Fitz

After this, Brown campaigned with Chumley's army for a time, acquitting himself well on the battlefield and earning himself the captaincy of a warship, the Cavendish. If he distinguished himself well enough on land, he was to become a very terror on the sea.

After this, Brown campaigned with Chumley's army for a time, acquitting himself well on the battlefield and earning himself the captaincy of a warship, the Cavendish. If he distinguished himself well enough on land, he was to become a very terror on the sea.

Where once the London newspapers had delighted in the tales of his daring exploits as a roundhead, they now disparaged him bitterly as a perfidious pirate. He was to spend several years roving the British coasts, preying on merchant vessels in incredible numbers. Of all the royalist buccaneers, Brown Bushel's name was the best known and most feared.

Where once the London newspapers had delighted in the tales of his daring exploits as a roundhead, they now disparaged him bitterly as a perfidious pirate. He was to spend several years roving the British coasts, preying on merchant vessels in incredible numbers. Of all the royalist buccaneers, Brown Bushel's name was the best known and most feared.

Of all his exploits during this time, it's actually one of his losses that's the most memorable. On the 15th of July 1645, the Cavendish was intercepted and boarded. The Roundheads had captured their quarry at last. Except, Brown Bushel was able to make a characteristically daring escape.

Of all his exploits during this time, it's actually one of his losses that's the most memorable. On the 15th of July 1645, the Cavendish was intercepted and boarded. The Roundheads had captured their quarry at last. Except, Brown Bushel was able to make a characteristically daring escape.

Along with around a dozen of his crew, Brown jumped through a gunport on the opposite side of the ship and swam undetected the one and a half miles to shore. The First Civil War was to end around a year later, following the capture of King Charles I in June of 1646, and it's at this point that the story surrounding Brown Bushel becomes a little muddy.

Along with around a dozen of his crew, Brown jumped through a gunport on the opposite side of the ship and swam undetected the one and a half miles to shore. The First Civil War was to end around a year later, following the capture of King Charles I in June of 1646, and it's at this point that the story surrounding Brown Bushel becomes a little muddy.

Several sources state that Brown begged the pardon of Parliament and was awarded the captaincy of a vessel in the parliamentary fleet, only to turn traitor once again at the outbreak of the Second Civil War in 1648, handing over his latest vessel to Royalist control.

Several sources state that Brown begged the pardon of Parliament and was awarded the captaincy of a vessel in the parliamentary fleet, only to turn traitor once again at the outbreak of the Second Civil War in 1648, handing over his latest vessel to Royalist control.

This has earned him the reputation of a flip-flopping scoundrel, but fortunately, author Jack Binns comes to the rescue of Brown-Bushall's character.

This has earned him the reputation of a flip-flopping scoundrel, but fortunately, author Jack Binns comes to the rescue of Brown-Bushall's character.

clearing up the many myths and misconceptions about this point in Bushell's life that seem to have occurred, as we've found in many other historical cases, from various authors over the centuries getting names and dates wrong, plagiarising others' incorrect work, sometimes seeming to just make things up completely, and compounding and expounding the misinformation in each retelling.

clearing up the many myths and misconceptions about this point in Bushell's life that seem to have occurred, as we've found in many other historical cases, from various authors over the centuries getting names and dates wrong, plagiarising others' incorrect work, sometimes seeming to just make things up completely, and compounding and expounding the misinformation in each retelling.

In reality, Brown Bushel never returned to Parliament service. In fact, unlike many other Royalists, he didn't even seek a pardon following the end of the First Civil War. He remained a privateer and took refuge in French ports or at Jersey until the outbreak of the Second Civil War, when he returned to British waters, still flying the royal flag.

In reality, Brown Bushel never returned to Parliament service. In fact, unlike many other Royalists, he didn't even seek a pardon following the end of the First Civil War. He remained a privateer and took refuge in French ports or at Jersey until the outbreak of the Second Civil War, when he returned to British waters, still flying the royal flag.

This time, though, his luck was not to last and Brown Bushel was caught by the Roundheads. In one final act of daring he escaped his captors but a handsome reward was offered for his apprehension and five days later he was back in custody. Fearing another escape he was held in close confinement at Windsor Castle.

This time, though, his luck was not to last and Brown Bushel was caught by the Roundheads. In one final act of daring he escaped his captors but a handsome reward was offered for his apprehension and five days later he was back in custody. Fearing another escape he was held in close confinement at Windsor Castle.

He was to remain imprisoned for nearly three years, but his trial at Westminster lasted only one day. The verdict? Guilty. His sentence? Death. Brown's execution was set to take place only four days later on Saturday 29th March 1651, the eighth anniversary of his meeting with Hugh Chumley at Scarborough's Gate, his surrender of Scarborough to the King and his betrayal of Parliament.

He was to remain imprisoned for nearly three years, but his trial at Westminster lasted only one day. The verdict? Guilty. His sentence? Death. Brown's execution was set to take place only four days later on Saturday 29th March 1651, the eighth anniversary of his meeting with Hugh Chumley at Scarborough's Gate, his surrender of Scarborough to the King and his betrayal of Parliament.