Greg Jenner

We've spoken a lot about England so far, and I think it's really important, in case listeners don't know, that Charles I of England was king of Scotland as well. There were kingdoms that he reunited because he was a steward. His family was Scottish. His dad was Scottish. So these English reforms, these William Lord reforms, was he also pushing them north of the border up into Scotland as well?

You've said something very, very important there, John. And I'm going to be an absolute childish idiot here. And I'm going to have to just pull you up on something. You said chucked her stool at the dean meeting. Do you mean furniture or do you mean she pooed in her hand and lobbed it at his head? Because I don't know if this is good, but I'd just like some clarity.

You've said something very, very important there, John. And I'm going to be an absolute childish idiot here. And I'm going to have to just pull you up on something. You said chucked her stool at the dean meeting. Do you mean furniture or do you mean she pooed in her hand and lobbed it at his head? Because I don't know if this is good, but I'd just like some clarity.

OK, so you said the Scottish Covenant has got rid of bishops entirely. And this means war, Toussaint. Do you know what this war is called? The British Civil War? You'd think so, right? That's what we've got you here. That's what we're doing. Are we there yet?

OK, so you said the Scottish Covenant has got rid of bishops entirely. And this means war, Toussaint. Do you know what this war is called? The British Civil War? You'd think so, right? That's what we've got you here. That's what we're doing. Are we there yet?

This is called the Bishop's War. Now, is it a war fought by bishops, for bishops, against bishops, or just near some bishops? How are the bishops involved, John?

This is called the Bishop's War. Now, is it a war fought by bishops, for bishops, against bishops, or just near some bishops? How are the bishops involved, John?

Yeah. I mean, without wishing to spoil it, there is a second Bishops' War. So as soon as the treaty is signed, he's already planning a second one. And of course, the second one breaks out a year later. So Charles does the obvious thing here. He calls another parliament. And having had the short parliament before, he now goes on a parliamentary bender. It's called the long parliament.

Yeah. I mean, without wishing to spoil it, there is a second Bishops' War. So as soon as the treaty is signed, he's already planning a second one. And of course, the second one breaks out a year later. So Charles does the obvious thing here. He calls another parliament. And having had the short parliament before, he now goes on a parliamentary bender. It's called the long parliament.

He can't get enough. Toussaint, how long is the long parliament?

He can't get enough. Toussaint, how long is the long parliament?

That's a very sensible guess. It's 20 years.

That's a very sensible guess. It's 20 years.

In fairness, he was dead for half of that. So, you know, I mean, John, it's a technicality, right? The Parliament is never dissolved because the King is executed. But, you know, we're jumping ahead. But that's why it's called the Long Parliament. Is that fair?

In fairness, he was dead for half of that. So, you know, I mean, John, it's a technicality, right? The Parliament is never dissolved because the King is executed. But, you know, we're jumping ahead. But that's why it's called the Long Parliament. Is that fair?

Yeah. So we now have a parliamentarian sort of step forward, you know, because often people will assume that Cromwell will be kind of important at this phase. But Cromwell isn't really in the picture yet. The person who steps forward to be sort of leader of Parliament a bit is called John Pym. Is that right?

Yeah. So we now have a parliamentarian sort of step forward, you know, because often people will assume that Cromwell will be kind of important at this phase. But Cromwell isn't really in the picture yet. The person who steps forward to be sort of leader of Parliament a bit is called John Pym. Is that right?

And he gets nicknamed King Pim. Which sounds like Kingpin, but it's King Pim. But that, I mean, I'm guessing his friends call him that?

And he gets nicknamed King Pim. Which sounds like Kingpin, but it's King Pim. But that, I mean, I'm guessing his friends call him that?

Pym starts to unpick Charles's policies. He goes after ship money, which was that inland coastal thing. He goes after the Star Chamber, which is how Charles had crushed the media. He goes after the High Commission. He goes after crucifixes and images in the churches. So he's taking on the Anglican high church, Arminianism. He's sort of puritanising and streamlining government.