The King's Chambers : the bedchamber of James I in administration and politics, 1603-1625
The focus of this study is the Bedchamber of James I, a new institution formed in 1603 by the political pressures of a foreign king's accession. First to be discussed is the English court which existed at Elizabeth's death, followed by the institutional background of James's household in Scotland (and French influences on it). The household above stairs in James's reign is next described, with emphasis on the Privy Chamber. Then the structure of the Bedchamber - practice, personnel, the limitation of access - is fully analysed. The remaining three-quarters of the dissertation consists, on the one hand, of analysis of the Bedchamber's administrative functions, centring on its role, and that of the Bedchamber favourites Somerset and Buckingham, in the private governmental machine of the sign manual, coffers and privy purse; and on the other hand, of a narrative of the reign's politics from the perspective of the Bedchamber. This political narrative demonstrates that at first the Bedchamber played a central role in the king's Union intitiative; that the Scots' Bedchamber monopoly and massive patronage gains- practical expressions of James's policy - triggered principled parliamentary opposition between 1604 and
Cuddy, Neil
Bedchamber of James I 1603-25
The King's Chambers : the bedchamber of James I in administration and politics, 1603-1625. The focus of this study is the Bedchamber of James I, a new institution formed in 1603 by the political pressures of a foreign king's accession. First to be discussed is the English court which existed at Elizabeth's death, followed by the institutional background of James's household in Scotland (and French influences on it). The household above stairs in James's reign is next described, with emphasis on the Privy Chamber. Then the structure of the Bedchamber - practice, personnel, the limitation of access - is fully analysed. The remaining three-quarters of the dissertation consists, on the one hand, of analysis of the Bedchamber's administrative functions, centring on its role, and that of the Bedchamber favourites Somerset and Buckingham, in the private governmental machine of the sign manual, coffers and privy purse; and on the other hand, of a narrative of the reign's politics from the perspective of the Bedchamber. This political narrative demonstrates that at first the Bedchamber played a central role in the king's Union intitiative; that the Scots' Bedchamber monopoly and massive patronage gains- practical expressions of James's policy - triggered principled parliamentary opposition between 1604 and
king james administration politics focus study james new institution form political pressure foreign king accession first_discuss english court exist elizabeth death follow institutional background james household scotland french_influence household james reign next described emphasis privy chamber structure practice personnel limitation access fully analyse remain consists one_hand analysis administrative function centre role somerset private governmental machine sign manual privy hand narrative reign politics perspective political narrative demonstrates first play_central_role king union scots monopoly massive patronage practical expression james policy trigger principled parliamentary opposition