On 3rd September 1651, the Battle of Worcester took place, with the 21-year-old Charles II and his Scottish army fighting Oliver Cromwell’s forces.
Charles’s army were vastly outnumbered (28,000 against 16,000) and despite his efforts to keep his troops motivated, they suffered a heavy defeat, with thousands killed or taken prisoner.
The king himself escaped; during the day he had been incredibly visible on the battlefield, and allegedly had two horses shot out from underneath him as he was riding. His escape and subsequent return to exile is well-documented, and will be detailed on this blog over the next few weeks.
Before the battle, Charles had requested uniforms for his soldiers. He was unable to pay the debt, which remained outstanding until the current Prince of Wales repaid it in 2008.
