|Military History||the English Civil War||the Roman World| John
Barkstead, a London goldsmith and silversmith, joined
Parliament's army at the start of the Civil War. A good soldier
he became a colonel in the New Model Army and fought with
General Thomas Fairfax at the siege of Colchester 1648.
Barkstead served on the High Court of Justice and in 1649 signed
the king's death warrant. Barkstead was appointed military
governor of Middlesex and was knighted for his services during
the Commonwealth. On 3rd September 1658, Oliver Cromwell died.
Parliament and the leaders of the army now began arguing amongst
themselves about how England should be ruled. General George
Monck, the officer in charge of the English army based in
Scotland, decided to take action, and in 1660 he marched his
army to London. When Monck arrived he reinstated the House of
Lords and the Parliament of 1640. Royalists were now in control
of Parliament. Monk now contacted Charles II, who was living in
Holland. Charles agreed that if he was made