Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

LIFE OF ALEXANDER HENDERSON. 33
ture, and starting objections respecting the power of the
people to limit their princes or to effect a public refor¬
mation; Mr. Henderson gave him a counsel, theneglectof
which cost the infatuated monarch his crown and his
life. “ While Archimedes,” said he, “ was drawing his
figures and circlings in the sand at Syracuse, Marcellus
interrupted his demonstrations,—Sir, were I worthy to
give advice to your Majesty, or to the kings and supreme
powers on earth, my humble opinion would be, that they
should draw the minds, tongues, and pens of the learned,
to dispute about other matters, than the power or pre¬
rogatives of kings and princes; and in this kind your
Majesty hath suffered or lost more than will easily be
restored to yourself or your posterity, for a long time.”
Perceiving that he pertinaciously adhered to opinions
which were disowned by all moderate Episcopalians, and
maintained by such only as had acted as incendiaries be¬
tween the king and his Parliaments, Mr. Henderson de¬
clined entering farther into a fruitless dispute.
During his conference with the king, Mr. Henderson’s
health, which was bad when he came to Newcastle, had
grown much worse. His colleagues at London, alarmed
at the accounts of it which they received, wrote to him,
intreating thathe would take care of himself, andnotallow
vexation on account of the obduracy of the king, to prey
upon his spirits and increase his disorder. “ Let me in¬
treat you for one thing (says Mr. Baillie in a letter to
him dated May 16,) when you have done your utter¬
most, if it be God’s pleasure to deny the success, not
to vex yourself more than is meet. Si mundus vult vo¬
der e, Sj-c., when we hear of your health and courage it
will refresh us.” In another letter dated Aug. 4, that
correspondent writes to him: “ Your sickness has much
grieved my heart. It is a part of my prayers to God,
to restore your health, and continue your service at this
so necessary a time. We never had so much need of
you as now. The king’s madness has confounded us all.
We know well the weight that lies on your heart. I