Political divisions: the Personal Rule and the Short Parliament. Flashcards
Court of Star Chamber.
Made up of Privy Councillors selected by the monarchy. Cases were held in secret.
Court of High Commission.
Chief court of the Church used by Laud to enforce conformity.
Charles’ financial policies during his Personal Rule.
By 1629, Charles had a debt of £2 million.
Saving were achieved by securing peace with Spain and France, and a reform of court finance
Methods used to increase finances.
Customs duties (tonnage and poundage) - MPs didn't like this as Charles was supposed to stop collecting T&P in 1626. Monopolies (a loophole in the Monopoly Act allowed grants to corporations) - this was disliked as monopolies were also granted to Catholics. Recusancy fines (income was increased from £5300 p/y in the 1620s to £26,000 p/y in 1634) - wasn't as disliked as it was against Catholics. Ship money (first raised in coastal areas and then nationwide) - very disliked as it was only supposed to be used in emergencies and at the coast.
Scottish Covenanters and the Scottish Rebellion 1637-40.
Charles’ imposition of Laudianism in Scotland alienated the Scots.
When the new prayer book was first read out in October 1637, riots ensued in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Charles didn’t back down and the Scots created the Scottish National Covenant.
The Scottish National Covenant.
Written mainly by Scottish Presbyterian radicals.
It was a manifesto to unite people against Charles’ religious policy and to maintain Presbyterianism.
Those who signed were known as Covenanters.
The Bishop’s Wars (1639-40).
In 1638, Charles had allowed the Scots to call a General Assembly, and they abolished the canon laws and episcopacy.
Charles’ army wasn’t ready until April 1639 as he didn’t go through Parliament for the funds, and the Scots were prepared.
Truce of Berwick, June 1639.
Charles negotiated this as he didn’t want to have to call a Parliament for the funds.
Agreed to a meeting of Covenanters and Parliament and the disbandment of the two armies.
Covenanters didn’t trust Charles and so didn’t disband their army.
The Short Parliament, 1640.
Thomas Wentworth convinced Charles to call a Parliament to raise funds to fight the Scots.
Charles refused to compromise and he dissolved it after less than a month.
Treaty of Ripon, October 1640.
Scots crossed into England and captured Newcastle.
Charles would pay the Scottish army’s living costs in England.
This meant Charles had to call another Parliament.
Opposition in Ireland.
There were many different groups in Ireland (Irish Catholics, Catholic Old English, Protestant New English etc.)
In the north of Ireland, the English had settled Protestants (the Pale).
For Protestants in Ireland, Laudianism was too close to Catholicism.
The Irish Rebellion, October 1641.
Wentworth alienated all the groups of Ireland.
The Irish Rebellion began in October 1641 and lasted through the winter.
Irish Catholics attacked the Protestants at Ulster, killing at least 3000.
Opposition in England.
There was much opposition to Charles’ financial and religious policies.
The Hampden Case, 1637.
John Hampden, a member of the gentry refused to pay ship money and was taken to court by Charles.
The ruling was for the Crown, but by 7 judges to 5, which was too close for Charles.
His personal rule was under strain.
