Home › The Regalia › The Regalia: If Parliament

The Regalia: If Parliament

As might be expected, the Royal Treasury underwent many vicissitudes and spoliations at the hands of several of our kings. If Parliament would not grant supplies, kings still had great treasure that they could rapidly sell or pawn for ready money. Thus in 1623, when Prince Charles went to Spain to woo the Infanta, it is said that he took from the Tower treasure valued at £600,000. Two years later, when he was king, he fitted out a fleet, under his favourite the Duke of Buckingham, to carry on a war with Spain, and supplies not being obtainable from Parliament he parted with a large amount of treasure to finance the expedition. The treasure was pawned to Holland, with which country there was an alliance; but the result of the expedition was disastrous, and it does not appear that the treasure was ever redeemed. This was one of the earliest of the troubles between Charles I. and his Parliament.