4 January 1642
Arrest of the five members

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Charles I – exasperated at the opposition of the Commons to his plans to standardise religious worship in England and Scotland and to put down the Irish revolt – attempts to arrest in person five of its leaders: John Pym, John Hampden (see 12 June 1637), Denzil Holles, Arthur Hazelrig and William Strode. Tipped off, they have already gone into hiding. As the king enters the House of Commons, he says, 'I see my birds are all flown.' Armed conflict seems inevitable.

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Through the door, propped ajar by the king's lolling nephew, Prince Rupert, could be seen the soldiers insolently cocking their weapons pretending to take aim. When Charles asked if Pym were present, and then Holles, and was greeted with silence, he demanded that the Speaker, William Lenthall, inform him. The Speaker knelt, regretting that he could 'neither see nor speak but by command of the House'. The king replied, 'Well, well, 'tis no matter. I think my eyes are as good as another's,' and cast his gaze round the sea of faces on the benches. 'Well,' he concluded, 'since I see my birds are all flown, I do expect that you will send them unto me as soon as they return hither.'

From A Century of Troubles by Stevie Davies (Channel 4 Books)

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