Chapter 2: James I and Charles I

• James I's experience as a monarch?

  He had been king of Scotland for over 20 years before he ascended to the English throne
• James I's personality?

  He was an intellectual, skilled at communication and very pragmatic
• Points of contact?

  Ways for the monarch to communicate with the Political Nation. Primary points of contact were the Court and Parliament
• Charles I's personality?

  He was introverted, a poor communicator, unwilling to compromise, and had an inferiority complex
• James I's view of monarchy?

  Firmly believed in the Divine Right of Kings, but differentiated between theory and practice. Frequently negotiated with the Political Nation
• Charles I's view of monarchy?

  Provocatively evoked the Divine Right of Kings, which undermined his authority
• Physical nature of court?

  It was not one defined space, it was wherever the monarch was
• Privy Council?

  The monarch's personally appointed advisers. They held a lot of influence, but the king did not have to follow their advice
• The Bedchamber?

  The monarch's private living space, to which access was strictly controlled. Gentlemen of the Bedchamber had to wait upon the monarch and keep him company, and in exchange they exerted considerable influence over the monarch's opinions
• Factions?

  Competing groups that sought the favour of the monarch
• Patronage?

  Establishing a network of support for political advancement. Clients were able to achieve some social mobility, and patrons could use clients to carry out tasks befitting of their social rank
• Catholicism?

  Denomination of Christianity headed by the Pope. Spain and France's absolutism was linked to their Catholicism
• James I's court?

  Lively, but widely criticised for being debauched and immoral. The Bedchamber was dominated by Scots
• Charles I's court?

  Strict and isolated from the rest of the nation. Dominated by Catholics and Arminians, who were unpopular due to their perceived ties to absolutism
• Court masques?

  Form of entertainment amongst nobles that involved dancing and acting. Both Charles and his wife loved court masques, because the plots often centred around a kingdom embroiled in disorder that was redeemed by the arrival of a monarch
• Opposition to court masques?

  Puritans deemed actresses to be sinful. Prynne attacked the queen in a pamphlet - "women actors, notorious whores"
• Van Dyck's portraits?

  Created the impression that Charles wanted to be an absolute monarch
• Puritanism?

  Radical Protestantism. Sought further reform of the Church of England
• Favourites?

  Courtiers who were especially close to the monarch
• Key favourite of James I and Charles I?

  The Duke of Buckingham
• Charles' relationship with Buckingham?

  Initially hostile, but they reconciled during the 1620s, and Buckingham maintained his influence during Charles' early reign
• Buckingham as Lord High Admiral?

  Proved himself to be an effective administrator, but also seen as responsible for multiple foreign policy failures