Author: Andrew Thrush

Women and Parliament, 16th Century history, 17th Century history, Parliamentary Life, Stuart, Tudor

Women in early modern parliamentary politics

Over the last few weeks we have been marking Women’s History Month. Continuing the discussion of women’s parliamentary history, Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the new House of Lords 1558-1603 project, has turned his attention to the relationship between women and politics in the early modern era. Despite being excluded from Parliament, women still found ways to be involved… During the early modern period women … Continue reading Women in early modern parliamentary politics

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The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, Elizabeth I, Tudor

New project: the Elizabethan House of Lords

A new year at the History of Parliament Trust sees the start of a new project. Research on the House of Lords 1558-1603 will complement our Commons project during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by exploring the members of the upper chamber. Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the project, explains more… The History of Parliament is delighted to announce the creation of a new, … Continue reading New project: the Elizabethan House of Lords

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James I to Restoration, 16th Century history, 17th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Parliamentary Life, Social history, Stuart

The House of Lords Outside Parliament Time, 1604-1629

Continuing our theme of alternative functions once served by the palace of Westminster, Dr Andrew Thrush of the Lords 1604-29 section considers activities at the southern end of the complex in the early seventeenth century… During the early modern period parliaments were neither regular nor particularly frequent but sat at the whim of the monarch. Consequently, for most of the time the old palace of … Continue reading The House of Lords Outside Parliament Time, 1604-1629

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James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Parliamentary Life, Stuart

Parliament and Superstition: A Jackdaw in the House of Commons, 1604

Today we hear from the Editor of our House of Lords 1604-29 Section, Dr Andrew Thrush about a curious incident in the House of Commons in 1604 involving a Jackdaw. How superstitious was the House of Commons? Three months ago an owl flew into the Parliament building in Dodoma, Tanzania, where it perched near the ceiling and observed the proceedings, to the alarm of MPs … Continue reading Parliament and Superstition: A Jackdaw in the House of Commons, 1604

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Stuart, 17th Century history, Economic history, Social history

The election of debtors to the early Stuart House of Commons

Facing up to the consequences of Christmas spending is a common problem in January, but for some in serious financial straights the past, parliament provided a solution. Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the House of Lords 1603-60 section, tells us more about early 17th Century debtors in the Commons… Not all of those who entered the Commons in the early seventeenth century did so from … Continue reading The election of debtors to the early Stuart House of Commons

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James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Legal history, Parliamentary Life, Stuart

Impeachment in the early seventeenth century

After an all-night debate, the Brazilian Senate voted today to begin impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. Impeachment was once a powerful tool for MPs in our own parliament. Here Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the House of Lords 1603-1660 section, discusses the 17th century revival of impeachment… Impeachment was a judicial procedure, carried out in the name of the king, whereby those suspected of … Continue reading Impeachment in the early seventeenth century

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James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, James I, Stuart

John Ramsay: The boy who saved a king

Today in 1600 James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) survived the Gowrie conspiracy thanks to the quick thinking of his page, John Ramsay. Our new research reveals that his heroics were even more impressive thanks to his young age, as Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the House of Lords 1603-1660 section, reveals… On the morning of 5 August, 1600, James VI of … Continue reading John Ramsay: The boy who saved a king

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Tudor, 16th Century history, Diplomacy and International Relations, Military history, Religious history

Fighting in foreign wars: fears over English Catholics in the Netherlands’ war with Spain

Events in Iraq and Syria have led Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the Lords 1603-1660 section, to reflect on a similar situation at the turn of the 17th century… The recent news that several hundred British nationals are fighting alongside Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq has given rise to fears for British domestic security, and that the ISIS fighters of today might become the … Continue reading Fighting in foreign wars: fears over English Catholics in the Netherlands’ war with Spain

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17th Century history, James I, James I to Restoration, Stuart

1614: The Beginning of the Crisis of Parliaments

Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the Lords 1603-60 section, describes events in the ‘Addled Parliament’, which was meeting 400 years ago this month… On the afternoon of 4 May 1614, an irate James I issued the House of Commons with a blunt warning. Unless its Members voted him subsidies forthwith, he declared, they ‘must not look for more Parliaments in haste’. Rather than rely upon … Continue reading 1614: The Beginning of the Crisis of Parliaments

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Stuart, 17th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Legal history

Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Dr Andrew Thrush, ‘The Fall of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and the revival of impeachment, 1621’

Our own Dr Andrew Thrush, editor of the House of Lords 1603-1660 section, discusses his recent ‘Parliaments, politics and people’ seminar paper on the link between the fall of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, and the Stuart parliament’s rediscovery of their right to impeach ministers… The revival of impeachment has received little attention since the publication of Colin Tite’s seemingly exhaustive monograph nearly forty … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Dr Andrew Thrush, ‘The Fall of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk and the revival of impeachment, 1621’

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