Robert Phelips

In his later Parliaments he was one of the leading spirits in the House of Commons and an opponent of James I, Charles I and their adviser Buckingham.

He made his mark by joining in the attack on Richard Neile, then Bishop of Lincoln, for his speech in the House of Lords reflecting on the commons.

He served on the committee appointed to inquire into the matter, and brought up its report, which furnished the main charges against Sir Giles Mompesson.

[a] On 17 March he presented the committee's report in a speech "of great force and moderation", and was ordered to lay the evidence before the House of Lords.

In November he warmly attacked Spain, and proposed to withhold supplies and a few days later he supported the commons' petition against the Catholics and the Spanish marriage.

In the first days of the session he supported an abortive motion for immediate adjournment, in order to defer the granting of supplies.

[1] On 5 July he wished the house to discuss the question of impositions, and rebutted the king's claim to impose duties on merchandise at will.

On 10 August, in a high strain of eloquence, he defined the position taken up by the commons, and laid down the lines on which the struggle was fought until the Long Parliament (Forster, Life of Eliot, i.

He protested against the sermons of Sibthorpe and Mainwaring, and was prominent in the debates on the petition of right, but the informal position of leader was taken by Sir John Eliot.

[3] According to Sir John Eliot, his oratory was ready and spirited, but was marred by "a redundancy and exuberance", and "an affected cadence and delivery"; he had "a voice of much sweetness", and spoke extempore.