Putney Debates - Conclusion

Conclusion

Eventually Ireton and Cromwell suppressed the demands of the army.

The debates concluded with the understanding that a modified version of the Agreement approved by a committee chosen mainly from the ranks of the Army's officers would be the basis of any future constitutional settlement and that it would be presented to the Army itself at a mass meeting. However, the Agitators wanted to discuss the future of the king and the Grandees, fearing a complete breakdown of discipline in the Army, proposed on 8 November that the Agitators and New Agents return at once to their regiments to restore order, thereby suspending the meetings. This was reinforced on 11 November when King Charles escaped from Hampton Court, apparently fearing a splinter group from the Agitators, who he termed Levellers would attempt to assassinate him. Charles I's flight brought all debate to an end as the New Model Army were faced with a more immediate threat. A new group then met to draw up a manifesto in the name of Lord-General Fairfax and the Army Council to be presented to the troops in place of the New Agents' Agreement.

The presentation itself was split from one mass meeting to three smaller ones. Those regiments invited to the first meeting on 15 November agreed with the manifesto, but two regiments arrived uninvited and objected, sparking the Corkbush Field mutiny. Cromwell suppressed the mutiny and at the other two meetings the other regiments agreed to the terms in the manifesto.