William Lenthall - Civil War and Protectorate Parliament

Civil War and Protectorate Parliament

On the outbreak of war, Lenthall threw in his lot with Parliament. He had already called attention to the inadequacy of his salary and been granted a sum of £6000 (9 April 1642); and he was now appointed Master of the Rolls (22 November 1643), and one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal (October 1646 – March 1648). He carried on his duties as speaker without interruption till 1647, when the power of parliament had been transferred to the army. On 26 July, a mob invaded the House of Commons and obliged it to rescind the ordinance re-establishing the old parliamentary committee of militia; Lenthall was held in the chair by main force and compelled to put to the vote a resolution inviting the king to London. Threats of worse things came subsequently to Lenthall's ears, and, taking the mace with him, he left London on 29 July to join the army and Lord Fairfax. Lenthall and Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, the speaker of the Lords, headed the fugitive members at the review on Hounslow Heath on 3 August, and were well received by the soldiers. Returning to London with the army, he was installed again by Fairfax in the chair (6 August), and all votes passed during his absence were annulled. He adhered thenceforth to the army party, but with a constant bias in favour of the king.

At the Restoration he claimed to have sent money to the king at Oxford, to have provided the queen with comforts and necessaries and to have taken care of the royal children. Having put the question for the king's trial from the chair, he continued to act as speaker after the king's execution, though he used his influence in favour of the royalists, whenever this was possible without imperilling his own interests, and he saved the lives of both the Earl of Norwich (8 March 1649) and Sir William Davenant (3 July 1650) by his casting vote. The removal of the king had left the parliament supreme; and Lenthall as its representative, though holding little real power, was the first man in the state.

His speakership continued till 20 April 1653, when the Long Parliament was summarily expelled. Oliver Cromwell directed Colonel Thomas Harrison, on the refusal of Lenthall to quit the chair, to pull him out and Lenthall submitted to the show of force. He took no part in politics till the assembling of the First Protectorate Parliament, on 3 September 1654, in which he sat as member for Oxfordshire . He was again chosen speaker, his former experience and his pliability of character being his chief recommendations.

In the second protectorate parliament, summoned by Cromwell on 17 September 1656, Lenthall was again chosen member for Oxfordshire, but had some difficulty in obtaining admission, and was not re-elected speaker. He supported Cromwell's administration, and was active in urging the protector to take the title of king. In spite of his services, Lenthall was not included by Cromwell in his new House of Lords, and was disappointed at his omission. The protector, hearing of his complaint, sent him a writ, and Lenthall was elated at believing he had secured a peerage.

After Cromwell's death, the officers, having determined to recall the Rump Parliament, assembled at Lenthall's house at the Rolls (6 May 1659), to ask him to send out the writs. Lenthall, however, had no wish to resume his duties as speaker, preferring the House of Lords, and made excuses for not complying. When the officers threatened to summon parliament without his aid, he led the procession to the parliament house. Lenthall was now restored to the position of dignity which he had filled before. He was temporarily made keeper of the new Great Seal (14 May). On 6 June it was voted that all commissions should be signed by Lenthall and not by the commander-in-chief. His exalted position, however, was not left long unassailed. On 13 October John Lambert placed soldiers round the House and prevented the members from assembling. Lenthall's coach was stopped as he was entering Old Palace Yard, the mace was seized and he was obliged to return. The army, however, soon returned to their allegiance to the parliament. On 24 December, they marched to Lenthall's house, and expressed their sorrow. On 29 December, the speaker received the thanks of the reassembled parliament.