Settlements with the King

• TEN PROPOSITIONS – 24 JUNE 1641

  • State ten demands that parliament had, some included:
  • Charles held accountable for his actions
  • Control of Charles’ wife and her catholic connections
  • Limitations on the royal prerogative
  • Religious freedom for all, Catholics to be excluded
  • Parliament has right to enact laws 
• GRAND ROMONSTRANCE – 22 NOVEMBER 1641

  • Outlined grievances against the king and called for significant political and religious changes
  • There should be religious reforms and tolerance
  • Concerns over Charles’ foreign connections
  • Criticized Charles’ mismanagement of money


  Demand for political reforms including getting rid of the Court of Star Chamber
• OXFORD ‘TREATY’ NEGOTIATIONS – FEB TO APRIL 1643

  • Wanted to create a resolution to the conflict
  • Demanded peace like the disbandment of the Royalist army, removal of some key advisors like Laud and parliamentary control over military and tax


  However, it failed to reached a negotiation and caused conflict to increase
• UXBRIDGE ‘TREATY’ NEGOTIATIONS – JAN 1645

  • Wanted to abolish the monarchy, disband the royalist army and trial key royalist members


  There was a failure to negotiate on both sides and no solution was found 
• PROPOSITIONS OF NEWCASTLE – JULY 1646

  • Like offers at Uxbridge, however, this time parliament offered a pardon to all who had taken the royalist side in the war.


  This was also unsuccessful but showed parliament was willing to compromise
• THE HEAD OF PROPOSALS – 2 AUGUST 1647

  • Proposed by the New Model Army
  • The wanted MPs should be elected according the proportion of the population they had, parliaments should be elected regularly, and parliament should consist of one chamber.


  The Levellers and the army began to work together, however this led to Whitehall debates which proved that revolution was beginning.
• THE AGREEMENT OF THE PEOPLE – OCT 1647 

  • Proposed by the Levellers
  • They wanted all men in England to be able to vote
  • All citizens to have the same amount of rights


  Religious freedom and reform
• THE FOUR BILLS – DEC 1647  

  • Introduced by the English Parliament and requested the king to be treated as guilty
  • Targeted other royalist leaders accusing them of treason

  Divided parliament, some accepted this, others were opposed to it
• NEWPORT NEGOITATIONS – SEPT TO DEC 1648

  Consisted of several rounds of negotiation to promote peace but eventually led to failure. This paved the way for Charles’ execution
• ARMY REMONSTRANCE – DEC 1648

  • Presented by the New Model Army. They criticised parliament for not fulfilling their promises and demanded justice
  • Highlighted to growing influence of the army 

  Ireton demanded that Charles be put on trial for him to bought to justice.