Failure to Achieve a Settlement 1646-9

Required Charles to agree to:

• Solemn League and Convenant
• Abolition of bishops and archibishops and religion to be settled by parliament
• Parliament to agree on how to raise money and to command armed forces and advisors

Charles hoping to exploit the divisions within parliament:

• Scots and parliament over religion, Parliament divided into war and peace parties
• Army - religious extremism e.g. Levellers, Ranters, Quakers
• Unrest in counties as army was not disbanded and countinued on committes (annoyed gentry)
• Unhappy that parliament had passed ordiance limiting religious festivals e.g. Christmas in 1644- had been riots in Canterbury Christmas 1647

Charles handed to Parliament and taken to Holdenby House, response to NP May 1647

• Parliament control of army for only 10 years, supporters not to be persecuterd
• Discussing Presbyterian church, not to give up right to chose ministers

• Peace Party disband NMA 1647 - officers replaced with conservative ones
• No provision for back pay or indemnity for actions during war
• March soliders petitioned parliament, responded with Decleration of Dislike
• May voted to be disbanded - army mutinied, seized Charles in June
• Solemn Engagement agreed not to disband until they'd achieved fair pay settlement
• Representation outlined political programme - purging of MPs, parliament to be dissolved and new ones to be of fixed length, liberty for 'tender concience' 
• Heads of Proposals drawn up for Charles August:
  • Biennial parliament and control of militia for 10 years
  • Less authority of Bishops, abolition of prayer book and convenant
• Army's Agreement of the People October 1647, Putney Debates
• Charles escapes to Isle of Wight- hopes to exploit divisions and didn't trust HoP

• Mutiny at Corkbush Field but down by Cromwell November 1647
• Charles and Scots sign Engagement December 1647 - agrees to Presbyterian worship in return for Scottish military aid
• Uprisings in Wales, Kent, York Essex quickly put down by Cromwell
• Scottish army defeated by Cromwell in August

• Commons voted No Further Addresses in Jan 1648, withdrawn in September 
• Army annoyed - at prayer meeting saw renewal of Civil War as Charles going against God, wanted to punish 'this man of blood'
• Army Remonstrance in November, wanted Charles' punishment as 'authour of all our woes'
• Pride's Purge December - only 150 members allowed in (Cromwell absent)
• Established High Court to try Charles - 'tyrant, traitor and murderer'
• 27th Jan sentenced to death, only 59/150 signed death warrant
• Died 30th Jan - 'great groan' from crowd, sales of Eikon Basilike - maytr-like