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English Civil War

War with the King

Those loyal to Parliament were called Roundheads; those loyal to the king were Cavaliers. The Independents dominated the Parliamentary army. Royalist strength lay in the north and west; Roundhead strength was in the south and especially in London.

Parliament was now free of the king and it passed numerous reforms, though Pym and the radicals want to go even further. The Presbyterians and royalist sympathizers still acted as a check against the extremists.

Battle of Edgehill: The first real battle between king and Parliament came in October 1642 at Edgehill. It was an inconclusive battle, but it showed both that Parliament was not strong enough to defeat the king, and that Charles was unable to take London.

January 1643, Parliament sent out a delegation to negotiate peace, but Charles was feeling stronger and refused to talk. But there was a peace party within Parliament that was willing to compromise with the king in order to bring the civil war to an end.

Both sides were seizing the estates of their enemies to finance the war effort, creating even more political chaos. The King gained several victories in 1643, which all the more inclined him not to negotiate or compromise with the rebels.