Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

him to be genuine this circumstance will, we doubt not, recommend it more powerfully to our readers, than any thing we could possibly find to say in its behalf. But, before we conclude, we must be indulged with one more extract; and as the reader's attention has been so long taken up with wars andfighting people," we will, for the sake of diversion, present him with the picture of a man of peace. This is a full-length portrait of James I., which, much to our surprise, we stumbled upon in the very thickest of the German war. We have trans

planted it from a situation so little suited to the character of the subject, and placed it out of the way of guns, drums, and all the circumstance of war, which James so heartily detested. The author has, in truth, contented himself with describing his person and habits-but this he has done with all the accuracy and minuteness with which a naturalist would characterize some strange and curious species of animal.

1

"I will give the character of king James from a master's handHe was of a middle stature, more corpulent through his clothes than his body, yet fat enough, his clothes ever being made large and easy; the doublets quilted for stiletto proof; his breeches in great plaits, and full stuffed. He naturally was of a timorous disposition, which was the reason of his quilted doublets: his eyes were large, ever rolling after any stranger who came in his presence, in so much that many for shame sake have left the room, as being out of countenance: his beard was very thin; his tongue too large for his mouth, which ever made him speak full, and drink very uncomely, as if eating his drink, which came out into the cup at each side of his mouth: his skin was as soft as taffeta sarsṇet, which felt so because he never washed his hands, only rubbed his fingers' ends slightly with the wet end of a napkin his legs were very weak, and his weakness made him always leaning on other men's shoulders. *** He was temperate in his exercises and diet, and not intemperate in his drinking; however, in his old age, in Buckingham's jovial suppers, when he had any turn to do in them, he was sometimes overtaken, which the next day he would repent with tears in his eyes. It is true he drank very often, which was more out of custom than delight, and his drinks were of that kind for strength, as Frontiniac, Canary, tent wine, and Scotch ale, that had he not a very strong brain he might have been daily overtaken, although he seldom drank at any one time more than four spoonfuls, often not more than one. He was constant in all things, his favourites excepted, in which he loved change, yet never cast down those who were once raised, unless from their own default, by oppos ing his change, as in Somerset's case; yet had he not been in that foul poisoning business, and so cast down himself, I do verily believe not him neither; for all his other favourites he left great in honour, great in fortune, and did much love Montgomery, and trusted to him to the very last gasp. In his diet, apparel, and journies, he was very constant, as by his good will he would never change his clothes till

worn out to very rags. His fashion never varied, insomuch that when a person brought him a hat made on a Spanish block, he would cast it from him, swearing he never loved them nor their fashions: another time, bringing him roses on his shoes, he asked them if they would make him a ruff-footed dove-one yard of sixpenny ribband served his turn. His diet and journies were so constant, that the best observing courtier of our times used to remark, that were he asleep seven years, and then awakened, he would tell where the king had been every day, and every dish he had at his table. He was not very uxorious, though he had a very brave queen that never crossed his designs: her death, which happened six years before his, did not tempt him to any irregularity, though a very beautiful widow, in the plentitude of her health, fortune, and amidst her admirers, gave him a fair challenge. He was unfortunate in the marriage of his daughter, and so was all Christendom; but sure the daughter was more unfortunate in a father than he in a daughter. He naturally loved not the sight of a soldier, nor of any valiant man: and it has been remarked that Sir Robert Mansell was the only brave man he ever loved. He was very witty, and had as many ready witty jests as any man living, at which he would not smile himself, but deliver them in a grave and serious manner. He was very liberal of what he had not in his own gripe: his bounty was not discommendable, if he had not raised so many favourites. His rewarding old servants, and giving to his own countrymen money, is not to be blamed: but his sending ambassadors was no less chargeable than dishonourable to himself and people, for he was sure to be abused in all negociations; but he had rather spend a hundred thousand pounds in embassies to procure peace with dishonour, than ten thousand pounds to send a force to procure peace with honour. He loved good laws, and many were made in his time. He was very crafty and cunning in petty things, insomuch, as a very wise man used to say, that he believed him to be the wisest fool in Christendom, meaning him wise in small things, but a fool in weighty matters."

END OF VOL. III.

Maurice, Printer, Fenchurch-street.

Page 158, line 28, for
166, line 27, for
167, line 2, for

ERRATA.

6

Idols of the Tube,' read Idols of the Tribe." By other Designs,' read By other Passions.' distinctions,' read distortions.'

The continuation of the article on the Novum Organum, and another on the Prose Works of Dryden, mentioned in our advertisements, we are, in consequence of the unexpected extent of some of the in the present Number, compelled to postpone until the next.

papers

E.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »