John Rushworth
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John Rushworth was born c.1612 at Acklington Park in the parish of Warkworth, Northumberland, England and he died in 1690. He achieved fame in both England and during the formation of the United States of America for compiling a series of works called Historical Collections (which have also been referred to as the Rushworth Papers), concerning the period of history covering the English Civil Wars throughout the 1600s. His writings became a part of the library of Thomas Jefferson and the second Library of Congress.
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Brief biography
Background
John Rushworth was born c.1612 in Northumberland, England and was a contemporary of Freeborn John Lilburne whose writings, like those of Rushworth, had a profound impact on the history of the English Civil Wars of the 1600s. Although his senior, he also shared much in common with Oliver Cromwell (born 1599), because they were evangelical Christians who believed that the Church of England should undergo a total reformation, contrary to the wishes of King Charles I.
Early life
His paternal line were descendants of a family which first settled on the Yorkshire moors in 1068. Lawrence Rushworth (his father) was an extensive landowner and Justice of the Peace at Heath, Yorkshire. His mother was Margaret Cuthbert, daughter of the vicar of Carnaby in Humberside. John Rushworth is reported to have been a good pupil who left school to study law at The Queen's College, Oxford. He graduated in 1640 and then became a student barrister at Lincoln's Inn where Oliver Cromwell had previously studied in the 1620s and then commenced work as assistant clerk at the House of Commons. He married Hannah Widdrington, daughter of Lewis Widdrington, and sister of Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Widdrington, who was the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Political involvement
Following the lead of MP John Pymn, who in a speech at the House of Commons on April 17, 1640 attacked the king and his government for problems within the country, both Cromwell and Rushworth identified themselves with the same sentiments. Charles I reacted by declaring war on Parliament from the grounds of Nottingham Castle on August 22, 1642, and this act is said to have commenced a succession of three English civil wars.
Rushworth's papers
Once the wars got underway in earnest, Rushworth, unlike Lt. Colonel John Lilburne who refused to join the New Model Army, became its Secretary and served General Fairfax. This gave John Rushworth an "embedded journalist" view of the wars then in progress. Rushworth followed the battles of Edge Hill; Newbury; Marston Moor; Naseby; Battle of Preston and Worcester.
When Charles I was captured, Rushworth began to record details of events leading up to, during and following the trial and execution of the king. His views of Charles I as a king who had declared war on his own people, were later echoed in words by Thomas Jefferson and others when writing about the reign of George III in the Declaration of Independence.
Legal authority
Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, Rushworth became personal secretary to Oliver Cromwell. It was Rushworth who then began drafting plans for the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords, and the establishment of an English Republic under the leadership of Cromwell. When Cromwell became Lord Protector in 1653, Rushworth was promoted to Registrar of the Court of Admiralty. In 1657 he became the Member of Parliament for Berwick, a seat to which he was reelected many times. As a member of the Cromwellian government he enjoyed the friendships of John Milton (who served Cromwell as the official State Censor); John Owen; John Bunyan and many other well known people of that period.
Death of Cromwell
When Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658 at age 59, his son Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector. Rushworth completed his written histories of the period and dedicated them to Richard Cromwell. However, due to the inability of Richard Cromwell to continue the office established by his father as Lord Protector, by 1660 real power had shifted to the Council of State and John Rusworth, MP, became its Secretary.
Restoration of the monarchy
Negotiations were then undertaken with the son of Charles I to return to England as its king, subject to the rule of Parliament. (He had already been crowned King Charles II in and of Scotland.) When Charles II took to the throne and restored the monarchy, Rushworth was reassigned to the office of Treasury Solicitor.
During the following years Rushworth lived through the Great Plague that hit London in 1665 and which lasted until the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed many of its rat invested buildings. These two events were recorded in the Diary (1660-1669) of his friend Samuel Pepys. For a time Rushworth retained his seat in Parliament. He was repeatedly elected from 1659 to 1681.
However, his past association with Cromwell and the execution of Charles I eventually drew his fortunes to a close. When Charles II began to regain the full power of the monarchy, he also began to strike out at everyone who had a hand in the execution of his father. John Rushworth and all others branded as regicides, was arrested and sent to the King's Bench Prison in Rule's Court, Southwark where he died aged 78 on May 12, 1690. His body was buried following a small funeral service in the churchyard of St George, Southwark.
Legacy
In 1890, King's Bench Prison in Rule's Court was demolished. Rushworth School was then built on the site and the court was renamed Rushworth Street. While John Rushworth was remembered as a person, his writings found favor in the America where they served as a source of inspiration for Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson bought a copy of Rushworth's Historical Collections for use in his own library and he often quoted from them. When the British attempted to retake the new American republic, they not only set fire to the White House, but they also burned the original Library of Congress to the ground. Because Jefferson was short of money at the time and because the government needed to replace its library, Jefferson sold his own library collection, along with his copies of Rushworth's Historical Collections, to the new United States government for the recreation of the Library of Congress.
Excerpt from Rushworth's Historical Collections
Because John Rushworth was a contemporary of John Lilburne (both being born around 1612), it is interesting to note what Rushworth had to say about Lilburne in his publications called Historical Collections with paragraph breaks added but with italics and capitalization as they appear in the original:
1637, February 13: Information was preferred in Star Chamber by the King's Attorney General against John Lilburne and John Warton, for the unlawful Printing and Publishing of Libellous and Seditious Books, Entitled News from Ipswich, &c, they were brought up to the Office, and there refused to take an Oath to answer Interrogatories, saying it was the Oath ex Officio, and that no free-born Englishman ought to take it, not being bound by the Law to accuse him himself, (whence ever after he was called Free-Born John) his offence was aggravated in that he printed these Libellous and Seditious Books, contrary to a Decree in Star Chamber, prohibiting printing without License; which Decree was made this Year in the Month of July, and was to this effect.
That none shall presume to Print any Book or Pamphlet whatsoever, unless the same be first Licensed with all the Titles, Epistles, and Prefaces therewin imprinted, by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Bishop of Bishop of London for the time being, or by their appointment; and within the Limits of either University by the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor thereof, upon pain that every Printer so offending shall for ever thereafter be disabled to exercise the Art of Printing, and shall suffer such further punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission, shall be though fitting; that before any Books imported from Foreign Parts shall be exposed to sale, a true Catalogue thereof shall be presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Bishop of London: And that no Officers of the Custom shall deliver any Foreign Books out of their Hands and Custody, before those Bishops shall have appointed one of their Chaplains, or some other Learned Man, with the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, or one of them be present at the opening of Packs and Fardels, and to view the same.
And those that disobey this Injunction, are to be Censured in this or the High Commission Court, as the several Causes shall require. And if in his Search there happen to be found any schismatical or offensive Books, they shall be brought before aforesaid Bishops, or the High Commission Office, that the Offenders may be punished. That no Person whatsoever shall imprint in the parts beyond the Sea, or Import from thence, any English Books, or whereof the greater part is English, whether formerly Printed or not. And that no Books, whatsoever shall be re-printed, although formerly Licensed, without a new License first obtained, upon pain of like Censure and Punishment. And that if, any Person whatsoever that is not an allowed Printer shall presume to set up a Press for Printing, of work at any such Press, or Set and Compose Letters for the same, he shall be set in the Pillory, and whipt through the London.
The 13th of February the said Lilburne and Warton were brought to the Bar at the Court of Star-Chamber, and the Court proceeded to Sentence, which you have here in the very words as were entred (sic) in the Registers Book (sic) , written out by Mr. Arthur himself, the Deputy Register, who was an able and friendly Man in his Place. But before they proceeded to Sentence this ensuing Order was read.
In Camera Stellat coram Concilio ibidem 9,die Febr. Anno 13 Car Regis. Upon information this day to this Honourable Court, by Sir John Banks Knight, His Majesties (sic) Attorney-General, That John Lilburne and John Warton, who are now at the Bar of this Court, were the 24th of January last ordered to be examined upon Interrogatories touching their unlawful Printing, publishing and dispersing of Libellous and Seditious Books, contrary to the Decree of this Court, which verified by Affidavit; and being brought up to the Office to appear and be examined accordingly the said Lilburne refused to appear and both of them denied to take an Oath, to make answer to Inerrogatories, as appears by Certificate of Mrt. Goad: It was humbly pray'd that their Appearance may be Recorded, they being now present in Court and that they may now have their Oaths tendered unto them; which if they refuse to take that then this Court will proceed to a Censure against them for their high Contempt therein, as hath been used in like Cases; which the Court held fit. And hath therefore ordered, That their Appearance shalll be Recorded, as is desired. And for that the said Delinquents do now again most contemptuously refuse to take their Oaths now tenred to them in open Court. Their Lordships have further oredered, That the said Lilburne and Warton shall be remanded to the Prison of the Fleet, there to remain close Prisoners until they conform themselves in obedience to take their Oaths, and be examined and that unless they do take their Oaths, and yield to be examined by Monday-night next, their Lordships will, on the last sitting of this Term, proceed to Censure against them for their contempts therein as desired. Hereupon the Court proceeded to Sentence.
... Whereas, upon Information to this Court ... did, with an unanimous consent, declare and adjudge the Said Lilburne amd Warton guilty of a very high contempt and offence of dangerous consequence and evil example, and worthy to undergo sharp, severe, and exemlary Censure, which might deter others from the like presumptuous boldness in refusing to take a legal Oath; without which many great and exorbitant offences, to the prejudice and danger of His Majesty, His Kingdoms, and Loving Subjects, might go away undiscovered, and unpunished. ... the Court hath further ordered and decreed, That the said John Lilburne shall be whipt (sic) through the Streets, from the Prison of the Fleet unto the Pillory, to be erected at such time, and in such place as this Court shall hold fit. ... And the following Year in Easter-Term, falling on the 18th of April, was this Sentence executed with the utmost gour on Lilburne, who was smartly whipt from the Fleet to Westminster. Whilst he was whipt at the Cart, and stood in the Pillory, he scattered sundry Copies of Pamphlets, (said to be seditious) and tossed them among the People, taking them out of his Pocket; whereupon the Court of Star-Chamber (then fitting being performed) immediately ordered Lilburne to be gagged during the residue of the time he was to stand in the Pillory, which was done accordingly; and when he could not speak, he stamped with his Feet, thereby intimating to the Beholders, he would still speak were his Mouth at liberty; and the Court of Star-Chamber that day made also this following Order.
... that the said Lilburne should be laid alone with Irons on his Hands and Legs in the Wards of the Fleet, where the basest and meanest sort of Prisoners are used to be put, and that the Warden of the Fleet, take special care to hinder the resort of any Person whatsoever unto him, and particularly that he be no supplied with any Hand, and that he take special notice of all Letters, Writings, and Books brought unto him, and seize and deliver the same unto their Lordships; And take notice from time to time who they be that resort to the said Prison to visit the said Lilburne, or to speak with him, and to inform the Board.
Rushworth's observations
After Lilburne's death in 1657, John Rushworth was able to look back at the entire life of Lilburne and as a part of his Historical Collections. In one part John Rushworth reviewed the 1637 trial of John Lilburne and the brutal punishment meted out by the Court at Star Chamber. Rushworth observed:
Now as to his whipping, observe the distance, from the Fleet to Westminster is about a Mile, that he had 500 Blows (one swears a great many more) with a terrible Corded-whip with knots upon it. Among the Romans no Malefactor had above 40 Stripes, and with three Thongs; and St. Paul received but 39 Stripes, which was but 13 Blows. ... but if our Arithmetick be right, (not to sport with his pain) Lilburne had by this Numeration, three times Five Hundred Stripes in 500 Blows. ... So that to sum up his Sufferings, by Imprisonment he was made a dead Trunk; by whipping, a Rogue; by Pillory, a Cheat; and by Gagging, a Beast. They had better have hanged him outright ...
Reference:
Historical Collections, by John Rushworth of Lincolns-Inn, Esq. London. - Citations above relating to the 1637 Star Chamber trial and resulting punishment of John Lilburne, were transcribed from pages following 463 of: "The Second Part containing matters which happened from the dissolution of the Parliament on the 10th of March ... until the summoning of another Parliament, which met at Westminster, April 13, 1640." (sic).
See also:
External links
- Portrait and biography of John Rushworth (http://www.rushworth.com/jr/)