5. Relations and Disputes with Parliament

James I parliament 1604 - 1611

Buckinghamshire election 1604

Goodwin was elected to be MP of Buckinghamshire but was an outlaw, so it was annulled by the court of Chancery

The commons decided to reinstate Goodwin to the post

James believed it wrong and the Commons overstepping their powers, so asked they confer with the House of Lords.

He expanded the issue to a wider constitutional issue, making the situation worse

James asserted that parliament gained power from him and that the court of chancery took precedent due to its basis of equity instead of the law

Eventually came to conclusion that both new electorate Fortescue and Goodwin should be barred from re-election and a new election was called

Shirley’s case 1604

Shirley arrested for debt in 1604 but Commons wanted to set precedent for MPs to avoid arrest while parliament was being sat

Parliament sent the governor of fleet debtors prison, where Shirley was being held, to the tower of London to make a point

Union of England and Scotland

Early stages, some MPs irritated that James did not allow Ecclesiastical reforms

“The form of apology and Satisfaction” was drawn up for James, protesting against issues such as the Shirley case and the Buckinghamshire election

Many feared a collective union, as James would have the authority to remove laws and placate them - doing as he freely saw

Many opposed it, such as the xenophobic English, that it collapsed from parliamentary antagonism

James Addled Parliament of 1614

Lasted eight weeks and was very ineffective

Financial need

Financial need - James was in incredible financial debt which was 680,000 while losing crownlands meant income was reducing, as the issues of Impositions of 1606 still remained prevalent between crown and parliament

Factional conflict

Emergence of two groups, the Howard faction, which supported Catholic Spain and the counterpart Protestant faction. The protestant faction repeatedly called for attacks on the Howard faction from Parliament due to majority being anti-catholic

Manipulation of MPs

Controversial plans from Crown of making deals to ensure parliamentary support for policies were leaked

James indecisiveness

James did no appoint a secretary of state to represent him in the Commons until the last minute, picking Ralph Winwood who was incompetent

1621 Parliament

Focus on abuse of monopolies and factional infighting resulting from said monopolies

Foreign policy and parliamentary privilege

James implied that Parliament could discuss the matter of the Spanish match and foreign policy itself to frighten Spanish into agreeing to the “Spanish Match”. James knew there would be great opposition but understood that it would end the thirty years war

Opposition to Spanish Match

Parliament went further than expected in their Anti-Spanish stance, producing a petition that critsiced the Spanish Match.

James backtracked, saying foreign policy is the prerogative of the monarch

Led to Commons protestation on 18th December, which declared Commons right to discussing foreign policy

James angered, used his prerogative to rip the document from the Commons journal, the book of record, and dismissed parliament

1624 parliament

James ill and Charles and Buckingham far more involved in foreign policy, which remained the main subject of contention.

Following the trip to Madrid, Charles and Buckingham converted to an anti-spanish rhetoric

James anti Spanish sentiment

James pushed for an anti Spanish foreign policy, presenting hostilities and possibility of war, which the MPs were reluctant to pay

Perhaps James used his skills to appear to do so, never actually having an anti Spanish foreign policy in mind totally - instead doing it to show how poorly a war would be for their finances

1625 Parliament

Charles was totally committed to the aspect of war with Spain, needing £1 million.

Charles did not properly explain himself, so only got two small subsidies and tonnage and poundage for a year, which Charles saw as an attack on his prerogative

Buckingham and Arminianism was also an issue, due to Buckingham’s large influence and Charles support of Montagu, a divisive cleric, appointing him royal chaplain in 1625 - showing he supported anti-Calvinist views as well as disregarding the views of parliament

Foreign policy failure: Cadiz 1625

6000 man force forcefully conscripted, sent with no training and limited equipment. 4000 died of disease and starvation

Failed to take Cadiz or Spanish treasure fleet. More troops lost to starvation than actual gunfire at Cadiz.

Charles needed to call another parliament due to failure to capture Spanish treasure ships

1626 Parliament

Charles immediately antagonised Parliament by asking Laud to read the opening Sermon

Usage of picking sheriffs, people who managed polls, to remove opposition such as Edward Coke and Thomas Wentworth

Buckingham also attempted to reinforce position by using influence to remove anybody at court as a potential threat, such as Lord Keeper John Williams

Charles blamed MPs failure to pay for failure at Cadiz as well as MPs want to focus on cheaper naval engagements, which made Charles even more angry.

Impeachment processes were began against Buckingham and Charles closed parliament to save him

Policy failure at La Rochelle

Buckingham laid siege to La Rochelle, but could not storm the castle due to the ladders being too short

Policy rendered useless due to Louis XIII already making peace with Huguenots, French protestants.

Only 2989 returned from the initial 7833 that departed

1628 - 1629 Parliament: The petition of right and Three resolutions

Promised to give Charles five subsidies if their own grievances were addressed.

Taxation - many were concerned by additional taxes which they thought illegal such as tonnage and poundage

Billeting - Soldiers were housed temporarily with local populations, mainly in the South West and were fed by civilians, who had not received the money promised to house them

Martial law - To stop the billeted soldiers from going out of control, law had been imposed. Many MPs thought military rule was too similar to absolutism.

Five Knights Case 1627

76 people were imprisoned for not paying the forced loan of 1626

Five of them proposed the Habeas Corpus, in which they had to be tried for an offence or else released

Charles falsified records to propose that the king had a general right to imprison without need to show good reason, scaring many due to Charles now being able to act like a dictator.

The five knights were released in 1628 yet once Parliament found of the falsified records, strived to assure no abuse of power could ever happen once more

Petition of right 1628

1. Parliament had consent to taxation

2. People could only be imprisoned if just cause was shown

3. Imposition of martial law on population was illegal

4. Imposition of Billeting on population was illegal

Charles agreed due to desperate needs of funds and to protect Buckingham, but used the incorrect first reply which did not have the traditional royal ascent, making many question Charles and his trustworthiness

Buckingham was then focused upon, viciously attacked by Edward Coke

Buckingham’s assasination

Charles definitively blamed parliament and their negative portrayal of him.

Charles withdrew further from the public eye and listened to his wife Henrietta Maria.