Facts and Historians for the search for settlement 1646-9

£3 mill in arrears. 

- They also became politicised because they wanted indemnity. 

- Focused more on 'bread and butter isues'. 

'Parliament's systematic hostility transmuted the Army's already sharp political consciousness into revolutionary militancy.'

It was a 'fear of being restrained by a foreign hierachical reiligion, coupled with evidence of Charles' willingness to form a foreign alliance led against Parliament that triggered the Second Civil War.' 

In 1646-8 all parties assumed the new constitution would see the King restored to power, albeit with diminished power. 

'God will not suffer his rebels to prosper or his cause to be overthrown.' 

MG Harrison declared that the only way to 'cleanse' the country was to kill Charles I. 

'What transformed religious radicalism into a desire to end [Charles'] life was religious passion.' 

- It was Crom's belief in providence that drove him to become a 'reluctant Regicide' (Morril) 

The execution of Charles I was 'not the climax of long-term developments'. 

These men included Vane, St John and Crom

Many from the 'win the war party'. 

They blieved that disbanding the Army would allow the King to negotiate the terms of the settlement. 

Men such as Holles - dominant in Parl' 

They wanted to pay off the Scots quickly, disband the NMA + send selected regiments to sort out the continuing conflict in Ireland.   

Revisionists (e.g Coward) support the idea of Parl's conservative nature. 

In 1646 when Charles was offered the newcastle Propositions he was in his weakest position. 

However, if he'd have accepted the NPs it is very likely that he would not have been executed. 

Pride's Purge. 

Colonel Pride + The Army only allow MPs who were prepared to put the king on trial into Parliament. 

Arrested 45 

Excluded 186 

Only about 200 MPs remained

They realised the only way to stop the surge f support for the King was to execute him and decalre England a Republic. 

It was practical not ideological reasons that led to the execution of the King. 

It was not just Parliament who were divided, The Army was too. 

The R+F, represented by agitators, were distrustful of the officers (Grandees) who were seen as self-serving + corrupt. 

Charles rejected them on 18th June 1642. 

He declared that Parl's proposals threatened the ancient constitution of the Kingdom. If the King agreed to them he would effectively be deposing himself and his posterity. 

In response to the Anti-Parl' uprisings of April-June 1648. 

Drawn up by Ireton, it demanded judgement of Charles.