Part 26

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.