THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OP JAMES I, 279 



" When the expectancy and rose of this fair state expired," the 

 feeling gradually stole upon the people, and at last came to he au- 

 dibly expressed, that he was cut off by the arts of Somerset.* That 

 great light of the law. Coke, even proceeded to throw out this signi- 

 ficant hint whilst presiding at the trial of the favourite : — " God 

 knows what went with the good Prince Henry, but I have heard 

 something." From such a man, a suspicion of this kind was almost 

 a sentence or judgment. We are not, therefore, to be surprised that 

 the impression became so prevalent, not only among the people, but 

 among many of high station, that the prince had fallen a victim to 

 the treachery of Somerset ; and as James had many more enemies 

 than admirers, even his reputation was not spared in their conjec- 

 tures.t It is no reproach, then, to Burnett, to have said that which 



rite of the PMcitom. But he wanted neither ability nor moral courage to 

 discharge his duties ably as well as honestly to the Pi-ince. " All parties 

 placed great confidence in him." See Short Account of Sir T. Chaloner, 

 Governor to Prince Henry, p. 3. He had a great turn for Natural History 

 and Chemistry. The alum works at Gisborough which were established by 

 him, show that his scientific researches were productive of real utihty. 

 Harrington, m reference to the prince's supposed leanuig to the church views 

 of Knox and Calvin, says in his Nugm Antiqucc, vol. iii., p. 3, that this 

 couplet was common with the people : — 



" Henry the Eighth pulled down the abbeys and cells 

 But Henry the Ninth shall pull down bishops and bells." 



• The depth of infamy into which that minister had sunk, may be esti- 

 mated from the queen's venturing on the extravagant monstrous charge, 

 that he intended to poison her. Prince Charles, and the elector palatine, in 

 order to marry the electress to Lord Suffolk's eldest son. See Carte's His- 

 tory of England, vol. iv., p. 33. This circumstance also, it was said, made 

 great impression upon her mind, that when Raleigh was apphed to for a 

 much talked of prescription of his, during the last illness of the king, he sent 

 it with this message, " that it would certainly cure him or any other of a 

 fever except in a case of poison." See Welwood's Notes on Wilson, vol. ii., 

 p. 714. It is worthy of remark, that a far more renowned Prince had re- 

 course to this medicine just before his decease, and that it served to prolong 

 his existence for a short time. " Yesterday morning his majesty (King 

 William the Third) exi)ired in the arms of Mr. Sewoll, one of tlie pages ot 

 the back stairs. He had lieen kept alive for five or six hours merely by the 

 help of Sir Waller RaleiyKs cordial, and was sensible to the last." See a 

 particular relation of the sickness and death of his last Majesty, &c. London, 

 1702, p. 14. 



t When Whitelocke repaired to Sweden as the English Ambassador, 

 Christine spoke of Prince Henry's death in that way, as if she inferred a 

 judgment ujioii llic House of Stuart for it. See Embass. Ays. MSS., No. 4!>, 

 1). 20U. 



