Booklet 2 - Long Parliament 1640 - 1642

Question 1

What was the Long Parliament?

Answer 1

It was assembled after Charles’ calling of parliament after the period of personal rule. It was known as Pym’s Junto.

Question 2

What was Pym’s Junto and what did it do?

Answer 2

• It was the emergence of an organised opposition and was the result of the build up of the political crisis
• It was led by John Pym and John Hampden
• Pym opened parliament with a determined speech about the need to reform
• They are trying to protect themselves from ever having another period of personal rule and want to ensure their power

Question 3

Explain the actions of Pym’s Junto

Answer 3

• It removed the king’s evil counsellors: The Earl of Strafford and Laud, they were arrested November 1640
• February 1641: Introduced the Triennal Act: Charles was obliged to call parliament once every 3 years
• April 1641 - Strafford put on trial to be found guilty of treason but he’d have to be trialed in the house of lords meaning he’d be found not guilty. This lead to the Act of Attainder and Strafford was beheaded in May. To secure the Act, Pym revealed the existance of a plot by the Catholic army to release Strafford and dissolve parliment by force - became known as the first army plot. Pym also inroduced the act of dissolution without parliament’s consent.
• Mps thought Pym went too far with Strafford and when a bill was introduced to exclude Bishops from the Lords and establish a new Church, MPs were divided
• 1641 - Pym wanted more constitutional changes: abolishing prerogative courts and ship money, the Star Chamber was abolished by the Habeas Corpus Act 1641

Question 4

What did Sir Edward Hyde do?

Answer 4

• In the commons, he led a group of moderates who favoured a settlement of a parliament and king, they were known as constitutional royalists
• Hyde drew up 10 propositions to be considered by the king, they included extensions of parliamentary power to protect themselves

Question 5

Explain the Long Parliament’s relationship with the Church of England

Answer 5

• Long Parliament reversed Laud’s policies
• December 1640 - Root and Branch petition: Submitted by 15,000 Londeners calling for abolishment of Bishops governing the Church and a reversal of Laud’s reforms
• The petition was a failure because MPs were reluctant to go that far, Moderate MPs were worried that abolishing Bishops would breakdown social order
• Pym and Hyde both disagreed with the religious powers of the Star Chamber and the court of high commission
• 1641 - Parliament got over their divisions and forced Charles to remove Bishops from the privy council and the house of Lords
• Laud impeached and imprisoned 1641 then executed in 1645