Scotland and the Bishops' Wars Flashcards
(16 cards)
What was Charles I’s relationship with Scotland like before the Bishops’ Wars?
Distant and strained; he spent little time there and was largely ignorant of Scottish religious and political culture.
What was the dominant church structure in Scotland before Charles’s reforms?
Presbyterianism – governed by elders (not bishops), with simpler services and strong anti-Catholic sentiment.
What was the 1637 Scottish Prayer Book?
An English-style liturgical book imposed by Charles I and Laud to align Scottish worship with Anglican practices.
Why did the Scottish Prayer Book provoke outrage?
Scots saw it as Catholic-influenced and an attack on Presbyterianism, imposed without consultation.
What event symbolized the start of opposition?
The riot at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, triggered by the reading of the new prayer book.
What was the National Covenant?
A document signed by thousands of Scots rejecting the Prayer Book and pledging to defend Presbyterianism.
Who were the Covenanters?
Supporters of the National Covenant, opposing Charles’s religious reforms and defending Scottish church rights.
What was the significance of the Covenant?
It marked the beginning of organized resistance and united Scots across social classes in opposition to Charles.
What caused the First Bishops’ War?
Charles attempted to assert control militarily after Scottish resistance grew, leading to armed conflict.
Why did Charles’s campaign in 1639 fail?
English troops were poorly trained and motivated; Charles lacked funds and had no Parliamentary support.
What was the Treaty of Berwick (1639)?
A temporary truce between Charles and the Scots, ending the First Bishops’ War without resolving issues.
What triggered the Second Bishops’ War?
Charles tried again to defeat the Covenanters militarily after failed negotiations.
What happened at the Battle of Newburn (1640)?
The Scots defeated the English and occupied parts of northern England, including Newcastle.
What was the Treaty of Ripon (1640)?
Charles agreed to pay the Scots £850 a day until peace was made — humiliating and financially devastating.
How did the Bishops’ Wars lead to the end of Personal Rule?
Charles’s need for money to pay the Scots forced him to call the Short Parliament (April 1640) and then the Long Parliament (November 1640).
What role did Scotland play in triggering the English Civil War?
Their resistance showed that Charles could be successfully opposed, encouraging English opponents and forcing him to recall Parliament.
