Greg Jenner

Goodness me. So the end of James's reign, England and Scotland, of course, at war with Spain, which is bad news. So, Toussaint, King Charles I comes to the throne, 1625. Do you think he learns from daddy's mistakes?

I think that's a pretty good guess. John, things just get worse for young Charles, don't they?

I think that's a pretty good guess. John, things just get worse for young Charles, don't they?

And the grievances are, they're long and they're extensive. One of the grievances is Charles has married Princess Henrietta Maria of France, who of course was a Catholic. This was a provocative move at the time where religious tensions were high. She wasn't even allowed in the church during the coronation and wedding ceremony.

And the grievances are, they're long and they're extensive. One of the grievances is Charles has married Princess Henrietta Maria of France, who of course was a Catholic. This was a provocative move at the time where religious tensions were high. She wasn't even allowed in the church during the coronation and wedding ceremony.

There's also a weird thing called, Toussaint, tell me if you've heard of this before, tonnage and poundage.

There's also a weird thing called, Toussaint, tell me if you've heard of this before, tonnage and poundage.

And if we weren't Radio 4, what would you say?

And if we weren't Radio 4, what would you say?

All right, John, tonnage and poundage is not as filthy as it sounds.

All right, John, tonnage and poundage is not as filthy as it sounds.

Okay, so he's raising an awful lot of money on tonnage and poundage, which is a sort of medieval customs duty.

Okay, so he's raising an awful lot of money on tonnage and poundage, which is a sort of medieval customs duty.

You've mentioned the Duke of Buckingham. So he was King James's lover. He'd been raised to that status. He is the star of Mary and George. If you want to watch that show, it's very fun. So he's sort of chief advisor to Sartre. He's not having a great time of it, though, because he launches a military campaign to go and attack Cadiz in Spain. And it goes very badly.

You've mentioned the Duke of Buckingham. So he was King James's lover. He'd been raised to that status. He is the star of Mary and George. If you want to watch that show, it's very fun. So he's sort of chief advisor to Sartre. He's not having a great time of it, though, because he launches a military campaign to go and attack Cadiz in Spain. And it goes very badly.

All the soldiers get drunk and then run away. So how do you think he gets back into Parliament's good books?

All the soldiers get drunk and then run away. So how do you think he gets back into Parliament's good books?

I mean, your instincts are quite good on this. You've basically sort of guessed where we're going in this episode. His attempt to get in their good books is to launch another military campaign, having bungled the first one. And he bungles this one as well. It's a double bungle. He's trying to help the French Protestants, the Huguenots, in La Rochelle, John. And it's a sort of classic clerical era.

I mean, your instincts are quite good on this. You've basically sort of guessed where we're going in this episode. His attempt to get in their good books is to launch another military campaign, having bungled the first one. And he bungles this one as well. It's a double bungle. He's trying to help the French Protestants, the Huguenots, in La Rochelle, John. And it's a sort of classic clerical era.

So we have the Duke of Buckingham killed. The chief adviser's gone. He's out of the picture. So does that mean things are a little bit easier for Charles because Parliament is appeased that, you know, one of the bad guys is gone?