James 1 legacy

Cards (14)

  • England had a population of 4 million in 1600
  • London had a population of 185000 in 1600. This grew to 355000 in 1640. Norwich was the next largest city with a population of about 20000
  • London accounted for 80% of foreign trade and 75% of customs.
  • James wrote the True Law of Free Monarchies in 1598 - reaffirming his belief in Divine Right of Kings
  • James became known as Rex Pacificus.
    Ended 20 year war with Spain
    Kept Elizabeths Middle Way and printed the King James Bible in English
    'United' Great Britain- Proclamations of New Flag and Coat of Arms
  • James Court
    Dominated by patronage - George Villiers
    Careful to distribute patronage (open court necessary) but Scots favoured heavily
    Very informal, vulgar and immoral - young men lovers, drunkardness and gluttony, hunting addiction
    Sexual, financial and [Overbury] murder scandals (Hedonistic, uncouth)
    Very generous - e.g. 1611 - over £67000 given to 11 Scottish friends
    Parliament hated this extravagance
  • George Villiers
    Charming, good looking
    Rapid rise in status
    From Viscount Villiers (1616) to Duke of Buckingham (1623)
  • James found it difficult to get along with Parliament- hugely different system to the one he mastered in Scotland. It began to strain towards an authority of its own
  • Parliamentary Privileges
    Right to hold free elections
    Taxation by consent (Magna Carta 1215)
    Matters of Commonwealth: taxation, Poor Law, Crime.o voice grievances and express views on Religion, Foreign Policy, Marriages and succession
  • Royal Prerogatives
    Ultimate decision over religion, foreign policy, marriages, succession (Matters of State)
    Supreme Governor of the Church
    Right to raise emergency money
    Appointed all judges and ministers
    Chooses Privy council members
    No obligation to listen to P about grievances
  • Crown's ordinary revenue
    Ordinary Revenue was expected to cover the cost of the Royal household and court (500+ people)
    Rents
    Custom duties (often collected by tax farmers after 1604)
    Fuedal dues (e.g. Wardships)
    Profits of Justice (e.g. fines and confiscations)
  • Crowns Extraordinary Revenues
    For emergencies e.g war
    Parliamentary taxations (grants, subsidies)
    Borrowing/ loans from the wealth
  • Financial Problems
    Continued failure to update the tax system in line with inflation - last update was 1520
    Book of Rates (customs)last updated in 1550s
    James inherited a debt of £300,000 but this would be covered by French and Dutch debts
  • James Financial solutions?
    1608 Book of Rates issued
    Impositions - new or increased duties on goods
    Sale of Monopolies renewed
    Cranfield reduced royal expenditure by 50% by 1620 but deep rooted reliance on patronage and corruption ultimately led to failure
    1624- Parliament grant money for a naval strategy to attack Spain