Ebook The Civil War in Hampshire (1642-45)

It comes not within our province to discuss the causes of quarrel between Charles I. and his Parliament. But before we speak of actual warfare we must briefly refer to a few events in the history of our county.

At Winchester there are frequent mentions in the Coffer Book of the walls and gates between the years 1632 and 1637, evidences of the coming struggle, and a notice of "xxs layd out by the Mair for the billeting of soldyers," a picturesque lot of fellows no doubt these were, and destined to see service, as saith that genial antiquary, Alderman Jacob. Amongst the writs for ship-money in 1635 d 1636 we find Southampton charged E195 towards the sum of 6000 laid upon the whole shire for providing a ship of E6000 tons with 240 men. The quota for Winchester, which caused much bickering between the Dean and Chapter and the Corporation, was fixed at 190, which fell to; 170 in 1637. Basingstoke and Portsmouth each paid E60, and Romsey E30.

The Rev. J.S. Davies, M.A., F.S.A., in his admirable "History of Southampton," says of that famous seaport:

"King Charles, who had ascended the throne March 27, was proclaimed in the town on Thursday, March 31, 1625.A few months later he was in Southampton. The plague was raging in the metropolis in the early summer, and the Parliament had been adjourned to Oxford, where it sat a few days at the beginning of August. From that city the King and his council came to Southampton, several orders in council in August being dated from this town; they were here also some portions of September. No.17, in the High Street, which contains a good specimen of wood carving (a very beautiful fireplace), is said to have been the Kings abode. During this interval an alliance, defensive and offensive, the Treaty of Southampton, dated September 7, 1625, was concluded with the ambassadors of the United Provinces. The King was not only resident some little time in the town, but was indebted to the Corporation, as also to that of Salisbury, for the loan between them of E3000 for the wants of his household.