CROWN SERVANTS:

Series One: The Papers of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford,

1593-1641, from Sheffield City Libraries

Brief Chronology

Sources:

• English Historical Facts, 1603-1688 Chris Cook & John Wroughton (MacMillan 1980)
• The Century of Revolution, 1603-1714 Christopher Hill (Thomas Nelson 1961)
• Court, Patronage and corruption in early Stuart England Linda Levy Peck (Routledge 1990)
• Servility and Service: The Life and Work of Sir John Coke Michael B Young (Royal Historical Society 1986)
• Strafford in Ireland, 1633-41: A Study in Absolutism Hugh Kearney (CUP 1959, reprinted 1989)
• Stuart England Blair Worden (ed.) (Phaidon Press 1986)

1593

Thomas Wentworth born 13 April in Chancery Lane, London, at the house of Mr Robert Atkinson.

1601

William Laud ordained.

1603

Sir George Cary become Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sir Charles Blount is appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. James I succeeds to the English throne. William Laud is appointed chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire.

1605

Sir Arthur Chichester becomes Lord Deputy of Ireland.

1607

Wentworth completing his school education under the direction of Deane Higgins. Fellow pupils include Henry Lord Clifford, Sir Thomas Wharton, and Christopher Wandesford.

1608

Wentworth begins studies at St John’s College, Cambridge and afterwards completes education at the Inner Temple. William Laud becomes a King’s chaplain.

1610

House of Commons petition the King against impositions.

1611

Wentworth marries Margaret Clifford and he is knighted. New letters patent give increased powers to the Court of High Commission.

1612

His Father sends Wentworth to France under the supervision of Mr Charles Grenewood, a Fellow of University College, Oxford. Wentworth stays in Paris, Orleans, then goes down the Loire, then on to Toulouse and Marseille, and finally Lyon.

1614

Wentworth enters House of Commons as MP for Yorkshire. His father dies.

1615

Wentworth appointed Custos Rotulorum in Yorkshire.

1616

Thomas Jones and Sir John Denham are appointed as Lord Justices in Ireland.

1620

Pilgrim Fathers set sail from Plymouth in The Mayflower.

1621

Commons Protestation. Attack on Monopolies. Wentworth opposes James I’s assertion that Parliament’s privileges were not “the ancient and undoubted right” of the House. Impeachments of Sir Francis Mitchell, Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Bacon. The Earls of Southampton and Oxford lead the campaign against Bacon in the House of Lords. Cranfield becomes Lord Treasurer and continues campaign of financial economy measures. The Commons asserts its right to discuss any matter, religious or otherwise, which concerns the security of the realm.

1622

Thomas Archer and Nicholas Bourne authorised to print weekly periodicals dealing exclusively with foreign news. Sir Adam Loftus is appointed Lord Chancellor in Ireland, Richard Viscount Powerscourt becomes Lord Justice and Henry Cary, Viscount Falkland becomes Lord Deputy in Ireland.

1623

Failure of Buckingham’s mission to Madrid. Amboyna massacre.

1624

Monopolies Act. King’s right to grant new monopolies listed to new inventions. Subsidy Act provides the King with three subsidies but Parliament stipulates that this money should only be used for defence and assistance to the Dutch. Impeachment of Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex.

1625

Wentworth marries Arabella Holles. Appointed Sheriff in Yorkshire. Death of James I. Accession of Charles I. Subsidies granted to Charles I for one year only. Charles I marries Henrietta Maria of France. Growth of Arminianism. Sir John Coke appointed Secretary of State.

1626

Forced Loans first imposed by Charles I. Privy Council stated that tonnage and poundage was an established part of the Monarch’s revenue and was not subject to Parliamentary approval. Declaration against Controversy issued in an effort to silence the debate on Arminianism provoked by Montague. All French priests in Queen’s entourage expelled from England. William Laud is appointed as Bishop of Bath and Wells. He is closely allied with the Duke of Buckingham and supports the King in his disputes with Parliament.

1627

Five Knights’ Case. Wentworth is imprisoned for non-payment of the Forced Loan. Laud becomes a Privy Councillor.

1628

The year starts unfavourably for Wentworth. In a misunderstanding with the King’s favourite, Buckingham, he loses his post of Custos Rotulorum in Yorkshire. This mini-intrigue is a minor event compared with Wentworth’s rapid rise to prominence later in the year after the removal of Buckingham had dramatically altered opportunities for preferment at Court. Proceedings in Parliament are dominated by attacks on Buckingham and the Petition of Right.

Buckingham assassinated by John Felton at Portsmouth. Wentworth makes a vigorous defence of the liberties of the subject. Previously one of the most outspoken critics of the King, he becomes one of the King’s principal servants and is critical of some of the more extreme elements in the Parliamentary Opposition. As an important adviser to Charles I and with an important powerbase as President of the Council of the North (1638-1631), Wentworth assumes a key role in the direction of Crown policy. He is created Baron Wentworth and then Viscount Wentworth.

William Laud appointed Bishop of London. Remonstrance on unauthorised collection of tonnage and poundage. John Rolles and other merchants refuse to pay tonnage and poundage. Commission for Defective Titles appointed to check into encroachments on Crown Land and to compound with Crown tenants. Richard Weston appointed as Lord Treasurer.

1629

Wentworth becomes a Privy Councillor.

Adam, Viscount Loftus is appointed Lord Chancellor in Ireland; Richard Earl of Cork becomes Lord Justice.

In the House of Commons the Speaker is held down in his chair. Only three Resolutions passed prior to dissolution of Parliament in March. Start of Personal Rule by Charles I also known as “Eleven Years’ Tyranny”. Charles I issued proclamation reiterating his right to collect tonnage and poundage. Laud’s Instructions to Bishops.

1630

London merchants attempt boycott of trade in protest against the King’s collection of tonnage and poundage. Commission for Defective Titles reappointed. King also resorts to a further device “Forced Knighthoods” to raise more money. Laud becomes Chancellor of Oxford University.

1630-31

Books of Orders distributed to Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace and Municipal Authorities setting out the scope of the authority and duties of local officials.

1631

William Noy appointed as Attorney General. He becomes responsible for the regular levying of Ship Money. Court life is riven by conflict and intrigue. There are three main rival factions. The pro-Spanish group is headed by Lord Treasurer Weston (created Earl of Portland in 1633) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Francis Cottington, the principal negotiator of the peace with Spain in 1630. William Laud, later Archbishop of Canterbury, is bitterly opposed to this group and the corrupt and dilatory approach of the Portland administration. Laud was soon to find a firm ally in Wentworth, but initially Wentworth was connected with the Portland and Cottington camp. In contrast, Sir Francis Windebank moved in the opposite direction. He owed his advancement to Laud’s influence. Later he defected to the Portland faction. The third main grouping centered on the Queen in a curious alliance between a fervently pro-French and anti-Habsburg Catholic queen and a strong cluster of militantly Protestant noblemen. These included the Earls of Pembroke and Northumberland, Viscount Dorchester (the former diplomat Sir Dudley Carleton) and, in particular, the Earls of Warwick and Holland. They were keen on a French alliance in order to restore the Palatinate.

1632

Charles I issues new Monopolies. Wentworth appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland. First steps for the Plantation of Cannacht. This region is brought under the responsibility of the new Lord Deputy. Sir Francis Windebank appointed Secretary of State.

1633

Declaration of Sports. William Laud appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. He introduces new instructions and further restrictions on the alienation of Church lands. A survey and inventory of Church property is ordered. Laud opposes the Puritan Sabbath.

1634

Charles I exercises right to collect Ship Money from coastal towns and counties. Commission of Justice in Eyre to deal with encroachments on Royal Forests. Laud revives metropolitan visitations.

1635

Charles I extends collection of Ship Money to inland counties and towns. Levied for six successive years, 1635-40, this form of taxation met with increasing opposition. Commission for Defective Titles reappointed. Death of Portland. Portland is replaced by Laud who becomes a member of both the Commission of the Treasury and the Committee for Foreign Affairs. He is created First Lord of the Treasury. He is assisted by four Treasury Commissioners (Earl of Manchester, Lord Cottington, Sir John Coke and Sir Francis Windebank) and together they launch an Inquiry into the State of Royal Finances; Crown debts estimated at nearly two years’ `ordinary´ revenue. Cottington becomes Master of the Wards, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Under-Treasurer. Commission and Instructions for Plantation of Connacht approved by the King. Problems with Galway continue.

1636

John Hampden refuses to pay Ship Money. Wentworth returns for brief visit to England. Troubles with Clanrickards and Galway jury still continue. William Juxon, Bishop of London, appointed Lord Treasurer.

1637

The trial of John Hampden begins. Prynne, Burton and Bastwick attack Laud’s ecclesiastical policy and the Church hierarchy. They are dealt with severely with Archbishop Laud playing a prominent role in the Trial of William Prynne in Star Chamber. Charles I tries to impose a new Laudian Prayer Book on Scotland. Laud complains about the growth of the Roman Catholic party at Court. Start of the Scottish Crisis. Laud now has a very strong powerbase with Wentworth as a close ally. Laud is in deep opposition with the Queen and her faction at Court. Despite this, as Laud becomes more powerful, his enemies identify the Queen and the Archbishop as fellow agents in a court plot to restore England to Rome.

1638

The National Covenant. The Scots were determined to resist “the introduction of Popery and Episcopacy” and the “Convenanters” formed an army of 16,000 men under Alexander Leslie to defend their rights. Hampden’s case judgement in favour of the King’s right to impose Ship Money, but five out of the twelve judges find in Hampden’s favour.

1639

Withdrawal of Monopolies issued in 1632. Wentworth recalled to England a Head of Commission to deal with the Scottish Problem. Increasing difficulties in collecting Ship Money. Only £43,417 paid out of £214,000 assessed. The First Bishop’s War. The Pacification of Berwick.

1640

Wentworth recommends calling the Short Parliament and making use of a variety of expedients to provide for the Scottish War. These include the debasement of the coinage, use of an Irish Army, and a loan from Spain. Pym makes famous speech summarising the nation’s grievances and helps draw up a petition demanding the trial of the King’s advisers. Laud’s innovations are codified and published as the Canons of 1640. during the Second Bishop’s War, Scots defeat the Royal Forces at Newburn. Treaty of Ripon. Charles decides to summon a Great Council of Peers at York, but afraid to act independently from the Commons, this Council advises the King to summon another Parliament. Start of the Long Parliament. Root and Branch Petition. Wentworth created Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lieutenant-General of the Army. John Pym plays a leading role in the Impeachment of Strafford. Pym also moves a motion to impeach Archbishop Laud. Laud is impeached and imprisoned at the Tower of London. William Prynne was released. Christopher Wandesford appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland.

1640-1

Strafford is tried in Westminster Hall and convicted by Bill of Attainer.

1641

Act for the Attainder of Strafford. Acts abolishing Royal Financial Expedients and Prerogative Courts. Triennial Act. Act against Dissolving Parliament without its own Consent. The Grand Remonstrance. Execution of Earl of Strafford on 12 May. Ship Money made illegal. Rebellion in Ireland. Herefordshire Grand Jury Presentment. Humble Petition of the Freeholders of Chester. Humble Petition of the City of London. Death of the Earl of Bedford, a moderate and influential figure who, according to Clarendon, might have helped bring about a settlement between King and Parliament. Further petitions advocating the Abolition of Bishops. Archbishop Laud remains imprisoned in the Tower of London. Profound differences over Religion between King and Parliament increasingly a major cause of division. Abolition of the Council of the North. Robert Sydney, Earl of Leicester is appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

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