Topic 1- James & Parliament

Question 1

geography in Britain in 1603

Answer 1

United Kingdom = a ‘country of countries’. It is the country
formed in 1706 (after the scope of this course – so do NOT use
this term), uniting the kingdoms of Scotland and England. Today it
also includes northern Ireland.

Question 2

beliefs and ideologies in England

Answer 2

Religion was the framework through which people viewed the world.
Religion justified both aspects of society at large and legitimised the political system.

Question 3

‘the great chain of being’

Answer 3

the belief that God had structured society in a certain manner for the
benefit of all. People believed their position in society was determined by God and that to question
it was improper. Belief in the Great Chain of Being legitimised a high degree of social stratification
and inequality and this was a significant part of the social structure.

Question 4

divine right of kings

Answer 4

The Divine Right
theory was the idea that a monarch’s legitimacy (their right to rule) stemmed from the fact they had
been appointed by God. The implication of this idea on the power of the monarch were twofold:
Firstly, the king’s decisions are supported by God and, secondly, disobedience to the king was sinful
to God. This system of belief was to cause problems for both kings.

Question 5

political structure, monarch (government)

Answer 5

The Monarch held ‘royal prerogatives’ – things that
it was the monarch’s exclusive right to control. These
involved:
Foreign policy,
The ability to call, dissolve, and prorogue Parliament
To appoint judges
To govern the Church of England
To appoint Privy Councillors
To grant peerages and lordships (appoint members to
the House of Lords)

the king also had the responsibility to manage royal
finances

These broad array of powers meant that the
monarch’s personality was important for the manner
in which they ruled the country.

Question 6

political structure in england, house of commons composition

Answer 6

Elected landowners/nobles
representing regions (not
payed).
Voting restrictions based on
land ownership

Approx. 5% could vote.

Question 7

the political structure of england, house of lords composition

Answer 7

Not elected – seats based on
their position in society. E.G.
* Dukes
* Earls
* Barons/lords
Bishops
Appointed knights

Question 8

kings view of divine right

Answer 8

Both James and Charles believed
that their powers came from God.
They believed that they were God’s
regent and representative on Earth
and that their authority should be
respected as such.

Question 9

parliaments view of divine right

Answer 9

Parliamentarians believed that the
monarch may well be appointed by
God, but that this did not give the
king absolute power. Instead, they
believed that the monarch should
rule within the laws passed by
Parliament.

Question 10

royal prerogative, kings view

Answer 10

Both James and Charles believed
the king had the power to take
many decisions on their own,
without consulting Parliament.
They regarded control over foreign
policy, control of the army, the
right to call and dissolve
Parliament, and the Governance of
the church, as their sole
responsibility. They both believed
Parliament had no right to
interfere in these affairs.

Question 11

royal prerogative, parliaments view

Answer 11

Parliamentarians believed they had
the right to freedom of speech to
discuss matters that the king had
control of. After all, these issues
mattered to Parliament: if the king
was to go to war, Parliament would
likely be asked to raise taxes for
that war effort. Hence,
Parliamentarians believed that had
the right to freely speak about
affairs relating to the royal
prerogative.

Question 12

parliamentary privileges, kings view

Answer 12

Both James and Charles believed
that the Crown had the right to
formulate and control policies.
They believed that Parliament had
no right to contradict their policy in
matters relating to the Royal
Prerogative.

Question 13

parliamentary privileges, parlaments view

Answer 13

Parliament had a strong sense of
their historic and ancient liberties
as stretching back to the Magna
Carta in 1215. They believed that
these privileges must be respected
by the king and country. The
Parliamentary privileges they felt
particularly strongly about were:
* The right to freedom from
arrest
* The right to freedom of
speech: they believed they had
the right to discuss matters
relating to the country such as
taxation, religion, foreign
affairs, etc.
* The monarch had no right to
enter the House of Commons.

Question 14

impeachment, the kings view

Answer 14

The monarch believed that their
choice of minister was a matter of
the royal prerogative and that
Parliament should not interfere.

Question 15

impeachment, parliaments view

Answer 15

Parliament believed that they had
the right to impeach (make a
charge against an official) members
of the royal court. This would be
frequently used to bring the King’s
ministers to account.

Question 16

finances, how did the financial system work

Answer 16

Since medieval times there was an expectation that the King paid for the running of government and
only turned to Parliament in ‘extraordinary’ times – such as war. Unfortunately for James and
Charles, the cost of government had expanded dramatically by the 17th century for a number of
reasons. This meant that the monarchs ‘ordinary income’ was no longer enough to pay for the costs
of government and the king increasingly had to rely on Parliament.

Question 17

ordinary income

Answer 17

Monarch’s private income: supposed to cover the day-to-day costs of
government. E.g. patronage, cost of
administration, royal court.

Question 18

ordinary income, income from private land

Answer 18

farming and other forms of income such as rent from land owned by the monarch

Question 19

ordinary income, ship money

Answer 19

the right to raise money
from coastal counties to pay for the
navy. Only accepted in times of national emergency.

Question 20

ordinary income, wardship

Answer 20

monarch took over the land
of orphaned gentry and took income
from land

Question 21

ordinary income, purveyance

Answer 21

The crown’s right to
purchase goods below market value.

Question 22

extraordinary income

Answer 22

Income from Parliament: supposed to provide for the cost of extra-ordinary issues such as war, coronations, royal funerals

Question 23

extraordinary income, tonnage and poundage

Answer 23

a customs tax on
imports/exports. Usually conferred by Parliament to a monarch at the start of their reign.

Question 24

extraordinary income, parliamentary subsidies

Answer 24

a one-off wealth tax

Question 25

reason for dispute over ordinary income

Answer 25

James and Charles believed that
Parliament had a duty to supply the
Monarch with the finances he required.

Question 26

reason for dispute over extraordinary income

Answer 26

Parliament believed that they should only grant taxes when they felt it was necessary. Parliament often used their control of taxes
to influence policies.
e.g. if the monarch wanted the money for war, Parliament might try to influence the nature of the war before granting taxes.

Question 27

why did parliament and James disagree 1603-1625

Answer 27

Unlike his son Charles, James I and Parliament did maintain an ongoing relationship throughout his
reign. However, at times the relationship was strained. James dissolved Parliament three times
(1611, 1614, 1622) through the course of his reign and got into countless more arguments with
them.

Question 28

James and parliament disputes over divine right of kings

Answer 28

James’ firm conviction that his political legitimacy
stemmed from God made him believe that his word should be obeyed. Parliament, however, believed that James should rule within the laws of Parliament and
firmly believed he should not go beyond these. These concerns extended to a desire to
prevent royal absolutism.

Question 29

James and parliament disputes over parliamentary privileges

Answer 29

James’ viewed Parliament as subservient to his
powers and his authority.
Parliament, on the other hand, were keen to ensure there were no infringements on their
privileges and historic rights. These included things such as the right to freedom of speech and the absence of royal interference.

Question 30

James and parliament, disputes over finances

Answer 30

The monarch’s ordinary income did not cover the costs of
government during this period. This meant that James had to call on Parliament to supply
him with financial support through taxes. Parliament, however, were not always willing to hand over taxes – or they wanted certain
concessions in return. Usually Parliament wanted ‘redress of grievances’ before they granted
taxes. This issue caused countless disputes.

Question 31

James and parliament, disputes over foreign policy

Answer 31

It was the monarch’s royal prerogative to control foreign
affairs. However, Parliament believed that they had the Parliamentary Privilege to freedom of speech to discuss all matters – including foreign affairs. Parliament’s particular concern
during this period was that James was carrying out a pro-Spanish/Catholic policy; whereas
Parliament’s instinct was to support Protestants throughout Europe.

Question 32

1604- Goodwin case during James’ first parliament

Answer 32

Francis Goodwin was elected MP for Buckinghamshire in 1604,
but the election was disputed. James’ lawyers disputed the election on the grounds he was an outlaw who had failed to pay debts. The House of Commons supported Goodwin and were shocked by apparent royal interference.
James believed the House of Commons had acted illegally to allow
a criminal to take up their seat in the House of Commons. Because of this, James believed he had both the right, because of the Divine Right of Kings, and the responsibility, to settle the election. Goodwin was dismissed by James and his opponent, John Fortescue, who was a privy councillor, was returned in his place. When taking this action, James had not sought legal advice.
parliaments concern was that James was attempting to reduce
the political independence of the Commons and fill it with his own
allies. He had done this in Scotland where the monarch was able
to appoint members.
April James backed down and conceded the right of the Commons to settle elections. New elections took place.

Question 33

1604- union of England and Scotland, during first parliament

Answer 33

Scotland and England were separated in laws, religion, cultures
and political systems. however, they were united by one king for the first
time. James I believed it was his divine right to unite the kingdoms
James made a proposal to Parliament to unite the kingdoms
under the name of ‘Britain’. Yet, Parliament rejected his proposal
for the Union. MPs were fearful that the new kingdom would have no laws and that the English Parliament would be a mere provincial assembly with little power. One MP stated that it would result in the ‘utter extinction of all laws now in force’. James recognised, again, that this was an impossibility. So he stepped away from the political proposal and advocated a symbolic one.

Question 34

James symbolic proposal when uniting England and Scotland

Answer 34

*Called himself The King of Great Britain.
* Created the ‘Jack’ flag after the latin name for James. This
was used on all British ships from 1606.
* Re-designed the Royal Coat of Arms with the lion of
England balanced by the Unicorn of Scotland.

Question 35

1606- bates case.

Answer 35

In 1604 James re-issued a Book of Rates which set new market
prices on customs taxes. He also leased out the collection of these
taxes to collect customs revenue. The terms of this leasing were
that the merchants (known as customs farmers) who received the
lease had to pay £120,000 to James each year. Yet, they gained
the profits of further collections. gaining the king regular income and customs farmers have interest in collecting as much as possible. Yet, this caused problems for Parliamentarians. It looked as if
James was creating a taxation system outside of Parliament’s control. . Bate refused to pay a customs duty on currants, claiming it had not been legitimised by
Parliament. The judge dismissed it in favour of the King’s argument that the monarch had the right to regulate trade

The implication of this was that taxes were expanded. In 1608 a
new Book of Rates was published allowing over 1,000 new items
to be taxed.

Question 36

1610- the great contract, first parliament

Answer 36

Robert Cecil, the Earl of Salisbury and James I’s First Lord Treasurer, proposed a comprehensive plan to address the financial issues of James I and his successors.
The Great Contract was aimed at resolving the financial disputes between the Crown and Parliament. It proposed clearing the Crown’s debts through a one-time tax and establishing a £200,000 annual tax for the monarch, with Parliament granting the initial payment.
parliament was Concerns about absolutism: Parliament feared losing its leverage over the monarch’s need for money, potentially undermining their rights and privileges. They worried that if the monarch no longer needed to call Parliament for funds, Parliament’s role would diminish.Concerns about James’ spending habits: Some members of Parliament feared that approving the Contract would only enable James’ extravagant spending further. They questioned the point of providing funds if James would continue to spend recklessly. Parliament ultimately rejected the proposal in 1611, leading James to dissolve Parliament.

Question 37

1614- the addled parliament. 2nd parliament

Answer 37

In 1614 James recalled Parliament with the intention of passing
new legislation and raising new taxes. James’ hope was that he
would be granted subsidies. By 1614 James had a debt of
£680,000 and a deficit of over £50,000 per year. It was not to be.
The Parliament lasted just few weeks and was dissolved without
passing any new legislation or passing any new taxes.
MPs were concerned about James’ extravagance. One MP called
James’ Scottish favourites ‘spaniels to the king and wolves to the people’. When Parliament showed little willingness to grant
subsidies, James dissolved it.

Question 38

1621-monopolies, third parliament

Answer 38

James had been granting monopolies to individuals whereby they
were granted the sole right to sale specific products. In return,
James received a fee for these rights.
Parliamentarians disliked the monopoly system because it
appeared to be a form of corruption. James often granted
monopolies to his friends and allies who would then make large
amounts of money by raising the price of their goods.
Parliament impeached some of the monopolists James had
established. Sir Giles Mompesson was impeached as a result.

Question 39

1621- the 1621 commons protestation of 1621- third parliament

Answer 39

In December 1621, James I of England sought support from Parliament for new taxes to finance a foreign policy agenda in Europe.
However, Parliament became uncertain about the specific purpose of the tax grant and hoped for clarification on James’ foreign policy intentions, particularly regarding support for Protestant causes.
Some members of Parliament criticized James’ plan to marry his son Charles to a Spanish (Catholic) princess, which added to the tension.
James responded angrily by ordering a speech to be read in the House of Commons, asserting his royal prerogative and dismissing Parliament’s interference in matters of treaties, wars, and marriages.
Parliament, in response, issued a Protestation reaffirming their rights and privileges, including the freedom to debate and advise on important matters concerning the state, defense, and the Church of England.
Despite Parliament’s assertion of its rights, James dissolved Parliament in January 1621, indicating escalating tensions between the monarch and Parliament over matters of governance and policy.

Question 40

1624- the sea war dispute 4th parliament

Answer 40

By 1624, England found itself effectively at war with Spain, prompting a cooperative atmosphere in Parliament, particularly in the House of Commons.
Parliament, eager to support England against Catholic Spain, advocated for a “sea war” strategy focused on investing in the navy, attacking Spanish shipping, and raiding coastal towns to aid Protestants fighting against Spain across Europe.
James I emphasized that if Parliament desired war, they must provide funding for it. Negotiations ensued over subsidies, with James initially requesting £780,000, but ultimately Parliament granted only £300,000.
The agreement stipulated that Parliament appointed a commissioner to oversee the expenditure of taxes, and James was restricted to spending the funds exclusively on defense and foreign affairs, prohibiting their use for debt repayment or personal expenditures.
Parliament’s actions highlighted James’ limitations in achieving political success, as he failed to allay fears of his absolutist intentions. Some Parliamentarians remained skeptical of his motives, indicating ongoing tensions between the monarch and Parliament.

Question 41

why did James experience fanatical problems

Answer 41

Through the course of his reign, James I was in debt. On few occasions did James achieve a
surplus, and he left a larger debt than he had inherited for his son. What caused this? Some
argue that it was not James’ fault – it was the problems he inherited. Others argues that it
was his fault because of his extravagance and his failures to work with Parliament.

Question 42

James inherited financial problems, inherited debts

Answer 42

Elizabeth had left behind a debt worth £420,000 which exceeded the
crown’s ordinary income. These debts illustrate that the monarch’s income did not match
expenditure.

Question 43

James inherited financial problems, Elizabeth had sold off crown lands to pay off depts

Answer 43

This meant that James could not rely as much as previous monarchs on the Crowns estates.

Question 44

James inherited financial problems, ordinary income did not cover the cost of governance

Answer 44

‘ordinary income’ from crown lands,
etc did not cover the full costs of government – this meant that James increasingly had to
rely on Parliamentary subsidies for the cost of government

Question 45

James inherited financial problems, inflation meant parliamentary subsidies are worth less

Answer 45

Inflation refers to the rise in the cost of goods. When James received subsidies from Parliament they were at a fixed rate. This meant that James could only afford to buy about a fifth of what Elizabeth could after receiving a subsidy from Parliament.

Question 46

james i and his extravagance

Answer 46

James I faced financial challenges partly due to his own lavish spending habits, which included showering his favorites with gifts and hosting extravagant banquets. In 1614 alone, James spent around £522,000, significantly more than Elizabeth I’s annual expenditure of about £300,000. Although comparing James and Elizabeth’s spending is somewhat unfair due to James having a family to support, James was widely recognized as an extravagant monarch, spending even more than his son, who was more frugal. Examples of his excesses include giving out £80,000 in gifts in 1610, far exceeding Elizabeth’s yearly average, and spending £3,000 on a single “ante-supper” tradition in 1621. James’s spending contributed to increasing debt, which rose from £500,000 to £900,000 between 1614 and 1618. However, James’s generosity was also seen as necessary to maintain support, given his larger family and status as a foreign king.

Question 47

James implementing poor financial policies, customs farmers

Answer 47

Taxes on imports and exports are known as ‘customs’. James issues a new Book of Rates, raising
these taxes in 1604. James also granted contracts to merchants who would collect taxes for him.
They were known as ‘customs farmers’.
James sold customs farming rights for £120,000 – requiring the farmers to collect £120,000 and pay
it back to James.
Yet, this caused two problems:
* Parliament criticised it as ‘extra-Parliamentary taxation’
* The ‘customs farmers’ could keep excess cash collected meaning James missed out on
further revenue

Question 48

James being unable to work with parliament

Answer 48

Parliament could raise taxes whenever they pleased, but they were consistently unwilling to work
with James. The primary reason behind this was that James had failed to convince Parliament of his
intentions – particularly with concerns about his belief in the Divine Right of Kings. for example the great contract.

Question 49

James attitudes towards foreign policy

Answer 49

Primary motivation was ‘Beati Pacifici’ (‘’blessed are the peacemakers’’) and wanted his legacy to be
‘Rex Pacificus’ (the peacemaker).
James’ dislike of war and aim of peace had a number of motivations:
o James overwhelming believed that peace was positive. James believed that peace brought about
prosperity for the economy and individual liberties – things that wars threatened.
o James also believed that war threatened his personal position – Spain sought to replace the
English monarchy with Catholics.
o James recognised that war was costly and peace would encourage trade – something he could
benefit from
o It is also noted by many contemporaries that James hated violence – something usually
attributed to the violence he saw around him growing up in Scotland

Question 50

England and Europe in 1603

Answer 50

At war with Spain since 1585
Anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish motivation to Elizabeth’s foreign policy
Broadly pro-Protestant: Some attempt had been made to support Protestants in the Netherland (who
were in revolt from Spain)

Question 51

James attitudes and aims to foreign policy

Answer 51

Primary motivation was ‘Beati Pacifici’ (‘’blessed are the peacemakers’’) and wanted his legacy to be
‘Rex Pacificus’ (the peacemaker).
James’ dislike of war and aim of peace had a number of motivations:
James overwhelming believed that peace was positive. James believed that peace brought about
prosperity for the economy and individual liberties – things that wars threatened.
James also believed that war threatened his personal position – Spain sought to replace the
English monarchy with Catholics.
James recognised that war was costly and peace would encourage trade – something he could
benefit from
It is also noted by many contemporaries that James hated violence – something usually
attributed to the violence he saw around him growing up in Scotland

Question 52

James and Spain; the treaty of London 1604

Answer 52

James secured peace with Spain in 1604, ending the Anglo-Spanish War that started in 1585.
No side gave any concessions
Success! the benefits to James were numerous. he reduced wartime expenses, trade increased and achieved
peace – his ultimate aim. Spain was delighted with the terms – they had declared bankruptcy in 1598, and no
longer had to worry about English coastal raids.
Yet, there were two problems with this…
* some MPs at home were critical of a more lenient approach to Spain
* James’ lenient approach appeared to abandon the Dutch Protestants (who continued to be at war with
Spain)

Question 53

James and Spain; the ‘Spanish match’

Answer 53

From 1605 onwards, James began to hope he could achieve what became known as the ‘Spanish Match’. This
was the idea that his heir (up to 1612, Henry, after 1612 – Charles) could be married to a Spanish princess.
James’ aim was twofold: Firstly, a marital alliance promised to bind the two crowns together and gain England a
powerful ally. Secondly, James hoped that a marriage would bridge the divide between the Protestants and
Catholics of Europe and perhaps result in greater toleration. It would be reasonably to state that James was
optimistic in these intended outcomes.

Question 54

why negotiations failed for a Spanish match in 1604, Spanish wanted toleration for the Catholics in England

Answer 54

As far as the Spaniards were concerned, religious
toleration would only be in one direction: toleration for Catholics in England. They could not consider
toleration for Protestants in Spain when the Spanish Inquisition was in full operation.

Question 55

reasons Spanish match 1604 failed, Spanish demanded offspring of the match would be raised as Catholics

Answer 55

Spain also tried to convince James
that Henry should be given instructions in Catholic doctrine and to seek an agreement that the children
of such a marriage would be raised as Catholics. Ultimately, Spain continued to desire a return of England
to the Catholic world. For any monarch of England, these demands were unacceptable.

Question 56

spanish faction

Answer 56

This group was motivated by a belief that England should make and maintain peace
with Spain

Question 57

pro-protestant faction

Answer 57

This group was motivated by the notion that England should become a
leader of Protestants within Europe. If this meant that England should fight Spain in order to protect
Protestants, then it should do so.

Question 58

problems in 1621

Answer 58

With the outbreak of War in 1618, the plan was put on hold. Yet, it was returned to in 1621. In 1621 Parliament
was briefly recalled and criticised James’ foreign policy on two counts.
1. Firstly, they criticised his attempt to marry Charles to a Catholic. Parliament was concerned that this
proposed marriage would result in a Catholic gaining the throne in the future.
2. Secondly, they encouraged James to intervene in Europe to protect Protestants. James ordered an
angry speech be read to the House of Commons, complaining that they had ‘trespassed on the Royal
Prerogative’ of foreign policy. Parliament released a Protestation stating they had the right to
freedom of speech to discuss foreign policy. James hastily dissolved Parliament.

Question 59

the Spanish trip by Charles and Buckingham

Answer 59

James persevered with his attempt to marry Charles to a Catholic Spanish princess. James
now hoped that the marriage would bring an end to the war between the Palatinate and Spain. By 1623, James’
health was deteriorating so he allowed Charles and Buckingham to go to Spain to secure the match. Charles and
Buckingham travelled incognito to the Spanish court (using the names of Thomas and John Smith), where they
were refused entry. Once more, Spain refused to commit to a marital date or terms

Question 60

blessed revolution 1624

Answer 60

When Charles and Buckingham returned they were
celebrated as national heroes for not marrying into the Catholic Habsburg family.

Question 61

James and the holy roman empire. the protestant marriage

Answer 61

In February 1613 James married his daughter Elizabeth to Fredrick of the Palatinate. The Palatinate was one of
the four Electors of the HRE (see above), and Fredrick – although only 16 at the time – had shown himself to be a
leading Protestant in Europe as the figurehead of the Protestant League. Fredrick was a Protestant and this
sparked hopes that James would be a leader of Protestant in Europe. This marriage was popular at home.
Success!

Question 62

james and the holy roman empire, bohemia, the palatinate question and the 30 years war.

Answer 62

In 1618, Bohemia (previously controlled by Catholic Habsburgs) experienced a revolt. Those revolting sought to
replace their Catholic, Habsburg Lord with Fredrick of the Palatinate.
Fredrick accepted the position – sparking conflict between the Catholic Habsburgs and Protestants throughout
Europe that would last thirty years.
James, as a Protestant and Fredrick’s father-in-law, was expected to help his son-in-law but he still sought to
achieve the Spanish Match and so did not intervene.

Question 63

james and the holy roman empire- bohemia, the palatine question and the 30 years war

Answer 63

In 1618, Bohemia (previously controlled by Catholic Habsburgs) experienced a revolt. Those revolting sought to replace their Catholic, Habsburg Lord with Fredrick of the Palatinate. Fredrick accepted the position – sparking conflict between the Catholic Habsburgs and Protestants throughout Europe that would last thirty years. James, as a Protestant and Fredrick’s father-in-law, was expected to help his son-in-law but he still sought to achieve the Spanish Match and so did not intervene.

Question 64

james and the holy roman empire

why was bohemia, the palatinate question and the thirty years war a problem to england

Answer 64

In 1621 Parliament criticised James’ foreign policy and argued that he was effectively allowing Protestants to die by failing to intervene.

· Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Abbot, called on England to support Protestant allies.

· Ultimately, James failed to either achieve peace (although this was probably out of his control) nor did he pursue a popular foreign policy agenda.

Question 65

final months 1624-25

charles and buckingham become influentual

mansfield expadition

Answer 65

In the final months of his reign, James was deeply unwell and became side-lined. Buckingham and Charles came to dominate foreign policy. They rode on a wave of popular patriotism and anti-Catholicism and organised an expedition to support the Palatinate and fight the Spanish. By 1625 England was effectively at war with Spain.

Hence in January 1625, the Mansfeld Expedition sought to march a mercenary army of 3,000 troops from the lowlands of Holland all the way through central Europe to recover Fredrick’s lost Palatinate land. The expedition set off, but was immediately met with disaster. The troops were poorly equipped and the Dutch countryside, which was supposed to sustain them, had been ravaged by armies. The expedition disintegrated and achieved nothing, wasting £60,000.

Not only that in 1625 Charles and Buckingham sought to change marital plans. Now recognising that a Spanish Match was impossible, they turned to a pro-French marital alliance. Charles and Buckingham agreed terms with the French which outlined that Charles would marry Henrietta Maria of France.

Yet, the terms of the marriage were deeply unpopular:

1. Maria and her court would be allowed to practice Catholicism
2. Catholics would be granted tolerations
3. Children would be raised as Catholic

Question 66

how sucsessful was james and foregin policy

Answer 66

While James had failed in his ultimate aim of peace, James had some noteworthy success. Achieving peace with Spain, forming alliances, being the arbiter of disputes. These events were significant achievements that helped keep war at bay. Ultimately, the drift into war was something James could not control, but this was more due to European affairs than James’ failed policies. Ultimately, James had noble intentions and the devastation caused by the Thirty Years’ War illustrate that this was a praiseworthy aspiration.

Question 67

how did foregin polocy cause disputes with parliment

the commons protestant 1621

Answer 67

James’ policy of the Spanish Match was criticised in Parliament. Parliament wanted to see Charles married to someone of the Protestant faith and were worried about the potential implications of having a Catholic monarch in the future. James disliked comment on foreign policy, sparking the Common’s Protestation and the dissolution of Parliament

Question 68

foregin policy causing disputes with parliment

sea war dispute 1624

Answer 68

By 1624 the European situation had changed significantly and England was effectively at war with Spain. The Commons was eager to support England against the Catholic Spanish and so the atmosphere was much more cooperative. Parliament was keen that James pursued a ‘sea war’ strategy to help support Protestants fighting [Catholic] Spain throughout Europe. This strategy involved investing in the navy and attacking Spanish shipping, as well as raiding coastal towns.

James made it clear that if Parliament wanted a war, they must be willing to fund the war. Negotiations took place over a new grant of subsidies. James initially wanted £780,000, but the Commons granted just £300,000 in the end.

The terms of the agreement were such that Parliament appointed a commissioner to observe how the taxes were being spent. James was only allowed to spend the money on issues relating to defence and foreign affairs – not to pay debts or spend on favourites.

This illustrated the limits of James’ political success. He had clearly failed to quell Parliamentary fears over his intentions and it is clear that some Parliamentarians mistrusted him.