A document drawn up by opposition members of the English Long Parliament, indicting the rule of Charles I since 1625 and containing drastic proposals for reform of church and state. Although it passed the House of Commons by just eleven votes, and swords were first drawn in the Commons over the question of its printing, many saw it as a vote of no confidence in the king. It drove Charles into his disastrous attempt to arrest its prime movers, including John Pym, an act of force that further alienated opposition Members of Parliament.