The document discusses the events leading up to the English Civil War. It describes how the Long Parliament in 1640 aimed to curb the King's power by abolishing his prerogative courts like the Star Chamber, limiting his ability to raise taxes, and gaining the power to appoint his counselors. However, tensions rose as Parliament grew distrustful of King Charles I and his Catholic wife due to events in Ireland and Scotland. The final break came in 1642 when Charles entered Parliament with soldiers to arrest five members of Parliament, but they had been warned and were absent, causing a constitutional crisis.