the
King would redress the nation's grievances.

439. The "Long Parliament," 1640; Impeachment of Strafford and Laud;
the "Grand Remonstrance."

In the autumn Charles summoned that memorable Parliament which met in
November of 1640. It sat almost continuously for thirteen years, and
so got the name of the "Long Parliament."[3] This new Parliament was
made up of three parties: the Church of England party, the
Presbyterian party, and the Independents (S422). The spirit of this
body soon showed itself. John Pym (S432), the leader of the House of
Commons, demanded the impeachment of Strafford (S435) for high treason
and despotic oppression. He was tried and sentenced to execution.
The King refused to sign the death warrant, but Strafford himself
urged him to do so in order to appease the people. Charles,
frightened at the tumult that had arisen, and entreated by his wife,
finally put his hand to the paper, and thus sent his most faithful
servant to the block.

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[1] The Triennial Act was repealed (in form only) in 1664; it was
reenacted in 1694; in 1716 it was superseded by the Septennial Act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