The English Civil War 219

Oliver Cromwell and the New Model

Army

In 1643, Parliament allied with the
Scots, many of whom were Presbyte­
rians. John Pym’s sudden death at
the end of the year did not lessen
Parliament’s resolve to force the king
to capitulate. In July 1644, the
Roundheads and Scots defeated the
Cavaliers at Marston Moor, near
York. About 45,000 men fought in
this battle, the largest of the English
Civil War. This gave Parliament con­
trol of northern England. Scottish
participation only added to the deter- Oliver Cromwell,
mination of the “war party” to whom
Charles listened.
Oliver Cromwell (1599—1658), who led the Roundheads to victory at
Marston Moor, emerged as the leader of Parliament. Cromwell, born into a
modest gentry family, never lost what more well-heeled gentry considered
his rough edges. Several years before being elected to Parliament in 1640,
he had undergone—perhaps during serious illness—a deep spiritual con­
version, becoming convinced that God had chosen him to be one of the
Puritan elect. Cromwell displayed idealism as well as the stubbornness of
someone who is convinced that he is always right.
Combining three armies, Parliament formed the New Model Army in

1645. Cromwell instilled strict discipline, and the Roundhead soldiers’
      morale improved with regular wages. Unlike its predecessors, the New
      Model Army won grudging good will in the counties by paying for supplies
      and not plundering, in contrast to the king’s army.

Divisions within Parliament

Two political groups emerged in Parliament: Presbyterians and Indepen­

dents. Presbyterians, a majority within Parliament, were moderates. Origi­

nally a pro-Scottish group that had rallied behind John Pym, most (despite

the name “Presbyterians”) were Puritans. Opposed to the bishops’ authority,

they rejected religious toleration and wanted an established national Calvin­

ist Church. They were ready to accept a negotiated settlement with the king.

The Independents were militant Puritans who desired more drastic

changes than the Presbyterians. They wanted the church to be a loose

alliance of congregations that would choose their own ministers, a more rad­

ical position than that of the Presbyterians. The Independents were less will­

ing to compromise with the king on the issue of parliamentary prerogatives.