My Journal of the English Civil War

Flushed with the exhilaration of battle, I and my colleagues started to plunder the dead royalists. I found a pouch of money. “That’ll do nicely,” I thought! I staggered back to my tent, tired, excited and richer moneywise than I had been earlier that morning.

I learned later that over 4,000 Royalists had died, whilst we had lost only 300.men.. God was truly on our side. It was good to be alive.

Wednesday 14th June 1645

Naseby; the last battle of the War.Fairfax deployed the majority of our forces behind the brow of the ridge of Mill Hill, hiding our troops from the royalists.

Our cavalry were on each flank, with Sir Henry Ireton on the left and Oliver Cromwell on the right. Phillip Skippon, my commander, in command of the infantry , was in the centre.

Fairfax positioned our dragoons, under Okey, to the left and slightly ahead of his main strength. In this position, they were able to fire across at any cavalry charges.

Thr Royalists deployed in much the same way except for their Dragoons. Lord Astley commanded the foot in the centre. Sir Marmaduke Langdale commanded the left flank and Rupert the right, both cavalry. Charles himself commanded the reserves to the rear and centre.

The royalists attacked first. Rupert charged his horse across and into Ireton. Although they suffered from the dragoons’ fire, they beat Ireton’s horse back.

In the centre, the infantry met and we were again pushed back. Rupert, as was now typical, allowed his cavalry to continue the charge past the parliamentarian rear, and onto the baggage train, which they plundered at will. The damage had been done to the left flank, though, and it began to give ground.

On the right flank, however, Cromwell had timed his charge well. The royalist horse were slowed by marshy ground, and the impetus of Cromwell’s charge routed them off the field. Showing the discipline of the New Model Army, his troops then divided. Some continued the chase, to ensure that the opposing cavalry would not return, but the greater part turned on the royalist infantry. With no horse to defend them, the royalist foot were subjected to attacks from all sides, and the army began to disintegrate, most of them surrendering.

We had won; God had delivered the enemy into our hands and given us a great victory. Again I plundered and scavenged quite a bit of gold.

As I was reflecting on our great victory in my tent, I was surprised and honoured to be joined by Oliver Cromwell himself who had been told how bravely I fought. He offered me a promotion to Corporal, which I gratefully accepted.

Friday 1st January 1649

Today was Charles’ trial, I was asked to come by Cromwell. I stood quietly at the back, and I watched Charles carefully. He looked like a man who had been to hell and back. I heard the charges against Charles. He was accused of being a tyrant, traitor and murderer; and a public and implacable enemy to the Commonwealth of England. The Hall was packed with soldiers probably to protect the judges or make sure the king did not escape. I saw Charles refusing to defend himself saying that this court had no jurisdiction or authority to try him.. I heard Charles’s fate from the voice that spoke it, the Lord Chief Justice. Charles is to be beheaded.

Saturday 30th January 1649

AS Corporal, I was given the honour to beat the drums at the execution of the king. I beat the drums as two soldiers led him up to the scaffold where a masked man was standing with an axe in his hand. Charles was covered in a black cloth and as my drum beat he made his last speech. Many couldn’t hear it but I did. He said

“I have delivered to my conscience; I pray God you do take those courses that are best for the good of the kingdom and your own salvation”

Then the axe was swung and his head was chopped off his body, at which moment a large groan went up throughout the crowd. I then stopped my beat and walked off to the stables were I brought a horse and rode home to Dover. I gave thanks to God that I had survived without a scratch; unlike many other unfortunate souls on either side. God had truly been good to me and the cause of Parliament. I sensed that I had been a part of a momentous historical event..

The last written account of the civil war by John Gret, Corporal in the 33rd Regiment of Foot in the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I.