Thomas Wentworth's Regiment of The Sealed Knot


	The causes of the English Civil Wars are many and varied, the main ones being religion and the relationship between the King and Parliament. Between 1629 and 1640 the King disbanded Parliament because they would not give him what he wanted. When Charles required extra revenue he looked for other ways of raising it without the authority of Parliament but these methods were very unpopular: ship money, the creation of monopolies in coal, soap etc. Religion was a major issue throughout the 17th Century. The Puritan population wanted to expel from the church all they considered corrupt or remotely papist. The fact that the King was married to a Roman Catholic also hadn’t gone unnoticed. The fear of a Catholic uprising in England, similar to the one in Ireland drove many to fear the Catholics. Late in 1641 many of the King's closet advisers believed that 'extremists' in Parliament were about to impeach the Queen. Early in the following year King Charles tried to arrest five of the leading members of Parliament, John Pym, John Hampden, Denzil Holles, Arthur Haslerig and William Strode, however they had been tipped off, and had slipped out shortly before the King arrived. Shortly after this the King and his family fled to Hampton Court, little did he know that the next time he was to return to London would be for his trial. With the King away Parliament took control of the armed forces forcing the King to issue a proclamation telling the forces not to respond to their new 'masters'. Charles was fortunate to gain the support of his nephews, Prince Rupert and his younger Brother. 1642 was to be the start of the bloody battles of the English Civil War. In August of that year King Charles raised his standard at Nottingham, setting up his Royal capital in Oxford. The first battle of the English Civil War was not, like commonly thought, Edgehill, but a small Skirmish at Powick Bridge on 23rd September 1642. However, on October 23rd at Edgehill, Warwickshire, the Parliament army under Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex met the Royalists under the command of the King himself. The battle was indecisive, with neither side gaining a victory, however, thanks to the efforts of Charles Gerrard’s unit on the right flank, and a certain Thomas Wentworth’s Brigade on the left, a Parliamentarian Minor Victory was prevented. Early victories lead to renewed support for the King, however the Solemn Act and Covenant, signed on MP John Pym’s deathbed, brought the Parliament allied Scots into the war. On the 2nd of July 1644 at the Battle of Marston Moor the full weight of the Scots, many of which where 30 Years War veterans, was felt, with devastating consequences. The decisive defeat at Naseby on 14th June 1645 ended the King’s support in the North, although Montrose’s successful Scottish campaign continued. Between 1642 and 1646 many attempts were made to reach a settlement, however these attempts failed. Charles was tried for High Treason against Britain, even though he was the anointed Sovereign. Evidence of threats to bring an Irish Catholic Army to England to fight for the King was used to convince the court of his guilt. The result was inevitable. Charles was sentenced to death on 27th January, and beheaded on January 30th 1649 outside the Banqueting House, Whitehall. Although it is believed that many of the signatures on his death warrant were forged. The Cambridge MP and Cavalry Commander Oliver Cromwell took power as Lord Protector until his death in 1658 when his son Richard took the title for a further two years. In 1660 Parliament pressed for Restoration, and the son of Charles I returned to his kingdom and rightful place, ruling as King Charles II.