Charles 1 and personal rule 1629-40

• What did Charles try to achieve with personal rule?


  1. Efficient government.
  2. Religious uniformity.
  3. Financial independence.
  4. Management of opposition.
• Was Charles able to achieve an efficient government?

  In early years personal rule was successful but it did start to decline as time went on.
• How did Charles deal with issues of finances during personal rule?

  • He signed the Treaty of Madrid in 1630 ending hostilities with Spain and cutting his spending on wars to £70,000.
  • He imposed tonnage and poundage.
  • He sold monopoly licences to companies. this sparked controversies when sold to a catholic soap production company in 1634.
  • He also levied ship money in 1634, extended it in 1635 and levied it every year after that.
  • He also introduced the distraint of knighthood.
• How much did ship money yield?


  £107,000 per year.
• What was the distraint of knighthood?


  This was when all men owning land worth £40 or more and did not have the title of knighthood were fined. it yielded £165,000.
• Did Charles achieve his aim of financial independence?

  He achieved financial independence for a short period however it was not sustainable and was at the expense of political support.
• How did Charles try to achieve efficient govt. during personal rule?


  • He was conscientious as he attended meetings regularly and ensured policies were understood and implemented.
  • He was supported by William Laud who controlled the church and Wentworth who ensured the royal authority was maintained in Ireland and the council of the North.
• What policy did Wentworth and Laud use to rule?


  Thorough.
• How was Laud's influence shown?

  Through his Book of Orders which was issued as instructions for JPs in 1631.
• What was the main problem with ship money?

  Judges doubted its legality. Many saw this as Charles trying to fund an absolute monarchy.
• What is an example of someone who refused to pay ship money?


  John Hampden
• How did Charles try to achieve religious uniformity?


  • In 1633, William Laud issued new instructions which bishops had to impose in each diocese.
  • Preaching was replaced with catechism which supported uniformity.
  • Bible based faith was encouraged by puritan thinkers.
  • A legal challenge was launched against the feoffees and parishes.
  • Churches were decorated in high church style e.g. bells were restored. These changes all looked like reinstatement of Catholicism.
• What did people think of the restrictions put on preaching?

  Many saw it as the devils work.
• What opposition did Charles face during personal rule?


  • Puritans deeply resented Laudian bishops and reared the religious and political aims of Charles and his advisers.
  • Puritans were angered by the changes made to the church.
  • Many were suspicious of the sympathy Charles gave to Catholics.
• What happened during the Hampdens case?


  In 1637, John Hampden refused to pay ship money and was taken to the star chamber. The prerogative ruled in favour of the but it was 7 v 5 showing even people close to the king disagreed with the legality of ship money.
• What happened during the Scottish Rebellion?

  This was when Charles tried to impose the English prayer book on the Scots and this sparked a riot in 1637.
• What was the first bishop wars?

  This was when both Charles and the Covenanters(Scots) raised an army to fight each other. Charles lost and had to sigh the Treaty of Berwick in 1639 to end the war.
• What happened after the first bishops wars?

  The Scots invaded shortly after, defeated Charles and made him sign the Treaty of Rippon where he had to pay £850 to the Scots per day.
• Why was Charles aims for efficient govt. a failure?


  • He relied on unpaid JPs and put too much pressure on them affecting the govt. structure.
  • His attempt to regulate wages was a failure as JPs who set wage levels were employers who paid them.
  • Charles' prerogative courts were resented as they overrode local interests to benefit the king.
• Was Charles able to manage opposition?


  Charles dealt with opposition but his ways were not sustainable and came at a political cost.
• Why did Charles have call the short parliament?

  In April 1640, Charles realised he had run out of funds and called parliament but they only lasted for 3 weeks.
• How did the money yielded by ship money decrease?

  In 1635 it yielded all but £5,000, in 1636 it yielded all but £7,000 in 1637 it yielded all but £18,000 due to the rebellion in Scotland.