C.1

• Who was James I

  His ascension

  Personality

  Parliament/ court

  (5)

  - King of Scotland for 37 so was experienced

  - Succeeded English throne in 1603 after Elizabeth

  - Vulgar and brash court

  - offended contemporary sensibilities by pursuit of virile young men

  -Dubbed 'Wisest fool in Christendom' by Henry IV of France
• What was the Millenary Petition?

  - drafted by Puritans after Elizabeth's death

  - signed by 1,000 who wanted religious reforms

  - beloved James would be favourable to them as the Scottish Kirk was much stricter in Protestantism
• James' response to Millenary Petition + Result

  - Rapidly conceded a conference meet in Jan 1604 at Hampton court

  - Resulted in debate between 4 puritan and 2 bishops

  RESULT: James affirmed his independence as Supreme Governor + When proposed that church loose its episcopal (including bishops) structure James responded: " No bishop! No king!"
• Presbyterianism after James I ascension

  - "No Bishop! No King!" Soon translated in to Kirk;

  • By 1605 10/13 Scottish provinces had new bishops

  • By 1606 a Scottish parliament recognised James I as head of Scottish Church
• The Gunpowder Plot

  - James I promised no persecution to those who gave "an outward obedience to the law"

  - This was met w public hostility causing James to reverse tolerant approach

  - This reversal triggered Plot in 1605
• Consequences of the Gunpowder Plot

  - resistance fines increased

  - Catholics removed from Government posts

  - Catholics had to affirm to new Oath of Allegiance in 1606

  - Fear of Catholics increased
• James second appointment of Archbishop of Canterbury

  - George Abbot who was firmly Puritan

  - but in 1618 worked on a book of sports w/ James which outraged Puritains
• Relations between James I and parliament + differences between English and Scottish

  - different from Scottish Parliament; " At their meetings, nothing can be heard but cries, shouts and confusion"

  - The English parliament sessions prolonged and was the only legislative body in England

  - The king was very limited in ability to influence local elections - seats controlled by gentry families
• Financial issues for James I (5)

  - Elizabeth died w significant debts

  - Had to provide for a wife and 3 children

  - Wars expensive and England was still at war w Spain

  - needed to display generous patronage particularly nobles

  - James had to maintain prestige if English courts compared to Spain and France
• What was the Great Contract? Why did it flop?


  - Parliament would give James £200,000 yearly to pay off his debt

  - in return the crown would loose some predicative powers

  - Didn't get approved as both couldn't agree; James wanted more money and Parliament thought James wouldn't need them if he had money
• What was the Addled Parliament?

  - James called a new parliament in 1614 in financial need

  - was nicknamed 'Addled Parliament' as it achieved so little

  - Hames governed w/o Parliament from 1614 to 1621
• James I efforts to maintain balanced foreign policy

  - 1604 Treaty of London: ended war w Spain

  - 1609 Alliance w France

  - 1613 Marriage of Daughter to Frederick of the Palatinate
• The Thirty years War

  - The actions of Frederick his son in law sparked the war

  - Fred accepted disputed Throne of Bohemia offered to him by rebellious nobles against Catholic King of Bohemia (Belonged to Hapsburg dynasty which also ruled Spain)

  - Spanish and Bavarian troops retaliated by occupying Palatinate Fred's home territory

  - War raged on from 1618-1648
• Response to Thirty Years war:

  RELIGIOUS FRACTURES

  • Archbishop Abbot preached a sermon recommending intervention by James I w military in support of Fred + defending Protestantism

  • James was against Fred and knew it would destabilise European relations.. so wanted a Spanish match for his son, if this failed hoped to join with French who were Catholic.. this worried Protestant English
• Response to Thirty Years war:

  Parliaments involvement

  • James recalled Parliament in 1621 to request money for undefined action in war

  • Parliament sent petition to James asking him to visibly support Protestant cause and abandon Spanish marriage for his son Charles

  • was radical as precedent did not allow Parliament to comment of foreign policy

  • James was angered at them
• Parliaments response to James anger at the Petition by House of commons

  Parliament galvanised in to action and cable lawyers like Sir Edward Coke:

  - Drew up a document a 'Protestation' key constitutional document defining parliaments understanding of relationship w crown

  - James furiously tore the Protestation out of the Commons Journal and dissolved parliament