On This Day: January 17

1648 - Long Parliament passes the Vote of No Address against Charles I

Long Parliament in session.

      Charles had been a prisoner of the Long Parliament of England at the end of the First English Civil War, but attempted to make deals with various parties. In December 1647, he made a deal with his Scottish subjects (in the form of the Covenanter's) to establish Presbyterianism throughout the British Isles if they sent an army to invade England and restore him to his throne in London. When news of this arrived at the Long Parliament, its members passed the Vote of No Address to end their negotiations with the King, and this led to the Second Civil War.