Charles I- background Flashcards
When was the accession of Charles I?
May 1625
What was the legacy of James in regards to foreign affairs?
England not yet declared war on Spain, but had financed Mansfeld’s expedition and was subsiding the armies of Denmark and the United Provinces.
What was James’ legacy in regards to religious issues?
- Arminians being promoted, but still a voice at court for other Puritan views.
- Increasing concern about success of Catholic armies in Europe and their potential influence in England.
What was James’ legacy in regards to relations with Parliament?
- James’ policies not always met with approval from Parliament.
- Did not appreciate Parliament, but accepted it as a necessary part of political system. So crown and parliament did work together generally.
How did Charles’ reign begin and differ to James’?
- Did not consult widely for advice, relied on Buckingham and a small circle of advisors.
- Intensely disliked negotiations that were part of maintaining good relations with Parliament.
- Followed policies that caused alarm, suggested king was committed neither to Protestant church or maintenance of Parliamentary liberties.
What was the character of Charles I?
- Different from father, believed STRONGLY in Divine Right of Kings, didn’t think he needed to explain his actions.
- Had a speech impediment, shy and avoided contact with subjects.
- Marriage to Henrietta Maria of France eventually improved.
- Believed he can achieve order by ‘acting out a role’ for subjects to observe.
- Doesn’t believe in ‘balancing act’, power should stay with the King, nobody else.
How can we see that Charles was strict?
- Strictly enforced directives of who was allowed to access the privy chamber and bedchamber.
- Royal families public acts, such as eating were governed by rigid rules of etiquette.
Charles patronage of?
Patronage of the arts.
Spent more time in 1630 developing his art collection rather than anything else.
What was the issue with Charles’ patronage of the arts?
Patronage of Catholic artists, such as Peter Paul Rubens (painting ceilings in House in Whitehall) and Bernini (made a bust of the King). Aroused deep suspicion.
How was Charles’ patronage of Bernini responded to?
- William Prynne saw negotiations with Bernini, which were assisted by pope’s nephew as a plot to ‘seduce the King with pictures’.
Describe ‘un-English’ patronage of the arts.
- Even patronage of architect Indigo Jones regarded with distrust because his ‘Palladian’ style regarded as un-English.
What was the definition of ‘Palladian’?
Architecture with Greek and Roman features.
What was Charles I’s take on foreign policy?
- Charles anxious to play full part in struggle against Habsburg’s and restore Frederick to Palatinate.
- Needed money.
How much money did the commons initially give to Charles?
Two subsidies of £140,000.
Justified on grounds that no war had been declared.
When did Charles declare war with Spain?
1625
What were the initial issues with the attack on Spain?
- Not enough money.
- £500,000 spent preparing navy for war, but short of essentials.
- Used Queen’s dowry of £120,000 but navy still not prepared.
When did Charles set sail for war with Spain?
Set sail to Cadiz, October 1625.
What problems did Charles initially faced when coming to the throne?
- James’ death sudden in March 1625, left behind a plethora of unresolved issues.
- Parliament’s lasting resentment of James carried through to Charles.
- French had denied alliance to go against the Spanish.
- Richelieu insisted that penal laws against Catholics need to be relaxed.
When was the first Parliament?
June-August 1625
What happened in the First Parliament in terms of foreign policy?
- Charles and Buckingham vague about what they planned for a continental war, but made it evident that a naval expedition to Cadiz was planned.
- Hoped to subsidise a Danish invasion of Germany, led by Christian IV, Charles’ uncle.
- Estimated cost of £60,000 but commons wanted more details.
What happened in terms of finance in the first Palriament?
- MPs unhappy when Lord Keeper suggested that the granting of the subsidies were so urgent that it must take precedence over all matters
What was agreed in the first parliament?
- Two subsidies of £140,000 but no more, good tactic because it was difficult to ask for more.
- Willing to give Charles tonnage and poundage for a year.
What was the issue of Parliament offering tonnage and poundage to Charles for a year?
Since 1485, usually granted for their entire reign.
Shows Parliamentary distrust.
Who dominated the first Parliament and who wasn’t listened to?
- Buckingham dominated. Opposed by Abbot and members of Privy council.
- Arundel, supporter of the Spanish match was ignored because the policy now changed to war with Spain.
Why did Parliament question Buckingham?
- Made Lord Admiral despite having no experience and being prone to seasickness.
What did Parliament want from Charles in the first Parliament?
‘settled and constant council’
What happened in the first parliament in regards to religion?
- Parliament concerned about penal laws, thought that Charles was being too lenient.
- Commons argued that it was for him to decide.
- Commons said priests should be upheld and attendance at mass should not be open to all.
- Touched on attacks of Montagu, Charles defended him, an arminian and one of the loyal chaplains.
How did the commons utilise their religious concerns?
- Used them as a lever, Charles wouldn’t get the money he wanted if he didn’t agree to their terms.
When did Charles dissolve the first Parliament?
12 August 1625.
What happened in Buckingham’s attack on Cadiz?
- Soldiers came across a farm full of vats of wine.
- Got drunk, attack abandoned through sickness.
- Fleet came home, enormous cost, achieved nothing, humiliation.
How much money was Charles giving the Danish King for his army?
£30,000 a month.
When was the second fleet for Spain?
October 1626
What happened in the second fleet for Spain?
- Failed to even reach the coast of Spain, struck by violent storms in Bay of Biscay, had to return home.
What did the second fleet for Spain show?
England incapable of mounting a successful attack on even one country, yet Duke of Buckingham also preparing to go to war with France.
Why was Buckingham preparing for an Anglo-French war?
- Relations had been deteriorating since beginning of 1626, when Buckingham was outmanoeuvred by Richelieu.
- Richelieu had used English ships to defeat a Huguenot force in 1625, then made a separate peace with Spain.
- Buckingham wished to remove Richelieu.
Who did Buckingham contact initially regarding Anglo-French War?
- Dukes of Lorraine and Savoy, ruled territories on eastern borders of France.
- Also wanted to remove Richelieu.
- Organised a three-pronged attack.
- English fleet would be sent to La Rochelle, followed by attacks from Lorraine and Savoy.
When did the expedition for La Rochelle begin?
June 1627, objective if capturing the island of Rhe, which guarded the approach to La Rochelle.
What happened in the expedition to the Rhe?
- Troops landed on island and its citadel was besieged, going well originally.
- Yet Buckingham inexperienced in military affairs and didn’t receive adequate backing from England. Appropriate supplies failed to arrive.
- Scaling ladders for capturing citadel too short, Had to return home in November, achieved nothing.
How did Charles’ foreign policy effect Parliament?
- Parliament unwilling to vote large sums of money.
- Inadequacy of sums voted made defeat much more likely.
- Lack of funds made Charles seek money from other sources, causing conflict with Parliament.
What did France and Spain agree on in the Thirty Years War?
Agreed on a combined attack on England, which came to nothing, but prompted England to prepare further
Why were the Danes let down by England?
In Germany, let down by lack of funds from England.
Beaten by German forces, King Christian IV forced to retreat back to Denmark and withdraw from the war.
- Huguenots requesting aid.
When was the expedition to La Rochelle?
Spring 1628.
Who was the expedition to La Rochelle under?
Led by Buckingham’s brother in law, Earl of Denbigh.
What happened in the expedition to La Rochelle?
- Miserable failure.
- 8000 soldiers went, 3000 came home again.
- Happed in Parliamentary session 1628-9, prompted the Petition of Right.
When and where was Buckingham assassinated?
1628, Portsmouth by Felton.
What was the impact of Buckingham’s assassination?
- Expedition to La Rochelle put off, town fell to Richelieu October 1628.
- Public rejoice over Buckingham’s death.
- Felton (assassin) compared to David, the slayer of Goliath.
Why did John Felton assassinate Buckingham?
- Furious over Cadiz expedition.
- Stabbed Buckingham to death when the duke was supervising the preparation for the third expedition to La Rochelle.
- Hanged November 1628.
Who did Charles blame for the death of Buckingham?
Eliot and Parliament.
Who was John Eliot?
- Had been a client of Buckingham’s but declared in 1626 ‘our honour is ruined, our ships are sunk, our men are perished’.
- One of the most vocal critics of Buckingham.
How many mourners were at Buckingham’s funeral?
100
Empty coffin, had already been buried before in case hostile crowds tried to attack his body.
What was the impact of the failure of La Rochelle?
- Little point in pursuing the war.
- Peace made with France in the Treaty of Souza, April 1629.
- Peace made with Spain in the Treaty of Madrid, November 1630.
What was a settlement made with the Treaty of Madrid?
Philip IV gave a written promise that he would agree to the restoration of the Palatinate as part of a general settlement.
When was the second Parliament?
February-June, 1626
What was the context of the second Parliament?
- Hostile over expedition to Cadiz.
- Before Parliament met, Buckingham had chaired the York House Conference, at request of Puritan Earl of Warwick to wean Charles away from Arminianism.
- Buckingham took anti-Calvinist side, wants to be on good terms with Warwick.
- Charles still suspicious of intentions of Parliament.
What did Charles say to Parliament about their attacks on Buckingham?
‘I find the fruits of them good or evil, they are to continue or not to be’.
Why and who did Charles remove from his first Parliament?
Charles selected most prominent sheriffs for their counties to remove those who he deemed responsible for the failures of the last parliament.
What were the Sheriff’s responsible for?
- Organising the polls, could not stand for election himself.
- With this, Charles removed key figures like Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Edward Coke.
What were the outcomes of the second Parliament?
- Parliament went badly, discussed subsidies but did not pass them.
- York House Conference had shown that Buckingham favoured Arminians and Cadiz failure lead to criticism of Crown’s policies.
- Parliament looked for a scapegoat to blame, one MP- ‘we must of necessity lay the fault upon somebody’. Blamed Buckingham.
How did Charles’ dissolution of the second Parliament occur?
- Commons prepared articles of impeachment against Buckingham, ignoring a threat from Charles ‘they are to continue or not to be’.
- Charles put loyalty to Parliament above good relations with Parliament.
- Led to Parliamentary refusal to give Charles funds.
What impact did the dissolution of the second Parliament have?
- Government in debt, had outgoings from war but no additional income, other than captured French ships.
How much money did captured French ships bring?
How much undertakings did the Crown have?
£50,000 in 1626.
£1 million.
When and what was the forced loan?
1626-27
Undertakings of £1 million, so needed money.
A form of taxation imposed without Parliamentary consent
Wealthy subjects, landowners and nobles had to fund military campaigns.
What was the impact of the forced loans?
- Those who refused to comply were imprisoned without legal reason, breaks ‘habeas corpus’.
- Five Nights Case.
- Fears of imposition of absolutism.
- 76 people arrested for refusing to pay the loan, including Sir Thomas Wentworth.
What was the Five Night’s Case?
- When judges would not pronounce the loan as legal, King dismissed chief justice of King’s bench, Crewe.
- Five Night’s then challenged Habeas Corpus.
- Too risky for King to tell truth, council stated they had been arrested by ‘special command of our lord the king’.
In addition to the Five Night’s Case, what other liberties were under attack?
- Billeting- householders had to provide soldiers with shelter and food.
- Martial Law- suspension of civil law and its replacement by army rules. Night-time curfews.
How else did Charles try to gain revenue from means other than Parliament?
- Raised a loan from the City of London in 1627.
- But did it giving up the Crown Lands, worth £350,000.
- Land was no longer a major source of revenue for future.
- London unwilling to give anymore money.
- Charles had to call another Parliament.
When was the third Parliament?
Split into two:
March-June 1628
January-March 1629
What was the nature of the third Parliament?
- Charles wanted better Parliament, released those he had imprisoned. Not enough.
- Charles let Sir John Coke, secretary of state communicated with MPs rather than him doing it himself.
- Both sides realised that concessions were necessary if Parliament to be effective.
