VII. 1589. BOOK This attempt being defeated, partly by Maitland's vigilance, and partly by their own ill-conduct, they were forced to retire to the North, where they openly erected the standard of rebellion. But as the King's government was not generally unpopular, or his ministers odious, their own vassals joined them slowly, and discovered no zeal in the cause. The King, in person, advancing against them with such forces as he could suddenly levy, they durst not rely so much on the fidelity of the troops, which, though superior in number, followed them with reluctance, as to hazard a battle; but suffering them to disperse, they surrendered to the King, and threw themselves on his mercy. Huntly, Errol, Crawford, and Bothwell, were all brought to a public trial. Repeated acts of treason were easily proved against them. The King, however, did not permit any sentence to be pronounced; and after keeping them a few months in confinement, he took occasion, amidst the public festivity and rejoicings at the approach of his marriage, to set them at liberty.* The King's marriage with Anne of Denmark. As James was the only descendant of the ancient monarchs of Scotland in the direct line; as all hopes of uniting the crowns of the two kingdoms would have expired with him; as the Earl of Arran, the presumptive heir to the throne, was lunatic; the King's marriage was, on all these accounts, an event which the nation wished for with the utmost ardour. He himself was no less desirous of accomplishing it; and had made overtures * Spotsw. 373. Cald. iv. 103-130. VII. 1589. for that purpose to the eldest daughter of Fre- BO O K derick II. King of Denmark. But Elizabeth, jealous of every thing that would render the accession of the house of Stewart more acceptable to the English, endeavoured to perplex James, in the same manner she had done Mary; and employed as many artifices to defeat or to retard his marriage. His ministers, gained by bribes and promises, seconded her intention; and though several different ambassadors were sent from Scotland to Denmark, they produced powers so limited, or insisted on conditions so extravagant, that Frederick could not believe the King to be in earnest; and suspecting that there was some design to deceive or amuse him, gave his daughter in marriage to the Duke of Brunswick. Not discouraged by this disappointment, which he imputed entirely to the conduct of his own ministers, James made addresses to the Princess Anne, Frederick's second daughter. Though Elizabeth endeavoured to divert him from this by recommending Catherine, the King of Navarre's sister, as a more advantageous match; though she prevailed on the privy council of Scotland to declare against the alliance with Denmark, he persisted in his choice; and despairing of overcoming the obstinacy of his own ministers in any other manner, he secretly encouraged the citizens of Edinburgh to take arms. They threatened to tear in pieces the chancellor, whom they accused as the person whose artifices had hitherto disappointed the wishes of the King and the ex VII. 1589. BOOK the Earl Marischal was sent into Denmark at the head of a splendid embassy. He received ample powers and instructions, drawn with the King's own hand. The marriage articles were quickly agreed upon, and the young Queen set sail towards Scotland. James made great preparations for her reception, and waited her landing with all the impatience of a lover, when the unwelcome account arrived, that a violent tempest had risen, which drove back her fleet to Norway, in a condition so shattered, that there was little hope of its putting again to sea before the spring. This unexpected disappointment he felt with the utmost sensibility. He instantly fitted out some ships, and, without communicating his intention to any of his council, sailed in person, attended by the chancellor, several noblemen, and a train of three hundred persons, in quest of his bride. He arrived safely in a small harbour near Upslo, where the Queen then resided. There the marriage was solemnized; and as it would have been rash to trust those boisterous seas in the winter season, James accepted the invitation of the court of Denmark, and repairing to Copenhagen, passed several months there, amidst continual feasting and amusements, in which both the Queen and himself had great delight.' Oct. 22. Nov. 24. No event in the King's life appears to be a wider deviation from his general character, than this sudden sally. His son Charles I. was capable of that excessive admiration of the other sex, which arises from great sensibility of heart, heightened Melvil, 352. Spotsw. 377. Murdin, 637. VII. 1589. by elegance of taste; and the romantic air of his BOOK journey to Spain suited such a disposition. But James was not susceptible of any refined gallantry, and always expressed that contempt for the female character which a pedantic erudition, unacquainted with politeness, is apt to inspire. He was exasperated, however, and rendered impatient by the many obstacles which had been laid in his way. He was anxious to secure the political advantages which he expected from marriage; and fearing that a delay might, afford Elizabeth and his own ministers an opportunity of thwarting him by new intrigues, he suddenly took the resolution of preventing them, by a voyage from which he expected to return in a few weeks. The nation seemed to applaud his conduct, and to be pleased with this appearance of amorous ardour in a young Prince. Notwithstanding his absence so long beyond the time he expected, the nobles, the clergy, and the people, vied with one another in loyalty and obedience; and no period of the King's reign was more remarkable for tranquillity, or more free from any eruption of those factions which so often disturbed the kingdom. THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND. BOOK and Queen arrive in Scotland. ON BOOK VIII. N the first of May the King and Queen ar rived at Leith, and were received by their 1590. subjects with every possible expression of joy. The King The solemnity of the Queen's coronation was conducted with great magnificence; but so low had the order of bishops fallen in the opinion of the public, that none of them were present on that occasion; and Mr. Robert Bruce, a Presbyterian minister of great reputation, set the crown on her head, administered the sacred unction, and performed the other customary ceremonies. THE zeal and success with which many of the clergy had contributed towards preserving peace and order in the kingdom, during his absence, reconciled James, in a great degree, to their persons, and even to the presbyterian form of goAugust 4. vernment. In presence of an assembly which |