‘Religion was the key factor in persuading Charles to end his personal rule in 1640’. To
what extent do you agree?
Intro: Religion was the key motivating factor.
Religion- Agree
• Laud made Archbishop in 1633- used this to implement a series of reforms that would
increase uniformity and conformity to the Church, limit Puritan influence and help assert
the King’s power.
• ‘Beauty of Holiness’, Book of Sports 1633, Altar moved and railed off, increase in status
of the clergy, banning of advowsons etc.
• These reforms facilitated great resentment to the King and his rule; he didn’t justify the
changes, so people saw them as a move to catholicism and absolutism (the emphasis
on decoration and the clergy and ceremonies particularly catholic), direct attacks on
puritans with introduction of the Book of Sports and harsh punishments in the
Prerogative courts and censorship, Gentry angered as their influence was limited with
banning of advowsons and the moving of family pews.
• Low level opposition: Puritan Pamphleteers, Prynne, Burton and Bastwick- criticised
Laudian doctrines- punished in 1637 with ear-cropping- seen as Puritan martyrs.
Colonisation ventures- puritans emigrated to the USA- e.g Providence Island Company.
1629-40: 60,000 Puritans left. (Questionable whether this actually forced Charles to end
his personal rule).
• It was events in Scotland, initiated by the religious reforms, that had the greatest impact,
and certainly forced him to end his personal rule in 1640.
• 1637: Charles introduces the new English Prayer Book to Scotland, without the
consultation of the Scottish Privy Council, Parliament or Kirk. Also, ideas in the book
were far too popish for the Scottish Presbyterians. This leads to an outbreak in St Giles’
Church in July 1637 when the Dean began to read from the new prayer book- shouts,
woman threw a stool at his head. When Charles refused to back down, these protests
escalated, and by Feb 1638 a National Covenant Movement had formed- demanded that
Scots decide their own path in religion and gov, abolishment of bishops and free from
King’s interference. By spring 1639, the Covenanters had raised an army, and secured
major strongholds in Scotland.
• Whilst the First Bishops War ended with the Pacification of Berwick in June 1639, with
Charles agreeing to authorise a new General Assembly of the Kirk, neither side trusted
the other and did not disband their armies.
• Second Bishop’s War, Aug-Oct 1640: Covenant army marched into Newcastle, and beat
the English at the Battle of Newburn.
• Treaty of Ripon Oct 1640- peace treaty, Scots demanded £850 a day to cover the cost of
stationing their armies in the North of Eng- this ultimately forced Charles to recall the
Short Parliament in Oct 1640 as he couldn’t afford it otherwise.
• ALL MOTIVATED BY ISSUES OF RELIGION.
Religion-Disagree
• The low level religious opposition really had no impact on Charles’ personal rule, and
therefore was not a key contributing factor in bringing it to an end.
• Colonisation ventures- got rid of opposition as Puritans were emigrating.
• Harsh punishments- Courts of High Commission and Star Chamber- much opposition
was eradicated through this.
• Nature of the reforms was to increase conformity- did do this.
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