CHAP. advisers II. 1614. April 5. undertook," (from the word they acquired the name of undertakers,) to secure a decided majority in favour of the court. In former reigns it had been found sufficient for this purpose, if the chancellor made known the wishes of the prince to the sheriff: in the present, all the influence of the crown, and of the servants of the crown, was employed; and the result demonstrated, that there existed among the people a spirit decidedly hostile to the prevailing system of government. The king opened the session with a conciliatory speech, which he followed up with a request for pecuniary aid, and an offer to redress a multitude of minor grievances, enumerated in the petitions of the last parliament. But little attention was paid to the royal message. 1o. The house resounded with complaints of the arrogance of the undertakers, who had interfered with the liberty of election, and had violated the privileges of the commons. The validity of several returns was debated: a question was even raised, whether the attorney-general, sir Francis Bacon, could legally sit in the house; and if he was ultimately permitted to retain his seat for the present session, it was only on account of some pretended necessity of state, and with an unApril 11. derstanding that the indulgence should not be JAMES I. II. extended to his successors in office.61 20. * CHAP, Instead of passing to the consideration of the supply, the commons devoted their time to the questions which had already given so much offence, the claim of the king to levy "impositions," and grant monopolies. 3°. Some expressions, attributed to the bishop of Lincoln, in the higher house, set the lower in a ferment. He was reported to have said, that to dispute the right of imposition, was to lay the axe to the root of the prerogative; and to have hinted his apprehensions that in a projected conference, words might be used of an inflammatory and seditious tendency. The commons called on the lords to punish the man who had thus slandered their loyalty, and received for answer, that the bishop had disclaimed with tears and protestations, all intention of offending that May 31. house, for which he entertained the highest respect.62 On searching for precedents, it was admitted that members of that house had been made attorneys to the king without vacating their seats; but no instance had occurred in which a person, actually invested with the office had been returned a member. 62 Lords' Journals, 713. According to the present practice one house is supposed to be ignorant of what passes in the other: but the lords instead of vindicating their privilege, merely hinted at it in their answer: that they had given contentment to the commons for the better expediting of his majesty's business; but "that here"after no member of their house ought to be called in question, "when there is no other ground but public and common fame." Ibid, CHAP. II. June 7. This explanation did not satisfy his enemies; but the patience of James was exhausted; he May 31. commanded the commons to proceed to the consideration of the supply, and punished their disobedience by a hasty dissolution. The next June 8. morning the most violent and refractory of the members were called before the council; they were told, that though the king had given them liberty, he had not authorised licentiousness of speech; and five of the number were committed to the Tower. Neither could they obtain their discharge before they had revealed the names of their prompters and advisers, who, in their turn were called before the council and imprisoned. In the quaint language of the time this was called the addle parliament.63 The death of the earl of Northampton, which followed in the course of a week, occasioned a new distribution of offices at court. July 13. Suffolk was made lord treasurer; Somerset 63 They were 1o. sir Walter Chute, "who, to get the opinion of "a bold man after he had lost that of a wise, fell one morning into "an insipid and unseasonable declamation against the times." 2o. John Hoskins, who "is in for more wit, and for licentiousness 66 baptized freedom." 3.Wentworth, a lawyer," whose fault was, "the application of certain texts in Ezekiel and Daniel, to the "matter of impositions ;" and 4°. Christopher Nevil, "a young "gentleman fresh from the school, who having gathered together “divers latine sentences against kings, bound them up in a long speech." Reliquæ Wottonianæ, 433.-This was the first parliament in which the commons, to exclude catholics, made an order that every member should publicly receive the sacrament before he took his seat. Journals, 457. * query, who en twee Peter, or Paul Winbooth, two brostalos, & notorious Puritans and Behiomatic relellious men in the reign of Vizabette. Hume. Tr. succeeded him in the office of chamberlain, acting at the same time, but without any patent of appointment, as lord privy seal; and every inferior department which was not filled by their relatives or dependents, was sold without scruple to the highest bidder.64 Their great solicitude was to discharge the interest, and to prevent the increase, of the king's debts; and with this view, besides the temporary expedients so often before adopted, they had recourse to a benevolence, which was at first confined to persons in office, but afterwards required from others.65 James himself suggested another measure, a reduction of the expenses of his household, to which his ministers consented, but with considerable reluctance, fearing, probably, what they afterwards experienced, that all who should suffer from the new system of economy, would hasten to join the ranks of their political opponents. In the sale of offices, that of cup-bearer had fallen to George Villiers, one of the sons of sir Edward Villiers, of Brookesby, in Leicestershire. He was tall and well proportioned; his features bespoke activity of mind and gentle 64 Thus lord Knolles was made master of the court of wards without purchase, because he had married a daughter of lord Suffolk, while si Fulk Greville, for the chancellorship of the exchequer, gave £4000 to lady Suffolk and lady Somerset. Birch, Negociations, 380. "The benevolence produced £52,909. Abstract of his Majesty's Revenue, p. 12. CHAP. II. Rise of George Villiers. (if not he himself) who made such a cry for acry Twas a son of this man ! CHAP. 1615. April 23. 4 ness of disposition; and a short residence in the court of France had imparted to his manners that polish, which James had sufficient taste to approve in others, though he could not acquire it himself. The new cup-bearer immediately attracted the notice of his sovereign, his answers to different questions improved the favourable impression made by his external appearance; and the warmth with which the king spoke in his commendation, suggested to the earls of Bedford, Pembroke, and Hertford, the idea of setting him up as a rival to Somerset. The resolution was taken at a great political entertainment given at Baynard's castle;66 and archbishop Abbot was employed to solicit the co-operation of the queen. After many refusals she consented, though her reply proved her thorough acquaintance with the character of her husband :-"My lord, you know not what you desire. If Villiers gain the royal favour, we shall all be sufferers. I shall not be spared "more than others. The king will teach him "to treat us all with pride and contempt." On 66 Aul. Coq. 261. 07 Abbot who himself tells the anecdote, observes that the king would never admit any to nearness about himself, but such as the queen should commend to him, that if she should complain afterwards of the dear one, he might make answer, it is long of yourself, for you commended him unto me. Our old master took delight strangely in things of this nature. Rushworth, i. 446. |