ing festival of Christmas. If we are to believe the popular historians and chroniclers of the times, many supernatural indications were given of James' approaching fate. In 1436, towards the end of that year, Sir James Balfour notes, that a fearful comet, like a fiery sword, was seen in the heavens, as if between Edinburgh and Perth; * and the same author gravely observes, that this year in Perth a sow brought forth a dog. A fearful eclipse also, it is said, lasted for three hours, during which it was as dark as midnight; and these hours were long remembered in Scotland as the black hours. As a remarkable prodigy, we are informed, that the frost was so intense that winter, as to cause ale and wine to be sold by weight, being frozen into a solid substance. Two of the most ridiculous traditions, doubtless an improvement on some of the former, are, that a calf was seen with a head exactly shaped like that of a horse, and a sow littered pigs with dogs' heads. Absurd as these traditions are, they were most religiously believed by the Scots of that age after the King's death, as so many indications from heaven of his approaching fate.

Meanwhile the conspirators were proceeding with caution; their plan was completely matured, the opportunity only being wanting to perpetrate the diabolical deed. Yet their caution was not so great as to prevent some vague rumours of their intentions to spread abroad; and these rumours had reached even the most intimate domestics in

* It is remarkable that in the early history of Scotland the appearance of fiery swords in the air seems to have been very common.

the palace. But, from what cause soever it was, they seem to have been utterly disregarded; nor were the least suspicions excited. The apparent inability of Graham to conduct any formidable conspiracy, the fact that no powerful cabal of the nobles had been mentioned, and Graham's presumptuous defiances to his sovereign, resembling rather the ravings of a madman, than the cool and calculating intentions of a conspirator,-probably concurred in deceiving the King, and lulling every suspicion. Well, however, would it have been for James had he listened to the dictates of prudence, and endeavoured to apprehend this dark and gloomy exile, ere he was able to form any confederacy with ambitious nobles in a turbulent and seditious age.

CHAPTER III.

'Tis said, as thro' the aisles they pass'd,
They heard strange voices on the blast;
And thro' the cloister galleries small,
Which at mid-night thread the chancel wall,
Loud sobs, and louder laughter ran,
And voices unlike the voice of man :
As if the fiends kept holiday,

Because their spoils were brought to day.
I cannot tell how the truth may be,

I say the tale as 'twas said to me.

Lay of the Last Minstrel.

THE Court removed to Perth in splendid array, anticipating the usual rejoicings at the celebration of the approaching festival. It was in the midst of the journey, that a Highland woman, who pretended to be a soothsayer, but who in reality had heard the real plans of the conspirators, appeared before the King and his attendants. Her wild and singular attitude astonished James. It was at a place, according to our authority, termed the Water of Leith-the rivulet known by that name which falls into the Frith of Forth near Edinburgh, as the King is described as being near, or in his way to," Saint John's towne, which is from Edenborough on that other side of the Scottish See,

The Frith of Forth was anciently called the Scottish See.

the river Tay. "My Lord King," she cried with a loud voice, "if you pass over this water, you shall never return again alive." James was startled at her language, more especially as at that moment an old prophecy occurred to his mind, that a King of Scotland was to be slain that year. He commanded one of his attendants to ride up to the woman, and ask the meaning of her dubious exclamation; but to this messenger she merely repeated what she had before said to the King, persisting in her declaration, that if he passed that stream, he would never return alive. He asked her how she knew that; to which she replied, that she had received her information from a person named Hubert, most probably a domestic of the palace. Whether or not the attendant was in the plot, is doubtful; he treated the prediction of the woman with contempt. "Sire," said he to James, men would smile if your Majesty regarded yon woman's language, for she is nought but a drunken fool, and knows not what she says." The monarch and his attendants passed on, and entered Perth, where the celebration of the festival of Christmas commenced.

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Many were the omens which were observed of the King's approaching fate, and many are the popular traditions recorded; but the observation of Pinkerton is too true, that "the worst omen was his rigorous administration, which had created many enemies, among whom the conspiracy spread like a fire among combustible materials. The monastery of the Dominicans, or Blackfriars, in Perth, as had been observed, was the King's residence, and the scene of his last and fatal revelry.

That magnificent edifice, thus destined to be the

scene of a most horrible tragedy, was on this occasion honoured by a brilliant assemblage of Scottish beauty, and bright eyes were there mixing in the dance and gracing the tournament, which ere long were to be suffused with tears. The Queen and her ladies resided in the monastery, and James, unconscious of his fate, moved among them—the gay, the gallant, the accomplished monarch. The sacred services of the Church were concluded, and the Court was the scene of festal gaiety. One of the attendant knights, remarkable for his personal accomplishments, received the epithet of King of Love from James. With him the King was one evening playing at chess, when he indulged in some sportive satire on his new title." Sir King of Love,' said James," it is not long since I read a prophecy, spoken some time ago, which set forth, that this year a king should be slain in this land, and well ye wot, Sir Alexander, there are no Kings in this realm but you and I; and therefore I counsell you that ye be wary; for I let you know that, under God, I shall take care of my own safety sufficiently, being under your Kingship, and in the service of Love.

If our chroniclers are to be credited, other popular stories strikingly illustrate the influence of superstitious impressions, as also the fatal security in which James imagined himself. Shortly after the above circumstance, the King was in his own apartment, conversing with some ladies and nobles on various subjects. A squire, a favourite of the King, drew near, and said, "In sooth, my Lord, I verily dreamed to-night that Sir Robert Graham had slain your Majesty.' It is not improbable, that this, under the pretence of