How successful was the personal rule (1629-1640)

Question 1

What were the four major developments in Charles’ personal rule

Answer 1

• Charles’ favourability towards Arminianism
• Financial policies
• Fears of Absolutism
• Policy of Thorough

Question 2

How did Charles’ favourability towards Arminianism affect the success of the personal rule

Answer 2

- In 1633 Charles appointed 
  William Laud as archbishop 
  of Canterbury 
- Laud favoured Arminian 
  ideas and this was very 
  much shown through his 
  active policies
- For example he sought for 
  uniformity of church 
  practice, eradication of
  puritanism and an increase 
  on church influence in the 
  government   
- Reaction to this was 
  generally unfavourable
- This was especially great 
  among the gentry whom 
  disliked being told what to 
  do by lower class bishops 
  and the changing of 
  position of the alter
- Puritans hated him as they 
  saw Arminianism as 
  Catholicism in all but name
- Also some of the changes 
  to the alter clashed with 
  protestant beliefs that 
  everyone is equal before 
  god
- However, for the most part, the religious changes were not universally hated, it was 
  the parallels with Arminian beliefs and absolutism that led to opposition

Question 3

How did the policy of Thorough effect the success of the personal rule

Answer 3

- Aimed to provide 
  centralised control of local 
  government 
- Charles and his advisor, Sir 
  Thomas Wentworth, 
  introduced the Books of 
  Orders in 1631 which 
  intended to ensure that 
  local officials, e.g. JPs and 
  Petty constables, properly 
  enforced the law of the land. 

- Although they were 
  generally successful, the 
  gentry who ran local 
  government resented the 
  constant interference from 
  central government.

Question 4

How did fears of absolutism effect the success of the personal rule

Answer 4

-In 17th century Europe, 
 Catholicism and absolutism 
 went hand in hand.
- Arminianism and its ideas 
  linked extremely close to 
  Catholicism theologies
- Charles actively promoted  
  Arminians and there was a 
  growing catholic influence 
  in court
- Adding to the fear of 
  absolutism was Charles' 
  apparent focus on  
  economic independence, a 
  feature of absolutism 
- Charles collected Tonnage 
  and Poundage without 
  parliamentary consent. He 
  also exploited the grant of 
  monopolies, wardships, Ship 
  Money, etc. 
-

Question 5

How did Charles financial policies effect the success of the personal rule

Answer 5

- Charles' financial polices 
  were extremely damning
- Charles continued to collect 
  tonnage and poundage 
  without parliamentary 
  consent  
- Charles installed petty fines 
  such as the the building 
  outside of the official 
  boundaries of London
-Most serious was re-instatement of the ship money tax. It a tax only for emergencies, yet this was not the case and to make matters worse Charles extended it to further inland communities.

Question 6

In what ways was Charles economically successful during his personal rule

Answer 6

• The first thing Charles did was make peace with
  France, this cut his biggest item of expenditure
• He made over 75 thousand a year collecting wardships
• He levied ship money which brought in 200 thousand
  a year
• By the mid 1630s Charles had cut his debt down from
  2 million to 1 million
• However this economic gain came at a political cost

Question 7

What was the Ship Money tax

Answer 7

• This was the most profitable of Charles’ methods
• This was traditionally levied on coastal counties for defence in time of emergency. In
  1634, it was levied to build up the fleet to guard against the activities of pirates
• In 1635, against all precedent, it was extended to cover the whole country and
  demanded each year until 1640
• the tax was initially successful, raising 190,000 a year
• In November 1637, John Hampden, a member of the Buckinghamshire gentry, was
  brought to trial for refusal to pay
• There was increased suspicion of what the money was intended for, 5 of the 12 judges
  did not back the king in the Hampden case, The provinces were being squeezed of
  money and there were fears of riots if ship money was pressed too far

Question 8

How did Wentworths appointment as Lord Deputy in 1632 add to Charles economic success

Answer 8

Wentworth in Ireland

• In 1632, Sir Thomas Wentworth was appointed Lord Deputy
• Ireland was a financial liability to England - there was an annual deficit of 20,000
• He skilfully exploited the divisions in parliament to gain more money
• Wentworth ended the deficit with Ireland and the country began to contribute to the
  English Treasury
• Wentworth also extended the powers of the prerogative courts and claimed royal title
  to huge tracts of land