The Engagement

Ever since they handed Charles back to Parliament, the Scottish Covenanters had become deeply concerned at the strength of religious radicalism in the New Model Army. As the Independent - dominated Army grew in power at the expense of the Presbyterian -dominated Westminster Parliament, the Scottish Covenanters began to fear that their own Presbyterian religious settlement would be at risk. And if the Army ever managed to reach a settlement with Charles for full religious freedom, then Scottish Presbyterianism would be in deep trouble. The Covenanters had to cut a deal with Charles before the Army did.

Charles and the Covenanters came together as two lovers following a long tiff. The very people he had gone to war with in 1639, now offered his only salvation. On the 24th December 1647, Parliament presented its final offer to the King at Carisbrooke. He loftily rejected the terms and on the 26th December, after talks with the Scots Commissioners, signed a treaty with the Covenanters known as 'the Engagement.'

SouthEastern Star under CC-BY-NC-ND licence
Carisbrooke Castle

Charles agreed to allow Presbyterianism for three years while the Scots would, in return, raise an army to place him back on the throne. For Parliament, this was the final act of double-dealing. On 15th January 1648 they passed the Vote of No Addresses ruling out any future talks with so untrustworthy a King. For the Covenanters, it was a decision they would come to regret horribly.

After a two year recess, the three kingdoms and Wales were hurtling back towards war. The New Model Army went on the alert for renewed conflict. Attempts to free Charles from Carisbrooke became more frequent and more desperate. One almost worked - but Charles was too fat to get out of a window. In Scotland, 'the Engagers', as they became known, began mustering forces. Across England, Charles' few remaining allies resurfaced for a final defence of King and Church.

But the Second Civil War was nothing like the first. The diplomacy of the three kingdoms and Wales had shifted. Whereas once the Scottish Covenanters and English Parliamentarians had united against Charles to defend religious freedom, now Charles and the Covenanters were fighting together against religious freedom.