Passage of the Grand Remonstrance (1641)

In November 1641, the House of Commons passed the Grand Remonstrance, a list of 204 grievances against Charles I's policies. The document, led by John Pym, blamed a Roman Catholic conspiracy and demanded the expulsion of bishops. Charles I delayed his response until December, refusing to remove the bishops.

Episodes

Background and detail

Political Context. Relations between Charles I and Parliament deteriorated after his 1625 marriage to the Catholic Henrietta Maria. By 1640, financial desperation from the Bishops' War forced Charles to summon Parliament, which he dismissed in May when it refused to grant funds. This tension set the stage for the Grand Remonstrance.

Content and Passage. Proposed by John Pym and supported by George Digby and John Hampden, the Remonstrance listed 204 objections to royal policies. It avoided direct accusations against the King, instead blaming a Roman Catholic conspiracy. On 22 November 1641, the House of Commons passed the document by a narrow margin of 159 to 148 votes.

Royal Response. The Grand Remonstrance was delivered to Charles I on 1 December 1641. The King delayed his reply until 23 December, refusing to remove bishops from Parliament. He argued that protecting the Church from schismatics was necessary, citing his own opposition to Roman Catholicism.

People involved

Sources

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