An infraction of the truce with Scotland by some of the English borderers provoked James to retaliate. Having summoned the whole force of his kingdom to meet him in arms, he invested Roxburgh castle, which lie failed to reduce. It was impossible to procure pro visions, and a retreat was therefore the only alterna tive. James had incensed the nobles by his vigorous administration. The commonalty were also displeased, because of the taxes imposed, which they were dispos ed to view in the light of extortion.
Sir Robert Graham, uncle of the Earl of Stratherne, had suffered imprisonment from some unknown cause. Being of a resentful disposition, he persuaded a num ber of the nobles and gentry to support him in repre senting their grievances to the king. But his violence led him to excess. He rose from his seat in parlia ment, advanced to the throne, and laid his hand upon the king. He was immediately ordered into confine ment; and was sentenced to suffer banishment, and confiscation of his property. He then sent a defiance in writing to the king, renouncing his allegiance, and denouncing vengeance. A royal proclamation was issued, offering a large reward for his apprehension, while he was organizing a conspiracy against the king's life. Walter, Earl of Atholl, the king's uncle, and Sir Robert Stewart his nephew, were the principal ac complices. Graham offered to support Sir Robert's pretensions to the crown, in the event of the king's as sassination.
The murder was committed at Perth, where the court had been celebrating the festival of Christmas. James died in the 44th year of his age, and the 13th of his reign. But in a few weeks the leaders of the conspiracy were seized, tried, and executed. James left one son and five daughters.
James the Second, a child of six years of age, suc ceeded his father, and was crowned at Scone. A very judicious parliamentary enactment was promulgated, revoking all alienations of lands or other property be longing to the crown since the death of the late king, except what had been sanctioned by the estates; and interdicting all future alienations, unless sanctioned by the parliament.
The state of the kingdom required that the hostili ties commenced before the late king's death should be discontinued. A truce for nine years was concluded with England. An unhappy rivalship between Crich ton and Livingstone weakened the authority of the go vernment. The nobles relapsed into their former feuds.
The house of Douglas had been aggrandised by an accession of possessions and titles of honour. The chancellor, apprehensive of danger from Douglas's ex orbitant power, adopted an impolitic expedient to de stroy him. He invited the earl and his brother into the castle of Edinburgh, where, after the semblance of a trial, they were beheaded. James, lord of Abercorn, succeeded to the estates and titles of Douglas, and transmitted them• to his son, who married Margaret, the Fair Maid of Galloway, and the sister of the late murdered Earl of Douglas. Thus the house of Dou glas was raised to its former influence and splendour. The king's ministers were the first to feel the resent ment of a nobleman, whose power became formidable even to the throne.
Having attained his fourteenth year, James was per suaded to assume the government in person. Douglas insinuated himself into his favour and confidence, and procured the dismissal of the late administration. Crichton and Livingstone were soon after denounced as rebels, and their estates confiscated. In revenge, the chancellor, who had shut himself np in the castle of Edinburgh, wasted the estates of Douglas. A royal army, under the king, invested Edinburgh castle, and Douglas was created lieutenant-general of the king dom.
The earl of Huntingdon and Lord Percy entered Scotland with 15,000 men. They were met and de feated by a force under Douglas. The earl of Salis bury, lord-lieutenant of the north of England, raised an army to revenge his countrymen; but the Scots at tacked him, routed his army, and ravaged the north of England.
An embassy under Crichton proceeded to France, to renew the ancient league, and to select a bride for James, now in his sixteenth year. They accordingly entered upon a matrimonial engagement with Mary, daughter of the duke of Guelderland. The bride land ed at Leith,and the nuptials were celebrated with much pomp.
• A truce was concluded with England, which might be violated by either party, upon giving a notice of 180 days. James assembled a parliament at Edin burgh, and enacted a variety of statutes which evince his wisdom and beneficence. Douglas withdrew from court, and passed to Rome to witness the celebration of the jubilee. Upon his return home, he persevered in his treasonable conduct, attempted to assassinate the Chancellor, and formed a league with the Lord of the Isles.