Category: Stuart

Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, Diplomacy and International Relations, Interregnum, James I, Military history, Oliver Cromwell, Religious history, Stuart, Welsh History

Philosopher and warmonger: Lord Herbert of Cherbury reconsidered

In this article, Dr David Scott explores the surprisingly aggressive side of a famous aristocratic philosopher … In an era of religious extremists and violent conviction-politicians such as Oliver Cromwell, Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury seemingly stands out as an altogether gentler and more ‘modern’ figure. An accomplished scholar from an early age, he learnt many languages in an effort ‘to make myself a citizen … Continue reading Philosopher and warmonger: Lord Herbert of Cherbury reconsidered

David ScottLeave a comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Local History, Social history, Stuart

A Disappointed Father: The 1st Earl of Bolingbroke and His Son

Dr Alex Beeton explores the strained relationship of the earl of Bolingbroke and his wayward son and heir, Lord St John. Paternal disappointment is not an obvious component of Civil War historiography. Scarcity of evidence relating to personal lives is a common obstacle for historians of the mid-1640s peerage. For example, we know a great deal about the political life of Theophilus Clinton, 4th earl … Continue reading A Disappointed Father: The 1st Earl of Bolingbroke and His Son

Alex BeetonLeave a comment
A map of Buckinghamshire, that includes the three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham in the south of the county
17th Century history, 14th Century history, 15th Century History, 16th Century history, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, 20th century history, Constituencies, Elections, Georgian, Interregnum, Legislative History, Medieval, Modern, Parliamentary Life, Stuart, Tudor, Victorian

How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead

Have you just heard that an MP has resigned by ‘taking the Chiltern Hundreds’? Our Senior Research Fellow, Dr Martin Spychal, explains the practice and explores its historical context… MPs are not allowed to resign from Parliament. However, a parliamentary loophole exists that allows an MP to vacate their seat by asking the chancellor of the exchequer to disqualify them from sitting in the Commons. … Continue reading How does an MP resign? The Chiltern Hundreds & the Manor of Northstead

Martin Spychal2 Comments
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, James I, Parliamentary Life, Religious history, Stuart

‘The strangest bill that ever I heard…’: Bishop Joseph Hall, the Church of England and the Long Parliament, 1640-1642

Dr Vivienne Larminie explores the political career of one of the most influential mid-seventeenth century bishops As the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act of April 2026 reminds us, the composition of the Upper House has long been the subject of debate. One element of this has concerned the presence of faith leaders in general and of Church of England bishops in particular. This may … Continue reading ‘The strangest bill that ever I heard…’: Bishop Joseph Hall, the Church of England and the Long Parliament, 1640-1642

larminievLeave a comment
Conferences, Seminars and Events, 17th Century history, History of Parliament Trust, Religious history, Stuart

Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England

At the IHR Parliaments, Politics and People seminar on Tuesday 2 June, Professor Eloise Davies of the University of Florida, will be discussing the politics of convocation in early Stuart England. The seminar takes place on 2 June 2026, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. You can attend online via Zoom. Details of how to join the discussion are available here. The history of Convocation, the traditional … Continue reading Between Parliament and king: the politics of Convocation in early Stuart England

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
The First Elizabethan Age, 16th Century history, 17th Century history, Charles II, Henry VIII, Parliamentary Life, Stuart, Tudor

Processing to Parliament for the state opening in early modern England

Ceremonial processions were a key feature of the state opening of Parliament in the Tudor and early Stuart eras, just as they are today, but the form they took was very different from current practice, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Elizabethan Lords project explains… No modern state opening of Parliament would be complete without the impressive sight of the monarch travelling by coach from … Continue reading Processing to Parliament for the state opening in early modern England

Paul HunneyballLeave a comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, Factions, Health and Medicine, Military history, Parliamentary Life, Stuart

The Politics of Illness, Part 1: Francis Russell, 4th earl of Bedford, 1640-1

In the first of a short series, Dr Patrick Little of the 1640-60 Lords section,  discusses how illness undermined a compromise between Charles I and his opponents in Parliament in the early months of the Long Parliament. Francis Russell, 4th earl of Bedford, is well-known as the originator of the so-called ‘bridge appointments’ scheme, a compromise agreement in the winter of 1640-1 which would have seen Charles … Continue reading The Politics of Illness, Part 1: Francis Russell, 4th earl of Bedford, 1640-1

Patrick LittleLeave a comment
Stuart, 18th Century history, Legislative History, Queen Anne, Scottish History

England, Scotland and the Treaty of Union, 1706-08

In 1707, under the terms of the Treaty of Union, England and Scotland became a single state – the United Kingdom of Great Britain – and the parliaments at Westminster and Edinburgh were replaced by a single ‘Parliament of Great Britain’. The arrangements for establishing the new parliament were set out in Article 22 of the Treaty. The wording of the Treaty made no mention … Continue reading England, Scotland and the Treaty of Union, 1706-08

History of ParliamentLeave a comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Charles I, Legislative History, Oliver Cromwell, Stuart

The Baronial Context of the 1641 Triennial Act

Dr David Scott, Editor of the 1640-60 House of Lords section, explores the role of the peers in securing the right of Parliament to meet regularly. The Triennial Act of February 1641 was the first piece of legislation passed by the ‘Long Parliament’ in its momentous thirteen-year history of reform, rule and, in 1649, regicide. Of course, none of the peers and MPs who had … Continue reading The Baronial Context of the 1641 Triennial Act

David ScottLeave a comment
Stuart, 17th Century history, Parliamentary Life

The passing of the bill of attainder against the Jacobite Sir John Fenwick

On 25 November 1696 the House of Commons, after a bitter series of debates, finally passed a bill that would result in the execution of the Northumbrian baronet Sir John Fenwick, for treason in January 1697. As Dr Paul Seaward explores, this was a death that was seen by many as politically-driven murder. Fenwick’s case was one of the consequences of the deposition of the … Continue reading The passing of the bill of attainder against the Jacobite Sir John Fenwick

Paul SeawardLeave a comment