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James I & VI Relationship With Parliament - Coggle Diagram
James I & VI Relationship With Parliament
Divine Right of Kings
Problems that arose from Divine Right
Disputed Elections
James told MPs that 'they derived all matters of privilege from him' which led them to argue their privileges were their own and no king could remove them. Ended amicably with Commons being recognised as the authority in disputed election rather than Chancery
Purveyance
James was prepared to give up this part but only with compensation. Officials in his household were hostile, however, giving impression that James was two-faced, clinging on to outdated privileges
Wardships
Landowners wanted these abolished because of deterioration of estates during wardships and were ready to pay. Robert Cecil drew up a scheme but the officials of the Court of Wards lobbied him and as master of the court of wards, he had much to lose himself. Back-tracked and Commons felt aggrieved and inclined to blame the King
Gods earthly representative and therefore responsible solely to God for his actions and also that any disobedience towards the king was sinful
a political doctrine in defense of monarchical absolutism, which asserted that kings derived their authority from God and could not therefore be held accountable for their actions by any earthly authority such as a parliament.
Ruling within the Law
Although he did stated that the monarchy is the supremest thing on earth and that kings are called gods by God himself & talked bout divine power upon earth. But he did admit that he will make the reasons behind his actions clear and rule according to his laws.
In 1610, parliament claimed he was abusing his powers by creating new crimes by proclamations. James consulted his Chief Justices and agreed to cease issuing such proclamations
Never raised taxes without consent from Parliament and recognised he couldn't make laws on his own.
He was head of Church and state and ruled both owning his accountability to God alone. Bishops were his supporters in this belief.
Difficulties in Parliament 1621-1624
1621 Parliament
Monopolies
James had granted more and more monopolies and rising prices in a time of economic downturn aroused strong feeling. Monopolists such as Sir Giles Mompesson impeached. James cancelled some monopolies losing revenue.
Factions
Sir Edward Coke and Lionel Cranfield used impeachment to ruin Sir Francis Bacon the Lord Chancellor - showing division in Privy Council
Trade
Serious trade depression from 1620. Exports of cloth fell, widespread unemployment and harvest failure in 1621. Disruption of foreign markets by war
Finance
Over a million pounds needed to send army to Europe - only 140,000 pounds given for general purposes
Palatinate
MPs wanted to recover the Palatinate and anti-Spanish group on Council urged support for war with Spain. But realised backlash of heavier taxes
Royal Marriage
Commons wanted to see Charles married to one of Protestant religion. Discussion of monarchs personal affairs was a breach of prerogative
Recusants
Parliament pressed for them to be persecuted more vigorously. James did not want to disrupt negotiations with Spain
1624 Parliament
Foreign Affairs/Spanish Match
Charles promised he would make no concessions to Roman Catholics if he married Infanta Maria. Instead married Henrietta Maria (although secret lift of restrictions of Catholic worship leaked)
Money
If there was to be an active foreign policy then parliament must be prepared to pay for it as James made clear. Wouldn't declare war without this. Desired at least £780,000. No hope Commons would grant this. Did grant around 3 subsidies in the end - to be spent on defence of England and helping Dutch and on the navy under Parliament's commission - cutting away his prerogative
Palatinate
James said he intended to get the Palatinate back for Frederick V who was married to his daughter Elizabeth. Not the war Buckingham wanted - instead wanted revenge on Spanish due to the Spanish sabotaging the Spanish Match. Contradiction, causes James not to fight in sea nor get back the Palatinate
Monopolies
Monopoly Act passed - see Blue
General Governing of Parliament
Why did James Call Parliament?
• 1.) It was a useful way of obtaining advice from & gaining support of political nation
• 2.) It was the most common way to pass legislation – the crown could also use proclamations, a form of royal decree, but these were difficult to enforce. More common was Statute law – bills vetted in both Houses before being sent to monarch for final approval – if given, bill became an act of parliament
• 3.) To provide the crown with a form of income known as subsidies. Subsidies – property tax, levied on goods & land – tax on goods (10 per cent) on land (20 per cent) and in 1603 a subsidy was worth about £70,000. Parliament normally granted a number of subsidies simultaneously. House of Commons were the body that introduced proposals to raise subsidies – in this respect more important than the House of Lords
How did the Monarch control Parliament
The Monarch could summon & dissolve parliament at will and the Crown also had ability to prorogue parliament – to adjourn a session until MPs became more manageable; this was a crucial weapon in management of parliament as it allowed the Crown to prevent development of any sustained opposition. The Sovereign also had right to veto any legislation passed by parliament although this was not done easily; rejecting the movements of Parliament on personal choice left the Crown open to criticism.
the House of Lords cultivated role of mediator between crown & more argumentative House of Commons. In reality it involves the crown as well and all three branches of government had to approve legislation before it became law. Connected to the Monarch – peerage. James had excessive peerage.
Parliamentary Privileges
Peers & MPs had parliamentary privilege – right not to be arrested when parliament was sitting except if accused of treason, felony or breach of peace. Both Houses also claimed right to free speech; Elizabeth, James & Charles all believed parliament could debate only those issues they put before it and they all resisted parliament’s attempts to discuss prerogative matters, i.e., religion and foreign policy (in third session of Parliament in 1621)
Problems in Parliament
James’ First Parliament 1604-1611: Project Britannica
• relations with MP’s were strained over several issues: perceived royal interference in an election result, ordered them ‘as an absolute king’ to attend a conference with the judges.
• Form of Apology and Satisfaction. This document criticized James’ handling of recent events and show there was early discontent
• James I’s Britannic vision – was his attempt to create a political union between England & Scotland. There was resistance to the idea on both sides of the border. English prosperity to be undermined by Scottish poverty + xenophobia. Scotland resisted largely as they did not wish to be subjugated to English law and were fiercely proud of their independence.
• the King’s spending was an increasing problem. By the 4th session in 1610, most pressing matter was that of royal finances
• dangerous distrust between king & Commons, particularly when James made himself ‘king of Great Britain’
James’ Second (Addled) Parliament 1614
• It was called to provide finances to help meet increasing royal expenditure. Commons refused to grant subsidies unless impositions were abolished which James considered part of his prerogative and therefore refused to negotiate
• He called HoC ‘a body without a head ... At their meetings nothing is heard but cries, shouts, and confusion.
• It passed no legislation at all and subsequently became known as ‘the Addled Parliament’
James’ Third Parliament 1621
• HoC quickly granted James two subsidies, Parliament seems to have forgotten its grievance over impositions. More concerned about monopolists.
• His continued extravagance & outbreak of 30 Years’ War which he felt obliged to be involved in, meant that he could not cope without the funds Parliament could provide
• the Commons drew up & approved Protestation, in which MPs insisted that freedom of speech was part of their ‘ancient and undoubted birthright;. James I ripped ‘Protestation’ from Journals of the House and then arrested several of the more outspoken MPs.
James’ Fourth Parliament 1624
• James assured MPs that ‘ye may freely advise me’ and his son Charles & his favourite, George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, had recently returned from disastrous trip to Madrid determined upon war with Spain. They worked with leaders of Commons to ensure the new parliament was success.
• MPs were happy as James I accepted the Monopolies Act, which declared grants of monopolies to individuals illegal; and England going to war against an old enemy.
• Most successful between PMs and James – needs backing of Parliament, as he wants to go to war with Spain – pressure put on him by parliament.
• Reluctant to fight, James wanted to fight land war for Palatinate whereas MPs – remembering exploits of Elizabethan privateers – wanted to fight sea war against Spain. Furthermore, MP’s Sought to control how subsidies spent – attached 4 appropriation clauses - demanding a navy should set sail as soon as possible
Buckingham and Patronage
Buckingham was well aware of the limitations of his power and the resentment that it built; consequently he built a large group of loyal patrons. He insisted anyone that he granted patronage to did not have any other benfactors. This created a power vacuum that those who were not close to Buckingham which created political resentment. He was also accused of giving out titles for cash only rather than any level of meritocracy.