Assess the reasons why Foreign Policy caused disputes between James I and

his parliaments.
Introduction
James was fundamentally torn between the legacy left behind by Elizabeth of strong
Protestantism and his wanting to keep the peace with Spain, the main Protestant
power. For this reason his foreign policies constantly clashed with the wishes of
Parliament.

Point 1: legacy of Elizabeth, James entered in an era of strong anti catholic feeling
post Armada
Evidence: Elizabeth had given loans to the Dutch during Armada James wouldn’t
support Protestant Dutch breakaway Republic to resist Catholic Spaniards during the
Dutch war of 1609 as he said they still owed the crown for the loans.
Analysis : although James negotiated peace separately with Dutch and Spanish he
wouldn’t financially support them
Evidence : “God blew and the ships scattered” the population saw God as having
triumphed in the war against Catholics, strong support for Protestantism, 1588
Armada.
Analysis: Parliament would represent their constituencies, the People didn’t want any
Catholics - Parliament was representing their interests.
Interim judgement : Difficult for James to be popular during such an anti catholic
movement.

Point 2: Rex pacificus

Evidence : 1604 treaty of London : peace with Spain
Analysis : Despite there being economic benefits to peace (expenses were reduced)
Palriament felt the terms were favourable to Spain. Under the treaty Engladn was
required to return all of the territory it had acquired during the 19 year Anglo-Spanish
war including the influential port of Cadiz.
Evidence : James doesn’t fight in thirty years war 1618, not supporting the protestant
or the catholics.
Analysis : Shows the idealistic nature of Jame’s foreign policy which strongly
contrasts with the pratical nature of Parliament’s.
Evidence: December 1622, parliament drafts petition including Goring’s (associate of
Buckingham) calls for petitioning the king for war if Spain didn’t withdraw from the
Palatinate, including the request that Charles marry ‘one of our own religion’ Before
Petition could be sent James sent letter telling commons not to ‘meddle with matters
of the state’ Parliament shocked as they thought James wanted to resolve conflict in
the Palatinate.
Analysis : In trying to have peace with Spain James was confusing his own
Parliament, this lead to infringement on the Royal Perogative and so disputes.
Interim judgement: James didn’t take a strong enough position on Foreign Policy
which not only confused but frustrated Parliament, they felt the need to assert
dominance in Europe, especially when the conflict concerned James’ own
daughter.
Point 3 : Royal Perogative around Catholicism , pushes James’ own agenda
and doesn’t represent the people in Parliament’s eyes
Evidence: the 1622 Spanish match
Analysis: Hoped an alliance with Spain would mean the Spanish Hasburgs
would put pressure on the Austrian branch to restore Frederick to the Palatine.
Also to oppose the powerful coalition formed with the marriage of Louis XIII
and a spanish princess.
Evidence : 1623 Charles + Buckingham travel to Spain to ask for the hand in
marriage of the Infanta.
Analysis : James opposed the trip but the effect was a deepening of anti-
catholic feeling as the public actually opposed James marrying a princess
Evidence: October 1923 after charles had come back a catholic chapel in the
house of french ambassador in london Tillières collapsed killing 100
recusants, a girl pulled from the wreckage was set on by the croud eager to
finish the job.
Analysis : James had succeeded in further disuniting the country and
Parliament from his own goals for foreign policy.
Interim judgment : James’ royal prerogative was so different from that of
Palriament and was discongruous with the popular religious feeling in
England.

Conclusion
- Overall Parliament needed James to be loyal to Protestantism which he
was unable to do due to his wish to be peaceful, his catholic wife and
personal court.