Chronology

Question 1

James XI of Scotland become James I of England & Ireland
1603

Question 2

Royal Debt
1603

Answer 2

£400,000 debt left by the previous monarch, Elizabeth I

Question 3

Millenary Petition
1603

Answer 3

A group of Puritans presented a list of requests for alterations to church services when on route to claim his English crown e.g. abolition of the cross, ministers not to wear ceremonial robes etc.

Question 4

James Collection of Recusancy Fines
1603

Answer 4

James ordered the collection of fines placed upon those who do not attend Church of England Protestant services, therefor mostly aimed at Catholics.

Question 5

James’ first parliament
1604 - 11

Answer 5

James’ first parliament was dominated by a number of issues that raised constitutional questions, notably the relationship between parliamentary privilege and the King’s prerogative.

Question 6

Hampton Court Conference
January 1604

Answer 6

James wanted to establish how he wanted the church to be settled in response to Puritan Millenary Petition, where he showed willingness to listen. Only permanent achievement was the King James Bible (the English translation completed in 1611).

Question 7

Treaty of London
August 1604

Answer 7

James’, I made peace with Catholic Spain therefor Crown’s expenditure decreased significantly, bettered foreign policy relations and religious relations.

Question 8

Shirley’s Case
1604

Answer 8

MP, Thomas Shirley was arrested for debt, which upset MP’s who were keen to establish parliamentary privilege of freedom from arrest whilst parliament was sitting. To assert their point, Governor of the Fleet’s debtor’s prison was sent to Tower of London, until Shirley was released.

Question 9

Bancroft’s Cannons accepted
September 1604

Answer 9

James gave full support to the church laws known as Bancroft’s Canons, passed by a convocation of Church of England clergymen for conformity. Upheld many orthodox (traditional rules within a religion) and liturgies (forms of how worship is conducted) of the Church.

Question 10

Bancroft became Archbishop of Canterbury
December 1604

Answer 10

Bancroft ordered all clergy whom refused to conform with the laws, should be expelled from positions, which led to wave of petitions, but only 1% of clergy actually removed (‘Silenced Brethens’)

Question 11

Gunpowder Plot
November 1605

Answer 11

Supposedly an attempt from radical Catholics to blow up James I and both Houses of Parliament.

Question 12

James’ failed attempt to at Union with Scotland
1606

Answer 12

The unification of England and Scotland was part of James’ design for his new kingdom to be secure internally and have peace with Europe – immediate opposition for the term Great Britain. James declared his title was “King of Great Britain, France & Ireland” and a new currency called the “Unite” & all ships were to carry the union flag. English MP’s displayed racial intolerance, opposition on legal, religious and political grounds. In the end, the Kings plans for union collapsed amid parliamentary opposition.

Question 13

Oath of Allegiance
June 1606

Answer 13

A promise to James required from all Catholics to force them to swear allegiance to him and not the Pope.

Question 14

King’s extravagance
1606

Answer 14

James was granted three subsidies from Parliament and gave £44,000 away to his Scottish courtiers straight away.

Question 15

Bates’ Case
1606

Answer 15

John Bates, a merchant, refused to pay royal import tax (imposition), which was imposed by James, however Bates argued these impositions were illegal unless agreed by Parliament. The case was heard at court; however, Bates lost the case and judges declared it was the King’s prerogative to impositions and did not need parliamentary approval, which threatened parliament.

Question 16

Robert Cecil appointed as Lord Treasurer
1608

Question 17

James’ promises to Robert Cecil
1608

Answer 17

Cecil sought to increase the royal income and cut the Crown’s spending, to do so James promised to stop giving gifts of land in 1608. Later in 1609 further promised not to grant gifts or pensions without Cecil’s permission, however failed to keep both.

Question 18

Book of Rates
1608

Answer 18

A book that listed the official valuations of items in which customs duties should be paid, which was a fixed sum, however because of the fixed valuations, this form of Crown income could not keep up with inflation, last issued 1558. After the new Book of Rates issued, impositions became worth £70,000 a year, equivalent to a parliamentary subsidy.

Question 19

Book of Bounty
1608

Answer 19

A book made by Cecil to make more money by ordering a survey of Crown lands and revising the leasing policy.

Question 20

Failure of the Great Contract
1610

Answer 20

Contract made by Robert Cecil in attempt to stabilize the Crown’s finances, in return from an annual grant of £200,000 from Parliament, the King would give up some of his prerogative income and feudal rights, including creating impositions, however both parliament and the King felt they had too much to lose.