1641. A statute passed, enacting that parliament should not be dissolved without its own consent. Execution of the earl of Strafford. The Star Chamber, High Commission Court, and other arbitrary courts abolished. Insurrection of the Catholics in Ireland, and fearful excesses committed. The Commons drew up a REMONSTRANCE on the state of the nation.
1642. Charles went to the House of Commons to arrest five members—Pym, Hampden, Haselrig, Hollis, and Strode, whom, with Lord Kimbolton, he had charged with high treason; but he failed in his attempt, as the obnoxious members were designedly absent. The parliament passed a bill for regulating the militia, to which he refused his assent. The CIVIL WAR, or GREAT REBELLION: Charles raised his standard at Nottingham (Aug. 22). Indecisive battle at Edgehill, in Warwickshire (Oct. 23).
The immediate cause of the rebellion, says Lord Brougham, were—1. The religious zeal, or rather fury, excited by the encouragement which the king and queen gave to Popery, and which was greatly magnified, at least as concerned him. 2. A conspiracy was discovered of some leading persons in the king’s party to march the army to London and subdue the parliament. 3. That which, more than all the rest, hurried on matters to extremities, was the insane step he took of entering, in person, the House of Commons, and claiming the surrender of five members, the leaders of the party opposed to him, but who had the whole Commons and nearly the whole Lords for their followers. That it led immediately to the vote which vested in parliament the nomination of militia officers—in other words, the command of the army—cannot be doubted; and this was the commencement of the Civil War.
1643. Battle of Chalgrove Field, near Oxford, where Hampden was mortally wounded (June 18); Royalist victories at Atherton Moor, in Yorkshire (June 30), and Roundway Down, near Devizes (July 13). Prince Rupert, the king’s nephew, took Bristol, but the king himself failed in an attempt on Gloucester. Royalists defeated at Newbury, in Berkshire, where the earls of Sunderland and Carnarvon and Lord Falkland were slain (Sept. 20). Death of Pym.
1644. The king assembled a rival parliament (consisting of the loyal members) at Oxford. The Scots entered England to aid the Long Parliament. Royalists defeated at Nantwich (Jan. 25). The parliamentarians, mainly by the military genius of Oliver Cromwell, gained a great victory at Marston Moor, in Yorkshire (July 2). Indecisive battle at Newbury (Oct. 27).
1645. Archbishop Laud executed for high treason. A treaty of peace begun at Uxbridge, but the two parties could not agree as to the terms. Self-denying ordinance passed, ordaining that no member of parliament should hold in future any civil or military office. The parliamentarians gained a decisive victory at NASEBY, in Northamptonshire (June 14). Bristol retaken by Sir Thomas Fairfax. The earl of Montrose, who had gained several victories over the covenanters, was totally defeated at Philiphaugh, near Selkirk (Sept. 13).
1646. The king surrendered himself to the Scots who were stationed near Newark (May 5).
END OF THE FIRST CIVIL WAR.
1647. The Scots gave Charles up to the parliament on payment of part of their arrears. The latter endeavoured to disband the English army, but failed: and the army seized the king. About five months after, he escaped to the Isle of Wight, but was arrested and imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle.