Chap. XXI from the I. of James, I. to the Revolution.
1624.
I shall not fay much of this King’sCharacter, either in Favour or Prejudiceof it. The History of his Reign speakspretty plain without a Comment. This,however is certain, that England neverflourished less, or made less Figure a-mong her Neighbours, than under hisReign : And tho’ Trade and Naviga-tion did begin to raise itself in hisTime,it was owing more to a Spirit of Indu-stry, yet remaining from the Activity ofthe former Reign, than from any greatEncouragement and Support it had fromhim. In the mean Time, the Englishsaw themselves exposed to the Insultsand Railleries of other Nations, andthe only Satisfaction they had was, thatthe Blame was generally laid at the rightDoor, and attributed to the Indolenceof their King. The following Epigrammade in France, in his Time, is a clearEvidence in what Esteem he was withhis Neighbours.
Tandis qu’ELizABETH fut RobL ’Anglois fut d 'Espagne 1 ’EffroiMaintenant devise et caquette,
Regi par la Reine Jaquette.
Englished,
WhileGlorious Bess wasEflg/dw^’sKing,Her Name in Spain did Terror bring:How alter’d is the Cafe, G-d sa' me !Since govern’d by the Gude Queen
(Jamie*
Ships built by King James.
Ships. Men in
Harb.
Men at Se a.
e Reformation.
9
250
Happy Entrance <
7
1 do
Garland.
7
1 do
St. George.
9
250
Mary-Rofe,
6
120
Triumph,
12
zoo
Swiftfure,
9
250
Bona venture,
7
I do
St, Andrew,
9
250
475
1624*
CHAP, XXI.
Naval J* ransablions, and other Occurrences, at the Beginning of the Reign of
King Charles I.
162c. "I 1 PON the Death of K. James I.
I J °n the seven and twentieth ofMarch, Charles , Prince ofW-aJes, His only Son, and in-disputable Heir, succeeded Him, by theName of Charles I.
j. At the Beginning of the late King’s
a pm. Reign, I made an Observation or two ofthe Opinion of that Monarch concerningthe EngUJh Constitution. His Son, KingCharles, was tinctured,fromHis Infancy,with the fame Principles, concerning theRegal Authority, and Prerogative Royal,Vkin^ which were so much improved by theIfains Fa- deceased King during His Life. HeFim e a \ l ^ ame Favourite, (to whom,
n \fler, 1 '' however, He bore a much greater Af-fection than His Father had done) thesame Council, the same Ministers, andall the Places at Court, and in theKing-dom, continued in the Hands of theDuke of Buckingham's Creatures. So,
^ there was nothing new but the King’sG! ns dt*ex ^ >er ^ on ' Unless that He, from the very^nding the Beginning of His Reign aimed at car-Au- r ying the Regal Authority much higherorit y- than the King, His Father, or any of
His Predecessors, had dorie. But as He ,was young, and His Passions strong, He 1 2 ' a 'could put no Constraint upon himself,nor think of managing the Affection ofthe Parliament. He soon discovered,by what Maxims He meant to proceedin the Government of His Dominioris.
He very plainly intimated, both in hisSpeeches and Conduct, that He lookedupon Parliaments, only as Assemblies,solely designed to supply him with Mo-ny, and that in/Case of Refusal, Hecould proceed without their Assistance.
This premised will give a clearer Ideaof many Things we shall but lightlytouch to in the Sequel.
The deceased King’s Funeral wassooner solemnized, than twelve Thou-** ° ^ ’sand Men having been raised, twoThousand of them were sent to Holland,and eight Thousand to Plymouth, to be And othersembarked for ail Expedition to iSp^/^.toPlymootb,In this March, tho’ so soon after P\f ° b f^f' onKing’s Accession to the Throne, He a n Expedi-gave two Instances of the arbitrary Pow-^"^^M".er he designed to exercise. One, inOrdering' the Charge of Coat and Con-6 E duct