Booklet 1 - Situation in 1625 Flashcards
1
Q
What were the problems Charles I inherited from James I?
A
- The war with Spain, fought by James I, related to religious conflict in Europe - Charles needs money for war therefore he needs parliament
- Buckingham sends troops to help protestants in Germany - big failure, many troops die
- Buckingham negotiates Charles to marry Henrietta Maria - she’s Catholic
2
Q
What was the role of parliament at this time?
A
- They become more important
- Could only meet when the king called them
- Had a very limited role in government
3
Q
What was the role of courts?
A
- Common law courts - judges appointed by the king
- Local level law - church wardens, justices of peace, overseers of the poor and constibles
4
Q
What was the role of the monarch?
A
- Source of law and government
- Preorogative actions (actions of the king)
- Believed in divine right of kings
- Statute law: made by parliament
- Royal court is the centre of political life: monarch’s friends, servants, household, people appointed by Charles, some foreign ambassadors including the privy council
- Controls 3 kingdoms, England being the most richests and important
5
Q
What was the situation with religion at this time?
A
- King is the head
- Church of England is the established church of the country - protestant
- King appoints bishops and archbishops
- Archbishops and bishops appoint the clergy (vicars)
- Senior archbishop is the archbishop of Canterbury - he is in the privy council
6
Q
Who was Charles I and what was he like?
A
- He strongly believed in divine right of kings- he din’t believe in negotiation, he didn’t want to rule with parliament
- Protestant but suspected of being Catholic (Arminian)
- He had good manners, a stammer (failed to articulate ideas and didn’t like debate), short, shy and a private man
- He was never meant to be king
- His friendship with the Duke of Buckingham built his confidence (secret spanish trip) - he’s easily influenced
- Was a man of honour and loyal, stuck by his friends and his wife
- He’s very cultured and likes art and plays
