History Extra podcast Taking sides: how the Civil War turned friends into enemies
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May 22, 2025 Minoo Dinshaw, author of 'Friends in Youth: Choosing Sides in the English Civil War,' discusses the strained friendship between Bulstrode Whitelock and Ned Hyde during the 17th-century civil conflict. He explores their contrasting loyalties—one to the King, the other to Parliament—and how ideological divides led to personal rifts. The conversation also highlights the enduring nature of friendships amid war and connects historical sentiments to contemporary issues, offering insights into the Civil War's lasting legacy.
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Friendship Reflects Political Rift
- Bulstrode Whitlock and Ned Hyde started on the same moderate political side before diverging sharply during the Civil War.
- Their friendship offers a fresh lens to understand this complex period in English history.
Mocking Power in Friendship
- Whitlock and Hyde shared a moment conducting a mock debate pretending to be Star Chamber lawyers, mocking powerful establishment figures.
- This revealed their political ambition, conscientiousness, and friendly camaraderie before the war.
Choosing Sides in War
- Hyde aligned with King Charles I in York, advancing the royalist cause, while Whitlock stayed in London supporting Parliament.
- Their choices symbolized the growing geographic and political divide that precipitated the Civil War.
