paire of tanges that ftudyn yn the chymneth. 66 "fired to haf fpokyn with hym, at And many other tokyns, and tailes, licke to this, the which now may well be denyd by vary demonftracions, and alfo pronofticacions to the kyng, of his death and murdur, had he or the tyme of his deth fell. Alfo oone of kynges traitours,clepid Chriftofere Chawmebur, that was a fquyer of the dukes hous of Albayne, iii tymes he drugh him to the kinges prefence, for he wold haf playnely opynd, and told hym of all the purpos of all the traitours that were aboute to murdure hyme, bycause that" the kyng without any cause hatid hym right fully. And thus, as hit is faid by the old wife fadirs, many years or we were borne, what thyng that deftyned to a perfon, be hit late behit fone, at the last ever hit cumyth. Thus, after this, cane faft apporoch the nyght, yn the which the faid James Stward, kyng of Scottes fhuld falfely hym unwittying, fuffure his horribill deth by murdure; this which is pite that any gentill or gode man to thynk upon. So both afore foper, and long aftire ynto quarter of the nyght, in the which the Erle of Athetelles, and Robert Stward, were aboute the kyng; where thay wer occupied att the playng of the cheffe att the tables, yn redyng of romans, yn fyngyng and pypyng, yn harpyng, and in other honeft folaces, of grete pleafance and difport. Therwith came the faid woman of Yreland, that clepid herself a dyvenourefe, and entred the kynges courte, till that he came ftreght to the kynges chambur dore, where fheo stood, and abode, bycaufe that hit was shitte, And faft fheo knokyd till at the last the usher opynd the dure; marvelyng of that woman's beyng there that tyme of the nyght, and afkyng here what fheo wold "Let me yn Sir," quod fhe, " for I "haf fumwhat to fay, and to tell un"to the kyng; for I am the fame woman that noght long agone de 66 "hit fhall wil'not let Withyn an oure the kyng afked. the voidee, and drank, the travers yn the chambure edraw, and every man depairtid and went to rift. Than Robert Stward, that was right famylier. with the kyng, and had all his commandements yn the chamber, was the laft that departid; and he knewe. well the false purveid treison, and was confentid therto, and therfore left the kynges chamburs doore opyne; and had bruffed and blundird the lokes of hem, yn fuch wife that no man myght fhute them. And about mydnyght he laid certayne plaunches and hurdelles, over the diches of the diche that environd the gardyne of the chambure, upon which the faid traitours entred. That is to fay, the forfaid Sir Robert Grame, with other of his covyne ynto the nowmbre of three hundreth perfons; the kyng that fame tyme ther ftandyng in his nyght gowne, all unclothid fave his fhirt, his cape, his combe, his coverchif, his furred pynsons (flippers) upon the forme, and the foote fheet; fo ftondyng afor the chymney playing with the qwene, and other ladis and gentil women with here; caft offe his nyght gowne, for to have gone to bedd. But he harkynd, and hard grete X x 2 noise noife without, and grete clateryng of harnych, and men armyd, with grete fight of torches. Than he remembred hym, and ymagynd anone that it fhuld be (the) false tratours knyght, his deedy enemy, Sir Robert Grame. And fodenly the qwene, with all the other ladis and gentil women rane to the chawmber dure, and fonde hit opyne; and they wold have shitt hit; bot the lokes wer fo blundrid, that thay nethir cowth ne myght shut hit. -The kyng prayd hem to kepe the fame dore as well as they myght, and he wold do all his myght to kepe hym to withstond the falfe malice of his traitours and enmys; he fuppoifyng to have breftyn the farrements of the chaumbur wyndos, bot they wer fo fqware and ftrongli fowdid yn the ftonys with moltyne lede, that thay myght not be broftyne for hym, withowtyn more and ftrenger helpe. For which cause he was ugly aftonyed, and in his mynd kouth thynk on none other focoure, bot ftart to the chimney, and toke the tonges of yren that men righted the fire with, yn tyme of neede; and undir his fete he myghtily breft up a plaunch of the chambur flore, and therwithall cuverid him ayane, and enterd adowne lowe beneth amongis th' odure of the privay, that was all of hard ftone, and none wyndow ne ifshue therupon, fave a litill fquare hole, even at the fide of the bothum of the privay, that at the makyng therof old tyme was levid opyne to clenfe and fume the faid privay. By the which the kyng might have well efcapid; bot he maid to let ftop hit well iii dayes afore hard with ftone, bicaufe that whane he playd there at the pawme, the ballis that he plaid withe oft ranne yn at that fowle hole, for ther was ordenyd withowt a faire playng place for the kyng. And fo ther for the kyng nether refchows, ne remedie, bot ther he must abide, ellas the while! The traitours withowt laid at the chaum bur dors, and at the privay dore alfo, with wawis, with levours, and with axes, that at the last they brak up all, and entred (bycaufe the durs were not faft fhutte) with fwerdes, axis, glavis, billes, and other terribill and ferefull wepons. Amonges the grete prefe of the which traitours, there was a faire lady fore hurt yn the bak; and other gentilwemen hurt and fore woundid. With the which the ladis, and all the wemen, mayd a forrowfull krye, and rane away for the hidos fere of tho boiftous and merciles men of armes. The traitours furioufly paffed forth ynto the chaumbures, and founde the qwene fo difmaid and abaffid of that horribill and ferfull guvernance, that the cowth netherfpeke, ne withdrawe here. And as fho ftode ther fo aftonyd, as a cryature that had loft here kyndly reafon, oone of the traitours wowndid here full vilanyfly, and wold have flayne here, ne had not bene oone of Sir Robert Grame's fones, that thus fpek to hym and faid, "What woll ye "dow, for fhame of youre felfe! to "the qwene! Sheo is bot a womane. "Let us go and feek the kyng." And then not wityng well what fheo did, or fhuld do, for that ferefull and terribill affray, fledd in hir kirtill, her mantell hangyng aboute hir; the other ladyes in a corner of the chaumbur, cryyng and wepyng, all diftraite made a pitous and lamentable nose, with full hevylokyng and chere. And ther the traitours fought the kyng in all the chaumbur abowte, in the withdrawyng chaumburs, in the litters, undir the preffes, the fourmes, the chares, and all other places, bot long they befily fought the kyng Bot they couth nat fynd hym, for they nether knew ne remembred the privay. The kyng heryng of long tyme no noyse ne stiryng of the traitours, wende and demyd that thay had all begone, cryed to the wemen that they fhuld cume with fhettes, and drawe hym up out of that uncleyne place moneth after men myght fee haw ftrongly the kyng had holdyn hem by the throtes. And gretely the kyng ftrogild with hem, for to have berevyd tham thare knyvys; by the which labur his hands were all forkute. Bot and the kyng had bene yn any wife armyd, he myght well have efcapid thare malice, by the lengthe of his fightyng with thoo ii falfe traitours. For yf the kyng myght any while lenger have favyd bymself, his fervantes, and much other peple of the towne, by fume for tane fhuld haf had fume knawelege therof, and foo haf cumne to his focoure helpe. Bot, ellas the while hit wol not be! Fortune was to him adverse, as yn preferwyng of his life any longer. place of the privay. The wemen at his.callyng came faft to the pryvay dore, that was nat shutt, and fo tha opynd hit with labure. And as they were abowteward to helpe upe the kyng, oone of the ladis, clepid Elizabeth Douglas, fell into the pryvay to the kyng. Therwith oone of the faid traitours, called Robert Chaumbyr, fuppoifid varaly fith thay couth nat fynd, yn none of all the fayd chaumburs, the kyng, that he of neffeffite had hyd hym yn the pryvay. And therefore he faid to his felawes, "Sirs," quod he, "wherto ftond we "thus idill, and lefe owre tyme, as "for the caufe that we be cumne "forchid? Cumith on furth with "me, and I fhall redily tell you "wher the kyng is." For the fame Thomas Chambur had bene afore Therewithall that odyus and falle right familier with the kyng yn all traitour, Sir Robert Grame, seyng places; and therfore knewe he well the kyng labord fo fore with thoo all the pryvay corners of thoo chaum- two falfe traitours, which he had caft burs. And fo he went forth ftreght undir his fete, and that he were faynt, to the fame pryvay where the kyng and wery, and that he was weponewas, and perfavyd well and fawe lefe, the more pite was, defcenden how a plaunch of the flure was bro- downe alfo ynto the pryvey to the kyn up, and lift hit up, and with a kyng, with an horribill and mortall torch lokyd ynne, and faw the kyng wepone yn his hand. And then the ther, and a woman with hyme. Sayng kyng cried hym mercy." Thow to his felows," Sirs, the fpows is "cruell tirant," quod Grame to "foundon, wherfore we bene cumne, hym, "thou hadeft nevyr mercy of "and all this nyght haf carold here." "lordes borne of thy blode, ne of The witball oone of the faid tirantes "non other gentilman, that came and traitours, clepid Sir John Hall, " yn thy dawnger. Therfore no defcendid downe to the kyng, with a mercy fhalt thow have here." grete knyf yn his hand; and the kyng "Thane," faid the kyng, "I befech dowtyng hym fore of his lif, kaught "the that for the falvacion of my hym myghtily by the fhuldurs, and "foule, ye woll let me have a conwith full grete violence caft hym un- "feffore." Quod the faid Grame, der his fete. For the kyng was, of "Thow fhalt never have other conhis parfone and ftature, a mane right "feffore bot this fame fwerd.” And manly ftrong. And feyying another therwitball he fmote bym thorogh of that Hallis brethyrne that the kyng the body, and therwithall the goode had the betture of hym, went downe kyng fell downe, and lamentable into the pryvay also, for to deftroy with a pitous voyce he cried hym the kyng. And anone as he was oft mercy, and behight to gyf hym ther defcendid, the kyng kaught him half hys kyngdam, and much other manly by the nek, and caft hym a good, to fave his lif. And then the. bove that other; and fo he defowled faid Grame, feyng his kyng and fohim both undir hyme, that all o long veran lord ynfortuned with fo much 66 defeyfe, 66 defeyfe, angwefh, and forowe, wold haf so levyd, and done him no more harme. The other traitors abowe, perceyvyng that, fayd onto the fayd Sir Robert, "We behote the faithfully, but yf thow fle not hym, or "thow depart, thou fhalt dye for "hym on owre handys fone dowt "lefe." And then the faid Sir Robert, with the other two that def cendid first downe, fell upon that noble prynce, and yn full horribill and cruell wife they, murdrid hym. Ellas for forrow, that fo ynmefurably cru. elte and vengance fhuld be done to that worthy prynce, for hit was reported by true perfons that fawe hym dede, that he had fixteen dedely woundes yn his brefte, withowtyn many and other y dyverfe places of his body. borne of his modir, drawen thurghe the towne withowte coerture of any parte of his body, as nature brought hym forth from his modirs wombe, and yn the fame wife ledd thorgh all the fretes of that towne; and the tourmentours on every fide hym, with hookid ynftruments of yryne, fuyre hot all red glowyng, thay pynchid and twynched his theghis, his legges, his armes, his fides, his bake, his fhuldurs, his neke, his wombe, and over all his body, that was full feke and pitous to loke upon, where thay fuppoitid most to annoye hyme and greve, that hit was to any mans kynd to forofull and pitous fight, and to abhomynable to fe. With the ymportible payne of tur-. ment, he cried then pitously withe. dedely voice, for the panys and pafions that he had fo fuffird, fayng to them that thay did that durife to hym ayenft the lawe; "this that ye done And hit is reherfid and remembred, yn the hiftoriall and trewe cronicles of Scotteland, that in the felf fame place, by old tyme paffed, there" to me is only by rigoure of ynmehaf bene iii kyngs of Scottes flayne *. "furable tyrannye. All the warld All these thyngs the faid Sir Ro. "may clepe you Scottes tirantes, bert Grame, with many other yn- "for manckynd may not withe the convenyences, he reherfid there ay- " lif fuffur ne yndure the paynefull anft the kyng; the whiche reherfale" and tiranous tourmentrye that ye wole be Scotteland ynne 66 many a yere put me unto. I doute me full fore. here after. For he was a mane of "that, and ye contynue thus youre grete hart and manhode, and full difcrete, and a great legister of lawe pofitive, and canone, and civlle bothe. Yit for all that, at the last he was dampned there by the juges of deth. This was the fentance or the jugefment there fhuld be brought a cart, in the mydward of whiche there fhuld be fette fast a tree uperight, longer then a mane; and with that fame knyf that he floughe the kyng withall, was his hand all upon heghe, nalid fast to that tree, and fo was he had thorough oute the towne. That edoone the hangmane was commandid, with that fame knyfe to kut of that hand from the arme, after that he was nalid nakynd, as he was first tormentes upon my wretched per"fon, that for the payne ye will con"ftrayne me to renye my Creature. "And yf I fo doo, I appel you afor "God, the hie and chyf juge of all "manekynde after there defertes at, "the unyverfal dome, that ye bene "the varay caufe of the loffe of my "faule." Thurghe the whiche fpeche fome of the lordes, fo abidyng upon the execucion of this faid Sir Robert. Grame, moevid of pite let tak him downe. And as he was all nakyd lappid yn a rough Scottishe mantell, and cafte hym ayane with a grete. violence ynto fore and full hard pri fone. * A fable. Not one king is commemorated as having been flain at Perth. In In the meane tyme many of the other traitours were boweld all quick, and afterwards were quarterd, as wele thay that receyvid the faid Sir Robert as thay that were with hym. Whane the execucion of the faid traifon was done, and many of tha that wer with hym att the day of the kyng confeffid, whane thay were fpokyne to go with the faid Sir Robert Grame, hit was not told unto hyme of no purpos that was takyn for to deftruye the kyng, and put him to dethe; bot hit was faid unto hem that they fhuld go with hym, to ravishe a faire lady out of the kynges houfe, whame the faid Sir Robert Stuward fhuld have weddid the next day folowing. And after this thay ladd aftfounes the faid Sir Robert Grame to the place where he fhuld dye. And fo deynely thay droughe away the mantall, to the which all his woundes were hardyned, and clave fast with his blode dried therto; forwith the faid payne he fell downe yn a fwonyng, and fo lay along on the ground more than a quarter of an owre. And then he revivid, and qwykynd ayane. Seyng that ryvyng away fo fodeinly and rudely of that mantell was to hym gretter payne than any other that (he) had fuffird afore. And after this, for the more grefe and forrow to hyme, thay boweld his fonne all quyke, and quarterd hym afore his eene, and drew owt his hart of his body: the which harte lepe thrife more than a fote of heghte, after hit was drawen out of his body: and yn femblable wife the hangmane droughe owte all his bowelles, and quarterd hym, and many other moo after hym. GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE PORTUGUESE. THE character of the Portuguese bears a strong refemblance to that of the Spaniards; they poffefs the fame difpofition to idleness and fuperftition, the fame kind of courage, the fame pride, but more politeness and deceit, which arifes from the rigour of their prefent governmen; the fame national zeal, and, above all, a decided fpirit of independence, which incites the most violent hatred towards the Spaniards, who have been their tyrants, and the English, who are their masters. The manners of the northern provinces of Portugal have a pofitive refemblance to thofe of Scotland. Their inhabitants are a fine race of men, free, fincere, brave, full of pre judices, of national hatred and patriotic love: they are univerfally hofpitable, and, in the provinces of Entre Minho e Douro and Traz os Montes, there are no inns. In the fouth, on the contrary, and, above all, at Lifbon, the inhabitants are rob. bers, mifers, traitors, brutal, fierce, and morofe, with an external appear ance which bears all the characters of their deteftable natures. Some exceptions, however, are to be met with, particularly among the nobility, whose birth is fuperior to that of the Spanish nobles, and who poffefs more affable manners, as well as a more communicative spirit, which indeed they derive from a more frequent intercourfe with foreigners. EFFECTS OF THE EARTHQUAKES OF 1783 IN CALABRIA. THIS morning we rode among the mountains, by paths that were almost impaffable, and over hills that formerly were valleys, and valleys that formerly were hills. When an earthquake happens to take but one direction, the mountains may fhake from their roots to their very fum |