James 1604-1625

What were the King’s royal prerogatives?

foreign diplomacy

declaration of war

legislation

religion

How did the Crown enforce foreign policy?

As the Head of State

How did the Crown enforce declaration of war?

By being commander in chief of the army

How did the Crown enforce legislation?

Through the right to call or dissolve Parliament

How did the Crown enforce religion?

Through the Crown being the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

What are the 4 forms of Crown income?

Crown Lands

Custom duties

Feudal dues

Parliamentary Subsidy

Why were finances a limitation of the Crown’s power?

Because the Crown relied on Parliament for funding and struggled with debt.

Why were the Parliament reluctant to grant subsidies?

As they require heavy taxation of the Political Nation - this forced Crown’s to exploit their prerogative income.

Why was the Crown limited politically?

Because they needed the Political Nation to help control the general population. This was because the Crown did not possess the force of the civil service to impose its will.

Why could the Political Nation carry out the Crown’s Political will?

Because they were responsible for collecting taxes, training the militia, enforcing laws and conducting trials. There were also Justices of Peace enforced the Crown’s will in the localities.

What was James like?

He was an intellectual, outgoing man who enjoyed debate and dealing with people. He could effectively communicate and engage with people and he was also a pragmatic and experienced king. Additionally, he was known for his strong interest in scholarship, literature, and the arts, which influenced his court and policies.

What did James believe in?

The Divine Right of Kings, which made him defensive of his royal prerogative and he was pragmatic and was considered a ‘peacemaker king’ in his foreign policy.

What is the significance of the royal court?

The royal court was the centre of power

What was James’ court like? (positive)

It was open and lively with its open physical interaction with his courtiers and often displayed his intellectual interests (patronage of Shakespeare).

What was James’ court like? (negative)

Early dominance of the Bedchamber by Scots (the English elite were afraid of the influence of Scots), and later on the first Englishman to be appointed was Buckingham in 1615.

Who was Robert Carr?

Favourite of James I from 1607-1613, was Scottish and was involved in the Overbury Scandal.

Who was Buckingham?

Favourite of James I and Charles I from 1615 up till his assassination in 1628. An Englishman.

Why did crown Finances expenses increase?

Cost pushed inflation between 1502 to 1622.

Crown income was falling due to Elizabeth’s failure to establish reforms for the Crown’s income.

James had a larger family and thus he spent more in court.

What happened in 1606 (finances)?

Parliament grants James three subsidies but he immediately gives away £44,000 to three of his Scottish friends.

What happened in 1614 (finances)?

The Cockayne Project - a monopoly granted to William Cockayne, his project fails and the English cloth industry collapsed.

What happened in 1621 (finances)?

The Ante-supper it costs around £3300.

What potential financial reform was proposed in 1608?

The Book of Rates - when the customs duties were adjusted according to inflation.

What potential reforms took place in 1610?

Cecil’s Great Contract - in exchange of an annual subsidy of £200,000 from Parliament, James would give up a range of feudal dues. However it fell through when Parliament wanted him to give up undisputed control of the levying of impositions and James wanted to keep the ones already in place.

What financial reform was imposed in 1611?

The new hereditary title of Baron, this was sold to anyone who could pay £1095 but by 1622 had dropped to anyone who could pay £220/

What happened to Catholics in 1603?

James ordered the collection of recusancy fines.

What happened to Catholics in 1606?

Oath of Allegiance in order to force Catholics to declare their allegiance to James and not the Pope.

What happened to Catholics in 1606?

Parliament passes two severe laws against Catholics (although James does not rigorously enforce them because Catholics become passive after the Gunpowder Plot 1605)

What was the Millenary Petition in 1603?

A petition made by a group of moderate puritans which called for a list of modifications in Church services - James was sympathetic because he too believed in pre-destination.

What was the Hampton Court Conference 1604?

James was willing to listen to more Puritan demands (only real misunderstanding happened when James mistakenly thought that Dr Reynolds advocated for the abolition of episcopacy). This brought about the King James Bible (completed in 1611)

What were Bancroft’s Canons 1604?

James supported these laws of which many went against the Millenary Petition, and as he wanted to push for religious uniformity it meant that in theory James I wanted the persecution of Puritans.

Why did James start favouring the Arminians?

Mainly because of the Spanish match (1621-1624) James was annoyed with the Puritans because they didn’t agree with him but the Arminians supported his diplomacy.

What change did this lead to for Arminians?

He allowed them greater prominence at theological debates + he did not censor Montagu’s 1624 ‘New Gag for an Old Goose’

What is Shirley’s Case 1604?