Bill Of Attainder 1641

Question 1

How did Pym change tactics?

Answer 1

-On 10th of April Pym drastically changed tactics. The commons abandoned the impeachment trial, bringing instead a Bill of Attainder declaring the Earl of Stratford a traitor. But the king would have to sign the bill

Question 2

What was the Bill of Attainder?

Answer 2

-this medieval method allowed anyone who was seen as a threat to the state to be removed by Parliament without the need of a formal trial.

Question 3

Did the Bill of Attainder gain popular support?

Answer 3

Some like Warwick wanted this pursued vigourously however, others like Bedford were more cautious. Bedford was still negotiating appointments to Charles‘s government and in return was trying to ensure that Wentworth’s punishment did not extend to execution

Question 4

How did limits to Bedford influence become clear?

Answer 4

On the 24th of February 1641 when the Scots made it apparent that they would not stand for anything less than the end of bishops and the death of Wentworth

Question 5

How did the actions of Charles in 1641 heighten the political tension and undermine Wentworth‘s position, and how did this lead to the establishment of the Attainder Bill?

Answer 5

• On 19th of April it became known that Charles had just ordered all offices to return to their commands with the English army in the north
• this was interpretative as a plan to organise the army and use it against Parliament which rumour had it he was intending to dissolve
• it was the revelation of the army plot that also spurred the commons to pass the Bill of Attainder - 204 votes to 59 - indicating a substantial majority in favour of executing Wentworth. Lord’s votes = 26 to 19 (voted three times and had majority of 7)
• However the total votes cast represents about only half of the total MPs. Many MPs simply did not vote or absented themselves from the house

Question 6

Passing of the Attainder Bill

Answer 6

• John Pym was chosen to carry Attainder Bill to the Lords for their consideration
• when Pym got to the Lords, Saye and Sele, one of his erstwhile political allies, has claimed illness. A very sparsely attended House of Lords eventually assented to the Attainder Bill.
• by switching from an impeachment to a bill of attainder Pym accomplished two things:
  1. he avoided a verdict in the House of Lords that might have found Strafford not guilty
  2. he forced the king to take personal responsibility for Strafford’s death