OCR AS Level History A (Y138/01) The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War Question paper June 2025

OCR AS Level History A (Y138/01) The Early Stuarts and the Origins of the Civil War Question paper June 2025 Section A The Execution of Charles I and the Interregnum Study the three sources and answer both questions in this section. 1 Use your knowledge of the parliamentary disputes in the period to assess how useful Source A is as evidence of the criticism of MPs during the Commonwealth (1649-53). [10] 2 Using these three sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that Oliver Cromwell's aim during the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1649 to 1658) was to enhance his own power. [20] Source A: A judge at the king's trial, later a Rump MP, who broke with Cromwell after he established the Protectorate, recalls the dismissal of the Rump Parliament in 1653. Cromwell piled the vilest criticisms on Parliament, accusing them of having done nothing for the public good, and having promoted the corrupt interest of the Presbyterians and the lawyers who were supporters of tyranny and oppression. He accused them of an intention to keep themselves in power and thereupon told them that the Lord had done with them and had chosen other servants to carry on his work that were more worthy. Edmund Ludlow, memoirs, published 1698-99. Source B: The Commonwealthmen comment on the Protectorate and the powers accorded to Parliament. [Parliament] is understood to be a creature of your [Cromwell's] will and power. The definition of places, the qualification of persons, the summons [to parliament], and all other incidents belonging to it, come wholly from you, and your assumed office. You make yourself so important to them and at the same time restrict them by instruments as to the power they shall delegate. If the origin of all just power is in the people, as we have been taught by Parliament, how come there is a jurisdiction superior to theirs, which commands them what to do? Officer in the Army in Ireland, letter to Cromwell, 1656. Source C: Cromwell replies to a delegation of 100 officers and ex major-generals, who feared that the Humble Petition and Advice might lead to a return of Charles Stuart.