396

HISTOEY OF ENGLAND.

chap, filling the great place of Chancellor, as standing high in the—^—royal favour, as an apostate from the reformed faith, and asthe man who had first introduced the thumbscrew into thejurisprudence of his country, was the most detested. Hisnerves were weak, his spirit abject; and the only couragewhich he possessed was that evil courage which bravesinfamy, and which looks steadily on the torments of others.His post, at such a time, was at the head of the Councilboard: but his heart failed him; and he determined to takerefuge at his country seat from the danger which, as hejudged by the looks and cries of the fierce and resolute popu-lace of Edinburgh, was not remote. A strong guard escortedhim safe to Castle Drummond: but scarcely had he departedwhen the city rose up. A few troops tried to suppress theinsurrection, but were overpowered. The palace of Holy-rood, which had been turned into a Roman Catholic seminaryand printing house, was stormed and sacked. Huge heaps ofPopish books, beads, crucifixes, and pictures were burnedin the High Street. In the midst of the agitation came downthe tidings of the King’s flight. The members of the govern-ment gave up all thought of contending with the popular fury,and changed sides with a promptitude then common amongScottish politicians. The Privy Council by one proclamationordered that all Papists should be disarmed, and by anotherinvited Protestants to muster for the defence of pure religion.The nation had not waited for the call. Town and countrywere already up in arms for the Prince of Orange. Nithisdaleand Clydesdale were the only regions in which there was theleast chance that the Roman Catholics would make head; andboth Nithisdale and Clydesdale were soon occupied by bandsof armed Presbyterians. Among the insurgents were somefierce and moody men who had formerly disowned Argyle,and who were now equally eager to disown William. HisHighness, they said, was plainly a malignant. There was nota word about the Covenant in his Declaration. The Dutchwere a people with whom no true servant of the Lord wouldunite. They consorted with Lutherans; and a Lutheran wasas much a child of perdition as a J esuit. The general voice of