MEMOIRS OF THE COURT ΟΥ KING CHARLES THE FIRST. BY LUCY AIKIN. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMAN; PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1833. PREFACE. THE Memoirs of the Court of King James which the present author published several years ago, as a sequel to those of the Court of Queen Elizabeth, were then designed by herself to serve as an introduction to a similar work concerning the more memorable reign of his son, should life and health be lent her to complete so arduous an undertaking. That work she now submits to the candor of the public. On the views which she has taken of her subject, or the difficulties which she has encountered in the execution, it is not her purpose here to expatiate. But gratitude forbids her to preserve silence concerning those personal friends, or favorers of her pursuits, |