Leveson because he held a farm of him for life, was familiar with Rushall
Hall, and had told him he had to go there to pay his war contributions,
and sometimes to redeem his neighbours' cattle. On the one side Captain
Tuthill had promised him 100 of the 2,000 pounds bribe by which it was
proposed to seduce him, and on the other his landlord had offered to
remit seven years of his rent. Such is the fortune of war, however, the
poor wretch, instead of reward, met with an ignominious death at the age
of 65, after a life of honest toil.

In 1645 Prince Rupert had his headquarters in Wolverhampton, while the
King lay two miles to the north of the town, where tradition says he
watched a skirmish with the enemy from Bushbury Hill. When Charles I.
fled before Cromwell at Naseby on June 14th of that year he passed
through Lichfield and entered Wolverhampton. After sleeping the night,
either at the Old Hall, Robert Levenson's residence, or at a house in Old
Lichfield Street, the unfortunately King passed on the next morning
towards Bewdley.

Some interesting local information during this war time is to be derived
from the literary remains of an officer in the King's Army, one Captain
Symmonds, who amused himself on his marches by taking heraldic notes, and
noticing monumental inscriptions. An entry in his Diary thus alludes to
the foregoing facts:--

Friday, May 16, 1645.

The rendezvous was near the King's quarters. Began after 4 o'clock
in the morning here. One soldier was hanged for mutiny.

The prince's headquarters was at Wolverhampton. A handsome towne.
One faire church in it.

The King lay at Bisbury. A private sweet village where Squire
Grosvenor (as they call him) lives. Which name hath continued here
120 years. Before him lived Bisbury of Bisbury.

Our military diarist next writes:--

Satterday, May 17, 1645.--His Majestie marched from here to Tong--

and goes on to enumerate the garrisons in Staffordshire at that date,
distinguishing by initials which were "Rebel" and which were the
"King's"; among them:--

K. Lichfield.--Colonel Bagott, governor.

R. Russell hall.--A taylor governor.

R. Mr. Gifford's house at Chillington, three miles from
Wolverhampton. Now slighted by themselves.

K. Dudley Castle.--Colonel Leveson, whose estate and habitation is
at Wolverhampton, is governor.