‘The execution of the Earl of Strafford was the key turning point in the breakdown of
relations between King and Parliament in the years 1640-42’. To what extent do you
agree?
Intro: Agree, it was execution of Strafford, and although there were some attempts after
the execution to make concessions and repair the relationship, these were unsuccessful
and from this point onwards C was unable to trust Parl.
Agree- Execution of Strafford
• April 1641; After a failed trial in March-May 1641, Pym issued a Bill of Attainder; an act of
Parliament that could declare a person a traitor without the need for a trial. House of
Commons passed the Bill due to pressure of London Mob, and Lords did after Pym
revealed the Army Plot ( Charles secretly communicating with a group of army officers to
try and free Strafford and dissolve Parl). King was persuaded to sign because of outrage
at this and Strafford wrote to him giving his consent. Strafford was executed on 12 May.
• Breakdown in relations: Certainly was a key turning point;
• Charles never forgave himself for allowing the death of Strafford, and never forgave
Parliament for pushing him to do it. Deeply damaged his relationship with Parliament- he
blamed them for his death. He lost one of his closest and fiercest advisors putting him in
a very weak position- allowed for more of his royal prerogative to be weakened in the
destruction of the instruments of the Personal Rule- more resentment. His resentment
over this can be seen in events such as the attempt on the five members- arguably may
not have done this if their relationship had not been damaged by the execution.
Counter-Argue- Execution of Strafford
• After the execution, the relations between King and Parliament seemed to enter a period
of relative peace, as Charles appeased many MPs and agreed to a series of
concessions; Act against the dissolution of the Long Parliament, Destruction of the
Instruments of Personal Rule.
Disagree- the Militia Bill
• After the Irish Rebellion, the issue of who would control the Army was brought up, which
raised tensions massively between Charles and Parliament.
• Charles was deemed untrustworthy after the Army Plot, however he deemed control over
the Army as part of his Royal Prerogative- tension arose out of these conflicting ideas.
• December 1641; Parliament issued the Militia Bill in response to the Irish Rebellion,
which called for Parliament to be given control over the militia and to appoint army
commanders.
• Breakdown in relations: Charles was deeply insulted by the Bill as he saw it as a huge
breach of his prerogative, he rejected it immediately.
• Showed C that the demands of Parl were getting more radical and his earlier
concessions had not appeased them- made compromise unlikely from this point
onwards.
• Solidified the immanency of war.
Disagree- Failed arrest of the five members
• January 1642; Charles marches into Parliament, surrounded by armed guards, and
demands the speaker point out 5 MPs; John Pym, Denzil Holles, Arthur Haselrig, William
Strode and John Hampden. He had a warrant for their arrest. The five MPs had been
warned however, and had fled down the Thames to a safe house.
• Breakdown in relations: Outraged radical MPs, who saw C as completely untrustworthy
and led them to issue Militia Ordinance- preparing for war.
relations between King and Parliament in the years 1640-42’. To what extent do you
agree?
Intro: Agree, it was execution of Strafford, and although there were some attempts after
the execution to make concessions and repair the relationship, these were unsuccessful
and from this point onwards C was unable to trust Parl.
Agree- Execution of Strafford
• April 1641; After a failed trial in March-May 1641, Pym issued a Bill of Attainder; an act of
Parliament that could declare a person a traitor without the need for a trial. House of
Commons passed the Bill due to pressure of London Mob, and Lords did after Pym
revealed the Army Plot ( Charles secretly communicating with a group of army officers to
try and free Strafford and dissolve Parl). King was persuaded to sign because of outrage
at this and Strafford wrote to him giving his consent. Strafford was executed on 12 May.
• Breakdown in relations: Certainly was a key turning point;
• Charles never forgave himself for allowing the death of Strafford, and never forgave
Parliament for pushing him to do it. Deeply damaged his relationship with Parliament- he
blamed them for his death. He lost one of his closest and fiercest advisors putting him in
a very weak position- allowed for more of his royal prerogative to be weakened in the
destruction of the instruments of the Personal Rule- more resentment. His resentment
over this can be seen in events such as the attempt on the five members- arguably may
not have done this if their relationship had not been damaged by the execution.
Counter-Argue- Execution of Strafford
• After the execution, the relations between King and Parliament seemed to enter a period
of relative peace, as Charles appeased many MPs and agreed to a series of
concessions; Act against the dissolution of the Long Parliament, Destruction of the
Instruments of Personal Rule.
Disagree- the Militia Bill
• After the Irish Rebellion, the issue of who would control the Army was brought up, which
raised tensions massively between Charles and Parliament.
• Charles was deemed untrustworthy after the Army Plot, however he deemed control over
the Army as part of his Royal Prerogative- tension arose out of these conflicting ideas.
• December 1641; Parliament issued the Militia Bill in response to the Irish Rebellion,
which called for Parliament to be given control over the militia and to appoint army
commanders.
• Breakdown in relations: Charles was deeply insulted by the Bill as he saw it as a huge
breach of his prerogative, he rejected it immediately.
• Showed C that the demands of Parl were getting more radical and his earlier
concessions had not appeased them- made compromise unlikely from this point
onwards.
• Solidified the immanency of war.
Disagree- Failed arrest of the five members
• January 1642; Charles marches into Parliament, surrounded by armed guards, and
demands the speaker point out 5 MPs; John Pym, Denzil Holles, Arthur Haselrig, William
Strode and John Hampden. He had a warrant for their arrest. The five MPs had been
warned however, and had fled down the Thames to a safe house.
• Breakdown in relations: Outraged radical MPs, who saw C as completely untrustworthy
and led them to issue Militia Ordinance- preparing for war.
