112 MOTIVES TO THE CONSPIRACY UNKNOWN.

tremely beloved, hearing the fate of the two brothers, ran to their arms, and surrounded the house, threatening revenge, with many insolent and opprobrious speeches against the king. James endeavoured to pacify the enraged multitude, by speaking to them from the window; he admitted their magistrates into the house; related to them the whole circumstances of the fact; and their fury subsiding, by degrees they dispersed. On searching the pockets of the Earl for papers, which might discover the designs of his accomplices, nothing was found but a small parchment bag full of magical characters, and words of enchantment; and in the account of the conspiracy published by the king, it is asserted, that while they were about him, the wound of which he died bled not, but as soon as they were taken away, the blood gushed out in great abundance.

"AFTER all the dangerous adventures of this busy day, the king returned in the evening to Falkland, having committed the dead bodies of the two brothers to the custody of the magistrates of Perth.*"

NOTWITHSTANDING the minute detail, as Dr. Robertson observes, which the king gave of all the circumstances of this conspiracy against his life; the motives which induced the two brothers to attempt an action so detestable, the end they had in view, and the accomplices on whose aid they depended, were altogether unknown. Three of the Earl's attendants being con

* Robertson's History of Scotland, Book VIII.

ANCIENT RELIGIOUS HOUSES.

113

victed of assisting him in his assault on the king's servants, were executed at Perth; but they could give no light into the motives which had prompted their master to such an action. Diligent search was made for the person concealed in the study, and from him great discoveries were expected. But Henderson, the Earl's steward, who, upon a promise of pardon, confessed himself to be the man, declared he was as much a stranger to the designs of his master as the rest; and though placed in the study by Gowrie's command, he did not even know for what end that station had been assigned him.

THE Contest which followed between James and his clergy, after this mysterious event, is truly ridiculous. He could not prevail upon them to allow that an attempt had been made upon his life, and therefore to thank God publicly for his escape. Some of them were on this account banished to England.

THERE were formerly a great many religious houses and establishments in Perth, which were mostly destroyed at the time of the Reformation. Among these may be enumerated the following:

1. THE Dominican, or Black Friars monastery, founded by Alexander II., in 1231.

2. THE monastery of White Friars, or Carmelites, which was founded in the reign of Alexander III.

114

KNOX FIRST PREACHED AT PERTH.

3. THE Charter-house, or monastery of Carthusians, founded by James I., in 1429.

4. THE Franciscan, or Gray Friars monastery, founded by Lord Oliphant, in 1460.

BESIDES the parish church of St. John Baptist, which still remains, and the church which made part of the buildings of these four monasteries, there were nine chapels, some of which had hospitals for the poor and sick, and likewise small nunneries annexed to them. All these churches and chapels were filled with altars consecrated to the various saints, and each of the altars had one officiating chaplain, or more, when more than one saint was honoured at the same altar.*

It was at Perth that the reformed religion was first publicly avowed; to this place John Knox repaired, on his return to his native country from Geneva, where he had passed some years in banishment, and where he had imbibed, from his commerce with Calvin, the highest fanaticism of his sect, which was augmented by the natural ferocity of his temper.

HAVING been invited back to Scotland, he, on Thursday the 11th of May, 1559, preached a sermon in the parish church of Perth, against idolatry. After the sermon, a priest was so imprudent as to open his repository of images and relics, and pre

Stat. Account of Perth.

RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS IN PERTH. 115

pare to say mass. The audience, having caught the enthusiasm of Knox from his sermon, were in a disposition for any ferocious enterprise. They attacked the priest with fury, broke the images in pieces, tore the pictures, overthrew the altars, scattered about the sacred vases, and left no implement of idolatrous worship, as they termed it, entire or undefaced. They thence proceeded with additional numbers, and augmented rage, to the monasteries of the Gray and Black Friars, which they entirely pillaged and demolished. The Carthusians underwent the same fate.*

THE present inhabitants of Perth, who are of the established church, have three churches; there is likewise a Gaelic chapel, and a relief church. Among the dissenters are a small congregation of old Scotch Episcopalians: an English episcopal chapel: a small society of Cameronians; another of Anabaptists; a congregation of Burgher, and another of Antiburgher seceders, and a society of Glassites, or Sandemanians.

FROM the town we were conducted by Mr. Young along a fine zig-zag walk, to the top of the hill of Kinnoul, which has a gentle ascent on the south and east side, but the west is perpendicular, like many similar hills in Scotland, some of which will afterwards be particularly noticed. On the side of this hill Mr. Young is building a very good house, which is delightfully situated, and commands a fine prospect.

* See Hume's History, and Newte's Tour.

This

THE view from the top of Kinnoul hill is delightful, and very extensive: before us lay stretched out the Carse of Gowrie, a very fertile plain, rich in corn, and adorned with many noblemen's and gentlemen's seats. This beautiful plain is twenty miles in length, and, on an average, about three in breadth. Through this vale, the majestic Tay rolls along its waters, enlivened by the sails bearing the produce of different parts to Perth, and carrying its fish and manufactures in return. river, though it does not assume the name of Tay till it issues. from Loch Tay, has its origin at a much greater distance. It rises in Breadalbane, on the frontiers of Lorn, in Argyleshire. Before it has advanced many miles from its source, its stream becomes considerably augmented by several brooks that fall into it from the neighbouring hills. It soon after diffuses its waters into a small lake, called Loch Dochart; and indeed the river itself is here called the Dochart.* Issuing from this lake, it soon expands into another; out of this it proceeds to Killin, where, meeting with another river from the north-east, their waters form Loch Tay. Issuing from this beautiful and spacious lake at Kenmore, the Tay, as has been before observed, soon unites with the Lyon: at Logierait it is joined by the waters of the Tummel. Here it turns southward, and, passing Dunkeld, bends its course towards Perth; being, as it advances, still augmented by the accession of various tributary streams. A little below Perth it turns to the south-east, and receiving, as it proceeds, the waters of the Earn, it soon after expands to the

* Heron's Journey through Part of Scotland.