gard to authority, unless it be confirmed by solid argument. I likewise perceive, that, by a kind of natural instinct, you so abhor flattery, the nurse of tyranny, and the most grievous pest of a legitimate monarchy, that you as heartily hate the courtly solecisms and barbarisms, as they are relished and affected by those who consider themselves the arbiters of every elegance, and who, by way of seasoning their conversation, are perpetually sprinkling it with majesties, lordships, excellencies, and, if possible, with other expressions still more nauseous. Although the bounty of nature and the instruction of your governors, may, at present, secure you against this error, yet am I compelled to entertain some slight degree of suspicion, lest evil communication, the alluring nurse of the vices, should lend an unhappy impulse to your still tender mind; especially as I am not ignorant with what facility the external senses yield to seduction. I have, therefore, sent you this treatise, not only as a monitor, but even as an importunate and sometimes impudent dun, who, in this turn of life, may convey you beyond the rocks of adulation, and may not merely offer you advice, but confine you to the path which you have entered; and if you should chance to deviate, may reprehend you and recall your steps. If you obey this monitor, you will ensure tranquillity to yourself and your family, and will transmit your glory to the most remote posterity."

"

It is easy to perceive, under all this tone of comfortable anticipation, some strong misgivings on the part of his venerable preceptor. The very pointed manner in which he applauds the prince's instinctive

abhorrence of flattery, and dwells on the many risks which he runs of being seduced by it, was in fact only a subtle way of instilling that sort of sentiment in which James was most deficient. Instead of hating adulation, one of the earliest propensities which James evinced was an exceeding avidity for it; and far from requiring that "authority should always be confirmed by solid argument," it was in general enough, that some favorite or minion solicited the acquiescence of his judgment. His facility in complying with requests had early alarmed the sagacity of Buchanan; and hence the patriotic anxiety with which he expresses his fears that it may give an unhappy impulse to his future character. Chytræus has, on the authority of Buchanan's nephew, recorded a curious expedient which he adopted for the purpose of correcting this foible in his pupil's character. He presented the king with two papers, which he requested him to sign; and James, after having slightly interrogated him respecting their contents, readily affixed his signature to each, without the precaution of even a cursory perusal. One of them was a formal transfer of the regal authority to Buchanan for the space of fifteen days. After Buchanan, had quitted the royal presence, one of the courtiers accosted him by his usual title; but Buchanan reproving him, announced the new dignity which had been conferred upon him, and, with that humour for which he was distinguished, began to act the sovereign. He afterwards preserved the same deportment towards the king himself; and when James expressed his surprise at such extraordinary conduct, Buchanan reminded him of having resigned

the crown. This reply did not tend to lessen the confusion of James, who demanding some farther explanation, Buchanan produced the instrument by which he was formally invested with the sovereignty. Resuming the character of tutor, he then seriously admonished the young prince on the folly of assenting to the petitions of any person in so rash a manner.

The impression which the salutary lessons of Buchanan might have made, was probably much lessened by “the awe” in which, as Melvil tells us, he kept his royal pupil. Buchanan appears to have cared little about the sort of regard for himself which he inspired; and in this surely he shewed nothing of the philosopher. "The honourable task," says one of his biographers, "which the voice of his country had assigned to his old age, he discharged with simple integrity, and was little solicitous what impression the strictness of his discipline might leave on the mind of his royal pupil." Nothing can well be conceived more ridiculous than integrity like this; it is like beating and hardening a soil before the seed is sown. In estimating the merit of the discipline which he imposed, the impression which it was to leave on the mind of the pupil was the first and last thing to be considered. To give his precepts effect, he should have used every effort to make the preceptor revered and loved. Buchanan appears, on the contrary, to have demeaned himself so as to be most heartily detested by the young prince. James used, in after life, to say of some person high in office about him, "that he ever trembled at his approach, it minded him so of his pedagogue Buchanan." Of the rude sort of discipline to which he was subjected,

two remarkable instances have been recorded; neither of which is at all to Buchanan's credit. The king having coveted a tame sparrow which belonged to his play-fellow, the master of Mar, solicited him without effect to transfer his right; and, in attempting to wrest it out of his hand, he deprived the poor little animal of life. Erskine loudly lamented its fate, and the circumstances were reported to Buchanan, who lent his young sovereign a box on the ear, and told him that he was himself a true bird of the bloody nest to which he belonged. The incident was one from which a more judicious tutor, a Fenelon or a Lindsay, would have taken an opportunity of inculcating a most affecting moral and political lesson; but in the blow and sarcasm of Buchanan, we see nothing but another of those exertions of mere brutal force, which he was at the moment affecting to condemn; and a want of liberality, alike unworthy of him as a man and as a preceptor. The other instance of Buchanan's discipline does him still less honour; it shows that he could act as passionately from motives of personal resentment, as from any pretended desire to vindicate the rights of humanity. A theme which had been prescribed to the royal pupil, was the conspiracy of the Earl of Angus and other noblemen during the reign of James the Third. After finishing it, James was diverting himself with the master of Mar. Buchanan, who was, in the mean time, intent on reading, finding himself annoyed by their mirth, requested the king to desist; but as no attention was paid to the hint, he threatened to accompany his next injunction with something more impressive than words. James, whose ear had been tickled by the quaint application of the

apologue mentioned in his theme, archly replied, that he should be glad to see who would bell the cat. Buchanan immediately threw aside his book with indignation, and bestowed upon the delinquent that species of discipline which is deemed most ignominious. The Countess of Mar being attracted by the wailing which ensued, rushed into the room, and demanded of Buchanan," how he presumed to lay his hand upon the Lord's anointed?" To this interrogation he is said to have returned the coarsest possible answer; desiring her ladyship to kiss what he had whipped.

The regent, Morton, having rendered himself unpopular by various acts of rapacity and cruelty, so strong an opposition was raised against him, that in 1577 he was under the necessity of resigning the government into the hands of the young king. The resignation, nevertheless, was but temporary. In less than a year after, Morton, repairing to Stirling, contrived to gain over the garrison to his interest, and then seizing his majesty's person, resumed his former authority. James, however, found means to despatch a letter secretly to Edinburgh, complaining of this treatment, when great commotions were instantly excited. The citizens threatened to march to his relief, and Morton, to avert the storm, found it necessary to convey the king to Edinburgh.

The entrance of James into his capital was celebrated by a splendid pageant; the style of which probably contributed not a little to give a fixed ascendancy to that inherent vanity of character, of the effects of which Buchanan was so justly apprehensive. As he entered the West Port, a party of masks, representing a deputation of the wise men of the east,