Failure to achieve a settlement Flashcards
Charles attitude to negotiations
Charles had no intention of agreeing to these
“So that I shall be King” to Lord Digby
Charles response to Newcastle propositions
Wanted to reduce the demands of the Newcastle propositions
Control of militia to be 10 not 20
Presbyterian worship for 3 years only
Freedom of worship to be guaranteed
He was too late with his concessions
Newcastle propositions 1646
Episcopacy was to be abolished
Armed forces controlled by military for 20 years
Strict laws against catholics
Four Bills 1647
Surrender all military power for 20 years
Crown would be required to get consent of both houses of parliament before authorising
Heads of the Proposals 1647
Episcopacy would be retained, but power of bishops severely limited
Book of common prayer was allowed to read but not mandatory
Royalists would have to wait 5 years before running for or holding an office
Vote of No Addresses 1648
This forbids further negotiation with Charles following The Engagement 1647
Role of Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell believed strongly in providentialism, thought that God was guiding his actions. Meant that he could claim divine support for his views.
Determined that the war should not prove to have been fought in vain, but by no means did he have the aim of removing the King
Had little sympathy to Presbyertian ideas as the authority of the ministers in the Scottish Kirk was very similar to that of the bishops of the Church of England
Role of the Scots
The Scots held the upper hand since they initially had Charles in their possession
They wanted to see presbyterianism and wanted to use Charles I to see this. However Charles also had personal ambitions and this led neither side to reach and agreement
Scots surrender Charles to the army in 1647, meaning they could control events less
However they wouldn’t lose sight of their goals
Role of the army
Since the New Model Army wasn’t being used any more, parliament wants to dissolve the army in order to reduce costs
Army petitions against the disbandment of the army, this would create unity within the army as they all had a common cause against the parliaments. Leading to greater divisions
Siezing Charles in Holdenby in 1647 gave them more bargaining power
Secured the solemn engagement, under which it would not disband until there was an agreement over pay and a settlement with Charles I
Divisions in the army
Some of the troops were moderate in their outlook and others were more radical. Led to different aims about reform, some wanted Charles restored with les powers whereas others wanted complete radical reform
Led Charles I more hope that he could exploit the situation
Radical ideas from parliament
Radicals wanted to get rid of many current MPs as they saw them as corrupt
Some soldiers favoured a dissolution with fresh elections
Suggested that parliaments last no longer than 2 years
Radical ideas about religion
Radicals wanted an end to rule of bishops, no encorcement of Book of Common Prayer and no acceptance of the presbyterianism
Reaction to radicals
Conservatives alarmed by the growth of radicalism as they saw it as bringing in anarchy
True number of true radicals was small but they were vocal in their publications
Radical documents (2)
Representation of 1647 – new parliament + church reform
Case of the Army Truly Stated 1647 – more extreme demands and attacking senior officers
Levellers views
Argued for complete freedom to worship
Considered dangerous to anyone who considered that authority was essential in the Church as well as the state
Opposed by landowning classes as well as parliament – who feared anarchy
Remonstrance of many thousand citizens 1646
Annual elections for parliament, confiscation of crown revenue, removal of unreasonable laws, free press
Parliament ignored and rejected this petition
However MPs were alarmed at the extent of it’s contents and growing sympathy for the Levellers within the army
Putney Debates
Cromwell agreed to meet representatives of the army and some levellers at putney
Main disagreement was whether parliament was open to anyone. Rainsborough believed that anyone could be in parliament – Ireton believed that only landowners and those with a stake in the economy could be involved in governing it
Impact of levellers
Minority pressure group rather than a movement
Little support outside London
Limited long term impact on army
Made negotiations even harder
Were opposed by most parties
The Engagement 1647
Charles agreed with the Scots that he would allow presbyterian worship in England for three years. English army would be disbanded and Charles would rely on Scottish army
Parliamentary reaction to the Engagement
Charles failed to realise that his negotiations with the Scots would be viewed as treacherous by the parliament
Parliament would veto any further approaches to the King (Vote of No Addresses 1648)
Led to them thinking that they could manage without a King
Outbreak of fighting
Army put down protests which urged the making of a settlement
Royalist uprising in many regions – Essex + Wales
Scottish army invaded in July 1648 – slow to muster and held up by parliamentary troops in Yorkshire
Cromwell dealt with the Welsh and defeated the Scots in august
Reaction to Second Civil War Parliament
Army would consider Charles a “man of blood” since he had strated the Second Civil War and was thus responsible for the loss of life
Divine Providence meant that God had guided them to win the war
Army prevented parliament from re-opening negotiations with the King
Drew up statements about how he had abused his powers and deserved to be brought to judgement
Religious issues in parliament
Divisions within parliament about the reforms of the Church
Some wanted major reforms however others wanted much more limited reforms to the Church
Prides Purge
Commons would vote by 129 to 83 to continue negotiations with Charles
Prides Purge would be enacted by Colonel Purge, who would act to make parliament obey the army by stationing troops outside their meeting place and only allowing MPs who didn’t favour a treaty with the King
Creation of the “Rump parliament”
Growing conviction of Cromwell that God’s will could only be fulfilled by the trial of the King – because Charles was so slippery in negotiation
Cromwell would pursue this even though rest of parliament were less certain - regicide
Execution of Charles I
Decision to put Charles on trial was accepted by the Rump on 1 January 1649
Charles was tried with trying to establish a tyranny, overthrowing the liberties of the people and waging war on them
Charles refused to recognise the authority of the Court and would not plead guilty
Beheaded on 30 January 1649
