THINGS THAT MATTER

“That no taxes, customs, imports, loans, or excise shall be laid, nor levy made on any the inhabitants of this island without their consent in a General Assembly.” (Article 3 of the Charter of Barbados, signed in the Mermaid Tavern at Oistins, on January 17th, 1652)

 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist)

 

Barbados has a reputation for good governance since Independence. But it’s been generally forgotten, or never known by most people, that Barbados was intimately involved in the English Civil War, which resulted in the defeat and execution of King Charles the First in 1649, and the rise to power of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector. There were actually prolonged conflicts, beginning in 1642 and ending in England in 1651. The war then came to Barbados in 1651 and ended with the Charter of Barbados. In this coming week, January 17, is the 365th Anniversary of the famous Charter.

 

The war was one of power between King and Parliament. The Parliamentarians became known as Roundheads and the King’s supporters, the Royalists, were known as Cavaliers. The crucial battle of Naseby more or less destroyed the King’s cause, but conflict continued until 1651. Many Royalists who supported King Charles removed themselves to Barbados, rather than lose their heads, like the King, and salvaged enough of their wealth to buy property in Barbados. There were enough of them to take control of the Assembly, and when King Charles was beheaded they were cocky enough and provocative enough to declare his son King Charles the Second. They also disregarded Cromwell’s edicts about foreign trade, and continued, against his orders, to trade with the Dutch, with whom there were good relations. In fact many Dutchmen owned property in and around Bridgetown. The ancient Nicholls building, with the recently botched up curvilinear Dutch gables, on the corner of Lucas and James Streets, is a typical 17th century Dutch building.

 

For some time there was general agreement not to let events in England sour local relationships, and it was agreed informally that “whosoever named the word Roundhead or Cavalier, should give to all those that heard him, a shoat and turkey to be eaten at his house that made the forfeiture”. Ligon asserts that this was sometimes done on purpose, to provide an excuse for holding a dinner party (Watson, BBC History, 2011). It was possibly an excuse for indulging in the newly discovered fire water (rum)! 

 

However, eventually things got serious. The Royalist leaders in Barbados went so far as to expel some of the more prominent Cromwell supporters and Colonel Alleyne went off to England and reported to Cromwell on the virtual rebellion of the Barbadian Assembly. Cromwell sent a fleet of seven ships commanded by Sir George Ayscue. By this time the Governor Lord Willoughby, a former Roundhead turned Royalist, had built enough forts all along the West and South coasts that the fleet, reputedly carrying 2 000 men, couldn’t effect a landing but sailed up and down for two months, blocking access and trade. 

Eventually, on the night of December 17, they landed at Speightstown. Lord Willoughby’s forces met them at the beach, and Colonel Alleyne was killed by a musket ball before he even reached the shore. The Parliamentary forces drove back the Willoughy forces, killed 50 men and burnt many houses before withdrawing. 

 

There were another few weeks of inaction, with secret correspondence between the Bajan Parliamentarian Colonel Modyford and Sir George aboard ship. Finally, on January 6th, battle lines were drawn at Oistins. By this time things were turning against Lord Willoughby and some of his forces deserted. According to Darnell Davis, in his book “The Cavaliers and Roundheads of Barbados, 1650 to 1652”, there were three days of heavy rains, during which Lord Willoughby must have realised he was outmanoeuvred and he agreed to a truce. Was it because of the rain, since Bajans don’t like rain? Or was it because he’d also been advised by his good wife that he should submit!

 

In any case, hostilities ended, the Charter of Barbados was agreed on January 11th, and ratified at the Mermaid Tavern in Oistins on January the 17th. There were 23 articles, addressing religious liberty (article 1), free trade, taxation and the authority of the local Assembly. It drew heavily on the ancient Magna Carta, and it’s believed that our Charter in turn influenced the American Declaration of Independence, because George Washington on his visit here in 1751 would have been acquainted with the Charter. 

 

The lead signatories for the Parliamentary forces were Colonel Thomas Modyford, who later became Governor of Jamaica, and John Colleton (later Sir John). Ironically, just as the Roundhead Willoughby became a Royalist, the Royalist Colleton became a Parliamentarian! But when King Charles the Second returned to the throne, he was knighted, and created the project to explore and settle the Carolinas!

 

The importance of the Charter of Barbados is great; it was a major landmark in democratic thinking, even though the “democracy” of that era was extremely limited to the haves, to the exclusion of the have nots. Yet surprisingly it’s hardly noticed today. For the English, for centuries, our history began in 1627 and pre-history and early peoples were irrelevant. Similarly, for some in today’s world, our history began in 1966, but as Santanaya said: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

 

The abandoned site of the old Infirmary at Oistins, on the site of Kendal Fort, could be beautified into a Mermaid Park with a simple monument and a tasteful tavern, the New Mermaid Tavern, to celebrate the Charter. It would be a major attraction. It’s a “no-brainer”. Let’s do it.

 

Postscript: Speaking of Sir John Colleton, last Saturday saw the first National Trust Open House of the season at the Colleton Great House in St. Lucy, Sir John’s first plantation. This fascinating property, overlooking Six Men’s, houses a magnificent art collection, including some 200 pieces of folk sculpture from Papua New Guinea, the collection of the extraordinary geologist Frank Rickwood. (Colleton will be the subject of a future column.) 

 

Meanwhile, the National Trust Open House programme continues on Wednesday coming, January 18th, with the opening of Clifton Hall Great House in St. John. This is not only an extraordinary house architecturally, but it has a fascinating history, and includes a mysterious “Mrs. Rochester room” (a poor relation room, in Barbadian parlance). In recent times it was the home of the late Peter Morgan, Minister of Tourism and close friend of the Right Excellent Errol Barrow, and Mr. Barrow’s frequent stomping ground and party scene. It’s been magnificently restored by popular attorney Massimo Franchi and it’s a “must see”. A wonderful feature of Open Houses is the gathering of artists and craftsmen: last week I was blown away by the five-star quality products of Steve Carter’s Craftworx Designs. And Clifton Hall’s own specially blended Clifton Hall Great House rum will 

be available, as well as 

 

the now world famous National Trust rum punch!

 

(Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com)