Moderate Parliamentarians like Denzil Holles wanted to re-establish what they considered to be a long-standing English legal principle that the king ruled with the consent of Parliament, a principle violated by the period of Personal Rule from 1629 to 1640. Having won control of Scotland in the 1639 to 1640 Bishops' Wars, the Covenanters viewed the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant as a way to preserve their dominance by preventing a Royalist victory in England. Independents opposed any state church, and although smaller in number, included Oliver Cromwell along with a significant portion of the New Model Army. Presbyterians were the most prominent in the Long Parliament in general, they wanted to convert the Church of England into a Presbyterian body, similar to the Church of Scotland.

However, 'Puritan' was a term for anyone who wanted to reform, or 'purify', the Church of England, and contained many different perspectives.

Royalists generally supported a Church of England governed by bishops, appointed by, and answerable to, the king Puritans believed he was answerable to the leaders of the church, appointed by their congregations. They disagreed on what 'well-ordered' meant, and who held ultimate authority in clerical affairs.

When the First English Civil War began in 1642, the vast majority on both sides believed a 'well-ordered' monarchy was divinely mandated. Background Ĭharles I by 1648, a significant element felt only his death could end the conflict The purge cleared the way for the execution of Charles in January 1649, and establishment of the Protectorate in 1653 it is considered the only recorded military coup d'état in English history. The next day, soldiers commanded by Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly excluded from the Long Parliament those MPs viewed as their opponents, and arrested 45. The result was the 1648 Second English Civil War, in which he was defeated once again.Ĭonvinced only his removal could end the conflict, senior commanders of the New Model Army took control of London on 5 December. This allowed him to create an alliance with Scots Covenanters and Parliamentarian moderates to restore him to the English throne. Pride's Purge is the name commonly given to an event that took place on 6 December 1648, when soldiers prevented members of Parliament considered hostile to the New Model Army from entering the House of Commons of England.ĭespite defeat in the First English Civil War, Charles I retained significant political power. Removal from the Long Parliament of members considered to be opponents of the New Model Army Colonel Pride refusing admission to the secluded members of the Long Parliament.

Pride's Purge by David Underdown