6 December 1648
Pride's Purge

Previous event | Timeline | Next event

Troops under Colonel Thomas Pride arrive at the Commons and exclude 231 MPs from taking their seats. These MPs are supporters of the Treaty of Newport between the Long Parliament and Charles I, during the negotiations of which the king has agreed not to restore the bishops and relinquished control of the militia. Tired of these negotiations, which Charles sees as just a way of buying time, Cromwell's son-in-law Henry Ireton wants to dissolve Parliament, but is persuaded by some radical MPs to leave it 'purged'. The remaining 'Rump' Parliament brings the king to trial.

Top