ParliamentFunction

Support, enhance royal power

Represent electors

Expression of public opinion

Gentry and ‘middling sort’

Increasingly Protestant

Stood for rule of law and liberties of subjects

Symbolised legal limits of royal power

Powers

Largely negative: Could refuse to formalise or

finance King’s decisions

Could restrict Crown finance

Law at its highest made in, and with Parliament

Since Reformation legislated on religion, succession and monarch’s powers Additional taxation such as

customs duties for life

MPs could try to initiate legislation / discuss key issues

James I in Parliament

The Crown Monarch head of the Church of England

Royal Prerogative:

Included foreign policy, making war, signing peace treaties, ultimate source of justice, coinage, roads

Links with localities Appointed JPs and Lords Lieutenant

Prerogative Courts

Law courts whose authority came directly from King

Favoured the King’s interests

Could initiate legislation and laws

Patronage Land, offices, important posts, Privy Council

Elizabeth I’s Legacy

Reformation

Parliament used to pass necessary legislation

Issue of freedom of speech for MPs

QEI made it clear what they could NOT discuss

Some MPs arrested for disobeying especially over religion, Queen’s marriage and accession

Huge row with Parliament over monopoly rights

Threat of refusing grant taxation

Queen apologised 1601

Nevertheless successfully controlled Parliament Especially via Lord Burleigh (Sir William Cecil)

Religion – Again

Protestantism

Positive impact on literacy plus…

Increasing reliance on educated ‘middling sorts’ by Tudors

Gentry larger, more articulate, more influential

Many with strong religious views

Fear of Catholicism

War with Spain 1585-1604

Catholic Counter-Reformation

QEI’s Religious Settlement traces of Catholicism

Catholic plots against QEI

Gunpowder Plot 1605

James I & Parliament’s Concerns Desire to unite England and Scotland

Create new country, new laws

Influx of Scottish nobility feared James’s preference for Scots – very generous

And handsome young men

Favourites – Duke of Buckingham

Stance on Catholicism In Scotland softened Presbyterianism

Got them to accept bishops

Strong defence of Divine Right of Kings 1610 Suspending of Parliament

Proposed Spanish marriage alliance

James in debt – reputation of court