The beginning of the personal rule

Question 1

When did the Personal Rule start? When did Charles dissolve Parliament in person?

Answer 1

Proclamation issued 2nd March 1629. Charles dissolved Parliament in person on 10th March

Question 2

What did MPs do when they realised that the black rod was coming into Parliament?

Answer 2

Denzil Holles and Benjamin Valentine were among the MPs who tied the speaker of the house, John Finch to the chair whilst John Elliot read out his controversial speech calling Charles a traitor. Privy Council members tried to get the speaker to stand up but MPs shouted “aye, aye”.

Question 3

What were John Elliot’s three resolutions?
Why were these so controversial?
What were the three resolutions known as when they were passed?

Answer 3

1. Anyone who enforces Catholicism or Arminianism is a traitor to Kingdom and Commonwealth.
2. Anyone who collects money or advises someone to get money without Parliament that would usually need Parliamentary approval is to be considered a traitor to Kingdom and Commonwealth.
3. If anyone pays such subsidies as tonnage and poundage out of free choice and without Parliamentary approval, then they are to be considered a traitor to King and Commonwealth.
   -These were controversial as Charles had acted against these three statements so was a traitor to Kingdom an Commonwealth according to this.
   These three resolutions were known as the Protestation of 1629 once passed.

Question 4

What did Charles do with 8 MPS of the opposition and what happened to them?

Answer 4

Charles arrested 8 members of the opposition on the basis of treason but broke Parliamentary privilege to speak freely in the House of Commons (Charles didn’t think that this extended to treason). 5 of the MPs were set free, Holles paid a fine and went into exile but Elliot refused to ask for Pardon and so went to the Tower of London. He died in the tower in November 1632 and Charles refused to release his body to his family for burial

Question 5

Where did Elliot get the idea for the Protestation of 1629?

Answer 5

Petition of Right didn’t address tonnage and poundage or religious issues

Question 6

When did Charles recall Parliament

Answer 6

20th January 1629

Question 7

When was the third Parliament of Charles?

Answer 7

January 1628- March 1629

Question 8

What did Charles sinister say in a proclamation on 27th March 1629?

Answer 8

(His opposition would) come to a better understanding of us and themselves