page_title: Sir John Corbet, 1st Baronet, of Stoke upon Tern
section_title: Campaigns against absolutism
hierarchical_section_title: Sir John Corbet, 1st Baronet, of Stoke upon Tern / Campaigns against absolutism
context_page_description: Sir John Corbet, 1st Baronet of Stoke upon Tern was an English politician who represented Shropshire in the House of Commons of the long Parliament. A moderate Puritan, he was noted before the English Civil War for his campaigns against extra-parliamentary taxation, which led to his imprisonment, and for waging a long running dispute over control of his parish church at Adderley. He was a notable member of the Shropshire county committee, responsible for pursuing the war against the royalists. Part of a Presbyterian middle group in Parliament, he was one of those secluded from parliament by Pride's Purge, and was stripped of his remaining public offices after the Restoration.
context_section_description: In 1627 Corbet led the opposition within Shropshire to the Forced Loan imposed by the King. The parliament of 1625, dubbed by Court circles the Useless Parliament had refused fully to underwrite the cost of the Anglo-Spanish War of 1625–30. As Buckingham's inept diplomacy turned it into a war also against France, Charles imposed a levy without parliamentary consent. Corbet was outspoken in his attacks on the Forced Loan. The collection in Shropshire was carried out by the commissioner Sir Andrew Corbet of Moreton Corbet, under the direction of William Compton, 1st Earl of Northampton, president of the Council in the Marches of Wales, and was remarkably successful. By promising to use some of it to pay arrears of "coat and conduct" money, already owed to local gentry and their retainers for military service, Corbet overcame their initial reluctance to pay. Shropshire paid the Exchequer £2,997 - 82% per cent of its quota, compared with the national average of 72%. However, Sir John Corbet's agitation seems to have struck a chord with his cousin, Sir Andrew. His compliance ended with the collection of the Forced Loan and he joined Sir John in opposition, voting for the Petition of Right in the parliament of 1628.
  Corbet took up essentially the same issue during the 11-year period of absolute monarchy, known as Thorough, which succeeded Charles I's resolution to do without parliament. In 1634 he strongly criticised the levying of Ship money, another tax imposed by the king without parliamentary consent. A vigorous debate took place on 7 April 1635 at the quarter sessions in Shrewsbury over the issue of the Crown's right to levy charges to pay the muster-master, who trained the county militia. The grand jury described the charges as "a great greevance and oppression". This was immediately countered by Timothy Tourneur, a Gray's Inn barrister, Master in Chancery, and  steward to John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater the Lord Lieutenant of Wales, whose office covered Shropshire. Tourneur condemned the grand jury for meddling in matters beyond their remit. Corbet and Robert Charlton of Apley intervened to defend the jury and to attack Tourneur. Corbet demanded that Clerk of the Peace read out the section of the statute book referring to the Petition of Right. Although Corbet's stand had the support of most of the justices present, it was reported to the Privy Council of England through Bridgewater. Corbet was summoned before the Council and accused of "making speeches to his Majesties disservice and the animating of others to refuse the payment of the muster master's fee." As he maintained his stand, he was imprisoned on 10 June, pending trial in Star Chamber. However, he was incarcerated in the Fleet Prison for six months but never brought to trial. Charlton, his fellow dissident, escaped with two days in gaol.
  Corbet's determined opposition to extra-parliamentary taxation earned him the sobriquet "the Patriot". In June 1641 the Commons vindicated Corbet's position, resolving:
  “That the Imposition of Thirty Pounds per annum, laid upon the Subjects of the County of Salop, for the Mustermaster's Fee, by the Earl of Bridgewater, Lord Lieutenant of that County, is an illegal Charge, and against the Petition of Right.” The House declared Corbet's detention was illegal and that he should be recompensed by those who signed the warrant. It referred the matter to the Lords, who in December decided to impeach Bridgewater, although they did not go through with it.
caption: George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, chief adviser of Charles I until his assassination in 1628, was mainly responsible for the extra-parliamentary taxation opposed by Corbet.
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