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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: History
Topic: The English Revolution

Narrative of Events at Gloucester - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 4 [1901]

Edition used:

The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, Secretary to the Council of the Army, 1647-1649, and to General Monck and the Commanders of the Army in Scotland, 1651-1660, ed. C.H. Firth (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1901). 4 vols.

Part of: The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, 4 vols.

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Narrative of Events at Gloucester

xxxi. f. 182.That there was a constant rumour of great preparations of the enemy for some designe upon the citty of Gloucester, of which we could gitt noe perticular intellegence as to tyme or persons, untill we had, by spyes imployed amongst them, indeavoured to discover there motion.

That on Munday the 25th July we had informacion that Massy eyther then was or laitely had beene within the said citty, and that there were lodged in severall secrett places therein about 500 musquetts, which at the tyme of putting ther designe in execution should be delivered out to such persons as they had ingaiged with in the citty, as also to such others as should come in from other places, as country men on foote on pretence of bussiness at the Assize.

That on Tuesday the 26th day of July we had certaine intelligence that they had agreed on the tyme of falling on the citty, which was to have beene on the Thursday followinge, about 3 or 4 of the clocke in the morninge, and that in order thereunto they were to meete at severall randevous to be agreed on the day before, at such places as were most convenient for the meeting of such persons ingaiged, which they were confedent would be soe numerous as to inable them to fall on every gate and quarter of the citty at once with severall hundred, besydes those that were to rise within. That thereupon Mr. Alderman Pury and Mr. Thomas Pury the younger, adviseing with Captain Dale, captain of a troope of the army, and with Captain Croft, captain of one of the Militia troopes, did suppose it absolutely necessary forthwith to cause drumms to beate, and to raise such a number of foote of the well-affected within the citty as conveniently could be; which they did accordingly, and there were raised that same day 4 companies of musquettears, consisting of about 300 men.

That the intelligence continueing, and many other informations and circumstances concurring from all parts, it was thought absolutely necessary that the horse (being the two militia troopes, and Captain Dale’s troope of the army) should take there station in 3 severall places within the citty, and there remaine on constant guards with there whole troopes both night and day, and the severall companies of foote at such places as was agreed; which accordingly they have done and still resolve to continue to doe.

That on Fryday the 29th July we had certaine informacion, that by reason of such preparacions as were maid, and the great dilligence of the forces in Gloucester, the enemy had changed there counsells as to come; that they had dayly meetings of the leading men in the Forrest of Deane, and Massy certainely with them;1 that from thence severall thousands would appeare of colliers, miners, and from about Stroud water neer one thousand men, from other quarters about the citty severall hundreds, as alsoe within the citty; that a speciall messinger was sent from Massey and those mett to advise on the Forrest syde, to those on the other syde, to forbeare fallinge on untill further order.

On Satterday, 30th July, at night receved two letters intercepted, intimateinge that the first day of August was the tyme appointed by the enemies to be in armes, and to march to the severall places of randevous, and then to fall upon such places as they thought fittest for their designe; and that the Lord Herbert, Colonel Massey, Colonel Berrow, Captain Glaynfford, and others would fall upon Gloucester with there united forces from the forces on the syde of the said River of Seaverne, and with there other forces on this syde of the said river; for prevention whereof we sent a party of above 100 horse on Satterday night aforesaid to seize upon the Lord Herbert and others on this syde the river, and another party of about 70 horse to seize upon Colonel Berrow, Captain Glaynfford, and others on the forrest syde of Seaverne. And upon Sunday morning we received intelligence that our party of horse on this syde Seaverne had taken three of Mr. Veales sonnes and others with there armes and horses, and about 3 howres after that they had taken Colonel Massey and his man with all his fyre workes and other engines of warr and their warr horses, and afterwards they had taken the Lord Herbert with some store of pistells and other armes, and that they were all prissoners and comeing on the way for Gloucester. The manner thus: Massey was taken about xi. a clocke before noone, with another person there in a buffe coate and britches, his hare very blacke and very longe, and talked of to be a very great person; but he maid his escaipe whilst they were about. Collonel Massey being taken, was carried about with other prisoners unto the Lord Herbert’s house, and from thence with the Lord Herbert and the other prissoners they journied toward Gloucester, being about five houres after Massey was taken, and about the close of day light they came to Nimpsfeilds roade downe a very steepe hill about 10 myles from Gloucester, the roade way to Bayth, and then there fell a very great storme of rayne, with a groasse thick darkness, and Massey being then horsed, and a stout man behind him to hould him in his armes, and two of each syde of him, and some troopers rideing before his horse, and others behind him, Massey’s horse and himselfe, with the man that roade behind him, fell headlonge alltogether, and tumbling downe that steepe hill the man that roade behinde Massey lost his hold of him, and the rest tumbling downe after them, being much bruised; and it was then soe darke that (as they affirme) and soe quite lost him and all the rest of the prissoners before mentioned to be taken, who maid alsoe there escaipe, exsceptinge onely the Lord Herbert and Colonel Massey’s servant who are prisoners at Gloucester. Our party of horse that went out that day into the forrest syde beyonde Seaverne supprised Colonel Browne, Captain Glaynfford, and others in Colonel Berrow’s dwelling house with there armes; but after a parly together, and some miscarridge (as they pretend) whereby they fired at each other, our party was content to take there words to come to Gloucester this day to render themselves unto us; but they come not, whereby its most apparant how infortunate we have beene in this last designe, which had it proved fortunate it would under God have utterly frustrated the enimies designe in those parts, in regard they would have beene destitute of all their cheife and ablest commanders, councellers, and undertakers.

[1 ]See Washbourne’s Bibliotheca Gloucestriensis, p. cc.