Events January–March January 3 – The Long Parliament adopts the Directory for Public Worship in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, replacing the Book of Common Prayer (1559). Holy Days (other than Sundays) are not to be observed. January 10 – Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud is executed for treason on Tower Hill, London. January 14 – English Civil War: Fairfax is appointed Commander-in-Chief. January 29 – English Civil War: Armistice talks open at Uxbridge. February 2 – Battle of Inverlochy: The Covenanters are defeated by Montrose. February 15 – English Civil War: The New Model Army is officially founded. February 28 – English Civil War: Uxbridge armistice talks fail. March 4 – English Civil War: Prince Rupert leaves Oxford for Bristol. March 5 – Thirty Years' War – Battle of Jankau: The armies of Sweden decisively defeat the forces of the Holy Roman Empire, in one of the bloodiest battles of the war, in southern Bohemia, some 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of Prague. March 31 – Fearing the spread of the Black Death (plague), Edinburgh Town Council prohibits all gatherings except weddings and funerals. April–June April 3 – The House of Lords passes the Self-denying Ordinance, requiring members of the Parliament of England to resign commissions in the armed services. April 10 – Because of the plague, the Edinburgh town council orders that the college graduation ceremony should be moved forward, so that students can leave the city (on November 19, teaching resumes in Linlithgow). April 23 (St George's Day) – English Civil War: One hundred and fifty Irish soldiers bound for service with King Charles I of England are captured at sea by Parliamentarians and killed at Pembroke in Wales. May 2 – Thirty Years' War – Battle of Herbsthausen (or Mergentheim): The Bavarian army, led by Franz von Mercy, catches French forces led by Marshal Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne unawares, and heavily defeats them. May 9 – Battle of Auldearn: Scottish Covenanters are defeated by Montrose. June 1 – English Civil War: Prince Rupert's army sacks Leicester. June 10 – English Civil War: Oliver Cromwell is confirmed as the Lieutenant-General of the Cavalry. June 14 – English Civil War – Battle of Naseby: 12,000 Royalist forces are beaten by 15,000 Parliamentarian soldiers. June 28 – English Civil War: The Royalists lose Carlisle. July–September July 2 – English Civil War – Battle of Alford