Charles I leaves London and heads for the north of England, where his support is the strongest

Charles I leads his army into action at Edgehill - the first, but inconclusive, battle in the English Civil War

Charles I marches to within a few miles of Westminster (to Turnham Green), but withdraws without engaging the enemy

In the first decisive battle of the English Civil War the king's nephew, Rupert of the Rhine, is heavily defeated at Marston Moor

The royalist forces, again under the command of Rupert of the Rhine, suffer another major defeat at Naseby

Charles I is held at his palace of Hampton Court, as a prisoner of Cromwell and parliament

Colonel Thomas Pride denies entrance to the House of Commons to about 140 opponents of Cromwell's policies

Ham House is inherited by William Murray’s daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, Sir Lyonel (later Earl) Tollemache

After the execution of Charles I, Parliament sets about selling the royal estates to raise funds

Cromwell persuades the House of Commons, purged now of all opposition, that it is treason for a king to wage war against parliament

After a trial lasting a week in Westminster Hall, Charles I is convicted of treason for fighting a war against parliament

Charles I is beheaded on a scaffold erected in the street in London's Whitehall

Parliament in London abolishes the monarchy in England, as 'unnecessary, burdensome, and dangerous'

Parliament chooses Oliver Cromwell to chair the new English Commonwealth's council of state

John Milton becomes Latin secretary in Cromwell's council of state

Richmond Palace is sold, probably as several lots, and within a year the stones and bricks are being carted off by builders for use elsewhere

James Ussher, archbishop of Armagh, calculates that creation began on Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC

The poems of Massachusetts author Anne Bradstreet are published in London under the title The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America

Parliament in England passes the first of several Navigation Acts designed to reserve international trade for English ships

Charles II is defeated by Cromwell at Worcester and escapes in disguise to France

Scotland and England are merged under English parliamentary rule, in a forced union which lasts eight years

A clash at sea between English and Dutch fleets begins the first of three Anglo-Dutch wars

The first coffee house opens In London and Londoners soon find such places useful to meet in and do business

Cromwell uses troops to turn the members out of the House of Commons and locks the door behind them

Cromwell is appointed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth for life, under legislation entitled the Instrument of Government