Engraving by an unknown artist of Thomas Venner, obit. 1661, last leader of the Fifth Monarchy Men who tried unsuccessfully to overthrow Cromwell in 1657 then lead an unsuccessful coup against the newly restored government of King Charles II. Thomas Venner; a helmet on his head, holding a halbert. In Pagit's "Heresiography" p.280 Published by Caulfield & Herbert (London, 1794)

Fifth Monarchists believed that the world had seen four great monarchies (Assyria, Persia, Macedonia, and Rome), and that the fifth monarchy, that of Christ, was to begin in 1666 so any other government was an obstacle to the establishment of Christ's rule, and must be overthrown.

Venner's son b.1641 bap.16May1641 later participated in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 [459] [460] Archbishop John Potter married the daughter of Col. VENNER, a rather "scanalous match", being the son of the infamous Thomas VENNER. [461]

Venner's son-in-law was William Medley, the scribe, accountant and treasurer of the 5th Monarchists