'Sir William Waller, Knight Sargeant Major Generall of ye Parliaments army and member of ye Honoble. House of Commons', 1643

Etching by C J, engraved by Rodttermondt. Printed by Pieter Stent, 1643.

Waller had fought as a professional soldier during the Thirty Years' War. After a number of successes in the early part of the Civil War (1643-1649), he was defeated by Sir Ralph Hopton at the Battle of Roundway Down (13 July 1643). In 1644, he recaptured Wiltshire and Hampshire by his victory over Hopton at Cheriton (29 March), but his forces were badly mauled by the Royalists at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge (29 June).

Waller and Hopton were old friends. Although they found themselves on opposing sides, they continued to correspond throughout the war. On the eve of the Battle of Lansdown (5 July 1643), Waller wrote to Hopton, 'my affections to you are so unchangeable, that hostility itself cannot violate my friendship to your person... The great God, which is the searcher of my heart, knows with what a sad sense I go upon this service, and with what a perfect hatred I detest this war without an enemy.'