THE CHAUACTER AND CONDUCT OF JAMES I. 275 



afterwards created Lord Balmerino, who confessed^ as it is said, 

 that James affixed his name to this paper^ among other official in- 

 struments, without any knowledge of its contents. If we enquire a 

 little further into the history of this curious transaction, it will 

 appear evident to those who like to have things reported just as 

 they are,* that James had acted towards Balmerino as Elizabeth 

 did towards her under secretary, Davison, respecting the despatch 

 of the warrant for the execution of Queen Mary.t Now, Cle- 

 ment's former assurances to James, that, as the son of his virtuous 

 mother, he had prayed for his temporal and eternal welfare, and his 

 ordering public thanksgivings and processions at Rome to celebrate 

 his accession, are circumstances which assuredly will not be thought 

 to form exceptions to the tenor of the above remarks, since they 

 must produce a strong impression of James's early leaning to popery, 

 independently of the grand fact that his very first speech in parlia- 

 ment, according to a remark of that keen observer. Professor Hee- 

 ren, " declares in such plain words that Catholicism (excepting the 

 doctrine of the papal supremacy, which was detestable to him from 

 its limiting the regal power), was the religion of his heart, that it 

 could not but destroy once and for ever the confidence of the nation 

 in their king.J" 



There would seem no room for doubt, in the judgment of 

 Sir John Scott, that Balmerino was the person selected to res- 

 cue the king from his hapless predicament : for this writer round- 

 ly asserts the entire knowledge and direction of James in this 

 affair. "Balmerino," says he, "was in such favour with King 

 James, that he craved the reversion of Secretary Cecil's place 

 at the king's coming to the crown of England, which was the be- 

 ginning of his overthrow ; for the said Secretary Cecil wrought so, 

 that he procured a letter which had come from King James, where- 

 in he promised all kindness to the Roman see and pope if his holi- 

 ness would assist him to attain to the crown of England. This 

 letter the said Secretary Cecil shewed in the king's presence in the 

 council of England ; whereupon King James, fearing to displease 

 the English nation, behoved to disclaim the penning of this letter, 

 and lay the blame thereof on his secretary, whom, a little before 

 that, he had made Lord Balmerino, to whom he wrote to come to 



• See Caldewood's printed Hislor;/, 42C, 427, C04. Howell's Sla/c Trials, 

 and Amhnssade de M. de la Boderic, t. iv., p. CO. 



■f For her treachery and hypocrisy in this whole affair see Life of Davison, 

 by Sir Nicholas Nicolas, p. 14, and art. Davison, Bioj. Brit. 



+ See Jlistoriciil TraUines, from the German of A. H. L. Heercn, p. 232. 



VOL. VII., NO. XXII. NN 



