In 1637, Charles I and Archbishop William Laud attempted to force a new prayer book upon Scotland, to bring it more in line with the English church.
The Prayer Book Crisis and the First Bishops’ War
Unfortunately, both men failed to realize how strong Calvanist ideas had grown in the country. Instead of accepting the new book, the Scottish in Edinburgh rioted and attacked clergy who attempted to use the Prayer Book. Soon after, many Scots signed a covenant, and these Covenanters formed an army to oppose attempts to tamper with the religion. In 1639, this army briefly clashed with a hastily assembled English army in the First Bishop’s War. Although the war proved indecisive, the negotiated settlement forced Charles I to summon his first Parliament in eleven years.
Charles I Summons Parliament
For over a decade, Charles I had resisted calling a parliament. Charles viewed himself as a divinely appointed ruler, and saw little need to discuss his decisions with anyone. However, without parliament, Charles I could not impose any taxes in England, which had led him to raise funds through controversial means, such as Ship Money.
As part of the Treaty of Berwick which had ended the First Bishop’s War, Charles I agreed to help pay the upkeep up the Scottish Covenanter army. Since he had no way of raising this level of money without tax, it became necessary to call a parliament. However, as soon as Parliament had assembled, it became clear that the King had no intention of paying the Scots.
The Short Parliament of 1640 and John Pym
Since it had been over a decade since the last parliament, the summons became a nation-wide event. A large number of the seats in the commons were contested (an unusual event at a time when land-owners controlled the voters). The Parliament opened amidst great fanfare on 13 April 1640. Immediately, Lord Keeper Finch opened the Parliament with an accusation of treason against the Scottish Covenanters, presenting a letter written to the King of France, asking for intercession.
Despite this evidence, the Parliament was less interested in Scotland and Charles’ potential war, than they were with their own list of grievances. On the second day, Harbottle Grimston stood up, dismissed the King’s request for money, and launched into a tirade about the problems of England.
Over the next three weeks, opposition to the King coalesced around John Pym, a veteran parliamentarian and strong Protestant. With the majority of Parliament behind him, he led the call for redress over the King’s arbitrary fund raising, the changes in the church of England, and most importantly, the infrequency of parliament.
Charles I Dismisses the Short Parliament
Charles was probably taken aback by the vehemence with which the Parliament attacked him and his policies. He had hoped and expected for funds to raise an army against the Scots, but as soon as he saw this would not be forthcoming, he dismissed the parliament. Just three weeks after it had begun, Parliament dispersed. Charles took out loans to raise a new army against the Scots, without ever seeming to realize that the situation in England was growing out of control nearly as fast as the situation in Scotland.
Sources:
God’s Fury, England’s Fire by Michael Braddick, Allen Lane, 2008
The English Civil War by David Clark, Pocket Essentials, 2008.
