James I Flashcards
Who appointed James I?
Robert Cecil
Master of the court of Wales
Earl of Salisbury
What was finance like when James I assended to the throne?
• Elizabeth had left a £400,000 debt
• Subsadie had decreased
What was James I like with money?
• He was generos with money
What year did James I become king?
1603 - 1625
What was James I key belief about the Monarchy?
He believed in the divine rights and absolutism
What was James I religion?
Protestant
Who was James I wife?
Anne of Denmark
What was the name of James I oldest son?
Henry
What year was the gun powder plot?
1605
What was the aim of the gun powder plot?
To kill James I by plowing up parliament and establish his Catholic daughter as Queen
Who succeeded James I?
Charles I his second son
What was the Great Contract?
The Great Contract was a plan submitted to James I and Parliament in 1610 by Robert Cecil. It was an attempt to increase Crown income and ultimately rid it of debt.
How long did James I rule without government?
10 years
Who was concerned with James I generosity with money?
Robert Cecil
What we’re the conditions of the great contract?
- Parliament would pay off all of James debts
- They would determine the amount the king was given
- £200,000 was agreed
inreturn purveyance would end and they would be given consessions over wardship
What excuse did Robert Cecil have for James extravagant spending?
Maintaining England’s reputation
What we’re the house of commons views on James I in 1610?
• To generous
Why did the great contract fail?
• MP’s realised people were against an increase in tax
• A petition against his favourites
• Distrust between the king and his subjects
Name James’s favourites
James Hay Earl of Carlisle
George Villers Duke of Buckingham
Robert Carr
What issue caused resentment of landowners over inheritance land?
Wardship
What issue caused resentment especially in the southern areas of England?
Purveyance
The King’s right for a lower coast of transport
What did the parliament draft in 1604 which hilghted their discontent with James I?
Form of Apology and Satisfaction
What did James I warn parliament when hearing about the Form of Aplology and Satisfaction?
• Not to ask to rashly
• It was him who gave them their liberty
What did James I 1610 speech state?
• Kings were gods representative on earth
• Emphisised the power of Kings
• His claims were supported by the Bible
• He was acting in a paternalistic manner, saw himself as a father figure
What did Dr. Cowells book state?
• The king was above the law
What was the reaction to Dr Cowells book?
• Parliment tried to get it censoured
• James I loved it
• Wouldn’t allow parliament to ban it
In 1604 what did the house of commons do when they felt under threat?
Wrote the Forms of Apology and Satisfaction
What did the house of commons complain about in the Forms of Apology and Satisfaction?
- The Kings prerogatives
- Their rights were less then the king
What was the limit of the Forms of Apology and Satisfaction?
• James I never officially saw it
• They were to afraid to give it to him
• He heard rumors about it and threatened them
Explain why Elizabeth’s debts weren’t a serious problem for James I?
• £300,000 owed by Parliament from a grant given
• Money was claimed back from France
Reasons why James I financial problems weren’t all his fault
• Elizabeth had failed to update tax assessments in line with inflation
• Inefficient tax collection
• Elizabeth did not raise duties in the book of rates
• No attempt to exploite crown lands effectively
Why was James I worse off financially?
• Subsidy was irregular
• Inflation
• tax collectors underestimating the tax needing to be collected
Explain why James I was financially irresponsible
• Extravagent spending
• Gifts to friends to make up for childhood insecurity
• Elizabeth and his sons funerals
• Daughters wedding
• James Hay encouraged spending
• £185,000 spent on jewellery in 9 years
How much was spent on James Hay?
• Recived 400,000 in gifts
• Put in charge of Kings wardrobe and spent a lot
• Encouraged Ante - supper where a whole meal was prepared and thrown away cost £3000
How had the collection of custom duties changed 1604?
• It was the tax on imported goods
• James couldn’t be bothered with it
• It was leased out to syndicates
• in return for annual rent the syndicate could collect the taxes
• If trade was good they would keep the extra profits
The Bates case 1606
🫐🪙
• Refused to pay imposition tax on Currents
• He claimed that the duty was no sanctioned by Parliament
• Judge ruled in favour of the king
• King has the right to regulate trade
What is Imposition tax?
• Tax on luxury goods
• By 1608 1,000 items had this tax
• It gained the king around £70,000 per year
What was a Recusant?
⛪️
A Catholic that would rather pay a fine then attention church of England services on Sundays
How successful was Robert Cecil as First Lourd Treasurer?
Managed land and money more effectively
What was the book of bounty? 💰
• Created by Robert Cecil 1608
• Managed the Kings spending
• If someone wanted a grant they would have to go through Cecil
What did the Duke of Buckingham have to do with tax?
💒💰
• His property was undervalued from £400,000 to £400