Charles- relations with parliament 1625-29

Question 1

What happened during the parliament of 1625?

Answer 1

Charles wanted money for war with Spain, but didn’t make it clear to commons what the money would be used for so they granted him two inadequate sums of £140,000, he asked them for more.

Question 2

What was the issue with tonnage and poundage?

Answer 2

Kings were voted it for life, but parliament was only granted it for one year, he was insulted and continued to collect it.

Question 3

What happened to the 1625 parliament?

Answer 3

It adjourned and met 3 weeks later at oxford, they refused to grant more money, turning their attention to attacking Buckingham. Charles was insulted and dissolved parliament.

Question 4

List two outcomes of the 1625 parliament

Answer 4

1. Charles felt betrayed, how could commons refuse to finance a war they had agreed to? 2. Commons were bewildered with Charles’ refusal to negotiate with them, they did not trust him to keep his promises and were concerned over Arminianism.

Question 5

What did Charles do before the 1626 parliament met?

Answer 5

Removed malcontents by making them sheriffs, all this did was allow others to voice their discontent.

Question 6

Why did the 1626 parliament go badly?

Answer 6

1. The York house conference had raised fears about Arminianism. 2. The failure of the Cadiz mission led parliament to look for a scapegoat- Buckingham. 3. When commons prepared the articles for Buckingham’s impeachment, Charles dissolved them.

Question 7

What was the forced loan?

Answer 7

In 1626, against all precedent, Charles had levied a forced loan of 5 subsidies against all subsidy payers, it was unpopular but successful, bringing in £260,000 by 1627.

Question 8

What was the five knights’ case?

Answer 8

76 were arrested for refusing to pay the forced loan, five of their number challenged for habeas corpus and were told they were being held by ‘special command of out lord the king.’ This, along with the promotion of Arminians, billeting and martial law convinced parliament that Charles was going to impose a Catholic tyranny.

Question 9

What did Charles do out of desperation in 1627?

Answer 9

Raised a £350,000 from the city of London by selling the last major body of crown lands, the city would not support him in the future.

Question 10

What was the atmosphere at the 1628 parliament?

Answer 10

Both realized they needed to make concessions, parliament offered Charles 5 subsidies and tonnage and poundage to show their loyalty, they expected this compromise to be reciprocated.

Question 11

What were the terms of the petition of right?

Answer 11

1628- an end to billeting, martial law, imprisonment without cause and non parliamentary taxation. It was intended to confirm parliament’s traditional liberties.

Question 12

How did Charles show his dislike for the petition?

Answer 12

Initially refused to give it the traditional form of assent, he was forced to out of financial need. Debates over it showed how deep divisions were.

Question 13

What was the grand remonstrance?

Answer 13

1628- parliament identified all the threats they thought they faced; god’s judgement on the government, foreign policy failures, innovations in religion and innovations in government.

Question 14

What did Charles do to the 1628 parliament?

Answer 14

When he learned they were drawing up a second remonstrance attacking non parliamentary taxation, he adjourned them without gaining tonnage and poundage.

Question 15

Why was Buckingham’s death a turning point?

Answer 15

Showed commons that Charles was the one behind unpopular policies.

Question 16

What was the second session of parliament dominated by?

Answer 16

1629- discussion on Arminianism and tonnage and poundage. Parliament wanted religion to take precedence and wanted to use tonnage and poundage to extract religious concessions from Charles. They were also concerned over the seizure of goods from merchants who refused to pay tonnage and poundage.

Question 17

What happened when Charles informed the speaker he wanted to adjourn?

Answer 17

Speaker was held down in his chair whilst Eliot called out the 3 resolutions, they condemned anyone who paid tonnage and poundage, collected tonnage and poundage and supported religious innovations.

Question 18

What happened after the 3 resolutions had been read out?

Answer 18

Passed to shouts of acclimation and the house dissolved its itself. Charles arrested those who had been involved.

Question 19

Give three reasons why the relationship broke down

Answer 19

1. Misgivings over Charles’ religious policy. 2. Unpopular foreign/religious policies with no explanation as to why they were being followed. 3. No effective management of debates in parliament and a lack of tact from Charles.

Question 20

How did Buckingham’s domination of the privy council change the role of parliament?

Answer 20

1. Many men found their route to royal service blocked, so began to voice their discontent in commons, which became more critical of the crown. 2. He suppressed effective discussion in the privy council, making parliament the only place to express dissent.

Question 21

What four things strained relations?

Answer 21

1. Unpopular changes in religion. 2. Unsuccessful foreign policy. 3. Long term financial crisis. 4. Commons’ vocal criticisms of the government.

Question 22

How did parliament strain relations with Charles?

Answer 22

Adopted policies which could be justified as going beyond the bounds of tradition and refused to finance a war they had agreed to.

Question 23

How did Charles strain relations?

Answer 23

Raised money in any way he could and continuing to collect tonnage and poundage despite the protests of parliament.

Question 24

What did the events of 1629 give Charles the opportunity to do?

Answer 24

Gave him a chance to dispense with parliament and blame the breakdown in relations on a few ill disposed malcontents, it had been parliament’s fault for breaking the bounds of tradition.

Question 25

What did Charles resolve after 1629?

Answer 25

He would only call another parliament when ‘such as have bred interruption shall have received their deserved punishment.’