by the busy and handsome thoroughfare known as Prince’s Street.  The road to Stirling winds beneath the Castle rock, and as the cavalcade came on, their leader saw the Duke on the ramparts, making signals to him for an interview.  Dundee dismounted, and scrambled up the steep face of the rock.  What passed between them is not clearly known.  Balcarres says Dundee told the Duke of the design for Stirling, and once more prayed him to stand firm.  But it seems clear that Dundee had by that time abandoned all hopes of a fresh Convention, and it is doubtful whether he had any definite plan in his mind.  Dalrymple’s report of the conversation seems more likely to be the true one.  According to him Dundee pressed the Duke to come north with him, leaving the castle to the charge of the Lieutenant-Governor, Winram, a man who had made himself too odious to the people to leave room for any doubt of his fidelity to James.  But these bold ventures were not to the Duke’s taste:  his courage was of that sort which shows best behind stone walls:  and his answer was ingeniously framed to conceal his timidity under a show of discipline.  “A soldier,” he said, “cannot in honour quit the post that is assigned to him.”

Meanwhile the city was in an uproar.  A number of people had gathered round the foot of the rock to stare at the strange sight.  The watchers from the city magnified this idle crowd into a hostile force.  A messenger came in haste to the Convention with the news that Dundee was at the gates with an army, and that the Duke of Gordon was preparing to fire on the town.

Hamilton, who, while affairs were still in the balance, had behaved with unexpected moderation, now gave loose to his temper.  The time had come, he said, for all good friends of order to see to their safety when enemies to their liberties and religion were taking arms.  There was danger within as well as without.  The traitors must be kept close; but true men had nothing to fear, for thousands were ready to start up in their defence at the stamp of his foot.  He then ordered the room to be locked, and the keys to be laid on the table.  The drums beat to arms:  the town-guard, and such force of militia as was still in the city, fell in; while from garrets and cellars the Westland men came thronging into the streets, with weapons in their hands, and in their faces fury and fear of their terrible enemy.  After a time, as the news came that Dundee had ridden off northward and that all seemed quiet in the castle, the tumult subsided.  The doors of the Parliament House were opened, and the members came out.  Hamilton and his party were greeted with loud cheers:  threats and execrations no less loud assailed the few and downcast Jacobites.  From that memorable day the friends of William had nothing more to fear in the capital of Scotland.  For a while, indeed, some show of opposition was still maintained, faintly stimulated by the arrival of Queensberry from London.  But he had come too late.  His power was no longer