Oxford Parliament (1644)

Last updated

Christ Church hall, depicted in 1845, where the Parliament met Hall of Christ Church College.jpg
Christ Church hall, depicted in 1845, where the Parliament met

The Oxford Parliament, also known as the Mongrel Parliament, was the Parliament assembled by Charles I of England for the first time on 22 January 1644 and adjourned for the last time on 10 March 1645, with the purpose of being an instrument of the Royalist war campaign.

Contents

Charles was advised by Edward Hyde and others not to dissolve the Long Parliament as this would violate the statute of 1641 which said that Parliament could not be dissolved without its own consent. So all members of the Long Parliament were summoned by King Charles to assemble for a session of Parliament to be held at Christ Church Hall, Oxford. Eighty-two peers, which was most of the House of Lords, and 175 commoners, which was about one-third of the House of Commons, heeded the summons and came. Sir Sampson Eure was elected as Speaker of the House of Commons. [1]

The Parliament met a number of times during the First English Civil War and was seen by Charles as a way of raising revenue. However, some of the members defected back to Westminster because they did not like his alliance with Irish Catholics, and others argued strongly for a negotiated peace with the Long Parliament in Westminster Hall.

The first session lasted from 22 January 1644 until 16 April 1644. The second session was from 8 October 1644 until 10 March 1645.

Not much is known of its proceedings because all its records were burnt just before Oxford fell to Parliamentary forces in 1646.

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet</span> English courtier and administrator

Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet of Westminster was an English courtier and administrator who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1626 and 1673.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Bankes</span>

Sir John Bankes was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1624 and 1629. He was Attorney General and Chief Justice to Charles I during the English Civil War. Corfe Castle, his family seat was destroyed during a long siege, in which his wife Mary Hawtrey became known as Brave Dame Mary.

John Philipot was an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629. Though he successfully attained the position on Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary, he is best known for his production of a roll of arms of the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports.

Sir Richard Grosvenor, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1629. He is an ancestor of the modern day Dukes of Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh</span> English politician

Sir Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh,, Bt, was an English politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Borlase, 1st Baronet</span> English politician (1619-1672)

Sir John Borlase, 1st Baronet of Bockmer, Medmenham, Buckinghamshire was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1644. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Thomas Aston, 1st Baronet</span> English politician (1600-1645)

Sir Thomas Aston, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640. He fought for the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. The portrait he commissioned from John Souch of his first wife Magdalene Aston on her deathbed is in Manchester Art Gallery. He is known as an apologist for the Church of England.

Ambrose Manaton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England in 1624 and 1640. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Glanville</span> English politician (1586–1661)

Sir John Glanville the younger, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1644. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons during the Short Parliament. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet</span> 17th-century English politician

Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1640 and 1676. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Erle</span> English landowner and politician

Sir Walter Erle or Earle was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1648. He was a vigorous opponent of King Charles I in the Parliamentary cause both before and during the English Civil War.

Edward Bagshaw the elder was an English writer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

William Chadwell was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1640 and 1644. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

Gervase Holles was an English lawyer, antiquarian and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He fought in the Royalist army in the English Civil War.

Sir John Fitzjames was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1670.

John Bingham (1613–1673) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1645 and 1659. He served in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sampson Eure</span> English lawyer and politician

Sir Sampson Eure was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1643. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

John Francklyn was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Oglander</span> English politician

Sir John Oglander was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1625 to 1629. He is now remembered as a diarist.

Sir Edward Bishopp, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1626 and in 1640. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.

References