Sooner or later every one who deals with the history or literature of the seventeenth century has to own his obligations to Professor C.H. Firth. My debt is not confined to his writings, references to which will be found continually in the notes. At every stage of the preparation of this volume I have had the advantage of his most generous interest. And with his name it is a pleasure to associate in one compendious acknowledgement the names of Dr. Henry Bradley and Mr. Percy Simpson. Oxford, September 16, 1918. D.N.S. 1. JAMES I. _James VI of Scotland 1567. James I 1603._ _Born 1566. Died 1625._ By ARTHUR WILSON. He was born a King, and from that height, the less fitted to look into inferiour things; yet few escaped his knowledge, being, as it were, a _Magazine_ to retain them. His _Stature_ was of the _Middle Size_; rather tall than low, well set and somewhat plump, of a ruddy Complexion, his hair of a light brown, in his full perfection, had at last a Tincture of white. If he had any predominant _Humor_ to Ballance his _Choler_, it was Sanguine, which made his _Mirth Witty_. His Beard was scattering on the Chin, and very thin; and though his Clothes were seldome fashioned to the _Vulgar_ garb, yet in the whole man he was not uncomely. He was a King in understanding, and was content to have his Subjects ignorant in many things; As in curing the _Kings Evil_, which he knew a _Device_, to ingrandize the _Vertue_ of Kings, when _Miracles_ were in fashion; but he let the World believe it, though he smiled at it, in his own _Reason_, finding the strength of the _Imagination_ a more powerfull _Agent_ in the _Cure_, than the _Plaisters his Chirurgions_ prescribed for the _Sore_. It was a hard _Question_, whether his Wisedome, and knowledge, exceeded his _Choler_, and _Fear_; certainly the last couple drew him with most violence, because they were not acquisititious, but _Naturall_; If he had not had that _Allay_, his high touring, and mastering _Reason_, had been of a _Rare_, and sublimed _Excellency_; but these earthy _Dregs_ kept it down, making his _Passions_ extend him as farre as _Prophaness_, that I may not say _Blasphemy_, and _Policy_ superintendent of all his _Actions_; which will not last long (like the _Violence_ of that _Humor_) for it often makes those that know well, to do ill, and not be able to prevent it.