John Pym

For the Australian rugby player, seeJohn Pym (rugby union).

John Pym MP,JP
John Pym,c.1640
Committee of Safety
In office July 1642 – December 1643
Monarch	Charles I
Member of Parliament forTavistock 1624; 1625; 1626; 1628; 1640
In office November 1640 – December 1643†
Member of Parliament forCalne
In office 1621–1622
Receiver-GeneralExchequer,Glos., Hants and Wilts.
In office 1606–1639
Personal details
Born	(1584-05-20)20 May 1584 London, England
Died	8 December 1643(1643-12-08)(aged 59) London, England
Cause of death	Cancer
Resting place	Westminster Abbey(initially); St Margaret's(now)
Spouse	Anne Hooker or Hooke (1604–1620)
Children	7, includingCharles
Parent(s)	Alexander Pym (1547–1585) Philippa Colles
Relatives	Francis Rous(stepbrother) Anthony Nicholl(nephew)
Alma mater	Pembroke College, Oxford
Occupation	Lawyer, politician and businessman

John Pym(20 May 1584 – 8 December 1643) was a politician and administrator fromLondon,who played a major role in establishing what would become the modernEnglishParliamentary system.One of theFive Memberswhose attempted arrest in January 1642 was a major step in sparking theFirst English Civil War,his use of procedure to out manoeuvre opponents was unusual for the period. Though this meant he was respected by contemporaries rather than admired, in 1895 historianGoldwin Smithdescribed him as "the greatest member of Parliament that ever lived".

Pym's father died when he was seven months old, and he was raised by his stepfather SirAnthony Rous,from whom he inherited hisPuritanviews and deep opposition to thereformsof ArchbishopWilliam Laud.He was also a leading member of theProvidence Island Company,which attempted to establish a Puritan colony in Central America.

Described as 'a true revolutionary', he led the opposition to arbitrary rule first underJames I,thenCharles I.His leadership in the early stages of the war was essential to the Parliamentarian cause, particularly his role in negotiating theSolemn League and Covenantwith the ScotsCovenanters;his death from cancer in December 1643 was considered a major blow.

Originally buried inWestminster Abbey,after theStuart Restorationin 1660, his body was dumped in a pit at nearbySt Margaret's, Westminsteralong with those of other Parliamentary leaders.Though his reputation later suffered in comparison to less complex figures likeJohn HampdenandViscount Falkland,he is now viewed as an astute politician and effective speaker. Many of his ideas were adopted byPatriots during the American Revolutionand 19th-centuryAmerican liberals.

Personal details

His father,Alexander Pym(1547–1585), was a member of the minor gentry, from Brymore, Somerset. He was a successful lawyer in London, where John was born in 1584. Alexander died seven months later and his mother, Philippa Colles (died 1620), married a wealthy Cornish landowner, SirAnthony Rous.A close friend andexecutorof SirFrancis Drake,Sir Anthony instilled in his stepson a strong dislike ofSpain,a zealous belief inPuritanism,and opposition to both theCatholic Church,and the rival Protestant theology ofArminianism.

The Rous were a large and close-knit family, often wedding relatives and friends. In May 1604, Pym married Anne Hooke, a daughter of Barbara Rous and John Hooke, and aunt of the scientistRobert Hooke.Before her death in 1620, they had seven children, of whom four survived into adulthood; Philippa (1604–1654),Charles(1615–1671), Dorothy (1617–1661), and Catherine.

Career

Pym was educated atPembroke College, Oxford,then known as Broadgates and famous for 'advanced Protestantism'.Since legal knowledge was considered part of an education, he subsequently attended theMiddle Templein 1602; while he does not appear to have formally graduated from either, he made a number of lifelong friends, the most important of which beingWilliam Whitaker.

In June 1605, he was appointed collector of taxes for theExchequerinHampshire,Gloucestershire,andWiltshire;this gave him a broader range of connections than many contemporaries, who were often confined to family or county networks. Whitaker's father had beenMember of ParliamentforWestbury, Wiltshire,and in 1621, Pym was elected for the nearby seat ofCalne.

Forced Loan and Petition of Right

Pym's diary shows he viewed Parliamentary legislation as a whole, not just issues of interest to himself; combined with an ability to explain them clearly, it led to his appointment to numerous committees. Since direct criticism of the king was considered treason, the only way to express opposition was by attacking his advisors, using the process ofimpeachment.Pym argued it was for theCommonsto decide guilt or innocence, leaving theLordsonly to determine the penalty; this would become significant in his future Parliamentary career.

Pym's patron and political ally, theEarl of Bedford,1587–1641

Even in an era when it was common, he was notable for his anti-Catholicism, and opposition to allegedCatholic practices in the Church of England.One reason for this was the close links in the 17th-century between religion and politics, with alterations in one viewed as implying alterations in the other. Many contemporaries fought in theThirty Years Warand were concerned at the apparent failure ofJamesto defend hisown son-in-lawandProtestant Europeas a whole.

Following the dissolution of Parliament in 1621, Pym was arrested, and brought before thePrivy Council,but released in August 1622. In 1624, he was elected forTavistock,a seat controlled byEarl of Bedford,which he retained for the rest of his career.In 1626, he led an attempt to impeach theDuke of Buckingham,an action which led to Parliament being dissolved. Only Buckingham's assassination in August 1628 prevented a second attempt, while Pym supported the presentation of thePetition of RighttoCharles Iin 1628.

Pym, his stepbrotherFrancis Rous,andJohn Hampden,also led the Parliamentary attack onRoger MaynwaringandRobert Sibthorpe,two clergymen who publishedsermonssupporting the Caroline precepts of thedivine right of kings,andpassive obedience.Though censured by Parliament for preaching against the established English constitution, Charles pardoned them, and dissolved Parliament, initiating the period ofPersonal Rulethat continued until 1640.

Pym became treasurer of theProvidence Island Companyin 1630, a role that increasingly consumed his time, and he relinquished his Exchequer position in 1639. Participation in the colonial movement was common among Puritan leaders, while company meetings later provided cover for co-ordinating political opposition. Many of these became leaders of the Parliamentary opposition in 1642, among them Hampden, Rous, Henry Darley,Lord Saye,William Waller,andLord Brooke.

Leader of the opposition; 1640 to 1641

John Hampden;Pym's colleague, and one of theFive Members

Following defeat in the first of theBishops Wars,Charles recalled Parliament in April 1640. When theShort Parliamentrefused to vote him taxes without political concessions, he dissolved it after only three weeks. When theTreaty of Riponimposed by the Scots after a second defeat forced him to hold fresh elections in November, Pym became the unofficial leader of the opposition.

Historians likeTim Harrisargue that, with the exception of a few extremists, by 1640 there was general consensus attempts to rule without Parliament had gone too far. This changed after theGrand Remonstrancein November 1641, whenconstitutional monarchistslike Clarendon switched sides, arguing Parliament now wanted too much.

Where Pym differed from Clarendon, and many of his own colleagues, was recognising Charles would not keep commitments he felt had been forced from him. Even during negotiations with Parliament, he andHenrietta Mariaopenly told foreign ambassadors any concessions were temporary, and would be retrieved by force if needed. These suspicions increased afterOctober 1641,when Irish Catholic rebels claimed his approval for their actions. Many believed them, given previous attempts by Charles to use Irish troops against the Scots, and his initial refusal to condemn the rebellion.

However, Pym was hampered by the fact Charles was essential to a stable government and society. Regardless of religion or political belief, in 1642 the vast majority believed a 'well-ordered' monarchy was divinely mandated; where they disagreed was what 'well-ordered' meant, and who held ultimate authority in clerical affairs.Royalistsgenerally supported aChurch of Englandgoverned bybishops,appointed by, and answerable to, the king;Parliamentariansbelieved he was answerable to the leaders of the church, appointed by their congregations.

Puritanwas a term for anyone who wanted to reform, or 'purify', the Church of England, and contained many different sects.Presbyterianswere the most prominent, and included leaders like Pym andJohn Hampden,but there were many others, such asCongregationalists,often grouped together asIndependents.Close links between religion and politics added further complexity; one reason for opposition to bishops was their presence in theHouse of Lords,where they often blocked Parliamentary legislation. Their removal by theClergy Act 1640was a major step along the road to war.

Most Presbyterians were political conservatives, who believed in a limited electorate, and wanted to keep the Church of England, but as a reformed, Presbyterian body, similar to theChurch of Scotland.In general, England was a structured, socially conservative, and largely peaceful society, while the devastation caused by the Thirty Years War meant many wanted to avoid conflict at any cost. Pym was one of the few who believed only military defeat would force Charles into agreeing meaningful reforms.

Road to war; 1641 to 1643

Shortly after theLong Parliamentassembled, it was presented with theRoot and Branch petition;signed by 15,000 Londoners, it demanded England follow the Scots, and expel bishops.This reflected widespread concerns about 'Catholic practices', orArminianism in the Church of England,given weight by Charles' apparent willingness to make war on the Protestant Scots, but not assist his nephewCharles Louisregain hishereditary lands.Many feared Charles was about to sign an alliance with Spain, a view shared by experienced diplomatic observers likeVenice,and even France.

The trial ofthe Earl of Strafford,March 1641

This meant ending Charles' arbitrary rule was not only important for England, but the Protestant cause in general. Since respect for the institution of monarchy prevented direct attacks on Charles, the traditional route was to prosecute his 'evil counsellors.' Doing so made it clear that although the king was above the law, his subordinates were not, and he could not protect them; the intention was to make others think twice about their actions. ArchbishopWilliam Laudwas impeached in December 1640 and held in theTower of Londonuntil his execution in 1645;Strafford,formerLord Deputy of Irelandand organiser of the 1640 Bishops War, wasattaintedand executed in May 1641.

The Commons also passed a series of constitutional reforms, including theTriennial Acts,abolition of theStar Chamber,and an end to levying taxes without Parliament's consent. Voting as a block, the bishops ensured all these were rejected by the Lords.In June 1641, Pym secured passage of the Clergy Act in the Commons; one of its key provisions was to remove bishops from the Lords, which therefore rejected it. The growing political tension was brought to head in October with the outbreak of theIrish Rebellion.both Charles and Parliament supported raising troops to suppress it, but neither trusted the other with their control, fearing any army would be used against them first.

Pym helped draft theGrand Remonstrance,presented to Charles on 1 December 1641; unrest culminated in 23 to 29 December with widespread riots inWestminster,led by the London apprentices. Suggestions Pym and other Parliamentary leaders helped organise these have not been proved, but as a result, bishops stopped attending the Lords.On 30 December,John Williams,Archbishop of Yorkand eleven other bishops, signed a complaint, disputing the legality of any laws passed by the Lords during their exclusion. Viewed by the Commons as inviting Charles to dissolve Parliament, all twelve were imprisoned for treason.

Victorian re-imagining of the arrest theFive Members,January 1642

In response to the growing unrest, on 4 January Charles made an unsuccessful attempt to arrest theFive Members,one of whom was Pym. Having failed to do so, he left London accompanied by manyRoyalistMPs and his supporters in the Lords, a major tactical mistake as it gave the opposition majorities in both houses.When theFirst English Civil Warbegan in August, Pym headed theCommittee of Safety;his reputation for integrity and ability to keep a diverse coalition of interests together was crucial to surviving the first 18 months of the conflict.

By early August 1643, a series of Royalist victories combined with the death of the popularJohn HampdeninJunemeant the Parliamentarian cause seemed close to collapse. At this crucial point, it was saved by Pym's leadership and determination, which led to a renewed commitment to win the war.He created the foundations of victory by ensuring Parliament had sufficient financial and military resources, one of his last acts being to negotiate theSolemn League and Covenantthat secured Scottish support.

He died, probably of cancer, at Derby House on 8 December 1643; Parliament agreed to pay off the debts he incurred as a result of neglecting his private business interests, although they were still being disputed in 1665.Buried inWestminster Abbey,his remains were exhumed after theStuart Restorationin 1660 and re-buried in a common pit atSt Margaret's, Westminster.

His chief opponent, theEarl of Clarendon,a senior advisor to Charles during theFirst English Civil War,later wrote; 'he had a very comely and grave way of expressing himself...and understood the temper and affections of the kingdom as well as any man’.Pym's reputation suffered in comparison to less complex figures like Hampden andViscount Falkland,especially during theVictorian erawhich romanticised the Royalist cause. One exception was the historianGoldwin Smith,who described him as "the greatest member of Parliament that ever lived".He is now generally viewed as an astute politician who laid the foundations of modern Parliamentary democracy and effective speaker, whose ideas and language were adapted byPatriots during the American Revolutionand19th century American liberals.

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