An Historical and Critical Account of the Life and Writings of James I., King of Great-Britain. 2. Ed

the fake of pleafing or difpleafing any fect or party in church or ftate; but wholly intended to Serve the caufe of liberty and truth. H: profelles himself inviolably attached to the civil and religious liberties of mankind; and therefore hopes the reader will indulge him in that warmth of his refentment, that honeft indignation, that is naturally raised by every inftance of perfecution, tyranny, and oppreffion; provided he has not any where expreffed himself in a. manner unworthy of the character of a gentle-· man or a chriftian.

For the reft it is hoped that the curious will find fome entertainment, if not information, in this account; and that they will pardon the faults and imperfections of it, for the fake of its general tendency and defign.

One thing the judicious and impartial reader will, at least, not be displeased with, viz. that as the authorities here quoted are the most authentic in themselves, fo the manner of quoting them is the most unexceptionable and juft,that is, in the very words, letters and points of the reSpective author, by which the reader may be infallibly certain that their fenfe is rightly reprefented.

THE

CONTENTS.

AMES's birth, the murder of Rixio,
and its effect on James, according to Sir

Kenelm Digby.

Buchanan, the tutor of James, his

Page 2-4.

great merit

and abilities; bated by his pupil, and for

4-7.

what reafons.

James's favourites in Scotland; the unpopu-

lar measures pursued by him through their

perfuafions.

He is feized by the earls of Mar and Gowry.

Difmiffes his favourites.

He regains his liberty, and returns to his old

courfes. An account of the confpiracy of the

Gowries, their ruin, and an enquiry into

the truth of the plot.

10-17.

The death of Mary queen of Scots, and the fe-

veral arts made use of to accomplish it. 16.

Queen Elizabeth's diffimulation, the unjust pu-

nifhment of fecretary Davidfon. Reflec-

tions on ambition.
Page 17.

James in the power of Elizabeth, and her

minifters. His negotiations at Rome, and

in Spain detected by them.

James obedient to Elizabeth; the reafons of

it.

James difregarded by the Scotch nobility. 22.

An account of the disobedient behaviour of the

Scotch clergy towards James.

19.

21.

23.

His refentment of their behaviour, though for the

prefent be diffembled with them. Reflections

on diffimulation.

James's provocations to his clergy.

25-28.

29.

A cenfure of their conduct. In what praise-

worthy.
30.

The marriage of James with a daughter of

Denmark. His ignorance in hiftory. A

particular character of his queen. Cen-

fure of our hiftorians.
31-34.

An account of James's paraphrafe on the re-

velations. Rafhness of the undertaking.

Cenfure of bishop Mountague. 35-37.

Of James's damonologie. He permits perfons

to be executed for witchcraft. Compli-

mented on his afcending the English throne

with an act against witchcraft. A caution

to law-makers. Witchcraft difbelieved in

Ethiopia. Act against witchcraft repeal-

ed,
38-41.

The

The doctrine contained in his law of free mo-
narchy vile and abominable. Page 42.

H An account of ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΝ ΔΩΡΟΝ. Strange
paffages in it. Cenfured by the fynod of St.
Andrews. The judgment of the learned
Gataker concerning it.
42-46.
James makes intereft with the great men at the
English court to fecure his fucceffion.
46.

He is admitted to the throne of England with-

out any limitations or reftrictions. The ac-

ceffion of a stranger king the proper time for

a people to claim their just rights and privi-

ledges. Praife of the bills of right, and

fucceffion.
48-51.

A mean revenge of James. Reflections on

it.

41-53.

A great number of Scots attend James into

England who are advanced to the highest bo-

nours.