С НА Р. LVI. Commencement of the civil war.-State of par- ties. Battle of Edgebill. Negociation at THE HISTORY O F GREAT BRITAIN. Introduction. CHA P. XLVI. JAMES I. James's firft tranfactions.States of -Rofni's negociations.Raleigh's confpiracy.-Hampton-court conference.A parliament. -Peace with Spain. THE old 1603. HE crown of England was never tranfmitted from CHAP. father to fon with greater tranquillity, than it XLVI. paffed from the family of Tudor to that of Stuart: During the whole reign of Elizabeth, the eyes of men had been employed in fearch of her fucceffor; and when age made the profpect of her death more immediate, there appeared none but the king of Scots, who could advance any just claim or pretenfion to the throne. He was the great-grandfon of Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII. and, on the failure of all the male-line, his hereditary right remained unquestionable. If the religion of Mary queen of Scots, and the other prejudices contracted against her, had formed any confiderable obftacle to her fucceffion; thefe objections, being entirely perfonal, had no place with regard to her fon. Men alfo confidered, that, though the title, derived from blood, had been frequently violated fince the Norman conqueft, fuch licences had proceeded more from force or intrigue, than from any deliberate maxims of government. The lineal heir had still in the end prevailed; and both his exclufion and reftoration had been VOL. VI. B com 1603. CHA P. commonly attended with fuch convulfions, as were fufXLVI. ficient to warn all prudent men not lightly to give way to fuch irregularities. If the will of Henry VIII. authorised by act of parliament, had tacitly excluded the Scottish line; the tyranny and caprices of that monarch had been fo fignal, that a fettlement of this nature, unfupported by any just reason, had no authority with the people. Queen Elizabeth too, with her dying breath, had recognized the undoubted title of her kinfman James; and the whole nation feemed to difpofe themselves with joy and pleasure for his reception. Though born and educated amidst a foreign and hostile people, men hoped, from his character of moderation and wifdom, that he would embrace the maxims of an English monarch; and the prudent forefaw greater advantages, refulting from an union with Scotland, than difadvantages from fubmitting to a prince of that nation. The alacrity, with which the English looked towards the fucceffor, had appeared fo evident to Elizabeth, that, concurring with other causes, it affected her with the deepest melancholy; and that wife princefs, whofe penetration and experience had given her the greatest insight into human affairs, had not yet fufficiently weighed the ingratitude of courtiers, and levity of the people. reign. As victory abroad, and tranquillity at home, had ever attended this queen, the left the nation in fuch flourishing circumstances, that her fucceffor poffeffed every advantage, except that of comparison with her illuftrious name, when he mounted the throne of England. Firft The king's journey from Edinburgh to London imtranfatti mediately afforded to the inquifitive fome circumstances ons of this of comparison, which even the natural partiality in favour of their new sovereign, could not interpret to his advantage. As he paffed along, all ranks of men flocked about him, from every quarter; allured by interest or curiofity. Great were the rejoicings, and loud and hearty the acclamations which refounded from all fides; and every one could remember how the affability and popularity of the queen displayed themselves, amidst fuch concourfe and exultation of her fubjects. James, though fociable and familiar with his friends and courtiers, hated the bustle of a mixt multitude; and though far from difliking flattery, yet he was still fonder of tranquillity and cafe. He iffued therefore a procla But mation, |