ABSTRACT
This chapter reassesses the political and religious frictions that emerged in the parliamentarian camp as a reaction to the military affairs of the British Civil Wars, by uncovering Skippon’s talent as a political operator. It reveals the central role he played in supporting Sir Thomas Fairfax at the formation of parliament’s New Model Army, especially in selecting officers with a demonstrable commitment to outright victory over the king. This chapter shows how Skippon’s own commitment to the war effort drove him towards so-called political Independency despite his probable inclination towards religious Presbyterianism, whilst he also fell foul of political Presbyterians by championing the rights of the soldiery in the face of parliamentary attempts at disbandment. In the midst of these political complexities is a line of continuity between pre-war ideology and subsequent political partisanship. Following his re-appointment to command the London Trained Bands during the so-called “Second Civil War” in 1648, Skippon relied upon previous colleagues from the Artillery Company to control the capital during this period. He played a crucial role in bringing the king to justice but Skippon’s refusal to participate in Charles’s trial and execution demonstrates contemporaries’ internal dilemmas when faced with the consequences of their actions.
