failure to achieve a settlement Flashcards
1
Q
overview of why it was difficult to acvhieve a settlement
A
Parliament had won the war and captured Charles by June 1646. Many hoped a quick settlement could be reached which prevented Charles from returning to his pre-war styles of rule. Whilst Parliament had won the war by June 1646, they had not secured peace. To secure peace they needed to reach a settlement with Charles. Yet, as it turned out, negotiations dragged on for 3 years with many different actors attempting and failing to reach a settlement. To understand why this happened we need to consider the aims and intentions of the different ‘actors’ through the period.
2
Q
charles’ position at the end of the civil war in 1646
A
- Charles was a prisoner under the control of the Scottish at Newcastle
- He was king by name only, having no authority to make demands or create policies
- Yet he was still king. Charles knew that without his consent, no political settlement could be made. In this sense he held some power.
- Charles thought that to accept any concession would be to disobey God and would shame him as king. In particular there were three issues over which Charles could not negotiate:
- Charles was unwilling to make any concessions of these three issues. Therefore, Charles’ adopted the strategy of delay. When proposals were put to him he did not respond straight away, asking for more time.
- By doing this Charles hoped, ultimately to achieve a better settlement.
- Through delay he thought he could exploit the divisions amongst the Parliamentary alliance and reclaim his authority with few concessions.
3
Q
whilst imprisoned after the civil war what were the three issues which Charles could not negotiate
A
- His control of the Church.
- His control of the militia
- The punishment of his supporters
Charles was unwilling to make any concessions of these three issues
4
Q
what was parli’s position at the end of the civil ware 1646
A
- Parliament’s New Model Army had won the war and they now had authority over England.
- They were propped up by the most powerful army England had ever seen, and even had Scottish allies.
- Yet, beneath the surface, Parliament’s authority was not stable
- They had a number of problems to contend with: namely, Political divisions, The New Model Army, The Covenanters, and popular unrest.
- These problems meant that Parliament’s authority was built on a shaky alliance of groups with different aims and priorities. As the period developed these different priorities and aims would split the Parliamentary alliance.
5
Q
overview of parliamentary divisions
A
Parliament was divided over how to achieve a settlement with Charles. Just as the ‘peace’ and ‘war’ faction had disagreed over the aims during wartime, Parliament’s divisions continued after the war. Broadly, there were two groups: The Political Presbyterians and the Political Independents. The Presbyterians had developed out of the peace faction and were more moderate; whilst the Independents were more radical.
6
Q
what were the two divisions in parli and which were majority/minority
1646
A
political presbyterians- MAJORITY
political independents- MINORITY
7
Q
Key figures of the poliitcal presbyterians
A
- Denzel Holles
- Earl of Essex
8
Q
who were moderates and who were radicals; political presbyterians OR political independents
A
presbyerians - moderates
independents - radicals
9
Q
political aims of the political presbyterians
A
MODERATES -Reach an ‘honourable’ settlement through negotiation. This meant agreeing something that Charles could accept as tolerable. Mostly, they sought to restore Charles’ authority under the reforms of 1641 with the addition of religion reform noted below. Ultimately, they sought to return England to peace as quickly as possible
10
Q
religious ideas of the political presbyterians
A
Sought to implement the Solemn League and Covenant
[i.e. introduce a uniform national Presbyterian church across England under Parliament’s control]
11
Q
were the political presbyterians supported
A
The Presbyterians had greater support in the broader country because they intended to return England to peace and end the high burden of wartime taxation.
12
Q
key figures in the political independents
A
Henry Vane, Oliver St John, Cromwell
13
Q
political aims of the political independents
A
RADICALS- Reduce Charles’ authority significantly by imposing strict political reforms. They wanted to maintain the New Model Army until it was certain that new terms would be kept to. This had the prospect of dragging on…..
14
Q
religious ideas of the political independents
A
‘liberty of conscience’ [i.e. the right for each congregation to decide their form of worship]. This was a radically tolerant idea for the seventeenth century.
15
Q
support for the political independents
A
The Independents power-base came from the New Model Army – the group who would become the power-brokers of the 1646-1660 era.
16
Q
problems with the New model army
A
- New Model Army had been Parliament’s greatest wartime asset, but was a little more problematic after .
- The New Model Army was sustained by enormously high taxers, the Weekly Assessment Ordinance. Most Parliamentarians could justify this during wartime, but once peace was made there was an urgency to ‘de-mobilise’
- This involved cutting the army and reducing taxes – (After all, many Parliamentarians had fought at least partly against policies like Ship Money and now Parliament were effectively collecting their own version of it)
- cutting the army was not as simple as Parliamentarians might have hoped
- Soldiers’ pay was in arrears by about £3m in 1646, with the NMA owed around £600,000 - Soldiers did not necessarily want to dissolve until they had been paid. They wanted guarantees that their service for the Parliamentary cause would be rewarded.
- A further problem was that the NMA was becoming increasingly radical both in politics and religion
- The army was beginning to develop ideas that they should have a role in the political settlement. The soldiers and generals had won the War – their aims should be taken into account
- , many of the* rank and file* disliked the formal Presbyterian national church and sought liberty of conscience.
- Finally, many soldiers had committed acts that would, in normal times, be considered illegal [taking horses from peasants for military use; stealing food, etc] and they wanted guarantees [amnesties] that they would not be punished for these wartime acts in any future settlement.
17
Q
overview on scottish covenanters + probs posed for parli
A
- In 1646 they remained a powerful ally of Parliament. They controlled Charles and ultimately wanted to ‘export Presbyterianism’ to England, under the terms of the Solemn League and Covenant.
- they wanted the English to** establish a national Presbyterian church** in England and retain what they had in Scotland
- Their allies in Parliament were the Presbyterians.
- However, there was an element of distrust between Parliament and their Scottish allies.
- Scots were increasingly concerned that Parliament would not implement the Covenant in England and that they were being excluded from talks of a settlement
- The Scots felt their voice should be heard in negotiations too.
18
Q
what were the 4 factors that contributed to unrest in the counties (after civil war 1646)
A
- high taxes- primarily to maintain the army
- Parliament was** enforcing Puritanical rules on the population. included rules which banned the celebration of* ‘Christ’s Mass’** [because it was deemed to be a pagan festival intertwined with Catholic tradition].*
- Parliamentary county committees [charged with collecting taxes] disrupted the social order by appointing men of ‘lower social rank’ to run local affairs. This dissatisfied the nobility.
4.** religious anarchy** in England. Charles’ Laudian church had been demolished but had not been replaced. This religious vacuum radicalised and diversified local regions, creating a multitude of religious grouping
19
Q
examples of religious groupings following the destruction of C’s laudian church
(unrest in counties, 1646)
A
- Ranters complained about the Puritanical obsession with sin and called for a world free of sin
- **Fifth Monarchists **believed the *new government represented a biblical prophecy about the coming rule of a human despot. *
- Quakers argued individuals could have a direct relationship with God, justifying non-attendance at congregations
20
Q
impact of the probs faced by parli
A
- Therefore, the** Parliamentary ‘side’ was split between different and competing groups **– the Presbyterians, the Army, the Scots, and the Independents.
- Further, there was problem brewing in the counties. The longer negotiations dragged on, the greater the divisions would be on the Parliamentary side.
- Hence,** Charles was not entirely unjustified in his strategy of ‘delay**’, for there was the possibility of a split amongst Parliamentarians.
21
Q
order of the negotiations with charles
A
- the newcastle proposal, july 1646
- negotations between C and the Scots, july 1646-Feb 1647
- the newcastle proposal, feb-may 1647
- the heads of proposal, august 1647
22
Q
when was the first newcastle proposal
A
july 1646
23
Q
who offered the first newcastle proposition to C
+background to where C was
A
Whilst Charles was still under Scottish control at Newcastle, Parliament [Political Presbyterians] offered Charles the NC proposition
24
Q
terms of 1st newcastle proposition
A
- Politics: maintain 1641 reforms [e.g. Triennial Act, Act Against Dissolution; Parliamentary control of taxes, etc]
- Militia: Parliamentary control of the military for twenty years
- Religion: Agreement to the Solemn League and Covenant, the abolition of bishops, Religion to be controlled by Parliament
- 58 leading Royalists punished, the rest pardoned
25
impacts of 1st newcastle propositions
* Charles, predictable, **refused to provide a response**. Charles believed that the *longer he delayed a response* to Parliament’s proposals, ***the greater his advantage would be***. He knew that Parliament and its allies were *divided* over their aims, and **Charles hoped to exploit the divisions within Parliament’s rank**s. By delaying, he hoped that more moderate proposals would be submitted.
* **Scots were unhappy with Parliament’s proposal to control the church**, for they *preferred a national Presbyterian church *which was independent of Parliament’s influence.
26
when was C's negotiations with the scots
july 1646 - feb 1647
27
overview of Negotiations between Charles and the Scots, July 1646-February 1647
Charles* surrendered to the Scots intentionally*. He could have surrendered to the New Model Army on the outskirts of Oxford, but decided to travel to the Covenanters.
Yet, their negotiations with Charles were just as frustrated as Parliament’s. the Scots wanted the following, presented after an agreement within the Scottish Parliament in December 1646:
- **Agreement to the Solemn League and Covenant** in return for:
- Scottish support for the monarchy
- Scottish support for the monarchy in England
28
impact of negotiations between Charles and the Scots, July 1646-February 1647
* Charles ***refused to negotiate***
* Scots decided to** give Charles to Parliament** in return for a *£400,000* payment for their services in the war. So in February, the Scottish handed over Charles and withdrew from England.
29
when were the second newcastle proposal
feb-may 1647
30
overview of The Newcastle Proposal, February-May 1647
Charles was now under Parliamentary control in Holdenby House, Northamptonshire where he finally responded to the Newcastle Proposal noting his terms
31
what terms did C propose in The Newcastle Proposal, February-May 1647
* Parliament’s control of the Militia should be reduced to ten years [from 20]
* A Presbyterian church for three years, after which there would be discussions
* Complete pardon of his supporters
* To maintain his prerogative to control ministers and appointment of military generals.
32
impact of The Newcastle Proposal, February-May 1647
* Parliament: there was *now hope of a compromised settlement*, and Charles did appear to be more willing to negotiate.
***Political Presbyterians in Parliament:***
* Since the war was over, Charles in custody, demobilisation now nee*ded to occur. The *Political Presbyterians pushed forward a **proposal to disband the New Model Army in February 1647** and it was agreed in Parliament in May. Their rationale was the following concern:
**high taxes** leading to **unrest in the counties**, leading to **solider repression** leading to **dislike of parli**
33
what did the proposal to disband the New Model Army in February 1647 lead to
the army revolt in 1647
34
why didnt the soldiers of the NMA want to be disbanded ?
1. Pay arrears – they were owed money!
2. No guarantees of amnesties – i.e. guarantees they would not be punished for wartime crimes.
3. Dislike of the Newcastle Proposal [they wanted further religious and political reforms]
35
what happened in the army revolt
* On 31 May 1647, the army mutinied.
* On 4 June they captured Charles. Oliver Cromwell joined their cause.
* 5 June they published the ‘Humble Remonstrance’, agreeing not to disband until there was a settlement.
* Then, they published a ‘A Representation of the Army’ – drafted by Cromwell and Ireton - outlining their demands.
* This moment marked the New Model Army as a new powerful political force with political aims in opposition to some in Parliament.
* This was to have a profound impact over the course of the next 13 years. In the short-term, however, the army’s involvement in politics reduced the prospect of a settlement.
* The Parliamentary coalition was unravelling and this played into Charles’ hands
36
what were the demands in 'a representation of the army'
o Corrupt MPs should be purged
o Parliament should be dissolved
o New Parliaments should sit for a fixed length
o The church must be reformed
o Religious freedoms [liberty of conscience]
37
who proposed the heads of proposal
the army
38
when was the head of proposals q
august 1647
39
terms in the heads of propsals
o Politics: Biennial Parliaments; reforms to the election process involving a more representative Parliament; Parliamentary control of the privy council for ten years
o Militia: Parliamentary control of the army for 10 years
o Religion: bishops retained, but their coercive powers removed and replaced by Liberty of Conscience, leaving Protestants to worship in the manner they liked
40
view on the heads of proposal
This was a far more moderate proposal than Charles had received in the Newcastle proposal.
41
what were the factors in the failure of the heads of proposal
1. further delay by C
2. divisions in the army
42
further delay by C
| factors in the failure of the heads of proposal
Charles refused to give a yes or no response to the proposal, believing that his tactic of delaying was working to his advantage. Indeed it was: Parliament and army were now split. Charles continued to see defeat as just a temporary setback; while for the New Model Army leadership (particularly Cromwell), it was seen as a sign of God backing their cause.
43
divisions within the army
| factors in the failure of the heads of proposal
Officers had proposed the moderate Head of Proposal agreement, but the ordinary soldiers had different ideas. They tended to be more radical – both politically and religiously – and sought to pursue more revolutionary change.
44
what were the causes of the growth of radicalism throughout 1642-48
| THREE
1. religious vacuum
2. the collpse of censorship
3. political mobillisation
45
religious vacuum
| growth of radicalism throughout 1642-48
* The collapse of the CofE with its traditional hierarchy, and bishops and the enforced obedience it had enforced, created a vacuum that radicals filled.
* The collapse of the established Church of England during the Civil War led to a proliferation of different religious views. No longer were there bishops/ministers with the power to enforce obedience as had existed previously.
* If you’re a Christian in the Seventeenth Century there are three sources of guidance for you in how to practice your faith: Church traditions, scripture, and your conscience.
* People began to question the traditions of the Church as ‘Popish’, but could not reach a consensus interpretation of the scripture. Therefore, people turned to their conscience and their ‘personal relationship with God’.
* This exposed people very radical ideas: believing they had a personal relationship with God, some believed they were being ordered to do things that may appear wholly ungodly.
46
the collapse of censorship
| growth of radicalism throughout 1642-48
* This allowed a free press to develop and radical ideas to be expressed. In the 1630s Puritan pamphleteers had been harshly punished.
* Censorship no longer really operated, allowing radical views to be expressed. Radical pamphlets started to challenge political and religious authority.
* For instance, in 1645 Walwyn wrote a tract called ‘England’s Lamentable Slavery’ which expressed criticisms of the political system and the lack of involvement in that system of ordinary people. These helped to radicalise opinions.
47
political mobilisation
| growth of radicalism throughout 1642-48
* 1/10th of men were conscripted and introduced into political ideas.
* Soldiers in the New Model Army in particular believed their army was duty bound to protect the liberty of the people – which is what they thought the war was about.
* Now it seemed Parliament was abandoning that aim.
48
who were the main radical groups [of political importance]
the levellers
49
origins of the levellers
Puritan Pamphleteers expressing opposition to the Solemn League and Covenant. The primary difference between these groups and the Presbyterians was that Presbyterians believed there should be a uniform national church [decided by independent theological elders] and that ministers and vicars should be told what to do in church. Whilst some Puritan pamphleteers believed in religious ‘independents’ [AKA congregationalism / liberty of conscience].
50
religious beliefs of the levellers
-> freedom to choose how to worship. This was sometimes known as congregationalism, or adhering to the principle of liberty of conscience. They did not want bishops or Presbyterian elders to tell them how to worship, but wanted instead to choose how to do this themselves.
51
political beliefs of the levellers
| simple, not explained
1. popular sovereignty
2. extended franchise
3. legal free[](http://)doms
52
popular sovereignity
| political beliefs of the levellers
**the notion that government should be accountable to the people **not to the king / parliament / God. This idea was one of the first times the notion that ‘government’ should represent the people developed. Before this point, the prevalent idea was that the king was only accountable to God – a kind of ‘top-down’ view of accountability. **The Levellers were now proposing a ‘bottom-up’ form of accountability.**
53
extended franchise
| political beliefs of the levellers
all men to have the right to vote for MPs to make the HofC representative of ordinary people. The House of Lords should be abolished as a representative of the interests of a small elite.
54
legal freedoms
| political beliefs of the levellers
they believed that individuals ‘natural rights’ had been breached by the King during his reign. Therefore, there should be a written constitution protecting your personal freedoms [to speak, to worship, etc]
55
support for the levellers
* The Levellers gained influence amongst the rank-and-file of the New Model Army in 1647. The army’s rank-and-file was a fertile recruiting ground for Leveller ideas: most were of low social origin, they had been politicised in the War, and they wanted the war to be worth something for the ordinary person.
* London was a centre of radical ideas and the Levellers were more popular here than elsewhere
56
lack of support for the levellers
they were NOT popular through most of the country. The average person wanted a return to the stability of pre-war years and so there was a lot of resentment of Leveller groups – particularly amongst the landed elites.
57
1644
| growth of the levellers
***The Emergence of the ‘Levellers’. ***
The Leveller leading figures - John Lilburne, Richard Overton and William Walwyn – begin developing a distinctive set of ideas that puts them at odds with the Parliamentary cause. Their** dislike of the Solemn League and Covenant, and their favouring of Congregationalism is the most distinctive idea at this point.** Lilburne was arrested by Parliament.
58
1646
| growth of the levellers
**The Levellers gain influence in London**
A Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens, published by Walwyn and Richard Overton in July 1646, along with calls for the dissolution of the present House of Commons, the abolition of the House of Lords, religious toleration, equality before the law and an ending of trade monopolies.
59
1647
| growth of the levellers
**The Levellers gain influence In the New Model Army**
Leveller ideas took hold in the New Model Army in 1647 when “Agitators” were appointed from among the common soldiers to lobby Parliament for arrears of pay and to protest at Parliament's plans for disbanding part of the Army.
60
Oct 1647
| growth of the levellers
**The Agreement of the People**
The Levellers in the army produce a radical text designed to represent their aims and a future constitution. The key points were:
* The existing Parliament should be dissolved. The House of Lords abolished.
* Future Parliaments should be elected biennially [two years]
* The peoples' representatives (i.e. MPs) should be elected by all men
* Parliament should be the supreme authority in the land [i.e. the government], with powers to make or repeal laws, appoint officials and conduct domestic and foreign policy.
Certain constraints were placed on Parliament: it was not to interfere with freedom of religion; it was not to press men to serve in the armed forces; it could not prosecute anyone for their part in the recent war; it was not to exempt anyone from the ordinary course of the law.
61
Oct-Nov 1647
| growth of the levellers
**The Putney debates**
The army meets at Putney to have a series of debates about what their aims for a settlement were. The debates expose the divisions between the rank-and-file who wanted the radical ‘Agreement’ [above]; while the army generals [AKA the grandees] wanted the moderate ‘Heads of Proposals’. The debates get nowhere but expose the radical proposals of the Levellers
62
Nov 15
| growth of the levellers
Repression of the Levellers
The Army "Grandees", headed by Fairfax and Cromwell, were alarmed at the Levellers' extremism. A new manifesto had been prepared to be presented to the soldiers in place of the Levellers' Agreement of the People. Every soldier was to be asked to sign a declaration of loyalty to Fairfax and the Army Council.
Most soldiers agreed, but there was a small leveller-inspired mutiny known as the Corkbush Mutiny. Some regiments refused to pledge their loyalty and wanted Fairfax and Cromwell to sign the Agreement. The ringleaders were arrested and three were condemned to death at an improvised court-martial. After casting lots, one of them, Private Richard Arnold, was shot on the spot as an example.
63
impact of the levellers
Their main achievement was the Introduction of new revolutionary ideas, such as Parliamentary sovereignty. This helped to raise the possibility for a republic.
Yet,
* Divisions within the army made it harder for a settlement to be achieved. The Army Grandees disagreed with the Leveller proposals.
* They were not popular across the country
* The grandees response at Corkbush had restored army discipline and effectively eradicated Leveller influence.
64
when was the second civil war
dec 1647 - dec 1648
65
causes of the second civil war
* Charles. On 11th **November**. Somehow, Charles **escaped army custody **and fled to the Isle of Wight. [some historians claim that this escape was facilitated by Cromwell so that he could reinforce army discipline and re-establish army unity]. Charles had always been willing to divide Parliament’s alliance in the hope of achieving a settlement more favourable to him, and, as it appeared, Charles was to have some success here…
* Scottish divisions with Parliament. The **Scots**, dissatisfied with Parliament’s failure to secure Presbyterianism and the growing radicalism,** decide to ally with Charles. **
On 27 Dec 1647, Charles signs The **Engagement with the Scots**, stating:
o England would have Presbyterian worship for three years (following by a free debate on the future of the church)
o The suppression of religious dissenters would be enforced
o All armies would be disbanded, except the Scots, who would be sent to England to preserve the king’s authority and religion.
***This agreement started the Second Civil War because from a position of weakness, Charles suddenly gained a powerful army and strong allies. ***
* Popular unhappiness with Parliamentary rule. There had been a conservative reaction against Parliamentary rule. Parliament’s high taxes, and Parliament’s army that was prone to taking resources, were bones of discontent.
66
Jan 1648
| 2nd civil chronology
**Parliament passes the Vote of No [further] Addresses**. The vote ensured that Parliament would no offer Charles any further settlement terms. To demonstrate the King's untrustworthiness, the Vote listed all the complaints and grievances against him, going right back to the beginning of his reign. It stated no more confidence was to be placed in him and Parliament declared its intention to settle the government of the nation on its own terms. The Scottish denounced the Vote.
67
April 1648
| 2nd civil chronology
**Windsor Prayer Meeting**. A three-day prayer meeting at Windsor Castle by the leadership of the New Model Army. The Army leadership felt deeply betrayed by the King because they thought that while they had been negotiating in good faith he had duplicitously gone behind their backs in making The Engagement with the Scots and encouraging a new civil war. At the end of the meeting the Grandees of the Army accepted that it was their duty "to call Charles Stuart, that man of blood, to an account for that blood he had shed, and mischief he had done".
68
may 1648
| 2nd civil chronology
**Pro-Royalist uprisings occur in south Wales, seizing Pembroke Castle. ** A former Parliamentarian militia of approximately 7,500 men join the Royalist uprising, also taking Cardiff.
69
June and july 1648
| 2nd civil chronology
Pro-Royalist uprisings occur in Essex and Kent. Colchester is seized by the Royalists and becomes a royalist stronghold in the south-east.
Cromwell and the New Model Army crush the revolt in Wales, taking Cardiff and Pembroke Castle by July.
The Scottish ‘Engagers’ march into northern England to support Charles under the command of the Duke of Hamilton. Hamilton’s ‘Engager’ army consisted of approximately 18,000 men, including a force of around 3,000 English royalists.
70
aug 1648
| 2nd civil chronology
The Battle of Preston, 17th.
Hamilton’s ‘Engagers’ meet Cromwell’s New Model Army at Preston. The ***New Model Army consisted of about 9,000 men – half the strength of the Engagers***. The other half of the New Model Army was sieging Colchester.
Yet, the** Royalist army was divided geographically**. Cromwell initially defeated Langdale’s weakened forces to the east of Preston; while Hamilton’s main army was to the south.
Over the following days C**romwell’s force harassed Hamilton’s army, eventually forcing their surrender on 25th August. Approximately 2,000 Scots were killed and over 9,000 captured. Cromwell lost less than 100 men.
**
27th August: The Surrender of Colchester. The royalists in Colchester lost hope after news of Hamilton’s defeat. Unusually, Fairfax’s terms of surrender were harsh and at least two were shot: Sir Charles lucas, sir george lisle. this effectively marked the end of the war
**NB. During this period, Charles did not make it off the Isle of Wight, remaining effectively under house arrest.**
71
impact of the 2nd civil war
* The New Model Army were strengthened. Their successive victories made many of them, including Cromwell, believe in divine providence [the intervention of God on their side]. They believed their victories were a sign that God agreed with their cause.
* The New Model Army were further radicalised. If God believed in their cause, he now also believed that monarchy should no longer exist. Cromwell and others in the New Model Army developed the notion that God had condemned monarchy to end. The army made it their duty, at the Windsor Prayer Meeting, to hold ‘Charles Stuart, that man of blood’, to account.
* It limited Charles’ position. He was seen as a ‘man of blood’ re-starting the War. It proved that he had become a hindrance to achieving a settlement and that he was willing to see people die for his cause by creating divisions. He had now become a block to a settlement.
Yet, for all that, between August and December Political Presbyterians in Parliament re-started negotiations with Charles, getting nowhere…
72
why did things become so radical (In December 1648 A military purge of Parliament takes place and in January 1649 Charles)
* pride's purge
* charles refusing to give any concessions
73
when was prides purge
5/6th december
74
what was prides purge
On 5 Dec ***Parliament refused to discuss the Army Remonstrance ***[demanding the capital punishment of Charles], and instead carried on negotiating
On 6th Dec Colonel Pride marched** 1,000 men** in the New Model Army into the House of Commons.
**110 members **[the Presbyterians] were **barred** from entry [and a further 160 stayed away in protest]. ***The remaining Parliamentarians became known as the Rump Parliament. ***
**Pride’s Purge made it easier for Parliament to bring Charles to trial because it was dominated by more radical members** [the Political Independents, those sympathetic to the New Model Army]
75
charles refusing to give any concessions [the english revolution]
After Pride’s Purge, Cromwell tried to encourage Charles to negotiate and give up some concessions. Yet, once more, Charles refused outright. Charles’ rigid view of monarchical powers meant he simply could not concede to external pressure.
Therefore, on 1st January, the Rump put Charles on trial for treason….
76
the trial of Charles 1
Charles was accused of attempting to give himself **unlimited powers which undermined the liberties of his people**. He was also accused of being a ***‘tyrant, traitor, and murderer’*** for starting the Second Civil War.
In the trial, Charles refused to plea (either guilty or not guilty) and instead sought to question the legality of the proceedings.
On 27 January, Charles was found guilty.
On 30 January Charles was executed on scaffolding outside Banqueting House.
77
what were the overall factors in why no settlement achieved
1. Charles’ attitude / belief in his divine right.
2. Political Divisions within Parliament
5. The Second Civil War
6. Pride’s Purge/NMA radicalism
7. Belief in ‘divine providence’
78
Charles’ attitude / belief in his divine right
| factor in no settlement
A key reason no settlement could be achieved was the attitude of Charles. **Charles’ unwillingness to negotiate a settlement or give up any of his prerogatives made him a hindrance to the settlements**.
For instance, when presented with the ***Newcastle Proposal in 1646 and the Head of Proposal in 1647***, Charles chose simply to delay a response. Ultimately, **Charles overplayed his hand:** had he made attempts to negotiate a settlement could have been reached. Eventually, Charles’ refusal to negotiate and then his re-starting of the Civil War with the Engagement made him look like a ‘man of blood’.
79
political divisions with parli
| factor in no settlement
Another reason no settlement could be achieved was Parliament’s political divisions in 1646-49. These hindered the possibility for a settlement because it illustrated that their authority was not complete. The political divisions within Parliament and between Parliament and the army, the basis of their authority, meant that there was the possibility for a split. The fact that Parliament’s authority was not guaranteed meant that they were unable to maintain rigid negotiating terms. The Scots, Parliament, and the army all offered Charles differing terms highlighting their divisions. This gave Charles the potential to exploit divisions.
80
radicalism
| factor in no settlement
Without the introduction of radical ideas both about religion and politics, negotiations could have succeeded.
Religiously, two radical views had a significant impact. Firstly, the idea of ‘liberty of conscience’ was so at odds with the national Church of England that Charles could never accept it as a proposal. Secondly, the religious belief in the New Model Army that they were fighting ‘God’s War’ and that victories proved God was on their side. These beliefs led them to think it was divine providence that monarchy should end.
Politically, radicalism in the form of the Levellers played a key role. The Levellers introduced new radical ideas, such as a belief in popular sovereignty, which raised the possibility of a future settlement which did not involve Charles.
81
C's attitude + DROK
| factor in no settlement
Charles’ own actions cannot be overlooked. Ultimately, Charles’ unwillingness to negotiate after losing the First Civil War was the primary factor. By refusing to negotiate and delaying responses to propositions, Charles overplayed his hand. Early on Charles was right to recognise that he needed to agree for a settlement to be achieved. However, by delaying, and re-starting the Second Civil War, Charles had proved himself to be untrustworthy and to be a barrier to a peaceful settlement.
82
the second civil war
| factor in no settlement
The Second Civil War was a War, for the New Model Army [NMA], that should not have happened. The NMA had a sense that the First Civil War should have resolved the issues. By re-starting the War, and causing further unnecessary loss of life, this had the effect of radicalising the NMA. At the Windsor Prayer Meeting, the NMA made it their duty to hold ‘Charles Stuart, that man of blood’ to account for his crimes. Hence, the Second Civil War proved Charles needed to be punished rather than negotiated with.
83
pride's purge + NMA radicalism
| factor in no settlement
After the Second Civil War, however, it was not inevitable that Charles would be killed. Immediately after the War, Parliament re-started negotiations with Charles. Yet, the Army could not accept this. Hence, On 6th Dec Colonel Pride marched 1,000 men in the New Model Army into the HofC 110 members [the Presbyterians] were barred from entry [and a further 160 stayed away in protest]. Pride’s Purge made it easier for Parliament to bring Charles to trial because it was dominated by more radical members [the Political Independents], and this group was more willing to punish Charles.
84
belief in 'divine providence'
| factor in no settlement
For many in the NMA, including Cromwell, victory in the First Civil War had proved that t**hey were fighting the Godly cause and that they had God’s backing**. Victory in the Second Civil War made them think further: not only did they have God’s backing but now **God had condemned Charles and perhaps even the monarchy**. This line of thinking opened the possibility for ***execution***.
