the Divine Right
of Kings.

The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings, which had been so zealously
put forth by James (S419), bore its full and fatal fruit in the career
of his son. Unlike his father, Charles was by nature a gentleman. In
his private and personal relations he was conscientious and
irreproachable; in public matters he was exactly the reverse.

This singular contrast--this double character, as it were--arose from
the fact that, as a man, Charles felt himself bound by truth and
honor, but, as a sovereign, he considered himself superior to such
obligations. In all his dealings with the nation he seems to have
acted on the principle that the people had no rights which kings were
bound to respect.

430. The King's Two Mistakes at the Outset.

Charles I began his reign with two mistakes. First, he insisted on
retaining the Duke of Buckingham, his father's favorite (S419), as his
chief adviser, though the Duke was, for good reasons, generally
distrusted and disliked. Next, shortly after his accession, Charles
married Henrietta Maria, a French Catholic princess. The majority of
the English people hated her religion, and her extravagant habits soon
got the King into trouble.

To meet her incessant demands for money, and to carry on a petty war
with Spain, and later with France, he was obliged to ask Parliament
for funds. Parliament declined to grant him the supply he demanded
unless he would redress certain grievances of long standing. Charles
refused and dissolved that body.

431. The Second Parliament (1626); the King extorts Loans.

Necessity, however, compelled the King to call a new Parliament. when
it met, the Commons, under the lead of Sir John Eliot and other
eminent men, proceeded to draw up articles of impeachment, accusing
the Duke of Buckingham of mismanagement (SS243, 425). To save his
favorite from being brought to trial, the King dissolved Parliament
(1626), and as no supplies of money had been voted, Charles now
proceeded to levy illegal taxes and to extort illegal loans. Sir John
Eliot, Sir Edmund Hampden, cousin of the famous John Hampden (S436),
and Thomas Wentworth refused (1627) to lend his Majesty the sum asked
for. For this refusal they were thrown into prison. This led to
increased agitation and discontent. At length the King found himself
again forced to summon Parliament; to the Parliament, Eliot and
Wentworth, with others who sympathized with them, were elected.