Advertise on podcast: The History of England

Series 8 covers the English Revolution - and the British Revolutions, 1638-1660 - or at least that's the plan! After a brief overview o fSeries 8, we go north and against sage advice, Charles was determined to bring Scottish and English churches into harmony, by introducing a Scottish Book of Common prayer, and Canons. When the new service was to be used on 23rd July 1638, opponents were prepared. Daur ye say Mass in my lug? asked Jenny Geddes. Series 8, it is planned, will cover the English Revolutions - within the context of the Three Kingdoms, of course. At the time of writing (episode 394) we have 369 - 376When the hope of a peaceful compromise still seemed possible; a hope which died with Strafford. There is an At A Gallop epsides on 1638 - 1641 too 377 -383Is about the last desperate efforts, the slide into war, and the ar of words 384+Is about the shooting war, the first civil war to 1646 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'I expect not anything can reduce that people to obedience but force only' Charles wrote to Hamilton in 1638, and the actions of the General Assembly of the Kirk had made probably made it inevitable. And sure the combined might of England, Ireland and Royalist Scots could do the job. Wentworth certainly thought so.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an exhausted king arrived back in Whitehall, his view had not changed one whit - the Scots must be taught a lesson and returned to obedience. More ,money raising ventures followed, but it was quickly clear that only one could solve the problem - parliament Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles and his Privy Council stretched life and limb to equip and pay for a new army to pull the king out of this fire. The Junto and Scots did everything they could to keep him in it. The result came in at Newburn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Parliament that convened in November 1641 would define Charles' reign. He would have to offer some concessions. but who would define their extent? The sympathetic royalist MPs, the moderate Reformers - or the Radical members of the Junto? And Charles still had Strafford at his side, breathing fire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Francis Russell, Earl of Bedford believed that an accommodation could be reached with Charles - a amoderate agreement that would preserve the king's honour but provide a lasting reform. And early in 1641, an agreement was within grasp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 between Presbyterians and Independants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As opposition to reform gathered in parliament and the king plotted to regain control, all came down to Strafford. Would the architect and executor of the king's party survive? Or fall, and his master's authority with it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1640 at last Charles is forced to call a parliament and search with parliament for an accomodation. But Charles was to discover the price for restoring order not to his liking.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Strafford, the idea of a genuine compromise was probably dead. Either king or Parliament would need to find a way to force the other into acceptance of their world view. Both had plans as to how this could be achieved Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. But it's success did nothin to divert Charles' closest advisers, the Queen and Edward Nicholas from the plan to build a royalist party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many MPs began to think enough had been done. Charles meanwhile had decided he would never compromise with the Junto; now he would defeat them at their own game. The king would build a party of loyalists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.