‘Sir Bevil Granvil’, 1643 (c). (line engraving)

‘Sir Bevil Granvil’, 1643 (c). Line engraving by Michael van der Gucht, from Edward Ward’s ‘A History of the Grand Rebellion’, published by J Morphew, London, 1713. Sir Bevil Grenville, a native of Cornwall, served as a Member of Parliament, supporting the opposition to Charles I. Like many others however, he sided with the King when the issue came to war. Grenville campaigned in the West Country with Sir Ralph Hopton. Their Cornish troops won a series of victories over the Parliamentarian forces, defeating them at the Battles of Braddock Down (January 1643) and Stratton (May 1643). In both actions, Grenville was conspicuous for his personal courage. In June of that year, the Cornish army joined forces with Prince Maurice (Prince Rupert’s brother) and advanced into Somerset. On 5 July, they were attacked by the Parliamentarian army of Sir William Waller at Lansdown, near Devizes. Although the Royalists were victorious, Grenville himself was killed as he led his Cornish pikemen up a hill against Waller’s position. His death was a great blow to the Royalist cause.