James I and Parliament Spec Notes
Background information. Set up of Parliament:
“Parliament was an event not an institution”, Conrad Russel, 1979
Legislative (passes laws) - statutes passed by King, Lords, Commons considered highest form of human law
Conciliar (advises monarchs) - Point of contact between Crown and localities. Bring monarchs attention to grievances of the realm
Judicial (enforces laws) - try criminal offenders. attainder [declares an individual guilty of treason, leading to execution], or impeachment [trial by house of Lords due to complaint by the Commons, removed “evil counsellors”]
Financial (money) - parliament provides money in the form of ordinary revenue (lands, justice, custom duties, feudal duties), and extraordinary (in times of evident and urgent need)
James I and Divine Right - divine right, the idea that King is God’s representative on earth. allowed james to believe he was absolute [meaning he had power and authority over everything, and his view, rule and opinion were final]. james published “the true law of free monarchies”, which stated that king has duty to subjects to:
be absolute, but not above the law
advise good and punish the evil
establish good laws
james particularly discusses psalm 82. this linked to the coronation oath which stated:
maintenance and defence of religion
execution of laws
military defence and maintenance of order
divine right can be seen as compatible with the political systems at the time, however this theory led to conflict between the political system, people, and parliament.
James I and his financial problems
inherited - financial issues inherited from elizabeth (elizabeth had no heirs). inflation. bates case (1606), suggested that king should not be able to use impositions, however this part of king’s prerogative. land and custom duties had not kept up with rising inflation, meaning that king unable to “live of his own”. inadequacy of customs revenue highlighted by book of rates, which was not updated in accordance with inflation.
inadequacy of royal finances - outdated understanding of ordinary supply led to decreased supply from parliament, underassessment from barons. redress before supply [the idea of solving issues that barons faced before parliament would pay james] decreased money from parliament as well as harming relations. evidenced by dissolution of 1614 parliament
extravagance - increased members of privy council from 18-48 between 1603 and 1624 [required increase of wages], increase of 200 courtiers. between 1603 and 1617, £424,469 spent on gifts, james generosity considered “too high”.
HOWEVER - 1621 appointment of lionel cranfield as lord chancellor decreased financial spending, due to harsh limits on james. this did not solve financial difficulties, suggesting that extravagance was not the major cause of financial issues
Financial Disputes:
Great contract (1610) - king in dept, contract was suggested by earl of salisbury [lord treasurer at time], that king give up his prerogatives in return for large sums of money. however, parliament wanted to remove impositions, but james felt this was against bate’s case. two week discussion, commons refused and james dissolved parliament.
His aims and reactions to the policy in Parliament
Aims - avoiding war (very expensive, Elizabeth had lost lots of money through Spanish Armada), wanted to be a mediator of Europe (“rex pacificus”, through setting up marriage negotiations with his children), wanted Britain to establish good relationships with both sides of Europe (secure marriage alliance with Spain and Germany).
Protestant foreign policy (1612), signed alliance with Protestant union, (1613) his daughter Elizabeth was married to Frederick of the palatinate.
(1621) Parliament - James tried to secure funds from parliament, which was unusual as foreign policy was a royal prerogative matter. Parliament wanted to allie with Dutch, and enter sea war with Spain. Parliaments petition demanded end all negotiations with Spain (as Catholic). Ended with being dissolved, marking beginning of common’s active dislike of Crown’s foreign policy.
(1624) Parliament voted to fund sea with Spain, spending £300,000
Peace with Spain
Treaty of London (1604), allowed for trade with Spain and the Spanish Netherlands and impositions.
Spanish ambassador (Count Gondomar) sent to England to persuade James to ally with Spain. Dowry of £600,000 offered for Spanish Match.
England and the Thirty Years War
Palatinate Crisis (1618), Battle of White Mountain where Frederick and Elizabeth were defeated, where Frederick accepts the crown of Bohemia. Frederick was considered a protestant hero.
Parliament, after being asked for funds, wanted to ally with the Dutch and enter sea war with Spain.
James, wanted to use Parliament to negotiate with the Spanish, and if this failed, launch land expedition to palatinate with Frederick to win it back.
The Spanish War
Mansfield Expedition (1625), James wanted parliament to pressure Spain, to win back pallatinate in alliance with Dutch. Wanted to restore frederick to his territories. Weaken Hapsburg control and strengthen Protestant position. Cost £60,000 out of £300,000. Damaged James reputation as portrayed him as unsupportive of the Protestant cause
Spain refused James’ offer of the marriage treaty, wished to contain war with Dutch, and didnt want England to ally with Dutch.