Views of James I

King James I, 1609

The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth; for kings are not only God’s lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God’s throne, but even by God himself they are called Gods ...

John Donne, Anatomy of the World , (on the astronomers and their new discoveries about the Earth in the universe), 1611

New Philosophy calls all in doubt
Tis all in pieces, all coherence gone ... Prince, Subject, Father, Son gone

Sir Anthony Weldon, The Court and Character of King James, 1650

He was so crafty and cunning in petty things ... as a very wise man was wont to say he believed him the wisest fool in Christendom, meaning him wise in small things, but a fool in weighty affairs ...

He was infinitely inclined to peace, but more out of fear than conscience, and this [fear] was the greatest blemish this king had through all his reign, otherwise he might have been ranked with the very best of kings.

A Cat May Look upon a King (Tract), 1652

This King had no wars; but spent more money prodigally, profusely and riotously than any of his predecessors. What swarms of Scots came with him, and after him, into this kingdom? Who perpetually sucked him of most vast sums of monies ... which put him upon all dishonourable ways of raising monies, to the most cruel oppression of this nation, to serve their riot and luxury.

Peter Thomson, Shakespeare’s Theatre, 1983

No king of England has ever thought more deeply about the relationship of monarch and people than James I, and few have handled it more ineptly.