Thoughyourbodybeconfined，
Andsoftloveaprisonerbound，
Yetthebeautyofyourmind
Neitherchecknorchainhathfound。
Lookoutnobly，then，anddare
Eventhefettersthatyouwear。
FLETCHER。
ONAsoftsunnymorninginthegenialmonthofMay，Imadean
excursiontoWindsorCastle。Itisaplacefullofstoriedand
poeticalassociations。Theveryexternalaspectoftheproudold
pileisenoughtoinspirehighthought。Itrearsitsirregularwalls
andmassivetowers，likeamuralcrown，roundthebrowofalofty
ridge，wavesitsroyalbannerintheclouds，andlooksdown，witha
lordlyair，uponthesurroundingworld。
Onthismorningtheweatherwasofthatvoluptuousvernalkind，
whichcallsforthallthelatentromanceofaman’stemperament，
fillinghismindwithmusic，anddisposinghimtoquotepoetryand
dreamofbeauty。Inwanderingthroughthemagnificentsaloonsandlong
echoinggalleriesofthecastle，Ipassedwithindifferencebywhole
rowsofportraitsofwarriorsandstatesmen，butlingeredinthe
chamber，wherehangthelikenessesofthebeautieswhichgracedthe
gaycourtofCharlestheSecond；andasIgazeduponthem，depicted
withamorous，half—dishevelledtresses，andthesleepyeyeoflove，
IblessedthepencilofSirPeterLely，whichhadthusenabledmeto
baskinthereflectedraysofbeauty。Intraversingalsothe\"large
greencourts，\"withsunshinebeamingonthegraywalls，andglancing
alongthevelvetturf，mymindwasengrossedwiththeimageofthe
tender，thegallant，buthaplessSurrey，andhisaccountofhis
loiteringsabouttheminhisstriplingdays，whenenamoredoftheLady
Geraldine—
\"Witheyescastupuntothemaiden’stower，
Witheasiesighs，suchasmendrawinlove。\"
Inthismoodofmerepoeticalsusceptibility，Ivisitedtheancient
KeepoftheCastle，whereJamestheFirstofScotland，theprideand
themeofScottishpoetsandhistorians，wasformanyyearsofhis
youthdetainedaprisonerofstate。Itisalargegraytower，thathas
stoodthebruntofages，andisstillingoodpreservation。It
standsonamound，whichelevatesitabovetheotherpartsofthe
castle，andagreatflightofstepsleadstotheinterior。Inthe
armory，aGothichall，furnishedwithweaponsofvariouskindsand
ages，Iwasshownacoatofarmorhangingagainstthewall，which
hadoncebelongedtoJames。HenceIwasconductedupastaircaseto
asuiteofapartmentsoffadedmagnificence，hungwithstoried
tapestry，whichformedhisprison，andthesceneofthatpassionate
andfancifulamour，whichhaswovenintothewebofhisstorythe
magicalhuesofpoetryandfiction。
Thewholehistoryofthisamiablebutunfortunateprinceishighly
romantic。Atthetenderageofelevenhewassentfromhomebyhis
father，RobertIII。，anddestinedfortheFrenchcourt，tobereared
undertheeyeoftheFrenchmonarch，securefromthetreacheryand
dangerthatsurroundedtheroyalhouseofScotland。Itwashis
mishapinthecourseofhisvoyagetofallintothehandsofthe
English，andhewasdetainedprisonerbyHenryIV。，notwithstanding
thatatruceexistedbetweenthetwocountries。
Theintelligenceofhiscapture，cominginthetrainofmanysorrows
anddisasters，provedfataltohisunhappyfather。\"Thenews，\"we
aretold，\"wasbroughttohimwhileatsupper，anddidsooverwhelm
himwithgrief，thathewasalmostreadytogiveuptheghostintothe
handsoftheservantthatattendedhim。Butbeingcarriedtohis
bed—chamber，heabstainedfromallfood，andinthreedaysdiedof
hungerandgriefatRothesay。\"**Buchanan。
Jameswasdetainedincaptivityabouteighteenyears；butthough
deprivedofpersonalliberty，hewastreatedwiththerespectdueto
hisrank。Carewastakentoinstructhiminallthebranchesofuseful
knowledgecultivatedatthatperiod，andtogivehimthosemental
andpersonalaccomplishmentsdeemedproperforaprince。Perhaps，in
thisrespect，hisimprisonmentwasanadvantage，asitenabledhim
toapplyhimselfthemoreexclusivelytohisimprovement，and
quietlytoimbibethatrichfundofknowledge，andtocherishthose
eleganttastes，whichhavegivensuchalustretohismemory。The
picturedrawnofhiminearlylife，bytheScottishhistorians，is
highlycaptivating，andseemsratherthedescriptionofaheroof
romance，thanofacharacterinrealhistory。Hewaswelllearnt，we
aretold，\"tofightwiththesword，tojoust，totournay，to
wrestle，tosinganddance；hewasanexpertmediciner，rightcrafty
inplayingbothofluteandharp，andsundryotherinstrumentsof
music，andwasexpertingrammar，oratory，andpoetry。\"**TranslationofHectorBoyce。
Withthiscombinationofmanlyanddelicateaccomplishments，fitting
himtoshinebothinactiveandelegantlife，andcalculatedtogive
himanintenserelishforjoyousexistence，itmusthavebeenasevere
trial，inanageofbustleandchivalry，topassthespring—timeof
hisyearsinmonotonouscaptivity。ItwasthegoodfortuneofJames，
however，tobegiftedwithapowerfulpoeticfancy，andtobe
visitedinhisprisonbythechoicestinspirationsofthemuse。Some
mindscorrodeandgrowinactive，underthelossofpersonalliberty；
othersgrowmorbidandirritable；butitisthenatureofthepoet
tobecometenderandimaginativeinthelonelinessofconfinement。
Hebanquetsuponthehoneyofhisownthoughts，and，likethe
captivebird，poursforthhissoulinmelody。
Haveyounotseenthenightingale，
Apilgrimcoop’dintoacage，
Howdothshechantherwontedtale，
Inthatherlonelyhermitage！
Eventherehercharmingmelodydothprove
Thatallherboughsaretrees，hercageagrove。**RogerL’Estrange。
Indeed，itisthedivineattributeoftheimagination，thatitis
irrepressible，unconfinable；thatwhentherealworldisshutout，
itcancreateaworldforitself，andwithanecromanticpower，can
conjureupgloriousshapesandforms，andbrilliantvisions，tomake
solitudepopulous，andirradiatethegloomofthedungeon。Suchwas
theworldofpompandpageantthatlivedroundTassoinhisdismal
cellatFerrara，whenheconceivedthesplendidscenesofhis
Jerusalem；andwemayconsiderthe\"King’sQuair，\"composedby
James，duringhiscaptivityatWindsor，asanotherofthose
beautifulbreakings—forthofthesoulfromtherestraintandgloom
oftheprisonhouse。
ThesubjectofthepoemishislovefortheLadyJaneBeaufort，
daughteroftheEarlofSomerset，andaprincessofthebloodroyalof
England，ofwhomhebecameenamoredinthecourseofhiscaptivity。
Whatgivesitapeculiarvalue，isthatitmaybeconsidereda
transcriptoftheroyalbard’struefeelings，andthestoryofhis
reallovesandfortunes。Itisnotoftenthatsovereignswritepoetry，
orthatpoetsdealinfact。Itisgratifyingtotheprideofa
commonman，tofindamonarchthussuing，asitwere，foradmission
intohiscloset，andseekingtowinhisfavorbyadministeringto
hispleasures。Itisaproofofthehonestequalityofintellectual
competition，whichstripsoffallthetrappingsoffactitiousdignity，
bringsthecandidatedowntoalevelwithhisfellow—men，and
obligeshimtodependonhisownnativepowersfordistinction。It
iscurious，too，togetatthehistoryofamonarch’sheart，andto
findthesimpleaffectionsofhumannaturethrobbingundertheermine。
ButJameshadlearnttobeapoetbeforehewasaking：hewas
schooledinadversity，andrearedinthecompanyofhisown
thoughts。Monarchshaveseldomtimetoparleywiththeirhearts，orto
meditatetheirmindsintopoetry；andhadJamesbeenbroughtupamidst
theadulationandgayetyofacourt，weshouldnever，inall
probability，havehadsuchapoemastheQuair。
Ihavebeenparticularlyinterestedbythosepartsofthepoemwhich
breathehisimmediatethoughtsconcerninghissituation，orwhich
areconnectedwiththeapartmentinthetower。Theyhavethusa
personalandlocalcharm，andaregivenwithsuchcircumstantial
truth，astomakethereaderpresentwiththecaptiveinhisprison，
andthecompanionofhismeditations。
Suchistheaccountwhichhegivesofhiswearinessofspirit，and
oftheincidentwhichfirstsuggestedtheideaofwritingthepoem。It
wasthestillmidwatchofaclearmoonlightnight；thestars，hesays，
weretwinklingasfireinthehighvaultofheaven：and\"Cynthia
rinsinghergoldenlocksinAquarius。\"Helayinbedwakefuland
restless，andtookabooktobeguilethetedioushours。Thebookhe
chosewasBoetius’ConsolationsofPhilosophy，aworkpopularamong
thewritersofthatday，andwhichhadbeentranslatedbyhisgreat
prototypeChaucer。Fromthehigheulogiuminwhichheindulges，it
isevidentthiswasoneofhisfavoritevolumeswhileinprison：and
indeeditisanadmirabletext—bookformeditationunderadversity。It
isthelegacyofanobleandenduringspirit，purifiedbysorrowand
suffering，bequeathingtoitssuccessorsincalamitythemaximsof
sweetmorality，andthetrainsofeloquentbutsimplereasoning，by
whichitwasenabledtobearupagainstthevariousillsoflife。It
isatalisman，whichtheunfortunatemaytreasureupinhisbosom，or，
likethegoodKingJames，layuponhisnightlypillow。
Afterclosingthevolume，heturnsitscontentsoverinhismind，
andgraduallyfallsintoafitofmusingontheficklenessoffortune，
thevicissitudesofhisownlife，andtheevilsthathadovertakenhim
eveninhistenderyouth。Suddenlyhehearsthebellringingto
matins；butitssound，chiminginwithhismelancholyfancies，seems
tohimlikeavoiceexhortinghimtowritehisstory。Inthespiritof
poeticerrantryhedeterminestocomplywiththisintimation：he
thereforetakespeninhand，makeswithitasignofthecrossto
imploreabenediction，andsalliesforthintothefairylandof
poetry。Thereissomethingextremelyfancifulinallthis，anditis
interestingasfurnishingastrikingandbeautifulinstanceofthe
simplemannerinwhichwholetrainsofpoeticalthoughtare
sometimesawakened，andliteraryenterprisessuggestedtothemind。
Inthecourseofhispoemhemorethanoncebewailsthepeculiar
hardnessofhisfate；thusdoomedtolonelyandinactivelife，and
shutupfromthefreedomandpleasureoftheworld，inwhichthe
meanestanimalindulgesunrestrained。Thereisasweetness，however，
inhisverycomplaints；theyarethelamentationsofanamiableand
socialspiritatbeingdeniedtheindulgenceofitskindand
generouspropensities；thereisnothinginthemharshnorexaggerated；
theyflowwithanaturalandtouchingpathos，andareperhapsrendered
moretouchingbytheirsimplebrevity。Theycontrastfinelywiththose
elaborateanditeratedrepinings，whichwesometimesmeetwithin
poetry；—theeffusionsofmorbidmindssickeningundermiseriesof
theirowncreating，andventingtheirbitternessuponanunoffending
world。Jamesspeaksofhisprivationswithacutesensibility，but
havingmentionedthempasseson，asifhismanlyminddisdainedto
broodoverunavoidablecalamities。Whensuchaspiritbreaksforth
intocomplaint，howeverbrief，weareawarehowgreatmustbethe
sufferingthatextortsthemurmur。WesympathizewithJames，a
romantic，active，andaccomplishedprince，cutoffinthelustihoodof
youthfromalltheenterprise，thenobleuses，andvigorousdelights
oflife；aswedowithMilton，alivetoallthebeautiesofnatureand
gloriesofart，whenhebreathesforthbrief，butdeep—toned
lamentationsoverhisperpetualblindness。
HadnotJamesevincedadeficiencyofpoeticartifice，wemight
almosthavesuspectedthattheseloweringsofgloomyreflectionwere
meantaspreparativetothebrightestsceneofhisstory；andto
contrastwiththatrefulgenceoflightandloveliness，that
exhilaratingaccompanimentofbirdandsong，andfoliageandflower，
andallthereveloftheyear，withwhichheushersintheladyofhis
heart。Itisthisscene，inparticular，whichthrowsallthemagic
ofromanceabouttheoldCastleKeep。Hehadrisen，hesays，at
daybreak，accordingtocustom，toescapefromthedrearymeditations
ofasleeplesspillow。\"Bewailinginhischamberthusalone，\"
despairingofalljoyandremedy，\"for，tiredofthoughtand
wobegone，\"hehadwanderedtothewindow，toindulgethecaptive’s
miserablesolaceofgazingwistfullyupontheworldfromwhichheis
excluded。Thewindowlookedforthuponasmallgardenwhichlayatthe
footofthetower。Itwasaquiet，shelteredspot，adornedwitharbors
andgreenalleys，andprotectedfromthepassinggazebytreesand
hawthornhedges。
Nowwastheremade，fastbythetower’swall，
Agardenfaire，andinthecornersset
Anarbourgreenwithwandislongandsmall
Railedabout，andsowithleavesbeset
Wasalltheplaceandhawthornhedgesknet，
Thatlyf*wasnone，walkyngthereforbye
Thatmightwithinscarceanywightespye。
Sothickthebranchesandthelevesgrene，
Beshadedallthealleysthattherewere，
Andmidstofeveryarbourmightbesene
Thesharpe，grene，swetejuniper，
Growingsofair，withbrancheshereandthere，
Thatasitseemedtoalyfwithout，
Theboughsdidspreadthearbourallabout。
Andonthesmallgrenetwistis*（2）set
Thelytelswetenightingales，andsung
Soloudandclear，thehymnisconsecrate
Oflovisuse，nowsoft，nowloudamong，
Thatallthegardenandthewallisrung
Rightoftheirsong—
*Lyf，Person。
*（2）Twistis，smallboughsortwigs。
Note。—Thelanguageofthequotationsisgenerallymodernized。
ItwasthemonthofMay，wheneverythingwasinbloom；andhe
interpretsthesongofthenightingaleintothelanguageofhis
enamoredfeeling：
Worship，allyethatloversbe，thisMay，
Forofyourblissthekalendsarebegun，
Andsingwithus，away，winter，away，
Come，summer，come，thesweetseasonandsun。
Ashegazesonthescene，andlistenstothenotesofthebirds，
hegraduallyrelapsesintooneofthosetenderandundefinable
reveries，whichfilltheyouthfulbosominthisdeliciousseason。He
wonderswhatthislovemaybe，ofwhichhehassooftenread，and
whichthusseemsbreathedforthinthequickeningbreathofMay，and
meltingallnatureintoecstasyandsong。Ifitreallybesogreata
felicity，andifitbeaboonthusgenerallydispensedtothemost
insignificantbeings，whyishealonecutofffromitsenjoyments？
OftwouldIthink，OLord，whatmaythisbe，
Thatloveisofsuchnoblemyghtandkynde？
Lovinghisfolke，andsuchprosperitee
Isitofhim，asweinbooksdofind：
Mayheourehertessetten*andunbynd：
Hathheuponourhertessuchmaistrye？
Orisallthisbutfeynitfantasye？
Forgiffhebeofsogreteexcellence，
Thatheofeverywighthathcareandcharge，
WhathaveIgilt*（2）tohim，ordoneoffense，
ThatIamthral’d，andbirdisgoatlarge？
*Setten，incline。
*（2）Gilt，whatinjuryhaveIdone，etc。
Inthemidstofhismusing，ashecastshiseyedownward，hebeholds
\"thefairestandthefreshestyoungfloure\"thateverhehadseen。
ItisthelovelyLadyJane，walkinginthegardentoenjoythe
beautyofthat\"freshMaymorrowe。\"Breakingthussuddenlyuponhis
sight，inthemomentoflonelinessandexcitedsusceptibility，she
atoncecaptivatesthefancyoftheromanticprince，andbecomesthe
objectofhiswanderingwishes，thesovereignofhisidealworld。
Thereis，inthischarmingscene，anevidentresemblancetothe
earlypartofChaucer’sKnight’sTale；wherePalamonandArcitefall
inlovewithEmilia，whomtheyseewalkinginthegardenoftheir
prison。Perhapsthesimilarityoftheactualfacttotheincident
whichhehadreadinChaucermayhaveinducedJamestodwellonit
inhispoem。HisdescriptionoftheLadyJaneisgiveninthe
picturesqueandminutemannerofhismaster；andbeingdoubtlesstaken
fromthelife，isaperfectportraitofabeautyofthatday。He
dwells，withthefondnessofalover，oneveryarticleofherapparel，
fromthenetofpearl，splendentwithemeraldsandsapphires，that
confinedhergoldenhair，eventothe\"goodlychaineofsmall
orfeverye\"*aboutherneck，wherebytherehungarubyinshapeofa
heart，thatseemed，hesays，likeasparkoffireburninguponher
whitebosom。Herdressofwhitetissuewasloopeduptoenableher
towalkwithmorefreedom。Shewasaccompaniedbytwofemale
attendants，andabouthersportedalittlehounddecoratedwithbells；
probablythesmallItalianhoundofexquisitesymmetry，whichwasa
parlorfavoriteandpetamongthefashionabledamesofancient
times。Jamescloseshisdescriptionbyaburstofgeneraleulogium：*Wroughtgold。
Inherwasyouth，beauty，withhumbleport，
Bounty，richesse，andwomanlyfeature；
Godbetterknowsthenmypencanreport，
Wisdom，largesse，*estate，*（2）andcunning*（3）sure，
Ineverypointsoguidedhermeasure，
Inword，indeed，inshape，incountenance，
Thatnaturemightnomoreherchildadvance。
*Largesse，bounty。
*（2）Estate，dignity。
*（3）Cunning，discretion。
ThedepartureoftheLadyJanefromthegardenputsanendtothis
transientriotoftheheart。Withherdepartstheamorousillusion
thathadshedatemporarycharmoverthesceneofhiscaptivity，and
herelapsesintoloneliness，nowrenderedtenfoldmoreintolerable
bythispassingbeamofunattainablebeauty。Throughthelongand
wearydayherepinesathisunhappylot，andwhenevening
approaches，andPhoebus，ashebeautifullyexpressesit，had\"bade
farewelltoeveryleafandflower，\"hestilllingersatthewindow，
and，layinghisheaduponthecoldstone，givesventtoamingledflow
ofloveandsorrow，until，graduallylulledbythemutemelancholy
ofthetwilighthour，helapses，\"halfsleeping，halfswoon，\"intoa
vision，whichoccupiestheremainderofthepoem，andinwhichis
allegoricallyshadowedoutthehistoryofhispassion。
Whenhewakesfromhistrance，herisesfromhisstonypillow，
and，pacinghisapartment，fullofdrearyreflections，questionshis
spirit，whitherithasbeenwandering；whether，indeed，allthathas
passedbeforehisdreamingfancyhasbeenconjuredupbypreceding
circumstances；orwhetheritisavision，intendedtocomfortand
assurehiminhisdespondency。Ifthelatter，hepraysthatsometoken
maybesenttoconfirmthepromiseofhappierdays，givenhiminhis
slumbers。Suddenly，aturtledove，ofthepurestwhiteness，comes
flyinginatthewindow，andalightsuponhishand，bearinginher
billabranchofredgilliflower，ontheleavesofwhichiswritten，
inlettersofgold，thefollowingsentence：
Awake！awake！Ibring，lover，Ibring
Thenewisgladthatblissfulis，andsure
Ofthycomfort；nowlaugh，andplay，andsing，
Forintheheavendecretitisthycure。
Hereceivesthebranchwithmingledhopeanddread；readsitwith
rapture：andthis，hesays，wasthefirsttokenofhissucceeding
happiness。Whetherthisisamerepoeticfiction，orwhetherthe
LadyJanedidactuallysendhimatokenofherfavorinthis
romanticway，remainstobedeterminedaccordingtothefaithorfancy
ofthereader。Heconcludeshispoem，byintimatingthatthepromise
conveyedinthevisionandbytheflowerisfulfilled，byhisbeing
restoredtoliberty，andmadehappyinthepossessionofthesovereign
ofhisheart。
SuchisthepoeticalaccountgivenbyJamesofhisloveadventures
inWindsorCastle。Howmuchofitisabsolutefact，andhowmuchthe
embellishmentoffancy，itisfruitlesstoconjecture：letusnot，
however，rejecteveryromanticincidentasincompatiblewithreal
life；butletussometimestakeapoetathisword。Ihavenoticed
merelythosepartsofthepoemimmediatelyconnectedwiththetower，
andhavepassedoveralargepart，writtenintheallegoricalvein，so
muchcultivatedatthatday。Thelanguage，ofcourse，isquaintand
antiquated，sothatthebeautyofmanyofitsgoldenphraseswill
scarcelybeperceivedatthepresentday；butitisimpossiblenot
tobecharmedwiththegenuinesentiment，thedelightfulartlessness
andurbanity，whichprevailthroughoutit。Thedescriptionsof
naturetoo，withwhichitisembellished，aregivenwithatruth，a
discrimination，andafreshness，worthyofthemostcultivatedperiods
oftheart。
Asanamatorypoem，itisedifyinginthesedaysofcoarser
thinking，tonoticethenature，refinement，andexquisitedelicacy
whichpervadeit；banishingeverygrossthoughtorimmodest
expression，andpresentingfemaleloveliness，clothedinallits
chivalrousattributesofalmostsupernaturalpurityandgrace。
JamesflourishednearlyaboutthetimeofChaucerandGower，andwas
evidentlyanadmirerandstudieroftheirwritings。Indeed，inone
ofhisstanzasheacknowledgesthemashismasters；and，insomeparts
ofhispoem，wefindtracesofsimilaritytotheirproductions，more
especiallytothoseofChaucer。Therearealways，however，general
featuresofresemblanceintheworksofcontemporaryauthors，which
arenotsomuchborrowedfromeachotherasfromthetimes。Writers，
likebees，tolltheirsweetsinthewideworld；theyincorporate
withtheirownconceptionstheanecdotesandthoughtscurrentin
society；andthuseachgenerationhassomefeaturesincommon，
characteristicoftheageinwhichitlived。
Jamesbelongstooneofthemostbrillianterasofourliterary
history，andestablishestheclaimsofhiscountrytoa
participationinitsprimitivehonors。Whilstasmallclusterof
Englishwritersareconstantlycitedasthefathersofourverse，
thenameoftheirgreatScottishcompeerisapttobepassedoverin
silence；butheisevidentlyworthyofbeingenrolledinthatlittle
constellationofremotebutnever—failingluminaries，whoshineinthe
highestfirmamentofliterature，andwho，likemorningstars，sang
togetheratthebrightdawningofBritishpoesy。
SuchofmyreadersasmaynotbefamiliarwithScottishhistory
（thoughthemannerinwhichithasoflatebeenwovenwithcaptivating
fictionhasmadeitauniversalstudy），maybecurioustolearn
somethingofthesubsequenthistoryofJames，andthefortunesof
hislove。HispassionfortheLadyJane，asitwasthesolaceofhis
captivity，soitfacilitatedhisrelease，itbeingimaginedbythe
courtthataconnectionwiththebloodroyalofEnglandwouldattach
himtoitsowninterests。Hewasultimatelyrestoredtohisliberty
andcrown，havingpreviouslyespousedtheLadyJane，whoaccompanied
himtoScotland，andmadehimamosttenderanddevotedwife。
Hefoundhiskingdomingreatconfusion，thefeudalchieftains
havingtakenadvantageofthetroublesandirregularitiesofalong
interregnumtostrengthenthemselvesintheirpossessions，andplace
themselvesabovethepowerofthelaws。Jamessoughttofoundthe
basisofhispowerintheaffectionsofhispeople。Heattachedthe
lowerorderstohimbythereformationofabuses，thetemperateand
equableadministrationofjustice，theencouragementoftheartsof
peace，andthepromotionofeverythingthatcoulddiffusecomfort，
competency，andinnocentenjoymentthroughthehumblestranksof
society。Hemingledoccasionallyamongthecommonpeoplein
disguise；visitedtheirfiresides；enteredintotheircares，their
pursuits，andtheiramusements；informedhimselfofthemechanical
arts，andhowtheycouldbestbepatronizedandimproved；andwasthus
anall—pervadingspirit，watchingwithabenevolenteyeoverthe
meanestofhissubjects。Havinginthisgenerousmannermadehimself
strongintheheartsofthecommonpeople，heturnedhimselftocurb
thepowerofthefactiousnobility；tostripthemofthosedangerous
immunitieswhichtheyhadusurped；topunishsuchashadbeenguilty
offlagrantoffences；andtobringthewholeintoproperobedience
tothecrown。Forsometimetheyborethiswithoutwardsubmission，
butwithsecretimpatienceandbroodingresentment。Aconspiracywas
atlengthformedagainsthislife，attheheadofwhichwashisown
uncle，RobertStewart，EarlofAthol，who，beingtoooldhimselffor
theperpetrationofthedeedofblood，instigatedhisgrandsonSir
RobertStewart，togetherwithSirRobertGraham，andothersofless
note，tocommitthedeed。Theybrokeintohisbedchamberatthe
DominicanConventnearPerth，wherehewasresiding，andbarbarously
murderedhimbyoft—repeatedwounds。Hisfaithfulqueen，rushingto
throwhertenderbodybetweenhimandthesword，wastwicewounded
intheineffectualattempttoshieldhimfromtheassassin；anditwas
notuntilshehadbeenforciblytornfromhisperson，thatthe
murderwasaccomplished。