James + Charles : Character + Court Favourites

Question 2

How strong of a believer was James I in the “Divine Right Of Kings”?

Answer 2

• believed that kings derived their authority from God and God alone
• however, James accepted the perimeter of his prerogative : he acknowledged he could only make law and raise taxation in Parliament
• every one of his actions as king was subject to judicial review
• acknowledged that his prerogative derived from God, however also acknowledged that it could only be enforced by law
• absolutism was not a problem under James.

Question 3

What was James’ personality like?

Answer 3

• intellectual: spoke a number of languages and met eminent scholars and artists from all over Europe, + gave patronage to Shakespeare
• outgoing : approachable + flexible
• pragmatic
• willing to compromise
• however - his failings were often rooted within his morality
• often acted in an unsystematic manner, and deemed as undignified due to the corruptive nature of his court
• impatient with large crowds
• financially extravagant

Question 4

What type of King was James I?

Answer 4

• considered himself a “Peace maker” - hoped to extend the union of the crowns of England and Scotland : wanted full union of laws, parliaments, churches
• sought to use the power and authority of his three crowns to unite Christendom
• “Rex Pacificus”

Question 5

What was Charles’ personality like?

Answer 5

• while James was approachable, Charles was glacial, prudish, withdrawn and shifty
• saw no need to explain his actions to his people, believed that his subjects should just follow in his lead and not raise any questions
• provocatively defended his prerogative - innovated tensions
• unwilling to negotiate

Question 6

How strong of a believer was Charles in the “Divine Right Of Kings”?

Answer 6

• stern believer in the Divine right of kings, much like his father
• sought to defend his prerogative in a provocative way - often dismissed anyone’s authority but his own, and through out his reign saw little reason to explain himself

Question 7

The court of James I

Answer 7

• his court was corrupt and seedy: openly displayed his affection for his male favourites and was probably an active bisexual
• overall however, an open and lively place - easier to access as opposed to Charles’
• criticised for his immoral and drunken character
• concern regarding Scottish favourites ; held a lot of influence over James which angered the English political nation

Question 8

The court of Charles I

Answer 8

• isolated, only included his supporters
• seemed to be dominated by catholic and Arminian influences, causing a lot of political damage as Catholicism was linked with absolutism
• main forms of entertainment was the court masque - an elaborately costumed fantasy play that included dancing - opposition from William Prynne (puritan) who viewed women performing in plays as sinful

Question 9

In which period was Robert Carr Favourited?

Answer 9

• 1607-13

Question 10

In which period was George Villiers favourited?

Answer 10

• 1615-25

Question 11

What was the “Gentleman of the bedchamber”?

Answer 11

• provided close attendance to the king, duties included assisting the king at his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private, guarding access to him in the bed chamber
• considered a potentially powerful position
• the position was often used to advance factions - evident through the case of Villiers + Carr

Question 12

When did James’ delicate system of balancing factions begin to unravel?

Answer 12

• from 1618 onwards

Question 13

Why was Robert Carr dismissed as James’ favourite in 1613?

Answer 13

• Political scandal - In 1613, Carr fell in love with Thomas Howard’s daughter Frances, then countess of Essex
• divorce was hastily arranged on the grounds that the Earl of Essex was impotent
• probably untrue - but the Howards were anxious to secure a marriage with the kings favourite + increase influence at court
• marriage led to huge scandal in 1616 - when Carr’s secretary Sir Thomas Overbury was murdered
• Carr and his wife were found guilty of involvement in the marriage plot, as Overbury had previously opposed the marriage of Carr and Frances

Question 14

When did George Villiers become a duke?

Answer 14

• 1623, rose from a Knight, to a viscount, an earl, a marquis and then a duke

Question 15

Why did the political nation dislike George Villiers?

Answer 15

• rapidly rose through the ranks of aristocracy
• Buckingham’s factions dominated court - allowed a dominant role in the management of royal patronage
• many historians, such as Kishlansky argue that Villiers dominated court from 1618 up until his death in 1628

Question 16

What is meant by a ‘Privy council’?

Answer 16

• the king’s selected advisers who met in private to shape the monarch’s wishes into policy and oversee their implementation

Question 17

What is meant by a ‘faction?’

Answer 17

• competing groups in politics that sought to win the favour of the monarch