Strengths

• Charles had a large number of wealthy supporters from nobility. The Earls of Newcastle and Worcester provided £900,000 and £700,000 for the royalist cause.
• Continued collection of feudal taxes and sale of crown land - a source of income that Parliament did not have.
• The leadership of the King - Charles was a figurehead for royalist supporters to rally behind. Possessed legitimacy and established a position in the constitution which Parliament couldn't match.
• Charles had a larger number of experienced officers - many had experience from Thirty Years war E.g Prince Rupert of the Rhine(commander of the Royalist cavalry).
• United by common purpose - defending the monarchy and established church from political radicals and Puritans.
  

Weaknesses

• Charles had little talent on the Battlefield - he failed to capitalise on the advantages of 1642-43.
• Unable to secure help from abroad - Henrietta Maria landed on Yorkshire coast in 1643 with arms and troops from Holland (made little impact).
• Irish cessation Treaty, 1643 - a weak force of 2,500 came and was easily defeated by Fairfax (Nantwich, 1644). Breed catholic conspiracies and opposition.
• Lost control of major ports - Newcastle and King's Lynn were the only major ports available to him, not able to secure outside help.
• Capital in Oxford - Charles was unable to base in London. Far from his main supplies in South-wales.
• Commanders couldn't resolve differences - Feud between Rupert and Lord Digby, causing little cooperation.
• Money from traditional levies ran out - not until 1644 that Charles emulated Parliament in instituting an excise tax (taxes on various goods).

Strengths

• Parliament controlled London - the capital with the largest population. London also contained many of the printing presses that would facilitate a widespread propaganda campaign and the Blacksmiths and tailors which supplied the army.
• The strongest Militia in 1642 - London trained bands numbered 20,000 by 1643. Had been highly trained and funded since the 1630s.
• Funding from the City of London Merchants - control of London gave access to Loans from them.
• Parliament controlled the navy and much of the major ports - made it difficult for Charles to obtain help.
• Parliament controlled the south and the east of England - the wealthiest and most agriculturally rich regions. Parliament's effective tax regime raised much more revenue than Charle's ever could.
• Political leadership of Parliament was relatively strong and united in 1642 and 1643 - before the death of John Pym.

Weaknesses

• Parliamentary forces led by poor commanders at the start of the war - Earl of Essex was one of Parliaments only generals with military experience (fought in thirty years war).
• Divisions over strategy, particularly after death of Pym:
  
  • War party favoured fighting the war to impose a settlement on the King.
  • Peace party favoured a negotiated settlement.
• Did not have an effective taxation system at the start - couldn't exploit the wealth of their territories.
• Reluctance from officers to engage with royalists and pursue the king - Earl of Essex ordered to 'protect the Kings person' as the parliamentarians believed they were fighting to rid the country of catholic influence and evil councillors.
  

The Battle of Edgehill

The first Major Battle of the war took place on October 1642. As many as 25,000 troops took part, battle is recognised as a draw.

• The Earl of Essex withdrew towards Warwick after the battle, leaving the road to London open.
• The Royalists had the opportunity to capitalise on the disintegration of the parliamentarian army, but Prince Rupert allowed his cavalry to leave the battlefield and pursue fleeing troops. This lack of discipline from Rupert's men cost the Royalists a lot.
• Charles decided not to march on London immediately after the battle, despite the road being open. He set up base at Oxford and his eventual advance on London was halted at Turnham Green.

Royalist advances, 1643

After being turned away from London at Turnham Green, Charles retreated to Oxford for the Winter. Both sides tried to negotiate a peace treaty in early 1643 but the proposed treaty of Oxford did not materialise. Charles was arrogant in his position and refused the abolishment of episcopacy.

The Earl of Newcastle, Royalist commander of Northern England, against Thomas Fairfax, at the Battle of Adwalton Moor, in June 1643. He secured much of the North and Midlands.

In the South-West Rupert captured Bristol in July. Giving important access to the port and England's 3rd largest city.

Pym and Finance

Spearheaded by Pym, parliament introduced a number of new taxes in 1643. This helped to prepare for a further two years of fighting:

• An unpopular excise tax (on everyday goods) was levied in the countries in the countries under parliaments control.
• A land tax, known as assessment, was levied weekly and later monthly. It was particularly successful. The countries of the Eastern Association alone paid more per year in assessment than Charles raised from all Ship money receipts in 1635 and 1636.
• The use of sequestration increased.

Prelim

• The Earl of Newcastle took his army north from the Royalist stronghold of York to face the Scots.
• Retreated following word of parliamentarians marching from South.
• York was soon besieged by a combination of Scots and English.
• Eastern association also marched North and the two sides met at Marston Moore on 2nd July 1644.

Battle

• Rupert had arrived a few days earlier, but the combined arms of Parliament and Scotland defeated his and Newcastle's.
• Newcastle slipped into exile and Rupert travelled North.
• York was surrendered on the 16th of July and virtually all of Northern England was under Parliamentary control.
• Marston Moor demonstrated the renewed strength of the Parliamentary army as a result of Scotland - but also Oliver Cromwell's cavalry strength.

Royalist resurgent, June to September 1644

Despite losing York after the battle of Marston Moor, the royalists were able to achieve a number of victories in mid-1644:

• Defeated Waller at Cropredy bridge, Oxfordshire at the end of June.
• Defeated Essex's army at Lostwithiel, Cornwall in September.
• Successful Scottish campaign, Scots royalists defeated covenanters at Tippermuir in September.
  

Divisions among the parliamentary leaders and the self-denying ordinance

At the 2nd battle of Newbury in October 1644, Parliament failed to achieve a victory over the Royalists despite outnumbering them 2-1:

• Cautious tactics from the Earl of Manchester (a member of the peace faction), were responsible.
• Self-denying ordinance was passed in 1644 by oliver Cromwell and the War faction.
  
  • All MPs had to resign military positions intending to remove poorly performing commanders (Earl of Essex + Manchester).
  • Ordinance revised in April 1645 to allow some reappointments (Cromwell recalled).

The formation of the New model army

In February 1645, an ordinance was passed creating the New Model Army.

• 21,000 men - single national force.
• Members were paid - infantry receiving 8 pence a day.
• Promotions on merit rather than social status.
• Members deeply religious - believed in fighting a just war in the name of god.
• All infantry wore the same uniform.
• Discipline was strict and soldiers could be fined for swearing.
• The army had an intelligence department responsible for collecting information about enemy movements.
  
  

Lord General - Sir Thomas Fairfax wanted to defeat the King decisively.
Lieutenant General of horse - Oliver Cromwell, effectively making him second in command.

Popular radicalism in London

A number of prominent radicals became influential towards the end of the war, many of whom had close links to the NMA.

• Radical Puritan and Soldier John Lilburne was imprisoned in 1645 for denouncing MPs who continued to live in comfort while soldiers died on the battlefield.
• William Walwyn defended him, advocating complete religious freedom and toleration for all.
• Walwyn collaborated with another London radical, Richard Overton, to organise a petition for Lilburne's release.
  
  

The works of radicals who promoted religious freedom and toleration, became popular with the army and they became known as the Levellers.

Religious radicalism in the New Model Army

• Because promotion was based on merit many of the officers were godly Puritans with lower-class backgrounds.
  
  • Thomas Pride - senior officer was a brewer Pre-war.
• Regimental Chaplains also played a role in spreading radical ideas.
  
  • Hugh Peter - Preaching drew a number of recruits to the cause. Also acted as a spokesperson dealing with MPs. He and other Chaplains were closely aligned with the Leveller Movement.
    

The Battle of Naseby

• First operational battle for the NMA - June 1945 at Naseby, Northamptonshire.
  
  • Outnumbered them 2-1 - NMA by far the dominant force.
  • Higly disciplined - especially in Cromwell's cavalry which helped secure victory.
  • Rupert's men once again left the battlefield in pursuit of Plunder
    
    

NMA Victorious.

Pamphlets and propaganda

Propaganda from both sides had been used since the beginning of the war. Both sides were attacked for their religious beliefs.

• Rupert was a target for pamphleteers - claiming his dog was the devil in disguise.

  
  

• Henry Parker - most influential writer towards the end of the civil war. Involved in editing and publishing 39 of Charles letters sent at Naseby (The Kings cabinet opened).

• 1645-46 Parliamentary propaganda increased in volume

Uxbridge Treaty

The King, Parliament and the Scots were all present. Talks initially proposed by Parliamentarians and Covenanters but Covenanters became associated with Peace party in Westminster, as both groups favoured a presbyterian settlement.

Key demands:

• The solemn league and covenant to be taken by the King.
• Bishops to be abolished in England, Scotland and Ireland.
• Parliament to control key military appointments.
• Parliament to consent to declarations of war and peace.
  
  

Charles never took negotiations seriously. Still believed in outright royalist victory and was confident rejecting the treaty would cause divisions in Parliament and Scots.

Oxford Treaty

After being turned away from London at Turnham Green, Charles retreated to Oxford for the Winter. Both sides tried to negotiate a peace treaty in early 1643 but the proposed treaty of Oxford did not materialise. Charles was arrogant in his position and refused the abolishment of episcopacy.

February 1643 - April 1643

The capture of Charles

Battle of Langport - Last major battle of the war in July 1645

• Royalists were easily defeated, Rupert was expelled and Bristol was retaken.
  
  
  

The siege of Chester - around 15 months, ended in January 1646.

• Charles surrendered to Scots on 5 May 1646 with nothing left.