King Charles, indeed, had an advantage over his father, inasmuch as his person was stately and commanding, his manner grave and dignified, and his private life irreproachable.  The conflicts which had continued throughout the reign of his father between king and Parliament speedily broke out afresh.  The Commons refused to grant supplies, unless the king granted rights and privileges which he deemed alike derogatory and dangerous.  The shifty foreign policy of England was continued, and soon the breach was as wide as it had been during the previous reign.

After several Parliaments had been called and dissolved, some gaining advantage from the necessities of the king, others meeting only to separate after discussions which imbittered the already existing relations, for ten years the king dispensed with a Parliament.  The murder of the Duke of Buckingham by Felton brought no alleviation to the situation.  In Ireland, Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, ruled with tyrannical power.  He was a man of clear mind and of great talent, and his whole efforts were devoted to increasing the power of the king, and so, as he considered, the benefit of the country.  In Ireland he had a submissive Parliament, and by the aid of this he raised moneys, and ruled in a manner which, tyrannical as it was, was yet for the benefit of that country.  The king had absolute confidence in him, and his advice was ever on the side of resistance to popular demands.  In England the chief power was given to Archbishop Land, a high church prelate, bent upon restoring many of the forms of Catholic worship, and bitterly opposed to the Puritan spirit which pervaded the great mass of the English people.

So far the errors had been entirely upon the side of the king.  The demands of the Commons had been justified by precedent and constitutional rule.  The doings of the king were in equal opposition to these.  When at last the necessity of the situation compelled Charles to summon a Parliament, he was met by them in a spirit of absolute defiance.  Before any vote of supply would he taken, the Commons insisted upon the impeachment of Strafford, and Charles weakly consented to this.  The trial was illegally carried on, and the evidence weak and doubtful.  But the king’s favorite was marked out for destruction, and to the joy of the whole kingdom was condemned and executed.  A similar fate befell Laud, and encouraged by these successes, the demands of the Commons became higher and higher.

The ultimatum which at last the Puritan party in Parliament delivered to the king, was that no man should remain in the royal council who was not agreeable to Parliament; that no deed of the king should have validity unless it passed the council, and was attested under their hands; that all the officers of the state and principal judges should be chosen with consent of Parliament, and enjoy their offices for life; that none of the royal family should marry without consent of Parliament