The First Civil War 1642-46

How had Charles encouraged the growth of radicalism between March 1641 to January 1642?

March-May 1641: the Army plot, encouraged by Charles and Henrietta Maria, sought to free Wentworth from the Tower of London against the wishes of Parliament.

August 1641: Charles tried to raise support amongst Scottish nobles- and create a Scottish Royalist Party.

October 1641- 'The Incident, a Royalist plot led by Charles' ally, James Graham, Marquess of Montrose, to kidnap a group of nobles who were key Covenanters.

January 1642: Charles attempted (and failed) to arrest his leading opponents in Parliament in the Five Members' coup attempt.

Charles was antagonistic in 1642

- 5th Jan: attempted arrest of Five Members (they had left Parliament)

- 10th Jan: the King escaped from London and set up his court at York (19th March)

- 5th March: Parliament issued the Militia Ordinance, this proclaimed that Parliament could act independently of the King in the interests of the nations defence.

- April: The King tried- and failed- to seize munitions at Hull.

June 1642: the Nineteen Propositions

- Ministers serving on the Privy Council must be approved by Parliament

- Laws against Catholics to be strictly enforced

- A reformation of the Church government.

This was another attempt to curb the King's power and to eradicate any future opposition and eradicate the threat of absolute rule with religious policies to suit all religious groups.

What were the responses to the Nineteen Propositions?

- 6th June: Charles issues the Commission of Array (this was an attempt to formalise his army). On the 18th of June he rejected all propositions.

- 2nd July: The Royal Navy declared allegiance to Parliament (had been opposed to Ship Money) and accepted the Earl of Warwick as its Admiral.

- 4th July: Parliament appointed a Commission of Safety to liaise between Westminster and Parliament's armies in the field.

When was the start of the First Civil War?

King Charles raised the Royal Standard at Nottingham Castle.

King and Parliament were at war from the 22nd of August 1642

Did anyone actually want war?

Most people were neutral, they avoided commitment to either side. The political nation was split into three- between royalists, parliamentarians, and neutrals.

Parliament's advantages

Support of London was crucial. Parliament also held the sympathies of most of the towns and ports and controlled the most economically advanced areas in the East and South.

Scottish Presbyterians were willing to aid Parliament in its struggle with the King.

The Battle of Edgehill

It was in October 1642 and was the first major battle in the first Civil War and it ended in a draw.

What were the two parties that emerged on the opposing sides?

The War and Peace Party

What was the War Party's agenda?

They aimed to inflict a decisive defeat on the King, they would capture him and force him to renounce his power. They wanted a thorough and effectively fought all-out war. The members were Oliver Cromwell, Henry Vane the Younger and Arthur Haselrig. Oliver Cromwell started promoting members based on merit (meritocracy), regardless of status.

What was the Peace Party's agenda?

They were led by Denzil Holles (one of the Five Members), they wanted the war to be won through negotiation and the war would be a brief show of strength to the King.

The Party was made up of aristocratic commanders as they feared that Cromwell's meritocracy threatened the established social order. This is why the Peace Party grew in popularity as the nobility feared that if the King won they would lose their titles and property.

The significance of the Battle of Marston Moor

The Battle was on the 2nd of July 1644, and the War Party (with Cromwell as cavalry commander) and the Peace Party represented with the Earl of Manchester, won. Cromwell's conduct in this battle proved decisive, and demonstrated his potential as both political and an important military leader.

Why was an army purge of Parliament so necessary?

Whilst the victory over the King at Marston Moor (July 1644) had strengthened the War Party- its dominance in Parliament was to be short-lived.

1645- Parliament began arranging elections to seats in areas that has previously sympathised with the Royalists. By 1647 some 235 new MPs has sided with the Presbyterians. The Political Presbyterians were the most dominant faction.

The Scottish dimension

The Presbyterian group were aided by the fact that Parliament's victory was due to the Scots. They were keen to ensure that the terms of the Solemn League and Covenant were adhered to.

The end of deference

The Civil War had encouraged the growth of radical religious sects. Separatist congregations in London had experimented with lay preaching, open debate and discussion- women's meetings and preachers.

Many of the most radical separatists and the most committed Puritans joined the army to fight against Charles I.

The situation by 1646

Many MPs (Holles) favoured a quick peace settlement with Charles based around a Presbyterian national Church. By 1646, social order was breaking down. The Presbyterian Church appeared to offer structure and hierarchy at a time when the country seemed to be descending into religious anarchy.

Charles' view of the Presbyterians 'useful idiots'

He liked the social conservatism of the Presbyterian Party. Charles understood that the longer he held out in reaching a settlement, divisions in Parliament would become serious.

He disliked the idea of a single national Presbyterian Church but he saw the need for a framework that would ensure religious unity and destroy radical sects.

Tensions between religious groups within Parliament

The relationship between the Scots and English Presbyterians had its problems too. The Scots claimed that the Presbyterian Church was based on divine law. The Independents were alarmed by the state of affairs- they disliked the authoritarianism of Scottish Presbyterianism. The Peace Party wanted to disband the army.

The Political Independents

The Independents drew their strength from small trades and artisans (skilled workers) in London. They rejected the idea of an Established Church. They regarded the true Church as a gathering of 'true believers'- a voluntary association.

They separated from the Established Church and formed their own independent, self-governing Congregationalists.

1646- England remained in an explosive situation

Charles refused to accept the result of the Civil War. In reality there was little difference between the Presbyterians and Independents.