Army, Parliament and regicide (1648 - 1649) Flashcards
What did Parliament vote to do in April 1648?
Parliament votes not to alter the ‘fundamental Government of the Kingdom, by Kings, Lords and Commons’; still sees the King as central to any settlement
> Parliament felt it had to negotiate with him still
What did Parliament repeal in August 1648?
- Parliament revokes the ‘Vote of No Addresses’ and begins a new round of negotiations, leading to the ‘Treaty of Newport’
When was the ‘Treaty of Newport’?
September-November 1648
In effect, what was the Treaty of Newport?
Final attempt at a negotiated settlement with the king.
How long were negotiations intended to last, and what instead happened?
Negotiations were understood to not last longer than forty days; several extensions were granted as most Parliamentarians were anxious to reach a settlement
What major concessions did Charles make during the negotiating of the Treaty of Newport, in terms of Parliamentary control and religion?
Allowing Parliament to be in control of the military for twenty years
Appoint state officials for ten years
Charles also agreed for a three-year run for Presbyterianism.
…after which the terms would be reviewed.
What did Charles agree to in terms of the Irish, and what then happened?
Also agreed to have no further dealings with the Irish (yet sent secret instructions to disregard this)
How did the Army respond to the Treaty of Newport negotiations in November 1648?
Army radicals lost patience with the King and grew angry when Parliament appeared willing to allow him to come to London to complete the settlement.
What did Ireton persuade Fairfax to do in response to the Treaty of Newport?
Ireton persuaded Fairfax to adopt the Army Remonstrance and abandon negotiations
What was the Army Remonstrance in effect?
Adopted by the NMA to…
- Justify its intention to abandon treaty negotiations with Charles and bring him to trial as an enemy of the people
- Proclaiming the sovereignty of the people under a representative govt.
What did the Army decide to do after adopting the Remonstrance?
The King was transferred to more secured quarters and Ireton set in motion the events which led to Pride’s Purge (6th of December, 1648)
When was Pride’s Purge?
6th of December, 1648
What was Pride’s Purge?
Colonel Pride, backed by soldiers, refused to allow into Parliament anybody who did not sympathise with the Army’s cause
What was the immediate result of Pride’s Purge?
Parliament was reduced to only 150 members, known as the Rump
> NMA takes control politically, with hundreds of MPs forcibly removed.
What did the Rump set up following Pride’s Purge, and how did the Lords and Commons respond?
Rump set up a High Court of Justice to try the King
- Lords refused to participate, so the Commons declared its own decisions would have the force of the law.
What did Charles do in terms of the court?
Charles attended his trial, yet refused to recognise the authority of the court.
When was Charles brought to trial, and what did the charge declare him as?
Charles was brought to trial in January 1649, with the charge declaring him ‘a tyrant, a traitor, a murderer, and a public enemy to England’
What was the verdict of Charles’ trial?
Found guilty
> 59/150+ members of the Court actually signed the King’s death warrant.
What did Charles write in January 1649, and what purpose did it serve?
Charles wrote Eikon Basilike in January 1649, becoming an instant best seller, describing his suffering at the hands of his enemies.
- King personally designed the front piece; consciously leaving behind a legacy
Why was Charles arguably to blame for his regicide?
Charles was arguably to blame for the regicide (duplicity, refusal to settle, refusal to recognise the court)
Why was Parliament arguably to blame for his regicide?
Parliament (for splitting into two parties)
Why was the NMA and radicals arguably to blame for his regicide?
NMA (interfering in politics, preventing the Newport Treaty, influence of the Levellers and other radicals)
Why were the Scots arguably to blame for his regicide?
Scots (trying to enforce religious conformity, intervening in England’s domestic problems)
