Inherited Problems

• Foreign Policy

  • Protestants are losing the 30 years war, which England kept out of because of James' 'Rex Pacificus'
  • January 1625, the Mansfield expedition fails but the British start intervening.
• Finances

  • Charles inherited £1million of debt
  • The ordinary income was too low to be relied on
  • Charles has to rely on parliament for taxes
  • Parliament was 'grievances before supply'
• Religion

  • Rise of arminians that Anglicans/puritans saw as too catholic
  • James was seen as too pro-catholic.
• Henrietta Maria

  • The terms of the marriage were lenient to the Catholics, and she was allowed to practice Catholicism.
• Buckingham

  • His titles (Duke, High Admiral) angered people as he was seen as incompetent and possessing of too much power.
• Parliament

  They were suspicious of Charles intentions and wanted to keep their roles.