sured on almost all hands 38, as it well de

that their mortal foe James had but a low understanding, and was undeserving of the rank he assumed in the republic of learning. This he has done effectually, and therefore, whatever was his intention, the puritans should have applauded his performance, and appealed to it for proof of the insufficiency of him who set himself up as a decider of their controversies,

38 His conduct was such, as has been severely censured, &c.] I say nothing of the puritans; they were too much parties to be looked on as impartial judges; and James's conduct towards them was such, as must necessarily give them but a poor opinion of his understanding and justice. Nor will I give the opinion of Barlow or Heylin: the first had his court to make, the other was a bigot in the greatest degree a man of sense (for such he was) could be; and therefore the judgment of neither of them is much to be regarded. I will give the sentiments of a clergyman, zealous enough for the church; and a statesman, who cannot be thought partial to the puritans, when 'tis known that he most zealously promoted the occasional conformity, and schism bills. "Had there not been too stiff an adherence (says the reverend writer) to some few things at this conference at Hampton-Court, which, without danger, might have been altered, had not the bishops then had such an ascendant throughout the whole conference over the king, which he was well pleased withal, having by the contrary party in Scotland been so roughly handled all his time; I say, certainly that conference had terminated in a great advantage to the church of England; for the puritan party was not so numerous, nor

served. In the year 1605, on the fifth day of Nov. was that most detestable conspi

affections so great as they have been since, a very little and easy condescension had spoiled the market of the designing men, both gentry and ministers too"." "Learning, says the other writer, was the part upon which James valued himself; this he affected more than became a king, and broached, on every occasion, in such a manner as would have misbecome a schoolmaster. His pedantry was too much even for the age in which he lived. It would be tedious to quote the part he took in the conference at Hampton-Court. Let us only observe that the ridicule which arose from hence, and which fixed on him was just, because the merit of a chief governor is wisely to superintend the whole, and not to shine in any inferior class, because different, and in some cases perhaps, opposite talents, both natural and acquired, are necessary to move, and to regulate the movements of the machine of government; in short, because as a good adjutant may make a very bad general; so a great reader, and a writer too, may be a very ignorant king." And in another place, the same fine writer observes, " that in haste to shew his parts, he had a conference between the bishops and the puritan ministers at Hampton-Court, wherę he made himself a principal party in the dispute.

But surely such a conference, however it might frighten and silence, could neither instruct nor persuade, and the king was so far from trusting, like his predecessor, to the force of truth, and aid of time, that in this very conference he threatened to employ another kind of

A Vindication of their Majesties Wisdom in the nomination to the va

sured on almost all hands 38, as it well de

that their mortal foe James had but a low understanding, and was undeserving of the rank he assumed in the republic of learning. This he has done effectually, and therefore, whatever was his intention, the puritans should have applauded his performance, and appealed to it for proof of the insufficiency of him who set himself up as a decider of their controversies,

38 His conduct was such, as has been severely censured, &c.] I say nothing of the puritans; they were too much parties to be looked on as impartial judges; and James's conduct towards them was such, as must necessarily give them but a poor opinion of his understanding and justice. Nor will I give the opinion of Barlow or Heylin: the first had his court to make, the other was a bigot in the greatest degree a man of sense (for such he was) could be; and therefore the judgment of neither of them is much to be regarded. I will give the sentiments of a clergyman, zealous enough for the church; and a statesman, who cannot be thought partial to the puritans, when 'tis known that he most zealously promoted the occasional conformity, and schism bills. "Had there not been too stiff an adherence (says the reverend writer) to some few things at this conference at Hampton-Court, which, without danger, might have been altered, had not the bishops then had such an ascendant throughout the whole conference over the king, which he was well pleased withal, having by the contrary party in Scotland been so roughly handled all his time; I say, certainly that conference had terminated in a great advantage to the church of England; for the puritan party was not so numerous, nor

served. In the year 1605, on the fifth day of Nov. was that most detestable conspi

affections so great as they have been since, a very little and easy condescension had spoiled the market of the designing men, both gentry and ministers too."

Learning, says the other writer, was the part upon which James valued himself; this he affected more than became a king, and broached, on every occasion, in such a manner as would have misbecome a schoolmaster. His pedantry was too much even for the age in which he lived. It would be tedious to quote the part he took in the conference at Hampton-Court.Let us only observe that the ridicule which arose from hence, and which fixed on him was just, because the merit of a chief governor is wisely to superintend the whole, and not to shine in any inferior class, because different, and in some cases perhaps, opposite talents, both natural and acquired, are necessary to move, and to regulate the movements of the machine of government; in short, because as a good adjutant may make a very bad general; so a great reader, and a writer too, may be a very ignorant king." And in another place, the same fine writer observes, " that in haste to shew his parts, he had a conference between the bishops and the puritan ministers at Hampton-Court, where he made himself a principal party in the dispute.

But surely such a conference, however it might frighten and silence, could neither instruct nor persuade, and the king was so far from trusting, like his predecessor, to the force of truth, and aid of time, that in this very conference he threatened to employ another kind of

* A Vindication of their Majesties Wisdom in the nomination to the va

racy against the protestant religion, known by the name of the powder-plot, discovered;

force, if he did not meet with compliance in a time to be limited. The bishops were at first to admonish paternally, and to confer amicably; but lest they should not succeed by preaching, writing, living men into conformity, (the sole means they ought to desire, or, if they desired others, the sole means they ought to be suffered to employ) they were to have recourse to compulsion afterwards.- -On these principles he proceeded, and the consequence of this conduct was, that those sects who were not dangerous at first, became so at last. They became so, in some degree, from the very moment the declarations we have mentioned were made; for nothing is found more true in nature and experience than this, that they who are oppressed by governments, will endeavour to change them; and that he who makes himself terrible to multitudes, will have multitudes to fear."" If those of them [the puritans] who were friends to order, had been once incorporated with the established church, the remaining sectaries would have been but of little moment, either for numbers or reputation; and the very means which were proper to gain these, were likewise the most effectual to hinder the increase of them, and of the other sectaries in the mean time. Upon the whole matter we think it plain, that king James I. had an easy and secure opportunity of preventing any bad consequences, which might be apprehended from the divisions of his protestant subjects; and that the improvement of that opportunity consisted in giving neither alarm to the well affected, nor pretence to the