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.