History

On December 6th, 1648 Colonel Thomas Pride and his soldiers got in position outside Westminster Hall, the Common’s chamber, and the Court of Requests. His men barred entry into the House of Commons throughout the day. He physically wrestled the MP William Prynne to ground when he did not follow Col. Pride’s commands to follow him to ‘Hell’, a nearby tavern where MP’s disagreeable to the New Model Army’s requests were being held. Pride was directed who to obstruct by Lord Grey, a Leicester MP who was decidedly against the Presbyterian faction that had ensconced itself in Parliament. Those that were allowed in the chamber continued with their business as usual, perhaps to show the army that they could not be intimidated. The army’s demands were made that afternoon, and if the terms were met the hostile MP’s would be allowed to return to their seats. Those members that remained became known as “The Rump Parliament”. The army’s terms were to essentially purge parliament of any members hostile to the New Model Army, at which point Parliament was to set a timeline to dissolve itself. Today known as Pride’s Purge, it remains the first and only military coup d’état in English history.