ABSTRACT
The army’s occupation of London did not settle the underlying political and religious questions that divided the nation. Temporarily, the soldiers’ use of force restored an Independent majority to both houses of parliament, allowing the army’s political allies to annul all ordinances passed since 26 July. However, it took them six tries to get this measure passed, even though two regiments were billeted in Whitehall and the Mews, menacingly close to parliament.1 Independents in London also achieved mastery in the city’s government, ending for a time the threat to the army from the London trained bands.
