Personal Rule: Scotland and the Bishops' Wars

Question 1

When did Charles initially visit Scotland?

Answer 1

Charles visited Scotland in 1633

Question 2

What did Charles impose on Scotland in 1635?

Answer 2

A new set of ecclesiastical canons (church laws) in 1635, requiring the Scottish clergy to swear to enforce the new liturgy before it was even published.

Question 2

What was Charles’ reaction to his visit in 1633, and what were the Scots’ reaction?

Answer 2

Charles was appalled at the Presbyterian’s lack of ceremony and unscripted prayers
- Scots were shocked by the bishops’ vestments and ridiculed the Anglican liturgy’s approach.

Question 3

Who did Charles promote in the Scottish Privy Council?

Answer 3

Promoted several bishops to the Scottish Privy Council.

Question 4

What did Charles impose in 1637, and who did he not consult?

Answer 4

Charles imposed a new Book of Common Prayer and did not consult the Scottish Privy Council, Parliament or Kirk

Question 5

How did the Scots view the promotion of Arminianism / Laudianism, and what happened in June 1637 upon its first reading?

Answer 5

A threat to the ‘true’ religion and the work of ‘Popery’, with a riot erupting in June 1637 upon the first Sunday of the usage of the new prayer book in Edinburgh.

Question 6

What was drawn up in February 1638?

Answer 6

National Covenant

Question 7

What was the National Covenant?

Answer 7

A declaration of allegiance that bound together Scottish nationalist and the Calvinist faith, containing the Confession of Faith (affirmation to Calvinism), the Negative Confession (condemning Catholicism) and condemnations to the 1635 ecclesiastical canons and 1637 Prayer Book.

Question 8

What pledge did the Covenanters take?

Answer 8

Covenanters took a sacred pledge to defend the ‘true religion’; became far more radical because of Charles himself.

Question 8

What did the Kirk do in November 1638?

Answer 8

Abolish episcopacy.

Question 8

How did Charles respond to the National Covenant?

Answer 8

Charles responded by sending his trusted Scottish advisor to negotiate with the Covenanters, to buy time to ‘crush’ them
> ‘I will rather die than yield to these impertinent and damnable demands… I intend not to yield to the demands of those traitors the Covenanters’

Question 9

What had Charles failed to do and underestimated in preparation for the First Bishops’ War?

Answer 9

Charles had underestimated the Scots, failing to mobilise public opinion and without the full support of his own nobility; London merchants had refused to lend him money and the English army were in no state to take on Scotland
- Charles also underestimated the depth of resentment against him.

Question 10

What did Charles gather in early 1639?

Answer 10

Charles gathered a poorly trained English force of around 20,000 men in early 1639, to engage with the Scottish army of 12,000 men

Question 11

When did the First Bishops’ War end?

Answer 11

June 1639

Question 12

What treaty was signed to end the First Bishops’ War?

Answer 12

Treaty of Berwick

Question 13

What did Charles and the Scots agree to as part of the Treaty of Berwick?

Answer 13

Both sides agreed to disband their armies, and Charles agreeing to a Scottish General Assembly and Parliament

Question 14

What reasons did Charles arguably lose the First Bishops’ War because of?

Answer 14

• Deficiencies of the English military system (old feudal system had died, but not yet replaced by a professional standing army paid for by taxation)
• Unpopularity of the war (leading Puritans like Lord Saye and Sele believed the Scottish cause was just)
• Absence of Parliament (unable to finance)
• King’s political blunders (had miscalculated badly)

Question 15

Who advised Charles to call a Parliament?

Answer 15

Wentworth ended the Personal Rule by advising Charles to recall Parliament, believing MPs could be won over by advocacy, bribery and threats.
> Privy Council unanimously recommended the call for a new Parliament.

Question 16

When was the Short Parliament?

Answer 16

April-May 1640

Question 17

How long did the Short Parliament last?

Answer 17

A month

Question 18

What did Charles demand in the Short Parliament?

Answer 18

Charles demanded money to defend the kingdom from a crisis he had created before he would consider any grievances.

Question 19

What did Parliament demand in the Short Parliament?

Answer 19

Parliament refused to grant supply unless Charles agreed to make concessions on a range of issues.

Question 20

Who led the opposition to Charles?

Answer 20

The Commons was led by Pym and Hampden, determined to address the tyranny of the Personal Rule.

Question 21

What did the Short Parliament establish in terms of future dealings between Crown and Parliament?

Answer 21

No granting of supply until grievances had been dealt with

Question 22

What and who had began to emerge in the Short Parliament, and what was there evidence of?

Answer 22

Although the session appeared chaotic, organised opposition began to emerge. - Pym and Hampden emerged as leaders; key figures demanded limits to the King's powers and redress of grievances (especially in regard to Laudianism), basically picking up the debate where it had been left in 1629 > Much evidence of collusion between the Puritans and Covenanters

Question 23

What grievances did Parliament want to discuss?

Answer 23

Parliament wanted to assert its own rights and obtain redress for grievances, dismantling Laudian reform and obtaining control over taxation.

Question 23

When was the Second Bishops’ War?

Answer 23

June-October 1640

Question 24

What did Charles decide to do following the dissolution of the Short Parliament?

Answer 24

Charles decided to go alone and take on the Scots following the dissolution of the Short Parliament.

Question 25

Who won the Second Bishops' War?

Answer 25

Scotland

Question 26

What treaty was signed in October 1640, marking the end of the Second Bishops' War?

Answer 26

Treaty of Ripon

Question 27

What were the terms of the Treaty of Ripon?

Answer 27

- Scots would continue to occupy Newcastle until a settlement was reached - Charles was to pay £850 a day until a settlement was reached - Further negotiations would be postponed until an English Parliament met

Question 28

What was the Treaty of Ripon designed to do?

Answer 28

Designed to give Parliament the advantage, as the Scots also opposed many of the religious impositions and wanted Charles to be brought to account

Question 29

What was Charles forced to call?

Answer 29

The Long Parliament

Question 30

When were the two sessions of the Long Parliament?

Answer 30

1st session: November 1640 - August 1641 2nd session: October 1641 - August 1642

Question 31

In the 1640 Scottish Parliament, what was carried out?

Answer 31

In the 1640 Scottish Parliament, they carried out a constitutional revolution. - Removed bishops from Parliament and passed a Triennial Act