Elisabeth I and Cromwell The development of Constitutional/Limited Monarchy in England

Magna Carta, 1215 * Created a CONTRACT between the king and the aristocracy. * Established principles which limited the power of the king

Late Medieval Parliament – the Hundred Years War

Henry VIII

Elisabeth I

The Elizabethan “Bargain” * Parliament:  Would have the power to tax.  Can debate and amend disputed bills. * The Monarch:  Had the royal perogative [right/choice] on foreign policy.

The Defeat of the Armada

The Stuart Monarchy

James I: the Wisest Fool in Christendom He quickly alienated a Parliament grown accustomed under the Tudors to act on the premise that monarch and Parliament TOGETHER ruled England as a “balance polity.” He quickly alienated a Parliament grown accustomed under the Tudors to act on the premise that monarch and Parliament TOGETHER ruled England as a “balance polity.”

A speech to parliament (1610 )...The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth, for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be three principal [comparisons] that illustrate the state of monarchy: one taken out of the word of God, and the two other out of the grounds of policy and philosophy. In the Scriptures kings are called gods, and so their power after a certain relation compared to the Divine power. Kings are also compared to fathers of families; for a king is truly parens patriae [parent of the country], the politic father of his people. And lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body of man......The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth, for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be three principal [comparisons] that illustrate the state of monarchy: one taken out of the word of God, and the two other out of the grounds of policy and philosophy. In the Scriptures kings are called gods, and so their power after a certain relation compared to the Divine power. Kings are also compared to fathers of families; for a king is truly parens patriae [parent of the country], the politic father of his people. And lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body of man... First, that you do not meddle with the main points of government; that is my craft... to meddle with that, were to lessen me. I am now an old king... I must not be taught my office. Secondly, I would not have you meddle with such ancient rights of mine as I have received from my predecessors, possessing them more (as ancestral customs): such things I would be sorry should be accounted for grievances. All novelties are dangerous as well in a politic as in a natural body, and therefore I would be loath to be quarreled in my ancient rights and possessions: for that were to judge me unworthy of that which my predecessors had and left me. First, that you do not meddle with the main points of government; that is my craft... to meddle with that, were to lessen me. I am now an old king... I must not be taught my office. Secondly, I would not have you meddle with such ancient rights of mine as I have received from my predecessors, possessing them more (as ancestral customs): such things I would be sorry should be accounted for grievances. All novelties are dangerous as well in a politic as in a natural body, and therefore I would be loath to be quarreled in my ancient rights and possessions: for that were to judge me unworthy of that which my predecessors had and left me.

The last Tudor and the first Stuart monarchs of England claimed the divine right of kings yet James I was extremely unpopular. What gives? * Use the speeches from Elisabeth and James I to explain why Elisabeth is generally considered to be a good monarch and why James is not.

Religion under Elizabeth I and James I * James alienated the Puritans by his strong defense of the Anglican Church. * Many of England’s gentry [mostly rich landowners below the level of the nobility] became Puritans.  These Puritan gentry formed an important and large part of the House of Commons.

Charles I He continued to support the Anglican hierarchy. He continued to support the Anglican hierarchy. Uniformity of church services imposed by a church court. Uniformity of church services imposed by a church court. Anglican Book of Common Prayer for both England AND Scotland. Anglican Book of Common Prayer for both England AND Scotland. Ship Money – no taxation without representation. Ship Money – no taxation without representation. The violation of the writ of habeas corpus. The violation of the writ of habeas corpus.

The Petition of Rights, 1628 a In return for money to fund his wars, Charles I agreed:  No imprisonment without due cause.  No taxation without Parliament’s consent.  No putting soldiers in private homes.  No martial law during peacetime. a Charles signed it, and then ignored it, dissolving Parliament!

Regicide

Cromwell