religion, without their soon becoming instruments in the hands of politicians for the accomplishment of mere political purposes. Nothing is more natural than that rival statesmen should thus avail themselves of the passions of rival religionists, their professing themselves favourable or otherwise to the matters in immediate dispute being a cheap method of obtaining the assistance of so active a body of partizans. Such was the course of events in the history of the controversy between the Arminians and the Calvinists of Holland. Barnevelt placed himself at the head of the remonstrants, and his political rival, Maurice of Nassau, did the same with the contra-remonstrants. On the death of Arminius, his chair at Leyden was offered to Vorstius, a divine of acknowledged learning and capacity. The Calvinists impeached his orthodoxy, but that he so far vindicated before the States, as to be admitted to the vacant office. His success was regarded by the Arminians as a triumph; and it was at this juncture that the English monarch, who had not been unobservant of these proceedings, deemed it proper to interpose. James, though he had learnt to wage a deadly war against the discipline inculcated by the Genevan reformer, was still the disciple of that powerful intellect on points of theology. In his view the tenets of Arminius were novelties opposed to the genuine doctrines of the reformed churches; and his majesty professed himself shocked to learn that the opinions of Vorstius were still more repugnant to the most acknowledged standards of the Protestant faith. These opinions the monarch described as opposed directly or by implication to some of the essential attributes of Deity, while they were accompanied by intimations which seemed to make the divinity of the Saviour a doubtful article of faith. The States were accordingly admonished that their encouragement of a professor who diffused such "pestilent heresies" was an enormity which, if not speedily corrected, must call for the interference of Protestant Christendom, that the power might not be wanting that should "remand such abominable doctrines" to the region whence they came. The States would have spurned this meddling with their domestic affairs, but circumstances disposed them to try several expedients in the hope of calming the spirit of the royal theologian; and finding these without effect, they at length consented to a removal of the obnoxious professor, imposing on him the task of publicly refuting the infamous speculations laid to his charge. The credit of being the first state in Europe to abolish the barbarous custom of burning men on account of their religion belongs to the people of Holland; but James was humane enough to assure the judges of Vorstius that should he be suffered to escape that doom, on recanting his errors, it was by no means because such a penalty was greater than his offence had deserved. These discussions prepared the way for the famous Synod of Dort, but that assembly was not convened until the political power of the Arminians had been completely broken. It was followed by the execution of Barne A. D. 1619. velt, after trial by a court against the jurisdiction of which both he and Grotius protested; and several hundred Arminian families were driven into exile*. Death of While James was employed in directing the weapons of learning and authority against Vorstius, England was called to mourn the loss of the presumptive heir to the throne. Henry Prince Prince Henry. of Wales was now in the seventeenth year of his age, and his excellent capacity, together with his manliness and courage, his patriotism, activity, and contempt of indulgence, had for some time endeared him to the people, who naturally dwelt in anticipation on the nobler position of their country under such a sovereign. His admirers of one class saw in him another Henry V., and pleased themselves with the prospect of what thoughtless men regard as national glory; while his known attachment to the reformed faith was to the more religious portion of the community the best pledge that his various abilities would be exercised in a manner conducive to the best interests of Christendom †. What added much to the charm of these features in his character was the direct contrast which they supplied to the dispositions of the reigning prince. An ambassador of the French monarch presenting himself to take leave of the prince, found him exercising himself with the pike, and on inquiring if the heir apparent had any commands for France, received as answer, "Tell your king in what occupation you left met." The brave and enterprising Raleigh, still suffering in the Tower, was a favourite of Prince Henry. Sure, no king but my father," he once said, "would keep such a bird in a cage." The death of this prince appears to have resulted from fever, brought on by imprudent exercises, and allowed to take its fatal course by the timidity of attendants, who feared the imputations usually cast on "those physicians who meet with patients that do not recover after opening a vein." On the people, the Nov. 6, 1612. effect of this unexpected bereavement was such, that their imagination was not to be diverted from suspicions of poison, especially as the carriage of the prince towards his father was known to have been sometimes so far incautious, and we may say improper, as to have converted the affection of his weak temper into a feeling of awe not unmixed with jealousy §. But while we acquit James of the atrocious act which The despatches in Winwood's third volume abound in references to this contest. + Osborne, 264. The following lines, we are told, were common among the people: Henry VIII. pulled down the abbeys and cells, Boderie. But Henry IX. shall pull down bishops and bells.—Nugæ Antiquæ. § Somers' Tracts, ii. 231-252. Aulicus Coquinariæ, 239-251. "I hold the death of Prince Henry to have been natural." Spifame to Puysieuse, Dec. 1612. Raumer, ii. 222. "The queen endeavours hourly to corrupt the spirit and disposition of the Prince of Wales by flattering his little passions. She seeks, moreover, to excite his youthful soul in favour of Spain. She has also carried the point with the king of having the prince in future resident in her court, and said to me, with the regrets and disaffection of many among his subjects imputed to him, the circulation of injurious rumours will hardly appear surprising, if we remember, with other circumstances, that Carr, the rising favourite with the monarch, was at this time in a state of enmity with the prince; that not more than three days after his death that favourite wrote to Paris, giving instructions that a negotiation in progress for the marriage of Prince Henry should proceed, only substituting the name of Charles; and that the king himself not only forbade persons approaching him in mourning, but gave orders that the preparations for the Christmas revelries should proceed without interruption*. Marriage of About this time a marriage was agreed upon between Elizabeth, the only daughter of the king, and Frederic, Count Palatine of the Rhine. The royal nuptials were celebrated with a pomp and expense unexampled in English history. But, as we shall soon learn, the history of this marriage was to be fraught with misfortune to Frederic, and to his beautiful bride, who had not passed the sixteenth year of her age. The king also was to find a source of continued vexation, and of diminished popularity, in the circumstances that attended this union †. Rise of Carr. But the refuge, as we have before observed, to which the king had been always disposed to look in his difficulties, was the confidence of favourites; and at this time there was an individual in the court on whom James had for some time looked with this kind of fondness. "About the end of the year 1609, Robert Carr, a youth of twenty years of age, and of a good family in Scotland, arrived in London, after having passed some time in his travels. All his natural accomplishments consisted in good looks; all his acquired abilities in an easy air and graceful demeanour. He had letters of recommendation to his countryman Lord Hay, and that nobleman no sooner cast his eyes upon him, than he discovered talents sufficient to entitle him immediately to make a great figure in the government. Apprized of the king's passion for youth and beauty and exterior appearance, he studied how matters might be so managed that this new object should make the strongest impression upon him. Without mentioning him at court, he assigned him the office, at a match at tilting, of presenting to the king his buckler and device, and hoped that he would attract the attention of as much impudence as imprudence, It is time that I should have possession of the prince, for the king drinks so much, and conducts himself so ill in every respect, that I expect an early and evil result.' I know that she grounds herself in this, that, according to her expressions, the men of the house of Lenox have generally died, in consequence of excessive drinking, in their fortieth year, or become quite imbecile. The king growing daily more weak and contemptible, the consideration of the queen increases in proportion." Beaumont, Oct. 1604. Birch's Life of Prince Henry. Winwood, iii. 410. Wilson, 55. Osborne, 470-475. *Birche's Prince Henry, 405. Winwood, iii. 403, 434, 435. Revenue 11, 14. Wilson, 690. Somers' Tracts, iii. 40. Abstract of his Majesty's the monarch. Fortune proved favourable to his design, by an accident which bore at first a contrary aspect. When Carr was advancing to execute his office his unruly horse flung him, and broke his leg in the king's presence. James approached him with pity and concern: love and affection arose on the sight of his beauty and tender years, and the prince ordered him immediately to be lodged in the palace, and to be carefully attended. He himself, after the tilting, paid him a visit in his chamber, and frequently returned during his confinement. The ignorance and simplicity of the boy finished the conquest, begun by his exterior graces and accomplishments. Other princes have been fond of choosing their favourites from among the lower ranks of their subjects, and have reposed themselves on them with the more unreserved confidence and affection, because the object has been beholden to their bounty for every honour and acquisition. James was desirous that his favourite should also derive from him all his sense, experience, and knowledge. Highly conceited of his own wisdom, he pleased himself with the fancy that this raw youth, by his lessons and instructions, would in a little time be equal to his sagest ministers, and be initiated into all the profound mysteries of government, on which he set so high a value. And as this kind of creation was more perfectly his own work than any other, he seems to have indulged an unlimited fondness for his minion beyond even that which he bore to his own children. He soon knighted him, created him Viscount Rochester, gave him the garter, brought him into the privy council, and though, at first, without assigning him any particular office, bestowed on him the supreme direction of all his business and political concerns. Agreeable to this rapid advancement in confidence and honour were the riches heaped upon the needy favourite ; and while Salisbury and all the wisest ministers could scarcely find expedients sufficient to keep in motion the over-burthened machine of government, James, with unsparing hand, loaded with treasures this insignificant and useless pageant*." The writer who thus describes the early fortunes of Rochester has justly remarked, that history appears to fall from her dignity when necessitated to dwell on such frivolous events and ignoble personages. But the later occurrences in the career of this personage merit attention as connecting themselves not only with the character of the king, but with that of the court and the times. By adopting the advice of Sir Thomas Overbury, who was his counsellor from his first appearance at court, the young favourite was enabled to obtain a growing influence over the affections of the monarch without exposing himself to the aversion of the people. The older courtiers indeed looked on with envy, and resorted to intrigue; but, by exercising more modesty and discretion than is usual with such creatures of fortune, and especially by avoiding any partiality toward his countrymen, and performing kind offices for a *Hume's Hist., vi. 46, 47. large number of persons possessing means more or less of supporting his ascendency, nothing appeared more secure than the splendid elevation of Viscount Rochester. His fall was the consequence of an illicit passion for Lady Frances Howard, daughter of the earl of Suffolk. His connexion At the age of thirteen, this lady was married to the Earl of Essex, whose age exceeded her own by one year only. It was the wish of James by this means to unite two families which had suffered much in the cause of his mother, and the union accomplished, the parties separated until the age of puberty, the earl repairing to the university, the countess being entrusted to the care of her mother. But in this interval the countess and the favourite conceived a violent passion for each other, and secretly became as husband and wife in all things save the marriage ceremony. When the Earl of Essex returned, his bride received him with coldness, and at length with every manifestation of dislike. In the issue, it proved to have been the inexorable purpose of the countess, that the man whom the ceremony of marriage had made her husband should be such in no other sense. Her persuasion was, that so long as this was the case, her marriage with Essex must be defective, and might be made to give place to her union with Rochester. No pains were spared to interest her lover in this course of policy, and her lover deemed it proper to consult Overbury as to the best means of carrying it into effect. But while that faithful friend had considered his patron's attachment to the Countess of Essex merely as an affair of gallantry, he had favoured its progress; and it was partly owing to the ingenious and passionate letters which he dictated, that Rochester had met with such success in his addresses. Like an experienced courtier, he thought that a conquest of this nature would throw a lustre on the young favourite, and would tend still further to endear him to James, who was charmed to hear of the amours of his court, and listened with attention to every affair of gallantry. But, on the mention of marriage, Overbury professed himself astonished at the folly of the favourite, and, in the true spirit of his vocation, he called upon him to despise the woman whom his own arts had enabled him to seduce, adding, that the baseness of her character must occasion his immediate ruin. Rochester was weak enough to make known the substance of this conversation to the countess, whose spirit of vengeance began to thirst for nothing less than the life of the offender, nor was it found difficult to inflame her paramour with the same feelings. Her first device was to offer a thousand pounds to Sir John Wood to dispatch the object of her resentment under the show of a duel. But this scheme was frustrated by a proposal to obtain his appointment on a mock embassy to France or Russia-a virtual exile, which he should be secretly urged to refuse, and on refusing, he might be charged with contempt of the royal pleasure and committed to the Tower. This snare was successful. During six |