Charles I: 1625-1629

What was Charles' inheritance?

-finance continues to be a major problem, Parliament are hesitant to grant Charles money due to James' spending

-in agreement over foreign policy

-fairly peaceful recent Parliament 'Happy Parliament'

Describe Charles' personality

He was aloof and distant, not good at communicating with his subjects and refused to take advice. He was seen as being Catholic (even though he wasn't) as he preferred the style of the Spanish court and let his wife practice openly

Why was Charles' personality a significant problem?

This was an era of personal monarchy so personality affected the ability to rule

What are some of the early issues surrounding Henrietta Maria?

-she is Catholic and France are their enemies in TYW

-Charles delays opening of Parliament until marriage is consummated

-Henrietta refuses to come to Charles' coronation

Describe Charles' childhood?

He grew up as the unhealthy youngest child, not given many responsibilities. He was not trained to be King as it was expected that Henry would take the throne.

What was Charles' relationship with his parents?

He was largely ignored by his father so his mother was the only person that paid him real attention

When did Charles become extremely close with Buckingham?

On the 1623 Madrid trip

What was Charles' stance on the Thirty Years War in 1624?

He joined Parliament in actively calling for James to engage in war on the continent.

What were some of Charles' strengths as a ruler?

He was controlled, refined and financially responsible

What were Charles' beliefs over kingship?

-he was accountable to God alone

-he was best placed to make decisions on foreign and religious policy

-anyone who challenged his decisions was treasonous

What quote from Charles shows his ineptitude to ruling?

"I cannot defend a bad nor yield in a good cause"

What powers did Parliament believe they now had at the start of Charles' reign?

-the right to depose of ministers

-the right to initiate foreign policy

-the right to control crown expenditure

What issues caused conflict between Charles and Parliament?

-raising finances for military intervention

-hatred for Buckingham

-religious divisions

What was the Mansfleld Expedition 1625?

The subsidies raised in the 1624 Parliament were spent on paying a German mercenary Mansfeld to launch a campaign to restore the Palatinate. This campaign fails completely and does not even make it past Holland.

What was the impact of the failure of the Mansfeld Expedition?

James had failed to comply with Parliament's demands for the subsidy, meaning Charles had to raise more money in the 1625 Parliament to gain more control over military and foreign policy.

What were Charles' early foreign policy aims?

-wished to give Frederick practical assistance of £20,000 a month to recover the Palatinate

-Promised his uncle Christian IV of Denmark £30,000 a a month to engage in military campaigns in north Germany

-wanted a military and naval expedition against Spain

How much money does Charles ask from his first Parliament?

£1,000,000

What did Charles call the 1625 Parliament?

The Useless Parliament

How much do Parliament give Charles in 1625?

£140,000 with no strings attached

What is the main issue at the 1625 Parliament?

Parliament refuse to grant Charles Tonnage and Poundage for life, as was customary to do, they only give it to him for a year

Why did Parliament not want to grant Tonnage and Poundage for life?

They were still wary from James' extravagance, they wanted to retain control over Crown finance and make sure the King was still financially dependent on Parliament by restricting prerogative forms of income

What was Charles' reaction to not being given Tonnage and Poundage?

He was furious, he thought it was his divine right to be given this and did not understand why Parliament would disobey, felt slighted and upset

What would have been the effect of Parliament being called every year to grant Tonnage and Poundage?

They would have become an institution not an event

What do Parliament begin to attack Buckingham for in 1625?

-monopolising power

-mismanaging finance

-refusing to take advice

-failing as Lord High Admiral

What did Charles do when Parliament began to attack Buckingham?

He shuts Parliament down, cannot let Buckingham be impeached for policies that he too supported.

What was Charles' response to only being granted limited Tonnage and Poundage?

He ignored Parliament and collected the subsidy anyway

What were the main issues at the 1625 Parliament?

-finance

-Buckingham

-religion

What controversial religious decision did Charles take in 1625?

He appointed Richard Montagu, an anti-Calvinist to be his royal chaplain

What was the York House Conference 1626?

A religious conference held by Buckingham where Buckingham took a stance in support of Arminianism

How many of Mansfeld's troops died?

4000 out of 6000

What English foreign policy failure took place before the 1626 Parliament?

They failed to capture the port of Cadiz

Why were MPs even more furious at Buckingham in 1626?

-Buckingham had been removing his rivals from power e.g. Coke who he had made a sheriff

-he was blamed for military failure as Lord Admiral

How did Charles immediately antagonise the 1626 Parliament?

He began it with a speech from William Laud

Why were Parliament reluctant to raise subsidies to fund a war?

Large subsidies would have to be paid by the gentry so MPs had a vested financial interest in not funding the war

At what Parliament did MPs try to impeach Buckingham?

1626

What did Charles say to threaten Parliament in 1626?

"remember that parliaments are altogether in my power for their calling, sitting and dissolution"

Why was Charles' threat to Parliament in 1626 significant?

It showed his absolutist tendencies and highlighted his refusal to debate with Parliament as well as his strong belief in Divine Right

What did Charles do once Parliament did not grant him life-long TP?

He began to collect Tonnage and Poundage anyway, arguably unlawfully

What phrase can be used to describe the way Charles raised funds from 1625-27?

Arbitrary revenue raising

How did Charles ensure that MPs did not cause trouble in the 1626 Parliament?

He removed many of his opponents by making them into sheriffs, meaning they could not be MPs. For example, Edward Coke and Earl John Digby

What was the Cadiz Expedition 1625?

It was Buckingham's plan to raid Cadiz harbour, looting Spanish ships and damaging the Spanish economy. In reality, hundreds died and the raid failed.

How much did the Cadiz expedition cost?

£250,000

What was the impact of the Cadiz Expedition?

It antagonised the Spanish and worsened relations with Parliament as they felt that the subsidy had been wasted.

What did Charles agree with Louis XIII in his marriage treaty?

That English ships would be sent to help the French- this ended up being used by Louis to attack the Protestant Huguenots

Why was the use of English ships against the Huguenots a problem for Charles?

The Huguenots were Protestant and so public opinion favoured supporting them, not attacking them.

In the 1626 Parliament, who led the attack against Buckingham?

Lords: Thomas Howard, William Herbet, George Abbott

Commons: Sir Dudley Digges and Sir John Eliot

What did John Eliot do at the 1626 Parliament?

He drew up a petition to impeach Buckingham and his supporters refused to vote taxes until Buckingham was sentenced.

How did Charles respond to attempts to impeach Buckingham at the 1626 Parliament?

He locked up John Eliot and Sir Digges and then dissolved Parliament

Why did tensions increase between England and France in 1626-7?

-France and Spain had made peace

-French diplomats in England began to start a campaign against Buckingham

How did Charles begin to raise money without Parliament in 1626?

-he borrowed from London merchants

-began to take 'gifts' in reality forced loans, from the political nation

How much money was raised through forced loans in the first year?

£250,000

How many were imprisoned for refusing to pay forced loans?

70

Who was suspended over the issue of forced loans?

George Abbot as he refused to license an Arminian sermon defending the loan

What was the Five Knight's Case 1627?

Five men appealed against their imprisonment for not paying the loan. They appealed to be told what law they had broken and appealed on writs of habeus corpus (innocent until proven guilty).

What was the outcome of the Five Knight's Case?

The courts ruled in the king's favour but the case became a focus of opposition for arbitrary power

How did Charles continue to upset his subjects after the 1626 Parliament?

-he began to billet soldiers on the South Coast

-he introduced martial law in places where unrest was caused by soldiers

What factors mark absolutism?

-financial independence

-sole political authority

-arbitrary government

-ruled by military force

-catholicism

What happened at La Rochelle?

Buckingham led troops to help the Huguenots. This expedition completely failed as only 3000 out of 8000 survived.

What was an effect of Charles' support of Buckingham?

the opposition were forced to become more organised and well planned to mount an opposition against him

Why was Buckingham's position as Lord High Admiral extremely influential?

He became the driving factor behind much of Charles' foreign policy and so was inextricably linked with foreign policy failure

How did Charles use religion to impose the forced loans?

He got Arminian clerics like Robert Sibthorpe to preach sermons persuading people that it was their duty to God and to the King to pay

What issues did Parliament raise at the beginning of the 1628 Parliament?

-extra-parliamentary taxation

-billeting

-martial law

-imprisonment without trial

What was revealed about the Five Knight's Case in 1628?

Charles' lawyer had falsified the results, making it seem as if he had a general right to imprison without trial when in reality it was only that specific case

Why was the Petition of Right 1628 put forward?

MPs were concerned that Charles could not be trusted to follow an unwritten constitution

What did the Petition of Right state?

-parliament had to consent to taxation

-people could not be imprisoned without cause

-the imposition of marshall law was illegal

-the imposition of billeting was illegal

What did Coke call Buckingham in 1628?

'the cause of all our miseries'

When was Buckingham assassinated?

23rd August 1628 by John Felton

What was the consequence of Buckingham's death?

-Charles withdrew even further and became closer with Henrietta Maria

-patronage is reshuffled

-people like Thomas Wentworth switch sides to support the King

What did the Three Resolutions (1629) state?

Expressed opposition to tonnage and poundage w/o consent and Arminianism

What was Charles response to the Three Resolutions?

He dissolved Parliament two days later

What were the two main fiscal issues at the beginning of Charles' reign?

-forced loans

-a misperception of the cost of war

Why was war such a problem for Charles?

It put a lot of strain on the finance of the nation and a series of successive crushing defeats humiliated Charles

What power did Charles have over the Church?

-he was Supreme Governor so could shape CofE

-could appoint the episcopacy

-his personality was important as his view of religion would affect the church

What different religious aims did Charles have from James?

-he was not committed to being a royal peacemaker

-he sought far reaching reform of the Church

In what way were Charles' religious aims similar to those of James?

-they both wanted to tolerate Catholics

-both wanted to use religion to increase royal authority

What do Arminians believe?

-believe in the episcopacy

-support royal authority

-appreciate the 'beauty of holiness'

-enjoy sacraments and rituals

-do not agree with predestination

Why were Arminians viewed as crypto-Catholic by Puritans?

They appreciated the beauty of the high Church and therefore looked Catholic

How did Arminian power grow under James?

-James values Arminians due to their loyalty and takes Montagu's side over his tract

-Laud is promoted to be James' personal chaplain when he is sick (despite James not liking him)

Who introduced a petition against Arminianism in the 1624 Parliament?

John Pym

Who becomes Charles' personal chaplain?

Richard Montagu

How is the York House Conference different to Hampton Court?

-York House is aimed at stopping religious debate whilst Hampton Court encouraged it

-Hampton Court encouraged unity, York House alienates the Puritans

Who tries to persuade Charles Arminians are wrong at the York House Conference?

Earl of Warwick

How can James partly be blamed for the rise of Arminianism?

He did not do enough to hinder Laud's rise despite not trusting him

What was agreed in Henrietta Maria's marriage contract?

-the king had to suspend recusancy fines

-Charles would provide the king with naval support to be used as he wished

Who was made Bishop of London in 1628?

William Laud

Why did Arminianism appeal to Charles?

Arminianism stressed obedience and order which appealed to Charles' love of hierarchy and obedience. Also strengthened royal authority

Who was Roger Mainwaring and what happened to him?

He was an Arminian minister who preached in support of extra-Parliamentary taxation. He was impeached by Parliament but then Charles pardoned him.

How does the promotion of William Laud link to factional rivalries?

Buckingham liked Laud so was eager for him to be promoted

Other than religion, why else was Laud a problem?

He was part of the Star Chamber courts and so began to prosecute Puritans and was also on the Privy Council

Why are there pre-existing tensions at the 1628 Parliament?

-Charles' abuse of royal prerogative

-military failures

-Buckingham's increase in power

-rise of Arminianism

Sum up the first half of the 1628 Parliament

-Charles demands money

-Parliament refuses until grievances are aired

-petition of right

Which key individuals drew up the Petition of Right?

-Eliot

-Coke

-Wentworth

How does Charles respond to the Petition of Right?

-initially refuses to agree

-consults his magistrates who tell him he can override it

-agrees but without intent to stick to it

Why was the 1628 Parliament prorogued?

MPs are criticising Buckingham

What does Coke call Buckingham?

'the grievance of all our grievances'

What happens at the 1629 Parliament?

-MPs immediately attack Arminianism

-Complain about illegal TP

-pass the Three Resolutions

How does the 1629 Parliament end?

MPs including Denzil Holles hold the speaker in his chair to stop him from adjourning Parliament and pass the 3 Resolutions. Charles vows never to call Parliament again.

Why was the term Petition of Right signficant?

it showed they were asserting a right rather than making a request yet showed they were asking the King to help them, not telling him what to do

What did Charles declare at the end of the 1629 Parliament?

he would not call another until his subjects should 'see more clearly into our intentions and actions'

Why was religion the biggest issue in the 1629 Parliament?

People saw religion as a matter of life and death and salvation