Introduction to the Personal Rule

How did government work?
Without Parliament, the Privy Council became very important

• They ran the central administration, controlled local government by appointing Justices of the Peace and staffed prerogative courts
• Important individuals: William Laud, Sir Richard Weston (Treasurer) and Sir Thomas Wentworth (Lord Deputy of Ireland)

How could Charles raise money?

• At the beginning of the Personal Rule, royal debt was £2 million and Court expenditure was £260,000 a year
• Without Parliament, Charles had 2 options: save money or use prerogative means to earn money

Religious policy
Arminianism

• Charles was sympathetic to Arminianism as it stressed the importance of …