Francis Allen (regicide)
Encyclopedia
Francis Allen was an English financier, politician and regicide who sided with parliament in the civil War against Charles I
.
By the mid-1630s he had become a liveryman
of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
where he became an activist against pressure for members to relocate their homes to Goldsmiths' Row, Cheapside. He was suspended and refused subsequent invitations to rejoin.
Allen was elected to the Long Parliament
for Cockermouth in April 1642 and assisted with the financial administration of the English Civil War
. In January 1644 he was part of a hostile demonstration against the earl of Essex
. He later became a presbyterian elder in William Strong
's church.
Following the formation of the high court of justice to conduct the trial of Charles I, Allen was appointed one of the 135 commissioners. He was present when the death sentence
was passed by all present. Though he did not sign the death warrant
, he arranged payments and prepared accounts for the execution event
Previously an active member of the Rump Parliament
, Allen was one of those bitterly attacked by Cromwell during the latter's Military Coup. Allen subsequently retired from public life.
He died in September 1658 and, as a deceased regicide, was named and his estate excluded from Indemnity under the Restoration's Act of Indemnity 1660.
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
By the mid-1630s he had become a liveryman
Liveryman
For Livery Companies in the City of London, a Liveryman is a full member of their respective Company.Livery Company members fall into two basic categories: Freemen and Liverymen. One may join as a Freeman, and thereby acquire the "Freedom of the Company", upon fulfilling the Company's criteria...
of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company, which has origins in the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327. It ranks fifth in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice...
where he became an activist against pressure for members to relocate their homes to Goldsmiths' Row, Cheapside. He was suspended and refused subsequent invitations to rejoin.
Allen was elected to the Long Parliament
Long Parliament
The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and...
for Cockermouth in April 1642 and assisted with the financial administration of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. In January 1644 he was part of a hostile demonstration against the earl of Essex
Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex
Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex PC , whose surname is sometimes spelled Capel, was an English statesman.-Early life:...
. He later became a presbyterian elder in William Strong
William Strong (minister)
William Strong was an English clergyman and then pastor of an independent congregation, and member of the Westminster Assembly.-Life:...
's church.
Following the formation of the high court of justice to conduct the trial of Charles I, Allen was appointed one of the 135 commissioners. He was present when the death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
was passed by all present. Though he did not sign the death warrant
Death Warrant
Death Warrant is a 1990 action movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The film was written by David S. Goyer while a student at USC, and was Goyer's first screenplay to be sold and produced commercially.-Plot summary:...
, he arranged payments and prepared accounts for the execution event
Previously an active member of the Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
, Allen was one of those bitterly attacked by Cromwell during the latter's Military Coup. Allen subsequently retired from public life.
He died in September 1658 and, as a deceased regicide, was named and his estate excluded from Indemnity under the Restoration's Act of Indemnity 1660.