XLVI. 1612. in order to keep the foldiers from preying upon CHA P. the country, as had been usual in former reigns. When Odoghartie raised an infurrection, a reinforcement was fent over, and the flames of that rebellion were immediately extinguished. ALL minds being firft quieted by a general indemnity"; circuits were established, justice administered, oppreffion banifhed, and crimes and diforders of every kind feverely punished ". As the Irish had been univerfally engaged in the rebellion against Elizabeth, a refignation of all the rights, which had been formerly granted them to separate jurifdictions, was rigorously exacted; and no authority, but that of the king and the law, was permitted throughout the kingdom 59 A refignation of all private eftates was even required; and when they were reftored, the proprietors received them under fuch conditions as might prevent, for the future, all tyranny and oppreffion over the common people. The value of the dues, which the nobles usually claimed from their vaffals, was estimated at a fixed fum, and all farther arbitrary exactions prohibited under fevere penalties ". THE whole province of Ulfter having fallen to the crown by the attainder of rebels, a company was established in London, for planting new colonies in that fertile country: The property 58 Sir John Davis, p. 263. 57 Ibid. p. 276. 60 Ibid. p. 264, 265, &c. CHAP. was divided into moderate fhares, the largest. XLVI. not exceeding 2000 acres: Tenants were brought 1612. over from England and Scotland: The Irifh were removed from the hills and fastnesses, and fettled in the open country: Hufbandry and the arts were taught them: A fixed habitation fecured Plunder and robbery punifhed: And, by thefe means, Ulfter, from being the most wild and diforderly province of all Ireland., foon became the best cultivated and most civilized ". 61 SUCH were the arts, by which James introduced humanity and juftice among the people, who had ever been buried in the moft profound barbarifm. Noble cares! much fuperior to the vain and criminal glory of conquefts; but requir ing ages of perfeverance and attention to perfect what had been fo happily begun. A LAUDABLE act of juftice was, about this time, executed in England upon lord Sanquhir, a Scottish nobleman, who had been guilty of the bafe affaffination of Turner, a fencing-mafter. The English nation, who were generally diffatisfied· with the Scots, were enraged at this crime equally mean and atrocious; but James appeased them, by preferring the feverity of law to the interceffion of the friends and family of the criminal " 61 Sir John Davis, p. 280. 62 Kennet, p. 688. CHA P. XLVII. Death of Prince Henry Marriage of the Princess His marriage Overbury poisoned Fall of Somerset Rife of Buckingham Cautionary towns delivered - Affairs of Scotland. THIS year the fudden death of Henry, prince CHAP. XLVII. 1612. Nov. 6th, Death of of Wales, diffufed an univerfal grief throughout the nation. Though youth and royal birth, both of them ftrong allurements, prepoffefs men mightily in favor of the early age of princes; it is with peculiar fondnefs, that hiftorians mention Henry. Henry: And, in every refpect, his merit feems to have been extraordinary. He had not reached his eighteenth year, and he already poffeffed more dignity in his behaviour, and commanded more respect, than his father, with all his age, learning and experience. Neither his high fortune, nor his youth, had feduced him into any irregular pleafures: Bufinefs and ambition feem to have been his fole paffion. His inclinations, as well as exercises, were martial. The French ambassador, taking leave of him, and afking his commands for. France, found him employed in the exercife of the pike; Tell your king, faid he, in what occupation. 1612. CHAP. you left me engaged *. He had conceived great XLVII. affection and efteem for the brave Sir Walter Raleigh. It was his faying, Sure no king but my father would keep fuch a bird in a cage. He feems indeed to have nourished too violent a contempt for the king, on account of his pedantry and pufillanimity; and by that means ftruck in with the restless and martial spirit of the English nation. Had he lived, he had probably promoted the glory, perhaps not the felicity, of his people. The unhappy prepoffeffion, which men commonly entertain in favor of ambition, courage, enterprife, and other warlike virtues, engages generous natures, who always love fame, into fuch pursuits as destroy their own peace, and that of the rest of mankind. VIOLENT reports were propagated, as if Henry had been carried off by poifon; but the phyficians, on opening his body, found no fymptoms to confirm fuch an opinion. The bold and criminal malignity of men's tongues and pens fpared not even the king on the occafion. But that prince's character feems rather to have failed in the extreme of facility and humanity, than in The French monarch had given particular orders to his ministers to cultivate the prince's friendship; who muft foon, faid he, have chief authority in England, where the king and queen are held in fo little estimation. See Dép. de la Boderie, vol. i. p. 402. 415. vol. ii. p. 16. 349. 2 Coke's detection, p. 37. Kennet, p. 690. Coke, p. 37. Welwood, p. 272. that XLVII. that of cruelty and violence. His indulgence to CHA P. Henry was great, and perhaps imprudent, by giving him a large and independent fettlement, even in fo early youth. THE marriage of the princefs Elizabeth, with Frederic, Elector Palatine, was finifhed fome time after the death of the prince, and ferved to diffipate the grief, which arofe on that melancholy event. But this marriage, though celebrated with great joy and festivity, proved, itself, an unhappy event to the king, as well as to his fonin-law, and had ill confequences on the reputation and fortunes of both. The Elector, trufting to fo great an alliance, engaged in enterprises beyond his ftrength: And the king, not being able to fupport him in his distress, loft entirely, in the end of his life, what remained of the affections and esteem of his own fubjects. EXCEPT during feffions of parliament, the history of this reign may more properly be called the hiftory of the court than that of the nation. An interefting object had, for fome years, engaged the attention of the court: It was a favorite, and one beloved by James with fo profuse and unlimited an affection, as left no room for any rival or competitor. About the end of the year 1609, Robert Carre, a youth of twenty years of age, and of a good family in Scotland, arrived in London, after having paffed fome time in his travels. All his natural accomplishments confifted in good looks: All his acquired abilities, in an eafy air and graceful demeanor. He had lettera VOL. VIII. Ꮐ 1613. Febr. 14. the Princess Palatine. Rife of So merfet. |
