CHAPTER X. Accession of James E. A FEW hours after Elizabeth's death, a meeting was held at Whitehall, consisting of the Privy Councillors, such Peers as were in London, the Lord Mayor, and a few other persons. To them Cecil submitted a proclamation, which he had prepared, announcing the accession of James VI. of Scotland to the throne of England. As Elizabeth had never married, the direct line of Henry VIII. came to an end at her death. All through her reign much anxiety had been caused by uncertainty about the succession. Elizabeth could never be persuaded to name her successor. At first this policy was wise, especially during the lifetime of Mary Queen of Scots. The recognition of a Catholic successor would have given a dangerous head to the intrigues of Spain; the recognition of any successor at all would have. created a centre for malcontents, and would have weakened the Queen's position. But towards the end of Elizabeth's reign much anxiety might have been spared had the Queen clearly recognised James VI. of Scotland as her successor. Still the thought of any successor was distasteful to her. She was afraid lest, if she acknowledged the claim of James VI., he would try to interfere with English affairs; and so she adhered to the policy which had become a habit to her. But her refusal to consider the question of the succession could not keep her subjects from doing so. It was discussed in secret, books were written about it, and many intrigues were carried on. Many different claims were put forward. Essex had accused Cecil of favouring the claim of the Infanta Isabella, daughter of Philip II. But this claim, though it was a good deal talked about, obtained no countenance except from some of the most violent Catholics. It had been put forward by them, because they saw no other chance of getting a Catholic sovereign. To find any grounds for her claim, they had to trace her descent from Eleanor, daughter of Henry II., who had married Alphonso IX. of Castile. Few even of the Catholics would have been willing to recognise a claim such as this, which ignored the rights of the House of Tudor, and would have handed over England to a foreigner. The real question lay between the Houses of Suffolk and of Stuart, which both sprung from sisters of Henry VIII., as will be seen in the genealogical table. The parliamentary title belonged to the House of Suffolk. An Act of Parliament had given Henry VIII. the right of disposing of the succession by will, and he had declared in his will that after his own children and their issue the crown should pass to the House of Suffolk. This will led to the ill-fated attempt to place Lady Jane Grey upon the throne. After her execution the claim of the House of Suffolk passed to her sister Catherine, and then to her son Lord Beauchamp. But his claim had been rendered doubtful by uncertainty as to the validity of his parents' marriage. In reality, after the death. of Mary Queen of Scots had removed all fear of the succession of a Roman Catholic, little doubt remained as to the right of the House of Stuart. The House of Stuart derived its claim from Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII.'s sister, who had married James IV., king of Scotland. James VI. of Scotland was the great grandson of Margaret Tudor. But from time to time the claim had been advanced of another descendant of Margaret's, by her second marriage with the Earl of Angus. This was Arabella Stuart, the second cousin of James VI. An opinion was held by some, on legal grounds, that her claim was the better, because she had been born in England. But she was her claim was without ambition for herself, and never seriously brought forward. It was indeed nothing but a burden to her by making her an object of suspicion-first to Elizabeth, and then to James. It is not strange that amidst these various 1603] JAMES' SUCCESSION. 143 claims men had looked forward to the death of Elizabeth as likely to produce serious disturbances. James himself had never dared to hope that he would succeed peaceably. He had tried to prepare the way for his succession by making a party for himself in England; and with this view had entered into correspondence with Essex and others, and had shown himself ready to take any steps which might ensure his succession. His correspondents, of course, took this opportunity of laying stress upon their own importance, and the use they might be to him, and of blackening the characters of their rivals at Court or in the government. One of the chief of these correspondents was Lord Henry Howard, Ralegh's bitterest enemy, and a man who thought no lie too. base to be uttered, if he could only do harm to an enemy or advance himself. In his letters he indulged in the most venomous slanders against Ralegh, and managed to fill James's mind with suspicion and fear of him. Amongst others, Robert Cecil entered into correspondence with James. He thought it wise to prevent him from taking any foolish steps with a view to ensuring his succession. He told him that if he would remain quiet, and do nothing rash, his succession would follow as a matter of course. James had been prejudiced against Cecil by Essex, who had always maintained that Cecil favoured the title of the Infanta. He was now delighted to find him amongst his friends. He |