historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)-第34章
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Like the rest of his countrymen； he bowed himself in presence of the lustre
that surrounded the early career of his mistress。 More than once he
expressed his pride and reverence in the inspiration of a genius deemed by
his contemporaries to be worthy of the theme。 There is not； perhaps； to
be found elsewhere in literature so solemn a memorial of shipwrecked
hopes； of a sunny opening and a stormy end； as one finds in turning the
leaves of the volume which contains the beautiful epigram 〃Nympha
Caledoniae〃 in one part； the 〃Detectio Mariae Reginae〃 in another； and
this contrast is； no doubt； a faithful parallel of the reaction in the popular
mind。 This reaction seems to have been general； and not limited to the
Protestant party； for the conditions under which it became almost a part of
the creed of the Church of Rome to believe in her innocence had not
arisen。〃
If Buchanan； as some of his detractors have thought； raised himself by
subserviency to the intrigues of the Regent Murray； the best heads in
Scotland seem to have been of a different opinion。 The murder of
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Murray did not involve Buchanan's fall。 He had avenged it； as far as pen
could do it； by that 〃Admonition Direct to the Trew Lordis；〃 in which he
showed himself as great a master of Scottish； as he was of Latin prose。
His satire of the 〃Chameleon；〃 though its publication was stopped by
Maitland； must have been read in manuscript by many of those same
〃True Lords；〃 and though there were nobler instincts in Maitland than any
Buchanan gave him credit for； the satire breathed an honest indignation
against that wily turncoat's misgoings； which could not but remend the
author to all honest men。 Therefore it was； I presume； and not because
he was a rogue； and a hired literary spadassin； that to the best heads in
Scotland he seemed so useful； it may be so worthy； a man； that he be
provided with continually increasing employment。 As tutor to James I。；
as director； for a short time； of the chancery； as keeper of the privy seal；
and privy councillor； as one of the missioners for codifying the laws；
and againfor in the semi…anarchic state of Scotland； government had to
do everything in the way of organisationin the mittee for
promulgating a standard Latin grammar； in the mittee for reforming
the University of St。 Andrew's： in all these Buchanan's talents were
again and again called for； and always ready。 The value of his work；
especially that for the reform of St。 Andrew's； must be judged by Scotsmen；
rather than by an Englishman； but all that one knows of it justifies
Melville's sentence in the well…known passage in his memoirs； wherein he
describes the tutors and household of the young king。 〃Mr。 George was a
Stoic philosopher； who looked not far before him；〃 in plain words； a high…
minded and right…minded man； bent on doing the duty which lay nearest
him。 The worst that can be said against him during these times is； that
his name appears with the sum of 100 pounds against it； as one of those
〃who were to be entertained in Scotland by pensions out of England；〃 and
Ruddiman； of course； ments on the fact by saying that Buchanan 〃was
at length to act under the threefold character of malcontent； reformer； and
pensioner：〃 but it gives no proof whatsoever that Buchanan ever received
any such bribe； and in the very month； seemingly； in which that list was
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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
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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
