The Short and Long Parliaments

Question 1

dates of the short parliament

Answer 1

13th April - 5th May 1640

Question 2

recall the events that occurred between 1639 and Nov. 1640

Answer 2

1639 - First Bishops War
April 1640 - Short Parliament sits
May 1640 - Short Parliament dissolved
June-October 1640 - Second Bishops War
October 1640 - Treaty of Ripon
November 1640 - Long Parliament recalled

Question 3

why did Charles call the ‘short’ Parliament?

Answer 3

Due to the First Bishops War, Charles needed money to fund the War with the Scots.

Question 4

what did Charles request from the Short Parliament?

Answer 4

Charles requested 12 subsidies, to fund the effort in the First Bishops War

Question 5

Why didn’t Charles receive his requests from the short Parliament?

Answer 5

Parliament wanted pent-up grievances to be addressed before giving Charles his money. They didn’t trust Charles.

Question 6

Why didn’t Parliament trust Charles?

Answer 6

Charles had broken their trust many times, e.g the petition of right and extraparlimentary taxes during personal rule. He overall was an untrustworthy person.

Question 7

Sir John Finch, Lord Keeper, made a speech at the opening of Parliament. How did Charles use this occasion to assert his authority?

Answer 7

Charles used the speech to make it clear to Parliament that they were only recalled because Charles called them.
‘assembled … His Majesty’s will and Royal command’

Question 8

what two messages did Charles seek to convey through his speech at the opening of Parliament?

Answer 8

1. He needs funding to assist with the second Bishops War that he is aware is coming.
   ‘hurrying through an act of many subsidies’
2. He has agreed to listen to their grievances after they give him the money.
   ‘pleased to wait … hear your just grievances’

Question 9

John Pym responded on behalf of Parliament to Charles speech, what were their main messages?

Answer 9

• Charles would have the money he requires if he had developed a better relationship with Parliament.
  ‘Parliaments had been more frequent … King had more supplies’
• expressing dislike in the cryptocatholicism that devloped during personal rule.
• Parliament will only grant taxes once grievances are seen to.

Question 10

What was the impact of the Short Parliament?

Answer 10

Parliament has been dissolved without Charles receiving his needed subsidies.
- Therefore Charles won’t have any funding for the War.
- Charles would continue to believe that Parliament is disloyal to him personally.
- Parliament would believe that Charles in unconcerned with their issues.
- some MPs ally with the Scots to force Charles into a settlement and recall of Parliament.

Question 11

Why does Short Parliament fail?

Answer 11

Charles and Parliament have different priorities, Charles wants money first then a ‘promise’ to deal with grievances. Parliament don’t trust Charles so they want grievances solved prior to the granting of subsidies.

Question 12

what is the significance of Short Parliament?

Answer 12

Charles actions confirm his belief in the Divine right of Kings, if given the choice Charles would rule entirely without Parliament. Therefore if you want Charles to do something, you must force him into it. This is confirmed by the Second Bishops War and Treaty of Ripon.

Question 13

Dates of Long Parliament

Answer 13

November 1640 - August 1642

Question 14

Why was the Long Parliament recalled?

Answer 14

By November 1640, Charles was in a weak position. He was forced to recall Parliament due to the treaty of Ripon.

Question 15

In November 1640, was there a division in Parliament?

Answer 15

No, due to the unresolved grievances there was only one side. Parliamentarians.

Question 16

Describe the events of November 1640

Answer 16

• Long Parliament recalled
• Parliament united in opposing Charles
• Only 64/493 were pro Charles (mainly appointed by Charles)

Question 17

what were the main areas of concern that Parliament had in November 1640 - August 1641?

Answer 17

• Fiscal feudalism
• the right of Parliament to sit
• Arminianism
• Arbitrary legal system
• Remove Charles’ leading advisors

Question 18

What measure did Parliament take to solve the concern of Fiscal feudalism? (Nov 1640 - Aug 1641)

Answer 18

• ship money act of 1640 makes Ship Money illegal
• the tonnage and poundage act regulated collection of tonnage and poundage. it stated that no subsidy or custom or any other charge may be imposed without the consent of Parliament
  -**limitations of Forests act, 7th of August 1641, limits the boundaries of forests to 1623 levels meaning no further fines could occur.
• **act prohibiting knighthood fines, August 1641, made distraint of knighthood fines illegal

Question 19

what was the significance of fiscal feudalism being regulated?

Answer 19

it prevented Charles from being able to gather extra-parliamentary taxes and therefore prevents him dissolving Parliament and ruling absolutistly. Also increases Parliaments control over finances.

Question 20

what measures did Parliament take to solve the concern of the right of Parliament sitting?

Answer 20

• triennial act 15th February 1641, stated if no Parliament sat for 3 years they would be automatically recalled, regardless if the King ordered it or not
• act against dissolution May 1641, stated that Parliament could only be dissolved in the future if Parliamentarians themselves agreed that they should be dissolved.

Question 21

what was the significance of the measures taken to solve the rights of Parliament sitting?

Answer 21

• Both the triennial act and the act against dissolution prevented Charles from removing Parliaments influence for no reason over extended time periods.

Question 22

what measures did Parliament take to solve the problem of Arminianism? and what was its significance?

Answer 22

the commons agreed to a protestation which stated that all members would ‘oppose popery and popish innovations’.
significance: prevented the revival of Catholosism

Question 23

what measures did Parliament take to solve the problem of the arbitrary legal system?

Answer 23

• the habeus corpus act 1640 abolished the star chamber. prior to the act the star chamber could hold legal cases in private in front of the privy council, which symbolised Charles’ control of the courts and was seen as a way that Charles could rule outside of the laws set by Parliament.

Question 24

what was the significance of the measures taken to solve the arbitrary legal system?

Answer 24

Charles ability to imprison people and rule absolutist were being restricted.

Question 25

what measures did Parliament take to solve Charles’ influential leading advisors?

Answer 25

November: Strafford was impeached and imprisoned
December: Laud was impeached and imprisoned

Question 26

why might some members of Parliament believe that Charles concessions aren’t enough?

Answer 26

some don’t believe that Charles would stick to these terms, they don’t trust him due to the breaking of the petition of rights

Question 27

what was the fate of strafford?

Answer 27

• ## Strafford was put to trial in front of the House of Lords, they found him innocent of treason. This was because they had no solid evidence that Strafford had committed treason. The only evidence they could possibly scrape together was the excessive profits he made from Ireland, which Strafford pointed out he was only getting a good bargain.