James began his reign by declaring that kings rule not by the will of the people, but by “divine right.”  “God makes the King,” said he, “and the King makes the law” (S419).  For this reason he demanded that his proclamations should have all the force of acts of Parliament.  Furthermore, since he appointed the judges, he could generally get their decisions to support him; thus he made even the courts of justice serve as instruments of his will.  In his arrogance he declared that neither Parliament nor the people had any right to discuss matters of state, whether foreign or domestic, since he was resolved to reserve such questions for the royal intellect to deal with.  By his religious intolerance he maddened both Puritans and Catholics, and the Pilgrim Fathers fled from England to escape his tyranny.

But there was a limit set to his overbearing conceit.  When he dictated to the Commons (1604) what persons should sit in that body, they indignantly refused to submit to any interference on his part, and their refusal was so emphatic that James never brought the matter up again.

The King, however, was so determined to shut out members whom he did not like that he attempted to gain his ends by having such persons seized on charges of debt and thrown into prison.  The Commons, on the other hand, not only insisted that their ancient privilege of exemption from arrest in such cases should be respected, but they passed a special law (1604) to clinch the privilege.

Ten years later (1614) James, pressed for money, called a Parliament to get supplies.  He had taken precautions to get a majority of members elected who would, he hoped, vote for him what he wanted.  But to his dismay the Commons declined to grant him a penny unless he would promise to cease imposing illegal duties on merchandise.  The King angrily refused and dissolved the so-called “Addled Parliament."[1]

[1] This Parliament was nicknamed the “Addled Parliament,” because it did not enact a single law, though it most effectually “addled” the King’s plans (S424).

Finally, in order to show James that it would not be trifled with, a later Parliament (1621) revived the right of impeachment, which had not been resorted to since 1450.[2] The Commons now charged Lord Chancellor Bacon, judge of the High Court of Chancery, and “keeper of the King’s conscience,” with accepting bribes.  Bacon held the highest office in the gift of the Crown, and the real object of the impeachment was to strike the King through the person of his chief official and supporter.  Bacon confessed his crime, saying, “I was the justest judge that was in England these fifty years, but it was the justest censure in Parliament that was these two hundred years.”

[2] See S13 of this Summary

James tried his best to save his servile favorite, but it was useless, and Bacon was convicted, disgraced, and partially punished (S425).