Sir John Beaumont’s Regiment of Foot

Later Colonel John Godfrey's Regiment of Foot

Royalist regiment of foot of the Oxford Army, later serving on the Welsh Marches

• September: Beaumont commissioned Colonel by now
• October: Battle of Edgehill
• October: Siege of Banbury
• December: At Stow on the Wold

• January: Standoff at Cirencester
• May: Besieged in Worcester
• July: In garrison at Worcester
• August to September: Siege of Gloucester
• September: Beaumont killed in action
• October: Battle of Wem and Leigh Bridge
• December: Garrison of Evesham

• January: Skirmish near Dudley Castle?
• June: Besieged at Tewkesbury, Godfrey killed.

Beaumont's Regiment served at Edgehill and was at Stowe on the Wold in December 1642, Evesham, Tewkesbury, Beaumont was killed in September 1643 under Lord Capel and the Regiment taken over by Lieutenant Colonel John Godfrey who was killed at Tewkesbury in 1644.

They were issued 10 muskets¹⁾, powder, match and shot²⁾ in January 1643, powder, match and shot in December 1643³⁾, 29 muskets from Weymouth by February 1644.⁴⁾ and 3 wagon loads of ammunition in a convoy from Oxford in December 1643.

A list of the regiment's officers is shown in Officers and Regiments of the Royalist Army by Stuart Reid (Partizan Press).

Sir John Beaumont, Second Baronet killed in action September 1643

Godfrey was also killed in action, during Massey's storm of Tewkesbury⁵⁾

• Colonel Sir John Beaumont
• Colonel John Godfrey
• Lieutenant Colonel John Godfrey
• Lieutenant Colonel William Courtney ⁶⁾
• Sargeant Major Raphael Neale⁷⁾ (Under Col. Godfrey in I.O.)
• Sargeant Major William Courtney
• Captain Anthony Dormer (I.O. Stafford)
• Captain George Massey⁸⁾
• Captain Gilbert Thomas (Ment. I.O.) (Under Col. Godfrey in I.O.)
• Captain Francis Tyrringham I.O. L + W (Possibly from Lord Ranelagh's Rgt?)
• Captain Thomas Rookwood, possibly ⁹⁾

• Captain Lieutenant Robert Fleetwood ¹⁰⁾ (I.O. Stafford)
• Captain Lieutenant Thomas Gwatkin (I.O. L + W) (Under Col. Godfrey in I.O.)
• Captain Lieutenant Simpson¹¹⁾
• Lieutenant Edward Brown ¹²⁾

• Ensign Thomas Ennis I.O. L + W (Under Col. Godfrey in I.O.)

House of Commons Journal.Vol.2 28.10.1642 Proceedings against Dormer, &c. Upon a Report made by Mr. Glyn, from the Committee appointed to examine Mr. Anth. Dormer and Mr. Purpett, who were taken at Wicombe, and brought up by Lieutenant Pell. It was Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Anth. Dormer be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Fleete, there to remain during the Pleasure of the House. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Edm. Purpett be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Fleete, there to remain during the Pleasure of the House. Ordered, That the Mayor of Wicombe (Wycombe) shall return again unto Mr. Purpett the Monies and Horse be staid of his at Wicombe. Ordered, That Mr. Glyn do prepare a Declaration upon the Consideration of the Commission granted by his Majesty to Serjeant Major Courtney, Captain Anth. Dormer, and others, notorious Papists; and upon the Examinations of Mr. Dormer and Mr. Purpett, &c.

Add.Mss.18980 f.86 Sir William Russell to Prince Rupert 19th July 1643 Worcester Has told Sir John Beaumonts Officers to be in readiness to march but I doubt they will not be above 100 men.

E.126.1 Speciall Passages 25.10-1.11.1642 ‘A Commission was sent to the House of Commons under the Kings own hand, granted to Sir John Beaumont a papist, to raise a Regiment, whose officers are also papists, which is to be published that all the world may see whose cause it is that his Majesty fights for’.

John Rushworth Historical Collections Vol.4 states that Dormer raised a Company of 75 men in Lancashire and that Courtney was Sargeant Major of the Regiment. Courtney's commission was in the possession of the House of Commons.

E.74.16 The Scotish Dove 27.10 -3.11.1643 Beaumont killed.

Harl. Mss. 6802 f.164 To our Trusty and wellbeloved William Russell Knt. Governor of our Towne of Worcester Whereas a former warrant hath issued out for ye payment of ye arreares of Sir John Beaumonts Regiment. Our will and pleasure is that you forthwith make speedily payment thereof according to the honour of the said warrant. And that the said souldiers which are already or shall be recruited to ye same Regiment may receive sufficient quarter in our towne of Worcester. And likewise that you furnish Sir John Beaumont with such sufficient provisions of match, powder and bullett as he shall require of you for the relieving of Dudley Castle. And in so doeing this shall be your sufficient warrant. Given &e. No date.

Harl. 6802 f.58 To Col. John Godfrey and the Officers of his Regiment whom it may concern Whereas we have received complaynt from you that divers souldiers who have bin inlisted in your Regiment have deserted their Collers and are now under other commanders to the prejudice of our service and disablinge you to UNCLEAR Regiment. Our will and pleasure therefore and wee doe hereby authorise you to seize upon the persons of all such souldiers and if they will not willingly returne to be committed to safe custody and proceeded against accordingly atreightly commanding all officers whatsoever whom have any of them to deliver them unto you at theire perill Given 8. Aprill (1644)

Main Papers (Parchment Main Papers) - ref. HL/PO/JO/10/4/7 - date: 7 Sep 1642-18 Dec 1643, 1 volume Contents 7 Sep 1642 - Commission from the King appointing William Courtenay, sergeant-major of the regiment of foot under the command of Sir John Beaumont, and captain over one company in the regiment.

The papers of Captain Henry Stevens IX. The following is an extract from 'An account of monies disbursed for his Majesties service by Captain Henry Stevens Wagonmaster Generall of his Majesties Army'.

29 December 1643/44 For carriage of 3 loads of ammunicion & arms from Oxon to Evesham for Col. Godfrey being 30 myles at 6d ye myle £2.5sh.0d

(7) E.24.18 The Kingdoms Weekly Intelligencer Tues 7th January to Tuesday 14th January 1644 Colonel Foxes cubs, have fallen upon the enemy neere Dudley Castle,and taken Captain Lieutenant Simpson; Captain Lieutenant to Colonel Beaumont, and divers other prisoners; and so I end with the wily Fox.