Although they retained Winchester, Basing House and parts of Hampshire until late 1645, for the rest of the war the Royalists remained on the defensive in southern England. On 9 April, Bennet surrendered Bishop's Waltham, although he received a free pass to the Royalist capital at Oxford. The remnants of Hopton's force were merged with the Oxford army and Bennet given command of a cavalry brigade during the 1644 western campaign. He took part in the battles of Cropredy Bridge, Lostwithiel and Second Newbury, after which he was knighted.