Diaries of the Seventeenth Century

Page 3 of 6

• 1. Seventeenth century diary writing
• 2. Private journals
• 3. Diary of a conspirator
• 4. Diary of a revolutionary
• 5. A matter of perspective
• 6. Find out more
• Print entire article

Diary of a conspirator

Evelyn was a very reluctant revolutionary who had put church above crown. But another diarist, Sir John Reresby, was a victim of the crisis for reversing those priorities. Reresby, staunchly loyal to the Crown, had been appointed as governor of York. While his diary shows that he tried to avoid identification with the court's catholicising policies, he continued to serve James, even when, in the summer of 1688, the Marquis of Halifax:

'advised me, as things now inclined at Court, to consider if it were safe to continue my imployments. I answered that I had great obligations to the king and would serve him as wel as I could, whilst he allowed it without prejudicing my religion'.

'At a given sign, Reresby records, a man ran 'into the hall and crys that the papists were risen and had fired at the militia troops'

Once William had landed Reresby sympathised with a plan to petition the king to call a free parliament but when on 22 Nov. the gentry assembled in York to sign it, Reresby was absent 'being il bruised by my horse falling upon me as I came from home'. But the meeting was the pretext for a pre-planned coup headed by Reresby's former patron and one of the architects of William's invasion, the earl of Danby. At a given sign, Reresby records, a man ran 'into the hall and crys that the papists were risen and had fired at the militia troops. At this all the gentlemen run out, and thos that were privy to the design gett their horses, which were laid ready for them'. Danby 'was ready in his lodging expecting this feigned alarme'. He and his retinue made about 100 horse 'and rode up to the four militia troops drawn out for another purpas and cryed for a free parliament and the protestant religion and noe poperie'. The militia joined them. On hearing this, Reresby tried to reassert control but his orders were ignored. As he was preparing to go to the regular soldiers, Reresby was surrounded by Danby and his men, told 'that to resist was to noe purpas' and confined to his room. The next day the troops all defected to Danby. Thereafter Reresby was understandably regarded as 'disaffected' to the new regime.

NextPrevious

Published: 2001-04-01