Eleven Members facts for kids

The Eleven Members were a group of important members of the House of Commons of England. They were seen as the main opponents by the leaders of the New Model Army, a powerful army during the English Civil War. Because of this, they were suspended from Parliament and had to leave England for six months. Later, after another war in 1648, many of them were permanently removed from Parliament.

The English Civil War and Parliament's Divisions

After Parliament won the First English Civil War (1642-1646), there was a big disagreement about how to make peace with King Charles I.

Peace vs. War Parties

• Some members of Parliament, led by Denzil Holles, wanted to end the war through talks and agreements. This group was called the Peace Party.
• Others, like Oliver Cromwell, believed they couldn't negotiate until they had completely won the war. This was the War Party.

Religious Differences

Many members of the Peace Party were Presbyterians. They supported a plan for England and Scotland to have one unified, Presbyterian church. This was part of an agreement called the Solemn League and Covenant.

Opposing them were the Independents. Many of them were in the New Model Army. They believed that the government should not force people to follow any specific religion.

King Charles I's Role

King Charles I did not want to give up much power. He believed that God would not let his enemies win. He also knew that his opponents in Parliament were divided. He tried to use these divisions to his advantage, thinking that everyone needed him to rule.

Conflict with the Army

By 1647, England was facing many problems. The country was struggling with the cost of the war, a bad harvest, and a serious illness called the plague. Parliament even had to stop paying the soldiers of the New Model Army to save money.

The Army's Demands

The Presbyterian members of Parliament were strong in London. In March 1647, they ordered the New Model Army to go to Ireland. They said that only soldiers who agreed to go would get their unpaid wages.

However, the soldiers' representatives, called Agitators, demanded that everyone receive their full pay first. When Parliament refused, the army refused to disband (break up).

The Eleven Members are Challenged

In June 1647, the Army Council offered their own peace terms to King Charles, but he rejected them. Parliament was upset that the army was acting like a separate government.

The army's supporters in Parliament then demanded that eleven members, including Denzil Holles, be removed from Parliament. To prevent violence, Holles and the other ten members decided to leave Parliament for a while.

The Eleven Members

Images for kids

• 

  Denzil Holles, a leader of the Peace Party and one of the Eleven Members.