30.9 why did Charles I lose control of the political situation 1637-42

July 1637:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. new scottish prayer book

2. Charles are wired to introduce a new Anglican-style prayer book into Scotland without the agreement of the Scottish parliament or general assembly. many presbyterian Scots saw it as a threat to their religion

23 July 1637:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. St Giles cathedral riot

2. serious disorder broke out when the new prayer book was first used at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. opposition to Charles’ religious reforms spread rapidly

February 1638:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. national covenant

2. opponent of Charles’ religious reforms signed the national covenant, promising to defend the presbyterian church. the covenanters developed into an organised movement against Charles’ religious policies

November 1638:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. glasgow general assembly

2. the general assembly rejected Charles’ reforms and abolished bishops in the Scottish church. it continued meeting after Charles ordered it to disperse, directly challenging royal authority

1639:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. Charles chooses force

2. Charles refused to accept the covenanters’ challenge and prepared an army to restore his authority. without parliament, however, raising enough money for war was difficult

1639 (war):

1. event

2. what happened?

1. first bishops’ war

2. Charles struggled to assemble an effective army. there was little major fighting and the conflict ended with the Pacification of Berwick in June 1639, without solving the underlying dispute

1639-40:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. financial crisis

2. Charles needed much more money to renew the war. revenue methods used during personal rule could not adequately finance a major campaign, increasing pressure to recall parliament

13 April 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. short parliament meets

2. Charles summonses parliament for the first time since 1629 because he needed taxation for war against the Scots. MPs instead wanted grievances from personal rule addressed before voting money

5 May 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. short parliament dissolved

2. frustrated by MP’s refusal to grant money immediately, Charles dissolved parliament after around three weeks. the Scottish problem remained unresolved

summer 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. second bishops’ war

2. Charles attempted to fight the covenanters again without adequate parliamentary financial support. the Scottish army invaded northern England

28 August 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. battle of newburn

2. Scottish forces defeated Charles’ troops at newburn and occupied newcastle and parts of northern england. Charles faces a severe military and financial crisis

October 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. treaty of ripon

2. Charles agreed that the Scottish army could remain in northern England while negotiations continued. he had to pay £850 per day towards its upkeep, placing enormous pressure on royal finances

3 November 1640:

1. event

2. what happened?

1. long parliament meets

2. Charles was forced to summon parliament again because he desperately needed money. he was now in a much weaker position and personal rule had effectively ended

calvinist

follower of religious teachings of John Calvin. believed that people can only achieve salvation through God’s grace, if they showed signs of Godliness they could go to heaven

presbyterian

church governed by elders instead of bishops

long parliament

purged and unable to assemble for long periods, dissolved in March 1660

Pym’s Junto

organised opposition strategy to king in the long parliament led by John Pym ,John Hampden and Arthur Haselrig

Act of Attainder

• act of parliament that acts as a death warrant

• act only required suspicion of guilt

• if it was passed by both houses and signed by the monarch then no trial was required