STRODE, WILLIAM (1598-1645), English parliamen tarian, second son of Sir William Strode, of Newnham, Devon shire, was returned to parliament in 1624 for Beeralston, .and represented the borough in all succeeding parliaments till his death. He from the first threw himself into opposition to Charles I. and took a leading part in the scene of March 2, 1629, when the Speaker, Sir John Finch, was held down in the chair. (See HOLLES, DENZIL.) Prosecuted before the Star Chamber, he refused "to answer anything done in the House of Parliament but in that House." On May 7, a fresh warrant was issued, and a month later, to prevent his release on bail, he was sent by Charles with two of his fellow members to the Tower. Refusing to give a bond for his good behaviour, he was sentenced to imprisonment during the king's pleasure, and was kept in confinement in various prisons for eleven years. In January 1640, in accordance with the
king's new policy of moderation, he was liberated ; and on April 13, took his seat in the Short Parliament, with a mind embittered by the sense of his wrongs. In the Long Parliament, which met on Nov. 3, 1640, he was the first to propose the control by parliament over ministerial appointments, the militia and its own duration; supported the Grand Remonstrance of Nov. 7, 1641; and displayed a violent zeal in pursuing the prosecution of Strafford. He was included among the five members impeached by Charles of high treason on Jan. 3, 1642. He opposed all sug gestions of compromise with Charles, urged on the preparations for war, and on Oct. 23, was present at the battle of Edgehill. In the prosecution of Laud he showed the same relentless zeal as he had in that of Strafford. Strode died on Nov. 28, 1645.