(17) Political and Religious Radicalism - political Flashcards
What was becoming a political concern?
The soldiers in the NMA and Northern association (comprising of 30,000)
What were the soldier’s grievances about?
Predominantly, pay!
What was Parliament’s solution to the army?
Redeploying some troops in Ireland
What did the political Presbyterians want?
To neutralise the radical nature of the armies
When did Parliament order a purge of the officer ranks to exclude MPs and non-Presbyterians?
March 1647
How did the NMA react to Parliament’s attempts at disbanding it?
The Humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army
When was Fairfax given the Humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army?
20 March 1647
What did the Humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army request?
- soldiers’ pay brought up to date before disbandment
- provisions for widows and orphans
- Indemnity granted for acts committed in wartime
- volunteer troops refuse deployment outside England
Who responded to the Humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army with the ‘Declaration of Dislike’?
Denzil Holles
What did the Declaration of Dislike reveal?
It opened a fault line between the political Presbyterian majority in Parliament and the New Model Army
What occurred in April 1647?
8 cavalry regiments elected representatives - Agitators
What was the role of Agitators?
They would liaise with officers and make sure the voices of the rank and file were heard
By which month did the army officers support the Agitators?
End of April
How was the officer’s support shown?
Vindication of the Officers of the army
What was Parliament’s response to the Vindication?
They diffused its impact by arguing it was a series of different demands - that could not be dealt with by a whole
How did Parliament prevent disorder from breaking out?
April 30th - ordered Cromwell and Ireton to communicate the intentions of settling outstanding fines and pass an Indemnity Act
What did the Agitators demand?
The impeachment of 11 presbyterian MPs
When did Parliament vote to disband the army?
25 May 1647
What was the reaction to the disbanding?
Officers and rank and file stuck together - General Fairfax called a general rendezvous for 4th June
When and who captured the king?
2nd June 1647 - Cornet Joyce
What was printed and signed on the day of the army rendezvous 4th June?
‘Humble Remonstrance’
What was the Humble Remonstrance?
The army grievances
What was read to all the regiments on 5th June?
The Solemn Engagement of the Army
What did the Army release on 14 June?
A Representation of the Army
Who drafted a Representation of the Army?
Henry Ireton, with the help of John Lambert
What did a Representation of the Army assert?
That the New Model Army was not a mere mercenary army
What did a Representation of the Army outline?
The fundamental demands in regard to Parliament:
- A purge of Parliament
- Future Parliaments of fixed duration
- Guaranteed right of freedom of people to petition Parliament
- Liberty of tender consciences
What did all this demonstrate?
That the New Model army was now a political force, as well as military
