James VI of Scotland aka James I of England (1603-1625)

Upon becoming king, he is greeted with the Millenary Petition, drafted by one thousand Puritan ministers. It asks James to move Anglicanism farther from Catholicism and reduce popery. One result is the creation of the King James Bible.
The Gunpowder Plot is a Catholic plot to assassinate members of Parliament and the king—its discovery raises sentiment against Catholics.

Supporting war efforts in the Dutch Provinces and Ireland during Elizabeth’s reign leaves James with a ₤400,000 debt.
Writes True Law of Free Monarchy, claiming monarchs have indisputable power because they are chosen by God. He claims the king is God’s lieutenant on Earth, so he will rule absolutely with divine right. Going against the king is considered blasphemy.

Power of the Purse—gentry controls the money; James needs taxes but cannot levy them without Parliament’s consent.
Puritans and low-church Anglicans want him to remove bishops, but he fears “no bishop, no king.” As king, he is head of the Church of England.

Charles I (1625-1649)

Charles I wants war with Spain but needs Parliament for financing. Parliament uses the power of the purse to force him to sign the Petition of Right (1628):

• Limits king’s rights

• No forced loans

• Habeas corpus

• No quartering of troops

• Due process of law

• No taxation without Parliament’s consent

• Tonnage and Poundage (custom duties for one-year only)

Charles breaks the Petition and dissolves Parliament for 11 years—the Eleven Years Tyranny (1629-1640).

Major issues during this time:

• Ship Money tax extended to inland towns

• Death of John Elliot, a Puritan, in jail

• William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, enforces high-church Anglicanism

• Imposes Anglican prayer book on Scots → rebellion

Short Parliament (1640) refuses funds, dismissed after two weeks. Long Parliament (1640-1653) passes:

• Bill of Attainder against Earl of Strafford and Laud

• Parliament cannot be dissolved by king

• Triennial Act: Parliament must meet every 3 years

• Star Chamber abolished

Charles refuses the Nineteen Propositions → English Civil War (1640-1649):

Phase I (1642-1645): Cavaliers (king) vs. Roundheads (Parliament)

• Oliver Cromwell leads Roundhead army → defeats Cavaliers

Phase II (1645-1647): New Model Army purges Long Parliament → Rump Parliament

Phase III (1647-1649): Scots, Irish, and Charles I rebel → defeated by Cromwell

• Charles I tried and executed January 30, 1649

Oliver Cromwell and the Interregnum (1649-1660)

• Opposed radical sects like Levellers and Diggers

• Forms Protectorate with 12 military districts (1653)

• Becomes Lord Protector, builds army/navy, intolerant of Catholics, Anglicans, atheists

• Rules under martial law until 1658 → succeeded by son Richard

• 1660: Parliament restores monarchy → Charles II

Charles II and the Restoration (1660-1685)

• Executes Cromwell’s corpse to assert authority

• Returns monarchy → Puritans lose control, Anglican Church restored

• Clarendon Code enforces Anglican supremacy

• Treaty of Dover (1670): secret deal with France → Charles will convert to Catholicism, France gives money and troops

• Declaration of Indulgence (1672): suspends anti-Catholic laws → Parliament forces retraction

• Test Act (1673): prohibits non-Anglicans from public office

• Popish Plot (false) stirs anti-Catholic sentiment

• Exclusion Crisis (1681): prevents James II from throne → Whigs vs. Tories

James II (1685-1688)

• Tries to Catholicize army and universities

• Uses dispensing power to override laws

• Duke of Monmouth rebellion → defeated, Bloody Assize follows

• Declaration of Indulgences read in churches → trial of Seven Bishops

• Parliament waits for Protestant daughter Mary → married to William of Orange

• 1688: James’ son born → threat of Catholic dynasty

• Glorious Revolution: William and Mary invited → James flees, no bloodshed

William and Mary (1689-1702)

• Parliament declares James II abdicated → co-monarchs

• Bill of Rights (1689): limits monarch’s power, Parliament supreme

• Suspension of laws or taxation without Parliament illegal

• Freedom of election, free speech, no excessive bail, quartering troops forbidden

• Act of Toleration (1690): religious freedom except for Catholics

• Battle of Boyne (1690): William defeats James II

• Mutiny Act (1689): army under Parliamentary control

• Act of Union (1707): unites England and Scotland → Great Britain

Crises Elsewhere

France:

• Henry IV strengthens royal power, supports Nobles of the Sword and bureaucracy (Nobility of the Robe)

• Assassinated in 1610, leaves strong economy and mercantilist policy

• Louis XIII (9 years old) ruled under mother Marie de Medici → Estates General meets 1614

• Cardinal Richelieu centralizes power, curbs nobles, controls Huguenots

• The Fronde (1648-1652): failed revolt against royal authority

Spain:

• Philip II’s empire strained → bankruptcies, heavy taxation

• Philip IV’s minister Count of Olivares → Union of Arms fails

• Catalonia and Portugal revolt in 1640

Holland:

• Dutch Republic thrives → Amsterdam becomes financial capital

• Schism: Holland/Zeeland vs. House of Orange

• Maurice of Nassau executes political rivals

Sweden:

• Gustavus Adolphus modernizes army and bureaucracy

• Domestic economy: copper and iron industries

• Christina abdicates 1654 → Charles X succeeds, Riksdag maintains weak representation

Popular Historical Interpretation

• James I: divine right aggravated Parliament → failed Machiavellian

• Charles I: poor judgement, 11 Years Tyranny → disliked, failed ruler

• Cromwell: strong militarily, autocrat from Parliament, strengthened Britain’s army/navy

• Charles II: Machiavellian, “Merry Monarch,” compromised with Parliament, secret Catholic sympathies

• James II: not Machiavellian, overreach fails → Parliament prevails

Why Parliament Won:

1. Skillful use of prerogatives (esp. power of the purse)

2. Poor judgement of Stuart monarchs