and Sir Hugh Herries having accidentally followed Ramsay, found Ruthven weltering in his blood. They immediately killed him, notwithstanding his protestations of innocence, and his entreaties for mercy.

The moment was eventful. Erskine and Herries had no sooner joined the King, than Gowrie entered with two drawn swords and several attendants. The King's friends had presence of mind to thrust him into the study, that they might the better encounter their opponents. Gowrie was pierced through the heart, and expired without uttering a word. His attendants fled.

Lennox and Marr soon forced the doors by which the King had entered. When they beheld Gowrie stretched lifeless upon the floor, and found the King unhurt, their paroxysm of rage was succeeded by the most lively emotions of joy. They all prostrated themselves; and his Majesty ejaculated aloud a fervent thanksgiving for his miraculous escape.

No sooner had the incidents of this catastrophe transpired, than the burgesses of Perth, of which Gowrie was provost, surrounded the castle, and threatened the King and his followers with summary vengeance. James prudently conciliated the multitude, by admitting their magistrates, and detailing to them the particulars of his escape.

About eight in the evening, he left Perth for Falkland; and was congratulated during his journey by various groupes * that had been attracted to the highway by curiosity or feelings of loyalty.

Of the different hypotheses that have been advanced to account for this mysterious and tragical event, none appears rational or entirely satisfactory. The narrative published by royal authority is in many instances unsupported by evidence, and is at variance with the depositions of the witnesses examined on the trial. The depositions themselves are contradictory, improbable, and absurd. These misrepresentations throw a discredit on the whole narrative. It is indisputably certain that the King and his favourers rendered this conspiracy less credible by exaggerating many of its circumstances.

The most probable solution of this historical problem is, that

* Tradition reports, that of this number was a gentleman of Lower Stratherne, who in his younger years had been at court. James stopped, and related to him the whole affair. The honest yeoman bluntly replied, “It is a strange story, please your Majesty, if it be true."

Gowrie had formed a design to seize the King's person, and by that means acquire the absolute direction of the state. It is highly probable that Queen Elizabeth was privy to the design, and encouraged its execution. Had Gowrie's conspiracy succeeded, it would likely have formed an exact counterpart to the Raid of Ruthven, in which his father had been engaged.*

CHAPTER XI.

Proceedings against the family of Gowrie. Attempts to civilize the Highlands. James's exertions to secure his accession to the English crown, Death of Elizabeth. James succeeds her.

THE

HE news of the King's escape and Gowrie's fate, reached Edinburgh on the following morning. The Privy Council assembled, and issued an order to the ministers to convene their congregations, and to offer public thanksgiving to God for his Majesty's. happy deliverance. But by that time, various reports of the affair were in circulation, and some doubts were entertained of the validity of the statement promulgated by the Council.. The clergy very readily gave public thanks; but they declined giving publicity to a story which seemed to them problematical and dubious.

Nor were they more compliant when James arrived a few days after at Edinburgh. Notwithstanding the royal chaplain publicly declared from the cross the particulars of the conspiracy, which the King himself verbally corroborated, the clergy continued to demur. More convincing arguments were then resorted to: Their incredulity was at last overcome by the terror of the King's resentment. Mr Robert Bruce, less obsequious than his brethren, was punished for his scepticism with the forfeiture of his benefice and banishment from the kingdom.

The Parliament proceeded with great severity against the house of the unfortunate Gowrie. An indictment for high treason was preferred against the dead bodies of the murdered brothers; who were capitally convicted, hanged, quartered, their honours and estates were forfeited, and the surname of Ruthven was abolished. Three of Gowrie's servants, convicted as accomplices, were executed at Perth. The anniversary of the conspiracy was appointed

* See Robertson's and Laing's Histories, and Lord Hailes's Annals of Scotland.

to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving. The unanimity of the aristocracy and the Parliament on this occasion prevented any serious consequence that might have otherwise ensued from the popular irritation and alarm.

It will be recollected, that, in the year 1540, James the Fifth successfully controlled the feudal chiefs in the Highlands and Western Isles. His grandson was solicitous to accomplish the same design; and the unusual tranquillity the kingdom had enjoyed for some time, presented a favourable opportunity. From the happy effects produced in the Lowlands by the introduction of the arts of peace, James was encouraged to prosecute this salutary undertaking.

It was his aim to render the turbulent and ferocious mountaineers peaceful and happy-to lessen their attachment to military pursuits-to direct their bold and enterprising spirit to the pursuits of industry, in which they have since preeminently excelled. Conformably to these intentions, the feudal chiefs were made responsible for the peaceable conduct of their vassals; and the laws for repressing idleness and restraining the predatory habits of the peasantry were commanded to be rigorously enforced.

To excite a spirit of industry, and to open a field for commercial and mechanical pursuits, three towns were ordered to be built, with ample privileges, in Lochaber, Cantyre, and the Isle of Lewis. The result of this experiment was unfortunate. A coTony of fishermen that had been transferred from Fife to Lewis, was regarded by the natives with jealousy and hatred. Some of these A.D. strangers were surprised and murdered, and the rest were obliged to abandon the settlement.

1602.

For several years previous to Elizabeth's death, James made every possible effort to secure his accession to the English crown. Being allied by marriage to many of the German princes, he obtained from them an explicit acknowledgment of the justice of his claim. He even corresponded secretly with the Pope; who publicly declared in his favour.

Elizabeth was speedily apprized of this transaction; which greatly inflamed her natural jealousy, induced her to scrutinize his conduct towards the Catholics, and probably increased her indecision to nominate him as her successor. But these inauspicious appearances were counterbalanced by an explicit assurance of support from the English Catholics, from many of the nobles,

and from the Queen's own ministers. The court of France unsuccessfully attempted to throw obstacles in the way of this desirable union, by corrupting Elizabeth's ministers; and though many anonymous pamphlets were circulated, containing sentiments unfavourable to the King's right of accession, they were satisfactorily answered or totally disregarded.

The English formed a high opinion of James's wisdom and talents for government, from a book which he published, addressed to his son Prince Henry, and containing many excellent precepts in the art of government. Besides, every religious and political party coalesced in promoting his accession.

The time at length arrived when James was to attain the summit of his fortune and ambition. After a prosperous reign of forty-five years, Queen Elizabeth expired, in the seventieth year of her age. Her death was accelerated by mental despondency,— arising, as was conjectured, from the unhappy fate of the Earl of Essex, a young nobleman whom she had treated with the most flattering marks of favour and affection; but who, having engaged in treasonable designs against his mistress, was condemned and executed.

In compliance with the wishes of her ministers, Elizabeth, on her deathbed, named the King of Scots as her successor,—observing, that her throne was the throne of kings," and that she would have no mean person to ascend it." The news of the Queen's demise, and of his undisputed accession, was communicated to James by the Privy Council at London.

He caused his titles to be immediately proclaimed, and prepared to take possession of the English throne. On the Sabbathday before his departure, he went to the church of St Giles; and after sermon he arose and addressed a long discourse to the audience, in which he enumerated the many proofs he had given his countrymen of affection and zeal in the course of his reign. His power was enlarged, he observed, to promote their welfare; and he promised to revisit his native country every third year, that his subjects might pour their complaints into his paternal

bosom.

When he announced his approaching departure, the audience burst into tears and loud lamentations. The King committed the civil administration of the kingdom to the Privy Council and the officers of state; and he intrusted the guardianship of his children

Henry, Charles, and the Princess Elizabeth, to different noble

men.

Assured that all ranks in England acquicesed in his title, and A.D. ardently expected his arrival, he commenced his journey 1603. S for London on Tuesday the 5th of April, with a splendid but select train of the principal nobility. In the course of his journey, he was heartily welcomed by the acclamations of immense multitudes that had been attracted through curiosity or a spirit of loyalty; and he entered London on the 17th of May.

BOOK THE SIXTH.

THE UNION OF THE CROWNS, 1603.

CHAPTER I.

State of the kingdom. Unsuccessful attempts to unite the kingdoms. Episcopacy introduced-unhappy consequences. Death and character of

James.

THE English sceptre was transferred from the family of Tudor to the house of Stuart with as great tranquillity as if it had passed from father to son. A concurrence of very favourable circumstances attended the elevation of the King of Scots to the English throne. Civilization and commerce had advanced with unexampled rapidity during Elizabeth's reign; victory abroad and domestic peace smiled upon her subjects.

Though James was born and educated among a rude people, the English nation submitted cheerfully to his authority. It was hoped, from his character of moderation and wisdom, that he would be guided by the maxims and feelings of an English monarch.

His natural facility soon displayed his character in a very disadvantageous light, when contrasted with the political prudence of his predecessor. Elizabeth had bestowed her favours with great discretion; James dubbed no fewer than two hundred and thirtyseven knights within six weeks after his arrival in England. These honours, conferred without choice or deliberation, were generally regarded as indications of good nature, and not of sagacity. A