273 



written soon after this, for Bruce was never in so much favour after- 

 wards ; but if it alludes to the queen's pregnancy, not till 1593: 

 for Prince Henry was not born till February 19, 1594. With re- 

 spect to dates, in general, there is some discrepancy in the writers 

 of that time ; some1;imes from misinformation, and at others, from 

 the promiscuous use of the old and new styles. ^ 



Althougli this austere divine was then so much in the good graces 

 of the queen and the chancellor's lady, as appears by the king's and 

 Maitland's letters, it could not be expected, that he should always 

 continue in favour. His high sense of professional duty must have 

 sometimes clashed with her majesty's expectations of deference and 

 respect ; accordingly, on a certain occasion, he was one of a depu- 

 tation appointed " to deal and expostulate with her majesty, among 

 other things, on the want of religious exercises and virtuous occu- 

 pations among her maids, and to move her to hear, now and then, 

 instruction of godly and discreet men." But lo ! when they went 

 down, they were deferred to another time, because she was then en- 

 gaged in dancing ! It would have been amusing to see the vene- 

 rable assembly, when their deputies reported this message. There 

 is also a tradition, that she once insulted him when in confinement, 

 asking him, " Where is now the God of the Presbyterians ?" His 

 reply was taken from Micah, vii. 8> 9, and 10th verses : " Rejoice not 

 against me, O mine enemy ; when I fall, I shall arise ; when I sit in 

 darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. — Then she that is mine 

 enemy shall see it ; and shame shall cover her who said. Where is 

 the Lord thy God ?" 



He was equally indifferent about retaining the favour of the kingi 

 when he thought it his duty to reprove him ; for " on the 6th of 

 June, 1591, the king being at Mr. R. Bruce's sermon in the little 

 kirk, Mr. Bruce moved the following question: " What could the 



