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''' John Lambert''' (Autumn 1619 – March 1684) was an English [[Parliament of England|Parliamentary]] general and politician. He fought during the [[English Civil War]], and became active in civilian politics until his dismissal by Cromwell in 1657. During this time he wrote the ''Instrument of Government'', Britain's only written constitution, and was influential in bringing about the Protectorate.

''' John Lambert''' (Autumn 1619 – March 1684) was an English Parliamentary general and politician. He fought during the [[English Civil War]], and became active in civilian politics until his dismissal by Cromwell in 1657. During this time he wrote the ''Instrument of Government'', Britain's only written constitution, and was influential in bringing about the Protectorate.

He remained inactive from politics until after the resignation of Richard Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's successor, when he was re-appointed to a position in the army in 1659. He prevented the sitting of the Rump Parliament and created a Committee of Safety with which to run the interim government. However, George Monck's march south caused Lambert's army to disintegrate and he was imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] in March 1660. He made one final attempt to resist the English Restoration after escaping a month later, but his support had dwindled. He spent the remaining 24 years of his life imprisoned, first on Guernsey, and then on Drake's Island where he died in the winter of 1683–84.

He remained inactive from politics until after the resignation of Richard Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's successor, when he was re-appointed to a position in the army in 1659. He prevented the sitting of the Rump Parliament and created a Committee of Safety with which to run the interim government. However, George Monck's march south caused Lambert's army to disintegrate and he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in March 1660. He made one final attempt to resist the English Restoration after escaping a month later, but his support had dwindled. He spent the remaining 24 years of his life imprisoned, first on Guernsey, and then on Drake's Island where he died in the winter of 1683–84.

==Early life==

==Early life==

When the quarrel between the Army and Parliament began, Lambert supported the Army's cause. He assisted Henry Ireton in drawing up the addresses and remonstrances issued by the Army, as both of them had some experience in law. Early in August 1647 Lambert was sent as Major-General to take charge of the forces in the northern counties. He suppressed a mutiny among his troops, kept strict discipline and hunted down bandits who infested the Scottish countryside.

When the quarrel between the Army and Parliament began, Lambert supported the Army's cause. He assisted Henry Ireton in drawing up the addresses and remonstrances issued by the Army, as both of them had some experience in law. Early in August 1647 Lambert was sent as Major-General to take charge of the forces in the northern counties. He suppressed a mutiny among his troops, kept strict discipline and hunted down bandits who infested the Scottish countryside.

At the start of the Second English Civil War Lambert now a young general of twenty-nine, was more than equal to the situation. He had already left the sieges of Pontefract Castle and Scarborough Castle and hurried into Cumberland to deal with the English Royalists. With his cavalry he got into touch with the enemy about Carlisle and slowly fell back, fighting small rearguard actions to annoy the enemy and gain time, to Bowes and Barnard Castle. Langdale, the Royalist commander, did not follow him into the mountains, but occupied himself in gathering recruits and supplies of material and food for the Scots. Lambert, reinforced from the Midlands, reappeared early in June and drove him back to Carlisle with his work half finished. About the same time the local horse of Durham and Northumberland were put into the field by the Governor of Newcastle, and won a considerable victory for the Roundheads (30 June) at the River Coquet.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|loc=47. ''Lambert in the north''.}}

At the start of the Second English Civil War Lambert now a young general of twenty-nine, was more than equal to the situation. He had already left the sieges of Pontefract Castle and Scarborough Castle and hurried into Cumberland to deal with the English Royalists. With his cavalry he got into touch with the enemy about Carlisle and slowly fell back, fighting small rearguard actions to annoy the enemy and gain time, to Bowes and Barnard Castle. Langdale, the Royalist commander, did not follow him into the mountains, but occupied himself in gathering recruits and supplies of material and food for the Scots. Lambert, reinforced from the Midlands, reappeared early in June and drove him back to Carlisle with his work half finished. About the same time the local horse of Durham and Northumberland were put into the field by the Governor of Newcastle, and won a considerable victory for the Roundheads (30 June) at the River Coquet. ''Lambert in the north''.}}

This reverse, coupled with the existence of Langdale's force on the Cumberland side, compelled Hamilton, the Scottish Royalist commander to choose the west coast route for his advance, and his army began slowly to move down the long passageway between the mountains and the sea. The campaign which followed is one of the most brilliant in English history. When the Scottish army under James Hamilton invaded England in the summer of 1648, Lambert was obliged to retreat; but Lambert continued to harass the invaders till Cromwell came up from [[Wales]] and the Scottish army was destroyed in the three days' fighting at the Battle of Preston fought  near Preston in Lancashire.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|loc=49. ''Preston Fight''.}} After the battle Lambert's cavalry headed the chase, pursuing the defeated army, and finally surrounded it at Uttoxeter, where Hamilton surrendered to Lambert on 25 August 1648. Lambert then led the advance of Cromwell's army into Scotland, where he was left in charge on Cromwell's return. From December 1648 to March 1649 he was engaged in the successful siege of Pontefract Castle; Lambert was thus absent from London at the time of Pride's Purge and the trial and execution of King Charles I of England.

This reverse, coupled with the existence of Langdale's force on the Cumberland side, compelled Hamilton, the Scottish Royalist commander to choose the west coast route for his advance, and his army began slowly to move down the long passageway between the mountains and the sea. The campaign which followed is one of the most brilliant in English history. When the Scottish army under James Hamilton invaded England in the summer of 1648, Lambert was obliged to retreat; but Lambert continued to harass the invaders till Cromwell came up from [[Wales]] and the Scottish army was destroyed in the three days' fighting at the Battle of Preston fought  near Preston in Lancashire. After the battle Lambert's cavalry headed the chase, pursuing the defeated army, and finally surrounded it at Uttoxeter, where Hamilton surrendered to Lambert on 25 August 1648. Lambert then led the advance of Cromwell's army into Scotland, where he was left in charge on Cromwell's return. From December 1648 to March 1649 he was engaged in the successful siege of Pontefract Castle; Lambert was thus absent from London at the time of Pride's Purge and the trial and execution of King Charles I of England.

When Cromwell was appointed to the command of the war in Scotland (July 1650), Lambert went with him as major-general and second in command. He himself repulsed a surprise attack by the [[Covenanters]] at the Battle of Hamilton on 1 December 1650. In July 1651 he was sent into Fife to get in the rear and flank of the Scottish army near Falkirk, and force them to decisive action by cutting off their supplies. This mission, in the course of which Lambert won an important victory at Inverkeithing, was so successful that Charles II of England, as Lambert had foreseen, made for England.  Lambert's part in the general plan of the resulting Worcester campaign was carried out brilliantly (including his capture of Upton-Upon-Severn), and in the crowning victory of the Battle of Worcester he commanded the right wing of the English army, and had his horse shot under him. Parliament granted him lands in Scotland worth £1000 per annum.

When Cromwell was appointed to the command of the war in Scotland (July 1650), Lambert went with him as major-general and second in command. He himself repulsed a surprise attack by the Covenanters at the Battle of Hamilton on 1 December 1650. In July 1651 he was sent into Fife to get in the rear and flank of the Scottish army near Falkirk, and force them to decisive action by cutting off their supplies. This mission, in the course of which Lambert won an important victory at Inverkeithing, was so successful that Charles II of England, as Lambert had foreseen, made for England.  Lambert's part in the general plan of the resulting Worcester campaign was carried out brilliantly (including his capture of Upton-Upon-Severn), and in the crowning victory of the Battle of Worcester he commanded the right wing of the English army, and had his horse shot under him. Parliament granted him lands in Scotland worth £1000 per year.

==Interregnum==

==Interregnum==

In October 1651 Lambert was made a commissioner to settle the affairs of Scotland, and he was appointed lord deputy of Ireland in January 1652. He made extensive preparations; parliament, however, reconstituted the Irish administration and Lambert refused to accept office on the new terms. He then began to oppose the Rump Parliament. He headed the party desiring representative government, as opposed to Thomas Harrison who favoured an [[oligarchy]] of "God-fearing" men, but both hated the Rump Parliament, and joined in urging Cromwell to dissolve it by force.

In October 1651 Lambert was made a commissioner to settle the affairs of Scotland, and he was appointed lord deputy of Ireland in January 1652. He made extensive preparations; parliament, however, reconstituted the Irish administration and Lambert refused to accept office on the new terms. He then began to oppose the Rump Parliament. He headed the party desiring representative government, as opposed to Thomas Harrison who favored an [[oligarchy]] of "God-fearing" men, but both hated the Rump Parliament, and joined in urging Cromwell to dissolve it by force.

At the same time Lambert was consulted by the parliamentary leaders as to the possibility of dismissing Cromwell from his command, and on 15 March 1653 Cromwell refused to see him, speaking of him contemptuously as "bottomless Lambert". On 20 April 1653, however, Lambert accompanied Cromwell when he dismissed the English Council of State, which was an executive arm of the Commonwealth government, on the same day as the forcible expulsion of the parliament.

At the same time Lambert was consulted by the parliamentary leaders as to the possibility of dismissing Cromwell from his command, and on 15 March 1653 Cromwell refused to see him, speaking of him contemptuously as "bottomless Lambert". On 20 April 1653, however, Lambert accompanied Cromwell when he dismissed the English Council of State, which was an executive arm of the Commonwealth government, on the same day as the forcible expulsion of the parliament.

Lambert now favored the formation of a small executive council, to be followed by an elective parliament whose powers should be limited by a written instrument of government. As the ruling spirit in the Council of State, and the idol of the army, he was seen as a possible rival of Cromwell for the chief executive power, while the royalists for a short time had hopes of his support. He was invited, with Cromwell, to sit in the nominated "Barebones Parliament" of 1653; and when the unpopularity of that assembly increased, Cromwell drew nearer to Lambert. In November 1653 Lambert presided over a meeting of officers, when the question of constitutional settlement was discussed, and a proposal made for the forcible expulsion of the nominated parliament. On 12 December 1653, the parliament resigned its powers into Cromwell's hands, and on 13 December Lambert obtained the consent of the officers to the Instrument of Government in the framing of which he had taken a lead. He was one of the seven officers nominated to seats in the council created by the Instrument. The Instrument of Government was the first and one of the two written constitutions in England.

Lambert now favored the formation of a small executive council, to be followed by an elective parliament whose powers should be limited by a written instrument of government. As the ruling spirit in the Council of State, and the idol of the army, he was seen as a possible rival of Cromwell for the chief executive power, while the royalists for a short time had hopes of his support. He was invited, with Cromwell, to sit in the nominated "Barebones Parliament" of 1653; and when the unpopularity of that assembly increased, Cromwell drew nearer to Lambert. In November 1653 Lambert presided over a meeting of officers, when the question of constitutional settlement was discussed, and a proposal made for the forcible expulsion of the nominated parliament. On 12 December 1653, the parliament resigned its powers into Cromwell's hands, and on 13 December Lambert obtained the consent of the officers to the Instrument of Government in the framing of which he had taken a lead. He was one of the seven officers nominated to seats in the council created by the Instrument. The Instrument of Government was the first and one of the two written constitutions in England.

In the foreign policy of the Protectorate Lambert called for alliance with Spain and war with France in 1653, and he firmly withstood Cromwell's design for an expedition to the [[West Indies]].

In the foreign policy of the Protectorate Lambert called for alliance with Spain and war with France in 1653, and he firmly withstood Cromwell's design for an expedition to the West Indies.

In the debates in parliament on the Instrument of Government in 1654 Lambert proposed that the office of [[Lord Protector]] should be made hereditary, but was defeated by a majority which included members of Cromwell's family. In the parliament of this year, and again in 1656, Lord Lambert, as he was now styled, sat as member for the West Riding of Yorkshire. He was one of the major-generals appointed in August 1655 to command the [[militia]] in the ten districts into which it was proposed to divide England, and who were to be responsible for the maintenance of order and the administration of the law in their several districts.

In the debates in parliament on the Instrument of Government in 1654 Lambert proposed that the office of [[Lord Protector]] should be made hereditary, but was defeated by a majority which included members of Cromwell's family. In the parliament of this year, and again in 1656, Lord Lambert, as he was now styled, sat as member for the West Riding of Yorkshire. He was one of the major-generals appointed in August 1655 to command the [[militia]] in the ten districts into which it was proposed to divide England, and who were to be responsible for the maintenance of order and the administration of the law in their several districts.

When the parliament, in an attempt to control the power of the army, withheld from Fleetwood, a general, the right of nominating officers, Lambert was named one of a council of seven charged with this duty. The parliament's evident distrust of the soldiers caused much discontent in the army; while the absence of authority encouraged the royalists to make overt attempts to restore Charles II, the most serious of which, were crushed by Lambert near Chester on 19 August 1659. He promoted a petition from his army that Fleetwood might be made lord-general and himself major-general. The republican party in the House took offence. The Commons (12 October 1659) cashiered Lambert and other officers, and retained Fleetwood as chief of a military council under the authority of the speaker. On the next day Lambert caused the doors of the House to be shut and the members kept out. On 26 October a new ''Committee of Safety'' was appointed, of which he was a member. He was also appointed major-general of all the forces in England and Scotland, Fleetwood being general.

When the parliament, in an attempt to control the power of the army, withheld from Fleetwood, a general, the right of nominating officers, Lambert was named one of a council of seven charged with this duty. The parliament's evident distrust of the soldiers caused much discontent in the army; while the absence of authority encouraged the royalists to make overt attempts to restore Charles II, the most serious of which, were crushed by Lambert near Chester on 19 August 1659. He promoted a petition from his army that Fleetwood might be made lord-general and himself major-general. The republican party in the House took offence. The Commons (12 October 1659) cashiered Lambert and other officers, and retained Fleetwood as chief of a military council under the authority of the speaker. On the next day Lambert caused the doors of the House to be shut and the members kept out. On 26 October a new ''Committee of Safety'' was appointed, of which he was a member. He was also appointed major-general of all the forces in England and Scotland, Fleetwood being general.

Lambert was now sent with a large force to meet George Monck, who was in command of the English forces in Scotland, and either negotiate with him or force him to terms. Monck, however, marched southward. Lambert's army began to melt away, and he was kept in suspense by Monck till his whole army deserted and he returned to London almost alone. Monck marched to London unopposed. The excluded Presbyterian members were recalled. Lambert was sent to the [[Tower of London|Tower]] (3 March 1660), from which he escaped a month later. He descended a silk rope and aided by six men was taken away by barge. He tried to rekindle the civil war in favour of the Commonwealth by issuing a proclamation calling on all supporters of the "Good Old Cause" to rally on the battlefield of Edgehill. But he was recaptured on 22 April at Daventry by Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, a regicide who hoped to win a pardon by handing Lambert over to the new regime.<ref>[http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/04/22/index.php The Diary of Samuel Pepys: Sunday 22 April 1660]</ref> He was kept imprisoned in the Tower of London and then transferred to [[Castle Cornet]] on the island [[Guernsey]].

Lambert was now sent with a large force to meet George Monck, who was in command of the English forces in Scotland, and either negotiate with him or force him to terms. Monck, however, marched southward. Lambert's army began to melt away, and he was kept in suspense by Monck till his whole army deserted and he returned to London almost alone. Monck marched to London unopposed. The excluded Presbyterian members were recalled. Lambert was sent to the [[Tower of London|Tower]] (3 March 1660), from which he escaped a month later. He descended a silk rope and aided by six men was taken away by barge. He tried to rekindle the civil war in favour of the Commonwealth by issuing a proclamation calling on all supporters of the "Good Old Cause" to rally on the battlefield of Edgehill. But he was recaptured on 22 April at Daventry by Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, a regicide who hoped to win a pardon by handing Lambert over to the new regime.<ref>[http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/04/22/index.php The Diary of Samuel Pepys: Sunday 22 April 1660]</ref> He was kept imprisoned in the Tower of London and then transferred to the island Guernsey.

==Restoration==

==Restoration==