Greg Jenner

There's also a petition presented to Parliament, which is 24 yards long. So it's about 20 metres long. It's got 15,000 signatures on it. It's against Catholic peers and bishops. And I love the idea of just unrolling this petition slowly in front of Parliament. It's so passive aggressive. We're getting daily clashes in Parliament by this point.

There's also a petition presented to Parliament, which is 24 yards long. So it's about 20 metres long. It's got 15,000 signatures on it. It's against Catholic peers and bishops. And I love the idea of just unrolling this petition slowly in front of Parliament. It's so passive aggressive. We're getting daily clashes in Parliament by this point.

We've got riots, we've got protests, we've got people being shot, proper violence breaking out in Westminster. And a fed up King Charles basically comes up with a plan. He's going to arrest Pym. He's going to accuse him of treason. He's presumably going to execute him. And why doesn't it work?

We've got riots, we've got protests, we've got people being shot, proper violence breaking out in Westminster. And a fed up King Charles basically comes up with a plan. He's going to arrest Pym. He's going to accuse him of treason. He's presumably going to execute him. And why doesn't it work?

So 1642, this is the year of the Civil War. And in May of 42, we get the country. How does the country raise itself to war when it's the king that they're angry at?

So 1642, this is the year of the Civil War. And in May of 42, we get the country. How does the country raise itself to war when it's the king that they're angry at?

I mean, it's a fair point. Why not? Is it just because it's in the middle of the country? Is that just a good sensible...?

I mean, it's a fair point. Why not? Is it just because it's in the middle of the country? Is that just a good sensible...?

So, on the fateful day, 22nd August 1642, having come to power in 1625, Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham and then apparently the wind blew it down, which was never a good sign, and thus declared the British Civil Wars, the English Civil War, whatever you want to call it, but he declared war. The question I want to ask you, Toussaint, which side would you have sided with?

So, on the fateful day, 22nd August 1642, having come to power in 1625, Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham and then apparently the wind blew it down, which was never a good sign, and thus declared the British Civil Wars, the English Civil War, whatever you want to call it, but he declared war. The question I want to ask you, Toussaint, which side would you have sided with?

Would you have gone King or Parliament?

Would you have gone King or Parliament?

So you're a cavalier. Feather in the cap and off you go. So there we go. So that's the end of the story. We're not going to cover the actual wars itself. We're stopping here. But there we go. Toussaint has committed himself to the king's cause. OK, time now for the nuance window.

So you're a cavalier. Feather in the cap and off you go. So there we go. So that's the end of the story. We're not going to cover the actual wars itself. We're stopping here. But there we go. Toussaint has committed himself to the king's cause. OK, time now for the nuance window.

This is where Toussaint and I sit quietly and read seditious pamphlets for two minutes while Dr John tries not to topple over in the pulpits while gesticulating wildly about the British Civil Wars. You have two minutes. Take it away, Dr Healy.

This is where Toussaint and I sit quietly and read seditious pamphlets for two minutes while Dr John tries not to topple over in the pulpits while gesticulating wildly about the British Civil Wars. You have two minutes. Take it away, Dr Healy.

You were fighting for the king a minute ago. What's happened? We've lost you. Well, thank you so much, Toussaint. And listen, if you want more Toussaint, do check out our episode on the American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was an extraordinary man. For more Stuart history, we've got the episode on King James, of course, but also Nell Gwynne, the 17th century actress.

You were fighting for the king a minute ago. What's happened? We've lost you. Well, thank you so much, Toussaint. And listen, if you want more Toussaint, do check out our episode on the American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was an extraordinary man. For more Stuart history, we've got the episode on King James, of course, but also Nell Gwynne, the 17th century actress.

And remember, if you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review, share the show with your friends, subscribe to You're Dead to Me on BBC Sound so you never miss an episode. But I've just got to say a big thank you to our guests in History Corner. We had the amazing Professor Jonathan Healy from the University of Oxford. Thank you, John. Thanks, Greg.

And remember, if you've enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review, share the show with your friends, subscribe to You're Dead to Me on BBC Sound so you never miss an episode. But I've just got to say a big thank you to our guests in History Corner. We had the amazing Professor Jonathan Healy from the University of Oxford. Thank you, John. Thanks, Greg.