The King James Manual on How to Be a King
I was scrolling Threads and someone mentioned that King James I (of the King James Bible) also wrote a book on demonology. It never occured to me that he authored other works so I went digging. That's how I discovered his secret leadership manual for his son Prince Henry—a 400-year-old instruction guide called Basilikon Doron.
Here’s what I got from it:
🕊️ Religious and Spiritual Precepts
Know and love God above all - Remember your double obligation: as a man made by God, and as a ruler placed by Him
Study Scripture diligently - Read God's word earnestly and pray for understanding
Avoid religious innovation and heresy - Stay grounded in Protestant reformed faith, resist both Catholic and radical sectarian drift
Avoid both superstition and skepticism - Superstition leads to spiritual decay, while skepticism erodes proper reverence
Maintain sound conscience - Keep it free from both spiritual leprosy (callousness to sin) and false scrupulosity
Practice true religion - Ground your faith on Scripture alone, not on human traditions or conceits
Pray regularly and sincerely - Use both formal prayers and personal communication with God
⚖️ Kingly Duties and Governance
Rule justly and execute laws faithfully - Be both maker and enforcer of good laws
Distinguish between a lawful king and a tyrant - Serve your people, don't exploit them
Begin with severity, then temper with mercy - Establish order first through firm justice, then show clemency (James's hard-learned lesson from being "gracious at the beginning")
Never forgive certain crimes - Including witchcraft, willful murder, incest, sodomy, poisoning, and counterfeiting
Protect the poor and oppressed - Be their champion against mighty oppressors
Guard the myth of your lineage - Not only honor predecessors, but protect the sacred narrative of royal succession
Choose wise counselors and servants - Select based on merit, honesty, and virtue - avoid flatterers at all costs
Govern all estates according to their natures - Handle nobility, clergy, and commoners with understanding of their particular vices and virtues
🧘♂️ Personal Conduct and Character
Practice moderation in all things - Let temperance rule all your passions and actions
Live virtuously as an example - Your personal conduct teaches your subjects
Perform dignity, not vanity - Dress and behave to reflect the weight of the crown - neither excessive nor falsely humble
Avoid debasing speech or bawdy humor - Coarse language is beneath a ruler, especially in public
Choose a godly wife carefully - Consider the three purposes of marriage and choose wisely
Keep your marriage vows faithfully - Treat your wife properly and remain faithful
Exercise your body as a king - Engage in honorable games and sports, especially horsemanship - be a king in body as well as mind
📚 Wisdom and Learning
Study continuously - Learn your own laws, history, and other useful knowledge
Read authentic histories to study consequences - Use the past as a mirror to reflect on results of choices, not to copy blindly
Discern between learned men and sophists - Avoid those who use learning for pride or confusion
Write worthily if you write - Choose noble subjects and write in your own language
Distinguish between counsel and command - Reason patiently in discussion, but be decisive in judgment
🤝 Relationships and Diplomacy
Treat other princes as brothers - Keep promises, practice courtesy, and maintain honor
Prepare carefully for war - Ensure just cause, adequate resources, and proper planning
Make peace thoughtfully - Don't rush to end conflicts without securing proper terms
Practice boundary management in leadership - Choose appropriate companions for different activities
Balance accessibility with majesty - Be approachable but maintain royal dignity through controlled access
📜 The King's Inner Covenant (Final Governing Principles)
Remember your burden's greatness - Always keep in mind the weight of your responsibilities
Seek God's blessing on all actions - Depend on divine guidance in all your endeavors
Excel in your own royal craft - Let governing be your primary skill and glory
Leave a unified inheritance - Don't divide your kingdoms among multiple heirs
Measure love by virtue - Base your favor on character under fire, not charm or flattery
Be a living law - Don't just rule with justice—embody justice in action
🧭 Additional Precepts for Modern Leadership
Resist novelty for novelty's sake - New ideas must serve the people, not just excite the court
Let your tongue be few, but full - Speak only when it matters, and mean what you say
Punish private vice only when it harms public trust - Govern conscience with wisdom—don't play God
Do not confuse peace with passivity - Sometimes confrontation is the most righteous path
Filter the real from the noise - In learning and counsel, seek substance over sophistication
The Tragic Irony
The most haunting part of this story? Prince Henry never got to use any of this advice. He died of typhoid fever in 1612 at just 18 years old—brilliant, athletic, and everything James had hoped for in an heir.
Instead, the crown passed to Henry's younger brother Charles, who clearly didn't absorb his father's lessons about balancing authority with restraint. Charles I pushed his subjects too far, ignored the warning signs, and ended up losing his head during the English Civil War in 1649.