A HISTORY OF DORSET 



menacing deputation of Clubmen, and also by Colonel Sydenham, governor of 

 Weymouth, with urgent accounts of the danger from 'these club risers.'* 

 Fairfax himself considered them, in spite of their ostensible neutrality, inclined 

 to Royalism.' Next day Fairfax, at Beaminster (burned ' by Prince Maurice, 

 by reason of a falling out between the French and Cornish'),' heard that 

 Goring had finally abandoned the siege of Taunton. On the loth Fairfax 

 routed him at Langport, and on the 23rd Bridgwater surrendered. The 

 Parliamentary forces in Dorset had now only to reduce Sherborne Castle 

 and disperse the Clubmen, for Corfe, now as ever, remained outside the general 

 campaign. Till this was done, however, the army could not with safety turn 

 to the conquest of the districts west of the Parret. At a council of war 

 (25 July) it was decided to begin both operations at once.* On Friday, i, 

 and Saturday, 2 August, Cromwell and Fairfax together viewed the castle and 

 its defences. At the second inspection they ' conceived the place might 

 shortly be reduced.' The siege was begun, but it was decided not to attempt 

 assault till after the reduction of the Clubmen. These, hearing of the strict 

 blockade of their ally, who had with him his own regiment, 150 veterans, 

 and some horse, assembled in force that Saturday, 2 August, at Shaftesbury, 

 intending to drive off Cromwell and Fairfax.^ Having information of their 

 meeting places, Cromwell sent Fleetwood with 1,000 horse to surround the 

 town. About fifty of the leaders were captured.* On the following Monday 

 Cromwell marched himself towards Shaftesbury, no doubt to intercept that 

 body of Clubmen whose appointed meeting at Sutton Waldron had been 

 accidentally revealed to him.^ His scouts discovered a party encamped on 

 Duncliff Hill, a place ' full of wood and almost inaccessible.'* Resolving not 

 to hazard men under such conditions, he sent word to parley. He went him- 

 self up the hill alone, and pointing out the error of their ways, ended by a 

 successful appeal to their pockets. They were either convinced by his argu- 

 ments or dismayed by his firmness, for they dispersed and went quietly to 

 their homes.' The next day he found a further and more formidable force of 

 about 4,000 entrenched in an ' old Romane work ' on Hambledon Hill, near 

 Shroton (Iwerne Courtney). Again he attempted parley, but through the 

 determined action of Mr. Bravell, minister of Compton,^" who said ' he would 

 pistoll them that gave back,' they refused a peaceful settlement. They 

 repulsed a direct charge ; but, Desborough taking them in the rear, some 

 fled, many were made prisoners. These were quartered that night in the 

 church at Shroton, and Cromwell, who tried his eloquence upon them, 'made 

 them confess they saw themselves misled.'" 



* Sprigge, op. cit. 62. ' Ludlow, Memoirs, \, 473-4. 



' Sprigge, op. cit. 66-7. Its rebuilding was ordered to be paid for out of the estate of George Penny, a 

 recusant of Toller, 9 Jan. 1646. Minute Bis. of Dorset Standing Com. 140, 271 (ed. Mayo). 'The 

 Dorset Committee is the only County Committee whose records are now available.' Gardiner, Hist. 

 Gt. Civil War, iii, 200. * Sprigge, Ang. Rediv. 83. ' Carlyle, Cromwell, i, 221. 



' Sprigge, op. cit. 86. 'A List of the Country Gentlemen,' &c. 



' See the letter to Col. Bingham, printed Hutchins, i, 13. * Warne, And. Dorset, 67. 



' Sprigge, op. cit. 86-7 ; CromwelPs Letters (ed. 1846), p. 141 ; Whitelocke, Memorials, 159. 



'" Whom Sprigge calls the leader of the movement, lable of the Motion of the Army. He was seques- 

 trated for joining the Clubmen, but was later restored (Triers : J. White, W. Benn, Symon Forde) on submission 

 to the ' discipline of the Church of England as it is established.' See Min. Bks. of Dorset Standing Committee, 

 II, 19, 45, 58, 220, 232. 



" Sprigge, op. cit. 88 ; Carlyle, Cromwell's Letter, rot. 'Two Great Victories.' 'Two Letters.' 'The 

 Proceedings of the Army.' 



160 



