Henry Marten

Henry Marten (born 1602, Oxford—died Sept. 9, 1680, Chepstow Castle, Monmouth, Eng.) was a leading Parliamentary judge in the trial of King Charles I of England and the signer of his death warrant.

Educated at University College, Oxford, Marten first became prominent in 1639 when he refused to contribute to the general loan for the Scottish war, and in April and again in November 1640 he was returned to Parliament as a member for Berkshire. There he spoke in favour of the proposed bill of attainder against the Earl of Strafford and used such frank language about the King that Charles demanded his trial for high treason. When rebellion broke out, Marten did not take the field, although he was appointed governor of Reading, but in Parliament he was very active. In 1643, on account of some remark about extirpating the royal family, he was expelled from Parliament, but in the following year was made governor of Aylesbury. Allowed to return to Parliament in 1646, Marten again spoke against the King, attacked the Presbyterians, and supported the army against the Parliament. He was one of the most prominent of the King’s judges and signed the death warrant. In 1649 he was chosen a member of the Council of State, but he took no part in public life during the Protectorate. He resumed his seat in the Long Parliament in 1659 and surrendered himself as a regicide in June 1660. He was imprisoned and died at Chepstow Castle.

Marten published several pamphlets and in 1662 Henry Marten’s Familiar Letters to His Lady of Delight, containing letters to his mistress, Mary Ward.