Personal Rule and its failure, 1629-40 Flashcards
What enabled Charles I to reduce his major costs in 1629 and 1630?
1629 - peace with France
1630 - peace with Spain
What did Charles exploit, which didn’t need parliamentary approval? What is an example?
Traditional feudal dues, payments which the crown controlled. For example, monopolies were granted to individuals or groups of merchants who had exclusive rights to import a product and fix its price at a high level.
What was the key source of income for Charles, during personal rule?
Ship Money, which traditionally was only levied on coastal counties for defence purposes, but in 1635 it was extended as a national tax and continued until 1640.
Did Ship Money prove successful for Charles?
Yes.
What did Ship MoneY give Charles annually, on average? How much as a parliament subsidy worth?
£200,000 - caused resentment and opposition - a parliamentary subsidy was worth about £70,000
What was Hampden’s Case?
October 1637 - John Hampden, a member of the Buckingham gentry, challenged the legality of Ship Money and refused to pay the tax - his trial became a test case on the legality of it, which was upheld by 7 of the 12 judges hearing the case - it confirmed to the public that the king could raise taxation without parliamentary approval
Who did Charles appoint as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633, and what did this Archbishop do?
William Laud - an Arminian who imposed Arminianism thought the key measures of Laudianism focused on the so-called ‘beauty of holiness’.
What did William Laud impose in the church, and how were the impositions enforced?
- The wearing of vestments
- The use of music, candles and altar clothes
- They were enforce through the use of visitations and supervision through the church courts
How did visitations work?
Bishops’ representatives reported which churches were conforming and brought any offenders before church courts.
Initially, why was there little opposition to Laudianism?
Because those who opposed its imposition were a minority - predominantly the more radical Puritans whose strength of belief made some of them more inclined the protest.
What did Charles do in Scotland in 1637, and what was the reaction of Scots?
Imposed the Laudian Prayer Book on Presbyterian Scotland, without consulting the Scottish parliament - there was widespread rioting and in 1638 many nobles and clergy signed the National Covenant.
What was the National Covenant?
It swore to resist all changes to the Scottish Kirk.
What military conflicts followed after Charles imposition of the Laudian Prayer Book? Why was it inconclusive?
The Bishops’ War, which was inconclusive because the Scots were well organised and motivated, whereas Charles had insufficient funds to pay for his military campaign?
Why did Charles call for a parliament, and what was this parliament known as and why?
To finance an army to crush the Scots - this was known as the ‘Short Parliament’ as it only lasted 3 weeks because Charles refused MPs’ demands to remove Laudianism and end the practice of feudal dues before they would grant funds.
What did Charles’ lack of finance in 1640 result in, in the war against the Scots?
It undermined his attack against the Scottish forces of the National Covenant - in August 1640 the Scots invaded Northern England and occupied Newcastle.
