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 Duke of Lennox, who was brought from France in November of this year at the king's request. On 12 May 1584 he was made an extraordinary lord of session, in room of the Earl of Gowrie, and on the following day was named to succeed Gowrie as lord high treasurer. Along with Arran, Montrose now wielded supreme influence in the councils of the king, but their tenure of power was uncertain. Not content with obtaining the confiscation and banishment of their more inveterate enemies, they resolved to get rid of them by assassination. They appear to have meditated the death, not only of Angus—who, on account of the execution of his kinsman, the Earl of Morton, had a blood feud both with Arran and Montrose—but of the Earl of Mar and the Abbot of Cambuskenneth. Montrose found a tool for the murder of Arran in a retainer of his own, Graham of Peartree, who had a blood feud with Angus on account of the murder of a kinsman. Montrose, having given Graham 10l. Scots, and having supplied him with a short matlock or ‘riding piece,’ sent him to the north of England with directions how best to effect his purpose. Graham was apprehended on suspicion, and, being brought before Lord Scrope at Carlisle, made a full confession (the ‘Examination of Jock Graham of Peartree,’ 25 Nov. 1584, in, iv. 239–240). In November of the following year the power of Arran and Montrose was overthrown by the return of Angus and the banished lords. Arran, then in nominal confinement at Kinneil on the charge of being accessory to Lord Russell's death, broke from his ward and warned the king and Montrose, but the warning came too late for the collection of forces. Arran fled for his life, and the king, with Montrose and the lords of the opposite faction, shut themselves up in Stirling Castle. While means were being taken for its assault, the king, at the instance of the Master of Gray [see ], sent to treat for its surrender, one of the principal conditions being that the lives of Montrose and the other lords should be spared (, iv. 391). Montrose was then committed to the keeping of Lord Hamilton (, Memoirs, p. 351). A reconciliation took place between the rival factions in May 1587, and at a banquet held by the king on the 14th in the open air at the market cross of Edinburgh, Montrose and Angus, who had been at feud since the death of the regent Morton, joined hands in the presence of the multitude (, iv. 614; Hist. of James the Sext, p. 229). On 6 Nov. 1591 Montrose was again admitted an extraordinary lord of session, the king's letter announcing the appointment stating that he ‘had been dispossessed of the place before without any good cause or occasion.’

In 1593 Montrose and the Earl of Gowrie were attacked at Doune of Menteith by a detachment of troops sent by the king, under the misapprehension that they were meditating some treacherous movement, but soon afterwards they were liberated (Hist. of James the Sext, p. 282), and at the banquet which followed the baptism of Prince Henry in August 1594 Montrose officiated as carver (, v. 345). He now entered on a new lease of power, and continued high in the royal favour during the remainder of his life. On the reconstitution of the privy council in December 1598, to consist of thirty-one members, who were to sit in the palace of Holyrood every Tuesday and Thursday to consult with the king, he was appointed president of the council. On 15 Jan. 1599 he was named to the chief office under the crown, that of lord chancellor, after it had been vacant for over three years since the death of Lord Thirlstane in October 1595. The appointment was very unfavourably regarded by the kirk authorities, on account of his being a ‘favourer of the popish lords’ (ib. v. 731). His term of office was marked by the decline of the influence of the kirk in politics, by the gradual introduction of episcopacy, and by the rapid realisation of the ideas of King James in regard to absolute kingship. In 1599 Montrose was also made chancellor of the university of St. Andrews (ib. v. 738). When James in 1603 ascended the English throne, the administration of affairs in Scotland was entrusted to Montrose and Lord Fyvie. At the Scottish parliament which was held at Edinburgh from 24 April to 1 May 1604, to consider a scheme proposed by the king for a union between the two kingdoms, Montrose appeared as ‘his majesty's great commissioner,’ Lord-president Fyvie appearing as his substitute under the title of ‘vice-chancellor’ (Register Privy Council of Scotland, vi. 596–7). The parliament again met, 3–11 July, at Perth, when Montrose was named one of the commissioners to confer with the commissioners appointed by the English parliament. During his absence in England Lord Newbattle was appointed to act as interim chancellor; but after the articles had been agreed upon and signed on 6 Dec., Montrose returned to Scotland with the appointment of viceroy or high commissioner in Scotland for his majesty for life. He was also rewarded with a pension of 2,000l. Scots; but the real administration of affairs was committed to Lord Fyvie, who had displayed distinguished ability in conducting the union ne-