CHAPTER 21 – THE THIRD CIVIL WAR
In the surge of pamphlets, papers, ballads and drawing that followed Charles’s execution,
extensive writings created powerful memories and thoughts of his dignity and deep foreboding
of what the future might hold following this momentous act.
One Hagiographical (genre of writing that focuses on the lives of saints) text by Eikon
Kasilike, ran 46 editions within the year was a mysterious mix of prayer & political
commentary that portrayed the king as the martyr of the people even like the sacrifice of Jesus
on the cross – needless to say the future government would not have popular support following
the execution.
The attempted Royalist Revival:
Royalism in England-
The execution of the king created an unprecedented governmental vacuum for which the
country was not prepared.
The vast majority of the political nation remained attached to the idea of monarchical
government (this was also partly shown as the charge against the king was against Charles the
individual himself not the office of king)
There was in fact little desire to use the execution as the way to form a republic- even among
the few men who signed the death warrant, the vast majority had signed it was heavy
reluctance and very few were genuinely republicans.
This created a major issue as there was a no straightforward and obvious solution to the power
vacuum. Prince Charles had fled in 1645 and was now living in The Hague with his sister
Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange. Although he did wish to claim his right to
throne and become King Charles II, he was tarnished by his involvement in the military the
political manoeuvres of his father and his mother’s Catholicism.
It is fair to say that the army and the Rump were ready to embark on a republican experiment
but the country at league still was monarchical in impulse but not supportive of Charles Stuart.
Execution of Royalist leaders-
The likelihood of a royalist revival that would challenge the dominance of the rump and bring
Charles Stuart to the throne was greatly diminished when five veteran royalist leaders were
executed.
Henry Rich (Earl of Holland), James Hamilton (1st Earl of Argyll) and Arthur Capell (1st Baron
Capell of Hadham) were among those to quickly follow Charles to the scaffold on March 9th.
Challenges faced by Charles Stuart
Charles Stuart looked to his father’s other kingdoms for support as militant royalism had been
broken in England but he still faced serious challenges.
From exile in the Dutch Republic, he found it difficult to coordinate military actions.
He had little financial support.
He could not readily build a court as he did not have a permeant base.
His ability to command authority was reduced and continued to dwindle as his circumstances
remained.
The Irish and Scottish saw an opportunity to renegotiate their own constitutional balance as the
price for their loyalty to Charles (he needed their support and would have to grant major
concessions for it).
In the surge of pamphlets, papers, ballads and drawing that followed Charles’s execution,
extensive writings created powerful memories and thoughts of his dignity and deep foreboding
of what the future might hold following this momentous act.
One Hagiographical (genre of writing that focuses on the lives of saints) text by Eikon
Kasilike, ran 46 editions within the year was a mysterious mix of prayer & political
commentary that portrayed the king as the martyr of the people even like the sacrifice of Jesus
on the cross – needless to say the future government would not have popular support following
the execution.
The attempted Royalist Revival:
Royalism in England-
The execution of the king created an unprecedented governmental vacuum for which the
country was not prepared.
The vast majority of the political nation remained attached to the idea of monarchical
government (this was also partly shown as the charge against the king was against Charles the
individual himself not the office of king)
There was in fact little desire to use the execution as the way to form a republic- even among
the few men who signed the death warrant, the vast majority had signed it was heavy
reluctance and very few were genuinely republicans.
This created a major issue as there was a no straightforward and obvious solution to the power
vacuum. Prince Charles had fled in 1645 and was now living in The Hague with his sister
Mary and her husband Prince William of Orange. Although he did wish to claim his right to
throne and become King Charles II, he was tarnished by his involvement in the military the
political manoeuvres of his father and his mother’s Catholicism.
It is fair to say that the army and the Rump were ready to embark on a republican experiment
but the country at league still was monarchical in impulse but not supportive of Charles Stuart.
Execution of Royalist leaders-
The likelihood of a royalist revival that would challenge the dominance of the rump and bring
Charles Stuart to the throne was greatly diminished when five veteran royalist leaders were
executed.
Henry Rich (Earl of Holland), James Hamilton (1st Earl of Argyll) and Arthur Capell (1st Baron
Capell of Hadham) were among those to quickly follow Charles to the scaffold on March 9th.
Challenges faced by Charles Stuart
Charles Stuart looked to his father’s other kingdoms for support as militant royalism had been
broken in England but he still faced serious challenges.
From exile in the Dutch Republic, he found it difficult to coordinate military actions.
He had little financial support.
He could not readily build a court as he did not have a permeant base.
His ability to command authority was reduced and continued to dwindle as his circumstances
remained.
The Irish and Scottish saw an opportunity to renegotiate their own constitutional balance as the
price for their loyalty to Charles (he needed their support and would have to grant major
concessions for it).
