This Week's Great Day

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 9

This Week's Great Day

Mmojabte Events in the SOX higtorq of the Empire* _

&

Charles Conway

Dec 6 th.—Birth of George Monk

(Copyrighted.)

rr*HREE hundred and nineteen A years ago, on the sth December, 1608, George Monk, who was destined to bring about the Restoration of the Monarchy without bloodshed, was born at Pothcridge in Devonshire. his father being Sir Thomas Monk, a member of an old but impoverished county family. While still a youth George Monk administered a severe thrashing w an under-sheriff of the county, who had insulted his father, and he was forced to leave home to avoid arrest. Ha joined the army and served with distinction in the Netherlands. Scotland and Ireland, gaining rapid promotion and a well-deserved reputation os a militafy leader.

On the outbreak of the great civil war between Crown and Parliament, which resulted in the dethronement and execution of Charles L, Monk was given command of the Irish troops sent to England to fight for tha King, hut in 1644 he was taken prisoner at Nantwich. and for tho next two years he was confined in tbu Tower of London. He secured his freedom by accepting from Parliament a commission in the army operating against the Irish rebels, an act which was regarded by the Royalists ns a very different matter to taking up arms against the King. He served in Ireland for three years and then joined Cromwell in his memorable campaign jn Scotland. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of Dunbar, and when Cromwell returned to England Monk was placed in charge of the parliamentary armv in Scotland. In 16.52 he deserted the battlefield for the sea, and in the role of admiral he added to his laurels by a series of brilliant engagements with the Dutch fleet. Tn 16-54 he returned to Scotland, where he remained for tho last six years of the Commonwealth Covel nment, and during that period he re-

ceived numerous proposals to undertake a coup d’etat for the return of Charles 11.. but he made no move until after the resignation of Richard Cromwell from the Pretectorship, when it became apparent that tlia English people were ready to welcome a reversion to the old form of. govern, ment.

On the Ist January, 1660, he crossed the border with an army of 7000 men, and made a slow but triumphal march to London. During the journey south he disbanded or took over the command of the many detachments of parliamentary troops which he met on his way. and when he finally arrived in London on the 3rd February he was at the head of a great army and the virtual master oi the country. He dismissed the existing parliament and summoned a new assembly, which on the Ist May voted for the recall of Charles JI.

It was mainly due to the wonderful diplomacy and patience of Monk that the drastic change was effected without bloodshed, and he was showered with honours by the new King, who made him Duke of Albemarle, a Knight of the Garter and commander-in-chief of the army. His days of active service as a soldier were over, but the frequent raids bv the Dutch on the English coast afforded him several opportuni. ties °f serving his country on the sea. During the days of the Great Plague which devastated London in 1665 he took over the command of the stricken citv. remaining at his post when the Court and Parliament fled, and in the following year hs maintained order in London during and after the Great Fire, which destroyed more than three-fourths of the city. The last three years of his life were passed in retirement, and he died on the 3rd January, 1670, at th* age of 62.