George Buchanan was 16th century Scottish humanist, scholar, religious reformer, and tutor to the young King James VI of Scotland (later King James I of England). He was a pioneer of social contract theory almost a century before John Locke was born.
This is a portrait of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) as a boy.
James was Dr. Buchanan's student. Although Dr. Buchanan advocated rule of law and political compact (an older word for social contract), King James grew up to be a strong supporter of royal absolutism--or, the belief that kings must answer only to God.
Once, when James was around twelve years of age, he did not want to do his Latin lessons. He got saucy with Dr. Buchanan. Dr. Buchanan, in good, 16th century pedagogical style, took a birch rod to the young, royal backside.
The young King James then went complaining to his step-mother, the Countess of Mar (actually, some stepmothers in days of old, were actually kind). The COuntess of Mar was indignant, and stormed into the royal classroom.
"How dare you strike the one whom God has appointed king over us!" The Countess cried, wagging a nobly-born finger at Dr. Buchanan.
Dr. Buchanan looked up from the book before him. "Madam," he said, "I have whipped his bottom; you may kiss it if you please."
There are two morals to this story:
(1) Social contract whipped royal absolutism.
(2) Even kings have to do their homework!
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