1640-1642

Question 1

Long Parliament Met

Answer 1

> Nov 1640
Called due to demands of Treaty of Ripon
MPs largely united in an anti-Court consensus e.g. get rid of evil advisors, end Laudianism, stop Ship Money

Question 2

Treaty of Ripon

Answer 2

> 1640
Peace treaty with Scots
Charles had to pay £850 each day to prevent further invasions into England
Led to the Long Parliament

Question 3

Impeachment of Strafford

Answer 3

> 11th Nov 1640
Main charge - use Irish army to continue Personal Rule
MPs wanted to get rid of “evil advisors” not the constitutional system

Question 4

Root and Branch Petition

Answer 4

> Petition signed by 15,000 Londoners
Feb 1641
Called for an end to Bishop’s War
Most MPs did not want Presbyterianism
Pym referred the matter to Assembly of Divines rather than divide Parliament

Question 5

Bridge Appointments

Answer 5

> Parliamentary attempt to work with Charles
MPs wanted Charles to get rid of unpopular policies in return for financial settlement
To ensure success, Parliamentarians to be given key roles - e.g. Bedford appointed to Privy Council

Question 6

Triennial Act

Answer 6

> Feb 1641
May 1641 agreed by Charles
Made it law for a Parliament to meet every 3 years - went beyond existing constitution
Charles agreed on day he agreed to death of Strafford - frightened of the mob?

Question 7

Bishops’ Exclusion Bill

Answer 7

> March 1641
Attempt to remove Bishops from HofL - rejected by Lords

Question 8

Army Plot

Answer 8

> April 19th 1641
More info given by Pym 3rd May
Suggestion that King and officers had planned an armed coup to dissolve Parliament and release Strafford
Reaffirmed fears about Charles
Persuaded Commons and Lords to pass Act of Attainder against Strafford

Question 9

Act of Attainder against Strafford

Answer 9

> May 1641
Passed Commons 204-59
Lords unwilling to agree. Agreed due to pressure from London riots
Charles agreed - fear of uprising?
Used Attainder as Treason (impeachment) difficult to prove
Mixed views e.g. supported by Essex but Bedford more cautious

Question 10

Protestation Oath

Answer 10

> May 10th 1641
Designed to bind MPs together
Swore an oath to defend Parliamentary privileges and reformed religion

Question 11

Act Preventing Dissolution of Parliament

Answer 11

> Only Parliament could dissolve itself
Went beyond old constitution

Question 12

Death of Bedford

Answer 12

> 10th May 1641
He was a moderate whose death meant compromise was less likely

Question 14

Ten Propositions

Answer 14

> June 1641
Proposed by Pym
Pym argued that this would ensure methods taken by Parliament would be preserved i.e. defensive
Suggested Parliament appointed King’s ministers
Went beyond constitution

Question 15

Star Chamber & Court of High Commission Abolished

Answer 15

> July 1641
Get rid of instruments of Personal Rule

Question 16

Ship Money & Other Financial Methods Declared Illegal

Answer 16

> August 1641
Get rid of “illegal” taxes of Personal Rule

Question 17

End of First Session of Long Parliament

Answer 17

> Pym had largely kept anti-Court consensus together
Aim of MPs largely achieved
Some differences e.g. organisation of church and constitution
Some unhappy with Pym’s use of mob

Question 18

Charles visited Scotland

Answer 18

> August 1641
Went to make peace with Covenanters
He made concessions
Exploited divisions between clans in an attempt to bring down Covenanters

Question 19

The Scottish Incident

Answer 19

> Scottish Royalists led by Marquis of Montrose tried to capture Covenant leaders including Earl of Argyll
Charles may not have known about this

Question 20

Second Session of Long Parliament

Answer 20

> Splits appeared
Pym wanted to ensure Charles did not return to absolutist tendencies
Constitutional Royalists led by Hyde emerged
They were conservatives who had opposed Charles’ actions in the 1630s but now feared the Commons was acting even more unconstitutionally
Wanted to protect old constitution and Anglicanism

Question 21

The Irish Rebellion

Answer 21

> Oct 1641
News broke Nov
Irish Catholic rebellion - 4000 Ulster Presbyterians massacred
Rebels falsely claimed they were acting in Charles’ name
Caused fears of Catholic conspiracy
An army would be needed but there was fear about Charles controlling it

Question 22

Grand Remonstrance

Answer 22

> Nov 1641
Listed actions/policies of Charles which caused distrust
Listed demands e.g. Parliament appoint ministers, conference should decide religious reforms
MPs had to support or reject it
Pym introduced it to strengthen anti-Court consensus
Moderates rejected it because of its extreme points
Split Commons 159 for, 148 against
Not sent to Lords

Question 23

Charles failed to appoint Essex as commander of Army

Answer 23

> Would have reassured Parliament as Essex had supported many Parliamentary actions

Question 24

The Five Members’ Coup

Answer 24

> Jan 1642
Charles ordered arrest of Pym, Hampden, Strode, Haselrig and Holles
Charles launched a military coup - he entered the Commons with 300 soldiers
Commons saw this as a breach of privilege
Support swung back to Pym
Stirred up mob
Charles left London in fear of his life

Question 25

Militia Ordinance

Answer 25

> March 1642
Issued by Parliament - it was Charles’ power
Appointed officers to prepare militia
Parliament trying to control the army

Question 26

Commission of Affray

Answer 26

> March 1642
Charles used this to call up the militia
A failed attempt to control the militia

Question 27

The Nineteen Propositions

Answer 27

> June 1642
Drawn up by Pym
Parliament’s final approach to King
Demands included e.g. Parliament should choose ministers and control church
Rejected by King - no room for compromise. They would have seriously curtailed his power
Rejection led to Essex being put in charge of 24,000 soldiers

Question 28

Hostilities Formalised

Answer 28

> 22nd August Charles raised his standard at Nottingham
6th September Parliamentary declaration about cost of war - to be levied on those who did not support Parliament
Gentry forced to make choice about who to support