Disintergration Of Political Nation Part 3 Flashcards
4 bills
1647
Represent final attempt by parliament to reach settlement w king in negotiations that followed first civil war
Bills regarded as test of King sincerity in face of rumours of his negotiations to gain military help from Scots
Entailed
- new parl every 2 years
- parl control militia 20 years
- bishops abolished. Presbyterian 3 year trial-
- catholic existing laws to be enforced
- 58 royalists not pardoned
- 48 dismissals from office for life
Bills presented as Carisbrooke castle 24 December 1647
He rejected them 4 days later
In meantime signed Engagement with Scots on 26 Dec
Parliament’s reaction to king rejection of 4 bills was to break off negotiations with him,
Passing vote of no addresses on 11 Jan 1648
Vote of no addresses
11 February 1648
Passed
Listed all complaints and grievances against him- going back to start of his reign
Parl declared intention to settle gov of nations on its own terms
Denounced my Scottish representatives on committee for both kingdoms - ended parl and Scot alliance
Vote repealed 1648 after defeat of royalists and engager at battle of Preston in order to facilitate final negotiations between king and parliament at the treaty of Newport
What agreement did Charles sign with Scottish
The king negotiated a secret treaty with the Scottish ‘engager’ faction, promising to impose presbyterianism in England in exchange for w Scottish army to restore him in power
What happened spring 1648
A number of pro-royalist uprisings broke out around the country
In South Wales, garrison troops rebelled against the parliamentarian gov in London; northern royalists seized Berwick and Carlisle
Several towns were taken in Kent
The fleet mutinied and a squadron of wardships defected to the king
Fortunately for Parliament the engager invasion was badly cocordinanted eoth the uprisings in England and Wales
2nd civil war
Pembrokeshire uprising - a new model detachment footed the welsh insurgents at battle of Fagans May 1648 then Cromwell’s main force arrived to besiege their stronghold at Pembroke
Pembroke surrendered in July 1648
Kent uprising- Fairfax defeated Kent Royalists at battle of Maidstone and pursued the survivors into Essex where another Royalist uprising had broken out
Engager invasion and battle of Preston- following capture of Pembroke, Cromwell hurried north to join forces with Lambert. In August, Cromwell intercepted the Engagers at Preston and decisively defeated them during a 3 day running battle
Essex Uprising and siege of Colchester
-the Essex royalists fortified themselves at Cochester. Fairfax became bogged down in a long and bitter siege. Colchester surrendered at end of August, bringing 2nd civil war to end
Naval mutiny
-parliamentarian fleet, which had remained loyal in first civil war, mutinied and a squadron of warships defected to the king.
The prince of wales took command of the ships that had defected to the Royalists but he was forced to withdraw to Netherlands by a Parliamentarian fleet under Earl of Warwick
How was the second civil war different to th first
!
Why was the trial and execution of Charles so unusual
Public trial, condemned to death and justify this in name of people!
Revolutionary
The continuing search of a settlement after 1646 could offer the alternative new - trial and execution of King was unexpected and unintended result of errors, misjudgements in the years 49-9
How did the Rump Parliament organise the trial
The Rump created a High Court of Justice - a court established to try King Charles
The bill to create this initially nominated 3 judges and 150 commissioners but following opp in the HOL, the judges and members of the Lords were removed
When the trial began, there was 135 commissioners who were empowered to try the king - although only 68 would ever sit in judgement
The solicitor general John cook was appointed prosecutor and John Bradshaw the Lord President
The trial of Charles
The trial opened on 20 Jan 1649 with further sessions 22+23
With quiet dignity the King exasperated the commissioners by refusing to answer the charges against him
He did not recognise the jurisdiction of the High Court and challenged this on the basis which the purged HOC could claim to represent the people of England
Each session ended with Bradshaw ordering he soldiers to remove the king
Death warrant
Drawn 27 Jan 49
58/67 signed
Vast majority of public not in favour
30 Jan 1649- beheaded outside banqueting house
20+23 January 1649
Charles was given the opportunity to plead at least 9 times between 20+23 January
24 January 1649
Finally on 24 January, the court decided to proceed with the trial anyway
33 witnesses against the king were heard by a sub-committee of the High Court
25 January 1649
On 25 January, their depositions were read out in public session
The depositions proved the Kings personal participation in the wars,
gave evidence of his approval of various atrocities and demonstrated his intention of stirring up and continuing the wars
26 January 1649
The commissioners drafted the sentence, condemning Charles Stuart as ‘tyrant’
27 January 1649
Judgement of court
Tyrant
Put to death
Severing head from body
