BRITAIN, 1625-1701: CONFLICT, REVOLUTION AND SETTLEMENT
Charles I (1625-29)
Evaluation: Religion was at the heart of discontent between Charles I and parliament. His
Arminian policies and unwavering belief in the divine right of Kings led Charles to
misunderstand the fears of parliament towards his power. He therefore alienated parliament
ensuring that he could not work with them.
P1: Religion
Charles I married Henrietta Maria in 1625, a Catholic, who brought with her a Catholic
court, a private chapel. Having a source of Catholicism within the political centre of the
royal court, sparked anxieties from parliament, who largely viewed Catholicism as a
source of evil and aggression. Charles’ children were brought to worship there, sparking
fears for the future of the country.
Charles I’s Arminian leanings were viewed with suspicion, because of the Arminian’s
sympathies with Catholicism, and the challenging of the Calvinist doctrine of
predestination. England’s rivals France and Spain were Catholic.
Charles promoted Arminian figures such as the Duke of Buckingham, who monopolised
patronage, and the promoting of William Laud to Bishop of London 1628 and privy
Council 1627.
Richard Montagu, an Arminian who actively challenged predestination was appointed
Charles’ personal Chaplain. He had published ‘A new gag for an Old Goose’ attacking
Calvinist doctrine.
P2: Foreign policy
Mansfeld campaign 1624: Buckingham had encouraged James I to invade the palatinate which
was a failure.
Charles I had shown support for this and so his reign in 1625 was already mistrusted by
parliament to manage foreign policy.
Parliament refused to grant Charles Tonnage and poundage for life in response to this
mistrust.
Cadiz expedition: Buckingham led to expedition to attack Spain, his incompetence led to the
evacuation and starvation of soldiers.
Increased parliament’s hostilities towards the Duke of Buckingham + Charles I
The Commons began to discuss impeachment of Buckingham resulting in Charles
dissolving parliament June 1626.
War with France and Spain
1625: War was declared on Spain, lasting until 1630 (Cadiz expedition)
1627-29: War with France was declared.
Annual spending was £500,000 1625-29 creating a strained relationship between
Charles and parliament.
Financial
Parliament refuses to grant Charles Tonnage and Poundage for life and so Charles
collected it without consulting parliament.
Forced loan: Charles demanded a forced loan from all taxpayers with punishment of
imprisonment for those who refused. This was a response to parliament 1626 ignoring
his issue of subsidies and launching an attack on Buckingham instead.
Five Knights Case 1627: 5 knights were imprisoned for refusing to pay the forced loan +
began a legal challenge. This resulted in the Petition of Right.
1628 petition of Right: Issued a document demanding he reverse the decision of the
Five Knights case, no more forced loans, imprisonment without trial, martial law, or
forced to provide free lodgings for soldiers.
Charles I signed the petition although republished a revised version which included his
right to collect Tonnage and Poundage without a parliamentary grant.
Impact: This document restricted some of the powers of the monarch and so enhanced
the tensions that were growing.
It also was a lost opportunity for reconciliation
, Personal rule (1629-40)
Evaluation: Charles I’s religious policies created discontent providing unstable foundations to
his rule, this was facilitated by his unpopular financial policies which both increased this
discontent and meant that he was unable to fund the wars that arose from discontent. His
foreign policy failures in Scotland was the breaking point, revealing the unstable foundation of
personal rule.
Religion/restructuring
Laud’s policies: As an Arminian, set out instructions for local bishops to introduce in
each diocese, therefore centralising Arminian religion. Organs installed, colour statues,
the communion table was moved from the centre to the East side of the church, shifting
the focus away from the doctrine of transubstantiation. These were visual changes
associated with Catholicism, sparking anxieties.
This created discontent, although was accepted to some degree by the grassroots of
society, it caused discontent in Scotland.
Thorough: Earl of Strafford issued a set of instructions to JPs intending to centralise
authority and impose an independent monarchy, quasi-absolutism.
Puritanism: Imposed the use of a catechism to teach the laity, which alienated Puritans.
Prerogative courts were use extensively to punish dissent, John Bastwick, William
Prynne and Henry Burton were punished in the star chamber 1637.
The gentry were largely Puritan or Presbyterian and so prerogative courts were used to
humiliate and alienate them. An attempt to restrict their power to impose absolutism.
Financial policies
Treaty of Madrid 1630: Ended hostilities with Spain, reduced annual spending by 70%
Soap monopoly patent: 1634 issued a patent for the production of Soap.
Distraint of Knighthood: Revived 1630, provided income by fining those with land over
£40 who did not attend his coronation. Brief campaign in Yorkshire 1634. Only 9000
were charged total.
Ship money: Extended inland 1635, made annual 1636. Caused resistance and outrage
as it had only been levied generally once in a Monarch’s reign. Legal challenge 1636,
John Hampton, Earl of Warwick and Duke of Bedford refused to pay. Created some
instability.
However Charles gained £200,000 a year income (only 20% of what he planned to get)
Lack of funding for Bishop’s wars forced Charles to call parliament in 1640.
Foreign policy Scotland
1636: Charles issued a Book of Canons to the Scottish clergy listing instructions as to
how they should lay out churches.
Scotland had undergone a Calvinist reformation in 1560, which Charles had little
understanding of.
Charles did not trust the Scottish privy council and favoured exiled Scottish individuals
living in London, therefore excluding the Scottish largely from politics.
1637: English prayer book was issued to Scottish churches, sparking riot in St Giles
Cathedral Edinburgh, spread to lowlands and resulted in the First Bishop’s war.
The unstable foundations are demonstrated by Charles having to rely on local militia’s
because of lack of funding, forced him to sign the Treaty of Berwick.
He lacked the support of the gentry he had alienated which created a ‘taxpayers’ strike’
1639-40 protesting his wars. Meaning he had to call the Short parliament.
Charles I (1625-29)
Evaluation: Religion was at the heart of discontent between Charles I and parliament. His
Arminian policies and unwavering belief in the divine right of Kings led Charles to
misunderstand the fears of parliament towards his power. He therefore alienated parliament
ensuring that he could not work with them.
P1: Religion
Charles I married Henrietta Maria in 1625, a Catholic, who brought with her a Catholic
court, a private chapel. Having a source of Catholicism within the political centre of the
royal court, sparked anxieties from parliament, who largely viewed Catholicism as a
source of evil and aggression. Charles’ children were brought to worship there, sparking
fears for the future of the country.
Charles I’s Arminian leanings were viewed with suspicion, because of the Arminian’s
sympathies with Catholicism, and the challenging of the Calvinist doctrine of
predestination. England’s rivals France and Spain were Catholic.
Charles promoted Arminian figures such as the Duke of Buckingham, who monopolised
patronage, and the promoting of William Laud to Bishop of London 1628 and privy
Council 1627.
Richard Montagu, an Arminian who actively challenged predestination was appointed
Charles’ personal Chaplain. He had published ‘A new gag for an Old Goose’ attacking
Calvinist doctrine.
P2: Foreign policy
Mansfeld campaign 1624: Buckingham had encouraged James I to invade the palatinate which
was a failure.
Charles I had shown support for this and so his reign in 1625 was already mistrusted by
parliament to manage foreign policy.
Parliament refused to grant Charles Tonnage and poundage for life in response to this
mistrust.
Cadiz expedition: Buckingham led to expedition to attack Spain, his incompetence led to the
evacuation and starvation of soldiers.
Increased parliament’s hostilities towards the Duke of Buckingham + Charles I
The Commons began to discuss impeachment of Buckingham resulting in Charles
dissolving parliament June 1626.
War with France and Spain
1625: War was declared on Spain, lasting until 1630 (Cadiz expedition)
1627-29: War with France was declared.
Annual spending was £500,000 1625-29 creating a strained relationship between
Charles and parliament.
Financial
Parliament refuses to grant Charles Tonnage and Poundage for life and so Charles
collected it without consulting parliament.
Forced loan: Charles demanded a forced loan from all taxpayers with punishment of
imprisonment for those who refused. This was a response to parliament 1626 ignoring
his issue of subsidies and launching an attack on Buckingham instead.
Five Knights Case 1627: 5 knights were imprisoned for refusing to pay the forced loan +
began a legal challenge. This resulted in the Petition of Right.
1628 petition of Right: Issued a document demanding he reverse the decision of the
Five Knights case, no more forced loans, imprisonment without trial, martial law, or
forced to provide free lodgings for soldiers.
Charles I signed the petition although republished a revised version which included his
right to collect Tonnage and Poundage without a parliamentary grant.
Impact: This document restricted some of the powers of the monarch and so enhanced
the tensions that were growing.
It also was a lost opportunity for reconciliation
, Personal rule (1629-40)
Evaluation: Charles I’s religious policies created discontent providing unstable foundations to
his rule, this was facilitated by his unpopular financial policies which both increased this
discontent and meant that he was unable to fund the wars that arose from discontent. His
foreign policy failures in Scotland was the breaking point, revealing the unstable foundation of
personal rule.
Religion/restructuring
Laud’s policies: As an Arminian, set out instructions for local bishops to introduce in
each diocese, therefore centralising Arminian religion. Organs installed, colour statues,
the communion table was moved from the centre to the East side of the church, shifting
the focus away from the doctrine of transubstantiation. These were visual changes
associated with Catholicism, sparking anxieties.
This created discontent, although was accepted to some degree by the grassroots of
society, it caused discontent in Scotland.
Thorough: Earl of Strafford issued a set of instructions to JPs intending to centralise
authority and impose an independent monarchy, quasi-absolutism.
Puritanism: Imposed the use of a catechism to teach the laity, which alienated Puritans.
Prerogative courts were use extensively to punish dissent, John Bastwick, William
Prynne and Henry Burton were punished in the star chamber 1637.
The gentry were largely Puritan or Presbyterian and so prerogative courts were used to
humiliate and alienate them. An attempt to restrict their power to impose absolutism.
Financial policies
Treaty of Madrid 1630: Ended hostilities with Spain, reduced annual spending by 70%
Soap monopoly patent: 1634 issued a patent for the production of Soap.
Distraint of Knighthood: Revived 1630, provided income by fining those with land over
£40 who did not attend his coronation. Brief campaign in Yorkshire 1634. Only 9000
were charged total.
Ship money: Extended inland 1635, made annual 1636. Caused resistance and outrage
as it had only been levied generally once in a Monarch’s reign. Legal challenge 1636,
John Hampton, Earl of Warwick and Duke of Bedford refused to pay. Created some
instability.
However Charles gained £200,000 a year income (only 20% of what he planned to get)
Lack of funding for Bishop’s wars forced Charles to call parliament in 1640.
Foreign policy Scotland
1636: Charles issued a Book of Canons to the Scottish clergy listing instructions as to
how they should lay out churches.
Scotland had undergone a Calvinist reformation in 1560, which Charles had little
understanding of.
Charles did not trust the Scottish privy council and favoured exiled Scottish individuals
living in London, therefore excluding the Scottish largely from politics.
1637: English prayer book was issued to Scottish churches, sparking riot in St Giles
Cathedral Edinburgh, spread to lowlands and resulted in the First Bishop’s war.
The unstable foundations are demonstrated by Charles having to rely on local militia’s
because of lack of funding, forced him to sign the Treaty of Berwick.
He lacked the support of the gentry he had alienated which created a ‘taxpayers’ strike’
1639-40 protesting his wars. Meaning he had to call the Short parliament.
