Stuarts

James came to power

1603

Debts left by Queen Elizabeth I

£420,000

Crown annual income generation

£392,000

Use of parliament by Queen Elizabeth

16 times in 45 years

James made peace with Spain

1604

Buckingham's aggressive foreign policy led to wars against Spain and France

1624-1627

Christian IV of Denmark commented after his visit to James' Court that there were "courtiers passed out at tables and scantily-clad women vomiting in the aisles"

1606

George Villiers became Duke of Buckingham

1623

King James said in a speech at the meeting of the Privy Council "Christ had his John and I have my George"

September 1617

Court spending doubled

From 1603-1625 (James' reign)

Parliament granted James 3 subsidies to help with his debts, but right away he gave £44,000 of the money to 3 of his Scottish friends.

1606

King James hosted the Ante-Supper, where two feasts were prepared and one used for display then thrown away. One supper cost £3300.

1621

Despite a loan of £100,000 from the City of London James was still desperate for money.

1610

James gave away over £90,000, the majority of which went to Scots.

1611

James dissolved Parliament and was forced to use a variety of methods over the next 10 years to obtain funds.

1611.-1621

The Cockayne project was an attempt to grant a monopoly of cloth trade to William Cockayne, but rather the Dutch refused to purchase cloth from England, leading to a decline in the cloth trade.

1614

Royal debt increased from £726,000 to £900,000

From 1617 to 1620

Parliament voted James only 2 subsidies. They were reluctant to grant money because of the economic depression.

1621

James was increasingly granting monopolies to businessmen for a price. There were more than 100 at this time.

1621

Bad harvests weakened James' finances

1623 and 1624

The Statute of Monopolies limited the Crown's right to grant monopolies and established that inventors could receive a patent for their inventions for a period of up to 14 years, providing them with exclusive rights to manufacture and sell their inventions.

1624

The Subsidy Act granted the Crown £300,000 for warfare but the money had to be used for areas of foreign policy agreed upon by Parliament.

1624

Robert Cecil was made Lord Treasurer.

1608

Cecil wanted to increase James' income and reduce his spending. He made James promise to stop gifting land and not to grant any gifts without Cecil's agreement. James failed to keep either promise.

1609

Cecil ordered a survey of Crown lands, aiming to revise leasing policy and make more money. He thus made the Book of Bounty.

1608

Cecil issued the Book of Rates, which updated custom duties. These were updated with inflation.

1608

Cecil's attempted Great Contract, where he started negotiations with Parliament for a major reform of crown finances. He told Parliament that Crown debt was £280,000 and current annual expenditure was £511,000. He was willing to accept an annual subsidy of £200,000 for James in exchange for giving up some feudal rights, e.g. income from wardship. However Parliament was prorogued for the summer and negotiations collapsed in November due to mistrust.

1610

James made a new title of "Baronet", which would cost an individual £1095.

1611

The number of earls increased from 27 to 65 as James allowed Earldoms to be sold for £10,000.

From 1615 to 1628.

Lionel Cranfield took charge of Crown Finances. He investigated the expenses of the Royal Household and made temporary solutions and savings. He managed to cut household expenses by over 50%.

1618

Charles inherited around £1 million of debts from James

1625

Charles' first parliament decided to withhold the now traditional grant of Tonnage and Poundage for life. They only gave it to him for 1 year. The Commons then gave him a meagre grant of only 2 subsidies (£140,000).

1625

Poor expedition to Cadiz (in Spain) and Charles was quick to blame Parliament

1625

A military failure to help French Protestants on the Isle de Rhe was blamed on Buckingham. 5000 lives were lost.

1627

Charles resorted to a forced loan, to support the Danish and help build up his fleet, which raised £240,000 in 10 months but angered many people.

1626

The Parliament began with a generous grant of 5 subsidies worth £300,000. However, Charles was presented with the Petition of Right. This deemed forced loans, billeting of troops, the imposition of martial law and imprisonment without cause illegal. They also wanted the Five Knights' decision reversed.

1628

Buckingham became the King's Master of the Horse

1616

The Millenary Petition (with 1000 signatures) was presented to James en route from Scotland. Those who signed it wanted the removal of popish remnants like the use of the ring in marriage. They urged for stricter Sabbath observance and the cutting down of the service time in church. They also wanted good quality clergy who could preach and increased financial provision for ministers.

1603

James had his Archbishop of Canterbury, Bancroft, issue new Canons (church laws) and all the clergy had to swear to them. 80 (1%) said no and were expelled.

1604

The Gunpowder plot was the planned assassination of the King, other royals and the bulk of the political nation. It was foiled by a tip from a Catholic peer.

1605

James imposed the Oath of Allegiance, which required all Catholics to acknowledge James as the rightful King and renounce the Pope's power.

1606

25 recusants were executed over James' reign compared to 189 between 1570-1603

1603-1625

James did not censor Montagu's publication of an Arminian tract 'A new gag for an old goose'

1624

The Hampton Court Conference took place and popish remnants were set to remain in the Church, there were new translations of the Bible and the Church government was set to remain Episcopalian.

January 1604

Parliament - Problems in the Buckinghamshire election where the Court of Chancery annulled Francis Goodwin becoming the MP for Buckinghamshire on the grounds of him being an outlaw. After hearing he had not been legally outlawed the Commons wanted to reinstate him. Eventually, Goodwin and John Fartescue, who was elected in his place, were both dismissed and a new election held.

1604

This showed an issue between Parliamentary Privilege and James' prerogative.

1604

Parliament - They looked at the abuse of monopolies, partly as a means of attacking Buckingham. The monopolies had led to a decrease in trade between England and its partners. James let MPs discuss foreign policy in an attempt to frighten the Spanish into agreeing to the 'Spanish match', a dynastic marriage between Prince Charles and a Spanish princess (Infanta)

1621

Parliament - There was Shirley's Case where the MP Thomas Shirley was arrested for his debt whilst in Parliament. This angered MPs who were keen to establish the parliamentary privilege of freedom from arrest while Parliament was sitting (except for cases of treason, felony or breach of peace).

1604

In retaliation Parliament sent the governor of the Fleet Debtors' prison, where Shirley had been held, to the Tower of London until Shirley was released.

1604

Parliament - Some MPs drew up a document called "The Form of Apology and Satisfaction" protesting against James' handling of political issues. There were issues about him wanting a Union of Scotland, England and Ireland.

1606

Parliament - It was nicknamed the "Addled Parliament" because of how ineffective it was and it only lasted 8 weeks before James dissolved it. There was conflict between the Crown and Parliament on the King's ability to levy impositions.

1614

Parliament - Parliament was reluctant to provide the necessary funds for the aggressive foreign policy wanted by Charles and Buckingham, who implemented an anti-Spanish policy after the failed Spanish Match.

1624

Articles of Perth - Charles reissued these, originally set by James, forcing kneeling at Communion, confirmations etc (very Catholic)

1625

Buckingham was assassinated

1628

Charles had a debt of £2 million, and to save cash he secured peace with France and also Spain a year later

1629

Charles earn't £240,000 from forced loans. He threatened those who refused wirh imprisonment or army conscription and was the first monarch to carry out such threats.

1626

Charles increased peacetime revenues by 60% by maximising income regardless of the political controversy. He raised short-term credit from private entrepreneurs.

1626-1640

Charles continued to collect the Custom duty of Tonnage and Poundage which earnt him £270,000 a year

1631-1635

The Book of Rates', updated values increased the money obtained from Tonnage and Poundage to £425,000 annually.

1635

Recusancy fines increased from £5,300 a year to £26,866 a year.

1620s - 1634

The Distraint of Knighthood meant that anyone who owned land worth more than £40 and wasn't a knight was fined. This raised £175,000.

By 1635

The Five Knight's Case - 5 gentlemen challenged Charles' right to imprison them for not paying the forced loans. After pressure from the King judges ruled in Charles' favour and he sought to have their judgement entered as a precedent for the future.

1627

There were fears that Charles intended to restore Catholicism and embrace absolutism, or that his advisers and Catholic wife were leading him towards this. This was partially due to the appointment of Arminian leader William Laud as Bishop of London. Unlike Hames, Charles was exclusively promoting one branch of Christianity, Arminianism.

1628

After a heated session regarding Arminianism Charles suspended Parliament, however some MPs ignored the order to disperse and instead held the Speaker in his chair to keep Commons in session. These MPs passé the Three Resolutions condemning the growth of Arminianism, the levying of Tonnage and Poundage, and the actions of those who paid it. This led to Charles dissolving Parliament.

1629

Nine MPs were arrested for their part in forcing the Speaker to sit after the King had ended the session. 5 were quickly released and the 3 ringleaders, Holles, Valentine and Eliot were held in prison and brought to trial the following year.

1629

Charles was vindictive and they were shifted between prisons to evade writs of Habeas Corpus, which would've secured their release until trial. Holles and Valentine were released within weeks when they apologised to the King, but Eliot remained in prison and died two years later, becoming a martyr.

1629

The Book of Orders were issued to local governments, which were books of instructions to JPs, detailing their duties in the collection of Poor Law rates, treatment of beggars, law enforcement, storage of grain, control of local markets, movement of goods and upkeep of roads and bridges

1631

Charles went to Scotland for the first time in 8 years. He came to be crowned and chose Holyrood Palace over traditional places like Scone or Stirling. The ceremony looked very Catholic.

1633

Laud was made Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles was supported by both Laud and Wentworth. Wentworth's work ensured royal authority was maintained in the north and in Ireland, while Laud controlled the Church and dominated the Privy Council. He issued the Book of Orders to local governments .

1633

Ship money began to be collected in 1634, however it was then extended to inland counties. When Ship Money began to be collected, the Book of Orders wasn't administered as effectively. It raised an average of £200,000 annually, the equivalent of 3 parliamentary subsidies.

1635

After preparations for suppressing the Scottish Rebellion were added to their burdens, complaints about harassed justices increased sharply.

1637

The Privy Council was unable to maintain close supervision due to the lack of time and energy. The administrative system was reliant on unpaid amateurs and the attempt to regulate wages to help the poor was unsuccessful as the JPs setting wage levels were also the ones paying the wages. Prerogative courts often overrode local interests for the benefit of the King or his advisors.

1629-1640

Wentworth used his position as President of the Council of the North for himself at the expense of a rival.

1629-1640

William Juxon, the Bishop of London, was appointed Lord Treasurer by Charles, under heavy influence from Laud. Bishops were dependent on the King and his good will and so were forced to do what he said or else risk losing their position. It had previously been customary for the clergy not to intervene with secular affairs.

1636

Charles imposed new canons in Scotland wirh the key aspects being based on the Articles of Perth.

1636

Laud got the Lord Chief Justice Robert Heath dismissed for being Puritan.

1634

St Gregory's Case - Parishioners of St Gregory's church in London challenged the moving of their communion table to east side of the church. the parishioners were brought before the Privy Council.

1633

Ordinary revenue increased - increased rents imposed on Crown land tenants, fines levied on illegal enclosures of land and encroachment on royal forests.

By 1635

There were feudal duties, which forced those owning land worth £40 to pay for a knighthood (and a fine for those who didn't), which raised over £150,000

By 1635

John Hampden's refusal to pay ship money led to the Hampden Case, where 5 out of 12 judges ruled that ship money was illegal, very close in favour of Charles.

1636

Ship Money's collection declined greatly to only 20% of people paying it.

1638-1639

At its peak Ship Money generated £200,000 annually

1629-1640

Laud limited preaching to Sundays and was replaced in other days by Catechism, which outlined key doctrines of the Anglican Church. The Feofees, who raised money and bought up parishes in order to improve their preaching quality, were legally challenged, and their parishes were taken into the gift of the King.

1629-1640

Churches were to be decorated and music was encouraged. The plain communion tables were to be covered with richly embroidered cloth and moved away from the centre.

1629-1640

St Gregory's Case - Parishioners in a church moved the communion table back to the centre and removed the embroidered cloth. They were taken in front of the Privy Council by Charles.

1633

Bishop John Williams criticised the use of the word "altar". He published the book "The Holy Table, Name and Thing". He was imprisoned. John Bastwick, Henry Burton and William Payne criticised Laudianism and were fined £5,000 by the Star Chamber and had their ears chopped off. They were also imprisoned for life.

1637

John Lilburne printed and distributed Puritan and Henry Bastwick's work. He was fined, whipped and pilloried in public after being found guilty by the Star Chamber of printing unlicensed material. He was tied to a cart that pulled him two miles from the fleet prison to Westminster and was whipped every few paces.

1638

Charles introduced a new Laudian Prayer Book, which led to a full blown riot in St Gile's Cathedral in Edinburgh, Whuch spread across Scotland.

1637

Charles issued a royal proclamation against any further conversions to Catholicism.

1637

Great Migration of 60,000 puritans

1630s

Catholicism became fashionable at court and there were high profile conversions. The population of English Catholics increased by 50% from the start of James' rule to the end of Personal Rule.

1603-1640

Scottish clergy and nobility United against Charles in anger and formed the Covenant. It was a manifesto which united Scotland against Charles' religious policy and protected the Scottish Kirk. They they became the Covenanters

1638

The First Bishop's War - Charles raised an army against the Scottish defiance but didn't have the money to employ mercenaries. The nobility and JPs didn't want to fight, the militia were locally based and unenthusiastic.

1639

The Scottish Covenanters were committed to defending the Kirk, which was the embodiment of both their religion and culture.

1639

Charles signed the Treaty of Berwick, establishing both armies would disband (neither did). Charles recalled Wentworth from Ireland to deal with the issue.

1639

Second Bishops' War - His conscripts were described as the "dregs of society" and were no match for the Covenant army bolstered by the return of veterans from the 30 Years War. The Treaty of Ripon saw Charles give up Newcastle, Northumberland and Durham, and pay a daily fee to the Scottish army to cover their living costs while they stayed in occupied territories.

1640

Thomas Wentworth was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, the King's representative in Ireland.

1632