Now Charles would have to negotiate. What did he want to achieve, and would the Scots leave England?

After Naseby things looked dire - could Charles manufacture a way to revive royalist fortunes?

The revolt of the Provinces

We come to 1645, and the first test of the New Model Army. To Charles and Rupert this was an opportunity to destroy it while full of raw recruits. ThroughRead More

In discord was forged a sharp new sword of liberty...or of parliamentary tyranny, delete as applicable

Charles faces Manchester at Newbury - and Montrose and Macolla create mayhem in Scotland

In the summer of 1644 Parliament and Essex had a chance to finish it all.

The Civil wars brought violence into town, village and countryside

Between a quarter and a third of adult males up to 50 will fight in the first civil war. Most families will be affected in some way. Here is theRead More

The Solemn League and Covenant will bring a Scottish army to Parliament - and an ocean of trouble

July 1643 would see two critical contests at Bath and in Yorkshire. And the death of The Patriot

  Early 1643 was not a good idea for peace. By April, both the Scots and English parliament had tired of Charles’ negotiating style and started talking to each otherRead More

Despite multiplying armies, the search for peace goes on

The King and people of London face off at Turnham Green

Charles’ situation in August looked dire. But at Shrewsbury, soldiers came to his call, arms reached him from Henrietta Maria, and in October he had an army, and set ofRead More

How people made choices for king or parliament, and whether they cared

Both sides lay out their stalls. And Henry Parker lays out some underlying foundations of English political thought

The Royal fightback begins. A party to control parliament for the king

In a time of national danger and an explosion of print and debate, the Protestation Oath of 1641 was a remarkable act of nation building

Charles looks for friends in Scotland

The dramatic story of the trial and judgement of the Earl of Strafford

Charles’ response to the Scottish Declaration was severe; but it also caused a division in the Junto, and among MPs. Meanwhile, as poublic religious debate exploded, divisions also grew betweenRead More

After hard negotiation, by February 1641 a workable compromise was in sight

A new settlement would be formed between King, parliament and people

Strafford would have no backing down. Bring the rebels to heel!

At last, the 11 year wait is over. Parliament is back.

'I expect not anything can reduce that people to obedience but force only' Charles wrote in 1638. The following year that would be put to the test. in the First Bishops War (Bishops not included).

In 1633 Thomas Wentworth arrived in Ireland - and despite great administrative efficiency, managed to separately outrage each of the components of Irish Society Meanwhile in London, William Prynne and John Lillburne stood form against tyranny.