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.
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