Edward Massie
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Massie English Parliamentary soldier
in the English Civil War
, was the son of John Massie of Coddington, Cheshire
.
army against the Spaniards. In 1639 he appears as a captain of pioneers in the army raised by Charles I of England
to fight against the Scots
. At the outbreak of the English Civil War
he was with the King at York, but he soon joined the Parliamentary army.
As lieutenant colonel
under the earl of Stamford he became deputy governor of Gloucester
, where he remained till towards the end of the first Civil War, becoming governor early in 1643. He conducted minor operations against numerous small bodies of Royalists, and conducted the defense of Gloucester against the King's main army in August 1643, with great steadiness and ability, receiving the thanks of parliament and a grant of ₤ 1000 for his services. In 1644 Massie continued to keep the field and to disperse the local Royalists, and on several occasions he measured swords with Prince Rupert of the Rhine
. In May 1644 he was made general of the forces of the Western Association. In 1645 he took the offensive against Lord Goring and the western Royalists, advanced to the relief of Taunton
, and in the autumn cooperated effectively with Sir Thomas Fairfax and the New Model army in the Langport campaign.
After taking part in the desultory operations which closed the first war, he took his seat in the House of Commons
as member for Wootton Bassett
. He then began to take an active part in politics on the Presbyterian side, and was one of the generals who was impeached by the army on the ground that they were attempting to revive the Civil War in the Presbyterian interests. Massie fled from England in June 1647, and though he resumed his seat in the house in 1648 he was again excluded by Pride's Purge
, and after a short imprisonment escaped to Holland. Thence, taking the side of the king openly and definitely like many other Presbyterians, he accompanied Charles II
to Scotland
.
He fought against Cromwell at the bridge of Stirling
and Inverkeithing
, and commanded the advanced guard of the Royalist army in the invasion of England in 1651. It was hoped that Massie's influence would win over the towns of the Severn valley to the cause of the King, and the march of the army on Worcester
was partly inspired by this expectation. However, he effected little. At the Battle of Worcester
Massie was seriously wounded, but the king rode with him on the retreat until Massie's realised that his wounds were dangerously slowing the king down. He persuaded King Charles II to continue without him, although the king was reluctant to leave him. Massie sought aid and safety at the home of the late Earl of Stamford, but the Earl's widow handed him over to Parliament. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He again managed to escape to Holland. While negotiating with the English Presbyterians for the restoration of Charles, he visited England twice, in 1654 and 1656. In 1660 he was active in preparing for Charles's return, and was rewarded by a knighthood and a grant of ₤ 3000. The rest of his life was spent in political, and occasionally in military and administrative business, and he died in Ireland in 1674 or 1675.
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, was the son of John Massie of Coddington, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
Life
Little is known of his early life, but it is said that he served in the DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
army against the Spaniards. In 1639 he appears as a captain of pioneers in the army raised by Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
to fight against the Scots
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. At the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he was with the King at York, but he soon joined the Parliamentary army.
As lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
under the earl of Stamford he became deputy governor of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, where he remained till towards the end of the first Civil War, becoming governor early in 1643. He conducted minor operations against numerous small bodies of Royalists, and conducted the defense of Gloucester against the King's main army in August 1643, with great steadiness and ability, receiving the thanks of parliament and a grant of ₤ 1000 for his services. In 1644 Massie continued to keep the field and to disperse the local Royalists, and on several occasions he measured swords with Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
. In May 1644 he was made general of the forces of the Western Association. In 1645 he took the offensive against Lord Goring and the western Royalists, advanced to the relief of Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, and in the autumn cooperated effectively with Sir Thomas Fairfax and the New Model army in the Langport campaign.
After taking part in the desultory operations which closed the first war, he took his seat in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as member for Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett (UK Parliament constituency)
Wootton Bassett was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1447 until 1832, when the rotten borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
. He then began to take an active part in politics on the Presbyterian side, and was one of the generals who was impeached by the army on the ground that they were attempting to revive the Civil War in the Presbyterian interests. Massie fled from England in June 1647, and though he resumed his seat in the house in 1648 he was again excluded by Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
, and after a short imprisonment escaped to Holland. Thence, taking the side of the king openly and definitely like many other Presbyterians, he accompanied Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
He fought against Cromwell at the bridge of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
and Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing is a town and a royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, located on the Firth of Forth. According to population estimates , the town has a population of 5,265. The port town was given burgh status by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century and is situated about 9 miles north from...
, and commanded the advanced guard of the Royalist army in the invasion of England in 1651. It was hoped that Massie's influence would win over the towns of the Severn valley to the cause of the King, and the march of the army on Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
was partly inspired by this expectation. However, he effected little. At the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
Massie was seriously wounded, but the king rode with him on the retreat until Massie's realised that his wounds were dangerously slowing the king down. He persuaded King Charles II to continue without him, although the king was reluctant to leave him. Massie sought aid and safety at the home of the late Earl of Stamford, but the Earl's widow handed him over to Parliament. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He again managed to escape to Holland. While negotiating with the English Presbyterians for the restoration of Charles, he visited England twice, in 1654 and 1656. In 1660 he was active in preparing for Charles's return, and was rewarded by a knighthood and a grant of ₤ 3000. The rest of his life was spent in political, and occasionally in military and administrative business, and he died in Ireland in 1674 or 1675.
Literature
- http://kvk.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de/hylib-bin/kvk/nph-kvk2.cgi?maske=kvk-last&title=UB+Karlsruhe%3A+Karlsruher+Virtueller+Katalog+KVK+%3A+Ergebnisanzeige&header=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de%2Fkvk%2Fkvk%2Fkvk-header_de_2006_11.html&spacer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de%2Fkvk%2Fkvk%2Fkvk-spacer_de_2006_11.html&footer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de%2Fkvk%2Fkvk%2Fkvk-footer_de_2006_11.html&css=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ubka.uni-karlsruhe.de%2Fkvk%2Fkvk%2Fkvk-neu2.css&input-charset=utf-8&kvk-session=QWB4H6JS&ALL=%22Edward+Massie%22&TI=&PY=&AU=&SB=&CI=&SS=&ST=&PU=&kataloge=COPAC&kataloge=BL&target=_blank&Timeout=120Literature about Sir Edward Massie through Virtual Katalogue of Karlsruhe]