A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE calling on the well-affected for support. On the other hand Massey promptly advanced to Ledbury at the head of 500 foot and 150 horse, and endeavoured to induce them to declare for Parliament. The Clubmen, however, replied that they conceived themselves able to keep the forces of both parties from exacting contribution and quarter in their county.*" Alarmed by Massey's intervention Scudamore pacified them by remitting a month's contributions and making other promises."^ About a week later Prince Rupert marching on Hereford dispersed a body of two thousand who still held their ground near Ledbury under the shelter of Massey. With a view to preventing similar troubles Rupert drew up a protestation to be tendered to the inhabitants of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, disclaiming the authority of Parliament and pledging those who signed it to hinder un- authorized associations."' On 22 April, 1 645, Rupert, after throwing Massey off his guard by march- ing into north Herefordshire as if he meditated an invasion of Shropshire, suddenly turned, and sharply retracing his steps, surprised him at Ledbury by a night march and overthrew him, driving him out of the town, which he attempted to defend with barricades, with a considerable loss in prisoners.*" Shortly after a large number of pressed men were taken from the shire by Lord Astley to reinforce Charles I on his march from Oxford for the relief of Chester. Chester was relieved, but on 14 June came the crushing defeat of Naseby, which made Charles a fugitive. He turned his course to Here- ford and South Wales. On 18 June, after dining at Bromyard, he arrived at Hereford. "° There he received the disquieting news of the defeat and death of Sir William Croft, one of his principal Herefordshire supporters, on 8 June at Stokesay in Shropshire. He endeavoured to raise fresh troops in the county without much success, the men deserting as soon as pressed, but before 30 June he succeeded in obtaining a considerable sum of money. On I July the king moved southward to Raglan, where he arrived on the 3rd.**^ During the month the Royalists in Herefordshire were menaced by a greater danger than any they had hitherto encountered. The Scottish army in its southern march appeared at Persnore in Worcestershire, intend- ing to pass the Severn at Upton. Finding the bridge unsafe they eventually crossed at Bewdley, and on 20 July halted at Tenbury within the northern border of Herefordshire. On the 22nd they took Canon Frome by storm, putting to the sword the governor. Colonel John Barnold, and the greater part of the garrison. The place received a new garrison under Colonel Edward Harley, Sir Robert's son, intended to hinder communications between Hereford and Worcester. On the following day the Scots reached Ledbury. They found marching difficult, the roads being bad and supplies scarce.**^ On the 28th they had reached Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire. At this time the king was at Cardiff. His only forces in the district were about 2,000 men, chiefly cavalry, between Monmouth and Raglan, and about 3,000 more towards Ludlow. His situation was critical, for he was opposed by a force three times as numerous as his own. He complained "' Massey to the Committee of Both Kingdoms, 22 March, 164.5, printed in Webb, Mem. ii, 154-5.
- " Corbet, Military Government, i88-go. *" Printed in Webb, Mem. ii, 162-3.
'" Webb, Mem. ii, 177-82. "' Symmds's Diar'^ (Camd. Soc), 195. "^ Symonds's Diary (Camd. Soc), 204-6. *" Webb, Mem. ii, 378-9. 394
