1646-1649 Flashcards
Give three events between November-December which acted as a catalyst for a renewed period of war
Charles’ escape from his imprisonment at Hampton Court - 11th Nov, escaped to the Isle of Wight to Carisbrooke castle (imprisoned there)
The 4 Bills
Charles’ secret negotiations with the Scots
When were the 4 bills and what did they propose
Dec 1647
1) Parliament control military for 20 years
2) Prevented Charles form revoking parliamentary business carried out in his absence
3) Charles couldn’t adjourn parliament
4) Revoked recent honours made by the king
What did Charles promise for the Scots to side with him
Guarantees such as a presbyterian settlement on the CofE for 3 years, uniting England and Scotland and the occupation of border towns such as Carlile and Berwick-upon-Tweed
What was the Vote of No Adress and why was it passed
Banned any kind of settlement with the king
In response to Charles’ behaviour and faced with the prospect of a Scottish invasion - the only way forward was through another period of war
Passed through Lords under the pressure of the Ary council
Give a weakness of Charles side during the 2nd Civil War
There was no longer a focused royalist part as there had been in the First Civil War
Until the Scots invaded in early July, there were just a few pitched battles and local skirmishes
Why would it be wrong to fully argue that there were mass uprisings for the support of Charles
Mostly prompted by specific grievances and did not reflect particular loyalties
Some people such as Lucy, Countess of Carlisle, were simply anti-parliamentarian rather than pro-loyalist
What was the first act by parliament that politicised the NMA
Fearful of the army’s militancy, it tried to disband the army as quickly and as cheaply as possible
- The army to be purged of Independent officers
- The army to be sent to Ireland under presbyterian officers
- Disbanded NMA soldiers only to be given 8 weeks arrears of pay, many were owed much more than this
Soldiers responded with the NMA petition in March which was condemned by Parliament as an act of treason (Dec of Dislike)
What did the Agitators demand in April
Indemnity of actions committed during the war
Freedom of conscription (Ireland)
Freedom of worship
When was the king seized and what was the effect
June 1647 - a troop of cavalry from the NMA ed by Cornet Joyce seized the king
Parliament could no longer negotiate with Charles without the army’s approval
When was the Proposition of Newcastle
July 1646
Give the key features of the Prop Newcastle
New parliament every 3 years
Parliament to control the military for 20 years
Bishops abolished, presbyterian church for a 3-year trial
58 royalists not pardoned
When were the Heads of Proposals and what were its key features
August 1647
New parliament every 2 years
Parliament to control the military for 10 years
Bishops to remain, no presbyterian church, voluntary use of Book of Common prayer
Parliament to nominate all officers for 10 years
7 royalist not pardoned
What was Charles’ response to Henrietta Maria on receiving the propositions of Newcastle
“They are such as I cannot grant without losing my conscience, crown and honour”.
Who came up with the HofP
Put forward by the army - supported by leading Independents (Cromwell and Ireton)
What was outlined in the Treaty of Newport
King agreed to a 3-year presbyterian settlement
Parliament to control army and navy for 20 years
Parliament to appoint state officials for 10 years
Give the 4 reasons on why Charles was executed in January 1649
Religious radicalism of the NMA
The politicisation of the NMA
Divisions within Parliament
Charles’ actions
Give a deciding factor as to why there was no peaceful settlement reached
Ultimately = divisions in parliament - caused the politicisation of the NMA, and were exploited by Charles
What was the effect of parliament sending the army to Ireland
Most leavers were presbyterian - their departure meant that the army no longer exhibited the broad political spectrum, leaving a virtually unified army to confront parliament
Describe the events of the rebellion in Kent and Essex
Kent and Essex had been securely under Parliament control since early 1642, suffered most from heavy taxation
20,000 signed the ‘Humble Petition of Gentry, Clergy and Commonalty’ within days
Kentish army of 10,00- was defeated and retreated to Essex (siege of Colchester)
What was the Cantubery rising
Christmas - 1647
Annoyed by high taxes they rioted for ‘Good king Charles and Kent’ - expelling the parliamentary garrison
3,000 soldiers were sent to besiege the tow but surrendered without a fight
When was the rebellion in South Wales and how did it start
March - 1648
Colonel Poyer declared his loyalty to the king (previously a parliamentarian)
Angry due to a lack of pay and was besieged in Pembroke castle for 12 weeks before surrendering to Cromwell
Didn’t like parliament but not overly supportive of Charles
Who were the Levellers
Led by figures such as John Lilburne
One of the radical groups active in London during the 1640s
Because they believed in religious toleration and a fair deal for the common soldier, their ideas could not be dismissed easily by the officers
Main aim = to replace the monarchy and the HofL with a single representative chamber
Give 3 political Presbyterians
Denzil Holles
Earl of Manchester
Earl of Essex
Why was a presbyterian church structure wanted by many in 1646
Many believed that social order was breaking down and the presbyterian church offered structure, hierarchy and discipline at a time when the country seemed to be descending into religious anarchy
Give 3 religious groups that had infiltrated the NMA
Levellers
Quakers
Anabaptists
What was the Declaration of Dislike
Labelled petitioners as “enemies of the state” - created an open fault line between the Preystbeterian MP’s and the NMA
When was the Humble Petition of the Officers and the Soldiers of the army and what did it propose
Soldiers pay to be bought up to date before disbandment
Provisions to be made for widowed, orphans and injured
Indemnity to be granted for acts committed in wartime
What was the impact of parliament voting to disband the NMA on only 8 weeks arrears of pay in May
General Fairfax called a rendevous of the NMA at Newmarket where he spoke to representatives of all regiments - united in their aims to not obey parliament
Agitator Edward Sexby had been spreading rumours that the king as on the verge of making a deal with the political Presbyterians - spurred Joyce actions
From the 4 June onwards, mobs of soldiers in London virtually besieged Westminster, demanding pay and redress of grievances
Charles saw Parliamentary divides as…
“chinks in the enemies armour that he would not be slow to probe”
How did Charle play upon divisions in parliament with Newcastle
To keep parliament interested in peace negotiations and to play upon divisions in parliament, Charles put forward counter-proposals
However, how seriously Charles was taking these counterproposals is questionable as he was simultaneously appealing to his wife and to his daughter Mary (William of Orange’s Wife) to provide means for escape
Why were many prepared to rise for Charles
Motivated by a desire to return to the old traditional ways
The peace following by the Civil war had brought no relief from crippling taxation, tyranny of county committees, and plunder by ill-paid and mutinous soldiers
What was the October vote of 1646
Parliament decided to disband Massey’s forces (a self-sufficient force canoeable of counter-acting the NMA)
showed that in a crucial vote, the Independents could still command a majority – due to commons elections
How many new members were elected in the Commons elections
270 - mainly to support the Independent and radical wing
What did Thomas Edwards (presbyterian preacher) admit about the NMA
Though a harsh critic of the NMA and its religious radicalism - admitted to finding little anti-monarchal feelings within it (1646)
What was the Vindication of the Officers
Confirmed that the officers stood fully with their men in relation to the demands they were making
If parliament had paid……………….to the honour of the army they had won the war for it, if it had postponed……………..until more of the soldiers material grievances had been met and promised them much more overdue pay, + agreed to reconsider the force for Ireland, the situation could have almost certainly been………
Public tribute
Disbandment
Saved
Why could it be argued that the seizure of the king was not pre-meditated
A pre-planned abduction would have meant they knew where they were going, not listen to the king’s suggestions about heading to Newmarket because the air agreed with him
Parliament differed not on as to whether the king should be…………..to his role as king, but over the………………….terms upon which he should resume it
Restored
Constitutional
Whilst the Newcastle Prop was much more concerned about the………..of………….., HofP was more concerned with…………………and healing the old bitterness between sides
Disposal of power
General reform
What was the impact of the HofP in parliament
For some (Presbyterians) fear of surrender to the terms offered by the army caused a violent reaction
21st June - Mob invaded the HofL and bullied them into voting to restore the City’s Presbyterian Militia Committee
Then forced its way into HofC + insulted and bullied members until they confirmed the Lords votes and passed a resolution, inviting the king to London
28th June – Fairfax vowed that he would march into London to restore Parliament and MP’s to their freedom
What was Charles reaction to the HofP
Formally bound himself from no peace terms at all
Based n bad advice from Lauderdale who grossly overestimated the potential royalist fighting potential
Cromwell and Ireton lost credit with the more radical spirits in the army from persistently seeking an agreement with him
What were the Putney Debates
November 1647, when Cromwell invited those to speak of any divine guidance, they had received in answers to their prayers
Served as an open invitation too many to feel that God had withdrawn their support for them because they had continued to negotiate with the king about a peace settlement
First reference of Charles as a ‘man of blood’ by Goffe, which was even more credible when the 2nd civil war broke out
What was the ‘Agreement of the People’
Revolutionary - Claimed that people’s representatives in parliament had full power
Specific rights reserved to the people which even Parliament couldn’t infringe upon – freedom of religion, immunity from conscription, total equality before the law
Leveller inspired
What was the Winsdor Prayer Meeting
Cromwell pressed officers to search if there was any act by the army that might cause God to remove his presence/support for it
News came that Fleming, a much-liked officer, had been killed in Wales
Seemed that God was angry with them for trying to reach peace terms with the king
Charles decision to opt for war again had made Goffe’s description as a ‘man of blood’ ever more potent
Give a counter-argument (quote) for Charles trying to pursue peace at Newport
“To deal freely with you, the great concessions I made this day – the church, militia and Ireland – was made merely in order to my escape” - Charles
What was the Remonstrance of the Army
Ireton became fully convinced that the army needed to terminate Newport negotiations and bring the king to trial
Parliament rejected the remonstrance by 125 votes to 58 and ordered Fairfax not to bring his army any nearer London
When and what was Pride’s Purge
6th Dec - 1648, Colonel pride barred any MP’s who had just voted in favour of continuing negotiations with the king
The pre-purged parliament numbered…The number of MP’s who attended at any time over the next couple of months including signing the king’s death penalty totalled just over…
471
70
Charles appeared before the court all dressed in black and kept his…on throughout the trial to show that he did not accept the……..of the court
Hat
Authority
The trial mainly stated that Charles used unlimited…………….power to “……………….and……………” levy war against his people
Tyrannical
Traitorously
Maliciously
The………and dignity to which Charles bore his last hours probably did more to the…….of the monarchy than all his acts of war
Courage
Future
What did Charles claim to be at his trial
The “Martyr of the people”
Give evidence of deep unpopularity woth the rump after his trial
Huge success of ‘Eikon Basilisk’
Attempted to record the late king’s thoughts during his final captivity
- Published 10 days after his execution
- Reprinted 30 times within a year and translated into several European languages
Highlighted a clear weakness of the young Commonwealth
Give evidence to show that the trial of Charles was a show trial
Lady Fairfax calls out once on the first day and once on the last day.
First time, the troops level their muskets at her + commanding officer threatens to fire at her.
If you imagine a courtroom in which troops are firing on the spectators, you get a sense of the nature of the military presence – very intimidating presence, and very clear that the troops are there to quell the spectators.
Why did the trial not feel right
What a trial does is enforce the king’s justice, and it enforces the king’s justice in front of a jury (there’s no jury here),
it enforces the king’s justice on the basis of the known laws of the land (there’s no law here which defines what this treason is that Charles is accused of)
and so in that sense, what’s happening is a trial in which the law and procedures being made up as they go along
If you put someone on trial for treason (and that’s one of the charges) there is only….. know outcome to a treason trial. Anybody who goes in front of a court, charged with treason ends up…..
One
Dead
What the court had succeeded in proving was that Charles had been……….on the battlefield and had commanded his troops. What they did not succeed in proving was that he was………….for any……….
Present
Responsible
Atrocities
