A chronicle of the Kings of England, from the time of the Romans goverment [sic] unto the raigne of our soveraigne lord, King Charles containing all passages of state or church, with all other observations proper for a chronicle / faithfully collected out of authours ancient and moderne, & digested into a new method ; by Sr. R. Baker, Knight.

Of his Personage and Conditions.

HE was of stature somewhat higher than ordinary, of a wel compacted body, of an Ambourne haire, of a full and pleasing vi••age•• in his latter dayes en∣clining to be fat and bu••ley•• of bodily exercises, he tooke most delight in hun∣ting•• which yet (some thought) hee used rather as a retiring himselfe

from the importunity of Sta••e affaires, than for any great pleasure hee took in it. It is said, he had such a fashion in riding, that it could not so properly bee said he rid, as that his horse carried him; for hee made but little use of his Bridle, and would say, a horse never stumbled, but when hee was reined. Hee was of an admirable pregnancie of wit, and that pregnancy much improved by continuall study from his child-hood: by which, he had gotten such a promptnesse in expressing his mind, that his extemporall speeches were little inferiour to his premeditated writings. Many no doubt had read as much, and perhaps more than he; but scarce ever any concocted his reading into judge∣ment as he did: by which hee became so judicious, that though hee could not Prophesie, yet he could presage; and his Conjectures were little lesse than Oracles. In all the Liberall Sciences, hee was (we may say) a Master of Arts: but in Divinity, a Doctor, as he made appeare in the Conference at Hampton Court, and is seene still by the learned Writings he hath le••t behind him. And as for that part of the Politicks, which concernes Monar∣chie, Regere Imperio populos, which himselfe used to call King Craft: in this he excelled. Hee knew how to take the inclinations of the people at their first bound, and never suffer them to rise higher, than hee could well reach them: nor to grow stronger, than he could either alter or divert them. He would be sure to keep his Subjects in a temper of contentment; which if he could not doe by preventives, he would by lenitives. He was so wise, that hee could dissemble, without seeming a Dissembler: be free in opening his mind, and yet keep counsaile. He was as a provident Pilot, that in a calme would provide for a storme: and you should never finde him committing the fault of Non p••taram. He was both Marti & Mercurio; but not tam morti quam Mercurio, as being of his temper who said, Cedant Arma Toga: and indeed, seeing peace is the end of both. It were not wisedome to seeke it by Armes, if it may be had by the Gowne, as it is in the Aphorisme, Consili•• omnia experiri prius, quam Armis sapientem Decet. That which was bountie in him being a King, would have beene frugality, if he had beene a private per∣son, there being of both, one radicall reason. Of all the Morrall vertues, he was eminent for chastity; in which the Poet seemes to include all vertu••: where he saith;

Nulli fas casto sceleratum in sistere limen.

By nulli casto, meaning no vertuous person; it was a manifest argument of his, being an excellent Prince, that comming next to the admirable Queen Elizabeth, which was, in a manner to compare them together: yet there appeared no in∣equallity, that it might not untruely be said, King Iames was but the continuation of Queen Elizabeth, the same vertue, though different sexes: and now to expresse his Character in a word, which worthily might be matter for many volumes: He was to his wife a most loyall husband, to his children a most loving father, to his servants a most bountifull Master, to his Subjects a most just prince, to all Princes neare him a most peaceable neighbour; that more justly it may be said of him, than of whom it was said; Quaete tam laeta telerunt saecula? a Prince af••e•• Plato's owne heart, for his learning, and which is infinitly more worth, after Gods owne heart, for his Religiousnesse and Piety.