Stuart Britain- James I and Parliament (Finances)

Question 1

Divine Right of Kings

Answer 1

King ruled because God had chosen him to be king -> he was God’s earthly representative

Question 2

First Parliament

Answer 2

March 1604 -> delayed because of plague outbreaks

Question 3

Second session with Parliament

Answer 3

began with discovery of Gunpowder plot

Question 4

Extravagance

Answer 4

• Spent £185,000 on jewels in first 9 years, £116,000 on son’s funeral, favourites,

Question 5

Inherited Debt

Answer 5

£420, 000

Question 6

Spending in 1606 to 1618

Answer 6

£816,000 -> £900,00

Question 7

Flawed system resulting in financial problems

Answer 7

• English tax paying classes were in a position where they only had to pay sporadic and relatively meagre financial support to monarchy.
• Country’s richest landowners (who were worth thousands of pounds annually) only had to pay a couple of hundred pounds annually when a subsidy was granted

Question 8

The Great Contract

Answer 8

• Created by Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury
• Parliament would pay off royal debt of £600,000 and agree to give James £200,000 a year. In return Salisbury offered concessions over Wardships, the end of Purveyance and some legal privileges enjoyed by crown.

Question 9

Failure of the Great Contract

Answer 9

DISTRUST
Parliament - believed a permanent addition to royal revenue would make James independent of Parliament > Fear of absolute monarchy as seen occurring in Europe
The King - Sir Julius Caesar pointed out to James that once he lost his Feudal Rights the actual increase was only £85,000 pa. Crown would lose Patronage. £200,000 was a fixed rate - subject to inflation.

Question 10

Book of Rates

Answer 10

1604, Rates on custom duties laid down in book, reissued with higher charges and adjustments

Question 11

John Bate Case

Answer 11

1606, Refused to pay on currants he was importing through London. Cecil pursued Bate in the court of Exchequer. Judge Flemming judged that the crown’s prerogative allowed it to impose imposition on selected goods.

Question 12

New Book of Rates

Answer 12

1608, over 1000 luxury items, in a single year 70,000 was raised

Question 13

Book of Bounty

Answer 13

1608

• Introduced by Robert Cecil
• Set down agreed levels of gifts and pensions

Question 14

James’ Ministers

Answer 14

Cecil, Howards, Cranfield

Question 15

Work of Howards to improve Financial Situation

Answer 15

Sold off titles for cash -> 1611 creation of the baronetcy which could be purchased for £1095 by anyone owning land worth £1000 or more
- 1614, tried to marry Prince Charles to the Spanish Infanta, dowry of £600,000

Question 16

Work of Cranfield to improve Financial Situation

Answer 16

1619- reissued Cecil’s Book of Bounty
1620- First minister to balance books
Reduced King’s household expenses by 50%