G David for his other kingdoms, The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up ;' that the endowing of bishoprics, the erecting of colleges, the buying out of impropriations, the assigning of glebes, the repairing of old and the erecting of new churches, hath consumed and taken up all, or the far greater part, of his revenues in Scotland and Ireland." 6 The wisdom of the king is extolled in terms of the grossest adulation; but from the following enu- meration of the advancement of the various interests of the three kingdoms during his reign, the impartial historian will find little to subtract:...." The Scotish feuds quite abolished, the schools of the prophets new adorned, all kind of learning highly improved, manufactures at home daily invented, trading abroad exceedingly multiplied, the borders of Scotland peaceably governed, the north of Ireland religiously planted, the East India well traded, Persia, China and the Mogor visited, lastly, all the ports of Europe, Asia, Africa and America to our red crossed freed and opened. And they are all the actions and true born children of king James his peace." It is somewhat singular that, in the enumeration of king James's merits with respect to religion, the bishop should have omitted all mention of his care for the completion of a new version of the bible. This great work was undertaken in performance of a promise made by the king at the Hampton-court * Somers Tracts, vol. ii. p. 33. 3rd edit. conference, conference, and Dr. Reynolds, the great champion of the puritans, by whom it was there suggested, was one of the divines engaged in its execution. The translators were in number forty-seven; they were divided into six companies, to each of which a portion of the scriptures was assigned. Rules for their proceeding were drawn up by his majesty himself, with great attention and apparently with much prudence. Nearly three years were occupied in the task; and it was not till 1611 that the book appeared in print with a well-merited dedication to the king. This is the authorised version of the present day; and, with some allowances for the subsequent advancement of the science of biblical criticism, it has constantly been regarded by the best judges as a very honorable monument of the learning, skill and diligence of the translators. The appearance of king James's bible forms also one of the most important events in the history of the English language; it had the immediate effect of recommending to common use a very considerable number of words derived from the learned languages, for which the translators had been unable to find equivalents in the current English of the time. At present it performs a service of an opposite nature, and keeps in use, or at least in remembrance, many valuable words and expressive idioms which would otherwise have been rejected with disdain by the fastidiousness of modern taste, as homely and familiar. Some attempts have been made by the eulogists of of James I. to affix to his name the title of The Just; but impartial posterity has refused to confirm an addition so glorious: Justice is the virtue of great minds, and the praise of general good intention is the utmost that can be conceded to a prince so habitually swayed by fear, by prejudice and by private affections. INDEX. A ABBOT, archbishop, 366, ii. 5.- Allegiance, oath of, 319,-persons Anne, of Denmark, queen, 19, 25, Arundel, earl of, ii. 246. See B Bristol, earl of. See Digby, John Brook, George, a conspirator, 147, C CARLISLE, earl of. See Hay, James ii. 4, 7, 9.-The king's parting Cary, sir Robert, his journey to Catholic petition, how received by Catholics compared with puritans, Cecil, sir Robert, enters into cor- character, 394.-Letters to his Charles, prince, 44, 218,-created Compton, lady, her letter to her Cornwallis, sir Charles, his dis- Courtier, ballad of the old and Cranfield, Lionel, ii. 249, 312, 382 & 4 Cromwell, sir Oliver, 105 D Derby, countess of, 214 Devon, earl of. See Montjoy 383 Donne, John, 415 Ellesmere, lord-chancellor. See E EFFINGHAM, Viscountess, 216 English court-its state on James's Essex, Robert earl of, ii. 186, 238, F FIENNES, William, lord Say and G GARNET, father, 236, 237, 239, Gondomar, count, ii. 94 Grey, lord of Wilton, enters into DAVIES, Sir John, 93 Denmark, king of, in England, 278, Harrington, sir John, 121.-Let- 282, 443 ters of, 139, 278.-Interview H HABINGTON family, 242, 246, 247, Haddington, viscount. See Ramsey Hay, James, earl of Carlisle, ii. 47 Herbert, Philip, earl of Montgo- Howard, |
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