Chapter 5: Relations and disputes with parliament 1604-29

Question 1

Parliamentary Privilege

Answer 1

A legal immunity enjoyed by members of Parliament that allows them to freely speak during proceedings without fear of legal action, such as being arrested for raising controversial questions or debates.

Question 2

Shirley’s Case 1604

Answer 2

Thomas Shirley was arrested in 1604 for debt however this caused anger throughout parliament as many MPs wanted to express their parliamentary privilege of freedom form arrest while parliament was sitting. This led to Parliament sending the governor of the fleet debtor’s prison to the tower of London until Shirley was released.

Question 3

The Buckinghamshire Election 1604

Answer 3

The Commons reversed a decision by the lord chancellor and ordered Francis Goodwin, an outlaw, to be seated in the House of Commons. James clumsily intervened in the proceedings, stating that the privileges of the Commons had been granted by the grace of the monarch, a pronouncement that stirred the embers of Elizabethan disputes over parliamentary privilege.

Question 4

The Great Contract 1610

Answer 4

The Great Contract was a plan submitted to James I and Parliament in 1610 by Robert Cecil. It was an attempt to increase Crown income and ultimately rid it of debt.

Question 5

Failure of Cadiz 1625

Answer 5

This was Charles’ first attempt at some foreign policy and was disastrous, 4000 troops died in trying to take the Spanish port of Cadiz and the Spanish treasure fleet.

Question 6

Failure of La Rochelle

Answer 6

This failure was led by Buckingham to help the Huguenots against the French however it failure heavily as the French king Louis XIII had already made peace with them and led to around 5000 English deaths.

Question 7

The Petition of Right, Three Resolutions and Five Knights Case

Answer 7

Check power points for in depth of these three: https://classroom.google.com/c/NjEyODk2MDM3NDZa/m/Nzc4NzkwNzgyMzRa/details

Question 8

Key Chronology

Answer 8

1604-11 - James I’s first parliament
1604 - The Buckinghamshire Election & Shirley’s Case
1606 - Union of England and Scotland
1610 - Negotiations over the Great Contract
1614 - James I’s Second Parliament
1621 - James I’s Third Parliament, James encourages Parliament to speak about foreign policy to frighten the Spanish, James and Parliament argue over the Spanish Match
1624 - James I’s Fourth Parliament, Buckingham and Charles side with MPs who want to go to war with Spain