ABSTRACT
After raising the royal standard at Nottingham, the King marched to Derby where he received word that Shrewsbury was ready to receive him. He reached the town on 20 September, began recruiting there, and established a royal Mint. North Wales was fairly solidly royalist, and contributed largely to the royal army which fought at Edgehill in October, whilst in South Wales the marquess of Worcester and his clients proved diligent in their efforts on the King’s behalf, efforts which were enhanced by a visit of Prince Charles to Raglan Castle. On 12 October the King left Shrewsbury and marched to Bridgnorth en route to the confrontation with the earl of Essex at Edgehill. In South Wales, the royalists recruited heavily, money being provided by the marquess of Worcester without restraint and on 4 November an army under the marquess of Hertford advanced on Hereford, held by the Parliament. Turning aside, the royalists moved on Tewkesbury, where they were broken by the earl of Stamford on 16 November. The fugitives escaped back into Wales. On 27 November, however, Hertford moved against Hereford once more and, although again beaten, Hereford was abandoned and the county fell into royalist hands. In North Wales, the royalists held firm control, and Chester was a garrison city, so that Wales was protected by a chain of fortified points along its border. Only Pembroke and Tenby remained in Parliamentarian hands, although Chester was threatened by a strong parliamentary party within its county. On 28 January the royalists were routed at Nantwich, which place was then garrisoned and fortified by Sir William Brereton, but Welsh troops poured into Chester itself to strengthen it. On 21 February at Tarporley there was a drawn action, and on 13 March forces from Chester were defeated in an attempt on Middlewich.
