146 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



might betray the Im-king assassin. As the regent approached the gate, a 

 warning, for the second time, reached his ear that treason was at work ; but 

 he only smiled incredulously, and, treating the whispered omen as an invention 

 by which his enemies sought to intimidate him into concessions, continued his 

 progress. Apprehensions for his safety now circulated more freely ; even the 

 house where the ambuscade was suspected was pointed out ; but, although it occa- 

 sioned a momentary hesitation as to the route, the cavalcade proceeded. In the 

 mean time, Bothwellhaugh stood in the fatal gallery — a brass carbine raised to 

 his eye, a lighted match between his fingers, watching every undulation of the 

 crowd, and already exulting in his unhallowed triumph. The acclamations of 

 the people, and the waving of plimied helms and bonnets, met the regent at 

 every step of his progress ; but could he have read them aright, they would have 

 sounded more dismal than any welcome that had ever met his ear. Arrived in 

 front of the house, he was in the act of replying to the salutations, and sat 

 uncovered on his steed ; when a sudden flash from the gallery, followed by a 

 loud report and curling smoke, confirmed the worst apprehensions — and the 

 regent sank under the shot of an assassin. 



His attendants, thrown into momentary consternation, could only gaze at 

 the point where the murderous volley had left its witness ; but the next 

 instant they rushed to the door — the windows — the gallery, and every accessible 

 point. But these were proof to manual strength, and too strongly barricaded 

 to give way to their impatient efforts ; while every avenue communicating with 

 the building was stuffed with thorn or furze. Bothwellhaugh, having seen his 

 victim fall, mounted a fleet steed in waiting beliind the premises and was 

 abeady on his way to Hamilton, followed by several of the regent's vassals, who 

 liac' tracked him from his starting post, and were now in hot pursuit. The mettle 

 of his steed, however, carried him out of danger, and receiving the congratulations 

 of his clan, mixed with the curses of his bafiled pursuers, he repaired subse- 

 quently to France, where he engaged in military service under the Guises. 



Queen Elizabeth, who had lost a faithful cooperator by the death of Murray, 

 expressed her liorror of the deed, and resolved to avenge his fall. For this 

 purpose, an English army invaded the country ; and, after destroying the town 

 of Hamilton, burnt the duke of Chatelherault's house in Linlithgow, his palace 

 of Kinneil, the mansions of Pardovan, Bynnie, Kincavel, and the chaj^el of 

 Livingston. We now revert to another imjjortant epoch. 



The "battle of Linlithgow" was fought on the 4th of September, 1526, with 

 the design of rescuing James V. from the domination of the earl of Angus. 

 Lennox, the friend of the sovereign, arrived with his host in the neighbourhood 



