Stuart Times

Charles I
and the descent
into chaos
Charles I

Succeeded his father at

the age of 25.
He married
Henrietta
Maria, sister of
King Louis
XIII of France
in 1624
Charles I, Henrietta Marie and
their children
From left,
they are
Mary,
James,
Charles,
Elizabeth,
and Anne.
(1637)
Charles had nine children, two of whom eventually succeeded
as king, and two of whom died at or shortly after birth.
Name Birth Death Notes
Charles James, 13 May 1629 Born and died the same day.
Married Catherine of Braganza in 1662.
29 May
Charles II 1630
6 Feb 1685 She popularized drinking tea. No
legitimate live born issue. (14 ill.)
Mary, Princess 4 Nov 1631 24 Dec 1660
Married William II, Prince of Orange in
Royal 1641. One child: William III.
Married (1) Anne Hyde in 1659.
Children: Mary II and Anne, Queen of
14 Oct r
James II & VII 1633
6 Sept 1701 Great Britain;
Married (2) Mary of Modena in 1673.
Had 10 children, only one survived.
Name Birth Death Notes

Princess Elizabeth 29 Dec 8 Sept 1650

From the age of 6 to her death at 14, a
1635 prisoner of Parliament.
17 March
Princess Anne 1637
5 Nov 1640 Sickly child, died of tuberculosis.

Princess Catherine 29 June 1639 Born and died the same day.
13
Henry, Duke of 8 July 1640 September Died of smallpox at 20. No children.
Gloucester 1660
Married Philip, Duke of Orléans (1640–
1701) in 1661. Had 3 children: Marie
Princess Henrietta 16 June
1644
30 June
1670 Louise, Queen of Spain
Philippe Charles, Duke of Valois
Anne Marie, Queen of Sardinia
Charles unpopularity arised from the
beginning because of:
 his marriage with a French Catholic princess.
 retention of Buckingham in court, despite he
was despised and hated by people.
 Charles & Parliament
1st Parliament:
1625: grants two subsidies to carry on the war with
Spain declared in 1624 because of the refusal of Spain to
Help Frederick to win back the Palatinate; the failure to
marry Charles with the Infanta.
The Parliament refuses to grant further supplies without
a redress of religious grievances and a strict account of
the last subsidies, and is thus dissolved by Charles.
 Charles & Parliament
2nd Parliament:
1626: Buckingham (James Ist former favourite) is
attacked and is to be dismissed by impeachment, but
the King dissolves the Parliament on June 15 before it
passes a single act or votes single subsidy.
To carry on the war, Charles raises money by levying
forced loans, benevolences and customs without the
authority of Parliament
 Charles & Parliament
A war with France increases Charles’ difficulties. This
war is due to a quarrel between Buckingham and
Richelieu.

3rd Parliament:
1628 The “Petition of Rights” states the grievances
under which the country was then suffering. The King,
being a great financial difficulty, accepts the Petition.
 Petition of Rights
One of the documents that reflect the long struggle to
limit royal power.
It’s practical in nature: it is listed and condemned
specific actions of the King wihout enunciating general
principles of government.
 Petition of Rights
It requested that:
1. no man be compelled to pay loan, benevolence or
tax, levied without consent of Parliament.
2. no subject be imprisoned without cause shown.
3. soldiers and sailors be not billeted in private houses.
4. no person be tried by martial law.

It contended the King should govern according to law,,

not to his own arbitrary whims.
 Petition of Rights
By accepting the Petition, Charles I stated, he had only
confirmed ancient liberties of his subjects, without granting
any new ones.
During his reign the petition seems to have had little effect on
royal power in a vital area such as taxation.
Yet, by asserting formally the supremacy of law in important
fields of government, the Petition of Rights circumscribed to
some degree the very strong monarchy that had descended
from Tudors to Stuarts.
The Parliament thus gave Charles five subsidies (£350000)
 Petition of Rights
The acceptance implied some quarrelling between King and
Commons regarding the extent to which the document limited
royal taxing powers, specifically import duties such us tonnage
and poundage, which had been long regarded as part of royal
revenue.
In 1628 Charles explicitly pointed out that the Petition did not
extend to these duties. And also that he had n ot abandoned
the divine right theory of kingship.
 Charles & Parliament
In 1628 Buckingham is murdered what causes on one
side, happiness in the country, but embitters the King
who, then sends a fleet to France that finally was
defeated.

3rd Parliament:
1629 On the second session, the Parliament defies the
King’s authority passing the “Eliot Resolutions”.
 Charles & Parliament
Apart from discussing tonnage and poundage, a
controversial issue of religion arised.
A bitter controversy had arisen among churchmen over
the 39 articles of Faith and man of the members were
concerned over the innovations of the anti-Calvinistic
wing of the Church, led by William Laud, Archbishop of
Canterbury, which the King supported.
 Charles & Parliament
As the King had forbidden Parliament to discuss these
matters, a tumult occurred in the House and the Speaker
had to be held down while the resolutions against illegal
taxations and innovations in religion were read and
passed.
Parliament was dissolved by force and the leaders
imprisoned Sir John Eliot (the author of resolutions) who
later died in the Tower in 1632.
 Charles & Parliament
“Whosoever shall bring in innovation of religion, or by favour or
countenance seek to extend or introduce popery or Arminia-
nism (ideology opposing some Calvinist doctrines and suppor-
ted right of state to control Church), or other opinions disagree-
ing from the true and orthodox church, shall be reputed a capi-
tal enemy to this Kingdom and Commonwealth.
Whosoever shall counsel or advise the taking and levying of the
subsidies of tonnage and poundage not being granted by Parlia-
ment, … shall be likewise reputed an innovator in the govern-
ment, and a capital enemy to the Kingdom or Commonwealth.
… a betrayer of the liberties of England, an enemy to the State.”
 Charles & Parliament
1629-1640 Charles ruled without Parliament. He relied
on the counsel of two men: Thomas Wentworth and
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, who looks for
uniformity and opposes Puritanism.
The combined policies of these two men, called
thorough and much of the blame for royal policies is
imposed on them.
 Charles & Parliament
They ruled with the help of 3 tribunals:
- the Star Chamber, where men resisting the arbitrary
policy of the King are punished.
- the High Commission Court, where those who differ
in religious opinions fro Laud are tried
- the Council of the North with absolute control over
northen counties.
 Charles & Parliament
Charles continued to collect tonnage and poundage, but
these taxes were insufficient so he revives an old law
that requires every person whose income from land is
40 pounds or more to be knighted or to pay a fine.
He exacted fines from Roman Catholics
He invented and sold new monopolies of trading rights.
He reclaimed ancient forest l and.
 Charles & Parliament
But the most hated tax was the ship money, which
legality was questioned in 1637 by John Hampden, but
judgement was given against him.
Before a permanent fleet existed, the King could require
seaports to furnish him with ships in time of war, and
martitime counties to pay for the maintenance.
Charles argued danger to revise the ship-money and
exend it from August 1635 to all inland towns and
counties.
 Charles & Parliament
The spirit of the people revolted against the injustice of
a war tax being levied during times of peace.
Furthermore, it was imposed on inland counties for the
first time. Moreover, it was collected by authority of the
King alone.
Charles obtained that ten judges gave him a general
opinion that this was lawful, both in 1635 and 1637. The
legality was questioned no matter the decision.
 Charles & Parliament
The legality was questioned no matter the decision of
the judges. John Hampden, a gentleman, refused to pay
the tax of 20shilling in 1637. The King won the case ,
seven out of twelve judged decided for the Crown, two
for Hampden on technical grounds, and three for him.
But this judgement made Hampden well-known and his
case was discussed in all the kingdom.
 Charles & Parliament
In 1637 the attempt of Laud to impose the Book of
Common Prayer on Presbyterian Scotland led to the First
Bishops War, which ended in 1639 with the Pacification
of Berwick.
The Scots continued resolu-
te and defiant, so Charles
determined to send a new
army against them. To get
funds, he summons his
Fourth Parliament in
April 1640.
 Charles & Parliament
4th Parliament or Short Parliament:
It was dissolved after 3 weeks as it refused to grant
funds for the Kings without a redress of grievances.
In the meantime, the Scots invaded England starting the
Second Bishops War and defeating the royal forces in
August 1640.
Charles concluded a treaty with the Scots in Ripon.
 Charles & Parliament
5th Parliament or Long Parliament:
It wasn’t dissolved legally for 20 years. The majority of
the Commons were Puritans in religion, with John Pym
as a leader.
The Parliament wanted to remove Charles’ ministers
Wentworth and Archbishop Laud. Wentworth was
impeached but it falls through and a Bill of Attainder
was passed against him, and in May 1641 he was
executed. Laud was impeached and imprisoned.
 Charles & Parliament
The Triennial Bill was passed in 1641 enacting
- every Parliament should be dissolved at the end of 3
years.
- a Parliament should be summoned within 3 years from
the dissolution of the previous Parliament.
In 1641 a bill was passed indicating Parliament should not
be dissolved without its own consent.
The Root and Branch Bill is brought forward demanding the
complete abolition of Episcopacy. Although never accepted,
it splits up the Parliament into two parties: Episcopalians
and Puritans.
 Charles & Parliament
The 3 tribunals are abolished in 1641 and Parliament
adjourns.
September 1641 a committee is appointed to oversee
course of events during recess. In October a rising in Ulster
starts a two year long Irish Rebellion.
Parliament reassembled in October 1641 and on 22nd
November 1641 the Great Remonstrance is passed.
 The Grand Remonstrance
There were two distinct parties when Parliament
reassembled in October 1641.
- A court party: Cavaliers
- A country party: Roundheads
The name of Cavaliers was given to the King’s party from
their gay manners and dress.
Roundheads was given derogatorily to the members of
opposition as thy had the hair on their heads “very few
longer than their ears”, they were modest in dressing, but
not in their language.
 The Grand Remonstrance
In the first session, Parliament draw a remonstrance to the
King “as should be a faithful and lively representation of the
state of the Kingdom”.
The remonstration was discussed and passed by 159 votes to
148. This showed an even balance between royalist and
reforming interests.
The Remonstrance summarized with the utmost plainness
every harsh action and every illegal measure of misgovern-
ment during the previous 16 years, commented on what
Parliament had done to redress them, and pushed for reforms.
 The Grand Remonstrance
The last fourteen clauses (192 to 206) pointed out the
remedial measures the Commons demanded:
- the establishment of certain safeguards against the Roman
Catholic religion
- securities to be given for the better administration of
justice
- the King to choose for ministers and agents such persons as
Parliament “might have cuase to confide in”.
 The Grand Remonstrance
Charles could not impeach and
arrest five members of Commons
that were the leaders of the party
opposed to the King, and on
January 10 1642 he fled from
London to Hampton Court. war.
 The Grand Remonstrance
The Ordinance of Militia – under which the Parliament
assumed control of the standing army – was passed in March
1642 and declared to be the law of the land despite the lack of
royal sanction.

Conciliation is hopeless and both sides prepare for war.

 The Nineteen Propositions
After he left London, Charles refused to commjunicate with
Parliament, which issued ordinances as the law of the land.
Late in spring 1642, Parliament attempted to regularise and
extend its position in the 19 Propositions. Had Charles
accepted them, he would have become just a figurehead.
The propositions demanded: parliamentary approval required
for appointment and dismissal of all officers of state, anti-
Catholic legislation to be strictly enforced, Church to be
reformed as per Parliament directives, Parliament to control
the militia and King to hand delinquents (Royalists) over to
Parliament.
 The Nineteen Propositions
They were rejected by a statement of Charles where he used
theory of mixed government, saying that English government
was a mixture of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy
represented by king, lords and commons.
This gave England all the advantages and none of the
disadvantages of these forms of government. He indicated
that the power, divided thus between the three of them
prevented tyranny. At the same time, rejected the theory of
divine right of the King.