The Craftsman, Saturday March 13. No. 245.
COntinuing his REMARKS on the reign of King James I. proceeds to show the advantageous situation Queen Elizabeth left him in, which had he made a proper use of, says, he might have reigned gloriously abroad, and happily at home; that his title was not contested, nor any opposition open or secret, given to his succession; and the people unanimous in their vote for him, as being the only prince in whom the protestant interest united; That he, coming to the crown, after all the difficulties and dangers of the Reformation and establishing a new church were over, had an opportunity of preventing any bad consequence from the division of his protestant subjects.
Says, the the Roman catholick party carried on their designs against the constitution in church and state, with as much rage as ever, tho' not so strongly, their great supporters being dead, the reformation establish'd, and the church of England, by the sobriety, wisdom, and sanctity of her institution, fixed on a rock; King James therefore had it in his power to keep down with ease a party which Q. Elizabeth had subdued with pain.
Proceeds to mention other advantages attending King James I. as that with respect to the navy, commerce and wealth of the nation, he was a rich and powerful King. Nethertheless his ministers took occasion to demand money of the commons, among others upon the following pretences: 1. To satisfy a Debt of Queen Elizabeth for 350,0000. And 2. To reimburse the King the charge of protecting his Wife and Children from being robb'd on the road to London.
That the advantages which this Prince had in the situation of foreign affairs, both at his accession to the throne, and during the greatest part of his reign, were remarkably great, proceeding from the weakness or minority of the Kingds of Spain, and other favourable circumstances with regard to other princes and states about him.
And lastly, That only one instance can be brought that might justly be reckon'd an exception to the advantage, and security which accompanied the reign of this prince; and that related to the part he took or might have taken in the troubles which happen'd in Germany from the designs of the House of Austria, by which Frederick Elector of Palatine, lost the crown of Bohemia, and his own patrimony; and the protestant interest and the liberty of Germany were well nigh sacrificed to the bigotry and ambition of the Emperor.
The Weekly Register, Sat. March 13. No. 48.
A Petition having been presented to the Parliament to English the LAWS, the Register gives his thoughts on that subject. [See p. 98, 100.
Observes that the laws ought to be clear and concise, so as to be readily comprehended; that the Sages of antiquity gave the people under their direction, the most plain and intelligible view of their duty imaginable.
That whereas 'tis objected, That custom has entail'd on us a quite contrary practice which is not in the power of reason to remedy; that every nation has its particular laws; and what regulated a little Greek commonwealth will not square with so great and populous a nation as ours.
To this is answers, That truth is always the same, and regularity no more foreign to a large community than a small; that the direction of affairs has falled into unskilfull hands, which have endeavour'd to hide what they could not rectify; and hence obscurity and Gothick barbarism took place of elegance and perspicuity.
Examines the language in which our Courts practise the Law. He al-lows
