Scotland & Bishops wars

William Laud became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633. Shortly after Charles became king he attempted to take back the old church lands from the scottish gentry to bring wealth back to scottish church. He wanted St Giles Cathedral to be refurbished but people didn't like it and there was widespread disobediance and fears that bishops become over powerful.

When crowned king, Charles had a ceremony which shocked people as the ceremony was more Catholic with raised and raied off altar, fully decorated with crucific representing cross of Christ and 6 scottish bishops wearing gold vestments. 

Charles swore a new oath that promised to defend bishops and preserve privileges of the church.

Kirk (church) ordered to use new prayer book from July 1637 onward. Priests took pistols with them in case to defend themselves due to the opposition. Riot in St Giles followed by uprising in Glasgow. Leading Presbyterian Robert Baillie was meant to lead a talk but persuaded Aman (who was lucky to escape).

Resistance grew and opposition movements developed. More riots broke out causing scottish privy council to abandon Edinburgh in October. Charles issued proclamation Feb 1638 that made it treason to protest against prayer book.

It consisted of 2 key scottish doctrinal documents: 1580 Confeswson of Faith and the Negative Confession of 1581.The Covenant implied any moves towards Roman Catholicism would not be tolerated but it still emphasised loyalty towards the king.

Clergyman Alexandra Henderson and lawyer Archibald Johnston of Wariston were given the task of drawin up the covenant to write supplicants and clarify their aim.

With no representative of the King present and any opposition to the Covenanters stifled, the Assembly moved swiftly to nullify all acts and pronouncements of General Assemblies held between 1606-18 because they had been dominated by the King and bishops.

Laud's Prayer Book and the new Book of Canons were condemned as unlawful, having not been sanctioned by the Kirk.

On 8 December, the Assembly voted to abolish Episcopacy from the Scottish Church and to declare it unlawful; two days later, the "popish" Five Articles of Perth, which had been reluctantly accepted by the General Assembly of 1618, were similarly abolished. All Scottish bishops were deposed and excommunicated. 

King had come up with a campaign against Covenanters, The English army mustered up on Scottish borders mid 1639 but they were untrained, ill-equiped and clearly no match for the Covenanters who were well prepared and trained. Charles plan for the war was ruined by lack of funds as he had a lack of support among his subjects.

Charles agreed to negotiate a truce and the first bishop's war ended with the Pacification of Berwick. 

Signed on 18 June 1639 between England and Scotland. Archibald Johnston was involved in the negotiations before King Charles was forced to sign the treaty. It contained an agreement from both sides to disband their armies and Charles had to agree to recalling a Scottish general assembly and parliament.