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Causes
- In order to prevent Buckingham from being impeached, Charles dissolved his 2nd parliament in 1626, without it granting the 4 subsidies in its committee.
- England was at war with Spain as a result of the Cadiz expedition and Buckingham's foreign policy made war with France likely. War expenditure was needed.
- In 1625 parliament, customs tax tonnage and poundage was only granted for 1 year.
- Charles tried to collect benevolence but this raised little.
- Arminian William Laud persuaded Charles to call for the forced loan. Charles wanted Arminians' support not only because his beliefs leaned towards them, but because they offered obedience to his royal authority.
- Historian Richard Cust called the forced loan a 'test of political loyalty'. It allowed Charles to see who his opponents were, but to also see if he could raise sufficient funds from the political nation without consulting parliament.
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Effects
- 70% of the expected £267,000 (equivalent to 5 subsidies) was collected. This was more than what Parliament had previously granted Charles.
- 30% refused to pay. This is an expression of opposition to royal authority. The Justice of Peace (unpaid local officials) had also being unwilling to collect money from the gentry in their localities. 76 opponents gentlemen were imprisoned for non-payment of the forced loan.
- Non-payment of the forced loan provoked tax evasion, particularly in the 1630s with prerogative taxes such as Ship Money, and Coat and Conduct Money
- Some judges had refused to support the legality of the forced loan and Chief Justice Carew was dismissed. This shows Charles' willingness to dismiss those in his way and to disregard laws that contradicted him. This could be perceived as further evidence absolutism.
- The Archbishop of Canterbury George Abbot was suspended for refusing to grant Arminian cleric Robert Sibthorpe the licence to preach. Arminian William Laud became the de facto leader of the Church of England. Arminianism was seen close to Catholicism and Catholicism was seen synonymous to absolutism as Catholic countries France and Spain had absolute monarchs. So this was a threat of absolutism, but it also alienated the majority of England, who opposed Arminianism.
- The Five Knights Case: 5 imprisoned gentlemen demanded the right to know the legal cause of their imprisonment- habeas corpus. A judgement upheld Charles' right to imprison in this case without trial. Attorney General Sir Robert Hearth tried to alter this so that Charles could imprison without trial in any case. Parliament prevented this alteration in 1628 (Petition of Right).
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