Summary Charles Pre- Civil War Revision Table

Pre- Civil War after Personal Rule


Aims of Parliament 1640  Charles had to recall Parliament after the 2nd Bishops War
 MP’s- united in belief that grievances that had arisen during PR had to be addressed and
knew Charles couldn’t ignore their demands any longer
 Pym- encouraged MP’s to target the King’s evil advisers that were accused of high treason
 Strafford- criticised due to his change of sides after 1628, and his harsh control over Ireland
Strafford Impeachment
 11th Nov 1940- Parliament accused Strafford of trying to establish an ‘arbitrary government’
{without being approved}, committing treason by creating division between the King and his
subjects
 difficult to find evidence of actual treachery
 22nd March 1641- Strafford defended himself with good skill, arguing his actions didn’t
amount to treason and questioned how a royal servant supported by the King could be guilty
of treason
 Pym- believed punishing Strafford was crucial
Act of Attainder 1641
 law stating that Strafford was guilty of treason
 would require Charles’ signature
Pym
 revealed to MP’s that there had been an army plot
 some soldiers {angered by Parliament’s treatment of Charles} planned to bring the army from
York to London, free Strafford and dissolve Parliament
 Charles supported the plot and sent 100 soldiers to the Tower
 London Mob- group who were on Parliament’s side and prepared to use violence, put
pressure on Lords
Strafford’s Execution
 Privy Council- encouraged Charles to agree to the act and sign Strafford’s death warrant
 Strafford- hoped his death would help to restore order to the kingdom
 12th May 1641- he was executed
 Charles never forgave himself
Long Parliament {Summer Root and Branch Petition 1640
1641}  presented to Parliament
 called for radical reform of the Church and abolition of bishops
Triennial Act 1641
 pym’s proposal
 new Parliament would have to be held every 3 years, whether the King called it or not
 encroached one of Charles’ prerogative rights
Reversal of Personal Rule {Pym}
 prerogative courts- Star Chamber and the Court of High Commission were abolished
 ship money- declared illegal on 7th Aug 1641
 distraint of knighthoods- declared illegal on 10th Aug
 court of wards- abolished
Ten Propositions June 1641
 pym’s proposals
 parliament were to choose the King’s ministers
 nothing came of it as the King returned to Scotland and Parliament went into recess for 6
weeks
 Scotland- Charles persuaded Covenanters to remove their army from England, MP’s sent
commissioners to Scotland to ensure he didn’t convince any Scots to provide him with an
army
Divisions
 Pym- convinced Charles couldn’t be trusted and he would return to his absolutist tendencies
 some felt that Charles had been punished enough with the execution of Strafford and his
policies in PR
Long Parliament: The Irish  Oct 1641- Irish Catholics rose in revolt in Ulster
Rebellion 1641  10k-12k Protestants died
 1st Nov 1641- news broke in London with scenes of rape/torture
 some Irish rebels suggested that they were acting under his instruction, allowing MP’s to see
this as international catholic conspiracy
Long Parliament: The Grand  pym had been working on it before the rebellion
Remonstrance 1641  used propaganda to recount Charles’ wrong doings and promoted catholic conspiracy