* On the death of Elizabeth, the parliamentary right to the throne was vested in this nobleman, as representative of Mary, Duchess of Suffolk, Sir W. Seymour= Principal Events. THE great grandson of Margaret Tudor, eldest He is met by the Privy Council at Theobald's, Suppression of a conspiracy by Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Raleigh in favour of Arabella Stuart, great granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, by her second husband. 1604. A conference is held at Hampton Court between the Episcopal and Puritan divines, at which the king presides (14th-16th Jan). Proclamation enforcing the Act of Uniformity. He meets his First Parliament (19th March), from which he obtains the recognition of his title. He assumes the title of king of Great Britain. 1605. Gunpowder Plot for destruction of the king and the two Houses of Parliament,-for which Sir Everard Digby, Guy Fawkes, and others suffer. 1607. A legislative union between England and Scotland proposed by the king. 1608. He bestows the lands in Ulster forfeited by O'Neale and O'Donnel, on English and Scotch settlers. 1609. The renewal of the charter of the East India Company. A.D. Observations. JAMES the first of England and sixth of Scotland, the son of Mary Stuart and who had suffered in the cause of Mary Stuart, were restored to their titles and estates. The accession of James was soon followed by a double conspiracy ;-one The Roman Catholics had, up to this time, borne with much patience the The First Parliament of this reign, after it had existed for nearly seven years, attempted to abridge the power of the crown, and was dissolved before a single measure had been passed. After an interval of seven years, a Third Parliament assembled (A.D. 1621). The Commons asserted their liberties and privileges, and Rise of the king's favourite, Robert Carr. entered in their Journal the memorable Protestation, that every member has a right to perfect freedom of speech. James, having sent for the Journal, tore 1610. Disputes between the king and the parlia-out the record with his own hands, and soon afterwards dissolved the House ment as to the right of the crown to modify the (A.D. 1622). Sir Edward Coke, Selden, Pym, and some of the members of the popular party were committed to prison. The Fourth Parliament of the reign, rates of the customs. The Commons attempt to which assembled in 1624, had not been dissolved at the time of the king's death. limit the royal prerogative. On the death of Prince Henry, the eldest son of James (A.D. 1612), Charles 22 YEARS 59 YEARS (1604). Colonization of Virginia (1607). The Twelve Years Truce" between Spain and Holland (1609). Final expulsion of the Moors from Spain by Philip III. (1610). The Evangelical Union, under Frederic of the Palatinate, and the Catholic League, under Maximilian, of Bavaria (1610). Henry IV. is assassinated by Ravaillac (1610). Discovery of Hudson's Bay (1610). The Remonstrance is presented by Arminius to the states of Holland (1610). Batavia is founded by the Dutch (1610). Mary de Medici, Queen Mother, Regent of France during the minority of Louis XIII. (1610). The thermometer is invented (1610). Colonization of Newfoundland (1610). Gustavus Adolphus becomes king of Sweden (1611). The first English settlement in India is founded at Surat (1612). Michael III. founds the dynasty of the Romanoffs in Russia (1613). Logarithms are invented by Napier of Merciston (1614). The last assembly of the States General in France (1615). The Prince of Condé places himself at the head of the Huguenots (1615). Peace of Stolbowa between Prussia and Sweden (1617). The Bohemians rise under Von Thurm Commencement of the Thirty Years' war. (1618), and offer the crown to the Elector Palatine, Frederick V. (1619). 1611. The Order of Baronets is instituted. The became Prince of Wales. A marriage was proposed between him and the dignity is purchased. 1612. Death of Prince Henry, 1613. Marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of the king, with Frederick V., the Elector Palatine whence sprang the House of Brunswick. 1614. The Second Parliament of this reign ("Addled Parliament "), meets (5th April), and is dissolved (7th June). 1615. George Villiers (afterwards Duke of Buckingham) acquires influence at court. 1617. James holds a parliament in Scotland, and introduces Episcopacy into that country. A fruitless expedition of Sir Walter Raleigh to South America, which is followed by his execution. 1621. Assembly of a third parliament, by which licences and patents are abolished. Sir E. Villiers, brother of the Duke of Buckingham, Yelverton, the Attorney General, and others are punished. Lord Chancellor Bacon is impeached and fined. A Protestation of their rights is made by the Commons (18th Dec.). The entry is torn from their Journal by the King. 1622. Dissolution of parliament (8th Feb.) Some of the members of the Commons are imprisoned. Lords Oxford and Southampton are committed into custody; whence may be dated the commencement of parliamentary opposition in the Lords. 1623. Visit of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Spain, to negotiate a marriage with the Infanta. 1624. The Fourth Parliament of this reign is held (19th Feb.) The Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Middlesex, is impeached and fined for corruption. War is proclaimed against Spain and Austria. Subsidies are voted by parliament to assist the Elector Palatine. Treaty for the marriage of the Prince of Wales with Henrietta Maria of France (12th Nov.) Infanta Maria Alethea daughter of Philip IV. of Spain. The prince, in company with Buckingham, paid a visit to Madrid, but the negotiations for this alliance were broken off, and a contract of marriage was made between Charles and Henrietta Maria, a princess whom he had seen while passing through Paris, at the court of her brother, Louis XIII. Arbitrary measures of Prince Maurice. The synod of Dort condenins Arminius, and denies toleration to the Remonstrants (1618) Barnevelt is beheaded: Grotius is imprisoned (1619). The Imperial generals, Maximilian and Tilly, are victorious over the Bohemians near Prague. Frederick loses the Electorate (1620) Amboyna is taken by the Dutch from the Elizabeth, the only surviving daughter of the king, was married to the Elector Palatine, whose attempt to obtain the crown of Bohemia was followed by the loss of his own dominions. In spite of the remonstrances of the Com-Portuguese (1620). mons, James long refused to assist his son-in-law, but at length a fruitless expedition was sent to act under Count Mansfeldt in the recovery of the Palatinate. Navarre is united to France (1620) War is renewed between Holland and Spain (1621). Massacre of the English at Amboyna by the Dutch (1624). Richelieu reconciles the queen-mother and Louis XIII., and directs the govern Sir W. Raleigh was liberated, after an imprisonment of thirteen years, although his former sentence was not reversed. On a promise of pointing out the way to a gold mine in South America, he was allowed to proceed there with fourteen vessels. The object of the expedition failed; an encounter took placement (1624). with the Spaniards, and Raleigh was compelled by a mutiny of his crew to return to England. The remonstrances of the court of Spain, then in alliance with this country, led to his arrest on his arrival; and, with great disregard for the forms of justice, he was executed under his former sentence. After the death of Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, the son of Lord Burleigh (1612), James was ruled by worthless favourites. The first was Robert Carr, created Earl of Somerset, who was disgraced for the murder of his friend, Sir T. Overbury, at the instigation of his wife, the divorced Countess of Essex. favourite was George Villiers, who was created Duke of Buckingham, appointed Lord High Admiral, and raised to the highest offices of the state. The next The ancient line of Scotch bishops had come to an end by the death of J. Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, in 1603. James endeavoured to re-establish Episcopacy in Scotland, and nominated bishops to thirteen Scotch sees (1610). In Ireland, English customs were substituted for the ancient usages and tenures of Tanistry and Gavelkind, changes which were attended with beneficial results. The measures, however, of James in planting the forfeited lands in Ulster with English and Scotch settlers proceeded on a principle of spoliation, and eventually caused distrust and disaffection. An attempt was made by James to affect a legislative union between England and Scotland. The measure was supported by Bacon, but was opposed by his rival, Sir E. Coke, and was rejected by Parliament. The privilege of sending members to Parliament was first granted during this reign to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The feudal aids were exacted for the last time on the occasion of the marriage of the Princess Elizabeth (A.D. 1613). The "Authorised Version" of the Bible was completed in 1611. Copper halfpence and farthings were now first coined. The New River, constructed by Sir Hugh Middleton, a goldsmith of London, was opened in 1614. The Archbishopric of Canterbury was filled during this reign by Whitgift, Bancroft, and Abbott. The Chancellors, or Lord Keepers, were Egerton (Lord Ellesmere), Lord Bacon, and Williams, Bishop of Lincoln. The most celebrated of the Secretaries of State was the Earl of Salisbury. Manhattan, or New Amsterdam (now New York), is founded by the Dutch (1624). The islands of Barbadoes and St. Christopher are occupied by English setters. The first English settlement in the West Indies. died A. D. 1603 NAMES OF NOTE Charron, Satirist. J. Stowe, Historian Baronius, Cardinal J. Scaliger, Philologist A. Carracci, Painter F. Beaumont, Dramatist Married, ANNE of Denmark. Issue, Henry, died aged 17. CHARLES I. Elizabeth, married Frederick V., Elector Palatine. 1605 1607 1609 1609 1614 39 1615 1616 1617 1617 1617 . Principal Events. THE third but only surviving son of James I., succeeds to the crown, in his twenty-fifth year (27th March). Charles espouses, by proxy, at Paris, Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV. of France (1st May), who arrives at Canterbury (13th June), where the contract of marriage is renewed. He summons his First Parliament (18th June), which, on account of the plague, is adjourned to Oxford (1st Aug.). It votes Tonnage and Poundage for one year only, and, on demanding a redress of grievances, is dissolved (12th Aug.). 1626. Coronation of the king at Westminster (2nd Feb.). Charles summons a Second Parliament (6th Feb.), which prefers articles of impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham, and is dissolved (11th June). He raises supplies by levying the duties of Tonnage and Poundage, and by forced loans. 1627. War is proclaimed against France. 1628. A Third Parliament is summoned (17th March) which passes the PETITION OF RIGHT (7th June), and votes five subsidies. Assassination of Buckingham (23rd Aug.). 1629. A remonstrance against innovations in religion, and against Tonnage and Poundage, passed by the Commons (2nd March), is followed within eight days by their dissolution, and the imprisonment of Sir J. Eliot, Hollis, Selden, and six other members, after which no parliament is held for eleven years. 1630. Charles concludes peace with France (April) and Spain (Nov.). 1631. Monopolies are revived, and the power of the Court of the Star Chamber is enlarged. 1633. Charles visits Scotland, where he is crowned. Lord Wentworth (afterwards Earl of Strafford) is appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland. 1625 Observations. YEARS THE early years of this reign were embarrassed by the war with Spain, and by the unpopularity of Buckingham. The opposition to the Court in the Upper House, which had originated in the preceding reign, was strengthened by the unwise refusal of Charles to grant a writ of summons to the Earl of Bristol. Meanwhile, owing to the changes which had been gradually working their way in the social state of England, the Commons had acquired sufficient strength to ceased to exert since their depression by the Wars of the Roses. exercise that control over the prerogatives of the Crown, which the nobles had The First Parliament of this reign refused to vote the supplies necessary for the prosecution of the Spanish war, and, on its demand for a redress of grievances, it was dissolved within three weeks. YEARS The Second Parliament (A.D. 1626) assumed a hostile attitude to the Court. To add to the embarrassments of the king, the personal dislike of Buckingham to the great Cardinal Richelieu involved England in a war with France. A fleet of one hundred vessels under the command of Buckingham sailed in 1627 to relieve the Huguenots of Rochelle, which was at that time besieged by Louis XIII. The Duke failed in effecting his object. A second expedition in 1628 was equally unsuccessful. In the same year Buckingham was preparing to take the command of a third expedition, when he fell by the hand of the assassin, Felton. In 1628, Charles summoned his Third Parliament. To check the violent exertions of prerogative by forced loans arbitrary imprisonment, and the levy required to a bill which enacted, 1st, That no loan or tax might be levied but of taxes without the consent of the Commons, the assent of the king was by the consent of parliament. 2nd, That no man might be imprisoned but by legal process. 3rd, That no commissions should be granted for executing martial law. To this bill, called "The Petition of Right," as implying that the privileges secured by it had been already enjoyed, Charles reluctantly assented. In the following Session the Commons proceeded to pass a remonstrance against the imposts of Tonnage and Poundage, certain duties on the import of wine and other merchandise, the levying of which had never been governed by fixed rules, when they were dissolved amid a scene of great violence (A.D. 1629). Until 1628 Sir Thomas Wentworth had acted with the popular party. In that year he was unhappily admitted to the king's councils, and henceforth became his principal adviser. He was appointed president of the Council of York, an arbitrary tribunal created by Henry VIII.; in 1633 he was invested with the government of Ireland, and in 1639 he was created Earl of Strafford. The system of government advocated by Strafford, and which was designated Prince Maurice is succeeded by his severe laws against the Remonstrants (1625). Suppression of a conspiracy against Richelieu. The Count de Chalais is beheaded (1626). General Tilly at Luttern, and Mansfeldt by Wallenstein at Dessau (1626). Christian is defeated by the Imperialist French settlements are formed in Senegal and Guiana (1626). The provinces of Holstein and Schleswig are reduced by the Imperialists (1627). Settlement effected by the English in Massachusetts (1625). by Louis XIII (1628). Rochelle is captured from the Huguenots Death of Schah Abbas the Great, King of Persia (1628). Death of the Duke of Mantua. Disputes as to the succession to his states lead to a new war in Italy (1628). Civil war in France is terininated by the submission of the Duke de Rohan. The Pacification of Nismes establishes religious liberty (1629). Ferdinand II. and Christian IV. at Lubeck. The provinces conquered by Wallenstein are restored (1629). Peace is concluded between the Emperor Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden heads the Protestant Allies, and lands in Germany (1630). Magdeburg is taken by Tilly (1631). A subsidy-treaty between France and Sweden is concluded by Richelieu (1631). The Mantuan succession war is closed by the Treaty of Chierasco, by which Charles of Nevers becomes Duke of Mantua. The ascendancy of Spain in the north of Italy ceases (1631). |