John Pym
John Pym was born in Brymore, Somerset, in 1584. He was educated at Oxford University and in 1614 was elected to the House of Commons. A Puritan, Pym was a leading opponent of the policies of Charles I and in 1626 played a prominent role in the impeachment of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham.
The king's main adviser was William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Laud argued that the king ruled by Divine Right. He claimed that the king had been appointed by God and people who disagreed with him were bad Christians. Laud believed that Church reforms had gone too far. Anglicans tended to support the policies of Laud but the Puritans strongly disagreed with him. When Laud gave instructions that the wooden communion tables in churches should be replaced by stone altars. Puritans accused Laud of trying to reintroduce Catholicism.
Laud also upset the Puritans (Presbyterians) in Scotland when he insisted they had to use the English Prayer Book. Scottish Presbyterians were furious and made it clear they were willing to fight to protect their religion. In 1639 the Scottish army marched on England. Charles, unable to raise a strong army, was forced to agree not to interfere with religion in Scotland. Charles also agreed to pay the Scottish war expenses.
Charles did not have the money to pay the Scots and so he had to ask Parliament for help. The Parliament summoned in 1640 lasted for twenty years and is therefore usually known as The Long Parliament. This time Parliament was determined to restrict the powers of the king.
Under the leadership of Pym, a law was passed which stated that Parliament should in future meet every three years. It was also decided to take away the king's right to dissolve Parliament. Other laws were passed making it illegal for the king to impose his own taxes. Parliament then passed a law that gave members control over the king's ministers.
Charles I was furious and decided it was time to retaliate. On 4 January 1642, Charles sent his soldiers to arrest John Pym and four other members of the House of Commons. The five men managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Members of Parliament no longer felt safe from Charles and decided to form their own army.
John Pym took no part in the Civil War and died of cancer in London in 1643.