Did James the First of England die from the effects of poison, or from natural causes? / by Norman Chevers.

  • Chevers, Norman, 1818-1886.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Did James the First of England die from the effects of poison, or from natural causes? / by Norman Chevers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Williams received a letter from tlie court, to the. effect that it was feared his Majesty's sickness was dangerous to death, u which fear was much confirmed, for he, meeting Dr. Harvey on the road, was told by him that .the king used to have a beneficial evacuation of nature, a sweating in his left arm, as helpful to him as any fontanel could be, which, of late, failed. “ When the Lord Keeper presented himself before him, he moved to cheerful discourse, but it* would not do. He stayed by his bedside until midnight. Upon the consultations of the physicians in the morning, he was out of comfort, and, by the Prince's leave, told him, kneeling by his pallet, that his days to come would be but few in this world. [We are, elsewhere, told that he said “ He came with the message of Isaiah to Hezekiah to exhort him to set his house in order, for that his days would be but few in this world.] “ I am satisfied, said the king, “ but pray you assist me to make me ready for the next world, to go away hence for Christ,, whose mercies I call for and hope to find. Wadd has cited the following brief account of Dr. Sir William Paddye's attendance upon the king. It was found at the end of a common prayer book in the library of St. John's College. “ Being sent for to Thibaulde butt two daies before the death of my soveraigne Lord and Master King James, I held it my Christian dutie to prepare hym, telling hym that there was nothing left, for me to doe, (in ye after noone before his death ye next daie at noone) but to pray for his soule. Whereupon ye Archbishop and ye Lord Keeper, Byshop of Lincoln, demanded if his Majestie would be pleased that they should praye with hym, whereunto he cheerfullie accorded. And, after short praier these sentences were by ye Byshop of Lincolne distinctly read vnto hym, who with eies (the messen- gers of his hert) lifted up unto Heaven, at the end of every sentence, gave to us all, thereby, a goodlie assurance of those graces and civilie faith, wherewith he apprehended the mercy of our Lord and onelie Saviour Christ Jesus, acchrdinglie as in his goodlie life he hath publiquelie professed. Writing thus, as we must consider most privately at the end of his prayer book, we cannot believe that Sir William Paddye would have refrained from hinting the fact had any suspicions of unfair play in the king’s case arisen out of liis professional attendance at the death bed. Sir William was a leading