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Published by the fame Author,

I. An Hiftorical and Critical Account of the

LIFE and WRITINGS of

CHARLES I.

King of GREAT BRITAIN.

After the Manner of Mr. B A YLE. Drawn from Original Writers and State-Papers.

II. An Account of the LIFE of

OLIVER CROMWELL, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.

To which is added,

An Appendix of Original Papers now first Published.

III. An Hiftorical and Critical Account of the
LIFE and WRITINGS of

CHARLES
E S II.

King of GREAT BRITAIN.

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J A ME S S I.

King of GREAT BRITAIN.

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AMES STUART, the fixth of that name in Scotland, and firft in England, was born June 19, 1566. He was the fon of Henry Lord Darnley (fon to Matthew earl of Lennox, by Margaret Dowglas daughter to the widow of James the fourth, who was the eldest daughter to Henry the seventh of England) and Mary queen

B

of

of Scots, the only child of James the fifth, king of Scots, who was fon of James the fourth and Margaret his queen, the faid eldeft daughter of Henry the feventh of England. The murther of a favourite fecretary (A) when she was great with child, in her

(A) A favourite fecretary, &c.] This was the famous David Rixio, or Rifcio, an Italian, a merry "fellow and good mufician, who was taken notice of "firft of all on account of his voice. He was drawn "in (fays Melvil) to fing fometimes with the reft, and "afterwards, when the queen's French fecretary re"tired himself to France, he obtained the faid office. "And as he thereby entered in greater credit, fo he "had not the prudence how to manage the fame rightly. "For frequently, in prefence of the nobility, he would "be publickly speaking to her, even when there were "the greatest conventions of the states. Which made "him to be much envied and hated, especially when "he became fo great, that he prefented all fignatours "to be fubfcribed by her majefty. So that fome of "the nobility would frown upon him, others would "fhoulder him and fhut him by, when they entered the "queen's chamber, and found him always fpeaking "with her. For those who had great actions of law, "new infeftments to be taken, or who defired to pre"vail against their enemies at court, or in law-fuits "before the feffion, addressed themselves to him, and "depended upon him, whereby in fhort time he be-. came very rich." (a) Here was great familiarity we of Sir James fee, and fuch as could not be much to the credit of a Melvil, p. fovereign princefs. For 'tis expected that fuch a one fhould maintain her rank, and fcorn to stoop to those Lond. 1683. See likewife who have neither birth nor breeding, But Mary gave the hiftory herfelf up to David, and was advised by him in things of the church of the utmost importance. This appears from Melvil, by archbp. who knew them well, and likewife from Spotswood.

(a) Memoirs

54. Fol.

of Scotland

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