The Attack on Lord Chandos: Popular Politics in Cirencester in 1642 Midland History Prize Proxime Accessit 2009

Author: Poyntz, Nick

Source: Midland History, Volume 35, Number 1, Spring 2010 , pp. 71-88(18)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $39.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

On 15 August 1642 Lord Chandos attempted to execute Charles I's Commission of Array in Cirencester. He was met by a large crowd who demanded that he sign an oath that he would not execute the Commission. After doing so, Chandos fled and the crowd destroyed his coach. This incident has traditionally been interpreted as an attack by clothworkers motivated by economic distress, rather than more ideological motives. This article suggests a different interpretation. It argues that the social and cultural ecology of Cirencester supported the development of a popular parliamentarianism in the early 1640s. It suggests that the Protestation provided an ideological, parliamentarian language which united working people, middling sort and gentry to oppose Chandos. While the attack on Chandos was violent, it was a targeted use of violence through which the crowd was able to discredit Chandos and exercise significant political agency.

Keywords: CIRENCESTER; GLOUCESTERSHIRE; CHANDOS; MIDDLING SORT; CLOTH TRADE; GIFFARD; GENTRY; POPULAR POLITICS; PROTESTATION

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/004772910X12629513108895

Affiliations: Birkbeck College, London

Publication date: 2010-03-01

More about this publication?