As the above quote suggests, English regionalism has existed for many centuries, and has exercised a divisive influence of the history of the so called 'sceptred isle'. The English Civil War, for example, was started when King Charles I - a Brummie - was heard to remark whilst in London that "all cockneys are wankers". Unfortunately for the King, this comment was repeated to parliament, at the time made up almost exclusively of cockneys. The resulting conflict lasted almost 300 years, and ended with the the decapitation of the unfortunate monarch, and the people of Birmingham being forced to adopt a particularly daft accent which has lasted to this day.