Wentworth

• Thomas Wentworth became symbol of all that was wrong with Personal Rule
• He was feared for what he could do as he had proven he was a capable politician who could intimidate assemblies. He might use his skill to manipulate Parliament
• He had control of an improved Irish army. He might use this against the Scots and then parliament to which had already offered it to Charles
• In March 1641 he was put on trial for trying to establish ‘arbitrary government ‘ The case against was ‘constructive treason’ Eg There were lots of minor offences which weren’t treasonable but collective threatened to undermine the union between monarch and people.
• The trial became a show of strength between the Commons and the King and it was essential to the success of Parliament’s programme of reform but carried huge risk