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Short Parliament
From April 13 to May 5, 1640, Charles I recalled Parliament after an eleven-year hiatus to fund the Second Bishops' War, but dissolved it within thre…
Timeline
- 1640Palace of Westminster · LondonCharles I recalled Parliament for the first time after eleven years, citing the military threat from the Scottish Covenanters. The king asked Parliament to prioritize approving war funds, but members demanded that long-standing grievances be addressed first, including ship money, religious policy, and habeas corpus.
- 1640House of Commons, Palace of Westminster · LondonJohn Pym delivered a two-hour speech in the House of Commons, listing the various unconstitutional acts of Charles I's reign and leading Parliament in refusing to approve any war funds until grievances were answered. The House of Commons also passed a motion expressing unwillingness to be at odds with Scotland, further weakening Charles I's position.
- 1640Palace of Westminster · LondonWith Parliament lasting only 23 days and securing no war funds, Charles I ordered its dissolution on May 5. The failure of the Short Parliament forced Charles I to raise funds by other extraordinary means, and ultimately, after the disastrous defeat in the Second Bishops' War, he had to convene the Long Parliament that November.
Sources
- The Short Parliament (1640) Diary of Sir Thomas Aston — Cope, Esther S. (ed.) (1977)
- The Fall of the British Monarchies 1637-1642 — Russell, Conrad (1991)