James 1
Was James suitable to become King of England in 1603?
- James I was the product of a difficult childhood.
- He was pragmatic, wise, and well educated.
- He tended to compromise and work with parliament.
- He tried to avoid controversy.
- James became king of Scotland in 1567 at the age of 13 months.
- He had ruled on his own since he was 17 years old.
- He was intellectual, spoke several languages, enjoyed debate and communicating with
people.
- He was protestant.
- James’ early Gentleman of the Bedchamber were dominated by Scots.
Personal characteristics
- Lazy, did not like washing and was personally scruffy.
- His court was seen to be corrupt.
- He liked to feast and drink to excess.
- His court was criticised as drunken, immoral, and debauched.
- Financially extravagant.
- Generous to his ‘favourites’.
- Warm, informal, affectionate, and a good father to his children.
- Loved and respected by many.
- Impatient when dealing with his subjects.
Significant others
- Anne of Denmark- James’ wife, had her own court and was catholic
- Prince Henry Stuart- James’ eldest son, protestant and died of typhoid at 18
- Elizabeth Stuart- married of to Frederick V, the elector Palatine, as part of James’ strategy to
forge alliances
- Prince Charles Stuart (1600-1649) – A sickly child who was not reared for a position of
influence.
- George Villiers (Duke of Buckingham) (1592-1628) - Appointed a Gentleman of the
Bedchamber in 1615. 1618 created Earl of Buckingham. 1623 travelled to Spain with
Charles, then created a duke (the first non-royal duke for over a century). By 1625 had a
monopoly of patronage. By excluding other counsels from the king’s consideration, he
distorted the system of govt, which would have a damaging effect on Charles’ relations with
Parliament.
It is all about money
- In 1603 James inherited a debt of £420,000 from Elizabeth.
- James was hampered by an inability to control his spending (financial extravagance).
- The landowning nobility were under-taxed and completely unwilling to pay out the sorts of
money needed to keep the Crown financially sound.
Issues facing James
,- Uncertainty over the succession in 1603. Although James was a married man with healthy
children, so the succession was assured; he had a legitimate claim to the throne, being a
direct relation of Elizabeth and her father Henry VIII.
- Foreign policy - Continuing war with Spain. England and Spain had been at war since 1585.
- Religious issues - Potential divisions within his kingdom.
- The financial problems of the Crown - Elizabeth had left James in debt. James was keen to
establish a lavish and extravagant court (the monarch his family, his favourites and his close
advisors are all part of the court).
- Relations with Parliament.
- James’ views on monarchy in a speech to Parliament in March 1610. - ‘The state of
monarchy is the supremist thing upon earth… divine power upon earth.’
- However, he inherited a stable system of government in which royal power was accepted
across the kingdom.
How serious were the tensions between King and Parliament?
- Disagreements in parliaments had been bitter, but they represented a range of frustrations
rather than an organised resistance.
- There was much criticism of royal policies, but no unity of criticism as MPs and Lords were
anxious about different issues.
- Under James there was opposition, but no organised opposition existed yet.
- Parliament was an event not an institution.
The royal court was hugely important
- Many issues were debated at court, and access to the court through personal networks
guarantee political success.
- The court reflected the personality of the king.
- James’ court was an open and lively place that reflected the King’s enjoyment of life;
however, it was criticised as drunken, immoral, and debauched.
- This arrangement could lead to infighting and competition over the king’s patronage
(support) between rival interests.
- These competing groups often formed factions when they sought the favour of James.
Other political conflict that might arise
- Landowners competed for influence with the king at court.
- At court they formed factions. This system was good for the king: rather than have members
of the political nation oppose him, they were preoccupied with fighting each other for the
spoils
The rise, and problems, of court faction
- Factions gain influence by their members having access to the king.
- James often had favourites: individuals who monopolise (control) access to him.
- Certain factions gain excessive influence because they have James’ favourites in them.
Gentlemen of the Bedchamber
- Provided close attendance on the king
, - Duties included assisting the king at his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,
guarding access to him in his bedchamber and closet and providing companionship; it was
potentially powerful position
- Two of James’ favourites are appointed to this important position
- Robert Carr- fell out of favour from 1615
- George Villiers- from 1615 onwards
- Both Carr and Villiers used their positions to advance their factions
Favourites: the unravelling of the system
- From 1618, James’ delicate system of balancing factions started to unravel; This was due to
one of his favourites, Villiers.
- Villiers gained influence with James because the anti-Catholic Coke/ Abbott/ Pembroke
faction wanted to use him to gain more influence with James and get rid of the pro-Spanish,
Catholic Carr/ Howard faction.
- Villiers was part of their faction, and if he became James’ favourite then the faction would
have more influence with James.
Horrible Howards (Thomas Howards)
- In 1613, Robert Carr fell in 'love' with Thomas Howard's daughter, Frances, then Countess
of Essex (and already married).
- A divorce was hastily 'arranged' on the grounds that the Earl of Essex was impotent
- This was probably untrue, but the Howards were anxious to secure a marriage with the
king’s favourite and increase their influence at court
- The marriage led to a huge scandal in 1616, when Carr's secretary, Sir Thomas Overbury was
murdered. Carr and his wife were found guilty of involvement in the murder plot. Overbury
had opposed the marriage of Carr and Frances Howard).
- The murderers were imprisoned in the Tower by James; they were later pardoned but were
banished from the Court.
Sources of Crown revenue- ordinary revenue
Crown lands
- Increasingly diminished in importance as successive lord treasurers saw the sale of land as
being the quickest, easiest way to raise money.
Custom revenue
- Tonnage and poundage were taxes on imports and exports; usually granted for life by the
monarch’s first parliament. By 1621 customs revenue brought in 3 times as much as
revenues from crown lands.
Wardship
- Feudal tenures and wardship had lost importance but not financial usefulness.
Monopolies
- The monarch’s right to grant exclusive rights to make and sell goods of a particular kind
(Elizabeth had been forced to abolish this in 1601).
James doubled expenditure on the royal household between 1603 and 1610. This
extravagance meant he could not live on his ordinary income alone.
Court, Privy Council and Bedchamber
Was James suitable to become King of England in 1603?
- James I was the product of a difficult childhood.
- He was pragmatic, wise, and well educated.
- He tended to compromise and work with parliament.
- He tried to avoid controversy.
- James became king of Scotland in 1567 at the age of 13 months.
- He had ruled on his own since he was 17 years old.
- He was intellectual, spoke several languages, enjoyed debate and communicating with
people.
- He was protestant.
- James’ early Gentleman of the Bedchamber were dominated by Scots.
Personal characteristics
- Lazy, did not like washing and was personally scruffy.
- His court was seen to be corrupt.
- He liked to feast and drink to excess.
- His court was criticised as drunken, immoral, and debauched.
- Financially extravagant.
- Generous to his ‘favourites’.
- Warm, informal, affectionate, and a good father to his children.
- Loved and respected by many.
- Impatient when dealing with his subjects.
Significant others
- Anne of Denmark- James’ wife, had her own court and was catholic
- Prince Henry Stuart- James’ eldest son, protestant and died of typhoid at 18
- Elizabeth Stuart- married of to Frederick V, the elector Palatine, as part of James’ strategy to
forge alliances
- Prince Charles Stuart (1600-1649) – A sickly child who was not reared for a position of
influence.
- George Villiers (Duke of Buckingham) (1592-1628) - Appointed a Gentleman of the
Bedchamber in 1615. 1618 created Earl of Buckingham. 1623 travelled to Spain with
Charles, then created a duke (the first non-royal duke for over a century). By 1625 had a
monopoly of patronage. By excluding other counsels from the king’s consideration, he
distorted the system of govt, which would have a damaging effect on Charles’ relations with
Parliament.
It is all about money
- In 1603 James inherited a debt of £420,000 from Elizabeth.
- James was hampered by an inability to control his spending (financial extravagance).
- The landowning nobility were under-taxed and completely unwilling to pay out the sorts of
money needed to keep the Crown financially sound.
Issues facing James
,- Uncertainty over the succession in 1603. Although James was a married man with healthy
children, so the succession was assured; he had a legitimate claim to the throne, being a
direct relation of Elizabeth and her father Henry VIII.
- Foreign policy - Continuing war with Spain. England and Spain had been at war since 1585.
- Religious issues - Potential divisions within his kingdom.
- The financial problems of the Crown - Elizabeth had left James in debt. James was keen to
establish a lavish and extravagant court (the monarch his family, his favourites and his close
advisors are all part of the court).
- Relations with Parliament.
- James’ views on monarchy in a speech to Parliament in March 1610. - ‘The state of
monarchy is the supremist thing upon earth… divine power upon earth.’
- However, he inherited a stable system of government in which royal power was accepted
across the kingdom.
How serious were the tensions between King and Parliament?
- Disagreements in parliaments had been bitter, but they represented a range of frustrations
rather than an organised resistance.
- There was much criticism of royal policies, but no unity of criticism as MPs and Lords were
anxious about different issues.
- Under James there was opposition, but no organised opposition existed yet.
- Parliament was an event not an institution.
The royal court was hugely important
- Many issues were debated at court, and access to the court through personal networks
guarantee political success.
- The court reflected the personality of the king.
- James’ court was an open and lively place that reflected the King’s enjoyment of life;
however, it was criticised as drunken, immoral, and debauched.
- This arrangement could lead to infighting and competition over the king’s patronage
(support) between rival interests.
- These competing groups often formed factions when they sought the favour of James.
Other political conflict that might arise
- Landowners competed for influence with the king at court.
- At court they formed factions. This system was good for the king: rather than have members
of the political nation oppose him, they were preoccupied with fighting each other for the
spoils
The rise, and problems, of court faction
- Factions gain influence by their members having access to the king.
- James often had favourites: individuals who monopolise (control) access to him.
- Certain factions gain excessive influence because they have James’ favourites in them.
Gentlemen of the Bedchamber
- Provided close attendance on the king
, - Duties included assisting the king at his dressing, waiting on him when he ate in private,
guarding access to him in his bedchamber and closet and providing companionship; it was
potentially powerful position
- Two of James’ favourites are appointed to this important position
- Robert Carr- fell out of favour from 1615
- George Villiers- from 1615 onwards
- Both Carr and Villiers used their positions to advance their factions
Favourites: the unravelling of the system
- From 1618, James’ delicate system of balancing factions started to unravel; This was due to
one of his favourites, Villiers.
- Villiers gained influence with James because the anti-Catholic Coke/ Abbott/ Pembroke
faction wanted to use him to gain more influence with James and get rid of the pro-Spanish,
Catholic Carr/ Howard faction.
- Villiers was part of their faction, and if he became James’ favourite then the faction would
have more influence with James.
Horrible Howards (Thomas Howards)
- In 1613, Robert Carr fell in 'love' with Thomas Howard's daughter, Frances, then Countess
of Essex (and already married).
- A divorce was hastily 'arranged' on the grounds that the Earl of Essex was impotent
- This was probably untrue, but the Howards were anxious to secure a marriage with the
king’s favourite and increase their influence at court
- The marriage led to a huge scandal in 1616, when Carr's secretary, Sir Thomas Overbury was
murdered. Carr and his wife were found guilty of involvement in the murder plot. Overbury
had opposed the marriage of Carr and Frances Howard).
- The murderers were imprisoned in the Tower by James; they were later pardoned but were
banished from the Court.
Sources of Crown revenue- ordinary revenue
Crown lands
- Increasingly diminished in importance as successive lord treasurers saw the sale of land as
being the quickest, easiest way to raise money.
Custom revenue
- Tonnage and poundage were taxes on imports and exports; usually granted for life by the
monarch’s first parliament. By 1621 customs revenue brought in 3 times as much as
revenues from crown lands.
Wardship
- Feudal tenures and wardship had lost importance but not financial usefulness.
Monopolies
- The monarch’s right to grant exclusive rights to make and sell goods of a particular kind
(Elizabeth had been forced to abolish this in 1601).
James doubled expenditure on the royal household between 1603 and 1610. This
extravagance meant he could not live on his ordinary income alone.
Court, Privy Council and Bedchamber
