The copies of speeches and other passages in the Parliament holden An. 1[)] and 2[0] Caroli begun 5 februarii 1625 [manuscript], circa 1625.
1625
Items
Details
Title
The copies of speeches and other passages in the Parliament holden An. 1[)] and 2[0] Caroli begun 5 februarii 1625 [manuscript], circa 1625.
Created/published
England, 1625.
Description
248 leaves ; 17.5 x ; 11 cm
Associated name
Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649, author.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Provenance
Downing Library bookplate
Genre/form
Manuscripts (documents)
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England.
Item Details
Call number
FAST ACC 271246 (quarto)
Folger-specific note
Purchase made possible by The Gladys Brooks Acquisitions Endowment Fund. From dealer's description: "Manuscript in English on paper. Octavo: 17.5 x 11 cm. 248 leaves. Bound in contemporary English calfskin, ruled and tooled in gold, with original clasps. a.e.g. Minor crack to upper hinge, corners lightly bumped. Extremely fine internally. Provenance: Downing Library, 18th c. bookplate. The Downing Library, former by Thomas Pennant (1726-1798) and later augmented by his son, David, was auctioned by William Dew & Sons in three sales in 1913 (May 25, 27, 28). A fine, contemporary manuscript of the proceedings of King Chalres I's second Parliament, which sat from 5 February to 15 June 1626. The colume opens with Charles' first speech (5 Feb.), which was actually delivered by the Lord Keeper after a few words by the king, who confessed openly in his preamble that he was "not good to speak much" (probably because he was self-conscious of his stutter.) The First Parliament: When King James I died on March 27th, 1626, his son Charles, Prince of Wales, aided by the Duke of Buckingham, had already assumed de facto control of the kingdom. Charles had called his first Parliament (known as the "Useless Parliament") in June of 1525 but when the House of Commons, concerned that the new king sought money to wage war on Spain, refused to grant Charles duties of tonnage and poundage (the Crown's main source of income) for more than one year and discussed precedents for choosing Charles' ministers for him, the king dissolved the Parliament on 12 August. The Second Parliament: In early 1626, Charles, intent on making war with both Spain and France, urgently needed funds to re-equip the fleet and re-arm his troops. Reluctantly, he decided to call another Parliament. In the transcript of hte proceedings we see both Charles and Parliament probing the limits of their respective authority, as the king and his favorite, Lord Admiral George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, seek funding for a war against Spain from a House of Commons wary of such ventures, and a House of Lords desirous to limit the king's reach. Perhaps the most intriguing of the texts is the House of Commons' declaration of impeachm,ent against Buckingham for his failed campaign against the Spanish port of Cadiz, his machinations to provide the French king with English ships for miliatary action against hte Huguenots, his failure to keep the seas free from the Barbary corsairs, and other abuses of his powers (including extorting 1,000 Pounds from the East India Company and poisoning James I); Buckingham's long and spirited defence of his actions,l and the Commons' resolution that he be impeached. Buckingham had rison to prominence under King James I, achieving numerous important positions and titles (including Lord Admiral and Master of the Horse). Toward the end of James' reign, when the king's health was failing, Buckingham allied himself with Chalres, with whom he formed a close alliance that would continue until the Duke's death in 1628. But Buckingham's machinations and his failed military venture against Spanish Cadiz roused the ever-increasing ire of key members of Parliament. "The expedition to Cadiz had failed to accomplish anything, and there were reasons for believing that Buckinham was about to pick a quarrel with France in addition to the quarrel with Spain... (ODNB)." Buckingham continued to wield his influence, lead military expeditions against Spanish and French interests, and champion the King's interests and authority against an ever more hostile Parliament. During Charles' third Parliament of 1628, a disgruntled member of the Duke's disastrous 1627 expedition to La Rochelle assassinated Buckingham at Portsmouth, stabbing him through the heart. While motivated by the La Rochelle disaster, the assassin later explained that is was 'reading the remonstrance of the House of Parliament' that convinced him that by 'killing the Duke he should do his country great service'. Charles dissolved his third Parliament in March 1629. Peace treaties with France and Spain were made in April 1629 and June 1630, respectively. Charles did not convene another Parliament until 1640, two years before the outbreak of the English Civil War. Charles I was executed in January 1649." Ordered from Paul Dowling, Liber Antiquus, D9333, 2019-07-30, personal visit.
Folger accession
271246