ARMY, RUMP & POLITICAL CONFLICT (1659)

What did John Lambert’s Humble Petition and Address of the Officers recommend?

It recommended the restoration of a ‘Commonwealth, without a king, single person or House of Lords’.

What did the Humble Petition and Address endorse regarding a Senate?

It endorsed the creation of a Senate, made up of ‘able and faithful persons, eminent for Godliness’ which would, in effect, be able to represent the army interest in the heart of government.

Who led the opposition to the Humble Petition and Address and on what basis?

Haselrig led the opposition to the Address on the basis that it tended to [favour the army interest].

What was the aim of George Booth’s Rising in August 1659?

Booth did seek the restoration of Charles Stuart but only on limited terms. His first aim was to secure the recall of a new and free Parliament which could negotiate acceptable terms for the return of the king, in keeping with his early Parliamentarianism.

How was Booth’s Rising defeated?

Lambert marched an army up to Cheshire which decisively put the rebellion down at the Battle of Winnington Bridge on 19 August.

What problem did the Rump face after Booth’s Rising was defeated?

The regime was again penniless and in arrears with army pay.

What did junior officers petition Parliament to do after Booth’s Rising?

Junior officers petitioned Parliament to restart ‘godly reform’ and protect the status of their senior officers and the army’s role in politics as it looked probable that Parliament would replace the New Model Army with a more conventional militia that swore its allegiance to the Commonwealth.

What did Haselrig do when tensions reached fever pitch in October 1659?

Haselrig ordered the closure of the doors to the Commons, manoeuvred the Rump into expelling from the army those he considered to be ringleaders, and summoned army regiments who he believed to be loyal to the Rump to come to the defence of Parliament.

What did John Lambert do after he was expelled from the army and threatened with arrest?

Lambert called on the troops nearby to rally behind him instead, which they did.

What happened on 13 October 1659?

Assembling around Westminster on 13 October, Lambert’s men prevented the members of the Rump from entering Parliament, and locked the doors.

What was the vote on 12 October 1659 regarding army ringleaders?

The vote to expel Lambert, Desborough and eight others was passed on 12 October by 50 to 15.

What authority were the new Army Commissioners given after the vote?

Their authority was to be subordinate to that of Parliament.

What does the key term ‘secluded members’ refer to?

A term used to describe the MPs who had been excluded by Colonel Pride by 1659.

What was Edmund Ludlow’s role in the trial of the king?

He supported Pride’s Purge, tried the king and signed the death warrant.

Why did Edmund Ludlow retire from public life during the Protectorate?

He retired from public life because he refused to acknowledge the Protectorate constitution under Oliver or Richard Cromwell.