2. James I and Charles I: character, court and favourites Flashcards
Personal monarchy
The power of the Crown was theoretically absolute due to the DRoKs but no formal written constitution.
Personality and aims shapes reign + relations w/ Pment - sometimes to conflict over abuse of power or weakness as a leader
James I’s character
Intellectual and outgoing, enjoyed debates and conversation meaning he could communicate with parliament. Experienced King from Scottish rule from 1567. Pragmatic, favouring compromise over provocation.
Examples of where James’ pragmatic personality meant he was willing to compromise w/ Pment (accept the DRoK in theory only) meaning he was overall a SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL MONARCH (7)
1) Backed down on union issue after 1607, realising that it was causing tensions without getting the required result
2) Backed down over the Buckinghamshire election 1604 – reached a peaceful, helpful solution of re-election (on advice of Robert Cecil – new to English Pment system)
3) Eased off punishment of Puritans over time and increased recusancy fines when MPs felt strongly about this
4) Open Court was good for gaining knowledge and communicating w/ PN helping to reduce factions
5) Understood the need for a working parliamentary monarchy – 1614 (in response to Addled Pment) – ‘I found it [Parliamentary system] here when I arrived so that I am obliged to put up with what I cannot get rid off’
6) 1618-1621 - he agreed (somewhat successfully) to allow Cranfield to bring in controls on spending
7) 1624 Subsidy act – gave up prerogative powers to reinstall a positive working rel. w/ Pment by allowing them to achieve some of their aims (must be used for FP + defending protestant cause)
James I’s court
James’s court was open and lively, with Shakespeare having a heavy presence. Dominated early on by Scots such as Robert Carr, hurt relations with English Nobility. Sometimes brought him into disrepute and caused tensions w/ PN due to criticism of being drunken and debauched by enemy’s
Examples of how James’ court brought him into disrepute + caused tension with the PN
1) “The wisest fool in Christendom”
2) J saw England as “The land of milk and honey” – spent extravagantly in Court
3) His weakness for handsome young men such as Carr and his displays of affection for Buckingham in Court “my wife… my dog” and kissing him openly in Court
4) The Court was known as a “hotbed of drunken immorality”
5) The more ‘self-respecting’ Lords preferred their mansions over the chaos at Court
6) Ambassadors were often shocked by the behaviour of the King and his Courtiers
James I’s views on Kingship.
Firm believer in Divine Right of Kings and of his prerogative. Expressed this view in the basilicon Doron in 1599. However, was willing to compromise with parliament in order stablise nation (accepted this was his power in theory only). “Rex Pacificus” - ‘peacemaker king’
Examples of how James’ innate belief in the DRoKs led to tensions between him and the PN (5)
1) Impositions – 1606-1621
2) Buckinghamshire election 1604
3) Demands for union w/ Scotland - 1604-1608 e.g. proclamation calling the country Great Britain
4) James’ reaction to the 1621 Protestation – ripped up and closed down Pment
5) 1612-1625 - the Spanish Match/ foreign policy
Examples of how James provocatively introduced policies to protect his position of innate belief in DRoKs and unquestioned authority (6)
1) Hampton court conference 1604 – ‘no bishop, no king’
2) Buckinghamshire election 1604 – James told Pment ‘they derived all matters of privilege from him and by his grant’
3) Proroguing of Pment in July 1604 + 1606 over issued of union w/ Scotland – criticises lack of enthusiasm + delaying tactics
4) Religious policy: 1604 Bancroft’s canons - enforce conformity amongst celery e.g. subscription to 3 articles supporting the king’s supremacy + Oath of allegiance 1606
5) Great contract speech 1610
6) Closure of 1621 Pment - only King’s prerogative to discuss how to fight against Spain (Pment want’s a naval war) – tore the page (of the protestation) out of the Commons Journal
James I’s favourites
1) Robert Carr, a young Scot, worrying English elite - married into the CATHOLIC Howards
2) 1615 - Buckingham = first English appointment to the Bedchamber. Whilst removing fears of Scottish domination, he was controversial with Pment.
Character of Charles I (4)
1) Believed in divine right strongly
2) Did not believe it was necessary to explain his actions
3) Introverted - very shy and avoided contact with his subjects as far as possible
4) Stubborn - provocative with his dogmatic defence of prerogative + DRoK, not compromising like his father
Examples of how C’s policies aimed to protect his belief in the DRoKs and unquestioned authority caused tension
1) Religious policy of Arminianism – emphasis of episcopacy in Laudian reforms – bishops etc.
2) First army plot – Pym reveals C’s support of plan to free Strafford (from Tower of LND) + forcibly dissolve Pment – on 3/4/1641 sent 100 troops to ToL (but failed)
4) Unlawfully continued to collect tonnage and poundage after the first year of his reign
5) In response to Militia Bill Dec 1641 C positioned himself as the defender of ‘fundamental law’ and ‘the constitution’ – winning over constitutional royalists such as Edward Hyde
6) Charles Commission of Array (paid by themselves) – in response to Militia ordinance (no choice but to weaponise himself)
Charles I’s court (4)
1) Closed - had to request to visit the King, increased paranoia and suspicion (+ hostility) in PN
1) Formal, hierarchical - procedures and rules enforced, immorality frowned upon, rank and nobility preserved in formality
2) Modelled off the Spanish court after 1623 Trip to Madrid - fears of catholic (absolutist) influence
3) Charles was patron of the arts - Van Dyke (painter) involved in presenting Charles, as Charles believed, in a divine light - richly decorated (reflecting ‘beauty of holiness’) - fears of absolutism
4) Many plays in court involved disorder being solved at the appearance of a monarch - attacked by Prynne’s pamphlet “Histrio Mastix” (which was seen as criticism of QHM)
Evidence of how Charles’ PR actions (due to his ideological beliefs) led to fears of abuse of power and calls for reform
1) Mobs outside Whitehall palace after public fears due to First Army Plot
2) Religious issues with Laudianism
3) At least 399/439 MPs elected to the Long Pment opposed the King’s policies - general consensus = C had overstepped the mark + had to be prevented from returning to PR
4) Act of Attainder (execution statute for Wentworth) forced to be signed by C after First army plot revealed that PN couldn’t trust C (therefore HoL passed it – handing responsibility onto C)
5) Three acts of summer 1641 in BoP
Evidence of how Charles’ personality led to clashes with the PN due to his unwillingness to engage/worth with them (6)
1) Personal rule 1629-40
2) Secretly began to prepare a trained band to fight the Scots (whilst outwardly holding negotiations) after they abolished the episcopal system he put in place in 1637 – determined to restore his authority + religious policy
3) After ending the 1st Bishops War w/ Pacification of Berwick in 1639 continued to secretly plot to subdue the Scottish resistance + called Pment to do this (needs money after taxes such as ship money decline)
4) 5th May 1639 -Dissolves the Short Pment to stop opponents ability to criticise PR - furthers fears of absolutism
5) Attempted Arrest of the 5 MPs (BoP)
6) Charles left London 10/1/1642 to protect family when he believed Pym wanted to impeach GHM + rising anger of London mob – seen as weak to Pym – can’t hold the capital – crucial in civil war
James’ appointment of Carr as his favourite was problematic due to the creation of factions over fears of Catholic influence in Court as seen by: (3)
1) Scandal 1615, imprisoned bc Sir Thomas Overbury challenged annulment + murdered - ‘Court shone and glowed like rotten wood’
2) Married Frances Howard – powerful catholic family, created catholic faction close to the King
3) Failure of the Addled Pment 1614 – political dysfunction bc of factions – competed against protestant ones e.g. when they called for Pment (largely anti-Spanish) to attack the Howards
James’ rapid promotion of Buckingham caused conflict due to the immense amount of power he held leading to factions in Court and a grievances over the King’s favourite as shown by: (4)
1) Attempt to attack Howard family – brought charges of corruption against Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk
2) Very close relationship between James + Buckingham – alienating people not close to the King – e.g. Howards faction introduced their own rival William Monson into the King’s circle to try and reduce Buckingham’s power
3) In 1618, the Star Chamber, spurred on by Buckingham, prosecuted the Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Suffolk, leader of the Howard faction, for embezzlement. It ended any political influence the Howard’s may have had – but it also removed from power one of the few rivals Buckingham had in 1618.
4) Controlled patronage - Buckingham used his influence over James to get Francis Bacon appointed to be the country’s senior law officer as Lord Chancellor. This suited James as Bacon was a strong supporter of the royal prerogative and he was now in a position to support the king when James had to justify its use. It also suited Buckingham as Bacon had the Duke to thank for his social and political advancement.
Buckingham created factions and instability due to his abuse of patronage and use of impeachment to bring down his enemies and protect his position as seen by: (2)
1) Buckingham, Coke and Cranfield encouraged Pment to impeach Francis Bacon for monopoly abuse 1621
2) Abuse of patronage (couldn’t tell if gift or valid payment) meant he could gain enough support to impeach Cranfield (threatened his influence – questioned his decision to start war with Spain in 1624) – instability, Cranfield could no longer perform his financial reform – also suited Buckingham – benefited
