146 
only remained for the two parties to fight out their differences, 
and both accordingly raised forces for this purpose. 
The Parliament called the country to fight for Religious and 
Civil Liberty against the Popery and Tyranny too evident in 
_ Royalty; and whilst Somerset may claim that this resolution was 
chiefly induced and brought about under the leadership of 
Somerset men, Somerset must also claim the honour of the first 
encounter and the first blood shed in this ever eventful war. 
For the present purpose however these events of 1642 must be 
passed over, and coming to the month of May, in 1643, a Royalist 
force gathered in Devon and Cornwall largely by the exertions of 
Sir Ralph Hopton, of Witham Friary and Evercreech, after 
many victories in those counties, is advancing rapidly, intending 
to pass through Somerset and join the King at Oxford. 
The whole county of Somerset which from the first had risen 
against the King was quickly called upon to make preparations 
for resistance ; but before these could be so completed as to be of 
service, or any sufficient force could be organised, the Royalist 
troops, consisting of three thousand excellent foot, five hundred 
horse and three hundred dragoons, arrived at Chard. Here they 
were joined on the 2nd June by the Marquis of Hertford and 
others from Oxford with a thousand more newly-raised foot, 
sixteen hundred horse and seven or eight field pieces, the two 
forces making together four thousand foot, about two thousand 
one hundred horse, three hundred dragoons and sixteen cannon. 
From Chard they went to Taunton, then by Glastonbury to 
Wells, and so meeting with an ineffectual opposition all the way 
reached Frome towards the end of June and there rested for a time. 
The command in chief for the Parliament to oppose them was 
offered to Sir William Waller, but at first he was inclined to 
refuse it, as neither men nor money appeared to be forthcoming 
forhim. Being pressed however and assured that both should be 
provided, he accepted, although with many misgivings and very 
unwillingly. 
