Sir William Brockman - Defence of The Town of Maidstone Against Fairfax

Defence of The Town of Maidstone Against Fairfax

Sir William Brockman was a royalist adherent of King Charles I. Sir William was appointed High Sheriff of Kent by the King in 1642, but was almost immediately arrested and imprisoned in Winchester House, Southwark, London in a move that seems to have sought to remove potentially influential Royalist supporters from the scene. He was replaced as Sheriff by Sir John Honeywood. William remained under in prison until August 1645, although after a time he was transferred from London back to Westenhanger house in Kent; only a couple of miles from his home at Beachborough.

In the second civil war period that flared up in 1648, William did indeed become directly involved in fighting for the first and only time, under the command of Sir John Mayney. Separated from the main loyalist forces, the detachment in Maidstone had to fight against Farifax's trained army unsupported.

Fairfax's elite division marched on Maidstone, which was at the time garrisoned by ~1,000 royalist horse and foot. General Fairfax passed the river at Farleigh Bridge and attacked the town with a corps of ~10,000 men. The assault began at about seven o'clock in the evening. The fighting intensified and spread into every street, which, with the houses, were lined by the royalists, whose strength had been augmented by Sir William, who had brought in a reinforcement of 800 men during the preliminary skirmishing. The resistance of the townsmen was determined, and Fairfax had to literally contend for every inch of the ground; and the conflict endured to midnight. Around midnight, the outnumbered royalists were driven into a churchyard where they took shelter and continued to resist with unabated vigour. They were eventually forced to surrender upon conditions securing their personal safety. Fairfax's report to Parliament of confirms that Sir William and the other leaders were arrested. Records show that William was still a prisoner in 1651, when he, his brother Zouch and many other royalists were declared delinquents and had heavy fines levied against them. Sir William was fined £500 and Zouch £350. It remains uncertain as to when William was released on this second occasion, but it is notable that he did not lose his estate and was able to pass it on to his son after his death in 1654.

In somewhat flowery prose the 1836 edition of Burke's Commoners closes: "Few actions displayed more of that chivalric courage and devoted resolve which characterised the adherents of the King during the civil wars than this. Lord Clarendon terms it a sharp encounter very bravely fought with the general's whole strength".