Collapse of Personal Rule and events of Long Parliament 1640-2

Question 1

Short Parliament

Answer 1

April 1640

• called after 1st Bishops’ War to raise army against Covenanters
• MPs demanded grievances addressed e.g. abolish Ship money, fiscal feudalism, etc.
• C dissolved, calls Wentworth to help him in Second Bishops’ War

Question 2

Petition of Twelve Peers

Answer 2

Aug 1640

• grievances against the Crown e.g. religion; bringing in of Irish forces; ship money; personal rule
• would expect 12 peers (House of Lords) to be more in favour of King
• refused to provide money unless another P called (triggered Long P)

Question 3

Long Parliament

Answer 3

Nov 1640 - 1660

- few MPs wanted Civil war

Question 4

Bedford and the Bridging appointments

Answer 4

Feb 1641

• attempt to pull back from war … but then Bedford dies
• finding financial settlement for royal income
• to ‘bridge the gap’ between Crown + Parli
• opposed Crown’s gov more than concept of PR, not an opposition programme
• when Bedford died, end to moderate views in Parli

Question 5

Wentworth Impeachment, Attainder, Execution

Answer 5

Nov 1640
- impeachment against Wentworth ‘evil councillor’
=> sets up strong antipathy between Charles and Pym
1641
- Bill of Attainder (to remove threats of state w/out trial)
- Scots declare no peace until Wentworth dead and end to Scottish bishops
May 1641
- Protestation Oath - C fears for family so gives assent to Wentworth’s execution

Question 6

Root & Branch petition

Answer 6

Dec 1640
- petition signed by Londoners
- abolish bishops from Church of Eng
- basis for R+B bill (Dec 1641 Bishops banned from House of Lords)
=> rebellion against Laudianism

Question 7

Laud’s impeachment

Answer 7

1640-1
- Pym called up Laud to trial for tyranny of church and state
- Laud imprisoned in Tower of London
- Laud executed Jan 1645
=> C abandoned Laud
- backpedal on Laudianism
- room for manoeuvring w/ Charles
- pull back from war

Question 8

Triennial Act

Answer 8

Feb 1641
(- abolished ship money)
- C had to call Parliament every 3 years for 50 days
- if not, Lord Chancellor would call w/out C’s consent
=> no chance of another PR
=> removes Crown’s ultimate power to call/dismiss Parliament

Question 9

Army Plot & Protestation Oath

Answer 9

May 1641
- Pym reveals rumours of a royalist “Army Plot” to seize Tower of London to release Wentworth + dissolve Parliament
- Parli pass a bill: x be dissolved w/out their own consent; Wentworth executed
- “Protestation Oath” to be taken by all MPs:
‘prevent undermining of Common Law’;
‘stop arbitrary government’
‘pledge allegiance to Protestant religion’
‘defend King but also power and privilege of Parliament’
=> Bill of Attainder needs royal assent: pressure of army and London crowds (C fears for family)
=> Prot Oath further limits C’s power - C losing control

Question 10

10 Propositions

Answer 10

June 1641
King needs to make concessions:
- Parli control over those around queen
- Parli control over religious education for royal children
=> radicalism confirmed

Question 11

Abolition of Star Chamber, High Commission, Ship money

Answer 11

1641
- all abolished in Long P
=> people + PN willing to go against King’s ruling

Question 12

The Incident

Answer 12

Oct 1641
- plot against (attempt to kidnap/murder) marquis of Argyll and marquis of Hamilton
- hatched by Earl of Montrose (Royalist)
=> many suspected C involved - suggest he sanctioned force ag. opponents + broke law

Question 13

The Irish Rebellion

Answer 13

Oct 1641 - 1642
- revolutionary
- When Wentworth left, obvious he had alienated all groups in Ireland
- Irish Catholics attack Protestants in Ulster, massacring at least 3000
=> influenced the English, radicalising events
=> fear of Catholicism spread
=> fear of English troops in Ireland being brought home to use against Parli

Question 14

The Grand Remonstrance

Answer 14

Nov 1641 (Pym)
- list of criticisms of Charles’ gov
- strongly anti-Catholic
- Assembly of Divines discussing religious settlement to be held separately
- 159 votes to 148 that it should be published
=> direct attack on C
=> political issues deliberately moved to involve people more, pressure on MPs
=> debate: real division in Parli = formation of two opposing sides of Civil War
=> C gives measured and conciliatory response… still time to pull back?

Question 15

Militia Bill & Ordinance

Answer 15

Dec 1641, March 1641 became ordinance (Sir Arthur Haselrig)
- forced MPs to take sides on command of army
- reduce C’s power over army
- P’s right to app. army commanders
- P would thf have control over army raised ag. Irish rebels
- In response, C positioned himself as “Defender of the Constitution’ => won over const. royalists
=> revolutionary
=> directly questioned C’s Royal P
=> transferral of powers to Parliament
=> becomes an ordinance = can pass law w/out Charles

Question 16

5 Members Coup

Answer 16

Dec 1641
- Lords accept Commons vote to impeach Bishops
Jan 1642
- C announced impeachment of key opponents (Pym, Hampden, Haseling, Montagu)
- C attempts coup to forcibly arrest them but they had been forewarned and left
=> TOO FAR: C untrustworthy!
=> abuses Parli priv not to be arrested
=> Speaker shows loyalties to Commons over Charles
=> Coup angers House of Lords so they pass Bill

Question 17

Commissions of Array

Answer 17

June 1642

• in response to Militia Ordinance (March 1642)
• C uses prerog powers to raise armed country forces

Question 18

19 Propositions

Answer 18

June 1642

• approval of Privy Councillors
• Parli directs reformation of church
• 5 impeached members = pardoned
• accept Triennial act + Militia Ordinance
• constit royalists were like HELL NAH! said would lead to ‘a dark equal chaos of confusion’ => IMMINENT REBELLION