End of Parliament, Laud, and Wentworth Flashcards
Summarise the events from Black Rod’s travels to Westminster to Charles issuing his majesty’s declaration of the causes which made him dissolve the last parliament.
on 2 March 1629, Black Rod went to Westminster to inform the Commons Parliament was dissolved. The door was slammed in his face. The Speaker of the Commons was not allowed to leave his seat, so the Privy Council tried to free him. Quickly, Denzil Holles shouted three resolutions condemning Charles.
Charles issued his declaration claiming Parliament contained ‘turbulent spirits,’ who rejected tonnage and poundage bill and encouraged people not to pay, concerned his religious decisions, and ‘depraved our government,’ attacking the better part of the house.
What did Kevin Sharpe think about Charles’ dissolving of Parliament?
He assured them of their ‘liberties, rights, and religion,’ as he only wanted to punish them.
What did Richard Cust think?
Events on March 2nd left Charles disillusioned and unable to trust parliament.
What did Angela Anderson think?
Charles’ dissolution didn’t seem severe as James lasted 7 years without Parliament and Charles said they would be restored when they ‘better understood,’ him.
What did Jonathan Scott think?
Charles would rule 11 years without Parliament using his royal proclamation and would punish those who mentioned Parliament.
Why did Parliament break down?
- Buckingham’s influence on Charles.
- Charles’ lack of experience and parliament’s abuse of his prerogative.
- Inevitable due to events in James’ reign.
What was Thomas Wentworth’s background?
Elected MP for Yorkshire in 1614.
Rivalled Sir John Saville, Buckingham’s client, in Yorkshire elections and criticised Charles’ war management.
Made sheriff in 1626 to keep him out of Commons. In 1627 arrested for 6 weeks due to refusal to pay Forced Loan. In 1628 part of Parliament’s Petition of Right.
How did Kevin Sharpe describe Thomas Wentworth?
- Hardworking
- A man of action.
- High standards set for honesty and service with refusal for compromise and idealism.
- Expected observance of others with no return, and to gild his own pockets without being insincere.
- According to Smith he was forceful, an outstanding administrator and had excellent political skills.
What was Wentworth made in 1628? What did people accuse him of being? What problems arose from his work?
Elected President of the Council of the North in 1628, he wanted to oppose the inefficiency and influence of Buckingham. He was considered a ‘poacher turned gamekeeper,’ and in 1629 was appointed to the Privy Council. In Ireland, he was too far to exert influence and had distant relations with Charles when he returned, lacking the confidence to apply for Lord Treasurer when Weston died, 1635.
Describe key features of Thorough.
William Laud and Strafford wanted accountability in local government, as sheriffs and JPs were unpaid and had to learn to fear Charles over annoying the neighbours. The Book of Orders in 1631 clarified responsibilities, making them send reports to be overseen by the Privy Council. Militia also had to be improved as wars in 1620s showed deficiencies in weapons and militia training with muster resistance. Counties had to provide powder and shot, training and drill, and weapon improvements.
He insisted on daily accounts of actions taken on orders and made balance between local and central government broken as Catholics, Protestants, sheriffs, JPs, knights, and noblemen were called before council. He wanted to reduce landowner independence, watch JPs, and use power of state to regulate enclosures.
What actions did Wentworth make in Ireland for the Old English?
In 1633, Wentworth was made Lord Deputy of Ireland. While in Dublin he refused to grant concessions for them, with them having paid £120,000 over 3 years. The three graces, (relaxation of oath of supremacy, reduction of recusancy fines, and security of tenure and titles for landowners of over 60 years), were rejected in 1634 Parliament and the Old English shared identity with the Gaelic.
What actions did Wentworth make against the New English?
The New English moved to Ulster Plantations in the 1600s. Wentworth did not want them to drain resources and wanted money for the crown so he extended the area of English settlement, took back Church and Crown lands, and set heavy financial burdens, while achieving conformity of the Catholic Church of Christ by ditching the 1615 Irish Articles and replacing them with the less Protestant Thirty Nine Articles, adopted by the Convocation in 1634.
When did Wentworth offend Earl of Cork’s wife? What improvements had he achieved? What happened on 7 Nov 1640?
In St Patricks Cathedral, he moved her tomb to make space for a railed altar.
He improved agriculture, industry, and trade, maintaining law and putting down pirates, while tripling customs revenue with new farms.
On 7 November, the Irish Protestants and Catholics teamed up and held the remonstrance to attack Charles’ government. Protestants were left insecure, demanding tougher measures against Catholics, which caused 1641 rebellions.
Who were the New English, Old English, and Catholic Irish?
New English : Lived in Ulster Plantation; suspicious of the Irish Catholics. They consisted of English Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians.
Old English : Lived in the Pale, consisting of English Catholics and Anglican descendants who moved during medieval times. They regarded themselves as aristocracy.
Catholic Irish : Native inhabitants of Ireland.
Describe how the three ethnic groups in Ireland used to exist among each other, and how this changed under Strafford.
In Ireland a ‘divide and rule,’ approach was typically used, where one ethnic group ruled over others. The New English took advantage of the fear of Catholics to colonize, and made them subservient as good use of land. Stafford believed all should look to the crown with fear and obedience, and refused their making of money at the crown’s expense.
