Why did Charles and Parliament fall out (1625-29)

Question 1

What were the 4 fundamental reasons for the breakdown in relation between Charles and parliament

Answer 1

• foreign policy issues
• financial pressures
• religious pressures
• Charles’ devotion to Buckingham

Question 2

Foreign policy issues

Answer 2

First parliament
- Charles and Buckingham envisaged a naval expedition
to Cadiz, in the hope of recreating the swash of
buckling days where Bucaneers made fortunes
attacking Spanish merchant ships
- They also wanted subsidies to retake the palatinate
and to subsidise a Danish invasion of Germany
- Parliament were not willing to simply hand out
subsidies to Charles and demanded further details
Second parliament
- Got much worse
- Cadiz expedition was a disaster
- Charles’ foreign policy was a great failure
1626-28
- The French had been seizing English ships, a war with
Spain and France at the same time was unheard of
reflecting the ineptitude of Charles and Buckingham

Question 3

Finance issues

Answer 3

1625- Parliament granted Charles only two subsidies of
140,000 pounds however no more - however, this was
not enough, Charles’ needed money to fund his war
efforts
- It was clear James had had serious effects on the
willingness of parliament to give out subsidies
a year, a situation un heard of (usually it would be for
the entire reign).
1626 - Commons discussed subsidies but did not pass them. In response, it was decided, despite the opposition from the council, that another forced loan worth five subsidies, on all subsidy players. This was in effect a parliamentary taxation that had not been agreed by parliament. This created the Five Knights Case issue.

1628-30
- Charles needed funds and, since he could not raise
money with the consent of parliament, he did so
without their agreement
- He continued to collect custom duties illegally

Question 4

What did issues did Buckingham cause in the first parliament (1625) and the second parliament

Answer 4

• There was high support for a war with Spain, which
  largely would have been under the direction of
  Buckingham
• By the end of parliament many were critical of
  Buckingham being Lord Admiral despite having little
  naval affairs experience and being prone to sea
  sickness
  Second parliament
• There was desperation to take serious measures
  against buckingham by parliament
• Some accused him of high treason claiming he had
  poisoned James
• Commons believed there was enough evidence to
  charge Buckingham and commons began the process
  of impeachment
• Charles dissolved parliament out of fear for his
  favourite

Question 5

What issues did Religion bring about between 1625-1629?

Answer 5

1625
- The house of commons , broadly speaking, were
Calvinist, fiercely anti-Catholic and in favour of an
actively interventionist policy.
- Charles appointed William Laud as archbishop of
London in 1628, all leading church posts became filled
with Arminians.
- The promotion of Arminians to positions of influence in
the Church led to parliamentary attacks on those who
were most outspoken in support of the royal
prerogative.
- Parliament also expressed concern over the lack of
penal law enforcements on the catholics

• only to be told this was a matter for the king alone
• Parliament would not give in this time, they expressed
  concern that if they were not listened to they would
  refuse to hand out subsides to Charles
  -

Question 6

What was the most important reason for the fallout between Charles and parliament

Answer 6

• The role of Buckingham
• The fact that both houses so desperately tried to take
  measures against Buckingham showed how great the
  discontent was towards him
• There was discontent within parliament towards the
  religious changes occurring, The Conference of
  Arminians and Puritans held in 1626 in an attempt to
  heal divisions, however, served merely to confirm
  Arminians had the backing Buckingham
• This was further amplified by Buckinghams weak
  foreign policy which caused the humiliation of England
• Commons accused Buckingham of being the main
  contributor to the fundamental issues between the
  monarchy and parliament
  -They believed he was the driving force behind these
  unpopular and failed policies
• It was only with his assassination that they realised
  Charles was the real problem