17th Century England

Lesson 4: Summary

England's Position in the World

Great Britain in the 17th century was unique from other major states, in that it had no standing army and had to rely on Parliaments for raising money for war. The country was always drifting into war with Spain, ever since the Armada was defeated and Spain seeked revenge. The British people learned to hate Catholics and especially Spain. Elizabeth I had declared war near the end of her reign and the new King, James I, inherited this war. But he was quick to make peace, because James hated war and hoped to get all he wanted through negotiation. He began to appease and negotiate with both the Catholic and Protestant major countries.

Peace followed in James's country until James's death in 1625. His dream was to place his country into a lynchpin position between Catholic and Protestant nations, in order to keep peace and act as a balance of power between the two.

To this end, he tried to marry his Protestant heir (the future Charles I) to the Infanta of Catholic Spain and married his daughter Elizabeth to the leading Protestant Elector Palatine. The Spanish match failed as they demanded that Charles convert to Catholicism, but this was out of the question.

When his daughter’s new husband, the Elector Palatine, accepted the crown of Bohemia (which the people gave him over the claims of a relation to the powerful Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire) a religious war began, with Frederick leading the Protestants and the Holy Roman Empire and Spain leading the Catholics.

James was furious at his son in law and remained neutral, refusing to help him and blaming Frederick for his own actions. Instead, James tried his old tactic of negotiation with Spain - Spain was delighted to hold a carrot out to old James I, as this made sure he got nothing from them, but remained neutral! This war would stretch on for nearly three decades, with Great Britain remaining neutral.

All James contributed were a few thousand volunteers who went to fight, but were totally ineffective and badly supplied.

When King Charles I became King, he declared war on Spain, hoping to gain his sister's lands back for her and also to avenge the mockery Spain had made of his country. In 1627, Charles declared war on France and began helping French Protestants who were being besieged in La Rochelle by the French King.

Both wars went extremely badly for the British and a peace had to be made, with France in 1628 and with Spain in 1630. Britain had not made any impression on the European war and Frederick and Charles's sister lost their thrones and all lands.

Charles then changed tack and tried to negotiate with Spain for the return of the Palatine to Frederick. This effort, although it looked hopeful at one point, failed again. The result was that Charles allowed Spanish silver to be sent through England for Spanish soldiers' pay and he let Spanish ships into English waters. This angered a lot of his people, who hated Catholic Spain.

England had no more wars, and peace brought prosperity along with scientific and government developments. Britain became increasingly cultured while Europe was ravished by war.

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