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The emergence of conflict and the end of consensus, 1625-29 - Coggle…
The emergence of conflict and the end of consensus, 1625-29
Legacy of James I
Religious Issues and DivisionsJames had to manage the views of both Puritans and Catholics, and showed a preference to high church policies:
- 1604, Hampton court conference to address grievances of Puritans. James rejected the abolition of episcopacy.
- The anti-puritan, Richard Bancroft was appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury.
- James issued the Book of Sports in 1618 - which allowed a number of recreational activities on Sunday which angered many Puritans.
- 1605, Gunpowder Plot - resulted in increased Recusancy fines (fines for not attending Church) and anti-catholic Hysteria.
Relations between crown and ParliamentENGLISH AND SCOTTISH PARL DIFFERENCES
- Found the English Parliament to be confrontational and Independent - whereas his Scottish parliament was generally loyal.
- The English Parliament had two chambers - House of Lords and Commons, rather than a single chamber from Scotland.
- Unable to intervene in elections - which he had been able to do in Scotland.
Relations with Foreign PowersHOPE OF MAINTAINING CATHOLIC + PURITAN RELATIONSHIPS (through diplomacy):
- 1604, Treaty of London - Ending war with Catholic Spain. Later attempted to marry Spanish Princess.
- 1609, alliance with France - Catholic but anti-Spanish.
- 1613, married Son to Daughter of Frederick of the Palitinate V (Eliazabeth) - demonstrating a pro-Protestant stance in the Holy Roman Empire.
- Reluctant to get involved in Thirty Years War - concerned with destabilising effect on foreign relations.
Financial Weaknesses
- Inherited large debts in 1603 from Elizabeth due to decades of war. Peace with Spain in 1604 reduced expenditure.
- Personal Spending - reputation as Lavish entertainer, gifted money to close advisors.
- Parliament granted 3 subsidies in 1606 to help him pay off his debts.
- Resorted to selling titles and honours cheaply.
- Economic depression and poor harvests in early 1620's - royal debt stood at £900,000 in 1620 with Parliament not willing to grant subsidies.
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Parliamentary radicalism, Opposition to the King and dissolution of Parliament
The 1628 Parliament
- Parliament had tried to impeach Buckingham in the past - Charles knew this risk when assembling.
- Charles insisted he would work with Parliament if the MPs did not attack Buckingham.
- Charles wanted to send another force to La Rochelle, MPs, led by John Eliot insisted their grievances must be heard before taxes granted.
The Petition of RightEliot, Coke, Selden and Wentworth prepared and presented a carefully worded document to Charles, CLAUSES:
- No imprisonment without trial with the decision made in the five knights case reversed.
- No taxation without parliamentary consent.
- Citizens should not be asked to pay the forced loan.
- Forced billeting should not be allowed.
- Should be No martial Law.
RESPONSE:
- Authors claimed these clauses to be enshrined in law centuries earlier (Magna Carta). Charles disagreed and refused demands.
- He accepted them in June 1628, believing he could continue ruling as previously without repercussion.
- Parliament consented to the taxes but also started to attack Buckingham again. Charles promptly closed Parliament.
Three resolutionsBuckingham was assassinated in Portsmouth in August 1628. When Charles recalled Parliament in January 1629, its leaders hoped to make progress now the influence of Buckingham was gone.Parliament, led by Eliot criticised the Kings methods of collecting money and his Arminian religion. March 1629, Eliot issued the three resolutions:
- A denouncement of the King's Arminian advisors.
- A statement announcing Tonnage and Poundage was unacceptable.
- Those who paid it were enemies of the Kingdoms.
Charles had ordered the dissolution before the Resolutions had been read, so a group of MPs (led by Denzil Holles and Sir John Eliot) held the speaker in his chair until the resolutions were passed.A royal Proclamation was then drawn up announcing the official dissolution of Parliament in March 1629. Eliot and eight of his allies arrested.Parliament would not meet for 11 years - PERSONAL RULE.
Buckingham and Foreign Policy
- Charles involved England in the Thirty Years war on the PROTESTANT side.
- His commander in chief was the Duke of Buckingham who consistently failed to accomplish anything.
- Buckingham was one of the main grievances which made the 1628 Parliament so hostile.
The Mansfield ExpeditionShortly before Charles death in 1625, James sent troops to assist the Protestan commander Ernst Von Mansfield in the Holy Roman Empire.
- Little military tradition in England as the Country's strength had always been its Navy.
- Half of the troops died of Starvation before arriving, under Buckinghams command.
- By the time the true extent of the disaster was revealed Charles had inherited the throne.
Attack on CadizCharles decided to continue the war despite Mansfield. This involved the conscription of troops and forced billeting of soldiers in peoples houses.FAILURE:
- Chain of command unclear - meant that Spanish vessels were able to escape and English were not given orders to stop them.
- Hesitant to attack Cadiz - mounted an assault on Fort Puntal.
- Lack of supplies when reached land - commanders allowed soldiers to break into farmhouses to drink wine.
- Unable to capture Spanish Treasure fleet - forewarned of the attack and fled.
La RochelleWhen Charles summoned parliament in 1628, he was in desperate need of funds. Attacks on Cadiz had been followed by a further deterioration in relations with France.
- Buckinghams inept diplomacy led to war and a failed attempt to support a Protestant rebellion in La Rochelle in 1627.
- The recruits sent were of poor quality and lacked basic supplies.
- Around half of the 6000 soldiers died when Buckingham besieged the town.
- Buckingham was blamed directly by most the nation.
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