Prestwich's Respublica

by

Sir John Prestwich

1787

Prestwich's Respublica is a collection of things.  It begins with a written account of the coronation of Oliver Cromwell.  Obviously it was an event of sufficient magnitude that someone transcribed the proceedings.  How that transcript got into the hands of Sir John maybe a hundred years later is something to look into.

What this book is and what it represents is a continuing discovery.  Why would someone publish such a volume considering the resources it took to create it during the late 1700's in England?   It is part journalism, part political opinion, part "telephone book", part social and military almanac and today a resource for historical and genealogical researchers.  Perhaps it was similar to what I, and many others, are doing with the new technology called the internet - "It seems significant.  Just put it out there."  I am collecting thoughts on this topic, both mine and thoughts from others, and I welcome any comments from anyone.  Write me.  Happy hunting. 

Bill Prestwidge.

 

 

Title Page

ii
Dedication iii iv
Contents v vi vii vii-a viii ix
I. The Commonwealth Table or genealogical line, or paternal descent of his Highness the most serene and most illustrious Oliver Cromwell 1 2
II. Procession, with ceremony of the investiture and installation of his Highness Oliver Cromwell 3 4 5 6
III. Names of all the great Officers belonging to his Highness Oliver Cromwell, together with the Parliament roll of the Commonwealth, with names of the members for the several counties etc, in alphabetical order 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
IV. Installation of his Highness Oliver Lord Protector with his oath 16 17 18
V. Procession with the great seal, flags and other ensigns armorial of his Highness, and of the Commonwealth 19 20 21 22
VI. Strictures, etc on the Protector 23
VII. Cornets, or flags, and pennons of sundry commanders, or captains of companies, etc of English, Scotch, Irish, Americans, and French, in the armies of the Commonwealth, a subject never before published, and now first set forth in blazon 24  25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39  40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47  48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55  56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87
VIII. The armorial bearings belonging to the sundry commanders, or captains of companies, etc that bear coronets flags and pennons, as of English, Scotch, Irish, Americans, and French in the armies of the commonwealth 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114  115 116 117 118
IX. Names of the governors, or major-generals, or the Commonwealth, for the inspection of the government, in a committee of every county 119
X. The particular account of the whole English military establishment of the Commonwealth, with the state of the army and navy 120 121 122
XI. Complete list of all such ships and vessels (with their names) in the service of the Commonwealth, as a guard for the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, together with their commanders names, number of men and guns, with the sundry charges 123 124 125
XII. Complete list of all such as are divided into squadrons, and stationed abroad, together with those to convoys 126 127
XIII. Charges of the sundry fleets under the sundry commanders 128 129 130
XIV. The Loyalists' bloody roll, or a list of the lords, baronets, knights, commanders, and gentlemen, (with their King and Archbishop), that were slain in the late wars; as also of those executed by high courts of justice or law martial 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146
XV. Interesting observations on these wars, necessary to be known and remembered by the heads of our ancient families, whether Whigs or Tories!  147 148
XVI. Names and armorial bearings of sundry noble and worth personages, whether by creation, honorable offices, or those in places of trust, etc. etc. in the Commonwealth with some account of their families, amongst which is that of the noble and distinguished Patron of this work.  The same of those who signed the death-warrant of Charles Stuart together with the secret where his Highness Oliver Lord Protector was interred, first made known to the Editor by the only remaining honorable person whose ancestor alone knew it 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169
XVII. Political reasons why THE OLD FAMILIES of these kingdoms should be united, or an antidote against the poison and folly of supporting our inferiors! 170 171
XVIII. The death ! funeral order ! and procession ! of his Highness the most serene and most illustrious Oliver Cromwell, late Lord Protector, etc. 172 173 174 175 176 177 178
XIX. Benefactions to All Souls College, Oxford, etc. by a fellow thereof, an act worthy of imitation, as a means to perpetuate the name and generosity of Englishmen, to future generations 179 180 181
XX. Funeral ensigns of honor, as national, paternal, etc, etc. belonging to his late Serene Highness Oliver Cromwell, now first and fully set forth.  1st, the four standards, as England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales; 2nd, the Guydon ; 3rd the eight great banners, as the great banner of the States called the Union ; the great banner of England ; the great banner of Scotland ; the great banner of Scotland ; the great banner of Ireland ; the great banner of Wales ; the great banner of the State, or Commonwealth ; the great family banner of his late Serene Highness Oliver Cromwell ; the great banner of the White Lion. or the paternal arms of the family of Cromwell. The twelve banner-rolls of Cromwell, as their descent and alliances ; viz . Bourchier, Steuard, Warren, Moruin, Crumwell, Cromwell, Kemis, Button, Cheurons, Williams, etc etc etc. 182 183 184 185 186 187
XXI. Further particulars respecting the hearth, or bed of state, wherein lies the effigies of his Serene Highness Oliver Lord Protector, placing of the silk work by the officers of arms, as also the Bannerolls, and Banner-rolls 188 189 190 191 192
XXII. Bill of sundry particulars for the funeral of his Serene Highness Oliver Lord Protector 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200
XXIII. Account and expenses attending painting work prepaired and done for the funeral of his Highness Oliver Cromwell.  A matter worthy of note, and highly interesting to the Lord Mayors, etc. etc. etc in the future, of the City of :London 201 202 203
XXIV. Proclamation of his Serene Highness Lord Richard Cromwell, as successor, as Lord Protector, of the Commonwealth 204 205 206 207
XXV. Birth, marriage, and issue, of his Highness, the most Serene and most Illustrious Oliver Cromwell ; together with all their armorial bearings ; with other matters highly worthy of note 208 209 210 211 212
XXVI. Illustration to all the aforementioned, with the parliamentary list of the names of the knights, citizens, burgesses, and barons of the Cinque Ports, in th elate, or last Parliament, holden at Westminster, for the Commonwealth of England (and Wales), Scotland and Ireland, begun January 1658, and dissolved April 22, 1659 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227
XXVII. The Editor's observations (as a free-man) on all the variations of State, with respect to the sovereignty of these kingdoms 228
XXVIII. * Discourse by the Author, or Editor, on the Commonwealth, constitution, or monarchy, of these kingdoms, with the royal style, title and achievement, of his present Most Excellent Majesty George The Third, Monarch of Great Britain, etc. etc. etc. in which is shewn the antiquity and illustrious descent of the Houses of Saxony, Guelph, Brunswick-Lunenberg, Mecklinberg-Strelitz, etc. royal issue, etc.etc.  The whole concluding (to be continued, God willing, in a second volume) with an alphabetical roll of the names and armorial bearings of most of the present nobility and ancient families, of these kingdoms, together with those of Germany, France, Spain, etc. etc.

* In this is a matter worthy of being remembered by the military order, baronets of England, or of Great Britain, that tey ought not to forget the wise and honorable institution of their order.

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