Let's Change Gears... Stuarts and To Penshurst

Stuarts Reign: This was not what Henry envisioned it to be....

Tudor dynasty ended in England in 1603. Henry VIII vision of long lasting royal bloodline has ended with his daughter Elizabeth who did not produce a heir to the throne of England. England has transformed during Elizabeth's reign. England now was the king of the seas and defender of the protestant faith. When James VI of Scotland, took the English Crown to be come James I, his son would eventually ruin England and lead them to a civil war in 1649.
James I reign was marked, with the creation of the King James Bible and the exploitations of the Americas and the establishment of Jamestown, Virginia.

James assumed the role as authoritative ruler, who had control of the government. James hated dealing Parliament and refused to call it into session many time during his reign. James kept England out of foreign conflicts in Europe and maintain peaceful terms with Spain. He also had to deal with continuing problem of religious conflict in England, between the Catholics and Protestants. The Gunpowder Plot was planned by devoted Catholic's aimed at bombing Parliament building while the nobles and the King were present. The plan was foiled in time and the Plotters were made examples to the public.

Charles I didn't fair too well either in the English system. Many of the people were upset at some to the policies and decisions he made. The people were fed along with Parliament. They decided to spark a civil war for regime change. In the end, Charles was arrested and executed ending the monarchy for the first time in English history and setting up Oliver Cromwell Parliamentary government, which proved to be no better than the monarchy. So Cromwell was overthrown and the monarchy was restored, Charles II took over as King of England.

To Penshurst:
Ben Jonson describes in great detail about this house and it's surroundings. This house is ideally what you would want a King to visit. Jonson goes on to how the garden is perfect and has lavish fruit growing ready to be picked. The animals in the yard and pond represent an ideal manor of the court. Jonson poem brings out a lot imagery to describe this manor of Penshurst.