Strafford's Trial

• Strafford’s Trial was a show trial in Westminster Hall, not the Lords. All of the Commons and Lords were there
• 1000 audience could attend as the news of the trial was disseminated in broadsheets formaximum publicity and create an anti-Strafford climate
• Charles was forbidden from attending, his throne was deliberately left empty while he had to watch from an enclosed box
• The prosecution claimed that Wentworth had:Had a personal profit from Ireland. Wanted to use Irish army to control England . Divided the kingdom and split the people from Charles. Thereby distorting the balance between law and prerogative
• Parliament state that 'you have an army in Ireland, you may imploy here to reducethis kingdome’. The case was weak , the charges dubious and the witnesses unreliable