CLUBMEN 1645: NEUTRALISM IN A REVOLUTION

Haydn Wheeler

May 2021 · Haydn Wheeler

About this ebook

The 17th Century Civil Wars of The Three Kingdoms had caused a rift across the Country. After three years of pillage, plunder and seen unlawful taxation following the King raising his standard in 1642, and a war now between Parliament and King, the generality of the south and west of England as well as other parts of this country, decided that they had tasted enough of the "miseries of this unnatural intestine war."

This association of the generality came to be known as Clubmen

"The third sort, greater than either of the other, both in fortune and in number."

Clarendon 

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"This third party hath peeped, for many months in many corners, they will have an army without a king, a lord or a gentleman almost"

Parliamentary Newspaper

A look at a description of neutralism chose by those willingly and then how that neutralism is seen by opposing warring parties changed as the Civil War grew ever longer.

The Clubmen in their neutral stance by 1645 had forced the Parliamentary and Kings armies to deal with the grievances of The Clubmen.

The importance of The Clubmen as an association historically and their knock-on effect passes down the ages in the form of petition, organisation and community.

About the author

Born in Wimborne, Dorset UK and my love of the surrounding countryside had brought me into contact with many stories attached to many local locations and ancient sites. With a passion for walking the old by-ways this sparked an interest in those that had walked here prior. This prompted me into researching are social and constitutional history. My focus mainly being 17th Century but with an active eye on the present.

Stewart MacArthur is a Dorset based artist and has contributed to many illustrations regards The Clubmen. These can been seen via The Clubmen 1645 website.