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Somersham in Revolt 3
The riots continued in Somersham against the Queen's enclosures, but as the Earl of Clarendon explains below, they attracted support from a local man whose own stock was rapidly rising as the break down in relations with the crown gathered pace. As law and order started to fall away to be replaced by local militias and, in time, full blown Civil War so the Palace became an easy sort of elicitly hunted meat and the villagers started to help themselves.
Item 1 From the Life of the Earl Of Clarendon Published 1759) Part 1 Pages 78-80 He (Hyde) was in charge of many committees made upon private complaints. Insomuch as he was seldom in the Afternoon free from that service in the Committees as he was never absent in Mornings from the House and he was often heard to mention one private Committee (in which he was accidentally put in the chair) upon an inclosure which had been made of great wastes belonging to the Queens manors without the consent of the tenants, the benefit whereof had been given by the Queen to a servant of near Trust who forthwith sold the lands inclosed to the Earl of Manchester, Lord Privy Seal, who together with his son Mandevil, were now most concerned to maintain the inclosure, against which as well as the inhabitants of other manors who claimed Common on those wastes, as the Queens tenants of the same, made loud complaints as a great Oppression carried upon them with a very high hand and supported by power. The committee sat in the Queen’s Court and Oliver Cromwell being one of them appeared much concerned to countenance the Petitioners, who were numerous, together with their witnesses, the Lord Mandevil being likewise present as a Party and by the direction of the Committee sitting covered. Cromwell (who had never before been heard to speak in the House of Commons) ordered the witnesses and Petitioners in the Method of Proceeding and seconded and enlarged upon what they said with great passion; and as these witnesses and persons concerned who were a very rude kind of people, interrupted the council and witnesses of the other side with great clamour when they said any thing that did not please them, to that Mr Hyde (whose office it was to oblige men of all sorts to keep order) was compelled to use some sharp Reproofs and some threats to reduce them to such a Temper that the business may be quietly heard. Cromwell in great fury reproached the Chairman for being partial and that he discountenanced the witnesses by threatening them, the Other (ie Hyde) appealed to the Committee which justified him and declared that he behaved himself as he ought to do; which more inflamed him (ie Cromwell) who was already much too angry. When upon any mention of matters of fact, or the proceeding before and at the inclosure, the Lord Mandevil desired to be heard, and with great modesty related what had been done or explained what had been said, Mr Cromwell did answer and reply upon him with so much Indecency and Rudeness and in language so contrary and offensive that every man would have thought that as their natures and their manners were as opposite as it is possible, so their interests could never have been the same (in fact Manchester, Mandevil and Cromwell would within two years be fighting together against the King). In the end his whole carriage was so tempestuous and his behaviour so insolent that the Chairman found himself obliged to reprehend him and to tell him if he proceeded in the same manner he would presently adjourn the Committee and the next morning complain to the House of him; which he never forgave and took all occasions afterwards to pursue him with the utmost malice and revenge to his death. Item 2 Journal of the House of Lords - Die Veneris videlicet 30 die Septembris (1642) It was informed that divers Persons have destroyed the Kings Deer at Item 3 Journal of the House of Lords Certificate of Sir Richard Stone Sheriff of Huntingdon about the Order for apprehending Delinquents for stealing the Kings Deer at Somersham. Shewing unto your Lordships That one Robert Philips, One of the Deputies to the Gentleman Usher of the Upper House, did by virtue of an order of the said House, dated 30 September last, repair unto us, at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden at Hunt. The 4th of this Instant October, requiring our Aid and Assistance in the Execution of the said Warrant; which with all obedience we willing to observe, directed the said deputy together with constables of Old Hurst (where the Delinquents in the Warrant nominated were supposed to reside) to make their repair, and to attach their persons who, coming to the said town unto the House late Mr Gascoignes, the said Deputy required the Bodies of the said Delinquents to be rendered unto him, according to his warrant, but he was answered that they were not there: Whereupon for his further satisfaction he required admittance into the said House to make search for them, which was denied unto him by one Bancks, who appeared to the said Deputy at a window there and denied to open the Doors, so that he could not enter the House for the said Delinquents; and thereupon he repaired to us again requiring further Aid and Assistance, for the apprehending of the said parties: But we understanding that it is impossible to attach the said Delinquents without the Power of the County (they being Persona of Desperate Qualities and Condition) and withal conceiving that, by your Lordships said order we have not authority given to us to raise the Power of the County or to force open the House, for the executing of the said Warrant (they holding possession of the same in the behalf of one Mr Fountaine, a lawyer) and without which power these Persons cannot be Apprehended, do, for further direction in the Premises humbly submit and refer our further service here in to such Order as this most Honourable Assembly shall conceive fitting and convenient; and shall be ever ready and willing with all Alacrity and Diligence to our uttermost, to apply ourselves to the Obedience and Performance of the same. Richard Stone Viv. Com Capell Bedell Charles Howard H. Cromwell Rob’t Bernard Oct 7 1642 Item 4 Journal of the House of Lords
Die Martis videlicet 11 die Octobris
Upon reading the certificate of Sir Richard Stonnes, knight, Sheriff of the