Fifty Fifth Monarchists, headed by a wine-cooper named Thomas Venner, make an effort to attain possession of London in the name of "King Jesus" on January 6, 1661.

George Monck's regiment defeats them: most of the fifty are either killed or taken prisoner, and on January 19 and 21, Venner and ten others are hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason.

The failure of Venner's Rising leads to repressive legislation to suppress non-conformist sects.

The bodies of Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw are subjected on January 30 to the indignity of posthumous decapitations.