5: Relations and disputes with Parliament

Question 1

What is Parliamentary privilege?

Answer 1

Legal immunity given to MPs which meant they can speak freely during Parliament.

Question 2

Who was the Francis Goodwin?

Answer 2

1604- MP for Buckinghamshire who was annulled for having outstanding debt. He was replaced by a privy councillor, which many saw as royal intervention. The commons voted to reinstate Goodwin.

Question 3

How did James respond to the Buckinghamshire reinstatement?

Answer 3

James said the Commons were acted illegally, raising wider issues about royal prerogative and parliamentary privilege. James compromised that both Goodwin and his replacement Fortescue should be dismissed and an election would be held.

Question 4

What was Shirley’s case?

Answer 4

1604- MP Thomas Shirley was arrested for debt, upsetting MPs who sent the debtors prison governor to the Tower of London until Shirley was released.

Question 5

What was the proposed Union of England and Scotland?

Answer 5

MPs were worried that creating a new state would allow James to have more absolute authority. James asked for a new currency and that all ships were to carry the Union flag. MPs opposed the Union on terms of economics, political grounds and racial intolerance.

Question 6

What was the main reason for James’ dissolution of Parliament?

Answer 6

The failure of the Great Contract.

Question 7

What was the Addled Parliament of 1614?

Answer 7

Parliament that fell apart quickly due to:

• Crown debt following the failure of the Great Contract and the death of Cecil
• Political dysfunction due to religious disputes
• Leaks were released that James intended to use royal patronage to influence elections

Question 8

What tensions were at the 1621 Parliament ?

Answer 8

• Dispute over monopolies
• Foreign policy, James was trying to use the Spanish Match to negotiate ends to the 30 Years War, whilst many MPs hated Spain

Question 9

What did Parliament do on 3rd December 1621?

Answer 9

They produced a petition criticising the Spanish Match.

Question 10

What was the Madrid Trip?

Answer 10

1623-Charles and Buckingham travelled to Spain to help complete the Spanish Match, but failed to due to anti-Protestant sentiment at court.

Question 11

What happened at the 1624 Parliament?

Answer 11

After the failure of the Spanish Match James pushed for a more aggressive foreign policy, but MPs were reluctant on financial terms.

Question 12

What happened at the 1625 Parliament?

Answer 12

Charles needed £1 million to finance war against Spain, but failed to explain his position clearly he was only given two small subsidies and tonnage/poundage for one year.

Question 13

What happened at Cadiz?

Answer 13

6000 troops were raised for Court Mansfield and 4000 died of starvation and disease. The fleet failed to capture Cadiz or the Spanish Treasure Fleet.

Question 14

What happened at the 1626 Parliament? (4 points)

Answer 14

• William Laud opened, already causing conflict
• Influential MPs were made sheriffs so they could not stand for election
• Charles blamed Parliament for the limited funds they granted for foreign policy failure
• Charles dissolved the 1626 Parliament to save Buckingham from impeachment (absolutist)

Question 15

What happened at La Rochelle?

Answer 15

1627- Buckingham led an army to aid the French in attacking Huguenots at La Rochelle, something hugely unpopular with the anti-French, anti-Catholic Parliament

Question 16

What was the Five Knights Case?

Answer 16

1627- 5 knights, who refused to pay the 1626 forced loan, were taken to trial by Charles (who falsified the legal records).

Question 17

What was the Petition of Rights?

Answer 17

1628- a proposed document granting rights to the Political Nation.

1. Parliament had to consent to taxation
2. People could be imprisoned only with just case shown
3. The imposition of martial law was illegal
4. The imposition of billeting was illegal

Question 18

When did Charles accept the Petition of rights?

Answer 18

7th June 1628

Question 19

Controversy of the Petition:

Answer 19

Charles did not implement it in the proper legal way, making Charles seem like he couldn’t be trusted.

Question 20

What happened on August 23rd 1628?

Answer 20

Buckingham was assassinated, celebrations occurred all over the country, Charles blamed Parliament for its negative portrayal of Buckingham.

Question 21

What were the three resolutions?

Answer 21

2nd March 1639- radical MPs pinned down the speaker and forced him to pass condemnations of Arminianism and Charles taking tonnage and poundage without parliamentary support. Two days after Charles closed parliament and arrested his leading critics for treason.