|
| Monck's view of Stirling
Castle from the Holy Rude churchyard. |
George Monck (or Monk), 1st Duke of Albermarle was one of Charles I's soldiers in the war in Scotland that preceeded the Civil War. He was then sent to Ireland. In 1644 he came back and was captured with many others at the Battle of Nantwich in 1644. He then changed sides and fought for Cromwell. He was in charge of the Parliamentary Army in Scotland and besieged Stirling castle for three days causing considerable damage. The garrison mutinied, forcing the King's Governor to surrender on 14th August 1651.
Stirling surrendered very quickly as most of the Scottish army were en route to Worcester. The Scottish Royalists were routed by Cromwell at Worcester on 3rd September 1651 and Charles II fled to exile in France.
For nine years Cromwell ruled Scotland, much as Edward I had done. His laws and the efficency of his governor, General Monck, did more to subdue the turbulant barons of Scotland than any of her kings. Monck, whose family came from North Devon, was responsible for bringing Charles II back to the throne after Cromwell's death and restoring the monachy, when he crossed the border with his army on 1st January 1660.
“Only the actions taken during the first months of the Long Parliament persisted beyond the revolution, otherwise things were the same as before. The Bishops and Lords were reinstated, religious dissent was again repressed and Parliament was called and dissolved by the monarchy” (Chambers). Charles II made all bureaucratic appointments and signed all the laws, but he was limited to a fixed income that was financed by a beer tax and was forbidden to tax or raise money without Parliamentary consent.
In 1663, King Charles II gave away vast regions of Carolina to eight of his favorites by charter with certain privileges, to repay them for their loyalty in restoring him to the throne of his father Charles I. General Monk, 1st Duke of Albemarle was one of these eight "Lords Proprietors".
For more information on the Battle of Nantwich see:
Other historical books by John Kinross include:
| Back to The Holy Rude Church | Index |
 |