The Civil War in Britain

In October 1641 trouble erupted in yet another part of the British Isles. Irish Catholics murdered several thousand settlers from mainland Britain. They claimed to support Charles. Many Puritans leaped to the conclusion that the king (or his Catholic Queen) was behind the rising. This is why parliament demanded the right to control the armies sent out to put down the rebellion. But Charles, of course, refused to let them do this. It was his right, no Parliament’s to command the troops. So the Irish rebellion widened the gap between King and parliament even further.

Charles, beset by trouble in Ireland and Scotland as well as in parliament decided to arrest the ringleaders in parliament. He brought serious charges, called Articles of Impeachment, against John Hampden, John Pym, Denzil Holles, Sir Arthur Haslerigg, William Strode and Lord Mandeville. However, when he sent an officer into him to proceed.

The forces which supported Charles are known as the Cavaliers. Their opponents, the supporters of parliament, were called Roundheads. As a general rule, Anglicans and Catholic supported the King while Puritans supported Parliament. Large Landowners, many farmers and most of the nobles took the king side. Merchants and manufacture, most shopkeepers and many town workers backed Parliament. they were fed up with the taxes and duties they had to pay.

There was also a differences across Britain. Londoners and the south and east were for parliament. Wales and the north and west were Royalist. However, there were many exceptions. Bother often fought against brother.

The war itself lasted three long years. Charles won a number of victories at first, but parliament was led by two great generals, Oliver Cromwell and Sit Thomas Fairfax. Cromwell raised and trained his own troop of soldiers. His soldiers stood fast under attack. They did not break. This is why they were nicknamed “Cromwell’s Ironsides”. They formed part of the New Model Army which Cromwell later helped to form in 1645. It was filled with well trained, God fearing recruits and performed well in battle. It helped parliament defeat Charles I decisively at Naseby in Northmptonshire.

The cause of the War.

The war years were hateful years for most people in England (where almost all the fighting took place). Apart from the loss of relatives fighting in the war, ordinary people suffered in many other ways as well. Troops from both sides expected to live off the land as you, People in town were badly treated as well.

The armies brought epidemic disease with them since the conditions in their camps were unhygienic and unhealthy. As a result, the death rate in Britain increased during the war years in addition to the large loss of life from the fighting.

The Battle of Naseby.

The Scottish army enterer the war on the side of parliament in 1644 and fought at Marston Moor. This was the first of the two main parliamentary victories. The scots had been promised that after the      war the English church would be recognized on Presbyterin lines. However, the deciding battle was at Naseby in 1645. A member of parliament called Bulstrode.

After Naseby, Charles escaped to Scotland in 1646, hopping to gain the support of his own people against their common enemy. However, the Scots refused to come to his aid unless he agreed to accept their right to worship in the Presbyterin Church. Charles would do no such thing, of course. So the Scots sent him back and parliament put him under arrest.