OCR AS Level History A Y138/01 The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War
1603–1660 May 2025 QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Wednesday 14 May 2025 – Afternoon
AS Level History A
Y138/01 The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–
1660
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
*14 00 898 9 71 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
,© OCR 2025 [F/506/4316] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (CJ) 354162/1 Turn over
, 2
Section A
The Execution of Charles I and the Interregnum 1646–1660
Study the three sources and answer both questions in this section.
1 Use your knowledge of the parliamentary disputes in the period to assess how useful Source A
is as evidence of the criticism of MPs during the Commonwealth (1649–53). [10]
2 Using these three sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view
that Oliver Cromwell’s aim during the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649 to 1658) was to
enhance his own power. [20]
Source A: A judge at the king’s trial, later a Rump MP, who broke with Cromwell after he
established the Protectorate, recalls the dismissal of the Rump Parliament in 1653.
Cromwell piled the vilest criticisms on Parliament, accusing them of having done nothing for the
public good, and having promoted the corrupt interest of the Presbyterians and the lawyers who were
supporters of tyranny and oppression. He accused them of an intention to keep themselves in power
and thereupon told them that the Lord had done with them and had chosen other servants to carry on
his work that were more worthy.
Edmund Ludlow, memoirs, published 1698–99.
Source B: The Commonwealthmen comment on the Protectorate and the powers accorded to
Parliament.
[Parliament] is understood to be a creature of your [Cromwell’s] will and power. The definition of
places, the qualification of persons, the summons [to parliament], and all other incidents belonging
to it, come wholly from you, and your assumed office. You make yourself so important to them and
at the same time restrict them by instruments as to the power they shall delegate. If the origin of all
just power is in the people, as we have been taught by Parliament, how come there is a jurisdiction
superior to theirs, which commands them what to do?
Officer in the Army in Ireland, letter to Cromwell, 1656.
Source C: Cromwell replies to a delegation of 100 officers and ex major-generals, who feared
that the Humble Petition and Advice might lead to a return of Charles Stuart.
© Toby Barnard, English Republic: 1649-1660, p86-7, Pearson Education Ltd, 1982. From first line " Cromwell said curtly that he had already refused the title ‘king’," to last line " This might be someone else’s case one day." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y138/01 Jun25
1603–1660 May 2025 QUESTION PAPER and MARK SCHEME
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
Wednesday 14 May 2025 – Afternoon
AS Level History A
Y138/01 The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–
1660
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
*14 00 898 9 71 *
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions in Section A and one question in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 4 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
,© OCR 2025 [F/506/4316] OCR is an exempt Charity
DC (CJ) 354162/1 Turn over
, 2
Section A
The Execution of Charles I and the Interregnum 1646–1660
Study the three sources and answer both questions in this section.
1 Use your knowledge of the parliamentary disputes in the period to assess how useful Source A
is as evidence of the criticism of MPs during the Commonwealth (1649–53). [10]
2 Using these three sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view
that Oliver Cromwell’s aim during the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649 to 1658) was to
enhance his own power. [20]
Source A: A judge at the king’s trial, later a Rump MP, who broke with Cromwell after he
established the Protectorate, recalls the dismissal of the Rump Parliament in 1653.
Cromwell piled the vilest criticisms on Parliament, accusing them of having done nothing for the
public good, and having promoted the corrupt interest of the Presbyterians and the lawyers who were
supporters of tyranny and oppression. He accused them of an intention to keep themselves in power
and thereupon told them that the Lord had done with them and had chosen other servants to carry on
his work that were more worthy.
Edmund Ludlow, memoirs, published 1698–99.
Source B: The Commonwealthmen comment on the Protectorate and the powers accorded to
Parliament.
[Parliament] is understood to be a creature of your [Cromwell’s] will and power. The definition of
places, the qualification of persons, the summons [to parliament], and all other incidents belonging
to it, come wholly from you, and your assumed office. You make yourself so important to them and
at the same time restrict them by instruments as to the power they shall delegate. If the origin of all
just power is in the people, as we have been taught by Parliament, how come there is a jurisdiction
superior to theirs, which commands them what to do?
Officer in the Army in Ireland, letter to Cromwell, 1656.
Source C: Cromwell replies to a delegation of 100 officers and ex major-generals, who feared
that the Humble Petition and Advice might lead to a return of Charles Stuart.
© Toby Barnard, English Republic: 1649-1660, p86-7, Pearson Education Ltd, 1982. From first line " Cromwell said curtly that he had already refused the title ‘king’," to last line " This might be someone else’s case one day." Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions.
© OCR 2025 Y138/01 Jun25
