C.10

• Pym's personality and aims

  - Clarendon said he had 'a very appropriate and serious way of expressing himself'

  - John Morrill challenged the extent of his speech making being effective

  - Conrad Russell highlighted his lack of ppl skills

  AIMS:

  - to restore the Anglican Church back to how it was w James I
• The Army plot

  - April 19 1641 news emerged Charles ordered his army to return to their command w English army in North

  - Pym told Parliament in early May, rumours spread that the army would march from north down to London and free Stratford in the Tower of London and enable king to forcibly dissolve parliament

  - The tower was fortified w solders

  - further rumours indicated the queen had been in negotiation w Catholic powers to bring foreign troops over to help
• The significance of May 1641

  - Pym used the army plot to push the commons to issue the 'Protestation Oath' issued on May 6

  - The act of dissolution of parliament w/o its own consent was passed on 10 May

  - Parliament stepped up efforts against Strafford leading to his execution on 12 May

  - Earl of Bedford died in early May ending Bridge appointments scheme
• What was the Protestation oath

  - an oath of allegiance to the true Protestant religion

  - issued in 6 May, Charles under intense pressure gave his royal assent to the Oath: responsibility for enforcing it fell to JP's

  - intended for only office holders including magistrates, in 1642, oath extended to encompass all adult males

  - dispatched to each parish in England

  - some communities assembled to make oath together in church
• Protestation Oath quote


  " I do in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow and protest to maintain and defend .. with my life, power and estate, the true reformed Protestant Religion"
• The grand remonstrance


  - Nov 1641, contained an overview of Charles reign blaming evil advisors corrupt bishops and priests for the present troubles + demanded list for constitutional change

  - Parliament was to have more influence if royal officers + House of Lords cleared of bishops and Catholic peers

  - The church was to be reformed

  - aimed to limit kings power
• Pym's Miscalculation regarding Grand remonstrance

  - Grand remonstrance (GR) was v radical, accepting it meant going against king

  - passed in commons by 159 to 148 indicating divisions in Commons

  - Pym sensing pyrrhic victory (victory so devastating it feels like a defeat) did not push it to the House of Lords

  - A huge debate occurred and swords were drawn for the only time in parliamentary history, but commons went ahead w publication
• Tradition regarding GR


  - criticism of king was dangerous, tending to sedition

  - Growing potential of London Mob/ Crowd: Calvinism (Protestantism which was spreading) endorsed strong work ethic; explains link between Puritanism and Providence Island Company and London being financial and commercial centre became key point of Puritan contact.

  • Puritan sentiment begun radicalising due to pressure of Laudianism

  • further radicalised in 1640's when Charles lost control of censorship
• How did Parliament harness the London Mob?

  + example

  - in 1640's Charles lost control of press and censorship, Parliament used the mob to increase pressure on King

  - in 1630's 7700 titles were published in England and Wales and tripled in 1640's

  - first ever weekly newspapers commented on key event

  - Root and Branch (used to get rid of episcopacy) signed by 15,000 Londoners
• Popular radicalism


  - Riots in St Thomas the Apostles after Protestation oath

  - St Olaves in Southwark and St Magnus the Martyr; rails are pulled down and burned + priest threatens w bodily harm