Divisons in parliament

Question 1

Presbyterian beliefs

• Abolish episcopacy

Answer 1

This groups of MPs wanted to abolish episcopacy and replace it with a Presbyterian system like the Scots.

Question 2

Who was the spokesperson of Presbyterian?

Answer 2

Denzil Holles, who was involved in writing the Newcastle Propositions.

Question 3

Presbyterian beliefs

• Settlement with Charles

Answer 3

Presbyterian favoured a negotiated settlement with Charles and the prompt disbanding of the New Model Army

Question 4

Independent beliefs

• freedom of worship

Answer 4

Instead of a single national church, the Independents believed that each Christian congregation should be autonomous

Question 5

Who were the supporters of Political Independents?

Answer 5

Oliver Cromwell and Lord Saye and Sele

Question 6

Independent beliefs

• Force a settlement

Answer 6

The Independents wanted to force a settlement on the King rather than continue with protracted negotiations.

Question 7

Presbyterians’ plan for the NMA

Answer 7

The Presbyterians planned to disband much of the army with only eight weeks’ arrears of pay, they were owned £3 million, and send 12,000 of them to Ireland.

Question 8

Who led the Middle group and what did they want?

Answer 8

Oliver St John
They favoured a negotiated settlement like the Presbyterians, but were no longer prepared to deal with Charles’s inflexible demands.

Question 9

Discontent among soldiers

• Send to Ireland

Answer 9

The soldiers were aware that the Presbyterians intended to send some soldiers to Ireland and disband the rest, and they were still owed significant arrears of pay

Question 10

What did the agitators think of their role?

Answer 10

They felt they should have a say in the peace settlement because they had played an important role in defeating the Royalists

Question 11

Impact of the seizure of the king in June 1647

• General Council

Answer 11

A General Council of the army was established, consisting of both officers and Agitators.

Question 12

What did the General Council do?

Answer 12

The Council met to discuss political issues including their grievances against the Presbyterian MPs

Question 13

What did the Representation of the Army demand?

Answer 13

Mind June 1647 Henry Ireton demanded the expulsion of eleven Presbyterian MPs and fresh elections with a wider electorate

Question 14

The situation during the initial stages of the army revolt

Answer 14

By mid-August 1647 the Independents and the army were in a position of strengths. There was considerable unity between officers and rank-and-file soldiers.

Question 15

The Heads of the Proposals

• Parliament’s control

Answer 15

Parliament would nominate key officers of state for ten years, and would control the militia for ten years

Question 16

The Heads of the Proposals

• Bishops

Answer 16

There would be continued used of bishops in the Church of England but a restriction on their coercive powers

Question 17

The Heads of the Proposals in comparison to the Newcastle Propositions

Answer 17

The Head of the Proposals were more reasonable to Charles than the Newcastle Propositions.

Question 18

Initial position of the Presbyterian in 1646

Answer 18

The Presbyterians were the largest and most dominant group in parliament but as Charles delayed his response to the Newcastle Propositions throughout 1646 and into 1647, their position became weaker.

Question 19

Increasing power for the Independents

• Seats in the Commons

Answer 19

Seats in the House of Commons that had become vacant were filled by ‘recruiter’ elections. Many of these were won by Independents in late 1646, including religious radicals, such as Major General Thomas Harrison.

Question 20

Rise in Presbyterian power

• Charles’s custody

Answer 20

The Presbyterians were boosted when Charles was transferred to their custody in January 1647.

Question 21

City of London and the army

Answer 21

In December 1646 a petition from the City of London demanded that parliament disband the army because it contained so many radicals

Question 22

Presbyterians’ stance on the NMA

Answer 22

From the beginning of negotiations, the Presbyterians hatched a campaign against the New Model Army, which they viewed as a seedbed for religious extremism.

Question 23

The Presbyterians’ plan on the army

Answer 23

The Presbyterians planned to disband much of the army with only eight weeks; arrears of pay, but they were owed £3 million, and send 12,000 of them to Ireland

Question 24

The Commons’ vote March 1647

Answer 24

In March 1647, the House of Commons voted that only Presbyterian and non-MPs should serve as officers. The army, backed by the Independents, refused on 29 May 1647