Basilikon Doron

Basilikon Doron means royal gift. King James VI of Scotland, later King James I of England, wrote the Basilikon Doron in 1599. It was printed in Edinburgh in 1599 and in London in 1603. It was apparently intended to be a private and confidential letter to his eldest son, Henry Frederick Stuart, born 1594. After Henry?s death in 1612, James gave it to his second son, Charles, born 1600, later King Charles I.

Related Topics:
King James VI - Scotland - James I of England - 1599 - Henry Frederick Stuart - 1594 - 1612 - Charles - 1600

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The Basilikon Doron repeats the argument for the divine right of kings, as set out in The True Law of Free Monarchies, which was written by James. It too warns against Papists. It derides Puritans. It says to omit the Apocrypha from the Bible. The published Basilikon Doron may well have been intended to portray the King in a favourable light. It is also possible that there was a real, probably handwritten, Basilikon Doron. James Sempill assisted James to compose it. Robert Waldegrave, who was bound to secrecy, printed seven copies at the King's behest. Henry Taylor said the he printed it on Waldegrave's press. Richard Royston, and later William Dugard, printed further copies.

Related Topics:
Divine right of kings - The True Law of Free Monarchies - James - Papist - Puritans - Apocrypha - Bible - James Sempill

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The Basilikon Doron criticises both Papists and Puritans. This is in keeping with the King?s philosophy of following a 'middle path'. This is reflected in the preface to the 1611 KJAV Bible. Yet, the King?s purpose was to reconcile, what he saw as, the extremes to the centre; to the Anglican Church, rather than repel them. The anti-Catholic words would be expected after the Gunpowder Plot, but not before. They seem at odds with his efforts to marry his sons to the Catholic Infanta of Spain and later to the Catholic Princess Henrietta Maria of France, whom Charles did marry in 1625.

Related Topics:
Papist - Puritans - 1611 KJAV Bible - Anglican - Anti-Catholic - Gunpowder Plot - Catholic - Infanta - Spain - Henrietta Maria - France - Charles - 1625

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The rejection of the Apocrypha seems strange, since King James was later to finance six scholars to spend three years translating the Apocrypha for the 1611 King James Authorised Version of the Bible. The preface to the 1611 KJAV says that the Apocrypha is scripture. It says that the Apostles used the "translation of the seventy" and "commended it to the Church". When King Charles was awaiting execution, he was asked to authorise changes to the KJV , to drop ecclesiastical references such as bishop and to drop the Apocrypha. There were other demands. He refused. He was martyred.

Related Topics:
Apocrypha - Scripture - Apostles - Bishop

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It was an effective piece of Royalist propaganda. It reflected a post-execution royalist attitude, than that which would have been held in 1599. The Basilikon Doron may be propaganda. Who would have had printed a confidential letter to his son? Whether it is or not, it did play its part in influencing public opinion in favour of the monarchy. This led to the restoration of King Charles II, grandson of King James I and son of King Charles I, to the throne in 1660.

Related Topics:
1599 - Propaganda - Monarchy - Restoration - King Charles II - Throne - 1660

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see also Eikon Basilike

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