My Journal of the English Civil War

My Journal of the English Civil War

The first written account of the Civil War by John Gret, Private in the 33rd Regiment of Foot in the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I.

My name is John Gret, I’m 22 and from a small village near Dover. My father was a blacksmith. He was one of the greatest sword makers in Dover but when Charles I introduced ship money he almost went broke paying it so he refused and was thrown in prison and murdered in 1638. My mother died giving birth to my brother who died a few months afterwards. As such I was left all alone trying to scrape a living through making horse-shoes and pike tips. When war broke out, I had no problem in joining the parliamentarian cause.

Thursday 31st July 1642

Today I heard that the Parliament was calling able-bodied men to fight against the king. So I picked up my fathers sword and signed up into the 33rd regiment of foot. Under Lord Highland, the commander of my regiment, the 33rd will be the most feared regiment in the world.

Tuesday 5th August 1642

We marched to Dover to be trained by Cromwell himself. I was given a musket and then told that I must surrender my sword, because it was too big and heavy for a musketeer, I refused because it had belonged to my father. It was about to be forcibly taken from me when Cromwell came over and took it from me. He said that it was a fine cavalry sword. So he decided to keep for himself. I was a bit annoyed but happy that it went into good hands. I had no choice but to pick up my musket and walk back to my tent.

Wednesday 6th August 1642

Today we learned how to use our weapons. I found the musket was too hard to handle and my rough hands couldn’t pour the gun powder properly so I kept spilling it. Cromwell noticed me and decided that I had no chance of being a musketeer. So my musket was taken away and I was given 16 foot pike instead. Great news! I was given my sword back! They taught me how to use my pike and what my role would be; I wrote it below in case I forgot:

How to use it

1. Position the pike firmly under my left foot
2. Steady the weapon with my right hand
3. Use my left hand to draw my sword

What I must do

Protect the musketeers from other infantry and cavalry charges