It would be better… if Leicester were not” – A Talk by Martyn Bennett

"It would be better... if Leicester were not" Oliver Cromwell 1643: Leicester, Lord Loughborough and Cromwell in the First Civil War.

From the outset, Leicester identified itself with the Parliamentarian cause, despite or because of its long association with the Hastings family some of whom associated themselves with the royalists.

From defying the attempt to marshal the Trained Bands in the king's name to defying the king access to the county magazine the town was on a collision course with the monarchy. However, when te leading parliamentarian left the area and his teenage son took command Leicester seemed vulnerable and exposed to the build up of royalist forces at the end of 1642.

This vulnerability led Oliver Cromwell to despair of ever being able to make the use of its military resources.

So what value did Leicester have for either side?.