Invaded by a Scottish Army 370 years ago

370 years ago this month, the peaceful village of Ombersley was filled with Scottish Soldiers. They had left Stirling on July 31st 1651, to march on London and help return Charles Stuart to his father’s throne. They were shot at by members of the Worcestershire Militia who had swarmed into the lanes, fields and hedgerows to slow this Royalist Army down.

In 1651, this ‘new’ Royalist Army was seen by almost every Englishman as a ‘Scotch Invasion’. Only a small number of old English Royalists had joined Charles’ cause. Charles, the son of the executed King, was seen as reigniting the flames of war!

Life, trade and commerce took a long time to recover following the earlier phases of the English Civil Wars (1642-46). Skirmishes and Sieges were common in Worcestershire and had destroyed trade and Commerce, as much as it did to the physical fabric of the County.

The bridges at Evesham, Worcester and Pershore needed major repairs, and in some cases complete rebuilds following fighting. Hundreds of houses had been destroyed by fire, looting soldiers and violent attacks. Worcester had lost one fifth of its housing stock by 1646!

Some of the local Gentry who helped the Royalists had been stripped of their land and their titles. Sir William Russell was heavily fined for the part he played in the wars. His fine was set at one-third of the value of his estate. A large sum of £2,071. A levy of 25 % was made on every estate in the City of Worcester too.

It is not known how many people died in the earlier phase of war, but we do get a little insight by looking at surviving documents. The Parliament Survey for Worcestershire in 1649 mentions ‘Humfrey late husband to Mary was slain in the Parliament Service, and she left a poor widow in misery.’

The wars were thought concluded in 1646 when the Royalists surrendered. This was confirmed when King Charles I was executed in 1649.

However, Charles Stuart landed in Scotland in 1650 and was defeated on September 3rd 1650, near the village of Dunbar. Cromwell went on to occupy Scotland, so Charles decided to march on London at great haste on July 31st the following year. Country after the Monarchy was abolished, ordered the part time soldiers, called Militias to ready themselves.

The Worcestershire Militia rose to the challenge and began to prepare some defences before the Scots entered the Midlands. Colonel John James and Captain Andrew Yarranton mustered about 500 extra men on Pitchcroft Meadow in Worcester.

On August 21st 1651 the Scots were sighted moving through the lanes around Kidderminster and Hartlebury. General Harrison sent a final set of orders to the Militia to hold the Scots back, until Cromwell was able to bring a large army into Worcestershire.

The Mayor of Worcester was worried for his City and ordered a meeting immediately. The meeting included the Commander of the Militia and the City Aldermen. It was a heated debated with the Mayor wanting to let the Scots into Worcester. He believed they would rest overnight and continue their march to London. Many wanted to follow General Harrison’s order to hold these Royalists back!

At dawn on the 22nd August, an exodus of citizens left Worcester for the ancient refuge, used in times of war and plague - Bevere Island on the River Severn. The Worcestershire Militia began to skirmish with the Scottish Advance Guard as they entered Ombersley. This would have been a violent skirmish involving muskets and swords. The main Scottish Army was moving slowly behind and would have been armed with Pikes and Muskets and supported by some Cannon and Cavalry.

A running fight moved South out of Ombersley and up to the Medieval Walls of Worcester. The City Garrison closed the City Gate on Charles and even fired at him from the City Walls. They then destroyed the defences and Gun Powder, before carrying off any weapons to prevent the enemy from using them.

Charles officially entered the City the next morning with his whole force. This numbered around 12,000 men. Meanwhile Cromwell was closing in with a large force of 30,000 men, including the Worcestershire Militia, who had slowed down the Royalist advance.

The Battle of Worcester was fought on the 3rd September 1651 and would see local men liberate their County from the invading Scots. Cromwell’s great Victory closed the last Chapter on the English Civil Wars. n By Paul Harding Discover History Facebook and YouTube - Discover History Instagram and Twitter -DiscoverHISTPH www.discover-history.co.uk

Discover History is an award winning education and Living History Performance Company based in Worcester. They specialise in the local history of Worcestershire and deliver school workshops and history days, living history performances and talks across Britain.