CW2: Failure to secure Settlement and Regicide Flashcards
What did fears of the radical NMA lead the PIs to do?
Moved for reconciliation with Charles and repealed the Vote of No Addresses
Offered the Newport Treaty while he was captive on the Isle of Wight - even more lenient than NPs
How did Charles’ stalling over the NT cause tensions between NMA and plmt?
GCA had originally placed a 40 day limit on negotiations, but under Leveller-inspired rank and file pressure, Ireton demanded the King be put on trial in the Army Remonstrance Nov 1648 - also called for LP dissolution
What did the NMA aim to get from Charles?
Much of the army, radicalised by the Windsor Prayer Meeting and providential victories believed justice had to be enacted on the monarch
Farr argues that ‘for Ireton the Remonstrance was a justification for regicide’, but most of PN including Cromwell and Fairfax did not want execution - either a harsh settlement or his removal to provide stability
How did plmt react to AR?
It continued past the 40 day limit of GCA and ignored the provision which called for a purge should plmt fail to try the king
5th Dec 1648 voted 129-83 to continue negotiations - shows desperation for settlement
How did NMA bring plmt to heel?
6th Dec - Pride purged plmt removing 180 MPs of 460 , over 1/3 (Cromwell arrived that evening but claimed no knowledge of the purge)
NMA defended itself by calling itself the true representative of the people and as a result of providence
The Rump agreed to bring Charles to trial, but excluded the Lords in this - regicide was orchestrated by a minority
How many commissioners were appointed to sit for the trial?
135 appointed as judges, though many like Fairfax only turned up to one meeting, subsequently retired from politics - disgusted by colleagues
Only 67 sat at the first session of the trial - some saw the trial as a means of forcing settlement, not death (Cromwell)
How was the business of the trial conducted?
Extremely rushed, only lasting a week, with the charge altered the first morning
NMA surrounded Westminster as up to 5,000 people were present crying ‘God Save the King’
Charles refused to accept the court’s legitimacy as it lacked a royal charter - reinforced the belief that to provide stability and prevent further war Charles had to be removed
Champion suggests Charles was allowed to agree to settlement up to 12 times but refused even at this late stage
Declared guilty by 59 commissioners, less than half the original number, with Cromwell supposedly physically forcing some to sign the warrant
