Thomas Lister (Regicide)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lister was colonel in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War
and an MP. He was appointed a judge at the trial of Charles I, but on the restoration escaped with a light punishment.
and was admitted to Gray's Inn
1616. In 1622, he married Margaret Armine.
, Lister was arrested by a party of 60 royalist troopers led by the sheriff of Lincolnshire who broke into Coleby hall and he was taken before the King's council. He rose to become a lieutenant-colonel in the parliamentary army and deputy-governor of Lincoln. He was chosen as M.P. for Lincoln
in 1647, replacing John Broxholme who had died. He survived Pride's Purge
(the military coup that ejected from parliament MPs that did not support the army) and continued as the city's MP until 1653. He was nominated as a judge in the trial of Charles I
, but only attended a few sessions of the court and did not sign the death warrant.
In February 1651, he was appointed a member of the council of state
. He was MP for the county of Lincolnshire
in the Protectorate
Parliaments but he once again represented the city in 1659 with the recall of the Rump Parliament
. At the restoration
, he was excluded from the Indemnity and Oblivion Act
, because of his role in the trial and execution of Charles I and was tried for regicide. He knelt at the bar of the House of Lords and pleaded "deep repentance". He escaped with a light penalty, being forbidden to hold public office from 1660.
He died at Grays Inn in 1668 and his nephew, William, inherited his property.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and an MP. He was appointed a judge at the trial of Charles I, but on the restoration escaped with a light punishment.
Early life
Lister was born in 1597, the eldest son of William and Griselle Lister (née Rivett). He grew up at the family home, Coleby Hall in LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and was admitted to Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
1616. In 1622, he married Margaret Armine.
Military and Parliamentary career
On the outbreak of the English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Lister was arrested by a party of 60 royalist troopers led by the sheriff of Lincolnshire who broke into Coleby hall and he was taken before the King's council. He rose to become a lieutenant-colonel in the parliamentary army and deputy-governor of Lincoln. He was chosen as M.P. for Lincoln
Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)
Lincoln is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1647, replacing John Broxholme who had died. He survived Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
(the military coup that ejected from parliament MPs that did not support the army) and continued as the city's MP until 1653. He was nominated as a judge in the trial of Charles I
High Court of Justice for the trial of Charles I
The High Court of Justice is the name given to the court established by the Rump Parliament to try King Charles I of England. This was an ad hoc tribunal created specifically for the purpose of trying the king, although the same name was used again for subsequent courts.Neither the involvement of...
, but only attended a few sessions of the court and did not sign the death warrant.
In February 1651, he was appointed a member of the council of state
English Council of State
The English Council of State, later also known as the Protector's Privy Council, was first appointed by the Rump Parliament on 14 February 1649 after the execution of King Charles I....
. He was MP for the county of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Lincolnshire was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1290 until 1832.-History:...
in the Protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
Parliaments but he once again represented the city in 1659 with the recall 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....
. At the restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, he was excluded from the Indemnity and Oblivion Act
Indemnity and Oblivion Act
The Indemnity and Oblivion Act 1660 is an Act of the Parliament of England , the long title of which is "An Act of Free and General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion"....
, because of his role in the trial and execution of Charles I and was tried for regicide. He knelt at the bar of the House of Lords and pleaded "deep repentance". He escaped with a light penalty, being forbidden to hold public office from 1660.
He died at Grays Inn in 1668 and his nephew, William, inherited his property.