Chapter 9: The Long Parliament

• The Long Parliament?

  First sat in November 1640. Its name originated from that fact that this Parliament was technically not dissolved until 1660
• Viewpoint of MPs in 1640?

  They wanted Charles to address their grievances about Personal Rule, however few MPs wanted civil war at this point
• Bedford?

  A moderate politician who was in the House of Lords and the Privy Council. He attempted to create a financial settlement that would make the monarch less reliant on prerogative forms of income, but Charles refused to cooperate
• Bedford's reforms?

  Did not uproot the English political system. It abolished the most objectionable parts of Personal Rule, returned the Church to broad Protestantism and created a separate financial settlement for Charles, which included appointing Bedford as Lord Treasurer. Bedford's death in May 1641 meant that the reforms were never implemented
• Relationship between Charles and Wentworth?

  Wentworth was loyal to Charles, and he became his main adviser. Wentworth supported the war against the Scots, whereas Parliament opposed it
• Why did Parliament dislike Wentworth?

  MPs believed he had the capacity to make Charles absolutist. It was dangerous to openly criticise the king, so his "evil councillors" often became scapegoats. Wentworth's support of the war against Scotland was unpopular in Parliament
• Wentworth's impeachment?

  The Long Parliament wanted to impeach Wentworth for bringing the Irish army to England to enforce Charles' authority. They hoped that this impeachment would force Charles to rule with Parliament, and appoint more popular men as prominent councillors
• Bill of Attainder?

  A medieval method that allowed Parliament to remove someone if they were deemed a threat to the state
• Wentworth's trial?

  Began in March 1641 and prosecuted by Pym. A Bill of Attainder had to be used against Wentworth, but this was opposed by moderates like Bedford
• Scotland's conditions for peace in February 1641?

  Scottish episcopacy had to be abolished, and Wentworth had to be executed
• The Army Plot?

  In May 1641, Pym revealed a conspiracy that officers were going to seize the Tower, release Wentworth and dissolve Parliament. This made MPs draw up a bill that stated Parliament could not be dissolved without the consent of MPs, and convinced many people that the Bill of Attainder was necessary
• How many people voted for the use of the Bill of Attainder against Wentworth?

  204-59. About half of MPs abstained from voting
• Protestation Oath?

  A parliamentary oath which connected Catholicism and absolutism
• Consequences of the death of Wentworth?

  It, alongside the death of Bedford, made Charles more isolated and less willing to negotiate with Parliament
• How did MPs utilise the London mob?

  They got 15,000 signatures for the Root and Branch Petition, and a large crowd gathered outside the Tower of London in the wake of the reveal of the Army Plot
• Impact of the 1641 elections for the Common Council in London?

  A more radical body was elected, which Pym could take advantage of
• Pym's key goals?

  Removing Charles' evil councillors and popery, and establishing strong Protestantism in England. These ideas were united by Pym's belief in true religion
• What radicalised Pym?

  Charles' use of force during the Long Parliament
• How did Pym achieve his goals?

  He impeached Wentworth and Laud, formed an alliance with the Covenanters, supported Bedford's reforms and controlled Charles using parliamentary financial pressure
• What did Pym's radicalism lead to within Parliament?

  A moderate backlash, which developed into constitutional royalism. Many nobles and gentry feared radical Puritanism's insistence upon the London mob, and found comfort in the traditional idea of monarchy
• Pym's actions during the 1620s?

  He attacked Montagu, tried to impeach Buckingham and was a prominent figure in passing the Petition of Right
• King Pym?


  Pym's nickname in Parliament
• Pym's Junto?

  Pym's allies, including Denzil Holles
• Pym's actions in 1641?

  He was involved in Bedford's "bridge appointment" scheme, revealed the Army Plot, organised the Ten Propositions and the Grand Remonstrance, and began to utilise the London crowd
• Pym's actions in 1642?

  He created the Militia Ordinance and essentially controlled London due to the radical Common Council, which forced Charles to flee the city
• The Root and Branch Petition?

  Signed by 15,000 Londoners. It demanded an end to episcopacy. Pym aimed to give locals more control over their own Church, and while some deemed this too radical, all MPs wished to limit the secular power of bishops
• The Triennial Act?

  An act from early 1641 that abolished ship money without parliamentary consent. It also forced Charles to call a Parliament at least once every 3 years, and stated that a Parliament couldn't last less than 50 days
• What caused the divide between radicals and moderates in Parliament?

  They could not agree on how to prevent another Personal Rule, many MPs felt that the use of the Bill of Attainder was constitutionally dangerous, and they also did not want to fully abolish episcopacy
• Ten Propositions?

  A June 1641 parliamentary document. It boldly asked Charles to let Parliament determine who was in his Privy Council, who was allowed to socialise with Henrietta-Maria, and how his children would be raised religiously. Charles would have never agreed to these terms
• Earl of Montrose?

  A Scottish noble who formed the National Covenant to oppose Laudianism, but quickly became concerned about the radicalism of the group, and he began to support Charles
• Cumbernauld Band?

  A group of 18 Scottish nobles, including Montrose, who defended the king. In return, Charles announced the abolition of Scottish episcopacy
• Events in August 1641?

  Charles left for Scotland, and the Commons sent a Committee of Defence to spy on him, which was controversial in Parliament
• Earl of Argyll?

  A Presbyterian who was allied with the Covenanters
• The Incident?

  A royalist plot to kidnap Covenanters that was uncovered whilst Charles was in Scotland. Charles was linked to the plot, which ended any hope of gaining support from Scotland
• Perceptions of the Irish Rebellion in England?

  The extent of the massacres was greatly over-reported, with reported death tolls sometimes quadrupling the reality. Many Protestants were radicalised and eager to avenge the massacres, which in turn provoked a moderate backlash
• The Grand Remonstrance?

  A list of criticisms that Pym had with Charles' government since 1625, which showed why the king could not be trusted with control of the army. Pym released the strongly anti-Catholic document in November 1641, just as Charles was returning from Scotland, to take advantage of the London crowd.
• Significance of the Grand Remonstrance?

  It was interpreted as a direct attack on Charles, and it tried to involve the London crowd as a pressure group to enact change. There was significant debate as to whether to publish the document within Parliament, which was reflected in the vote on the bill (159-148 in favour)
• Phelim O'Neill

  An Irish leader who claimed to be killing Protestants in the name of Charles. This further fuelled the ideas of the radicals that Charles could not be trusted
• Additional instruction?

  After the Grand Remonstrance, Pym claimed that any councillor chosen by Charles should also be approved by Parliament. This act passed
• Militia Bill?

  A December 1641 bill that removed Charles' control over trained bands, and gave Parliament the ability to appoint commanders. This bill was radical, because it directly challenged Charles' prerogative by suggesting that Parliament should have direct control of the army