Chapter 14 - The consolidation of the Republic: Scotland and Dunbar; campaigns in Ireland; Charles II and Worcester

When did the Rump vote to abolish the monarchy?

February 1649

What did the Rump pass on 2nd January 1650?

An engagement act by which all adult males had to declare loyalty to the Commonwealth.

How was the 2nd January 1650 engagement act enforced?

July 1650: a treason act was passed, in which it made it illegal to deny the authority of the regime as vested in the Commons.

Who was the leader of the Scottish Covenanters?

Argyll

What did Argyll do immediately upon the execution of his father?

Declared the son of Charles I, Charles Stuart, Charles II of Scotland.

What did the arrival of Charles Stuart in Scotland mean?

It meant another Scottish invasion was imminent.

Where did Cromwell return from to deal with the Scottish threat?

Ireland

Why did the Rump decide to act first?

Argyll succeeded in persuading Charles Stuart to accept the Covenant in exchange for military aid to invade England

Why did Thomas Fairfax refuse to lead the invasion?

• He had grown increasingly worried about the radicalisation of the army

• He had stood aloof from the developments that had lead to regicide.

• He objected to the strike against the Scots.

Who lead the Scottish invasion in Fairfax’s place?

Oliver Cromwell, who became commander-in-chief in Fairfax’s place.

Why did Cromwell’s campaign in Scotland not begin well?

David Leslie and his forces withdrew behind defensible positions rather than fight Cromwell and the NMA head on.

What were Cromwell’s forces reduced to by September 1650?

From an initial force of 16,300 - 11,000 remained

Where did Cromwell retreat to?

Dunbar

Why were Cromwell and his troops trapped in Dunbar?

The Scottish army twice their size quickly pinned them down.

What did Thomas Harrison do back in London?

He led the London radicals in prayer for what appeared to be the hopeless position into which Cromwell had led his forces.

When was the Battle of Dunbar?

3rd September 1650

What was the outcome of the Battle of Dunbar?

Cromwell victorious despite weaker position; roughly 3000 Scots were killed and 10,000 captured

What did Cromwell view as the reason for his victory?

“the hand of God”

What were the real reasons for Cromwell’s victory?

• Leslie’s strategic mistakes

• A surprise attack by the English

What else contributed to the New Model Army’s victory?

• The religious motivation at the core of the NMA gave them the confidence to launch the attack they did.

• The English Sea Power ensured that, throughout his campaign, Cromwell’s forces could be resupplied.

• England’s stronger economy meant that their army was better funded.

Who was put in charge of the Scottish army after Dunbar?

Charles Stuart

Where did Lambert attack in 1651?

He attacked Inverkeithing - killed 2000 Scots and took 1400 prisoners.

What did Cromwell do thanks to Lambert?

Establish control in Perth

What forces were behind Charles Stuart and what did it mean for him?

The best NMA forces were behind him; meant that the path to England was open but a retreat back into Scotland was blocked.

What forces awaited Charles Stuart in England?

Less well trained, including militia and new recruits

When did Cromwell arrive in Ireland?

August 1649

How many troops did Cromwell arrive in Ireland with?

10,000 Parliamentary troops

What was Cromwell’s goal in Ireland?

• To impose English Protestant control

• Punish the Catholics for their 1641 rebellion

• Exploit Ireland financially for the new regime

What made Cromwell’s stance clear?

His declaration to the Irish Catholic Clergy of January 1650

What did Cromwell’s Irish campaign (1649-50) involve?

A series of bloody sieges of Irish Catholic strongholds.

What were the most famous battles of Cromwell’s Irish campaign?

Drogheda and Wexford

What did Cromwell want his Irish campaign to be?

A swift destruction of the ability of the Irish Catholics to pose a serious threat to English authority so that he could return to face the Scottish threat

When did Cromwell leave Ireland for England?

May 1650

Who did Cromwell leave in charge to further impose English control on Ireland?

Henry Ireton (until 1660)

How many troops did Charles Stuart wish to invade England with?

20,000

What was Charles Stuart’s aim?

To secure the English throne, which required him to secure London

What was Charles Stuart’s other aims in invading and why did he think it would work?

• Charles wanted to escape the influence of the Presbyterian leaders in Scotland that he believed wanted to control him

• He believed it would work because there was a general disillusionment with the republican regime across a range of the population

What were the 6 problems that Charles’ invading force were faced with?

• Desertions meant that only 13,000 troops actually crossed the border (of the initial 20,000)

• The army of Scots attracted little support from the English

• The republic’s intelligence network was able to foil various plots to overthrow the republic. Had these plots been successful they would have helped any Scottish invasion.

• A rising in Norfolk in December 1650 was quickly suppressed

• Charles secured no foreign aid for his invasion

What was Charles Stuart faced with when he crossed the border?

4000 troops left by the two generals of the NMA, Lambert and Harrison, who despite being outnumbered, harried their troops south, allowing Cromwell to coordinate with them upon his arrival

Where did Charles’s troops to move from and what was their position by then?

Worcester; they were heavily outnumbered

Why did the battle between Charles’ troops and the NMA end?

Charles abandoned his troops and fled for the Continent

How many Royalists were dead?

3000

How many of the NMA were killed?

200

What was the consequence of the Rump’s victories in England, Scotland, and Ireland?

The consolidation of Cromwell as the dominant figure of the age