ON THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION UNDER JAMES I.
Quiet Accession of James—Question of his Title to the Crown—
Legitimacy of the Earl of Hertford's Issue—Early Unpopularity of
the King—Conduct towards the Puritans—Parliament convoked by
an irregular Proclamation—Question of Fortescue and Goodwin's
Election—Shirley's Case of Privilege—Complaints of Grievances—
Commons' Vindication of themselves—Session of 1605—Union
with Scotland debated—Continual Bickerings between the Crown
and Commons—Impositions on Merchandise without Consent of
Parliament—Remonstrances against these in Session of 1610—
Doctrine of King's absolute Power inculcated by Clergy—Articuli
Cleri—Cowell's Interpreter—Renewed Complaints of the
Commons—Negotiation for giving up the Feudal Revenue—
Dissolution of Parliament—Character of James—Death of Lord
Salisbury—Foreign Politics of the Government—Lord Coke's
Alienation from the Court—Illegal Proclamations—Means resorted
to in order to avoid the Meeting of Parliament—Parliament of
1614—Undertakers—It is dissolved without passing a single Act—
Benevolences—Prosecution of Peacham—Dispute about the
Jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery—Case of Commendams—
Arbitrary Proceedings in Star-Chamber—Arabella Stuart—
Somerset and Overbury—Sir Walter Raleigh—Parliament of
1621—Proceedings against Mompesson and Lord Bacon—
Violence in the Case of Floyd—Disagreement between the King
and Commons—Their Dissolution, after a strong Remonstrance—
Marriage-Treaty with Spain—Parliament of 1624—Impeachment of
Middlesex