Personal Rule: Economic policy Flashcards
(57 cards)
What was most pressing problem in personal rule
Raising money
What was it important to avoid
Policies that could be seen as illegal or contrary to custom
Why was it important to avoid certain policies
Couldn’t afford to jeopardize support of Jps or other officials
What was first priority of lord treasurer Weston
To cut expenditure
How much did royal household account for
£260,000 a year
Why did the royal household account for so much
Large, employed 1800-2600 people and there was appalling waste
How much could be released by restricting diet of royal household
£20,000-£90,000
What was the daily ration allowance for the royal household
£25 5s 4 d, enough to feed 1962 people for a year
In what way was reform expensive
Politically, as it may have alienated servants
By Weston’s death in 1635, the crown was nearly…
Solvent due to increasing customs and money from prerogative rights
What DID Weston’s manage to do
Halt upwards curve of expenditure but few significant economies and no structural reform of kings finances
What did peacetime from thirty years war bring
Commercial opportunity, which English merchants seized quickly - traded in foodstuffs, military/naval supplies
What did English obtain monopoly of
Iberian trade
What did English overseas trade reach in 1630s
Unprecedented heights of prosperity
What did increasing overseas trade correspond with
Increase in crown revenue, 2/3 accounted for by customs
What did Weston’s adopt
Series of fundraising measures using prerogative rights that had fallen out of use ; distraint of knighthood, wardships, forest laws and others such as proclamation against remaining in London without permission
What would attack on corrupt policies include
Dangerous erosion of support among people king depended on
What were the demands of fiscal feudalism considered
Unfair and arbitrary
What class were most effected by fiscal feudalism
The political classes whose support was vital to king
What did measures fail to provide
Permanent solution to need for adequate supply
Where was ship money traditionally levied
On coastal counties for defence
What did Charles break spirits of
1624 statute of monopolies by exploiting loophole allowing him to sell monopolies to companies rather than individuals
Why was ship money levied in 1634
To build up fleet to guard against pirates who regularly raided south coast and trafficked young into slavery
When was ship money extended to cover who,e country
1635
