ABSTRACT
The period under discussion—from the opening of what would come to be known as the Long Parliament to the eve of the king’s break with Parliament—marks a monumental phase in English constitutional history. Those discontented with government policies had finally regained an institutional forum wherein they hoped to right perceived wrongs in church and state. But as some of the reformers became more zealous in their efforts, others turned back to the king, thus setting the division for civil war. George Goring was among those who apparently changed sides. He became involved in the pro-royalist Army Plot of 1641 but subsequently betrayed his co-conspirators and outwardly supported Parliament thereafter. Yet he secretly effected a rapprochement with the king and queen. Was Goring motivated merely by political opportunism, as was so often charged? Or, in his own byzantine way, was he applying the military tactics he had learned?—to keep his ultimate goal hidden from the enemy to gain the element of surprise and increase chances of victory. Or did Goring simply improvise to keep himself out of harm’s way in a period of increasing political turmoil?
