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James 1, father of Charles 1, is crowned, He is a firm believer in the divine right of kings.
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Despite tension being high between Protestants and Catholics (30 year war in mainland Europe, aftershocks of the reformation) Charles I married a French Catholic Princess. That, along with his Anglican 'high church' Protestantism, he was viewed by some Puritans as possibly Catholic.
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Charles 1 succeeds his father James I to the throne. Like him, he is a firm believer of the divine right of kings (DRK)
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Charles I dissolved Parliament and ruled alone for 11 years. He raised tax through loop holes, levying ship money on inland counties, which faced wide resentment, especially from John Hampden in 1637, who refused to pay it.
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Willian Laud, a man who shares Charles I's religious views, is made archbishop of Canterbury. He is viewed by many as too close to catholic. He tries to impose his Anglican Protestantism on everyone using the Star Chamber court, further angering people.
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Charles attempted to force the use of the English Common Book of Prayer on the Presbytarian Scots. This led to riots.
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An agreement in Scotland to protect religious freedom, led to the Bishops wars
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The scots, angered by the enforcment of the English Book of Common Prayer, went to war with England. They advanced quickly, capturing Newcastle. This war bankrupted Charles, forcing him to summon Parliament.
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Unpopular royal advisor Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stratford, is executed.
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Supported by thousands of Londoners, called for the abolition of escopacy (rule of the church by Bishops).
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Parliament summoned for just three weeks before being disssolved
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Charles I summons Parliament again, this time for 20 years.
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Requires the king to summon Parliament at least once every three years.
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Controversial within Parliament, with some MPs saying it was too radical. It was a document listing grievances against the king.
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Events in Ireland also had a profound impact on England and further destabilised the political situation. In October 1641, Irish Catholics launched a violent rebellion in Ulster, attacking Protestant settlers. Reports of massacres – often exaggerated in English accounts – spread panic and horror throughout England.
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Charles I entered the House of Commons and attempts to arrest 5 MPs. They have already been warned, and have left. This lead to war.
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William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, is beheaded