Charles I's Reign - Negotiations, the Second Civil War and the Regicide (1646-1648)

What were the Newcastle Propositions?

Terms for settlement offered to the King by Parliament in July 1646. Key features of the plan were:

• Religion - Charles was to accept the establishment of Presbytarianism in England for 3 years.

• Militia - Parliament was to control the militia (armed forces) for 20 years (the remainder of Charles’ life).

What was Charles’ response to the Newcastle Propositions?

He rejected them which led to the growing politicisation of the New Model Army and split Parliament and the Scots.

How could the New Model Army be viewed?

As a breeding ground for politicisation. Groups including the Levellers, Diggers and Fifth Monarchists emerged.

Who were the Levellers?

A predominately London-based pressure group that sought political, economic and social reforms. Some of their key demands were:

• Extension of the franchise

• Written constitution (Agreement of the People)

• House of Commons as the legislature, removing power of the monarch and the House of Lords

• Frequent elections

• Redistribution of seats

• Religious freedom

• Reform of the law

• Elected local government

• Economic reform

Who were the Diggers?

Another response to the political, economic and social effects of the Civil Wars. They established a commune outside London and saw communes as a solution to social inequalities. It was believed that ‘every freeman shall have a freedom in the earth to plant or build or fetch from the storehouses anything he wants’. The Diggers had less immediate influence than the Levellers did. Their commune only lasted a year before being destroyed by troops led by Fairfax.

Who were the Fifth Monarchists?

A group recognised as a more formal emergence of millenarianism (a key strand in English Purtianism that influenced movements such as the Levellers and the Diggers).

What was the Heads of the Proposals?

Modified terms, offered to the King by the army. The main points were:

• Regular biennial parliaments

• Parliamentary control of the army and navy

• Parliamentary appointment of great offices of state for ten years

• Religious settlement that maintained the national Church with bishops, but no coercive power

How did the King respond to the Heads of the Proposals?

It was rejected by the King, causing a division between Parliament and the Army. Charles began to negotiate with the Scots.

What was The Engagement?

A secret agreement between Charles and The Engagers, a faction of the Scottish Covenanters, who were disappointed with their alliance with English Parliament. In The Engagement of December 1647, Charles agreed that England would have a 3 year period of Presbytarianism in return for the Scots’ help in invading England against Parliament and restoring his power.

How did Parliament react to The Engagement?

It showed the King to be ‘double-dealing’, and led Parliament to pass the Vote of No Addresses in January 1648 which meant that there would be no further negotiation with Charles.

What was the Windsor Prayer Meeting?

The New Model gathered at Windsor to pray before facing their enemies in April 1648. They reflected on Bible passages and preachers declared that Charles I was ‘the man of blood’. It was here that the army debated regicide in public for the first time.

How did Charles react to the Windsor Prayer Meeting?

It made him more determined and encouraged pro-Royalist sympathies.

How did the Second Civil War begin?

It began in April 1648 by invasion from Scotland, Royalist risings across England as well as Wales rising for the King.

How did Parliament respond to the Second Civil War caused by Charles?

General Fairfax and Ireton tackled the Royalist rising in Kent; Cromwell was sent to South Wales; and General Lambert held the northern front to slow down Scottish invasion until southern reinforcements could arrive. In August having crushed the rebels in South Wales, Cromwell joined with Lambert to face the Scottish Royalist troops at Preston. Despite being heavily outnumbered, them and their disciplined army defeated the Scots’ Royalist force.

What was the Treaty of Newport?

An Autumn 1648 event where Parliament repeals Vote of No Address and Parliament and King negotiate. Charles made concessions to Parliament.

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Newport?

Negotiations were extended, yet the King secretly plots to ignore terms which led the Army to fear settlement to restore the King.

What was the Remonstrance of the Army?

The prospect of a treaty between Parliament and Charles. It reiterated the conclusions of Windsor Prayer Meeting. Ireton declares intention to bring Charles to trial and proposed Leveller vision of Parliament. If Parliament refused to put Charles on trial, the Remonstrance called for a purge of Parliament and then the King’s trial to follow. This happened in November 1648.

What was the outcome of the Remonstranace of the Army?

It ended the Newport negotiations, cleared the way to purge Parliament and showed the radical agenda of the Army.

What was Pride’s Purge?

It followed a vote in Parliament on 5 December 1648 (with 129 MPs voting in favour and 83 against) to continue the Newport Treaty with Charles. This made the army act on the threats of the Remonstrance. On 6 December 1648, troops led by Colonel Thomas Pride purged Parliament of those regarded as most in favour of negotiating with Charles, organised by Ireton. The removed MPs were taken to a pub called ‘Hell’. The remaining MPs, known as the Rump Parliament, would bring Charles to trial.

What was the outcome of Pride’s Purge?

Opponents of the Army were arrested, and Parliament votes to try the King.

What did the failure of settlement and the eventual execution of the King derive from?

• Charles - failure to accept a settlement

• Parliament - their role in governing and the division between Political Presbytarians and Political Independents

• New Model Army - politicisation, relationship with Levellers, their attempt to settle with Charles, the role of key army figures, the army’s relationship with parliament and the army’s belief in God’s providence

• Radicalism - the nature and development of political and religious radicalism, particularly in the New Model Army

When did Charles’ trial open?

27 January 1649.

How many commissioners were appointed to sit as the king’s judges?

135 - many of them refused to act.

What was the King’s response to his trial?

He refused to accept the court’s legitimacy as he didn’t believe it had authority to judge a monarch. Faced by Charles’ stubbornness, Cromwell was reinforced in his belief that it had become a ‘necessity’ to permanently remove Charles to settle the nation.

What was the outcome of Charles’ trial?

He was declared guilty. Out of the 135 commissioners, many of whom never attended any sessions of the court, 59 became regicides by signing the death warrant of Charles I

When was Charles I executed?

30 January 1649 at Whitehall Palace. His head was severed with one blow

How did Charles view himself on the day of his execution?

A martyr for the Church of England. His final word was ‘remember’.