New Evidence for Old Stories: The Scribbled Books of the House of Lords

In this blog, Dr Alex Beeton from our House of Lords 1640-1660 project explores a little-used parliamentary source – the ‘Scribbled Books’ – and reveals some of the important information that can be found within them… John Browne, the Clerk of the Parliaments (i.e. the House of Lords) in the Long Parliament, did not have an easy job. His primary purpose was, with the help … Continue reading New Evidence for Old Stories: The Scribbled Books of the House of Lords

The Stuart Brothers in the English Civil War: the Road to Royalist Martyrdom

UNIQ+ Intern, Thomas Fallais, and David Scott, editor of the House of Lords 1640-1660 section, consider the deaths of three prominent royalist brothers, and how they were remembered. The Stuart brothers George Lord d’Aubigny, Lord John Stuart and Lord Bernard Stuart came from a powerful aristocratic family. Their father, Esmé Stuart, 3rd duke of Lennox, was a cousin and favourite of King James I, and their elder … Continue reading The Stuart Brothers in the English Civil War: the Road to Royalist Martyrdom

Post-Mortem by Print: Reflections on the Death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland

In the latest Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments blog, guest blogger William Poulter, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Leeds, discusses how the death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland in 1643 was memorialised decades later during the Restoration of the monarchy. Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland [S], was killed fighting for the king in the English Civil War on 20 September 1643. Explanations for his death range … Continue reading Post-Mortem by Print: Reflections on the Death of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland

The Caroline court and the political breakdown of 1641-42

In the latest Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments blog, guest blogger Dr Fraser Dickinson considers the changes in the fortunes of the circles at the Caroline court as one of the reasons for the problems that Charles I faced during the crisis of 1641 and 1642. In the second half of the 1630s, England presented the appearance of stability. One cause of this state of affairs was that … Continue reading The Caroline court and the political breakdown of 1641-42

The Lords and the Putney Debates

Following the victory of Parliament over King Charles I in the first English Civil War, the New Model Army, Charles, and radical groups convened at Putney to discuss the political settlement. Sarah Mortimer, Associate Professor at Christ Church, Oxford, and David Scott, editor of the House of Lords 1640-1660 section, discuss the debates surrounding the constitutional status of king and Lords. With the old frame … Continue reading The Lords and the Putney Debates

Launching the Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, Oxford March 2023

An event celebrating the the publication of a new edition of The Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell was held at Huntingdon Town Hall. Alex Beeton, Research Assistant of our House of Lords 1640-1660 project, discusses the event. On 6 March 2023, the History of Parliament, in collaboration with Oxford University’s ‘Britain in Revolution Seminar’, helped to organise a roundtable to celebrate the publication of … Continue reading Launching the Letters, Writings, and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell, Oxford March 2023

The 1626 coronation: Charles I’s botched political relaunch

After a shaky start to his reign, the king intended his coronation to bolster his personal image and agenda ahead of the 1626 Parliament. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as Dr Paul Hunneyball of our Lords 1558-1603 section explains… Little went right for Charles I in the opening months of his reign. Following his accession in March 1625, a major outbreak of the … Continue reading The 1626 coronation: Charles I’s botched political relaunch

St Edward’s Crown: a Restoration gift from Parliament

During the coronation of King Charles III this May, he will be crowned with the St Edward’s Crown. Dr Andrew Barclay, senior research fellow of our House of Lords 1640-1660 project, reflects on the origin of this crown and its purpose as a gift to an earlier King Charles. The central act of King Charles III’s coronation on 6 May will be his crowning with the … Continue reading St Edward’s Crown: a Restoration gift from Parliament

1642 – The earl of Leicester’s ‘Annus Horribilis’

In the first Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments blog of 2023, guest blogger Dr Fraser Dickinson explores the torn allegiances of the earl of Leicester in 1642… … I am environed by such contradictions, as I can neither get from them [Parliament and Charles I], nor reconcyle them. The Parliament bids me go presently [to Ireland]; the King commands me to stay till he dispatch me. The … Continue reading 1642 – The earl of Leicester’s ‘Annus Horribilis’

The Madness of the Mohuns

Violence was not uncommon among the early modern aristocracy, but the behaviour of the Mohun (pronounced ‘Moon’) family – Barons Mohun of Okehampton – was shocking even to contemporaries. In the next blog for our Revolutionary Stuart Parliaments series, Dr Patrick Little from our Lords 1640-1660 project explores the family weakness for mindless violence… John Mohun, 1st Baron Mohun, was proud of his ancestry, boasting … Continue reading The Madness of the Mohuns