POLITICAL HISTORY to Scudamore of the deficiencies of the Herefordshire levies,'" and enjoined the sheriffs to raise the posse comhatus in conjunction with Worcestershire and Shropshire. At the same time he was menaced from the west. On I August Laugharne, the Parhamentary commander in Pembrokeshire, inflicted a crushing defeat upon Sir Edward Stradling and the Royahsts in that county. This reverse made the king's position untenable. On 5 August he left South Wales, and passing through Brecknock and Radnor eventually made his way to Oxford. In the meantime Scudamore found himself invested in Hereford by the Scots who had turned back to reduce the city. On 31 July about 14,000 men sat down around it on every side. Traces of the works of the besiegers still remain, including the ' Scotch Rowditch,' while the ancient camps at Dinedor and Aconbury were occupied and strengthened on the south, the quarter from which succour might possibly come. Lord Astley, however, who commanded in South Wales, found it impossible to induce his forces to attempt to relieve the city. The besiegers had at first no heavy artillery and were annoyed by repeated sallies from the garrison, who were resolute and well handled. The arrival of heavier ordnance from Gloucester produced but little immediate effect, while the departure of David Leslie with nearly all the cavalry to oppose Montrose made it difficult for the Scots to collect supplies from the country. On I September, when the besiegers were prepared to make a final assault on Byster's gate and the half moon next to St, Owen's gate, news was received that the king was close at hand and the Scots hastily broke up the siege.**' Although they failed in their object they did considerable damage to the county. The loss in 106 out of the 176 parishes in the shire was estimated at more than ^^^3 1,000, and Parhament subsequently remitted four months' arrears of contributions in consequence of the damage done by the Scots on their return from the siege to Gloucester."" Charles, who advanced through Bromyard, entered the city on 4 Sep- tember, and on the 7th he proceeded to Raglan to take measures to relieve Bristol. On 1 1 September, however, Bristol fell, and this catastrophe was shortly followed by the loss of Cardiff. Communications with Ireland and the Continent were almost cut off, and Charles sadly returned to Hereford, and then marched northward in the hope of saving Chester from Brereton. He reached Dorstone at the head of the Golden Vale, but finding the enemy too strong in his front, he turned aside to seek Worcester. On the i8th he reached Stoke Edith, when he heard that Poyntz and Rossiter had marched all night from Leominster to intercept him. In consequence he turned back to Presteigne, whence on the 21st he reached Chirk Castle. On the 23rd he entered Chester, but the following day his cavalry were overthrown at Rowton Heath. The Royal cause was rendered desperate by the destruction of that incomparable force of cavalry, more mobile than any body of corresponding size possessed by the enemy. The effects of the loss of the protecting army were soon visible in the western counties. In October Monmouthshire was lost to the Royalists, while on 18 December Hereford itself was surprised during a severe frost. The enterprise was designed by Sir John Bridges and executed by Colonel "«Harl. MS. 6852. "' Webb, Mm. ii, 216-9, 385-99. "" Ibid, ii, 398. 395
