Personal Rule: Basics Flashcards
What does the term ‘Personal Rule’ refer to?
The term Personal Rule refers to the period when Charles ruled without Parliament; ‘eleven years of tyranny’
What sparked the Personal Rule?
Charles dissolved Parliament again in March 1629 because of his outrage and extreme annoyance at the continuing challenge to what he saw as his Royal Prerogative and the failure of his Parliament to be compliant.
> The grievances raised in the Three Resolutions of the growing influence of Arminianism as well as the collection of revenue not sanctioned by Parliament were clear evidence of tensions between Crown and Parliament that had been becoming more significant since the end of the reign of James I.
What were some of the main reasons for the Personal Rule?
Three Resolutions (1629)
Petition of Right (1628)
Foreign policy failures
Rise of Laud and Arminianism
Radical Puritan MPs (i.e. Pym)
Charles’ personality
James’ legacy
What were the main aims of the Personal Rule, and who were the key figures?
The main aims were to maintain and strengthen royal authority
> Key figures included Wentworth and Laud
What key institutions were there in the Personal Rule?
Key institutions included the Privy Council, the Prerogative Courts (i.e. the Star Chamber presided over by Laud) and regional councils
What was Wentworth viewed as?
Wentworth (viewed as ‘the great apostate’ (traitor))
What was the main aim of ‘Thorough’?
Making royal government much more efficient and effective
What did the basics of ‘Thorough’ in Ireland include, and why was the scheme held back?
Included new prerogative courts, better administration and centralisation
> Held back due to failures of centralisation, enhanced role of episcopacy and the structure of government not really changing
What was opposition like initially in the Personal Rule, from the gentry, and where did initial opposition come from?
The gentry continued to administer Charles’ laws, collect taxes and continue with their duties, as most thought he would eventually call a Parliament, or were moderate gentry not susceptible to open opposition.
> Initial opposition came from Puritans, MPs and some members of the gentry; finance and religion caused opposition to develop
What were the short-term causes of the English Civil Wars from the Personal Rule?
Religion (Laud, Book of Sports, altar crisis), overuse of Star Chamber and the Court of High Commission (i.e. Prynne, Burton and Bastwick in 1637)
Ship Money (i.e. Hampden Case, 1637)
Nature of Charles’ rule (proclamations, impositions, centralisation, alienation, Privy Council, Laud, ‘Thorough’ via Wentworth - ‘evil counsellors’, ‘malignant advisors’)
What were the long-term causes of the English Civil Wars from the Personal Rule?
Long-term causes include finance, forced loans, fiscal feudalism and foreign policy.
What was arguably the turning point in Crown-Parliament relations during the Personal Rule, and why?
1637 was arguably the turning point
- Hampden Case, severe treatment of Prynne, Burton and Bastwick, and the imposition of episcopacy and the Prayer Book on the Kirk
> Led to the Covenant (Feb 1638), Bishops’ Wars and Short/Long Parliaments
