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 A HISTORY OF HEREFORDSHIRE the fate of the Hopton garrison, who were put to death for defending an untenable post, served as a warning against prolonging unduly a hopeless resistance. *^^ The castle was entirely destroyed, and Sir Robert Harley subse- quently estimated his losses at nearly ^13,000/^" In 1661 his son. Sir Edward Harley, rebuilt the castle partly on its former site, where Brampton Bryan Hall now stands.*'^ About the middle of April, 1 644, Massey at Gloucester was reinforced by Purefoy and his regiment of horse. In consequence Mynne was obliged to fall back with his reduced forces into Herefordshire, taking up his position at Ross, where he made himself a fortified post in the churchyard. Massey and Purefoy in turn occupied Ledbury, whence they levied contributions on the surrounding country, pushing their reconnaissances to the gates of Here- ford, and on one of their expeditions murdering John Ralph, the aged vicar of Stoke Edith, on his acknowledging himself a Royalist. ^'^^ In consequence of these inroads the king wrote to Rupert on 8 May recommending 'that Here- ford should be fortified and placed under a governor.' *^^ Rupert drove Massey from Ledbury by marching down the Severn and threatening to cut him off from Gloucester, but Massey in turn drew Mynne from Ross to Monmouth by advancing down the Severn to Lydney. He then pounced on Ross, which he occupied for a week, levying contributions on the county. Evacuating Ross on 22 May he captured Beverstone Castle and Malmes- bury far on the other side of Gloucester, and then returning on 5 June he took Tewkesbury, thus loosening the Royalists' grip on the Severn, and fore- stalling the king himself, who arrived the next day at Evesham at the head of his army to secure the post.*'* Roused by the urgency of the position the king on 12 June framed commissions for the governors of the counties of Hereford and Worcester, Mynne and Sir Gilbert Gerrard, giving them full authority in their respective shires to impress men and horses, to assess and levy contributions, and to imprison all persons justly suspected of disaffection. They had also a discretionary power to do anything they might judge to be for the advancement of the king's service ; and the sheriff, commissioners for contributions, and all other civil officers were commanded to assist and obey them.*'' By this measure the civil officers were definitely subordinated to the military, whom hitherto they had been enjoined to assist rather than to obey. But on 27 July Mynne himself was defeated and slain by Massey near Red- marley in Worcestershire.*'* On Mynne's death Vavasour was appointed to succeed him, but it is doubtful whether he acted. Colonel Barnard then held the command until 10 September, when he was succeeded by Colonel Barnabas Scudamore, only surviving brother of Lord Scudamore.*" "' Some interesting particulars of the siege are preserved in Warburton, Mems. ofPr. Rupert, ii, 135, 146, I 5 1-2 ; see also Webb, Mem. ii, 11-13, 359-61. '"> C. J. Robinson, Castles of Heref. 12-13 ; Silas Taylor, Hist, of Heref. in Harl. MS. 6766 ; The Beloved Disciple, Funeral Sermon of Sir Robert Harley by Thomas Froysell (1658). «■ C. J. Robinson, Castles of Heref. 15-16. "^ Webb, Mem. ii, 16-22. "' Warburton, op. cit. i, 514. "* Webb, Mem. ii, 28-36. "* Harl. MS. 6802, fol. 169. Mynne's commission also confirmed him in the military authority already bestowed on him by Prince Rupert. "* Massey to the Committee of Both Kingdoms, printed in Cal. S.P. Dom. (1644), p. 396-8. For a eulogy of Mynne see Barksdale's Nympha Libethris, 9, xviii. «37 Webb, Mem. ii, 80 ; Symcnds's Diary (Camden Soc), 195. 392