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Sir Edward could not, indeed, be re-instated in his office, as James had bestowed it upon Sir Henry Montagu; but he was employed in several affairs of importance: and particularly in 1619 he was commissioned, with some others, to meet the deputies of the States General at a conference concerning the dispute existing between the Dutch and the English East-India Companies.

In 1621, his Majesty called a Parliament, of which Coke was chosen a member. He now distinguished himself by a noble exertion of his talents and influence, in support of the privileges of parliament against the usurped power of the Crown. Against many of the court-measures he declaimed with great warmth; observing, that the Papists were at the root of all the calamities of England, and that no royal proclamation could contravene the tenor of Acts of Parliament. The privileges of parliament, he asserted, were a part of the constitution, subsisting independently of the prerogative: they were, in fact, the rights of the subject; and no proclamation could be of any force against one of it's Acts.' He recommended, that the statute passed under Edward III. for holding a parliament every year, to give the people an opportunity of urging their grievances, should be enforced.' He, likewise, vindicated the right of freedom of speech in that assembly, and vigorously recommended a Committee to inquire into the state of the nation.

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In consequence of this spirited behaviour, the Commons began to take the measures of government into consideration upon which the King, with his usual jealousy concerning his prerogative, issued a proclamation forbidding all persons to intermeddle

by pen or speech with state-concernments and secrets of empire, either at home or abroad, which were not fit themes or subjects for vulgar persons or common meetings;' broadly suggested to the parliament, that matters of state, as above their comprehension, ought to be left entirely to his own princely wisdom;' and farther intimated, that the liberty of speech claimed by them, as well as their other privileges, proceeding entirely from royal grace and favour, might be resumed at pleasure.' At this unconstitutional language it was high time for the House to be alarmed in their turn. Accordingly, the following resolution, passed by a very great majority, was ordered to be entered in their Journals: The Commons now assembled in Parliament, being justly occasioned thereunto, concerning sundry liberties and franchises and privileges of parliament, among others here mentioned, do make this protestation following: That the liberties, franchises, privileges, and jurisdictions of parliament are the ancient and undoubted birthright and inheritance of the subjects of England; and the maintenance and making of laws, and redress of mischiefs and grievances which daily happen within this realm, are proper subjects and matter of counsel and debate in parliament: and that, in the handling and proceeding of those businesses, every member of the House of parliament hath, and of right ought to have, freedom of speech to propound, treat, reason, and bring to conclusion the same; and that the Commons in parliament have like liberty and freedom to treat of these matters, in such order as in their judgement shall seem fittest; and that every member of the said House hath like freedom

from all impeachment, imprisonment, and molesta tion (except by censure of the House itself) for or concerning any speaking, reasoning, or declaring of any matter, or matters touching the parliament or parliament-business; and that, if any of the said members be complained of and questioned for any thing done or said in parliament, the same is to be showed to the King by the advice and assent of all the Commons assembled in parliament, before the King give credit to any private information.'

The King, who was in the country when this protestation was made, instantly hurried to town, and sending for the Commons' Journals, tore it out with his own hand; declaring it to be null and void, and ordering his reasons to be inserted in the councilbook. He, also, prorogued the parliament; and soon afterward Sir Edward Coke was committed to the Tower, his chambers in the Temple broken open, and his papers delivered to Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Wilson for examination. On the sixth of January following, parliament was dissolved; and the same day, Coke was accused before the Council of having suppressed some true examinations in the cause of the Earl of Somerset, and obtruded false ones in their place. But, as they were unable to support these allegations by evidence, they could find no pretence for detaining him in custody: their resentment, therefore, was limited to striking him off once more from the list of Privy Councillors.*

Toward the close of the year 1623, however, he

The King at the same time declaring, that "he was the fittest instrument for a tyrant that ever was in England:" and yet, says Wilson, he had recently in the House called the royal prerogative' an overgrown monster l'

was placed at the head of a commission, appointing sundry persons therein named to go over to Ireland and regulate the affairs of that kingdom, which were then in great confusion. The powers granted to the Commissioners were very ample, and the promotion appeared to be highly honourable to their principal: but under the conviction that it was only intended to remove him from the service of his country in parliament, he refused to accept the appointment; and he consequently fell into disgrace with the court, during the short remainderof James' reign.

The same fate attended him on the succession of Charles I., whose ministers, apprehensive of a powerful opposition under his influence, advised the new Monarch to take an unfair method of preventing his being elected to to serve in his first parliament. After having held employments under government of the first dignity, it was transgressing all the rules of decency and custom to oblige him to serve the office of High Sheriff: this, however, they now insisted upon, menacing him with a heavy fine in case of refusal. His legal objections to the oath were over-ruled by the Judges ; and he was compelled to attend as High Sheriff at those assizes, where he had frequently presided as Chief Justice!

But the parliament proving refractory, and insisting on a redress of grievances before they would grant supplies to carry on the war, which had been declared against Spain and the Emperor of Germany in 1624, they were dissolved after a short session of seven weeks; and a second was called, in 1626. The Commons continuing, however, to re

monstrate against the Duke of Buckingham's administration, and against the King's levying the duties of tonnage and poundage independently of their authority, it was likewise dissolved, without having passed a single act, after a session of four months. During that time, they had preferred to the Upper House, by the hands of Sir Dudley Diggs and Sir John Elliot, an impeachment against the Duke of Buckingham; and the King had opened the first act of his own tragedy, by causing those two members to be committed to the Tower. Thither, likewise, the Earl of Bristol was sent on the very day of the dissolution, for having exhibited articles of high-treason in the House of Lords against the same unworthy favourite.

These measures having justly occasioned general discontent, Charles issued a ridiculous declaration, containing the pretended causes of his dissolving the two last parliaments. At the same time appeared an unconstitutional Order of Council, authorising the levying of tonnage and poundage by virtue of the royal prerogative. Various other methods likewise, such as the sale of the crown-lands, loans, and ship-money,* were adopted by the King to raise supplies. Several gentlemen were committed to the common gaols of the kingdom, for having refused to lend his Majesty money; and some citizens of distinction were pressed for soldiers on the same ac

count.

All these schemes, however, proving ineffectual to answer the end proposed, which was to govern

* of the last of these a more particular account will be given in the Life of Hampden.

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