Charles 1 (1623-29)

• French Marriage Alliance 1624


  Charles would marry French princess Henrietta Maria

  She refused to attend Charles Coronation

  She was allowed to practice Catholicism freely with a chapel in London served by 28 priests and 1 bishop

  Recusancy fines against Catholics were to be suspended

  Buckinghams attempt to build a anti-Hapbsburg alliance
• Jan 1625: Mansfeld Expedition 


  Used parliaments grant for naval expedition to fund mercenary Mansfeld land force

  Louis XIII refused safe passage through France - forced to land in Netherlands who were underprepared (soldiers starved)

  Parliament felt deceived
• Feb 1625-26: Huguenot Revolt and Loan Fleet


  French Protestants revolted in La Rochelle, invading the island of Rhe

  Charles and Buckingham sent 7 English ships to assist

  Revolt spread - English ships now crushing co-relgionists

  Public opinion against C&B
• Charles First Parliament 1625


  "The Useless Parliament"

  Called to fund a war against Spain

  Voted only 2 subsidies as distrusted Buckingham and how money would be spend - not near enough

  Led by Coke, Granted Tonnage and Poundage for only 1 year (norm is for life)

  Parliament (led by Pym) attacked Arminian cleric Richard Montagu who had been appointed Royal Chaplain- appearance of Catholicism and breaking the "Broad Church"

  Charles closed it after corruption allegations against Buckingham
• Naval Raid on Cadiz 1625


  Intended to distract Spain away from the Palatinate (Charles' sister)

  Funded by the queen's dowry money

  Went in October (Stormy weather battered most ships, poorly supplied)

  Better defended than English thought

  Soldiers got drunk on wine and were easily massacred

  Public blamed Buckingham as High Admiral of the Navy

  Charles blamed Parliament for lack of funding

  Expedition cost £250,000 - expensive and humiliating
• Cardinal Richelieu was Frances Chief Minister
• Louis XIII was the king of France
• Henrietta Marias French entourage was sent back due to tensions with English courtiers
• French allied with Spain in 1626- mightiest catholic countries
• York House Conference 1626


  Debate called by Robert Rich in hoped to get Charles and Buckingham to abandon Arminianism

  Charles didn't attend, chaired by Buckinghams- packed with Arminian sympathisers

  Conference supported Montagus Arminianism
• Charles Second Parliament 1626


  Charles removed his most outspoken critics by appointed them as sheriffs (e.g. Edward Coke, Thomas Wentworth)

  Opposition was led by Sir John Eliot and Digges

  -Criticised Buckingham's unchecked monopoly of power

  -Collection of Tonnage and Poundage for more than given term

  -Disliked Arminianism and breakdown of the 'Broad Church'

  Made moves to impeach Buckingham (for incompetence, corruption, enriching himself)

  Charles imprisoned Eliot, Digges and Earl of Arundel but later backed down

  Dissolved Parliament to stop impeachment of Buckingham
• The Benevolence 1626


  Charles asked for the benevolence after closing the Second Parliament

  King could ask this by royal prerogatives

  Almost all counties replied that they would "give by parliamentary grant or not at all"
• The Forced Loan (1626)


  Charles ordered everyone who normally had to pay Parliamentary subsidy to contribute (ordinarily just the wealthiest)

  Equivalent of 5 Parliamentary subsidies

  Charles threatened to imprison or conscript those that didn't pay

  Public collection to apply pressure - don't openly oppose the King

  Raised about £240000
• Attempts to justify the Forced Loan 1626


  Mobilised the church: Maynwaring and Sibthorpes sermons that asserted King was Gods representative were published

  Archbishop Abbot refused to licence Sibthorpe's sermon - he was suspended from power
• Five Knights Case


  76 gentleman and the Earl of Lincoln (Clinton) refused to pay

  Charles had them imprisoned but didn't charge them with anything - breaking Magna Carta

  The Knights applied for a writ of Habeas Corpus forcing a trial

  The judges sided with Charles but just for this particular loan
• Billeting 


  Putting troops in civilian houses - unpaid

  Happened for the Cadiz Expedition and the Ile de Rhe expedition
• Martial Law

  Military rule in certain counties

  Military courts meant no right to appeal
• Ship Money


  An ancient prerogative tax charging coastal counties and ports
• Ile de Rhe Expedition

  Buckingham took command of 100 ships carrying English soldiers to Ile de Rhe

  Failed drastically as unable to starve French garrison and siege ladders were too short

  Short of money once again = Parliament or loans
• Buckinghams Foreign Policy

  Between 1624-28, an estimated 50,000 men had served under Buckingham

  Nearly 1 out of 3 died
• Cryptocatholics were hidden or secret catholics

  e.g. Weston and Windebank
• Cryptocatholic Weston held a monopoly on soap. It became known as Popish Soap
• Charles 1 become King in 1625
• The Petition of Right 1628 aimed to confirm the ancient liberties of:

  -Taxation by Consent
• Consequences of the Petition of Right

  Maynwaring was impeached

  P still refused to grant Tonnage and Poundage for life

  Sir John Eliot produced a Remonstrance condemning Buckingham's military failures
• The Rolle Case - Charles confiscated the goods of John Rolle after his refusal to pay Tonnage and Poundage
• Buckingham was murdered in August 1628

  Henrietta Maria grew in power and she and Charles fell deeply in love

  Thomas Wentworth (who had opposed the Forced Loan) became President of the Council of the North
• Charles continued his patronage of Arminians

  Laud promoted to Bishop of London in July 1628

  Maynwaring pardoned and promoted after his impeachment

  Montagu also made a bishop
• Innovation of the church

  • Communion tables behind railing - "Altar Rails"
  • Decorative buildings
  • Set liturgy
• Three Resolution March 1629

  Charles messanger (Finch) was sent to adjourn Parliament

  John Eliot pressed on with a remonstrance that condemned the "innovation of religion" and the ongoing collection of T&P

  Finch held in the chair until Resolution was finished
• Charles dissolved Parliament in March 1629 because there was no chance of getting Tonnage and Poundage for life.

  He imprisoned Eliot, Holles, Hobart and others for their defiance of royal commands

  He wouldn't recall it for another 11 years