Advice to Prince Henry in the choice of his servants and associates 415

Describes the Revolutionists of his time 416

Of the nobility of Scotland 417

Of colonising ib.

Of merchants 418

Regulations for the prince’s manners and habits ib.

Of his idea of the royal prerogative 421

The lawyers’ idea of the same ib.

Of his elevated conception of the kingly character 425

His design in issuing “The Book of Sports” for the Sabbath-day 426

The Sabbatarian controversy 428

The motives of his aversion to war 430

James acknowledges his dependence on the Commons; their conduct 431

Of certain scandalous chronicles 434

A picture of the age from a manuscript of the times 437

Anecdotes of the manners of the age 441

James I. discovers the disorders and discontents of a peace of more than twenty years 449

The King’s private life in his occasional retirements 450

A detection of the discrepancies of opinion among the decriers of James I 451

Summary of his character 455

TO

Robert Southey, LL.D.,

&c. &c. &c.

In dedicating this Work to one of the most eminent literary characters of the age, I am experiencing a peculiar gratification, in which few, perhaps none, of my contemporaries can participate; for I am addressing him, whose earliest effusions attracted my regard, near half a century past; and during that awful interval of time—­for fifty years is a trial of life of whatever may be good in us—­you have multiplied your talents, and have never lost a virtue.

When I turn from the uninterrupted studies of your domestic solitude to our metropolitan authors, the contrast, if not encouraging, is at least extraordinary.  You are not unaware that the revolutions of Society have operated on our literature, and that new classes of readers have called forth new classes of writers.  The causes and the consequences of the present state of this fugitive literature might form an inquiry which would include some of the important topics which concern the public mind, —­but an inquiry which might be invidious shall not disturb a page consecrated to the record of excellence.  They who draw their inspiration from the hour must not, however, complain if with that hour they pass away.