Major-General Thomas Harrison: Millenarianism, Fifth Monarchism and the English Revolution 1616-1660 by David Farr

Author:David Farr [Farr, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Great Britain, General, Modern, 17th Century
ISBN: 9781317102670
Google: uN0oDAAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 18381259
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2014-01-03T00:00:00+00:00

III

Belief in Harrison’s influence in Wales through the propagation of the gospel was reinforced by other signs of his influence in that nation. In 1651, Harrison had recruited a local militia of Welsh saints, provoking suspicion that he was building up a power base. It was reported that Harrison had ‘underhandedly listed 40,000 men and … sworn them to be true to him’.36 Similarly, during the summer of 1651, it was reported that Harrison was ‘giving encouragement to some well-affected’ in the north and west.37 A member of the Wrexham gathered church during the same campaign wrote of their support for ‘that noble Brigade, under the command of Major General Harrison’.38

During Cromwell’s Scottish campaign, Harrison was made commander-in-chief in England and was charged with the recruitment of new militia forces. He proposed to the Council of State the raising of volunteers from the gathered churches. Cromwell seems to have encouraged him in raising godly troops when he wrote to his ‘Dear Harrison’ on 3 May 1651.39 Harrison was given twelve blank commissions ‘to be filled up with names according as he shall be satisfied concerning the persons nominated to those command’. Harrison gave commissions to the Welsh ministers Cradock, Llwyd, Powell and Jenkin Jones. The remaining commissions were probably distributed to the gathered churches around London. According to Harrison, there were enlisted ‘in two days many hundreds from the Congregational churches in and about London, and the number was likely to grow to some thousands’.40 Cradock’s men marched into London and then followed Harrison.41 In a letter of August 1651, the Council of State assured Harrison that ‘Care will be taken for encouragement of Col. Cradock and Col. Powell’s troop, and consideration had of other particulars in your letters.’42 Feake in his Beam of Light wrote that on Cromwell’s triumphant return to Westminster he was met by, among others, these ‘New-Church-Regiments’ who then marched through the city being a ‘grievous Eye-sore to the Classical Ministers and people of the same City’.43

Harrison’s influence in Wales became a source of concern. There were reports of Cromwell questioning Harrison about enlisting 4,000 Welshmen.44 On 7 January 1655, a letter suggested that Lambert was in Wales with Harrison raising forces.45 In 1660, there were rumours of Harrison basing a rising in Wales against the oncoming Restoration.46 Even in September 1661, one Thomas Baker wrote from Wrexham of what he felt was the continuing threat and influence of the republicans. He warned that ‘Wrexham is the most factious town in England; Jones, Ludlow, Harrison, and others belonged to it, and their disciples are still in power.’47 Despite placing Wrexham in England, Baker’s comments reflect how North Wales was regarded as a bastion of Fifth Monarchism. These reports were overstated. Berry, when he was major-general for Wales, believed the Fifth Monarchists would not be a real threat.48 Powell was prepared to act against suspected royalists in Wales.49

Harrison’s influence in Wales, as well as the limits of it, can be partly illustrated by his role in the selection of members of Nominated Assembly.

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