When a king is bound by the law of the land but decides to turn back the clock so that his power becomes absolute, what will happen?
Who was Charles I, and why did he have ambitions to amass power in the hands of the monarchy?
What laws did the king pass that showed that he was serious in his attempts to return England to an absolute monarchy?
How did the people, especially Parliament, respond to the king's moves?
What laws did the king pass that showed that he was serious in his attempts to return England to an absolute monarchy?
How did the people, especially Parliament, respond to the king's moves?
Which document in the history of England was the main instrument to limit the rights of kings to use absolute power against the people?
Let's start with the end: the execution of Charles I
What of King Charles, now that he had seen his army twice defeated by Cromwell’s army? The king gave himself up to the Scots, who gave him over to Parliament, who weren’t quite sure what to do with him. The king well knew that his enemies were divided into groups — the Scots, the Army and Parliament, and that each group differed with the others. Much scheming was afoot, and a rift developed between Parliament and the Army — the same well disciplined New Model Army which had fought so gallantly for its Parliament. Cromwell, acting for the Army, still thought highly of King Charles, and told the king of his new plan for a State church controlled by Parliament, but with freedom of worship, and with the king responsible to Parliament. Charles listened with feigned interest. Then he wrote a letter to his Queen in which he said he was planning for the Scots to invade England and put down Cromwell, his Army and the Parliament. Unfortunately for the king, Cromwell, informed of the letter, intercepted it.
To make matters worse, the Royalists were rising again. In Scotland an army was being gathered for an invasion. In the north of England the king’s supporters were again on the march. In London Cromwell gathered together the remnants of his once New Model Army. There were fewer of them now, and they needed fresh supplies and clothing. Cromwell and his army began the long march north to face the Scots and the English Royalists in the Second Civil War. News came that the huge Royalist army was gathered around Preston — more than twice as many of them as there were of Cromwell’s Ironsides. Cromwell knew that he must meet and check them before they got too far south, gathering reinforcements. Coming up to Preston he threw in a tremendous attack, severing the enemy army into two. Then, brilliant tactician that he was, he left a small force to wipe out those in his rear and drove the larger part of the Royalists south in front of him.
The Scots and northern Royalists, thus cut off from their home ground, were at Cromwell’s mercy. Cromwell attacked until there were no more Royalists left. Yet even while the war was being fought, down in London Parliament was trying to even out its difficulties with King Charles. When he heard about this, Cromwell was furious. So, too, were his troops. It looked like open “war” again — but this time between the Army and Parliament. Then an army man named Colonel Pride decided to take matters into his own hands. Marching some of his troops to Westminster, he mounted a guard on the House of Commons, and refused admittance to all M.P.s who had supported the king!
Those M.P.s who were left after “Pride’s Purge” were called the “Rump,” and they assumed absolute authority. The importance of all this was that Parliament was now under Army control — so, in fact, the Army was the real ruler of England. Lieutenant-General Cromwell reached London again where he agreed that the Rump appoint a court to try “the man Charles Stuart” with High Treason. In January1649, King Charles I was put on trial at Whitehall. And here, says an historian, “The king refuses to plead, comports himself with royal dignity, with royal haughtiness, smiles contemptuously, looks with austere countenance, does not seem, till the very last, to have fairly believed that they would dare to sentence him.”
The king declared that the court had no authority to try him. He was told: “The court is satisfied of its authority. No court will bear to hear its authority questioned in that manner. Clerk, read the sentence!” Fifty-nine signatures were on the document pronouncing the findings of the court. The third one was Oliver Cromwell’s. The date was 29 January 1649. The sentence required the king “to be put to death by the severing of his head from his body … in the open street before Whitehall on the morrow.” King Charles died “upon the morrow” with great courage. On the scaffold he addressed a great silent crowd come to watch his execution, telling them that he had tried to serve only them, and praying for forgiveness for his enemies.
To make matters worse, the Royalists were rising again. In Scotland an army was being gathered for an invasion. In the north of England the king’s supporters were again on the march. In London Cromwell gathered together the remnants of his once New Model Army. There were fewer of them now, and they needed fresh supplies and clothing. Cromwell and his army began the long march north to face the Scots and the English Royalists in the Second Civil War. News came that the huge Royalist army was gathered around Preston — more than twice as many of them as there were of Cromwell’s Ironsides. Cromwell knew that he must meet and check them before they got too far south, gathering reinforcements. Coming up to Preston he threw in a tremendous attack, severing the enemy army into two. Then, brilliant tactician that he was, he left a small force to wipe out those in his rear and drove the larger part of the Royalists south in front of him.
The Scots and northern Royalists, thus cut off from their home ground, were at Cromwell’s mercy. Cromwell attacked until there were no more Royalists left. Yet even while the war was being fought, down in London Parliament was trying to even out its difficulties with King Charles. When he heard about this, Cromwell was furious. So, too, were his troops. It looked like open “war” again — but this time between the Army and Parliament. Then an army man named Colonel Pride decided to take matters into his own hands. Marching some of his troops to Westminster, he mounted a guard on the House of Commons, and refused admittance to all M.P.s who had supported the king!
Those M.P.s who were left after “Pride’s Purge” were called the “Rump,” and they assumed absolute authority. The importance of all this was that Parliament was now under Army control — so, in fact, the Army was the real ruler of England. Lieutenant-General Cromwell reached London again where he agreed that the Rump appoint a court to try “the man Charles Stuart” with High Treason. In January1649, King Charles I was put on trial at Whitehall. And here, says an historian, “The king refuses to plead, comports himself with royal dignity, with royal haughtiness, smiles contemptuously, looks with austere countenance, does not seem, till the very last, to have fairly believed that they would dare to sentence him.”
The king declared that the court had no authority to try him. He was told: “The court is satisfied of its authority. No court will bear to hear its authority questioned in that manner. Clerk, read the sentence!” Fifty-nine signatures were on the document pronouncing the findings of the court. The third one was Oliver Cromwell’s. The date was 29 January 1649. The sentence required the king “to be put to death by the severing of his head from his body … in the open street before Whitehall on the morrow.” King Charles died “upon the morrow” with great courage. On the scaffold he addressed a great silent crowd come to watch his execution, telling them that he had tried to serve only them, and praying for forgiveness for his enemies.
English Civil War Map
As a war reporter, your job would be serious: you would have to provide accurate information to your readers about important battles and their outcome.
Depending on your newspaper, your reporting might be neutral and fair. In other words, it would try to show all sides.
However, if your target audience are Royalists, you would want your readers to feel good about the successes of their king. You would tell the story from their point of view and omit anything that would cause concern.
On the other hand, if your audience are the Round Heads instead of the Cavaliers, you would focus on the losses of the Royal Armies.
Try it out.
Depending on your newspaper, your reporting might be neutral and fair. In other words, it would try to show all sides.
However, if your target audience are Royalists, you would want your readers to feel good about the successes of their king. You would tell the story from their point of view and omit anything that would cause concern.
On the other hand, if your audience are the Round Heads instead of the Cavaliers, you would focus on the losses of the Royal Armies.
Try it out.