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deliverance, and of GOWRIE's and his brotheris vile and bloody Confpiracie, intended to pe taking Jan. 1602. away of his Mas life; as is particularly fett down in the printed book and Acts theranent, or not? As his doubting of that turne hes been the principall cause of the doubt of many, and of his H. flander in that point, if he be willing to utter in pulpit, in fuch places as fall be appointed, his refolution therin, according to the forme of the said Articles, as clearly, as any his Mas good subjects have done; craving pardon, and excuseing his long incredulity, and the flander aryfing therupon; and wishing the people that anywife doubted pairof, as they were ever ready to conceive doubts upon unjust grounds, only moved by his example, foe now to be contented, be his means, rightly to be refolved thairof.1 (Sic fubfcribitur)

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JAMES R.

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(9.) THE SECOND CONFERENCE of MR ROBERT BRUCE with THE KING. In the beginning of Aprile, the Erle of Marr directed a Letter to Mr Robert Bruce, at the King's direction, to come to Brechin, with diligence. Immediatly before the receipt of the Letter, he was exercised in prayer, with fhedding of tears. When he come to Brechin, as foon as the King faw him, he raife, and come forward to the place where he ftood; and looked, as appeared to Mr Robert, very lovingly. He caused void the house, none remaining but the King and Mr Robert. The King afked, If he was refolved?' He answered, Yes.' He afked next, What moved him?' Mr Robert anfwered, Sundrie things, namely, my Lord of Marr his deep swearing; for I thought (said he) that a Chriftian, of his quality, could not forfwear himselfe, for all the gear in the world!' How could he fwear?' faid the King; he nather faw nor heard!' I cannot tell that, Sir,' said Mr Robert, 'but indeed he swore very deeply.' The King, understanding what was the forme of the oath, which he repeated to him: What was the cause, then,' faid the King, 'yee would not truft me ?' Sir,' faid Mr Robert, Your Ma. took noe paines to informe.' 'I fent,' faid the King, Sir Thomas Areskine to yow.' As for Sir Thomas Arefkine,' faid Mr Robert, I trusted him in a part; but thair were other things that I thought hard.' What was that?' faid the King. That part which concerned the MASTER OF GOWRIE and your Ma.' faid Mr Robert. 'Doubt yee of that?' said the King. Then yee could not but compt me a murtherer !' 'It followeth not, if it please you, Sir,' faid Mr Robert; ffor yee might have fome fecreitt caufe."3 The King deduced the whole Tragedie, from the beginning. Mr Robert uttered his doubt, where he found occafion. The King heard him gentlie, and with a conftant countenance; which Mr Robert admired. At laft, the King urgeth him to preach the Articles which were fent to him. Mr Robert answered, he had given his answer already to these Articles; and had offered to the Ambaffadors that which all men thought fatisfaction, yea more than preaching.' What is that?' faid the King. That I will fubfcrive my refolution,' faid Mr Robert. Truft you it?' faid the King. Yes, Sir,' faid Mr Robert. If ye truft it, why may yee not preach it?' faid the King. I fall tell yow, Sir,' faid Mr Robert; I give it but a doubtsome truft; for I learn this out of Bernard," in doubtfome things, to give undoubted truft, is temeritie; and in undoubted things, to give a doubtfome truft, is infirmity!" But this is undoubted,' faid the King. • Then bear with my infirmity!' faid Mr Robert. But yee fay it is more than preaching?' said the King. Sir, I ought to preach nothing but the word of God,' faid Mr Robert. Obedience to Princes, fuppofe they were wicked, is the word of God,' faid the King. I durft lay a waiger, ther is noe expreffe word of King James the Sexth, in the Scripture.' Yes,' faid Mr Robert, if thair be a King there, there is word for yow alfo.' The whole Kirk has done it already,' faid the King; yee muft not be fingular!' Sindrie have not done it,' faid Mr Robert. Shew me one!' faid the King.

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The Answers are general and evasive; and as the substance is contained in the following most remarkable CoxFERENCE with the King, at Brechin, it seems only necessary to refer the curious to Calderwood's Church History, MS. Vol. V. p. 598, &c. The Chamber. A common mode of expression at this time. Occasion, necessity. 4 Lat. admirare, marvelled; or wondered at.

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Apr. 1602. Your Ma. muft bear with me,' said Mr Robert; for it were against the rule of Charitie to harme my brethren.' He defyred the King to conveen the Miniftrie, to fee what they would injoyne him to doe. That needeth not,' faid the King; none darr or will refufe but yee; and therefore yee are the fole and only ground of my flander.' Mr Robert, to clear him of this imputation, faid, I have offered to fubfcrive my Refolution, in what language your Ma. pleaseth; which none have done but I.' Where is your Refolution?' faid the King. I fent it in write to your Ma.,' faid Mr Robert. That which yee fent was too generall,' faid the King; but what fault find yee in my Articles?' I cannot remember all; but one thing I remember,' faid Mr Robert, yee would have me to refolve according to your book; and who can doe that?' There is never a falfe word in that book,' faid the King. Yes, Sir, there are findrie.' 'Weill then,' faid the King, wee fall putt out that claus out of the Articles. What other fault find yee?' 'I cannot remember now,' faid Mr Robert. • Have yee not the Articles?' faid the King. I gave them to Sir Patrick Murray,' faid Mr Robert. I am fure,' faid the King, yee have keeped the Copie.' Mr Robert, perceiveing the King's drift, to urge ' him farther, thought it not expedient to produce the copie. Weill,' faid the King, stay heer till Sir Patrick Murrey come.' Yet, after fupper, Mr Robert gott licence to returne home, till the next advertisment.

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Sundrie other things past between the King and him, in conference; as namelie, Mr Robert defyred, that he and others of the Miniftrie be not urged to hurt thair confciences; and that his Ma. would not think, that honeft men would fell their foules; howbeit their bodies and geir fall be at his com mand.' • I understand not what ye mean,' said the King, be felling of your foules; but I fall gar the best of you fay and gainefay!' That may be, Sir,' faid Mr Robert, and that yitt they say not againft confcience.' Yee fall not find the like in me,' faid the King; my faying fall be alwife one.' It fetteth not to compare with your Ma.,' faid Mr Robert.-He prayed in heart, all the time, thus→→→ O Lord! keep my heart unto thee! and fave me frome the danger that this traitourous and false heart is like to caft me unto!'

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(10.) THE THIRD CONFERENCE of MR ROBERT BRUCE with THE KING. MR ROBERT BRUCE, after his Conference with the King at Brechine, was confined in the parioch where he had his dwelling place, and suffered to preach noe where ells. He received a Letter from the King, to come to him, to Perth, the 24 of June. When he come and entered in the King's chamber, no other was fuffered to enter but Sir Patrick Murrey. The King asked, Where the Articles were?' Mr Robert answered, that he had redelivered them to Sir Patrick Murrey. Sir Patrick produced them. After they were read, the King afked, If he was willing to preach according to thefe Articles? Not, Sir,' faid Mr Robert, if it please you?'Why?' fayis the King. Because my preaching is the mater of my Inftructiones and Commiffion: No Prince hath the pouer to give instructions to another Princes Ambaffader. I am the fone of God's Ambaffader and preacher!' But,' faid Mr David Lindsey,1yee offered to preach to that effect, before yee went out of the country.' Wherupon, Sir Patrick produced Mr Robert's Letter; which was read, in the audience of the King and Commiffioneris. Weill,' fayes Mr Robert, yee refused this offer, foe am I not bound to it.' ‹ Will yee goe from the thing yee have offered?' fay they. Weill,' fayeth Mr Robert, will this Letter fatisfie yow? Sall I be noe farther urged, in cafe we condefcend to this Letter?' Nay,' quoth the King, 'yee may fay all this and not be refolved! Say truely, was yee refolved at that tyme or no?' Not indeid,' faid Mr Robert. How fay yee then, that yee will give thanks for my deliverance, that day?' faid the King. Yes, Sir,' faid Mr Robert, I have caufe to give thanks for your prefervatione, fuppofe yee had caft your felf in danger.' I told yow that,' quoth the King; yee fee what he meant.

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1 He was Minister of Leith, and preached the Oration before the King the day of his landing after the Conspiracy.

Are yee now refolved? done,' faid the King.

one,

Yes, Sir,' faid he.

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That's but the duety of a subject, when yee have Jun. 1602. Are yee refolved to preach?' I am discharged to preach the pleasures of men,' faid Mr Robert: Place me where God placed me,1 and I fall teach fruitful doctrine, as God fall give me grace: But we have not that cuftome to be injoyned to preach; nor I darr not promise to keep that injunction. It lyeth not in my hand to make a promife; I know not certainly what God will fuffer me to fpeak; I may ftand dumb. Therefore, Sir, leave me frie; and when I fall find my felf to be moved, be God's fpirite, and to have the warrant of his word, I fall not faill to doe it.' That is plaine Annabaptiftry! That is a caball and tradition,' faid the King: Yee fall preach as the rest have done, or ells I cannot be fatisfied. Yee fall goe!' I pray your Ma.,' faid Mr R. fett down your difjunctive, and the God willing, fall be as welcome to me as the other. I have racked certainly a peace of my heart, to please your Ma.; now feeing your Ma. cannot be fatisfied, except I make shipwrack of all, lett me goe, in God's name. Suppofe I have fome commodities, as other mean gentlemen have, in your Mas countrie, yett, Sir, I never defyred to have feen your Mas face, or your countrie aither, except I had been certainly informed that your Ma. was fatisfied!' What warrant had yee? Who informed yow foe?' faid the King. If it please yow, Sir,' faid Mr Robert, I had first a warrant from the mouth of both your ambaffaders, who affured me their fatisfaction fould be yours.' I truft,' fayeth the King, they will not fay, fuppofe of all this new kindneffe that is knitt up betwixt yow.' Surelie, Sir,' faid Mr Robert, I am perfwaded they will fay it, and heer is a brother, (meaning Mr Patrick Simfone,) that hes heard my Lord of Marr fay as much. Befide this, if it please yow, Sir, I have your Mas own warrant, be Letter.' • What!' fayeth the King, my Letter ?' Your Ma' Letter,' fayeth Mr Robert, willeth me to fend in my refolution, in write; and therupon, promised to be fatisfied. And foe I did; and therefore, I ought not to be urged any farther.' 'My Letter beareth noe fuch thing,' fayeth the King. If it bear not, Sir, it fall turn to my own paines,' faid Mr Robert. I have it befide me.' The King went in to his Cabinet, and walked up and down a reasonable space. In the mean tyme, the Commiffioners dealt with Mr Robert, almoft each one after another. He would have glaidly gone out of the house, but the door was locked; foe he behoved to stand, till the King come out of the Cabinet. At laft, the King cometh out. The Commiffioners fay to him, Sir, feeing it is foe, that Mr Robert alledgeth fuch promifes, yee fall leave the preaching free to his own will: But let us come to his fubfcription in the rowme therof.' · Are yee content,' fayes Mr David and the reft, to fubfcribe the King's innocencie and their guiltineffe?' Not in these terms,' answered Mr Robert. The King urgeth him the more earnestly, and fayeth, 'I will not only have yow cleering mee, but my whole company.' As for your Mas company,' fayes Mr Robert, they have no need of my cleering; nather will they feek it. I am bound to your Ma., and I will doe all that lyeth in my poffibility.' Then yee muft fubfcribe my innocencie,' faid the

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King. Your own confcience, Sir, can doe that beft,' faid Mr Robert. It is very hard for me to do
it !' "
Why is it hard?' faid the King. Laith was Mr Robert to answer, leaft he fould irritat him;
but he infifted. Then faid Mr R. Your Ma. will not be offended if I fpeak freelie ?' 'Not,' faid
the King. I was reading,' faid Mr Robert, upon Ammandus Polanus, touching the flauchter of
the Magicians, when the King of Babell commanded to flay. Amandus difputeth the question, whe-
ther the King of Babel! did weill or not? First, he sayeth, animi gratia, it would appear that he did
weill; for he had the plaine law of God for him, in manie places: Yett he concluds against the King,
that he did not well; ffor, howfoever he had the Law, yett he looked not to the Law nor had regaird
to God nor his glory: Therfore fayeth he, howfoever the Magiftrat hath the fword and may moft
justly execute, yett if he have nothing but his own particular3 before his eyes, God nor his glory, he
is a Murtherer!—Now, Sir, I pray, what can I or any man fay, what your Ma. had before your eyes?
Or what particular yee had ?' It is true,' fayeth the King, and therfore I will give yow leave to
2
* Loth, unwilling, 3 Quarrel, offence, or cause.

1 Restore me to my pulpit.

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Jun. 1602. pose me upon the particulars." Then, first, it please yow,' said Mr Robert, Had yee a purpose to flay MY LORD?' 'As I fall answer to God,' fayeth the King, I knew not that my Lord was flaine till I saw him in his last 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 flaughter; for it was in my own defence.' Why brought yee him not to justice,' faid Mr Robert, seeing 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." Farther, Mr Robert demanded of the King, If he had a purpose, that day, in the morning, to flay Mr Alexander?' The King answered, upon his falvation, 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 confessed he had not God nor justice 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!

Nov. 1602.

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In end, Mr Robert yielded to fubfcribe 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 promise to him, that noe more fould be craved of him.' Soe, upon these 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 ac companyed 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 first heard.' 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 publish in pulpit his bill and refolution.

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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 fould enter and doe your duetie, as was told yow of before. His Ma. alledges, yee neyee ver bide long at one refolution; ffor, after my excufeing yow of your not abilitie for preaching the laft 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 anfwered, 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. fpeeche is) the duety of a good fubiect and of a good paftor; not to say, fimply, yee are refolved, which yee have done already; but yee must indeavour to remove all ferouple 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 ferouples, if any be, or by confirming them in the concewed truth; which, be your filence in this mater, will be called againe in queftion be them. The Lord give yow that refolution which may best ferve for his glory. HALYRUDHOUs, this Tuifday the laft of Nov 1602. Keep this ticket for both our warrants.

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

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 otherwise, as it is true indeed, I received wrong, I am noe wayes ambitious of it. For I have been twice thruft 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 fuffer us to ftand in that liberty wherein the Lord hes placed us, and to speak in the chair of truth, as the word and fpirit 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 constructions 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 these matters; which must have a farr greater grace nor2 to speak be way of injunctions, or speak as it were a cunned leffoun,3 or ane A B C putt in man's hand. The one deuty smelleth 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 constraint, nor yett putt unto my head, they will reverence them the

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.

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