Chapter Eight | Personal Rule

Question 1

Between which years was Charles I’s Personal Rule?

Answer 1

1629-40

Question 2

Given that there was no Parliament to govern, which council gained importance and how was this enforced?

Answer 2

Privy Council - the Court of Star Chamber (made up of privy councillors selected by Charles, where he could hold cases in secret) & the Court of High Commission (chief court of Church, used by Laud to enforce conformity)

Question 3

What was the figure for crown debt by 1629?

Answer 3

£2m

Question 4

How were savings achieved through foreign policy during the Personal Rule?

Answer 4

Peace w/ France in 1629 (Treaty of Susa) & Spain in 1630 (Treaty of Madrid)

Question 5

Why were Charles’ main means of achieving savings during the Personal Rule controversial?

Answer 5

Withdrawal from 30yrs war sat uncomfortably (esp Puritans who regarded destruction of Catholicism as a crusade) & reduction in court costs alienated some members of PN used to decadence of James I’s court

Question 6

What was one method of fiscal feudalism used to increase income during the Personal Rule?

Answer 6

T&P brought in £270,000 each yr between 1631-35

Question 7

What was ship money?

Answer 7

Prerogative form of income (levied in time of emergency) to fund navy

Question 8

How did Charles use ship money to achieving savings during the Personal Rule, and why was this controversial?

Answer 8

Levied on coastal towns in 1634 & extended to inland counties in 1639 - majority of taxpayers payed out of fear of punishment (PN rule made it more difficult for PN to voice grievances)

Question 9

What was the main cause of the Scottish Revolution?

Answer 9

Imposition of religious uniformity alienated Scots (predominantly Presbyterian)

Charles cut himself off from influential Scot opinion (less aware of/ignored growing discontent)

Question 10

What was the St Giles Riot?

Answer 10

July 1637 - when Laudian prayer book was read from for 1st time in St Giles Cathedral (Edinburgh), organised protest by nobles became riot

Question 11

When did Charles’ Scottish Privy Council abandon Edinburgh, and why?

Answer 11

Oct 1637 - Further riots in Glasgow & Edinburgh following St Giles Riot

Question 12

What was the Scottish National Covenant?

Answer 12

Feb 1638 - manifesto to unite those against Charles’ religious policy (& to maintain Presbyterianism as main Scot religion), formulated by a Scottish petitioning movement

Question 13

What were the Bishops’ Wars?

Answer 13

Turning of Scot Rebellion to armed conflict - Charles allowed Scots to call religious General Assembly in Sept 1638 (it proceeded to annul canon laws & abolish episcopacy in Nov 1638)

Question 14

Why was Charles I’s army unsuccessful?

Answer 14

Only 15,000 untrained/unruly soldiers (used local militia rather than trained bands - perhaps didn’t trust their political loyalty) & not ready until Apr 1639 (problems in collecting ship money) - Scots even more prepared by then

Question 15

Why was the Scottish Covenanters’ army successful?

Answer 15

Boosted by return of Sots serving as professional soldiers in 30yrs war (used to train those recruited) & although nobles who raised regiments were given command, mid-rank positions given to professional soldiers

Question 16

Why did Charles I call the Short Parliament of 1629?

Answer 16

Tried to negotiate True of Berwick in June 1639 by agreeing to a meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland w/ Parl - backfired when Edinburgh Assembly & Parl set about reducing royal power in Scot

Question 17

Why was Charles’ 1629 Parliament known as the Short Parliament?

Answer 17

When it met, Charles refused to compromise & dissolved it (determined to fight Scots in field!)

Question 18

What was the Treaty of Ripon, and when did Charles agree to this?

Answer 18

Oct 1640 - stated that Charles would fund living costs of Scottish army while it occupied Eng soil (i.e. Newcastle)

Question 19

What was the impact of the Treaty of Ripon for Charles I?

Answer 19

Needed to call another Parl to fund living costs of Scottish army

Question 20

Why was there opposition to Charles I in Ireland?

Answer 20

Area under English control occupied by Protestant New English - saw Laudianism as too close to Catholicism & as a besieged minority, felt very threatened

Question 21

When was Wentworth appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, and what did he succeed in doing in Ireland?

Answer 21

1632 - enhanced authority of Eng Crown/Church & increased customs duty, allowing Charles to profit more from Ireland

Question 22

What was the main causes of the Irish Rebellion in October 1641?

Answer 22

Growing alliance between Presbyterian Scots & Eng Puritans threatened Catholic Ireland

Question 23

Why was there opposition to Charles I in England?

Answer 23

Opposition to financial & religious policies

Question 24

What was the Hampden Case?

Answer 24

Nov 1637 - Charles took Hampden (prominent member of gentry) to court for refusing to pay ship money, hoping to set a precedent for obeying his authority - 7 judges to 5 for Charles was too politically costly a victory