How important was James Is attempt to obtain a union between England and Scotland in causing difficulties with his first parliament in the years 1604 to 1611

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1 (b) How important was James I’s attempt to obtain a union between England and Scotland in causing difficulties with his first parliament in the years 1604 to 1611?

From start of this period, right through to the end, James constantly faced difficulties with parliament. These difficulties weren’t simply limited to his determination to seek a union with Scotland, there were far more issues and instances which caused difficulties with parliament such as clashes between royal prerogative and parliamentary privilege, finance and how James raised money.

James’ proposition for union with Scotland caused many difficulties with parliament as he was hugely enthusiastic about it, yet on the other hand parliament despised the thought of it. Tension arose between James and parliament after great hostility in Parliament and much criticism of the King, souring James’s attitude towards Parliament. Opposition to the union was so strong that it was effectively abandoned in 1607 with parliament making only relatively minor concessions to James, including an agreement that all those born in either kingdom after 1603 should hold dual nationality. For such an important proposition to James to cause such adverse reactions from parliament so early in James’ rule meant that the foundations for the relationship between the king and his parliament had been damaged. However, its importance should not be exaggerated, as it is overshadowed in comparison to other factors.

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The issues surrounding the proposition of union only lasted four years, this pales in comparison to issues such as finance which posed vast amounts of problems for James and his parliament for his entire reign. Purveyance was widely disputed due to the abuse corruption behind it, parliament petitioned against it. Cecil so proposed a scheme to deal with purveyance, although it failed to materialise due to complaints of James’ extravagance. Another right of the crown, the system of wardships was out-dated and hated by parliament, they proposed to buy out and abolish the court of wards, although the king outright ...

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