3: Financial Reform Under James And Charles

Question 1

John Bate’s case

Answer 1

1606 - Merchant John Bates refuses to pay duties and was taken to court where they ruled that the crown was able to levy impositions without Parliament

Question 2

Purveyance

Answer 2

The sovereign’s right to buy provisions/use horses and vehicles for lower than market value. This was abused by officials and caused tension with Parliament as it cost £40,000 per year. James saw this as his royal prerogative

Question 3

James’s extravagance

Answer 3

James spent £100,000 on handouts to Scottish friends between 1606-1611, and spent a total of £3300 on Ante Suppers

Question 4

Book of rates

Answer 4

1608 - Cecil creates a book of rates that includes impositions on 1400 imported goods. This accumulated to £70,000 a year for the crown, as the impositions hasn’t been adjusted for inflation since the mid to late 1500s

Question 5

Evaluative points

Answer 5

James had inherited poor crown finances from Elizabeth that had not been dealt with. He also had to cover the cost of Elizabeth’s funeral, and perhaps spending was necessary as part of being a monarch of the time period.

Question 6

What had royal debt accumulated to by 1606?

Answer 6

£600,000

Question 7

Customs farms

Answer 7

Cecil could lease out the administration of customs dues in return for annual rents

Question 8

Cecil’s reforms

Answer 8

1608 - book of rates (impositions on 1400 imports amounting to £70,000 per annum)

1608 - book of bounty

1610 - attempted great contract

Question 9

The Great Contract

Answer 9

Cecil proposed Parliament grant an initial subsidy of £600,000 plus £200,000 per year every year afterwards in exchange for wardship and purveyance (feudal rights). Cecil also proposed no new impositions, but this was rejected by James.

Question 10

Failure of the Great Contract

Answer 10

Parliament was alienated from James as a result of his overspending and use of the books of bounty and rates as a workaround. They saw this along with his desire to eliminate crown debt through the great contract as a sign that James wanted full financial autonomy from Parliament. James dissolved Parliament in 1611 as a result of a breakdown in negotiations

Question 11

Charles finances

Answer 11

1626 - forced loan to fund foreign policies

1625 - collects tonnage and poundage beyond 1625

1628-29 parliament - accepts petition of right stating parliament had the right to grant money but continued to collect tonnage and poundage. Refused to formally accept petition of right until pressured to do so. Only accepted it because he needed parliament to vote through five subsidies