PART THE THIRD.

LITERATURE UNDER THE FIRST TWO STUARTS

AND DURING THE COMMONWEALTH.

WHAT ENGLAND OWES TO THE STUARTS.

WITH the name of Stuart the idea of a long tragedy is conveyed to the mind. We ask ourselves. Ought not Shakspeare to have been born in their era? No! No! involved in revolutionary commotions, he would not have found leisure for the development of his varied genius. Perhaps even, becoming a political man, he would have produced nothing. Facts would

have consumed his life.

Great Britain owes to the race of Stuart two things, inestimable for any nation :-strength and liberty. James I in bringing the Scottish

324 WHAT ENGLAND OWES TO THE STUARTS.

crown to England, united the people of the island into one body, and banished foreign war from the soil. The Scotch had continental alliances; almost every time that hostilities broke out between France and England, Scotland made a powerful diversion in favour of the former. If Scotland had not been united with England in 1792, the latter could not have sustained the long war of the Revolution.

As for English liberty, the Stuarts established by attacking it-Charles I paid for it with his head, and James II with his race.

JAMES I. BASILIKON DORON.

PERSONS, during the epoch in which they live take notice of mediocrity, because mediocrity is peevish, intriguing, envious, and because common things and common men make up the generality of the world: but when the past is the question, nothing obliges us to resuscitate the vulgar herd, who, undeceived as to their own merits, by the sincerity of Death, would be astounded at revival, and incapable of standing upright. Some portraits remain on the old canvass of Time when the rest of the picture is effaced; it is with such alone that we need occupy ourselves; it is sufficient to name secondary individuals, pausing only at the great figures which, at long intervals, succeed great figures. Nevertheless, it is essential to mark, as we pass, the revolutions that have taken place in the nature or the form of the human mind. I say essential, to speak like the learned and people of consequence; for, beyond religion and its virtues, which alone can bestow freedom, is there anything essential in this world?

The first of the four Stuarts who ascended the English throne has left works more esteemed than his memory. I will name them: one ought

to mention such kings as could write on " The Apocalypse," "The True Law of Free Monarchies," and the royal gift "Basilikon Doron." If James I. had not taken such pains to establish divine right, and acquired the title of "His Sacred Majesty," there would perhaps have been no occasion to pass off his unfortunate son for the author of "Eikon Basilike". At any rate, the royal gift, "Basilikon Doron," deserves particular attention. It contains interesting historical matter, and exhibits James I. in a new light.

The royal gift or present, is dedicated to Henry, the eldest son of James. The King, in an Epistle to the young prince, first says to this purpose:

"I haue for the greater ease to your memorie and that ye may at the first cast vp any part that ye haue to do with, deuided this treatise in three parts. The first teacheth ye your dutie towards God as a Christian; the next your dutie in your office as a King: and the third informeth you how to behaue yourselfe in indifferent things, which of themselues are neither right nor wrong, but according as they are