(b) Rushworth, Vol. J p. 22.

(* Id. p.

227.

fronted, and infulted by them; and yielding to their defires even fometimes contrary to

his

"whofe care had been to appoint under him fufficient men, to leffen his charges, which he had done." (b) -In another speech to the lords, in the year 1621, and Frank- in order to recommend his minion to their esteem, he lin, p. 49. tells them," that he hath been ready on all occasions "of good offices, both for the house in general, and (i) Id. p. 25. every member in particular." (i) And in an anfwer of his to both houfes of parliament, anno 1623, he ftiles him his difciple and fcholar, and a good fcholar "of his." (k) Thefe expreffions found odd enough, but they are tolerable when compared with those we find in his preface to his meditation on the lord's prayer. For in this James tells Buckingham, that he may claim an intereft in it for divers refpects. "Firft, fays he, "from the ground of my writing it; for divers times "before I meddled with it, I told you, and only you, "of fome of my conceptions upon the Lord's prayer, "and you often follicited me to put pen to paper: next, as the perfon to whom we pray it, is our heavenly father, fo am I that offer it unto you, not only your "politike, but also your economicke father, and that ❝ in a nearer degree than unto others. Thirdly, that you may make good ufe of it; for fince I daily take care to better your underftanding, to enable you the "more for my fervice in worldly affairs, reafon would "that God's part fhould not be left out, for timor domi“ni is initium fapientia. And lastly, I must with joy " acknowledge, that you deserve this gift of me, in "not only giving fo good example to the rest of the "court, in frequent hearing of the word of God: But " in special, in fo often receiving the facrament, which "is a notable demonftration of your charitie in pardon

ing them that offend you, that being the thing I moft "labour to recommend to the world in this meditation "of mine: and how godly and virtuous all my advices

have ever been unto you, I hope you will faithfully

witness

his own fenfe of things.He profeffed

himself

"witness to the world." (1) How godly and virtuous (King James's all his advices were to this his difciple, the reader will works, po eafily judge by looking back to what is contained in 573. note [GG]. But had they been fuch as he would have the world believe, it was very mean in a king to trumpet forth his own, and his favourite's praises. Poffibly, however, James may be excused on account of his age, as he himself feems to think he fhould be for uttering trifles. "I grow in years, fays he, and old-men are "twice babes, as the proverb is." (m) But if they are (m) Ib. p babes, and pretend to act the part of men, to reafon, 572. dictate and command, tho' they may be born with, they will be laughed at. For there is not a more ridiculous object, than that which is compounded of ignorance, conceit and vanity.- -Let us go on with our fubject. If we may credit Sir Edward Peyton, his majefty condescended even to pimp for Buckingham. "To

please this favourite, (fays he) king James gave way "for the duke to entice others to his will. Two ex"amples I will recite: Firft, the king entertained Sir "John Crafts, and his daughter, a beautiful lafs, at "Newmarket, to fet at the table with the king. This "he did then, to procure Buckingham the easier to "vitiate her. Secondly, Mrs. Dorothy Gawdy, being "a rare creature, king James carried Buckingham to "Culford to have his will on that beauty: But Sir Ni"cholas Bacon's fons conveyed her out of a window in❝ to a private chamber, over the leads, and fo difappoint"ed the duke of his wicked purpose. In which clean"ly conveyance the author had a hand, with the

knight's fons." (n) Thefe were the fruits no doubt (2) Divina of James's virtuous and godly advices, and by these catastrophes they were faithfully witneffed to the world by Bucking- P. 17. bam, as we fee his mafter hoped. For certain 'tis he was exceedingly addicted to women, and had debauched his own wife before marriage; and if his eye "culled out a wanton beauty, he had his fetters that

P

sé could

P. 149.

himself to be a proteftant, and boasted that

he

"could fpread his nets, and point a meeting at fome lady's houfe, where he fhould come as by accident and find acceffes, while all his train attended at the door, (0) Wilfon, as if it were an honourable vifit." (0)—And in order to enrich himself and kindred, he was permitted by James to make the most he could of every thing. He who understood neither law nor divinity, who had no appearances of virtue, nor concern about any thing but to gratify his paffions; Buckingham, I fay, had the dispofal of the highest pofts in the law and in the church, and to him were the most fubmiffive addreffes made by the right reverend fathers in God. Thofe who would give the greatest fums, or pay the largest yearly penfions to him, were the men generally preferred; and few (p) See Wel- who would pay nothing, had any thing. (p)

don, p. 119.

What the power of Buckingham was, and what kind of addreffes were made to him, will beft appear from the following letter, among many which might be produced, from Dr. Field, bishop of Landaffe to him, tho' written I think, fometime after James's death.

"My gracious good lord,

"In the great library of men, that I have ftudied "these many years, your grace is the beft book, and "moft claffick author, that I have read, in whom I "find fo much goodness, sweetness and nobleness of na"ture, fuch an heroick fpirit, for boundless. bounty, "as I never did in any. I could inftance in many, "fome of whom you have made deans, fome bishops, "fome lords, and privy counfellors; none that ever "looked towards your grace did ever go away empty. "I need go no further than myself (a gum of the earth) "whom you raised out of the duft, for railing but a "thought fo high as to ferve your highnefs. Since "that, I have not played the truant, but more diligent"ly studied you than ever before: and yet (dunce that "I am) I ftand at a stay, and am a non proficient,

"the

1

he had been a kind of martyr for that profeffion, though he never fhewed his regard to thofe

"the book being the fame that ever it was, as may appear by the great proficiency of others. This wonderfully pofeth me, and fure there is fome guile, fome wile, in fome of my fellow ftudents, who hide. my book from me, or fome part of it; all the fault is "not in my own blockishness, that I thrive no better; "I once feared this before, that fome did me ill "offices. Your grace was pleased to proteft no man

66

had; and to affure me no man could. My heart "tells me it hath been always upright, and is ftill most faithful unto you. I have examined my actions, my "words, and my very thoughts, and found all of σε them, ever fince, moft found unto your grace. "Give me leave to comfort myself with recordation

66

of your loving kindneffes of old, when on that great "feast day of your being inaugured our chancellor [of Cambridge] my look was your book, wherein you "read fadness, to which I was bold to answer, I trusted your grace would give me no caufe. You replied (with lofs of blood rather) But God forbid so pre"cious an effufion. (I would rather empty all my veins ❝ than you fhould bleed one drop) when as one blaft of your breath is able to bring me to the haven where I "would be. My lord, I am grown an old man, and am like old houshold ftuff, apt to be broke upon often removing. I defire it therefore but once for all,, be it Ely, or Bath and Wells; and I will spend the ❝ remainder of my days in writing an hiftory of your "good deeds to me and others, whereby I may vindi66 cate you from the envy, and obloquy of this prefent "wicked age wherein we live, and whilst I live in praying for your grace, whofe I am, totally and finally.

Theophilus Landaven." (q) (9) Cabala,

those of that perfuafion in Germany or France, but fuffered them to be oppreffed by

the

A man who could obtain a good bishoprick, by such arts as these, with great fincerity of foul, no doubt, might fay, nolo epifcopari! I don't know whether 'tis worth while to obferve that Field's flattery and fycophancy availed nothing with Buckingham. He had been too much used to it, and fo had loft its relish. Money was what he wanted: but Field was poor, had a wife and fix children, and confequently could advance little; and therefore remained where he was, till Dec. 15, 1635, long after Villiers' death, when he was removed to Hereford, which he enjoyed not more than ) See Ca- half a year. (r) I would not have the reader think ecbala, p.116. clefiaftical preferments are now obtained by like means furvey of ca. as in the days of James. Buckingham having obtained

and Willis's

thedra's,

P-25 and

140.

riches and honors in abundance for himself and all his Vol. I. p. relations, grew quite infolent : Infomuch that he was 526. 4to. Lond. 1727. once about to ftrike prince Charles: (s) and at another (s) Claren- time bid him in plain terms kifs his ayea towards don, Vol. I. James himself, he was highly infolent. For when his Weldon, p. majefty attempted to diffuade him and the prince from taking the journey into Spain, to which he had before thoughtlessly given his confent; he rudely told him, "no body could believe any thing he faid, when he re"tracted fo foon the promife he had made; that he plain"ly difcerned that it proceeded from another breach of "his word, in communicating with fome rafcal, who "had furnished him with thofe pitiful reafons he had "alledged, and that he doubted not but he fhould here(r) Claren-after know who his counsellor had been." (t) In don, Vol. I. fhort, directly contrary to the mind of his mafter, he

p. 16.

(u) Td'. p. 18-24.

irritated the parliament against Spain; reflected on the conduct of the earl of Bristol, and told them what was not true with relation to him, and fet on a profecution against him; and ruined the earl of Middlefex, (I mean with respect to his power) tho' intreated by the king to the contrary. (u) But James bore all this, tho' not

without