In 1607, during the reign of James l, the villages of Newton (Northants) and Cotesbach (Leics) staged a rebellion against the enclosure of the common land in their villages for sheep farming. This was a bit of a knock-on effect from the Gunpowder Plot as the catholic Tresham family were fined heavily for their involvement. They decided to try to recoup their losses through enclosing their land for sheep farming removing removing common rights. This led to widespread rebellion, the leading figure being a John Reynolds, “Captain Pouch” who maintained in messianic fashion that the contents of his pouch would protect the rebels from all harm. Several of the rebels were cut down by Lord Montague, acting on the King’s instruction, and the leaders were hanged, drawn and quartered. Captain Pouch was among these and it was found that the contents of his pouch was just a piece of mouldy cheese. The revolt as also significant in that it was probably the first time the terms “Levellers” and “Diggers” were heard in England.
lyrics
Mist Over Goosepastures:-
1. “Oh this is a cursed place”, my father said to me,
He told how underneath these beasts,
The bones of dead men lie,
No mention in the history books
No epitaph no trace,
For twas the men that wrote the books that put them in this place,
And even after all these years can’t look them in the face
And the mist lies over goosepastures, where these cattle graze
2. They (Em) swallowed all the abbeys first, and wiped their greedy(B7) jaws,
(Em)Then they came for the village fields,
With their wide open (B7) claws
Their (Em) lawyers signed the papers to legitimise their (B7) crime,
To (Em) take away the commons that saw us (B7) through hard (Em) times
And (B7)-all across these centuries, seen (Em) dimly through the (B7) haze,
And the (Em) mist lies over (B7 )goosepastures,(Em) where these (B7) cattle (Em) graze.
3, Lord Tresham he faced ruination after treason plot,
And he had needs for recompense to compensate his loss,
With fences and with ditches, left us on our own to fend,
How true indeed it was that sheep do surely eat up men,
And Montague’s bloody vengeance came, by order of King James,
And the mist lies over goosepastures, where these cattle graze
3. And hundreds came from miles around to join that rebel cause,
But with Captain Pouch just a dozen stood to face those venging swords
Cut down like corn at harvest time, with blood the Ise Brook ran
All followed by the hangman’s rope there by the King’s command.
They tried to cover up the shame, of actions low and base
But the mist lies over goosepastures, where these cattle graze
4. So in the year 1607, were planted here those seeds
For Levellers and Diggers all to fight the tyrant’s deeds,
Who tried to bury all their crimes from the eyes of God and man,
As they stamped down upon the earth with blood upon their hands,
Covered up their trails and tried so hard to banish every trace
And the mist lies over goosepastures, where these cattle graze
I write both serious and comedy songs. 6 solo CDs to date and collaborations with Steve Cartwright -"Legends of
Leicester/Leicestershire". "All at Sea" shantyish album. Folk based for the most part - when people ask where the ideas come from I can say with honesty -"not drugs!!".. Currently working on a new album "Aspects of Lurve" hopefully out later in 2024....more
