Charles I: state of relations with Parliament by 1629 and the reaction of the Political Nation Flashcards
What two issues did the 1628 Petition of Right fail to address?
- did not explicitly mention the customs duty, impositions, or tonnage and poundage so Charles claimed he had not surrendered his rights to collect these
- Charles’open favour to anti-Calvinists such as William Laud and Richard Montagu who were appointed as bishops in the summer of 1628
-> Charles was indicating clear support of Arminianism which many regarded as being close to Catholicism
How did Charles make the Petition of Right illegitimate?
- While Charles initially assented to the petition to secure funds, he removed its status as a statute, making it difficult for anyone to challenge the King’s subsequent continued collection of T+P
- Charles believed that such methods were a legitimate way of defending his powers against parliamentary encroachment
- appeared duplicitous and disturbing
- deepened mistrust, lack of communication skills and willing to compromise
When did the second session of Charles’ third Parliament assemble?
23 January 1629
Who led complaints the House of Commons had?
Led by Sir John Eliot an John Pym, the House of Commons immediately began to complain about the growing influence of the Arminian faction in the Church of England - regarded as crypto-Catholic by Puritans
What complaints were made about T+P by the Commons?
Complaints were made about the ongoing collection of tonnage and poundage which had not been granted by Parliament and was contrary to the Petition of Right
How did Charles respond to these complaints from the Commons?
Charles regarded Parliament’s criticisms as an attack upon his authority and briefly adjourned the House, hoping to arrange a compromise with his opponents
When did Parliament reassemble?
2 March 1629
Who proposed the Three Resolutions?
Sir John Eliot
What did the Three Resolutions include?
- against the growth of Arminianism
- against the levying of tonnage and poundage
- against the actions of those who paid it
What was Charles’ response to the Three Resolutions
To dissolve parliament two days later
- realised the passing of the Three Resolutions was a revolutionary act and for the next 11 years he governed without ever calling a Parliament
What were the majority of the Political Nation like?
The majority were conservative, and therefore, royalist but there were some more radical and Puritan critics serving in parliament
How does Christopher Durston argue that Charles’ early years saw a deteriorating in the Crown-Parliament relationship?
The ‘damaging results’ of these events were ‘made worse by the king’s refusal to listen to pleas for a change in direction. Charles’ dismissal of all criticism and unwavering support for Buckingham, had, by 1629, opened up a huge divide between Crown and Parliament’
How does Conrad Russel the war and Buckingham were more significant in the breakdown in Crown-Parliament relations?
Conrad Russel places more emphasis on the ‘burden of war’, believing that ‘war and Buckingham brought relations between central and local government, and hence between king and Parliament, to the point of collapse in 1629’
How did the Commons rebel to Parliament being dissolved?
When FInch tried to rise to declare the session at an end, a group of MPs led by Denzil Holles strode forward and held him down in his chair, insisting that the House had the right to declare when to adjourn
When did Charles announce the dissolution of parliament?
A formal proclamation was drawn up and Charles announced the dissolution of Parliament on 10 March 1629
