The Commonwealth was the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland, were ruled as a republic following the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execution of Charles I. The republic's existence was declared through "An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth", adopted by the Rump Parliament on 19 May 1649. Power in the early Commonwealth was vested primarily in the Parliament and a Council of State. During the period, fighting continued, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, between the parliamentary forces and those opposed to them, as part of what is now referred to as the Third English Civil War.
Nathaniel Fiennes was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1659. He was an officer in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War and an active supporter of the republican cause during the Interregnum.
The Siege of Hull in 1642 was the first major action of the English Civil War.
The Committee of Both Kingdoms,, was a committee set up during the English Civil War by the Parliamentarian faction in association with representatives from the Scottish Covenanters, after they made an alliance in late 1643.
The Militia Ordinance was a piece of legislation passed by the Long Parliament of England in March 1642, which was a major step towards the Civil War between the King and Parliament of England. Previously the King had the sole right to appoint the Lord Lieutenants, who were in charge of the county militias. These militias were the only land forces available in peacetime, because England had no regular standing army. As relations between King and Parliament deteriorated, control of the militia became a very controversial issue. Parliament did not trust Charles and tried to deny him control of any military forces which he might use against them. Charles I attempted to arrest five members of the Commons and one Lord in January 1642, but the episode resulted in the five members being hailed heroes and Charles' departure from London. On 5 March 1642 the anti-royalist majority in the House of Lords passed an Ordinance appointing their choice of Lieutenants, although a royalist minority protested. The House of Commons agreed to the Ordinance the same day, but according to English custom no legislation could become law until it received the royal assent. The King refused to give his assent to the bill, but on 15 March 1642 Parliament declared that "the People are bound by the Ordinance for the Militia, though it has not received the Royal Assent". This was the first time that Parliament had ever put a law into effect without royal assent. Such an unprecedented assertion of Parliamentary sovereignty made war far more likely.
The Null and Void Ordinance was an Ordinance passed by the Parliament of England on 20 August 1647. On 26 July 1647 demonstrators had invaded Parliament forcing Independent MPs and the Speaker to flee from Westminster. On 20 August, Oliver Cromwell went to Parliament with an armed escort, following which the Null and Void Ordinance was passed annulling all Parliamentary proceedings since 26 July. Most of the Presbyterian MPs then retreated from Parliament leaving the independent MPs with a majority.
The Tender of Union was a declaration of the Parliament of England during the Interregnum following the War of the Three Kingdoms stating that Scotland would cease to have an independent parliament and would join England in its emerging Commonwealth republic.
John St Aubyn (1613–1684) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England in 1640. He served as a colonel in the parliamentary army in the English Civil War.
Nathaniel Hallowes (1582–1661) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1653 and again in 1659. He was an active Parliamentarian during the English Civil War.
Simon Snow was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1648. He supported the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War
Richard Lee was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1648.
Squire Bence was an English merchant, seafarer and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1648.
Thomas Gewen was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1645 and 1660.
Alexander Bence was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons of England from 1640 to 1648 and in 1654. He supported the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil War.
Cromwell's Act of Grace or more formally the Act of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland, was an Act of the Parliament of England that declared that the people of Scotland were pardoned for any crimes they might have committed during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It was proclaimed at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh on 5 May 1654. General George Monck, the English Military Governor of Scotland, was present in Edinburgh, having arrived the day before for two proclamations also delivered at the Mercat Cross, the first declaring Oliver Cromwell to be the Protector of England, Ireland and Scotland, and that Scotland was united with the Commonwealth of England.
Humphrey Orme was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and from 1660 to 1671.
Richard Winwood was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1641 and 1685.
Sir John Leigh (1598–1666) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1660.
Sir Henry Cholmley (1609–1666) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1641 and 1666. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.
