HIStORr of the SOCIETT. 31 



king called for drinke, and in a merry and homely manner fayde 

 to the Earle, that although the Earle had feen the fafl:iion of en- 

 tertaynements in other countries, yet hee would teach him the 

 Scottifla fafhion, feeing he was a Scottifh man ; and therefore, 

 fince he had forgotten to drinke to his Majeflie, or fit with his 

 guefts and entertayne them, his Majeflie would drinke to him 

 his owne welcome, defiring hime to take it forth and drink to 

 the reft of the company, and in his Maj cities name to make 

 them welcome." — 



^' When they had near-hand dined, the Earl of Gowrie came 

 from his Majeflies chamber, to drink his /coll to my Lord Duke 

 and the reft of the company, which he did. And immediately 

 after the /coll had pafTed about, this deponent raife from the ta- 

 ble, to have waited upon his Majefty, conform to his former 

 diredion," &c. p. 196. 227. Perth edit. 1774. In Cromarty's 

 edition there is the following note, " Scoll, the word ufed then 

 for drinking a health." The palfage itfelf is alfo differently 

 expreffed in this edition. " The Earl of Gowi-ie came from his 

 Majefty's chamber io the hall, and called for wine, and /aid that 

 he was direBed from his Maje/lys chamber to drink his /coll to my 

 Lord Duke," &c. Hiftorical Account, p. 40. 



As it is faid, that " Gowrie came from his Majefties chamber 

 to drink his fcoll to my Lord Duke," it has been fuppofed that 

 the king defired. them to drink his health in his abfence. But in 

 what way foever the paffage be read, it does not appear that this 

 is the meaning. The relative his, might be underftood in refe- 

 rence to Gowrie himfelf ; as intimating that the king defired 

 the Earl to go and welcome the company to his houfe, by drink- 

 ing to them. But although it be viewed as referring to James, 

 as it is immediately connedled with thefe words, " came from 

 his Majefties chamber," it will not follow, that it was the king's 

 defire that his own health fhould be drunk. From what he had 

 previoufly faid to Gowrie with refpedl to his omiffion, it is evi- 



VoL. v.— P. in. E dent 



i 



