“Wednesday, October 22nd. Lieut. Col. Slaugher marched out of Bridgnorth about 2 of ye Clock, afternoon. Governor’s troop, commanded by Cap. Singe, 40. That night by 8 to High Arcall. Thence marched, 30 horse and 20 drag. with us, about 12 of ye Clock that night. By 9 next day to Chirk.”
“Thursday, December 18th. Sir W. V. drew out the horse he had with him afore, and some from Dudley and Ludlow. 6 or 700 horse, commanded by Col. Smyth. Horse 5 or 600. Marched from Bridgnorth, and had a Rendevous towards S. Friday morning came intelligence to Bridgnorth that Hereford was lost.”[54]
There are extant two letters[55] of King Charles’s, written to his Secretary Nicholas, from Bridgnorth. They contain nothing of any great moment; but the fact of their being written from our town, under the peculiar circumstances in which he was then placed, invests them with a certain degree of interest. The first is dated October 1st.: the year is not given, but it was most probably 1642,[56] as we find from the “Iter Carolinum” that he was here in the October of that year.
“Bridgenorthe, 1st. Oct.
Nicholas,
None of the letters have hitherto miscarried, this day having receaved ye 12th. by Pyteford, and shall at the tyme more insist upon letting you know of my desynes, and giving you directions, than in answers, having commanded your fellow Secretary to supply that. First then, (that you may know whether to send to me) I intend my course towards Newarke, where I shall take further resolutions, according to occasions. Understanding that my horse, under Goring, is likely to be {either/224} {beaten/173} or {starved/36} : 3 : 380. where they are: I have comand him to breake through to me. Now they must passe by or near Oxen, when my pleasure is {that/288} : {you/110} . 232 . {take/226} : {that/443} opportunity {to/290} : {send/264} {Duke/125} : {of/231} : {Yorke/541} : {to/290} : {me/213} : for since it is the fashion to {yielde/314} : {townes/54} : basely, none can blame me for venturing my children in an army, rather than to be besieged. I have no more to say, but that I approve of all ye advyse in your last, and meanes to follow them. One of the enclosed is for {Queen/247} : {of/231} : {England/360}. The other speakes itself; so I rest,
C. R.”
The other letter was written three years later by the King to his Secretary, the day after his arrival at Bridgnorth, on his march from Ludlow to Lichfield.
“Bridgenorth, 9th. August, 1645.
Nicholas,
This morning I receaved yrs of the 30th. of July, which requyres no answer, but thankes for yr often advertisements: and particularly for those which are of moste freedome. In answer to which, I shall desyre you (with ye lyke freeness) to take heede that {Digby’s/358} : {friends/376} make not much of suspicion * * * * * for {I/174} : 111 : {cannot/29} : {con/18} : 115 ceale {from/148} {you/316} : {that/276} : 358. [erased] perfectly—and all that are believed to be his particular friends; and I assure you that there is no dispatch yet come to me from —— For newes I refer you to your friendes, only I must tell you that tomorrow I intend to march to Lichfield, and so to Newarke ye next day; but if ye Irish be come, then I turne to Chester. My laste was from Cardiffe, which was written in such haste, that I forgot to bid you sende me worde (which now I earnestly desyre you not to forget to doe) how my printed letters, &c., have been receaved at Oxfd. by the severall sorts of people, according to their dyverse humours. This is all at this tyme from yrs