The first report of the Battle of Worcester came in the Government propaganda paper “Mercurius Politicus” which was written by Marchamont Nedham, the leading journalist of the English Civil War.
Nedham, who started writing for Oliver Cromwell as the price for being freed from prison after earlier working for King Charles I until his execution in 1649, declared the battle was “a very glorious day of decision”.
Some historians claim the report was written by his boss, the Government’s “Secretary for Foreign Tongues”, the famous poet John Milton.
But Nedham (1620-1678) was regarded as the most potent reporter of the era and both the Royalists and Parliamentarians valued his services highly. And he may actually have been at the Battle of Worcester 375 years ago today.
His report on the Battle of Worcester said, among other things:
Referring to Charles II’s defeat and flight from the city: ‘Thus seems to be the setting of the young King’s glory…. Their King, it is said, went out very meanly, with only 12 horse.’
On the outcome of the battle: ‘In all the engagements that ever we had, never did a more immediate hand of God appear than in this nor more courage and resolution in an army, though no flesh hath cause to boast because it is the Lord only that hath done all these things.’
Referring to Oliver Cromwell, he wrote: ‘My Lord General did exceedingly hazard himself, riding up and down in the midst of the shot and riding himself in person to the enemy’s foot offering them quarter whereto they returned no answer but shot.’
And he quotes Cromwell as saying: ‘It is for ought I know, a Crowning mercy.’
Nedham points out that September 3 was Cromwell’s lucky day, as he won the Battle of Dunbar on the same date a year earlier. However, September 3 wasn’t always lucky for Cromwell – he died on September 3, 1658.
Nedham, who was born in Burford, Oxfordshire, and began his journalistic career working for Parliament before switching sides to support Charles I and then turning again to back Cromwell, survived attempts by the restored Royalists to have him hanged, became a doctor in the 1660s and went on to write for King Charles II.
“The Man Who Invented the News”, covering Marchamont Nedham’s chequered career, was published in 2022.
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