Parliament next charged Archbishop Laud (S435) with attempting to overthrow the Protestant religion.  It condemned him to prison, and ultimately to death.  Next, it abolished the Star Chamber and the High Commission Court (S435).  It next passed the Triennial Act,[1] a bill requiring Parliament to be summoned once in three years, and also a statute forbidding the collection of “ship money” unless authorized by Parliament.

[1] The Triennial Act was repealed (in form only) in 1664; it was reenacted in 1694; in 1716 it was superseded by the Septennial Act (S535).

Under the leadership of Pym, it followed this by drawing up the “Grand Remonstrance,"[2] which was printed and circulated throughout the country.  The “Remonstrance” set forth the faults of the King’s government, while it declared utter distrust of his policy.  Cromwell did not hesitate to say that if the House of Commons had failed to adopt and print the “Remonstrance,” he would have left England never to return.  The radicals in the House next made an ineffectual attempt to pass the “Root and Branch Bill,” for the complete destruction—­ “root and branch”—­of the Established Church of England.  Finally, the House enacted a law forbidding the dissolution of the present Parliament except by its own consent.

[2] See Summary of Constitutional History in the Appendix, p. xvii, S19.

440.  The King attempts to arrest Five Members (1642).

The parliamentary leaders had entered into communication with the Scots and so laid themselves open to a charge of treason.  It was rumored, too, that they were about to take a still bolder step and impeach the Queen for having conspired with the Catholics and the Irish to destroy the liberties of the country.  No one knew better than Charles how strong a case could be made out against his frivolous and unprincipled consort.

Driven to extremities, Charles determined to seize the five members, John Pym, John Hampden (SS432, 436), and three others, who headed the opposition.[3] The King commanded the House of Commons to give them up for trial.  The request was not complied with and the Queen urged Charles to take them by force, saying, “Go along, you coward, and pull those rascals out by the ears!” Thus taunted, the King went on the next day to the House of Parliament with a company of soldiers to seize the members.  They had been forewarned, and had left the House, taking refuse in the “city,” which showed itself then, as always, on the side of liberty (S34, note 1).  Leaving his soldiers at the door, the King entered the House of Commons.  Seeing that the five members were absent, the King turned to the Speaker and asked where they were.  The Speaker, kneeling before the King, answered, “May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this House is pleased to direct me.”  Vexed that he could learn nothing further, Charles left the hall amid ominous cries of “Privilege! privilege!"[1]