PERHAPS no town in the kingdom witnessed greater vicissitudes than Tewkesbury, during the commotion which arose out of the disastrous quarrel between Charles the first and the Parliament. Being contiguous to the important garrison at Gloucester, so long and so successfully held by the parliament forces, in defiance of the utmost efforts of the king, and almost equally near to Worcester, which was for a long time a royal garrison, the possession of Tewkesbury was a consideration of the highest importance to both parties: it gave the entire controul of the only eligible passage over the Avon in this neighbourhood, and greatly facilitated the occupation of the bridge at Upton, which, being the only one across the Severn between Gloucester and Worcester, was frequently of the utmost consequence; and as the town was seated in the centre of a fertile and well cultivated district, it was peculiarly necessary to the garrison at Gloucester, for insuring to them a supply of provisions, - the want of which they sometimes severely felt, particularly at such times as the royal army held possession of this place.

Tewkesbury^[52] appears very early to have espoused the cause of the parliament, though the king had from the first

many firm adherents among the more respectable class of the inhabitants, particularly in the members of (he corporation;^[53] and however circumstances might render it prudent in some of them to stifle their loyal feelings, yet many worthy persons never deserted for a moment the interests of their persecuted though imprudent monarch.

The first decided manifestation of the sentiments of the townspeople occurred immediately after the first siege of Worcester, in Sept. 1642, at which time the place was garrisoned by a strong party of the republican army from Gloucester, and was afterwards for a short time augmented by part of the parliament forces which bad been successful at Worcester. But when the Earl of Essex, in the following month, abandoned Worcester, to intercept the king in his progress from Shrewsbury towards London, and subsequently fought the memorable battle at Kdgehill, where the parliamentarians were at first reported to have been completely routed, the abettors of anarchy in this place were stricken with terror, being in daily expectation of a visit from the royal army, and well knowing that they were not able to defend themselves in case of an assault.

A tolerable idea of the situation of the inhabitants may be formed from the following account by Corbet, extracted from

his celebrated "Historical Relation of the Military Government of Gloucester": it should however be borne in mind, that the narrator, though he lived in that troublesome period, and was an eye-witness of many of the transactions he so minutely records, was a strenuous supporter of the republican party:

"The garrison of Tewkesbury (which was defended only with such slender forces as Gloucester could spare out of its penury, before the enemy fell on the county), was already surprised with fear": the people of "Tewkesbury sent an express to the city, to inform them of the state of their town, and to request more aid; likewise they dispatched messengers to the villages round about, to acquaint them with the state of things, and to try whether the inhabitants would come in person or send in their arms, but there came neither the one nor the other; and it was resolved, by the council of war at Gloucester, that the forces, ordnance and ammunition, with all well-affected persons, should forthwith repair thither. In the heat of this debate there came an invitation from Worcester, by a letter from Sir William Russell, with intimation of conditions of peace; all which disposed that town to compliance with the enemy. Hereupon a common council being held, and the officers present, it was determined that the Gloucester order was to be obeyed. The town, thus deserted, was willing to provide for its own safety, and chose rather to obtain some reasonable terms of peace than suffer itself to be quite ruined; wherefore they drew up some propositions to be sent to Sir William Russell, yet before the dispatch they sent to Gloucester a second message by the minister of the town, and an officer of the garrison, with Sir William Russell's letter and their answer. These promised an early return, but failing some hours of the time appointed, in the mean while the propositions were sent to Worcester. This message brought a countermand, when there sprung an alarum that Cirencester was regained, and the spoil and prisoners recovered back; for this cause the soldiers were detained awhile, but when the report was found untrue, of themselves they began to quit the town. In the evening the messenger returned from Worcester,

with the propositions granted: the subjection seemed unfortunate and dishonourable in them whose affections were engaged to this cause, neither did there appear a means to prevent it, for the transmigration of the whole town was impossible, nor as yet did the condition of the war require any such thing from one particular place; for the parliament's adherents, as also the malignant faction,^[54] did never at once forsake their habitations to be gathered into one body for a sudden conclusion, but were brought piecemeal into action, and many lay under covert in the enemy's country, reserving themselves for future service. Thus the people entertained gladly those conditions, which though performed in part yet were a sufficient bondage, did impoverish their spirits, cool their zeal of religion, and lessen the former inclination to liberty; after which by frequent changes under many lords they became so feeble that they never durst confide in themselves to vindicate the town into its former happiness, but a long time remained averse to the fairest opportunities, yea necessities of engagement, and desired an everlasting neutrality. The deserting of this town increased the forces of Gloucester by two hundred foot and dragoons, and took off the fear of a greater mischief; for though the quitting of the place caused us to resent our great distress, yet the taking thereof would have confounded our thoughts, and hazarded the main chance where the whole strength did not lie at stake".

A pamphlet, published in 1642, entitled "True News out of Herefordshire", gives an account of an action said to have been fought on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 1642, on the field where the last decisive battle took place between the houses of York and Lancaster near Tewkesbury, in which Lord Stamford routed the Marquis of Hertford and Lord Herbert, with the loss of two thousand five hundred men. This affair is wholly unnoticed by Corbet, or any writer of credit, and was without doubt entirely a fabrication, designed to divert the attention of the people.

The town was delivered up on the 7th of Feb. 1642-3, to Sir William Russell, who was appointed governor, and garrisoned it with a large force for the king. He exacted £.500^[55] from the inhabitants, for the support of the royal cause; and seized all the public stores and ammunition, and even the fire-arms of private individuals, and sent the whole to the headquarters at Worcester.

In the following month, Sir William Russell, having first put the town in the best state of defence possible, retired to Worcester, and appointed Sir Matthew Carew governor of Tewkesbury; but the parliamentary general, Sir William Waller, having just gained a decisive advantage over the royalists under Lord Herbert, at Highnam near Gloucester, resolved to attempt the capture of Tewkesbury, which he effected, but was shortly afterwards obliged to abandon it. Corbet thus describes this affair:

"The general fame did increase and heighten the repute of Sir William Waller, and the enemy possessed therewith began to draw back on all sides: Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted the town of Tewkesbury, which within twelve hours was repossessed by our forces: Capt. John Fienes was commanded thither with a slender strength of horse and dragoons, with whom the well-affected of the town that abode in Gloucester began to return. The undertaking was hasty and confused, without the observance of the enemy's motion or distance, or any rational assurance of defending the place. Our party had no sooner saluted the town, but received an alarm that the former forces were returned with a greater power. Twas a gallant brigade of horse, commanded by the Lord Grandison, which immediately came from Cheltenham, whereof our men had not the least intelligence: it seemed by the event that the enemy expected none from Gloucester: however there was quick dispatch on both sides, yet Captain Fienes with his

whole party had been surprised, had not those horse been kept off at a mile distance by a ridiculous accident. It so fell out that they met a man coming alone from the town, whom they fell to question whether any forces were there, of what strength, and by whom commanded. The man, intending nothing less than the escape of our party, but supposing them a part of the parliament forces, and willing to curry favour, begins to talk of a main strength and vast numbers, with so many guns and all kinds of preparations, and withal defies the cavaliers with much affected indignation; which words so far prevailed, that they presently held a council of war, and once were about to fall back. This delay gave an hour's respite to those within to prepare for a flight, who had no sooner recovered the end of the town, but the enemy had entered, amazed to see themselves so miserably deluded".^[56]

Sir William Waller having returned to Gloucester, and from thence marched into Wales, Tewkesbury was suffered to remain quietly in the hands of Lord Grandison. Shortly afterwards, Sir Matthew Carew again returned from Worcester, and Prince Maurice came with a great additional force both of horse and of foot; so that these commanders conceived themselves strong enough to intercept Waller on his return out of the principality, where he had met with considerable opposition from the royalists.

"Wherefore", says Corbet, "a bridge of boats was made over Severn at Tewkesbury, that they might pass to and fro nearer the retreat of our army. Here the Prince marched over with a body of two thousand horse and foot, confident of this design, and therefore too remiss and slow in his advance. Sir William was nimble in the retreat, caused his foot and artillery to pass over Severn at Chepstow, and himself with his horse and dragoons passed through the lower part of the Forest of Dean, near the river side; and before the enemy had notice of his march, sent forth two parties to fall upon two of their main quarters, which was performed whilst the main body slipt between both, and a party was left to face them and make good the retreat, which came off something disorderly, and with the loss of a few private soldiers. 'Twas an exquisite conveyance, and unexpected felicity that brought them out of the snare through those intricate ways. This alarm quickly reached Gloucester, and Lieutenant-Colonel Massey drew out three hundred foot and two troops of horse to fetch off our men, but if he found them disengaged, for a further design. This party met them within two miles of the town, where the governor made known to Sir William Waller his purpose to set upon Tewkesbury; and taking the opportunity of the prince's absence, and the enemies' jollity at our supposed total defeat, instantly advanced upon them, and by break of day brought

up his men before the town, one part whereof fell into the Ham, seized upon the guard left with the bridge of boats, and cut off that bridge; the horse with the rest of the foot came up Gloucester way, the forlorn hope surprised and slew the sentinel, climbed over the works, and cut down the draw-bridge; whereupon both horse and foot rushed in, and the party on the other side of Avon ready to enter. There were left in the town near three hundred men, commanded by Sir Matthew Carew, whom the triumph of yesterday's conceived victory laid asleep, and the sudden alarm roused up, first into a shuffling fighting posture, and after half an hour to a nimble escape. Sir Matthew Carew fled, and many escaped the hands of our men, who wanted numbers to surround the town, but most of the common soldiers, and some valuable officers, were taken.^[57]

This capture of the town by Colonel Massey occurred in the beginning of April, 1643; but Prince Maurice only retreated a few miles towards Worcester, and was so little intimidated by the defeat, that on the very same day a large party of his horse appeared at the Mythe, which so alarmed the parliament forces, that they instantly sent to Gloucester for reinforcements; and Sir William Waller, considering the preservation of Tewkesbury at that juncture of the utmost consequence, marched thither himself the same evening, resolving either to break down or take the bridge at Upton, which was then strongly guarded by the prince.

The skirmish at Ripple, which immediately followed, is so fully detailed by Corbet, that we shall give the particulars of it in his own words:

"The next morning, Sir William advanced towards the prince, and found him in Ripple Field, with his army drawn up, and divided into three bodies, besides the hedges lined with musketeers. Here our forces faced the enemy in a large field, and could hardly reach the third part of the prince's strength; brought up their guns, having neither shot prepared, nor cannoniers that understood the business, nor the assistance of foot, save only a part of the governor's own company; besides the wind and sun were against them, and no retreat if need were, but through a narrow lane of two

miles long; and whereas they might stand upon the top of a rising ground to deceive the enemy with the semblance of a greater power behind, they descended a little on the side of the hill, and discovered their weakness to a full view. In this posture, some persuaded to fight, and began to make some shot with the ordnance, which gave no shew of the least execution. But some other officers examined the cannonier, and finding neither fit bullet nor any convenient shot, but all things at random, earnestly dissuaded either to make the onset, or expect the enemy in that place; and advising likewise the trial, discovered their ambuscades within the hedges. Hereupon Sir William Waller fell back, and entered the narrow lane, commanding a party of dragoons to face the prince's army, and the musketeers to stand at the corner of the lane within the hedges, to make good the retreat. The enemy fell on, not a man of those dragoons would stand to receive the charge, but hurried away, broke over the hedge, fell among and disordered our own musketeers, the enemy clapt in after them, cut down four or five of the foot, and took as many prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Massey kept close to his foot, and instantly dispatched to Tewkesbury for a supply; and Sir Arthur Hazelrig prevailed with his own troop to charge, and in his own person performed gallantly: the foot with those horse put the enemy to a stand, and in part took off the foulness of the retreat through that strait passage. When they came to the next open place, our men had the advantage of a ditch to stay the pursuit; and in the heat of the chase, one foot soldier, at the command of the governor, turned upon the enemy a gate then cast off the hinges, which barred their entrance, and enabled our men to draw up for a charge: here for awhile they stood in amaze, but on a sudden faced about, ran flock-meal, the enemy upon their backs, and the close of this action was like to be miserable; but at the entrance of a strait passage, near the Mythe Hill, a supply of foot from the town opportunely met them, galled the enemy, and put them to a stand once more, whilst the governor charged the leader of the forlorn hope, hand to hand, and was rescued by

the gallantry of some officers, when of ours only a small party of horse remained in the field, the rest being got off in great confusion. Yet the escape might equal a victory, and the saving of the forces pass for clear gain. Prince Maurice did not attempt the regaining of Tewkesbury, the government of which was entrusted to Sir Robert Cooke, who had newly raised a regiment of foot by commission from Sir William Waller".^[58]

Shortly after this affair, Sir Robert Cooke and his forces were called off from Tewkesbury; and having destroyed the works, he marched into the west, leaving the town once more without a military governor.

In June, Sir William Waller and a large army passed through this place on their way to assault Worcester; but being valiantly repulsed there, he retreated to Tewkesbury with three thousand men and eight pieces of ordnance, and retired again to his old quarters at Gloucester.

On the 10th of August, 1643, his majesty commenced the memorable siege of Gloucester, and as the fate of the kingdom appeared to depend principally upon the issue of this measure, the eyes of the whole nation were directed to that quarter on which the hopes and fears of both parties were suspended. During this momentous period, Tewkesbury was in a state of the utmost alarm; and as it appeared impossible that the city could hold out against the overwhelming strength of the king until reinforcements should arrive, Mr. Hill, the town-clerk of the borough, and Mr. Bell of Sandhurst, were deputed to solicit a conference with the garrison of Gloucester, and, by persuading them to yield up the city, to avert the dreadful burthens under which the neighbourhood already groaned, and the still greater sufferings which were likely to follow a protracted defence. This conference was held on the 24th of

August, but the garrison resolutely refused to hearken to the advice of the mission.^[59]

In the mean time, parliament being apprised of the depressed state of the city, sent the Earl of Essex, with fourteen thousand efficient men, including four regiments of the London militia, to the relief of Gloucester. The appearance of this immense body of troops, as they passed almost within view of the town, could not fail deeply to interest the feelings of the inhabitants of Tewkesbury, who anticipated the most dreadful carnage betwixt the contending armies before the gates of Gloucester; but the whole nation, which had long been surprised at the languor with which the king assaulted the place, was still more astonished at the tameness which he evinced by raising the siege at Essex's approach, and making way for him to enter the city unmolested.

The Earl of Essex having supplied the garrison with military stores, and encouraged the country people to furnish them with provisions, hoped to retire without hazarding a battle with the king's army, then stationed at Winchcomb and Sudeley, which he dreaded on account of its superiority in cavalry. Leaving therefore a reinforcement of troops in Gloucester, he came to Tewkesbury, which he summoned and entered on Sunday the 10th of September. He remained here five days, and exacted the twentieth part of the property of the royalists for the relief of the garrison of Gloucester, and then, feigning to proceed towards Worcester, he, by a forced march during the night, reached Cirencester, and thus obtained the double advantage of passing unmolested an open

country, and of surprising a convoy of provisions which were in that town.^[60]

A few days subsequent to this, a party of the parliament soldiers, which had been left in Tewkesbury, aided by a

few others from Gloucester, made a disgraceful excursion to Castlemorton, where they plundered the house of Mr. Bartlett, and wantonly destroyed much valuable property.^[61]

After the first great battle at Newbury, which happened on the 28th of September, 1643, Sir William Vavasour was sent by the king to raise forces in Herefordshire and the adjoining counties of Wales, and with them to garrison Tewkesbury. Sir William accordingly arrived here in October, with about seven hundred horse and foot, with which he put the town into a tolerable state of defence, invited the neighbourhood to repair to the royal standard, and styled himself governor; but his newly-raised troops, being unaccustomed to the privations of a military life, mutinied and ran away with the utmost precipitation, on the first alarm of the approach of the enemy from Gloucester. Sir William, being thus deserted by his troops, was obliged to abandon the town, and retired to Hereford, after sustaining a very severe loss in killed and taken.^[62]

The country gentlemen, particularly those residing in the neighbourhood of the Cotswold hills, about this period began

to take a more decided part in favour of the king: Tewkesbury was again garrisoned by the adherents of royalty, and Sir William Vavasour returned to the chief command, accompanied by Sir Walter Pye and Colonel Wroughton, who fortified the town stronger than ever. The garrison at Gloucester continually annoyed the forces within the town; and between the different parties, while on foraging expeditions, there were repeated skirmishes. The army having been augmented by the arrival of two Irish regiments, which broke up from Wotton-under-Edge, and came over the hills in safety, notwithstanding the efforts of Governor Massey, who sent out a party from Gloucester to stop their progress, consisted of upwards of two thousand six hundred foot and horse; but shortly afterwards part of them were sent towards Evesham, to join the king's troops in that quarter, who were waiting to intercept supplies which the city of London had long promised to forward to the garrison at Gloucester.

In the beginning of 1G44, Prince Rupert came to Tewkesbury, and considerably distressed the garrison at Gloucester, by cutting off their supplies from the country;^[63] and Sir William Vavasour, having at that time fifteen hundred horse and foot constantly quartered in the town, made an attempt to take Bodington manor-house, where the governor of Gloucester had placed a detachment, for the protection of those husbandmen and others who supplied the garrison with provisions. He appeared before the house with five hundred foot and two pieces of large ordnance, with which he commenced an assault; but the besieged defended themselves with such bravery, that they were enabled to hold out until a reinforcement arrived from Gloucester, when Sir William was compelled to return to Tewkesbury, having lost eight or ten men in the affray.

At this time, such multitudes of the king's forces were stationed in and near to Tewkesbury, that they became extremely distressed for provisions: on one occasion, two thousand horse and foot were compelled to march together as far as Painswick, to gather contributions about Stroudwater, who, on the following day, all safely returned laden with plunder.

Sir William Vavasour was called away from the government of this town early in the spring, and Colonel Nicholas Mynne, of the Irish brigade, who was a much more active leader, took the command. This change was so unwelcome to Colonel Massey, governor of Gloucester, who had before experienced the great bravery and loyalty of Mynne, that he determined to attempt the recapture of this important station by an unexpected attack.

"For the enemy", says Corbet, "by the number of their men, and the natural strength of the place, with the works well begun, were sufficiently provided to receive an expected and open storm, and the governor shunned all desperate hazards, because he did not march with supernumerary forces, but the main strength of Gloucester. Wherefore, to deceive the enemy, the foot were drawn forth at the West-gate, bearing the shew of an advance into Herefordshire, and the horse kept their rendezvous, and looked the same way. But in the evening the horse came back, and marched through Gloucester towards Tewkesbury, having first sent a guard to Upton bridge, while the foot came on beyond Severn. The design had taken effect, had not the foot, by their slow march or misguidance, passed the hour, which was break of day, for they came not before the town till an hour after sun-rising, when we were found not fit to assault a waking and prepared enemy. To withdraw, nevertheless, did seem but a feeble business for such a fair body of horse and foot displayed before the town, and carried before it the appearance of a baffle: yet the governor, though naturally jealous of honour, could digest such mis-feasance, when the safety of his own men required, knowing that the opportunity of service would in good time cancel a misgrounded ignominy.

"After few days, the governor, having breathed himself and his men, resolved to attempt the taking of Tewkesbury, a bad neighbour to our head garrison, and where he had suffered the repulse twice before. He was able to draw forth a hundred and twenty horse, and about thirty dragoons, and three hundred foot. For his strength was no more than the standing forces of the city, a great part of which were now swallowed up by the garrisons lately taken in. The horse and dragoons, commanded by Major Hammond, advanced some few hours before the foot and artillery, and were to alarm the enemy till the foot came up. They made a halt a mile from the town, and drew out a pretty strong forlorn-hope, conceiving they might possibly surprise them, if they had not as yet taken the alarm; and first, three men were sent before to espy if the draw-bridge were down, and six more behind went undiscovered; next unto these marched the forlorn-hope, and the main body in the rear. In this posture they advanced up to the town, where they found the bridge down, the guards slender, the enemy without intelligence, and supinely negligent. On went the first party, killed the sentinels, a pikeman and a musketeer without match, and made good the bridge: the forlorn-hope rushed in, and after them a full body of horse and dragoons, fell upon the guards, came up to the main-guard before the alarm was taken, overturned their ordnance, and charged through the streets as far as the bridge Worcester way, where they took Major Mynne, the governor of the town. The enemy threw down their arms, many escaped by flight, and many were taken prisoners. Colonel Godfrey was slain in the first charge, as also Colonel Vavasour's quarter-master-general, and a lieutenant, all papists, besides a sergeant, with about six common soldiers. Our officers and soldiers, supposing themselves wholly victorious, dismounted and went into the houses, some in the vanity of their humour, others for plunder, whilst all slighted their own guards, and the making good of the bridge at which they entered, and neglected the taking and disarming of the main-guard, which lay in the heart of the town, and cleared every street. Whereupon those at the

main-guard, observing the horse not seconded with foot, took courage to charge some of our horse now in confusion, and many of the enemy out of the houses ran to the guard, and so strengthened it, that they issued out upon our men, put them to a retreat, beat them out of the town, and took some few prisoners. But before they were beaten out, they had cut down two draw-bridges, and secured the governor, Major Mynne, who was passed over Severn with a small party that took him beyond the town. By this time, Colonel Massey was come up with a few horse, half a mile in the van of the foot, which hastened after to make an assault in this instant of time. But the bridge towards Gloucester was again drawn up, and the works manned on that side; here the governor placed his company of dragoons, and gave order to fire upon them, whilst he drew his men round the town, it being now dark night; but before he could reach the farther end, where he entered about midnight, the enemy were fled towards Worcester, being daunted at the first assault made by the horse, observing withal our foot now brought up, their own governor lost, their officers slain, and most of the common soldiers already run away. The townsmen, through fear, durst not give the least intelligence of what had happened. By which means they were past the recovery of our horse, already tired, besides the night and dark weather hindered the pursuit. Only we took some scattering foot, to the number of four and twenty, with a lieutenant. Upon our entrance, we found eighteen barrels of powder, left by their haste, a hundred and twenty skeins of match, two hundred new pikes, four and thirty large hand-granados, good store of musket shot, and two brass drakes. Most of their muskets were thrown about in the fields, ditches and rivers, many of which were afterwards found; but the place itself was of greatest consequence, and worthy of the service, being now a strong frontier town, securing that side of the county, and commanding a good part of Worcestershire; and in this nick of time extremely cross to the intentions of the king's army. The enemy confessed themselves to be near seven hundred strong, when our whole body could not reach that number".

This affair took place on the 5th of June, 1644,^[64] while the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller remained with their armies near Oxford, watching the movements of the king: his majesty however contrived to elude their vigilance, and hastened over the Cotswold hills to the relief of Tewkesbury, not being apprised of the loss of the place until he was within a day's march of it. Finding that Massey had rendered the bridge at Upton impassable, the king went to Evesham, where he remained one night, and when he left it in the morning, he broke down all the bridges, to prevent Sir William Waller, who was in the rear, from pursuing him.^[65]

After this, the king's army remained for a considerable time about Bredon hill, keeping Tewkesbury in continual alarm. At length, on ascertaining the weakness of the place, his majesty in person drew near with the intention of storming it; he advanced his ordnance within a mile of the town, and sent out parties to skirmish. Colonel Massey, in the mean while, sent into the town two hundred musketeers from Gloucester; and marched himself, with another party, to Corse Lawn, where he encountered and dispersed a detachment which had been sent

from Worcester; and then, crossing the Severn, came to Tewkesbury, upon which the king drew off his forces, and retired towards Pershore and Evesham.

In 1644, "the fortifications and bulwarks", which had been previously erected around the town, were strengthened and increased; and twenty-five of the inhabitants were daily employed by the corporation on the works. The High-street men worked at these on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; those of Church-street on Fridays and Saturdays; and those of Barton-street, on Mondays.^[66]

The Worcestershire committee, for aiding the parliament, assembled here for some time in the latter end of the year 1644, and were guarded by two hundred and fifty well-appointed horse; and Colonel Rouse was also stationed here, for the purpose of raising a regiment of foot for the parliament, about the same period.^[67]

In May, 1645, Colonel Massey came, with a reinforcement from Gloucester, and scoured the neighbourhood, as the garrison apprehended a visit from the kings forces, which were collecting in Worcestershire.^[68] In September, Major General Poyntz arrived, for the purpose of watching the movements of the king, and of preventing especially his going to his friends at Bristol.^[69]

In 1647, the borough was assessed at ten guineas per month, towards the maintenance of the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and for carrying on the war with Ireland.^[70]

In 1648, an additional troop of horse, belonging to the parliament, was quartered upon the parish;^[71] and in the following year, a petition to the government, from the corporation, asserted, in substance, "that the town was a parliament garrison, that the inhabitants generally were friendly to the parliament, and that most of them were provided with arms in their houses".

In 1651, when Cromwell marched to Worcester, to attack King Charles the second, a portion of the parliament's army occupied Tewkesbury; but as there were numerous parties of royalists in the neighbourhood, the republicans were afraid to leave their position even to obtain provisions, and were therefore in a great measure dependent upon their friends at Gloucester for supplies. Two days only before the last decisive contest at Worcester, a large quantity of bread was sent by the corporation of Gloucester to the lord general's army at Tewkesbury,

During the latter period of the commonwealth, Tewkesbury remained comparatively tranquil. On Christmas eve, 1653, Cromwell was proclaimed protector, with the same forms that are observed on the accession of sovereigns to the throne. In 1657, a recruiting took place, for the purpose of filling up a regiment, commanded by Colonel Mills, which was designed to assist in opposing an armament then expected to invade the country from Flanders; but the enthusiasm which had once animated the inhabitants to arm against the house of Stuart had abated, and few recruits were obtained. Before that time, indeed, the townspeople appear to have become weary of the exactions and oppressions under which they had for many years groaned; and shortly after the death of the protector, in 1658, when it became apparent that Richard Cromwell's power was tottering, the inhabitants of Tewkesbury evinced perhaps greater anxiety for the restoration of royalty and order, than they had formerly shewn in favour of rebellion and anarchy.

Subsequently to the restoration of Charles the second, there are so few important public occurrences connected with Tewkesbury, that we shall no further proceed with its history in chronological order: an account of the charters, and other more recent events, will be given in future portions of this work.