James and the governing class:

1. James and the governing class: A personal and political paradox

2. The Scots connection James was a ‘ foreigner’ in England. He sought reassurance by keeping a group of Scots nobles close to him, which created tension between him and the governing class • He appointed them to impt positions in his bedchamber • He rewarded them with lavish gifts • This encouraged English families to look for ‘candidates’ to penetrate/reduce the scots influence

3. James and his favourites James developed close personal bonds with two men who exerted significant influence on him and received excessive favours. This further angered the governing class. • The first favourite was Robert Carr- who remained important until he fell from grace • He was succeeded by George Villiers, who became the most controversial and influential person in James reign and in the early years of the reign of his son

4. James’ court: private and undignified The bedchamber rather than the privy council became the centre of James’ court- which was also less majestic than the court of Elizabeth. This ‘ exclusiveness’ increased tension. • The privy council remained important- but its business was disrupted by faction fighting • Many people in the governing class felt that real influence and important decisions were made in the bedchamber rather thanh at the council table

5. James and parliament:more accepting but less controlled Under James, parliament discussed important issues with less overt interference. It was allowed to discuss and criticise people and policies more than under Elizabeth. There was a tension as parliament and the crown sought to test where the bounrdary between crown’s pretrogative and parliament’s rights lay. • James had made his position clear in print • Parlt tested the prerogative in the debates over elections, the Apology and Satisfaction and the protestation • Faction fighting spilled over into parlt- and made it more difficult for Jas to work productively with its members

6. James and the governing class:An assessment The governing class remained loyal to James, but appear to have had less respect for him than they did for Elizabeth. They accepted him rather than admiring him and his actions.