An. 1636. An. 1637. An. 1638.
"Worcester £096 0 0 £1070 0 0 £710 0 0"
Ship money was declared to be illegal by the statute 16th Charles I,
chap. 14, which was passed in the year 1640.
For this information we are indebted to John Rushworth, Esq., Secretary
to the Lord General Fairfax, in whose collection it will be found (vol.
ii, pp. 257, 335, 975, 978.)
FINES FOR NOT TAKING THE ORDER OF KNIGHTHOOD.
Mr. Rushworth, Secretary to the Lord General Fairfax, in his Historical
Collections, vol. ii, p. 71, under the date of July 6, 1630, says
that "the King having sent writs to several sheriffs of the several
counties for the summoning of all that had forty pound land or rent by
the year to appear at the day of the Coronation and prepare themselves
to receive the Order of Knighthood," did award a Commission to
certain Lords and others of his Privy Council to treat and compound
with all those who had made default. This was founded on the Statute
De Militibus, a statute stated by the Record Commissioners to be of
uncertain date, but which is usually printed as of the first year of
the reign of King Edward II. By the statute 16th of Charles I, chap.
20, compulsory Knighthood is abolished. The following is a list of
Worcester gentlemen fined by King Charles I for not taking the order
of Knighthood; it is extracted from the "Book of Compositions for not
taking the Order of Knighthood at the Coronation of King Charles I.
1630-1632. Auditor of the Receipt[11]."
[11] This Manuscript was recently discovered by Mr. Black in the Rolls
House Record Office.
"Wigorn. p. 196.
Sir William Sandy, Knight, Collector.
£. s. d.
Walter Blunt, of Sillington, Esquire 15 0 0
John Barnabie, of Bockleton, Esquire 12 10 0
Mathias Maysey, of Hakenhurt, Esquire 11 13 4
John Nash, of Markeley, Gent. 10 0 0
John Winford, of Astley, Esquire 12 10 0
Hunfrey Packington, of Chadsley Corbet, Esquire 31 5 0
Humfrey Parrott, of Bellhall, Gent. 12 10 0
Roger Lowe, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0
Robt. Gower, of King's Norton, Esquire 12 10 0
John Crabbe, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0
Walter Brace, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0
William Chambers, of Northfield, Gent. 10 0 0
Ffoulke, Bourne, of Elmbridge, Gent. 12 0 0
Thomas Ffawnes, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 10 0 0
John Bourne, of Ombersley, Gent. 12 10 0
John Horniold, of Hanley Castle, Esquire 27 10 0
Thomas Moore, of Suckley, Gent. 12 0 0
Edward Dingley, of Sherifelench, Esq. 10 0 0
Roger Dowleswell, of Rushley, Gent. 10 0 0
William Wheeler, of Wicke iuxta Parshore, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Turvey, of Walcott, Gent. 15 0 0
Armell Greene, of Vpton Snodsburie 10 0 0
Francys Haselwood, of Wick iuxta Parshore, Esq. 12 10 0
John Bridges, of Estington, Esquire 25 0 0
Thomas Copley, of Norton iuxta Bredon, Esquire 12 10 0
John Clent, of Wicke Epi, Gent. 10 0 0
Henry Bromley, of Vpton sup. Sabrina, Esquire 10 0 0
Thomas Nashe, of Claines, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Hornihold, of Breedon, Esquire 12 10 0
Thomas Saunders, of Moore, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Coxe, of Crowle, Esquire 17 10 0
John Jones, of Crowle, Gent. 10 0 0
Giles, Blount, of Wicke Epi 11 5 0
Philip Bearcroft, of Hanburie, Gent. 12 10 0
John Russell, of Malverne Pva, Esquire 12 0 0
George Lench, of Inkeberrow, Esquire 11 13 4
Samuel Atwood, of Wooverley, Esquire 10 0 0
Raphaell Hunt, of Hanbury, Gent. 12 10 0
Thomas Hunt, of Inkeberrow, Gent. 10 0 0
Robt. Wyld, of the Commanders, Gent. 10 0 0
John Holberrow, of Wooverley, Gent. 10 0 0
Nicholas Langstone, and Will. Langstone, his sonne
and heire 15 0 0
541_li._ 16_s._ 8_d._ vnde solut.
200 25o Oct., 1630.
200 27o Oct., 1630.
141 16 8 4to Martij, 1630.[12]
[12] As the year then began on the 25th of March, the 4th of March,
1630, is the latest date.
Richard Skinner, of Coston Hacket, Esquire 25 0 0
Thomas Good, of Redmarley Dabitot, Esquire 30 0 0
William Child, of Shrawley, Esquire 25 0 0
John Wrenford, of Longden, Gent. 11 0 0
William Cave, of Lighe, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Trinnell of Salwarp, Gent. 12 0 0
William Ingram, of St. Johnes in Bedwardine, Esq. 32 0 0
William Child, Senior, of Blockeley, Esquire 33 0 0
William Barnes, of Treddinton, Esq. 16 0 0
Henry Townesend, of Elmley Lovett, Esquire 14 0 0
John Cowcher, of Redmarley Dabitot, Esquire 14 0 0
William Parsons, of Longdon, Gent. 10 0 0
Edmund Giles, of White Ladie Aston, Gent. 10 0 0
John Norris, of Chadsley Corbett, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Barraston, of the Rocke, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Parker, of Longdon, Gent. 10 0 0
John Ffreman, of Busheley, Gent. 15 0 0
Richard Ffrench, of Salawarp, Gent. 10 0 0
Geo. Morinle, of Lighe, Gent. 16 0 0
Gibt. Wheeler, of Droytwich, Gent. 16 0 0
William Amphlett, of Hadzor, Gent. 12 0 0
Tho. Gower, of Droytwich, Gent. 20 0 0
John Woodhouse, of Salwarp, Gent. 10 0 0
John Wheeler, of Droytwich, Gent. 10 0 0
James Naeshe, de ead, Gen. 18 0 0
Tho. Symonds, of Whitelady Aston 13 6 8
William Hill, of Castell Morton, Gen. 10 0 0
John Hill, de ead, Gen. 10 0 0
Richard Arden, of Martley, Gen. 16 0 0
Arthur Bagshawe, of Inkeberrowe, Gen. 15 0 0
Wm. Stevens, of Broadway, Gen. 10 0 0
John Wheeler, of Whichbole, Gen. 13 6 8
Nicholas Lilley, of Bromesgrove, Gen. 9 6 8
John Giles, of Astley, Gen. 10 0 0
Tho. Wild, of Dodderhill, Gen. 10 0 0
Wm. Stevens, Jun., of Brodway, Gen. 10 0 0
Henry Garrett, de ead, Gen. 10 0 0
Francis Rosse, of Great Malverne, Gent. 12 0 0
Jo. Hobdins, als Ffeckenham, Gen. 10 0 0
Tho. Burie, of Abbotsley, Gen. 10 0 0
Wm. Hackett, of Vpton sup. Sabrina, Gen. 10 0 0
Henrie Sheylard, de Hanburie, Gen. 10 0 0
Henry Coller, de ead, Gen. 12 0 0
John Perkes, of Wickbole, Gen. 10 0 0
Edward Barret, of Draitwch, Gen. 22 0 0
Tho. Chaunce, of Hadzor, Gen. 10 0 0
Edward Hall, of Hollowe, Esquire 12 0 0
Rich. Baughe, of Tibbton, Gen. 12 0 0
John Cookes, of Bentley, Gen. 10 0 0
John Ballard, of St. John's in Bedwardine, Gen. 12 0 0
Robt. Boulton, of Ffeckenham, Gent. 10 0 0
Daniel Rawlingson, of Vpton sup. Sabrina, Gen. 10 0 0
Robt. Wheeler, of Offenham, Gen. 13 6 8
Wm. Wichelowe, of Ardeley, Esquire 14 0 0
Wm. Ffeild, of King's Norton, Gen. 20 0 0
John Westwood, of Bromesgrove, Gen. 12 0 0
Jo. Chambleine, of Astley, Gen. 10 0 0
John Coxe, of Claines, Gent. 16 0 0
Richard Moore, of Seauerne Stooke, Esquire 15 0 0
Robt. Yates, of Yardley, Gen. 12 0 0
John Knotsford, of Holfast, Gen. 10 0 0
Thomas Powck, of the Rocke, Gent. 10 0 0
John Halford, of Armescott, Gen. 13 6 8
Geo. Ffrench, of Parshore, Gen. 12 0 0
Tho. Lunde, of Breedon, Gen. 10 0 0
Anthony Palmer, of Combtin Magna, Gen. 10 0 0
Phillip Parsons, of Oldburie, Gen. 15 0 0
John Horner, of Martley, Gen. 13 6 8
James Hill, of Vpton sup. Sabrina, Gen. 10 0 0
Tho. Woodward, of Ripple, Esquire 30 0 0
John Marston, of Yardeley, Gen. 12 0 0
Richard Acocke, de ead. Gen. 12 0 0
Richard Rotten, of Kingsnorton, Gen. 10 0 0
John Rosser, de ead. Gen. 13 6 0
George Middlesmore, de ead. Esquire 18 0 0
Thomas Cooke, of Longdon, Gent. 15 0 0
Nicholas Ffletcher, of Paxford, Gent. 14 0 0
Thomas Horton, of Staunton, Esquire 30 0 0
John Hanburie, of Ffeckenham, Gen. 10 0 0
Thomas Hayward, of Eldersfield, Gent. 10 0 0
Richard Terrett, of Chadsley, Gent. 15 0 0
George Palmer, of Suckley, Gent. 10 0 0
Geo. Darley, of Ffladburie, Gent. 10 0 0
Jo. Callow, of Bishampton, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Booth, of Pershore, Gent. 14 0 0
Wm. Walle, of the Rocke, Gent. 10 0 0
Humfrey Salwaie, of Stanford, Gent. 25 0 0
Wm. Dingley, of Strensham, Gent. 11 0 0
Thomas Rushell, of Rushocke, Gent. 15 0 0
Humfrey Hill, of Stone, Gent. 13 6 8
Civitas Wigorn.
John Coucher, Esquire 12 0 0
John Hassellocke, Esquire 12 0 0
John Tomkins, Esquire 10 0 0
John Ffrogner, Gent. 15 0 0
Edward Hardman, Esquire 12 0 0
Wm. Wyatt, Esquire 10 0 0
Thomas Huntbach, Gent. 12 0 0
Thomas Writer, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Sowley, Gent. 10 0 0
John Hanburie, Gent. 10 0 0
Hughe Greenes, Gent. 10 0 0
Daniel Tyas, Gent. 10 0 0
John Smith, Gent. 10 0 0
John Collins, Gent. 10 0 0
Robt. Mason, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Ffleete, Gent. 13 6 8
Christopher Woodward, Gent. 10 0 0
John Breinton, Gent. 10 0 0
Wigorn, 14to Maij, 1631o.
William Barkeley, of Cotheridge, Esquire 40 0 0
John Washborne, of Wichenford, Esq. 35 0 0
John Liddiat, of Wollason, Gent. 18 0 0
William Ffreman, of Blockley, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Cookes, of Shiltwood, Esquire 40 0 0
Edward Ffreeman, of Emlode, Gent. 15 0 0
Thomas Andrewes, of Bathenhall, Esquire 15 0 0
Thomas Acton, of Bockleton, Esquire 20 0 0
William Walshe, of Redmarley, Esquire 40 0 0
Wigorn, 1o Augusti, 1631o.
Robt. Acton, of Ribsford, Gent. 15 0 0
Wm. Middlemore, of Hawkesley, Esquire 14 0 0
Wm. Mason, of Birlingham, Gent. 12 0 0
Edward Baugh, of Pensham, Gent. 12 0 0
Edmond Bearecroft, of Inkeberrow, Gent. 10 0 0
John Kightley, of Littleton, Gent. 10 0 0
Tho. Bloxham, of Ouffenham, Gent. 12 0 0
Tho. Ffletcher, of Paxford, Gent. 10 0 0
John Ffincher, of Inkeberrowe, Gent. 10 0 0
John Smith, of Ffranckeley, Gent. 10 0 0
John Manne, of Ridmley, Gent. 13 6 8
Ralph Pearsall, of Alchurch, Gent. 10 0 0
Fflourris Cowper, of Ridmley, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Purton, of Ridmley, Gent. 10 0 0
Tho. Browne, of Eldersfeild, Gent. 12 0 0
Ffrancis Huband, of Rouslench, Gent. 12 0 0
Jo. Atwood, of Staunton, Gent. 12 0 0
Jo. White, of Dorne, Gent. 12 0 0
Tho. Widdones, of Aston Magna, Gent. 12 0 0
Tho. Doughtie, of Suckeley, Gent. 11 0 0
Wm. Webley, Jun., of Aufricke, Gent. 11 0 0
Richard Darke, of Alston, Gent. 12 0 0
Ffrancis Palm, of Bricklehampton, Gent. 12 0 0
Thomas Smith, of Badsey, Gent. 10 0 0
Thomas Hames, of Inkeberrow, Gent. 12 0 0
Wm. Johnsons, of Aufricke, Gent. 12 0 0
Tho. Bushell, of Prior's Cleeve, Gent. 13 6 8
Thomas Greene, of King's Norton, Gent. 11 0 0
Richard Burnford, of Bromsgrove, Gent. 12 0 0
Simon Rowney, of Darlingscote, Gent. 10 0 0
Tho. Cheatle, of the Cittye of Worcester, Gent. 20 0 0
Edw. Neast, of Chaseley, Gent. 18 0 0
Simon Batch, of Suckeley, Gent. 10 0 0
Paul Romney, of Suckley, Gent. 12 0 0
William Martin, of Hampton, Gent. 10 0 0
Edward Anslowe, of the Citty of Worcester, Gent. 14 0 0
Ffrancis Dison, of Bradeley, Gent. 10 0 0
26to Martij, 1632.
Ralphe Poole, of Beoley, Gent. 10 0 0
Humfrey Grissall, of Yardeley, Gent. 10 0 0
William Sambadge, of Broadwaie, Esquire 14 0 0
Thomas Greenes, of Moseley, Gent. 10 0 0
WM. SAUNDYS.
2183_li._
vnde solut.
£. s. d.
25 0 0 10o Maij, 1631.
300 0 0 eod die.
100 0 0 xjo Maij, 1631.
400 0 0 xiijo Maij, 1631.
175 0 0 xxiijio Maij, 1631.
400 0 0 xxviijo Maij, 1631.
132 0 0 23tio Julij, 1631.
450 0 0 2do Nov., 1631.
80 0 0 22do Dec., 1631.
121 0 0 14 Junij, 1632.
---------
2183"
SLAUGHTER OF DOGS AND CATS.
The onslaught made on dogs found in the streets of Worcester, when the
cholera was expected three or four years ago, suggests an extract from
history bearing on the point. In the Droitwich records, the bailiff's
accounts for the year 1637, a time of great pestilence, contain the
following among other entries:
s. d.
"To Wm. Watkins for burienge of doggs and katts in
the sicknesse time 5 0
To Wm. Harris for mendinge his gunn to kill doggs Aug. 26. 0 18
To Ed. Turke for killing two katts 0 4"
In the parochial records of the city of Westminster for the year 1603
mention is made of one person having "massacred the amazing number of
500 dogs;" and in 1605, 83 others. Thus it seemed the practice of
making a hecatomb of dogs and cats on these sad occasions. Can any one
explain the reason of this? Was it that these animals were deemed to
be peculiarly obnoxious to the pestilence, and that it was contagious?
Similar practices prevailed in ancient times: we read in the "Iliad"--
"On mules and dogs the infection first began;
At last the vengeful arrows fix'd on man--
For nine long days throughout the dusky air,
The pyres, thick flaming, shot a dismal glare."
TRACES OF THE STUARTS IN WORCESTERSHIRE.
The following notes contain a few historical facts, either not fully
related, or omitted altogether in the local histories, relative to the
progresses of Charles I and his son through this county during the
Civil Wars:
The unhappy contest between King Charles and his people first brought
that Sovereign into Worcestershire in the year 1644, when he fled
from Essex and Waller at Oxford. The city of Worcester presented his
Majesty with £200 and the Princes Rupert and Maurice £100 each, the
purse for his majesty costing 8d. (as recorded in the Corporation
books), and those for the Princes 4d. each. An order had been issued
to raise £1000 (equal to £15,000 of the present time) in less than two
days, and the above sums were probably all that could be extracted out
of the half-ruined inhabitants at that time. His Majesty retreating
with his army to Bewdley, two guides for the royal carriage were
engaged at a cost of 4s. 6d., and six axletrees (articles frequently
requiring renewal in those days of un-M'Adam-ized roads) were charged
4s. At Bewdley, Charles wrote a letter from Tickenhill Palace to
Prince Rupert, urging him to relieve York. This led to the battle of
Marston Moor. The letter is given in the appendix to Guizot's History
of the English Revolution. About the same time a Royal missive was
addressed to the Corporation and inhabitants of Droitwich, thanking
them for the assistance they had sent into Worcester when Waller
assaulted it. While at Bewdley also the King dispatched a party of
horse to relieve Dudley Castle, which was then besieged by the Earl of
Denbigh, but they were defeated with considerable loss. Waller having
now outflanked the King, his Majesty returned suddenly to Worcester,
and hastened through Evesham to join the remainder of his forces at
Oxford. At Evesham, he took the Mayor and certain Aldermen prisoners
and carried them to Oxford; but the Royalists were closely pursued by
the forces of the Parliament under Waller, and were obliged to break
down the bridges behind them to make good their retreat. The Royalists
also burned down many houses in the suburbs of Worcester, the better
to secure the city. Between Evesham and Oxford are several memorials
of his Majesty's misfortunes. In a bed-room at the White Hart inn, at
Moreton-in-the-Marsh, appears the following:
"When friends were few, and dangers near,
King Charles found rest and safety here.
KING CHARLES I
slept at this inn on his way to Evesham,
Tuesday, July 2, 1644."
In August, 1644, offers were made to the Parliament by divers gentlemen
of Worcestershire to raise forces for their service, and an ordinance
was passed for that purpose. At the beginning of 1645 the King
appointed Prince Maurice, his nephew and son of the Elector Palatine
of the Rhine, "General of Worcester, Hereford, and Shropshire." It is
apparent, from other records besides those of the corporation, that his
brother, Prince Rupert, was also, at short intervals of inaction in
the field, present at Worcester, and there is sufficient evidence to
show that these arrogant, fiery, and remorseless soldiers of fortune
bled the city more copiously than Dr. Sangrado did his patients. Here
is an extract from a warrant of Prince Rupert's, which will exhibit
his peremptory tone and fierce character, and afford some idea of the
horrors of civil war. It commands labourers and provisions to be sent
to him "upon your utmost peril, as the total burning and plundering
of your houses, with what other mischief the licensed and hungry
soldiers can inflict upon you." Early in 1645, the "clubmen," as they
were called, appeared in large bodies in Worcestershire, assumed a
defensive attitude, and refused to serve the King according to his
proclamation. These clubmen first arose in the west of England, where
for a time their efforts were principally directed to the checking
of the cruelties and licentious outrages of Goring, the Royalist
commander, and his desperate bands. Gradually gentlemen of rank and
substance joined the yeomen and peasantry, and gave a new direction to
the association. The original motive of the "clubmen" was sufficiently
explained in the motto on one of their ensigns or standards--
"If ye offer to plunder or take our cattle,
Be you assured we'll give you battle."
The Worcestershire clubmen first mustered to the number of about two
thousand, and put forth a declaration of their intentions against the
Popish party and to preserve the King's rights and the privileges of
Parliament. They rapidly increased in force; Prince Rupert strove to
pacify them, but in vain; the constables refused to bring in a list
of the names of those who thus assembled. By the middle of March
their number had increased to fourteen thousand well armed men, and
they applied to Colonel Massey, then in command at Gloucester, for
assistance to enable them to besiege Hereford. Massey replied that if
they would fully declare for the Parliament he would join with them.
They requested two or three days for consideration, but their answer is
not recorded that I am aware of. It is probable, however, that they did
declare, either at this period or a little later, for the Parliament.
On Sunday, the 11th of May, 1645, the King and his forces were at
Inkberrow, at the vicarage of which place I have seen an old book of
maps, said to have been left behind him by the King when he slept
there. The title page is as follows:
"The Kingdome of England and Principality of Wales, exactly
described with every sheere and the small townes in every one
of them, on six mappes portable for every man's pocket; useful
for all commanders for quarteringe of souldiers, and all sorts
of persons that would be informed where the armies be--never
so commodiously drawne before this 1644. Described by one that
travailed throughout the whole Kingdome for its purpose."
Thorn farmhouse, at Inkberrow, also claims the honour of having
sheltered the royal head; and there is a farmhouse at Cookhill, in the
same parish, in which a portrait of the King remained hidden behind a
sliding panel (probably ever since the days of the Commonwealth), and
would not have been discovered to the present time but for the decay of
a peg on which it was hung, occasioning it to fall with a great noise
in the night time some years ago. So large a number of old houses in
this county are said to have been temporary resting places for the King
or his fugitive son that it is probable one half of these traditions
cannot be correct. The King marched from Inkberrow to Droitwich, where
he stayed from Sunday till Wednesday, and then went to the siege of
Hawkesley House, which was at once surrendered, and set on fire. That
night the King lay at Cofton Hall, near Bromsgrove, occupied by Mr.
Thomas Jolliffe, who was faithful to his Sovereign to the last, and
attended his execution. There is a tradition that when the King was in
prison he gave a key to Mr. Jolliffe, to visit him when he pleased;
and in Dr. Nash's time there was a picture in the house, representing
that gentleman, with a key in his hand, his pistols and sword hanging
on a pillar before him. After leaving Cofton Hall the King marched to
Himley, then inhabited by Lord Ward.
In June, 1645, was fought the famous battle of Naseby, which crushed
the Royal cause. Soon afterwards, the Scotch army was ordered to
march from Nottingham to Worcester; and in July, Canon Froome, in
Herefordshire, then a garrison of the King's, was taken by the Scotch
army with little loss, and Col. Harley, progenitor of the famous Tory
minister of Queen Anne and of the Earls of Oxford and Mortimer, was
appointed governor of the place. Whether the property at Canon Froome
then belonged, as it does now, to a member of the ancient family of
Hopton, I have not the means of ascertaining, but it is recorded in
the memorials of Whitelock that about this time a Mr. Hopton, with a
small band of followers, fell in with, and, after a gallant conflict,
destroyed a party of the Royalists in the vicinity of Ledbury.
In August, 1645, the King came with his army from Shipston-on-Stour to
Worcester, where they rested several days, the guards lying at Claines.
The Worcester Corporation accounts of this period contain numerous
items of expense incurred by "the Scots' king," as his Majesty was then
somewhat contemptuously termed; and the chamberlains also "pray to be
allowed for butter potts and napkins, bottles, &c., sent to the Denary
(his Majesty's quarters) and there lost."
Charles again passed through Bewdley, where a skirmish took place with
his pursuers, and sixty Royalists were taken prisoners. It is said
that he slept for two nights at the Angel Inn, in that town, and that
the inhabitants granted the sum of half-a-crown for his entertainment,
but there is probably some mistake either in the amount or in the
alleged object to which it was applied. Tickenhill Palace was so much
damaged during these wars that it was taken down soon afterwards. From
Bewdley the King went to Bromyard, and at length the hunted monarch
found shelter in the princely halls of Ragland with the Marquis of
Worcester. It is recorded that in November of this year divers persons
of Worcestershire, under Mr. Dingley--he was an officer who had served
in the Low Countries--declared for the Parliament and complained of the
"insolence and injuries" of the garrison of Worcester. Probably the
clubmen now gave in their adhesion to the only party which was able to
protect them, and against which resistance would have been unavailing,
for the fortunes of King Charles were rapidly sinking to the lowest
ebb. In proof of these "insolences and injuries" a copy of a warrant
from Col. Bard (probably Baird), the governor, to the constables who
were accustomed to collect the contributions, was laid before the
Parliament. It was drawn after the most approved Rupert style:--
"Know that unless you bring into me (at a day and house in
Worcester) the monthly contribution for six months, you are to
expect an unsanctified troop of horse among you, from whom, if
you hide yourselves, they shall fire your houses without mercy,
hang up your bodies wherever they find them, and scare your
ghosts, &c."
This probably led to the organisation of the Worcestershire Committee
of defence and safety, of which mention first occurs immediately after
the declaration of Mr. Dingley and others and the representation made
by them to the Parliament. Early in December, 1645, Prince Rupert
and Prince Maurice set out from Worcester with 160 horse in the
direction of Oxford. They were obstructed on their march by a party
of the "clubmen" under Sir Edward Dingley, the then head of this old
Worcestershire family. But these raw levies were no match for the
trained cavaliers and their ardent leaders. The Princes and their troop
cut their way through Dingley's yeomen, killing and wounding several of
them, and so got safely to Oxford.
The unfortunate upholder of "divine right in kings" passed to his
account in January, 1649. In 1651, Charles II escaped with his forces
out of Scotland, and marching through the northern and midland
counties, entered Worcester on the 23rd of August. Major-Generals
Lambert and Harrison had despatched some forces to secure the place,
lest the King should make it a quarter or garrison. These and the
country levies made a brave resistance and beat back the Royalists
several times, but the townsmen having laid down their arms, and some
of them shooting at the Parliament soldiers out of the windows, they
removed their ammunition, while a party of only thirty men kept the
enemy at bay. They then retired in good order upon Gloucester, the
King's troops being too much fatigued by their long marches from the
north to pursue them. Charles was proclaimed King in this city. The
result of the disastrous battle of Worcester has been already described
by various historians. William Bagnall, then living in Sidbury, being
one of the "Chamber," or Corporation, turned out a horse, ready bridled
and saddled, for the use of his Majesty, when the latter was so near
being captured. Mr. Bagnall died in a year afterwards, but the family
would never afterwards receive any consideration for the horse or
saddle. In Chambers's "Biographical Illustrations" it is stated that
"Sir Charles Wogan is said to have been robbed of the honour of saving
King Charles II after the battle of Worcester, as he stopped those who
were in chase of his Majesty and Colonel Carless." At Wolverley, in
the dell upon the brink of which Lea Castle stands, is still shown the
spot over which the King crossed on his way to Kinfare and Boscobel.