[3] While the 1651 Third English Civil War failed to restore the monarchy, many Parliamentarians opposed the role of the military in government, and continuing instability led to Cromwell's appointment as Lord Protector in 1653.

After his death in September 1658, he was succeeded by his son Richard; a significant element of the broad-based Third Protectorate Parliament supported the restoration of monarchy, and deep political divisions meant it was unable to provide stable government.

In May 1659, the Army removed Richard Cromwell and re-seated the Rump Parliament; political uncertainty created a situation Royalist agents and the Stuart exiles hoped to exploit.

[5] A series of poorly planned Royalist revolts after 1648 led to the creation of the Sealed Knot, a small group of aristocrats responsible for co-ordinating future activity in England.

Based on his advice, on 1 March 1659 Charles created the "Great Trust and Commission", which comprised the six members of the Sealed Knot plus John Mordaunt, younger brother of the Earl of Peterborough.

Mordaunt was unable to secure commitment from Major-General Browne in London, but focused efforts on strategic ports at Bristol and Lynn, with other major risings at Shrewsbury, Warwick and Worcester, while a series of diversionary actions were planned elsewhere, including one in Cheshire.

[11][12] By July 1659 Mordaunt felt there was a good chance of success with "confusion now so great [...] dayly and hourely considerable people turn to the King"; in addition to those already mentioned, his agents also claimed support from influential moderate Presbyterians such as Alexander Popham in Wiltshire.

[13] While the degree of support was likely exaggerated by Mordaunt, the exiled court also became involved; in July the Duke of York wrote to the North Wales Royalist Sir John Owen stating that "the time draws near for action".

[22] While not necessarily a setback nationally, realisation the government had been alerted probably discouraged many from joining on 1 August,[23] as did a "dismal letter of foreboding" from the Sealed Knot received by local conspirators on 31 July.

Several rendezvous points were already patrolled by the county militia; 120 horsemen assembled in Sherwood Forest under Richard Byron and Charles White of Newthorpe, intending to take Newark, but were pursued and dispersed.

He was advised of the letters intercepted on 28 July, but made little effort to stop the rising; Birch was instrumental in the appointment of Newcome to the Manchester Collegiate Church in 1656, and his sympathies may have been divided.

[28] Since he was assured of Royalist support, Booth focused on appealing to fellow Presbyterians, combined with attacks on the Rump's corruption, and a promise to the "undeceived part of the Army" to increase their pay.

[30] A second contingent under Randolph Egerton left Chester and crossed the Welsh border to Chirk Castle, home of former Parliamentarian commander Sir Thomas Myddelton.

Two regiments of foot left London on 5 August; Lambert followed the next day with the cavalry and made rapid progress, despite heavy rain and initial near-mutiny among his men due to lack of pay.

[32] A brigade of 1,500 foot and horse under Colonels Axtell and Sankey were recalled from Ireland; they arrived at the North Wales port of Beaumaris, although one transport with 30 cavalry sank en route.

Faced with the choice of confronting Lambert's veterans, returning to Chester to await the arrival of Charles and his exiles, or retreating towards North Wales, Booth resorted to "wandering about in mid-Cheshire to the dismay of his fellow leaders".

[34] Lambert responded to an attempt to open negotiations by demanding he surrender; when a second approach was made by a group of Presbyterian ministers, it simply confirmed his opponents wanted to avoid fighting.

The last to submit were the remaining North Wales insurgents under Myddelton's eldest son Thomas, who withdrew into Chirk Castle; they eventually surrendered to Sankey's "Irish Brigade" at the end of the month.

[41] This disappointment, along with local distaste for Charles's religious policies after 1661, meant that the lasting legacy of Booth's Uprising was perhaps the creation of the nucleus of an anti-court "Country" party based in the region.