Chapter 11

Question 1

Annus Horribilis

Answer 1

• 1641 was annus horribilis for Charles
• under pressure from all sides

Question 2

Charles and Parliament’s demands

Answer 2

• By Sept 1641, Charles had not refused any of Parliaments demands
• Yet, Pym and Parliament still felt the need to insist on greater control over the king
• to a large extent, this was a result of Charles’ actions
• Charles tried to deploy the powers he still had in order to win back those powers he had lost
• while appearing to concede and address grievances, he regularly managed simultaneously to alarm and alienate

Question 3

the Bridge Appointments scheme

drafted by Bedford

Answer 3

• the only form of settlement present to Charles in 1640-41 that appeared to fit in satisfactorily with his own view of kingship
• this is because it presented no fundamental change to the system of government
• although Charles hated the personal implications of losing Laud and Wentworth, to sacrifice unpopular ministers in order to restore royal authority had been seen to work in the past
• Bedford’s scheme would have substantially resolved Charles’ financial predicament

Question 4

The Army Plot

Answer 4

• April-May 1641
• Charles not choosing to deploy his key strength, the army, would have taken a great deal of confidence in his own ability to handle negotiations with Bedford
• more widely, confidence that Parliament wouldn’t take advantage

The king was indecisive and lacking in confidence.
Which is why he pursed many things at the same time. i.e. Bridge Appointments and seeking money from Spain and Rome

Question 5

Cumbernauld Band

Settlement in Scotland

Answer 5

• August 1640
• 18 Scottish nobles, led by the Earl of Montrose, signed an agreement
• this was known as the ‘Cumbernauld Band’
• expressed loyalty to the king and a desire to defend his authority
• they had been alarmed by the development of radicalism within the ranks if the Covenanters

Question 6

Connections between Scotland and England

Answer 6

• aftermath of the Bishops’ Wars, the Scottish Parliament had sent Commissioners (representatives) to Westminster to liaise with the English Parliament over matters concerning both kingdoms
• Parliament appeared keen to negotiate with the Covenanters
• By spring 1641, Parliament was becoming less reliant on political and military support from Scotland
• the cost of paying for Scottish soldiers to be billited in the north was outweighing the need to keep pressure on the king
• by the summer of 1641 the Scottish troops were beginning to drift home.

Question 7

The ‘incident’ of October 1641

Answer 7

• August, King travelled up to Scotland, a visit that had been agreed the Truce of Ripon
• hoped to win political support and gain agreement to remove the rest of the army from England
• started well: making concessions to the Covenanters, meeting the Scottish Parliament, holding talks with General Leslie, and appointing moderate Covenanters, such as Montrose and Rothers, into key roles
• Charles secretly plotting to remove the most radical Covenanters