THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF JAMES I. 129 



Yet no one, however disposed he might be to believe that Burnett 

 at all times prefers the light of truth to the glare of paradox, will 

 tender his suffrage for him on this occasion without some substantial 

 facts. In the following curious document^ we conceive that the cri- 

 minality of James is declared as explicitly as words can speak it, 

 averse as the moralist may be from supposing that the acts and 

 deeds of a barbarous system find countenance in the kindred pro- 

 ceedings of more enlightened times: — 



"There be two famous houses in the north of Scotland, to wit, 

 Huntly and Murray, the house of Huntly is very mightie in men 

 and goodes, and soe is Murray, but not comparable to the other, as 

 all men knowes. True it is, that neither of the earles are soldiers, 

 yet Murray the most warlike man, both in courage and persone, for 

 he was comly of persone, of a great stature, and stronge of body. 

 Disdayne and injurie, that still invades the minde of man to corrupt 

 all friendly tranquillitie, did all so assayll the good mynde of this 

 valiant Murray ; the instrument whereof was Campbell of Caddel, 

 knight, a gentleman of the countrie, whoe the most part of his tyme 

 had spent at court, where hee had learned all the subtilties thereof, 

 not only to his owne greate hurt, but also to the stayne of his poste- 

 ritie. The knight of Caddell was very familier with the Chancellor 

 Maitland, from whome he received instructions to injender dis- 

 friendshippe betwixt Huntly and Murray, and consequently warrs, 

 that distroyes. All the whole commission hee accomplished very learn- 

 edly ; and soe inflamed the one against the other, that upon a cer- 

 tain day Huntly came with divers of his friends in the sight of the 

 castle of Tarnway, as it were to provoke wars ; tbe which Murray 

 consideringe, commanded his men to shoote ; where was slayne a 

 man called Gordon of Clume : after that, the wars increased soe, 

 that at some tyme Huntly, at some tyme Murray was victorious, 

 till at last Huntly tooke occasion to come to court, where hee, and 

 Chancellor Maitland were soe familiar, that first for favour of 

 Huntly, and lastly for hatred, hee had conceived against tbe name 

 of Stewart, for Bothwell saith hee devised to perswade the king 

 that it was necessarie those two noble men were agreed, for if his 

 majestic should have any thinge to doe against foreigne nations, he 

 woulde accomplish noe goode worke havinge his subjects in division, 

 and therefore willed the kinge to send my Lord of Ochiltry unto 

 Murray, and desire him to repaire to any part neere the court, be- 

 cause Huntly was then present with him, to the end his majestie 



X See Church History of Scotland. Fol. 1655, p. .'182. 

 VOL. VIII., NO. XXIII. 18 



