Political Instability 1625-88 Terms

The Duke of Buckingham

King Charles’ advisor and friend. Unpopular with parliament and inept at foreign policy. Assassinated in 1628 by Army officer John Felton

Henrietta Maria

Charles’ French Catholic wife. Allowed to have a catholic court

Tonnage and Poundage

Customs duties granted by parliament to the monarchy for life usually without question

Port Cadiz expedition

a failed naval expedition organised by the duke of Buckingham due to poorly supplied ships.

La Rochelle

a Huguenot rebellion. Charles attempts to promote this but of the 6000 that went over with Buckingham, less than half returned

Five Knight’s Case

5 knights refused to pay the forced loan imposed by Charles I and were imprisoned. They sued for release under Habeus Corpus however were not granted to go to court due to the King’s claim of emergency powers of arrest

Petition of Right

This asked for the reversal of the decision in the 5 knight’s case and asked that in future citizens would not pay forced loans, be subjected to martial law, or forced to provide lodgings and supplies to soldiers. In response the king dissolved parliament and revised it to grant him tonnage and poundage

Three Resolutions

The three resolutions were passed by parliament and were against the growth of arminianism, the levying of tax and those who paid it. Parliament held to speaker in his chair until it was passed.

Personal rule

The period of time where Charles I ruled alone. New roads were built, swamps were drained, a postal service began, monasteries were restored and there was an attempt to find money for the unemployed

Treaty of Madrid

Financial change during personal rule. Ended the Anglo Spanish war however it forced Charles to reduce spending from £500 000 to £70 000 in the 1630s

William Laud

An Arminian who preached the divine right of kings and believed puritans were a greater threat to Protestantism that Catholics. Introduced Laudian reforms during Charles I personal rule.

Ship tax

This was typically levied for the upkeep of the navy once or twice on the coast.

William Juxon

A bishop of London made Lord Treasurer showing the power that the church held in parliament

Book of Canons

Introduced by Charles I to bring Presbyterians in line with Church of England

English Prayer book

Introduced to Scotland during Charles I personal rule to bring Scottish churches in line with Church of England. Lead to riots beginning in Edinburgh and the lowlands

Scottish Covenant

An agreement signed to defend the church and restore their religious rights

Burton, Bastwick and Prynne

Puritan writers who published anti-Laudian pamphlets. They were given a harsh punishment of Ear amputation, branding and imprisonment

John Hampden Ship Money Case

Hampden refused to pay ship tax and started a legal challenge. Whilst it ruled in Charles I favour, it was a narrow 5-7

First Bishops’ War

Started with religious motivation - The signing of the National Covenant to protect Scottish religious rights made Charles I feel his rule was threatened

Treaty of Berwick

Treaty that ends the First Bishops’ war. Charles was forced to sign it as he was low on funds which meant he was relying on weak county militias

Second Bishops’ war

Started by Charles I with another ill-equipped army. Some members of the army felt sympathetic so began burning Catholic churches. Charles is defeated.

Treaty of Ripon

Ends Second Bishops’ war. Charles was once again forced to sign the treaty which gave Scotland £850 a day and they occupied Newcastle

Root and Branch Petition

A Petition presented and nearly a bill passed which would abolish the episcopy

Act of Attainder

An ancient act which acted as a death warrant and forced Charles to execute his friend, Thomas Wentworth

Triennial Act

(1641) Charles I had to call parliament at least once every 3 years

10 Propositions

Drawn up by Pym, This set out a list of demands from Parliament to the king including Parliament choosing the King’s ministers. Charles glossed over this and went to Scotland

Grand Remonstrance

A list of Complaints to the king which was passed. It included Parliament choosing the King’s ministers and there should be a reformation of the Anglican church. It was passed by 11 votes

Irish Catholic rebellion

The Catholic Irish rebelled against the Presbyterians, massacring 4000 protestants and claimed to have done it for Charles I. Increased fears of English Catholic sympathy.

Members Coup

(1642) Charles was informed of a supposed members coup to impeach Henrietta Maria. In response Charles ordered the impeachment of 5 MPs including Pym and Hampden and then marched into parliament with 300 troops to arrest them which broke parliamentary privilege

19 Propositions

These followed up on the 10 propositions but included more demands like Parliamentary control of the education of Royal children which would essentially begin a constitutional monarchy. The rejection of this began the civil war

First Civil War

1642 Charles raises his standard at Nottingham and between 1642-3 Charles had the advantage

In 1643 Parliament signed solemn league and covenant with Scottish forces and in 1645, the New model army was created and secured the victory

Solemn league and Covenant

An agreement between the Parliamentarians and the Scottish promising English adoption of Presbyterianism in response to additional forces

New Model Army

An army of professional soldiers led by trained generals. It was the first time there was so much organisation and discipline

Newcastle Propositions

After the king was captured by the Scots, negotiations began and Charles was given a list of terms including accepting the covenant, installing a Presbyterian form of church, giving Parliament control of the Army for 20 years, and turning over key supporters for punishment. Charles refused

Putney debates

The case of the army was stated as the generals (who wanted a constitutional monarch framework) met with radical soldiers like the Levellers (who wanted greater equality, democracy and a one man, one vote system) to come to agreement. They removed Charles from Parliament’s custody and placed him in theirs.

Heads of Proposals

The army had become a political threat after being disbanded so Cromwell published a “Representation of the Army” which demanded the expulsion of 11 Presbyterian MPs, reasonable religious toleration, fresh elections with a wider electorate and a fair settlement (biennial Parliament, restriction of Bishops, Parliament have more power)

Pride’s Purge

Pride’s Purge led to an agreement that Charles should be executed as Thomas Pride’s regiment surrounded Parliament and excluded 186 MPs who wanted to further discussions and arrested a further 45. The High Court of Justice was also executed. This left a “Rump” Parliament.

Rump parliament

This was chaos as no one had planned this far ahead. MPs were given power without elections and they served as the sole legislative authority. The revolution had been the work of a minority which led to massive disputes, wider support was needed. Additionally, the army drained taxes so people were angry and the army was required to put down rebellions - vicious cycle.

Barebones

Some reforms were passed but no sweeping changes were made. The radicals and conservatives constantly clashed. Ultimately, the moderate members met and voted to dissolve the assembly.

First protectorate

Passed 84 ordinances including sorting out infrastructure and organized the system of government for the first time but had the same fundamental problems as the Rump. Many believed Cromwell to focused on the army

Rule of the Major Generals

11 districts all under the control of different major generals. The system worked in theory but it was too dependent on the individual general.

Second Protectorate

Cromwell offered Humble Petition and Advice which essentially offered him the crown. He refused as it would signify a return to tradition and a new King would receive severe backlash. He died soon after which marked the end of the opportunity for a constitutional monarch.

Humble petition and Advice

Essentially offered Oliver Cromwell the crown but he refused

Richard Cromwell

Given title of Lord Protector following his father’s death. He was a poor leader and it was demanded that he resigned. The restoration followed

Declaration of Breda

A proclamation by Charles II promising religious toleration, payment of soldier’s debt, the pardoning of crimes during the civil war and the retainment of parliamentary land. These promises were intentionally vague and were not acted upon

Restoration Settlement

agreements made between church and state mainly around religious toleration and allowances to be given to the king in return for the abolition of prerogative and feudal powers

Savoy House Conference

The church and bishops had been restored however details were to be decided by ministers. Presbyterians hoped for a more tolerant church however found themselves negotiating with a high church party who wanted to restore much of the Laudian structure

Clarendon Codes

A series of acts which restricted religious freedoms and prevented much deviation from the church of England

Corporation act

Required all individuals working for the government to conform to the Anglican church and formally reject the solemn league and covenant. Meant to exclude all non conformists from public office

Act of uniformity

Made the book of common prayer mandatory in church services

Conventicle act

Prohibited conventicles (unauthorised religious meetings) of more than five people from different households. This was in order to prevent dissenting religious groups coming together

five mile act

Prevented nonconformist ministers from living, meeting, or teaching within five miles of a parish they were expelled from.

Treaty of Dover

An agreement Charles II made with the French. He promised to convert to Catholicism in return for French subsidies. Charles converted on his deathbed

Test act

Holders of public office were forced to deny aspects of the Catholic doctrine which resulted in James II having to give up his position of Lord Admiral

Popish Plot

Unsubstantiated rumours of a group of Catholic nobles plotting to kill Charles II to replace him with James II. Heightened tensions and caused a secondary test act to prevent Catholics from sitting in parliament

Exclusion Crisis

A number of parliaments that met to prevent a CAtholic monarch, specifically wanting to eliminate James II as heir. To prevent this, Charles had to close parliament, pressure the House of Lords into voting down the bill, moved parliament from London to Oxford, and arrested Shaftsbury.

Rye House Plot

An assassination attempt on Charles II to replace him with his Catholic nephew, the Duke of Monmouth

Godden V Hales

Allowed James to make personal dispensations from the test act

Declaration of Indulgence

Attempts to soften the act of Uniformity. Charles II failed as he needed subsidies and parliament forced its removal. James II reinstated it, suspending the penal laws against Catholics and dissenters

Immortal seven

The seven noblement representing all groups in Britain who invited William of Orange to start a revolution

Glorious Revolution

The series of events resulting in the deposition of James II and the ascension of William III and Mary