On two occasions in the 17th century Lyme
sprang into national prominence.
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The Siege of Lyme during the Civil
War...
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| Mary Tudor called Lyme 'that heretic
town' and stopped an annual grant for maintenance of the Cobb. The town seems
often to have been a thorn in the side of sovereigns: certainly it had a
reputation for radical thinking on religious as well as political matters. So
it is no surprise to find Lyme stoutly defending its town again in 1644 against
the army of Prince Maurice, nephew of King Charles I. Lyme was staunchly
Parliamentarian. |
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The defence of Lyme was organised by
Colonel (later Admiral) Robert Blake; and the women of the town played an
important part by helping to dig trenches, man earthworks and load muskets. The
brave defence was crucially supported from the sea, and after a five-week siege
from April till June, Prince Maurice withdrew after heavy losses, defeated by
'this little vile fishing town defended by a small dry ditch'. |
... and the landing of the Duke of
Monmouth
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When in 1685 James, Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate
son of Charles II, sailed from Holland with the purpose of claiming
the throne from his Catholic uncle James II, he chose Lyme because
of its Protestant sympathies. He landed on 11 June 1685, collected
an army of volunteers, and began to march towards London. His untrained
army, some 3,000 strong, was defeated at Sedgemoor near Taunton on
5 July. The Government sent the Lord Chief Justice, Baron Jeffreys,
to make sharp retribution: in the Bloody Assizes which followed, hundreds
were condemned to death or transportation. Ninety-nine men from Lyme
were arrested, and twelve of them were executed at Lyme on the beach
where Monmouth had landed. |
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