THE SECOND OF TWO ARTICLES ON THE SIEGE OF WORCESTER FROM

RICHARD SHAW, CHAIRMAN OF THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER SOCIETY

THE next day, June 26, Governor Colonel Sir Henry Washington called a Council of War, his position clearly hopeless.

The Irish troops in Worcester who had come to the city for refuge, felt that they would be under an automatic death sentence if captured so they wanted to fight on as did Washington, but the local civilian establishment felt the time had come to surrender.

Washington attempted to rush off and fire a gun from the city wall signalling the end of negotiations for surrender, but he was restrained by the bishop and others.

A committee of six soldiers, six gentlemen and six citizens together with the Bishop and Dean of Worcester were appointed to decide more calmly whether they should negotiate for peace.

A meeting was arranged at Hindlip House (later Hindlip Hall now the West Mercia Police Headquarters) and a truce was agreed on June 27 1646.

The negotiations dragged on at Hindlip and then Hallow as Worcester tried to win better terms including one month’s pay for the soldiers and a complete amnesty.

This was unrealistic and by June 30 Whalley was getting impatient with this, the last Royalist outpost of the war. He announced that he wanted a quick decision which was not forthcoming and therefore the truce was ended, and the barrage on Worcester continued.

Worcester returned fire but discipline in the city continued to break down, Washington himself was involved in scuffles with his critics. Some determined Royalist troops continued to make sallies against the siege works.

Short of ammunition they received some fortuitous assistance, on July 2 one 18lb cannon ball had hit the Bishop’s Palace but remained intact. It was found to fit one of the city’s cannons so it was promptly fired back at the Parliamentarians.

Tensions between the citizens and soldiers mounted as the troops demanded more pay and provisions. On July 4 four Parliamentary troopers managed to drive off seven head of cattle because there was no guard and food particularly fresh meat was becoming very scarce.

On July 1 the pay of the soldiers had to be cut from 2s 6d a week to 1s in money, 1s in corn and 6d in bacon or cheese a week, which did not go down well.

Eventually on July 8 the last of the food stores was opened, signalling to the city that this was the last of their reserves. Daring sallies continued to be made, some led by Washington himself.

Worcester continued to strengthen its defences and on July 13 an exasperated Townshend noted that, “workmen, carpenters and masons expect money now for their work, as though there were no siege, not that their lives and estates were not concerned in it if the city were to be taken by storm”. Parliament became impatient with Colonel Whalley’s reluctance to make a direct attack on the city and early in July 1646 Colonel Thomas Rainsborough took over from Whalley and based himself at Barbourne House.

On July 9 Rainsborough announced his arrival to Worcester by drawing up his reinforced army on Wheeler’s Hill/Rainbow Hill indicating that he was going to be a lot more aggressive than his predecessor. New artillery emplacements were constructed and the artillery barrage on the city increased. There was also an exchange of prisoners with the city agreeing to return thirty prisoners in return for 17 of their own. Worcester braced itself for a full scale attack, but on July 16 Washington sent a letter to Rainsborough saying, “in conformity to His Majesties Command, we doe not decline the rendering of this city, upon honourable and equal conditions.”

Rainsborough was confident that he could take the city by storm but knew he would lose a lot of men in achieving it, so he agreed to a further truce.

The pay of the Royalist troops had been reduced from 1s to 8d a week, which further reduced their willingness to fight.

Rumours also spread in the city that a full scale Parliamentary artillery barrage was to be made, followed by a full scale attack and in accordance with the war conventions of the time, all persons within the city and their possessions would be at the mercy of the attackers.

Another rumour spread that if the Parliamentarians attacked, the Worcester citizens would turn on the Royalist garrison to protect their own lives and property. On July 18 Rainsborough offered what he insisted were his final terms. The city only had powder for one gays fighting and there was food only for a further two weeks.

The citizens had already broken the lock on the postern gate at the Foregate and many of the garrison had deserted. The Mayor and Corporation representatives finally decided to accept the surrender terms. Townsend describes how, “the city began to grow so mutinous that many gave out. They will throw the soldiers over the wall or club them if they should oppose this treaty, being now as all quiet people are weary of war, desiring their trading may go on.”

Washington finally agreed to surrender the city. Rainsborough had offered generous terms. The garrison was to surrender and promise never to take up arms against Parliament again; all arms and ammunition were to be surrendered and there was to be no plundering of the city. Royalist troops broke into the magazine and stole the remaining provisions, but the garrison finally marched out on July 23 1646, following a service in the cathedral.

Although the civilians were left alone a report was made to Parliament complaining of the “plundering and violating of those that had marched out of the city”.

The city’s defences were partially levelled to prevent any future use of the city as a Royalist stronghold. John Lench from Droitwich charged £1:16s for going to Worcester “ for throwing down the works.” Worcester was to be a Parliamentary city for the next four years, until Charles II rode into town on 23rd August 1651.

l Taken from The Civil War in Worcestershire by Malcolm Atkin and The Diary and Papers of Henry Townshend, 1640-1663 edited by The Worcestershire Historical Society (on sale in the Commandery Shop).