Third Parliament (March 1628-March 1629)

• Third Parliament (March 1628-March 1629)

  Dominated by concerns of finance, foreign affairs, religion and rights of English Parliament and English subjects
• Charles was forced to recall Parliament to get funding with the war with France. By this point the attempt to aid French Protestants in La Rochelle had been another embarrassing failure. Of the 50000 men serving under Buckingham in 1624 a third died for no military success.
• Mps were determined to halt Charles' earlier injustices particularly as the wording in the judgement of the 5 knights case had been changed to give Charles the general right of imprisonment without trial.
• Thus Parliament presented Charles with the Petition of Right. Sir John Elliot had advocated a Bill of Rights which was more extreme Parliament however preferred the more traditional redress of grievances A 'Bill of rights' which was the Petition of Right
• The 4 ancient rights:End to non-parliamentary taxation, End to imprisonment without cause, End to billetingEnd to Martial Law, The whole tone of the document was very respectful and it was presented by the Commons and the Lords
• However the Petition of Right was resolved very little. Charles' acceptance was reluctant. He did not use traditional form of assent which denied the petition force of law. Charles' action increased Parliamentary mistrust and alienation. Although whilst Charles debated Parliament granted 5 subsidies
• Buckingham was assassinated by John Felton in 1628 23rd of August because Felton was in one of the expeditions but did not get promoted: personal vendetta
• Consequences of Buckingham's assassination

  Relationship between King and Parliament deteriorated. Charles blamed Parliament. Charles horrified by the extent of public celebration. The reshuffle of advisers led to increased radicalism and a focus on Charles personally. Retirement of Coke and promotion of Wentworth made Commons more radical as more radical Mps gained the opportunity to dominate (Elliot Pym Holles)Charles scapegoat was removed
• Parliament's position

  Parliament's hope to recover the situation through conciliation has failed. They had offered Charles 5 subsidies and granted him Tonnage and Poundage in return for Petition of Right but it had not really worked. A group of more radical Mps were dominating the Commons The Commons felt that English Protestantism was under attack
• Charles' position

  Had a desperate financial situation. Charles raised £350000 from the city of London by giving up most of the crown lands and thus Charles had exhausted the use of land as a means of raising finance. Blamed Parliament for Buckingham's death. Continued to collect Tonnage and Poundage. Charles promoted 2 Arminians: William Laud and Richard Montagu to the bishoprics of London and Chichester
• Charles resolved to dissolved Parliament once and for all. When the Commons realised this MPs held the speaker (monarch's representative) and passed the 3 resolutions.
• The protestation of 1629

  Anyone who attempts to introduce popery/ Arminianism is a traitor to the Kingdom and Commonwealth. Anyone who levies Tonnage and Poundage without consent of Parliament is also a traitor. Anyone who pays Tonnage and Poundage is an enemy of the people
• The king was asked to confirm the 4 ancient liberties of English government as established by the Magna Carta in 1225 drafted by Sir Edward Coke . Commons believed they were merely confirming their traditional liberties but the action was viewed with suspicion and mistrust by the king