Document • Colonial Era

Petition of Right

English Parliament • 1628

Overview

Parliament forces King Charles I to acknowledge limits on royal power. Directly invokes Magna Carta and reaffirms that even kings must obey the law. A key step toward constitutional monarchy.

Historical Context

The King: Charles I (r. 1625-1649) believed in divine right - kings answer only to God. He saw Parliament as advisors, not partners. He needed their money but resented their conditions.

The Grievances: Charles had forced "loans" without Parliamentary consent. When knights refused to pay, he imprisoned them without charge. He quartered soldiers in civilian homes. He imposed martial law in peacetime.

The Petition: Parliament didn't claim new rights - they cited Magna Carta and existing law. The genius was framing ancient liberties as the king's own legal tradition. Charles couldn't refuse without denying his own legitimacy.

The Outcome: Charles signed, got his money, then ignored the Petition. This set the stage for Civil War (1642-1651), Charles's execution (1649), and eventually the Glorious Revolution (1688).

The Legacy: The Petition's principles - no taxation without representation, no imprisonment without due process - became core American grievances against George III 150 years later.

Full Text

THE PETITION exhibited to his Majesty by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, concerning divers Rights and Liberties of the Subjects... They do therefore humbly pray your most excellent Majesty: I. That no man hereafter be compelled to make or yield any gift, loan, benevolence, tax, or such like charge, without common consent by act of parliament. II. That no freeman, in any such manner as is before mentioned, be imprisoned or detained. III. That your Majesty would be pleased to remove the said soldiers and mariners, and that your people may not be so burdened in time to come. IV. That the aforesaid commissions, for proceeding by martial law, may be revoked and annulled; and that hereafter no commissions of like nature may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever to be executed as aforesaid, lest by colour of them any of your Majesty's subjects be destroyed or put to death contrary to the laws and franchise of the land. All which they most humbly pray of your most excellent Majesty as their rights and liberties, according to the laws and statutes of this realm... And the King's answer: "Soit droit fait comme est désiré" [Let right be done as is desired]

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