Failure to Reach a Settlement:
1649-1649 at a glance:
May 1646 – March 1647: attempts at a political settlement between king and
parliament
April – December 1647: conflict between parliament and the army
January – August 1648: parliamentarians reunited due to royalists/Scottish uprising
and the Second Civil War following the Engagement
September – January 1649: the English revolution, Army’s position radicalises,
Purge, trial, and execution
Timeline of events
Newcastle Propositions July 1646: These were presented to the King by the
Presbyterians in Parliament based on the 19 Propositions of 1642 but with more
detail:
o 3 year Presbyterian settlement (abolish episcopacy)
o Parliament in control of the militia for 20 years
o Triennial Act enforced
Charles prevaricated and delayed hoping that divisions between the
Parliamentarians would become more apparent and give Charles a chance to reach a
settlement more suitable to him
1646 saw these disagreements between these groups rumble on:
o Parliament v. Scots – MPs were resistant to carry out the terms of the
Scottish League of Covenants and the Scots were growing impatient about
this ‘lame Erastian presybytery’ that was left after the war. Charles had
surrendered to the Scots as he wanted a better deal – Parliament wanted
possession of him as this was giving them leverage
o Army v. Parliament – The NMA disapproved of the Newcastle Propositions
considering them too soft on the King and denying their political right to have
a say following their role in the defeat of Charles (+tension of arrears of pay)
o Within Parliament – Presbyterians remain in the majority but ‘recruiter’
elections in 1645-47 see more Independents elected)
January 1647: Scots army agrees to leave England in return for £4000 and hand
Charles over to Parliament and he is taken to Holdenby House, Northamptonshire
April-May 1647: Parliament wanted to send 12,400 men to Ireland, 6400 would stay
in England, and the others would be dismissed – arrears of pay? Indemnity?
June 1647: Cornet Joyce captures Charles and takes him to army HQ in Newmarket
14th June 1647: Declaration of the Army issues ‘not a mere mercenary army’ and
calls for the purge of Parliament
26th July 1647: 11 Presbyterians returned to Parliament (they had previously fled
from London) after invasion of demonstrators loyal to Presbyterian leaders. 60 MPs
flee to army
July 1647: Army grandees submit Heads of Proposals to Charles (not that radical
considering)
4th August 1647: Army occupies London and reinstate Independent MPs
1649-1649 at a glance:
May 1646 – March 1647: attempts at a political settlement between king and
parliament
April – December 1647: conflict between parliament and the army
January – August 1648: parliamentarians reunited due to royalists/Scottish uprising
and the Second Civil War following the Engagement
September – January 1649: the English revolution, Army’s position radicalises,
Purge, trial, and execution
Timeline of events
Newcastle Propositions July 1646: These were presented to the King by the
Presbyterians in Parliament based on the 19 Propositions of 1642 but with more
detail:
o 3 year Presbyterian settlement (abolish episcopacy)
o Parliament in control of the militia for 20 years
o Triennial Act enforced
Charles prevaricated and delayed hoping that divisions between the
Parliamentarians would become more apparent and give Charles a chance to reach a
settlement more suitable to him
1646 saw these disagreements between these groups rumble on:
o Parliament v. Scots – MPs were resistant to carry out the terms of the
Scottish League of Covenants and the Scots were growing impatient about
this ‘lame Erastian presybytery’ that was left after the war. Charles had
surrendered to the Scots as he wanted a better deal – Parliament wanted
possession of him as this was giving them leverage
o Army v. Parliament – The NMA disapproved of the Newcastle Propositions
considering them too soft on the King and denying their political right to have
a say following their role in the defeat of Charles (+tension of arrears of pay)
o Within Parliament – Presbyterians remain in the majority but ‘recruiter’
elections in 1645-47 see more Independents elected)
January 1647: Scots army agrees to leave England in return for £4000 and hand
Charles over to Parliament and he is taken to Holdenby House, Northamptonshire
April-May 1647: Parliament wanted to send 12,400 men to Ireland, 6400 would stay
in England, and the others would be dismissed – arrears of pay? Indemnity?
June 1647: Cornet Joyce captures Charles and takes him to army HQ in Newmarket
14th June 1647: Declaration of the Army issues ‘not a mere mercenary army’ and
calls for the purge of Parliament
26th July 1647: 11 Presbyterians returned to Parliament (they had previously fled
from London) after invasion of demonstrators loyal to Presbyterian leaders. 60 MPs
flee to army
July 1647: Army grandees submit Heads of Proposals to Charles (not that radical
considering)
4th August 1647: Army occupies London and reinstate Independent MPs
