Jun. 1602. pofe me upon the particulars." flay MY LORD?'

Nov. 1602.

2

Then, first, it please yow,' said Mr Robert, Had yee a purpose to As I fall answer to God,' sayeth the King, I knew not that my Lord was flaine till I faw him in his laft agonie; and was very forie, yea prayed in my heart for the fame.' · What fay yee then concerning MR ALEXANDER?' faid Mr Robert. I grant,' faid the King, I am art and pairt of Mr Alexander's slaughter; for it was in my own defence.' 'Why brought yee him not to juftice,' faid Mr Robert, feeing yee would have had God before your eyes?' 'I had neither God nor the Devil, man, before my eyes," said the King, but my own defence!' Heer the King beganne to frett. He took all these points' upon his falvation and damnation,' and that he was once minded to have spaired Mr Alexander; but being moved, for the time, the motion prevailled."3 Farther, Mr Robert demanded of the King, If he had a purpose, that day, in the morning, to slay Mr Alexander ?' The King answered, upon his salvation, that day in the morning he loved him as his brother!' Mr Robert, be reafon of his oathes, thought him innocent of any purpofe that day, in the morning, to flay them: Yett, because he confeffed he had not God nor juftice before his eyes, but was in a heat and mind unto wrong, he could not be innocent, before God; and had great cause to repent, and to crave mercie for Chrift's fake!

6

6

In end, Mr Robert yielded to subscribe his refolution, according to the Act of Parliament; which he did, Partly because, in his judgment, it was the duety of a fubject to reverence the lawes of the Country, except he knew them, certainly, to be contrarie to the word of God: Nixt, he was bound to free himself of that imputation which was layed to his charge, partly be the King himself, partly by others, directed to him from the King, that come death, come life to him, come what would come of him, the whole blame fould lie upon him, in respect he was the author of the flander !' Thirdly, because he made a faithfull promife to him, that noe more fould be craved of him.' Soe, upon thefe three refpects, he gave his refolution, in write; not that he was perfwaded, in his confcience, for any thing that he could learn, be himself, or from God's Spirit, after prayer, as he himself recordeth in the Hiftorie of these proceedings; but, in refpect there was a ftrait and publick Law, he thought good to follow it, till God gave him farther light. All the Commiffioners, and Mr Patrick Simfone, who accompanyed him, fubfcribed as witneffes. Wherupon Warrant was granted to him to travell abroad in the countrie; provided he come not neer Edinburgh, be four milles.

(11.) MR ROBERT BRUCE drew neer to Edinburgh, in tyme of the Affemblie. George Heriot and John Robertfone, Commiffioners for the Town of Edinburgh, made mention of his repofition ;* wherunto the Affembly applauded. But the King and the Moderators alledged they had fundrie things to proponne, before that were granted. The King defyred to have the Interlocutor of the Affembly, whither Mr Robert fould be injoyned to utter in pulpit, that which he had offered in his bill before his banishment, and the refolution which he had subscribed at Perth, after his returne, or not?' Mr John Hall being first asked, answered, Ther could be nothing done in that mater, whill the parties were firft beard.' Soe it was thought meet that Mr Robert fould be fent for: But the mater was delayed till the end of the Affembly; and howbeit he was nather called nor heard, they voted that he fould publifh in pulpit his bill and refolution.s

1 Grounds of quarrel or grudge. 2 That is, in the heat of the struggle and the deadly encounter in which he was engaged, he had no leisure for reflection, but looked only for the means of ridding himself of his antagonist. 3 On cool reflection, and at that distance of time, the King is inclined to think it might have been in his power to have saved Mr Alexander's life. But this he admits, after being in the knowledge of all the facts and incidents, which he could not at the time have contemplated. Had he attempted to have taken him alive, in all human probability, it would have cost his own life and that of his party: for Gowrie, as Provost of Perth, and adored by the citizens, could have in an instant overpowered the handful of followers attending upon the King, in this hasty and unprepared visit. 4 The fact of his being reponed or reinstated. 5 Mr Patrick Galloway. 6 The Moderator of the former Assembly. 7 Until. 8 It is unnecessary to pursue this matter farther. The Editor hopes that Wodrow's Life of this remarkable person, together with the Lives of other eminent public characters, written by Wodrow, shall soon be published. The publication of these Lives would prove a valuable accession to the History of Scotland, and could hardly fail amply to repay the person who undertook such a task.

(12.) LETTER, the Laird of Beltries (Sir James Sempill1) to Mr Robert Bruce. Nov. 1602.

SIR,

I INQUIRED of his Ma. yesternight, if he had any new intention anent yow? He answered, none, but that yee fould enter and doe your duetie, as was told yow of before. His Ma. alledges, yee never bide long at one refolution; ffor, after my excufeing yow of your not abilitie for preaching the last Sabbath, as yee willed me to doe, yett he fent Mr Henry Blyth to the Moderator, to enquire if yee fould teach? This I was ignorant of; but yett I answered, that it was upon a fear that poffeffed yow, of a new offence, in not teaching; and foe that was done for the full affurance of his Mas minde in it. To the purpose, Sir, yee fall enter, if yee please, on Sunday next, and advertise his Ma. two or three dayes before; inquireing, if he please to speak with yow? At your entry, yee must doe (as his Ma. speeche is) the duety of a good fubiect and of a good paftor; not to fay, fimply, yee are refolved, which yee have done already; but yee must indeavour to remove all fcrouple from the auditor; as weill in cleiring his Mas innocencie, as of your guiltineffe. These are his Mas own words: And my poor advice is, to fatisfie his Ma.; feing, (with manie) I think it may and would be done, being a thing able to do good to the King and whole Common-weall, to knitte the hearts of his people to him, by removeing scrouples, if any be, or by confirming them in the concewed truth; which, be your filence in this mater, will be called againe in question be them. The Lord give yow that refolution which may beft ferve for his glory. HALYRUDHOUS, this Tuifday the laft of Novtr 1602. Keep this ticket for both our warrants.

SIR,

(13.) MR ROBERT BRUCE'S ANSWER to Beltries' laft Letter.

I was upon my journey homeward, when I received your last Letter; and hearing that yee were Dec. 1602. gone in the country, I delayed any answer till your returneing. Therefore, now, Sir, for answer; first, I say, that if Mr Henry Blyth had any fuch commiffion of me, or if the honeft man will fay foe in my name, I will be content to take that imputation upon me: but otherwife, as it is true indeed, I received wrong, I am noe wayes ambitious of it. For I have been twice thrust into it, and as oft out of it; and I have noe will that his Ma. be compelled to use his Royall office upon the remanent of my frail life. For these four or five yeares bygane, I have been continually under a lingering and dwyning death, which I am affured has been more troublesome and tedious to me, both in body and minde, then that hour of death fall be, when euer it fall please the Lord to call me therto. I have not forgott these voices, that oftentymes I woundered to hear, that his Ma. dreadeth us bodily harme.' These things maketh me to look or I leap, and to advise weill or I enter; yett I speak nott this, as if I were minded to shake off my duety that I ought to my flock: But if it would please his Ma. to suffer us to ftand in that liberty wherein the Lord hes placed us, and to speak in the chair of truth, as the word and spirit of truth fould direct us, I would promife, be God's grace, when ever the word fould give us occafioun, as oft tymes it will, that then, from the authority of the word, I fall repreffe all finifter conftructions of his Ma. actions, and by the authority thereof, beat down all feditious and infolent humors of fubiects, that would preffe to ufurp upon your fuperiours; and foe, from the word, as moved therby to speak upon thefe matters; which must have a farr greater grace nor2 to speak be way of injunctions, or fpeak as it were a cunned leffoun,3 or ane A B C putt in man's hand. The one deuty fmelleth of Divine Theologie, the other of Court Theologie, and does noe good to the cause, but hurts greatly: And as God liketh of a cheerfull giver, foe when the people feeth these things to come freely, of my felf, without conftraint, nor yett putt unto my head, they will reverence them the

1 He was son of John Sempill of Beltries, whose conviction for Treason is recorded in vol. i. p. 72. Sir James was Ambassador to England 1599, &c. and was author of a Satire, 'The Packman and the Priest.' His son Robert Sempill was author of the well-known Elegy on Habbie Simson the Piper of Kilbarchan.' Than.

3 Conned lesson, got by rote.

2

Dec. 1602. more, and have the greater weight with them. Soe to be short, if this fort of fervice may be acceptable to the Prince, I am at command; if otherwife, I will hold me with the benefite that I have gotten, within the compafs of obedience; and be God's grace, fall be unreproveable of any. Having noe farther for the prefent, I reft, &c.1

Jan. 1603.

Apr. 1603.

SIR,

(14.) LETTER, Mr John Hall to Mr Robert Bruce.

JAMES AIKINHEID, bailiffe, gave intelligence to his Ma. that yee were purposed to preach this next Sabbath, God willing; and I being down in the Abbey, his Ma. gave me this answer, and ordained me to fignifie the fame unto yow: That is, because your advertisement was generall, and thereby he could not understand what yee was to doe in the matter, wherein he has been offended; also, he would affure yow, that if yee entered into the pulpit, and did not according to the Act of the Affembly, it would be a matter of great irritation: Therfore, be your tickett, ye would certifie againe that ye are ready to preache, and to fatisfie his Ma. according to the Act of the Affembly; or otherwife it will not be heard as a fufficient offer. Sir, if yee write heeranent to mee againe, I fall be ready to deliver it, and fhew yow the event.2

(15.) MR ROBERT Bruce's Last CONFERENCE with THE KING, on Tuesday the fifth day of April, 1603.

MEN of all qualities reforted to Edinburgh, to congratulate the King his preferment.3 Motion was made, be fome brethren of the Prefbytery of Edinburgh, that Mr Robert Bruce fould be defyred to come Eaft to congratulat with the reft; for the King took it evill in part, as was reported, that he fould be the laft in giving fignification of his humble affection. Upon Saturday, the 2 of Aprile, Mr Robert returned anfwer, that in refpect of his Mas laft Conference, holdin with the Commiffioners, he durft not take the boldneffe to draw neer to his Ma.;' alwife, did fignifie the finceritie of his inward affections, to the Lady Marr and fome other noble wemen, who could bear witneffe of his integritie in that point: But, feeing he was informed that his Ma. would accept the offer of his affection, he fould come with diligence, to try what might be done.

6

Soe, upon Mounday, the 4 of Aprile, he come to Edinburgh and founded fome ftable men, his freinds, touching the King's difpofition, whither he was willing to accept of him and his congratulation. Soe farr as he could learne, he was not able to redeem his countenance and favour, but with confeffion of a fault, and that upon his knees; be which meanes he might efchew publication in the pulpit, and recover his Mas favour alfo. Mr Robert findeth himself brought in as great a strait almost as ever he was; and answered to the Lords that interceded for him, that feeing he could not pur chafe his Mas presence but upon these hard conditions, his earnest defyre was, that they would make his excufe, in all humility, to his Ma. and to fhew that notwithstanding he came to the town to congratulat, the preaffe and throng of the people was foe great, because his Ma. was upon the point of his departure, that he could get noe acceffe.' They tuke much in hand; but the King, understanding he was come to town, fent one of his domestick servants, James Murray of Powmais, the day following, Tuifday the 5 of Aprile, foon in the morning, before his Mas departure, for him, before he was rifen out of his bed. Mr Robert thought it hard, and that the King catched that peace of disgrace to his Ministry.

1 (1602. Jan. 19.)—Mr Robert Bruce addressed a Letter to the Town-Council of Edinburgh, which is an echo of that to the Laird of Beltries. This was followed by George Heriot and Cornelius Inglis waiting on the King, on Bruce's part; who inhibited any preaching; whereupon he left the town. On 27th January, he intimated his design to preach next Sabbath, to James Aikenhead, one of the Bailies of Edinburgh. 2 Much correspondence, &c. took place, till at last the Commissioners of the General Assembly, Feb. 25, 1603, 'declared that his re-entrie to the Ministrie of Edinburgh came through his own default.' 3 To the English Crown. The King departed for England immediately after this Conference took place. 4 Nevertheless. 5 Undertook; promised largely.

was.

Alwife he went down to the Abbey. The King was at his break faft. Mr Robert fought occafion Apr. 1603. of speech with him, at that tyme; thinking, that in the prefence of many ftrangers and noble men, the King would not urge him, as he did before. The noble men courteously gave him place. But when he was upon the point of bowing and entering in conference, Sir Patrick Murray, who stood upon his Mas left hand, and rounded fomewhat in his ear, prevented him. He was referred to the King's bedchamber, to be heard after the preaching; which was very cold. It was made be Mr Andrew Lamb. Mr Robert, all the tyme, prayed to God to direct him be his Spirit, in the end; as he had done in the reft of that action before. He refolved noe wayes to goe to the knees, againft his conscience; but rather now, in the entry to this great Monarche, to urge his Ma. with a thankfull heart to God for his wonderfull and unlooked-fore bleffing. He had all the words and mater conceived, which he communicated to Mr James Melvill, Minifter at Anftruther, who was weill pleased both with the mater and the maner; wherby Mr Robert was greatly encouraged to perfift in his refolution. In the meantyme, the Lord Fleming cometh for Mr Robert, and taketh him to the King's bed-chamber; where he found my Lord of Marr, my Lord of Blantyre, the Laird of Dunipaice, Mr Peter Hewat, Mr Thomas Abernethie. The Lord Fleming went to the Chamber of Prefence, told the King Mr Robert was in the place appointed. The King ncontinent withdraweth himself, goeth in to his bed-chamber, his boots on, ready to ryde. Soe foon as he drew neer, he walked in circle about the house,' as his custom Mr Robert cafteth himself to meet him, with all reverence and humble inclination of his body that he could, without goeing to knee. The King heard him graciously, in outward appearance. The fumme and effect of Mr Robert's words were this. Sir, I have marked four things in this great work, touching your Mas high advancement: ffirft, that the God of heaven and earth has placed yow in all these earthly thrones, without the loffe of the credite of your holy Religion and hurt of the inward peace of your own confcience: Next, that he hes placed without fhedding a drop of your Mas blood, which is leffe nor confcience: Thirdly, without the hazard of your Mas fubjects purfes, which is leffe nor blood: And laft of all, that he hes foe wounderfullie directed the tongue of that worthy Lady and noble Queen, together with the affections of the whole Counfell, foe that if furth of your Mas own bowells, they could not have confpyred more effaldly to your Mas promotion. These things crave a twofold duety of your Ma.: First, that yee take heed to your own heart, that the glory and glance of these earthly things deceive you not; that ye make them not your reward, nor place the confort and confolation of your heart in them; but rather, as they are given, use them as steppes and degrees to stepp up to the Crown that cannot fade nor faille : Next, feeing the God of heaven hes manifefted his unspeakable care, in preferving foe many Crowns and Kingdoms to yow, sir, your Ma. cannot eschew the note of ingratitude, if yee extend not your MaR credit, and imploy your whole care, for prefervation of his own kingdome.' THE KING anfwered, Mr Robert, be God's grace I fall not place my confort or confolation in them, or in any earthly thing: As for the prefervation of the kingdome, if I would preferve my own life, I muft ftudy to preferve it; for we have common freinds and commone enemies: The Papifts that fhutt at that kingdom, fhutt at my life alfo, as I know certainly. As touching this wounderfull mercy of God, Mr Robert, if yee be remembered I oft tymes foretold you, that God would bring this work about, after this fort;' and named fome places to him. But Mr Robert could not remember.

3

Mr Robert took his leave; and had as good a countenance of the King, as ever he had in his life, in his own judgement. The King did not urge him with any fuch thing as the Lords gave out; nor made mention of any thing, tending to that purpose. Ather the mediators were unfaithful, or God putt it clean out of his heart. When the King mounted on horfback, Mr Robert went to him againe, 1 A mode of expression for chamber. 3 Truly, sincerely; from afauld,' literally one-fold. • Dazzle, splendour, glitter; literally the reflection thrown from a mirror by the sun. Shoot, aim at. 6 In allusion to the numerous Conspiracies which had been devised by the Papists against his person.

2 Than.

Apr. 1603. to take his leave; and was as weill received as any fubject, of his calling, in Scotland. Those that ftood by heard the King say, 'Now all particulars1 are past betwixt yow and me, Mr Robert.' But Mr Robert himself could not remember that he heard these words.

Feb. 1605.

Jul. 1605.

Aug. 1607.

Feb 1603.

(16.)

NOTES from Calderwood's Church Hiftory, MS.

(1.) MR ROBERT BRUCE, the year of the King's departure out of the country, gott peace and reft; but the year following he was threatned of new, for the mater of GOWRY, to be deprived of life, living and ftipend. He was very farr caft down. Whill he was ryding to Stirline to fetch the Erle of Caffillis to his house, it pleased the Lord that night to give him a confortable vifion in his fleep. He recommended his cafe to God, and foe fell asleep. He faw great difficulties prefented to him, and it behoved him ather to paffe through them, or to die be the way. At the laft, he refolved, in God's obedience, to hazard; and whill he was paffing through, he feilleth a motion in his heart, moveing him to fay, in and through Michaell, the Captaine of the Lord of hofts, I fall prevaill, O Michaell! Michaell! Who is like the ftrong God! Mr Robert was greatly conforted with this; and putt it in write when he awaked.

This year the Commiffioners of the Generall Affembly directed Summonds, warning him to compear at Edinburgh, the 27 of Februar, to hear and fee himself removed from his function, in Edinburgh. He compeared before them, and took Mr Thomas Gray with him. But none gott acceffe but himself. After long reafoning, they removed him. He appealed from their fentence. They inhibited him to preach therafter. He obeyed not. The Laird of Lowreftoun, Commiffioner, had Commiffion to fee the fentence of Removall pronounced against him.

(2.) CHANCELLOR SETON fent for Mr Robert Bruce, advertised him that he had gotten command from the King to discharge him from teaching, &c.

(3.) THE fifth of August was folemnlie keeped in Edinburgh. The Kings fkoll was drunken be the Duke, his Commiffioner, and fome other noblemen at the croffe of Edinburgh, which was covered, for the greater folemnitie. Bacchus was fett up, and much wine drunkin and fweete meats caft abroad. Much vanitie and pastime, befide ringing of bells, and getting on of bale-fires. The peft brake up foon after.

(17.) LETTER, Mr Robert Bruce to the Laird of Beltrife (Sir James Sempill.)

RIGHT HONOURABLE COUSINE,

YE moft give me leave to utter my friendly counfell against you. To what purpose should ye and Mr Ewart put me in esperance of my liberty, be your Letters? Of yours I faw only one; and I have four of Mr Peter's, affuring me of ane confortable ifhue; and, in truth, I gave such credit, and was so certainly perfwadit be him, that I sent home my wife and children, and spoiled my felf of all my outward conforts, and exponed my felf to the extremitie of the feaffone, in a cold lodging, in thir miferable and barbarious parts, that I have almoft extinguished both my vitall and fenfitive fpirits. Why would ye not fignifie his Ma3 will plainly unto me, or to Mr Peter either? His Ma. pleasure should have been a law to me. Yea, if his hienes would command me to the fcaffold, I have a good confcience to obey him; and it would be more welcome to me nor this lingering death that I am in. The time has been I have done his Ma. acceptable service, as his own hand writts befides me will beare record; whilk I fall leave to my pofterity as their raireft jewells. I thank God, I was never within the compaffe of law; and yett am war used nor either Papift or Atheist. Alwayes I crave noe more of you, but a Chriftian duty. As I prayed you in my laft Letter, foe will I now; feed me not with complyments: The worst shall ay be welcome to me, be his grace who fuftaines me wounderfully. I am a