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68-592: Agitators , or adjutators , was the name given to representatives elected in 1647 by the different regiments of the English Parliamentary army. The word really means an agent, but it was confused with "adjutant," often called "agitant," a title familiar to the soldiers, and thus the form "adjutator" came into use. Early in 1647 the Long Parliament wished either to disband many of the regiments or to send them to Ireland . The soldiers, whose pay

136-567: A military plot to release Strafford from the Tower led to widespread demonstrations in London, and on 7th, the Lords voted for execution by 51 to 9. Claiming to fear for his family's safety, Charles signed the death warrant on 10 May, and Strafford was beheaded two days later. On 5 November 1640 parliament created several committees to parcel out the work they intended to address. The first committee

204-522: A Protectorate or Dictatorship). Henry Vane was working on a Reform Bill. Cromwell knew "that if the Reform Bill should be suffered to pass, and a House of Commons be convened, freely elected on popular principles, and constituting a full and fair and equal representation, it would be impossible ever after to overthrow the liberties of the people, or break down the government of the country". According to General Edmund Ludlow (an unapologetic supporter of

272-624: A file of musketeers entered. As they advanced, Cromwell exclaimed, looking over the House, "You are no Parliament; I say you are no Parliament; begone, and give place to honester men". "While this extraordinary scene was transacting, the members, hardly believing their own ears and eyes, sat in mute amazement, horror, and pity of the maniac traitor who was storming and raving before them. At length Vane rose to remonstrate, and call him to his senses; but Cromwell, instead of listening to him, drowned his voice, repeating with great vehemence, and as though with

340-487: A fundamental misunderstanding of his character. When Prince Rupert suggested in August 1645 the war was lost, Charles responded he was correct from a military viewpoint, but 'God will not suffer rebels and traitors to prosper'. This deeply-held conviction meant he refused any substantial concessions. Aware of divisions among his opponents, he used his position as king of both Scotland and England to deepen them, assuming that he

408-693: A head in October 1641 with the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion ; both Charles and Parliament supported raising troops to suppress it, but neither trusted the other with their control. On 22 November, the Commons passed the Grand Remonstrance by 159 votes to 148, and presented it to Charles on 1 December. The first half listed over 150 perceived 'misdeeds', the second proposed solutions, including church reform and Parliamentary control over

476-603: A letter from David Leslie , commander of Scottish forces besieging Newark , announcing that he had the king in custody. Charles ordered the Royalist governor, Lord Belasyse , to surrender Newark, and the Scots withdrew to Newcastle , taking the king with them. This marked the end of the First English Civil War . Many Parliamentarians had assumed military defeat would force Charles to compromise, which proved

544-605: A series of committees and sub-committees starting with the Grand Committee for Religion appointed on 6 November 1640. Their main target was the Earl of Strafford , former Lord Deputy of Ireland ; aware of this, he urged Charles to use military force to seize the Tower of London , and arrest any MP or peer guilty of "treasonable correspondence with the Scots". While Charles hesitated, Pym struck first; on 11 November Strafford

612-460: A suit of plain black; with grey worsted stockings. He took his seat; and appeared to be listening to the debate. As the Speaker was about to rise to put the question, Cromwell whispered to Harrison, "Now is the time; I must do it". As he rose, his countenance became flushed and blacked by the terrific passions which the crisis awakened. With the most reckless violence of manner and language, he abused

680-488: Is he? Where are his titles ... For my part, I declare, Sir, it shall never be said that I made such a man my master. This speech swept everything before it. The Rump Parliament which Oliver Cromwell had dispersed in 1653 was once more summoned to assemble, by a declaration from the Council of Officers dated on 6 May 1659. Edmond Ludlow made several attempts to reconcile the army and parliament in this time period but

748-532: The City of London and guaranteed his opponents majorities in both houses. In February, Parliament passed the Clergy Act , excluding bishops from the Lords; Charles approved it, since he had already decided to retrieve all such concessions by assembling an army. In March 1642, Parliament decreed its own Parliamentary Ordinances were valid laws, even without royal assent. The Militia Ordinance gave them control of

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816-581: The Good Old Cause who lived in exile after the Restoration ), this reform bill provided for an equal representation of the people, disfranchised several boroughs which had ceased to have a population in proportion to representation, fixed the number of the House at four hundred". It would have "secured to England and to the rest of the world the blessings of republican institutions, two centuries earlier than can now be expected". "Harrison, who

884-734: The Levellers . Presbyterians in England and Scotland gradually came to see them as more dangerous than the Royalists; an alliance between these three groups eventually led to the Second English Civil War in 1648. While it is not clear there was a majority for removing bishops from the Church, their presence in the House of Lords became increasingly resented due to their role in blocking many of these reforms. Tensions came to

952-690: The Oxford Parliament . In 1645 Parliament reaffirmed its determination to fight the war to a finish. It passed the Self-denying Ordinance , by which all members of either House of Parliament resigned any military commands, and formed the New Model Army under the command of Fairfax and Cromwell . The New Model Army soon destroyed Charles' armies, and by early 1646, he was on the verge of defeat. Charles left Oxford in disguise on 27 April; on 6 May, Parliament received

1020-765: The Restoration and dissolve the Long Parliament. This cleared the way for a new parliament to be elected, which was known as the Convention Parliament . Some key members of the Long Parliament, such as Sir Henry Vane the Younger and General Edmond Ludlow , were barred from the final acts of the Long Parliament. They claimed the parliament was not legally dissolved, its final votes a procedural irregularity (words used contemporaneously were "device" and "conspiracy") by General George Monck to ensure

1088-737: The Rump Parliament ; Oliver Cromwell disbanded the Rump in April 1653, replacing it with a succession of nominated and elected parliaments. In the chaos following the death of Cromwell in September 1658, the Rump was reinstalled in May 1659, and in February 1660 General George Monck allowed the members barred in 1648 to retake their seats, so that they could pass the necessary legislation to allow

1156-510: The Second English Civil War was quickly suppressed. Divisions emerged between various factions, culminating in Pride's Purge on 7 December 1648, when, under the orders of Oliver Cromwell 's son-in-law Henry Ireton , Colonel Pride physically barred and arrested 41 of the members of Parliament. Many of the excluded members were Presbyterians . Henry Vane the Younger removed himself from Parliament in protest of this unlawful action by Ireton. He

1224-482: The 1643 Solemn League and Covenant was driven by their concern at the implications for this settlement if Charles defeated Parliament. By 1646, they viewed Charles as a lesser threat than the Independents, who opposed their demand for a unified, Presbyterian church of England and Scotland; Cromwell claimed he would fight rather than agree to it. In July, the Scots and English commissioners presented Charles with

1292-582: The Army, under the Command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax " to Parliament on 8 June making their concerns known, and also the constitution of the Army Council so that Parliament would understand that the discontent was army-wide and had the support of both officers and other ranks. This Engagement was read out to the army at a general meeting on 5 June. A few weeks later, there was another meeting while

1360-417: The Commons; Pym, John Hampden , Denzil Holles , Arthur Haselrig , and William Strode . This confirmed fears he intended to use force to shut down Parliament. The members were pre-warned, and evaded arrest. Soon after, Charles left London, accompanied by many Royalist MPs, and members of the Lords, a major tactical mistake. By doing so, he abandoned the largest arsenal in England and the commercial power of

1428-547: The Council, and, as Treasurer and Commissioner for the Navy, he had almost the exclusive direction of that branch of public service. Cromwell "well knew that while the Long Parliament, that noble company, who had fought the great battle of liberty from the beginning, remained in session, and such men as Vane were enabled to mingle in its deliberations, it would be utterly useless for him to think of executing his purposes" (to set up

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1496-627: The Independents. His refusal to take the Covenant himself split the Scots; the Kirk Party did not trust Charles, objected to an alliance with English and Scots Royalists, and denounced the Engagement as 'sinful.' After two years of constant negotiation, and refusal to compromise, Charles finally had the pieces in place for a rising by Royalists, supported by some English Presbyterians, and Scots Covenanters. However, lack of co-ordination meant

1564-555: The King failed to issue proper summons, the members could assemble on their own. Levying taxes without consent of Parliament was declared unlawful, including Ship money and forced loans, while the Star Chamber and High Commission courts abolished. These reforms were supported by many who later became Royalists , including Edward Hyde , Viscount Falkland , and Sir John Strangways . Where they differed from Pym and his supporters

1632-507: The Kingdom of England evolved from an undivided parliament to serve as the voice of the tax-paying subjects of the counties and the boroughs . Knights of the shire , elected from each county, were usually landowners, while the borough members were often from the merchant classes. These members represented subjects of the Crown who were not Lords Temporal or Spiritual, who themselves sat in

1700-583: The New Model Army took control of the city, while on 20 August Cromwell went to Parliament with a military escort, and forced the passing of the Null and Void Ordinance annulling all Parliamentary proceedings since 26 July, leading to the withdrawal of most of the Presbyterian MPs and presaging Pride's Purge the following year. The Putney Debates attempted to address radicals' objectives, but

1768-631: The Newcastle Propositions, which he rejected. His refusal to negotiate created a dilemma for the Covenanters. Even if Charles agreed to a Presbyterian union, there was no guarantee it would be approved by Parliament. Keeping him was too dangerous; as subsequent events proved, whether Royalist or Covenanter, many Scots supported his retention. In February 1647, they agreed to a financial settlement, handed Charles over to Parliament, and retreated into Scotland. In England, Parliament

1836-712: The appointment of royal ministers. In the Militia Ordinance , Parliament asserted control over appointment of army and navy commanders; Charles rejected the Grand Remonstrance and refused to assent to the Militia Ordinance. It was at this point moderates like Hyde decided Pym and his supporters had gone too far, and switched sides. Increasing unrest in London culminated in 23 to 29 December 1641 with widespread riots in Westminster , while

1904-468: The army was camped at Thriplow Heath near Royston , the soldiers refused the offers made by Parliament, and the agitators demanded a march towards London and the "purging" of the House of Commons, which did not happen. Subsequent events are part of the general history of England. Gradually the agitators ceased to exist, but many of their ideas were adopted by the Levellers , who may perhaps be regarded as their successors. Gardiner says of them, "Little as it

1972-465: The army, were supported by many of the officers, who showed their sympathy by signing the Declaration of the army . Fairfax, Cromwell and other generals succeeded to some extent in pacifying the troops by promising the payment of arrears for eight weeks at once; but before the return of the generals to London parliament had again decided to disband the army, and soon afterwards fixed the 1 June as

2040-402: The character of the House; and, after the first burst of his denunciations had passed, suddenly changing his tone, he exclaimed, "You think, perhaps, this is not parliamentary language; I know it; nor are you to expect such from me". He then advanced out into the middle of the hall, and walked to and fro, like a man beside himself. In a few moments he stamped upon the floor, the doors flew open and

2108-506: The common cause, upon hearing Col Syndenham's justifications of the proceedings of the army in again disrupting parliament, stood up and interrupted him, declaring his abhorrence of that detestable action, and telling the council, that being now going to his God, he had not patience to sit there to hear his great name so openly blasphemed; and thereupon departed to his lodgings, and withdrew himself from public employment. The Council of Officers at first attempted to come to some agreement with

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2176-566: The date on which this process was to begin. Again alarmed, the agitators decided to resist; a mutiny occurred in one regiment and the attempt at disbandment failed. Then followed the seizure of King Charles I by Cornet Joyce . The Agitators, with two officers from each regiment and the Generals formed a new body called the Army Council which after a meeting near Newmarket, Suffolk on Friday 4 June 1647 issued " A Solemne Engagement of

2244-473: The desperate excitement of the moment, "Sir Harry Vane! Sir Harry Vane! Good Lord deliver me from Sir Harry Vane!" He then seized the records, snatched the bill from the hands of the clerk, drove the members out at the point of the bayonet, locked the doors, put the key in his pocket, and returned to Whitehall. Oliver Cromwell forcibly disbanded the Rump in 1653 when it seemed to be planning to perpetuate itself rather than call new elections as had been agreed. It

2312-483: The elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. The leader of the majority party in the House of Commons by convention becomes the prime minister . Other parliaments have also had a lower house called the "House of Commons". The House of Commons of

2380-482: The executive government of the nation was committed. Sir Henry Vane was appointed a member of the Council. Cromwell used great pains to induce Vane to accept the appointment, and after many consultations, he so far prevailed in satisfying Vane of the purity of his principles in reference to the Commonwealth, as to overcome his reluctance again to enter the public service. Sir Henry Vane was for some time President of

2448-539: The expulsion of bishops from the Church of England , reflecting widespread concern at the growth of " Catholic practices " within the church. Charles' willingness to make war on the Protestant Scots, but not to assist his exiled nephew Charles Louis , led to fears he was about to sign an alliance with Spain , a view shared by the experienced Venetian and French ambassadors. This meant ending arbitrary rule

2516-601: The fact that, by Act of Parliament, it stipulated it could be dissolved only with agreement of the members; and those members did not agree to its dissolution until 16 March 1660, after the English Civil War and near the close of the Interregnum . The parliament sat from 1640 until 1648, when it was purged by the New Model Army . After this point, the remaining members of the House of Commons became known as

2584-531: The fiasco of the Short Parliament , which had convened for only three weeks during the spring of 1640 after an 11-year parliamentary absence . In September 1640, King Charles I issued writs summoning a parliament to convene on 3 November 1640. He intended it to pass financial bills, a step made necessary by the costs of the Bishops' Wars against Scotland . The Long Parliament received its name from

2652-533: The hostility of the crowd meant the bishops stopped attending the Lords. On 30 December, Charles induced John Williams , Archbishop of York and eleven other bishops, to sign a complaint, disputing the legality of any laws passed by the Lords during their exclusion. This was viewed by the Commons as inviting the king to dissolve Parliament; all twelve were arrested. On 3 January 1642, Charles ordered his Attorney-general to bring charges of treason against Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester , and Five Members of

2720-489: The leaders of Parliament. On 15 October 1659, the Council of Officers appointed ten persons to "consider of fit ways and means to carry on the affairs and government of the Commonwealth". On 26 October 1659 the Council of Officers appointed a new Committee of Safety of twenty-three members. On 1 November 1659, the Committee of Safety nominated a committee "to consider of and prepare a form of government to be settled over

2788-442: The leaders of the church, appointed by their congregations. However, Puritan meant anyone who wanted to reform, or 'purify', the Church of England, and contained many different opinions. Some simply objected to Laud's reforms; Presbyterians like Pym wanted to reform the Church of England, along the same lines as the Church of Scotland . Independents believed any state church was wrong, while many were also political radicals like

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2856-466: The local militia, or Trained Bands ; those in London were the most strategically critical, because they could protect Parliament from armed intervention by any soldiers which Charles had near the capital. Charles declared Parliament in rebellion and began raising an army, by issuing a competing Commission of Array . At the end of 1642, he set up his court at Oxford , where the Royalist MPs formed

2924-409: The people of England are now renowned, all over the world, for their great virtue and discipline; and yet suffer an idiot, without courage, without sense, nay, without ambition, to have dominion in a country of liberty. One could bear a little with Oliver Cromwell, though, contrary to his oath of fidelity to Parliament, contrary to his duty to the public, ... But as for Richard Cromwell, his son, who

2992-595: The people of the universe, I know none who have shown so much zeal for the liberty of their country, as the English, at this time, have done. They have, by the help of Divine Providence, overcome all obstacles, and have made themselves free ... I know not by what misfortune, we are fallen into the error of those, who poised the Emperor Titus to make room for Domitian, who made away Augustus that they might have Tiberius, and changed Claudius for Nero ... whereas

3060-502: The restoration of King Charles II of England . On the restoration the general was rewarded with a dukedom. The Long Parliament later became a key moment in Whig histories of the seventeenth century. American Whig historian Charles Wentworth Upham believed the Long Parliament comprised "a set of the greatest geniuses for government that the world ever saw embarked together in one common cause" and whose actions produced an effect which, at

3128-669: The return of royalist threats in November led to Fairfax demanding a declaration of loyalty; this re-established command authority over the rank and file, completed at Corkbush . In late November, the king escaped from his guards, and made his way to Carisbrooke Castle . In April 1648, the Engagers became a majority in the Scottish Parliament ; in return for restoring him to the English throne, Charles agreed to impose Presbyterianism in England for three years, and suppress

3196-504: The rump Parliament. Colonel Lambert, Major Grimes, and Colonel Sydenham eventually gained their points, and placed guards both by land and water, to hinder the members of Parliament from approaching the House. Colonel Lambert subsequently acquitted himself to Henry Vane the Younger, Edmond Ludlow and the "Committee on Safety," an instrument of the Wallingford House party acting under their misdirection. Nevertheless, Parliament

3264-399: The same. Although the vast majority believed a 'well-ordered' monarchy was a divinely mandated requirement, they disagreed on what 'well-ordered' meant, and who held ultimate authority in clerical affairs. Royalists generally supported a Church of England governed by bishops , appointed by, and answerable to, the king; most Parliamentarians were Puritans , who believed he was answerable to

3332-405: The three nations in the way of a free state and Commonwealth, and afterwards to present it to the Committee of Safety for their further considerations". The designs of General Fleetwood of the army and the Wallingford House party were now suspected as being in a possible alliance with Charles II . According to Edmond Ludlow: House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for

3400-536: The time, made their country the wonder and admiration of the world, and is still felt and exhibited far beyond the borders of that country, in the progress of reform, and the advancement of popular liberty. He believed its republican principles made it a precursor to the American Revolutionary War . Charles found himself unable to fund the Bishops' Wars without taxes; in April 1640, Parliament

3468-461: Was again forcibly dissolved on 13 October 1659. Once again, Sir Henry Vane was the leading catalyst for the republican cause in opposition to force by the military. The persons connected with the administration as it existed at the death of Oliver were, of course, interested in keeping things as they were. Also, it was necessary for someone to assume the reins of government until the public will could be ascertained and brought into exercise. Henry Vane

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3536-585: Was closed once again by military force until such time that the army and leaders of Parliament could effect a resolution. Rule then passed to an unelected Committee of Safety , including Lambert and Vane; pending a resolution or compromise with the Army. During these disorders, the Council of State still assembled at the usual place, and: the Lord President Bradshaw , who was present, though by long sickness very weak and much extenuated, yet animated by his ardent zeal and constant affection to

3604-415: Was disbanded. The New Model refused to be disbanded; in early June, Charles was removed from his Parliamentary guards , and taken to Thriplow , where he was presented with the Army Council's terms . Though they were more lenient than the Newcastle Propositions, Charles rejected them; on 26 July, pro-Presbyterian rioters burst into Parliament, demanding he be invited to London. In early August, Fairfax and

3672-599: Was elected to Parliament at Kingston upon Hull, but the certificate was given to another. Vane proceeded to Bristol, entered the canvass, and received the majority. Again the certificate was given to another. Finally Vane proceeded to Whitechurch in Hampshire and was elected a third time and was this time seated in Parliament. Vane managed the debates on behalf of the House of Commons. One of Vane's speeches effectively ended Richard Cromwell's career: Mr. Speaker, among all

3740-410: Was essential to any government; while this was true in 1646, by 1648 key actors believed it was pointless to negotiate with someone who could not be trusted to keep any agreement. Unlike in England, where Presbyterians were a minority, the Bishops' Wars resulted in a Covenanter, or Presbyterian government, and Presbyterian kirk, or Church of Scotland . The Scots wanted to preserve these achievements;

3808-551: Was followed by Barebone's Parliament and then the First , Second and Third Protectorate Parliaments . After Richard Cromwell , who had succeeded his father Oliver as Lord Protector in 1658, was effectively deposed by an officers' coup in April 1659, the officers re-summoned the Rump Parliament to sit. It convened on 7 May 1659, but after five months in power it again clashed with the army (led by John Lambert ) and

3876-554: Was impeached, arrested, and sent to the Tower. Other targets, including John Finch , fled abroad; Archbishop William Laud —by then sufficiently unpopular that in May 1640 a large armed mob attacked Lambeth Palace , seeking to kill him —was impeached in December, joining Strafford in the Tower. At his trial in March 1641, Strafford was indicted on 28 counts of "arbitrary and tyrannical government". Even if these charges were proved, it

3944-463: Was important not just for England, but the Protestant cause in general. Since direct attacks on the monarch were considered unacceptable, the usual route was to prosecute his "evil counsellors". Doing so showed even if the king was above the law, his subordinates were not, and he could not protect them; the intention was to make others think twice about their actions. Further, they started to create

4012-457: Was in Cromwell's confidence on this occasion, rose to debate the motion, merely in order to gain time. Word was carried to Cromwell, that the House were on the point of putting the final motion; and Colonel Ingoldby hastened to Whitehall to tell him, that, if he intended to do anything decisive, he had no time to lose". Once the troops were in place Cromwell entered the assembly. He was dressed in

4080-438: Was intended at the time, nothing was more calculated than the existence of this elected body of agitators to give to the army that distinctive political and religious character which it ultimately bore". Notes Bibliography Long Parliament List of parliaments of England List of acts of the Parliament of England The Long Parliament was an English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660. It followed

4148-408: Was largely in arrears, refused to accept either alternative, and eight of the cavalry regiments elected agitators, called at first commissioners, who laid their grievances before the three generals, and whose letter was read in the House of Commons on the 30 April 1647. The other regiments followed the example of the cavalry (nicknamed Ironsides ), and the agitators, who belonged to the lower ranks of

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4216-415: Was not clear they constituted a crime against the king, the legal definition of treason. If he went free, his opponents would replace him in the Tower, and so Pym immediately moved a bill of attainder , asserting Strafford's guilt and ordering his execution. Although Charles announced he would not sign the attainder, on 21 April 204 MPs voted in favour, 59 against, while 250 abstained. On 1 May, rumours of

4284-485: Was not party to the execution of Charles I, although Cromwell was. In the wake of the ejections, the remnant, the Rump Parliament , arranged for the trial and execution of Charles I on 30 January 1649. It was also responsible for the setting up of the Commonwealth of England in 1649. Henry Vane the Younger was persuaded to rejoin Parliament on 17 February 1649 and a Council of state was installed, into whose hands

4352-521: Was recalled for the first time in eleven years, but when it refused to vote taxes without concessions, he dissolved it after only three weeks. The humiliating terms imposed by the Scots Covenanters after a second defeat forced him to hold fresh elections in November, which produced a large majority for the opposition, led by John Pym . Parliament was almost immediately presented with a series of " Root and Branch petitions ". These demanded

4420-827: Was struggling with the economic cost of the war, a poor 1646 harvest, and a recurrence of the plague. The Presbyterian faction had the support of the London Trained Bands, the Army of the Western Association, leaders like Rowland Laugharne in Wales, and parts of the Royal Navy . By March 1647, the New Model was owed more than £3 million in unpaid wages; Parliament ordered it to Ireland, stating that only those who agreed would be paid. When their representatives demanded full payment for all in advance, it

4488-413: Was the Committee for Privileges and Elections under the leadership of John Maynard , MP for Totnes . On the next day, 6 November, parliament established the Grand Committee for Religion . This seemed to provide a basis for a programme of constitutional reforms, and Parliament voted Charles an immediate grant of £400,000. The Triennial Acts required Parliament meet at least every three years, and if

4556-447: Was their refusal to accept Charles would not keep his commitments, despite evidence to the contrary. He reneged on those made in the 1628 Petition of Right , and agreed terms with the Scots in 1639, while preparing another attack. Both he and Henrietta Maria openly told foreign ambassadors any concessions were temporary, and would be retrieved by force if needed. In this period, 'true religion' and 'good government' were seen as one and

4624-409: Was ultimately unsuccessful. Parliament ordered the regiments of Colonel Morley and Colonel Moss to march to Westminster for their security, and sent for the rest of the troops that were about London to draw down to them also with all speed. In October 1659, Colonel Lambert and various subordinate members of the army, acting in the military interest, resisted Colonel Morley and others who were defending

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