Tag: Civil Wars

Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Stuart

New Evidence for Old Stories: The Scribbled Books of the House of Lords

In this blog, Dr Alex Beeton from our House of Lords 1640-1660 project explores a little-used parliamentary source – the ‘Scribbled Books’ – and reveals some of the important information that can be found within them… John Browne, the Clerk of the Parliaments (i.e. the House of Lords) in the Long Parliament, did not have an easy job. His primary purpose was, with the help … Continue reading New Evidence for Old Stories: The Scribbled Books of the House of Lords

Alex Beeton1 Comment
Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Stuart

Post-Mortem by Print: Reflections on the Death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland

In the latest Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments blog, guest blogger William Poulter, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Leeds, discusses how the death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland in 1643 was memorialised decades later during the Restoration of the monarchy. Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland [S], was killed fighting for the king in the English Civil War on 20 September 1643. Explanations for his death range … Continue reading Post-Mortem by Print: Reflections on the Death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland

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

How can the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) help me? : researching the English and British Civil Wars and the Commonwealth and Protectorate period

May 2023 saw the publication of the History of Parliament’s latest work, The House of Commons 1640-1660. This publication has been referred to as the most comprehensive collection of information and analysis ever compiled of the politics of this dramatic period of English and British history and is an enormous resource for researchers. But what other resources exist for those interested in the Civil War … Continue reading How can the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) help me? : researching the English and British Civil Wars and the Commonwealth and Protectorate period

Leave 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

larminiev1 Comment
17th Century history, Buildings and Architecture, Interregnum, James I to Restoration, Oliver Cromwell

Silence and Laughter in the Cromwellian House of Commons

On our blog we have often heard about the origins of the many strange and enduring traditions that exist within Westminster. In today’s blog Dr Patrick Little from our Commons 1640-1660 project takes a look at the use of non-verbal reactions within the Cromwellian Commons Chamber… When trying to understand debates in early modern Parliaments, historians rely on diaries: the private journals kept by individual … Continue reading Silence and Laughter in the Cromwellian House of Commons

Patrick LittleLeave a comment
James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Interregnum, Slavery

Discourses of Freedom and Slavery, 1640-60

Today we return to our recent series from History of Parliament director Dr Stephen Roberts, who has been discussing parliamentary involvement in the 17th century transatlantic slave trade. In the latest post Dr Roberts turns his attention to the uses of the terms ‘slavery’ and ‘liberty’ within years surrounding the English Civil Wars. It is a remarkable enough paradox that while an ever-increasing number of … Continue reading Discourses of Freedom and Slavery, 1640-60

Stephen Roberts3 Comments
James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Interregnum, Local History, Religious history, Stuart

‘Cakes, Cheese and Zeal’: Puritan Banbury, the Fiennes family and civil war radicalism

In today’s blog Dr Vivienne Larminie, assistant editor of our Commons 1640-1660 project, returns to our local history exploration of political representation in Oxfordshire. First enfranchised in 1554, the constituency of Banbury developed strong Puritan representation in the 17th century, but it wasn’t always welcome… In the mid-seventeenth century the small north Oxfordshire market town of Banbury punched above its weight. Situated at the centre of … Continue reading ‘Cakes, Cheese and Zeal’: Puritan Banbury, the Fiennes family and civil war radicalism

larminiev2 Comments
James I to Restoration, 17th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Interregnum, Local History, Stuart, Welsh History

Electoral change in South-East Wales in the 1640s: the Recruiter Elections in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire

This month, as part of our local history blog series, we’re looking into the parliamentary history of a number of Welsh constituencies. The country first started returning members to Westminster in the 16th century, and in today’s post our History of Parliament director, Dr Stephen Roberts, discusses the electoral change in South-East Wales in the century that followed. The topography of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire had … Continue reading Electoral change in South-East Wales in the 1640s: the Recruiter Elections in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire

Stephen Roberts3 Comments