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THE

HISTORY

OF

GREAT BRITAIN.

JAMES I.

CHAP. XLV.

Introduction. James's first Transactions.-State of
Europe. -Rosni's Negotiations. - Raleigh's Conspi
racy. Hampton-court Conference. A Parliament.
-Peace with Spain.

THE

1603.

HE crown of England was never transmitted CHAP. from father to son with greater tranquillity XIV. than it passed from the family of Tudor to that of Stuart. During the whole reign of Elizabeth, the eyes of men had been employed in search of her successor; and when old age made the prospect of her death more immediate, there appeared none but the King of Scots, who could advance any just claim or pretension to the throne. He was great-grandson

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of

1603.

CHAP. of Margaret, elder daughter of Henry VII.; and, XLV. on the failure of 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 considerable obstacle to her succession; these objections, being entirely personal, had no place with regard to her son. Men also considered, that though the title, derived from blood, had been frequently violated since the Norman conquest, such 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 exclusion and restoration had been commonly attended with such convulsions as were sufficient to warn all prudent men not lightly to give way to such 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 so signal, that a settlement of this nature, unsupported by any just reason, had no authority with the people. Queen Elizabeth too, with her dying breath, had recognised the undoubted title of her kinsman James; and the whole nation seemed to dispose 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 wisdom, that he would embrace the maxims of an English monarch; and the prudent foresaw greater advantages resulting from a union with Scotland, than disadvantages from submitting to a Prince of that nation. The alacrity with which the English looked toward the successor had appeared so evident to Elizabeth, that, concurring with other causes, it affected her with the deepest melancholy; and that wise Princess, whose pene. tration and experience had given her the greatest insight into human affairs, had not yet sufficiently weighed

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