Worcesters hire

An inland county of England, forming part of the west midland division. Its early history cannot be determined with accuracy. Under the Saxons the county was included in the kingdom of Mercia. It shared in all the great civil wars of England; it was frequently the scene of contests between the Saxons and the Danes; the great battle which decided the fate of Simon de Montfort was fought in the vale of Evesham; and during the civil war Worcesters hire was disturbed by frequent skirmishes. The battle which settled Cromwell in po e ion of the government was fought under the walls of the chief city. See Worcester .