ABSTRACT
The conduct of foreign policy was very much the King's business, a fact that was never disputed. Inevitably, the policy reflected James's interests and preoccupations, which centred on peace and the pursuit of suitable marriages for his children. James made no significant concessions and his negotiators successfully resisted Spanish efforts to detach England completely from her former ally. Trade with the United Provinces and the Archduke's territories was to continue and English merchants were given access to Mediterranean markets. Throughout the Palatinate Crisis James was under constant pressure, from the dominant anti-Spanish faction on the Council and from his son-in-law's family, to sever all links with Spain. The dowry would go a long way towards alleviating the crown's financial problems and, it was hoped, might make the King less inclined to call parliaments. To courtiers like Sir George Calvert, Sir Richard Weston and Sir Francis Cottington, an alliance with the Habsburgs represented order and stability in an uncertain world.
