Argadius Regent 115 Being accused he repents and supplicates for Pardon ibid. Whereupon he is continued in his Government ibid. And prevails against the Islanders 116 Argyle Country 17 Argyle Earl joins with the Reformers 131 Arren see Arran Arrii painted their Bodies 53 Arrogance the usual Companion of Power 412 Uterson's begotten in Adultery King of the Britains 150 His Character 154 He overcomes the Saxons and takes London and York from them ibid. He is slain 151 152 Arthur the Son of Henry VIII of England marries Katherine the Infanta of Spain 11 14 Arthur Forbes slain 284 Arveâ—ni Who 46 Asclepiodotus a Roman Lieutenant-General kills Allectus in Britain 124 Askerme Isle 29 Assassination of King Henry odious to all Nations 192 Assassins of King Henry labour to impute the Parricide to Murray and Morton 191 Astrological Predictions Courtiers much addicted to them 418 Asyle Isle See Flavannae 30 Athelstan King of England fights the Picts 165 He is slain at a Place since called Athelstan's Ford 165 Athelstan base Son of Edward King of England overcomes the Danes and Scots in Battel 179 180 Recovers Dunbritton from the Scots ibid. Athircus or Athirco King of Scotland 119 He reigns vitiously and kills himself 120 Athol a fruitful Country 18 It abounds with Witches 357 Atrebates Who 56 Aven 15 Aven and Avon What they signify 70 Avon Laggan 26 Avona Isle its Etymology 25 Auresius Ambrosius his Original 146 147 Aureliacum i. e. Orilhach 60 Austin a Monk comes into England and calls himself Archbishop of all Britain 157 He promotes Superstition rather than true Religion ibid. Authority got by good Arts is lost by bad 208 Avus or Aw a Loch or River 17 Auxerre see Altissidorus B BACA Isle 27 Badenach County 19 Balta Isle 37 Baliol Edward lands in Scotland 285 Overthrows Seton and the Regent ibid. Declared King 286 Worsted in Scotland 287 Edward of England espouses his Cause 288 Bandying betwixt him the Nobles 291 292 Ball a Priest stirs up the Commons of England to an Insurrection 309 Bancho a Scots General 208 Overthrows the Danes 210 Slain by Mackbeth 211 Baptism celebrated but once a Year and sometimes by Parents themselves 30 Bards Who 39 57 They committed nothing to writing 35 Barnera Island 29 30 Barodunum or Dunbar whence so called 170 Baronia i. e. Renfrew 14 Barra Isle 29 Bas-Alpin the Place where Alpin was slain 167 Bassianus a Roman General in Britain 124 Slain there by Allectus ibid. Bassinets or Monk-Fishes ominous 175 Batavians or Hollanders their Fleet returning from Dantzick spoiled by Alexander Earl of Marr 349 Beath Island 25 Beatrix leaving her Husband James Douglas asks Pardon of the King 391 She marries John Earl of Athol the King 's Natural Brother ibid. Bedford the Earl thereof King Henry's General in France carries James of Scotland along with him thither 336 Bede quoted 91 92 93 Beds made of Heath 23 Bei what it signifies 22 Belhac Isles 25 Bellach Isles 25 Belus King of the Orcades kils himself 106 Bergh in German signifies High 12 Bergion the Name of a Giant 11 Berlings What 32 Bernera an Island 25 The Great and the Small 29 30 Berth a great Part of it destroyed by an Inundation 236 Berton for Breton 5 Berwick taken from the English by Robert Bruce 269 Besieged by Edward of England 370 Rendred to the English 397 Its Castle taken by Ramsay but regained by Percy 308 Bethic Isle 26 Betubium or Dungisby Head a Promontory 21 Bigga Isle 37 Bishops of England not true to Maud their Queen 224 Bishops in Scotland holy Monks 165 Chosen heretofore by their Canons 417 Anciently not Diocesans 171 Bishop of Dunblane sent into France to excuse the Queen's Marriage with Bothwel 200 c. He is chouzed in his Embassy 209 Bishopricks six in Scotland 218 Four others added to them and endowed 223 Bishop of Caithness had his Eyes and Tongue plucked out 235 Another burnt 236 Bishop of Caledonia or Dunkel commanded when the English Navy was worsted in the Forth 270 Whereupon called the King's Bishop ibid. Bishop of Dunkel commended 40 Bishop of Durham comes too late to assist Percy 317 319 His Army terrified with the Noise of Horses 320 Bishop of St. Davids sent by the English King to the Scots 63 Bishop of the Orcades prefers Court-Favour before Truth 199 Bizets a Family in Ireland anciently from Scotland 240 Blackmoney What 425 Blackness betrayed to the Hamiltons 286 Blandium an old Drink amongst the Scots 23 Blair of Athol 18 Blood rained for seven days over all Britain 261 Also Milk c. turned into Blood ibid. Bogia or Strabogy 140 Boadicea see Voadicea Bodotria i. e. the Scotish Sea 100 Boids creep into Favour at Court 409 Their Faction against the Kennedies 410 They carry the King to Edinburgh and strengthen themselves by getting the King's Pardon 411 Their Greatness occasions their Ruin 412 Boin Country 20 Bote or Boot Isle 24 Bracara or Braga 47 Braid Albin 17 Brasa Isle 37 Brecantia a Town 65 Bredius overthrown by Ederus 106 Brendinus slain in Battel 156 Brennus's Two 79 Brettish Isles 4 Bria Brica Briga signify a City with the Names of several Cities so ending 63 64 65 Bridi Isle 26 Brien-Loch 31 Brigantes and Brigiani 65 Brigantium ibid. Brigidan Isle 26 Brigids or Brides Church burnt 408 Britanny its Description 1 c. Several Islands anciently so called ibid. Mentioned by Aristotle and Lucretius 3 It hath divers Acceptations 8 It s Original and Description out of Caesar Tacitus c. 81 82 Inhabited by three Nations 70 71 Several Limits of it anciently 180 Britains their fabulous Original 41 They praised God in five Tongues 33 Britains and Gauls of one Religion 56 They painted their Bodies 76 Made no difference of Sex in Government 85 Vexed by the Scots and Picts 139 They ask Aid of the Romans 93 135 136 Make Peace with Scots and Picts 139 Enter Scotland 100 Foment Divisions betwixt Scots and Picts 95 Overthrown by Scots and Picts 142 Their woful Complaints to Aetius 93 143 Have hard Conditions of Peace imposed upon them 141 What sort of Weapons they used in War 50 They were five hundred Years under the Roman Government 70 Overthrown by Scots and Picts 156 Subdued by the Saxons 70 Revolt from the Romans and after twelve Years return to their Obedience 124 Britton and Britain all one 9 Their Origin 50 Britto with a double t 5 First mentioned by Martial 9 Brix a diminutive Word in Scotch Brixac 60 Bruce and Cumins formally agree 259 Like to suffer for Treason in England but escapes by shooing his Horse backward 260 Kils Cumins for betraying of him ibid. Bruce David sent for France 286 Bruce Edward drives the English out of Ulster in Ireland 270 He is afterwards overthrown there by the English ibid. Bruce Robert the Kingdom confirmed to him 269 He is desired to accept the Crown of Ireland also ibid. He calls for the Deeds of Mens Lands
that plainly enough For besides the vain promises on both sides the Rythms say That the Island was not then inhabited but desolate but that it was inhabited before But where I pray then were those Portentous Figments of Gogmagog and Tentagol and other frightful Names of Men invented for Terrour shall I say or for Laughter rather What will become of those doughty Combates of Corineus and others the Companions of Brutus against not the Earth-born but Hell-born Giants Thus far concerning Brutus and his Oracle Though these be so great Fictions yet Posterity is so little ashamed of them that but a few years ago no mean Writer amongst them hath impudently feigned That the Trojans spake the British Language Homer and Dionysius Halicarnasseus do easily refel the vanity of this shameless Opinion For the one gives Greek Names to all the Trojans the other in a long and serious Disputation doth contend that the Trojans were Originally Greeks I pass by this consideration that when Brute arrived in England with no great Train how within the space of Twenty years he could establish Three Kingdoms and how they who all of them put together aâ— first could scarce make up the number of one mean Colony should in so short a time People an Island the biggest in the whole World and furnish it not only with Villages and Cities but set up in it Three large Kingdoms also yea who a while after it seems grew so numerous that Britain could not contain them but they were forced to Transport themselves into the large Country of Germany where overcoming the Inhabitants they compelled them to assume their own Name which was not a British but a Latin one and so from those Nineteen Brothers forsooth which indeed were not properly own Brothers as we say for almost each of them had a several Mother that the Country should be called Germany I have related this Fable as absurd as it is not to take the pains to refute it but to leave it to the Germans themselves for Sport and Ridicule This in General concerning the Fables of the Brittons But the intent of those who devised them seems not very obscure to me for that Monstrous Fiction of Devils lying with Virgins seems to tend hereto viz. That they might either prove an Alliance between their Brutus and two of the greatest Neighbouring Nations or else that they might vye with them in the Nobleness of their Original For the Gauls affirmed as Caesar hath it that they were descended from Father Pluto and so did the Germans according to Tacitus The cause of devising this Figment concerning Brutus seems to be alike For seeing the Buthrotii in Epirus other People in Sicily The Romans Campanians and Sulmonenses in Italy The Arvâ—rni Hedui Sequani and last of all the Francs in Gaul did celebrate I know not what Trojans as their Founders The Writers of British Affairs also thought it very conducive to the advancement of the Nobility of their Nation if they derived its Original too from the very Archives of Antiquity and especially from the Trojans either because of the famousness of that City which was praised by almost all Nations or else by reason of its Alliance with so many Nations which are said to have started up as it were out of the same common Shipwrack of that one Town Neither did they think themselves guilty of any effrontery in the Falshood if they did somewhat participate of the feigned Nobility which upon the same account was common to so many Nations besides themselves Hence arose as I judge the Fiction of Brutus and other Fables of an older date as impudently devised as foolishly received it will perhaps be enough to shew the vanity of all those things to put the Reader in mind that they were unknown to Ancient Writers that when Learning flourished they dared not peep abroad that they were coyned in its decay recorded by unlearned Flatterers and entertain'd by ignorant and too credulous Persons who did not understand the Fraud of such Cheaters For such is the disposition of those Impostors who do not seek the publick good by a true History but some private advantage by Flattery that when they seem highly to Praise theâ— they most of all deride and jeer For what do they else who pretending to advance the Nobility of a People for its greater splendor do fetch it from the Skum and Riffraff of Nature And yet credulous shall I say or not rather sottish Persons do Pride themselves with a pretended Eminency of an Original which none of their Neighbours will envy them for They also who have wrote of Scotish Affairs have delivered down to us a more Creditable and Noble Origin as they think but no less Fabulous than That of the Britains For they have adopted Ancestors to us not from the Trojan Fugitives but from those Greek Hero's whose Posterity Conquered Troy For seeing in those Ancient times two Nations of the Greeks were most of all celebrated the Dores and the Iones and the Princes of the Dores were the Argivi and of the Iones the Athenians The Scots make one Gathelus to be the chief Founder of their Nation but whether he were the Son of Argus or of Cecrops that they leave in doubt and that they may not be inferior on this accompt to the eminency of the Romans they added to him a strong Band of Robbers with which he going into Egypt perform'd gallant Exploits and after the departure would you think it of Moses was made General of the Kings Forces in that Land And that afterwards with his Wife Scota the Daughter of the King of Egypt he sailed about the whole shore of Europe adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea and having passed through so many Countries which were desolate in that Age or else inhabited but by few and in few places as Greece Italy France not to mention the numerous Islands of the Mediterranean Sea some will have him to Land at the River Iberus but leaving that Country which he could not keep they draw him on further to Galaecia a Country much more Barren Some Land him at the Mouth of the River Durius being the first of all Men as I suppose who adventured into the Ocean with a Navy of Ships and that there he built a brave Town which is now called from his Name Portus Gatheli or Port a Port whence the whole Country which from Lusus and Lusa the Children of Bacchus was a long time called Lusitania began to be called Portugal and afterwards being forced to pass into Gallaecia he there built Brigantia now called Compostella also that Braga in Portugal was built by him at the Mouth of the River Munda These are the things which the Scots have fabulously wrote concerning the Original of their Nation In feigning of which how uncircumspect they were we may gather from hence that they did not give a
that Avarice might be also bounded and forborn when the fear of Penury as it must be upon a Throne is removed Malcolm subjoyned That he had rather now make an ingenious Confession to him as his Friend than to be found guilty hereafter to the great damage of them both For my Self to deal plainly with you said he There is no Truth nor Sincerity in me I confide in no Body living but I change my Designs and Counsels upon every blast of Suspition and thâ—s from the Inconstancy of my own Disposition I use to make a Judgment of other Mens Whereupon Mackduff replyed Avant says he Thou Disgrace and Prodigy of the Royal Name and Stock worthier to be sent into the remotest Desert than to be called to a Throne and in a great Anger he was about to fling away Then Malcolm took him by the hand and declared the Cause of this his Dissimulation to him telling him That he had been so often assaulted by the Wiles of Mackbeth that he did not dare lightly to trust every body But now he saw no Cause to suspect any Fraud in Macduff in respect either of his Lineage his Manners Fame nor Fortune Thus they plighting their Faith one to another consulted concerning the destruction of the Tyrant and advised their Friends of it by secret Messages King Edward assisted him with Ten Thousand Men over whom Malcolm's Grandfather by the Mothers side was made General At the Report of this Armies March there was a great combustion in Scotland and many flock'd in daily to the new King Mackbeth being deserted by almost all his Men in so suddain a Revolt not knowing what better course to take shut up himself in the Castle of Dunsinnan and sent his Friends into the Aebudae and into Ireland with Money to hire Soldiers Malcolm understanding his Design makes up directly towards him the People praying for him all along as he went and with joyful Acclamations wishing him good Success His Soldiers took this as an Omen of Victory and thereupon stuck up green Boughs in their Helmets representing an Army Triumphing rather than going to Fight Mackbeth being terrified at the Confidence of his Enemy immediately fled and his Soldiers forsaken by their Leader surrendred themselves up to Malcolm Some of our Writers do here Record many Fables which are like Milesian Tales and fitter for the Stage than an History and therefore I omit them Mackbeth Reigned Seventeen Years In the first Ten he performed the Duty of a very good King in the last Seven he equalled the Cruelty of the worst of Tyrants Malcolm III. The Eighty Sixth King MALCOLM having thus recovered his Fathers Kingdom was Declared King at Scone the 25 th day of April in the Year of our Redemption 1057. At the entrance of his Reign he convened an Assembly of the Estates at Forsar where the First thing he did was to restore to the Children their Father's Estates who had been put to death by Mackbeth He is thought by some to have been the First that introduced New and Foreign Names as distinguishments of Degrees in Honour which he borrowed from his Neighbor-Nations and are no less Barbarous than the former were Such as are Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Riders or Knights Mackduff the Thane of Fife was the First who had the Title of Earl conferred upon him and many others afterwards according to their respective Merits were honoured with New Titles Some write That at that time Noblemen began to be Sirnamed by their Lands which I think is false for that Custom is not yet received amongst the Ancient Scots and besides then all Scotland used their Ancient Rights and Customs but instead of a Sirname after the manner of the Greeks they added their Fathers Name to their own or else adjoyned a Word taken from some Event or from some Mark of Body or Mind and that this Custom did then obtain amongst the Gauls is plain by those Royal Sirnames of Crassus Calvus Balbus and also by the Sirnames of many Noble Families in England especially such as followed William the Conqueror and fixed their Habitations there For the Custom of taking Sirnames from Lands was received but lately amongst the other Gauls as appears by Frossard's History no mean Author Mackduff had Three Requests granted to him as a Reward for his Services One That his Posterity should place the King who was to be Crowned in the Chair of State Another That they should lead the Van of the Kings Armies And a Third That if any of his Family were Guilty of the unpremeditated slaughter of a Nobleman he should pay Four and Twenty Marks of Silver as a Fine if of a Plebeian Twelve Marks Which last Law was observed till the days of our Fathers as long as any of that Family were in being Whilst these things were acted at Forfar They who remained of the Faction of Mackbeth carryed his Son Luthlac to Scone who was Sirnamed Fatuus from his Disposition and there he was Saluted King Malcolm assaulted him in the Valley Bogian where he was slain three Months after he had Usurped the Name of King yet out of respect to his Kingly Race His and his Fathers Bodies were buried in the Royal Sepulchres in Ionia Afterwards he Reigned four years in Peace Then word was brought him that a great Troop of Robbers were Nested in Cockburn-Forest and that they infested Lothian and Merch to the great damage of the Husbandman Patric Dunbar with some Trouble overcame them losing Forty of his own Men in the Onset and killing 600 of Them Forty more of them were taken Prisoners and hanged Patric for this Exploit was made Earl of Merch. The Kingdom was now so settled that no open Force could hurt the King yet he was assaulted by Private Conspiracies The whole Plot was discovered to him whereupon he sent for the Head of the Faction and after much familiar Discourse he led him aside into a secret Valley commanding his Followers to stay behind There he upbraided him with the former Benefits bestowed on him and declared to him the Plot he had contrived against his Life adding further if Thou hast Courage enough why dost thou not now set upon me seeing we are both Armed that so thou mayst obtain thy desire by Valour not by Treachery He being amazed at this sudden Discovery fell down on his Knees and asked Pardon of the King who being a Merciful as well as Valiant Prince easily forgave him Matthew Paris makes mention of this Passage In the mean time Edgar to whom next to Edward the Crown of England belonged being driven by contrary Winds came into Scotland with his whole Family What I am to speak concerning this Person that it may be the better understood I shall fetch things a little higher Edmond King of England being slain by the Treachery of his Subjects Canutus the Dane who Reigned over Part of the Island presently seized upon
divided his Book into Chapters and besides what he affirms is no where found in his Writings but to leave this unlearned and shameless Relator I return to Edward who by reason of the abounding Multitude of his Army sent Part of it to besiege Dunbar and a few days after the Castle of Berwick despairing of any Relief was surrendred to him Afterwards he joined all his Forces together at Dunbar to fight the Scots Army who came to relieve it The Battel was fierce and the Victory inclining to the English the chief of the Nobility fled into the Castle but the Castle was soon taken either by the Perfidiousness of Richard Stuart the Governor or else because he had not Provisions for so great a Multitude as were shut up in so narrow a Compass Edward was very cruel to all the Prisoners Some cast the Blame of this Overthrow upon Robert Bruce the Elder in that his Friends giving back in the Battel it strook a Terrour into the rest But our Writers do constantly affirm That when Bruce demanded of Edward the Kingdom of Scotland according to his Promise as a Reward of his Pains that day That Edward should answer in French of which Language he was Master What have I nothing else to do but to win Kingdoms for you When Dunbar and some other Castles near the Borders of England were taken the surrender of Edinburgh and Sterlin followed soon after Then Edward passing over the Forth directed his March where Baliol then was When he was come as far as Montross without any to oppose him Baliol by the Persuasion of Iohn Cumins of Strabogy came to him and surrendred to him Himself and the Kingdom Baliol was sent into England by Sea and Edward returning to Berwick sent a strict and severe Summons to all the Scots Nobles to attend him there after they came he compelled them to Swear Fealty to him But William Douglas an eminent Man both on the account of his Family and also his own famous Exploits obstinately refusing to do it was cast into Prison where in a few years he died Thus Edward having succeeded in his Expedition according to his Mind left Iohn Warren Earl of Surry as Proxy behind him and Hugh Cressingham Lord Chief Justice or Treasurer and so returned to London There he committed Iohn Baliol to Prison in the 4th year of his Reign but a while after at the Entreaty of the Pope and his Promise that he would raise no Tumults in Scotland he was sent back into France his Son Edward being retained as an Hostage Edward having prepared all things for the French War which by reason of the Commotions in Scotland he had deferred now Sails thither with great Forces The Scots by reason of his Absence being erected to some hopes of their Liberty chose 12 Men to Govern the State By whose unanimous Consent Iohn Cumins Earl of Buchan was sent into England with a good Force and in regard the English who were scattered in Garisons over Scotland dared not to stir he spoiled Northumberland without controul and laid Siege to Carlisle but to no purpose Though this Expedition did somewhat encourage the before crest-fallen Scots and hindred the English from doing them further Mischief yet it contributed little or nothing to the Main Chance in regard that all the Places of Strength were possessed by the Enemies Garisons But when the Nobility had neither Strength nor Courage to undertake great Matters there presently started up one William Wallace a Man of an Ancient and Noble Family but one that had lived poorly and meanly as having little or no Estate yet this Man performed in this War not only beyond the Expectation but even the Belief of all the Common People For he was bold-spirited and strong-bodied and when he was but a Youth had slain a young English Nobleman who proudly domineered over him For this Fact he was fain to run away and to skulk up and down in several places for some years to save his Life and by this Course of Life his Body was hardned against Wind and Weather and his Mind also fortified to undergo greater hazards when time should serve At length growing weary of such an Erratick Life he resolved to attempt something though never so hazardous and therefore gathered a Band of Men together of like Fortune with himself and did not only assault single Persons but even greater Companies though with an inferior Number and accordingly he slew several Persons in divers Places He played his Pranks with as much Celerity as Boldness and never gave his Enemy opportunity to fight him so that in a short time his Fame was spread over Both Nations by which means many came in to him moved by the likeness of their Cause or with the like Love of their Country thus he made up a considerable Army And seeing the Nobles were sluggish in their Management of Affairs either out of Fear or Dulness this Wallace was proclaimed Regent by the Tumultuous Band that followed him and so he managed Things as a Lawful Magistrate and the Substitute of Baliol. He accepted of this Name not out of any Ambition or Desire to Rule but because it was cast upon him by the Love and Good Will of his Countrymen With this Army the first visible Exploit he performed was at Lanerick where he slew the Major General of that Precinct being an Englishman of good Descent Afterwards he took and demolished many Castles which were either slenderly Fortified or meanly Garisoned or else guarded negligently which petty Attempts so encouraged his Soldiers that they shunned no Service no not the most hazardous under his Conduct as having experienced That his Boldness was guided by Counsel and That Counsel seconded by good Success When the Report of these Things was spread abroad and perhaps somewhat enlarged beyond the Bounds of Truth out of Mens Respect and Favour to him All that wished well to their Country or were afraid of their own particular Conditions flocked in to him as judging it fit to take Opportunity by the Forelock so that in a short time he reduced all the Castles which the English held on the other side of the Forth though never so well fortified and for fear of him carefully Guarded He took and demolished the Castles of Dundee Forfar Brechin and Montross he seized on Dunoter unawares and Garisoned it he entred Aberdene which the Enemy for fear of his coming had plundered and burnt even whilst it was in Flames but a Rumour being scattered abroad concerning the coming of the English Army prevented his Taking the Castle for he determined to meet them at the Forth not being willing to hazard a Battel but in a Place he himself should choose Edward of England when he went into France as I said before put English Garisons into all the Strong Holds of Scotland and besides having many of the Scots faithful to him and unfaithful to their
not come down into the Champion he placed all the Scots Army on a contrary Part of the Hill This his rash Counsel and Project had the like Event for as with great Difficulty they were getting up the Hill the Enemy with their Darts and the hurling down of Stones did wound them very sore before they came to handy Blows and when they came near they rushed upon them in such close Bodies that they tumbled them headlong over the steep Precipices There fell that day about Ten some say Fourteen Thousand of the Scots almost all such who escaped out of the unhappy Battel of Duplin were lost here The chief of them whose Names are recorded were Archibald himself the General Iames Iohn and Alan Stuarts Uncles to Robert who Reigned next after the Brucians Hugh Kenneth and Alexander Bruce the several and respective Earls of Ross Sutherland and Carrâ—ck Andrew Iohn and Simon three Brothers of the Frazers This Overthrow of the Scots happened on St. Mary Magdalens Day in the Year 1333. After this Fight all Relief was despaired of so that Alexander Seaton surrendred up the Town to the English and Patrick Dunbar the Castle upon Condition to march out with all their Goods Both of them were forced to Swear Fealty to the English and Patrick Dunbar was further enjoyned to Re-edifie the Castle of Dunbar at his own Charge which he had demolished that it might not be a Receptacle to the English Edward having staid there a few days Commended the Town and the Reliques of the War to Baliol and he himself retired into his own Kingdom leaving Edward Talbot in Scotland a Noble Person and very Prudent with a few English Forces to assist Baliol in subduing the rest of Scotland And indeed it seemed no great Task so to do in regard that almost all the Nobility were Extinct and of those few that remained some came in to the Conqueror others retired either into Desert or else Fortified Places The Garisons which remained Faithful to David were very few as on this side the Forth an Island in a Lough whence the River Down flows scarce big enough to bear a moderate Castle and Dumbritton beyond the Forth a Castle scituate in Lough Levin and also Kildrummy and Vrchart The next Year Ambassadors came from the Pope and from Philip King of France to end the disputes between the Kings of Britain The English were so puft up with the prosperous course of their Affairs that the King would not so much as admit the Ambassadors into his Presence for he thought That the Hearts of the Scots were so cowed and their strength so broken That for the future they durst not neither were they able again to Rebel But this great Tranquillity was soon changed into a most grievous War and that upon a very light Occasion where it was least expected viz. Upon a Discord arising amongst the English themselves at Perth Iames Mowbray had Lands given to his Ancestors in Scotland by Edward the First but they being lost by the various Changes of the Times he recovered them again when Edward Baliol was King He dying without Issue Male Alexander their Uncle Commenced a Suit against his Daughters for those Lands Those of the English Faction that maintained the Cause of the Females were Henry Beaumont who had Married one of them also Richard Talbot and David Cumins Earl of Athol Baliol took Alexanders part and decided or adjudged the Lands to him which so offended his Adversaries that they openly complained of the Injustice of the Decree and seeing that Complaints availed nothing they left the Court and went every one to his own home Talbot was going for England but being apprehended was carried to Dunbarton Beaumont Garisoned Dundury a strong Castle of Buchan and took Possession not only of the Lands which were in Controversie but also of all the Neighbouring Country Cumins went into Athol where he fortified some convenient Places and prepared to defend himself by force if he were attacked Baliol being afraid of this Conspiracy of such Potent Persons altered his Decree and gave the Lands in Question to Beaumont he also reconciled Cumins by giving him many Fertile Lands which belonged to Robert Stuart the next King Alexander being concerned at this injurious Affront joyns himself with Andrew Murray Regent of the Scots who had lately Ransomed himself from the English for a great Sum of Money These things were acted at several times yet I have put them together that the whole course of my History might not be interrupted In the mean time Baliol in another part of the Country attacked all the Forts about Renfrew some he took others he battered down and demolished Having settled Matters there according to his own Mind he Sailed over into the Island Bote and there fortified the Castle of Rothsay of which he made Alan Lisle Governour whom he had before made Chief Iustice for Matters of Law He diligently sought after Robert Stuart his Nephew or Grandchild to put him to Death but he by the help of William Heriot and Iohn Gilbert was wafted over in a small Vessel into the Continent on the other side where Horses stood ready for him which carried him to Dunbarton to Malcolm Fleming Governour of that Castle Baliol having setled things at Bote at his return took Dunâ—oon a Castle seated in Coval the Neighbouring Continent whereupon the Nobility of the Vicinage were struck with so great Fear that they almost all submitted to him Marching from thence the next Spring he bent all his care to besiege the Castle of Lough Levin but this project seeming too slow he left Iohn Sterlin a powerful Knight of his Party to besiege the Castle to whom he joyned Michael Arnold David Weemes and Richard Melvin with part of his Army They built a Fort over against it where the passage was narrowest and having in vain tried all ways to subdue it by force Alan Wepont and Iames Lambin Inhabitants of St. Andrews making such a vigorous Resistance at length they endeavoured to drown it by stopping up the passage of the River for the River Levin goes out from the Lake or Loch with a narrow Girt or Neck and an open Rock This Place they essayed to stop up by making a Wall or Bank of Stones and Turfs heaped upon one another but the Work proceeded on very slowly because as the Heat did incommode the Labourers so the Brooks which flowed into the Lake were then almost dry and the Water being far spread abroad received an increase by moderate Additions By this means the Siege was lengthned out to the Month of Iuly when there was an Holy Day kept in Remembrance of St. Margaret heretofore Queen of Scotland on which day there used to be a great Concourse of Merchants at Dumferlin where the Body of that Saint is reported to be buried Thither went Iohn Sterlin with a great part of his Men some for
to what other purpose else did his Combinations with the Earls of Craford Ross Murray and Ormond tend And moreover his private Discourse with the King of England his putting Good Men to Death and his allow'd Licentiousness in pillaging the People were Indications of the same Design Now Innocency was accounted Cowardize and Loyalty to the King punish'd as Perfidiousness that the Enemys of the Common-wealth grew insolent by the overmuch Indulgence of the King That 't was time for him now to take the Reins of Government into his own Hand and to act as a King himself and then it would appear who were his Friends and who were his Enemies or if he did not dare to do it openly by reason of the Powerfulness of some Men yet by some private way or other he should punish Treachery but if he were so fearful as not to do so neither what remain'd but that they who had hitherto been constant in their Loyalty to him should now at length provide for themselves These Discourses thô the Life of the Douglas's and the Credulity of the King prone to Suspicion did confirm to be true Yet the King out of his innate Clemency or else having before laid his Design seâ—ds for Douglas to Court He being conscious of so many mischievous pranks he had plaid and calling to remembrance how often he had been pardon'd and withal understanding how distastful his new League with Craford was to the King tho' he put great confidence in the King's Clemency yet being more inclin'd to Fear refus'd to come alleging that he had many powerful Enemies at Court and some of them had lately lain in wait to take away his Life Hereupon to remove this his Fear many of the Nobles about the King sent him a Schedule with their Hands and Seals to it promising upon Oath that if the King himself should meditate any thing against his Life yet they would dismiss him in safety so that Douglas encourag'd by the King's Clemency and by the Publick Faith testify'd by the Subscriptions of so many Noble Persons with a Train of Followers came to Sterlin where he was courteously Treated by the King and invited into the Castle After Supper with great hilarity was ended the King took him aside into his Bed-chamber with but a few of his Confidents he did not so much as admit Those to whom he was wont to communicate his most secret Counsels There he ript up from the very beginning the Loyalty and Valour of his Ancestors and his own Indulgence towards their Family and especially towards himself who having committed many hainous Offences either by the Greenness of his Years or by the Persuasions of wicked Men he had freely pardon'd always hoping that either by his courteous Clemency toward him or else by the Maturity of his Age he would be Reform'd and as yet says he I despair not but it may be so and if you repent of what you have impiously committed the door of my Clemency shall never be shut against you This last League proceeded he with Craford and Ross as it is not Creditable for you so it is ignominious to me and therefore tho' I take it much amiss that you entred into it yet I put it into your Power and as yet give you liberty to cancel and break it off which tho' by my Prerogative I may command yet I had rather by fair means persuade you so to do that seeing all Mens Eyes are upon you you may avert all cause of Suspicion with greater Diligence Douglas answer'd submissively enough to all other Points but when he came to the Mention of the League he was somewhat perplext and did not clearly declare what he would do but that he would advise with his Associats neither did he see any Cause why the King at present should tye him to a Breach of it seeing there was nothing contain'd therein which might justly offend him The King either having resolv'd upon the Fact before or eâ—se provok'd by his contumacious Answer as the Courtiers say replyed If thou wilt not break it I will and immediately struck his Dagger into his Brâ—ast Those that stood at the Door hearing the Noise rusht in and destroy'd him quite with many Wounds Some say that next after the King Patrick Grey of whom mention was made before struck him into the Head with a Bill and the rest that came in to shew their Duty to the King every one gave him a Blow He was slain in the Month of February in the Year 1452. according to the Roman Account He had then 4 Brothers in Sterlin whom a great number of the Nobility had accompany'd thither they as soon as â—ver they heard of what was done ran in great amazement to theâ—â— Arms as in such suddain Hurly-burlies it uses to happen and filled the Town with Noise and Clamour but when the Tumult was appeas'd by the Nobles they were Commanded to go each Man to his respective Lodging The next Day they met to consult and First of all Iames was call'd Earl in the room of his Brother who was slain he mightily inveigh'd against the Perfidiousness of the King and the Courtiers and advises to Besiege the Castle with what Force they then had and with all speed to Levy more and so to pull out those Men out of their lurking holes who were valiant only to commit perfidious Mischiefs whilst they were yet in some Fear and Trepidation for the Guilt of their Offence The Company commended the Piety of Iames and the Couragiousness of his Spirit but were averse from his advice to a Siege because they were not prepar'd with any Materials for so great an Enterprize so that they all departed home and after Consultation with the Chief of their Friends the 6th of the Calends of April they return'd again and tyed a Cord to an Horse Tail on which they fastned the Schedule of the King and Nobles promising the Publick Faith to Douglas for his Security This they drew through the Streets abstaining from no manner of Reproach either against the King or Council when they came to the Market-place they Proclaim'd the King and Those that were with him Truce-breakers Perjur'd Persons and Enemies to all Good Men. Moreover they were angry with the Town tho' that had committed no Offence and after they had pillaged it they sent Iames Hamilton back to Burn it yea their Fury continued for some Days so that they rang'd all over the Country and made Havock of the Lands of all those who were Loyal to the King they besieg'd the Castle of Dalkeith and took an Oath not to depart from it till they had taken it for they were very Angry with Iohn the Owner of it because he and the Earl of Angus had separated themselves from the Counsels of the rest of the Douglasses The Siege lasted longer than they expected for Patrick Cockburn Commander of the Garison made a strenuous Resistance against all
in all their Clubs But when the Month was expired their Minds were a little calmer and the Truce ended there was another Convention where the Queen alleged This for her self in Justification of her Cause That seeing she had not entred upon the Government the Year before by Force or against the minds of the Nobility but was chosen to that Dignity by thâ—ir Unanimous Consent she had but used her own Right and therefore she took it amiss to be degraded and no Crime at all imputed as to her Mal-Administration If said she as it is usual Degrees of Affinity be regarded in Pupillages there is none nearer than a Mother if the Safety of the King were Ey'd none could be more Faithful for if the King should die other men may have their various and distinct Hopes but she could hope for or expect nothing but Orbity Solitariness and Tears And if they had respect to the Good of the Publick she was a stranger and concerned in no Interest of Feuds or Friendships and That was especially to be eyed in such who sate at the Helm of Government That so their own Lives might not only be free from actual Vice but also that they might have as few Temptations and Incitements as may be to those Lusts which do disturb and hurry the Mind and pervert righteous Judgment Some had Assistance of Parents Kinsmen Allies by whose aid they might hope for an Excuse for their Offences or at least an easier Pardon Yea sometimes the Rulers were compelled to square and accommodate their Actions to such mens Wills and Humours As for Her self her Hope of Defence was in Innocency alone She had but one Son to eye and both their Benefits and Advantages were combined and twisted together And unless she had respect to these Things she would choose much rather to live a quiet and happy Life in Retirement with the good Liking of all than to uâ—dergo the Enmity of Evil men by punishing all their Crimes yea and sometimes to incur the Displeasure of the Good too Neither was it a New Thing for a Woman to desire the Regency of another's Kingdom sithence not only in Britain but even in the Greatest and most Puissant Kingdoms of the Continent Women have had the Supreme Power and their Reigns have been Such that their Subjects never repented of their Government When she had thus spoken Many assented to her Some to prepossess a Place in in her future Grace and Favour Others in Hopes that the Fruits of another's Envy would redound to their advantage Yea there were some who had an evil jealousy That if the Election should be made out of All they themselves might be passed by as less fit and therefore they rather desired that the Queen should be preferred over them all than that Others of the same Order with themselves or even of a Superiour one should be preferred before Them Nowithstanding the more uncorrupted Part of the Nobility did both by their Countenance and Speeches highly disgust the Queens Oration but that which did most Vehemently affect the whole Assembly was the Authority and the Speech of Iames Kennedy who as 't is reported spake in this manner IT is my chief Desire Noble Peers That they whose aims are at the Good of all in general might freely declare their minds without offence to any one particular Person But in our present Circumstances when things spoke for publick Advantage are distorted to the Reproach of those private persons who speak them it is a very difficult thing to observe such a Mean between disagreeing heats and different opinions as not to incur the offence of one of the Parties As for me I will so temper and moderate my Discourse That no man shall complain of me without first confessing his own Guilt Yet I shall use the Liberty of Speech received from our Ancestors so modestly that as on the One side I desire to prejudice no man so on the Other neither for Fear nor Favour will I pretermit any thing which is of use in the Debate before us I see That there are Two Opinions which do retard and impede our Concord The One is of Those who judge That in a matter relating to the Good of All an Election out of All is to be made and as we all meet to give our Suffrages in a business concerning the safety of the whole Kingdom so it is equal and fit that no man should be Excluded from the Hopes of that Honour who seeks after it by Honest and Virtuous Ways The Other is of such who count it a great Injury done to the Queen who is so noble a Princess and so choice a Woman if she be not preferred before all others in the Tutelage of her Son and the Administration of the Government of the Kingdom Of these Two Opinions I like the Former best and I will shew you my Reasons for it by and by In the mean time I so far approve the design of the Later That they think it below the Queen's Grandeur That any Single Person should Vye with her for this point of Honour lest her Authority which ought to be as it indeed is accounted Venerable should be lessned by coping with Inferiours And indeed I would be quickly of their mind if the Dispute lay here about the Honour of One and not the Safety of All. But seeing that this day we are to make a Determination about That which concerns the Lives Fortunes of all private men and the Safety of the whole Kingdom too it is fit that all Single Interests and Concerns should stoop and truckle under That And therefore I earnestly advise Those that are of this Opinion so to consult the Dignity of the Queen That in the interim they forget not the Reverence they owe to the Laws to the old Customs and to the Universal Good of their Country if they can shew by any Statute That it is Lawful and Publickly expedient That the Guardianship of the King and the Regency of the Kingdom ought to be in the Queens Hands I will pass over into their Opinion But if their Orations be pernicious to the Publick I hope the Queen first and next all Good men will pardon me if always saving the Majesty of the Queen as Sacred so far as by Law and the Custom of our Ancestors I may I do not conceal my Opinion or rather if I speak out That with Freedom which it were the greatest Impiety in me to conceal To begin then with the Laws There is a Law made 500 year ago by King Kenneth a Prince no less eminent for his Wisdom and Prudence than for his military Performances and it was assented and yielded to by All the Orders of the Kingdom and approved of even to this very day by the Constant Observance of so many Ages That when the King was in his Minority the Estates or Parliament of the Kingdom should Assemble and choose some one Man eminent for
Courtiers cast into Pâ—ison condemn'd by the King 's privy domestick Council and put to Death by having a Vein Opened till he expired his last The Cause of his Death was given out amongst the Vulgar to be because he had conspir'd with Witches against the King's Life and to make the matter more plausible twelve of the Witches of the lowest condition were Try'd and Burnt The Death of Iohn did rather stifle than dissipate the Conspiracy which seem'd almost ready to break forth Alexander the next as in Blood so in Danger tho' he indeavour'd to avert all Suspicion from himself as much as he could yet the Kings Officers thought they should never be Secure as long as he was alive and therefore they presently clapt him up Prisoner in the Castle of Edinburgh where he was strictly kept by those who judg'd his Power would be their Destruction and seeing he could not appease the Kings Wrath by the Mediation of his Friends he began to think of making an Escape he had but one of his own Servants left tâ— wait upon him in his Chamber him and none else he acquainted with his Design who hired a Vessel for him to be ready fitted in the adjoining Road then he suborn'd Messengers to make frequent Errands to him from the Court who should tell him Stories before his Keepers for he was forbid to speak with any Body but in their presence that the King was now more reconcileable to him than formerly and that he would speedily be set at Liberty When the day appointed for his Escape approach'd he compos'd his Countenance to as much Mirth as in that calamitous Condition he was able to do and told his Keepers that now he believ'd the Messages sent him by the King that he was reconcil'd to him and that he hop'd he should not be held much longer in Durance hereupon he invited them to a noble Supper and himself drank freely with them till late at Night then they departed and being all full of Wine fell into the Sounder sleep being thus alone he made a Rope of the Linen-Blankets of his Bed long enough as he thought for the height of the Wall and First to make a Tryal he caus'd his Servant to slide down by it but perceiving by his Fall that 't was too short he lengthned it out as well as he could in those Circumstances and himself Slid down too and took up his Servant who had broke his Leg by his Fall upon his Shoulders and carry'd him about a Mile to the Vessel where they went aboard and having a Fair Wind failed to Dunbar there he fortify'd the Castle against any forcible Assault and with a smal Retinue passed over into France In his absence Andrew Stuart the Chancellor was sent with an Army to take in the Castle they besieg'd it closely some Months and 't was defended as bravely but at last the Garison for want of Necessaries were forced to get Vessels and in the Night to depart privately for England so that in the Morning the Empty Castle was taken by the Besiegers some men of Note of the Besiegers were slain there About these Times it was that the Kings both of England and Scotland being weary'd out with Domestick Troubles had each of them a desire to make Peace and an Embassy was appointed to compleat it which was kindly received and the Peace was not only agreed upon but an Affinity accorded to confirm it that Cecilia the Daughter of Edward should be Married to Iames his Son as soon as they were Both Marrigeable Part also of the Dowry was paid on this Condition That if when they came to Years the Marriage were not Consummated the Dowry should be paid back to the English and Hostages were given for performance of Conditions which were some Burgers of Towns But this Peace lasted not long for by reason of the old grudges remaining since the last Wars Incursions were made Preys driven and Villages burnt So that by reason of these mutual Injuries the matter broke forth into an open War And besides each King had other peculiar Provocations Douglas the Old Exile and Alexander the Kings Brother the new One excited Edward thereunto For Alexander as I said before going into France Married the Daughter of the Earl of Bulloign but not being able to procure Aid from Lewis the II. then King of France for the Recovery of his own he Sailed over into England hoping from thence to make some Attempt upon Scotland As for Iames of Scotland Lewis of Franâ—e edg'd him on to a War having sent Robert Ireland a Scots man and Dr. of the Sorbon with Two French Knights to him on that Errand Hereupon the Peace was violated and altho' the Scotish Affairs in regard some of the Country was wasted were in none of the best State and Condition yea an Army also was decreed to be sent against Scotland by the English under the Command of the Duke of Glocester yet the King and those which were about him did levy Forces tho' very unwillingly For the Upstarts such they lately were and very poor too whose Greatness was founded on the Calamities of others and who had been the Authors of such desperate Counsels to the King fear'd nothing more than the frequent Assembly of the Nobility when he came to Lauder a Town near the Borders of Merch and Teviotdale Countrys either wasted by the Enemy or else by Force necessitated to submit to him the King yet proceeded on in his wonted Course of Exactions from them he distrusted the Nobility and manag'd all by his Cabinet-Council The Nobles would indure the Indignity no longer and therefore in the third Watch they met in a Church in the Town where in a Full Assembly Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus is reported to have declar'd the Cause of their Meeting in this wise I think it not necessary Noble Peers to make a long Oration concerning the state of Scotish Affairs you your selves Partly remember it and Partly you see it with your Eyes the Chief of the Nobility are either banished or else compelled to suffer intolerable and to act nefarious things and you in whom the strength of the Kingdom doth reside are left without an Head as a Ship without a Steers-man subject to all the Storms and Tempests of Fortune Your Lands are burnt your Estates plunder'd the Husbandman either slain or else perceiving no other Remedy or relief hath submitted to the Enemy And the King if he were Himself a man of a generous Spirit and rare Prudence yet being carried away by poysonous Insinuations refers all things pertaâ—ning to the Good of the Common-wealth as to Peace War and the like not to an Assembly of the Nobles but to inferior Underlings these men do consult South-sayers and Wizards and so carry their Answers to the King whose mind is Sick and easily taken with such vain Superstitions and thus Decrees are made under the Influence of such
mightily enriched by this Booty and thereupon omitted the severity of their Ancient Discipline yea there were some amongst them who counted That Gain as a Pious and Holy Fraud alleging That the Mony could never be better bestowed than to be given to Devout Persons that they might pray forsooth for the Redemption of their Souls out of Purgatory The Fight was carried on so obstinately that towards Night both Parties were weary and withdrew almost Ignorant of one anothers Condition so that Alexander Hume and his Souldiers who remained untouched gathered up a great part of the Spoil at their pleasure But the next day in the Morning Dacres being sent out with a Party of Horse to make discovery when he came to the place of Fight and saw the Scots Brass-Guns without a Guard and also a great part of the Dead unstripp'd he sent for Howard and so gathered up the Spoil at leasure and celebrated the Victory with great Mirth Concerning the King of Scotland there goes a double Report The English say he was slain in the Battel But the Scots affirm That in the Day of Battel there were several others cloathed in the like Coat of Armour and the Habit of the King which was done on purpose on a double account partly that the Enemy might principally aim at one Man as their chief Opponent on whose Life the safeguard of the Army and total ruin of the Enemy did depend and partly also if the King hapned to be slain that the Souldiers might not be discouraged nor sensible of his loss as long as they saw any Man armed and clothed like him in the Field and riding up and down as a Witness of their Cowardise or Valour And that one of these was Alexander Elphinston who in Countenance and Stature was very like the King and many of the Nobility perceiving him armed in Kingly Habiliments followed him in a Mistake and so died resolutely with him but that the King himself repassed the Tweed and was slain by some of Humes his Men near the Town of Kelsoe but it is uncertain whether it were done by his Command or else by the forwardness of his Souldiers who were willing to gratify their Commander for they being desirous of Innovation thought that they should escape Punishment if he were taken off but if he were alive they should be punished for their Cowardise in the Fight Some Conjectures are also added as that the same Night after this unhappy Fight the Monastery of Kelsoe was seized upon by Car an Intimate of Hume's and the Abbat thereof ejected which it was not likely he would dare to have done unless the King were slain and moreover David Galbreth one of the Family of the Hume's some Years after when Iohn the Regent questioned the Hume's and was troublesome to their Family is said to have blamed the sluggish Cowardise of his Allys who would suffer that Stranger to rule so arbitrarily and imperiously over them whereas he himself had been one of the Six that had put an end to the like Insolency of the King at Kelsoe But these Things were so uncertain that when Humes was afterward tried for his Life by Iames Earl of Murray the King 's Natural Son they did not much prejudice his Cause However the Truth of this Matter stands yet I shall not conceal what I have heard Lawrence Talifer an Honest and a Learned Man to report more than once He was then one of the King's Servants and was a Spectator of the Fight he saw the King when the Day was lost set upon an Horse and pass the Tweed many others affirmed the same thing So that the Report went currant for many Years after That the King was alive and was gone to Ierusalem to perform a Religious Vow he had made but would return again in due Time But that Rumor was found as vain as another of the same Batch which was heretofore spread abroad by the Brittons concerning their Arthur And but a few Years since by the Burgundians concerning Charles This is certain That the English found the Body of the King or of Alexander Elphinston and carried it into England and retaining an inexpiable Hatred against the Dead they left it unburied in a Lead Coffin I know not whether their Cruelty therein were more foolish or more barbarous because he had born sacrilegious Arms against Pope Iulius the Second whom the English then sought to curry favour with or else as some say because he was perjured as having contrary to the Oath and League between them taken up Arms against Henry the Eighth Neither of which Exprobrations ought to have been laid to his Charge especially by such a King who during his Life was not constant or tight in any one Religion nor by such a People who had took up Arms so often against the Bishop of Rome Not to speak of many of the Kings of England whom their own Writers do accuse as guilty of Perjury as William Rufus who is charged with That Crime by Polydore and Grafton Henry the First by Thomas Walsingham in his Description of Normandy King Stephen hath the like Brand inured upon him by Neobrigensis Grafton and Polydore Henry the Eighth by the same Newberry Grafton and Polydore Richard the First by Walsingham in his Hypodigma Neustriae Richard the Third by Grafton and Walsingham Edward the First by Walsingham I cull out these few for Example-sake not of the First Kings of the Saxon Race of which I might instance in a great Many but in Those of the Norman Family whose Posterity enjoy the Kingdom to this Day and who lived in the most flourishing Times of England's Glory to put them in mind not to be so bitter against Strangers who with so much Indulgence bore the Perjuries of their own Kings especially since the guilt of the Crime objected lies principally on those who were the first Violaters of the Truce But to return to the Matter Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey had gone off with great Renown for That Victory over the Scots if he had used his Success with Moderation but being a Man almost drunk with the Happiness of his prosperous Success and little mindful of the Instability of Human Affairs he made his Houshold Servants as the English custom is to wear a Badg on their left Arms which was a White Lyon his own Arms on the top of a Red one and rending him with his Paws God Almighty did seem to punish this his insolent Ambition for there were in a manner none of his Posterity of either side but dyed in great Disgrace and Ignominy But King Iames as he was dear to all whilst living so he was mightily lamented at his Death and the Remembrance of him stuck so fast in the Minds of Men as the like was not known of any other King that we have heard or read of 'T is probable that it hapned by making a Comparison with the bad Kings who preceded his Reign
was not able to resist Offers of Mony by the Promises of large Subsidies whereupon they set before his Eyes the Greatness of the Danger the doubtful and uncertain Credit of an Enemies Promise that he might have a great Sum of Mony at home and more easily procurable First of all They promised to give him of their own 30000 Ducats of Gold year by year and all the rest of their Estates also should be at his Service besides enough to obviate future Emergencies if any hapned and as for those who rebelled against the Authority of the Pope and the King 's and so endeavoured to trouble the Peace of the Church by new and wicked Errors and thereby would subvert all Piety overthrow the Rights of Magistracy and cancel Laws of so long standing out of their Estates he might get above an hundred thousand Ducats more yearly into his Exchequer by way of Confiscation if he would permit them to nominate a Lord-Chief-Justice in the Case because they themselves could not by Law sit in Capital Causes to condemn any Man And that in the managing the Process against them there would be no danger nor any Delay in passing Sentence seeing so many thousand Men were not afraid to take the Books of the Old and New Testament into their Hands to discourse concerning the Power of the Pope to contemn the ancient Ceremonies of the Church and to detract from that Reverence and Observance which was due to Religious Persons consecrated to God's Service This they urged upon him with such Vehemency that he appointed them a Judg according to their own Hearts and that was Iames Hamilton base Brother to the Earl of Arran him they had oblig'd by great Gratuities before and besides he was resolv'd to conciliate the King's Favour who long since had been offended with him with the Perpetration of some atoning Fact though never so cruel About the same time there came into Scotland Iames Hamilton Sheriff of Linlithgoe and Cousin-German to the former Iames He after a long Banishment when he had commenced a Suit against Iames the Bastard and had obtained leave to return for a time to his own Country understanding in what Danger he and the rest of the Favourers of the Reformed Doctrine were in sent his Son in a Message to the King as he was about to pass over into Fife and having gotten him opportunely before he went aboard he filled his Head which was naturally suspicious with fearful Presages That this Commission granted to Hamilton would be a Capital Matter and pernicious to the whole Kingdom unless he did prevent this Sophistry by another Wile The King who was then hastning into Fife sent the young Man back to Edinburgh to the Court called the Exchequer-Court where he also commanded to assemble Iames Lermont Iames Kircaldy and Thomas Erskin of whom one was the Master of the Houshold the other Lord High Treasurer neither of them averse from the Reformed Religion the Third was highly of the Popish Faction and his Secretary These were all ordered to meet And the King commanded them to give the same Credit to the Messenger as they would do to himself if he were present and so took the Ring off his Finger and sent it them as a known Token between them They laid their Heads together and apprehended Iames just after he had dined and had fitted himself for his Journy and committed him Prisoner to the Castle But having Intelligence by their Spies at Court that the King was pacified and that he would be released besides the publick Danger they were afraid also for their particular selves lest a Man factious and potent being released after he had been provoked by so great an Affront and Ignominy should afterwards study a cruel and bitter Revenge against them Whereupon they speedily hastned to Court and inform'd the King of the Imminency of the Danger of the naughty Disposition Fierceness and Power of the Man all which they augmented to raise the greater suspicion upon him so that they persuaded the King not to suffer so crafty and withal so puissant a Person being also provoked by this late Disgrace to be set at Liberty without a legal Trial. Whereupon the King came to Edinburgh and from thence to Seton where he caused Iames to be brought to his Trial and in a Court legally constituted according to the Custom of the Country he was condemned and had his Head struck off his Body was cut up after his Execution and his Quarters hanged up in the publick Places of the City The Crimes objected against him in behalf of the King were That on a certain Day he had broke open the King's Bed-Chamber and had designed to kill him and that he had driven on secret Designs with the Douglasses who were declared publick Enemies Few were grieved for his Death because of the Wickedness of his former Life save only his own Kindred and the Sacerdotal Order who had placed all the Hopes of their Fortunes in a manner upon his Life only From that time forward the King increased in his Suspicions against the Nobility and besides he was exercised with sundry distracting Cares insomuch that his unquiet Mind was much troubled with Dreams in the Night There was One more remarkable than the rest which was much talked of That in his Sleep he saw Iames Hamilton running at him with his drawn Sword and that he first cut off his Right Arm then his Left and threatned him shortly to come and take away his Life and then disappeared when he awoke in a Fright and pondering many things about the Event of his Dream at last Word was brought him that both of his Sons departed this Life almost at one and the same moment of Time one at St. Andrews and the other at Sterlin In the mean while there was not a certain Peace nor yet an open War with the King of England who was alienated and offended afore insomuch that without any denunciation of a War Preys were driven from the Borders of Scotland Neither would the English when called upon to make Restitution give any favourable answer So that all Men saw That Henry was in an high Indignation because of the frustration of the Interview at York And Iames tho he knew that War was certainly at hand and therefore had made Levies for that purpose and had appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray to be General of all his Forces and had also made all necessary Preparation for a Defence yet he sent an Ambassador to the Enemy if 't were possible to compose Matters without Blows In the mean time George Gordon was sent to the Borders with a small Force to prevent the pillaging Incursions of the Enemy The English despised the paucity of the Gordonians and therefore hasten'd to burn Iedburgh But George Hume with 500 Horse interpos'd and charg'd them briskly and after a short Fight when they saw the
by Trial and feeling the Smart thereof As for themselves if they found the Spirits of the Scots not wholly averse from an Agreement they were ready to remit something of the Rigour of Law and Right and that they would be content the young Queen should be educated under Scotish Supervisors till she came to be marriagable and fit by the Advice of the Nobles to chuse an Husband for her self and till that time came both sides should abstain from War and Rapine and that the Queen should not be transported beyond Sea nor that any Treaty should be intertain'd by the Scots concerning her Marriage with the French or any other foreign Prince If the Scots would faithfully promise this they would presently depart and withdraw their Forces and as for what Damage they had done since they entred Scotland they would make Restitution as indifferent Men should award These Letters were brought to the Regent who communicated them to his Brother Iohn Archbishop of St. Andrews whom he had assum'd into the Place and Authority of the Cardinal and to some few others They in hopes of a sure Victory gave him advice to suppress them for they were afraid that if the Equity of the Proposals were made known the Scots would be taken off and hearken to terms of Peace and therefore they gave out through the whole Army that the English were come on purpose to take away their Queen by force and to reduce the Land to their own Subjection And the Regent being naturally unactive had chosen four no more versed in Military Affairs than himself who did turn and wind all things at their Pleasure those were his three Kinsmen and Allies Iohn his Brother Archbishop of St. Andrews and Abbat of Dumfermlin George Dury Alexander Beton and the 4 th was Hugh Riggs a Lawyer noted more for his big Body Corpulency and bulky Strength than for any Military Skill These Men did so puff up the Regent with a vain hope of Victory that being of himself inconstant and variable in his Designs at every blast of Wind he shut his Ears against the advice of all others Hereupon when the Regent's Privadoes had caus'd the Report which they themselves had raised to be spred all over the Army they all ran hastily to their Arms. Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus led the Van George Gordon Earl of Huntly brought up the Rear each of them had 10000 fighting Men and the Regent had about the same number in the main Battel In this Posture a Report was suddenly rais'd that the English were fled away and it was not altogether without ground for they wanting Provision and not being able to fetch it from far nor to forage for it in the Neighbour-hood which was so unfurnish'd afore thought it the best way to preserve themselves if they left their Baggage behind them and march'd long Marches backward but having so many arm'd Men ready to ingage seeing they durst not come down into the Campagn nor could deceive the Enemy by going about they waited his coming on the higher ground On the other side the Regent was impatient of Delay and sent one to Douglas to march on with speed but he knowing that the English could not long keep that ground for want of Provision and so waited to fall on the Rear made no great haste till he was stirr'd up by another Messenger from the Regent then and not before he past over the River The main Battel and the Rear following at a great Distance after The English who were about to depart perceiving Douglas to draw towards them upon the Speed sent out Grey Commander of the Horse with his whole Body to meet him and stop his Carreer till the Foot had possess'd themselves of a Neighbour-hill or if he saw cause he was to disturb them in their ranks for seeing the major part of them were arm'd after the French mode they thought the Scots would never be able to bear the brunt of their charge But a Brigade of the Scots marching in close order together holding forth their Stand of long Pikes before them as a Fence received the Assault there the Van of the English running in upon and intangling themselves amongst the Pikes the rest thought themselves ambuscado'd and so returned to their Body telling them that the Scots Ranks could no more be broken than if they charg'd against a Wall Hereupon the English Horse were about to leave the Foot and fly but by the Persuasion of their Commanders and their mutual encouraging one another and withall all hoping for a more advantagious Ground to fight in they were retain'd and renew'd their Ranks The Scots were held from marching forward to the opposite Hill chiefly upon this account because they perceived Iambo a Spaniard with some Troops of his Country-men Harquebuisiers to come down obliquely from the Hill as if he would fall on their Flank and therefore that no sudden Emergency might cause them to divide their Brigade and also that they might not be attack'd on their Flanks they wheeled about leisurely from the right ascent of the Hill The main Battel when they saw the Van to leave their Station thought that they were running away so that they also broke their Ranks and betook themselves to their Heels The English seeing this from the high Grounds sent out their Horse and trod many of them under foot in the pursuit During all this March from Esk to the English Camp the English Navy plaid upon the Flank of the Scots out of their Ships and did them much Mischief All the Ways were strow'd with Arms by reason of the great Slaughter which was made and many also were drown'd in the River The English were most severe against the Priests and the Monks for those of that Tribe who were lusty and able to bear Arms came into the Field and there were many who imputed the loss of the Day to them who had arrogantly refused honest Conditions of Peace and who if they had the Victory would have used it as cruelly towards their own Country-men as their Enemies In the first Charge the English lost about 200 Horse but of the Scots there fell the prime of all the noblest Families with their Relations and Tenants who counted it a flagitious thing to desert them many were taken in the Pursuit The High-landers gathered themselves together in a round Body kept their Ranks and returned safe home for at first they march'd through craggy places and inconvenient for Horse and if they were sometimes necessitated to descend into the Plains yet the English Horse who followed the Pursuit scatter'dly durst not attack them This Battel amongst a few others was very calamitous to the Scots it was fought the 10 th of September in the Year 1547. The English having got the Victory which was so much the more joyful because it was unexpected march'd five Miles further with all their Forces and there they staid eight days sending out
colour for her Project sufficient to disguise her Cruelty under the pretence of Law she caus'd false Reports to be spread abroad That Religion was but made a pretence for Rebellion but the true Cause of rising in Arms was that the lawful Line being Extinct the Kingdom might be transferr'd to Iames the late King's Bastard-Son When she perceiv'd that the Minds of Men were somewhat possess'd by those and such other kind of lying Reports she sent some Letters to the said Iames pretending that they came from Francis and Mary King and Queen of France wherein he was upbraided with the Commemoration of the pretended Courtesies he had received and withal was grievously threatned if he did not lay aside his Design of Revolting and return to his Duty Iames answer'd thereunto That he was not conscious to himself either in word or deed of any Offence either against King Regent or Laws but in regard the Nobility had undertaken the Cause of reforming Religion which was decay'd or rather had join'd themselves to those who were first therein he was willing to bear the envy of those Things if any did arise which were acted in Common by himself and others they aiming at nothing therein but the Glory of God neither was it just for him to desert that Cause which had Christ himself for its Head Favourer and Defender whom unless they would voluntarily deny they could not surcease their enterprize Setting that Cause aside he and others who were branded with the invidious Name of Rebels would be most obsequious and Loyal in all other Things This Answer was given to the Regent to be sent into France where 't was look'd upon as proud and contumacious whereas some esteem'd it modest enough and within compass especially as to the Point of upbraiding him which Courtesies whereas in Truth he had receiv'd none unless such as were common to all Strangers Amidst these things a thousand French Mercenaries arriv'd at Leith and also the Earl of Arran Son to Iames Hamilton late Governor came to the Convention of the Nobles which were held at Sterlin The Regent became now cock-sure upon the Arrival of the French and began openly to apply her Mind to subdue all Scotland by Force But the Cause of the Earl of Arran's Return was this He was more Eager and Zealous in the Cause of Reformation than was safe for him in those Times and therefore he was design'd to be put to Death by the Guises who were the Favorites of Francis the Younger for the Terror of the inferior Orders of Men yea the Cardinal of Lorrain was so bold in a Speech which he made in the Parliament of Paris inveighing against the Cause of Reformation that he said they should shortly see some eminent Man suffer upon that Account who was little inferior to a Prince He being made acquainted therewith and withal calling to Mind that he had a little before been free in his Discourse with the Duke of Guise upon that Head by the Advice of his Friends provided for his Safety by a secret Flight and contrary to all Mens Expectation came home in the midst of his Countries Tumults join'd himself with the part of the Reformers procur'd his Father also to join with them and so he reconcil'd many to him who had been his Enemies before upon old Grudges The chief of the Party there present being inform'd That for certain some Auxiliaries were arriv'd and others were levying to be speedily sent over to Leith which was strongly fortifi'd to be made a Magazine for Provisions and Ammunition for War and That the French intended to make use of that Town as a Place to secure their Retreat if they were distress'd and as a Port to receive their Friends if they prosper'd Hereupon the Scots gather'd their Forces together and indeavour'd to besiege Leith but in vain For the Regent and the Governor of Edinburgh Castle who had not yet join'd himself with the Reformers and Vindicators of publick Freedom had the Possession of almost all the Brass-Guns in Scotland and besides the Party had not strength enough to shut up a Town in a formal Siege which had the Sea on one side and was also divided by a River In the mean time the King of France being inform'd how Matters stood in Scotland sent thither L'abros a Knight of the Order of the Cochle with 2000 Foot to assist the Queen in the maintenance of the Popish Religion There were also sent with him the Bishop of Amiens and 3 Doctors of the Sorbon to dispute matters Controverted by Arguments if need were The arrival of them did so raise up the dejected Spirit of the Regent that she solemnly Swore she would now be speedily reveng'd of God's Enemies and the King 's There were then 12 of the chief Nobility assembled at Edinburgh which gave answer to Mr. D'Labros and the Bishop who alleged they were sent over Embassadors and therefore desir'd a day to propound their Demands viz. That they did not seek Peace as they pretended but that they threatn'd War otherwise if it were only to Dispute to what purpose was it to bring so many arm'd Forces As for themselves they were not so imprudent as to commit themselves to a Dispute where they must be forc'd to accept what Conditions their Enemies pleas'd But if a Pacification might be acceptable to them they also would take Care that they might not seem to be compell'd by Force but overcome by Reason and if they did really aim at what they pretended they should send back the Foreign Souldiers and meet unarm'd as they had done before that so the Matter might be determin'd by Equity and Right not by Force of Arms This they said to the Embassadors As to the fortifying Leith they wrote back the Regent to this purpose That they did much admire the Regent had without any Provocation so soon forgot and receded from her Agreements as by driving out the ancient Inhabitants of Leith and placing a Colony of Strangers there and so erecting a Fort over all their Heads to the ruin of their Laws and Liberties she had done and therefore they earnestly desir'd her to desist from so pernicious a Counsel which was temerariously undertaken by her against the Faith of her Promises against the publick Utility Law and Liberty lest otherwise they should be compell'd to call for the aid of all the People in the Case About a Month after they sent an Answer from a Convention at Edinburgh to the same Purpose withal adding This to their former Requests That She would demolish all the new Fortifications and send away all Strangers and Mercenaries that so the Town might be free for Traffick and mutual Commerce which if She refus'd to do they would look upon it as a sure Argument that she was resolv'd to bring the Kingdom into Slavery which Mischief they would do all they could to prevent The Regent three days after sent Robert
Contempt of Me and the Force used to get me into his Power lest otherwise he might be frustrated in his Purpose In the mean time the whole Course of his Life was so order'd that it may be an Example how Men that undertake great Designs can craftily conceal their Purposes till they obtain their Ends. For I thought that his Sedulity and Diligence in his speedy Obedience to all my Commands proceeded from no other Fountain than his Loyal Desire to please me neither did I ever imagine that he had any higher Wish or Design neither did I think those more gracious Countenances which I sometimes shew towards my Nobles to ingage them more readily to obey my Commands would have exalted his Mind to promise to himself the Hope of a more extraordinary Courtesy from me yet he turning even fortuitous things to his own Advantage maintained Designs unknown to me and by his wonted Observance nourish'd his ancient Love as also by currying Favour with the Nobility he was privily ambitious of a new Favour and he was so sedulous therein that though I knew nothing of it yet when the Convention of the Estates was celebrated he obtain'd a Chart from all the Nobility subscrib'd with their Hands to make it more Authentick wherein they declared their Assent to the Marriage betwixt Me and Him and promis'd to expose their Lives and Fortunes to bring it to pass and to be Enemies to all those that should oppose it And more easily to obtain the Assent of the Nobles he persuaded each of them that all these things were manag'd by my Consent This Writing being once obtain'd next by degrees he most humbly sought for my Consent but my Answer not suiting with his Desire he began to propound such things to himself which are wont to occur in such great Undertakings as the outward Demonstrations of my Good Will the Ways by which my Friends or his Enemies might hinder his Design and lest any of those who had subscrib'd should withdraw their Assent and many other things which were cast in or came freely to hinder his Purpose At length he determined with himself to pursue the Favour of his present Fortune and to cast the whole Business with his Life and Hope on the hazard of one Moment so that being resolved to execute his Design to purpose after he had waited 4 days as I was returning from visiting my Dear Son he watch'd a convenient Place and Time and on the way seized me with a strong Party of Men and carried me speedily to Dunbar How I took the Fact especially from him of whom amongst all my Subjects I expected no such thing every one may easily judg There I upbraided him with my Favours towards him and how honourably I had always spoken before of his Manners and Behaviour and how ungratefully he had carried it towards me Other things I spake to free my self out of his Hands his Usage indeed was somewhat course but his Words were fair and smooth as that he would use me with all Honour and Observance and would do his utmost not to offend me in any thing but for carrying me against my Will into one of my own Castles for so bold an Attempt he crav'd my Pardon alleging he was forc'd by the Power of Love so to do forgetting the Reverence and Allegiance which as a Subject he ow'd to me He said further That he was compell'd to go thither for fear of his Life Then he began to rehearse to me the whole Course of his Life and lamented his Misfortune that those whom he had never offended were his bitter Enemies and whose Malice had devised all unjust ways to do him a Mischief what envious Reflections were made upon him for the King's Death and how unable he was to bear up against the hidden Conspiracy of those of his Enemies whom he knew not because they pretended Good-will towards him both in Speech and Behaviour neither was he able to prevent those Treacheries which he did know Their Malice against him was so great that at no Time or Place he could live a quiet Life unless he was assur'd of my unchangeable Favour towards him And to assure that he knew but one way and that was That I would vouchsafe to make him my Husband withal he solemnly swore that he did not seek Preheminence therein or the Top and Height of Dignity but this one Thing That he might be able to serve and obey me as hitherto he had done all the Days of his Life This his Oration he deck'd with that Eloquence as his Cause required But when he saw I could not be wrought upon neither by Prayers nor Promises at length he shewed me the Transactions of the Nobility and all the Estates and what they had promised under their Hands This being produced before me on a sudden and beyond my Expectation I leave it to the King Queen my Uncle and the rest of my Friends Whether it might not administer a just Cause of Amazement to me Whereupon when I saw my self in another Man's Power separate from those who were wont to give me Counsel yea when I saw those Persons on whose Faithfulness and Prudence I had cast my self whose Power must confirm my Authority that otherwise would be little or none at all I say when I saw such Men to have devoted themselves to gratify his Will and Desire and I left alone as his Prey I ponder'd many things in my Mind but could not find a Way how to extricate my self neither did he give me any long time to consider of the matter but did press his Purpose with great eagerness At last when I saw I had no hope to escape and that there was not a Man in the Kingdom that would stir for my Deliverance for I easily perceived by the Roll he shewed me and by the great Silence of the Time that All were drawn to his Party When my Anger was a little abated I applied my Mind to consider his Request Then I began to set before my Eyes his Services in former Times and the great Hopes I had he would constantly persist in the same for the future And again how hardly my Subjects would endure a foreign Prince who was unacquainted with their Laws That they would not suffer me to be a Widow long That a People prone to Tumults could not be kept within the Bounds of their Duty unless my Authority was upheld and exercis'd by a Man who was able to undergo the Toil of governing the Commonwealth and so to bridle the Insolence of the Rebellious that my Strength was weakned with the Weight of those things ever since I came into Scotland and almost broke to nothing insomuch that I could no longer bear the daily Tumults and Rebellions that arose Furthermore by reason of these Seditions I was forc'd to create Four or more Lieutenants in divers Parts of the Kingdom most of which under colour of the Authority granted by me caus'd my Subjects
Poem not unelegantly compos'd by her and also the Manner of the King's Death and after his Death her Surprize and three Contracts of Marriage with him the One before the Parricide written with her own Hand wherein as by a Bill she promises to marry him as soon as ever she was freed from her former Husband The Other was before the Divorce from his former Wife writ by Huntly's Hand The Third was openly made a little before the Marriage When all this was produc'd seen and read before the Council The whole Fact was so plainly expos'd that now no Doubt could be made Who was the Author of it Though the Queen of England could not but believe these Discoveries yet she did fluctuate in her Mind on the one side there was Emulation Queens mutually hating one another there were also such great Crimes and such evident Proofs that the Queen thought her Kinswoman of Scotland deserv'd no Assistance to restore her And though her Mind did incline to that which was right yet 't was shaken and did hesitate upon the remembrance of her former State not without a Commiseration and besides the Majesty of Kingly Honour and a Feaâ— lest the Example of driving out Princes might creep into the Neighbour-Kingdoms wrought much upon her Besides she was afraid of France for the Peace with them was not very sure or firm and then especially the French Embassador did plead the Cause of the banish'd Queen daily The Spanish Embassador was desir'd also to interpose his Mediation but the foulness of the Crimes did so deter him that he refus'd to meddle therewith Whereupon the Queen of England that she might leave a Door for Repentance if Matters should succeed amiss in France and not cut off all occasion of gratifying them gave a middle Answer so tempering it that at present she said She saw no cause to the contrary but that all things had been acted according to Law and Justice in Scotland yet as if she deferr'd the compleat Decision till another time she desir'd that seeing intestine Tumults did recal the Regent he would leave here one of his Retinue in his Place to make Answer to those Crimes which might be objected against him in his Absence But the Regent who saw the Matter to be so put off that That Queen might take her Measures to give Sentence for her own Advantage and the Event of foreign Affairs left no Stone unturn'd that he might have the Cause fully determin'd now and therefore he desir'd as most just and equitable that if his Enemies who had long studied before-hand to accuse him had any thing to allege they would now produce it and not watch an Opportunity to calumniate him in his Absence seeing they refus'd to cope with him face to face he was not ignorant what Rumors his Enemies would cause to be spread amongst the People and what they had already said to some of the Council and to the French Embassador and therefore he earnestly desir'd of the Council to command them not to mutter privately but to declare openly what they had to say and that he would not make such haste home but that though it were much to his own Damage and the Publicks yet he would willingly purge himself there in presence Whereupon the Commissioners of the banish'd Queen were sent for and demanded If they had any thing to allege against the Regent or his Companions in reference to the King's Murder they should produce it Their Answer was They had nothing at present but they would accuse them when they were commanded by their Queen The Regent answer'd That he was always ready to give an account of all the Actions perform'd by him neither would he shun either Time or Place so to do yeâ— seeing the Queen began that Accusation of him he desir'd of his Accusers there present That if any of them had the least Objection against him they would then declare it for 't was much more noble and handsom to produce it before so illustrious an Assembly than in private Cabals to nibble at his Fame in his Absence They also refused This. Whereupon the whole Council cried out upon them and in a manner reproach'd them so that they were compell'd singly and severally to confess That they knew nothing of themselves why Murray or any of his should be accus'd of the King's Murder Then after a long Dispute pro and con the Council was dismiss'd and from that time there was never any more mention made of accusing the Regent or any of his Companions Whilst the Regent was thus necessarily detain'd in England on a publick Account the Queen's Faction turn'd every Stone both at Home and Abroad to make Disturbances but without effect Iames Hamilton who had been Regent some Years before seeing that Things went not according to his Mind at Home had gone long before into France there he had but a few Companions but lay privately with a Servant or Two to attend him free from the hurry of all Publick Business but when the Queen of Scots was escap'd out of Prison overcome in Battel and then fled for England The French knowing that Murray was call'd Home into his own Country and in his Passage through France not being able to work him over to their Party in regard they could not send Men or Mony to Scotland to raise Disturbance there by reason of their own Commotions at Home they therefore thought it most advisable to set up Hamilton in an emulating competition with him especially at that Time when the Regent with part of the Nobility were absent and out of the way He was therefore drawn out of his Privacy and accommodated with some few Pistols and larger Promises In his return thro' England his Friends persuaded him That in regard the Queen of Scots with her Faction favour'd him and the Queen of England was not averse from it he would deal with her to persuade Murray by her Authority to resign his Regency to him in regard that Office by the Law and Consent of almost all Nations and especially by the Custom of their own Country was due to him as the next in Blood and Heirship Neither said he was there any great need to make a laborious search into the Records of Ancient Times for This wherein they might easily find That Governors were always appointed to their Princes when under Age out of the next of Kin as when Iames the 3 d died in the absence of Iames the 1 st his Uncle Robert manag'd the Government and his Son Murdac succeeded Robert And of late Times Iohn Duke of Albany was made Governor to King Iames the 5 th whilst he was under Age Yea Hamilton himself had been Regent some few Years before Mary now Queen was of Age fit to Govern or Marry and how he was not excluded from that Office by any lawful Suffrages but unjustly by the Rebellious and that which increas'd the Indignity was That
Those Remedies are most rightfully and deservedly provided against such as are either terrified by Compulsion or inforc'd by Fear to do what is prejudicial to themselves But 't is otherwise If a guilty Conscience creates a Fear to it self out of an Expectation of a deserved Punishment to avoid which he assents to some certain Conditions This Fear carries with it no just Cause to rescind publick Acts for otherwise the wickeder a Person is so much the easier Retreat he might have to the Sanctuary of the Law and then the Remedies found out for the Relief of the Innocent would be transferred to indemnify the Nocent And the Laws themselves the Avengers of Wrongs would not be a Refuge to good Men when vex'd by the Improbity of the Bad but an unjust Shelter to the Evil when they fear deserv'd Punishment But that Fear let it be what it will wherein hath it made the Condition of the Queen the worse The Title of Kingly Dignity and the Power of Government was long since taken from Her by Parliament and being reduc'd to her Privacy she liv'd a precarious Life upon the account of the Peoples Mercy not her own Innocency When therefore she was put by the Kingdom what did she lose by her fear Her Dominion was ended before she only cast away the empty Name of Ruler and that which might lawfully have been extorted from her against her Will she parted with of her own accord and so redeem'd the residue of her Life the Sentiment of her Infamy the perpetual Fear of imminent Death which is worse than Death it self only by the laying down the Shadow of a mere Title and Name And therefore I wonder that on this Head no Body discovers the Prevarication of the Queen's Delegates and of her Embassadors For they who desire That what was done in Prison by the Queen may be undone ask this also That she may be restor'd to that Place from which she complains she was ejected through Fear And what is that Place to which they so earnestly desire she should be restor'd She was remov'd from governing the Kingdom before all publick Administration was taken away from her and she was left to the Punishment of the Law Now these goodly Advocates forsooth would have her restor'd to that Place as to plead for her self in a Cause which is as manifest as 't is foul and detestable or rather it being already prov'd that she should suffer just Punishment for the same And whereas now she injoys some ease in the Compassion of her Kindred and in so foul an Offence is not in any of the worst Cases they would again cast her into the tempestuous Hurry of a new Judgment She having no better hope of her Safety than she can gather from the Condemnation of so many former Kings who have been called before Judges to answer for themselves But because our Adversaries do seditiously boast to trouble the Minds of the simpler Sort That the Majesty of good Kings is impair'd and their Authority almost vilifi'd if Tyrants be punish'd let us see what Weight there is in this Pretence We may rather contrarily judge That there is nothing more honourable for the Societies and Assemblies of the Good than if they are freed from the Contagion of the Bad. Who ever thought that the Senate of Rome incurr'd any Guilt by the Punishment of Lentulus Cethegus or Catiline And Valerius Asiaticus when the Souldiers Mutined for the Slaughter of Caligula and cry'd out to know Who was the Author of so audacious a Fact He answer'd from an high and lofty Place where he stood I wish I could truely say I did it So much Majesty there was in that free Speech of one private Man That the wild common Souldiers were presently dissipated and quieted thereby When Iunius Brutus overthrew the Conspiracy made for bringing back Kings into the City he did not think that his Family was stained by a nefarious Slaughter but that by the Blood of his Children the stain was rather wiped away from the Roman Nobility Did the Imprisonment of Christiern of Denmark detract any thing from the Commendation of Christiern the next King What hindred but that he might have been accounted the best of Kings in his time For a noble Mind that is supported by his own Virtue doth neither increase by the Glory nor is lessened by the Infamy of another But to let these things pass let us return to the Proof of the Crime I think we have abundantly satisfi'd the Queen's Request her desire was That we should shew her such strengthning and convincing Proofs for what we have done that she might be satisfied in the justness of our Cause and also be able to inform Others who desir'd to hear what we could say for our Selves As for the King's Murder the Author the Method and the Causes thereof have been so fully declar'd by the Earl of Murray and his Fellows in that Embassy that they must needs be clear to the exact Judgments of the Queen and those Others delegated by her to hear that Affair As for what is objected to us as blame-worthy after that time we have shewn That 't is consentaneous to the Divine Law and also to the Law of Nature which too is in a sort Divine Moreover 't is consonant to our own Country-Laws and Customs Neither is it different from the Usage of other Nations who have the Face of any Good and just Government amongst them Seeing then that our Cause is justifi'd by all the Interpreters of Divine and Human Laws seeing the Examples of so many Ages the Judgments of so many People and the Punishments of Tyrants do confirm it we see no such Novelty not to say Injustice in our Cause but that the Queen her self might readily subscribe to it yea and persuade others that in this Matter they should be no otherwise opinionated of us but that we have carried our Selves like good Subjects and Christians too These were the Allegations which we thought fit to make to justify our Cause which we committed to writing and read them the last day of February before those grave and learned Persons whom the Queen had appointed to confer with us on this Subject and the next Day which was March the first We again went in the Morning to Court to learn how she relish'd our Answer and what Judgment she made of the whole Cause but because she that Day was going to her Country-House called Greenwich about three Miles below London we had no Opportunity to speak with her What was Next to that we went to the Chief of the Council who at first were appointed to hear and transact with us They told us That the Queen though she had very little spare time in regard of the Journy and other Business yet had read our Memorial But she was not yet so fully persuaded that our Cause was so just that She could approve it without Scruple and therefore she desired us
Presumptuous Confidence in descending to debate her Cause after that Fashion and therefore say's the Queen seeing they are so averse from the Way of Concord which I propose I will detain you no longer but if she hereafter repent of her present Sentiment of which I have some hope and take the Course chalkt out by me I do not doubt but you for your part will perform your Duty Thus we were lovingly and kindly Dismist and the 8 th Day of April began our Journy towards our own Country This Account was given at Sterlin by the Embassadors before the Convention of the Estates Whereupon the Care and Diligence of the Embassadors were unanimously approv'd Other Matters they referr'd to the first of May a Parliament being summon'd against that time In the mean time both Parties bestir themselves one to promote the other to hinder the Assembling thereof The wisest Senators were of opinion That the Queen of England would never let the Scot's Queen depart as foreseeing how dangerous her Deliverance would be to all Britain In the interim Mention was made by some of demanding the Scot's King as an Hostage for his Mother rather in hopes to hinder a Concord than to establish it for she was well assur'd that the Scots would never yield to it but there were some potent Men in her Council who did secretly favour the Duke of Norfolk's Faction These were desirous that the Queen of Scots should be deliver'd and thereby the adverse Faction might in tract of time be broken and diminish'd that so they might obtain that Point from her by Necessity which they saw they could not otherwise do neither did they doubt but the Matter would come to that Pass if the Râ—bels were assisted with Mony and other Furniture for War from France and the Royalists had their Eye only on the Queen of England who had at the beginning largely promis'd them upon understanding the flagitious Act of the Queen that she would take a special care of the King and Kingdom of Scotland Neither could the French King well compass his Designs He was willing the Scot's Queen should be deliver'd but not that the King should be put into English Hands and hearing how strong the Norfolk Faction was which was all for Innovations he did not despair but that the Scot's Queen might in time escape out of Prison privately or be deliver'd by his Means Thus stood the State of Britain at that time Morton having given a laudable Account of his Embassy to the Convention at Sterlin return'd to his own House about 4 Miles from Edinburgh he had a Company of 100 Foot and a few Horse to guard his House and to defenâ— himself if the Townsmen should attempt to make any Excursion till more Forces might come in In the mean time the Queen's Faction were Masters of the Town and set Guards in all convenient Places and levell'd all their Designs to exclude the Regent and to hinder the Parliament which was Indicted to be held at Edinburgh Whereupon Morton was commanded by the Regent with 20 Horse and about 70 Foot for the rest had Passes to go abroad for Forage to march to Leith who was to make a publick Proclamation there for they had garison'd Edinburgh already That no Man should assist the Rebels by Land or Sea either with Provision Arms or any other warlike Furniture they that did so were to undergo the same Punishment with them They knowing themselves to be inferior to the Town-Souldiers sent their Foot another Way about which was cover'd by an Hill from the Sight of the City commonly call'd Arthur's Seat and the Horse past near the Walls and Gates of the City not a Man of the Enemy stiring out When they had done what they were commanded to do at Leith they had not the same Fortune at their Return for the Foot refus'd to march back the same Way that they came but return'd against the will of the Horse near the Gates of the City and so pass'd with them under the Walls with an intent to try what Metal themselves were made of and their Enemies too when lo on a sudden a Sally was made out against them from Two of the Gates At first they fought Manfully so that the Oppidans were driven back in disorder into the Town with no great loss 't is true yet it easily appear'd that they were Inferior in Valour though Superior in Number The Regent having nothing in readiness to assault the Town and having no time neither by reason of the sudden Sitting of the Parliament to bring any great Guns thither thought it better to desist from Force and to hold the Parliament without the Gate of Edinburgh For that City being stretch'd out mostly in Length they who first compassed it with a Wall left a great Part of it in the Suburbs yet so that the Inhabitants of that Part had the full priviledg of Citizens as well as those within the Walls There the Convention was held for the Lawyers gave their Opinions That 't was no great Matter in what Part soever of the City it met In this Parliament These were declar'd Traitors viz. The chief of Them who held out the Castle especially those who out of Consciousness of their guilt of the King 's and Regent's Murders had avoided Tryal The Rebels being thus condemn'd by an Act of Parliament The Judgment of which Court is of very great Authority lest the Commonalty which ordinarily is at the beck of the Nobility should be alienated from them They also of the Number which they had there made up a Convention such as it was Few appear'd there who had any lawful right to Vote and of them some came not into the Assembly at all some presented themselves but as Spectators only abstaining from all Judiciary Actings so that they having neither a just Number of Voices nor were they assembled either in due Time or according to ancient Custom yet that they might make shew of a lawful sufficient Number Two Bishops and some Others which were absent a thing never heard of before sent in their Votes in writing at hap-hazard as being doubtful of the Event of that Assembly At this time the Castle continually plaid with great Guns upon the Place where the Nobles were Assembled and though the Bullets often fell amongst crouds of People yet they neither hurt nor kill'd so much as one Man There were but few condemn'd in either Convention and both Parties appointed another Convention to be held in August one at Sterlin the other at Edinburgh When the Assembly was dismist neither Party issued out one upon other so that there was a kind of Truce between them Thereupon the greatest part of the Souldiers that were with Morton being press'd Men slipt away to their own homes They who kept the Town knew That Morton had but a small Party for his Guard and being willing also to cry quits for their former
against Donald * Or Râ—dshanks Mackbeth his Character Mâ—cduald is overthrown by Mackbeth and Bâ—nâ—ho Swain and his three Sons Swain King of Norwayâ—ands â—ands in Scotland * A Town standing on the Forth in Pertâ—shiâ—e * The Scâ—tâ— by an inebâ—â—ating Dâ—ink made of Night-shade stupifie the Danes * The Herb Night-shade its Description and Properties Danes overthrown * Druâ—iâ—aâ—-Sands 〈…〉 North-side of the 〈…〉 * A Burgh-Roâ—aâ— on the North 〈…〉 Another Fleet of the Danes overthrown by Bancho * Or Inch-Colm * The Danes swore neveâ— to invade Scotland any more * Mackbeth's Dream encouraging him to aspire to the Kingdom * He thereupon slâ—ys King Donald or Duncan as some call him and is declared King Donald's Children fly for their Lives Mackbeth severe against Thieves He makes Wholesom Laws But afterward degenerates causes Bancho to be treacherously slain * Lying Southwest 3 miles from Cowper in Angus Mackduff ill resents Mackbeth He flies into England And stirs up Duncan's Son against him * Malcolm by the assistance of Edward K. of England recovers the Kingdom from Mackbeth * See Note a p. 77. * Malcolm First brought in Foreign Titles of Honour into Scotland * Mackduff the first Earl in Scotland * Three Grand Privileges of the Mackduffâ— * Called Straâ— or Sâ—rath-Boâ—y Forty Miles North of Aberdeen * Mackbeth's Son slain by Malcolm * Or Icolumbâ—â—l an Isle 2 Miles from the South end of Mul. * Malcolm assaulted by private Conspiracies which he overcomes * The Story of Edmond K. of England and Canutus * William the Norman demands Edgar then in Scotland * Whom Malcolm refuses to Surrender * Whereupon a War 〈…〉 Roger Richard Odo and Robert Generals for William of England worâ—â—ed in Scotland Newcastle repaired A Peace concluded between the Scots and English * Or Re-Crosâ— on the North-side it had the Portâ—aicture of the Scots King and of the English King on the South * Home-bred Seditions against Maâ—colm queâ—l'd The Original of the Family of the Stuarts afterwards Kings of Scotland * Lying on the South-side of the River Danâ— in Marr * Malcolm's Vow to St. Andrew Alexander Carron preferred and Sirnamed Scrimger The Seditious quell'd The Piety of Malcolm's Queen c. * Or Mortlich * Malcolm erects new Bishopricks * Malcolm erects new Bishopricks * Sumptuary Laws made by Malcolm * Marâ—heta Mulierum What * Malcolm builds the Cathedrals of Durham and Dumferling * King William Rufus Wars against Malcolm * Malcolm and his Son Edward slain by the English * On the River Lian on the British Sea Weâ—t of Calice * Prodigies viz. The Inundation of the German-Sea and Men-killing Thunder-bolts * Donald promises the Islands to Magnus King of Norway * Donald flies * Duncan slain by the procurement of Donald * Edgar's Pious Reign He builds the Monastery of Coldingham * Lying within two Miles of Aymouth in Mersâ— near the Scotish Sea Alexanders Valour * He doth Justice to a Poor Woman * Lying on the East-side of the Carss or Plain of Gowry within two Miles of Dundee * Lying in the Braes or Risings of the Carss of Gowry five Miles above Dundee * Inch-Colm or St. Columb's Isle in the Firth of Forth in Fife near Aberdeen David's just Reign * He creates new Bishopricks He is censured for his Profuseness towards Monasteries * In Teviotdale Henry of England never Laughed after the Drowning of his Children * K. Henry setles the Succession on his Daughter Maud the Empress by causing the Nobility to Swear Fealty to her in his Life time * Stephen notwithstanding his Oath seizes on the Crown of England * His Pretensions for so doing The Bishops of England not True to Maud according to their Oaths David of Scotland maintains the Cause of Maud his Kinswoman He lays Perjury to Stephens's Charge North Allerton lying near the River Swale in the North-Riding of Yorkshire He Fights the English and Overthrows them An Agreement between David and Stephen not observed Which hath its Source near Black-Laws in Teesdale The Scots overthrown by Stephen Another Agreement between the Scots and Stephen King of England Henry Heir of England sent to David his Uncle to be made Knight by him * King David loses his hopeful Son and Heir * But â—ears his Affliction Piously and Patiently * May 24. Lying on the North-west of Aberdeneshire K. David's extraordinary Character for Piety and Virtue A great Pestilenâ—e 〈◊〉 Scotland Somerled rises in Arms but is overthrown Henry of England designs against Malcolm And makes him take a Feodatary Oath to him He carries Malcolm into France And at his return despoils him of his Ancient Patrimony in England * The Scots make War upon England Peace concluded between the English and Scots wherein Malcolm quits Northumberland A Rebellion in Galway quell'd The Murray-Men under Gildominick rise in Arms. But are suppressed * Sâ—merled stirs agaiâ—â— but is overthrown and slain The Estates persuade Malcolm to Marry His Negative Answer to their Request * December 9th * William solicits Henry of England for the restitution of Northumberland He accompanies Henry into France * Part of Nâ—rthumberland restored to the Scots * William enters England with an Army But is overthrown taken Prisoner by the English and sent to Henry then in France * August 1â—th February 1st * K. William Ransomed and takes an Oath to K. Henry * Not That Constance in Germany but That in Normandy now called Contances * Ianuary 〈…〉 Gilchrist King Williams General The Scots Bishops freed from the Jurisdiction of English Bishops Gilchrist Kills his Wife for Adultery and flys into England But is Forced to return into his own Country Donald Bane rises in Arms but is quelled Distressed Gilchrist Pardon'd and Restored * To the Holy War for Recovery of Ierusâ—lem from the Turks * The English quit their Claim to any part of 〈◊〉 * William sends David his Brother to accompany Richard to the Holy Land David returns from Sâ—â—ia * So doth Richard Lex Taâ—â—onâ—â— executed upon one Harald Earl of the Orcades * K. Iohn of England meditates a War against Scotland * But Matters are accommodated upon Terms between both Kingdoms * Berth destroyed and new Built Makul a Criminal abstains from all manner of Food * Several Leagues between Iohn of England and William of Scotland * A Maritime Town in Normandy 〈◊〉 France * Alexander enters England with an Army * Iohn enters Scotland Alexander takes Carlisle * King Iohn agrees with the Pope and becomes his Feudatary Cardinal Galo Avaâ—itiâ—â—â— * King Iohn Poysoned * Others say at 〈◊〉 Abby near Bostâ—n in Lincolnshire * The Scots Excommunicated * A Stone-Cross erected in Sâ—anmoâ—e in Cumberlâ—nd as a Boundary between the Two Kingdoms of England and Sâ—otland * Cardinal 〈◊〉 ill Character * Pandulphus the Popes Legat a Witness of the Peace between the Two Kings * Roman Fraud * Câ—min