Many of the Scots were indignant at this proceeding, and said openly that both the regency and the guardianship of the infant Mary belonged to Hamilton, earl of Arran, who, as next heir to the crown through his grandmother, the daughter of James II., would be king, it was said, if the little princess should chance to die. Had not her two brothers died in their infancy? The general hatred of the cardinal, and the horror felt at the thought of living under the government of a priest, impelled a large number of people to support the cause of Hamilton. ‘Occasion offers herself to you,’ they said to him; ‘do not let her pass.’ The laird of Grange especially urged this noble to maintain his rights. But Arran, for want of spirit, was ready to abandon them. It was at last determined to call together the nobility of the realm, that they might decide to whose hands the government should be intrusted during the minority. The nobles met on the appointed day. The cardinal and his partisans resisted with all their might the proposal to commit the government of the realm to the earl of Arran. ‘The Hamiltons,’ said they, ‘are cruel murderers, oppressors of innocents, proud, avaricious, double and false, and finally, the pestilence in this commonwealth.’ Arran had, indeed, given himself up to the domination of dishonorable men. However, he remained calm, and contemned these insults. ‘Call me what you please,’ replied he, ‘but defraud me not of my right. Whatever my friends have been, yet unto this day has no man cause to complain upon me. Neither yet am I minded to flatter my friends in their evil doing, but by God’s grace shall be forward to correct their enormities. Therefore yet again, my lord, in God’s name I crave that ye do me no wrong, nor defraud me of my just title before ye have experience of my government.’ This appeal touched the hearers, and all cried out that unless the fear of God and his righteousness were trampled under foot, the claim of Arran could not be rejected. He was therefore proclaimed governor of Scotland, in spite of Beatoun; and the king’s palace, his treasures, his jewels, and other chattels of the crown were delivered up to him by the officials who had charge of them. This took place on January 10, a few days after the cardinal’s proclamation. [Sidenote: ARRAN PROCLAIMED REGENT.]