A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Regnal history 17 · Part 6 – Part 8
Of his Personage and Conditions.
HE was of stature somewhat higher than ordinary, of a wel compacted body, of an Ambourne haire, of a full and pleasing vi…age… in his latter dayes enclining to be fat and bu…ley… of bodily exercises, he tooke most delight in hunting… which yet (some thought) hee used rather as a retiring himselfe from the importunity of Sta…e affaires, than for any great pleasure hee took in it. It is said, he had such a fashion in riding, that it could not so properly bee said he rid, as that his horse carried him; for hee made but little use of his Bridle, and would say, a horse never stumbled, but when hee was reined. Hee was of an admirable pregnancie of wit, and that pregnancy much improved by continuall study from his child-hood: by which, he had gotten such a promptnesse in expressing his mind, that his extemporall speeches were little inferiour to his premeditated writings. Many no doubt had read as much, and perhaps more than he; but scarce ever any concocted his reading into judgement as he did: by which hee became so judicious, that though hee could not Prophesie, yet he could presage; and his Conjectures were little lesse than Oracles. In all the Liberall Sciences, hee was (we may say) a Master of Arts: but in Divinity, a Doctor, as he made appeare in the Conference at Hampton Court, and is seene still by the learned Writings he hath le…t behind him. And as for that part of the Politicks, which concernes Monarchie, Regere Imperio populos, which himselfe used to call King Craft: in this he excelled. Hee knew how to take the inclinations of the people at their first bound, and never suffer them to rise higher, than hee could well reach them: nor to grow stronger, than he could either alter or divert them. He would be sure to keep his Subjects in a temper of contentment; which if he could not doe by preventives, he would by lenitives. He was so wise, that hee could dissemble, without seeming a Dissembler: be free in opening his mind, and yet keep counsaile. He was as a provident Pilot, that in a calme would provide for a storme: and you should never finde him committing the fault of Non p…taram. He was both Marti & Mercurio; but not tam morti quam Mercurio, as being of his temper who said, Cedant Arma Toga: and indeed, seeing peace is the end of both. It were not wisedome to seeke it by Armes, if it may be had by the Gowne, as it is in the Aphorisme, Consili… omnia experiri prius, quam Armis sapientem Decet. That which was bountie in him being a King, would have beene frugality, if he had beene a private person, there being of both, one radicall reason. Of all the Morrall vertues, he was eminent for chastity; in which the Poet seemes to include all vertu…: where he saith;
Nulli fas casto sceleratum in sistere limen.
By nulli casto, meaning no vertuous person; it was a manifest argument of his, being an excellent Prince, that comming next to the admirable Queen Elizabeth, which was, in a manner to compare them together: yet there appeared no inequallity, that it might not untruely be said, King Iames was but the continuation of Queen Elizabeth, the same vertue, though different sexes: and now to expresse his Character in a word, which worthily might be matter for many volumes: He was to his wife a most loyall husband, to his children a most loving father, to his servants a most bountifull Master, to his Subjects a most just prince, to all Princes neare him a most peaceable neighbour; that more justly it may be said of him, than of whom it was said; Quaete tam laeta telerunt saecula? a Prince af…e… Plato's owne heart, for his learning, and which is infinitly more worth, after Gods owne heart, for his Religiousnesse and Piety.
O… his Death and buriall.
OF his death, there were many scandalous rumours spread, and some were so impudent… as to write that he was poysoned, as the Duke of Richmond, and the Marquis Hambleton had been before: but King Iames being dead, and his body opened, there was found no signe at all of poyson, his inward parts being all sound, but that his Spleen was a little faulty, which might bee cause enough to cast him into an Ague: The Ordinary high way, especially in old bodies to a naturall death: Of this ague after a months anguishing, notwithstanding all the remedies that could be applyed, he departed this life a… Th…balds, on the 27 of March, in the yeare 1625, in the 59 yeare of his age… when he had Raigned two and twenty years compleat. His body for the greater Sta…e, was convayed by Torche light, from Theobalds to Denmark house; who having tested from the 23 of Aprill, to the 7 of May: it was carryed to Westminster, and there interred in the Chappell Royall with great solemnity, but with greater lamentation: there being scarce any of the infinite multitude that was present, of whom it might not be said,
Multa gemens, largoque humectat flumine Vultum.
Of Men of note in his time.
MIlitary Men of Note, in a time of Peace, as the whole Raigne of King Iames was, we have no reason to expect; yet if we look amongst the Voluntaries that went to the Schoole of War in the Low-Countryes; we shall find a payre of brothers, that may stand in comparison, with the greatest Souldiers in the most Martiall times, S. Francis Vere, who as another Hanniball, who with his own eye, could see more in the Martiall Discipline, than common men can do with two; and Sir Horatio Vere; who as another Philopaemen, contained in a very little body, a very great, both skill and courage. But for Men of Note in Learning: as being in the time of a most learned Prince, there was never greater store; of whom these for example. In curiousnesse of Preaching, there was Doctor Andrewes Bishop of Winchester; who hath left to posterity, a Century of such golden Sermons, that shews, he as well deserved the name of Chrysostome, as he that had it. In multiplicity of Reading, there was Doctor Reynolds of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford; who seemed as it were, a living Library; and one would have thaught his Memory to be a perfect Index of all the Books had ever beene written. In knowledge of Law there was Sir Edward Cook, Chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench; who hath written such excellent Commentaries of the Law, that he seemes as another Bartholus or Baldus amongst us. In Elegancy of writing, there was Sir Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Albans; who besides his profounder Books of Novum Organum, hath written the Reigne of K. Henry the 7, in so sweet a style, that like Manna, it pleaseth the tast of all palats. In the skil of Antiquities, there was William Camden, King at Armes; who hath set forth the Description of Brittaine, and the life of Q. Eliz. in so lively colours, that he seems to have brought Brittaine out of darknesse into light, and to keep Q. Eliz. alive after her death. And to speake it in a word, the Trojan Horse was not fuller of Heroick Grecians, than K. Iames His Raigne was full of men excellent in all kinds of Learning. And here I desire the Reader leave to remember two of my own old acquaintance, the one was Mr. Iohn Dunne, who leaving Oxford, lived at the I…n… of Court, not dissolute, but very neat; a great visiter of Ladies, a great frequen…er of Playes, a great writer of conceited Verses; untill such time as King Iames taking notice of the pregnancy of his Wit, was a meanes that he betooke him to the study of Divinity… and thereupon proceeding Doctour, was made Deane of Paules; and became so rare a Preacher, that he was not only commended, but even admired by all that heard him. The other was Sir Henry Wootton … (mine old acquaintance also, as having been fellow pupils, and chamber fellows in Oxford divers yeares together.) This Gentlemen was imployed by K. Iames in Embassage …o Venice; and indeed the Kingdom afforded not a fitter man, for ma…ching the Capriciousnes of the Italian W…s: a man of so able dexterity with his Pen, that he hath done himself much wrong… and the Kingdom more, in leaving no more of his Writings behind him.