Henry Parker (1604–1652) was an English

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

and political writer in the Parliamentarian cause. He was a major figure as a propagandist and pamphleteer, "the most influential writer to defend the parliamentary cause in the 1640s". He provided the "ideological ballast for resistance", according to

Geoffrey Robertson Geoffrey Ronald Robertson (born 30 September 1946) is a human rights barrister, academic, author and broadcaster. He holds dual Australian and British citizenship.

. He operated on behalf of the "coalition" of aristocrats and gentry who took over in the

Long Parliament The Long Parliament was an English Parliament which lasted from 1640 until 1660. It followed the fiasco of the Short Parliament, which had convened for only three weeks during the spring of 1640 after an 11-year parliamentary absence. In Septem ...

. He formulated a theory of

sovereignty Sovereignty is the defining authority within individual consciousness, social construct, or territory. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within the state, as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the perso ...

for the side of Parliament in its conflict with

Charles I of England Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until Execution of Charles I, his execution in 1649. He was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of ...

, based on the consent of the people.

Life

He was born in Ratton,

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

, where his father Sir Nicholas Parker was a

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

and MP. His mother was Kathryn Temple, sister of

Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet, of Stowe Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet (9 January 1567 – 10 February 1637) was an English landowner and Member of Parliament. Early life Thomas Temple was the eldest son of John Temple and Susan (née Spencer). Although he is said to have been born ...

. Thomas Parker, who represented Seaford in the Long Parliament, was his brother. His background was

Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of the ...

St Edmund Hall, Oxford St Edmund Hall (sometimes known as The Hall or informally as Teddy Hall) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The college claims to be "the oldest surviving academic society to house and educate undergraduates in any university ...

(M.A. 1628) and

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. (The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn.) Lincoln ...

(called to the bar in 1637). He was a nephew, by marriage, and associate of

William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele (28 June 158214 April 1662) was an English nobleman and politician, known also for his involvement in several companies for setting up overseas colonies. Early life He was born at the family home of B ...

, and his early works are close to the direct political concerns of this patron.

Richard Tuck Richard Francis Tuck (born 1 January 1949) is a British academic, political theorist and historian of political thought. He taught at the University of Cambridge from 1973 to 1995. He then joined the faculty of Harvard University, where he teaches ...

, ''Philosophy and Government 1572–1651'' (1993), p. 227. He was a cousin of the regicide,

James Temple James Temple (1606–1680) was a puritan and English Civil War soldier who was convicted of the regicide of Charles I. Born in Rochester, Kent, to a well-connected gentry family, he was the second of two sons of Sir Alexander Temple, although ...

. He was secretary to the

Parliamentary Army The New Model Army was a standing army formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians during the First English Civil War, then disbanded after the Stuart Restoration in 1660. It differed from other armies employed in the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Thr ...

in 1642, and secretary to the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

with John Sadler in 1645.''Concise Dictionary of National Biography'' At the same time he was secretary to

Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, KB, PC (; 11 January 1591 – 14 September 1646) was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the 17th century. With the start of the Civil War in 1642, he became the first Captain ...

, who emerged in 1642 in a prominent position as Parliamentary military leader. Parker's ''Observations upon some of his Majesty's late answers and expresses'' (1642) has been called the "single most influential tract of the period". Correspondence of King Charles and

Queen Henrietta Maria Henrietta Maria (french: link=no, Henriette Marie; 25 November 1609 – 10 September 1669) was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from her marriage to King Charles I on 13 June 1625 until Charles was executed on 30 January 1649. She was ...

was captured after the royalist defeat at the

Battle of Naseby The Battle of Naseby took place on 14 June 1645 during the First English Civil War, near the village of Naseby in Northamptonshire. The Parliamentarian New Model Army, commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, destroyed the main ...

in 1645. It was published, 39 letters being made public, edited and annotated by Parker, Sadler and

Thomas May Thomas May (1594/95 – 13 November 1650) was an English poet, dramatist and historian of the Renaissance era. Early life and career until 1630 May was born in Mayfield, Sussex, the son of Sir Thomas May, a minor courtier. He matriculated a ...

, as ''The Kings Cabinet Opened''. The tactic adopted in this work of mild annotation, allowing Charles's words mostly to speak for themselves, proved itself effective. After the death of Essex, in 1646, he took a position in Germany, as agent in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

for the Merchant Adventurers. From this period dates his economic pamphlet, ''On a free trade'', in support of

mercantilism Mercantilism is an economic policy that is designed to maximize the exports and minimize the imports for an economy. It promotes imperialism, colonialism, tariffs and subsidies on traded goods to achieve that goal. The policy aims to reduce a ...

, ''Philosophy and Government 1572–1651'' (1993), p. 251. He also became concerned with the political and military situation in Ireland. He wrote pamphlets on it, becoming on his return an apologist for

Henry Ireton Henry Ireton ((baptised) 3 November 1611 – 26 November 1651) was an English general in the Parliamentarian army during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell. He died of disease outside Limerick in November 16 ...

. From 1649 he was secretary to

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

's army, serving in Ireland, and is presumed to have died there. In 1649, he with Henry Robinson argued for 'engagement', a kind of loyalty oath to be imposed by the victorious Parliamentary side to ensure recognition of its authority. He was an opponent of

John Lilburne John Lilburne (c. 161429 August 1657), also known as Freeborn John, was an English people, English political Leveller before, during and after the English Civil Wars 1642–1650. He coined the term "''freeborn, freeborn rights''", defining them ...

, the

Leveller The Levellers were a political movement active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its popul ...

, and wrote in support of

jury trial A jury trial, or trial by jury, is a Trial, legal proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or Question of law, findings of fact. It is distinguished from a bench trial in which a judge or Judicial panel, panel of judges makes all decisions. ...

, a system attacked by Lilburne.

Parker's positions and sources

His ''Discourse concerning Puritans'' drew on

Virgilio Malvezzi Virgilio Malvezzi, Marchese ( Marquis) di Castel Guelfo (; 8 September 1595 – 11 August 1654) was an Italian historian, essayist, soldier and diplomat. Born in Bologna, he became court historian to Philip IV of Spain. His work was hugely influent ...

and Paolo Sarpi, and attacked both

episcopacy A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

and

Presbyterianism Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

as autonomous systems. In ''True grounds'' (1641) he continued the case against independent religious institutions. In a series of over 20 political pamphlets from 1640 onwards, Andrew Pyle (editor), ''Dictionary of Twentieth-Century British Philosophers'' (2000). he developed ''ad hoc'' but influential positions: absolute power for Parliament; thorough

Erastianism Thomas Erastus (original surname Lüber, Lieber, or Liebler; 7 September 152431 December 1583) was a Swiss physician and Calvinist theologian. He wrote 100 theses (later reduced to 75) in which he argued that the sins committed by Christians shou ...

on the religious question (a "cool secularist" for Christopher Hill); and an appeal to natural law, or the "law of nature" as the basis for political power. In ''The Case of shipmony'' (1640) he argued in terms of '' salus populi'', the law of necessity, and the failure of the King's arguments to establish it. This went further than arguments simply directed against

royal prerogative The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy, as belonging to the sovereign and which have become widely vested in th ...

, and shifted the discussion of legality. For

J. G. A. Pocock John Greville Agard Pocock (; born 7 March 1924) is a historian of political thought from New Zealand. He is especially known for his studies of republicanism in the early modern period (mostly in Europe, Britain, and America), his work on th ...

, Parker is "no kind of classical republican". On the other hand the position of ''Observations'' on monarchy is that it is held "by way of trust". With

Philip Hunton Philip Hunton ( 1600–1682) was an English clergyman and political writer, known for his May 1643 anti-absolutist work ''A Treatise of Monarchy''. It became a banned book under the Restoration. A Treatise of Monarchie (1643) At the time of pub ...

, Parker argued that political society has the nature of a contract, and required the consent of the people. He put the case that Parliament actually was representative of the people. Parker's theory of sovereignty implicitly depended on

Jean Bodin Jean Bodin (; c. 1530 – 1596) was a French jurist and political philosopher, member of the Parlement of Paris and professor of law in Toulouse. He is known for his theory of sovereignty. He was also an influential writer on demonology. Bodin l ...

. As well as Bodin and Sarpi, Mendle sees Parker drawing on

Richard Hooker Richard Hooker (25 March 1554 – 2 November 1600) was an English priest in the Church of England and an influential theologian.The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church by F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor) Oxford University ...

, and

Grotius Hugo Grotius (; 10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645), also known as Huig de Groot () and Hugo de Groot (), was a Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian, jurist, poet and playwright. A teenage intellectual prodigy, he was born in Delft ...

Royalist replies

Initially, the ''Observations'' of 1642 provoked replies that did not name it or engage directly with its arguments, but attacked its slogans. Two important examples were works from

Dudley Digges Sir Dudley Digges (19 May 1583 – 18 March 1639) was an English diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1610 and 1629. Digges was also a "Virginia adventurer," an investor who ventured his capital in the Virginia ...

and John Spelman, in ''A view of a printed book intituled Observations upon His Majesties late answers and expresses'' (1642).

Robert Filmer Sir Robert Filmer (c. 1588 – 26 May 1653) was an English political theorist who defended the divine right of kings. His best known work, ''Patriarcha'', published posthumously in 1680, was the target of numerous Whig attempts at rebuttal, ...

in ''

Patriarcha ''Patriarcha, or The Natural Power of Kings'' is a 1680 book by the English philosopher Robert Filmer, defending the divine right of kings on the basis that all modern states' authority derived from the Biblical patriarchs (whom he saw as Adam' ...

'' held up Parker's contractarian views as an artificial construct.

John Bramhall John Bramhall, DD (1594 – 25 June 1663) was an Archbishop of Armagh, and an Anglican theologian and apologist. He was a noted controversialist who doggedly defended the English Church from both Puritan and Roman Catholic accusations, as well ...

attacked both Parker and

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5/15 April 1588 – 4/14 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book ''Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influent ...

, at different times, but using similar language. John Maxwell took Parker as a typical specimen, in ''Sacro-sancta regum majestas'' of 1644, published anonymously. He argued strongly against the concept that the king had his power through popular consent, and placed Parker in a tradition going back to

William of Ockham William of Ockham, OFM (; also Occam, from la, Gulielmus Occamus; 1287 – 10 April 1347) was an English Franciscan friar, scholastic philosopher, apologist, and Catholic theologian, who is believed to have been born in Ockham, a small vill ...

and

Marsilius of Padua Marsilius of Padua (Italian: ''Marsilio'' or ''Marsiglio da Padova''; born ''Marsilio dei Mainardini'' or ''Marsilio Mainardini''; c. 1270 – c. 1342) was an Italian scholar, trained in medicine, who practiced a variety of professions. He ...

Influence

Christopher Hill states that Philip Hunton's ''Treatise of Monarchie'' (1643) is an attempted compromise between Parker and John Goodwin. In general terms, the works of Parker, John Lilburne, Richard Overton, Isaac Penington and Henry Vane are considered the substrate for the later political theories of

John Locke John Locke (; 29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "father of liberalism ...

, James Harington and

Algernon Sidney Algernon Sidney or Sydney (15 January 1623 – 7 December 1683) was an English politician, republican political theorist and colonel. A member of the middle part of the Long Parliament and commissioner of the trial of King Charles I of Englan ...

.Donald S. Lutz, ''Principles of Constitutional Design'' (2006), p. 75.

Works

*''Divine and Publike Observations'' (1638) *''The case of shipmony briefly discoursed'' (1640
online text
*''The question concerning the divine right of episcopacie truly stated'' (1641) *''A discourse concerning Puritans. A vindication of those, who uniustly suffer by the mistake, abuse, and misapplication of that name'' (1641) as Philus Adelphus *''The altar dispute'' (1641) *''The true grounds of ecclesiasticall regiment'' (1641) *''An answer to Lord Digbies speech'' (1641) *''The Vintner's Answer to some scandalous Phamphlets'' (1642) *''The danger to England observed, upon its deserting the high court of Parliament'' (1642) *''Some few observations upon His Majesties late answer'' (1642) *''Observations upon some of His Majesties late answers and expresses'' (1642
Text
*''A petition or declaration, humbly desired to be presented to the view of His most Excellent Majestie'' (1642) *''The manifold miseries of civill warre and discord in a kingdome'' (1642) *''Accommodation cordially desired and really intended'' (1642) *''An appendix to the late answer printed by His Majesties command'' (1642) *''The generall junto or The councell of union, chosen equally out of England, Scotland, and Ireland'' (1642) *''The Observator defended'' (1642) *''A question answered: how laws are to be understood, and obedience yeelded? '' (1642) *''Animadversions animadverted'' (1642) *''An appendix to the late answer printed by His Majesties command'' (1642) *''The Contra-Replicant, his complaint to his majestie'' (1643) *''A political catechism'' (1643) *''The Oath of Pacification'' (1643) *''To the High Court of Parliament: the humble remonstrance of the Company of Stationers'' London (1643) *''Jus populi'' (1644) *''Mr. William Wheelers case from his own relation'' (1644/5) *''The Kings cabinet opened'' (1645) with others *''The speech of Their Excellencies the Lords Ambassadours Extraordinary'' (1645) *''Jus Regum'' (1645) *''The Irish massacre'' (1646) *''The Trojan horse of the Presbyteriall government unbowelled'' (1646) *''An elegie upon ye death of my most noble & most honourable master Robert Earle of Essex'' (1646) *''Henry Parkers answer to the retreate of the armie. 24 Sept.. 1647'' (1647) *''An answer to the poysonous sedicious paper of David Jenkins'' (1647) *''Severall poysonous and sedicious papers of Mr. David Jenkins answered'' (1647) *''The cordiall of Mr. D. Jenkins ... answered'' (1647) *''Memoriall. That in regard Mr. John Abbot register of the Prerogative Office had deserted his trust'' (1648) *''Of a free trade'' (1648) *''A letter of due censure, and redargution icto Lieut: Coll: John Lilburne'' (1650) *''The true portraiture of the kings of England'' (1650) *''Reformation in courts, and cases testamentary'' (1650) *''Scotlands holy war'' (1651) *''The chief affairs of Ireland truly communicated'' (1651)

References

* W. K. Jordan (1942), ''Men of Substance: A Study of the Thought of Two English Revolutionaries, Henry Parker and Henry Robinson'' *Michael Mendle (2003), ''Henry Parker and the English Civil War''

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Henry 1604 births 1652 deaths English barristers English political writers English legal writers Lawyers from the Kingdom of England English male non-fiction writers Roundheads