The History of England

This volume charts the English Civil War from its first fracture to the collapse of royal power and the uneasy rebirth of the monarchy. It begins with Charles I's failed attempts to reconcile with Parliament, as loyalty, law, religion, and propaganda split the nation into Cavaliers and Roundheads, and royalists, Parliamentarians, Scots, and armies struggle for supremacy. From Edge Hill and Newbury to Marston Moor, the war's confusion and brutality are shown through shaky command, improvised armies, and the rising force of conviction. Charles's dependence on Catholics, Parliament's godly zeal, and the execution of Archbishop Laud sharpen the struggle into a contest over Protestant identity and the future of England. The narrative then follows the king's desperate negotiations, trial, and execution, the Commonwealth's harsh consolidation under Cromwell in Ireland and Scotland, and his later rule as Protector, marked by dissolutions of Parliament, foreign wars, and efforts to legitimize a new order. It closes with Cromwell's death, Richard's failure, and the political unraveling that opens the way for Charles II's restoration. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.