按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
any such bribe； and in the very month； seemingly； in which that list was
115
… Page 116…
Historical Lectures and Essays
written10th March； 1579Buchanan had given a proof to the world that
he was not likely to be bribed or bought； by publishing a book； as
offensive probably to Queen Elizabeth as it was to his own royal pupil；
namely； his famous 〃De Jure Regni apud Scotos；〃 the very primer；
according to many great thinkers； of constitutional liberty。 He dedicates
that book to King James； 〃not only as his monitor； but also as an
importunate and bold exactor； which in these his tender and flexible years
may conduct him in safety past the rocks of flattery。〃 He has
plimented James already on his abhorrence of flattery； 〃his inclination
far above his years for undertaking all heroical and noble attempts； his
promptitude in obeying his instructors and governors； and all who give
him sound admonition； and his judgment and diligence in examining
affairs； so that no man's authority can have much weight with him unless it
be confirmed by probable reasons。〃 Buchanan may have thought that
nine years of his stern rule had eradicated some of James's ill conditions；
the petulance which made him kill the Master of Mar's sparrow； in trying
to wrest it out of his hand； the carelessness with whichif the story told by
Chytraeus； on the authority of Buchanan's nephew； be trueJames signed
away his crown to Buchanan for fifteen days； and only discovered his
mistake by seeing Bachanan act in open court the character of King of
Scots。 Buchanan had at last made him a scholar； he may have fancied that
he had made him likewise a manful man： yet he may have dreaded that；
as James grew up； the old inclinations would return in stronger and uglier
shapes； and that flattery might be； as it was after all； the cause of James's
moral ruin。 He at least will be no flatterer。 He opens the dialogue
which he sends to the king； with a calm but distinct assertion of his
mother's guilt； and a justification of the conduct of men who were now
most of them past helping Buchanan； for they were laid in their graves；
and then goes on to argue fairly； but to lay down firmly； in a sort of
Socratic dialogue； those very principles by loyalty to which the House of
Hanover has reigned； and will reign； over these realms。 So with his
History of Scotland； later antiquarian researches have destroyed the value
116
… Page 117…
Historical Lectures and Essays
of the earlier portions of it： but they have surely increased the value of
those later portions； in which Buchanan inserted so much which he had
already spoken out in his Detection of Mary。 In that book also liberavit
animam suam； he spoke his mind fearless of consequences； in the face of a
king who he must have knownfor Buchanan was no dullardregarded
him with deep dislike； who might in a few years be able to work his ruin。
But those few years were not given to Buchanan。 He had all but done
his work； and he hastened to get it over before the night should e
wherein no man can work。 One must be excused for tellingone would
not tell it in a book intended to be read only by Scotsmen； who know or
ought to know the tale alreadyhow the two Melvilles and Buchanan's
nephew Thomas went to see him in Edinburgh； in September； 1581；
hearing that he was ill； and his History still in the press； and how they
found the old sage； true to his schoolmaster's instincts； teaching the
Hornbook to his servant…lad； and how he told them that doing that was
〃better than stealing sheep； or sitting idle； which was as bad；〃 and showed
them that dedication to James I。； in which he holds up to his imitation as a
hero whose equal was hardly to be found in history； that very King David
whose liberality to the Romish Church provoked James's witticism that
〃David was a sair saint for the crown。〃 Andrew Melville； so James
Melville says； found fault with the style。 Buchanan replied that he could
do no more for thinking of another thing； which was to die。 They then
went to Arbuthnot's printing… house； and inspected the history； as far as
that terrible passage concerning Rizzio's burial； where Mary is represented
as 〃laying the miscreant almost in the arms of Maud de Valois； the late
queen。〃 Alarmed； and not without reason； at such plain speaking； they
stopped the press； and went back to Buchanan's house。 Buchanan was in
bed。 〃He was going；〃 he said； 〃the way of welfare。〃 They asked him to
soften the passage； the king might prohibit the whole work。 〃Tell me；
man；〃 said Buchanan； 〃if I have told the truth。〃 They could not； or would
not； deny it。 〃Then I will abide his feud； and all his kin's； pray； pray to
God for me； and let Him direct all。〃 〃So；〃 says Melville； 〃before the
117
… Page 118…
Historical Lectures and Essays
printing of his chronicle was ended； this most learned； wise； and godly
man ended his mortal life。〃
Camden has a hearsay storywritten； it must be remembered； in James
I。's timethat Buchanan； on his death…bed； repented of his harsh words
against Queen Mary； and an old Lady Rosyth is said to have said that
when she was young a certain David Buchanan recollected hearing some
such words from George Buchanan's own mouth。 Those who will； may
read what Ruddiman and Love have said； and oversaid； on both sides of
the question： whatever conclusion they e to； it will probably not be
that to which George Chalmers es in his life of Ruddiman： that
〃Buchanan； like other liars； who； by the repetition of falsehoods are
induced