ment, and gives an account of the committee of lords of articles, whose business it was to prepare and digeft matters for parliament. Of this body, half the number being at the king's devotion, by means of his authority with them, he could put a negative upon his parliament before debate, as well as after it.

Having thus explained the internal conftitution of Scotland, in the next place he takes a view of the political state of Europe at that period, when the following hiftory commences.

Such is the general fcope of this preliminary book; in which our Author appears with uncommon advantage, both as a politician and an hiftorian. To explain the conftitutional princi ples of a rude unpolifhed ftate, to trace the causes which contributed to establish a fimple and barbarous policy, and to unfold the practices which were made ufe of, to counteract its effects, was an undertaking which required no fmall skill and nicety in the execution. Whether we confider our Author with regard to the accurate order and difpofition of his matter, the acuteness and penetration of his refearches, the weight and folidity of his reflec ions, or the force and energy of his expreffion, we fhall find him equally worthy of attention and applause.

By this natural and skilful introduction, the Reader's mind is prepared for the hiftory of that period, wherein Scotland was miferably torn by inteftine commotions, which produced as fudden and extraordinary revolutions as ever were recorded in the annals of antiquity: and this preliminary book enables us to difcover the caufes of thofe turbulent events, in the nature and conftitution of the kingdom. By this help we read with pleafure, and reap profit from our attention.

The period we fpeak of begins with the birth of Mary Queen of Scots, who, according to our Author, was born a few days before the death of her father, James V. The fituation in which he left the kingdom, alarmed all ranks of men with the prospect of a turbulent and difaftrous reign. A war against England had been undertaken without neceflity, and carried on without fuccefs. Many perfons of the firft rank had fallen into the hands of the English, in the unfortunate rout near the Firth of Solway, and were ftill prifoners at London. Among the rest of the Nobles there was little union, either in their views or affections; and the religious difputes, occafioned by the opinions of the Reformers, growing every day more violent, added to the rage of thofe factions which are natural to a form of government nearly Ariftocratical.

Our Hiftorian proceeds to recount the fecret and open attempts of Henry VIII. with regard to Scotland; but he obferves, that

his hopes were all blafted by death, which happened after a reign of greater fplendor than true glory; buftling, though not active; oppreffive in domeftic government, in foreign politics wild and irregular. But the vices of this Prince, our Author adds, were more beneficial to mankind, than the virtues of others. His rapacioufnefs, his profufion, and even his tyranny, by depreffing the antient nobility, and by adding new property and power to the commons, laid the foundation of British liberty. His other paffions contributed no lefs towards the downfall of Popery, and the establishment of religious freedom in the nation. His refentment led him to abolish the power, and his covetousness to seize the wealth, of the church; and by withdrawing these supports, made it eafy, in the following reign, to overturn the whole fabrick of fuperftition."

Nothing can be more juft and animated than this lively portraiture of Henry VIII. Confidered in his private capicity, he was a monfter in nature; as a King, we are indebted to him for the effects of his arbitrary fway, though we are by no means obliged to him for the motives of his conduct.

The learned Writer, in the course of his hiftory, traces the progrefs of the reformation with great care and accuracy; and draws a juft character of that celebrated and intrepid reformer, John Knox, who began his public miniftry at St. Andrews, in the year 1547. Our Hiftorian likewife accounts for the eftablifhment of Presbyterian church government. The ecclefiaftical government, he obferves, was plainly copied from the civil. In Switzerland, and the Low Countries, the nature of the government allowing full scope to the genius of reformation, all pre-eminence of order in the church was deftroyed, and an equality eftablifhed, more fuitable to the fpirit of republican policy. The fituation of the primitive church fuggefted the idea, and furnished the model of the latter fyftem, which has fince been called Prefbyterian. Among the firft Chriftians, opprefled by continual perfecution, the influence of religion concurred with a sense of danger, in extinguishing among them the spirit of ambition, and in preferving a parity of rank, the effect of their fufferings, and the cause of many of their virtues. Calvin, whofe decifions were received among the Protestants of that age with incredible fubmiflion, was the patron and restorer of this fcheme of ecclefiaftical policy. The church of Geneva, formed under his eye, and by his direction, was efteemed the most perfect model of this government; and Knox, who, during his refidence in that city, had ftudied and admired it, warmrecommended it to the imitation of his countrymen.

Our

Our limits will not allow us to purfue our Author further on this fubject, but we refer the Reader to the book itself; where he will find the affairs of the church copioufly treated, with great moderation, unaffected piety, and good fenfe. We have chofen to comprize what relates to ecclefiaftical concerns under this general epitome, and we now return to the tranfactions of civil government,

The learned Hiftorian takes notice, that the ftruggles between the English and Scots, forced the latter into an union with France; in confequence of which, Mary was fent to be educated in that kingdom, and at length married to the Dauphin.-He reprefents the court of France as the politeff, but most corrupted in Europe; where Mary acquired every accomplishment which could add to her charms as a woman, and contracted many of thofe prejudices which occafioned her misfortunes as a Queen.

The Writer purfues the thread of hiftory through the admi niftration of Mary of Guife, the Queen-Dowager, who fucceeded as regent during Mary's minority, upon the refignation of the Earl of Arran, the former regent. This period is chiefly employed in ftruggles between the Reformed and the Catholics; with the latter of which the Queen-regent indifcreetly fided, and died in the heat of religious conteft. In fumming up her character, our Hiftorian fays, No Princess ever poffeffed qualities more capable of rendering her adminiftration illuftrious, or her people happy. Of much difcernment, and no lefs addrefs; of great intrepidity, and equal prudence; gentle and humane, without weakness; zealous for her religion, without bigotry; a lover of juftice, without rigour."

Here impartiality obliges us to obferve, that the particulars recorded of her adminiftration feem to contradict the general character here afcribed to her. The Hiftorian informs us, that the broke the moft folemn promifes and treatifes with the Proteftants. Though fhe undertook to put a stop to the intended. trial of the preachers, on condition that they and their retinue. advanced no nearer Stirling (whither they were marching); yet upon the multitude's difperfing, fhe proceeded to call the preachers to trial, and upon their non-appearance, the rigour of juf tice (they are our Author's own words) took place, and they were pronounced-out-laws. It is remarkable likewife, that thefe violations were more than once repeated. Therefore we are at a lofs to determine with what propriety fhe can be faid to have been prudent, gentle, and humane, and a lover of justice without rigour. Indeed the Hiftorian may be thought in fome meafure to account for this inconfiftency, when he fays, that the was attached to the Princes of Lorrain, her brothers, with the

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moft paffionate fondness; and that she departed, in order to gratify them, from every maxim which her own witdom or humanity would have approved.' But this, in our judgment, is but a weak defence of her character, and does by no means warrant what the Hiftorian has faid of her virtues. Where the heart is juft and humane, it will never be fwayed to act in fettled oppofi tion to its own good principles; though perhaps in fingle inftances it may, by milreprefentation and delufion, be perfuaded to purfue measures inconfiftent with itself. Could, we however, poffibly imagine any human Being to have a title to justice and humanity, whose actions, through wrong guidance, or any other principle, have an oppofite tendency, yet we fhould deem it far beneath the virtue and dignity of history to countenance fuch a fuppofition. There can be no reasonable pretence whatever to attribute prudence, juftice, and humanity, to those who, from a partial and fond attachment to others, perfift in repeated violations of wife and virtuous principles. They only can be deemed juft, difcreet, and humane, who act agreeably to the dictates of their own reafon and confcience. The eye of man can judge only from appearances, and though in particular cafes it may be able to feparate the motive from the deed, yet a long perfeverance in evil measures affords a ftrong prefumption that the heart is a ftranger to virtue. But to return to the hiftory, which draws to that period wherein Mary Queen of Scots, entered upon the bufy fcene of life.

Upon the death of her husband, Francis II. of France, fhe retired from the French court; and being invited to return into Scotland, began to make ready for her journey: but while the was preparing for it, fays our Hiftorian, there w fown between her and Elizabeth, the feeds of that perfonal jealoufy and difcord, which imbittered the life, and shortened the days, of the Scotch Queen. He traces, with great judgment and fagacity, the origin of that fatal animofity, which fhewed itfelf openly, upon Elizabeth's refufing Mary a fafe conduct during her voyage: which nevertheless did not retard her departure from France. Our Author has reprefented Mary's reluctant parting with the French coaft, in the most moving and affecting defcription. With her eyes bathed in tears, the gazed upon the coaft, and fighing, cried out, Farewell France! farewell beloved country! which I fhall never more behold!

The Hiftorian proceeds, among other things, to give an account of the negotiations concerning the Queen's marriage, and explains the views of the feveral parties interested, particularly of Elizabeth, with great acuteness and difcernment. In the next place he takes a view of the civil commotions which happened previous to Mary's marriage with Lord Darnly, by whom

he had James VI. of Scotland. He fhews ftrong feeling, and great knowlege of the human heart, in defcribing the rapid progrefs of the Queen's affection for her husband, and her extravagant averfion which enfued. His account of the murder of the King, is circumftantially related; and the character of that unhappy Prince is drawn with great spirit and judgment.

The fufpicion of this murder, our Hiftorian obferves, fell with almost a general confent on Bothwell; and fome reflections were thrown out, as if the Queen herself were no ftranger to the crime. He admits, that there are full proofs of her diffimulation with her husband, and adds, that her known fentiments with regard to him, gave a great appearance of probability to the imputation with which the was loaded.

The history then proceeds to relate the flight manner in which this matter was examined; Bothwell's partial acquittal, and his ftrange marriage with the Queen, after a caufelefs divorce from his own wife; the combination of the Nobles against the Queen and Bothwell; the rout of the Queen's army, which ended in her husband's ruin, and her own imprisonment; thefe are the fubjects of the fucceeding pages.

The diftrefs of Mary, after her furrender to the Nobles, is represented in such strong and pathetic terms, that we cannot help entertaining the moft tender fentiments of compaffion for fo wretched an object, though her vices disgraced her fex, degraded her from her dignity, and debafed human nature.

As foon as Bothwell retired, Mary furrendered to Kirkaldy, who conducted her toward the confederate army, the leaders of which received her with much refpect; and Morton, in their name, made ample profeffions of their future loyalty and obedience. But fhe was treated by the common foldiers with the utmoft infolence and indignity. As the marched along, they poured upon her all the opprobrious names, which are bestowed only on the lowest and most infamous criminals. Wherever the turned her eyes, they held up before her a ftandard, on which was painted the dead body of the late King, ftretched on the ground, and the young Prince kneeling before it, and uttering thefe words," Judge and revenge my caufe, O Lord!" Mary turned with horror from fuch a fhocking fight. She began already to feel the wretched condition to which a captive Prince is reduced. She uttered the most bitter complaints, the melted into tears, and could fcarce be kept from finking to the ground. The confederates carried her towards Edinburgh, and, in fpite of many delays, and after looking with the fondnefs and credulity natural to the unfortunate for fome unexpected relief, the arrived there. The streets were covered with multitudes, whom

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