2*78 



Notes on the History of Mere. 



Battle of Worcester. In " Baker's Chronicles " the incident is thus 

 narrated : — 



" The King in his way to Salisbury (from Colonel Wyndham's at Trent) came 

 to a Town called Mere to the George, an acquaintance of the Colonels, where 

 drinking in the Cellar, the Host seeing the King stand off as a servant, said, 

 ' Thou lookest like an honest Fellow, Here's a Health to the King' ; who unreadily 

 answering it made the man expostulate with the Colonel what Fellow he had 

 brought. The King from Mere went to the House of Mrs. Hide and was 

 joyfully there received, and introduced to a secret place in the House and here 

 Colonel Robert Phillips came to him and Col. Windham took his leave of his 

 Majestie and returned." 



The landlord of the Greorge at this time was Christopher Phillips. 

 In a History of England, by Lawrence Echard, Archdeacon of 

 Stowe, the story takes this form : — 



" The Travellers about Noon arrived at Mere, a little Market Town in 

 Wiltshire, and dined at the George Inn, the Keeper of which was known by the 

 Colonel to be faithful. He sat at the Table with the King, and discoursing with 

 the Colonel told him the News. 4 That he heard the Men of Westminster, not- 

 withstanding their Victory at Worcester, were in a great Maze not knowing 

 what had become of the King ; but the most received opinion was, that he was 

 come in Disguise to London, and rnany Houses had been searched for him there,' 

 at which his Majesty was observed to smile. After Dinner he familiarly asked 

 the King, ' If he were a friend to Csesar ? ' to which his Majesty answering ' Yes,' 

 then said he, ' Here is a Health to King Charles ' in a Glass of Wine ; which 

 his Majesty and the Colonel both pledged ; and so taking Horse, at Night they 

 arrived at Hele." 



The principal inhabitants seem to have been loyal to the Royal 

 cause. The Vicar, Dr. Chafyn, was shamefully treated by the 

 Cromwellian soldiers. Walker, in his " Sufferings of the Clergy" 

 says : — 



" This worthy Dr. was by the Oiiverian Soldiers dragged out of his House 

 and barbarously Abused by one of the soldiers ; who kick'd him in the Privy 

 members, and afterward forced him to Mount on a poor Galled, Horse s Back 

 without Saddle ; and so in that disgraceful manner they carried him to Fisherton 

 Prison, where he continued some few weeks ; but finding him to grow Weaker, 

 they sent him home ; where, after a few days, he died with the Anguish of the 

 aforesaid Grief; Plundering his House and Stable of all his Goods and Horses ; 

 leaving his Relict and Family in a Forlorn and Mean Condition." 



This happened in 1645. 



The same year Mr. Richard Grreen, of Mere, for his delinquency, 



