Rebels and traitors

Chapter Forty-One — The Agitators: 1647

Determination to achieve a good political solution ran through the ranks. Of their leaders, Fairfax yearned for the status quo, on just terms, but Cromwell was an unknown quantity, perhaps not yet certain himself what he sought. Others quickly decided. Radical soldiers and officers allied with radical civilians. Interesting links were forged, and not particularly in secret.

From the Tower of London John Lilburne created a roaring series of pamphlets under the title Jonah's Cry out of the Whale's Belly. He urged Oliver Cromwell to march to the city in peace, to deal with the King, to beware of untrustworthy members of the Commons and the army, but, most of all, to listen to petitions from the common soldiers. Lilburne wrote to Cromwell because he knew him well. He claimed insight into Cromwell's state of mind from 'a knowing man out of the army that came to me on purpose yesterday'. This knowing man was reckoned to be Edward Sexby.

How often and how closely Sexby worked with Cromwell in that turbulent year neither would ever reveal. How intimately Sexby colluded with Lilburne was equally vague. How had he managed to travel to visit Lilburne in the Tower of London? Did he ride there on his cavalry horse, openly in uniform? Was Fairfax aware he absented himself from the regiment? How far did Sexby act alone in initiating the army movement which so quickly formed to 'agitate' for the soldiers' concerns? Following the officers' petition, he certainly took a major role in organising the rank and file. In April he masterminded The Apology of the Common Soldiers of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army. This list of demands took the form of a letter to the commanders, Fairfax, Cromwell and Skippon, though it was always intended to be presented to Parliament. Initially it was put together by two representatives each from eight cavalry regiments. Cavalry were sufficiently mobile to communicate with each other, even though in theory it was mutiny. When Sexby and two colleagues, Allen and Shepherd, took the Apology to Westminster and were summoned for examination, they carefully insisted that the document was the work of all, not any individual, and that it had been produced by regiments acting independently.

Unnerved by the three troopers' steady resolve, Parliament promised to bring forward the measures sought, with payment of arrears. Cromwell, Skippon, Ireton and Fleetwood were made commissioners to restore calm. Meetings at Saffron Walden resulted in the appointment of agitators, or agents, for every regiment, no longer just the cavalry: two officers each and two from the ranks. They would meet in an army council to discuss anxieties. Cromwell would present Parliament with a new petition to give reassurances that the soldiers would remain loyal, provided they were fairly treated.

Parliament none the less proceeded with its intention to disband the troops. Promises to provide arrears of pay and redress of grievances would come into effect only after the disbandment. The regimental Agitators circulated letters, warning the soldiers to resist this.

Against this troubled background, Gideon Jukes once again met Edward Sexby.

Colonel Thomas Rainborough's regiment, Gideon had found, was articulate, fearless, and much more lively than he had expected from his brother's relaxed description of them as 'good lads'. These hefty musketeers and pikemen, many drawn from parishes in Rainborough's home area of Deptford and Wapping, accepted Gideon as one of their kind. They felt obliged to deride his eccentrically short uniform, but being tall was approved, since Rainborough himself was a notably big man. The soldiers welcomed Gideon into their conclaves. As Lambert's brother he was immediately trusted. Gideon found he had joined his new regiment at a significant moment: they were planning to mutiny. Rainborough had been absent for some months at Westminster. Critics would claim afterwards that he kept away from his regiment deliberately, to distance himself as radicalism fomented. Gideon had learned more about him. Rainborough had a seafaring background; his father once rescued three hundred English prisoners of Algerian pirates, an event remembered in a Moor's head on the family badge. The Royalist press scornfully called him 'the Skipper's Boy', furthering an admiring myth that he rose to admiral from cabin boy. With this history, Rainborough had now won Parliamentary approval to make a seaborne expedition to Jersey, where the Prince of Wales had been living. So in May 1647, the regiment was moved to Hampshire, prior to embarkation for Jersey as soon as the order was given. They never went.

In only a few months, political organisation in the New Model had become busy, with the soldiers' enthusiastic support For a meeting at Bury St Edmunds infantrymen contributed fourpence a head, which was half a day's pay; they wore red ribbon armbands on their left arms to signify solidarity to death. Not only was the main army involved, but messengers travelled to the navy and to detached forces in Wales and the North.

Incessant trips to plan were made between units, over long distances. Ciphers protected identities. It was a curious situation because, since the appointment of Agitators had been officially approved, their activity was sanctioned by the high command; more than fifteen hundred pounds was allocated from the army's contingency fund, authorised by Fairfax, for the Agitators' expenses. When Rainborough's regiment was quartered between Petersfield and Portsmouth, men on extremely high-quality horses came to inveigle the sea-greens into what the Agitators wanted.

Gideon and Lambert heard the Agitators' request and marvelled. Rainborough's men were being asked to defy their orders. No longer trusting either Parliament or any of their own Presbyterian officers, radical soldiers had identified two immediate aims: first, not to lose control of the King he was still confined at Holdenby House, although there were strong suspicions that the Presbyterians in Parliament intended to transfer him to Scotland; second, not to relinquish the New Model's artillery, which was currently at Oxford. If Parliament moved the artillery to the Tower of London, the Trained Bands, under new Presbyterian leadership, might turn the guns against Fairfax's men. The Agitators were hoping Rainborough's troops would help prevent that.

Gideon was chosen to take the regiment's reply. He went with a colleague; message-carriers rode in pairs, in case of accident. Because he had been a dragoon, the others assumed he was an assured rider and the Agitators produced a mount for him. Unlike the late Sir Rowland, this was a superb horse. His speed and stamina would be needed, for they had to reach the army's current headquarters in Chelmsford, an awkward trip of over a hundred miles. The Agitators' message had come from a man known as Cipher 102, whom they believed to be Lieutenant Chillenden of Colonel Whalley's regiment. But when they came to Chelmsford, the two saddle-sore messengers were taken to Edward Sexby.

Sexby was having the time of his life. Gideon, who recognised him at once, saw that the man had found his life's mission. When they were brought into his presence, Sexby was intently crouched over a letter he was writing. He was totally engrossed. Though the text was short and his pen-strokes controlled, the vigour with which he shook sand to dry the ink on the completed paper said everything. Gideon spotted that he had a cipher key by him, which he covered quickly.

Now thirty years old, all Sexby's waking moments were devoted to conspiracy. It seemed to Gideon that Sexby was so entirely taken up by this work that he almost loved the game more than the ideas. Gideon shook off his own curmudgeonly reaction to his colleague's intensity.

To establish his credentials, Gideon mentioned how Sexby had been at his wedding. Sexby took a moment to remember. Then he was all charm. 'Of course!' He did not ask after the fate of the marriage, the health of Gideon's bride, or whether they had been favoured with children.

Gideon never had any wish to discuss Lacy, yet he bridled a little. Years later, with hindsight, he thought Sexby was too self-centred. Perhaps at the time he was jealous of Sexby's success; if so, he rebuked himself. None the less, he reckoned that Parthenope, Sexby's hostess at the wedding breakfast, would disapprove. It was an odd moment for Gideon to be thinking of his mother but he knew she would have said a polite guest should at least have remembered the quantities of ale and the fine cuts of meat.

Still, revolutionaries are often bad at social relationships. Too many believe that all men are born equal — but that they themselves possess special talents which give them golden destinies.

'You helped my brother put my delinquent uncle in a horse-trough.'

'Ah Lambert Jukes!' The easy charm returned. 'Lambert — such a good fellow!'

'A stalwart of Rainborough's regiment. One of us,' said Gideon, where 'one of us' had particular resonance. 'True unto death.' The code-words brought them back to the reason for his visit.

He and his colleague reported their regiment's eagerness to be involved. Although Colonel Rainborough was still in London, Sexby seemed to have some private information that he would support the soldiers. If Rainborough holds extreme radical views, thought Gideon, he is the only senior officer who does… He saw that it left the colonel dangerously exposed.

They were given a letter to the regiment, a letter that Sexby rapidly prepared, explaining it to them carefully before it was sealed. 'There are those who would prevent us — Colonel Jackson, who is in the Presbyterians' pocket, may interfere; we are seeking a way to banish him from his regiment…'

'If we are captured,' said Gideon, almost the light-hearted bridegroom again, 'do we eat the instruction?'

Edward Sexby looked sour. He had passion and energy, but little sense of humour. 'Don't get captured. Keep the terms clear: your boys are invited by the Agitators to join with other regiments.'

His fellow-soldier from Portsmouth dug Gideon in the ribs. 'We understand, sir.' Sir? Though he had the manner of an officer, Sexby was in fact a trooper still.

'We do understand,' Gideon reinforced it, close to an apology though he saw no reason to fawn on Sexby.

Sexby leaned back in his chair. 'You are a printer.'

'Was, before I came to the army'

'Do you write?'

'Not for the public'

'We are seeking able pen-men… We need a press,' Sexby growled fretfully. 'If a press is not got into the army, we are handicapped.'

While Sexby drummed his fingers in frustration, Gideon saw the point. 'We must be able to print documents speedily and safely. It needs a trusted printer, with his own press. That press must always travel with the army, so we can react fast to whatever happens. There are many loyal printers in London, but distance is a hindrance. Dangerous too — Parliament can, and will, shut down a press, then throw the printer into prison.'

'Walwyn's group have the means,' grumbled Sexby, 'but they are constantly under suspicion. Lilburne and Overton are stuck in the Tower — ' He seemed to know a lot about the Levellers.

'Walwyn has issued a great petition, calling for their release.'

Sexby started, surprised that Gideon knew. Gideon let him wonder.

He considered suggesting Robert Allibone as the army printer. Robert behaved discreetly, but he was not entirely invisible from the authorities; besides, Robert was a stay-at-home. Gideon had a brainwave: 'I know of a press, now silent and ripe to be claimed. We would not need to bring it from London.'

Sexby became fully alert: 'Where?'

'Oxford.'

'Can we get it?'

'I will find it.' Smiling, Gideon gestured to the letter he and his colleague were taking back to Portsmouth. Sexby watched him, gangling and apparently so easy-going that he seemed slow-witted — yet, Sexby saw, this blond sergeant was deceptively sharp. 'Taking your invitation, our regiment will march to Oxford, Sexby. I have some knowledge of that city. Oxford was much under observation when I worked with Sir Samuel Luke.' Gideon was cheerfully exaggerating.

'What press is it?' Sexby's heart told him Gideon Jukes was reliable, yet he remembered the young man as a nervous bridegroom, destined for bamboozlement by that cold-eyed new wife… Never trust a man who thinks for himself, warned Sexby's head — Sexby, who also thought for himself.

'The press the Royalists used for their deceitful propaganda, Mercurius Aulicus,' said Gideon. 'John Harris owns it.' He stood his ground, keeping command of his idea: 'I volunteer to find Harris and his press. Then I would like to be our printer using it.'

'We shall have to pay him for it.' Sexby's thoughts raced. He ignored Gideon's request to become the printer. 'Promise Harris reimbursement. The officers will approve the money' A true revolutionary, he was quick to speak for his masters' funding. 'Can you do this, Sergeant Jukes?'

'Trust me!' Their eyes met. Years later Gideon would remember how even at that moment, deep in conspiracy, he felt their interests faintly jarred.

On the 28th of May, Rainborough's regiment acted in breach of their orders. They formed themselves up and marched north away from Portsmouth. As Sexby predicted, Colonel Jackson tried to intercept them at Brain tree, but they refused to be stopped. Agitator 102 wrote to a colleague: 'Colonel Rainborough is to go to his Regiment, and it is by Oxford… Let two horsemen go presently to Colonel Rainborough to Oxford, and be very careful you be not overwitted. Now break the neck of this design, and you will doe well…' The 'design' included another mission, even more secret and desperate: 'not to dally, but a good party of Horse of 1,000, and to have spies with them before to bring you intelligence, and to quarter your Horse overnight, and to march in the night… So God bless.'

He did not sign it.

As soon as the mutiny was reported in London, Rainborough was despatched by Parliament to restore order among his men. He came across most of them at Culham, near Abingdon. Gideon and Lambert reckoned their colonel was sympathetic. They were sure Rainborough had known all about their mutinous march, in advance, and he supported it. He certainly issued no punishments.

He wrote telling Parliament of his troops' difficult temper, implying that their cramped quarters and problems with local provisioning caused it. While he hoped to prevent further trouble, he could not give undertakings for good behaviour. This was a very odd thing for a commander to say. Rainborough also failed to mention that three and a half thousand pounds intended to pay off and disband Colonel Ingoldsby's regiment had been commandeered. His regiment and Ingoldsby's had already seized the artillery and were guarding it at Oxford.

His disingenuous letter was read out in Parliament on the day that the secret horsemen achieved their object.

While Rainborough stayed at Culham, some of his men were deployed in Oxford guarding the artillery train. With them had gone Gideon Jukes, searching for John Harris. Harris came from a vintnering family, so Gideon began in the taverns.

He found Harris. He encouraged this slightly raffish character to see that a new career serving the revolution would be better for an exactor and failed wine merchant than no career at all. 'We are mere implementers of the word,' Gideon declared expansively. During the search, he had drunk more ale than he was used to.

'How much will they pay?' asked Harris, who was stone cold sober.

'We can commandeer the press if you do not co-operate.' Gideon invented this threat, fired up by what he had seen of Edward Sexby's certainty.

It worked. Harris seemed to think that if he volunteered, at least he might recover his equipment once the revolution was over. He knew the revolution would not last; he was, after all, a Royalist.

It was while he was supervising movement of the Mercurius Aulicus press on a brewery dray, that Gideon ran into the horsemen.

There were only five hundred, though Sexby and Chillenden had wanted a thousand. Leading this secret mission was an officer of Fairfax's Lifeguard called Cornet George Joyce. It was open knowledge that they had come to Oxford after a meeting at Oliver Cromwell's house in Drury Lane in London. Joyce consistently claimed he had Cromwell's approval — though Cromwell would keep his own counsel.

Joyce, a Durham man who was reputedly a tailor, held the most junior officer's rank in a cavalry regiment. Gideon viewed it cynically. Cornet Joyce was an unknown. An easy scapegoat if this expedition went bottom up. Expendable.

Once they had satisfied themselves that the cannon and ammunition were well guarded by Rainborough's men, the horsemen cantered out of Oxford on the second phase of their mission. Since Gideon still had possession of the good horse on which he went to Chelmsford, he had persuaded Cornet Joyce to take him along. He claimed he knew the best roads in Northamptonshire, and all the quiet byways, learned from his time with Sir Samuel Luke.

They rode for two nights. On the evening of the 3rd of June, this secret band arrived outside an enormous stately home. It had been built by Queen Elizabeth's Lord Chancellor, Sir Christopher Hatton, in order to entertain the Queen as extravagantly as she thought proper. It was said to be the largest house in England, built around two vast courtyards, with hundreds of windows, grandiose glass being the status symbol of the age.

Here, for the past four months, King Charles had been a prisoner. Holdenby House had passed to his father and remained royal property. These were civilised surroundings and he was barely restricted.

Though a small man who had had rickets in his childhood, the King had strode through the beautiful grounds at such a brisk pace that his keeper, the elderly Lord Pembroke, had trouble keeping up with him. From this fabulous house, Charles continued to negotiate with any party who approached him, his latest fragile promises being made to the Presbyterians in Parliament who were so set on dividing and disbanding the New Model Army.

Commissioners from Parliament were here with the King. As Joyce and his party reconnoitred the place, the commissioners' hostility was one of their worries. Another was the soldiers guarding the King, Colonel Richard Greaves's regiment. Greaves hailed from King's Norton in Warwickshire; he had led a troop that defended Birmingham against Prince Rupert's attack. The Agitators doubted his allegiance, because he was a known Presbyterian. They were reassured by learning that part of his regiment had been pulled out, under Major Adrian Scrope, and was away at a place called Papworth. Scrope was personally known to Joyce, who thought he might be a sympathiser, though this could not be relied upon.

On the night they arrived, they made discreet contact with the guards inside the house. Gideon knew some, men who had been in Sir Samuel Luke's regiment. They reported that Colonel Greaves had made a bolt for it earlier that night. It was bad news. He would undoubtedly bring a rescue party if he could.

At six o'clock, Joyce and his party drew up openly in front of the great main doorway and called for the King to be sent out. Most of the garrison had come over to them. The Parliamentary commissioners who were here to negotiate a settlement might cause problems, though with luck those gentlemen were not yet awake.

The five hundred riders remained on their horses. Gideon found he was clutching the reins in a cold sweat, his hands clammy inside his gauntlets. Three weeks before midsummer, it was already light, though with a weak sun that had yet to evaporate the dew. The dawn chorus had filled the chilly air for several hours, a little ragged at this point of the summer when many birds had established their territories and raised their first batches of young. All the great trees in the Holdenby park were heavy with leaf, unseen wafts of tree and grass pollen irritating the riders' throats as they waited. A few long-eared red squirrels perched on branches, inquisitively watching them.

The King kept them waiting. Eventually he walked out of doors. Still possessed of servants, the man who had made an art of iconic monarchy was handsomely dressed, his lace arranged, his beard and moustache trim. Even in captivity his brocaded suits were laid up in lavender and clove balls; his long hair was regularly treated with nourishing essences; he washed with warm water and exquisitely scented soap.

Cornet Joyce and his men had performed meagre ablutions in a coppice. They had ridden hard for two days without changing shirts. Most had three days of stubble. 'When we finally find quarters,' Gideon reflected ruefully, 'when five hundred tired and dirty men pull off a thousand riding boots, the whole neighbourhood will recoil!'

As he approached, Charles must have seen the curling breath of their lively horses and the steam off their flanks; he would have heard the restless chinks of harness and weaponry. The men looked anxious, yet determined. The sudden appearance of these heavily armed riders heralded change, but for the King, nothing would ever alter:

'I alone must answer to God for our exercise of the authority he has vested in me. It is for me to decide how our nation is to be governed, how my subjects are to be ruled, and above all how the Church shall be established under the rule of law. These are the Divine Rights of Kings and are ordained by the Almighty. It is not the place of the subject to question the royal prerogative…'

Five hundred subjects were here because they did question it.

With a pounding heart, Gideon Jukes watched his sovereign's approach. This was the third time he had been in the King's presence. He remembered The Triumph of Peace and also how he had leapt onto the step of the royal coach as it came from Guildhall. The same aloof, fastidious figure was here now, viewing the guard party sardonically. If anything, he was more composed than they were. The horsemen were crushed together more raggedly than was elegant. None of them had ever dealt personally with anyone of such high rank.

Calmly, Charles asked to see their commission.

Whatever they had expected, it was not a request for paperwork. Of course they had no warrant. Everyone became embarrassed, until Joyce found the presence of mind to indicate the grim riders. 'Here is my commission.'

'Where?'

'Behind me.'

The King posed. 'It is as fair a commission, and as well written as I have seen a commission written in my life!' he agreed.

He was taken into custody, put on a horse and quickly carried away from Holdenby. The plan was to rush their royal prisoner to the army, which was gathering at Newmarket. It meant travelling east through uncertain country, with the risk that the King would be rescued. Now it was Cornet Joyce's turn to write feverish letters to anonymous friends:

We have secured the King. Greaves is run away; he got out about one o'clock in the morning and so went his way. It is suspected he is gone to London; you may imagine what he will do there. You must hasten an answer to us, and let us know what we shall do. We are resolved to obey no orders but the general's. I humbly entreat you to consider what is done and act accordingly with all the haste you can; we shall not rest night nor day till we hear from you