Category: Interregnum

Commons in the Civil Wars, 17th Century history, Interregnum

The Voice of the Parliamentary Diarists, 1640-60

May 2023 saw the publication of the History of Parliament’s The House of Commons 1640-1660 volumes. One of the main sources for our researchers was parliamentary diaries. Dr Stephen Roberts, editor for the House of Commons 1640-1660, looks at some of the key parliamentary diarists from this period. Other than the official record of Parliament, enshrined in the Journals of Commons and Lords, probably the most significant … Continue reading The Voice of the Parliamentary Diarists, 1640-60

Stephen Roberts6 Comments
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell, Stuart

The Lords and the Putney Debates

Following the victory of Parliament over King Charles I in the first English Civil War, the New Model Army, Charles, and radical groups convened at Putney to discuss the political settlement. Sarah Mortimer, Associate Professor at Christ Church, Oxford, and David Scott, editor of the House of Lords 1640-1660 section, discuss the debates surrounding the constitutional status of king and Lords. With the old frame … Continue reading The Lords and the Putney Debates

David Scott2 Comments
Commons in the Civil Wars, 17th Century history, History of Parliament Trust, Interregnum

Clerks of the Commons: More than just scribes

The clerks of the Commons in the 17th century have often been depicted as people who simply recorded the events of the Commons. However, as Dr Stephen Roberts, editor of the House of Commons 1640-1660, explains, there is a lot more to the role of a clerk… As depicted in contemporary images of the House of Commons of the 17th century, the clerks of the … Continue reading Clerks of the Commons: More than just scribes

Stephen RobertsLeave a comment
17th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Commons in the Civil Wars, Interregnum

Contested Space: Politics and the Commons Chamber

The Palace of Westminster was the location of some of the most dramatic events in the English Civil Wars. Dr Stephen Roberts, editor for the House of Commons 1640-1660, discusses the layout of the House of Commons Chamber and its role in these events. The great timeless moments of parliamentary history in the 1640s and 50s – Charles I’s failed attempt to arrest the Five Members … Continue reading Contested Space: Politics and the Commons Chamber

Stephen RobertsLeave a comment
Commons in the Civil Wars, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Parliamentary Life

Property, profit, principle and hazard: being an MP during the civil wars and interregnum

Being an MP during the civil wars and interregnum came with a certain amount of danger. The decisions that MPs made often came with severe consequences. Dr Vivienne Larminie, assistant editor for the House of Commons 1640-1660, reflects on the difficult choices MPs had to make at this time and the financial and personal repercussions they faced for making the wrong decision. Throughout the history … Continue reading Property, profit, principle and hazard: being an MP during the civil wars and interregnum

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Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell, Religious history

Launching the Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, Oxford March 2023

An event celebrating the the publication of a new edition of The Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell was held at Huntingdon Town Hall. Alex Beeton, Research Assistant of our House of Lords 1640-1660 project, discusses the event. On 6 March 2023, the History of Parliament, in collaboration with Oxford University’s ‘Britain in Revolution Seminar’, helped to organise a roundtable to celebrate the publication of … Continue reading Launching the Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, Oxford March 2023

Alex BeetonLeave a comment
Commons in the Civil Wars, 17th Century history, History of Parliament Trust, Interregnum

Introducing The House of Commons, 1640-1660

In exciting news for the History of Parliament, 2023 sees the publication of our long-running House of Commons 1640-1660 project. Here the section editor, Dr Stephen Roberts, reflects on the hard work that multiple historians have put into this project, and discusses some of the interesting people and events of this time. Since 2010, the History of Parliament’s published survey of the House of Commons … Continue reading Introducing The House of Commons, 1640-1660

Stephen Roberts6 Comments
Stuart, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Parliamentary Life

For St Valentine’s Day, a sad story about marital devotion from Civil War and Restoration Suffolk – or is it?

This Valentine’s Day, Paul Seaward, Director of the History of Parliament, reflects on the marital devotion of Sir Henry North, and questions how devoted North truly was… In the parish church at Mildenhall, Suffolk, close by the chancel, there is a pair of modest, but distinctly odd monuments, placed side by side. One bears a plain inscription noting the death in 1671 of Sir Henry … Continue reading For St Valentine’s Day, a sad story about marital devotion from Civil War and Restoration Suffolk – or is it?

Paul SeawardLeave a comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell

Levelling the Lords

In the inaugural blog of our Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments series, the editor of our new House of Lords 1640-60 section Dr David Scott, and Dr Sarah Mortimer of Christ Church, Oxford, consider the politics behind the abolition of the House of Lords in 1649… In November 1648, after a summer and autumn of hard-fought victories against royalist insurgents and Scottish invaders, the New Model Army … Continue reading Levelling the Lords

David Scott4 Comments
James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Military history, Oliver Cromwell, Richard Cromwell

A month in politics: the fall of Protector Richard Cromwell, 1659

As we ponder the abrupt end to Boris Johnson’s premiership, Dr Vivienne Larminie of our Commons 1640-60 section offers a salutary reminder that the sudden collapse of a government is far from unprecedented in British history… Reporting on events at Whitehall palace on 6 April 1659, weekly newspaper The Publick Intelligencer depicted a harmonious outcome to a potentially dangerous political confrontation. That evening, ‘in one … Continue reading A month in politics: the fall of Protector Richard Cromwell, 1659

larminiev2 Comments