Four Churches and a River: the Civil War in Cheshire
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The Cromwell Association CROMWELLIANA 2008 President Professor BARRY COWARD, PhD, FRHistS Editor Jane A. Mills Vice Presidents: Rt Hon MICHAEL FOOT, PC Rt Hon the LORD NASEBY, PC CONTENTS Rt Hon FRANK DOBSON, MP Professor JOHN MORRILL, DPhil, FBA, FRHistS Editor's note 2 Professor IVAN ROOTS, MA, FSA, FRHistS Professor BLAIR WORDEN, FBA Cromwell Day Address 2007. 3 PAT BARNES Oliver Cromwell as a Politician and Parliamentarian TREWIN COPPLESTONE, FRGS Chairman: Professor PETER GAUNT, PhD, FRHistS By The Rt. Hon. The Lord Naseby PC Honorary Secretary: Dr MAXINE FORSHAW, BSc, PhD "Warwick House" 61 Valley Road, Henley on Thames, Four Churches and a River: The Civil War in Cheshire 8 Oxon, RG9 lRL By Professor Peter Gaunt Honorary Treasurer: DAVID HALL, FCA 33 Cheyne Avenue, South Woodford, London, The Civil War Governor, 1642-51: The Case of Liverpool 31 E18 2DP By Dr Malcolm Gratton THE CROMWELL ASSOCIATION was founded in 1937 by the late Rt Hon Preston, 1648: Cromwell in Lancashire 49 Isaac Foot and others to commemorate Oliver Cromwell, the great Puritan statesman, and to encourage the study of the history of his times, his achievements By Dr Stephen Bull and influence. It is neither political nor sectarian, its aims being essentially historical. The Association seeks to advance its aims in a variety of ways, which Overseas Despatches III: 60 have included: Beyond Cruel Necessity - Cromwell's Irish Legacy By Tom Reilly a. the erection of commemorative tablets (e.g. at Naseby, Dunbar, Worcester, Preston, etc); Cromwell and Falconry 67 b. helping to establish the Cromwell Museum in the Old Grammar School at By Dr Patrick Little Huntingdon; c. holding two annual meetings, one the now traditional memorial service by the Obituary: Donald Pennington 75 Cromwell statue outside the Houses of Parliament, the other a business meeting at which the Council presents a report on its year's work for By Professor Ivan Roots discussion by members. At both, an address is given by a distinguished Cromwellian; Obituary: Geoffrey F. Nuttall . 77 d. producing an annual publication, Cro~ which is free to members; By Dr Stephen Roberts e. awarding an annual prize for work on a Cromwellian theme; f. maintaining a small reference library for the use of members; Cromwellian Britain XXI: Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire 81 g. supporting the fonnation of local groups of paid-up members of the By Jane A. Mills Association meeting for study or social pw:poses; h. acting as a 'lobby' at both national and local levels whenever aspects or items Writings and Sources XI: Mary Springett's Account of her Husband, 88 of our Cromwellian herimge appear to be endangered. Colonel Sir William Springett Editor of Cro1111VtUiana: JANE A. ~. MinstLM, LCGI, ACMI, FHA 94 Lynton Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 9NN Select Bibliography of Recent Publications 99 Press Liaison Officer: JOHN GOLDSMITH, BA, AMA, Cambridgeshire Heritage, Book Reviews Castle Court, Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge, CB3 OAP By Dr Patrick Little, Professor Ronald Hutton & Professor Peter Gaunt 107 www.olivercromwell.org: ISBN 0-905729-20-X EDITOR'S NOTE CROMWEIL DAY ADDRESS 2007 OLIVER CROMWEIL AS A POLITICIAN AND PARLIAMENTARIAN The 3ru September 2008 marks the 350•h anniversary of Oliver Cromwell's death and as Cromwelliana is published earlier in the year, articles and By Lml Nasei?J papers marking this important event will be published in the 2009 edition. This talk is about Cromwell as a politician and parliamentarian. My credentials to do this are that I came up through local government; indeed I 2008 is also notable for the Quatercentury (4001h anniversary) of John was the only Tory leader in Islington in the last century. I sat for a marginal Milton's birth and many events are taking place this year. The seat of Northampton· South, had majorities of 179 and 142 but lasted Cromwellian Britain section is devoted to Chalfont St Giles, which has twenty three and half years - Northampton, a town which received the connections to both Milton and Cromwell among others. wounded fro:m both sides after the battle of Naseby. I would like to give special thanks to Professor Peter Gaunt for his Never a minister, too rebellious, but it paid off as I was elected Chairman of excellent paper written especially for the Writings and Sources section. Ways and Means - a post that almost goes back to Cromwell. I had to preside over the Maast:richt Treaty; it took tw~nty five days including five all This edition also includes three of the four papers that were presentec;l at night sittings, and the government had no majority. I even suffered a 'no the Manchester Day school in April. confidence' motion principally beeause I would not allow filibustering. The 81 rebels were seen off by a majority of 369. I have spent my last ten years The image on the front cover was taken at Kenilworth Castle in the Lords as a back bencher trying to stick to my own vision of 'righting Warwickshire, which was a Parliamentary garrison from 1642-3. Bob a few wrongs'. Edwards of Falconry-Days.Com is wearing an Elizabethan/Jacobean costume and his hawk is Jack, a 7 year old Gyr-peregrine falcon. On the Finally I am Patron of Naseby Battlefield Trust and an admirer of back cover is a detail image of Jack without his hood. Cromwell. The key part of my maiden speech in' the House of Lords referred to him and he was the reason for tak:iiig the title of 'Naseby'. I would like to thank Bob Edwards for providing and giving permission My sources are the History of the Parliamentary Trust, original Journals to use the images which were taken by photographer Steve Senior I because there was no Hansard and articles by eminent historians, and my ([email protected]). Information regarding falconry and flying text is from H.R Trevor-Roper who wrote: days can be obtained from www.Falconry-Days.com or by email [email protected]. Ironically the one sovereign who had actually been an MP proved himself as a parliamentarian the most incompetent of all. Let's analyse the validity of this viewpoint by asking a few questions. Phase one might be the early years and his election in 1628. His background suggests that politics and parliament were to some extent part of family life. His father was an MP in 1597; he had cousins involved in politics; and his wife's family were also in politics. He himself appears to have followed the traditional route to Westminster which lasted until very recently, which wns through local government. Cromwell was a Justice of the Peace, bailiff and I a common councillor at twenty-two. 2 3 CROMWELL AS A POLIDCIAN AND PARLIAMENTARIAN CROMWEILAS A POLIDCIAN AND PARLIAMENTAIUAN He was elected in 1628 fc;>r the parliament that only last a year and the only messenger to the Lords. He spoke without notes on issues to do with the recorded speech we know about concerned a local matter. Should we be agenda of Godly reformation. surprised? I say no - if you are newly elected and suspect the parliament will be short then you make sure your electors know you are acting on their In August 1641 he moves the appointment of Saye and the 5th Earl of behalf. Bedford as guardians of the Prince of Wales. When the crisis over the central issue of the militia looms in winter 1641/42 it is Cromwell who is The next period runs &om 1629 to 1640 - eleven years without a the first and loudest voice arguing that supreme military command must parliament. Cromwell appears to have busied himself in local affairs. Some rest with the Earl of Essex. criticise him for not being outspoken about the 'ship money' and others insist that he is still pretty junior and locally orientated. The local politics At this stage he seems to be a political realist and before this he was not turn dirty and he finds himself elbowed out when he discovers he is not to seen as a leader of any particular faction but he was certainly keen, be one of the twelve aldermen for Huntingdon's new charter. So he decides outspoken, active in seconding a bill for annual parliaments, and on to move to St Ives. numerous occasions he moved bills or seconded bills, all of which failed but were of substance like 'The Grand Remonstrance'. He did, however, have Sometime, probably in 1638, he finds his 'vision and faith' written in a one major success, the Militia Ordinance, placing the military forces in the letter, which will take him forward into politics and beyond Politicians need hands of the well-affected nobility. This followed the king's attempt to a vision - both Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher had theirs, but Tony arrest five MPs and it was Cromwell's motion to set up the conimittee. Blair appear$ not to have had one. It is Cromwell's faith and vision that help to explain his reluctance to be wedded and glued to any particular form So when he returned to Cambridge in 1642, he could state that his of government. objectives of ensuring the armed forces of the kingdom should be in the hands of those who would use them to uphold the authority of parliament ! So as we approach the 1640 election my impression is of a young man of 11 had been achieved I personally think that any back bencher in any ability, argumentative, opinionated, who made friends and enemies, and in a parliament to have achieved what he did in just two years was quite hurry, all backed up by a vision which made him a conviction politician.