(a) King James's works, p. 542. by James, for on them alfo he heaped honours in abundance (BB); and 'tis certain, that a great many particular perfons obtained great but where these are not, or not in a most eminent degree, it is weaknefs and imprudence to heap favours, which will not fail to bring on complaints, uneafineffes, and diftreffes on the conferrors. 66 (BB) Honours in abundance were heaped on the English alfo.] James in his fpeech to the parliament, anno 1609, owns that they faw him at his entrance into England," make knights by hundreths, and barons in great number." (a) This account is not beyond the truth. For Sir Richard Baker, who had the honour of knighthood from him at that time, tells us, that before his first year went about, he made God "knows how many hundred knights." (b) And if a' certain author is to be credited, in the two first years of James's reign, no lefs than one thoufand twenty-two (e) Vid. Of. knights were made by him (c). A prodigious number born's cata- this! and fuch as almoft exceeds belief. But the authoriJogue of the ties already quoted in this remark, may poffibly reconlibrary of Webb, &c. cile us unto it. For when knights were made by hunp. 66. 1751. dreds, a large fum total muft run up in a comparatively (b) Baker's fhort space of time.But James contented not himfelf with dubbing knights; he made barons also, and enlarged the peerage to a great degree. In the first year of his reign he made four earls and nine barons, among whom were Henry Howard, created earl of Northampton, Thomas Howard earl of Suffolk, and the famous Sir Robert Cecil, lord Cecil, afterwards earl of Salisbury. Thefe were perfons who had dexterity enough to infinuate themselves into James's favour, and obtain almost whatever they had a-mind to, for themselves or dependants; these were the perfons who transacted moft of the business of state during their lives, and reaped very great rewards by reason of it, as will foon appear. So that though James was lavish of his honours on his Own great wealth, and large poffeffions from him, 8vo. Lond. marks onthe own countrymen, the English could not fay they were flighted; for he created to great a number of them peers, that, with the Scots already mentioned, no lefs than 62 were added to that illustrious body by him (d). (d) Tor buck's par This occafioned a "pafquil to be pafted up in St. Paul's, liamentary "wherein was pretended an art to help weak memo- debates, Vol. "ries to a competent knowledge of the names of the VII. p. 135. "nobility." (é) Had these great dignities been con- 1741. ferred only on the deferving, there would have been (e) Wilson, little room for complaint. But " the honours James P. 7. "bestowed were in fo lavifh a manner, and with fo "little diftinction, that they ceased in fome sense to "be bonours." (ƒ) -This was highly injurious to the (Recharacter of the conferror, and a contempt caft on thofe history of whose birth and great virtues intitled them to fuch dif- England by tinctions. It fhewed a want of judgment in James, Oldcastle, Humphrey and tended to take off that reverence which ought to Efq; p. 235. be kept up in the minds of the people towards the Eng- 8vo. Lond. lifh nobility. For what muft men think of the under- 1743. ftanding of that prince, who could place among the great council of the nation, John Villiers, Chriftopher Villiers, and Lyonel Cranfield? In how contemptible a light muft the peerage be viewed by those who knew that these men had no pretence to such an honour, but as related to George Villiers, the infolent prime minifter?'Twere to be wifhed that the greatest care at all times was taken not to debase so illuftrious an order of men by undeferved creations, and that nothing but real merit was the occafion of them. Then would the prince be applauded, the dignity of the peers be preferved, and all due deference paid to their decifions. But when it is known publickly, that undeferving men are advanced to this elevated rank in order to ferve a party or please a favourite, then do men murmur at the crown, and pay little refpect to those thus diftinguished by it. For the public will judge of perfons as they don's court, and charac him (cc), to the impoverishing of the crown, and the reducing himself in a few years to' great want. He foon fhewed his gratitude to they are; titles and coronets cannot biafs its judgment, or caufe it to applaud the ignorant or unworthy. (cc) Many perfons obtained great wealth, and large poffeffions from him.] "They that then lived at court, and 66 were curious obfervers of every man's actions, could "have affirmed, that Salisbury, Suffolk, and Northamp"ton, and their friends, did get more than the whole "nation of Scotland (Dunbar excepted).All the "Scots in general fcarce got the tythe of thofe English 66 getters, that can be faid did ftick by them, or "their pofterity. Besides Salisbury had one trick to "get the kernel, and leave the Scots but the fhell, yet "caft all the envy upon them; he would make them 66 buy books of fee-farms, fome one hundred pounds <c per annum, fome one hundred marks, and he would "compound with them for a thoufand pounds, which "they were willing to embrace, because they were fure to have them pafs without any controul or charge, and one thoufand pounds appeared to them that ne"ver faw ten pounds before, an inexhauftible treasure ; "then would Salisbury fill up this book with fuch prime land as fhould be worth ten or twenty thousand pounds, "which was eafy for him, being treasurer, fo to do; (4) Sir An- and by this means Salisbury enriched himself infithony Wel-nitely, yet caft the envy on the Scots, in whose names these books appeared, and are ftill upon record ter of king to all pofterity; though Salisbury had the honey, James, p. "they, poor gentlemen, but part of the wax." (a) — 12mo. Lond. Wilfon tells us," that James being one day in his gal 1651. Seelery at Whitehall, and none with him but Sir Henry alfo Ra. "Rich (afterwards earl of Holland) and James Maxworks, Vol. "well, fome porters paft by them, with three thousand I. p. 201. "pounds going to the privy purse: Rich whispering "Maxwell, the king turned upon them, and asked Max 54, 55. leigh's 8vo. Lond. 3751. "s well to Elizabeth for the crown fhe had left him, by permitting no one to appear in mourning for her (DD) before him, and even "well what fays he? what fays he? Maxwell told him, he wifhed he had fo much money; Marry fhalt thou "Harry (faith the king) and prefently commanded "the porters to carry it to his lodging, with this ex"preffion, you think now you have a great purchase, "but I am more delighted to think how much I have "pleasured you in giving this money, than you can be II. 4. 43. in receiving it." (b) And Sir Philip Herbert (after (6) Wilson, wards earl of Pembroke) on his marriage with the lady p. 76. Sufan Vere, had a gift of the king of 500l. land for the bride's jointure (c).—In fhort, James himself affures (c) Winus, "that he had dealt twice as much amongst English- wood, Vol. men as he had done to Scotifhmen." (d)-The (d) King truth is, those of the English who had the king's ear, James's works, P. and could fall readily into his humours, and contribute to his pleasures and amufements, were fure of being enriched by him. The true courtier in this reign had a good time of it, for James was thoughtless and inconfiderate, and never knew the value of money till he was in want of it. But merit, as fuch, was always neglected or overlooked by him; he knew it not, or regarded it not, but preferred his flatterers to all others. (DD) He fhewed his gratitude to Elizabeth, by permitting no one to appear in mourning for her before him.] For this curious particular we are indebted to the duke of Sully, whofe account cannot but be looked on as most authentic. "One part of the orders I "had given, (fays he, speaking of his English embas"fage) in regard to the ceremony of my audience, was, that all my retinue fhall appear in mourning; "whereby I fhould execute the first part of my commiffion, which confifted in complimenting the new "king on the death of Elizabeth; though I had been informed at Calais, that no one, whether ambassa ❝dor, 542. even speaking himself not only without gratitude, dor, foreign or English, was admitted into the "prefence of the new king in black and Beaumont "(the French refident) had fince reprefented to me, "that what I intended would most certainly be highly "difagreeable to the court, where fo ftrong an affec"tation prevailed to obliterate the memory of that 66 great queen, that the was never spoke of, and even "the mention of her name industriously avoided. I "fhould have been very glad not to have been fenfible "of the necefity under which I was of appearing in a "garb, which would feem to caft a reproach on the "king and all England; but my orders were hereupon "pofitive, not to mention that they were also most laudable: and this was the reafon I paid no regard to "Beaumont, who intreated me to defer putting myself "to this trouble and expence, till he had wrote about "it to Erskine, and fome others, who were best ac"quainted with the court ceremonial. He wrote ac"cordingly, but received no anfwer on Thursday, Fri"day, nor even all day on Saturday; and I ftill perfifted "in my refolution, notwithstanding the reafons which "he continually gave me to the contrary. On Sa"turday night, which was the evening of the day pre"ceeding my audience, and fo late that I was in bed, "Beaumont came to tell me, that Erskine had fent to "acquaint him, that the whole court confidered my "intention as a premeditated affront; and that I had "fo offended the king by it, that nothing could more effectually prevent the fuccefs of my negotiation from "its very commencement. This information agreeing "with that of my lord Sidney, &c. it was impoffible "for me to be in doubt about it: and through fear left "a greater evil might enfue, I caufed all my retinue to "change their apparel, and provide themselves others as well as they could. Leukoner (master of the cere"monies) being come the next morning to inform me, "that I fhould be prefented to the king at three "o'clock 7 |