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Colonel Nathaniel Rich
Colonel Nathaniel Rich ( 1620–1622 to 1701–1702) was a member of the landed gentry from Essex, who sided with Parliament during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He has been described as "an example of those pious Puritan gentlemen who were inspired by the ideals of the English Revolution". Initially a close associate of Oliver Cromwell, he served as a colonel in the New Model Army, and was elected MP for Cirencester in 1648. The two men later fell out due to Rich's support for the Fifth Monarchists, a radical religious group that opposed Cromwell's appointment as Lord Protector in 1653. Although Rich was removed from the army and lost much of his influence as a result, he remained a committed republican and opposed the Stuart Restoration in May 1660. Since he had not participated in the Execution of Charles I, he was pardoned under the Indemnity and Oblivion Act, but arrested in January 1661 during the short-lived uprising led by his fellow Fifth Monarchist, Thomas Venner. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Putney Debates
The Putney Debates, which took place from 28 October to 8 November 1647, were a series of discussions over the political settlement that should follow Parliament's victory over Charles I in the First English Civil War. The main participants were senior officers of the New Model Army who favoured retaining Charles within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, and radicals such as the Levellers who sought more sweeping changes, including one man, one vote and freedom of conscience, particularly in religion. Alarmed by what they viewed as the dangerous radicalism and increasing power of the New Model Army, in March 1647 the Presbyterian moderates who dominated the Long Parliament ordered the army to disband, a demand which was refused. In June, the army removed Charles from the custody of Parliament and in August established its headquarters at Putney, just outside the City of Westminster in South West London. Its senior officers or " Grandees" hoped the debates would end pol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
