|
Civil War - A Twist In The Tail |
|
|
 |
| The
Civil War |
|
|
Plymouth
is a city built on the scene of bloodbaths and killing fields, yet
few know the true extent of its loss during the Civil War over 350
years ago. Discover the sinister truth behind the city's oath and
the plot to betray Parliamentarians. |
|
|
|
|
The English
Civil War immersed the South West. And nowhere was the loss of life
as great as in Plymouth.
To mark the anniversary of the end of the Civil War, BBC South West's
Inside Out
programme revealed a new twist in the tale of the siege.
When war swept through the South West, Plymouth came under attack
because it sided with parliament against King Charles I.
 |
| John
Syms' diary reveals new details of Plymouth's role in the Civil
War |
John
Sym's diary
John Syms was a puritan minister who sought sanctuary in Plymouth.
His diary sheds new light on the town’s steadfast resolve in their
fight against the Royalists.
The people of Plymouth were faced with a stark choice of seeing their
town burn to ashes or surrendering to the enemy. They chose to fight.
Solemn oath
The people of Plymouth signed a solemn covenant to fight to the last
man and indeed facing the Royalist army may have proven the lesser
of two evils.
John Syms’ diary reveals that failure to keep the oath lead to punishment
and even death.
Extracts from Syms’ diary state, "George Henwood of Plymouth and one
of the captain’s troop were executed on the Hoe for deserting the
Parliament’s army after their covenant… The renegade committed a barbarous
cruelty on two of our soldiers going out to the country enforcing
one to hang the other."
More revelations
Syms’ revelations do not end there however. His diary tells of a betrayal
which could have been the end of Plymouth.
 |
| Drakes
Island was used as a prison |
Commander
Alexander Carew plotted to give up Drake’s Island to the enemy camped
over at Mount Edgecumbe.
Thankfully Carew was caught before the plot was carried out. He protested
his innocence all the way to the gallows.
King Charles took up headquarters at Widey House believing Plymouth
ready to surrender. With their refusal, the King dared not risk his
15,000 strong army against Plymouth and the task fell to others.
Bravery
Sir Richard Grenville amassed a formidable force in the last major
attempt to break the resistance.
Thousands of soldiers surged towards Plymouth and its badly armed
defenders.
The Plymothians displayed astonishing bravery and by the end of the
fighting it was the blood of Grenville’s men that was shed.
Plymouth
stood firm for nearly four years and with the King finally defeated,
they found themselves on the winning side.
Their triumph however was short lived. The monarchy was restored and
the new King, Charles II exacted revenge for Plymouth’s resistance.
Many of its heroes were imprisoned on Drake’s Island, some until their
deaths. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Webcams |
 |
| From
stunning views to nature - take a webcam tour of Devon. |
BBC Devon
Broadcasting House
Seymour Road
Plymouth
PL3 5BD
(+44) 01752 229201
devon.online@bbc.co.uk
|
|
