Sir Francis Ottley (1600/1601–11 September 1649) was an English Royalist politician and soldier who played an important part in the English Civil War in Shropshire. He was military governor of Shrewsbury during the early years of the war and later served as the Royalist High Sheriff of the county and helped negotiate the surrender of Bridgnorth. His final years were spent in a prolonged and complex struggle to free his estates from sequestration.
Background, early life and education
Francis Ottley's parents were: Thomas Ottley of Pitchford, Shropshire The Ottley family belonged to the middling landed gentry and claimed descent from the Ottleys of Oteley, near Ellesmere, Shropshire. However they made their fortune as part of the powerful merchant class of the town of Shrewsbury itself, the wealth of which derived from its monopoly in the finishing of Welsh cloth. As early as 1444 a Thomas Ottley was one of the aldermen assisting the bailiffs in the government of Shrewsbury.Coulton, p.17 He bought Pitchford Hall in 1473, and also had a house in Calais, from which he could seek outlets for finished cloth. His son William was High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1500, marking the definitive acceptance of the Ottleys into the landed gentry, the dominant class in Shropshire, a county which had no resident aristocracy in the 16th century.Coulton, p.40
Mary Gifford, daughter of Roger Gifford, MD Roger Gifford was a noted doctor, who was appointed Elizabeth I's physician ordinary in 1587. He became wealthy and served as MP for Old Sarum. He was reported to be a Catholic but this is uncertain.
Francis Ottley was educated at Shrewsbury School from the age of ten. He entered Lincoln College, Oxford, matriculating at the age of 17 on 4 December 1618, the same day as his younger brother, Richard. While Richard stayed on to graduate, Francis left without a degree for legal training, and the Inner Temple registered his admission in November 1619, incorrectly naming his father as Robert. In 1621 he married Lucy, the already widowed daughter of Thomas Edwards, who was High Sheriff of Shropshire at the time.
Royalist seizure of Shrewsbury Ottley was already active in local politics before the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, so quickly emerged as a leading Royalist within Shropshire, playing a key role in the military conquest of the county by Charles I. As newspapers were not yet in circulation in the Midlands,Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.33. he kept in touch with the national situation by having an agent in London, Robert Browne,Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.32. send him occasional newsletters, summarising developments in the capital, but also in provincial centres as news came in. Letters from Browne still survive, relaying such news as the crisis in May 1641 over the execution of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of StraffordPhillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.30-31. and, a year later, the first hostilities between Charles I and Parliament at the Siege of Hull.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.31.
The town and corporation of Shrewsbury were deeply divided. A political and ideological conflict between Puritans and Laudians had resulted in a battle of the pulpits for more than two decades.Coulton, p.69-90 During the summer of 1642 parliament and the king instigated rival mobilisations, the former under the Militia Ordinance, the latter under Commissions of array. Ottley received a commission from the king, dated 22 June at York,Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.34. to mobilise the county's Trained bands by sending a warrant to the High Sheriff. On the other side, a group of Shrewsbury aldermen petitioned parliament on 16 July to recognise a militia that had begun to gather under the command of Thomas Hunt.Coulton, p.91 Parliament authorised the training of militia for the defence of Shrewsbury and, under an act of 22 July, deputed three MPs, William Pierrepont, Sir John Corbet, and Richard More to establish its military control of Shropshire. The Drapers' Company responded with contributions of money, silver plate and equipment for the parliamentary cause. However, Ottley seized the initiative and disrupted the parliamentary muster on 1 August. Royalist forces drilled the following day under Sir Vincent Corbet of Moreton Corbet.
A declaration of loyalty to the king was issued by the grand jury at Shrewsbury assizes on 8 August. Acknowledging that their Worcestershire neighbours had been first to pledge their support, the Shropshire gentry and burgesses declared:
Ottley was one of those who signed, although his name was close to the bottom of the list of gentry,Phillips (ed), 1895, Ottley Papers, p.243. while his brother-in-law Sir Thomas Wolryche, 1st Baronet was close to the top. Ottley sent out messengers to carry the resolution to gentry in outlying areas to keep them informed and supportive. However, the situation remained confused and undecided for several weeks, with many of the Shropshire gentry hoping that mediation would avert open conflict.Coulton, p.92 Sir Richard Newport appeared on the scene as a mediator between the two sides but he was secretly in close contact with Ottley and his friend Thomas Eyton of Eyton upon the Weald Moors through his son, Francis Newport.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.36. and had pledged £6000 to the king for a barony.
Hopes of a peaceful resolution faded quickly after the king raised his standard at Nottingham on 22 August, effectively declaring war on Parliament.Sherwood, p.1 Ottley was in contact with a group of Anglican clergy who were plotting to come out firmly on the king's side.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.35. They met in Shrewsbury to issue their own declaration on 24 August,Phillips (ed), 1895, Ottley Papers, p.244-5. although the recorded signatories include none of the ministers of Shrewsbury itself. Shrewsbury corporation declared a policy of neutrality and non-resistance on 30 August.Coulton, p.90 Ottley plotted to bring the king to Shrewsbury to take advantage of the situation, using Thomas Eyton as intermediary, although he also received information from other informants, like Sir Thomas Hanmer,Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.41. the king's cupbearer. By 4 September Eyton had met the king at Nottingham and passed on to Ottley the king's summons to a meeting.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.38. In the meantime, on 10 September, the king wrote, authorising him to raise 200 infantry to take Shrewsbury.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.40. and, in an accompanying letter, Edward Hyde assured him of the king's personal, as well as official, concern and regard for him. On 13 September, the Royalist field army set off westward and reached Derby on the same day, where the king received an assurance from Ottley that the town was "at his devotion."Sherwood, p.4 On 15 September, Shrewsbury council agreed to give the king free access to the town and to “”Phillips (ed), 1895, Ottley Papers, p.245. The king had reached Uttoxeter by the time Ottley was able to meet him. An address was drafted for the king to read out at Wellington, where he rallied his forces on 19 September. On 20 September the king and his army entered Shrewsbury to a welcome from its people, although they had little choice in the face of overwhelming force.Sherwood, p.5 Ottley was knighted by the king at Shrewsbury on 21 September 1642.
The king was based at Shrewsbury until 12 October 1642, shadowed by the main Parliamentarian army, under the Lord General, Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, which had marched from Northampton to Worcester to block his progress southward.Sherwood, p.9 The Royalist soldiers billeted in the town were ill-paid and took to extortion and looting. Soon this spread to the surrounding countryside of north Shropshire.Sherwood, p.6 As early as 28 September Ottley was sent a complaint by John Weever of Market Drayton, alleging that he had only narrowly escaped having his home looted by Royalist soldiers and that many of his neighbours had not been so lucky, although they were “noe Rounheades but most duitefull subjects to his ma'tie.”Phillips (ed), 1895, Ottley Papers, p.249. Weever and other complainants had already begun to address themselves to Ottley, although he was not yet formally head of the garrison at Shrewsbury. However, there was informal recognition of his leading role: a proclamation, apparently from the king, notified all gentlemen and soldiers that they should be ready to rally in case of disturbance signalled by “”.
Quest for the governorship
When the king left on 12 October, embarking on the campaign that would lead to the Battle of Edgehill, Ottley had still not been appointed military governor of the town. Instead, there was an ambiguous document, signed by the king on 11 October, ordering him not to leave his residence in the county and requiring the Sheriff, JPs and other officials to aid him by protecting his "person family and Estate and every part therof against all persons Whatsoever."Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.46. He was thus compelled to continue lobbying for official appointment to the post of governor. Meanwhile, however, he tried to take control of the situation. Moving south from Shrewsbury, on 14 October at Bridgnorth the king outlawed three of Shrewsbury's most prominent citizens as traitors: Thomas Hunt, Humfrey Mackworth, and Thomas Nicholls. These men immediately disappeared from the area, leaving the Royalists freer to consolidate their position.
In December Ottley, together with Eyton, Corbet and other gentry, financed the formation of a force of dragoons, which was to be commanded by Corbet.Coulton, p.94Phillips (ed), 1895, Ottley Papers, p.254-5. However, the initial response was poor, with only about 60 enlisted. In January 1643 Ottley renewed his campaign to be appointed governor.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.55. On 2 January he compelled all the inhabitants of Shrewsbury, on pain of death, to swear a declaration against the Parliamentary Army:
This he hoped would win the king's favour and bring the coveted appointment. On 5 January Hyde wrote from Oxford, the Royalist capital, explaining the king's reluctance and promising speedy appointment if required.
However, Ottley had other informants at Oxford and elsewhere. A letter despatched the following day by Thomas Bushell made clear that there were others lobbying for the post at Shrewsbury. Apparently Ottley insisted on the appointment, as he was rewarded with formal appointment as governor later that month. A consignment of high quality carbines despatched to Oxford on 11 January must have helped, for Hyde soon wrote back asking for more and offering to raise the necessary money.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.59. A letter from Hyde, written 9 February, significantly alludes to Ottley's commission, possibly still en route, before bemoaning his apparent inability to provide the promised arms.Phillips (ed), 1894, Ottley Papers, p.69.
Complaints, opposition and repression