POLITICAL HISTORY 



with 6,000 men. In April, by Rupert's counsel, he was formally entrusted 

 with the suppression ^ of the south-western resistance. Charles having 

 abandoned Reading and Abingdon to Essex went (3 June) to Worcester. 

 Instead of crushing him there, Essex decided to go himself to relieve Lyme, 

 while Waller was to pursue the king alone. ^ The Committee of Both 

 Kingdoms ordered Essex not to separate from Waller, but to send sufficient 

 cavalry to relieve Lyme, and then to hasten to Oxford with his main army.* 

 This letter overtook him at Blandford. He replied that, in going to relieve 

 Lyme, he was only carrying out their orders, which was true.* He also 

 pointed out that horse were no use in Lyme, and ' even if they could and 

 should succeed. ... I know not what my army should do without the horse 

 the whilst, or how the horse should ever return to my foot again.' ° A 

 day or two later, while still at Blandford with 1,300 horse and foot, he 

 detailed Sir William Balfour to go and occupy Weymouth. On its capture 

 by Lord Carnarvon the previous summer it had been commanded by 

 Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, then still a Royalist. He was high sheriff in 

 1643—4, and a commission from Charles to impress men in Dorset was 

 addressed to him and to Ashburnham, who succeeded him in the governorship 

 of Weymouth.* Cooper's change of side took place in the early spring of 

 1644 ; ^ on 6 March, information about him came before the Committee for 

 Compounding.' His reason for coming over was declared to be that ' he was 

 fully satisfied that there was no intention of that side for promoting or 

 preserving the Protestant religion and liberties of the kingdom.' He was 

 a valuable recruit, having well-stocked property at Wimborne St. Giles worth 

 >r8oo a year. He declared that he had not made known his intention to any, 

 and that, a month before he heard of the Declaration (which promised life 

 and liberty to all who should come in before 6 March), he delivered up his 

 commissions as sheriff of Dorset and governor of Weymouth, and was resolved 

 to return to the ParHament. One of the committee said that he was ' very 

 cordial for the ParHament, and able to do good service by discovery of the 

 enemy's designs and strength, and how to prepare against them, both at 

 Poole and Wareham.' ' 



Upon the approach of the Parliamentary force William Ashburnham, 

 now governor of Weymouth, garrisoned and retired into Portland Castle, 

 alleging orders from Prince Maurice contingent upon such circumstances. 

 Essex then himself advanced upon Weymouth, which at the request of the 

 inhabitants he occupied (16 June), the Royal garrison retiring to join the 

 Prince before Lyme." On the way Essex had ' delivered an elegant 

 speech ' at Dorchester, and Hugh Peters ' stirred up the town to see the 

 miseries of the war,' and ' that God now offered them an opportunity to 



' He was made Lieut.-Gen. of the South — including Dorset — in February ; Docquets of Letters Patent, 163. 



' A Dorset regiment (under Col. Sydenham) which Waller had with him was no more dependable, when 

 far from home, than other county levies. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644, p. 220. See also S. R. Gardiner, Hht. Gt. Civ. 

 War, \, 340 ; ii, 4. 



' Com. Both Kingdoms to Essex, 13 June, 1644 ; Cal. S.P. Dom. 1644, p. 228. 



' See Committee's Letters, insisting on its relief by him ; Ap. 28, May 7, 30 ; June 3, 1 1 (bis) in Ca/. 

 S.P. Dm. 1644, pp. 182-3, 138, 150, 223, 226, 198. 



' Ibid. 234. ' Docquets of Letters Patent (Rec. Com.), 75. 



' Christie, Life of the First Lord Shaftesbury, i, 47. 



' Cal. Com. Compounding, ii, 839. " Ibid. 



'" Clarendon, op. cit. iv, 496-7 ; Mercurius Aulicus, 20 June, 1644 ; Cal.S. P. Dom. 1644, p. 270. 



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