King James (1566-1625)
(Copies from chapter 24 of One Book One Authority, by Dr. Douglas D. Stauffer (pages 359-374)
Introduction
The
proclamation for King James I reads: “by
the grace of God King of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith and
of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head…”
So, who is this man with such a lofty title?
Most
people know very little about the man, King James I of England. However, it
seems the innuendo and slander, like most negativity, have received far more
attention than the truth. The slanderous remarks directed toward his life and character find their origin with his enemies and, more recently, amongst the haters of the King James Bible and Christianity. King James was a Christian king who was also a very
intelligent and godly man. [1] In fact, Sir Francis Bacon referred to him as the Solomon
of Great Britain in his Epistle Dedicatory of The Great Instauration:
This
regeneration and instauration of the sciences is with justice due to the age of
[King
James I] surpassing all others in wisdom
and learning. There remains for me to but to make one request, worthy of your
majesty, and very especially relating to my subject, namely, that, resembling Solomon as you do in most
respects, in the gravity of your decisions, the peacefulness of your reign,
the expansion of your heart, and, lastly, in the noble variety of books you
have composed… [2]
This
one dedicatory to King James I contradicts the impression of this man forced upon
an unsuspecting world. His writings and the writings written about him paint
two opposing pictures. Since space will not allow a complete treatise of the
man, a major compilation of his writings is available by searching online “The Workes of the Most High and Mightie
Prince.” However, a brief synopsis of his life follows for those interested
in knowing the truth about King James I.
A Debt of Gratitude
The free world, and especially Americans, are oblivious to the debt of gratitude owed to King James I. Ignorance of history ensures that the lessons and mistakes of the past must be ever repeated in subsequent generations. The hopelessness of
the situation is worsened by the fact that history books long ago ceased
recording pertinent history and now spend an inordinate amount of time and
space covering irrelevant subjects (like Marylyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Elvis
Presley, etc.). The history of King James I is a case in point. Under his reign,
the world was coming out of Rome's dark ages. Great Britain [3] became united together
under a free and Protestant government; the Bible was published throughout the
kingdom; and the North American continent was successfully colonized. Considering
only these major events proves this man’s impact was significant.
His Early Life
James
Charles Stuart was born in Edinburg Castle in Scotland on June 19, 1566. He was
the only son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord
Darnley. Both Mary and Darnley were staunch Roman Catholics. For this reason,
James was baptized “Charles James” in a Catholic ceremony. On February 15, 1567,
his father, the king, was mysteriously murdered by an explosion, with the Queen
being suspected. Three months following the king’s murder, Queen Mary married
James Hepburn, also suspected of involvement in the murder of Darnley. The
Queen was soon forced to abdicate her throne.
Prince James, as her only male heir, was crowned King James VI of Scotland at thirteen months. John Knox preached his coronation ceremony.
King
James VI grew up in Stirling Castle in the care of several evangelical Protestant
tutors (preceptors or regents), including the Earl and Countess of Mar. Under the
tutelage of four different regents, he studied and worked diligently. It was
Greek before breakfast, then Latin and history, arithmetic, composition, cosmography,
dialectics, geography, history, rhetoric, and theology. He had a great fondness for
books. Even as a teenager, he was recognized as a serious scholar, retaining a
lifelong passion for literature and learning.
The Divine Right of Kings
One
of his tutors was a classical scholar and reformer named George Buchanan. He subjected James to regular beatings, attempting to instill a discipline in him so lacking in royalty, generally spoiled with a life of ease and leisure. At times, James
remained firm in his convictions, especially concerning the source of the
king’s authority. Contrary to scripture, Buchanan taught that the king’s
authority derived from the king’s subjects. King James rejected this position, believing
that scripture taught “the Divine Right of Kings.” [4] He believed kings answered to God and not to men, even a pope. King James stated that he was to live by
example for his subjects: “…if he joins not therewith his virtuous life
in his own person and in the person of his court and company by his good
example alluring his subjects to the love of virtue and hatred of vice ...”
King James expounded this divine right of a king in a speech to Parliament in
1609:
I
conclude then this point touching the power of kings, with this axiom of
divinity, that as to dispute what God may do, is blasphemy ...so is it sedition
in subjects, to dispute what a king may do in the height of his power: But just
kings will ever be willing to declare what they will do, if they will not incur
the curse of God. I will not be content that my power be disputed upon: but I
shall ever be willing to make the reason appear of all my doings, and rule my
actions according to my laws ... Therefore all kings that are not tyrants, or
perjured, will be glad to bound themselves within the limits of their laws; and
they that persuade them the contrary, are vipers, and pests, both against them
and the Commonwealth. [5].
King
James I believed that the king was also subject to his own established laws. By
the time James reached age 12, his formal education was completed. Because of
his strict tutors, he had learned to speak fluently in several different
languages, including Greek, English, French, Latin, and Scots, and was schooled in Italian
and Spanish. Because of his intense studies and linguistic abilities, he could speak
to foreign diplomats without the use of a translator.
James
officially assumed the rule of Scotland from his regents the same year, though
he did not gain full control of his government until 1583 (age 17). He also
maintained peace with Queen Elizabeth I of England. One such historical event
was his offering support against the Spanish Armada in 1588. The following
year, James was betrothed to Princess Anne of Denmark. Shortly after a proxy
marriage in Copenhagen in August 1589, Anne sailed for Scotland. The storms at
sea nearly killed her, forcing a landing in Norway. James valiantly took 300
men to Norway to rescue his bride and make their marriage official.
Rumors and Innuendos
Roman Catholic Nicolo Molin, an
Ambassador, said this of King James I: “...He
is a Protestant...The king tries to extend his Protestant religion to the whole
island. The King is a bitter enemy of our religion (Roman Catholic)...He frequently speaks of it in terms of
contempt. He is all the harsher because of this last conspiracy (The Gun
Powder Plot) against his life...He
understood that the Jesuits had a hand in it.”
There
are many rumors and innuendos concerning the morals of King James VI, but his
writings reflect a true man of character. [6] He was a respected scholar
and influential author. In 1598, James wrote a private letter to his firstborn
son, Prince Henry. This letter included fatherly advice and instructions to his
son concerning manners, morals, and the ways of kingship. King James did not intend to publish the testament and bound his printer to secrecy after ordering only seven copies for his private use. [7] Word traveled fast despite the attempts at secrecy, and so did forgeries. In order to stem the tide of
the forgeries, James allowed the “Basilikon
Doron” [8] (the “kingly gift”) to be printed as a book. It became an international bestseller, being translated into several languages for a period of fifty years. [9]
On
March 24, 1603, Queen Elizabeth of England died. That same day, her cousin,
King James VI of Scotland, was proclaimed king of England. James sailed to
London at a time when an outbreak of the plague was killing one out of every
ten of its citizenry. No matter what, cheering crowds gathered to greet and see their
new monarch. On July 25, 1603, at the age of 36, King James VI of Scotland was
crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. This effectively united the crown, and he became King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England. King James called his kingdom “Great Britain” and ruled from London. He also instituted
a new flag by combining elements from the flags of England and Scotland.
January
14-18, 1604, King James held the Hampton Court Conference to set the church in
order. The Church of England was divided into three primary factions who were
at considerable odds with each other. The Anglo-Catholic faction wanted to keep
all the trappings and much of the doctrine of Roman Catholicism without
submitting to the authority of the pope. The Protestant faction wanted the
Church of England to be the State Protestant Church, similar to the Lutherans in
Germany and the Reformed Church in Switzerland. The Puritans were the most
thoroughly evangelical and biblically oriented wanting a complete break with
Roman Catholicism and greater local church independence. Here, the
new king gave a special commandment to make a new English Bible translation.
Fifty-four
of the world's most learned linguists and scholars were chosen to produce this
new translation. The six groups were split: two at Cambridge, two at Oxford, and two at Westminster. Unlike the devious work of Westcott and Hort, none of this work took place in secret. Even the drafts were readily circulated, and the public was free to make suggestions. In 1611, following seven years of
translation, the completed work was presented to King James.
The
authorized King James Bible has been called “the
masterpiece of the English language.” It is the most published book in the world's history. Not all were pleased with this crowning achievement. Rome
declared James a heretic King whose assassination would be commendable. During
his reign, King James was kidnapped several times and survived at least four
assassination attempts. One such attempt was called the Gunpowder Plot.
During
the Parliament’s state opening, Catholic conspirators plotted to blow up the king
and the entire Protestant Parliament. Thirteen men secretly smuggled 6,000
pounds of gunpowder into the basement under Parliament. Their plan was simple. Once
they had murdered every ranking government official, they planned to install a
Catholic-friendly queen. On November 5, only hours before the opening of
Parliament, a search discovered one of the perpetrators lurking under the Parliament
building. Guy Fawkes was guarding the gunpowder and waiting secretly with the
fuse and matches.
Each
of the perpetrators was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to
execution. One of the men involved in the plot was the Attorney General, Sir
Edward Coke. He confessed that they were attempting to restore “the Catholic religion in England.” This
event on the 5th of November is commemorated every year by the
burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes.
Other Noteworthy Accomplishments
Under
the reign of King James, successful English colonization of North America
began. In December 1606, 104 colonists set sail for Virginia with the king’s blessing. On May 14, 1607, they founded the first permanent American colony and
named it Jamestown after their king. The
settlement survived after many hardships and deaths. The colony was preserved under
the leadership of Captain John Smith with help from the Powhatan Indian tribes.
In
1612, King James I is credited with ending torture as a part of the English
legal system. He also replaced burning at the stake as a means of execution and
stopped the execution of “religious
nonconformists.” He wrote: “I will
never allow in my conscience that the blood of any man shall be shed for
diversity of opinions in religion.”
In 1617, King James I met Pocahontas, the
daughter of the Indian chief as she visited England. In 1620, the pilgrims
would land at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Death of the Heir to the Throne
In
1612, James's eldest son, Henry, died at age 18. His wife, Queen Anne, subsequently died in 1619. James often suffered great pain from various ailments, including gout, colic, and arthritis. On March 27, 1625, King James died at the age of 58.
He was buried at Westminster Abbey. On February 2, 1626, Charles Stewart was
crowned King Charles I of England.
Was King James a Homosexual?
Despite the lack of evidence and in spite of contrary
evidence, some Bible critics and unscrupulous people are quick to use this baseless accusation against
King James I, thinking that this somehow strengthens their attacks against the
King James Bible. There is NO historical fact to lead one to believe that King
James was a sodomite. There is no record of anyone alluding to any type of
sexual deviance during his lifetime. There is no record of anyone witnessing James
in a situation or relationship involving any type of inordinate affection
toward another person. In fact, the accusations against him have no credibility, are based on bias and not fact, and stem from the attacks and innuendos of
one man.
Sir Anthony Welden was an officer in the royal
household of King James I. He was knighted by King James I in 1617 but subsequently
dismissed from the royal court by the king for supporting the anti-monarchy
forces during the English Civil War. He had also written racist writings about
the king’s native Scotland. An example of his racism against the Scots is
evident in his work, A Perfect
Description of the People and Country of Scotland. In this writing, he
calls the Scots a “stinking people”
who hold “fornication…but a pastime.”
His mockery of the Scots was unlimited and culminated in sheer abuse:
Pride is a thing bred in their
bones, and their flesh naturally abhors cleanness; their breath commonly stinks
of Pottage, their linen of Piss, their hands of Pigs turds, their body of
sweat, and their splay-feet never offend in Socks. To be chained in marriage
with one of them, were to be tied to a dead carcass, and cast into a stinking
ditch....I do wonder that...King James should be born in so stinking a town as
Edinburgh in lousy Scotland. [10].
This is the same man attributed with furnishing all
future generations with the historical facts
of King James I? After Weldon’s dismissal, he swore that he would have his day
of vengeance. Future historians (and those wanting to smear an innocent man) are the pawns of his vengeance upon the life
and character of King James I. Weldon not only hated James, but he also hated
the entire Scottish race. Historian
Maurice Lee, Jr., warned, “Historians can
and should ignore the venomous caricature of the king's person and behavior
drawn by Anthony Weldon" [11]. Modern Bible critics unscrupulously and unashamedly
repeat these libelous remarks without as much as a blush. Modern version
readers are swayed into believing the lies because of the constant barrage against
the King James Bible.
Sir
Anthony Weldon
King James’ son, Charles I, was executed twenty-four
years after his father's death, King James I. The following year (1650),
Welden’s FIRST accusations concerning homosexuality against King James I surfaced.
His statements were generally rejected because many of the king’s contemporaries
were still living. However, the enemies of King James I were overjoyed to
repeat the innuendos and accusations.
Because King James I was a Scotsman ruling over the
English, he endured the racism and slander associated with being an outsider
ruling over the English people. This was especially true since he elevated some
of his countrymen to be his councilors, replacing the once-powerful English
Lords. Disgruntled courtiers and political opponents picked up the allegations
against King James I by Anthony Weldon (and Francis Osborne) and began to repeat
these innuendos to discredit his reputation.
While not accusing him directly of homosexuality,
they tried to create questions about his relationships with his close friends
and associates. These seventeenth-century critics seem to fall into two groups.
One group consisted of those men whose political and personal ambitions were
blocked by the king. The second group consisted of those who opposed his policy
of merging Scotland and England into one United Kingdom. It is important to recognize
that these allegations against King James I were made long after his death,
supported only by those with a strong bias against him.
Unfortunately, without checking the accuracy of the information, some historians began to repeat these attacks against King James I. It was nearly impossible to pull in the reigns once the vicious cycle began. Like
all faulty journalism, future historians simply repeated the unsubstantiated
information of previous historians without further examination. This cycle
proves the oft repeated saying: “If you tell
a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe
it...and truth is the mortal enemy of the lie.” [12]. Like all historical revisionism, the vague allegations, rumors, innuendos, and
speculation began to be repeated as though this was the historical reality. Fortunately,
other historians sifted through the rumors to obtain the facts, and here are
some of the facts of the matter.
Sham
Marriage, Really?
King James I married Anne of Denmark in 1589 and
remained married to her until she died in 1619. The modern Bible critics say
that this means nothing since homosexual rulers have often maintained wives for
public appearance's sake. This is a convenient spin to prop up this historical
revisionism, but the facts prove that King James I was much more than a
pseudo-husband.
Unlike many monarchs, King James I spent a great
deal of time with his wife. He was openly affectionate toward her in public. He
even wrote and dedicated many love poems and sonnets to her. Not to mention that after her death, he greatly mourned her. Then, consider the fact that James and Anne had nine children together. [13] Historical proof abounds concerning his devotion and loving commitment to his
wife.
When the unmarried Puritan preacher, John Rainolds, objected
to the phrase: “With my body I thee
worship” in the Book of Common Prayer’s marriage service, King James I openly teased the
unmarried academic. He said to Rainolds: “Many
a man speaks of Robin Hood, who never shot in his bow; if you had a good wife
yourself, you would think that all the honour and worship you could do her,
were well bestowed." [14]. He also referred to Queen Anne as “his
dearest bedfellows." [15].
In 1603, James wrote the following to Anne:
...I thank God I carry that love and respect unto
you which, by the law of God and nature, I ought to do to my wife and mother of
my children. . . not for that ye are a king’s daughter, for, whether ye were a
king's or cook's daughter, ye must be all alike to me being one my wife….The
love and respect I now bear you is for that ye are my married wife and so
partaker of my honour, as of all my other fortunes. [16].
King James I wrote extensively including truths
somewhat unique for most royal monarchs. It was common for kings to have a
number of mistresses. King James I wrote otherwise. He taught that the king
should be moral, faithful to his wife, and set a moral example
for his people. In France, the king's mistress was considered an official royal court member. In fact, the lack of mistresses in James’ court is
often used as proof that he was a homosexual. However, lacking mistresses is
also a sign of a godly man leading a clean, moral life.
King James I wrote to his son about marriage in Basilikon Doron (updated to modern
spelling):
Remember also that Marriage is
one of the greatest actions that a man doeth in all his time...
When ye are Married, keep
inviolably your promise made to God in your Marriage; which standeth all in
doing of one thing, and abstaining from another: to treat her in all things as
your wife, and the half of yourself; and to make your body (which then is no
more yours but properly hers) common with none other. I trust I need not to
insist here to dissuade you from filthy vice of adultery: remember only what
solemn promise ye make to God at your marriage…
And for your behavior to your Wife, the
Scripture can best give you counsel therein: Treat her as your own flesh,
command her as her Lord, cherish her as your helper, rule her as your pupil,
and please her in all things reasonable; but teach her not to be curious in
things that belong her not: Ye are the head, she is your body; It is your
office to command, and hers to obey; but yet with such a sweet harmony, as she
should be as ready to obey, as ye to command; as willing to follow, as ye to go
before; your love being wholly knit unto her, and all her affections lovingly
bent to follow your will. [17].
James repeatedly taught the importance of morality
and marriage. James wrote again in Basilikon
Doron:
But the principal blessing that you can get of good
company, will stand in your marrying of a godly and virtuous wife: for she must
be nearer unto you, than any other company, being Flesh of your flesh, and
bone of your bone. . .
First of all consider, that Marriage is the greatest
earthly felicity or misery, that can come to a man, according as it pleaseth
God to bless or curse the same. Since then without the blessing of GOD, ye
cannot look for a happy success in Marriage…
…keep your body clean and unpolluted, till ye give
it to your wife, whom-to only it belongeth. For how can ye justly crave to be
joined with a pure virgin, if your body be polluted? Why should the one half be
clean, and other defiled? And although I know, fornication is thought but a light
and venial sin, by the most part of the world, yet remember well what I said to
you in my first Book concerning conscience; and count every sin and breach of
God's law, not according as the vain world esteemeth of it, but as God the judge
and maker of the law accounteth of the same. Hear God commanding by the mouth
of Paul to abstain from fornication, declaring that the fornicator
shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven: and by the mouth of John,
reckoning out fornication among other grievous sins, that declares the
commiters amongst dogs and swine... [18].
Many of King James I's contemporaries wrote attesting
to the morality and chaste living about which the king wrote. James pointed
out how many innocent lives could have been saved if kings had been moral
people. King James I wrote concerned the many civil wars started by the
illegitimate sons of kings.
A Short Biographical
Sketch
|
1566
|
James Charles Stuart was born to Lord Darnley and Mary Queen of Scots at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
|
|
1567
|
James' father was killed. Mary Queen
of Scots is forced to abdicate the Scottish throne due to her suspected
involvement in the murder. Young James is crowned King James VI of Scotland
at 13 months old. John Knox preaches the sermon at his coronation.
|
|
1587
|
After 19 years of imprisonment in
England, Mary Queen of Scots is executed for her part in a Roman Catholic
conspiracy to assassinate her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, in order to gain
control of the English throne.
|
|
1589
|
James marries Anne of Denmark—first
by proxy and then in person. The couple will eventually give birth to nine children, most of whom will die in early childhood.
|
|
1603
|
Upon the death of Elizabeth I,
James ascends to the English throne. He is now King James VI of Scotland and King
James I of England. He calls his new kingdom, “Great Britain.”
|
|
1604
|
James holds the Hampton Court Conference
in order to hear of, “things pretended to be amiss in the church.” During
this conference, King James agrees that a new translation of the scriptures
is necessary. He appoints 54 men to the translation work. The translators divide
into six groups meeting at Cambridge, Oxford and Westminster.
|
|
1605
|
Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, a
Roman Catholic conspiracy to blow up King James and Parliament. Guido (Guy)
Fawkes, Jesuits Garnet and Owldcorne, and other conspirators are tried and
executed.
|
|
1606
|
In response to Roman Catholic resuscitation,
Parliament issues legislation that includes an Oath of Allegiance. Controversy
over the Oath rages across Europe.
|
|
1607
|
Colonists sent by the Virginia
Company arrive in Jamestown, Virginia. Jamestown (named after King James I)
will go on to become the first permanent English settlement on the American
mainland—thereby making King James VI & I the founding monarch of the
United States.
|
|
1611
|
The Authorized Version of the
scriptures (the King James Bible) is published.
|
|
1612
|
Prince Henry, James’ eldest son
and heir apparent, dies at 18 years of age. King James has the body of Mary
Queen of Scots interred in Westminster Abbey in London.
|
|
1616
|
“The Workes,” a collection of the
king's writings, is published.
|
|
1618
|
King James issues The Kings Majesties
Declaration to His Subjects Concerning Lawful Sports to be Used in response
to the Puritan practice of barring their fellow citizens from lawful
recreations on Sundays.
|
|
1619
|
King James’ wife, Queen Anne,
dies.
|
|
1620
|
Two meditations are appended to “The
Workes”—A Meditation Upon the Lord’s Prayer; and, A Meditation Upon the 27,
28, 29 verses of the XXVII Chapter of Saint Matthew Or a Pattern for a King’s
Inauguration.
|
|
1625
1949
|
King James VI & I dies and his
adult son accedes to the throne as Charles I.
King Charles I executed by order
of Puritan Oliver Cromwell and other insurgents after their takeover of the
British government.
|
