authority of the church: That this strict observance was set up out of faction to be a character of difference, to brand all for libertines who did not entertain it." It was some years however before any one chose openly to oppose the doctrine of Bound and his followers, which in the mean time grew and prospered. At length Thomas Rogers in his preface to the Book of articles boldly attacked "the Sabbatarian errors and impieties;" taking great credit to himself that through his representations their books had been both called in by archbishop Whitgift and "forbidden any more to be printed" by chief-justice Popham. These prohibitions however did but increase the reputation and the sale of the forbidden books; the doctrine grew with the growth of puritanism, and even extended beyond its pale; and at the time when the declaration was issued, it had already become unwise, to say no more, to attempt its subversion by authority. But James was impelled on this occasion by his humor no less than his political bias, and it is difficult to say whether he more disliked the strictness of Sabbath observance as a badge of puritanism, or as a check on the natural carelessness and festivity of his temper. Theologian as he was, his behaviour even at church was grossly irreverent; and the common decencies of the day were fearlessly violated by his household and attendants. On this head it is related, that the court being once about to remove on a Monday from Whitehall to Theobalds, the carts were sent through the city the day before in service time, with much noise

and

and clatter. The lord-mayor caused them to be stopped, equally to the indignation and astonishment of the officers who attended them, by whom an angry representation was carried to the king of the indignity which had been put upon them. James was much enraged, and swore he thought there had been no more kings in England than himself: however, after a pause, he condescended to order a regular warrant to be sent to the lord-mayor for the release of the carts: the magistrate immediately complied, with this remark: "While it was in my power I did my duty; but that being taken away by a higher power, it is my duty to obey." The king was struck with the answer, and, on second thoughts, thanked the lord-mayor for his conducta.

One of the few remaining incidents of the year 1617 was the arrival of a Russian embassy, which afforded matter both of admiration and amusement to the king and the inhabitants of London. Sir John Finett is the narrator of the particulars of its reception.

On the day of audience, the ambassador with his two assistants proceeded to court from their quarters in the city, all their servants of less esteem marching on foot before them, "the rest in coaches provided by the merchants, each of those on foot. carrying before them with ostentation to open view some parcel of the various present sent to his majesty from the emperor. This consisted of sable furs, black foxes, ermines, hawks, with their hoods and

mantles covering their backs and wings, all embroidered with gold and pearl; two lining sables, a Persian dagger and knife set with stones and pearls, two rich cloth of gold Persian horse-cloths, a Persian kettle-drum to lure hawks with, &c. Besides many sables and black fox furs sent the king from three of the principal nobles of the emperor's court, and besides some presented to his majesty from the ambassador and the chancellor. The queen and prince had likewise their several presents of furs from all these mentioned, altogether esteemed worth 4,000l. sterling." On their arrival, they were received and ushered into the king's presence in the banqueting-house with all due ceremonies; but, "being entered the room, the exceeding press of people so hindered their profound superstitious reverences, or rather adorations, (as stooping and knocking their foreheads against the ground,) intended to have been thrice, but by that hindrance only once, and that close to his majesty, performed by them, as it turned much to their discountenance and discontent." To repair this misfortune, the bearers of the present, about fifty in number, were afterwards marched one by one along the privy gallery, "where his majesty might at his leisure, in his return, take better view of what the press had before hindered."

These ambassadors were again conducted to court. some time afterwards, to receive audience of the king, to transact business with the council, and afterwards to dine with his majesty; when several perplexing accidents occurred which are faithfully recorded

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corded by the master of the ceremonies. The king's coach not being sent for their conveyance in due time, lord Delaware was not in waiting at the court gate to receive them on their arrival; "so as the ambassadors, punctilious in their reception, made a stand against the court gate; but at last, against their ceremonious stomachs, went on as far as the midst of that first court, where they were met by the said lord." But the king was now gone to chapel, the ambassadors were obliged to wait an hour for his return, and there was then no time to do business with the council before dinner. Being asked whether they would do business after dinner, they excused themselves, saying, they hoped his majesty would allow them to take their wine, which could not be if they must meet the council afterwards. Yet it was a rule in their country, that they must always "see the prince's eyes" on the day on which they met his council. To humor them in this point, James was obliged to admit them to his presence the next day, on their way to the councila. Thus oriental were at this period the manners of the semibarbarous Muscovy!

A few months afterwards, fresh astonishment was excited by the arrival and behaviour of a Turkish chiaux, whose expenses were defrayed by the Turkey company, now a considerable and opulent body. "He had within few days after," says Finett, "his public audience of his majesty in the banqueting

a Finetti Philoxenis, p. 38 et seq.

house,

house, purposely hung for him with rich hangings, where his majesty touched one of his followers, said to be his son, for cure of the king's evil, using at it the accustomed ceremony of signing with the cross, but no prayers before or aftera."

In the autumn of this year, the country was deprived by death of sir Ralph Winwood, principal secretary of state, a man of severe temper and ungracious manners, but an able, and apparently an upright minister, and a strenuous opponent of the Spanish faction. Sir Ralph was the grandson of Lewis Winwood secretary to Charles Brandon duke of Suffolk. He received his education at St. John's college Oxford, was elected probationer-fellow of Magdalen college in 1582, and continuing apparently to reside at the university, was junior proctor in 1592, and two years afterwards supplicated to be admitted a doctor of civil law. He then proceeded to accomplish himself by travel, and in 1599 he attended that able and honorable statesman sir Henry Nevil as secretary in his embassy to France. He afterwards remained some time in that country as resident, and was subsequently appointed ambassador to the United States, in which post he continued during several eventful years. The extraordinary zeal with which he fulfilled the instructions of his master in his absurd and disgraceful applications for the dismissal and persecution of Vorstius, appears to have sprung in part from his personal

a Finetti Philox. p. 58.

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