the celebrated Hermes Trismegistus, and unite the sove- JAMES I. reignty of a prince, the illumination of a priest, and the learning of a philosopher, in the same person." He goes on to something more, but I shall translate no further. The lord keeper Williams, in his sermon at the king's funeral, taking his text out of 1 Kings xi. 41, 42, 43, drew a parallel between Solomon and the prince deceased: he carried on the comparison from their resemblance in knowledge, from the prosperity of their reigns, and the peaceableness of their inclinations. The lord keeper runs the parallel through many other instances too long to recite. He concludes how earnestly his majesty recommended the care of religion and justice to the prince: these he called the two supporters of his throne. As to his marriage, he advised him to marry like himself, and marry where he would. But if he married the princess last-mentioned, he should take care to distinguish in the engagement; marry her person, but not her religion. To proceed a little in the description of this prince: his regard for episcopacy appears by his restoring that government in Scotland; and by his majesty's discourse and decision at the conference at Hampton-court, his inclination to the English ecclesiastical constitution is sufficiently evident : his encouragement to learning may be collected from his visiting the universities, and giving them particular marks of esteem. For instance; he augmented the salary of the regius professor at Oxford with a prebendary in Christchurch, and the rectory of Ewelm in that county. The professors of law and physic had likewise their income improved; the first with the corps of a good prebendary in the church of Salisbury, and the other with the government of an hospital in Ewelm above-mentioned, annexed to their employment. to the uni versity of The precedent of princes commonly draws imitation, and Benefactions sets something of a fashion; whether this might be a motive to other benefactions, I shall not conjecture. How- Oxford in this reign. ever, it may not be improper to take notice, that in this reign two mathematic lectures were founded by Sir Henry Savil, provost of Eton, and warden of Merton-college: with ABBOT, these must be remembered the history lecture founded by Abp. Cant. William Cambden, clarencieux; the lecture in natural philo sophy by Sir William Sidley, baronet; that in moral philosophy by Dr. Thomas White, residentiary of St. Paul's. All these lectures had a considerable settlement; to which may be reckoned an anatomy lecture set up by Richard Tomlins, of Westminster, though his fortune would not reach to so plentiful an endowment. To what has been 731. mentioned, we may add the magnificent structures of the public schools, the inclosing a large piece of ground with a fine wall for a physic garden; not to repeat the founding of Wadham-college, and several other considerable improvements in the building of that university. To draw towards an end of this prince's character. His peaceable temper is by some people reckoned to disadvantage of constitution. His mother's fright at the murder of Rizio affected the foetus, and gave an overbalance of fear. By this accident, say they, the son was born with a natural aversion to fighting. Thus the image of war shocked his fancy, and his blood wanted heat for military enterprise. But all this is roving and mistake. That the king could guard his life handsomely upon occasion, and was not defective in necessary courage, is plain from two instances. First. At the Gowry conspiracy, when the traitors had drawn him from his attendants, and conveyed him into a private room; when Alexander Ruthen told him his death was determined, and attempted to tie his hands; when the danger was thus menacing, the king grappled with the assassin, dragged him across the room, and called out to his court; where, by the vigour of his resistance, it is plain his resolution did not fail him. Had he been a coward, he must have been lost. Being thus surprised in the middle of an ambush, he would have despaired of disengaging himself; his spirits would have been overset, and his limbs unserviceable. At another time, being advised to retire from an insurrection, he disdained the caution, faced the rebels, and made a bold stand upon them. From whence we may infer, that it was his Christian temper which made him so much inclined to peace and repose. He was too just and good- JAMES L natured a prince to plague the world for avarice and pride; or delight in the ravage and desolations of war. To conclude. The Thursday before his death, he desired the holy eucharist might be administered to him; gave an account of his faith; and declared himself fully satisfied with what he had written upon the subject of religion. After this, he received absolution, and the blessed sacrament. And now he told the prince, and those who attended, how much this viaticum' had fortified and refreshed his mind; and advised them to apply to this support upon the same occasion. He behaved himself with great piety and resig- Intrepadus nation during his sickness; died without agony or reluct-anim ance; and, though he quitted so much in this world, went Abp. Land's pleased into the other. emisat beat.um. Diary. THE END OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. |