ht to rule directly from God, and in
no way from the people.[1] "It is atheism and blasphemy," he said,
"to dispute what God can do, ... so it is presumption and high
contempt in a subject to dispute what a king can do."

[1] James's favorite saying was, "A Deo rex, a rege lex" (God makes
the king, the king makes the law). He boasted that kings might, as he
declared, "make what liked them law and gospel."

In making these utterances James seems to have entirely forgotten that
he owed his throne to that act of the English Parliament which
accepted him as Elizabeth's successor (S415). In his exalted position
as head of the nation, he boasted of his power much like the dwarf in
the story, who, perched on the giant's shoulders, cries out, "See how
big I am!"

Acting on this assumption, James levied customs duties on goods
without asking the consent of Parliament; violated the privileges of
the House of Commons; rejected members who had been legally elected;
and imprisoned those who dared to criticize his course. The contest
was kept up with bitterness during the whole reign.

Toward its close James truckled meanly to the power of Spain, hoping
thereby to marry his son Charles to a Spanish princess. Later, he
made a feeble and futile effort to help the Protestant party in the
great Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which had begun between the
Catholics and Protestants in Germany. The House of Commons implored
the King not to humiliate himself and the nation at the feet of
Spain. The King replied by warning the House not to meddle with
matters which did not concern them, and denied their right to freedom
of speech. The Commons solemnly protested, and James seized their
official journal, and with his own hands tore out the record of the
protest (1621).

Yet, notwithstanding his arbitrary character, James was easily managed
by those who would flatter his vanity. For this reason he was always
under the control of worthless favorites like Carr, Earl of Somerset,
or Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. These men were the secret power
behind the throne, and they often dictated the policy of the Crown.

420. The Gunpowder Plot (1605).

The King's arbitrary spirit angered the House of Commons, many of whom
were Puritans (S378). They believed that the King secretly favored
the Roman Catholics; and for this reason they increased the stringency
of the laws against persons of that religion. To vindicate himself
from this suspi