The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part D.: From Elizabeth to James I.
David Hume · en
The earl of Morton had hitherto retained Scotland in strict alliance
with the queen, and had also restored domestic tranquility to that
kingdom; but it was not to be expected, that the factitious and
legal authority of a regent would long maintain itself in a country
unacquainted with law and order; where even the natural dominion
of hereditary princes so often met with opposition and control. The
nobility began anew to break into factions; the people were disgusted
with some instances of Morton’s avarice; and the clergy, who complained
of further encroachments on their narrow revenue, joined and increased
the discontent of the other orders. The regent was sensible of his
dangerous situation; and having dropped some peevish expressions, as
if he were willing or desirous to resign, the noblemen of the opposite
party, favorites of the young king, laid hold of this concession, and
required that demission which he seemed so frankly to offer them. James
was at this time but eleven years of age; yet Morton, having secured
himself, as he imagined, by a general pardon, resigned his authority
into the hands of the king, who pretended to conduct in his own name the
administration of the kingdom. The regent retired from the government,
and seemed to employ himself entirely in the care of his domestic
affairs; but either tired with this tranquillity, which appeared insipid
after the agitations of ambition, or thinking it time to throw off
dissimulation, he came again to court, acquired an ascendant in the
council, and though he resumed not the title of regent, governed with
the same authority as before. The opposite party, after holding separate
conventions, took to arms, on pretence of delivering their prince from
captivity, and restoring him to the free exercise of his government:
Queen Elizabeth interposed by her ambassador, Sir Robert Bowes, and
mediated an agreement between the factions: Morton kept possession of
the government; but his enemies were numerous and vigilant, and his
authority seemed to become every day more precarious.