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4 - The refoundation of the monarchy, 1609–1610

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

John Cramsie
John Cramsie
Affiliation:
Union College, Schenectady, New York
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Summary

The search for a financial settlement took a decisive turn when Salisbury persuaded James to reconvene parliament and make it the venue for an ambitious ‘refoundation’ of the monarchy. Salisbury presented James with the most comprehensive blueprint for his estate in the reign, but it was a decidedly political assessment. The argument was simple: James's estate could not subsist without further burden to his subjects and it was politically inadvisable to impose that burden outside a parliamentary settlement. Salisbury wanted to attempt what Henry Knyvett proposed in 1593, the creation of an annual tax to support the crown's necessities. This was a revolutionary idea. Jean Beaulieu recognised the enormity of the suggestion, writing that parliament

according to the common opinion and hope, is like to bring forth very great alteration and reformation in the State …it being in question not onely to eradicatt the strongest and most inveteratt Diseases of the State, but also to admitt new Seeds of temperature or distemperature in that bodie, you may think with what caution, wariness and slowness they will proceed in so important a Worke …of so high Nature and of so great Consequence both to the King and to the State.

Beaulieu was astute. What began as a financial settlement developed into a far-reaching examination of kingship, governance and finance at the levels of political thought and practice. It was at precisely this intersection that refoundation collapsed.

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Kingship and Crown Finance under James VI and I, 1603–1625 , pp. 89 - 116
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Print publication year: 2002

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