The Stuart Dynasty--Hopes and Fears caused by the Accession of James--The King enters England--His Progress to London--Lavish Creation of Peers and Knights--The Royal Entrance into the Metropolis--The Coronation--Popularity of Queen Anne--Ravages of the Plague--The King Receives Foreign Embassies--Rivalry of the Diplomatists of France and Spain--Discontent of Raleigh, Northumberland, and Cobham--Conspiracies against James--"The Main" and "The Bye"--Trials of the Conspirators--The Sentences--Conference with Puritans--Parliament of 1604--Persecution of Catholics and Puritans--Gunpowder Plot--Admission of Fresh Members--Delays and Devices--The Letter to Lord Mounteagle--Discovery of the Plot--Flight of the Conspirators--Their Capture and Execution--New Penal Code--James's Correspondence with Bellarmine--Cecil's attempts to get Money--Project of Union between England and Scotland--The King's Collisions with Parliament--Insurrection of the Levellers--Royal Extravagance and Impecuniosity--Fresh Disputes with Parliament and Assertions of the Prerogative--Death of Cecil--Story of Arabella Stuart--Death of Prince Henry 404 CHAPTER XVIII. REIGN OF JAMES I (_concluded_). Reign of Favourites--Robert Carr--His Marriage--Death of Overbury--Venality at Court--The Addled Parliament--George Villiers--Fall of Somerset--Disgrace of Coke--Bacon becomes Lord Chancellor--Position of England Abroad--The Scottish Church--Introduction of Episcopacy--Andrew Melville--Visit of James to Scotland--The Book of Sports--Persecution of the Irish Catholics--Examination into Titles--Rebellion of the Chiefs--Plantation of Ulster--Fresh Confiscations--Quarrel between Bacon and Coke--Prosperity of Buckingham--Raleigh's Last Voyage--His Execution--Beginning of the Thirty Years' War--Indecision of James--Despatch of Troops to the Palatinate--Parliament of 1621--Impeachment of Bacon--His Fall--Floyd's Case--James's Proceedings during the Recess--Dissolution of Parliament--Reasons for the Spanish Match--Charles and Buckingham go to Spain--The Match is Broken Off--Punishment of Bristol--Popularity of Buckingham--Change of Foreign Policy--Marriage of Charles and Henrietta Maria--Death of James 448 CHAPTER XIX. REIGN OF CHARLES I.