Government to a better form for that the Kingdom was oppressed with insupportable grievances the King being altogether given to follow the advice projects and counsels of base men to amass and gather great sums of money from his people upon which he studied to maintain his Court and State and give away his own When the Engin was prepared for the people and spread abroad they sent to the Earl of Dowglass then closely as a Monck shut up in the Abby of Lyndores to come out be of the Party and assist them with his Counsel and Friends promising if their attempt had happy Success to restore him again to his ancient possessions and Heritage former dignitys and the Places of honour of his Ancestors The Earl whom time and long experience had made wary and circumspect having a suspition the Earl of Angus who possessed the greatest part of his estate had been the chief motioner of this liberty and that rather to try what he would do then that he minded really to set him free refused to come out of his Cloister And by his letters disswaded them from their bold enterprize against their Prince wishing they would set his house and himself for a pattern precedent of Rebellion He sent to all such of his Friends whom his disasters had left unruined to take arms for the King as the Dowglasses of Kayvers and others The King neither losing courage nor councel for the greatness of the danger of the Rebellion trusting much to his good fortune with such forces as came with him from the North in Captain Woods Ships and other Boats and Vessels prepared to that end passeth the Forth near the Blackness an old Fortress and Sea port in West Lothian not far from the Castle of Abercorn and that place where the Forces of the Earl of Dowglass left him and the King his Father obtained so harmless a victory Before the arrival of the King at this Place the Earls of Montross Glencarn Lords Maxwell and Ruthven with others advertised by Letters of the Rendevouz had come to the Place had encamped and were attending him And he mustered a sufficient Army to rencounter the Lords of the association who from all quarters were assembled having with them the Prince to add Authority to their quarrel The two Armies being in readiness to decide their indifferences by a Battail the Earl of Athole the Kings Uncle so travailed between the Lords of either party and the King that a suspention of Armes was agreed upon and reconcilement and the Earl of Athole rendered himself a pledge for the accomplishing of the Kings part of the reconcilement to the Lord Haylles and was sent to be kept in the Castle of Dumbar This was not a small fault of this Prince the Confederates forces were not at this time equall to his neither had they essayed to hinder the landing of his Army being but in gathering the Castle of Blackness was for his defence and his Ships traversing up and down the Forth in case of necessity for succour That if he had hazarded a battail he had been neer to have recovered all that reputation he had before lost Now upon either side some common Souldiers are disbanded some Gentlemen licensed to return to their own dwelling places The King in a peaceable manner retireth to the Castle of Edenburgh The Earl of Athole was now removed from him and many of the other Lords who loved him returned to their houses the Counsel of man not being able to resist the determinations of God The Lords suspecting still the King to be implacable in their behalf and unaccessible in his Castle keeping the Prince alwaies with them entring upon new meditations hold sundry meetings how to have his person in their power and make him a prey to their ambitious designs The Town of Edinburgh is pestered with troups of armed men the Villages about replenished with Soldiours The King warned of his danger fortifies of new the Castle of Edenburgh for his defence and is brought to such a tameness that resolving to do that with love of every man which he feared in end he should be constrained unto with the universal hatred of all and his own damage and danger out of a passive fortitude sent Commissioners indifferent Noble men to the Lords and his Son to understand their intentions and what they meant Why his Son was kept from him and continued the head of their faction Why his Uncle was so closely imprison'd and himself as it were blocked up by their tumultuous meetings in Arms He was content they should have an abolition of all that was past that their punishments should not be infinitely extended and that they should think upon a general agreement after the best and fittest manner they could devise and set it down They finding their offences flew higher than hope of pardon could ascend unto Their suspitions and the conscience of their crime committed breeding such a distrust out of an apprehension of fear answered that they found no true meaning Open war was to be preferred to a peace full of deceit danger and fears that being assured he would weave out his begun projects against them they could not think of any â—afety nor have assurance of their lives nor fortunes unless he freely resigned the title of his Crown and Realm in favour of his Son and voluntarily deposed himself leaving the Government of the People and Kingdome to the Lords of his Parliament divesting himself wholly of his Royall dignity Neither would they come to any submission or capitulation until he consented to this main point and granted it submissivelye King Iames notwithstanding of this answer after a cleer prospect of the inconveniences and mischiefs which were growing and the many injuries indignities and affronts put upon him yet really affecting a peace sought unto Henry King of England as also to the Pope and King of France to make an attonment between him and his Subjects The King accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manners not only by way of request and perswasion but also by way of protestation and menace declaring that they thought it to be the common cause of all Kings if Subjects should be suffered to give Lawes unto their Soveraign a ligitimate King though a Tyrant was not subordinate to the Authority of Subjects Iames was not a Tyrant his errours proceeding most part form youth and evil Counsel That suppose the King had done them wrong it was not wisely done for a desire of revenge to endanger their particular Estates and the peace and standing of the whole Kingdome What State was there ever so pure but some corruption might creep into it That they should be very ment too far That they would accordingly resent and revenge it Rage prevailing against Reason and fears the Lords made that same answer to these Embassadours which they had sent to the King himself before As for the Popes Embassy which was sent by Adrian de
Streets out of Windows furnished him he invested a part of the Town and barricadoed some Lanes with Carts and other impediments which the time did afford The adverse party trusting go their number and the supply of the Citizens who calling to mind the slaughter of their Deacon shew them small favour disdaining the Earl should thus muster on the Streets in great fury invade him Whilst the bickering continued and the Town is in a Tumult William Dowglas brother to the Earl of Angus Sir David Hume of Wedderburn George Hume brother to the late Lord with many others by blood and Friendship tyed together enter by violence the East Gate of the Town the Citizens making small resistance force their passage through the throngs seek the Earls enemies find them scoure the streets of them The Master of Montgomery eldest Sonne to the Earl of Eglintoun Sir Patrick Hamiltun Brother to the Earl of Arran with almost fourscour more are left dead upon the place The Earl himself findeth an escape and place of retreat through a Marsh upon the North side of the Town The Chancelour and his retinue took Sanctuary in the Dominican Fryers the tumult by the slaughter of some and flight of others appeased the Earl of Angus now freed of danger licensed all who pleased without further pursuit peaceably to leave the Town of Edenburgh and return to their own Houses Some daies after the Humes well banded and backed with many Nobles and Gentlemen of their linage by the Earl of Angus consent took the Lord Humes and his brothers heads from the place where they had been fixt and with the funeral Rites of those times interr'd them in the Black-Fryers The Earl of Angus having angled the peoples hearts by his Magnificence Wisdom Courage and Liberality his Faction began to bear greatest sway in the Kingdom For the continuance of which the King of England dealt most earnestly with the French King to keep the Duke of Albany still in France with him But the French had contrary designs And when the Duke understood the great discords of the Nobility of Scotland persons of Faction being advanced to places dangerous immunities being granted to the Commons France and England beginning to be tyred of their Peace and preparing for a new war to curb the Scottish Factions keep the Nation in quietness in it self by giving the Subjects other work abroad whilst common danger should break of particular discords Notwithstanding of the English Ships which lay in wait to take him after he had been about five years in France in November he arrived on the west coasts of Scotland at a place named Garloch The Governour comming to Edenburgh set himself to amend the enormities committed in his absence the Magistrates of the Town are deposed because in the late uproar they had been evil seconds to the Lords of the west when they went to surprize the Earl of Angus A Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to make appearance in February to be tryed and to answer for offences committed by them in the Governours absence The appointed time being come these who appeared not were indicted and â—led into England Amongst which and the chief were the Humes and Cockburns men Authors and accessary to the death of Sir Anthony Darcey The tyde now turning and mens affections changed the Earl of Angus with his brother Sir George Dowglâ—s by the intercession of the Queen are constrained to seek a Pardon which was obtained for them but with the condition that they should leave the Countrey and stay in France one whole year which they obeyed Others have recorded they were surprized in the night and in French Ships conveyed privately away Mr. Gaven Dowglas Bishop of Dunkell in the absence of his Nephew finding the Governour violent in the chase of the Faction of the Dowglasses fled privately to the Court of England where he gave informations to King Henry against him He alone had taken to him the custody of the young King the sequel wâ—ereof he much feared he was an irreconciliable enemy to the whole Family of the Dowglasses The principal cause of his comming to Scotland was to engage the Nation in a War against England that the English Should not assist the Emperour against the French King and make his Nation slaves to France This Bishop shortly after dyed at London and was buryed in the savoy Church having been a man noble valiant learned and an excellent Poet as his works yet extant testifie The King of England upon such informations sent Clarencieux King of Arms to Scotland to require the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between the French King and him in their last truce It belonged said Clarencieux to his Master to tender the life wellfare honour fortunes of his Nephew of none of which he could be assured so long as the Duke ruled and stayed in Scotland It was against all reason and unbeseeming the man should be sole Guardian to a King who was the next heir to the Crown how easily might he be tempted by opportunity to commit the like unnatural cruelty which some have done in the like case both in England and other parts of Europe if he loved his Nation and Prince as he gave out he required him to leave the Country which if he yield not unto but obstinately continued in a re resolution to stay he denounced from his Master present war He farther complained Thâ—t the Earl of Anguss who was King Henries Brother-in Law was by him banisht and detained in France That during the banishment of the Earl which had been neer a whole year the Duke had impâ—tuned his Sister the Queen with dishonest love The Governour answered Clarencieux That what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain That neither the King of England nor France had power to banish him a Forainer over whom their authority did not reach his native country like over like having no jurisdiction As concerning the King of Scotland who was yet young in years he reverenced him as his soveraign Lord and would keep and defend both him and his Kingdome according to his Conscience honour and bound duty that there were ever more men in the world who desired to be Kings than there were Kingdomes to be bestowed upon them of which number he was none having ever preferred a mean estate justly enjoyed before a Kingdome evil acquired For the Earl of Angus he had used all Courtesies towards him notwithstanding of his evil demerits not for his own sake he did confess but for the Queens sake whom he honoured and respected as the Mother of his Prince and towards whom he should continue his observance That the King of England needed not misdoubt he would attempt any thing should derogate from the honour of his sister that complements of meer curtesie in France might
to return home There after long advisement with his other Brothers and some haughty Vassals they declare old Rapines and Wrongs being joyned to new and recent with which they were charged the restitution was impossible and like spilt water which could not be recovered Not satisfied with this Answer the Councel citeth the Earl of Dowglass upon some days to appear before them and all his Vassals and Followers with his Brothers to answer according to Law to such Articles as should be given in against them The Earl was far off and they considered it consisted not with their weal to hazard their persons to the Arbitrement of Judges many of which had been obnoxious to their affronts Thus for not appearing they are denounced Rebels and Warrants granted in invade and spoil their Lands as publick enemies to Authority and the present Government This Decree is followed by open force and to facilitate the execution of it and to take up the Earl of Dowglasses Rents William Earl of Orkney cometh to Galloway Dowglas-dale Liddes-dale But he found Authority not seconded with power against lusty Rebels to produce weak effects for he returned disobeyed contemned and near spoiled and rifled by the Earls Tenants and Vassals The King to vindicate his Authority since he could not prevail by reason with competent forces in person entreth the same Terâ—itories taketh all the strong Fortresses and Castles where bâ— came demolisheth the Castle of Dowglass placeth a Garrison in Lochmabane giveth the custody of such places he spared with the whole Goods and Moveables appertaining to them to the Complainers and men interested in wrongs or blood by the Rebels The noise of this unexpected backblow being heard at Rome perplexed not a little the Earl of Dowglass Many of his train leave him that where lately he represented a Prince he seemed now scarce a private Gentleman he was â—ssured he lived under a Soveraign who maughre all detractions would hear his own defences Upon which hopes he resolveâ—h to return taketh him to his Journey and for his greater haste and safe progress he obtaineth a Passe through England come to the Borders of Scotland his Brother Iames is directed to the Court to understand the Kings minde towards him and if there were any possibility in this ebb of favors to have access to him The King ingenuously promiseth to accept him and performed it for all that hapned by the misdeameanor of his Friends in his absence requesting that he would but live peaceably according to the order of the State without hating that which his Prince loved or improving that which he approved and authorized and that as himself and his Brothers were ever the most able and readiest to repel the wrongs of Strangers so they would endeavor to entertain unity and concord in the Countrey it self and purge their Lands of Theeves and Robbers if mischievous and wicked men were not punished there would be no surety nor safety for the good and vertuous Past wrongs are pardoned the Garrisons removed from his Castles and they are rendred unto him Then to put him in assurance of increasing favours he is made Lieutenant General of the Kingdom a place great and requiring great action being onely to be bestowed upon a Man active great in power and friends The Earl of Dowglss again afloat in the stream of his Soveraigns favours might have continued if his miseries had not been decreed from above soon after he falls in new disgrace whether upon a promise of return or that he was sent for or that he would officiously give thanks for received courteâ—ies when he was in his way homewards he passeth privately to the Court of England and without his Masters knowledge or leave hath many days serious conference with the Nobility of that Kingdom then many ways distressed by the Rebellion of Kent and the factions of the great Men. The pretended cause of his journey was given out to be the repairing of his own and his Vassal lsosses sustained by the in-rodes of the English the time of his travels abroad and the redressing of other disorders on the West Borders but his Enemies suggested he intended to enter a League with some of the English to the disadvantage of his Master and trouble of his Countrey by changing the form of Government or the Officers of State King Iames took this meeting with the English in an evil part but after great intercession and many requests of the Queen and Noblemen after he had submitted himself to his clemency and acknowledged his errors received him In this mean time he is discharged of all publick imployments his Offices of State are divided between the Earl of Orkney and the Lord Creighton his reconciled Enemies Removed from publick imployments he giveth himself to study private revenge and the whole secret Council turn distasteful unto him especially Orkney and Creighton men perfectly abhorring his ambition and who greatly feared his dismeasured greatness Their suspected affronts and alledged wrongs towards him were increased daily by tales of Sycophants It was told the Earl that the Lord Creightoun in conference with the King had said it were expedient for the peace of the Countrey that the Earl of Dowglass with all his friends and followers were rooted out and their memory abolished but if that were left undone neither should the King rule in due Majesty nor the Subjects ever give him that obedience which they ought That wise Princes suffered houses to grow as men do Spider-webs not taking heed of them so long as they were small but when offensively encreased they swept them wholly away Irritated by these and many such like speeches after much contempt of the Chancellor one dawning as he was early coming form Edinburgh to his Castle of Creighton the Earl who wanted not his own intelligence amongst his followers Hatred being an evil Counsellor laid an ambush for him on the high way But the clearness of the morning discovering it by swiftness of his horse he escapeth some of his company being wounded and one of the Assailers slasin in the pursuit Two days after the Chancellor to repair his credit accompanied with a number of his Friends and Followers coming in great haste to Edinburgh had unawared surprized the Earl of Dowglas then attended but with a small number of his friends if he had not speedily shifted himself form the danger This contention now bursting forth into open hostility divided into Factions the whole Kingdom The Earl of Dowglass maintaining his by the long continued grandeur of his House the Chancellor standing by his Princes favour and a long practise of the affairs and course of the World the Earl fearing the Authority of the King might sway the Ballance and make the party unequal if he should be brought to call to remembrance passed actions and attempts of his Predecessors findeth nothing more expedient to curb his enemies and strengthen his proceedings then to renew his old Confederation and combine with him many
ignorance of the Mother the Queen should not suffer any loss damage or disadvantage The King of England resented highly this Divorcement endeavour'd by his Letters to hinder it for he thought some things tolerable in men which were in competent and shameful in women and after never carried such respect to his Sister as he had done before Of these she made little reckoning for after the sentence given she married Henry Stuart Son to the Lord Eavendale whom K. Iames to do honor to his Mother promoted to be Lord Meffan and General of his Artillery Whilst the King remained a shadow to the Earls Government amidst so many distractions discords and jars of the Grandees the Court turned solitary and unfrequented by any Noblemen save these of the Dowglasses own faction amongst which the Earl of Lennox shewed himself most indifferent For he for his own ends attending the Court in a short time so framed himself to the Kings humours that he delighted alone in his conversation and often hid none of his inward thoughts and secret intentions from him Among others he many times importuned him to give him a sound advice how he might de delivered form the Earl of Angus of whose bondage he had been long weary whose rule over him was turned now into tyranny his ambition having mounted to that height that he was not content to command and Kingdome but to thrall and keep under his Soveraign Lord the King himself that he effects of his Governing were the dispersing of his Nobles and banishing of his mother from him The Earl of Lennox who by his familiarity with the King was become suspitious of Angus and had an intention to tumble out a man hated of his Prince establish himself in his place and rule the young King alone aggravating his and the Countreys miseries told him after much intreaty The Lord of Balclough was the only person to be employ'd in such a service a man of unlimitted desires displeased strong in power mightlly hated and who had inveâ—erate hatred against the Earl of Angus who wanted nothing but opportunity to execute his rancour If this conceived exploit had not a desired success then he himself would by main force either win his Prince or loose his life in the Enterprize The Laird of Balclough secretly advertised of the Kings intention giveth way to much oppression and many insolencies on the borders the redress of which required the presence of the Prince Complaints are given against them and the King to do justice accompanied with the Earls of Angus Lennox Lords Hume Flamin Areskin Cesfoord Farnehast and others commeth to Ied brough But when they had staied there some daies small redress was of wrongs no justice executed the chief men of the Borders not producing the Delinquents of their Names to answer according to law as was the antient custom Thus as they came they were returning when at Melrose as they hoverd at the passage of a Bridge over the Tweed certain companies of men in arms appeared on the Descents of Hellidon Hill which being come with in distance of discerning were known to be commanded by the Laird of Balclough and number'd a thousand all borderers and broken men The Earl of Angus not a little mov'd at so sudden an apparition by an Herauld craveth to understand their intentions and how in such a hostile manner they dared come so near the Kings person withall charging them under pain of high Treason to retire The Laird of Balcloughs answer was he came to do the King service invite him to his house show him what forces he was able to raise upon the Borders when necessity should require his service and assistance That he would not obey a charge contrary to the Kings mind of which he was conscious and herewith he marched forwards Presently the Earl alighting on foot leaving the Earl of Lennox Lords Areskin Maxwell Sir George Dowglas Ninian Creightoun with the King as Spectators of the Game with the Lord Flammin and other his Friends marshall'd his Men for the Charge which was given with a great shout and clamor of these Borderers The Lord Hume Lards of Farnehast and Cesfoord had taken their leave of the King who gladly dismist them but upon advertisement of the sudden fray being not far of they return in hast with an hundred Launces in good time for the Earl of Angus and falling upon one of the Wings of Balcloughs troups force them to yield ground and some to turn their backs upon which suddenly foloweth the Chase. Cesfoord and Farnehast eagerly persewing Here at the descent of a little Hill by the blow of a Launce which a Domestick of Balcloughs threw from his Arm the Laird of Cesfoord if slain and by his death the Chase left off to be follow'd and a long deadly fewd between the Scots and Cars was begun fourscore Borderers were kill'd in this bickering assisting Balclough himself was wounded with many of his friends the Earl of Anguss lost not a few besides the Laird of Cesfoord The Earl of Angus after this road of Melross perceiving his enemies to increase and the affections of some of the Nobility turned fâ—â—m him composing the old difference between him and the Earl of Arran entered into condition of a strict friendship with him and was content he should be his partner and fellow-governour in distribution of Causualities and ruling the Countrey When the King had considered how twice his intentions had been broken and unhappily without success he began to essay the third by the Earl of Lennox whom challenging of his promise he desired to gather an army and joining his Forces with the Queens to restore him to his Liberty The Earl of Lennox before suspected after the League and friendship of Earl of Angus with the Earl of Aâ—ran became declared â— enemy to Angus withdrew himself from Court and some few Moneths being passed at Sterlin he maketh a Declaration to all the Leiges of his intentions inviting them to assist and side with his cause One thousand men came from the High-lands to him the Earl of Cassiles and Master of Kilmayers come from the West with two thousand the Queen and Arch-bishop Iames Beatoun direct many of their Vasâ—alls from Fâ—sse to him Thus with three strong Briggades he marcheth towards Lynlithgow The Earl of Angus understanding these preparations to be against him imploreth the assistance of his best Friends to withstand them especially the Carres and Humes to whoâ—e valour he had lately been so far obliged He sendeth Letters to the Earl of Arran and the Gentlemen of the name of Hamilton regretting the estate of the Common-wealth requiring their speedy aid That in so perilous time setting aside all particular Respects and Quarrels they would have a care of the Common good of the Countrey If the Earl of Lennox should carry the King from him and remained Victor of the Field he would not stay there his next mark would be the Hamiltouns whom he was