While the colonization of America was going on, King James was himself
planning a very different kind of colony in the northeast of Ireland.
The greater part of the province of Ulster, which had been the scene
of the rebellion under Elizabeth (S402), had been seized by the
Crown. The King now granted these lands to settlers from Scotland and
England. The city of London founded a colony which they called
Londonderry, and by this means Protestantism was firmly and finally
established in the north of the island.
424. The "Addled Parliament"; the New Stand taken by the House of
Commons (1610-1614).
The House of Commons at this period began to slowly recover the power
it had lost under the Tudors (S350). James suffered from a chronic
lack of money. He was obliged to apply to Parliament to supply his
wants (1614), but that body was determined to grant nothing without
reforms. It laid down the principle, to which it firmly adhered, that
the King should not have the nation's coin unless he would promise to
right the nation's wrongs.
After several weeks of angry discussion the King dissolved what was
nicknamed the "Addled Parliament," because its enemies accused it of
having accomplished nothing. In reality it had accomplished much for
though it had not passed a single bill, it had shown by its determined
attitude the growing stregnth of the people. For the next seven years
James ruled without summoning a Parliament. In order to obtain means
to support his army in Ireland, the King created a new title of rank,
that of baronet,[1] which he granted to any one who would pay
liberally for it. As a last resort to get funds he compelled all
persons having an income of forty[2] pounds or more a year, derived
from landed property, to accept knighthood (thus incurring feudal
obligations and payments [S150]) or purchase exemption by a heavy
fine.
[1] Baronet: This title (S263, note 1) does not confer the right to a
seat in the House of Lords. A baronet is designated as "Sir,"
e.g. Sir John Franklin.
[2] This exaction was ridiculed by the wits of the time in these
lines:
"He that hat forty pounds per annum
Shall be promoted from the plow;
His wife shall take the wall of her grannum*--
Honor's sold so dog-cheap now."
The distraint of knighthood, as it was called, began at least as far
back as Edward I, 1278.
*Take precedence of her grandmother.