The union between England and Scotland did cause some difficulties to a fairly large extent, but other factors stained James relations with Parliament too. Finance was the biggest issue between both of them, as the Great contract was caused of parliaments dissolve in 1610 and religion to some extent caused some strain.
James's open-handed generosity, particularly towards his Scottish companions, won him few friends among the English. James would become unpopular for his choices of ministers based on personality – those who flattered him - rather than from talent. Robert Carr had been James’ pageboy in Scotland, was only 25 upon taking the position, and became corrupt and poorly skilled for the position. Both Carr and his wife were found guilty of the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury in 1615, this also proved unpopular with in parliament. This caused tension between both parts as there was a kind of hatred, which in return would cause problems with passing bills into laws.
Parliament rejected union of England and Scotland, preferring the monarch to be King of both whiles each maintaining their independence. After the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 James and Parliament again stood on a better footing – James commented that if he had died, he would have done so with the “most honourable and best company and in that most honourable and fittest place for a king to be in”. The parliamentary session in 1606 allowed James three direct taxes. However things had started to become sour again by 4th July 1607 when a union of England and Scotland was again rejected by Parliament which James believed firmly in. Parliament was xenophobia toward the Scottish, which itself made feeling sour between the two groups.
In 1610 James attempted to solve the issues with Parliament in what was to be a ‘Great Contract’. In return for receiving a regular income from Parliament James would give up feudal rights. However this failed, and by 1614 the so called ‘Addled Parliament’ which lasted only eight-weeks was passing no legislation due to the deadlock between King and Parliament. The parliament was dissolved on 7th June and James therefore ruled without parliament for much of his reign by raising funds from other sources – the sale of monopolies, sale of peerages including the new rank of baronet created in 1611, sales of which began in 1616 and numbered over 200, and using courts to impose customs duties, this also was a main factor why there was difficulties with the first parliament, it also shows that it is a main issue as it caused it parliament to be dissolved.
The rejection of the union highly annoyed James against his parliament, which on its part was little better satisfied with him. The multiplicity of proclamations to which the king, by the aid of the large and somewhat indefinite powers of the council, and of the unconstitutional judicature of the star-chamber, difficult to give the force of laws, strongly excited the jealousy of the house of commons; the boundless expenses of the court, especially the sums lavished on favourites and Scotchmen, incensed all classes; and, fearful of a gathering storm, James in July 1607 announced a prorogation of parliament till the November of the same year; which was afterwards extended till February 1610. During this extraordinary recess, the state of the country affords scarcely any materials , but the interval is somewhat more productive for record.
James' twenty-nine years of Scottish kingship did little to prepare him for the English monarchy: England and Scotland, rivals for superiority on the island and, virtually hated each other. This inherent mistrust, combined with Catholic-Protestant, severely limited James' prospects of a truly successful reign. His personality also caused problems: he was witty and well-read, fiercely believed in the divine right of kingship and his own importance, but found great difficulty in gaining acceptance from an English society that found his rough-hewn manners and natural paranoia quite unbecoming. James saw little use for Parliament. His extravagant spending habits and nonchalant ignoring of the nobility's grievances kept king and Parliament constantly at odds
His reign as James I was marked by unpopular policy decisions and uneasy relations with Parliament, who resented his assertion of the Divine Right of Kings and considered him self-indulgent and crass. He dissolved Parliament in 1611 and, excepting what was called the Addled Parliament (1614), ruled without one until 1621.I think the main reason causing difficulties with the first parliament was down to Finance, James attitudes then the Union . I think fincae is the most important as it was the main cause for the parliament being dissolved, after all the concepts combined it was the end point to knock the parliament down, after they were trying their hardest to carry on and aiming to make bills and pass them. James, brutally believed in the divine right of kingship and his own significance, this would have been hard for the MPS the have their say when the king was as above himself, and thought he was the word of God, whereas parliament believed that they had the right to be heard and have their say, this would have caused a conflict in power of the parliament and the king. I think the next most significant point was the union this would have only re-angered the MP’s and would have brought more thing up like the Scottish favours and that they have more money off the king then the English, which would link with the first most significant point in regards to finance (the reason why the king had such a large debt). All these points work together to help the difficulties with the first parliament, and combined cause the dissolve of parliament. Therefore I think the Union caused mild difficulties with the first parliament, but not as much as other factors which overshadows the union.