James could succeed in these measures, but his plan for uniting the two
kingdoms into one, Great Britain, though supported by the wisdom and
eloquence of Bacon, was frustrated by the jealousies of both peoples.
Persons born after James's accession (the _post nati_) were, however,
admitted to equal privileges in either kingdom (1608). In 1610 James had
two of his bishops, and Spottiswoode, consecrated by three English
bishops, but he did not yet venture to interfere with the forms of
Presbyterian public worship.
In 1610 James established two Courts of High Commission (in 1615 united
in one Court) to try offences in morals and religion. The Archbishops
presided, laity and clergy formed the body of the Court, and it was
regarded as vexatious and tyrannical. The same terms, to be sure, would
now be applied to the interference of preachers and presbyteries with
private life and opinion. By 1612 the king had established Episcopacy,
which, for one reason or another, became equally hateful to the nobles,
the gentry, and the populace. James's motives were motives of police.
Long experience had taught him the inconveniences of presbyterial
government as it then existed in Scotland.
To a Church organised in the presbyterian manner, as it has been
practised since 1689, James had, originally at least, no objection. But
the combination of "presbyterian Hildebrandism" with factions of the
turbulent _noblesse_; the alliance of the Power of the Keys with the
sword and lance, was inconsistent with the freedom of the State and of
the individual. "The absolutism of James," says Professor Hume Brown,
"was forced upon him in large degree by the excessive claims of the
Presbyterian clergy."
Meanwhile the thievish Border clans, especially the Armstrongs, were
assailed by hangings and banishments, and Ulster was planted by Scottish
settlers, willing or reluctant, attracted by promise of lands, or planted
out, that they might not give trouble on the Border.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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