“With the next heir, Sir James, however, the old spirit of the de la Molles seems to have revived, although it is sufficiently clear that he was by no means a spendthrift, but on the contrary, a careful man, though one who maintained his station and refused to soil his fingers with such base dealing as it had pleased his uncle to do.  Going to court, he became, perhaps on account of his wealth, a considerable favourite with James I., to whom he was greatly attached and from whom he bought a baronetcy.  Indeed, the best proof of his devotion is, that he on two occasions lent large sums of money to the King which were never repaid.  On the accession of Charles I., however, Sir James left court under circumstances which were never quite cleared up.  It is said that smarting under some slight which was put upon him, he made a somewhat brusque demand for the money that he had lent to James.  Thereon the King, with sarcastic wit, congratulated him on the fact that the spirit of his uncle, Sir Stephen de la Molle, whose name was still a byword in the land, evidently survived in the family.  Sir James turned white with anger, bowed, and without a word left the court, nor did he ever return thither.

“Years passed, and the civil war was at its height.  Sir James had as yet steadily refused to take any share in it.  He had never forgiven the insult put upon him by the King, for like most of his race, of whom it was said that they never forgave an injury and never forgot a kindness, he was a pertinacious man.  Therefore he would not lift a finger in the King’s cause.  But still less would he help the Roundheads, whom he hated with a singular hatred.  So time went, till at last, when he was sore pressed, Charles, knowing his great wealth and influence, brought himself to write a letter to this Sir James, appealing to him for support, and especially for money.

“‘I hear,’ said the King in his letter, ’that Sir James de la Molle, who was aforetyme well affected to our person and more especially to the late King, our sainted father, doth stand idle, watching the growing of this bloody struggle and lifting no hand.  Such was not the way of the race from which he sprang, which, unless history doth greatly lie, hath in the past been ever found at the side of their kings striking for the right.  It is told to me also, that Sir James de la Molle doth thus place himself aside blowing neither hot nor cold, because of some sharp words which we spake in heedless jest many a year that’s gone.  We know not if this be true, doubting if a man’s memory be so long, but if so it be, then hereby do we crave his pardon, and no more can we do.  And now is our estate one of grievous peril, and sorely do we need the aid of God and man.  Therefore, if the heart of our subject Sir James de la Molle be not rebellious against us, as we cannot readily credit it to be, we do implore his present aid in men and money, of which last it is said he hath large store, this letter being proof of our urgent need.’