to have somewhat
encroached on the liberties of his people: while he endeavored, by an
exact neutrality, to acquire the good will of all his neighbors, he was
able to preserve fully the esteem and regard of none. His capacity was
considerable; but fitter to discourse on general maxims, than to conduct
any intricate business: his intentions were just; but more adapted to
the conduct of private life than to the government of kingdoms. Awkward
in his person, and ungainly in his manners, he was ill qualified to
command respect; partial and undiscerning in his affections, he was
little fitted to acquire general love. Of a feeble temper, more than of
a frail judgment; exposed to our ridicule from his vanity; but exempt
from our hatred by his freedom from pride and arrogance. And, upon the
whole, it may be pronounced of his character, that all his qualities
were sullied with weakness and embellished by humanity. Of political
courage he certainly was destitute; and thence, chiefly, is derived
the strong prejudice which prevails against his personal bravery; an
inference, however, which must be owned, from general experience, to be
extremely fallacious.

He was only once married, to Anne of Denmark, who died on the third of
March, 1619, in the forty-fifth year of her age; a woman eminent neither
for her vices nor her virtues. She loved shows and expensive amusements,
but possessed little taste in her pleasures. A great comet appeared
about the time of her death; and the vulgar esteemed it the prognostic
of that event: so considerable in their eyes are even the most
insignificant princes.

He left only one son, Charles, then in the twenty-fifth year of his age;
and one daughter, Elizabeth, married to the elector palatine. She was
aged twenty-nine years. Those alone remained of six legitimate children
born to him. He never had any illegitimate; and he never discovered any
tendency, even the smallest, towards a passion for any mistress.

The archbishops of Canterbury during this reign were Whitgift, who
died in 1604; Bancroft, in 1610; Abbot, who survived the king. The
chancellors, Lord Ellesmore, who resigned in 1617; Bacon was first lord
keeper till 1619; then was created chancellor, and was displaced in
1621: Williams, bishop of Lincoln, was created lord keeper in his place.
The high treasurers were the earl of Dorset, who died in 1609, the earl
of Salisbury, in 1612; the earl of Suffolk, fined and displaced
for bribery in 16