James I Flashcards
james’ personality
james was an intellectual, outgoing man who enjoyed to debate and deal with people. he was also pragmatic so dealt with things sensibly and realistically.
had a firm belief in the divine right of kings and defensive of his prerogative.
james’ favourites
any courtier who became close to james was a favourite. favourites would have open political roles, showing his debauched lifestyle and immoral court. he favoured scots.
court of james
the court was an open and lively place reflecting the kings enjoyment of life. at extremes, the court was criticised as drunken, immoral and debauched.
james’ intellectual interests were emphasised at court.
the court was a source of tension - early dominance of bedchamber scots - concerned about the influence of scots could wield through access to james.
finance of the crown
the political nation was worries as they were the main source of income, and the more funds the crown raised, the closer it became to becoming absolutist.
crowns expenditure increased due to inflation and james’ spending.
james inherited £400k worth of debt from elizabeth.
by 1916 : debt was £900k
james and finance
- ante-supper (two meals, first observed, second eaten) : £3,300
- gave his son Henry £25k per year for his expenditures
- spent £36k on royal wardrobe
- scots in court on average £44K - english equivalents £10k
to maintain balance, james gave all government and administrative positions to english.
buckinghamshire election
1604 : election of francis goodwill annulled as he had 2 debts. john fortescue was a member of the privy council and had 2 elections.
political nation saw goodwill’s replacement as royal interference. his interference was illegal.
compromise : goodwill + fortescue = dismissed + new election.
shirley case
1604 : MP thomas shirley was arrested for debt.
MP’s established parliament privilege of freedom from arrest while parliament sitting.
to assert a point, parliament sent a governor to the prison shirley was at until he was released.
treaty of london
1604 : an agreement between spain and england, which ended conflict from defeat of spanish armarda.
england demanded for trade with spanish colonies, which was denied.
the treaty ended english aid to dutch +protection to spanish ships in english channel.
bates case
1606 : john bates refused to buy imposition taxes on goods, argued only parliament could impose tax.
court rules in james’ favour, introduced new impositions on greater number of goods in book of rates.
MP’s unhappy as james moved closer to financial independence.
book of rates
listed official valuations of times on which customs duties should be paid.
due to fixed valuations, income did not keep up with inflation.
new book of rates : impositions became worth £700k per year, equivalent to parliament subsidies.
the great contract
1610 : cecil tried to address james’ financial issue.
offered £200k a year to james to eliminate his debt. james found it too little.
the political nation didn’t like it as it would come out of their money.
parliament found it gave james too much financial independence.
failure.
parliament 1614
only lasted 8 weeks. the failure of the great contract, cecil’s death, and selling of crown land reduced long-term income. 1614 debt = £680k
James’ indecisiveness as he appointed no secretary of state to represent him in commons until last minute.
30 year war
was triggered by election of german catholic prince to position of king of bohemia.
protestants rebelled against the emperor ferdinand habsburg and offered crown to frederick of palatinate = accepted the crown.
james’ daughter elizabeth was married to frederick.
catholic victory at battle of white mountain in october 1620 - frederick and elizabeth.
palatine was a key location for spanish
spanish match
charles and buckingham travel to spain incognito to win the infanta (princess).
charles has no idea that Maria Anna was strongly against marrying a non-catholic.
james and charles would have to pledge to repel anti-catholic laws.
charles feels defeated - meets future wife in paris on the way back.
parliament 1624
james = is ill so Buckingham takes lead in foreign policy.
failure of the spanish match : charles sides with parliament - undermining his father.
parliament wants war with spain : james eventually agrees and forces parliament to vote subsides.
parliament is reluctant to do this and people see this as james manipulating parliament.
