James I: attitude to Parliament, parliamentary privilege, religion, finance and foreign policy Flashcards
What did James say in his speech to Parliament in 1610 about his view of the monarchy?
“The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth: For kings are not only God’s lieutenants upon earth…but even by God himself they are called gods”
What does this quote reveal about monarchy and James’ views of it?
By the time of the Stuarts, the monarchy had been long established as the central organ of political power, but nonetheless was constrained constitutionally by a variety of legal avenues. But James still felt he could operate how he wished
Did James favour his Scottish Parliaments or the English institution more?
His experience of Scottish parliaments were much more the tool of the Crown than the English institution was.
Were James and Parliament in agreement about the divine right of kings?
James and Parliament were ultimately in agreement about the suitability of the concept of the divine right of kings. Nonetheless, Parliament did not see this as justification for James acting with impunity, which James at times did. The main division that emerged was over the problem of finance.
How can James be argued to be pragmatic?
His pragmatism and willingness to compromise for political stability that was the mark of the rest of his kingship
How did James’ 1610 speech to Parliament demonstrate his pragmatism?
In the second half of the speech, he touched upon how Parliament was a key element in how he governed
What mistake did James make by allowing Parliament to speak on what?
James made the mistake of allowing parliamentary debates on specific topics to broaden into bigger, dangerous discussions about the balance between his prerogative and parliamentary privilege
What was James’ first parliament dominated by?
By a number of issues that raised constitutional questions, notably the relationship between his prerogative and parliamentary privilege
When was James’ first parliament?
1604-1611
Who was arrested in 1604 for debt?
MP Thomas Shirley was arrested in 1604 for debt
How did Shirley’s arrest in 1604 upset MPs?
Shirley’s arrest upset MPs who were keen to establish the parliamentary privilege of freedom from arrest while Parliament was sitting
Who did Parliament send to assert their point in Shirley’s Case of 1604?
Parliament sent the governor of the Fleet debtors’ prison, where Shirley had been held, to the Tower of London until he was released
When was the unification of England and Scotland?
1606
Why did James desire the unification of Scotland and England?
The unification was part of James’ design for his new kingdom to be secure internally and to have peace with Europe
How did people react to the idea of unifying Scotland and England?
There was immediate opposition even over the name ‘Great Britain’
Why were people opposed to the idea of a ‘Great Britain’?
some were concerned that the new state would abolish English laws, since the king, as the ‘source of law’, could rewrite the laws of a newly formed kingdom and could give himself more scope to exercise absolute authority
Which session of the first Parliament did debates on the Union dominate?
the third session, which opened in November 1606
What did historian Pauline Croft note about hostility to the Union?
“hostility to the Union proved impossible to overcome. MPs opposed it on religious, economic and political grounds”
What happened to James’ plans for the Union in the end?
In the end, the king’s plans for the Union collapsed amid parliamentary opposition
What was the main reason for James’ dissolution of his first parliament in 1611?
The primary reason for James’ dissolution of his first parliament was not the conflict on the issue of Union but the failure to reach a parliamentary solution to the Crown’s financial difficulties
What specific issue was tied to financial difficulties that led to the dissolution of James’ first parliament?
The Great Contract further alienated James from Parliament as seen in his angry letter to his privy council in 1611
What did James say in his angry letter to his privy council in 1611?
They have, “encroached upon many of our rights, and plagued our finances with their delays”
What was James’ second Parliament called and why?
The ‘Addled Parliament’ of 1614 alludes to its ineffectiveness
How long did his Addled Parliament last?
It lasted no more than eight weeks of 1614 before James dissolved it
