Reasons for the Dissolution of the Navy Board

The history of the English Navy of the early Stuart era is far less studied than the history of the naval forces of the Tudor period, usually associated with the beginning of the trans-formation of England into a great maritime power. In historical science, it is generally accepted that during the reign of James I the once-powerful Navy was brought to a catastrophic state. This view is largely based on a very narrow set of sources, primarily, on the Report of The Jacobean Commissions of Enquiry of 1618, which lists numerous instances of corruption, as well as stating the collapse of the Navy, despite the very large sums of money allocated for its maintenance. The work of the Commission resulted in the dissolution of the Navy Board, responsible for the maintenance of the fleet since 1546, and its replacement by a Naval Commission consisting of former commissioners. This study is based on the analysis of the Commission's Report. Special attention is also paid to the behaviour of the head of the Navy Board, Sir Robert Mansell, who had sold his post on the eve of the audit. The results of the study make it possible to question both the traditional account of the collapse of the fleet and to doubt the reason for the dissolution of the Navy Board associated with the alleged collapse. Among the major reasons for the dissolution of the Board, the author highlights the factional struggle and the change in the political situation at the Royal court

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