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In 1612, the king directed the remains of his mother, Mary queen of Scots, to be removed from Peterborough to Westminster Abbey. His filial feelings also caused the destruction of Fotheringhay castle, where she had been executed; a mound of earth alone marks its site.

on the other hand, his predilection for war, and contempt of his father's peaceful policy, were notorious. Had he plunged the nation into a series of ambitious warlike enterprizes, this course could not have been for the welfare of the country, and might, in another way, have proved injurious to the liberties of the people. The high estimate of the regal prerogative, innate in every prince of the Stuart family, always tended to separate them from their subjects. This prince had, however, ex

The marriage of the king's eldest daughter Elizabeth with the elector Palatine, was solemnized in February, 1613. This was, in some respects, a popular union, being with one of the German Protestant princes; but it soon led to consider-hibited amiable traits, and some sense of able troubles and inconveniences, though the result was prosperous for England, inasmuch as the Protestant princes of the house of Hanover are descended from this marriage. But this union was preceded by a melancholy event. Prince Henry, whose regard for Protestantism had led him to favour the project of this alliance, died in November, 1612, at the age of nineteen, after a short illness. Strong suspicions of his being poisoned were entertained by many; dark surmises were hinted against the royal favourite, Carr, earl of Rochester, and even the king himself; the latter, it was remarked, would not allow of any mourning being worn. But this was only from his perverse disposition; he had latterly disliked the prince, and many of the proceedings which rendered him popular. The death of prince Henry evidently proceeded from fever: the minute-account preserved of his illness, tends to show that a bolder practice on the part of his physicians, would, in human probability, have prolonged his life; but the event was ordered otherwise, and this young prince went to the grave generally lamented.

The Christian knows that all things are ordered aright, and therefore, in speaking of past events, he ventures only to observe upon them, so as may best assist to draw instruction from them. Many have considered that the death of this prince was one event that led to the various dissensions that followed, and ended in the violent death of his brother, and the temporary suppression of the monarchy, apprehending that Henry would have avoided that fatal course in which Charles hurried forward; or that his superior powers would have enabled him to meet and overcome the enemies of the monarchy. It is also considered that Henry would have opposed, instead of encouraging the unpopular measures of the leading ecclesiastics. The indications of the prince's character favour these suppositions; but,

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religion, though exposed to the sins and follies of the court, and at times led astray by them. He attended and valued the preaching of bishop Hall, and was influenced by the advice of his governor, sir Thomas Chelmer. He had a particular aversion to swearing and profaneness. Once, at a hunting match, a butcher passed with his dog, which sprang at the stag, and killed it; the huntsmen were greatly irritated, and endeavoured to provoke the prince against the butcher; but his highness answered coolly, "True, the butcher's dog has killed the stag, and how could the butcher help it?" They replied, "That if his father had been so served, he would have sworn so that no man could have endured." Away!" cried the prince, "all the pleasures in the world are not worth an oath." The same answer he is said to have given, when asked, Why he did not swear at play, like other young persons? He answered, "He knew no game worthy of an oath." A remark well deserving remembrance by those of the lower, as well as of the upper ranks. Let not the declaration by the prophet be forgotten, "Because of swearing the land mourneth," Jer. xxiii. 10. The engraving on page 81 represents the front of Bramshill house, the noble pile in Hampshire, begun to be built as a residence for prince Henry; but before the building was completed, he was gone to the narrow house appointed for all men.

The history of the royal favourites must be resumed; it includes the account of a horrible proceeding. The second favourite of James was Robert Carr, a handsome youth, aged 20, descended from a good family of Scotland, who arrived in London about the close of 1609, from travelling on the continent. Lord Hay contrived that he should be employed to present the king's buckler and device at a tilting match. Thereby he engaged the attention of James, but was thrown

from his horse, and broke his leg. The king went to visit him when the tilting was over, and immediately entertained for him the same regard, so ridiculous and disgraceful, if not worse, which he had shown for his previous favourites. This increased after the youth was recovered; and Carr being very ignorant, James, with his usual pedantry, constituted himself his instructor, and indulged unlimited fondness for this minion, wishing that he should appear to be formed in learning and conduct by his instructions. Honours and riches were heaped upon the youth, who was created viscount Rochester, while deserving men were left in penury and disregard, and money could not be found for the needful expenses of government. Carr had, however, a wise adviser in sir Thomas Overbury, and while he listened to him he was kept from becoming wholly an object of dislike and contempt; but he did not long pursue this prudent course.

The earl of Essex, who afterwards became a prominent character, was married at the early age of fourteen to lady Frances Howard, daughter of the earl of Suffolk, then a year younger. As the marriage was devised merely to unite the families, the earl went to the university, and afterwards travelled, while the bride remained with her mother. But she early showed her vile and depraved character, and the manners of the court were calculated to increase these evil qualities. She soon became the paramour of viscount Rochester, and when Essex returned, refused to live with him, alleging reasons which, no doubt, were false; even if they were true, no woman possessing modest or decorous feelings could have stated them. She also had recourse to conjurors, and to those who practised what was called "the black art," or attempted to use Satanic agency to forward her desire to be divorced from Essex, that she might marry Rochester. The latter consulted Overbury, who, though he had aided the favourite in his sinful course, strongly advised him against all thoughts of such a union, alleging that such a base wretch as lady Frances must prove his ruin. The weak favourite told his paramour this advice, when she determined to be revenged on Overbury, and to remove him from thwart ing her plans. After a vain attempt to assassinate him, he was offered an embassy, but at the same time the favourite advised him to decline it; thus, Overbury was brought under the king's dis

pleasure, and committed to the Tower. The earl of Northampton, related to lady Frances, recommended a new governor to that fortress, sir Gervas Elwes: he was appointed by the interest of the earl of Rochester, who connived at the murderous plots devised by this wicked woman. After several ineffectual attempts, Overbury was poisoned, and his body hurried to the grave, but not till September, 1614.

The legal proceedings for the divorce. of the countess from Essex went forward; to these the king gave his support with the most disgusting pedantry. Seven of the judges were induced to decide for the divorce: even the leading prelates were brought to bear a part in the proceedings; but, much to their credit, the primate and the bishop of London refused to be concerned therein. The details need not be noticed here; the favourite was created earl of Somerset, and married to the divorced countess in the Chapel Royal, August, 1613, when James thought he had effected a matter which would strengthen his government, exhibiting also at once his scholarship, and that talent for ruling which he called king-craft. For a short time, this sinful course seemed to have attained all that was sought by it; but it eventually realized in the fullest extent the words of Scripture: "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel," Prov. xx. 17.

The royal extravagance by this time had rendered the assembling of parliament a necessary measure. Somerset, with others, undertook to influence the elections, which brought upon them the name of "undertakers;" but they failed: a House of Commons still less favourable to the court than the last, was returned, and assembled in April, 1614. The king made large promises, and uttered many learned sentiments, but he ordered the members to begin by voting a supply. The Commons refused, and at once desired a conference with the Lords on the subject of "impositions," the levying of imposts on the subjects by the royal authority only. In this conference, Neale, bishop of Lincoln, declared that the right of levying these imposts was in the king alone, asserting that it could not be questioned without approaching to sedition. The Commons complained of such a statement, and the Lords compelled the bishop to acknowledge his error on his knees at the bar of their house. The

royal authority to levy taxes was strongly advocated by the courtiers, who appealed to the examples of France, Spain, and other countries; but they were reminded that the government of those countries was despotic. The opinion of the judges was sought; they were unfavourable to such claims. The house continued to discuss various subjects for two months, when the king in anger dissolved the parliament; following this weak measure by the still more unpopular one of imprisoning several members, assigning as a reason what they had said in the House of Parliament, which caused much indignation against the arbitrary proceeding. Another favourite now engaged the king's regard; George Villiers, son of Sir Edward Villiers, of Leicestershire. Like his predecessors, he was more remarkable for personal accomplishments than for any real talents. Archbishop Abbot was weak enough to be persuaded to ask the queen to patronize this youth, and the king's favour was soon secured. Villiers was first noticed at Cambridge, whither the king had gone in a progress, being much pleased and interested by the opportunity of displaying his pedantic learning before the members of the university.

The rise of Villiers led to the fall of Somerset. A rumour of Overbury's murder was circulated so currently, that James being willing to get rid of his former favourite, ordered his arrest and trial in 1615. The proceedings on this occasion are characteristic of this monarch: a contemporary says; "The king was accompanied with Somerset to Royston, where no sooner he brought him but instantly took his leave, little imagining what viper lay among the herbs. Nor must I forget to let you know how perfect the king was in the art of dissimulation, or, to give it his own phrase, king-craft. The earl of Somerset never parted from him with more seeming affection than at this time when he knew Somerset should never see him more. The earl, when he kissed his hand, the king hung about his neck, slobbering his cheeks, saying (with his accustomed profane expressions) When shall I see thee again?' The earl told him, 'On Monday,' this being on the Friday. 'Let me,' said the king, shall I, shall I,' then lolled about his neck, then give thy lady this kiss for me.' In the same manner at the stair's head, at the middle of the stairs, and at the stair's foot. But the earl was not in his coach when the king

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used these very words, (in the hearing of four servants, of whom one was Somerset's great creature, and of the bedchamber, who reported it instantly to the relater of this fact,) 'I shall never see thy face more.' On his arrival in London, the earl was conveyed to the Tower; the countess had previously been arrested. Sir Thomas Monson, the king's falconer, who was accused of being concerned in the death of Overbury, and several others were also secured.

When the wretched culprits were safely imprisoned, James spoke out, complaining that they had made him aid their plans for adultery and murder. He also required the chief justice Coke to be impartial, imprecating a curse upon the judge if he spared any that were found guilty, and upon himself and his descendants if he pardoned them. The earl of Northampton was implicated, but he had lately died. The trial soon began. Elwes, lieutenant of the tower, Weston, a jailer, Turner, a disgraceful woman, who had much influence at court as an intriguer and fortune-teller, with Franklin an apothecary, who compounded the poisons, were all convicted, partly by the evidence of accomplices, and executed. Thus, "the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands," Psa. ix. 15, and often those who have been the means of tempting others to sin, are the first to accuse and betray them. Those whom the apostle describes as 66 foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, are also said to be "hateful, and hating one another," Tit. iii. 3. There is no real confidence among the ungodly. But sir Thomas Monson, the king's falconer, though brought to trial, was, for some secret cause liberated, the proceedings against him being suddenly stopped by the king's orders to the chief justice. The countess pleaded guilty. Somerset was condemned by the unanimous vote of the peers, but to the general astonishment, the king, notwithstanding his solemn protestations, spared their lives, and afterwards pardoned them. They were liberated from the Tower in 1621, but were required to live in a state of banishment at one of their country seats, on a yearly allowance of 4000l., while Buckingham had the greater part of their estates. Here they lived in bitter animosity with each other, and all besides. The countess died in 1632, of a painful and loathsome disease; the earl died in 1645.

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The lenity of James, in contradiction

to his solemn protestation, cannot be excused. Documents yet exist which show that Somerset acted with unconcern, braving the proceedings against him, and daring the king to put him on his trial. Sir George More, who was then in command of the Tower, thought it necessary to go to the king in the dead of the night before Somerset was tried, and on his return assured the wicked fallen favourite, of the king's mercy, but said the form of a trial must be gone through. It is also stated, that men were at hand, ready to muffle the prisoner, and force him from the bar as mad, in case he said any thing accusatory of James. In the Loseley papers are some letters from the king to the lieutenant, in which James shows much anxiety that Somerset should be persuaded to confess guilt, without going to trial, also insinuating, or saying, that he must be mad if he should accuse the king of any guilty knowledge of this poisoning. Somerset, however, appeared at the bar, and for eleven hours tried hard, but in vain, to prove himself innocent, during which interval the poor king, then at Greenwich, evinced much wretchedness and impatience, asking particulars of every one who came from the trial; nor was he at ease till all was over without any thing appearing to criminate him. Whether blood-guiltiness or any other crime really placed James in the power of his discarded favourite, or whether Somerset worked upon his natural timidity, cannot now be ascertained. There are circumstances in James's character which show that he was a weak man rather than a deliberately wicked one; still weakness leads to wickedness, "the thought of foolishness is sin," Prov. xxiv. 9, and he could hardly have patronized these criminals as he did without some guilty participation: the degree must be a matter of surmise, but it is difficult to suppose that there was not some hidden guilt on the king's part. He well knew the declaration of Scripture, that "a wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them," Prov. xx. 26; but when thus brought to the proof, he seems, like the accusers of the adulterous woman when put to the test by our Lord, to have quailed and turned aside.

GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN.

ALL the designs of mercy, the manifestations of the power, goodness, and the riches of God's grace for man, upon

man and in man, are clear evidences of the good will of God to men; like so many machines with cog-wheels, one acting upon the other, so that the whole is in constant motion. The wheels of eternal purposes and infinite atonement, and the operations of the Holy Spirit, as the Quickener and Sanctifier of men, set the whole machinery of vocation, justification, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification in motion. The law of the Spirit of life has power and sufficient room to turn in Christ Jesus. Good will to men is the spring of peace upon earth, and the river flowing from that spring is the salvation of men, which runs within the golden banks of the passive and active obedience of Christ, down to the sea of eternal life, without doing any damage to any man whatever. Its floods convey no mercy to devils, but carry away many precious jewels from their tyrannical dominion.' When Jesus returned from the manger, the cross, and the grave, his glory shined from on high over the hills of the whole Roman empire, and the rivers of peace, love, and salvation swept away from the temples of Europe more false gods than would have filled the Pantheon at Rome, to be worshipped no more. Nothing can stand before the glory of God in the highest, this peace and good will to men; they will, in spite of opposition, follow Jesus to every region, to every house, to every congregation, to every town and city, and to every heart where Jesus goes. Oh that the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ, might shine upon this congregation. O Lord, convert the careless and prayerless sinner; let him be founded on the foundation of joy, that all his sorrows might be swallowed up. Let thy good will to men constrain them to look on the world as a secondary thing, and to go out quickly to behold Jesus in the means of grace, with great fear and joy. When your eyes are opened to behold the glory of God, your lips will soon be opened to proclaim it before the church and the world, praising and adoring God for what you have experienced, for what you have felt, and for what you have seen and heard. Soon you shall be removed from glory to glory, from peace to perfect love, where that fear that hath torment shall never enter, where you shall join the heavenly choir in ascribing glory to God for his good will to men.

So let it be, says my soul. Amen.Christmas Evans.

POWER OF RELIGION. THE narrative which follows, was communicated by a correspondent, who was acquainted with some of the persons to whom it refers.

In the winter of the year 18-, Mr. K- and Captain B, two gentlemen who, at that time, were strangers to each other, found themselves seated beside a cheerful fire, in the public room of a respectable hotel in a southern city. Mr. K-, who, at that period of his life, was extensively engaged in business, having throughout the whole of the day, been busily occupied with mercantile affairs, overcome by fatigue, had already begun to indulge himself in a nap in an arm-chair, when he was aroused from his slumbers by the entrance of an officer, who had that moment arrived by the evening's coach; and who, chilled by a keen northern blast, took his seat between the two gentlemen, immediately in front of the fire. He had just returned from | India; and being, as most men are who have had opportunities of seeing the world, affable and communicative, he at once engaged the attention of the strangers by some very correct and pointed observations on eastern manners and customs. It was evident, however, that it was not its position on the map of our globe, or the varied productions of its soil, nor yet the peculiar customs of its inhabitants, that recalled his thoughts to Hindostan. There was visible, even through the buoyancy of spirits which he endeavoured to manifest, a melancholy cast of countenance, which bespoke the anguish of an afflicted mind. Nor was the cause long a secret. Beneath India's sun-burned soil lay the remains of his beloved wife. On his regiment being ordered on foreign service, rather than endure the pain of a separation, she had braved the dangers of the sea; and for some time they enjoyed together, in that distant region, all those sweets which hearts formed for each other's society yield. It is not, however, the lot of humanity to possess uninterrupted happiness in this vale of tears. Naturally delicate, her health soon sunk under the influence of a climate by no means friendly to the European constitution; and upon her beloved partner devolved the melancholy duty of seeing her body committed to the house appointed for all living. His regiment was shortly after ordered home: but, prior to embarking for England, he paid a last visit to the spot where were

deposited the mortal remains of one who, to him, was lovely even in death. But though seas soon spread their ample space between him and India, yet was that country still engraven upon the tablet of his memory; and his spirit, in its goings-. forth, often hovered over the tear-besprinkled turf which covered the sacred dust of his sainted wife; and, from the overflowings of a full heart, he loved to speak of her departed worth. It was so in the present instance: he had not been more than a few minutes in conversation with the two strangers, before he introduced this melancholy topic, dwelt feelingly and at large upon her virtues, and the great loss he had sustained in her removal; but added, "that if ever there was a saint upon earth, she was one; that she died rejoicing in her Saviour, and charging him to meet her in heaven; and that he hoped to join her happy spirit in a world of immortal glory.' His account of her last moments was interesting in a high degree; while the big tear that stole down his veteran cheek, but which was as speedily dried up again, heightened the interest of the scene, and called forth visible emotions of sympathy from the gentlemen on both sides of him. To the great astonishment, however, of those gentlemen, he had more than once accompanied his observations concerning his departed wife, with an irreverent and profane use of the name of God. great sinfulness of this, Mr. K——, in a half-whisper, reminded him. The reproof was well taken, and thanks were even offered for the friendly feeling which prompted the admonition of his error.

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A pause of a few minutes now ensued, during which Captain B- surveyed the room. The company at this time consisted of two or three small parties of gentlemen, who sat at tables at some distance from each other, engaged in reading the newspapers of the day. It was evident that the captain's mind was the seat of some severe conflict; but, as if victory had at last decided in his favour, he broke silence; and, addressing the officer, said, that he too had been a military man ; and that, if he had no objection, he would give him an account of the manner in which he had been brought to a knowledge of the Saviour. A ready and cheerful assent was at once given; when he proceeded to state in substance as follows:-"During my time in the army, I lived, as officers too generally do, the slave of pleasure and the enemy of God.

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