Changes

Queen Elizabeth never married and had no heirs.  After her death in 1603, her cousin James Stuart, King James VI of Scotland, took the English throne as James I.  The King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, was the magnificent English translation funded by his reign.  This stunning work greatly influenced the development of the English language for centuries to come.  But unlike Elizabeth, James I fought frequently with Parliament.   

Queen Elizabeth never married and had no heirs.  After her death in 1603, her cousin James Stuart, King James VI of Scotland, took the English throne as James I.  The King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, was the magnificent English translation funded by his reign.  This stunning work greatly influenced the development of the English language for centuries to come.  But unlike Elizabeth, James I fought frequently with Parliament.   

It was during the reign of James I in 1605 that the “Gunpowder Plot” was  

It was during the reign of James I in 1605 that the “Gunpowder Plot” was discovered. It consisted of a conspiracy, largely by the Catholic gentry of the Midland counties, to effect a coup d'etat. The first step in the plan was intended to be the assassination of the protestant King James I and his ministers at the State Opening of Parliament by the explosion of barrels of gunpowder placed in the cellar of the building. One of the Catholic members of Parliament, warned by the plotter not to attend the Opening, informed the authorities of the plot, which resulted in it being foiled. The leaders of the conspiracy, most famously Guy Fawkes, a soldier and expert in explosives who was found in the cellar of Parliament, were executed for this plot. A contrary view of a small minority, as noted in the Oxford Dictionary of World History, is that the Protestant statesman Robert Cecil (who helped install James I to the throne) “manufactured the plot” to affect public opinion.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of World History, p. 262 (paperback ed. 2001).</ref> British people commemorate this event annually on November 5th. The festivities, involving bonfires and fireworks, lost all religious and political significance many years ago and it is now simply an excuse for night-time merry-making at what is otherwise a dull time of year.

discovered. It consisted of barrels of gunpowder in the cellar of Parliament allegedly set to be ignited by Catholics to murder the Protestant James I and all of Parliament at an official assembly. Guy Fawkes and others were executed for this plot, and British Protestants commemorate this event annually on November 5th, though the Oxford Dictionary of World History notes that it has been suggested that Protestant Earl Robert Cecil (who helped install James I to the throne) “manufactured the plot” to affect public opinion.<ref>Oxford Dictionary of World History, p. 262 (paperback ed. 2001).</ref>

Charles I became the king in 1625 and conflicts worsened between King Charles I and Parliament.  Charles I needed funding in 1628, but Parliament refused unless Charles signed the Petition of Right.  This important document would have limited the powers of the king in four significant ways.  The king could no longer imprison people without good reason, or force people to house soldiers in their private homes, or impose taxes without the consent of Parliament, or impose martial (military) law during peacetime.  The king’s power would be greatly weakened by this Petition.  Charles accepted the Petition, but refused to abide by it.

Charles I became the king in 1625 and conflicts worsened between King Charles I and Parliament.  Charles I needed funding in 1628, but Parliament refused unless Charles signed the Petition of Right.  This important document would have limited the powers of the king in four significant ways.  The king could no longer imprison people without good reason, or force people to house soldiers in their private homes, or impose taxes without the consent of Parliament, or impose martial (military) law during peacetime.  The king’s power would be greatly weakened by this Petition.  Charles accepted the Petition, but refused to abide by it.