James and Charles on Religion
James Charles
Presbytarian (no bishops, new
translation of bible), which made him
attractive to Puritans in England who
wanted more reform
Inherited a kingdom rife with ambiguities, but Couldn't stand ambiguities, an active ruler in
he was happy to work within the loose all areas of the state
framework of the English constitution
Reluctant to disturb the religious legacy of Attempted to strengthen the unity between
Elizabeth Church and State
‘Let it be’ He believed its unity was under threat from
the hotter sort of Protestants and he
responded aggressively
The Church Puritanism Catholicism Arminianism Assessment
of England
(Angelican)
James I Most people Protestant Decorated Thought the
who identified calvinists (minority, CoE had
with the CofE who believed majority in been
were the church of Ireland) successfully
Calvinist: england had reformed:
believed in not gone far
James was anxious to
predestinatio enough willing to avoid radical
n - majority of make a change,
the people Called distinction wanted to
themselves between bring the
Prayer book, ‘Hotter’ sort ‘quiet’ and state church
bible and of Protestant. ‘factious’ more in line
services in In 1603 a Catholics, to with
English group of them avoid the traditional
presented the moderates Catholic
Those who Millenary challenging practises,
weren’t were petition to him directly. decorated.
heretics, and James. However, it
therefore made political James
potential The puritans sense to be moved closer
traitors wanted war anti-Catholic, to them by
with spain thus he the end of his
, from 1618 ordered rule, not
Recucancy censoring
Presbyteriani fines in 1603, Montagu and
sm (Scottish) and the Oath being backed
shared of Allegiance by them to
similarities, in 1606. He maintain
such as belief didn’t want to diplomacy
in upset rather than
predestinatio Catholic war with
n and plain Spain after spain
dress, their peace.
however they
were not Prayer book,
governed by bible and
Bishops, services in
instead by Latin
elders, and it
had no head. Fear was
partly as
Mary V had
killed 280
Catholics in
the mid
1550s
5-7% in
1603, in the
far north and
far west
Charles I Charles Gained
believed that influence
his difficulties under C, who
with favoured
parliament them.
were an Because of
attempt to the nature of
attack the Charles’ court
powers of the being cut off,
crown outsiders
believed that
Placed Arminians
religion at the were in
centre of their control or
lives and subverting
sought to the king.
further reform
the CoE His marriage
to Catholic
Importance of Henrietta
, the bible, Maria made
anti- his arminian
Catholicism persuasion
politically
Charles’ dangerous
arminianism
encouraged
them to take
a stand
against the
imposition of
Catholicism
All English Protestants shared a hostility to Catholicism as a result of the Reformation, burning
of Protestants under ‘Bloody’ Mary from 1553-8, when she killed 280 Catholics at the stake, and
the war against Catholic Spain under Elizabeth I.
For some historians such as Barry Coward, James I maintained a balanced, broadly defined
Church so that the majority of Protestants, even Puritans, felt they could belong to the state
church and would not have to oppose the king as Supreme Governor. Other historians, such as
David L. Smith, argued that the key to James’ construction of a broad Church was his ability to
recognise who the real radicals that might actually challenge his authority were. By isolating the
radicals, he could ensure that the Church establishment contained mostly moderate believers.
In maintaining a broad Church of England, James was following the example of Elizabeth I, who
had worked hard to strike a balance within the Church during her reign. Smith uses the term
‘Jacobethan balance’ – a combination of ‘Elizabethan’ and ‘Jacobean’ – for the broad Church of
England that Elizabeth and James maintained.
James and Charles’ Personalities and Courts
The differences in the way Charles and James’ courts functioned was a reflection of their
different personalities. While in the period 1618–29 both James and Charles had to deal with
the same interrelated issues of foreign policy, finance, religion and parliament, their differing
responses were rooted in their personalities and their differing interaction with the Political
Nation. What they shared, more than anything else, was a reliance on Buckingham, but this
itself was another source of tension.
The reign of James I
1603 James is king
- When James became king, he was already an experienced monarch- he had been king
Jame VI of Scotland since 1567 (at the age of 13 months)
, - He was an intellectual, outgoing man who enjoyed debate.
- He was also pragmatic, and this alongside his people skills allowed him to make the ill-
defined system work.
- The Rex Pacificus (in foreign policy) had written about the art and theory of kingship, for
example Basilikon Doron, 1599
1603 Recusancy fines
- If you dont attend church on Sunday; affects Catholics
April 1603 The Millenary Petition
- Signed by 1000 puritans
- List of requests from puritan group, calling for the abolition of the sign of the cross,
ceremonial robes and reform of ecclasiastical courts
- They also wanted a better translation of the bible, which was still largely in Latin
- James believed in predestination, so was not unsympathetic to their requests.
January 1604 Hampton Court
- To establish how he wanted the Church settled, and in response to the Millenary
petition, James called a religious conference
- It was humiliating for the Bishops, but James strategically chose less
talented Puritan speakers to attend, and supported the Bishops
- James was willing to listen to Puritan demands, but was loyal to the CoE, because
he thought it was a halfway house between presbyterians and catholicism, and as
such it was a model for all of Europe that Western Christianity should follow
- The only serious clash of the conference was ‘no bishop no king’, when the king
misinterpreted Dr Reynolds, a puritan speaker, who was suggesting modifications to the
bishop system
- Puritans (only 10-15% of pop) were disappointed with limited reform - The only
permanent outcome: he would commission the King James Bible in 1604
- James practised tolerance even if he did not attempt a formal toleration
1604 King James Bible commissioned
- A significant political device, as James redefined kingship in the bible
August 1604 Treaty of London
- Concluded 19 year Anglo-Spanish war and restored ‘status quo’ between the nations
- Highly unpopular to english public, ‘humiliating peace’
- It made James ‘monumentally unpopular’
September 1604 Bancroft’s canons
- New church laws which were passed by James
- They upheld many orthodox doctrines and liturgies of the church, as well as practises
that had been condemned by Puritans in the petition (clerical dress, use of cross in
baptism, bowing to the name of Jesus)
- Most of the Purtians can stay; not too harsh
- James and Bancroft urged Bishops not to enforce this on moderates, and as such
he ‘tamed the puritans’
December 1604 Richard Bancroft was installed as the new archbishop of Canterbury
- He was used by James to ensure conformity to the canons
- All clergy that refused would be expelled
, - Only 1% were removed (the ‘silenced brethren’)
- This drive for conformity was brief, as in response to a Northamptonshire Puritan
petition, James publicly acknowledged Puritan loyalty and after 1606 allowed moderate
reform
November 1605 Gunpowder Plot
- Supposedly an attempt by radical Catholics to blow up James as a precursor to the
Catholic uprising
- James introduced the 1606 Oath of Allegiance
- An attempted equivalent of 9/11
- Wanted to decapitate the English state and bring about the reconquest of England
- Ended old-style Catholic subversion- Catholics settled for a life as second-class
citezens
1606 the Oath of Allegiance
- Force Catholic recusants to declare allegiance to him and not the pope
- He didn't pursue the two severe Parliament laws against Catholics, showing his
inclination towards tolerance
- A success
1606 James tried to formally unite the two kingdoms of Scotland and England
- Due to opposition in both kingdoms and in parliament, he compromised to a ‘instrument
of union’, wherein scots were considered of both kingdoms
1606 Bates Case
- John Bates was a merchant of the Levant Company.
- He refused to pay the import duty on currants imposed by James I, claiming that this
imposition was illegal unless approved by Parliament.
- The matter was taken to the Court of the Exchequer
- It followed that the Crown could impose a duty on imported currants if this was done to
regulate foreign trade, and not simply to raise revenue.
1608 New Book of Rates
1609 12 year truce between Spain and United Provinces
1610 MPs clash with king over impositions
1611 Abbot Archbishop
- More tolerant of Puritans
- Chosen by James as he hated Catholics and wanted an aggressive Protestant
foreign policy
- This was popular with Puritans and in Parliament
- He also promoted Arminians, such as Lancelot Andrews, but ensured they never
took up more than ⅓ of the bench of Bishops
- He wanted a range of viewpoints
1611 Baronetcies are created to be sold for £11,095 each
1611 King James Bible Published
- The work of 47 Oxford and Cambridge scholars, who translated it into English
- This made religion more accessible, and not just up to the interpretation of priests and
bishops
- Win for the puritans
,1612 Prince Henry, elder son of James I dies
- The heir, dies at 18 after swimming in the thames
- Charles was unprepared to be king
1613 Princess Elizabeth marries elector Palatine Frederick
- Both zealous Protestants
April - June 1614 More clashes over impositions bring about end of a brief parliament ‘the
addled parliament’
- Desperate for money, James hoped that the parliament would be known as the
‘parliament of love’, and in May the house of commons sent a message to the Lords
asking for a conference, in the hope that they would agree to petitioning the king on the
subject of impositions
- The lords were full of James supporters, who declined
- The commons were outraged and suspended itself
- Instead of the house turning to supply, as James wanted, they accused the king of being
the reason for financial misfortune
- James’ finances were so weak he could not afford to trade impositons for supply, so he
dissolved the parliament, and had 4 of the most outspoken members of the commons
sent to the tower
1615 George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, appointed to the bedchamber
- Major source of tension 1618-28
- Overt sexual relationship with James
1616 Robert Carr and his wife convinced of the murder of Sit Thomas Overbury
1618 Lord Treasurer Suffolk sacked after being found guilty of financial corruption
1618 Bohemia is invaded by the army of the Holy Roman Emperor (beginning of the 30YW)
- James exasperated by Puritan calls to support the Protestant cause in Europe
- Austrian catholic habsburgs try to impose catholicism on Bohemia - trigger
- The arminians supported his diplomatic relations with Spain
- James begins pursuing the spanish match
- 8 million people died
- REALLY IMPORTANT: the puritans get radicalised; weaponised them
- Caused a breach between James and Abbot who wanted active intervention for
the Protestant cause
- James became more dependent on the Arminians who shared his
reluctance to join the ware
1618 The general assembly of the Scottish Kirk accepts the Five Articles of Perth
- To make the church of scotland more like the church of England
1618 Book of Sports published, which affected activities on a Sunday
- Anti-Puritan
- Should not be underestimated, as it angered Puritans so James backed down
1619 was going to impose a new prayer book in scotland, but backs out
1619 Villiers appointed Lord High Admiral
- In his rise to power, Buckingham had been connected to Francis Bacon. With his
support, Buckingham was made Lord Chancellor in 1618
, - When Bacon was convicted of corruption, Buckingham didn’t intervene to save himself
from parliamentary scrutiny
1619 Frederick crowned king of Bohemia
- James opposed the takeover of Bohemia and Frederick’s allies failed to support him
militarily
November 1920 Frerick defeated at the Battle of the White Mountain
Jan - May 1621 Parliament meets for the first time since 1614, James bans parliamentary
discussions of foreign policy
- James asked for £500,000 to make military preparations and in the first session they
granted him £150,000, but they wanted war on spain, they attacked buckingham by
impeaching Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon
- Sir Edward Coke leads the attack on the spanish match, harsher recusancy, join
war
November 1621 - January 1622 The Second Session of parliament1
- James asked for £900,000, Parliament granted £70,000
- They openly attacked the Spanish Match, and called for ruthless Recusancy fines
- James encouraged parliament to discuss foreign policy to frighten the Spanish into the
match, however the commons went further than expected, producing a petition criticising
the Spanish match. James backtracked, saying that it wasn't a parliamentary matter, and
the MPs produced a protestation
- James dissolved them angrily, tearing up its protestation in the privy council
1621 Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon impeached for taking bribes
March 1623 Madrid Trip
- Charles and Buckingham go to Spain to negotiate Charles’ marriage to a Spanish
princess.
- The trip was an ultimate failure: they received such poor treatment from the Spanish due
to anti- Protestant sentiments, that by the time they returned, having spent a hefty
£40,000, they were both converted to favour a war with Spain.
- James warned them that although their decision was popular with Parliament, an
alliance with MPs could be damaging in the long term, with complications of interrelated
issues of foreign policy, religion and finance.
- Charles was instead arranged to marry Henrietta Maria, a Catholic French princess, in
1624.
1624 James didn’t censor Richard Montagu’s A new gag for an old goose, an Arminian anti-
calvinist tract. Charles would take the same approach with Montagu
- James also allowed Arminian clerics such as William Laud, the bishop of st.David’s,
greater prominence in theological debates at court
1624 Parliament meets, approves impositions, opposes demands for war, impeaches Lord
Treasurer Cranfield
- Puritans continue to demand entry into the war
- Mansfield Expedition £300,000 votes
1 As opposed to the political presbyterians, the ‘peace party’, there were the Political Independents, the
‘war party’, who were more radical and wanted religious tolerance, with alliances in the NMA. They
wanted concessions from Charles.
, 1624 Anglo-French Treaty is signed, providing for the marriage of Prince Charles and Henrietta
Maria, the French king’s daughter
1625: Charles becomes king
Charles 1625-29
Charles was a very different man, and king, from James. Kevin Sharpe: ‘a complete contrast to
his father’. He was hampered by a speech defect, shy and unapproachable. This led to his
damaging relationship with parliament. In governing, his intentions and actions often went
unexplained, as his inferiority complex led him to overstress the DRoK. He was unwilling to
compromise, and tended to see conspiracies whether they were there or not. He actively
defended his prerogative, and the nature of his court increasingly hampered dialogue with the
political nation, ultimately leading to the undermining of his authority.
Charles’ court: Charles regarded his court as a microcosm of his state- a model for what could
be achieved in the country. The strict order Charles imposed on his court, and the fact that it
included only his supporters, made it seem isolated from the rest of the country, offering those
outside it little point of contact in the political process. The court was dominated by Catholics
and Arminians. Charles introduced a court masque, which often depicted scenes of disorder,
solved by Charles and his wife through the Divine Right of Kings. This angered Puritan William
Pryne, who produced the pamphlet Histrio-Mastix in 1633, which denounced female actors.
Puritans frowned upon ceremonies of any kind, seeing them as Catholic.
Religion: the most controversial issue of the Early Modern period, which underpinned political
conflict at the time. Whereas Elizabeth and James took realistic and practical stances towards
religious diversity, Charles took a more authoritarian stance, seeking to impose uniformity. In
doing so, he broke the ‘jacobethan balance’, and forced moderate calvinists to feel increasingly
sympathetic to their fellow anti-Catholic Protestants, the Puritans. Ultimately, it was Charles’
attempt to enforce religious uniformity across his kingdoms that provoked the British Civil Wars.
Scotland: Charles and Laud had long resented the independence of the Presbyterian Church of
Scotland. They wanted to align it with the Laudian Church of England and reform its practises
and prayer book.
1625 Prerogative Act of Revocation
- Scottish church or royal property which had been alienated since 1540 was taken back
by the crown. This was the exploitation of a feudal right, and set the tone for his
approach to Scotland
- This greatly alarmed the nobility, and the landowners were united against C
- Worsened C’s relationship with the Kirk
1625 Charles commands observation of the Articles of Perth
- This was James I’s article forced through the Kirk in 1618, which had 5 parts, each
addressing different issues: observance of holy days, private baptism, etc.
- To presbyterians the commands looked like Catholicism
