Bishops' Wars (1638-1640)

Bishops’ Wars happened between 1639 to 1640 that were fought between Charles I and the Scots. The wars were due to Charles’s endeavour to enforce Anglican observances in the Scottish Church and of the determination of the Scots to abolish episcopacy in order to harmonies the two churches of England and Scotland.

Charles I attempted to impose uniform practices on the kirk (Church of Scotland) and the Church of England in 1637. These were opposed by most Scots, who supported a Presbyterian church governed by ministers and elders.

Those opposed to these changes in Scotland, known as Covenanters, rose up and defeated Charles I's troops in the Bishops' War. After the implementation of the Scottish National Covenant against the King's reforms in 1638, the Covenanters became the dominant political and religious force in Scotland.

Determined to assert his authority, the King formulated an ambitious military campaign against the Covenanters. The King planned an ambitious campaign: he would raise an army of 20,000 men to attack Edinburgh, the Earl of Antrim would invade western Scotland with troops from Ireland while the Marquis of Hamilton would command a naval expedition to land troops behind enemy lines on the east coast.

His plans were thwarted by lack of funds, by lack of support for the war among his subjects and by lack of experience among his commanders.

On May 30 Covenanter troops occupy Kelso near the border with England. While in Jun 03, the English cavalry retreats from Kelso; collapse of morale in the King's army.

After the Covenanters took control of government following the 1639 war, the Scottish Parliament passed a series of acts that amounted to a constitutional revolution.

In order to protect that settlement, the Scots allied with sympathizers in Ireland and England, chiefly Puritans who objected to recent religious reforms, and wanted elections for a new Parliament of England, suspended since 1629.

In 1640, King Charles attempted a second campaign against the Scots, but once again, the army he raised was inadequate. War broke out again, and the Covenanters were again victorious over the half-hearted and badly-paid English army. They invaded England as far as Newcastle. By the terms of the peace in October 1640 Charles I had to pay the Covenanter army £850 a day until they left England.
Bishops' Wars (1638-1640)