Outlines of English History (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ... place James died, after an illness of fourteen days. 11. In this reign we begin to see the germs of that discord between the sovereign and the parliament, which in the next was to bear the bitter fruits of civil war. James had the most exalted opinions of his prerogative, and more than once glaringly infringed the liberties of his subjects. These encroachments were respectfully resisted, and the king was in most cases obliged to retract, though always with a bad grace. An anecdote is told which well illustrates James's opinion of his parliament. One day, when mounting his horse, the animal began to rear, whereupon James exclaimed, " Sirrah if you be not quiet, I'll send you to the five hundred kings in the Lower House; they'll quickly tame you." On one occasion he asked a deputation whether they were not bound to supply his demands; they replied, "When your expenses grow by the commonwealth we are, otherwise not." Chief-Justice Coke gave similar decisions on the bench. "The king cannot change any part of the common law," said he, "nor create any offence by his proclamation, which was not an offence before, without parliament." From 1616 to 1621 James dispensed with parliaments, and raised money by various illegal methods, employing the Star-Chamber to crush all who offered any resistance. A parliament was assembled in the latter year, in the hope that supplies would be granted for the assistance of Frederick. They were granted, but only as the price of certain concessions on the part of the king. He was obliged to promise that the penal laws should be more rigidly enforced, and that the liberties of the House should be no more violated, as they had been after the last parliament, when several refractory members had ...