The Return of The King.

On the 10th January, 1661, the town was commended for "its readiness to serve King and country". Already, it seems, the town had decided on which side its 'bread was buttered', and resolved to act with enthusiasm for the new rulers.

On April 20th, 1660, Robert Dod was appointed a Lieutenant by the Commonwealth. It is here, however, that records go awry, and it is unclear at what point he was promoted to rank of Captain.

By the beginning of 1661 he was in command of a troop of horse at Birmingham. Extra precautions were taken following anti-Stuart riots in London, and Dod received the following letter on the 10th January: "WARWICK, Jan 10th, 1661. By the letters of advise wch. came by the post this morning early for London wee can make no other judgement than this, that the wicked Insurrection began, and shew'd it selfe more particularly there, but was intended to be generall by that disconted party through the Nation. That by God's blessing it was timely checked but is not yett extinguished. Wherefore it concerns us all in our severall capacities to bee industrious and watchfull; and yourselfe in that particular and the good towne of Birmingham are much to bee commended for their readinesse to serve their Kinge and Country, for whose good and mutuall security you may please with your Troupe to continew and quarter at Birmingham untill further order. And if in any of those precincts within this county you can discover any psons who either have been tampering in this late plott, or by such sufficient information and proofe it can bee made out to you that they intended to bee of it, or in their dayly practice or discourse make upon discovery of their disaffection to his Ma'stie or his government. That you cause such to be secured and to give notice thereof to us or to Sir Clement Fisher (who is in Coventry) that their restrainer may be made as well as to the common security. The rest of the Countie as well as this Town and Castle and the Town of Stratford are all in good posture of defence, and willing to assist their neighbours on occasion. After this day's endeavours(?) you shall probably hear more suddenley fr. Sr. Your servants, signed H. PUCKERING, CHARLES LEE. For CAPTAIN DODD at his quarters in the Town of Birmingham."

Little comment is needed, since this letter is self-explanatory. Evidently Dod was a reliable servant, and Puckering and Lee, while eager to apprehend any people of undesirable views, do not appear distraught !

At any rate Captain Dodd did hear "more suddenly" for on the following day another brief letter of instruction was sent to him. This one was short, sharp, and very much to the purpose: "Sr. This is too intreate and to require you to secure Girdlow of Bermingham, and all others about you that are of his Phenaticke principles; be pleased to send em in either too us or too Sr. Clement Fisher at Coventry: it will doe very well if you can finde any armes amonge em. Your discression wee shall much rely upon in such affairs. Wee rest Your servants signed H. PUCKERING J. SHUCKBURGH. Dated Janu 11th 1661 Warwick Ffor our worthy friend Capt. ROBERT DODD at Birmingham. These.

Captain Dod was evidently an active officer, for he pursued the 'disaffected' with success, arresting several of them. Consequently, only eight days after the last letter, this next was sent to him:

WARWICK Jan 19th.
Sr. Your friends heere return you and your company thankes who have been so carefull in securing such Per'ns and more particularly Major Thornton and Capt. King. 'Tis a trouble though wee were content to give you this time when our horse were most of them dispos'd of else where upon the like employment, it lying within your Neighbourhood. Yett now intend not to sollicite you often with the like except upon extraordinary occasions. And if you please to adde one further trouble to your selfe wh. you mention in your letter of coming over hither on Monday, I think that our conferring notes together may not only bee of good use but of very great satisfaction.
Sr, Your Friend and Servant, H. PUCKERING.

To my honoured Friend
ROBERT DOD,ESQ. These

This is the last reference to Birmingham in manuscript letters in the Dod archives. However, a printed commission exists, dated April 20th, 1660, from the Commonwealth, appointing Robert Dod, Lieutenant, and signed by Arthur Annersley, President, and seven others.

(Robert Dod was born in May 1625, married to Lucy Greaves {no evidence of relation to Col.Greaves} in 1653, buried in Yardley Church May 1686. Monuments to his father and mother still exist in the Church.
GIRDLOW: There is no definitive evidence of the identity of this man, but two suggestions have been advanced. He may have been Samuel Girdler, who was licensed as a congregational teacher in 1672. Equally, he might have been Robert Girdler, son of the Birmingham postmaster, who was commissioned by Parliament to raise a foot company of volunteers from Birmingham and Aston in 1649.
THORNTON and KING were both officers in the Warwickshire Militia - Thornton came from the parish of Merivale, near Mancetter).

Although the Restoration seems to have been established in this area with very little fuss, several nonconformist congregations seem to have sur-vived the transition, and the Bishop of Lichfield expressed his mistrust in 1669, of the "desperate and very populous rabble" of dissenters that lived at Birmingham. As late as 1676 the rebellious and anti-Stuart tradition of the "common people" was still regarded with uneasiness by local Royalists.

The leading local Royalist family, the Holtes, had emerged from the Civil Wars with an inheritance of personal injury, and heavily encumbered estates. In the years between Restoration and Revolution in 1688, the Holtes were distinguished for a vigorous persecution of noncomformists in and around Birmingham.

War in Birmingham.

Original material for this subject is severely limited - 4 pamphlets, mentions in a couple of journals, and a brief account in Clarendon. A more detailed study of the pamphlets follows, since their value in a study of this event is absolutely crucial.