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An experiment in Absolutism, 1629-40 - Coggle Diagram
An experiment in Absolutism, 1629-40
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Financial Policy
Methods of increasing revenueCharles had to resort to new methods of raising with the help of his, attorney General - William Noy.REVIVED ANCIENT TAXES:
- Tonnage and Poundage - raised £358,000 from continued collection.
- Forest Fines - fines for encroaching royal forests raised around £40,000.
- Distraint of Knighthood - those with land worth more than £40 per annum were expected to be knighted or face a fine. Nearly £175,000 was raised.
- Monoplies - issued monopolies for a fee. 'Popish Soap'.
- Wardships - raised £55,000 per annum.
- Ship Money - Charles introduced an annual tax and not just on coasts. Raised about £200,000 per annum between 1634-40.
PEACE ABROAD:
- Signed the Treaty of Madrid in 1630, ending hostilities with Spain. War spending dropped from £500,000 in the 1620s to £70,000 in the 1630s.
John Hampden and Ship MoneyLike the others, ship money was generally paid as expected across counties between 1634-39. There were a small number of high profile complaints from Buckinghamshire gentlemen and Puritan, John Hampden.
- Refused to pay in 1636 - and intiated a legal challenge against it.
- Oliver St John was his lawyer in the case - Both men were of Puritan gentry and nobility who had been involved in the Providence Island company, a private shipping company.
- Test case - Charles decided to use the opposition as a test in 1637.
- 7 to 5 ruling of Judges in favour of continued collection.
- Hostile reaction from gentry to the result of the case which created problems for Charles.
Religious issues
Beauty of HolinessCharles and Laud demanded strict adherence to rules and formality in place of the Puritan emphasis on individual prayer. They believed that visiting a church should be a stimulating experience.
- Organs were installed and hyms were encouraged.
- Fonts were decorated.
- Stained glass was installed.
- Statues and colour returned to churches.
- Communion table moved from center to east wall (where the Roman catholic altar stood).
CATHOLIC ALIKENESS
Status of the ClergyLaud and Charles wanted to instil order and decency to the Church and, as a result, Laud exalted the importance of the Book of Common Prayer.Laud aimed to enhance the power of the church hierarchy; mainly Bishops:
- He ordered Bishops to visit Parishes once every three years.
The book of Sports
- In 1618, James I published the book of Sports - reissued under Charles in 1633.
- The book permitted people to take part in a number of approved activities on a Sunday
- Against Puritan belief that Sunday should be day of worship and reflection.
The feofees of impropriations
- The increasingly popular practice of Puritan Gentry buying up Land to appoint local ministers and the right to collect tithes.
- The feofees, a group who organised this practice were forced to disband.
Opposition in England
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Opposition to religious reformsIn Lauds Quest for uniformtiy in the Church:
- Laud banned Puritan ministers and Puritan members of Gentry, from appointing their own chaplain.
- Caused further resentment of Charles.
- Puritan Emigration to North america - Hundreds of clergy and 20,000+ Puritans moved to escape persecution.
- Congregations resented the economic cost - restoration of organs and beautifying of churches was expensive.
Bastwick, Burton and PrynneThree high profile Puritans who resised Lauds reforms were all presented for trial in the Star Chamber 1637 after previous cases against them had been pursued in Church courts:
- John Bastwick wrote a number of tracts attacking bishops - The Star chamber had banned all the production of news sheets in 1632.
- Henry Burton was a minister whose sermons consistently deviated from those approved by Laud.
- William Prynne wrote Histriomax - a 1,000-page attack on theatre and actresses in 1633.
All three men were fined £3,000, imprisoned and had their ears cut off.
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Radicalism, dissent and the approach to war
The first Bishops warCharles quarrel with the Scots, which began with him imposing the English Prayer Book in 1637, came to head in 1639:
- Both Charles and the Covenanters raised armies - The Scottish army was far superior and included soldiers from the Thirty Years war. Charles troops lacked enthusiasm and were generally reluctant conscripts.
- Charles lacked the money to fight the war - had to rely on part-time militias from England.
- Treaty of Berwick, 1639 - Realising he could not win he signed.
The Short ParliamentTaxpayers strike of 1639 was prompted by a lack of enthusiasm for war with the Scots, meaning ship money was of no use to Charles.
London city of Merchants offered only £5,000 as Wentworth had alienated the city of London as Lord Deputy of Ireland.
He fined corporation of London in 1635 after its failure to fulfil obligations towards land granted in Londonderry.TRIGGERED HOSTILE PARLIAMENT:
- Wentworth - with finance lacking, he was advised to call a parliament.
- Short Parliament met in 1640, flooded with petitions about the personal rule, led by John Pym.
- Lack of concession - Charles had the opportunity to save the relationship but instead demanded money before hearing demands.
- Fierce opposition - Charles was forced to dissolve the parliament after just 3 weeks.
The Second Bishops warCharles hastily collected an ill-organised and under-equipped force in order to fight a second war with the Scots.Many soldiers sympathised with the Scots and stories of them burning to alter rails and other Armenian symbols emerged.EVENTS OF WAR
- Battle of Newburn - The Scots easily defeated Charles.
- Treaty of Ripon - signed shortly after and under its terms it required Charles to pay the Scots £850 a day while they occupied Newcastle.
- Long parliament - forced to call parliament, 1640-1660.