William Strode (of Barrington)

(William's great grand uncle was the martyred last abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, the Blessed Richard Whiting, executed by Henry VIII.)

At the beginning of the English Civil War, Strode opposed the king's Commission of Array in the county of Somerset and was one of the parliamentary deputy-lieutenants there in 1642.

The Marquess of Hertford, heading up the Royalists' efforts headquartered at Wells (west of Shepton Mallet) issued warrants to several "Hundreds", requiring them to supply men and arms.

The Marquess instructed Sir Ralph Hopton and other gentlemen, with 100 mounted Cavaliers, to ride to Shepton Mallet and publish the Commission of Array.

A local historian relates the story in detail: Colonel William Strode ... learning of Sir Ralph's intentions, rode from his manor house at Downside with his son and four servants, all but two of them well armed.

At this news Sir Ralph and his Cavaliers turned horse ... in alarm and sent a message for Captain John Digby to bring his troops... and rode in haste from Shepton, a much disillusioned and angry man.

[5] In August there was a serious skirmish near Marshall’s Elm, Somerset, between a troop of Royalist horsemen under Sir John Stawell of Cothelstone and about 600 Parliamentary foot soldiers, mainly from Taunton, sent under orders from Col. Strode.

[6] In 1661, after the restoration of Charles II, Strode was imprisoned and obliged to make submission for disobeying the orders of the king's deputy-lieutenants in Somerset.