James VI.] THE REGENT MURRAY. 1 Kirk-of-Field.-Its site is now covered by the buildings of the University of Edinburgh. 2 Lunt of half a fathom, a slowburning match, three feet in length. 3 Car/berry Hill. It is 7 miles from Edinburgh. 4 Bothwell fled.-He escaped to Denmark, and led the life of a pirate on the North Sea. He was captured in 151 a harbour in Norway, and spent the last eight years of his life in prison. He died in 1578. 5 Loch Le'ven Castle, on an island in Loch Leven in Kinross-shire. 6 Lang'side, in Renfrewshire, 2 miles south of Glasgow. 7 Dundren'nan, an abbey and small village near the Solway, 5 miles southeast of Kirkcudbright. QUESTIONS.-1. When did Mary return to Scotland? Why? Which party there did she favour?-2. How did she alienate the ablest men in Scotland? How did she disappoint Elizabeth? Whose favour did she also lose?-3. Into what plot did Darnley enter? Where was it executed? What did the Queen say?-4. Who was born soon afterwards? Who took the chief place at his baptism? -5. What illness seized Darnley at Glasgow? Who went to visit him?-6. What did she prevail on him to do? Where did she take him to reside?-7. How long did she nurse him there? Whose preparations were going on at the same time? -8. Where was the gunpowder obtained? On what spot was it placed?-9. What night was fixed for the murder? Who sat with Darnley while the preparations were being completed?-10. What did Mary suddenly recollect?-11. What did Bothwell do about midnight? Who lighted the match? Where was Bothwell found?-12. What made him impatient? Where did he go after the explosion? -13. What happened half an hour later? What did Bothwell exclaim? Who carried the news to the Queen? How did she receive it?-14. Where were the dead bodies of Darnley and his servant found? When and where was Darnley buried?-15. Who was the chief instigator of this crime? What events attach guilt to Mary? How soon after Darnley's murder did she marry Bothwell?16. What did the nobles do? Where did she surrender to them? Where was she imprisoned?-17. How long? What then? What battle was fought? Who won? Where did Mary go? On whose mercy did she cast herself? 25. THE GOOD REGENT. 1. JAMES VI.1-For nearly three years after the flight of Mary, the Earl of Murray, known as the Good Regent, held sway in Scotland. He ruled with vigour and firmness, and the *prosperity of the country began to revive. His 'adhesion to the Protestant party gained him the support of Queen Elizabeth. In 1569 Murray went to London to consult with the English Queen and Cecil, her secretary, on the position of Mary. He carried with him all the 'evidence he 1569 could gather of her share in Darnley's murder. No A.D. formal trial of the Queen took place, but she was kept a close prisoner. 2. Murray's enemies in Scotland, who were both numerous and powerful, comprised two parties-the friends of the old Church, who were anxious for the restoration of Mary; and the House of Hamilton, who were jealous of Murray's great power. From the latter he received his death-blow. They formed a plot against his life, at the head of which was the Archbishop of St. Andrews,2 half-brother of the Earl of Arran. 3. An occasion was soon found for giving effect to their scheme. The Regent had been at Dumbarton, and was on his return to Edinburgh. Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh3 'dogged his steps. At Glasgow, and again at Stirling, he sought an 'opportunity to carry out his bloody purpose, but failed. The Regent lodged a night in Linlithgow, and on the morrow resumed his progress towards Edinburgh. On account of the crowd which thronged the narrow street, he was obliged to walk his horse at a slow pace. 4. There was a house belonging to the Archbishop of St. Andrews before which he had to pass. This house had a lattice-window lighting its wooden stair-case. About the stair sheets were hung, as if some peaceful housewife had put her linen out to dry. Through this lattice glared the fierce eye of the 'assassin, his match-lock in his grasp, and the match burning. The loud report of a shot rang out. The Regent was seen to reel in his saddle, and the horse of a gentleman who rode on the farther side of him fell dead. The same Jan. 23, bullet which killed the horse had passed through the 1570 A.D Regent's body. Calm as he ever was, Murray lighted down, and walked on foot to his lodging, as if he felt no pain. Towards midnight he breathed his last. 5. The murderer mounted a fleet horse, which his brother held ready saddled and bridled for him at the back door of the house, and escaped. To excuse the atrocious crime, it was said that the Regent had seized the lands and house of Bothwellhaugh, and had turned out Hamilton's wife in a stormy night into the woods, where she was found next day furiously mad. The story is known to be utterly false. 6. The Good Regent was buried in the south aisle of St. Giles's Church at Edinburgh, where the 'inscription over his tomb, engraved on brass, was long seen. The coffin was set down before the pulpit, while Knox preached the funeral sermon, from the text, "Blessed are the dead which die in the James VI.] DEATH OF LENNOX AND MAR. 153 Lord;" and the vast congregation of three thousand people wept around. ad-he-sion, act of holding fast; stick-dogged, followed close, like a dog. ing. as-sas-sin, murderer. a-tro-cious, horrible; very cruel. com-prised', were made up of; in cluded. in-scrip-tion, writing. ev-i-dence, proofs. oc-ca-sion, fit time. op-por-tu-ni-ty, fit time; occasion. pros-per-i-ty, good fortune. 1 James VI., son of Mary and Darn- | few months later he was executed for ley. Married Anne of Denmark. the share he had taken in Darnley's' Reigned 35 years in Scotland (1568- murder. 1603), and 22 years in England (16031625), 57 years in all. 3 Bothwellhaugh', near Bothwell Castle, 2 miles north-west of the town 2 Archbishop of St. Andrews.—A | of Hamilton in Lanarkshire. QUESTIONS.-1. How long did Regent Murray rule? How did he rule? What secured him the support of Queen Elizabeth? For what purpose did he go to London in 1569? What did he take with him?-2. What two parties did his enemies comprise? What plot did the Hamiltons form?-3. What occasion was soon found for effecting their purpose? Who was the assassin? Where had he sought opportunities without success? Where did he succeed?-4. From what house was the shot fired? What means were taken to screen the murderer? What effect had the bullet after passing through Murray's body? What did Murray do after he had been struck? When did he die?-5. How did the murderer escape? What story was invented to palliate his crime?-6. Where was the Regent buried? Who preached the funeral sermon? From what text? 26. THE RAID OF RUTHVEN. A 1. MURRAY was 'succeeded in the regency by the Earl of Lennox, father of the murdered Darnley. In little more than a year he too was killed. The Castle of Edinburgh was held for the Queen's party by Kirkaldy of Grange, with whom was Maitland of Lethington. Lennox was at Stirling. Kirkaldy sent a body of four hundred horse there to seize him. traitor led them into the town by a secret 'entrance. They broke into the Regent's lodging, and took him prisoner before any alarm could be given. By-and-by the soldiers rushed down from the castle, and a sharp 'skirmish followed, in which Lennox was shot. 1571 A.D. 2. The next Regent was the Earl of Mar. The civil war continued to rage 'furiously. Mar put forth all his power in trying to make the opposing parties agree; but in vain. Worn out by the struggle, he in a few months sank into the grave. In the same year died John Knox, 1572 A.D. who had lived to see the Reformation principles firmly established in Scotland. 3. Mar was succeeded by James Douglas, Earl of Morton, an able ruler, but a cruel and merciless man. It was he who had begun in the civil war the practice of No quarter,1 by which all who were taken on either side were hanged without mercy. He is also said to have set the example to the other nobles of filling the 'bishoprics with men of straw,2 who handed over the chief part of the 'income to their patrons. 4. With the help of an English 'siege-train he stormed Edinburgh Castle, the last stronghold of the Queen's 1573 men. The garrison yielded, and Kirkaldy of Grange, A.D. the commander, who had held the castle so long, was brought to the gallows. Under the vigorous rule of Morton, the opposition to the Government was trodden out, and the long and dismal wars about Mary Stewart came to an end. 5. For the next five years Morton ruled with a high hand. His success made him haughty. He was rude to the nobles, and unduly harsh in his 'treatment of the young King. 1578 A strong party was formed against him, and James was advised to rid himself of the Regent's control. A Parliament was called. Morton 'resigned the regency; and the King, then aged twelve, took the government into his own hands. Three years later the aged Morton was tried and executed for his share in the murder of Darnley. A.D. 6. James had been educated by the famous George Buchanan. He became a fair scholar, but very much of a 'pedant; and as he grew up, he showed himself more and more to be a man of a mean and shuffling spirit. At the very outset of his reign he fell into the hands of two base favourites, whom he created Earl of Lennox and Earl of Arran. A party among the nobles resolved to get the King out of the hands of his favourites, by the old device of 'kidnapping him. 7. The King had gone to Athole to the hunting-the only manly thing he ever cared for. He was attended by a slender train, and his leaders, Lennox and Arran, were not with him. The Earl of Gowrie invited him to stay at his Castle of Ruthven; which 'invitation was accepted without 'suspicion. The night of his arrival at Ruthven, the King was entertained James VI.] ESCAPE OF THE KING. 155 Aug. 23, 1582 A.D. with all courtesy. Meanwhile the Earl and his friends had assembled a thousand men, and quietly surrounded the castle. 8. Next morning, as James was preparing to take horse, the associated lords entered the room and presented a petition setting forth the dangers to which King and kingdom were exposed by the conduct of Lennox and Arran, and craving the 'dismissal of these favourites. James looked as gracious as he could, spoke fair words, and wished to get away. The Master of Glammis placed himself with his back to the door, and told him he must stay. The King fell into a passion, and uttered threats. Then he began to weep. "It is no matter for his tears," said Glammis; "better bairns greet than bearded men." James never forgot these words. For the present, however, there was nothing for it but to submit. 9. Such was the affair known as the Raid of Ruthven. The news of it fell on the two favourites like a thunder-clap. Arran instantly went with a few followers to Ruthven Castle, and demanded admittance to the King's presence. He found that he had walked into the lion's mouth; for he was at once *arrested, and was safely laid up in Stirling Castle. Lennox' was sent to France, where he soon afterwards died. 10. James, in the hands of the Raid-of-Ruthven lords, was no doubt in better company than he had been used to; but it was by no means so agreeable as the society of the friends from whom he had been separated. Nevertheless he seemed to be cheerful and content; and so well did he counterfeit, that the Ruthven lords were thrown off their guard, and began to relax their 'vigilance in watching the King. Ten months after his capture, he went from Falkland to St. Andrews, under 'pretext of visiting his grandfather's brother, the Earl of March. After supper with the old Earl, he 1583 quietly slipped into the castle, and the gates were shut A.D. behind him. 11. Once more his own master, he called around him the friends of his fancy. The Earl of Arran, who had been privy to the whole affair, returned to Court, haughtier and more powerful than ever. Thus ended the Raid of Ruthven. It drags, however, its trail of blood after it over the page of his |