Denzil
Holles, the second son of John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare, was born
in Nottinghamshire in 1599. He was elected to the House
of Commons in 1624. Holles, a Presbyterian,
was a strong opponent of Charles
I and
played an important role in having the
king's two senior advisers, William Laud
and Thomas Wentworth arrested and
sent to the Tower of London.
Charged with treason, Wentworth's
trial opened on 22nd March, 1641. The case could not be proved and
so his enemies in the House of Commons,
led by Arthur Haselrig, John
Pym and Henry Vane, resorted to a Bill
of Attainder. Charles
I gave his consent
to the Bill of Attainder and Thomas
Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, was executed on 12th May 1641.
Parliament then passed
a law that gave members control over the king's ministers.
Charles I was
furious and decided it was time to retaliate. On 4 January 1642, Charles
sent his soldiers to arrest Holles, Arthur
Haselrig, John Pym, John
Hampden and William Strode.
The five men managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Members
of Parliament no longer felt safe from Charles and decided to form
their own army. After failing to arrest the Five
Members, Charles fled from London.
Aware that Civil War
was inevitable, Charles
began to form an army.
Holles fought at Edgehill
but soon afterwards began advocating a compromise settlement. Holles
was accused of treason and in 1647 he fled to France.
In 1660 he played an important role in recalling Charles
II to the throne.
On the Restoration Holles was created
Baron Holles of Ifield in Sussex. Denzil
Holles died in 1680.
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