e was one of those ministers who refused to give public thanks for the
king's deliverance from his danger in Gowrie's conspiracy, until the
truth of that conspiracy was made to appear. This refusal brought upon
him the king's displeasure; he was summoned to appear before the king
and council at Stirling, soon after. On the day appointed for his
compearance, two noblemen were sent, the one before the other, to meet
him on the road, and, under the pretence of friendship, to inform him,
that the council had a design upon his life, that he might be prevailed
on to decline going up to the council; the first met him nigh his own
house, the second a few miles from Stirling, but Mr. Row told them, that
he would not, by disobedience to the summons, make himself justly liable
to the pains of law, and proceeded to Stirling, to the amazement of the
king and his court. When challenged for disbelieving the truth of that
conspiracy, he told them, That one reason of his hesitation was, That
one Henderson, who was said to have confessed that Gowrie hired him to
kill the king, and to have been found armed in his majesty's chamber for
that purpose, was, not only suffered to live, but rewarded; whereas,
said he, "if I had seen the king's life in hazard, and not ventured my
life to rescue him, I think, I deserved not to live."

The two following anecdotes will show what an uncommon degree of courage
and resolution he possessed.

Being at Edinburgh, before the assembly there, at which the king wanted
to bring in some innovation, and meeting with Mr. James Melvil, who was
sent for by the king, he accompanied him to Holyrood-house. While Mr.
Melvil was with the king, Mr. Row stood behind a screen, and not getting
an opportunity to go out with his brother undiscovered, he overheard the
king say to some of his courtiers, "This is a good simple man, I have
stroked cream on his mouth, and he will procure me a good number of
voters, I warrant you." This said, Mr. Row got off, and overtaking Mr.
Melvil, asked him, what had passed? Mr. Melvil told him all, and said,
The king is well disposed to the church, and intend to do her good by
all his schemes. Mr. Row replied, The king looks upon you as a fool and
a knave, and wants to use you us a coy duck to draw in others, and told
him what he had overheard. Mr. Melvil suspecting the truth of this
report, Mr. Row offered to go with him, and avouch it to the king's
face; accordingly, they went back to the p