The quest for political stability, 1625-88

When did Henrietta Maria arrive in England?

1625

why did parliament disapprove of Henrietta Maria?

she was French Catholic and brought over her own Catholic advisers

why did Charles dissolve the 1625 parliament?

MPs were criticising Buckingham

why was Charles i’s decision to call a parliament in 1626 problematic?

it indicates a serious lack of awareness, as there were plans to impeach Buckingham

what was Charles i forced to do after the parliament of 1626?

dissolve parliament without any grant of taxation

How did Charles i attempt to get around his financial problems in 1627?

He demanded a forced loan from all tax payers and any who refused payment were to be punished by imprisonment or military conscription

When was the Five Knights case?

1627

What was the Five Nights Case?

a group of 5 knights had refused to pay a loan and had been imprisoned. They sued for release under Habeas corpus, but they were refused by Charles i due to claiming a right to an emergency power of arrest.

What did the 1628 Petition of Right ask of Charles i?

To reverse the decision made in the Five Knights case and demand citizens wouldn’t be asked to pay forced loans, imprisoned without trial or be subjected to material law - Charles agreed to these terms

When was Buckingham assassinated?

1628 - by army officer John Felton, the public reacted with Bonfires

What were the Three Resolutions (1629)?

1. formal resolutions against the growth or Arminianism

2. levying of Tonnage and Poundage

3. actions of the those who payed it

When was personal rule?

1629-1640

Who led the Privy Council during personal rule?

William Laud and Sir Thomas Wentworth

what was the purpose of the Treaty of Madrid (1630)?

To end hostilities with Spain, therefore helping England’s money problems

When was Laud appointed Archbishop of Canterbury?

1633

Why was it controversial for Laud to be AoC?

He was Arminian

What was Ship Money?

taxes for the upkeep of the Navy, introduced in 1634

Why were people unhappy with the introduction of Ship Money?

It had to be payed by everyone, even those who didn’t live by the sea (extended to inland counties in 1635). There was also no wars being fought, so people believed there was no reason to maintain the Navy

What happened at the trial of John Hampden (1636/1637)?

Hampden (a Buckingham gentleman who knew a group of Puritans who were attempting to resist the Kings power) refused to pay Ship Money in 1636. A trial took place in 1637, in which the Judges in the Court of the King’s Bench found in the Kings favour in early 1638 - this shows Charles i’s influence over the court system, as well as the growth in disagreements between the Puritans and the King.

What was the Book of Canons (1636)?

• issued to Scottish Clergy

• listed instructions as to how they should lay out their churches

• introduced practices associated with the CoE

What caused riots in Scotland in 1637?

the introduction of the English Prayer Book.

when first read in St. Giles Cathedral (Edinburgh), a riot broke out and disorder spread across the mainlands

What did the Scottish National Assembly issue in 1938?

The National Covenant - intended to defend the Kirk and restore religious rights

When was the First Bishop’s War?

1639

What is the Treaty of Berwick?

The treaty signed by Charles i after the First Bishops War, after realising he could not win (he was lacking money, so reliant of Country Militias)

Why was there a taxpayers strike in 1639-40?

Many gentry didn’t want to fund war with the Scots

When was Short Parliament called and for how long?

April 1640 for 3 weeks- Charles i demanded money from Parliament and caused a series of debates

When was the Second Bishops War?

1640

At what battle during the Second Bishops War was Charles i defeated?

The Battle of Newburn

Why did Charles i fail during the Second Bishops War?

• he was ill-organised and poorly equipped

• most of his soldiers sympathised with the Scots (they burned alter rails and other Catholic symbols)

What was the Treaty of Ripon (Oct 1640)?

Following the Second Bishops War, Charles i had to pay the Scots £850 per day while they occupied Newcastle

When was Long Parliament called and how long did it last?

Nov 1640-Mar 1660 (although, unable to meet for long periods)

What was Pym’s Junto?

The group that organised the opposition strategy to the king in Long Parliament

What did the Triennial Act (Feb 1641) enforce?

Parliament had to be called at least one every 3 years (to prevent another Personal Rule)

What caused the Irish Uprising (1641)?

• tensions caused by protestants taking Catholic lands

• English Protestants dominated the government of Ireland

• Sir Thomas Wentworth (close advisor to Charles i)was lord-lieutenant in Ireland (1632-40) and tried to break the power of the Catholic Irish nobility

How did the Irish Uprising (1641) contribute to the outbreak of the civil war?

The king failed to take up an army against rebelling Catholics in Ireland, so it was argued by parliament he was sympathetic towards Catholics

What was the The Grand Remonstrance (1641)?

• planned by Pym to be used as part of a campaign to transfer control of the armed forces to parliament

• a list of all grievances perpetrated by Charles i’s government in the church and state since the beginning of his reign, as well as describing measures taken by Long Parliament towards rectifying these.

• it presented the House of Commons as the true defender of the Kings prerogative

• passed on 22nd November 1641, with 156 votes to 148

What happened when Charles i tried to arrest 5 MPs (1642)?

• early 1642, Charles i ordered the attorney-general to indict for treason the 5 members of the HofC (and 1 member of the HofL) who were prominent in the attempt to transfer control of the armed forces

• 3rd Jan - the 5 members were asked to surrender themselves - they refused

• 4th Jan - Charles i marched to Westminster with soldiers and retainers to arrest the 5 members - this was a major infringement of Parliamentary Privilege

• the 5 members escaped and went into hiding

How did the attempted arrest of the 5 MPs(1642) contribute to the outbreak of the civil war?

• indicated Charles i was willing to break laws

• parliament started to prepare an army

What was the Militia Ordinance (1642)?

• parliament grants itself power to command armed forces in defiance of the king

• the bill was introduced to the HofC on 7th Dec 1641 (following the Irish uprising)

• proposed a lord-general should be appointed to raise and command the militia

• bill was passed with 158 votes to 125

• Charles i refused to give assent to the bill, so could’t be passed into law

• March - Parliament issued bill as ordinance

How did the Militia Ordinance (1642) contribute to the outbreak of the civil war?

parliament were now able to raise an army by their control

What were the Nineteen Propositions (1642) and were they accepted?

• A set of proposals sent from parliament to Charles i (June 1642) after he set up his court in York

• included Parliament being responsible for the defence of the country and all foreign policy, laws against RCs, and the parliamentary supervision of the royal children’s education and marriages

• publicly rejected on 18th June 1642

How did the Nineteen Propositions (1642) contribute to the outbreak of the civil war?

after its rejection, both sides began to openly prepare for an armed confrontation

When and where did the King raise the standard to start the Civil war?

• (22nd August) 1642

• Nottingham

• with around 18,000 troops (probably less as many signed pacts of neutrality or delayed fighting due to harvest or being loyal on both sides)

At the start of the Civil War, why was Charles i at an advantage?

• he controlled much of the country

• benefitted from the support of the majority of gentry and nobility

Where did most of the Kings support come from in the Civil War?

• gentry and nobility

• controlled officer corps

  • his nephews (Prince Rupert of the Rhine and Maurice of Nassue)

When was the Battle of Edgehill and which side gained an advantage?

• October 1642

• Royalists gained slight advantage

How did Pym maintain parliamentary forces and unity during the Civil War?

• established an excise tax in parliamentary areas

• kept a strong desire for peace among MPs

Who won at Marston Moor (July 1644)?

parliament with Scottish help

What was the ‘New Model’ army?

• agreed by parliament in early 1645 after failed peace talks at Uxbridge

• a new army which retrained soldiers and payed a fair amount

• made up of 22,000 men

• lead by Sir Thomas Fairfax (a talented soldier with an interest in politics)

When was the Battle of Naseby?

June 1645

What did Charles i do in April 1646?

surrendered to the Scots at Southwell

What happened to Laud in 1945?

he was executed

What happened to Charles i while he was imprisoned in Scottish-controlled Newcastle?

he received separate proposals for a settlement from the Scots and from English Parliament, both to restore him to the throne (with restrictions)

What did parliament offer Charles i after the Civil War (1646)?

The Newcastle Propositions (essentially the 19 propositions)

What was demanded in the Newcastle propositions?

1. Parliament would nominate the key officers of state

2. Parliament would control the militia for 20 years

3. Bishops would be abolished and the Presbyterian Church would be created for an experimental 3 years

What happened with the New Model Army while Charles i delayed his response to the Newcastle Propositions?

• Levellers (started as a group advocation religious toleration) developed a political programme

• They had the support of the New Army, who wanted pay

• Parliament voted to disband the army without pay and within months the army armerged as a political force

What happened when Charles i escaped to Carisbroke Castle?

he signs an agreement with the Scots (the Engagement), where he promised to establish a Presbyterian Church in England for 3 years in return for their military assistance (signed Dec 26th 1647)

What happened at the Putney debates? why did they end?

• the gulf between the radicals and the leading officers became clearer and wider

• the radicals demanded complete religious freedom and annual parliaments elected by all adult males

• ended by the news Charlesworth had escaped from captivity at Hampton court

When did the Scots enter England in the Second Civil War?

April 1648

What happened Nov 20th 1648?

The army p[resented a remonstrance to the commons, demanding Charles be brought to Justice

When was Charles i found guilty of treason? When was he beheaded?

• found guilty: 27th Jan 1649

• beheaded: 30th Jan 1649

What was the Rump and why was it formed?

The remaining MPs of the Long Parliament, reassembled 4th Jan 1649. It declared itself to the sole legislative authority and elected a council of state.

What was first on the agenda of Rump Parliament?

1.     The reform of government and society. They sought to reform the law, bring greater social justice, in order to create a broad base of support for the new regime.

Give two reasons why the Rump could not provide the stability it promised.

1. The reforms they had promised involved a great degree of complex legal compromise that never materialised.

2. The Rump needed to remain a large standing army due to the threat of Royalism, which led to high taxes.

What was the Hale Commission and when was it set up?

A commission set up to in 1651 to investigate reform of the legal system - met regularly for a year, but its recommendations were never adopted

When did Cromwell invade Ireland? Why?

August 1649- to supress Catholic Royalists. While there, He stormed the strongholds of Drogheda and Wexford, slaughtering thousands of civilians.

Why did relations break down between Scotland and England?

The execution of Charles I, Charles II had made peace with the Covenanters and was declared king.

When did Cromwell dissolve the Rump?

April 1653

What was the Nominated assembly also known as?

Barebones parliament/Parliament of saints

Where were the members of the Nominated Assembly drawn from?

independent churches

What reforms did the Nominated Assembly make?

• war with the Dutch continued

• legal measures to help debtors

• regulations concerning the treatment of lunatics

• civil marriage allowed, officiated by JPs

Why could the members of the Nominated Assembly not work together?

The radical ‘saints’ couldn’t work with the ‘sinners’ of the conservative gentry. The propertied members were unhappy at the suggestion that the assembly abolished tithes.

What was the Instrument of Government?

The constitution that established the Protectorate. It contained 42 articles and vested executive authority in Cromwell and a council of state with 21 members.

When was the First Protectorate Parliament?

1654-55

Name a success of the First Protectorate Parliament

• Freedom of Worship granted

• 84 ordinances issued

• prohibited blasphemy and drunkenness

Name a weakness of the First Protectorate Parliament

• Freedom of Worship didn’t apply to Catholics or Bishop supporters

• Faced resentment from Republican MPs whom Cromwell had excluded from power

• The focus on the army caused conflict in the Rump

When was the Second Protectorate Parliament?

1656-58

Name a success of the Second Protectorate Parliament

• established ‘Commissions of Triers and Ejectors’ to supervise the running of the church - emphasis on quality of preaching and flexibility of belief

• Cromwell denied his offering of the crown

Name a problem of the Second Protectorate Parliament

Imposed centralised military rule over the entire country - split into 11 districts and commanded by a major-general - mixed effectiveness

What was the Humble Petition and Advice? What did it consist of?

• A new constitutional document offered to Cromwell by the Second Protectorate Parliament

• Consisted of:

  • Government by a King (changed to Lord Protector when Cromwell refused the Crown)

  • The Lords and Commons to govern with the Protector

  • Provision for a hereditary succession

  • Parliament to control the army, and officers of state to be approved by parliament

  • Regular elections and limited religious toleration

When did Oliver Cromwell die?

3rd September 1658

Who succeeded Oliver Cromwell? Why was this a problem?

• Richard Cromwell (his eldest son)

• He lacked political experience and was disliked by the army

When was the Third Protectorate Parliament?

1659

What were the issues with the Third Protectorate Parliament?

• divisions among elected MPs - some eager to demolish Protectorate and return to Commonwealth, others wanted to keep Cromwell as Lord Protector

• army wanted to be granted immunity from prosecution for their actions during the commonwealth

Why did Charles ii move his court while in exile?

He moved from Spanish-Controlled Netherlands to Protestant Netherlands to show himself to be protestant

When did Charles issue the Declaration on Breda?

(4th) April 1660

What was promised in the Declaration of Breda?

• religious settlement

• confirmation of land sales (won’t ask for sold land back)

• those who fought against the crown in the Civil War won’t be prosecuted (if they swear loyalty to the crown within 40 days of Charles ii’s return)

• the King will call Parliament when he wants

• Charles ii holds no responsibility if public reaction to the restoration of the monarchy is poor

• purposely vague - enough to interest parliament without being held to anything later on

When did the Convention Parliament sit?

April-December 1660

When was Charles ii declared King by right?

8th May 1660

What was the main goal of the Cavalier Parliament?

To weaken the restrictions on the King’s power and undermine the clarity that had been achieved by the Convention Parliament

When was the Militia Act introduced? What did it state?

1661, stated that the king alone was in supreme command of the armed forces

What did the revised Triennial Act (1664) mean?

It did not provide any mechanisms to enforce the calling of parliament every 3 years

When was the Act of Uniformity passed? What did it do?

passed in 1662, it restored the Laudian Church and set conditions so stringent that around 1800 ministers were unable to conform and were expelled from their livings

What did the Conventicle Act ensure?

hard punishment for those who tried to conduct a religious life in separate congregations meeting outside the church.

Name 3 reasons for suspicions about Charles ii and his links to Catholicism

• he attempted to suspend the Act of Uniformity (would allow for toleration of Catholicism)

• his brother (James) announced his transition to Catholicism

• his foreign policy was pro-french

• he signed a treaty with France that committed England to further war with the Dutch in 1670 (shows Catholic leanings)

• suspicions that the Great Plague outbreak was the work of Charles’ Catholic advisors

What was the Declaration of Indulgence? When was it proposed?

The 2nd attempt by Charles to establish religious toleration, proposed in 1672

What were the two main issues with the Declaration of Indulgence?

1. it included Catholics

2. it was based on a claim that the monarch’s prerogative powers included the right to 'dispense with’ (ie. suspended the operation of the law

What financial position did Charles find himself in in 1672 and who did he turn to?

He was unable to pay his debts, so had to ask for parliamentary grants - parliament responded by demanding the withdrawal of the indulgence

What was the Test Act?

It forced holders of public office to deny key Catholic doctrines

Who did Charles appoint as Treasurer? Why did he make this appointment?

Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby - his views and credentials were impeccably Anglican and Protestant