Attempts To Restore Good Working Relationship With The King

• The Bridge Appointments were the idea of Earl of Bedford – a moderate peer of the realm- which was a plan to give Charles a secure financial base in return for regular Parliaments and abolition of worse excesses of Personal Rule
• Bridge Appointments were an attempt to resolve financial weakness of the Crown whilst tying him to Parliament - Charles would not need to exploit his royal prerogative
• Removal of Laud and Strafford deprived Charles’ of advisers and in their place Charles to appoint Parliamentary men
• Bedford to become Lord Treasurer Pym Chancellor of Exchequer Oliver St John Solicitor General
• Solution was not a fundamental change to the system but to the management of the system
• Charles showed some commitment to scheme but compromised by Bedford’s negotiations with the Scots and there was a reduction of meetings after Feb 1641 which indicated of Charles’ true commitment
• Ran out of steam in March and ended with Death of Bedford in May 10th 1641
• Failure of moderate compromise which moved initiative from House of Lords to House of Commons