SCONE. ASSASSINATION OF JAMES I. 23 



and equally famous for the efficacy of its spring, and the picturesque scenery 

 by which it is surrounded.* 



Scone, with its numerous relics of antiquity, and long and intimate associa- 

 tions with royalty, has attractions peculiarly its own. The princely edifice 

 which now occupies the spot long consecrated as the residence of kings, and 

 the sanctuary of religion -is an object of the first attention to every stranger. 

 Of its internal arrangements and decorations we cannot here enter into any 

 detail ; but may simply state that, after having visited the finest palaces in 

 Europe, we can still find much to please and interest us in that of Scone. 

 Its position, on a fine terrace, gives it an imposing aspect when seen from the 

 river. In the short space of seven years, the patriot Wallace, Edward I., and 

 Robert Bruce, were severally resident at Scone. In 1715 the Pretender found 

 it sufficient to accommodate a numerous suite, and filled its courts with the 

 splendour of royalty. Preparations, too, were making for his coronation, but 

 were interrupted by an unwelcome visit from a party of the King's horse. The 

 earl of Mansfield has added several recent embellishments. 



In the church of the abbey of Scone was preserved the famous stone which 

 was said to have first served the patriarch Jacob for a pillow, and, afterwards 

 transported into Spain, was used as a seat of justice by Gothalus, a contem- 

 porary with Moses. From Spain it found its way to Dunstaffnage, and 

 there continued as the coronation-chair, till the reign of Kenneth II., who 

 removed it to Scone, where every Scottish sovereign was crowned upon it till 

 the year 1296, when Edward I. in order, it is said, to defeat an ancient 

 prophecy, -j- had it removed to Westminster Abbey, where it now remains an 

 indispensable requisite in coronation ceremonies. 



We now return to the historical recollections of Perth. Of these the more 

 prominent features are the tragic death of James I. and the Govvry Conspiracy, 

 which we shall briefly relate as they have been recorded by the best authorities. 



Sensible how deficient his long imprisonment had made him in the knowledge 

 of real life, James I. was most anxious in his endeavours to render himself 



disease, the unhappy youth communicated it to the lovely friends, who soon fell victims to its malignity. 

 They were buried in one grave, on the banks of the Almond ; the spot has been enclosed, and from its 

 romantic situation, and the melancholy circumstances of the story, is a favourite pilgrimage among lovers, 

 and the " poetical spirits" of the place. 



This water is composed principally of muriate of soda and muriate of lime, with a slight trace of 

 sulphate and carbonate of lime. In an English pint of the water, it contains about thirty-five grains of 

 the different salts. The effects are similar to those already mentioned of the spring at Dunblane, 

 t " Ni fallat fatum, Scoli quocunque locatum 



Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem." 

 This prediction was supposed to have been verified when James VI. ascended the English throne. 



