Parliament and the Politics of Carting in Early Stuart London

Abstract

This paper examines the role of lobbying and interest groups in Parliamentary activity in early Stuart London, focussing on a long-running dispute between the Carmen, Wharfingers and Woodmongers. It emphasises that whilst Parliament was the last resort for interest groups, it was one that neither side could ignore and illustrates how private disputes between City companies often had wider repercussions for the population as a whole. It explores the increasing sophistication of lobbying techniques and argues that as the business conducted by Parliament in this period increased, so lobbying became even more important.