What if the Great Fire of London happened in 1642?

[King Thomas]

1642, and the English Civil War has recently begun, with the first major battle fought at Edgehill. Shoutly afterwards a fire breaks out in Pudding Lane as in OTL in 1666. Three quarters of the 1642 London burns to the ground. What does that do to Parliment's chances of winning the English Civil War? Does King Charles the First win because of it, and if so, how is UK History different? Thank you for any replies.

[Thande]

One point: In OTL some people saw the Great Fire as a sign from God that they had been wrong to abandon Cromwell's puritanism/republican rule. In TTL it could happen the other way around.

[Hoplophile]

A great disaster is a wonderful opportunity for a government to show its competence. Thus, if such things as containment and relief were handled well, then the stock of Parliament would have risen. Conversely, a government that responds poorly to a great disaster loses a great deal of support. Thus, if Parliament mishandles containment and relief - and, in particular, if there are scandals - then Parliament would lose support.

If Parliament could effectively blame the King for the conflagration - finding a suitably Royalist substitute for the unfortunate Robert Hubert (who was hanged in 1666 after confessing - under torture - to setting the fire) - then the benefit could have been considerable.

Another possible benefit to Parliament would have been an increase in unemployment, which would have been good for the recruiting of Parliamentary armies.