POLITICAL HISTORY 



In 1647 came tne struggle between the Presbyterians in Parlia- 

 ment and the Independents in the army, the bone of contention which 

 brought matters to a crisis being the control of the City Militia. There 

 were stormy scenes in Parliament on 26 July, 829 and when the Houses 

 met again after a four days' adjournment it was found that the Inde- 

 pendent members with the two speakers, Lenthall and Manchester, had 

 fled to the army. 530 



The army under Fairfax had left Bedford on 29 July en route for 

 London, and disregarding the order of Parliament that the army should 

 remain fifty miles from the City, Fairfax had reached Uxbridge after a 

 hard march on 30 July. 831 A meeting was held privately at Syon House 

 between Fairfax with his officers on the one side and the earl of North- 

 umberland, Lord Saye and Sele, Lord Wharton, with the speakers and other 

 members, on the other. 332 Meanwhile the Independent party in London 

 had grown bolder, and the City had become tired of anarchy and riots, and 

 a deputation, therefore, waited on Fairfax at his quarters on 3 August. 333 

 The general stated in a long declaration that the army was about to 

 march on London, and that the eleven members of Parliament who had 

 been previously impeached by the army must be given up immediately. 331 

 Then followed a dramatic scene which is supposed to have been pre- 

 arranged. The whole army, 20,000 strong, was drawn up on 

 Hounslow Heath 336 in battalions which stretched near a mile and a 

 half in length. 336 Fairfax rode on to the Heath accompanied by the 

 earls of Northumberland, Salisbury and Kent, Lord Grey of Wark, 

 Lord Howard of Escrick, Lords Wharton, Saye and Sele, and Mulgrove, 

 besides the two speakers and about a hundred members of the House 

 of Commons. 887 The General accompanied by the said lords and gen- 

 tlemen then rode along the entire length of the army from regiment to 

 regiment. They were received with tumultuous enthusiasm, and with 

 cries of ' Lords and Commons and a free Parliament.' 3 After this 

 demonstration, the fugitive members took their leave of the army, some 

 going to Syon House with the earl of Northumberland, and some to 

 Stanwell with Lord Saye and Sele. Later in the day the Elector Palatine 

 came on to the heath, and reviewed the army in company with Fairfax 

 and many other gentlemen, and was also warmly greeted. 339 



Fairfax was now assured of success. Southwark had sent a message 

 imploring his aid, and he had dispatched Colonel Raynesborough with 

 a brigade of horse, foot and cannon from Hampton Court to take pos- 

 session. 8 * On the afternoon of 3 August the City surrendered, and a 

 letter was written to Fairfax announcing this decision. He received 



m Lord? Journ. ix, 143 ; Com. Journ. v, 256-9. IJO Ludlow, Memoirs, i, 207. 



331 Whitelocke, Mem. 262. Fairfax's quarters were at Colnbrook, 'at one Mr. Wilson's neere 

 the bridge whither he came Sunday night ' (i Aug.). Perfect Diurnall, 2 Aug. 

 *" Ludlow, Memoirs, i, 208-9. 



SJS Com. Journ. v, 266. Perfect Diurnall, 3 Aug. * u Whitelocke, Mem. 263. 



835 The army was then quartered at Brentford and Twickenham. Clarendon, op. cit. iv, 246. 

 136 Perfect Diurnall, 2-9 Aug. s7 Ibid. " Whitelocke, Mem. 263. 



m Rushworth, Coll. vii, 743-51. * w Clarendon, op. cit. iv, 247. 



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