ABSTRACT
It is possible to reconstruct the distinctive conditions and circumstances of a committed parliamentarian district—West Nottinghamshire. What is most easily known about Civil War activists is their origin or location. So the distribution of possible allegiances—whether Parliamentarian, Royalist or Godly—can be charted. This is then related to the statements and assessments made by the most prominent leaders and commentators. Royalist supporters were evenly spread across the county, and beyond. But the great majority of parliamentary supporters are found to be located in a clearly defined corner of the county, which is characterised by the diversity, intensity and connectivity of its economic life. The yeoman farmers of the countryside and the merchants and traders of the market towns are seen combining to form the basis of parliamentarian organisation. They were jointly involved in a coordinated and commercialised economy, which incorporated early industrial activity, and looked outward to the freedoms of the interregional market. The basis of their readiness to support parliament was their need to “know a law and have a certainty” in their economic affairs.
