sense of things.He professed himself

so 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 use of it; for since I daily take care to better your understanding, to enable you the more for my service in worldly affairs, reason would that God's part should not be left out, for timor Domini is initium sapientia. And lastly, I must with joy acknowledge, that you deserve this gift of me, in not only giving so good example to the rest of the court, in frequent hearing of the word of God: But in special, in so often receiving the sacrament, which is a notable demonstration of your charitie in pardoning them that offend you, that being the thing I most 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 to the world" How godly and virtuous all his advices were to this his disciple, the reader will easily judge by looking back to what is contained in note 31. But had they been such as he would have the world believe, it was very mean in a king to trumpet forth his own, and his favourite's praises. Possibly, however, James may be excused on account of his age, as he himself seems to think he should be for uttering trifles. "I grow in years," says he," and old-men are twice babes, as the proverb is "." But if they are babes, and pretend to act the part of men, to reason, dictate and command, though they may be borne with, they will be laughed at. For there is not a more ridiculous object, than that which is compounded of ignorance, conceit and vanity.

a King James's Works, p. 573.

Ib.

P. 572

b

Let us

to be a protestant, and boasted that he had:

go on with our subject. If we may credit Sir Edward Peyton, his majesty condescended even to pimp for Buckingham. "To please this favourite, (says he). king James gave way for the duke to entice others to his will. Two examples I will recite: First, the king entertained Sir John Crafts, and his daughter, a beautiful lass, at Newmarket, to set 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 Nicholas Bacon's sons conveyed her out of a window into a private chamber, over the leads, and so disappointed the duke of his wicked purpose. In which cleanly conveyance the author had a hand, with the knight's sons." These were the fruits no doubt of James's virtuous and godly advices, and by these they were faithfully witnessed to the world by Buckingham, as we see his master hoped. For certain it is 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 setters that could spread his nets, and point a meeting at some lady's house, where he should come as by accident and find accesses, while all his train attended at the door, as if it were an honourable visit "."- -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 passions; Buckingham, I say, had the

Divine Catastrophe, p. 17.

b. Wilson, p. 149.

been a kind of martyr for that profession,

disposal of the highest posts in the law and in the church, and to him were the most submissive addresses made by the right reverend fathers in God. Those who would give the greatest sums, or pay the largest yearly pensions to him, were the men generally preferred; and few who would pay nothing, had any thing.

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

"In the great library of men, that I have studied these many years, your grace is the best book, and most classick author, that I have read, in whom I find so much goodness, sweetness and nobleness of nature, such an heroick spirit, for boundless bounty, as I never did in any. I could instance in many, some of whom you have made deans, some bishops, some lords, and privy counsellors; 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 dust, for raising but a thought so high as to serve your highness. Since that I have not played the truant, but more diligently studied you than ever before and yet (dunce that I am) I stand at a stay, and am a non proficient, the book being the same that ever it was, as may appear by the great proficiency of others. This wonderfully poseth me, and sure there is some guile, some wile, in some of my fellow students,

:

a See Weldon, p. 119.

though he never shewed his regard to those

who hide my book from me, or some part of it; all the fault is not in my own blockishness, that I thrive no better; I once feared this before, that some did me ill offices. Your grace was pleased to protest no man had; and to assure me no man could. My heart tells me it hath been always upright, and is still most faithful unto you. I have examined my actions, my words, and my very thoughts, and found all of them, ever since, most sound unto your grace. Give me leave to comfort myself with recordation of your loving kindnesses of old, when on that great feast day of your being inaugured our chancellor [of Cambridge] my look was your book, wherein you read sadness, to which I was bold to answer," I trusted your grace would give me no cause. You replied (with loss of blood rather.) But God forbid so precious an effusion. (I would rather empty all my veins than you should bleed one drop) when as one blast 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 stuff, apt to be broke upon often removing. I desire 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 history of your good deeds to me and others, whereby I may vindicate you from the envy, and obloquy of this present wicked age wherein we live, and whilst I live in praying for your grace, whose I am, totally and finally.

"Theophilus Landaven "." A man who could obtain a good bishoprick, by such arts as these, with great sincerity of soul, no doubt,

Cabala, p. 117.

of that persuasion in Germany or France, but suffered them to be oppressed by the

might say, nolo episcopari! I do not know whether it is worth while to observe that Field's flattery and sycophancy availed nothing with Buckingham. He had been too much used to it, and so had lost its relish. Money was what he wanted: but Field was poor, had a wife and six children, and consequently 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 half a year. I would not have the reader think ecclesiastical preferments are now obtained by like means as in the days of James. Buckingham having obtained riches and honours in abundance for himself and all his relations, grew quite insolent: Insomuch that he was once about to strike prince Charles: and at another time bid him in plain terms kiss his a, yea towards James himself, he was highly insolent. For when his majesty attempted to dissuade him and the prince from taking the journey into Spain, to which he had before thoughtlessly given his consent; he rudely told him, "no body could believe any thing he said, when he retracted so soon the promise he had made; that he plainly discerned that it proceeded from another breach of his word, in communicating with some rascal, who had furnished him with those pitiful reasons he had alledged, and that he doubted not but he should hereafter know who his counsellor had been." In short, directly contrary to the mind of his master, he irri

* See Cabala, p. 116. and Willis's Survey of Cathedrals, vol. I. p. 526. 4to. Lond. 1727. Clarendon, vol. I. p. 25, and Weldon, p. 140.

Clarendon, vol. I. p. 16.-