John Fry (regicide) facts for kids

John Fry (1609–1657) was an important person in the English Parliament. He served as a judge during the famous trial of King Charles I of England.

Early Life and Political Role

John Fry was born in 1609. His father was William Fry, from a place called Iwerne Minster. John Fry became a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury. He was part of the Parliament during a very important time in English history.

Serving in Parliament

John Fry was a Member of Parliament during what were known as the Long and Rump Parliaments. These were special periods when Parliament had a lot of power. He was present for most of the trial of King Charles I. This was a huge event where the King was put on trial by Parliament.

Challenges and Beliefs

John Fry did not take part in the final decision about King Charles I. He was temporarily suspended from Parliament just before the King's sentence was announced. This happened because some people thought his religious beliefs were different from the usual ones.

A person named Colonel Downes suggested that Fry had unusual views about the Holy Trinity, which is a core Christian belief. Eight days later, John Fry wrote a statement saying he respected the Trinity. After this, he was allowed back into Parliament.

Writing and Expulsion

Soon after, John Fry wrote a pamphlet called The Accuser Shamed. In this writing, he shared ideas that were still seen as quite different from common beliefs. Another person, Dr. Cheynel, wrote a response to Fry's pamphlet. Fry then wrote another one called The Clergy in their Colours.

In 1651, Parliament decided that these two books by John Fry were too controversial. They ordered the books to be burned and expelled John Fry from Parliament. He passed away in 1657. After the King was restored to power in 1660, John Fry was not included in a special act that forgave people for their actions during the English Civil War.

Views and Legacy

Dario Pfanner, a historian, wrote about John Fry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. He explained that Fry was seen as a critic by some of his enemies. These enemies were presbyterians, a group with strong religious beliefs.

Understanding Fry's Ideas

John Fry was sometimes called a Socinian. This was because he questioned some traditional ideas about the Trinity. He believed in using reason to understand the Bible and supported tolerance for different views. However, he did not deny that Christ and the Holy Ghost were divine. Instead, he thought they were different ways of seeing the same God.