First Civil War and Royalist Defeat

• CI had little talent on the battlefield, didn't march on London in 42. 
• Unable to secure help from abroad, Henrietta Maria brought troops from Holland but it made little impact. CI made peace with Irish confederates and signed the Cessation Treaty, paved the way for Irish soliders to assist CI but arrived in piecemeal fashion and a weak force of 2,500 was defeated by Fairfax in 44. 
• CI lost control of key ports. 
• Unable to base himself in London; moved his capital to Oxford which was far from his main supply routes to south Wales. 
• CI struggled to resolve differences between his senior commanders (Prince Rupert and Lord Digby) 
• Money from traditional levies ran out and in 44 CI emulated P in instituting an excise tax. 

• P controlled London, printing press, finance (City of London merchant loans), capital, population. 
• Strongest militia in 42, highly trained and funded. 
• Political legitimacy, P's representatives were able to effectively administer the various gov departments formerly managed by CI's councillors. 
• P controlled the navy and ports. 
• South and East controlled by P, wealthiest and agriculturally rich regions. 
• Politcal leadership of P strong and united before the death of Pym. 

Cromwell and other members of the War Party passed the Self-Denying Ordinance in 44, this necessitated that all MPs and Lords to resign their militay commands. Intended to remove commanders who had performed poorly. This came after the failed Battle of Newbury in 44, despite army outnumbering CI's greatly. 

Feb 45, ordinance passed creating the NMA: 

• Single national force of 21,000 men. 
• Well paid. 
• Promotons based on merit.
• Deeply religiois, just war in the name of God. 
• Infantry wore the same red uniform. 
• Discipline was strict and soliders could be fined for swearing. 
• Army contained an intellegience department responsible for collecting info about enemy movements.