Banbury mutiny

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Plaque commemorating three Levellers executed by Oliver Cromwell in Burford.
Plaque commemorating three Levellers executed by Oliver Cromwell in Burford.

The Banbury mutiny was a mutiny by soldiers in the English New Model Army. The mutineers did not achieve all of their aims and some of the leaders were executed shortly afterwards on May 17, 1649.

The mutiny was over pay and political demands. The pay issue was defused by Oliver Cromwell acknowledging the justice of the soldiers' financial grievances and securing £10,000 towards payment of arrears from Parliament. But 400 troopers under the command of Captain William Thompson who were sympathetic to the Levellers set off from Banbury, where they were billeted to speak with other regiments at Salisbury about their political demands.

Major White was sent by Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax to mediate with Thompson's troops and give assurances that force would not be used against them. However on May 13 Cromwell launched a night attack. Several mutineers were killed in the skirmish. Captain Thompson escaped only to be killed a few days later in another skirmish near the Diggers community at Wellingborough. After being imprisoned in Burford Church with the other mutineers,[1] three other leaders were shot: Cornet James Thompson (William Thompson's brother), Corporal Perkins and John Church on May 17, 1649.[2] This destroyed the Leveller's power base in the New Model Army.

[edit] Levellers' Day

Each year since 1975, Levellers' Day has been held in the Oxfordshire town of Burford to commemorate the three Levellers executed there.[3] A different theme is chosen for each Levellers' Day and speakers are invited to speak on the theme during the morning, this is followed by a procession around the town and a ceremony in the churchyard. In the afternoon there is music and other entertainment usually held in the garden of Warwick Hall which is next to the church.[4] In 1979 a plaque to the three soldiers on the church wall was unveiled by Tony Benn to commemorate the event.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stephen C. Manganiello (2004). The Concise Encyclopedia of the Revolutions and Wars of England,. Scotland, and Ireland, 1639–1660. Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0810851008. p. 83
  2. ^ Keith Lindley (1998). The English Civil War and Revolution: A Sourcebook, Routledge, ISBN 0415174198. pp.173,174
  3. ^ Tony Benn. Set my people free, The Observer, 13 May 2001
  4. ^ Anne Lyons. Levellers Day in Burford BBC, 15 May 2004
  5. ^ Staff. the history of Levellers Daywww.levellers.org.uk, Accessed 25 May 2008


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