge on June 29, 1644, but this victory was over Sir William Waller, not the Earl of Essex. The Earl of Essex later suffered a significant defeat at the Battle of Lostwithiel.

Explanation: The source indicates that Waller's army experienced significant problems, such as desertions and threatened mutinies, *after* the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in June 1644, due to soldiers' reluctance to serve far from their home regions. The Battle of Edgehill occurred much earlier in the war.

Explanation: The Earl of Essex's army was indeed trapped at Lostwithiel. However, the Parliamentarian navy was unable to provide crucial support due to contrary winds preventing their ships from leaving Portsmouth. While Essex himself escaped, the remainder of his army was forced to surrender.

Explanation: After the victory at Lostwithiel, King Charles I initially probed Parliamentarian defenses near Plymouth. He then marched back across southern England to relieve garrisons such as Banbury, Basing House, and Donnington Castle, which were located in the general vicinity of Newbury, not immediately north towards London.

Explanation: Prince Rupert's maneuver into Gloucestershire after Marston Moor was intended to draw Parliamentarian forces away. However, the Parliamentarian armies did not follow him, and instead, Rupert's movement served to divide the Royalist forces rather than draw away Parliamentarian armies from a central Royalist position.

Explanation: By mid-October 1644, the Parliamentarian armies under Sir William Waller and the Earl of Manchester had converged at Basingstoke, not Oxford. The Earl of Essex also joined them there with his army, forming a combined force to block the Royalists.

Explanation: The source confirms that King Charles I successfully relieved Donnington Castle on October 22, 1644. This action was part of his campaign to lift sieges and consolidate his forces before the Second Battle of Newbury.

Explanation: After relieving Donnington Castle, King Charles I did not advance directly on London. Instead, he waited near Newbury because the combined Parliamentarian armies were too strong for him to risk such a move. He was awaiting reinforcements before deciding on his next strategic action.

Explanation: The Second Battle of Newbury was a military engagement that occurred during the First English Civil War on October 27, 1644. It took place in Speen, adjacent to Newbury in Berkshire, England, near the site of the first battle fought there the previous year.

Explanation: The Second Battle of Newbury was fought on October 27, 1644. This date marks it as a significant event within the broader context of the First English Civil War.

Explanation: In the early months of 1644, the Parliamentarians achieved important victories at the Battle of Cheriton in the south of England and the Battle of Nantwich in the northwest. These successes weakened the Royalist forces and set the stage for subsequent campaigns.

Explanation: Despite their personal animosity, the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller met near Oxford in June 1644 and made the critical strategic error of dividing their armies, rather than maintaining a unified front against the Royalists.

Explanation: The Earl of Essex's army was trapped against the coast at Lostwithiel. While Essex himself managed to escape, the remainder of his army was compelled to surrender on September 2, 1644, losing their arms, artillery, and equipment.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian navy, intended to support Essex's trapped army at Lostwithiel, was hindered by contrary winds that prevented its ships from departing from Portsmouth. This failure to provide naval assistance was a critical factor in the army's subsequent surrender.

Explanation: After concluding his western campaign, King Charles I aimed to relieve several garrisons, including Banbury, Basing House, and Donnington Castle, as part of his strategic movements leading up to the Second Battle of Newbury.

Explanation: The principal factions engaged in the Second Battle of Newbury were the Royalists, loyal to King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians. The Scottish Covenanters were allied with Parliament but were not the primary opposing faction in this specific engagement.

Explanation: King Charles I commanded the Royalist forces during the Second Battle of Newbury. The Parliamentarian forces were led by a council of commanders, including the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Manchester, and Sir William Waller.

Explanation: The provided data indicates that the Parliamentarian army was significantly larger than the Royalist army at the Second Battle of Newbury. The Royalists numbered approximately 8,500, while the Parliamentarians fielded around 19,000 soldiers.

Explanation: The reported casualties indicate that the Parliamentarians suffered higher losses than the Royalists. Royalist casualties were approximately 1,500, while Parliamentarian losses were around 2,000.

Explanation: Lord Astley was responsible for defending Shaw House, not Speen. Prince Maurice commanded the forces stationed at Speen during the battle.

Explanation: Prince Maurice commanded the Royalist forces stationed at Speen. The Royalist cavalry in reserve was commanded by George, Lord Goring.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian forces at the Second Battle of Newbury were commanded by a triumvirate consisting of the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Manchester, and Sir William Waller. These commanders led the various wings and contingments of the Parliamentarian army.

Explanation: The Royalist army numbered approximately 8,500 soldiers, while the Parliamentarian army was significantly larger, estimated at around 19,000 soldiers. This numerical superiority did not translate into a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians.

Explanation: Oliver Cromwell commanded the cavalry on the left flank of Sir William Waller's attacking force at Speen. Philip Skippon led the infantry in the center, and Sir William Balfour commanded the cavalry on the right flank.

Explanation: On the day of the battle, casualties were substantial for both sides, though slightly higher for the Parliamentarians. The Royalists sustained approximately 1,500 losses, while the Parliamentarians suffered around 2,000 casualties.

Explanation: The River Kennet prevented Parliamentarian flanking maneuvers to the *south* of the Royalist positions, thereby constraining their strategic options. The River Lambourn played a role in dividing Royalist positions to the west.

Explanation: The River Lambourn did indeed flow between the Royalist positions at Speen and those at Shaw House and Donnington Castle, creating a geographical division that influenced the battle's strategic considerations.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian plan involved Sir William Waller conducting the main attack on Speen from the west, following a lengthy outflanking march. The Earl of Manchester was assigned to conduct a diversionary attack on Shaw House.

Explanation: The Earl of Manchester's attack on Shaw House was intended to commence only after he could hear the opening cannonade from Sir William Waller's guns attacking Speen. This coordination was crucial, and Manchester later claimed he could not hear Waller's guns over the artillery exchanges at Shaw House, leading to a delay.

Explanation: Prince Maurice's forces at Speen were caught unprepared for Waller's attack, as they had been dispersed to forage. This lack of readiness contributed to the initial success of Waller's assault.

Explanation: Oliver Cromwell commanded the cavalry on the left flank of Waller's attacking force. While he played a role, his wing was uncharacteristically slow to engage and was eventually thrown back by a charge from Lord Goring's remaining cavalry, rather than decisively breaking the Royalist center.

Explanation: The Earl of Manchester's attack on Shaw House, launched just before dark, was ultimately beaten back by the Royalist defenders. It did not succeed in forcing a retreat from that position.

Explanation: The Second Battle of Newbury was fought in Speen, a location adjoining Newbury in Berkshire, England. This site was close to the location of the First Battle of Newbury.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian strategy involved dividing their forces: Sir William Waller was tasked with executing a wide outflanking maneuver to attack Speen from the west, while the Earl of Manchester would conduct a diversionary attack on Shaw House to occupy Royalist defenders.

Explanation: Sir William Waller's outflanking force commenced its attack on Speen at approximately 3 o'clock in the afternoon on October 27, 1644, initiating the main engagement of the battle.

Explanation: When Waller's attack commenced, Prince Maurice's forces stationed at Speen had been dispersed to forage and were consequently caught unprepared for the sudden assault, which allowed the Parliamentarians to gain an initial advantage.

Explanation: Oliver Cromwell's cavalry wing, positioned on the left flank of Waller's attack, was noted for being uncharacteristically slow to engage. It was subsequently thrown back by a charge from Lord Goring's remaining cavalry reserves.

Explanation: The Earl of Manchester delayed his attack on Shaw House, claiming that the sound of Sir William Waller's guns engaging Speen was inaudible over the ongoing artillery exchanges at Shaw House itself. This prevented the coordinated timing essential for the Parliamentarian strategy.

Explanation: The Earl of Manchester launched his attack on Shaw House just before dusk. Despite a determined effort, his forces were ultimately repulsed by the Royalist defenders and were beaten back.

Explanation: While ammunition was a concern, the primary reason for King Charles I's decision to retreat was that his army was outnumbered and vulnerable, particularly after the loss of Speen. He recognized the risk of being attacked again by the superior Parliamentarian forces the following morning.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian pursuit of King Charles's army after the battle was unsuccessful. The Royalists managed to cross the River Thames at Wallingford and reach the safety of the Oxford area before the pursuing cavalry could intercept them, thus the King was not captured.

Explanation: Following the unsuccessful pursuit of the King, the Parliamentarians launched a hasty attack on Donnington Castle. This assault was defeated and resulted in heavy casualties for the Parliamentarian forces, indicating it was far from an easy capture.

Explanation: Contrary to this statement, by November 1, 1644, King Charles I's army strength had increased to approximately 15,000 men due to reinforcements, including Prince Rupert. This increased strength enabled him to relieve Donnington Castle again.

Explanation: The Parliamentarians did not readily contest the second relief of Donnington Castle by King Charles I. Their decision to decline contesting this relief allowed the King to consolidate his position and marked a success for the Royalists at the end of the campaigning season.

Explanation: Although King Charles I's forces held their positions, the King decided to retreat primarily because his army was outnumbered and vulnerable, particularly following the loss of Speen. He recognized the significant risk of facing another Parliamentarian assault the following morning.

Explanation: During their hasty retreat from Donnington Castle, the Royalists left behind crucial assets, including their wounded soldiers, a significant portion of their cannons, and their baggage train, indicating the urgency and perhaps disarray of their withdrawal.

Explanation: The Royalist forces were able to withdraw unhindered across the River Lambourne because no Parliamentarian troops were positioned to block their obvious line of retreat over the bridge. This lack of pursuit allowed them to escape the battlefield without further engagement.

Explanation: The day after the battle, Parliamentarian commanders convened a council of war at Speen. It was decided that cavalry units, led by Oliver Cromwell, Sir William Balfour, and Sir Arthur Hesilrige, would be dispatched to pursue King Charles I's retreating army.

Explanation: The Parliamentarian pursuit of King Charles's army proved unsuccessful. The Royalists had already managed to cross the River Thames at Wallingford and reach the relative safety of the Oxford area before the Parliamentarian cavalry could effectively intercept them.

Explanation: After abandoning the pursuit of King Charles's main army, the Parliamentarians launched an attack on Donnington Castle. This assault was unsuccessful and resulted in significant casualties for the attacking Parliamentarian forces.

Explanation: By November 1, 1644, King Charles I's army strength had been augmented by reinforcements, bringing its total to approximately 15,000 men. This bolstered force enabled him to successfully relieve Donnington Castle for a second time on November 9.

Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, the Second Battle of Newbury concluded indecisively. Although the Parliamentarian forces attempted to trap the Royalist army, they were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing King Charles I's retreat, thus it was not a decisive victory for Parliament.

Explanation: The source material identifies the Donnington Grove Country Club as the modern-day location associated with the site of the Second Battle of Newbury, indicating how the landscape has evolved since the 17th-century conflict.

Explanation: The indecisive nature of the Second Battle of Newbury, along with subsequent operational failures, fostered significant dissatisfaction among Parliamentarians. This dissatisfaction was a key factor leading to the reforms that resulted in the formation of the New Model Army, which proved decisive in the war.

Explanation: The Second Battle of Newbury is indeed notable for its tactical dimension, specifically as one of the few instances in the English Civil War where a significant attempt was made at a wide outflanking maneuver by the Parliamentarian forces under Waller and Manchester.

Explanation: The Second Battle of Newbury concluded indecisively. Although the Parliamentarians possessed a numerical advantage and attempted to trap the Royalist forces, they were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing King Charles I's army from retreating, thus failing to achieve a decisive victory.

Explanation: During a council of war, the Earl of Manchester remarked that the King would remain King even if beaten 99 times out of 100, but Parliament would be ruined if they lost even once. Oliver Cromwell responded pointedly, questioning Manchester's resolve and suggesting peace if such a cautious outlook prevailed.

Explanation: The failure to achieve a decisive victory at the Second Battle of Newbury, coupled with subsequent operational shortcomings, generated significant dissatisfaction among Parliamentarians. This discontent was a crucial catalyst for the military reforms that led to the establishment of the New Model Army, which proved instrumental in securing Parliament's ultimate victory.