Self-denying Ordinance
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The first Self-denying Ordinance was a bill moved on 9 December 1644 to deprive members of Parliament from holding command in the army or the navy of the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. It failed to pass the House of Lords. A second Self-denying Ordinance was agreed to by both houses on 3 April 1645.
By December 1644 the dissensions between the generals in the Parliamentary army had become flagrant and public. It was no longer possible for the Houses of Parliament to ignore the fact that the army must be radically reformed. Oliver Cromwell and Sir William Waller, from their places in parliament, attacked Earl of Manchester's conduct. So far as Cromwell was concerned, their attack ultimately became an attack on the Lords, most of whom held the same views as Manchester, and on the Scots, who attempted to bring Cromwell to trial as an "incendiary". At the crisis of their bitter controversy, Cromwell suddenly proposed to stifle all animosities by the resignation of all officers who were members of either House, a proposal which affected himself not less than the Earls of Essex and Manchester.
The first "self-denying ordinance", proposed by Sir Henry Vane the Younger, was moved on 9 December 1644, and provided that "no member of either house shall have or execute any office or command...", etc. It passed the House of Commons on December 19, but thrown out by the Lords on January 13, 1645 (NS)
A second "self-denying ordinance" was agreed to on 3 April 1645, whereby all the persons concerned were to resign, but without prejudice to their reappointment. Simultaneously with this, the formation of the New Model Army was at last definitely taken into consideration. Its purpose was ostensibly to promote the professionalism of the armed forces; but there were those who thought that the Presbyterian leaders of the army were not prosecuting the war against the king forcefully enough. They wanted to promote Oliver Cromwell, who was exempted from the terms of the ordinance. This cleared the way for a new generation of specialist non-aristocratic generals to introduce army reform, culminating in the New Model Army and more effective and determined soldiering. The losers were Essex and Manchester who resigned their commissions. The last exploit of Sir William Waller, who was not re-employed after the passing of the ordinance, was the relief of Taunton, then besieged by General Goring's army.
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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. From the article the GREAT REBELLION
