Charles I Flashcards
Who did Charles I marry?
French princess Henrietta Maria.
When did Charles I marry Henrietta Maria?
1625
When was Charles I’s first parliament?
1625
Why was Charles I’s marriage to Henrietta Maria significant?
Catholic France being Catholic Spain’s main opponent in the Thirty Years War.
What was Charles I’s first parliament known as?
The Useless Parlaiment
What did Charles I ask the Useless parliament for and why?
He asked for £1 million in subsidies to fund England’s entry into the Thirty Years War.
What did Charles I not do when he asked for £1 million of subsidies?
He refused to explain his position to parliament and what he intended to do with the money, causing distrust.
How much did parliament grant Charles I when he asked for £1 million of subsidies?
They gave him two subsidies worth £140,000, showing their distrust.
What did parliament grant Charles I in 1625 other than subsidies that showed their distrust?
They granted him tonnage and poundage for just one year whereas this would normally be for life.
What did Charles I do with regards to tonnage and poundage?
Even though he was only granted it for one year, Charles continued to collect it anyway, seeing it as an attack on his prerogative for parliament not to.
Who preached at the opening of Charles I’s first parliament and why was this controversial?
William Laud; he was an Arminian (Catholic) and added to fears within the Political Nation that Charles I was being controlled by Catholics.
Why did Charles I think his first parliament was difficult to work with?
Charles thought that his difficulties with Parliament were caused by Puritans seeking to attack the powers of the Crown.
What did Charles do to Richard Montagu, the Arminian author of ‘A New Gag for an Old Goose’?
He provocatively made him his royal chaplain after parliament had attacked Montagu over his book for its anti-Calvinist arguments.
Who else other than Richard Montagu was a source of contention for Charles’ first parliament?
George Villiers and his ever-growing influence over James and now Charles - Charles made Villiers a Gentleman of the Bedchamber.
What were the two worrying religious events of Charles I to his first parliament?
- His marriage to the Catholic Princess Henrietta Maria of France.
- His promotion of Laud and Montagu, both Arminians (Catholics).
When was William Laud promoted to be Bishop of Bath and Wells and made a member of the Privy Council?
1625
How long did Charles I’s first parliament last?
2 months because they criticised Buckingham and Montagu.
When did Charles attempt to enter the Thirty Years War?
1625
Who led Charles I’s attempt to enter the Thirty Years War?
The German mercenary Count Mansfeld.
How many troops did Charles raise to give to Count Mansfeld in his attempt to enter the Thirty Years War and how many died?
6000 raised, 4000 died.
Why was Charles I’s attempt to enter the Thirty Years War a failure?
Troops given to the German mercenary Count Mansfeld were raised by force and lacked the proper training or equipment, resulting in 4000 out of a total 6000 dying of disease and starvation.
When did Charles I attempt to capture the Spanish port of Cadiz?
1625
Who led the fleet to capture the Spanish port of Cadiz?
Buckingham as Lord High Admiral.
Other than Cadiz, what else did Buckingham attempt to capture from the Spanish but failed?
The Spanish fleet transporting gold from South America.
What was the main cause of troop loss at Cadiz for England?
Lack of food, more than lost by gunfire.
Who did parliament and Charles blame for the failure at Cadiz?
Parliament blamed Buckingham, Charles blamed parliament for refusing to fund the expedition properly.
What might MPs refusal to grant funds for war be a sign of?
Their calls to join the Thirty Years War as had happened at the end of James I’s reign was just rhetoric.
When was the Act of Revocation passed?
1625
What did the Act of Revocation do?
Allowed Charles to take land from the Scottish elite to support the Church in Scotland. Needless to say this angered the Scottish elite and united them against Charles.
What did Charles issue to Scotland in 1625?
A proclamation demanding observation of the Five Articles of Perth.
What is the date of James I’s death and the ascension of Charles I to the throne of both England and Scotland?
27 March 1625
When was the Forced Loan issued?
1626
Why did Charles issue the Forced Loan?
Because he needed money to fight in the Thirty Years War and parliament would not give him any willingly.
How were those liable to pay the Forced Loan pressured to do so?
They were called to a public meeting and were individually pressed to pay. This method made refusal tom pay a very open act of opposition, and made it a test of political loyalty.
How many people were imprisoned for not paying the Forced Loan?
76
How much of the expected amount was collected from the Forced Loan?
70%
When did MPs start impeachment proceedings against Buckingham?
1626
Who led the challenge against Buckingham in parliament with the impeachment proceedings?
MP John Eliot
Why did Charles charge the Earl of Bristol with treason?
The Earl of Bristol - who had been the ambassador to Spain in 1623 when Charles and Buckingham had arrived in Madrid for the Spanish Match - knew that Charles had bribed and offered concessions to Catholics in England to try and secure the Match.
What was the result of the court case of treason against the Earl of Bristol?
Bristol gave evidence in the Lords that persuaded them that Buckingham should be the one charged with treason instead.
What did Charles I say to parliament when they started impeachment proceedings against Buckingham?
“as I find the fruits of them good or evil, they are to continue or not to be.” This sounded too much like absolutism for parliament.
Why did Charles I dissolve parliament in 1626?
To save Buckingham from impeachment.
What was the York House Conference?
February 1626, held at York House in London.
Who chaired the York House Conference, who did not show up, and what was its purpose and outcome?
It was chaired by Buckingham and was meant to be a way of resolving religious issues and persuading Charles of moving away from the anti-Calvinism of people such as Montagu. Charles did not attend the conference, and it became clear afterwards that Charles would not be dissuaded from supporting the anti-Calvinist Arminians.
When was the attack on La Rochelle?
1627
Who did Charles I go to protect at La Rochelle?
Protestant Huguenots
Who led the attack on La Rochelle?
Buckingham as Lord High Admiral.
Of the soldiers that went with Buckingham to La Rochelle, how many returned?
7833 went with him; 2989 returned.
Where did Buckingham land his fleet when he went to La Rochelle?
Buckingham landed his force on Ile de Re, an island just off La Rochelle.
How did Buckingham go about attacking La Rochelle?
He laid siege to the stronghold of St Martin when the French troops withdrew inside. After months of deadlock Buckingham attempted an assault, only to find the scaling ladders were too short.
When was the Five Knights’ Case?
November 1627
What was the Five Knights’ Case?
Of 76 people were imprisoned for not paying the forced loan, in November, five of the main resisters claimed a writ (court order) of habeas corpus.
What was the result of the Five Knights’ Case?
Charles won, with the judgement upholding Charles’ right to imprison without trial (undermining habeas corpus) those who had not paid the loan.
What did Charles have his Attorney General do in the Five Knights’ Case?
The right for Charles to imprison anyone without reason only applied to the Five Knights’ Case; it was not an absolute right. Charles, therefore, had Attorney General Sir Robert Heath falsify the legal record to say that he did have the right to imprison anyone he wanted without reason whenever he liked.
When was Charles I’s third parliament?
1628
What were parliament’s four grievances against Charles I at the start of his third parliament in 1628?
- Taxation - Charles was still collecting tonnage and poundage.
- Billeting - this was when troops raised for war were lodged with local populations and had to feed and house them. They were meant to be reimbursed for hosting the soldiers but this rarely ever materialised.
- Martial law - this is military law that was imposed wherever soldiers were billeted. It overruled all other law which smacked too much of absolutism for parliament’s liking.
- Imprisonment without trial, which related to the Five Knights’ case.
When was William Laud appointed Bishop of London?
1628
When was Richard Montagu appointed Bishop of Chichester?
1628
When was the Petition of Right?
1628
Who was the main author of the Petition of Right?
Sir Edward Coke
What did the Petition of Right state?
- Parliament had to consent to taxation
- No imprisonment without just cause
- Martial law on the population was illegal
- Imposition if billeting was illegal
What forced parliament to issue the Petition of Right?
In response to Charles’ altering of the legal record of the Five Knights’ Case, MPs were united in taking action to stop anything like it happening again as Charles’ actions since 1625 had proven he could not be trusted to rule by an unwritten constitution and his powers needed to be restricted.
When did Charles I accept the Petition of Right?
7 June 1628
Why did Charles I accept the Petition of Right?
He did so under the threat of further proceedings against Buckingham, and because he though accepting it would make parliament for relaxed about granting him some much needed money.
Although Charles I did agree to the Petition of Right, what did he do before hand?
Charles did not use the proper signature to sign the Petition of Right, and therefore it was not given royal assent and the full force of law. Charles also told the royal printer to deface the statue number on the document, casting doubt on its legality.
What Remonstrances were issued by parliament in 1628?
- The Commons viciously attacked Buckingham’s foreign policy failure, and Coke denounced Buckingham as “the cause of all our miseries.”
- Another remonstrance a week later criticised Charles’ continued collection of tonnage and poundage even though, in parliament’s opinion, it went against the Petition of Right.
When were the Remonstrances against Buckingham and T&P?
June 1628
What did Sir Edward Coke say about Buckingham in the Remonstrance?
Coke denounced Buckingham as “the cause of all our miseries.”
What did Charles I do in response to the Remonstrances?
Charles suspended parliament in response in order to continue to collect the taxes.
When was Buckingham assassinated?
23 August 1628
Who assassinated Buckingham?
John Felton, as soldier who had been in Buckingham’s fleet that went to La Rochelle.
How was Buckingham’s assassination met by the public?
With celebration for which Charles I blamed parliament.
What was the Crown debt by 1629?
£2 million
What were the four groups in Ireland?
- Irish Catholics (natives).
- Catholic Old English - descendants from the original English settlers who had adopted the native religion.
- Protestant New English - descendants from settlers from after the Reformation.
- Presbyterian Scots (mainly based in Ulster).
When was the Treaty of Susa signed?
1629
What did the Treaty of Susa do?
Secured peace with France.
When were the Three Resolutions passed?
2 March 1629
Who held the speaker of the Commons in his chair so the the Three Resolutions could be passed?
Radical MPs Denzil Holles and Benjamin Valentine.
What did the Three Resolutions express?
The Resolutions expressed parliament’s opposition to Charles’ favouring of Arminianism and the continued collection of tonnage and poundage without parliamentary approval.
What did Charles I do in response to the Three Resolutions?
Charles dissolved parliament two days later. He then had John Eliot, Denzil Holles, and Benjamin Valentine arrested for treason.
When did the Personal Rule begin?
4 March 1629
How did Charles I go about raising money after he did away with parliament for eleven years?
- Customs duties - this included the continuing collection of tonnage and poundage. The Book of Rates published in 1635 updated the customs on goods paid to the Crown, and by the end of the 1930s it was bringing in £425,000 per annum.
- Feudal dues - this included wardships, which brought in £75,000 a year for Charles.
- Monopolies - a loophole in the Monopoly Act enabled Charles to continue granting monopolies.
- Recusancy fines - the income from this increased by 500% between 1620 and 1634.
- Distraint of knighthoods - anyone who owned land and had not been granted a knighthood at Charles’ coronation was fined.
- Forest fines - fines for any landowner who had encroached on areas of royal forests.
- Enclosure fines - fins imposed on anyone who had illegally closed off common land.
What are the methods Charles I used to raise money during the Personal Rule known as?
Fiscal Feudalism
What is the Court of High Commission?
The main court of the Church used by Laud to enforce conformity.
What was the Court of Star Chamber?
If you were found guilty by the Court of High Commission then you were sent to the Court of Star Chamber to be sentenced. Laud was a member of both courts.
What happened to the courts of Star Chamber and High Commission during the Personal Rule?
These became two very important institutions during the Personal Rule.
When was the Treaty of Madrid?
1630
What did the Treaty of Madrid do?
Secured peace with Spain.
How was the Treaty of Madrid received?
This, and the Treaty of Susa, did not sit well with many, particularly Puritans, who saw the destruction of Catholicism as their duty and the Thirty Years War as the way of achieving it. The treaties with France and Spain marked Charles’ withdrawal from the Thirty Years War.
When were distraint of knighthood fines introduced?
1630
When was Thomas Wentworth appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland?
1632
What successes did Wentworth have in Ireland?
He increased the authority of the Crown and the Church, and increased the customs duties which brought in more money for Charles.
When was William Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury?
1633
Who does Laud ban after becoming Archbishop?
Feoffees for Impropriations (a Puritan organisation)
What are the two main characteristics of Laudianism?
- A rejection of predestination.
- Less emphasis on the Bible and more on ritual and ceremony.
What is Laudianism closest to?
Arminianism
What was the colloquial term for James I’s handling of church and state that Charles I was said to have broken?
The Jacobethan balance.
What changes were made under Laudianism?
- Communion table was moved and railed off as an alter in the east end of the church.
- Increased emphasis on ceremony.
- Decoration such as stained glass windows.
- Increased use of music in services.
- Minsters wearing vestments instead of plain robes.
- Removal of the gentry’s ornamental pews.
- Preaching limited to Sunday mornings and evenings .
Who wrote Histrio-mastix?
William Prynne
When was Histrio-mastix published?
1633
What did Histrio-mastix criticise?
The role of women performing in masque balls at Charles’ court, one of whom was regularly the Queen.
When was the Book of Sports reissued by Charles?
1633
When was St Gregory’s Case?
1633
What was St Gregory’s Case?
One of the first open oppositions to religious change. Parishioners of St Gregory’s Church challenged the moving of the communion table and they considered the richly decorated cloth covering the table to be too Catholic. Charles brought the parishioners before the Privy Council.
When was Charles I’s Scottish coronation?
1633
When was the first time Charles visited Scotland after becoming king?
His coronation on 1633.
What was provocative about Charles’ Scottish coronation?
Rather than choosing the traditional locations of either Scone or Stirling he opted for Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. Furthermore, the ceremony was considered to be too Catholic.
What religious changes did Charles I make whilst in Scotland for his coronation?
- He introduced the rank of bishop to the Kirk.
- He made the church of St Giles a cathedral which were bother considered too Catholic.
- He went even further by announcing his intention to introduce a new prayer book.
When did Charles introduce forest fines?
1634
What was ship money?
A prerogative form of income imposed in times of emergency to fund the navy.
When did Charles levy ship money on coastal towns?
October 1934
When was the new Book of Rates issued?
1635
What was the Book of Rates?
A book that levied impositions on 1400 items and raised £70,000 a year - the equivalent of one parliamentary subsidy.
What did Charles do with ship money in 1635?
He extended it inland and levied it annually in 1639.
How much did ship money raise for Charles annually?
£200,000
When were new canons imposed on Scotland?
1636
What did the new canons of 1636 introduce?
- Alter to be placed against the east wall.
- Ministers to wear a surplice when they celebrated communion.
- Minister had to read from the prayer book with no improvisation.
Why were the new canons of 1636 in Scotland controversial?
Not only were these considered too Catholic but they were imposed by royal prerogative and Charles made no attempt to allow the Kirk or the Scottish Parliament to have a say.
When did Bishop Juxon become Lord Treasurer?
1636
When was Bishop John Williams imprisoned?
1637
Why was Bishop John Williams imprisoned?
He was imprisoned in 1637 for his book ‘The Holy Table, Name and Thing’, in which he criticised the alter policy.
Who were the three Puritans that were tried by the Court of Star Chamber?
Henry Burton, John Bastwick, and William Prynne.
Why were Burton, Bastwick, and Prynne tried by the Court of Star Chamber?
Criticising church policy.
What punishment did Burton, Bastwick, and Prynne receive?
Each were fined £5000 and imprisoned for life, but their further punishment of having their ears cropped was considered too brutal by many.
When was the trial of Burton, Bastwick, and Prynne?
1637
When was the new Laudian prayer book introduced to Scotland?
July 1637
What was controversial about the new Laudian prayer book introduced to Scotland in 1637?
It was introduced by royal prerogative again like the canons in 1636 with no consultation with the Kirk or Scottish Parliament. The Scots saw this as a threat to their religious independence.
What was the reaction to the reading of the new Laudian prayer book in Scotland?
When the new Laudian prayer book was read from the pulpit in St Giles Cathedral, a riot broke out.
When was the riot at St Giles?
July 1637
What did Charles’ Privy Council do in response to the rioting?
Charles’ Scottish Privy Council was force to flee Edinburgh in October as the rioting against the imposition of Laudianism continued.
When was the Hampden Case?
November 1637
What was the Hampden Case?
Charles took John Hampden to court because he refused to pay ship money, and it was hoped this would serve as an example to everyone else who was considering challenging Charles’ authority.
