Walkern in the Civil War
Adapted from Walkern Local History Notes by H & M Venster
We have related how the Rev. John Gorsuch was replaced by the Rev. Nathaniel Ward during the period of the Civil War. Walkern appears to have been on the side of Parliament and in 1643 whilst Ward was Rector the Covenant was signed in Walkern Church.
The Covenant, the signing of which the Scots made conditional on giving aid to the English Parliament, bound the English to the “reformation of religion in the Church of England according to the example of the best reformed churches and according to the Word of God”. A Sunday was set apart on which the minister read the terms of the Covenant from the pulpit, the whole congregation being “uncovered” and then signifying assent by raising their right hands bare. Their names, or their marks to which their names were added, were signed in the Churchwarden’s Book.
The signing of the Covenant might be regarded as an attempt by the Scots to make the English adopt the Presbyterian form of service. It was certainly pro-Parliament and anti-Royalist. Consequently when Charles II was restored to the throne all records offensive to the post-Restoration clergy were generally destroyed. But Walkern’s record still exists. The lists of names have been torn out of the Churchwarden’s Book and lie before us as we write these notes. There are 82 signatories and well over 50 using marks to indicate that they were not literate and could not write their own names. Surnames appearing in the list that may be of present-day interest are Chawkley, Yonge, Edwards and Wright.
Before leaving the subject of the Parliamentary wars another interesting document is worth mentioning. It was sent by the “Militia of the county of Harts to Wm Capell for Walkhorne”. It commands him to send to the King’s Arms in Hertford “one able horse, bridle and saddle, with burrs, his rider armed with sword, back, brest, headpeece, and a pair of pistolls at his saddle-bowe”. The Capels, who were Lords of the Manor at Walkern were not in sympathy with the cause of Parliament. And Arthur Capel was later executed in 1645 and the manor was forfeited. It was then bestowed on Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, who received the command of the Parliamentary army. Personally he was brave but he proved to be a very poor general. He died in 1646 and his title died with him. At the Restoration, Arthur Capel, son of the executed Arthur Capel, who “had sealed his loyalty with his blood”, had not only the manor restored to him but the title, Earl of Essex, was revived in his favour. The Earls of Essex continued their connection with Walkern. The Capel family lived at Hadam Hall until they moved to Cassiobury.