78 
LIFE OF LORD SCUDAMORE. 
two of his companions, for their gallant defence of the city. The King remained in Herefordshire, 
marching and counter-marching for several days, as is shewn concisely in the Iter Carolinum. 
Coming from Oxford through Worcester, he visited Bromyard, Wednesday, September 3rd : Here¬ 
ford, September 4th, dining at the Bishop’s Palace : Leominster and Weobley, on Friday the 5th : 
back to Hereford, Saturday the 6th, dining again at the palace : He went to Ragland Castle, Aber¬ 
gavenny, and Monmouth, from the 7th to the 14th, when he returned to Hereford : Monday, 
September 15th, it says “ we marched half way to Bromyard, but there was leo in itinere , and so 
back to Hariford again” : Wednesday 17th, to Rendezvous at Arthurs Stone 1 and there dined : to 
Horn Lacy, supper, (Lord Scudamore’s) slept one night: Thursday 18th, to Rendezvous , five miles 
from Horn Lacy, with intention for Worcester, but the Parliamentary officers, Poynz and Rosieter 
barred the way, so they turned through Hereford, Leominster, and Weobley, to Presteign, by a 
march lasting from six in the morning to midnight. So for Chirk Castle, &c. 
Dr. Beale, who wrote in the time of Charles II., says that “when the King (of blessed 
memory) came to Hereford in his distress, and such of the Gentry of Worcestershire as were brought 
thither as Prisoners ; both King , and Nobility , and Gentry , did prefer Cider before the best Wines 
those parts afforded.” (Evelyns “ Pomona! 4 Edit., p. 94.) 
Some little time seems to have elapsed before the committees of sequestration appointed 
through the country, got into working order. The Committee appointed for Gloucestershire and 
Herefordshire sat at Gloucester, and the first notice relating to Lord Scudamore is the following : 
“January 27, 1644. 
Upon information then given, John Viscount, or Lord Scudamore, was (with others) voted a Delinquent, for that he, and 
they, and every of them, had been in actuall arms on the King’s side against the Parliament within the space of two 
years, then last past.” 
A Sworn Coppie, Stephen Halford. 
They forthwith proceed to enquire into his estates, for the purpose of sequestration, when 
they are met by the Lease, which Lord Scudamore had had the forethought to execute just two 
months before the Civil War broke out. The Committee seems to have regarded it at first with all 
due credit; but as time went on, they became more sceptical; though it was not until the next year, 
that they resolved to make a special enquiry with regard to it. The following order was then 
made at the Committee by Ordinance of Parliament for Gloucester and Hereford : 
“ 9th February, 1645. 
Ordered that Lord Scudamore’s Lease, or Deed of Trust, made to one Mr. Whittington and others, be brought before 
the Committee with such witnesses as shall be thought good to be produced as conducing to the proof thereof, upon the 
xxiii day of this instant February ; and doe further desire that Col. Byrch, Governor of Hereford, doe permitt the agent of 
the Lord Scudamore to take from amongst the rest of his Lordship’s writings the said Lease, and any other writings concern¬ 
ing this matter to be produced before the Committee the day afforesaide, whereby upon that day in examination upon the 
case, the Committee may give their resolution thereon : and further that in the meane space, the lands of the Lord Scudamore 
shall not be sett 2 to any person or persons living within the bounderie of the Citie of Gloucester. 
(Signed) J. Bromwich, 
Gyles Overbury, Hen. Jones. 
1 A cromlech on the ridge of Meerbach Hill, not far from Dorstone, and about fourteen miles from Hereford. 
2 This use of the word “ set ” in the sense of “ let ” is a Herefordshire provincialism not yet extinct. 
