The Self Denying Ordinance of 1645

As spring approached, parliament still had a little problem on its hands. Essex and manchester still hadn't resigned their commands. So to get the bill moving, the commons agreed to a compromise that gave a forty day grace period to all commanders so they could get their affairs in order. The modified self denying ordinance was passed by both houses in the first week of april. But just months after being formed, parliament's fancy new sing unified national army had been broken into thirds. And with the arrival of sir marmaduke langdale's northern cavalry, the king's army now outnumbered fairfaxes. With rupert heading back north, the committee of both kingdoms ordered the earl of le