Maxwell dealt in his publications with religion, history, genealogy, and antiquarian research, as well as poetry. His style has been compared to that of
Sir Thomas Urquhart, and earned from Laud the nickname "Mountebank Maxwell".
Admirable and Notable Prophecies Admirable and Notable Prophecies (1615) has been called Maxwell's "most substantial" publication, and touches on a wide range of prophetic material. He had been evolving, since the death of
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, a prophetic future around
Prince Charles, Henry's brother. In his 1612 memorial work for Prince Henry, Maxwell also flattered Prince Charles with a far-fetched comparison to
Skanderbeg, relying on the equation of
Albania with
Albany. The following year, as Charles's sister Elizabeth married, he put a flattering turn on a well-known prophecy of
Johann Carion about
Emperor Charles V, for the benefit of Prince Charles. Carion by misprision had revived an older prophecy of
Alexander of Roes (c.1280), intended to apply to
Charles of Anjou and his claim to become Emperor.
Admirable and Notable Prophecies of 1615 shifted ground somewhat. It is a history of prophecy from
Hildegard of Bingen to
Nostradamus, with emphasis on
Joachim of Fiore. Supporting the House of Stuart's imperial claim, Maxwell cites here a shortened form of the
Second Charlemagne prophecy, in the form given to it by
Telesphorus of Cosenza, which was originally a pro-French slant on the
Last Emperor. In this work he correspondingly places less emphasis on the Magdeburg (Carion) prophecy as applied to Prince Charles; but it was later picked up and reinforced by the Anglo-Saxon scholar William Retchford. After Charles I's execution,
William Lilly, who knew the prophecy as given currency by Maxwell's work, was concerned in
Monarchy or No Monarchy (1651) to argue that it did not apply to "
Charles II of Scotland". Maxwell argues that the
apostasy of the Catholic Church can be read from Catholic authors. He also goes back to Carion, through a Latin version of
Hermann Bonus, to pick up a related Magdeburg prophecy on the reformation of the
Roman Catholic Church. Maxwell found both a popular audience for verse summaries of his ideas, and some learned sympathy with
Henry Spelman,
Matthew Sutcliffe, and
Patrick Young.
Other works While in France in 1600 Maxwell wrote in Latin
Tyrannidi-graphia Ecclesiæ militantis secundum Danielis Prophetiam. It was dedicated to Edinburgh University and sent, but was lost on the way, by
John Welsh of Ayr. Maxwell wrote it under the pseudonym of James Anneson, a play on the names of the king, queen, and their son Charles. Maxwell also published: •
The Golden Legend, or the Mirrour of Religious Men and Godly Matrones, concerning Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their Wives, London, 1611. •
The Golden Art, or The right way of Enriching. . . . Very profitable for all such persons in citie or countrie as doe desire to get, increase, conserue, and vse goods with a good conscience, London, 1611. •
Queene Elizabeths Looking-glasse of Grace and Glory, wherein may be seen the fortune of the faithfull: that is to say, the wrastling, victory, and reward, or the combat, conquest, and Crowne of Gods children, London, by E. Allde, 1612. •
Jamesanna, or a Pythagoricall play at Cardes, representing the Excellency and vtilitie of Vnion and Concord, with the incommodities of diuision and discorde, dedicated to the most hopefull Prince Charles, 1612 (?) •
A Speedy Passage to Heaven, or a perfect direction for every Christian to walk in the right path of true holinesse, containing an explanation of the tenne Commandments, the creede, and our Lords Prayer, with divers other godly prayers, London, 1612. •
A Christian Almanacke, needefull and true for all countryes, persons and times, faithfully calculated by the course of holy Scripture, London, 1612. •
The Laudable Life, and Deplorable Death, of our late peerlesse Prince Henry. Briefly represented. Together with some other Poemes, in honour both of our most gracious Soueraigne King James his auspicious entrie to this Crowne, and also of his most hopefull Children, Prince Charles and Princesse Elizabeths happy entrie into this world, London, by E. Allde, for T. Pauier, 1612, entered at Stationers' Hall 28 November. The main poem in it consists of forty-four six-line stanzas, and is succeeded by
Peerelesse Prince Henries Epitaph in his owne foure Languages (i.e. English, French, Latin, and Greek). •
A Demonstrative Defence, or Tenfold Probation of the Doctrine of the Church of England tovching one of the most important points of our Creed, . . . which is of our Sauiours descending into hell after death to binde and subdue Sathan, London, 1617. •
Herodian of Alexandria, His History of Twenty Roman Caesars and Emperors (of his Time). Interpreted out of the Greeke Originall, London, 1629; another edit. 1635. •
Emblema Animæ, or Morall Discourses reflecting upon Humanitie, by John Du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, translated into English, London, 1635. Maxwell printed a catalogue of 22 of his unpublished works: controversial theology, royal genealogies and panegyrics, a poem on the antiquity of the city of London, tracts on fortune-telling and astrology,
A Centurie of most noble Questions in Philosophie,
James-anna, or the Patterne of a Perfect Cittie, among others. A list in
Carolanna contained fifteen more Latin titles. ==Notes==