Why did monarchical rule fail in the years 1625-1642?

Finances – Consistent problem, important because money is crucial to Charles

• 1625 – Parliament refuse to grant Charles tonnage & poundage; Charles is offended
and closes Parliament

• 1626 – Charles collects Forced Loans to raise money without Parliament; it is

successful

• 1628 – A merchant named John Rolle is arrested for refusing to pay tonnage &
poundage; Buckingham is assassinated

Parliament – Consistent Problem, important because they constantly clash with Charles

• 1628 – Parliament present Charles with the Petition of Rights which Charles is forced
to sign; Charles takes action to undermine its legitimacy

• 15th February 1641 - Parliament passed the Triennial Act, declaring that a Parliament
had to be summoned at least once every three years

• June 1641 - The Commons agreed on the Ten Propositions and put it before Charles.
This extended Parliamentary authority. They gave themselves power to approve the
king’s advisors and also to protect themselves from royal vengeance

• January 1642 - Charles heard a rumour that Pym intended to impeach and arrest his
wife

• June 1642 - Parliament presented Charles with the Nineteen Propositions. This was
an attempt to extend Parliamentary power by forcing all Charles’ advisors to be
approved by Parliament, make him accept the Triennial Act and Militia Ordinance
and agree to the reform of the Church of England based on Parliamentary advice

Politics
 • 1629 – Radical MPs try to pass a Protestation against Charles’ rule; Charles sees this
as a provocation too far and decides to dissolve Parliament permanently

Advisors/Buckingham – Problem for Charles

• 1625 – Buckingham organises the Cadiz expedition which is a disaster

• 1626 – Charles recalls Parliament but they try to impeach Buckingham; Charles
dissolves Parliament

• 1627 – Buckingham organises the La Rochelle expedition; this too is a disaster

• November-December 1640 - First the Earl of Strafford, then William Laud were
impeached by Parliament and arrested.

Foreign Relations

• March-May 1641 - John Pym revealed the existence of a plot by Irish Catholic army
officers to release Strafford and forcibly dissolve Parliament (known as The First
Army Plot). Pym pushed an Act of Attainder through Parliament. This allowed
Parliament to execute Strafford on the suspicion of guilt as long as the Houses of
Lords and Commons and the King accept it. An angry mob surrounded Charles’
palace, demanding Charles sign the Act

• October-November 1641 -A Catholic rebellion broke out in Ireland and rumours

circulated of the massacre of at least 20,000 Protestants and a Second Army Plot was
revealed. Pym used this to present the Grand Remonstrance which listed all the
things Charles had done wrong during his rule. Arthur Haselrig presented Parliament
with the Militia Bill, calling for an army to be raised whose commander was
appointed by Parliament as many feared the rebellion was supported by Charles.