Before the war King Charles I managed to antagonize many of his subjects through his taxes and other actions. For 11 years he ruled without calling a parliament and had recourse to some very doubtful ways of raising money.
Could any of these have upset the people of Campden?...
HOMEGROWN TOBACCO MADE ILLEGAL
Tobacco had been grown on Westington Hill and in gardens for decades.The new colony of Virginia was given the monopoly of tobacco growing by James I. This meant he banned its growth in England but the law was not strictly enforced so smokers could still get local tobacco. Charles I added Maryland to the monopoly and set about making sure that no tobacco could be obtained except imported from America with the tax paid.
CAMPDEN MUST PAY SHIP MONEY
Ports had always been expected to contribute ships or money towards them for the defence of the realm. Charles I extended the tax to inland areas. Even if the tax had been approved by Parliament it would have been unpopular. Every parish was set a sum to find. When the vicar of Blockley was asked for his contribution he threw the Constable to the ditch.
The people of Campden were not just unwilling to pay Ship Money but couldn’t. Plague was in the town and parishes round about were sending money and help. The Sheriff of Gloucestershire appealed to London saying that Campden had no money to pay the new tax because of the plague. Perhaps they were excused because no records show that they received a final demand.
RELIGION DIVIDES THE COUNTRY
Realising that religious differences were producing disaffection Archbishop Laud suggested that the best way forward to reunite everyone was to introduce a new Prayer Book, and regulations that included the position of the Altar (at the East end not in the nave) and the provision of altar rails (to prevent dogs from fouling the altar). Charles I approved of this scheme.
The Vicar of St. James’s Church, Robert Lilly, died in 1636, probably of plague. Lord Edward Noel, 2nd Viscount Campden, appointed his own chaplain, to the vacant benefice. William Bartholomew was to be inducted by the Bishop of Gloucester and Lord Edward and Lady Juliana would be present and they supported the new ordinances.
The Churchwardens of Campden had little time to prepare. Campden’s church had no altar rails. What were they to do? We may never know what arguments raged but the Churchwardens’ Accounts tell what they did.
1636 Item Laied down for a workeman and 2 of us to goe to Stratforde to view thair Railes to make ours 5s – 0d Item Paied John Page for making the Raile in the church £3 – 10s – 0d But this was not the end of the story. There may have been some wilful damage because in 1638 Item paid … for mending the finisheing of the Raile in the Chancell … Disputes seem to have continued for just before or early in the war (the accounts cover at least a year) 1641/2 Item paid for takeing down the Railes …
—Churchwardens’ Accounts
It was not to be until 1684 that rails were again to be placed in the church and for exactly the same cost as had been paid in 1636.
COUNTRY AT WAR
Even though news rarely arrived quickly, rumour, gossip and occasional real news must have meant many arguments raged at Campden Market.
By January 1642 it could be summed up – the King believed in the `Divine Right of Kings’ he had been appointed by God and could do no wrong. Parliament believed in constitutional monarchy.
Perhaps the first news that Campden had of the final breakdown was when they heard that the King had raised his standard at Nottingham on 22 August 1642.
YOUR KING – & THE LORD OF THE MANOR – NEED YOU!
At the start of the war Lord Edward Noel was commissioned to raise 500 horse. Later he raised 3 Regiments of horse and 3 of foot soldiers. His first source of men would have been his tenants round Campden and in Rutland. We do not know how many joined up from Campden but for many young men it may have seemed an opportunity to see a bit of the world and perhaps get some loot. The Cavalier band led by Lord Edward’s son, Baptist Noel, was known as the `Campdeners!’ CAMPDEN AT THE CROSSROADS
Campden carried on with its everyday affairs unaware of its strategic position near where two lines of communication crossed.
The Parliamentary forces held Warwick and Gloucester and their supplies and communications went along the Fosse Way. The King’s supplies came in through Wales, Worcester, Evesham, Stow-on-the-Wold to Oxford, his new capital and headquarters.
It would not be long before it became obvious to both sides that whoever held Campden would be in a good position to control both routes.
ROYALIST TROOPS IN CAMPDEN
So far some of Campden’s sons had set off for war but armies, battles and skirmishes had passed the town by. This now changed. In August 1643 Lord Molineux rode in with 300 troops to hold the town for the King. His accommodation and that of his officers would almost certainly have been at Campden House.
His troops and their horses required billets in the town. Those heads of households who had not already hidden their valuables would have done so at once. Their wives and daughters would have been given strict instructions to avoid the soldiery.
King Charles and his army were on the move. He was at Sudeley Castle on 10th September. When he moved on away from the district the way was clear for the Parliamentarians to act, so in early October 1643 Campden was rudely awaked by a night attack by Roundheads from Warwick. The Royalist survivors will have kept a better watch at night afterwards.
Major Bridges, governor of Warwick hath lately … upon the encounter with a regiment of horse, under the command of Lord Mollinex, at Campden in Gloucestershire, and routed them all at the second charge, killed divers, took 100 Horse, many prisoners (amongst the rest captain Seager) two Cornets (junior officers) and three colours, three Quarter masters, and all with the loss of one man, and lately returned to Warwick.
Excerpt from The Perfect Diurnal, 16th October 1643
CAMPDEN SEIZED BY ROUNDHEADS
In mid- March 1644 the Royalist company led by the Earl of Northampton was quartered near Campden. Colonel Purefoy, the Parliamentarian commander sent his men to `beat upon their quarters’. He then went on to seize Campden so instead of Royalist troops the town was unwilling host to Roundheads. They may have been Puritans but there is no suggestion that their behaviour was any the better for that.
Puphery iss quartered att Camden [with] 5 troopes [and] 2 Dragoones; this morning he came from Warwyck … [Colonel] Sands and Colonell Westons regiments are drawn between him and Warwyck, [and] I am now going towards him on this siyd … I hope we shall make him pay for our losse.
—Report to Prince Rupert from Danial O’Neale of Prince Rupert’s cavalry.
ARMIES ON THE MARCH
In the summer of 1644 armies were marching and countermarching in the Cotswolds and nearby. The King himself was at the head of his troops. In early June Royalists and Roundheads followed each other in and out of Moreton, Broadway and Evesham.
NO DOVERS’ GAMES THIS YEAR?
It was at this time in this year that Dover’s Games were cancelled. The Vicar, William Bartholomew, was later accused of being a Puritan spoilsport for taking this decision. Who would have been brave enough to attend? Would you? KING’S MEN AT CAMPDEN HOUSE
Things were quiet for a bit in Campden, then came what was to be almost the final phase of the war for the town.
December, 1644: William Duggan arrived in Campden under instructions from Prince Rupert to fortify Campden House. He was experienced in such matters and conducted a careful survey of possibilities. He was shaken by what he found.
The position of the house, the lie of the land, all made any fortification works difficult and probably impossible with the resources available.
The howse no wayes answers my expectations, beinge in my opinion neither of it selfe nor of any thinge I see about it tenable. [However he would] labour on it.
Report to Prince Rupert from William Duggan, 23rd December, 1644
WARTIME SHORTAGES IN CAMPDEN
All this time Campden people had been struggling to live as normal a life as possible. Shortages even affected the church services:
Item payd Mr Travis for wine at Easter 1644 £2 11s 8d Item paid for a horse and man to fetch the same 2s 8d. Item to Mr Izoid for Metheglin att 2 times to helpe out when wine was scarse 3s 6d.
[Metheglin is spiced mead]
Churchwardens’ Accounts presented
11 November 1645, covering the period from 1 July 1642.
Even if the fields were bare most people did have gardens or small plots. Did some of them grow potatoes? These were still so new that they were more of a garden vegetable than a field crop. Garden produce might have been easier to hide from foragers. THE NEW GOVERNOR ARRIVES
In January 1645 a different man was sent as Governor of Campden with orders to defend and control the district. Colonel Henry Bard was an adventurer who had lost an arm at the battle of Cheriton and was already notorious for being prepared to take risks. He must have been well briefed before he came to Campden but took an entirely different approach.
He wrote a letter addressed to Prince Rupert reporting that he had begun the fortification works.
By an apparently extraordinary turn of events this letter was intercepted and fell into the hands of Parliament. The result was to alarm Parliament; it was feared that Campden would be the Royalist base for a major campaign.
May it please your Highnesse Excellency, I thought good to signify to you that I am here at Cambden House, with my forces which I conceive will be very advantageous towards strengthening this association of your Highnesse, as we are taking great pains, with spades, mattocks and shovels, `planting the Gospel’ [fortifying] and I am no longer happy than I may wait upon your Highnesse.
Letter to Prince Rupert from Sir Henry Bard, January 1665
EXPEL THE ROYALISTS FROM CAMPDEN!
15th January 1645: We are informed by some letters intercepted, that the King’s forces are about to fortify Campden in the Co. of Gloucester. If they should perfect that work it will be of very ill consequence in many respects and especially, as it is designed, to cut off all intercourse between you and Warwick. We therefore think it necessary that the enemy be removed from thence by all means, and so recommend it to you to be done with all possible speed. To enable you to effect this service, Besides the forces you can draw out of Gloucester and your other garrisons, numbering we suppose 500 foot and 500 horse …
The Roundhead force authorised would have outnumbered Bard’s men perhaps by 5 or 6 to one. Bard was well aware that Campden House could not be transformed into a strongpoint that could be held against a determined attack, let alone what was proposed. Prince Rupert too knew that nothing could be done and might have been surprised if he had actually received Bard’s letter.
Why did Bard write this letter? It has been suggested that he knew there was a Roundhead spy in the neighbourhood. Warwick always seemed to know what was going on in Campden. Did he hope that the Roundheads would avoid attacking him if they thought Campden was now a fortified strong point? Or did he intend to cause confusion in the Parliamentary ranks? In this he was successful.
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
15th January 1645: the London newssheet Perfect Occurrences printed Bard’s letter in full and followed this by a detailed report on what the Committee of Both Kingdoms had decided to do. It was all there. Who was responsible for this astonishing leak to the Press?
Colonel Massey considered that this changed everything. He was already overstretched. Now his orders were known there was no chance of surprise, so he was unlikely to be successful anyway. Even if he could catch the enemy off guard, what then?
Notwithstanding our best diligence with our whole strength we cannot sufficiently guard this country, no quarter being free from their power, ... If upon less preparation and noise the enemy should be driven out of Campden house what is to be done with it as I have no men to garrison it?
—Reply to the Committee of Both Kingdoms from Colonel Massey, 22nd January 1645
For whatever reason Campden was immune from attack by Parliamentary forces during the whole period of Bard’s governorship.
Click here for more about Henry Bard’s rule of Campden.
CAMPDEN HOUSE SET ON FIRE – WHO DID IT?
His Majesty reached Evesham and on his way drew out the garrison from Campden House, which had brought no other benefit to the public, than enriching the licentious governor thereof, who exercised an unbounded tyranny over the whole country, and took his leave of it by wantonly burning this noble pile which he had too long inhabited.
Lord Clarendon, History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, 1702.
Clarendon wrote this long after the event, but is still frequently quoted and as a result Bard is often still blamed for an act of unnecessary destruction.
But memoirs and contemporary accounts tell a somewhat different story:
Before we started [from Campden en route to Evesham], the Prince [Rupert] had given command to Colonel Bard, Governor of Campden to march along with his regiment and lest the enemy should make use of the House for garrison when he had left it, being so near Evesham, the Prince likewise commanded it to be burnt, which I set on a light fire, before we marched off, a house as my Lord Cambden says that hath cost £33,000, in building and furniture.
—Excerpt from the Memoirs of Sir Henry Slingsby, relating to 9th May 1645
The enemy in the garrison of Cambden house … being lately called thence to joyn with His Majesty’s Army, a night or two before departure turned their horses into the cornfields and committed many outrages to the Inhabitants, and when they had made such a devastation that nothing was left for them to destroy and spoyle they set fire of Cambden house it selfe, and burnt and consumed all the wainscots and other furniture of that brave house …
—Report to Parliament
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
26 May 1645: Colonel Massey with his forces from Gloucester took Evesham; the Royalist defenders having been withdrawn to join the King’s Army.
29 May 1645: Leicester was stormed, taken and sacked by the Royalists, Henry Bard playing an important part in the attack. He then gave further orders:
... in particular the late governour of Campden House gave commands to ravish all and that he brag’d he had done it the same day several times.
14 June 1645:
Battle of Naseby; Bard led two battalions. The Parliamentary forces were victorious.
ROUNDHEADS IN CAMPDEN AGAIN
23 June 1645: Oliver Cromwell was at Warwick. On 24th he was at Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Parliamentary Commander, Lord Fairfax came to Campden with 11,500 men.
No inn or present day hotel boasts that he spent that night in its premises. The Town could not feed such a vast army so food and beer was brought from Stratford. The next day they set out for Marlborough.
Trouble was never far away from Campden. Harvest would soon be due, but how much would there be to bring in after Bard’s men had spoiled the fields and marauding hungry soldiers had foraged here?
THE LAST OF THE FIGHTING NEAR CAMPDEN
1 September 1645:
Two reports for this day:-
The King’s forces are marched to Campden. We are informed that the King’s horses were about Campden on Saturday night.
News came to Campden over the next years of the King’s capture, his escape and recapture, then of his trial.
30 January 1649: The King was executed for treason. His son, the young Prince Charles, was proclaimed King in Scotland.
DISGUISED KING IN CAMPDEN
10 September 1651: Having avoided being stopped and recognised by Roundhead troops in Stratford-upon-Avon, Charles II and Mistress Lane rested overnight at the manor house, Long Marston.
Thursday 11 September 1651:
They travelled on to Cirencester, by tradition through Campden and Longborough to join the Fosse Way without risking passing through Moreton-in-Marsh where another troop of Roundheads was lodged.
Could the story be true that his jocular remarks offended a Camden farmer who would have had him put in the lock-up if he had not hastily apologised?