The failure to compromise, 1640-49
Division and the drift towards civil war
They agreed to abolish Ship Money and passed a Triennial Act,which meant that parliament would have to be called every years
This was imposed so Charles would not be able to repeat an extended period of Personal Rule.
Root and Branch Petition, December 1640: This petition, from 15,000 London Puritans with radical John Pym, calling for removal of bishops from Church.
Bill of Attainder, May 1641: Used in Parliament by Pam to justify execution of Charles', principal minister, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stafford
The Bill needed less evidence to convict someone if they were regarded as a threat to the state.
Militia Bill, Bill proposed that parliament should control any army to crush used to crush the Irish Rebellion that began in October 1641. Threat to royal prerogative
Grand Remonstrance, November 1641: Pym, in order to persuade wavering MPs to pass the Militia Bill, produced the Grand Remonstrance
A document listing Charles faults since 1625a and why he shouldn't be trusted with Armed Forces.
Moderate MPs regarded these as examples of increasing, and dangerous, radicalism. Reaction to Pym and supporters became known constitutional royalism. Many supported this creating two sides necessary for civil war;
The coming of the Civil War, January-August 1642
January 1642, Charles tried to arrest his five leading parliamentary opponents, accusing them of seeking to subvert the laws and government of England and encouraging the Scots to invade England
The arrest attempt was the final straw for the parliamentary opposition and highlighted how the king could no longer be trusted and that he was determined to restore his authority by force
Feeling intimated by protests, Charles left London. The Commons and Lords passed the Militia Bill taking the kings right to control the army
Commons presented the Nineteen Propositions
Lords and Commons should approve all Privy Councillors
Laws against Jesuits and recusants should be enforced.
The militia should be placed under parliamentary control
Should be sweeping placed under parliamentary control.
Parliament should supervise the upbringing and marriage of Charles children
The severity of the Propositions suggested that parliament was not seriously intending to negotiate with the king.
Attempts to compromise had broken down, and in July parliament voted to raise an army under the leadership of the Earl of Essex. In response, in August Charles raised his standard in Nottingham and declared war on parliament.