=24. The Directory and Confession of Faith.=--The Scots now hoped to see their Church and their Covenant adopted over all three kingdoms. In this hope they were disappointed, for the most of the parliamentary party were Independents, who had no idea of exchanging the tyranny of bishops for that of presbyters. An _Assembly of Divines_ met at _Westminster_, June 12, 1643, to settle religious matters. They adopted the Covenant, and the Scots in return accepted their directory of public worship, and the _Confession of Faith_ drawn up by them in place of their own _Books of Discipline_ and _Common Order_. But though the Covenant was thus nominally accepted in England, the different English sects were allowed far more liberty than the strict Covenanters thought right. =25. The King's Death.=--On the thirtieth of January, 1649, the King was beheaded at Whitehall. With the court of justice which professed to try him, with the sentence which it passed, and with the execution of that sentence, the Scots had nothing whatever to do. As they had no idea of the existence of their kingdom without a king, nor of having any other king than the hereditary one, no sooner was the news of the King's death known in _Edinburgh_, than _Charles_ his son was proclaimed _King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland_. =26. Charles II., 1649-1685. Fate of Hamilton and Huntly.=--_Hamilton_, who was a prisoner in England, was brought to trial as an English subject by his English title of _Earl of Cambridge_; he was found guilty of treason in invading the country, and was beheaded. _Huntly_ met with a like fate in Scotland. He was also charged with treason in having made war for the King against the Covenanters. =27. Montrose's Rising.=--Meanwhile in the north _Montrose_ made one more effort for the king. With a small army of foreigners which he had gathered on the _Continent_ he landed in _Orkney_, and from thence passed over to Scotland early in 1650. But his followers were dispersed by a detachment from the Covenanting army. He himself wandered for a while in the Highlands, but was at last taken prisoner, brought to _Edinburgh_, and hanged there without a trial. He was lying under sentence of death for treason, which had been passed against him five years before, when he first took up arms for the King. =28. Arrival of Charles.=--But while the Estates were thus dealing with the leaders of the Malignants, they were busy on their own account treating for the return of Charles. They looked on him as their lawful King, and they were ready to be faithful to him if he would sign the Covenant and promise to submit to the dictates of the Assembly. These promises he made, and, before he landed, he signed the Covenant, in July, 1650, while the courtiers whom he had brought with him were nearly all sent away as being either Malignants or Engagers.