The volumes of Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament, compiled by the Yale Center for Parliamentary History and edited by Maija Jansson, are essential reading for those interested in the precipitating causes of civil war and revolution in mid-seventeenth-century England. The debates in these volumes focus on the accumulated problems—political, social, economic, and religious—that were the legacy of Charles I’s years of personal rule.

Volume 1 of the House of Commons covers the opening session from 3 November through 19 December 1640, detailing the debates leading up to Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford’s impeachment trial for high treason. Volume 3 reveals the English Parliament’s workings during the spring of 1641, when two closely related matters came to a head: this trial, and the completion of articles forming the framework for a treaty with Scotland. These records also detail other early impeachment proceedings that set the precedent for later such trials in Great Britain and America (including the recent impeachment of United States President William Jefferson Clinton). Volume 4 contains debates on the Act of Continuance that assured that parliament would not be adjourned, prorogued, or dissolved in conjunction with the Strafford business. Also contained in Volume 4 are materials relating to a plot to gain control of a demoralized army and to attempt Strafford’s rescue.

Volume 5 of Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament covers the period from 7 June through 17 July 1641 and is the penultimate volume of text in the edition. Finalizing the Act of Pacification with Scotland was the work of these months, when troops on both sides were disbanded, weapons were disposed, and complicated financial arrangements relating to almost all aspects of the peace were settled. Volume 6 covers the period from 19 July through the recess on 9 September 1641. This volume reflects the superb organization of the parliamentary body: in closing up for the recess they lost nothing of the work started, even while negotiating the final arrangements for peace with Scotland. Finally, volume 7 contains all appendix material referred to in the earlier volumes, as well as the Lists of Members (both by family name and constituency), List of Committees, Table of Bills, List of Petitions, List of Joint Conferences and Reports, and the Comprehensive Index to volumes 1 through 6.

Maija Jansson is director of the Yale Center for Parliamentary History

Vol.1 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons, Vol. 1: 3 November - 19 December 1640
Vol.2 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons, Vol. 2: 21 December 1640 - 20 March 1641
Vol.3 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons: The Strafford Trial. Volume 3: 22 March 1641 - 17 April 1641
Vol.4 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons, Volume 4: 19 April - 5 June 1641
Vol.5 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons Volume 5: 7 June 1641 - 17 July 1641
Vol.6 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament
House of Commons, Volume 6: 19 July-9 September 1641
Vol.7 Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament