His first Parliament met in June 1625.  Hampden sat in it as burgess for Wendover.  The King wished for money.  The Commons wished for the redress of grievances.  The war, however, could not be carried on without funds.  The plan of the Opposition was, it should seem, to dole out supplies by small sums, in order to prevent a speedy dissolution.  They gave the King two subsidies only, and proceeded to complain that his ships had been employed against the Huguenots in France, and to petition in behalf of the Puritans who were persecuted in England.  The King dissolved them, and raised money by Letters under his Privy Seal.  The supply fell far short of what he needed; and, in the spring of 1626, he called together another Parliament.  In this Parliament Hampden again sat for Wendover.

The Commons resolved to grant a very liberal supply, but to defer the final passing of the act for that purpose till the grievances of the nation should be redressed.  The struggle which followed far exceeded in violence any that had yet taken place.  The Commons impeached Buckingham.  The King threw the managers of the impeachment into prison.  The Commons denied the right of the King to levy tonnage and poundage without their consent.  The King dissolved them.  They put forth a remonstrance.  The King circulated a declaration vindicating his measures, and committed some of the most distinguished members of the Opposition to close custody.  Money was raised by a forced loan, which was apportioned among the people according to the rate at which they had been respectively assessed to the last subsidy.  On this occasion it was, that Hampden made his first stand for the fundamental principle of the English constitution.  He positively refused to lend a farthing.  He was required to give his reasons.  He answered, “that he could be content to lend as well as others, but feared to draw upon himself that curse in Magna Charta which should be read twice a year against those who infringe it.”  For this spirited answer, the Privy Council committed him close prisoner to the Gate House.  After some time, he was again brought up; but he persisted in his refusal, and was sent to a place of confinement in Hampshire.

The government went on, oppressing at home, and blundering in all its measures abroad.  A war was foolishly undertaken against France, and more foolishly conducted.  Buckingham led an expedition against Rhe, and failed ignominiously.  In the mean time soldiers were billeted on the people.  Crimes of which ordinary justice should have taken cognisance were punished by martial law.  Near eighty gentlemen were imprisoned for refusing to contribute to the forced loan.  The lower people who showed any signs of insubordination were pressed into the fleet, or compelled to serve in the army.  Money, however, came in slowly; and the King was compelled to summon another Parliament.  In the hope of conciliating his subjects, he set at liberty the persons who had been imprisoned for refusing to comply with his unlawful demands.  Hampden regained his freedom, and was immediately re-elected burgess for Wendover.