copious detection of those spurious poems, by fome supposed to reflect the greatest honour, by others the greatest disgrace, on that part of the nation which claims and attests the imposture as its own. As this work forms a Continuation of Robert. son's History of Scotland, with which it coincides, it is my design to add, in a small preliminary, or rather intermediate volume, an Historical and Critical Differtation on the accession of Mary Queen of Scots to the murder of her husband. When revived by Goodall, the question was decided by Hume and Robertson; but the declamatory apologies which have since appeared, serve only to perplex, and to render the controversy more obscure than ever. A clear and concise deduction of facts, in the order of time, and a critical examination of the letters, sonnets, and other evidence, are still requisite to establish the innocence, or the guilt of Mary, on a better foundation than the perversion of every historical fact. On this fubject I have already discovered, and may still expect to procure some original materials, subservient to the evidence of which the public is possessed. The reader will be disappointed who expects to be gratified, in this work, with any pointed, political allusions to the present times. The prefent ever appears the most important period, and the political productions of the day are overpaid with praise at the time, in proportion as they are afterwards neglected or contemned. But the following History was mostly written in a distant folitude, folitude, far removed from political discussion. It would be difficult to speak of the present times, without degenerating either into adulation or censure, and absurd indeed to render the history of the last century a comment on the philosophy or folly of the present. EDINBURGH, ERRATA TO Vol. I. $6. 85. 2. 200. Page 35. line 6. note, for Romanam read Romano for regalem dum read dum regalem 22. for provisional read provincial 6. note, for 1669 read 1609 79. 3. for operated read operates for fixty read fifty 116. 1. mote, for season read reason 162. margin, for of read to the Scots 176. line 13. for by discharge read by a discharge 188. 21. for constructed read constructive 192. 22. for conciliatory read but conciliatory 198. 4. note, for their read the original, 1. for were read was represented 203 30. for on read in the present reign 22. for as read and as 213. 31. for their former read the former 219. 2. note, for a court read the court 2. for evaded read invaded 251• 7. for in read on the confines 255. 2. dele as 298. 5. note, for Airley, with, read Airley with 24. for addreffed read addreffes 5. nore, for afterwards read allo 210. 222. THE Acceffon, and departure of James from Scotland.- State of that kingdon-Union, and ecclesiastical conformity attempted.--Retrospective view of prefbytery.—Revival of prelacy.-State, and proposed improvement of the Borders Highlands and Isles. - Discoveries of Gowrie's conspiracy, of Balmerino's treafon ; ecclesiastical affairs.--King's journey to Scotland. - Articles of Perth.-Death and character of James. 1. 1503. He marriage of James IV. and of Margaret, BOOK TH eldest daughter of Henry VII. was productive at first of a temporary alliance, and at the distance of a century, of a permanent union between Scot- Descent, land and England. After the first generation, the issue of Henry had terminated in females, and on the VOL. I. B 1. 1503• crown. BOOK the death of Elizabeth his grandchild, the blood of the Tudors existed, almost exclusively, in the throne of Scotland, which his unhappy mother was 1567 forced to resign ; but had attained to a mature The design of this History is, to It is seldom that the accession of a foreigner is from his birth-place, to the antipathy of a people, terests of almost every political party in England. 1603. The puritans, who had experienced his friendly intercession with Elizabeth, anticipated a reforma- And accef. fion of · Fuller, 224. strong |