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The emergence of conflict and the end of consensus, 1625-1629 - Coggle…
The emergence of conflict and the end of consensus, 1625-1629
Chapter 1: The legacy of James I
James I was experienced monarch for 37 years when he succeeded Elizabeth I to English throne 1603, but displayed little of her regal poise and dignity
Court was vulgar and brash, offended contemporary sensibilities by pursuit of virile young men.
Mocked by contemporaries
Management of religious issues & divisions
Church of England
Puritans, who considered Elizabeth's church rules too lax, drafted reforms for James I to consider
Millenary Petition
, contained over 1000 signatures
Scottish Kirk much stricter version of English Church, so people hoped James would understand request for reform and reach a settlement that would establish a 'Purer' form of Protestantism
January 1604, James convened conference at Hampton Court to discuss, hopes of Scottish style Presbyterianism, and losing the
episcopal
structure dashed 'No Bishop! No King!' James' words
EPISCOPAL - a Church structure that includes bishops
The Gunpowder Plot
An attempt by Catholic terrorists to kill the King and his government 1605 to replace with a Catholic monarch.
James initially promised, 'persecute any that will be quiet and give an outward obedience to the law', which at first, England thought to become a beacon of toleration.
However, he misjudged public mood; outmanoeuvred by first parliament and forced to reconsider tolerant approach by withholding money
His reversal triggered Gunpowder plot
Consequences
Recunsancy fines increased
Catholics removed from Government posts
Catholics had to affirm a new Oath of Allegiance 1606
Public fear of Catholicism increased
Oath of Allegiance allowed James to see who retained their faith while demonstrating their political loyalty, so that the Catholic question became 'quiet' for a time
Defining Boundaries of English Church
Until outbreak of 30 years' war 1618, James able to manage Church of England in a broad way to keep relationship between moderates and Puritans stable
Archbishop of Canterbury 1604,
Richard Bancroft
(anti-Puritan)
favoured strict approach to religious conformity , yet only removed 9 Puritan clergy for non-conformity
Archbishop of Canterbury 1611-33,
George Abbot
(Puritan)
Worked on
Book of Sport
1618 with James, encouraged recreational activities on Sunday, public outrage from Puritans as it was Holy day
1604 James revised official Book of Prayer, under England and Ireland.
He had hoped to one day unite Scotland and England under one Church and Government but was too difficult
Attempts to do so only caused more problems for Charles I to inherit in 1625
Relations between Crown and Parliament
The English Parliament
English Parliament did not function as an extension of his personal court, like that of Scotland, contrary to James' thoughts
James found it argumentative, with growing sense of institutional independence and increasingly manned by Members trained in law, keen to haggle over constitutional issues
Expected to be Parliaments head, but found it had increasingly more strained authority
Financial Problems
Relationship between King and Parliament strained as James had many financial problems;
Elizabeth died with significant debt, transferred to James
His household significantly bigger than hers, wife and three kids to provide for
Wars expensive, England still at war with Spain when he ascended throne
Needed to display significant
patronage
to his new subjects, especially nobles, to bond them to his court
France & Spain had glamorous courts, James needed to do the same to show prestige
He could only raise so much through
prerogative
means, needed to call parliament for large sums. Parliament needed something in return so reluctant (redress of grievances)
Scotland relatively poor, James overestimated how much money English Crown had in contrast
James extravagantly generous to courtiers, notably Robert Carr
PATRONAGE - James was a patron when he gave out titles like 'Lord' and 'Duke'
PREROGATIVE - Exclusive rights of the sovereign, subject to no legal restriction
The 'Great Contract'
Devised by Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury
Intended to clear James I debt, and set crown up on a viable, professional financial footing, with annual budget £200,000 guaranteed by Parliament. In return Crown would lose many of its prerogative fiscal powers
However, it failed because;
Salisbury was in the House of Lords and could not manage the Commons as well
James annoyed and alarmed Parliament with long lectures of his prerogative rights and royal authority
Parliament worried they'd lose power if James had enough money without needing to recall them
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