John Cook
(1608-1660), First Solicitor General of the English Commonwealth and regicideSitter in 5 portraits
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid to late 17th century
NPG D29890
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29888
by R. Cooper, after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29889
Fictitious portrait called John Cook
by Robert Cooper, published by Charles Baldwyn, published by Henry Baldwyn
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D17879
by Unknown artist
line engraving, probably early 19th century
NPG D17880
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Laurie Pettitt
17 August 2017, 12:52
Cooke has been portrayed as a rabid republican but, as with most people on the Parliamentarian side of the Interregnum, he had his story told by the people who wrote what Patrons wanted to see. He was in Thomas Wentworth's Irish administration and early story tellers say that he stole money. But he was influenced by Wentworth. He was part of an organisation, unknown before and since, which worked towards Summary Affordable Justice. In the Deputy's Court in Ireland, the poor could expect justice against the rich. The powerful could expect the same justice as the lowest felon. And, the decision of the court became final, even if Wentworth had to belabour the King to stand by his decisions. Geoffrey Robertson tells us that Cooke also offered to help Wentworth (Then Earl of Strafford) with his defence. So; if Cooke was influenced by and had a regard for Strafford, when Cooke prosecutes King Charles the first, he really did have an axe to grind! Cooke went on to being chief Justice of Munster and operated the court in the same manner that Wentworth had operated in Dublin. Summary, affordable Justice! Cromwell told the Lawyers and officials in Westminster that he had a man in Ireland who dispensed more justice in a week than they did in a year. There were cases in the Court of Chancery which were thirty years old. There were people imprisoned for debts that they could never pay, and whilst they were incarcerated, the families had to pay for their upkeep. The Governorship of a prison like the fleet would change hands for a sum equivalent to hundreds of thousand of Pounds in our modern money. Cooke was also executed as a Regicide, but his character shone through, even in the days leading up to his execution. Hugh Peters, one time pastor of the Church in Salem Massachusetts and a chaplain in the Parliamentarian Army, had completely broken down. So much so that Cooke said that the man was not in a fit state to execute.
Cooke went on to the scaffold and Peters was made to look on. After Cook had been mopped up, Peters, in his death speech told the people listening that they had thought to terrify him, but they had actually given him strength to face the transition between this life and the next. So... When people call Cooke names, imagine how a rabid republican would be so influenced by Charles the First's very own 'Jiminy Cricket' Sir, Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford. Read this, then please, go away and prove me wrong! It is the only way history can become honest.