Wilson, The History of Great Britain, Being the Life and Reign of King James the
First, Relating to What Passed from his First Access to the Crown till his Death
(London, 1653)
A historical account of the royal entry by
Arthur Wilson
(1595-1652), printed in
1655. This is probably not an eyewitness account, as
Wilson
was only eight years old in
1604.
[p.12]
The Kings first going abroad was privately to visit some of his
houses; for naturally he did not love to be
looked on, and those formalities of State, which set a lustre
upon Princes in the peoples eyes, were but so many burthens to him: for his
private recreations at home, and his hunting exercises abroad,
both with the least disturbance were his delights. While he remained in the Tower
, he
took pleasure in baiting Lions, but when he came abroad, he was so troubled
with swarms, that he feared to be baited by the people. And
the Parliament now drawing on, which was summoned to be the nineteenth of
March, the King
, with the
Queen
and Prince, four days before, rode from
the Tower
to
Whitehall
; the
City
and Suburbs being one great Pageant,
wherein he must give his ears leave to suck in their gilded Oratory, though
never so nauseous to the stomach. He was
[p.13]
not like his Predecessor, the late
Queen
of
famous memory, that with a well-pleased affection met her peoples
Acclamations, thinking most highly of herself, when she was born up on the
wings of their humble supplications. He endured this
days brunt with patience, being assured he should never have such
another, and his triumphal riding to the Parliament that
followed: But afterwards in his publick appearances (especially in his
sports) the accesses of the people made him so impatient, that he often
dispersed them with frowns, that we may not say with curses.
So various are the natures of princes, and their
actions so remarkable, that he may pass for a good man, that will not
pass for a good Prince.
Bibliography
Wilson (1653) 12-13