Section 1, 1603 - 16 Flashcards
What causes a temporary power vacuum in 1603?
March - Queen Elizabeth I of England dies
Last member of the Tudor line, vacuum opens as parliament determines a successor
What is the state of finance in 1603?
National debt at £400,000, even though Elizabeth was not frivolous with national funds
What creates stagnated conflict within the church in 1603?
Initial conflicts between Caths & Prots following the Prot Reformation have calmed
Ideological compromise reached with only minimal levels of backlash occurring from more radical groups
Bloody Mary 1553-58
Spanish armada to reinstate Catholicism (1588)
What is the state of English foreign policy in 1603?
England currently at war with Spain, has been for 18 years
Opposition from Catholic Factions.
What is current parliaments job in 1603?
Find a suitable successor to the throne.
When did James VI of Scotland become king of England & Ireland?
How long had he been ruling in Scotland?
Who was his wife?
July 1603
36 years
Anne of Denmark
How did James’ initial finances compare to Elizabeth’s?
James more accommodated to handling of Scottish finance, dealt with far smaller funds (prior annual revenue only £50,000), meaning he may not be best equipped to handle the finance of England.
What were James’ religious views when he took the English throne & how did they align with the Church of England?
Protestant, coming from presbyterian Scotland, meaning his faith is in line with that of the national church, and the majority of his new subjects
Also firm believer in Predestination (the belief that God makes all, and thus people cannot fall astray from his path), meaning he is more open-minded (Puritans)
What were James’ views on foreign policy in 1603?
Conflict as a last resort, peace should be maintained whenever possible
‘Rex Pacificus’
What were the political pros & cons to James as successor?
Relatively untested, as best fit in realms of geographical convenience, religion and uncontroversial policies
Main point of contention were rumours describing him as physically unpleasant as an individual, that mainly stemmed from traditional English Anti-Scottish Xenophobia
What was the Millinery Petition?
June 1603 - presented whilst on journey to London
Petition by puritan radicals who sought reform to the national church
James sympathetic (belief in predestination), decides to designate part of parishioners’ tithes to improve the salaries of ministers
The petition asked for such reforms that were anti-Catholic in nature
What was the Main Plot?
1603
Conspiracy Theory about a group of important political figures, mainly Elizabeth I’s favourite, Walter Raleigh
Alleged plot to overthrow the king and replace with cousin, Arabella Stuart
Raleigh imprisoned in Tower of London for treason
Who was Raleigh?
Why was he executed?
Elizabeth favourite
Involved in Main Plot
Failed attempt to regain favour with James in the form of an expedition from 1616-18 to find El Dorado.
Why was it considered that the Main Plot was a fabrication by James?
Remove Raleigh from power to improve relations with Spain; Raleigh financed several colonies in the Americas that interfered with Spanish plans
What was the Hampton Court Conference?
1604
Held to address concerns of influential individuals within the national church, including requests of the Millenary Petition
What did the Hampton Court Conference achieve?
No religious changes made, but work does initiate on King James’ Bible (1611), a translated version of the original Latin Bible
Publicly shows he’s willing to listen to alternate religious concerns
Clash over episcopacy (moderations not abolition)
When was James’ First Parliament?
What was its alternate name?
1604 - 11
The Blessed Parliament
Parogued temporarity in summer of 1610 after the Great Contract
What was the main topic during James’ First Parliament?
Union of Scotland & England - rejected by P & courts on grounds that it would effect Eng common law
James denied a subsidy as funds still being collected (begins financial issues between the two)
How did James’ First Parliament affect their relationship?
James not gaining anything indicative of reason for disdain between the two
What was the Buckinghamshire Election Case?
1604
Francis Goodwin selected as Buckinghamshire MP by popular vote
J disliked as an outlaw, stating parliamentary privileges were granted by the crown and could be taken away
Form of apology and satisfaction: removed Goodwin & replacement rival MP Francis Hastings, who was disliked & re-elections
How did the Buckinghamshire Election Case cause conflict between crown & Parliament?
Defines grey area in crown prerogative
What was the Shirley’s Case
1604
MP Shirley arrested for debt & held in the Fleet (Prison in London)
Led to P outcry as breached P privilege (freedom from arrest)
Eventually released & allowed to sit in the commons, but his debts were left unpaid
How did the Shirley’s Case affect crown & parliament relationship?
Tension surrounding arrest of MPs (P privilege)
What were Bancroft’s Cannons?
A set of texts that actively went against the Millenarian Petition, and puritanism in general, upholding orthodox doctrines of the church
Drive for conformity
How does James show his subtle distaste for puritanical beliefs in 1604?
1604, backed Bancroft to become Archbishop of Canterbury following release of Bancroft’s cannons
Drive for conformity
What was the Treaty of London?
1604
Ends war with Spain after 19 years
Reduces expenditure
Cath free worship in Eng
Peace till end of J reign apart form financial involvement in 30 years war
What was The Gunpowder Plot?
1605
Catholic plot to explode the houses of parliament to kill James & replace him with a Cath head of state
Perpetrators executed & no. of anti-Cath laws but not conventionally harsh insinuating J lack of anti-Cath hatred
What was The Bates’ Case?
1606
Merchants John & Robert Bates refuse to pay customs duties imposed by James I, as deemed it unconstitutional that they were introduced without the say of parliament
Court ruled in J favour
Re-Assures royal prerogative to impose tax without parliament’s approval
Adds to crown & P issues
In 1607, how does James worsen finances & his relationship with parliament?
Repays the debts of his Scottish Favourites: Haddington, Hay & Montgomery, old favourites of James from Scotland have their debts paid off using royal finance at the cost of 44,000
J financial priorities displayed, with national debt sitting at >£500,000, J seen to be dedicating national finance on gifts to friends.
Parliament may react hesitantly to providing finance for James in future, for fear of frivolity.
How did favoriteship of Robert Carr emerge?
1607
Scottish nobleman and page to James
Sought to make him a favourite and improve his social standing. Unable to gift crown lands, he discussed with Chief Minister Cecil, who suggested that Sherborne Castle could be gifted to Carr, as it’s owner was at that time imprisoned
What was problematic of James’ favourtism of Robert Carr?
Favourite with minimal experience in positions of influence, drawing distaste from other significant figures who feared this favouritism
Scottish
How did the Midland Revolt demonstrate the presence of newly formed political beliefs in average citizens
1607
Radical group called the Levellers started a revolt in the Midlands against land closures, stopped in June
Levellers believe in religious tolerance & suffrage, & are named after their desire for a level plain
What was the Flight of the Earls
1607
Number of Roman Catholic Irish earls flee Ireland and seek refuge in European Catholic countries (mainly Spain) who also took followers with them
What was the effect of the Flight of the Earls on religion & politics in Ireland?
R: Left the group of Anti-English Caths less organised, strengthening the Prot presence in Ireland
FP: With influential leaders of oppositional forces gone, England has a strong grip on Ireland
Who replaced Thomas Sackville as Lord Treasurer in 1608?
What was his the new man’s main achievement?
Robert Cecil
Oversaw the central architecture of the Books of Bounty (taxes)
What were the Books of Bounty, est 1608?
These texts highlighted what was and wasn’t taxable
Incentivised by a number of years of bad tax collections (weighing to inefficient collection systems) & James growing want for more personal income, due to his tendencies to gift large sums to favourites, setting aside £25,000 a year for his son Henry, and expanding the royal wardrobe.
What was significant about The East India Company setting up its factory in Surat, India in 1608?
Utilises the monopoly they were granted by Elizabeth for 15 years
Opens opportunities for national income from colonies in The East
What happened to the Plantation of Ulster in 1609?
J permits the movement of mostly Northern English and Southern Scottish settlers to the estimated half a million acres of arable land, taking advantage of the abandoned noble lands in Northern Ireland
What was the effect of the repopulating of the Plantation of Ulster in 1609?
R: establishes a strong protestant presence in Northern Ireland
FP: can grow into a point of contention between locals and settlers
What was the Great Contract?
1610
James & Cecil
£600,000 subsidy & a annual crown income of £200,000 in exchange for J giving up some feudal rights
Fell through as parliament feared that James may misappropriate the income
J resorts to alternate forms of income which were controversial or inflated the economy
When & why was Arabella Stuart imprisoned?
1610
Contender to the throne is imprisoned after her marriage to another contender, William Seamor, duke of somerset.
Loose end tied for James
(1604 Main Plot to overthrow James for arabella)
What was the Case of Proclamations?
1610
Establishes parameters of royal prerogative
Laws can only be passed through parliament
Prerogative can be examined after the fact by parliament, to determine whether the action was deemed appropriate
Dr. Bonham’s case: was deemed that a man was wrongfully imprisoned for practising medicine without a licence
When was Abbot made Archbishop of Canterbury?
What was significant about this?
1611
Puritan sympathies
Aided translation for the King James Bible
This allowed for a widespread understanding of the bible by those who were literate.
When was the first hereditary title of ‘Baronet’ introduced & why?
May 1611
Awarded to Sir Nicholas Bacon
Mainly a tool used by the king to increase national finance in the short term
When did Robert Cecil die?
Who replaced him as Secretary of State?
1612
James’ favourite, Robert Carr
Demonstrates nepotistic tendencies to parliament
When does Prince Henry die?
What happens in consequence of this?
1612
Eldest son to James, the heir to the throne is now the ill equipped Charles
Who does Elizabeth Stuart (James’ daughter) marry in 1613?
Who does this set up alliances between?
Friedrich of the Holy Roman Empire
Britain and Protestant nations in Europe
Who is made the Earl of Somerset in 1613?
Robert Carr, favourite
What plot were Carr & Howard involved in in 1613?
Carr marries Frances Howard
Thomas Overbury, friend of Carr, attempts to prevent the marriage due to distrust of the Howards
Put in the tower of London for doing so, where he died
When was James’ Second Parliament?
What was its alternate name & why?
1614
The Addled Parliament
No bills were passed, as the parliament was ‘Addled’ with debates over imposition of taxes
Dissolved after two months
James will have to find another method of finance
What was James’ method of raising funds after the failure of the Addled Parliament?
1614
James calls for a mandatory donation of funding from the richest in the towns and villages in the country
Something of a success, meaning James may be inclined to use it again
What is significant about the August Hunt in Apethorpe?
James meets George Villiers who quickly replaces Carr as James’ favourite
(not yet Buckinham)
What was the Cockayne Project?
1614
Embargo the dutch’s cloth trade, and instead refine and manufacture cloth in England, as such, a monopoly was granted to William Cockayne
Dutch boycotted & caused its failure & slump in Eng trade
in 1615, what assured James’ claim to the throne remained untested?
Arabella Stuart (wife to 1st Earl of Somerset, William Seamor, also a possible contender) starves herself to death in the tower of London
How is George Villiers position elevated in 1616?
Made Master of the Horse
Following this, he is made Viscount in August, being given a package of land worth £80,000 in the process
(not yet Buckingham)
Who was tried in May 1616 & how was James involved?
Robert Carr & wife, Frances Howard
Both are sentenced to death, but are saved by James, and instead imprisoned in the tower of London
(1613 plot to imprison them for their marriage by Thomas Overbury)
Who was James’ favourite before he became king of England?
Esme Stuart, Duke of Lennox
1579 - 81
When was Robert Carr James’ favourite?
1607 - 13
When was Buckingham James’ favourite?
1615 - 25
