Chapter 8: Political Divisions and The Personal Rule

Question 1

What caused the dissolution of the Short Parliament?

Answer 1

Many MPs were still not willing to help raise subsidies, despite Charles calling illegality to the collection of ship money. Many agreed with the Scottish Covenanters and requested a concession, and due to this Charles dissolved Parliament.

Question 2

Who is Thomas Wentworth?

Answer 2

• Lord Deputy of Ireland (1632)
• Charles’ Chief Advisor, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Lieutenant-General of the Army (1639)
• Advised Charles to call the Short Parliament

Question 3

Who is William Fennes?

Answer 3

• Strongly Protestant
• Founded the Providence Island Company, which became the centre of a network of opposition against Charles and Laudianism
• Close with John Pym, also very protestant

Question 4

Who is John Hampden?

Answer 4

• MP in 1621, when he became close with John Eliot, one of Charles I’s leading opposition
• Refused to pay ship money and was trialled and imprisoned for it in 1635

Question 5

Who is Francis Russel?

Answer 5

• Appointed to Charles’ privy council in February 1641
• Proposed a financial settlement which would have meant Charles didn’t need to exploit royal prerogative, but Charles didn’t co-operate

Question 6

Who is John Pym?

Answer 6

• Became MP in 1625, strong opposition to the monarchy

- Leader of the Puritans, agreed with Hampden against ship money

Question 7

What was the Court of Star Chamber?

Answer 7

Within this chamber cases could be held in secret, it was judged by the privy councillors, and was used extensively to persecute Puritans.

Question 8

What was the Court of High Commission?

Answer 8

This was the chief court of the Church and was used to enforce Laud’s uniformity. If a defendant was found guilty they were sentenced to the Star Chamber of which Laud was a member.