AS LEVEL HISTORY A: Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER 1: The Early Stuarts and the Origins of
the Civil War 1603–1660. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y138/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The AS Level History A May 2025 The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 Paper
(OCR Y138/01) integrates the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a
focused and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of the political,
religious, and social developments in England under the early Stuart monarchs, including the causes of
civil unrest and the outbreak of the English Civil War. Candidates are required to analyse primary and
secondary sources, evaluate differing historical interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based
arguments. By presenting each question alongside its marking criteria, the resource offers clear guidance
on examiner expectations, analytical depth, and the structured responses required for high-band marks.
This integrated format supports targeted revision, strengthens source evaluation and essay-writing skills,
and prepares students thoroughly for the May/June 2026 OCR AS Level History A The Early Stuarts and
the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
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
, 3
Section B
The Early Stuarts 1603–1646
Answer Question 3 or Question 4.
3* Assess the reasons why Charles I dissolved parliament in 1629. [20]
4* ‘Charles I was to blame for the outbreak of the First Civil War in 1642.’
How far do you agree? [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y138/01 Jun25
the Civil War 1603–1660. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR Y138/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The AS Level History A May 2025 The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 Paper
(OCR Y138/01) integrates the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a
focused and practical revision resource. This paper assesses students’ understanding of the political,
religious, and social developments in England under the early Stuart monarchs, including the causes of
civil unrest and the outbreak of the English Civil War. Candidates are required to analyse primary and
secondary sources, evaluate differing historical interpretations, and construct coherent, evidence-based
arguments. By presenting each question alongside its marking criteria, the resource offers clear guidance
on examiner expectations, analytical depth, and the structured responses required for high-band marks.
This integrated format supports targeted revision, strengthens source evaluation and essay-writing skills,
and prepares students thoroughly for the May/June 2026 OCR AS Level History A The Early Stuarts and
the Origins of the Civil War 1603–1660 examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
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
, 3
Section B
The Early Stuarts 1603–1646
Answer Question 3 or Question 4.
3* Assess the reasons why Charles I dissolved parliament in 1629. [20]
4* ‘Charles I was to blame for the outbreak of the First Civil War in 1642.’
How far do you agree? [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 Y138/01 Jun25
