The National Covenant and Breakdown of Personal Rule

When was the National Covenant?

February 1638.

What had Prayer Book riots in 1636 caused?

An organised national movement.

What did Charles argue about opposition to the Prayer Book?

That it was equivalent to opposing the crown, i.e. treason.

What did Protestant leaders in Scotland draw up in protest?

A document to unite the nation.

When and where was the covenant signed?

In Edinburgh in February 1638.

What did the covenant reiterate?

Opposition to Catholicism, resistance to religious change and loyalty to the crown.

Where did people sign the Covenant?

In all parts of Scotland.

Initially signed in Edinburgh, and then copies circulated and signed elsewhere.

How did Charles interpret the signing of the National Covenant?

As a national rebellion, and began to prepare for war.

When was the First Bishops' War?

Mar - Jun 1639

When was the Second Bishops War?

August - October 1640.

What did the growing discontent in England linked with events in Scotland explain?

Why Charles had to call in parliament in 1640.

During parliament in 1640, what was the case despite there being no meeting of parliament?

This did not mean that those who opposed Charles had no outlet for their feelings.

How did opposition groups to Charles outlet their feelings?

One group formed companies to encourage trade and colonisation in America and could use the meetings of the shareholders as a cloak for discussion of grievances.

Give an example of a company who used it as a cloak for discussing grievances.

The Providence Island Company which planned the Saybrook venture.

What bound the men of the Providence Island Company together?

2 leading lords had bought land in New England for the support of emigrants and there were many ties of friendship and marriage.

From who did more open opposition come from?

Puritans.

Cases of Alexander Leighton and William Prynne had won them much sympathy.

What happened in October 1637?

The trial of John Hampden, who had challenged legality of Ship Money.

Where was John Hampden tried?

In the Court of the Exchequer where 12 judges presided.

Who was Hampden defended by?

Oliver St John, who was part of the Providence Island Company.

What was the case as 7 months were allowed for the collection of Ship Money?

A parliament could easily be summoned within the same time frame.

What was Charles' argument regarding collection of taxes?

It was the same as 1626, that he could collect such taxes when the country was in danger and that he was the judge of this.

What was the verdict of the Hampden case?

Was in Charles's favour, but only by a 7-5 majority.

What flooded into the Privy council following the Hampden case?

Petitions against ship money flooded in.

How much did ship money payments decrease between 1637 and 1639?

1637 - Over 90% collected.
1638 - 80% collected.
1639 - 25% gathered in.

What did Charles and his advisers expect regarding resistance?

Expected the resistance in Scotland to die down.

But what did Charles's Council in Scotland do about resistance?

Little, as they had some sympathy with protests as they too felt the new services were popish and several councillors had been discreetly abset from St Giles' Cathedral.

What did Charles do as unrest in Scotland continued?

He told his government to leave Edinburgh for Dundee, but even the loss of the revenue from Council business did not bring the citizens to his side, but simply reinforced their determination.

What did Laud tell Charles to do?

Told Charles not to 'yield a jot', but this made matters worse.

He threatened to prosecute those who interrupted divine service, whereupon early in 1638 the Scots drew up the National Covenant which outlined reasons for opposing the King.

When did the Scots draw up the National Covenant?

Early in 1638.

What did Bishops do after the National Covenant was drawn up?

Bishops now left Scotland and Charles's treasurer there, Lord Traquair, came south to report in person about the seriousness of the situation.

Who did Charles replace Traquair with?

The Duke of Hamilton, and sent him off to Scotland with instructions to negotiate or use force as seemed best.

What was suspended through the National Covenant?

The Prayer Book and new canons were suspended.

But this was simply a ploy to give time to gather forces together.

What happened in November 1638??

The General Assembly of the Kirk met and banned the Prayer Book, annulled the canons and abolished bishops.

What did Charles have a plan for?

Had an ambitious plan for a four-pronged invasion of Scotland.

But he was overhopeful.

When did the First Bishops' War break out?

June 1639.

What happened by the time the First Bishops' War?

Lord Saye and Sele was in contact with the covenanting leaders.

What did Lord Saye and Sele and covenanting leaders share?

Shared views on Laudianism which made them natural allies.

What were Lord Saye and Sele and covenanting leaders aware of?

Aware if Scots invaded England, Charles would have to call a parliament which would give them an opportunity to express and get remedies for their grievances.

What did Charles have no expectation of?

Charles had no expectation that the Scots would have any kind of forceful amy.

Recent history showed their armies could not defeat the English, but times had changed.

Who were the Scots led by?

Alexander Leslie, an experienced soldier who had fought in the Swedish army in the Thirty Years War.

Who made up English troops?

They were the unruly militias, raised with great reluctance, especially along the south coast.

Why did local officials find it hard to raise troops?

Most of their neighbour's would have preferred to be fighting the Spanish.

What did Charles do unusually once the campaign began?

He moved with unusual rapidity.

Was in York 5 days after leaving London and then crossed the border.

What was Charles dismayed by?

The apparent strength of the Scots, so the army retreated and a truce was agreed.

What were both sides to do due to this truce?

Both sides to disband their armies and Charles would call a Scottish General Assembly and parliament.

But what did the Scots do following the truce?

The Scots did not trust Charles and did not disband their army.

Who did Charles summon during this crisis?

Summoned Wentworth back from Ireland for advice.

What financial problems did Charles face?

He needed £300,000.

The City of London would not lend the money, and so he had to call Parliament.

What happened with the Short Parliament?

It met for 3 weeks in spring 1640.

But it failed to provide what Charles needed and so he dissolved it.

What happened in the Second Bishops' War?

The Scots invaded England.

Most of the royal army was still at York and Scots captured Newcastle.

What was agreed in the Treaty of Ripon?

Charles was forced to negotiate.

Agreed to keep Newcastle until settlement, pay Scots £850 a day and to recall the English Parliament.

How did the Personal Rule end?

In September 1640 Charles summoned parliament (Long Parliament).

Met on 3 Nov 1640. Personal Rule was ended.

What did the agreement at Ripon follow?

Followed the defeat of the English at Newburn.

What did Charles summon?

Summoned the peers to York, and they advised him to negotiate a treaty.

What did Charles and his peers agree?

Agreed parliament would be summoned to ratify a permanent peace.

Until parliament was called, what would have to happen?

Scots would occupy Northumberland and Durham, being paid £850 a day.

Charles could not afford this and so summoned Long parliament 3 Nov.

What was Charles in a hurry to do?

Settle the situation in Scotland.

(Treaty of London 1641) He agreed Scotland could ban bishops; that no covenanters should be persecuted and Scotland should receive £300,000 compensation.

When was the Treaty of Ripon agreed?

1640

When did the Short parliament meet?

Met for 3 weeks in spring 1640 but didn't provide what the king needed.

What started in August 1640?

The Second Bishops' War.

What did Charles not do for the Second Bishops' War?

He did not go north this time and Wentworth, now Earl of Strafford as of 1640, was ill with gout.

What did Charles do in September 1640??

Called a meeting of peers to York and they advised him to call another parliament.

What was Charles forced to do in this extreme situation?

Forced to negotiate with the Scots at Ripon and agree they could keep Newcastle until a settlement was reached, that he would pay them £850 a day until he would recall the English parliament.