Towards the second Civil War (May 1646 – January 1649)

At the same time as the army had successfully established a more politically radical and religious Independent government in London, the army’s leadership attempted to distance themselves from their more extreme allies. The Levellers then feared that the more moderate army ‘grandees’ would allow the King to return unconditionally. Radicals within the New Model Army created the Army Council, comprising elected ‘New Agents’ or ‘agitators’, to represent their views. Their ideas were summarised in An Agreement of the People, co-written by the Leveller John Lilburne, which differed significantly from the grandees’ earlier Heads of Proposals.

In October and November 1647 the grandees invited the agitators to debate the issues within An Agreement of the People at the St. Mary the Virgin church at Putney, where the army was headquartered. The debates were chaired by Lieutenant-General Cromwell, who attempted to moderate the views of the extreme radicals. Much of the debate centred around the Levellers’ demand for democracy in the form of a vote for every man, which Cromwell believed would lead to anarchy. They eventually agreed that servants and alms-takers be excluded from the franchise but soldiers who had fought for Parliament in the Civil War be included. A vote was secured for the proposals to be presented and voted on by all the troops. That alarmed Cromwell who was determined to maintain discipline in the increasingly extremist army. The agitators were ordered back to their regiments and a committee comprising of only officers was formed to draw up a manifesto to be presented to the troops. Radicals in the army were suppressed in the subsequent mutiny.

The radicals who had been the driving forces behind the revolution were mostly restricted to Puritan citizens of London and the army. Those in Parliament were generally of the land-owning class who could not jeopardize their privileged positions in society by allowing full democracy as advocated by the Levellers. In November Parliament rejected those demands. Nevertheless, the debates that took place at Putney, in part, shaped the future democracy in Britain and had a lasting impact, sowing the seeds of the later Chartists and the Independent Labour Party. Many of the beliefs and language of the Levellers became enshrined in the American Constitution in the following century.

The situation changed in November 1647 when Charles escaped from Hampton Court Palace to the Isle of Wight where the local gentry were staunchly royalist. For a time he was able to live as the king of the island with a small court-in-exile. However, the following February the island’s governor complied with Parliamentary orders and moved him to house arrest in Carisbrooke Castle on the island.

London’s apprentices wielded a certain amount of political muscle by their sheer number and willingness to demonstrate whenever they felt the need. The Puritans had abolished various religious holidays such as Shrove Tuesday, during which it was customary for the apprentices to make merry, and in December 1647 apprentices petitioned Parliament for the reinstatement of the Christmas holiday. They decorated a pump at Cornhill with holly and ivy and defended it from soldiers who attempted to remove the decorations. Mayor Warner, came to restore order. Following marches and threats of mass meetings the apprentices were given back their holidays. Perhaps emboldened by their victory, they began to demonstrate against other government decisions and in April 1648 Warner’s house was attacked.

During his time on the Isle of Wight Charles began playing off the different factions of his enemies against each other, negotiating an agreement with the Scottish Presbyterians in which he promised the establishment of the Presbyterian Church throughout England as well as Scotland.

Royalist sentiment was increasing. A large demonstration took place in April 1648 in London demanding the King’s restoration and the following month Surrey gentry travelled to Westminster to petition on behalf of Charles. A fight erupted in which eight petitioners and one soldier were killed. Philip Skippon, who had played a prominent role as head of the London militia at the start of the Civil War, was again appointed commander of the City militia to keep London secure.

In the summer of 1648 a number of Royalist uprisings took place around England and Wales, which collectively are known as the Second Civil War. It resulted in the army vacating London and after they left the more conservative Presbyterians and more radical Independents vied for political control of the City.

In the summer of 1648 a number of Royalist uprisings took place around England and Wales, which collectively are known as the Second Civil War. It resulted in the army vacating London and after they left London’s Presbyterians once more took control of the local militias.

In June the Earl of Norwich led royalists from Kent. They crossed the Thames, mustered at Stratford, and attempted to enter the City but the Mayor had the gate closed to block their way. The Earl of Holland attempted to capitalise on the Surrey gentry incident and led a contingent of around 100 horsemen from London to join others at Kingston in July. After a number of skirmishes with Parliamentary troops, in which Francis Villiers, younger brother of the Duke of Buckingham was killed, they were finally routed at Surbiton. Holland was captured and executed in 1649.