ter, the regent, although highly incensed, could do nothing, but resolve to proclaim him rebel.

Mutual danger had united the two earls, yet though they considered themselves safe from Morton's vengeance, they never could forgive his intention of acting with them according to law, and ceased not to pursue him with implacable revenge, till they finally effected his ruin, the more remote causes of which, it is now necessary to explain.

Engaged almost entirely in the cares of government, or in plans of personal aggrandizement, Morton had almost wholly forgotten that there was a king, or that it was at all necessary to conciliate the affections of the boy, by paying any attention to those who were placed around him.

The prince, during his infancy, had been committed to the charge of the earl of Marr, and had resided securely in Stirling castle, while the different parties were striving to obtain possession of his person. The chief superintendence of his education was intrusted to Alexander Erskine, brother of the earl of Marr, upon whom the governorship of that fortress devolved at the earl's death, and when James attained the fourth year of his age, he was placed under the care of the celebrated Buchanan, with whom were associated Peter Young, and David and Adam Erskine, the two commendators of Cambuskenneth, and Dryburgh, both related to the noble family of Marr-tutors, the best the nation could afford, either for the cultivation of the mind, or of those bodily exercises, which were deemed necessary royal accomplishments in that age. The king was now in his twelfth year, and his mind, like a light soil, by the luxuriance of its premature vegetation, gave promise of a harvest which was never to ripen. He had discovered an aptitude for the languages, and had, through the assiduous attention of his preceptors, acquired a share of general knowledge, very seldom the attainment of boys of his age.* He had, besides, an imposing fluency of expression, which appeared to casual visitors, to exhibit symptoms of

*Mr, James Melville, who was admitted to see the young king in the ninth year of his age, speaks of him in raptures, as "the switest sight in Europe that day, for strange and extraordinar gifts of engyne, judgement,

talents, superior to what he in reality possessed. His teachers were highly gratified at his proficiency, and the nation, delighted with the prospect of a young sovereign, who seemed to their fond imaginations formed to reign.

Courtiers generally worship the rising sun, as soon as his first rays begin to appear above the horizon, even when the legal prince and the parent is upon the throne, but when a regent holds the sway, this assiduity is naturally redoubled, and he who knows that he must quit his elevation in a few years, ought never to forget, that at best it is painful to descend, and endeavour betimes to smooth the declivity. But Morton thought this event far distant. While others were cultivating the affections of the royal youth, or endeavouring to ingratiate themselves with his preceptors, he alone seems to have stood aloof, and not only not to have endeavoured to conciliate, but rather by personal injuries, to estrange them. The story that Melville tells, however, respecting Buchanan's irritation, does not accord well with the character of "a Stoick philosopher," which he had given him only a few paragraphs before, but it is highly probable that the tyrannical government of the regent, had alienated the affections of a man who bore such a decided hatred to oppression, and it is evident his supercilious carelessness, hurt the pride of the others, who, from the situations they held, naturally expected both marks of favour and emolument.

These discontents had been long cherished in secret, but the apparent hopelessness of effecting any change, till the king was able to assume the reins of government into his own hands,

memorie and language. I heard him discourse, walking up and down in the auld lady Mar's hand, of knawlege and ignorance, to my grait marvel and astonishment." M'Crie's Life of Andrew Melville, vol. i. p. 65.

*“Mr. George [Buchanan] was," he says, "a Stoick philosopher, who looked not far before him." "He was also religious. ""He became the earl of Morton's great enemy, for that a nag of his chanced to be taken from his servant, during the civil troubles, and was bought by the regent, who had no will to part with the said horse, he was so sure footed and so easy, that albeit Mr. George had ofttimes required him again, he could not get him. And therefore, though he had been the regent's great friend before, he became his mortal enemy, and from that time forth, spoke evil of him in all places, and on all occasions." Melville's Memoirs, p. 250.

had hitherto prevented their breaking out into open action. The opposition of two such powerful noblemen, as the earls of Argyle and Athol, to the existing government, afforded an opportunity which was immediately seized. No sooner was it known that they were reconciled to each other, than Sir Alexander Erskine opened a negotiation with them, and allowed them to enter secretly into the castle, and the king's presence. Argyle came first, and exhibited to James, a miserable picture of the wretched state of the country, occasioned by the mismanagement, and severity of Morton's administration. He complained of the extreme rigour with which he himself had been treated, in being denounced as a rebel, though his loyalty had ever been unimpeachable, and requested his majesty to do him justice, by assembling a council of the nobles, and ordering his cause to be legally investigated; and in the meanwhile, entreated to be allowed to remain with his majesty till the day of trial. Athol shortly after arrived, as had been preconcerted, and was introduced to the king, who immediately informed him of Argyle's complaint, and requested his advice. He, as if entirely unacquainted with the whole business, replied, that he thought the earl's petition perfectly reasonable, and that in the present state of the nation, it would be highly expedient to call a council of the nobles. This advice, so flattering to a boy of twelve, as it seemed to promise him the immediate exercise of sovereignty, delighted James, he readily complied with all that they desired, and ordered letters to be written, to summon an assembly, committing to the two earls the charge of despatching them. They took care, however, that none should be summoned but their own friends, and such as they knew were inimical to Morton, among whom were lord Maxwell, who had lately been warden of the west marches, but was then confined in Blackness castle, and lord Ogilvy, who was prisoner on parole, in the city of St. Andrews.

No sooner was the regent apprized of Argyle and Athol's having received admission to the king, and that an assembly of the nobles had been called, under pretext of trying the cause of Argyle, than he despatched the earl of Angus, lord Glammis, the chancellor, and lord Ruthven, treasurer, with a message to the king, informing him of the outrage which

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Argyle had committed against his authority, and of his legalcombination with Athol to disturb the public peace, and desired to know his majesty's pleasure as to the conduct he should pursue; adding, in a tone which seemed to carry the appearance of a threat, that if his highness would allow the law to take its course, he was prepared to do his duty; but if he chose to overlook their disobedience, and suffer his royal name and authority to be trampled on in the person of his servant, he hoped his highness would be pleased to relieve him from the toils of office, in which case, he recommended the preservation of peace with England, and concluded his letter with a long enumeration of the services he had rendered the king from his birth till then, only requesting, in return, to have a full approbation of his conduct ratified by the estates. A great number of noblemen having attended at Stirling, in consequence of the king's summons, Morton's letter was laid before them, when it was determined that his offer of resignation should be accepted, and that the king should take the administration of government into his own hands. The same day an express was sent to the regent, informing him of this determination.

Morton, when too late, saw the error he had committed, and endeavoured to retrieve it. He immediately despatched the earl of Whittingham, to request the king, before he made any alteration in the officers of state, to effect the reconciliation of such noblemen as were then at variance, hoping by this means to procure, at least, some delay; but it was of no avail, lord Glammis, the chancellor, and lord Herries, were sent with a written notification of the king's determination, by the advice of his nobles, to assume the government himself, and requiring him to give in his demission formally in writing, and, at the same time, to send to the king the form of discharge which he wished to be granted, that his majesty might lay it before his council for their deliberation, assuring him that he should be treated in the most gracious manner. king accompanied this mandate with an affectionate epistle written in his own hand, in which he declared, that it was only "because he saw no other way to maintain concord among his subjects, he had accepted the government, and

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that he was confident to have the defects of his age and ex perience supplied by his nobility, especially by himself, whom he would ever love, and acknowledge as his trusty cousin, most tender to him in blood, and one of his true and faithful counsellors." *

Morton, unable to breast the torrent which set in so strongly against him, yielded to the tide, and assisted in person at publishing the proclamation in Edinburgh, which announced the king's assumption of the government. His friends were not more amazed than grieved at the facility with which he resigned his power into the hands of his enemies, for they did not consider the king as yet capable of acting but under direction, and maintained that no power, except the estates, could deprive him of the regency, till the term they had allotted was expired. In particular, lord Boyd, one of his most intimate friends, who only arrived a few hours after he had sent in his resignation, strongly expostulated with him on the impolicy of his conduct, and for, not having previously consulted with his adherents, reminding him that there was no medium for a falling statesman, between supreme power and utter ruin; that if he flattered himself he would find it otherwise; that he would be able to descend without danger to the ease and tranquillity of a private life, he would find himself sorely mistaken, in imagining a rest that he would never, see. Had he kept his place, he continued, his friends would have rallied around him, and frustrated the designs of his enemies; but now, having deserted his own cause, there remained nothing for them but to lament the misfortune they could not remedy; and adding the prophetic wish of:-" God grant that this be the worst of things," he turned aside and burst into tears. The regent endeavoured to justify his conduct, by urging the king's letter, and the commotions which would have arisen in the nation, had he refused to comply; yet, in secret, he blamed his own precipitancy, and now he had left himself no room to retract. He therefore sent the earl of Angus, and lord Glammis, to give in to his majesty his formal resignation, and received, in return, a general approbation of

Spotswood says, "These be the words of the letter."