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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Five Members
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Members of parliament, leaders of the opposition to *Charles I, whom the king tried to arrest for treason on 3 January 1642. Arriving with 400 men, Charles forcibly entered the House of Commons (a grave breach of parliamentary privilege). The five had been forewarned and had made their escape, but when the king asked the Speaker, William Lenthall, whether he saw any of them in the chamber, he received a reply which has won a secure place in parliamentary history: 'I have neither eye to see, nor tongue to speak here, but as the House is pleased to direct me'. The five members were John Pym, John Hampden, Arthur Haselrig, Denzil Holles and William Strode. The king's high-handed action was widely seen as a turning point in the events leading to the *English Civil War.
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