Abbotsford Club > Historical memoirs of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a portion of the reign of King James the Sixth

HISTORIE
REIGNE OF KING JAMES THE SIXTH.
The Confederal Lords having obtained this Renunciation, which was
the thing they moft defyred, conveen at Sterlin, and upon the twenty-firft
day of July they croune [the] yong Prince King, by the name of Jamesi
THE Sixth ; verie few noblmen being prefent. Mr John Knox made
the fermon, and the Earle of Mortoune and the Lord Home fware, in
the King's name, to mantain the RelHgion then preacht in Scotland.
The King was but a chyld of one year old, one month, and odd dayes.
The Earle of Murray came tirft to London, and fainted the Queen of
England; where he was lookt upon with a great deall more honor than
at the court of France. From thence he came to Scotland, and was
receaved by the Confederal Lords (whom now we call the King's partie),
with much jov, and was in a manner adored. They offred him the fole
government of the kingdome, which (although it was the thing he long
expedled) he wold not undertake, for fome dayes; craving refpyte to
advyfe. In which tyme, he directed letters to feverall noblmen of the
Queen's fadtion, but in particular to the Earle of Argyle, his kinfman,
and old friend, fliewing the defyre of the people was to burthen him with
the charge of the fole government, in the King's minoritie ; that it was a
place he was notwoithie of; but becaufe of the miferies of the tyme, and
trubles of the cuntrie, it was fitt that the abfolut power were conferred