King James I ( 1566-1625 ), son of Mary, Queen of Scots, king of
Scotland ( as James VI) (1567-1625), and of England and Ireland
(1603-1625). He inherited the throne of England of Elizabeth I,
as greatgrandson of Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII. His
declaration of the divine right of kings and his intended alliance
with Spain made him unpopular with Parliament.
In this [plot], which did so lately fall out, and
which was a destruction prepared not for me
alone, but for you all that are here present,
and wherein no rank, age, nor sex should have been
spared; this was not a crying sin of blood ...
it may well be called a roaring, nay a thundering
sin of fire and brimstone, from the which God
has so miraculously delivered us all ...
... The horrible and fearful cruelty of their
device, which was not only for the destruction
of my person ... but of the whole body of the State in general;
wherein should neither have been spared, or distinction made of young
or of old, of great nor of small, of man nor of woman; the whole nobility,
the whole reverend clergy, bishops and most part of the good preachers,
the most part of knights and gentry ... The whole judges of the land,
with the most of the lawyers and the whole clerks: And as the wretch himself
that is in the Tower does confess, it was purposely devised by them,
and concluded to be done in this House; that where the cruel laws
(as they say) were made against their religion, both place and persons
should all be destroyed and blown up at once.
As it may very well be possible that the zeal of your hearts
shall make some of you in your speeches rashly to blame such
as may be innocent of this attempt; but upon the other part
I wish you to consider, That I would sorry that any being
innocent of this practice, either domestic or foreign, should
receive blame or harm for the same. For although it cannot be denied,
That it was the only blind superstition of their errors in religion,
that led them to this desperate devise; yet does it not follow,
that all professing that Romish religion were guilty of the same...