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The National Archives
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Civil War
Civil War > Why did people go to war in 1642? > 1640-42 > Source 7
A pamphlet published by Parliament, 9 June 1642
(Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. II, 1640-1642, p.618. Reprinted in 1803 by Order of the House of Commons)
These are sections of a pamphlet published by Parliament. The Civil War was fought on the battlefields, but also through propaganda (in the form of pamphlets like this) which promoted the ideas of one side or the other.
The new technology of printing made it possible to produce leaflets like this in large numbers.
By 1642 relations between Charles and Parliament were a disaster.
In January 1642 Charles lost patience with Parliament and tried to arrest five leading MPs and one Lord. This destroyed any trust that was left between the two sides. Charles left London and began to recruit an army. Parliament did the same.
The war officially began on 22 August 1642. Although we talk about Charles fighting Parliament, we should remember that the country was divided in many ways.
In 1640 most MPs were united in criticising Charles. By 1642 some MPs were now on the king’s side as they felt that the opponents of Charles had gone too far. Many of Charles’s supporters stood by him out of loyalty rather than because they believed he was in the right. The great majority of people did not want war at all.
What was James trying to say? Try to identify parts of the speech showing that:
