the earl, had been murdered. An alarm was raised, and soon a large crowd assembled under the windows of Gowrie House, and a great outcry was raised against the king. "Come down!" they shouted; "come down, thou son of Signor Davie! thou hast slain a better man than thyself!" It was some time before the tumult could be allayed, and then the king and his party mounted their horses and rode back to Falkland.

About a month afterwards, the king published his account of this murder, which was to the effect that he was decoyed to Gowrie House by Alexander Ruthven, who promised to divide with him a pot of gold that he had stolen; that when the king left the chamber where he had dined, he was led into a room and there locked in with an armed man; that Alexander Ruthven retired, but soon returned and tried to bind the king; that the king overpowered him and thrust him out of the chamber, the armed man never interfering; that one of the royal train then came up and stabbed Ruthven twice or thrice with his dagger; that the Earl rushed in when the tumult rose, with some armed servants at his back, and after a sharp fight was stricken dead with a stroke through his heart. Such was the king's story. The courtiers who had been with him on the day of the tragedy testified to its correctness; but the majority of the people disbelieved it and the opinion became general that the Gowrie Conspiracy was a contrivance of the king to murder Gowrie.

Q

CHAPTER XXIX

THE WISEST FOOL IN CHRISTENDOM

UEEN ELIZABETH died on March 24, 1603, and the same day James VI. was proclaimed her successor. He began his progress southward on the fifth of April, and on May 6, entered London, greeted by the shouts of his English subjects.

James had a fixed aversion to a Presbyterian Church, and as fixed a love for a Church on the Episcopalian plan. A Presbyterian Church, he had found, could not be easily induced to do royal bidding. All its ministers being equal in power, nothing could be done except by the voice of the majority. This required public assemblies and free discussions - things which despots cannot bear. It was quite different with the Episcopacy. There the minister was merely the subject of the bishop, and the bishop of the archbishop. The king appointed both the bishops and the archbishops, so that the whole fabric hung at the royal girdle.

The removal of the Court from Edinburgh to London proved for a time disastrous to the trade and prestige of the Scottish capital. James was followed South by many of the nobility and gentry; and there soon began from Scotland an exodus which carried thousands of her sons to all quarters of the world. They repaired in such swarms to London that the king issued a proclamation forbidding any of his countrymen from leaving Scotland without a passport from the Privy Council. Walter Scott, in his Fortunes of Nigel, gives an interesting account of the Court of James I. in London, to which flocked so many thousands of his needy countrymen in search of place or preferment. In the beginning of James's reign the emigration from Scotland to Ulster began; and about the time of the English settlement of Virginia hundreds of enterprising Scots were crossing the Irish channel to build themselves homes and communities in Down and Antrim.

Besides these many went to the continent and served under foreign princes. A strong brigade of Scots fought with much glory in the armies of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden; while others entered the service of Austria and the Italian states. But the great majority of these soldiers of fortune made their way to France, where they had been favored visitors ever since the beginning of the Ancient League between that country and Scotia. There was a Scotland Street" in Paris as early as 1313, so-called from the number of Scottish students living thereon. Dieppe and Orleans, also, had its "Scottish Quarter." The Scots College was founded at Paris by David, Bishop of Moray, in the year 1326, and it was usually filled with Scotch students. In Bruce's day there were Scotch colonies at Metz and at Clermont-sur-Oise. "Scotch holy bread" (fat of beef), "Haughty as a Scot," "Through to daylight like a Scotch dagger" were some French proverbs of that time.

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The "Scots Guard," organized in France by Charles VII. about 1425, was the most trusted of all the royal troops, and the king's person was virtually placed in its care. It continued to be called the Scots Guard even after there had ceased to be any Scotchmen in it. In his story of Quentin Durward, Scott gives a fascinating description of the life these Guards led at Court and in the field. When Joan of Arc began her heroic struggle the Scottish soldiers warmly devoted themselves to her service; and in all the work of the recovery of France from England the Scots took a prominent part, until the throne of Charles VII. was secure. During the defence of Orleans the bishop of that See was a Scot named Kirkmichael, and while the siege lasted the bishop and the Scottish residents greatly distinguished themselves by their valor. When Joan of Arc made her way to the beleaguered city, she was accompanied by Sir Patrick Ogilvy and a large number of Scottish soldiers. One soldier, Walter Bowe, returned to his native land and became a monk at Inch Colm, where he continued Fordun's Chronicle, and commemorated the deeds of Joan of Arc, “whom," he writes, "I saw and knew and in whose company I was present to her life's end."

James was not long master of the English throne before he applied himself to his cherished design of putting down the Presbyterian and setting up an Episcopal Church in Scotland. Before doing this, he first proceeded to tear down the Presbyterian party in England. How James went about this work may be gathered from the account of his Hampton Court Conference, which was ordered to assemble at that palace in the early part of January, 1604, at which the king announced, he would hear arguments for and against the bishops. The account of this conference was published by Dr. Barlow, the Dean of Chester, in 1604. It was reprinted in 1638, and again in a collection of tracts called The Phonix. The following extracts are taken from a reprint made by Thomas Fuller in his Church History of Britain, published at London in 1655 (Oxford edition, 1845, vol. v., pp. 266 to 304):

First Day, Jan. 14, 1604:

KING JAMES." For blessed be God's gracious goodness, who hath brought me into the promised land, where religion is purely professed, where I sit amongst grave, learned, and reverent men; not as before, elsewhere, a king without state, without honor, without order, where beardless boys would brave us to our face.

Second Day, Monday, January 16th:

KING JAMES."I approve the calling and use of bishops in the church, and it is my aphorism, No BISHOP, NO KING,' nor intend I to take confirmation [away] from the bishops, which they have long enjoyed, seeing as great reason that none should confirm, as that none should preach, without the bishop's license.

MR. KNEWSTUB [regarding the use of the cross in baptism]." Put the case, the Church hath power to add significant signs, it may not add them where Christ hath already ordained them, which is as derogatory to Christ's institution as if one should add to the Great Seal of England.'

KING JAMES." The case is not alike, seeing the sacrament is fully finished before any mention of the cross is made therein."

MR. KNEWSTUB.-" If the Church hath such a power, the greatest scruple is, how far the ordinance of the Church bindeth, without impeaching Christian liberty."

KING JAMES.- -“I will not argue that point with you, but answer as kings in Parliament, Le roy s'avisera. This is like Mr. John Black, a beardless boy, who told me the last Conference in Scotland that he would hold conformity with his majesty in matters of doctrine, but every man for ceremonies was to be left to his own liberty. But I will have none of that; I will have one doctrine, one discipline, one religion, in substance and in ceremony. Never speak more to that point, how far you are bound to obey."

Dr. Reynolds.—"I desire, that, according to certain provincial constitutions, the clergy may have meetings every three weeks:

"i. In rural deaneries, therein to have prophesying, as Archbishop Grindall and other bishops desired of her late majesty.

"ii. That such things as could not be resolved there might be referred to the arch-deacon's visitations.

iii. And so, the episcopal synod, where the bishop with his presbytery shall determine such points before not decided."

KING JAMES. "If you aim at a Scottish Presbytery, it agreeth as well with monarchy as God and the devil. Then Jack and Tom, and Will and Dick, shall meet and censure me and my Council. Therefore, I reiterate my former speech, Le roy s'avisera. Stay, I pray, for one seven years before you demand; and then if you find me grown pursy and fat, I may perchance hearken unto you, for that government will keep me in breath and give me work enough. I shall speak of one matter more, somewhat out of order, but it skilleth not. Dr. Reynolds, you have often spoken for my supremacy, and it is well; but know you any, here or elsewhere, who like of the present government ecclesiastical, and dislike my supremacy y?”

DR. REYNOLDS." I know none."

KING JAMES." Why, then I will tell you a tale. After that the religion restored by King Edward the Sixth was soon overthrown by Queen Mary here in England, we in Scotland felt the effect of it; for thereupon Mr. Knox writes to the Queen Regent, a virtuous and moderate lady, telling her that she was the supreme head of the Church; and charged her as she would answer it at God's tribunal, to take care of Christ's evangel in suppressing the popish prelates who withstood the same. But how long, trow you, did this continue? Even till by her authority the popish bishops were repressed; and Knox, with his adherents, being brought in, made strong enough. Then began they to make small account of her supremacy, when, according to that more light wherewith they were illuminated, they made a farther reformation of religion. How they used the poor lady, my mother, is not unknown; and how they dealt with me in my minority. I thus apply it: My lords, the bishops, I may thank you that these men plead thus for my supremacy. They think they cannot make their party good, but by appealing unto it; but if once you were out and they were in, I know what would become of my supremacy; for, NO BISHOP, NO KING. I have learned of what cut they have been, who, preaching before me since my coming into England, passed over with silence my being supreme governor in causes ecclesiastical. Well, Doctor, have you anything else to say?"

DR. REYNOLDS." No more, if it please your Majesty."

KING JAMES." If this be all your party hath to say, I will make them

conform themselves, or else I will harry them out of the land, or else do

worse.

"Third Day:

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.-"Undoubtedly, your Majesty speaks by the special assistance of God's Spirit.

THE BISHOP OF LONDON." I protest, my heart melteth with joy, that Almighty God, of his singular mercy, hath given us such a king, as, since Christ's time, the like hath not been.'

Three events, of greater or less relative importance, characterize the reign of King James after his accession to the English throne. The first of these was a new translation of the Bible into English. This was suggested to the king at the Hampton Court Conference by the same Dr. Reynolds whose Puritan party the royal bully had threatened to harry out of his kingdom. James caught at the idea at once. To be the patron of such a work of learning exactly suited his vanity. Accordingly, though opposed by the Bishop of London, the proposition was sanctioned by the king. In July, 1604, he wrote a letter intimating the appointment of fifty-four scholars for the preparation of the version, and instructing the bishops that whenever a living of twenty pounds" became vacant, they should inform his Majesty of the circumstance, in order that he might recommend one of the translators to the patron. Seven of those who were appointed died, or declined the task. The remaining forty-seven were divided into six groups. Two groups sat at Westminster, two at Oxford, and two at Cambridge. They agreed upon their method of operation, made a division of the work, and completed their task within four years. The expenses seem to have been borne by Barker, the printer and patentee, who paid the sum of £3500.

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The second event for which the reign of James will be forever memorable was his confiscation of the estates of the banished Catholic earls of Ulster, the eviction of the native Irishry from these estates, and their subsequent plantation and acquisition by Scottish and English "undertakers," in accordance with the king's plans.

The third event was James's persecution of the Independents in England, and the oppression of the Presbyterians in Scotland. As a result of these persecutions, John Robinson's Pilgrim followers were compelled to seek a refuge in Holland, and later in America, where they founded the Puritan Commonwealth; while many of the bravest and most independent spirits in Scotland crossed over to the new settlements in Ulster, where they likewise helped to build up democratic communities and families that later added such a large and influential element to the Anti-Jacobite population of America.

The additional power which his position as King of England gave him soon led James to attempt the substitution of Episcopacy for Presbyterianism in Scotland. He first attempted to deprive the Scottish Church of its General Assemblies by proroguing their meetings; for he knew that so long