Pym

• In the 1620’s Pym was concerned in 1620’s to reorganise royal finances. He attacked Montagu as papist and was involved in the Impeachment of Buckingham. Played a key role in the Petition of Right
• In 1630’s Pym was concerned about the implications of Thorough on English legal system. Also concerned about the imposition of Laudianism.  Puritan and very anti-Catholic. Member of the puritan network
• In 1640’s he emerged as leader of Long Parliament. Not inherently radical but became so in reaction to events. Driven by his religious conviction. Didn’t want a separate Puritan church but a broad Anglican one.
• He was a Skilful politician and became known as King Pym or leader of Pym’s junto
• Pym's aims:The removal and punishment of Charles’ evil counsellors. A political settlement which could not be overturned by Charles. The removal of the threat of catholic popery and the establishment of a strong Puritanism
• Pym’s methods 1:To impeach Wentworth and Laud. To form a working alliance with the Scottish covenanters. To support Bedford’s bridge scheme
• Pym's methods 2:To use parliamentary powers to control Charles’ political options. To get parliament to take over some of the crown’s prerogative powers. To use parliamentary committees to steer parliament towards a settlement
• Root and Branch Petition presented due to fears of radicalism present at start of Long Parliament. Signed by 15 000 Londoners and demanded an end to episcopacy and bishops – Puritan driven.
• Root and Branch debated in Parliament February 1641 but divisive. Parliament united in desire to restrict political power of bishops but disagreements arose about what to replace Laudianism with. Viewed as attack on the structure of the Church and therefore an attack on Charles’ authority and order of society.
• Led to the Exclusion Bill (accepted February 1642)
• The Army Plot in April 1641 discovered Charles commanded all officers to return to the army in the North. Raised fears the army would free Strafford and use force to dissolve Parliament and suspicion that Queen was negotiating with Catholic powers of Europe for armed reinforcements
• Mainly rumours but increased tension. Misguided move on Charles’ part as made him look insincere and deceitful
• Protestation Oath May 1641 making all male adults swear to maintain the ‘true Protestant church' .Swear against Popery or popish innovations. Charles signed it as feared for the safety of his family
• Significant as enabled constitutional debate to spread to every parish church and county assembly
• Triennial Act 15th Feb 1641 stating Charles had to call Parliament every 3 years.
• Bridge appointments brought moderate change and Bedford was its champion
• Attempt to resolve financial weakness of the Crown whilst tying him to Parliament - Charles would not need to exploit his royal prerogative
• Solution was not a fundamental change to the system but to the management of the system
• Thus Charles prepared to consider it. Also seen as a means to save Wentworth from execution which Bedford was against but Pym Warwick and Scots fervently for it
• Reduction of meetings after February 1641 indication of Charles’ lack of commitment. Ran out of steam in March and ended with Death of Bedford May 10th. Failure of moderate compromise
• Execution Of Strafford: Not all of Parliament supported it. Pym prominent in the prosecution. Trial lasted march to April
• Wentworth defended himself well : Charge was dubious So Pym changed from Impeachment to Bill of Attainder – Machiavellian?
• Pym whipped up the London mob to put pressure on Parliament Voted for 204 to 59 –Many leading Puritans stayed away eg Saye and Sele
• Fears of Army plot pressurised lords into accepting it and Charles had no choice but to sign it. Significant as marked the possibility of compromise between king and Parliament
• 10 Propositions June 1641 demanded that the King made concessions and gave parliament control over:Appointments on privy CouncilQueen’s courtReligious education of royal children
• Charles viewed the 10 Propositions as a major restriction to his position and rejected it
• The Grand Remonstrance November 1641 was a list of criticisms of King’s government designed to show he could not be trusted with an army
• Not a personal criticism of Charles but interpreted as that . This was a reaction to ‘The Incident’ in October 1641 and the Irish Rebellion
• Very inflammatory language and very anti-Catholic .Done to appeal to the London crowd which was Pym’s work
• Miscalculation in one sense as alarmed the radicals and increased support for Charles significantly contributed to the increase of support for the Royalist party
• Vote 159-148 showed division in Parliament and number of active members. But was used to sideline religious issues – assembly of Divines set up to deal with religion. This was a clever tactical move
• Militia Bill – December 1641 was a response to Irish Rebellion and Charles position as its Head. Proposed to remove the King’s authority over trained bands completely which gave parliament power to appoint army commanders
• The Militia Bill was a direct challenge to Charles’ royal prerogative and thus won over some constitutionalist royalists to Charles notably Edward Hyde