Stuarts - Chapter 8: Political Divisions: The Personal Rule And The Short Parliament

Question 1

When was Charles’ Personal Rule?

Answer 1

1629 - 40

Question 2

Who were prominent figures in Charles’ Privy Council?

Answer 2

Weston (died in 1635), Laud and Juxon

Question 3

What key prerogative courts were key to enforcing Charles’ will during his personal rule?

Answer 3

Star Chamber & High Commission

Question 4

What were some features of the Star chamber and high commission and were they despotic?

Answer 4

Star Chamber:

• cases could be held in secret
• judged by Privy Councillors (picked out by Charles)

High Commission:

• if guilty sent to star court (Laud was a member of star and High commission used to impose Laud’s uniformity)

Question 5

How much debt did the crown have in 1629?

Answer 5

£2 mil

Question 6

What were the main ways saving was achieved during the personal rule? How did people react?

Answer 6

• securing peace with France (1629)
• distraint of knighthood: nobles received fine if didn’t show to coronation, which alienated nobles
• monopolies: uses loophole in monopoly act to give grants to corporations (abuse of power)
• customs duties: T&P since angers P, since 1625, brought in a lot of funds

Question 7

Explain why ship money was unpopular

Answer 7

• it was meant to be levied on coastal towns in times of emergency (no war so no justification), but in 1635 it was extended to inland counties and levied in 1639

Question 8

How did Charles alienate the Scots?

Answer 8

• ignored growing discontent
• imposition of religious uniformity
• cut himself off from influential Scottish opinion (didn’t have scottish coronation 1633

Question 9

How did the Scots react to the Laudian prayer book?

Answer 9

• October 1637: riots in Edinburgh & Glasgow known as ‘October revolt’ which forced Charles to abandon Edinburgh
• Feb 1638: Scottish National Covenant movement

Question 10

When was the Scottish National Movement and what was it?

Answer 10

• Feb 1638
• petitioning movement by Presbyterian radicals that was a manifesto against Charles’ religious policy & maintain Presbyterianism

Question 11

How did Charles push back the Bishops’ War and why?

Answer 11

• Charles needed time to raise an army and war finance
• Sep 1638: allowed Scots to have a religious Assembly, which annulled canon laws & abolished episcopacy
• Apr 1639: C’s army finally ready, but Scots were more prepared

Question 12

When were The Bishops’ Wars?

Answer 12

1639-40

Question 13

Explain the events of the Bishops’ Wars

Answer 13

• Despite Truce of Berwick, Covenanters didn’t trust Charles so didn’t disband
• Sep 1639: Wentworth recalled from Ireland and advised Charles to call Parliament to raise funds but (‘short’) Parliament was quickly dissolved
• Aug 1640: Scots entered England with little resistance and occupied Newcastle
• Oct 1640: Treaty of Ripon, Charles pays Scottish army’s living costs while on English soil

Question 14

How did Charles abuse his prerogative financially? (Multiple answers)

Answer 14

• ship money collection to fund army against covenanters

Question 15

How was Ireland ruled pre-civil war?

Answer 15

• Ireland divided among lords, English control limited to Dublin and the Pale

Question 16

Who was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland 1632? What was his role? Did he succeed?

Answer 16

• Wentworth
• appointed to stand outside of Irish factions to rule them (enhance Crown + church authority over Irish)
• Yes, increased customs duties so Crown profited from Ireland

Question 17

What were the events of the Irish Rebellion (Oct 1641)?

Answer 17

• at least 3000 killed in Ulster (Scottish Presbytarians)

Question 18

What was the Hampden Case (Nov 1637)?

Answer 18

• Hampden refused to pay ship money so Charles took him to court (make an example of him)
• fanned discussion on constitutional issues
• Crown wins by small majority

Question 19

Why was the Short Parliament called?

Answer 19

• to raise funds for war with Scotland

Question 20

When was Short Parliament in session?

Answer 20

April 1640 - May 1640

Question 21

Explain the events of the Short Parliament

Answer 21

• MPs refused to give subsidies for Bishops Wars (Pym etc. in league with Covenanters)
• Charles realised only way to get funding was to compromise but he refused
• Charles arrested 3 members of House of Lords + Pym + Hampden

Question 22

Did some Scots support Charles during Bishops Wars?

Answer 22

• Scottish nobles

Question 23

What was the Truce of Berwick (1639)? Why was it passed?

Answer 23

• Treaty between England & Scotland, where C allowed general assembly meeting of Scottish church + Parliament, disbanding both armies
• Charles did not want a war as he would have to call Parliament to resolve financial issues

Question 24

Why did the Irish rebellion take place?

Answer 24

• The Irish Catholics thought that the Presbyterians controlling Scotland threatened Ireland + with Wentworth gone they wanted to prevent radical outsiders imposing Protestant rules