| Active | 1642- |
| Country | England |
| Allegiance | Parliamentarian |
| Conflicts | First Civil War |
| Type | Foot |
| Colonel | William Strode |
| Area Raised | Somerset |
| Flag Colour | |
| Flag Design | |
| Field Armies | |
Somerset Trained Band, supported the Parliamentarians
On 1st August 1642, Sir Ralph Hopton rode into Shepton Mallet with a company of horse and attempted to call out the Somerset trained bands under the authority of the King's commission of array. He was confronted by William Strode MP, who claimed authority over the trained bands under Parliament's militia ordinance. A street fight broke out when Hopton tried to have Strode arrested for treason, with the result that Hopton and his supporters were chased out of town.
William Strode (c.1589-1666), MP for Ilchester in Somerset, he was appointed Parliament's deputy-lieutenant in Somerset with authority to raise forces under Parliament's militia ordinance. Not to be confused with William Strode (1598-1645), MP for Bere Alston in Devon, who spent eleven years in prison for his outspoken criticism of King Charles and his ministers.