Newcastle propositions, 1646. At the end of the first civil war, Charles I surrendered to the Scots, who removed him to Newcastle. Negotiations for a settlement began. In July, Parliament's commissioners demanded that the king should accept the covenant, institute a presbyterian form of church government, hand over control of the army for 20 years, and abandon leading royalists to punishment. Though Charles continued discussions, the terms were totally unacceptable to him and his mind turned increasingly to escape.

A Dictionary of British History. Copyright © 2001, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.