James: Parliament Flashcards
Parliamentary Privilege
Free access to monarch and the house of lords to convey opinions.
The right to correct mistakes or misunderstandings that may prejudice the commons.
Freedom from arrest while parliament is sitting and for 20 days after it is dissolved (except treason, felony, and breach of the peace).
Freedom of speech (within vague limits that were often disputed).
Shirley’s Case
1604: MP Thomas Shirley was arrested for debt.
It upset MP’s as it infringed on their right to freedom from arrest.
They sent the governor of fleet debtors prison to the tower of London until Shirley was released
The Buckinghamshire Election
Court of Chancery annulled election of Francis Goodwin as MP, as he was an outlaw due to debt and John Fortescue, a privy councillor replaced him.
MPs unhappy, viewed it as royal interference, reinstated Goodwin.
James thought this was illegal and claimed all parliamentary privilege came from him and that the commons could not decided disputed elections.
Compromised, both Goodwin and Fortescue dismissed, new election held and James agreed Parliament could judge some elections.
Union of Scotland and England
1606: James declared:
1)His title would be ‘King of GB, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Parliament didn’t want it to be GB as they thought the laws would be abolished and written for more power.
2)New currency called the ‘unite’.
3)All ships carry the union flag.
Parliament opposed it on religious, legal, economic and political grounds, disliked the Scots, worried about James absolutist tendencies.
Addled Parliament of 1614
1) Financial need: conflict over impositions, high debt: £680,000 and Crown struggling for income
2) Factional Conflict: competing groups in politics, e.g. Howard (pro Catholic Spain) faction vs Protestant faction.
3) Manipulation of MPs: caused fears of absolutism as Crown deals to ensure parliamentary support were leaked, e.g. Bacon’s idea of influencing elections through patronage.
4) James’ indecisiveness: Appointed no secretary of state to represent him in commons until the last minute, then picked incompetent Ralph Winwood.
Parliament of 1621
Monopolies: Used for rivalries such as when Buckingham, Coke and Cranfield impeached rival Bacon over monopolies. Tension
Foreign Policy: James implied MPs could discuss foreign policy as he wished to scare Spain into peace by forcing a marriage Charles to a Spanish princess or otherwise there would be war. MPs opposed, Arminians supported him. Tension
