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Charles I Failure to Achieve a Settlement and Execution - Coggle Diagram
Charles I Failure to Achieve a Settlement and Execution
Why was it so difficult to achieve a political settlement during the period 1646-1647?
Aftermath of the First English Civil War & Newcastle Propositions
Charles in Newcastle
Charles surrendered to the Scots at Newcastle in May 1646 a month before the surrender of Oxford. At Newcastle parliament sent him the Newcastle Propositions - he evaded giving an answer delaying whilst hoping to achieve better terms and recruit troops from the Continent
Parliament believed the King would have no option but to negotiate and agree to terms that limited his powers - did not happen, negotiations broke down and the Second Civil War ensued.
The Newcastle Propositions were basically the Nineteen Propositions of 1642 and the Scots agreement of 1643: Charles had to agree to: Solemn League and Covenant, abolition of episcopacy, religion to be settled by Parliament, finance over to parliament , parliament would take command of the armed forces and control who could be his advisors.
Divisions and links between numerous groups attempting to bring about a settlement
The Scottish Presbyterians
The Scottish Presbyterians were concerned with seeing the establishment of strict Presbyterianism within England - contrasted to parliamentary views as to how religions should be settled. Scots were critical of the Newcastle Propositions - Charles felt he could negotiate with the Scots to restore some of his power.
This was done through the Engagement (Scots disapproved of propositions, Parliament deciding question of religion and state Church would be resolved).
Many saw the king as the guarantor of stability and order - fearful of radicalism spreading. Ranters: denied existence of sin, Fifth Monarchists and Quakers held ideas that suggested anarchy would follow
Divisions in the NMA such as Fairfax (a Presbyterian) not being interested in politics and Rainsborough had sympathies with the Levellers.
Unrest in the counties
Many of the county gentry had been shocked by the Civil war but expected the situation to improve - instead NMA, County Committees and relgious anarchy remained. Army did not disband after the war - costs to maintain it continued to rise. County Committes staffed by men of lower social standing than those that traditionally ran the counties - arbitrary arrest caused discontent
Many of the traditional county rulers who rested losing their status would have welcomed monarchical rule.
Religious disquiet: 100 ministers ejected in Somerset, Presbyterian practice of examining people to see whether they were fit to receive communion provoked hostility. Resulted in emergence of radical groups
The Kent County Committee issuing order late into 1647 that Christmas had been abolished and shops were open as if it was a normal working day resulted in rioting in Canterbury on Christmas Day. Parliament was seen as tyrannical, unjust in regard to excessively high taxation (just like Charles).
The army revolt of 1647
The Scots handed Charles over to Parliament in 1647 - Charles was still working on an answer to the Newcastle Propositions: discussion on Presbyterian Church, supporter not to be persecuted, 20 militia control to 10, wanted to choose his own ministers and military appointments.
In early 1647, the Peace Group in parliament wanted to reduce expenditure and control and reduce radicals by dissolving the New Model Army
Declaration of Dislike - 1647, declared that the petitioners were enemies of state and disturbers of public peace - petitions were drawn up by members of the NMA
In May 1647, Parliament voted for an immediate disbandment of the NMA. and offered only eight weeks' back pay. Angered soldiers, already frustrated by the Declaration of Dislike.
Therefore, the army became much more politically charged and motivated
Two regiments mutinied in late May 1647 - felt betrayed by conservative MPs who were willing to reach an agreement with Charles which would sacrifice everything for which they had fought.
The army to prevent an agreement seized Charles at Holdenby in June (Charles escaped in November to the Isle of Wight gving more freedom and access to France). The army accepted the Solemn Engagement by which they agreed not to disband until they achieved a just settlement over payments and an agreement with Charles.
Representation
Army's political program was one of: purging corrupt MPs, dissolving Parliament, fixed length brought to new Parliaments, Church to be reformed, liberty to tender consciences allowing those to worship in their own voluntary congregations.
Any settlement would have to include the army, more radical force on the political scene. Panic created in London - mobs came out. MPs fled. Radicals needed to be controlled to prevent chaos - more support for Cromwell and Fairfax.
Army now had power - divided between moderates and radicals.
Heads of Proposals
Fairfax and Ireton drew up their version of a settlement which called for: biennial parliaments, elections to commons to be in proportion to taxable wealth of counties, militia to be under control of parliament for ten years, authority of bishops to be removed but episcopacy kept - mandatory use of Common Book of Prayer abolished and royal family to be reinstated.
Ordinary soldiers thought this was too accommodating to the King. Charles did not believe he needed to come to an agreement. Reluctant to surrender control of militia or religion. Again, Charles delayed a response
In response, radicals in the army offered the 'Case of the Army Truly Stated' which aggressively criticised the senior army officers behind the Head of Proposals.
Radicalism and the Levellers
Main cause of radicalism was religious. Protestantism, as opposed to Catholicism propagated the importance of individual belief and a personal relationship with God - Bible should be studied and read. Sects and separatist communities went back to Elizabeth's reign.
Directly challenged the concept of hierarchy and obedience, openly criticising the 'partially reformed' church in England.
Due to the collapse of censorship caused by the attack on bishops in 1640-42, these radical groups were encouraged to express their views (free press, radical arguments)
Separatists Churches flourished: 1643 Seven churches of the London Particular Baptists issued a joint Confession of Faith. Congregational Church established in Hull (1644), Canterbury (1645) and Yorkshire (1646)
Desired the right to worship as they pleased therefore religious radicalism was developing new political ideas and threatening society.
These ideas worried the conservatives although the people propagating them were in the minority.
Levellers & Radical views in NMA
Figures such as John Lilburne pioneered the Leveller cause after the campaign for religious toleration in London 1644. Radical group arguing for complete freedom of belief and worship as a right. Lilburne was arrested for slandering Parliament, accusing it of tyranny and pushing for social and judicial equality.
Far reaching reforms, drastic political change, accusing of Parliament being tyrannical and urging equality.
Although these petitions and pleas for reform were fairly minor, the development of radicalism in the army was more alarming. Soldiers preached, prayed and debated among themselves and protected separatist communities.
Cromwell was concerned about the threat to social hierarchy and order posed by the Levellers - said that this would result in anarchy if the lower classes had the right to vote in elections. Believed that there should exist hierarchy as it had for hundreds of years, Levelling principle flawed greatly in his opinion.
Cromwell after Parliament rejected 'Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens' and the army had proposed the 'Case of the Army truly Stated' and 'Agreement of the people' met up with army representatives and civilian Leveller representatives in Putney (Putney debates)
Leveller political and social radicalism was much more difficult to contain than religious radicalism.
After the Putney debates, the Corkbush Field mutiny (in response to accepting the Heads of Proposals and declaring loyalty to Cromwell) resulted in martial law being imposed, leaders being arrested and the death of one army leader.
Why was a settlement not possible?
King was aware of the divisions among his enemies and therefore hoped to exploit these divisions to restore his power
Aware that once radicalism emerged, the gentry were fearful and would look towards him as the guarantor of security and stability.
He knew the Scots disliked the English relgious proposals and might reach an agreement with him to restore some of his power
Divisions in Parliament between War Party and Peace Party which he believed he could exploit - become the upholder of stability. Disarray, confusion, divisions, radicalism ubiquitous.
Charles enemies had believed that Charles would accept his military defeat was final, but the King did not believe it was. With his enemies divided he thought that he did not need to reach an agreement and could wait for support and strengthen his position and restore his power.
Second English Civil War
The Engagement December 1647
Charles agreed that: there would be Presbyterian worship for three years followed by a free debate on how Church should be governed
The suppression of radical groups such as Anabaptists (offshoot of Protestantism and also a distinct group - denied infant baptism, argued for equality and had distinct social ideas which threated social order)
Armies would be disbanded expect the Scots army which would be sent to England to preserve religion and protect monarchy
Charles was desperate for military support - but this deal was not terrible - England would not convert to Presbyterianism in 3 years.
But the King could no longer be trusted!!
Events (1648)
Unrest in London, Norwich, Kent and South Wales - disturbances soon put down. Royalist risings in Cornwall, Yorkshire and Wales - polarisation of views. Cromwell finished putting down troops in Wales - went north. Scottish Army defeated and royalist threat ended - Charles played no part in the war. Victory of New Model Army!!
Pride's Purge & The Rump Parliament
Pride's Purge Dec 1648
Parliament refused to debate the Army Remonstrance, wanted to continue negotiations with Charles. 1000 members of NMA blocked the entrance into Parliament. Colonel Pride produced a list of 180 MPs who were to be "secluded" or prevented from entering Parliament and caused around 100 to flee and evade parliament (including John Glyn and Fairfax (also Presbyterian) who was a leading Presbyterian).Therefore around 80 were identified and excluded from Parliament.
Resulted in the arrest of about 45, including William Prynne. Most of the members arrested during the Purge were released early in 1649.
The Purge was carried out on the orders of Henry Ireton. General Fairfax apparently had no knowledge of it, even though all the Army's actions were carried out under his name. He was said to be furious when he heard what had happened
Independent MPs who supported the Army, including Edmund Ludlow, Cornelius Holland and Henry Smith wanted Parliament purged rather than dissolved
The Trial of Charles I
First European monarch to be put on public trial - time was spent preparing charges and establishing body of commissions to act as judge and jury. 1649 trial begins with John Bradshaw as Lord President of the Court.
King is accused of being a tyrant, traitor and murderer
Court claimed he had waged war on parliament and the poeple, granted commissions to Irish rebels and responsible for all damage that ensued.
Charles was adamant to know under what power and authority he had been summoned. This led to Bradshaw erupting in anger against this statement, later resulting in contempt of court - excluding Charles from the proceedings and finally sentencing Charles to death by public execution.
Cromwell tried to convince Charles to make concessions, the King refused and Cromwell was then set on having a trial.
Army Remonstrance
Drawn up in November 1648, the Army Remonstrance was to be presented to parliament and demanded the punishment of the King - King attacked directly not through evil councillors.