supply, which might
bear a bad construction both at home and abroad, James sent a message
to the house,[*] in which he told them that he desired no supply; and he
was very forward in refusing what was never offered him.

* Parliamentary Hist. vol. v. p. 108.

Soon after, he prorogued the parliament, not without discovering in his
speech visible marks of dissatisfaction. Even so early in his reign,
he saw reason to make public complaints of the restless and encroaching
spirit of the Puritanical party, and of the malevolence with which
they endeavored to inspire the commons. Nor were his complaints without
foundation, or the Puritans without interest; since the commons, now
finding themselves free from the arbitrary government of Elizabeth, made
application for a conference with the lords, and presented a petition
to the king; the purport of both which was, to procure in favor of the
Puritans, a relaxation of the ecclesiastical laws.[*] The use of the
surplice, and of the cross in baptism is there chiefly complained
of; but the remedy seems to have been expected solely from the king's
dispensing power,[**] In the papers which contain this application and
petition, we may also see proofs of the violent animosity of the commons
against the Catholics, together with the intolerating spirit of that
assembly.[***] [47]

This summer, the peace with Spain was finally concluded, and was signed
by the Spanish ministers at London.[****] In the conferences previous to
this treaty, the nations were found to have so few claims on each other,
that, except on account of the support given by England to the Low
Country provinces, the war might appear to have been continued more on
account of personal animosity between Philip and Elizabeth, than any
contrariety of political interests between their subjects. Some articles
in the treaty, which seemed prejudicial to the Dutch commonwealth, were
never executed by the king; and as the Spaniards made no complaints on
that head, it appeared that, by secret agreement, the king had expressly
reserved the power of sending assistance to the Hollanders.[v] The
constable of Castile came into England to ratify the peace; and on the
part of England, the earl of Hertford was sent into the Low Countries
for the same purpose, and the earl of Nottingham, high admiral, into
Spain. The train of the latter was numerous and splendid; and the
Spaniards, it is said, were extremely surprised when they beheld