Scottish History - The House of Stewart
James VI of Scotland, I of England Part 4 of 4

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James VI (1567 - 1603) - Part 4

George Villiers

The Earl of Buckingham and then the Duke of Buckingham next held sway over James. He was more dangerous than Carr had been because he was more intelligenet and played a larger role in matters of state. The King was becoming less and less active in government and Buckingham used his influence to make money for himself and his family. He flattered the King outrageously. James to his council in 1617 said, "You may be sure that I love the Earl of Buckingham mroe than anyone else, and more than you who are here assembled." It is said that "James fell for Buckingham completely and the relationship became very deep." Buckingham wrote to James saying,

"I naturally so love your person and adore all your other parts, which are more than ever one man had, that were not only all your people but all the world besides set together on one side and you alone on the other, I should to obey and please you, displease, nay, despite them all."

Now, this does not say that James had a sexual relationship with Villiers, but it certainly does suggest it.

Buckingham encouraged James to grant monopolies in trade. This brought in a fortune for the person who had the monopoly and a lot of money for the Crown. However, it did increase prices as there was no competition.

His money problems continued. Sir Walter Raleigh had been in the tower under a sentence of death for a long time but had been to Guiana and felt there was gold there. James decided he would send Raleigh on an expedition to find the gold but it was not to be. Raleigh became ill and his second in command attacked the Spanish who had a colony there, even though they had been instructed by James not to attack the Spanish. The expedition came home without any gold. James had Raleigh beheaded under the original sentence, thereby making Raleigh a martyr.

Trouble Abroad

James in his dealing with other countries had tried to follow the policy of friendship with both Catholic and Protestant countries. James wanted to link England with both sides. He had married his daughter to Frederick of the Palantine and wanted to marry Charles to the Spanish Infanta. The Catholics and Protestants in Bohemia became entangled in a fight and the Protestants asked Frederick to be King of Bohemia.

He asked James for advise, but James as was his nature was indecisive. Frederick did accept the crown. This meant that he was taking on Austria and Spain on his own and he did not have the army, the experience or the power to do so. British support was vital to Frederick but the Spanish ambassador held the carrot of a marriage between the Infanta and Charles out to James. So was he to support his son-in-law or Spain? He believed in the sanctity of Kings, remember, and, therefore, was upset with the overthrow of the King of Bohemia in favour of his son-in-law. Frederick actually only lasted as King for a year and earned the nickname of the King of one Winter.

Parliament believed that the Spanish threat to England needed to be resisted and James finally agreed. However, they appropriated too little money for James for an expedition to fight on Frederick's side, and he accepted it, not asking for more. James hesitated in sending troops and began peace talks with Spain as a mediator. Once again he changed his mind and decided that he must be on Frederick's side. He asked Parliament for more money but they refused, which, of course, enraged James. After charges on both sides, James dissolved the Parliament and thus ended Frederick's chance of help from England.

Betrothal of Charles

James was becoming senile at this time. He has been suggested that he suffered from a medical condition called "porphyria," apparently a disease which weakens the mind. (Dr. Roy can tell us what it is.) He could not concentrate. Queen Anne had died and since his daughter was abroad, he looked to the family of Buckingham for companionship. Buckingham and the Spanish ambassador were working together. James decided that now Charles should be betrothed to the Spanish Infanta hoping that the Spanish would help restore Frederick to the Palantinate (a part of Germany).

To Spain for the Betrothal

The Spanish ambassador persuaded Charles to go to Spain in person. He did go and took Buckingham with him. The Spanish thought that if Charles were there in person they could talk him into terms that would be favourable to Spain. This was unrealistic because any sort of terms that were too one-sided would not be approved by Parliament. The ambassador thought unrealistically that if he could convert Charles to Catholicism then the whole country would convert. Buckingham and Charles went to Madrid and were there for six months. The Spanish dragged out the negotiations. Also, Charles, because of Spanish custom, could not be with the Infanta alone. The Spanish in their demands wanted to reverse the laws imposed on Catholics in England so that Catholics would no longer have to swear allegiance. Charles agreed to their terms because he thought he could go back on his word when he returned to England.

James was afraid that the Spanish would keep Charles as a hostage. He agreed to the terms the Spanish had demanded and the marriage contract was signed. However, Charles did not marry the Infanta. He and Buckingham kept arguing about the terms. Finally Buckingham's bad manners and temper became more than the Spanish could bear. Charles and Buckingham returned to London and the marriage never took place, although the contract had been signed and the marriage could have taken place by proxy. The English people were happy that they did not have a Spanish Queen and Charles and Buckingham became popular figures with the people. They took over ruling in James' place.

Death of James

James died in 1625. The doctors at the time thought it was not life-threatening but James would not heed their advice and drank large amounts of cold beer to dilute his fever. He would not let them minister to him because of his fear of pain. There is some suggestion that he was poisoned but no proof.

James certainly was not the worst King that England had. During his reign, the arts and sciences and education flourished and his was a reign of tolerance. He was a generous man, probably due to the fact that he had such a lonely childhood that he wanted people to like him.

Two quotes seem to sum up his reign:

Arthur Wilson's epitaph on James:

"Peace was maintained by him as in the time of Augustus and peace begot plenty, and plenty begot ease and wantonness."

The Venetian ambassador's comments on James in 1607:

"He is Sovereign in name and in appearance rather than in substance and effect. This is the result of his deliberate choice, for he is capable of governing, being a Prince of intelligence and culture above the common, thanks to his applications to and pleasure in study when he was young, though he has now abandoned that pursuit altogether."

James VI (1567 - 1603) - Part 4