Bunbury Agreement facts for kids

The Bunbury Agreement was a special promise made on December 23, 1642. It was created by important people from Cheshire, a county in England. They wanted to stay neutral, meaning they didn't want to pick sides in the big war happening at the time, called the First English Civil War.

However, this agreement, like others made in places like Lancashire, was ignored by both sides of the war: the Parliament and King Charles I. Cheshire and its important port city of Chester were too important for the whole country. So, what the local people wanted didn't matter as much as the national interests.

History of the Agreement

The First English Civil War started in August 1642. This led to many small fights in Cheshire as both the King's side and Parliament's side tried to take control.

On December 23, some important leaders met in Bunbury. These included Henry Mainwaring and Mr. Marbury (for Parliament) and Lord Kilmorey and Sir Orlando Bridgeman (for the Royalists, who supported the King).

They all agreed to stop fighting in Cheshire. They decided that:

• All prisoners would be set free.
• Any property taken during the fights would be given back.
• Money would be collected from both sides to pay for any damage.
• Defenses in towns like Chester, Nantwich, Stockport, Knutsford, and Northwich would be removed.
• Their combined forces would help any outside armies leave the county.
• No more troops would move through Cheshire.
• They would not raise any more local soldiers.

They hoped their national leaders would agree to settle their differences peacefully.

Why the Agreement Failed

Cheshire was very important strategically. This meant it was impossible for local leaders to make a peace deal that their national commanders would accept.

Cheshire is located between the Pennines mountains and the hills of North Wales. So, whoever controlled Cheshire also controlled the main path to northwest England and Scotland. It was also an important route into North Wales.

For Parliament, controlling Cheshire meant they could separate the King's supporters in the north from the King's main army in Oxford. It could also stop the King from bringing in more soldiers from his army in Ireland through the port of Chester.

The King's supporters had been busy. Chester's defenses were made stronger. The Commission of Array (people in charge of organizing defenses) helped to staff these defenses. The city also raised 300 more men. These men were paid for by a monthly "assessment," which was a local tax on everyone living there. More money was raised in December for extra weapons and defenses.

Parliament's Rejection

Sir William Brereton and Dunham Massey were the main Parliament supporters in Cheshire. They were in London and did not agree with the Bunbury Agreement.

On January 9, 1643, Parliament officially put Brereton in charge of their forces in Cheshire. Massey was ordered to take command of the Cheshire local soldiers. These actions effectively ended the Bunbury Agreement.

The King's Response

On January 19, King Charles I announced he was sending Sir Thomas Aston to Cheshire and Lancashire as a Major-General. Prince Rupert, a Royalist commander, gave Aston clear orders:

• Take his soldiers to Shropshire.
• Gather more soldiers and horsemen there.
• Defend Cheshire against the Parliament forces led by Sir William Brereton, who were coming from London.
• Seize weapons and ammunition for the King.
• Punish anyone who caused trouble, plundered, or committed other bad acts.

Aston was told to finish this by March 15, unless he got new orders. The Cheshire Commissioners of Array were also given specific instructions to help Aston. The King explained that since Parliament had rejected the Bunbury Agreement and was sending troops, he was sending Aston to protect the county.

After some smaller fights and movements to get into position, these two opposing forces had a big, planned battle. This was the First Battle of Middlewich, which happened on March 13, 1643.

See also

• Treaty of Neutrality (Yorkshire) – Another attempt at local peace during the war.
• Clubmen – Groups of people in other counties who also tried to stay neutral.