The Five Members

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In January 1642, King Charles I ordered the attorney-general to indict for treason the five members of the House of Commons and one member of the House of Lords who were most prominent in Parliament's attempt to transfer control of the armed forces away from the Crown. The King believed that these members had encouraged the Scots to invade England in the recent Bishops' Wars and that they were intent on stirring up riots and tumults against him in London. A rumour that they were planning to impeach Queen Mary for alleged involvement in Catholic conspiracies prompted Charles into taking drastic action.


On 4 January 1642, King Charles marched to Westminster intending to arrest the Five Members in person. The King entered the chamber of the House of Commons and occupied the Speaker's chair. This was unprecedented in parliamentary history. Charles' intrusion was regarded as another major breach of privilege.

Warned of the King's approach, the Five Members had already escaped and gone into hiding in London. Asked by the King whether he saw any of them present or knew where they were, the Speaker of the House, William Lenthall, famously replied, "..I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this House is pleased to direct me." Realising that his "birds were flown", King Charles was obliged to leave the House empty-handed to angry shouts of "Privilege, Privilege."

The Five Members were: John Pym, John Hampden, Denzil Holles, Sir Arthur Hesilrige and William Strode. The King's disregard of parliamentary custom and privilege did great political damage to his cause. The House of Commons presented the intrusion as an armed assault on Parliament itself, and the King's reputation never recovered. Amid uproar and wild rumours of civil war, the London trained bands were mobilised in support of Parliament




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PersonCharles I +, John Pym +, John Hampden + and Arthur Hesilrige +
DateThis property is a special property in this wiki.4 January 1642 +
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