JAMES IV. king of Scotland, succeeded his father in 1488. He was a pious and valiant prince; subdued his rebellious subjects; and afterwards, taking part with Louis XII. against Henry VIII. of England, he was slain in the battle of Flouden-field in 1513, aged 41.—This king is acknowledged to have had great accomplishments both of mind and body. His Latin epistles are classical, compared with the barbarous style of the foreign princes with whom he corresponded. Like his father, he had a taste for the fine arts, particularly that of sculpture. The attention he paid to the civilization of his people, and his distribution of justice, merit the highest praise. After all, the virtues of James appear to have been more shining than solid: and his character was that of a fine gentleman and a brave knight, rather than a wise or a great
monarch. At the time of his death, he was only in his forty-first year. Like all the princes of his family (to his great grandson James VI.) his person was handsome, vigorous, and active. From their coins, it does not appear that either he, or any of his predecessors of the Stuart race, wore their beards, as did all his successors, to the reign of Charles II.