1616. Sir Walter Raleigh released from the Tower. The earl and countess of Somerset convicted of procuring the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. 1617. Raleigh sailed to Guiana in search of a gold mine, but was unsuccessful, and on his return was committed to prison, because he had engaged in hostilities with the Spaniards, who had attacked him on his landing at St. Thomas. 1618. Raleigh executed on his former sentence. 1620. Emigration of the "Pilgrim Fathers" to New England. 1621. Parliament complained of monopolies, and prosecuted some of the monopolists. Francis Bacon, viscount St. Alban's, convicted of bribery and corruption in the exercise of his office of Lord Chancellor. The Commons recorded in their journal that _the liberties of parliament are the undoubted birthright of the subjects of England_. 1622. On the dissolution of Parliament, Sir Edward Coke, Pym, and some other distinguished and patriotic members were imprisoned. 1623. Prince Charles and the duke of Buckingham proceeded to Spain in disguise, in order that the prince might see the infanta, to whom he was engaged to be married. They were received with great honour, but the marriage treaty was broken off near the close of the year. 1624. The earl of Middlesex convicted of bribery and oppression in the exercise of his office of lord treasurer. During about half his reign, James governed without the control of parliaments. Loans, the sale of honours, enormous fines levied by the Star Chamber, and, on one occasion, a benevolence, were among the methods he adopted to secure an income. CHARLES I. =D.= He was the son of James I. =B.= at Dunfermline, 1600. =M.= Henrietta Maria, daughter of Henry IV., of France. =Executed= at Whitehall, Jan. 30, 1649. =R.= 24 years (1625 to 1649). 1625. Charles's first parliament met at Westminster, but was adjourned to Oxford, as the plague was raging in the capital. The Commons granted a supply, but, contrary to precedent, voted tonnage and poundage for one year only. Parliament dissolved because a further supply was refused unless coupled with a redress of grievances. 1626. Second parliament. Impeachment of the duke of Buckingham, the king's minister, to save whom parliament was dissolved. 1627. Unsuccessful expedition of the duke of Buckingham to aid the Protestants at Rochelle. The king raised money by illegal taxation, and by forced loans: those who resisted the loans were imprisoned. 1628. =Third parliament.= _PETITION OF RIGHT_ drawn up, to which Charles reluctantly agreed. The Petition of Right declared the illegality--1, of all pecuniary demands without the consent of parliament; 2, of the punishment of persons for refusing to pay such demands; 3, of billeting soldiers and mariners on private subjects; 4, of proceedings for punishing persons by martial law. 1629. Parliament dissolved for passing resolutions on religion and taxation which were obnoxious to the king. Some of the principal members imprisoned.