The Sealed Knot was the most important, and certainly the most famous, royalist organization to emerge in England during the Protectorate.
At its heart was a group of second sons of Royalist families in East Anglia, each of whom had fought for the King in the Civil War. Their experiences left them suspicious of reckless schemes to overthrow the Parliamentary regime. Instead, they would wait for the right opportunity for a general, national uprising.
Their reticence put them at odds with other Royalist conspirators, who were not prepared to wait patiently for the right conditions for such a general uprising.
Additionally, like all Royalist conspirators, the Sealed Knot were also confronted by the Government’s sophisticated and effective counter-intelligence operation. Led by John Thurloe, the Protectorate’s agents repeatedly pre-empted and penetrated the conspiracies.
In this programme, well known Civil War historian Dr Stephen K. Roberts tells publisher Mike Gibbs how the Sealed Knot’s efforts to lead a domestic Royalist uprising ended in failure.
Today, the society bearing the name The Sealed Knot is well known for its re-enactments of Civil War battles, skirmishes and sieges across the country.
You can learn more about the organization and its upcoming events at its website www.thesealedknot.org.uk.
