First Parliament (March 1625-June 1625)

Cards (8)

  • First Parliament (March 1625-June 1625)Dominated by concerns of finance and foreign affairs
  • Agreed to fund a war with Spain and charles' accession was welcomed by Parliament due to his Anti-Spanish stance
  • However, there were many concerns about catholic presence at court due to to his marriage with Maria Henrietta
  • Royal spending was also a problem. Tonnage and poundage (tax for imports and exports) was granted for Charles but for only a year. This angered Charles as he viewed it as his royal prerogative and viewed Parliament as undermining his position.
  • Foreign policy
    Although Parliament had granted funding for a war with Spain in February 1624 and by the time they met in March 1625, they were unhappy about its expeditions and execution
  • Mansfield Execution 1624-25
    Campaign to help Frederick of Palatine. Army sent under mercenary Count Mansfeld to attack through United Provinces. Disaster- troops marooned and soldiers starved. Embarrassing waste of money
  • Cadiz expedition (september 1625)
    Campaign to help Frederick of Palatine. Attacked the port of Cadiz to force Spanish Habsburgs to open another front. Objective was to capture spanish treasure fleet. Total fiasco: did not achieve anything: soldiers got drunk. Very expensive failure. Buckingham blamed as he was Lord High Admiral
  • Thus, Parliament blamed Buckingham and withheld funding which caused Charles to dismiss Parliament