9. Political divisions: the Long Parliament, Pym and the outbreak of civil war Flashcards
Long Parliament
(1640-1648) desperate for money after Scottish invasion of Northern England, Charles called another parliament on 3rd Nov for finance. However, the majority of MP’s wanted their grievances addressed before finance would be given, particularly over the personal rule.
Bedfords financial settlement
Attempt to reform crown finance and bridge the gap between crown and parliament. Bedford and his allies such as Pym proposed an abolition of controversial financial and political personal rule schemes, return to an Elizabethan style church and a separate financial settlement. Bedford died before this could occur though in May 41.
Parliaments issues with Wentworth
Recalled from Ireland in 1639, many regarded him as the one able to make Charles absolutist. Targeting Wentworth for his heavy handed approach to the Scots and Irish would allow them to use him as a scapegoat for the King’s actions. Charles, however, viewed him as a loyal and competent advisor who would support him against opponents.
Wentworth’s Impeachment
Impeached in November 1640 to remove Charles’ “evil counsellors” and put parliamentarians in his place, with his trial beginning in March 41. Wentworth was skilled in defending himself and a bill of attainder had to be used, a medieval method of impeachment. This was divisive and many moderates were divided. The Scots declared in February they would not make peace until Wentworth was dead. Charles in April ordered all officers to return to their armies, making parliament worried. The rumoured plot by the army to save Wentworth was revealed by Pym on 3rd May and pressed the bill of attainder 204 to 59, with many moderates choosing not to vote. Executed on 12th May.
London Mob
Group of politicised londoners who supported parliament and consisted of the emerging middle class. Elections for London Council in December 41 saw far more radicals than normal.
Pym
Aimed to remove Charles’ evil councillors, achieve a political settlement removing Charles’ ability to claim absolutism and remove the threat of Catholic popery. Morrill claims he wished to establish a true religion. Pym, to achieve his aIms, formed an alliance with Scots, used financial pressures to control Charles, transferred crown power to parliament, attacked exploitative use of prerogative.
Root and Branch petition
Dec 1640 with 15,000 Londoners asking for the removal of episcopacy. Debated in Feb 41 in parliament with Laud being impeached in 1640-41. Many wanted a return to an Elizabethan style church, but saw removal of bishops as undermining society.
Triennial Act
15th Feb 1641 - Abolished ship money, parliament had to be called every 3 years for 50 days minimum.
Royalist Party Development
After Bedfords death in 1641, many moderates worried by Pyms radical tactics. These divisions led to the creation of a royalist party, culminating in the civil war. Main divisions over how to prevent another personal rule, the bill of attainder, and religious issues such as the role of bishops. Feared Pyms radical ideas would undermine society and that monarchy, not specifically Charles, would uphold order.
Ten Propositions
24th June 1641 - Document making it clear Charles needed to make concessions such as parliamentary control of those around the queen and royal religious education, as well as input into privy council members.
Reaction in Scotland to radicalism
Many felt radicals had went to far and in August 40 the Earl of Montrose and 17 other nobles signed the Cumbernauld Band, stating a desire to defend the King. Charles accepted abolishment of episcopacy and reforms in Scotland to get support and left for Scotland in August 41, and John Hampden sent by committee of defence to keep an eye on Charles.
The ‘Incident’
October 41 - While Charles in Scotland, there was a royalist plot by extreme royalists and moderate Covenanters to kidnap radical Scottish Covenanters. One target was the marquess of Argyll. Charles’ hopes of Scottish support shattered as he was linked to the plot by attending a parliament on 12th Oct with an armed force, left Scotland on 17th November.
Irish Rebellion
October 41-Winter 42 - Impacted British political views with fear of Catholicism being heightened, leading to some English politicians being radicalised, leading to reduced support for the monarchy. Russell === Billiard Ball Effect.
Grand Remonstrance
November 41 - List of grievances with Charles’ government since 25 to show how Charles could not be trusted. Timed for when Charles left Scotland so he could not intervene. Strongly anti-catholic, upsetting moderates, and called for an Assembly of Divines to discuss a religious settlement in Westminster. This eventually met in July 43.
Significance of Grand Remonstrance
A direct attack on Charles, Political issues directed towards the people more than the commons at westminster, Huge divide between whether or not to publish it. Debate lasted 12 hours and passed on 23rd Nov 159 votes to 148.
Royalist views 40-49
Moderates reacted to Grand Remonstrance
Moderates believed Charles was the rightful commander of the army
Radical View
Supported Grand Remonstrance and Charles could not be trusted with army to go to Ireland.
Irish leader Phelim O’Neill claimed to be killing Protestants in the name of Charles, worrying radicals.
Additional Instruction
Nov 41 - Pym stated that if parliament was going to help Charles make an army for Ireland, Charles should appoint only parliament-approved councillors. Won vote 151 to 110.
Militia Bill
7th Dec 41 - Introduced by Arthur Haselrig and would remove Charles’ control over trained band and give parliament power to appoint army commanders. Would result in parliamentary control of the army to crush Ireland, threatening Charles’ prerogative. Charles responded to this by showing himself as defendant against revolution, winning over royalists such as Edward Hyde.
5 Members Coup
Jan 42 - On the 3rd, Charles announced the impeachment of 5 opponent MP’s, including Pym. This followed a House of Lords decision on 29th Dec to remove bishops from the House of Lords. Charles saw this as an attempt by a radical minority to upend the system, and on the 4th he entered the commons with an armed force but they had already left. This allowed Pym to further show Charles could not be trusted and Charles left London.
Exclusion Bill
Feb 42 - A petition for the bill had been signed in Dec 41 by the London Mob with 30,000 signatures. Accepted on 5th February by the Lords.
Parliamentary Army
Militia Bill made an ordinance in February, with parliament proposing raising £400,000 by ship money for the army.
Emergence of Royalist Army
Emergence of Royalist Army
Commissions of Array was a prerogative right to raise armed forces and used it to seize supplies at Hull.
Nobilities reaction to the Civil War
Nobles from 22 Counties constructed neutrality pacts to avoid war.
Nineteen Propositions
June 42 - Demands issued by parliament for a settlement. Included all privy councillors needing to be approved by Parliament, pardoning of 5 members,acceptance of militia ordinance and triennial act, reformation of church.
Royalist reaction to 19 propositions
Believed King would prevent anarchy and parliaments proposals would lead to chaos and confusion with popular rebellion
Iconoclasm in 1642
Riots and Iconoclasm were growing with radicalism in 1642. Moderates saw this as anarchy and disorder, with the monarch being necessary to prevent this. In september 42, Pym encouraged iconoclasm against popery.
Pym’s Junto, angered by attacks on Puritans in PR, inspired by the Bishops’ Wars and fearful of the impact of the Irish Rebellion, pushed for REFORM of the monarch’s powers, creating an effective opposition to royalist support as seen by: (7)
1) Root and Branch Petition (calling for roll back of PR) signed by 15,000 Londoners in Dec. 1640
2) Impeached Laud 1640/41 – one of the ‘evil councillors’ in PR
3) Chose to use Bill of Attainder instead of impeachment for Strafford which meant Pym avoided a verdict in HoL that may have found him not guilty + forced King to take personal responsibility for his death + admit he was wrong
4) Used his vulnerable position when signing the Act of Attainder (only 11 MPs + 59 Lords voted against it) to also make him sign the Act Against Forcible Dissolution – taking away C’s prerogative right of dissolving the Long Pment without consent (by means of a vote - MPs needed to trust him)
5) Propaganda around Irish rebellion 1641 – rumours that C authorised the catholic killings of protestants (not true – all orders to Wentworth – supressing Catholics pre-rebellion - came from Charles) - around 3000 actually killed by Catholics – rumours that 12000 murdered in horrendous ways mainly due to puritan pamphlets – fears of popish plot meant more sided with Pym – gave opp. for him to further weaken C through the Grand Remonstrance
6) Grand Remonstrance – Nov 1641 (whilst C in Scotland so can’t address) – account of C’s reign saying ‘the evils under which we have now many years suffered… are fomented and cherished by a corrupt and ill-affected party (i.e. the king and his supporters)’ – more than 200 complains contained – vote to agree with it or side with C sugg a conference of religious ministers reform the CofE – no episcopal system – root and branch, Bishops and catholic peers to be excluded from the HoL + the commons should investigate + punish those involved in a roman catholic conspiracy to undermine the constitution – only narrowly passed 159 to 148 in favour – 200 MPs abstained or didn’t attend (although meaning they lack support for C), TP – shift towards constitutional change (REFORM) + meant royalist party began to visably form around the king – solidifies the 2 sides – Pym didn’t send to HoL to avoid humiliation – was a moral victory not a legal one
7) 5/2/1642 – Exclusion Bill passed preventing Bishops sitting in HoLs after pressure from the London crowd (who even stopped the Bishops sitting 27/12/1641) – lessened the influence of the King
Key Individual under C: Wentworth (5)
1) As President of the Council of the North from 1629-1632, strictly enforced Book of Orders + summoned many to the Star Chamber – already disliked
2) As Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1632 – maintained tight control over main power groups by securing a firm control of the army + brought ‘thorough’ and conformity to Ireland
3) C’s most trusted advisor in 1639 – made Earl of Strafford, called back from Ireland to deal with 2nd Bishops’ war
4) Advised C to call Short Pment bc needed an army – but naïve to Pment’s rage around PR issues (been in Ireland)
5) Act of Attainder signed by Charles for his death (on 12/4/41) – forced
The vagaries of the political system meant that Charles’ approach was sometimes viewed as abuse of his power leading to conflict with MPs, as seen by: (6)
1) Act of Revocation – cancelled all grants of royal and church land made since 1540 – took from Scottish land owners – outside his prerogatives – smacks of absolutism, although compromised still inauspicious start to the new reign in Scotland—‘the ground stone of all the mischeiffe that folloued after’
2) John Eliot and John Seldon considered creating a Bill of Rights (new constitution) when found that faked judgement in case records for 5 Knights case 1627/8 – increased mistrust + C angers influential people – forced loan only affected wealthy land owners (fears also shown in Petition of Right 1628 – but only reiterated existing laws)
3) Shown not to be trusted – Petition of Right 1628 went directly against (e.g. continued to collect tonnage and poundage) – only signed it because he had confirmed with lawyers that he could continue ignoring their ancient demands
4) Remonstrance in the week of 24th June 1628 over C’s continued collection of tonnage and poundage – can’t be trusted, fearful of absolutism
5) Three Resolutions (a protestation issued on 2/3/1629) – John Eliot and Pym, call out Arminian faction + absolutist policies – anyone who brings Arminianism into the CofE, advises the collection of, or paid, tonnage and poundage = ‘capital enemy’ to king and kingdom – condemned these actions, directly stated King’s actions were wrong – caused actual breakdown
6) Charles seen as so untrustworthy that in the Short Pment 1639 – Nathaniel Fiennes was already in touch with the Scottish army – people were colluding behind his back bc of fears of absolutism
The vagaries of the political system meant that the approach of some MPs could be viewed by the Monarch as an abuse of their privilege and an attack on the royal prerogative, as seen by: (4)
1) “Remember that Pment’s are altogether in my power for their calling, sitting an dissolution” – undiplomatic, threatening to protect Buckingham in 1626 Pment
2) In response to the Three Resolutions C: arrested 9 MPs (including Elliot) on charges of treason, wouldn’t call Pment again until issues of religion and finance were guaranteed to work in his favour (caused personal rule 1629-40)
3) Attempted arrest of the 5 MPs – 4/1/1642 – C tries to arrest MPs such as Pym, Haselrig + Hampden as he considered them to be leaders of the opposition (however they were tipped off + escaped) – proved Pym to be right that he would protect his prerogative at all costs increasing fears of absolutism + desires for reform
4) In response to the 19 Propostitions June 1642 – C roundly rejected them and said ‘Pment already held enough power and to cede it any more would breach the historical BoP between the commons, lords and king’ –> Aug 1642 civil war
Fears over Charles’ actions led to demands from MPs for RESTRAINT (no overall change to the constitution – C could theoretically reverse changes) of Charles’ prerogative rights, as seen by: (6)
1) Scottish successfully restrained C’s power in Treaty of Ripon Oct 1640 (after winning 2nd Bishops’ war) – forced him to pay £850 a day toward the expenses of the Scottish army
2) Act Against Forcible Dissolution 1641 (see opposition)
3) Triennial Act – Feb 1641 – King obliged to call Pment every 3 years, if he failed to do so Pment would meet anyway (change in the power structure – precedent – the way legal system ran – set)
4) By summer 1641 – C’s influence was limited + finance
- Act preventing collection of Tonnage and Poundage and ending Ship Money
- Abolition of Court of Star Chamber + High commission
- End to resurrected ‘medieval’ levies such as Forest fines
5) Ten propositions 24/6/1641 – asks for further concessions e.g. Pmentary input into: who was in the Privy council, around the Queen + over the religious education for his children (but support limited – already done enough in removing PR policies + ‘evil counsellors’)
6) Grand remonstrance 1641 (see opp.)
Fears from radicals over Charles not being trustworthy led to demands to REFORM (C’s power legally changed) Charles’ prerogative rights, as seen by: (5)
1) See religious reform detail in Grand remonstrance 1641 (opp.)
2) Militia Bill – 7 Dec 1641 by Sir Haselrig – proposed to remove the King’s power over the trained bands and give Pment power to appoint army commanders – transformative – directly challenged + attempted to transfer C’s prerogatives onto Pment
3) Issued on ordinance (passed by commons not assented by King) in Feb 1642
4) See Exclusion Bill (opp.)
5) Nineteen Propositions – June 1642 – included that: all privy councillors to be approved by Pment, 5 impeached MPs to be pardoned, C to accept the Triennial Act + Militia Ordinance, Pment would direct a reformation of the Church
