James I and Parliament

Question 1

What is the Divine Right of Kings?

Answer 1

Kings are appointed by God and were only answerable to God

Question 2

What problems did James’ belief in the Divine Right cause?

Answer 2

James says he does not intend to rule absolutely –> Parliament suspicious
Insisted on prerogative rights:
1) Right to adjudicate over disputed elections to HoC
2) Right to purveyance (purchase of provisions at lower price for royal households)
3) Right to wardships (crown had care of underage heirs and could make money from estates)
Set the scene for more serious disputes later on

Question 3

What financial problems did James inherit?

Answer 3

Elizabeth had sold crown lands —> reduced income
Subsidies granted by Parliament decreased in value due to outdating methods —> Parliamentary tax brings in less money
Inflation —> Grants have less purchasing power
Corruption e.g. Lord Treasurer, tax collectors

Question 4

How was his extravagance an issue?

Answer 4

Expected ‘land of milk and honey’ in comparison to Scotland
Lonely childhood —> thought generosity was way to make friends
Wife and family = big spenders
Elizabeth had not been generous —> gap for James to be
Elaborate court festivities

Question 5

What were some solutions to financial problems?

Answer 5

Increase customs duty through new Book of Rates
Selling titles
Fining Catholics
Manage Crown lands effectively
Raising a benevolence
Increase revenue from Court of Wards

Question 6

What were some financial disputes?

Answer 6

Impositions:
- Right for crown to collect them disputed in Bate’s case
- Later agreed that no new impositions could be enforced without consent of Parliament
Great Contract of 1610:
Biggest financial dispute
- Drawn up by Earl of Salisbury
- James surrender some revenue from prerogative in return for Parliament to pay off his £600,000 debt (1610), and offer him an income of £200,000 each year
- HoC prepared to offer £200,000 but not debts
- James lowers to £500,000
- Fails
Cockayne Project 1614:
- Export finished instead of unfinished cloth to the Dutch
- Dispute with Merchant Adventurers
- Failed as Cockayne had no experience
- Made merchant classes angry at James
Monopolies:
- Dispute in 1621 Parliament
- Cancelled around 20 grants of monopolies
Reforms of Cranfield:
- Become Lord Treasurer in 1621
- Inc revenue, cut expenditure
- Ministers hampered in making money

Question 7

What were James’ general aims in his foreign policy?

Answer 7

Saw himself as a mediator and only wanted peace

Question 8

Peace with Spain 1604

Answer 8

Made peace with Spain
—> largely favoured by Parliament

Question 9

Alliance with France

Answer 9

Henry VI of France wanted James to join him against Spain
Nothing substantial happens

Question 10

Peacemaking

Answer 10

Married his daughter Elizabeth to Frederick of Palatinate
Parliament strongly in favour of this

Plans to marry Charles to Spanish infanta
Strongly opposed by Parliament

Question 11

Outbreak of 30yr War

Answer 11

1618 = Frederick of Palatinate invades Habsburgs
James did not want to intervene
Habsburgs ally with Spanish
1621 = peace with Netherlands expires

Public think James should support daughter
MP’s want Protestant marriage

Question 12

Spanish Match

Answer 12

MPs believe James overinfluenced by Spanish envoy and dowry
Spanish wanted to neutralise James

Question 13

Charles and Buckingham in Madrid

Answer 13

1623 = go to Madrid in disguise
Spanish believed Charles ready to become Catholic, terms reflected this
Buckingham becomes intent on war with Spain