The 4th Parliament of King James I was the fourth and last Parliament of England of the reign of James I of England, summoned on 30 December 1623, sitting from 19 February 1624 to 29 May 1624, and thereafter kept out of session with repeated prorogations, it was dissolved on the death of the King on 27 March 1625. [1] The Speaker of the House of Commons was Sir Thomas Crewe, the member for Aylesbury.
The parliament was referred to as "Fælix Parliamentum" or the "Happy Parliament" by Sir Edward Coke. [2] The three previous parliaments of James I had been a source of conflict and the King's opening address to the Commons commented on the "desire of all parties to forget past disagreements." However the parliamentary session was clouded by mutual suspicion and nearly every speech made tacit or explicit comments with reference to previous sessions. [3] Charles, Prince of Wales and the Duke of Buckingham used the Parliament to aid their push for a war against Spain. Buckingham and Charles played a large role in ensuring the impeachment of Lord High Treasurer Lionel Cranfield, who was opposed to a war for financial reasons. [4]
The Fourth Parliament sat for only one session (labelled in statutes as "21 James I"), which ran from 19 February 1624 to 29 May 1624. Its second session was scheduled to start on 2 November 1624, but it was prorogued before opening to 16 February 1625 then again to 15 March and once more to 20 April. However, before that last date arrived, King James I died (27 March 1625), and the Fourth Parliament was dissolved. [5]
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, KG, was an English courtier, statesman, and patron of the arts. He was a favourite and self-described "lover" of King James VI and I. Buckingham remained at the height of royal favour for the first three years of the reign of James's son, King Charles I, until a disgruntled army officer assassinated him.
Sir John Coke MP JP PC was an English civil servant and naval administrator, described by one commentator as "the Samuel Pepys of his day". He was MP for various constituencies in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629, and served as Secretary of State under Charles I, playing a key part in government during the eleven years of Personal Rule from 1629 to 1640.
Events from the 1620s in England. This decade sees a change of monarch.
Sir Edward Villiers was an English nobleman from Leicestershire and member of the Villiers family, whose younger half-brother George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, was a favourite of both James VI and I and his son Charles. Through his influence, Sir Edward gained various positions, including Master of the Mint, Member of Parliament for Westminster and Lord President of Munster. He died in Ireland in September 1626.
Sir Francis Crane was the founder of Mortlake Tapestry Works at Mortlake on the south bank of the river Thames in South West London.
Sir Francis Barrington, 1st Baronet of Barrington Hall, Essex was a Puritan activist and politician, who was MP for Essex from 1601 to 1604, then 1620 to 1628.
Sir John Glanville the younger, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1644. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons during the Short Parliament. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.
Sir Henry Mildmay was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War and was one of the Regicides of Charles I of England.
Sir Henry Yelverton was an English lawyer, politician, and judge.
Sir Thomas Jermyn (1573–1645) of Rushbrooke, Suffolk, was an English Royalist soldier and politician who was a Member of Parliament between 1604 and 1640. He became an influential courtier and served as Comptroller of the Household to Charles I from 1639 to 1641.
Thomas Jermyn was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons for various seats between 1625 and 1644. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.
Sir Alexander Denton was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1625 and 1644. He supported the Royalists during the English Civil War. He also has a house at a grammar school in Buckinghamshire
Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1621 and 1654. He supported the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War.
Thomas Farnfold was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1624 and 1643. The subject became a ward at age twelve and his wardship passed to the young Sir Edward Sackville before Bartholomew Rogers, the usher of the court of wards, took wardship of the subject and married him to his daughter.
Sir Robert Pye (1585–1662) was an English courtier, administrator and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.
Sir Walter Pye of The Mynde, Herefordshire was an English barrister, courtier, administrator and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1621 and 1629.
Sir William Uvedale was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1645. He supported the Royalist cause in the Civil War.
Sir Edward Wardour was an English officeholder and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1625.
Sir Henry Holcroft (1586–1650) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1624 and 1629 and held appointments in the Dublin Castle administration in Ireland.
