Charles I
Pre reign
Second son of James I
physically weaker than his brother Henry and less vocally protestant.
Charles more of an intellectual, enjoying art and being a linguist
Religiously he was protestant but a less hard-line subsect called arminianism
Did not believe in pre-destination, meant good deeds were testimony of faith
Had an arranged marriage with the Spanish Henrietta Maria, angering protestant parliament.
Charles' court
Laud, Bishop of London, later Archbishop of Canterbury, arminian.
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham
Intimate relations with James I
Pushed for and aided in the marriage with French Catholic Henrietta Maria after having also aided in the attempts for a Spanish marriage.
Gave relatives positions of power, alienating the nobility.
Militarily incompetent - expeditions sent to Cadiz were so poorly organised and equipped they disintegrated before storming the city.
Attempted impeachment by Parliament in May 1626, Charles closes parliament to save him
Parliament
1st Parliament 1625
Parliament granted tonnage and poundage for only a year, rather than the typical length.
Attempted impeachment of Buckingham, causing Charles to close Parliament
2nd Parliament 1626
Cadiz expedition under Buckingham costs £250,000 in December 1625
Charles needs money so calls Parliament
Parliament wanted their grievances (Charles and Arminian bishops) to be addressed before they granted taxation)
Charles thus attempts to imprison MPs but dissolves parliament instead to save Buckingham, getting no money.
The Forced Loan
Charles + Buckingham levy a forced loan, an illegal taxation on the nation
Over 70 members of the gentry refuse to pay
The 5 knights challenge this but judge rules in Charles' favour
Buckingham declares war against Spain and France but his expedition fails in its attempt to support French protestant rebels in La Rochelle.
The Petition of Right
Charles still at war, needs money, calls Parliament
Promise to grant King money if he addresses their grievances
5 knights case was reversed, meaning the King broke the law, breaking the magna carta
No more forced loans, no imprisonment without trial, soldiers could not use civilian households, no use of martial law.
This was an act of Parliament, breaking it would break the magna carta
August 1628 Buckingham is assassinated
Jan 1628-29
Parliament attacks Arminian bishops, accusing them of Popery
Uses the Petition of Right to claim the illegality of Charles' use of customs.
Charles attempts to halt parliament, speaker is held down in his chair.
Door of Commons shut, led by Sir John Elliot, they put forward 3 resolutions to the House
Anyone furthering popery or Arminianism is an enemy to the kingdom
Anyone advising the King to collect customs without Parliament's consent is a capital enemy
Anyone paying these duties was an enemy to the liberties of England.
These passed and Charles closes parliament