The Moidart Timewarp
by Tim Roberton

1626 - 1650
1626 - 1650 In which Charles I reigned unhappily and in due course became involved in the Civil War and was executed, Maryland was founded, the National Covenant was signed by Presbyterian Clergy in Scotland and Cromwell prepared to take over ruling the country.


1633 Charles I went to be crowned in Scotland which was separated from England by Constitution and Government, although it had the same King. The ceremony of Coronation was carried out by Scottish Bishops, a few of which had been re-established by James I. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 321.

1633 Charles I gave a grant of land in America to Lord Baltimore, this later became known as Maryland. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 402.

1639 The chief nobles and gentry and Presbyterian clergy of Scotland signed the "National Covenant". This declared the worship of the Reformed Kirk of Scotland to be the true worship of the country, and that none other should be recognized there. The King regarded this as defiance and marched North to confront the Scots. However, when he saw the Covenanters' army drawn up at Dunse Law, he recognized his hopeless military position and signed the Treaty of Berwick, promising the Scots that they could settle their own religion. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 321.

1640 Charles I signed Treaty of Ripon, having marched North a second time to confront the Scots, this time over their abolition of the episcopacy. However, once again he had to back away from conflict and had to agree that the Scots Army could remain under arms at the King's expense, until the religious question should be settled. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 324.

1644 Solemn League and Covenant made by the Roundhead Parliamentarians and the Scots, with their fine army, promising in return for military support to reform religion in England according to "the word of God and the example of the best reformed churches". This was just before the famous victory at Marston Moor. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 346.

1645 During the period of unrest between the King and Parliament, not all the Scots had fought on the side of Parliament. Throughout 1645 James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, had been fighting for Charles with brilliant success in the Highlands of Scotland. The loyal and martial Highlanders fought for him with the same enterprise and vigour with which they fought, a hundred years later, for Prince Charles. It was the Scots in the end to whom Charles turned when all was lost and there followed a period of negotiation with him and the Parliamentarians which over a twelve month period came to nothing. He went to Hampton Court but continued to prevaricate on the question as to whether there should be complete liberty of worship for Presbyterians. Eventually he fled to the Isle of Wight and was placed in Carrisbroke Castle under arrest. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 356.

1648 The King, being overconfident to the last, rejected moderate proposals from the Army leaders for change and began secret negotiations with the Scots. They regretted now that they had handed him over to parliament and this led to the so called "second civil war" in which the Scots were severely beaten by Cromwell. Zierer/Mountfield History of England p68.

1649 By the time Charles I was executed, he had become entirely alienated from Parliament and also most of the English people. During the last ten years of his reign, the English civil War had taken place. Zierer/Mountfield History of England p70.

1650 After the death of Charles I, the fury of the Scots broke out in war again. They had the young Charles with them (afterwards Charles II) and they made him a "covenanted King", a king that is to say, who would rule on condition of maintaining the the National Covenant for preserving the Presbyterian Church. Cromwell retaliated by occupying Edinburgh and defeating them at Dunbar. A New History of Great Britain, RB Mowat, page 356.


1601-1625

Return to the Timewarp index

1651-1675