strengths and weaknesses of parliamentary forces

parliament leadership strengths

• divisions

• categorised into “peace”, “war” and “middle” groups

• allows for shift of political alliances and flexibility

• utilised Pym’s political adeptness

parliament leadership strengths examples

• maintained earl of essex in his commander-in-chief

• despite pressure from war group for a more militaristic leader

• pressure from peace group for a settlement

• pym smooths out relations with HoL

• pym reassures county gentry war = chaos

parliament strategy weakness

• after militia ordinance in 1642 is passed, parliament and king scramble to mobilise soldiers

• both try to make traditional militia structure work

parliament strategy weakness examples

• august: parliament dispatch officers to coordinate county defenses through county committees

• county militia reluctant to fight outside their own counties as they saw their own role as primarily defensive

• demands of Civil War made it necessary to travel outside of county boundaries

parliamentary creation of the solemn league and covenant

• August 1643: parliament sent commissioners to Scotland to negotiate an alliance

• Scots are keen to sign (knew Charles would revoke concessions between 1638-40)

• Westminster commissioner and Scottish parliament together devise a “Solemn League” and “Covenant”

• Remained to be ratified by Westminster parliament

parliamentary foreign links weaknesses

• caused debate in English parliament due to historic Anglo-Scottish rivalry + notion of Presbyterianism wiping out episcopacy

• parliament want independence in deciding religious settlement not to be forced by the scots

• peace group MPs worried the King would reverse sign a settlement due to the covenant

parliamentary foreign links strengths

• Pym suggests an “Assembly of Divines” made of English and Scottish representatives

• naturally slows down the process of decision making (e.g., Presbyterianism important to scots but military survival important to the English)

• English want a “civil league” and scots want a “religious covenant”

• Pym removes radical parliamentarians to convince peace group MPs (not for abolishment of episcopacy)

parliament finance strengths

• gradually finance ordinances in the commons record reveal the emergence of an increasingly sophisticated taxation system

• used county committees to enforce these ordinances and make them accountable to central committees in London

irish cessation

• purpose was to stop the King fighting a war on two fronts

• lead to rumours that the King would use a Catholic Irish army- reawakening fears of Popery

• contributed to the scottish alliance

solemn league and covenant terms

• Scotland would send 22,000 soldiers

• ‘Committee of Both Kingdoms’ would provide joint command over the combined armies

• English Parliament would commit to a Presbyterian settlement of the Anglican Church (however intentionally left very vague)

• Pym manages to dodge this one

battle of newbury

• A surprise win for Parliament. Essex, was able to stop the siege of Gloucester and give them much needed supplies.​

• For a while the Royalists did manage to stop Essex getting back to London, but key mistakes by Prince Rupert meant that the Royalists lost lots of them and Essex eventually got back to London.​

• A strategic loss for the Royalists.​

significance of the solemn league and covenant

• Gained 22,000 troops​

• Saw a win for the ‘war’ party in Parliament- meant they’d pursue a more aggressive strategy. Probably the only way they could win.​

• Stopped the Earl of Newcastle marching south and therefore London might have been taken.​

• An agreement with the King was now more unlikely, as an agreement would have to be made with three different parties.​

• Had a huge impact at the Battle of Marston Moor, this was a significant victory as it won the North back for Parliament.​

• The need for all-out victory eventually led to the creation of the New Model Army​

not the significant solemn league and covenant

• Parliament could not capitalise on their win at Marston Moor. Essex’s troops got trapped in the South West, there was another stalemate.​

• This stalemate is ultimately only broken by the creation of the New Model Army, which suggests it is a much more important reason for victory.​

• The tide was already turning before the battle of Marston Moor. Parliament’s associations were having an impact and they were gaining many more resources from more efficient taxation.​

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Initial attempts to create funding (1642)

ad hoc

• June: ordinance to secure £100,000 from companies and citizens for the use of the kingdom

• August: ordinance for raising money in London

• November: better provision of food, necessities for the army + payment for provisions

February 1643 financial ordinance Measure + significance

• Raising money for the maintenance of the army by weekly assessment

  • WA = formula of ship money, requires each county to provide money on a weekly basis, changing to monthly later

  • Assessments = foundational to finance + raised more than subsidies

March 1643 financial ordinance Measure + significance

• ordinance for sequestering notorious delinquents’ estates

  • Oxford treaty = local commissioners have permission to sequester (confiscate) estates of Royalists

  • They then manage + profits = parliament’s coffers

May 1643 financial ordinance Measure + significance

• an order engaging public faith for finance

  • Reminiscent of forced loans 1920

  • Those worth >£10 a year from land

  • 20% of annual revenue to repaid

  • Repaid “upon public faith”

July 1643 financial ordinance Measure + significance

• ordinance for the speedy raising of finance

  • Purchase tax on a wide range of goods

  • Affected everyone + very unpopular

Associations

• groups counties together

• Easter association

• Creates meaningful military units that remains connected to their localities

  • Local commanders could be sent out of their region

August 1643: Impressment Ordinance

• created a legal right to conscript soldiers into the parliamentarian army

August 1643: appointment of the earl of Manchester

• a more capable commander to lead the eastern association

• the authority to conscript 20,000 men

• Removing weak officers + promoting skilful soldiers

January 1644: Monthly assessments

• financial restructure = increased revenue by 50%

• Money = earl of Manchester direct control