The tides of history have often swept through the Essex market town of Saffron Walden, but never so significantly as in a few weeks in May 1647. In the great parish church of St Mary's a series of debates took place in which the soldiers of Cromwell's New Model Army argued with their officers and with Parliament about their rights as free men. It is not too much to say that these debates marked the birth of English democracy.

To celebrate the 360th anniversary of the debates, Saffron Walden Initiative staged a re-enactment in St Mary’s Church in the form of a specially written play - Freeborn Englishmen - and also organised other events to increase the appreciation of this historical event.

Monday 14 May 2007
From 10am - Museum
Launch of week-long Exhibition at Saffron Walden Museum of English Civil War publications from the collections of Saffron Walden Town Library and the Museum

Tuesday 15 May 2007
8pm - King's Arms, Market Hill
The tavern was the focus of social life and political intrigue in the 17th Century, so favourite poems and tunes from the English Civil War period were featured in an informal evening
£1 collection at the door

Wednesday 16 May 2007
9.45am to 4.30pm - Town Hall
'Saffron Walden: Cradle of the English Revolution 1647-8' - Day School for the general public in the Town Hall. The speakers were: Martyn Everett on the Agitators, John Sutton & Sue Sadler on the Battle of Linton, Andrew Lacey on King Charles I and John Walter on Parson Drake, the Vicar of Radwinter
Tickets - £15.00 - were available from the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden CB10 1HR (Tel: 01799 510444) or at the door

Thursday 17 May 2007
8pm - Town Hall
'Behold Your King' - a costumed presentation in the Town Hall by June & John Sutton on the seizure of King Charles I by the soldiers of the New Model Army in 1647
Tickets - £5 and concessions £4 - were available from the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden CB10 1HR (Tel: 01799 510444) or at the door

Friday 18 May 2007
8pm - St Mary's Church
First performance of Freeborn Englishmen - a specially commissioned play by Alan McLean featuring a re-enactment of the 1647 debates in St Mary's Church - produced by Gordon Cummings
Tickets - £7.50 and concessions £5.00 - were available from the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden CB10 1HR (Tel: 01799 510444) or at the door

Saturday 19 May 2007
From 10.45am - Town Centre, Museum/Castle Grounds, The Common & St Mary's Church
10.45am - 11.00am: Sealed Knot soldiers paraded into town centre from the London Road and down the High Street
11.00am - 12.30pm: 17th Century street theatre including use of stocks and puppet show
11.00am - 5.00pm: 17th Century 'Living History' encampment in the Museum/Castle grounds with displays of some social aspects of history - including the Barber Surgeon
11.30pm - 12.45pm: Demonstration of Arms & Drill on the Common by the Sealed Knot with 'live' firing
2.00pm & 3.00pm: 17th Century puppet show in the Museum grounds
2.30pm - 3.30pm: Drill on the common - cannon - musket - pike - drums
3.30pm - 5.00pm: 17th Century Dance demonstrations by Danse Royale in the Town Hall and outdoors in King Street
All the above Saturday events were free
8.00pm: Second performance of Freeborn Englishmen in St Mary's Church
Tickets - £7.50 and concessions £5.00 - were available from the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Place, Saffron Walden CB10 1HR (Tel: 01799 510444) or at the door 

Sunday 20 May 2007
From 10.30am - Town Centre, Museum/Castle Grounds & The Common
10.30am - 3.30pm: 17th Century 'Living History' tented encampment in the Museum/Castle grounds with displays of some social aspects of history - including the Barber Surgeon
11.00am - 11.15am: Sealed Knot soldiers paraded into town centre from the London Road and down the High Street
11.15am - 12.00pm: Sealed Knot enacted cameos in the town centre
12.15pm - 1.00pm: Drill on the Common by the Sealed Knot
2.15pm - 3.30pm: Skirmish on the Common by the Sealed Knot
All the above Sunday events were free