1640.

pularity of these proceedings. Other demands of the state were met with as little cordiality. In 1640, when a levy out of the different counties was made for the purpose of acting against the Scots, the county of Gloucester was ordered to find fifteen hundred men for the service of the king. One hundred and fifty was the proportion required from the city but obstacles arose against the execution of this demand; complaints were made of the expense of supporting them between their levying and departure; and of the burden of coat and conduct-money; and if the contingent marched at all, it is certain that it was very reluctantly supplied. [3]

In matters of religion and church government, Gloucestershire kept pace with the most zealous promoters of a change. Many of the clergy were attached to the presbyterian discipline, and upon this account some of the lecturers had been removed. It was a season of peculiar difficulty to those who directed the affairs of the church establishment; and Doctor Godfrey Goodman, bishop of the diocese, an eccentric character, who was thought to be inclined towards presbyterianism, but who is said to have afterwards gone over to the communion of the church of Rome, [4] seems to have been by no means adapted to his post or to the times. His conduct had more than once incurred the displeasure of the king and primate; [5] in reply to some of their enquiries, he represented that many of the ministers were poor, and that their poverty made them "fall upon popular and factious courses." [6] On the other hand, the people were not backward in attacking the characters and qualifications of their parochial clergy. The parishioners of Painswick accused their vicar, William Aston, before the Committee for scandalous ministers, in 1640, and procured his ejection from the benefice; this was the second instance of such a deprivation in the church. [7] About the same time, Thomas Widdowes, the college school-master at Gloucester, was turned out of his office for his unbending loyalty. [8] On February 12th, 1640-1, the citizens represented, by petition to parliament, that in eight parishes there was not, one constant preacher. [9] A committee for publishing scandalous ministers was shortly after March 10. established, consisting of twelve persons, at the head of whom were

the mayor for the time being, and William Lenthall, speaker of the 1640-1. house of commons, and recorder of Gloucester. [10] These circumstances are strong indications of the bias of public opinion in the place.

In a committee of the house of commons for the utter abolishing of June 15. bishops, on a motion for the taking away of deans and chapters out of the Church of England, Mr. Pury, one of the members for the city, spoke earnestly in favour of it; [11] and in expressing his hostility to the establishment, he doubtlessly delivered the sentiments of the greater part of his constituents. As suspicions and disagreements between the 1641-2. king and parliament increased, they every where found their way through all classes of the community. Then arose the opprobrious appellations of Cavaliers and Roundheads, the precise origin of which has never been satisfactorily explained, together with a variety of party terms, that proved sources of daily aggravation. [12] Neither side were deficient in their abuse of each other; but the multitude shewed early symptoms of a disposition to violence. [13]

The counties of Hereford and Worcester were almost wholly for the king: particularly in the latter, the populace expressed their contempt of their adversaries by constant provocations. In some places, if a churchman of this class met a neighbour of different principles, or a stranger, whom he took by his appearance to be a presbyterian, nothing was more common than to hear him exclaim," there goes a Roundhead; we shall take an order with the puritans ere long." Sometimes he was saluted with "there goes a traitor." When the order was issued for the demolition of those images and crosses that had escaped the zeal of the reformation, they were wrought up to an intemperate display of their feelings; in many instances they proceeded to outrage; and the parliamentarians were equally violent in other quarters. Baxter, the friend of Corbet and Dorney, who, for his adherence to the parliamentary side was forced about this time to quit Kidderminster, has given the following graphic sketch of the different spirit of the cities of Worcester and Gloucester. "In this fury of the rabble I was advised to withdraw a while from home; whereupon I went to Gloucester: "As I passed through a corner of the suburbs of Worcester, they that

164-2

"knew me not, cried,' Down with the Roundheads;' and I was glad to "spur on and begone. But when I came to Gloucester, among strang"ers also that had never known me, I found a civil, courteous, and "religious people, as different from Worcester, as if they had lived "under another government. There I stayed a month, and whilst I "was there, many pamphlets came out on both sides, preparing for a "war." [14]

While the minds of men were in this ferment, [15] the parliament had issued their ordinance for the militia, and the king his commission of array; [16] and this brought on the crisis of contention. The king was at York, mustering men and collecting money, and the parliament vigilant in cutting off his supplies; and the highways of the county of Gloucester, were ordered to be watched, that plate or treasure proceedJuly. ing to him, might be intercepted. [17] Lord Chandos had been appointed lord lieutenant, [18] and no less than twenty-five deputy lieutenants for the county, and seven for the city, were nominated in the month of August, [19] and received their instructions. They were directed to draw together the trained bands, to suppress all who should levy soldiers by any commission from his majesty, seize upon all horses, arms, ammunition, money, plate, or other provisions whatsoever, raised or provided for his majesty's service; be ready to assist the Earl of Essex, with horse and foot, and fight with, kill and slay all such as should by force oppose them; they were ordered to disarm all papists and ill-affected clergy, to take possession of the magaizne, [20] and to raise what fortifications should be thought fit, for the preservation of the city, or any other place in the county. These particulars are a clue to several events that ensued.

But, even previous to this, the city of Gloucester had been among the foremost to make ready for an emergency. After the example of London, that in the spring had marshalled its thousands of trained bands under the veteran Skippon, [21] they had called out a force of this description, few in number and altogether inefficient, till some experienced persons arrived to discipline them; to these had been added a company of volunteers; [22] and the whole were formed into a regi

ment under proper officers. Their next care was to procure ordnance, for the purchase of which they sent to London and Bristol, but the removal of it could not be effected without the consent of parliament. They laid in warlike stores, and were equally expeditious in putting their ruinous works [23] into some posture of defence, at which they laboured with incessant assiduity.

1642.

In the month of August, Lord Chandos attempted to execute the commission of array in behalf of the king: and for this purpose, he came down to Cirencester, about the time that the royal standard was set up at Nottingham. The mob, regarding him as a traitor, rose upon him, threatened his person, and tore his carriage in pieces: it was with great Aug. 23. difficulty that he made his escape. [24] The transaction is thus noticed in a contemporary publication. "From Gloucestershire, the House of Commons received letters intimating that the Lord Shandois had come into that county with an intention to execute the commission of array: but the whole county stands for the parliament, and had like to have took Sir William Swig, prisoner, who came to execute the said commission." [25] Lord Say, the lord lieutenant, appointed in his stead by the parliament, met with a very cordial reception, being assisted by his deputies and the county members in forming a militia; while the friends of the king made another fruitless attempt to raise men for his service. Sir Ralph Dutton thus employed, was assaulted by Hill, the undersheriff of Gloucester, and forced with some of his attendants to swim the Severn. [26]

Lord Herbert, eldest son of the Earl of Worcester, had made great exertions to raise troops in the counties of Monmouth and Hereford and the adjacent parts of Wales, and was laying in stores at Ragland for the equipment of a force, the operations of which are hereafter to be recorded. Several horses, the property of this nobleman, and on their way to him, were stopped as they were passing through Gloucester; and information was immediately communicated to both houses, by a special messenger: [27] their order made upon this occasion, shews of what importance they considered this city, and how much they made it the object of their special care.

d

Sept.

1642.

Die Jovis, 15o, Septembris, 1642. "Whereas information hath been given to the Lords and Commons assembled in parliament, that seven great horses or geldings, of the Lord Herbert, son of the Earl of Worcester, was lately brought to the city of Gloucester, to be by them employed, (as is justly suspected) upon some design against the parliament; and that great endeavours are used by divers commissioners of array, and other ill-affected persons, in the several counties of Hereford, Monmouth, Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Brecknock, and Radnor, to draw the said counties by way of association against the parliament, and their adherents, and in particular against the said city, as a place the most advantageous for the furtherance of their malignant designs: therefore upon the humble desire of the citizens of the said city of Gloc'r, and for the better preservation of the safety of the said city, being a place of great importance, and of the counties and parts adjoining; it is thought fit and ORDERED by the said lords and commons, that the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the said city, shall have the use and disposal of the said horses, for the defence. of the said city and parts adjacent, and the service of the parliament; and that, for the same purpose, they shall have power to raise one or more troop or troops of horse and men, and to train, exercise, and employ the same, and other forces of the said city, as by the ordinance concerning the militia is appointed; and further, that, for their better. encouragement and assistance in this behalf, some such small pieces of ordnance shall be forthwith sent down to the said city, to be used, ordered, and employed for the uses and purposes aforesaid, as to them shall seem most meet and expedient; and that they and every of them, in so doing, shall be protected and assisted by the power and authority of both houses of parliament." [28]

Mention of these seven great horses frequently occurs from this time in the city records: they were afterwards placed under the command of Lieutenant Backhouse, and kept together till the close of the war. [29]

Hostilities soon commenced in the neighbouring county of Worcester, and at no great distance from the borders. The Earl of Essex having left London, marched with his whole army upon Worcester,