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The Parliament was dominated more and more by lawyers. In the first gathering of Parliament in James I's reign there were 467 Members in the House of Commons, many of them inexperienced. James I noted that the real problem was the gaggle of lawyers who tried to dominate everything.

Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury

ROBERT CECIL, (FIRST VISCOUNT CRANBOURNE, EARL OF SALISBURY) (1563-1612)

• The younger son of William Cecil
• Studied law and travelled on the Continent, undertaking diplomatic missions
• Became Secretary of State (1596-1608)
• Won a feud with the Earl of Essex
• Succeeded in securing the smooth succession of James VI of Scotland to the English throne in 1603
• Negotiated peace with the Spanish in 1604
• Struggled to solve the Crown's financial problems
• Became ill and died in serious debt in 1612

James I's claim to the English throne came through his great-grandmother Margaret, who was daughter of Henry VII.

EXTRACT FROM THE LORD TREASURER'S SPEECH OF 1610
Queen Elizabeth entered into the Irish wars having 拢700,000 in her coffers. From 1598 until her death, the charge of Ireland cost 拢1,600,000. When the King came to the crown he could not possibly dissolve the army upon a sudden so that the charge of Ireland in his time hath cost 拢600,000. Besides which he hath redeemed the lands mortgaged by the late Queen, hath taken away the copper money, the exchange of Ireland, and paid divers debts of the Queen's: all amounting to 拢300,000.

The Low Countries hath cost him 拢250,000. The obsequies of the Queen; the King's entrance; the entrance of the Queen and her children; the coronation; the entertainment of the King of Denmark; embassages and gratulations sent and received: 拢500,000. In tertio Jacobi [in the third year of the reign of King James], when the last Lord Treasurer accompted, the gross debt of the King was 拢700,000, since which time his majesty hath been at great charge in the rebellion of Sir Cahir O'Dogharty. In maintaining the charge of the Prince, in building ships, and paying interest for money borrowed; so that at Michaelmas 1603, he owed, in toto, 拢1,400,000 . . . since that time there hath been an alleviation of his debt and charge, so that the King's debt is now down to 拢300,000.

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1586	Elizabeth I and James VI of Scotland sign the Treaty of Berwick acknowledging James VI as heir to the English throne
1589	James VI of Scotland marries Anne of Denmark
1603	Elizabeth I died James I of England, VI of Scotland
1604	Peace made with Spain
1605	Gunpowder Plot
1612	Prince Henry dies
1613	Princess Elizabeth marries Frederick, Elector Palatine
1625	James I dies Charles I becomes king