X - Army and Commonwealth

Summary

In the early summer of 1659 there were signs of unrest in many parts of the country and, to strengthen the army in England, the Government withdrew units from Ireland and Dunkirk. In May, Captain Richard Wagstaffe of Okey’s regiment, a Justice of the Peace for Bedfordshire, examined five persons who had been apprehended at Turvey in the county, on suspicion of having met for consultation as royalists.

When the expected revolts did materialise, however, it was only in Cheshire and the west of England that they assumed serious proportions. In the latter area the troubles appear to have begun in the Forest of Dean and, although the malcontents did not declare for the restoration of the monarchy but seemed to be more concerned with their forest privileges, the royalists were hopeful. From the foresters and the miners in the neighbourhood, Massey, the former major-general, always a turbulent spirit in the west country and now in open opposition to the Government, hoped, with the support of Lord Herbert and others, to raise a force of some three thousand men and to attack Gloucester.

A resolute man was needed to deal with the dangerous situation and on 22 July, the Council of State ordered Okey to proceed to Gloucester and take command of the forces in that area. Instructions were given to him in letters from the President of the Council, dated at Whitehall on 28th and 29th. The first told him that the Council had received information that on the occasion of the public market at Bristol the enemy were likely to create disturbances, and instructed him to go at once to Bristol with some regular or militia forces, and on arrival to report on the position. The second spoke also of possible disturbances at Bristol and instructed him to take the offensive, the security of Gloucester and Bristol being his especial care. He was also instructed to send a strong detachment to Bath, to search the house of Colonel Popham near Bristol and that of the Countess of Berkshire at Charlton.