History of the Fife Pitcairns

LORD ROBERT PITCAIRN. 99
and he might command the entire strength of England
if requisite.
The adverse faction, finding the Regent supported by
Elizabeth, conspired against his life — James Hamilton,
nephew of the Archbishop of St Andrews, promising to
perpetrate the deed at Linlithgow. The Regent was told
of the plot, but would not alter his plans : he was shot at
there, from a wooden balcony, when he was riding through
the town.
Murray leaped from his horse and walked to his lodgings ;
but his wound being mortal, he settled his family affairs,
commended the King to those who were present, and with-
out having uttered one harsh expression, he died before
midnight, 23rd Jan. 1570. His death was a great loss. He
had a wonderful felicity in transacting business, and was
just and lenient. The common people wept for him who,
they declared, had made the safety of their country.
His house, like a holy temple, was free from all impiety
and improper conversation. At dinner and supper a chapter
was always read from the Holy Scriptures. His liberality
was great. In his domestic circle he was distinguished by
frankness and simplicity. By his uprightness of manners
and the purity of his life, he was dear to, and venerated by,
not only his own countrymen, but by strangers and foreign
nations, especially the English, to whom his virtues were
more particularly known in every variety of fortune. He
was buried in St Giles' Cathedral.
Queen Elizabeth had received Wood with much disdain,
saying he was a low-bred man, and asking for some one of
higher rank to supply his place ; therefore Pitcairn, Abbot
of Dunfermline, a man of greater consideration, was chosen
by the Lords to go to England instead.
Morton and his party, to quicken the motions of Drury, repre-
sented themselves and their cause as on the brink of ruin, and sent
Pitcairn, Abbot of Dunfermling, to renew the negotiations for de-
livering Mary into their hands ; but this project broke off, by Eliz-
abeth pretending that Pitcairn was not authorised to give securities
for Mary's safety in Scotland. During this transaction, Mary's lords