How’d we do?

Started by listing all the policies and actions of Charles that had caused the Commons to distrust him. It then made some demands which it justified because of the previous track record of Charles and his ministers. The main points included: -Parliament should choose the king’s ministers. -Parliament should be able to remove the king’s ministers -There should be a conference of religious ministers to reform the church of England -There was a Roman Catholic conspiracy to undermine the constitution and religion of England: the commons should investigate it an d have the right to punish those involved. On 22 November 1641, after a stormy debate that lasted long into the night, the House of Commons passed the Remonstrance by a narrow margin of 159 votes to 148. The King's supporters who tried to enter a protest were shouted down in a bad-tempered confrontation that almost ended in a riot

By 1642 the English governing class had divided into:  Those who supported Charles because he was a guarantee of stability and traditional values.  Those who supported parliament’s efforts to ensure that the King could never ignore parliament and act in an authoritarian manner.  A significant group who hoped to remain neutral in any conflict.

 In early December 1641 Charles laid plans for a coup d'état against those he saw as his opponents.  Charles looked to secure military control of London by placing an outspoken supporter, Colonel Lunsford, in charge of the Tower of London. This action created a new wave of suspicion and heightened the fears that the king was going to establish some kind of military dictatorship  Charles then cancelled the appointment. He sent two equally damaging signals: 1) he had thought about a coup 2) he was weak and could be forced to back down.

 Still listening to Henrietta Maria, Charles made a fatal error. Believing that an impeachment of the Queen was being contemplated by Pym and his supporters, he decided to have them impeached.  On January 5 th 1642 Charles entered the House of Commons with 300 troops to arrest the five members, but they had been forewarned of Charles’ plan and fled.  Commons were outraged, and Charles, scared for his own life fled to London just five days after the attempted arrest.

 Parliament passes Militia Bill assuming control of militia in each county. Charles refuses assent.  In theory only the King could do this, but he naturally refused parliamentary requests that they should be able to appoint the deputy lieutenants and officers  May 5 th : Parliament passes Militia Ordinance asserting a sovereign power and ordering obedience.  May 27 th: King replies with Proclamation forbidding compliance with Militia Ordinance.

 Pym felt confident enough to present these propositions to the King given his support.  Some of these uncompromising points were as follows:  Parliament was to be responsible for the defence of the country; the King must accept Parliament's authority to raise armies  Parliament was to supervise all foreign policy  The King was publicly to pardon the Five Members  Strict new laws against Roman Catholics were to be enforced  Parliament was to supervise the education of royal children and to arrange their marriages  All the King's ministers were to be made answerable to Parliament; no new peers could be appointed to the House of Lords without the approval of the Commons  In response to these requests, Charles declares war on August 22 nd, 1642.

Long term:  Religion: The increasing prominence of Arminianism, the work of Laud, the fears that this created  The eleven years of personal rule when parliament was not called, which denied the governing class an opportunity to air their grievances as well as promote their own interests.  Financial measures such as ship money and composition of knighthood.  Innovations and rule in other kingdoms, such as the rule of Wentworth in Ireland and the introduction of the Arminian prayer book in Scotland. Short Term:  The first session of the Long Parliament and the measures taken to dismantle the machinery of prerogative rule  The split which developed in the second session and the factors which widened the split, such as the rebellion in Ireland and the Grand Remonstrance.  The attempt by Charles to impeach and arrest five members of Parliament