This volume reflects again the superb organization of the parliamentary body that met during these years.

This last volume of Proceedings in the Opening Session of the Long Parliament covers the period from 19 July through 9 September 1641. Both houses were by now growing thin as weary lords and commoners began to leave Londonfor families in the countryside, knowing they would be back in the city by October. The king left for Edinburgh in August, not to return until autumn.
In closing up for the recess the parliamentary body lost nothing of the work started, even while negotiating the final arrangements for peace with Scotland. The reader is again struck by the committee structure and the means for handling personal and somewhat private naturalization bills while at the same time keeping on track the major public bills regarding episcopacy and the nature of the Council and courts.

Maija Jansson is Director of the Yale Center for Parliamentary History.