On its first appearance Camden has recorded the strong sensation it excited:  it was not only admired, but it entered into and won the hearts of men.  Harris, forced to acknowledge, in his mean style and with his frigid temper, that “this book contains some tolerable things,” omits not to hint that “it might not be his own:”  but the claims of James I. are evident from the peculiarity of the style; the period at which it was composed; and by those particular passages stamped with all the individuality of the king himself.  The style is remarkable for its profuse sprinkling of Scottish and French words, where the Doric plainness of the one, and the intelligent expression of the other, offer curious instances of the influence of manners over language; the diction of the royal author is a striking evidence of the intermixture of the two nations, and of a court which had marked its divided interests by its own chequered language.

[Footnote A:  James, early in life, was a fine scholar, and a lover of the ancient historians, as appears from an accidental expression of Buchanan’s, in his dedication to James of his “Baptistes;” referring to Sallust, he adds, apud TUUM Salustium.]

This royal manual still interests a philosophical mind; like one of those antique and curious pictures we sometimes discover in a cabinet,—­studied for the costume; yet where the touches of nature are true, although the colouring is brown and faded; but there is a force, and sometimes even a charm, in the ancient simplicity, to which even the delicacy of taste may return, not without pleasure.  The king tells his son:—­

“Sith all people are naturally inclined to follow their prince’s example, in your own person make your wordes and deedes to fight together; and let your own life be a law-book and a mirror to your people, that therein they may read the practice of their own lawes, and see by your image what life they should lead.

“But vnto one faulte is all the common people of this kingdome subject, as well burgh as land; which is, to judge and speak rashly of their prince, setting the commonweale vpon foure props, as wee call it; euer wearying of the present estate, and desirous of nouelties.”  The remedy the king suggests, “besides the execution of laws that are to be vsed against vnreuerent speakers,” is so to rule, as that “the subjects may not only live in suretie and wealth, but be stirred up to open their mouthes in your iust praise.”

* * * * *

JAMES THE FIRST’S IDEA OF A TYRANT AND A KING.

The royal author distinguishes a king from a tyrant on their first entrance into the government:—­