#15366, William STRODE (VI)

William orchestrated actions in the House of Commons in March 1629 and a proclamation was issued for his apprehension for 'seditious practices and crimes of a high nature.'  He appeared on 2nd April before the King's Bench and although, under the usual 'course of law' he would have been bailed, the king intervened and the Keeper of the Tower of London was directed to hold him until further notice.

In May, charges were brought that Strode had falsly affirmed that his majesty had conspired to trample under foot the liberty of his subjects.  Strode and eight others were detained in the Tower.  In the Star Chamber Strode refused to answer questions of what had happened in the House, mindful of 'Strode's case' of 100 years earlier, when his ancestor Richard Strode (III) #15359 had established MP's right of free speech.

In October prisoners were taken from the Tower to the Chief Justice's chambers where they were offered their liberty in return for a bond of good behavior.  Strode refused saying the writ against them was itself illegal.  Strode was kept in the Tower for 11 years and his co-conspiritior, Sir John Eliot would have served a similar term had he not died, aged just 40, in 1632.

Eliot's death in the Tower, allegedly of consumption, was regarded with suspicion at the time.  The king's treatment of Eliot is said to have played a pivotal part in the dispute between king and parliament.  In1668, some 36 years after his death the House of Commons reversed Eliot's convivtion invoking Strode's Law.  Like Strode he was parliamentarian of principal.

On 24th January 1640 Strode was set at liberty by a warrant under the king's hand which 'enabled Strode to use his energies.'  After a lapse of 11 years the king called a parliament for 13th April 1640.  Grodgingly the king agreed to drop the 'Ship Money' he had been proposing, but the Commons was increasingly uneasy about the king's proposals for funding the military at something like 3 times what they thought was reasonable.  The king was furious and dissolved what became known as the short parliament.

In a quest for more money the king called another Parliament in November 1640 and there was little sympathy for two of the king's most reviled advisors, Archbishop William Laud and the Earl of Stafford, Thomas Wentworth, who were impeached and sent to the Tower of London.  Strode was said to be back in the thick of it, serving on a number of investigative Commons committees until on December 29th he introduced a bill for annual Parliaments to meet on the first Tuesday after Ash Wednesday and in the event of there being no Royal writ to call such a Perliament then the Sheriff should issue it and the election should therefore be allowed to proceed.  Such a Parliament should not be dissolved until it had sat for at least 40 days. 'This bold proposition at once became the talk of the time, as it so evidently attacked the king's prerogative.'

In May 1641 Strode was appointed to the committee to prepare a bill against the much hated Earl of Stafford, known as 'Black Tom' to his enemies.  He was still in the Tower when a band of some 60 monarchists turned up at the gates demanding entry.  They were unsuccessful but talk soon arose of a royal coup and three days later John Pym, leader of the House informed the assembly that troops were on their way across the Channel to side with the king.  Following a heated debate a Bill of Attainder was passed and the king, reluctantly signed the death warrant of one of his keenest supporters.

Pym, the MP for Tavistock, firmly supported by Strode introduced a 10 point plan of radical initiatives which becane known as the Grand Remonstrance; it clearly chipped away at the king's power having at its heart that Parliament should henceforth appoint advisors and military commanders.  Such a move would remove the monarch's authority - namely the right to raise and control armed forces and to wage war.  Meanwhile the king was desperate for funds to deal with a major insurrection in Ulster and on 11th November Strode proposed that no money be made available to deal with this until the Remonstrance had been passed.  The vote was close 159 v 148 the victory for the Parliamentarians showed how deep the divide ran through the English elite.  

Religion was at thr heart of the foment and Strode had in mind an intention to charge the Catholic Queen Henrietta Maria and in retaliation the king attempted to arrest the five most prominent, troublesome Members as the surest way of getting rid of them, by accusing them of High Treason.  The House, being informed of the intention, and of the king's approach with an armed force, requested the Five Members to leave.  To this wish four yielded, 'but Mr Strode was obstinate' until an intimate friend pulled him out by force just as the king, with his 'ruffians' was entering Palace Yard.  Leaving the soldiers in the hall the king entered the Commons House, the first time in history a king had ever done so, and looking around remarked that he perceived the birds had flown.  The Five Members, meanwhile were secreted in the King's Bench Court.  That same evening a warrant was addressed to the Mayor of Dover that whereas Mr William Strode and others have been accused of high treason, being struck with the consciousness of their guilt are fled, 'all diligence should be used to arrest them and prevent their escape to foreign parts.'

Forwith came out also a Proclamation for apprehending them and charging all persons to search for them and to take them to the Tower.  This the Lord Keeper refused to seal, so that it was posted only at Whirehall and went no farther.  A day or two later the Commons declared it false and scandalous, and that anyonr questioned for harbouring the run-awats should be considered under the protection of the Parliament.  Mr Strode made a apeech in the House that the king was guided by evil-minded persons - troublers of the State.  He asked for a speedy trial and hoped that Parliament would go on with this work, and settle all troubles in Church and State,  As neither side would give way, the Civil War was the consequence in 1642.