Charles I Personal Rule

• Charles was wary of Parliaments as they had:
• Failed to support the war efforts against France and Spain 1620s
• Failed to accept the changes that had begun in the Church
• Charles had 2 aims: Provide a well ordered & efficient royal government & Raise sufficient money to avoid recall of Parliament

• Avoidance of War
• 1629: peace treaty with France
• 1630: peace treaty with Spain
• By 1635 only £66,000 spent on military
• Retrenchment
• Weston (in charge of finances) made several cutbacks in royal expenditure at court
• However after his death cutbacks weren't always maintained
• Patronage was vital method of rewarding followers @ Court so cutbacks couldn't always be widespread
• Both these methods had negative political consequences:
• Charles' withdrawal from 30 years war not popular w/ Puritans who saw it as godly war
• Reduction in Court Costs unpopular with those who liked extravagance of James' reign
• Increase in Customs Revenue
• Avoidance of war meant there was increase in trade
• Charles could greatly increase revenue from T+P although he was collecting them illegally
• New custom duties "Impositions" drawn up
• By 1640 £500,000 p.a. from customs
• Crown Land sales- Charles sold £650,000 worth

• Feudal Dues (all below)
• Charles looked to past for inspiration to raise revenue
• "Distraint of Knighthood"
• Landowners owning land worth £40 p.a. fined for not presenting themselves for knighthood at Charles' coronation in 1625
• £174,000 brought in by end f 1630s
• Forest Laws
• Landowners who lived in/built buildings on former royal forests fined
• Raised £38,000
• Wardship revenues
• By 1630s £55,000 p.a.

Feudal dues were made to alienate the Crown's natural allies!!!!

• Most of Charles' other methods were politically short sighted
• Exploitation of 1624 Monopoly Act
• The 1624 Act banned individuals from holding monopolies
• 1632: Charles allowed a company to golf a monopoly on the sale of soap
• This antagonised merchants
• Ship Money
• 1634: Ship money collecred from coastal countries
• 1635: extended to ALL counties on grounds whole country suffered if trade went wrong
• Country being asked to make regular direct payment to government
• In financial terms this was very successful
• How successful was Charles in financing government 1629-1640?
• Royal government depended on cooperation of Gentry and Crown
• Charles was in danger of alienating his natural allies
• Could not have gone to war so freedom of action very limited
• Personal Rule was a period of financial standstill
• A strong, financially independent monarchy was not created

• Gentry's natural loyalty to government was strained
• Distraint of Knighthood carried a heavy political cost
• Forest Laws; it was known Charles was trying to extract money not rectify social evil
• Exploitation of Wardship: could bankrupt landowning families, it was seen as unfair
• All these methods of raising revenue were seen as attack on property right & liberty
• With exploitation of monopoly laws it was felt Charles was putting private gain above wider community
• Ship money: seen as innovative tax that should have had permission of Parliament
• The Hampden Test Case
• 1636: John Hampden refused to pay Ship Money as it hadn't been authorized by Parliament
• Royal judges decided in favour of King saying there was no limit to King's power to decide on taxation
• To the gentry this implied Charles' prerogative rights were unlimited

For most of Personal Rule period landowning classes found almost impossible to openly criticise the King because of natural loyalty

• Fear that Charles was moving towards 'absolute government'
• Fear heightened by fact he wouldn't call Parliament
• By 1639:
• Scottish Covenanters Rebellion meant Charles forced to demand even more non-Parliamentary revenue
• This resulted in taxpayers strike
• Opposition to financial methods could now become open since main leaders were in contact with Scots rebels
• Both groups were working together to force Charles to recall Parliament
• THEREFORE
• Opposition quickly became open once opportunity arose
• Resentment against financial methods of Personal Rule one of key grievances in Long Parliament 1640

• Charles wanted to change Anglican Church in line with his own views
• Wanted to impose uniformitu on Church & government
• Charles was as responsible for religious policies as Laud
• AIMS
• Greater siginificance on "beauty of holiness"
• Greater significance on religious ceremony
• Enhance authority of clergy
• Move away from broad comprehensive church
• Most important priority was imposition of religious uniformity

These changes provoked resentment for different reasons:

• Cost, social implications & threat posed to political stability
• Laud's aim to raise status of clergy horrified gentry as they felt he was undermining their power & independence in local communities
• Religious fears: too close to Catholicism

• Political fears: Charles refusing to intervene in 30 Years War to save Protestantism
• Increasing fears over Charles' friendship with Papal ambassador at Court
• Fears there was network of Catholic's at Court who were misleading the King
• Most fears centred around Laud & Henrietta Maria

• Trial of John Lilburne
• Lilburne found guilty of distributing Puritan pamphlets and beginning to print his own works
• Sentenced to be tied & whipped in public then imprisoned
• Had to be gagged at trial as he wouldn't accept verdict

• Failure of religious Policies
• Charles' decision to implement religious uniformity in Scotland:
• 1637: decision to implement Prayer Book, Convenanters rebellion allowed English opposition to become open
• 1640: religious grievances were very prominent in Long Parliament

• Method of government used by Charles' 2 key advisers: Laud and Thomas Wentworth
• Laud was key member of Privy Council, believed Church should play much wider role in society
• Book of Orders 1531
• Carried out by Laud
• Series of instructions from Privy Council to local JPs dealing w/ tackling poor relief
• They reflected shared aims of Laud, Charles & local JPs for effective local government
• 1630-32 Charles ordered gentry to leave London to ensure they carried out responsibilities in their local areas
• Reissue of Book of Sports
• 1633
• Gave details of popular sports that could be played on Sundays
• Puritan gentry deeply offended by this believing Sunday should be day of rest
• Other aspects of Laud in Personal Rule
• Highly influential member of Privy Council
• By late 1630s three most important Anglican Bishops served on Privy Council, fears Laudian bishops were dominating royal government  

• This seemed to be further evidenc of "popish plot"
• Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford)
• Wentworth was most feared man in England
• His actions in Ireland led fears he was using Ireland as test for policies eventually for use in England
• In 1634 Strafford called an Irish Parliament which he bent to his own will
• He bullied it into granting taxation to raise money for Irish Standing Army
• He made Ireland financially independent of England
• He imposed Laudian reforms on the Anglican Church in Ireland
• Straffords policies in Ireland were successful financially
• But he alienated both Protestants in Ireland and Irish Catholics (vast majority of population)

CONCLUSION ON THOROUGH GOVERNMENT

• Raised fears King was being misguided by advisers who were pushing him into Catholic, absolutist policy
• No "Point of Contact" between King & subjects due to lack of Parliament
• Straffords recall to England 1639 intensified fears due to his Irish Army

• THE ROYAL COURT IN THE PERSONAL RULE PERIOD
• It was very different from the Court of his fathers
• Access to the monarch was restricted to ensure respect for the Crown
• Strict codes of noble behaviour were enforced with King setting supreme example of morality
• The main effect of changes at Court was that it became more isolated from the rest of society and PN
• It encouraged fears about King being misled by advisers at Court

• THINGS FOR ESSAYS
• 1629-31 severe economic depression caused by plague & harvest failures
• After 1631 country entered period of good harvests & a boom in trade
• How would this have helped Charles in Personal Rule?
• Crown and its most powerful subjects had to work in cooperation ensure social harmony
• Book of Orders gave good example of cooperation (shared aims for effective local government)
• HOWEVER
• Many long term reforming plans were pushed aside by urgent, short term matters
• Charles' character greatly influenced the nature of his personal rule, royal court became more isolated from mainstream political opinion
• The court seemed to be at centre of "popish plot"

Pre 1637

• Up to 1637 only individual cases of opposition to Personal Rule
• Up to 1637 Charles always able to rely on PN natural obedience to royal authority
• PN knew they were being alienated but it was to much of a risk to express their fears
• The Providence Island Company 1630
• This set up to ensure those in PN who opposed Crown policies could maintain network of contacts throughout Personal Rule
• This would be vital when rebellion broke out in Soctland in 1637
• HOWEVER
• can be argued that unless Charles called a Parliament the opposition could make little impact on Personal Rule

• Laudian changes had destroyed balance of "Jacobethan" church
• They alienated majority and created "conspiracy mentality" where those of different religious views became increasingly suspicious of eachother
• Charles' support for Laudian changes ended up triggering Britains wars of religion 1630s by alienating majority forcing a reaction from the Puritans
• The emergence of MILLENARIANISM
• This was the belief that there would be a 2nd coming of Christ
• Had always been common amongst extreme Puritans
• Some historians argue that millinarianism beliefs grew among Puritans in Personal Rule
• Charles' Personal rule and Laudian changes suggested Puritans were living in the reign of the AntiChrist
• This made it more lilely that religious tension would cause violent conflict

CONCLUSION

• Opposition would always remain underlying unless PN could voice grievances

Why was Charles forced to recall Parliament?

• Result of Charles' attempt to impose religious uniformity upon Scotland & failure to see this would lead to rebellion
• Charles was the key factor
• Charles' policy in Scotland before 1637
• Act of Revocation: Cancelled all grants of church & crown land to gentry- horrified Scottish gentry 1625
• His coronation ceremony in Scotland had many Laudian features causing fears about his intentions 1633
• Issued new "canons" 1636 for Scottish Church

• July 1637: Prayer Book containing Laudian changes introduced to Scotland
• Result was widespread riots
• It was thought Laud was behind a plan to turn the Scots away from the 'true' religion
• Feb 1638: National Covenant drawn up to 'maintain the true religion of Jesus Christ'
• Charles chose to regard Covenanters as direct challenge to his authority, decided to use military force against them
• He would not compromise
• RESULT
• Charles had called a General Assembly but made it clear he wouldn't compromise
• Nov 1638: General Assembly abolished Scottish episcopacy
• Charles had turned grievances of Scots Covenanters into open rebellion
• Now allowing Scots to provide succesful example of resistance to royal authority
• Now the financial instability of Personal Rule became apparent

Charles' Military Plan

• Straffords Irish army would land in Scotland
• A naval blockade of Scotland planned

• Irish army in fact never left Ireland, blockade was abandoned through lack of money
• Charles' new demands for money provoked a taxpayers strike

• June 1639: the 2 armies met at BERWICK. English forces fled having no desire to fight covenanters
• June 1639: TREATY OF BERWICK: Charles agreed to call Scottish Parliament & General Assembly of Scottish Church
• As a result the abolition of the Scottish episcopacy was confirmed
• Opposition in England was working with Covenanters to force Charles to call English Parliament
• Summer 1639: Charles allowed Spanish troops to cross England, fears he was seeking Spanish help at those who opposed his rule

• September 1639: Wentworth recalled from Ireland and made Earl of Strafford, concern military rule was about to be imposed by Strafford
• Strafford advised Charles to call Parliament 
• Charles had little options
• His request to City of London merchants for £100,000 loan was rejected, they offered £10,000
• Maybe result of Charles' poor treatment of them over settlement of Londonerry
• Henrietta Maria asked English Catholics to give financial donations, increased fears of "popish plot" at Court

• April 1640: Scottish Parliament passed Triennial Act forcing Charles to call Parliament every 3 years
• This was another example of challenging royal authority and a model for the English opposition to follow

• Not all was lost for Charles, MPs prepared to grant finance only after grievances had been addressed
• Charles made promise to abandon Ship Money & hear grievances only if he was granted 12 subsidies
• MPs led by John Pym debated the grievances that had built up:
• Religion, Economy, Politics and Legal problems
• Charles dissolved Short Parliament after 3 weeks
• Stafford advised Charles he was no "absolved from all rules of government"
• Covenanters decided only way to get Charles to reason would be to invade England

August 1640: Covenanter Army crosses into England

• Charles had to confiscate London merchants' gold in Tower of London to pay for new military campaign 
• August 1640: "Battle" of Newburn- English Army fled
• Sept 1640: Charles called Council of Peers at York, advised him to recall Parliament
• October 1640: Treaty of Ripon: Scots Covenanters would remain in England and recieve £850 a day til satisfactory terms guarenteed by future English Parliament
• Charles had now run out of options, guarenteed he would be unable to dissolve a new Parliament without agreement of English and Scottish opposition
• Nov 1640: Parliament recalled (Long Parliament)

• In PR Charles reliant on cooperation of gentry and avoiding war
• Mistake trying to impose religious uniformity on Scotland-failed to see possible rebellion
• Charles' personality is a key factor- actions and stubbornness led to all sides mistrusting his intentions
• Scottish rebellion triggered English oppostion to air grievances (taxpayers strike 1640)
• Scots grievances were religious but English were religious, financial, political and legal
• Charles unlikely to find any support in England
• Strafford's recall increased fears of Charles using force to crush opposition
• By 1640 English/Scottish opposition were cooperating
• Scots provided successful model of resisting royal authority (Scottish Triennial Act)
• THEREFORE
• BY 1640 Charles facing general ANTI-COURT CONCENSUS forcing him to recall Parliament 

1640-1642

• What grievances did MPs have November 1640?

• Religious Grievances
• MPs wanted to stop abuses in Church by Laudian bishops
• Laudian changes reversed
• Still wide belief in "popish plot"

• Political Grievances
• Punish people who have 'misguided' the King (Laud, Strafford)
• Restore constintutional balance between King and Parliament 

• Financial Grievances
• Abolish financial basis of PR: Ship Money, Distraint of Knighthood etc

A possible solution? 

• Drawn up by Earl of Bedford
• On good terms with Charles personally
• It would 'bridge' gap between Crown and Parliament 
• Abolition of most hated financial and political aspects of PR
• Return to broad-based Protesttant Church
• Separate financial settlement
• Charles' opponents to become main advisers

• Seen as main 'spokesman' for opposition
• Views not originally radical
• Became obsessed with 2 factors: 
• Fear King would arrest him for treason & existence of 'popish plot' led by Henrietta
• His mistrust of Charles drove him to become radical 1641

Nov 1640- Summer 1641

• Parliament concentrated on removal of evil counsellors, this was main grievance
• Nov 1640: Laud and Strafford arrested 
• Feb 1641: Triennial Act - Parliament to meet every 3 years
• July 1641: Act against Forcible Dissolution (Long Parliament could only be dissolved with MPs permission)
• By mid 1641 all political grievances had been addressed, MPs satisfied with these
• UNDERLYING PROBLEMS HADN'T BEEN SOLVED

Strafford was put on trial then executed

• He was accused of giving King evil advised
• Argued his case so well ACT OF ATTAINDER put in place- no proof of guilt necessary
• MPs though Parliament were using similar methods to Charles
• Pym released details of "ARMY PLOT", plan to release Strafford and bring English army down south and bring over Straffords Irish Army and crush all opponents of King
• Pym drew up PROTESTATION OATH,stated there was definite plot to establish Catholicism & absolute monarchy
• Charles had promised Strafford he would not die but had little choice than to sign warrant. He feared for his families safety
• There were 3 KEY EFFECTS OF STRAFFORD'S DEATH
• MPs concerned about legal methods used to execute Strafford (act of Attainder)
• Horrified at Pym involving common people of London in crisis- attack on hierarchy of society
• Charles had been forced into corner- made him more likely to use force if opportunity arose
• "Bridge Appointments" idea dead
• MPs increasingly suspicious Pym was seeking power for himself 
• Therefore- most political grievances readdressed but King completely alienated

Issue of trust arose here

• June 1641: Ten Propositions
• One of 1st attempts by opposition to reduce King's powers
• Most important proposition was Parliament would gain control over nomination of King's advisers
• Many MPs concerned at implications of this and thought opposition were going too far
• Charles went to Scotland to negotiate with Covenanters, trying to persuadde them to leave England. If they left he would no longer need long parliament
• Charles aware that some Scots lords felt Covenanters had gone too far in attacking the Crown
• Charles determined to exploit these disagreements among Scots
• Made opposition trust Charles even less
• If chance arose Charles would dissolve Parliament

How and why did religious issues divide Parliament even further?

• Religious issues intensified cracks in anti-court concensus and widened gap between King and Parliament 
• Dec 1640: "Root and Branch" petition to abolish bishops from Anglican Church
• This was laid aside until political issues were settled as they caused more controversy
• May 1641 onwards: Religious issues debated again
• Most MPs wanted Laudian reforms removed, wanted more Protestant identity to Church
• MPs fearing Pym's attacks in the Church were encouraging religious radicalism to develop
• Root and Branch Bill failed
• MPs who wanted removal of Laudian reforms becoming concerned abou new plans for innovations in Anglican Church
• MPs began to turn to King
• Religious issues divided Parliament more than any other issues
• Possible to see divisions of Civil War
• Charles slowly building up support

Summer 1641- Summer 1642

• After negitiations failed Charles tried to arrest leading Covenanters
• Led to even more mistrust of Charles' intentions- MPs realised he might do the same in England
• Irish Rebellion Summer 1641
• Growing Puritan ninflucen in Long Parliament convinced Irish Catholics necessary to act to prevent anti-Catholic measures from being imposed on Ireland
• Catholic rebellion broke out- widespread massacre of Protestants
• OCt 1641: Parliament back in session after summer break. Britain in state of panic about rumours of what had happened in Ireland
• The rumours were that 20,000 Protestants had been killed by Irish Catholics but it was 6,000
• Thought irish rebels were going to invade England and that Charels was in league with the rebels
• This was only what people believed, not what was actually happening

• To many MPs it was definite proof there was a "popish plot"
• English crisis now more difficult to solve
• Ensured Long parliament must continye
• Intensified mistrust issues: who would be in charge of Army
• Command of Army was royal prerogative- MPs feared Charles would use it agaisnt opposition
• Irish rebelllion focused attention on KIng's Military authority
• Meant growing number of MPs felt even more strongly that opposition were going too far
• Charles allowed several non-Laudian bishops to be promoted in the Church
• Charles began to be seen by many MPs as symbol of order and tradition
• May 1641: Charles' daughter married Dutch Prince William of Orange- reassured MPs about Charles' Protestant faith
• Many MPs becoming concerned with growing radicalism across country
• Growing ICONOCLASM seemed that etablished Church and powers of monarchy must be mainted or society would collapse
• Meant more support for Charles
• However rebellion made opposition MPs even more determined to restrict powers of King

• Attempt by Pym to kickstart opposition
• List of all grievances against Charles since he became King
• Also contained within it the 10 Propositions
• Many MPs saw this as a diredct insult to the King
• Remonstrance passed by House of Commons
• Commons split even further by Pym's decision to publish the Grand Remonstrance
• MPs unhappy with idea of involving common people in crisis
• Dec 1641: Militia Bill- Charles oculd choose commanders for army to be sent to Ireland but had to be approved by Parliament- direct attack on royal prerogative