The Years Without Parliament 1610-21

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  • The Years Without Parliament 1610-21
    • Addled Parliament June 1641 - dissolved by James
      • James accused of using 'undertakers' - courtiers committed to getting MPs elected who were friendly to the courts.
      • James wanted money for the 1612 funeral of Henry and Elizabeth's marriage.
      • The House of Commons wasn't sympathetic and presented impositions petitions.
        • Bishop Neile of Lincoln, a supporter of the Court, criticised Commons from the Lords, so they attacked him.
      • Disorganised attacks on the court commenced with no subsidies voted. James told Spanish ambassador Sarmiento, ' I am a stranger here and found it when I arrived so I am obliged to put up with what I cannot get rid of.'
      • Suggested James give up right to impositions for 2 subsidies. Offered £140,000 one-off and annual income of £70,000.
      • Historians believe that behind the scenes, Howards wanted to sour relations between MPs and King to discredit the earl of Pembroke. Linda Levy Peck argued Earl of Northampton was prepared to be conciliatory towards MPs but Sussex and Somerset not  defended.
    • Overbury Scandal 1615
      • Robert Carr, a royal favourite, was having an affair with Lady Essex, helped by Sir Thomas Overbury.
        • Essex managed to get an annulment to her marriage with the Earl of Essex; Overbury tried to convince Carr not to marry her.
          • James offered Overbury an ambassadorship abroad but he refused, so James sent him to the Tower.
            • In 1615, now married, Lady Essex sent Overbury a poisoned pie. Charged with murder, they both were pardoned by James.
              • RESULTS: Carr was no longer James' favourite, edged out by George Villers, Duke of Buckingham, and James and his court lost respect.
    • Rise of George Villers
      • Between 1618-28, his assassination, Villers became Buckingham in 1623 and was Chief Minister.
      • Annoyed country gentry as he controlled patronage, offering titles, pensions, and favours.
      • If you fell out with him, no future career would be open for you.
      • Flooded the market by selling titles. Between 1610-40 £500,000 was raised with some going to courtiers.
        • Knighthoods could be sold for £30 and baronies fell in value from £1600 to £200, with knighthoods sold to barbers and ex criminals which nobility and aristocracy disapproved of.
      • Controlled foreign policy, went from anti-war with Spain to pro.
    • Factions fight for control
      • Howards were pro-Catholic and pro-Spanish. Led by Earl of Northampton.
        • Anti-Howard's were anti Catholic and anti-Spanish, included  Abbott, Archbishop of Canterbury.
      • Anti-Howard's feared James' sympathy to Spanish foreign policy and pushed forward Villiers.
        • By 1618, the son of the country gentlemen had so much influence in court and did not need anti-Howards  support.
          • Duke of Buckingham turned gentry sympathies away from Crown. He misunderstood opposition to him.
    • Finance
      • During 1611-1616, Howards had huge court influence.
        • Suffolk, Lord Treasurer, was incompetent and couldn't stop James' spending. Also dishonest.
          • Deficit of  ordinary income reach £160,000 by 1616. Howards removed by 1618.
    • Cockayne Project and the City of London 1615-17
      • Trade could increase revenue. Alderman Cockayne, city merchant and friend of the Howard faction suggested sending finished cloth to North Europe as opposed to half-finished.
        • He lent £10,000 to James and the King's Merchant Adventurer's company was established, a company presented as 'modern.'
          • Company lacked money to buy the wool, expertise to make cloth, and contacts to sell it.
            • Cloth trade collapsed by 1618 and sheep shearers and weavers had social distress. Merchant Adventurers' had to pay £10,000 to restore monopoly.
              • War broke out in Europe. The company couldn't reach export levels of 1614 due to war, and City of London distrusted James. Loans dried up.
                • By 1625, East India Company and Levant Company ceased to look to Crown for protection and ceased to be lenders due to this and Buckingham's interference with chartered companies in 20s.
                  • Courtiers could sell licenses for monopolies to companies and used this to control them. Patents were abused and this created resentments amongst merchants and general public who had to pay more.
    • Financial Reform 1618-20
      • Suffolk fell from power by 1618 and the Treasury was put into commission, ran by anti-Howard committee.
      • Anti-Howard's made saving on the navy, wardrobe, and royal household, but by 1619 debt rose by £100,000 to £800,000.
      • Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor, attempted to reduce pensions by giving patents of monopoly.
        • Lionel Cranfield, a London merchant was brought in by Buckingham to reform finance.
          • In charge of wardrobe, insisted on economies and paying cash to give discounts, saving £20,000 per annum
    • Court Faction
      • Howards and Pembrokes were leading family factions.
      • Factions hoped to control King's most intimate friends and favourites.
      • A favourite such as Buckingham could persuade the King to appoint a courtier to a position with a salary, an office of profit, or give pensions.
      • Court factions centred around money, principles, and personal feuds.
    • Historians
      • Alan G R Smith : Whig thesis, James contributed to the creation of conflict, antagonising MPs with unpopular policies such as union with Scotland, relaxation towards recusancy, and negotiations for marriage alliance with Spain.
        • However, Parliament gained power and antagonised James in 1620s with Protestation, condemnationmonopolies, and impeachment of Bacon and Cranfield.
      • Munden considered that Cecil and his colleagues used the House of Commons to stop the union with Scotland, not wanting to alienate James themselves.

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