necessary if possible to prevent the Conjunction of Dowglas and Hammilton to that end he advanceth to Linlithquo where the Hammiltons were drawn together Dowglas then at Edenburgh marcheth with all possible expedition bringing along with him to countenance his affairs the person of the King who all along retardeth the journey accounting Lennox more his Friend than those with him pretending indisposition of Body ever and anon dismounteth making shew to pay some necessary office to Nature Dowglas frets and in vain spending many entreaties for expedition at length George Dowglas Brother to the Earl is so peremptory with him as in most Rebellious terms to tell him That rather than their Enemies should get possession of his Person they would rend him in pieces and divide him in halves between them This Traiterous word made an indelible impression on the heart of the King though at present silence was his best and only return At last the Armies joyn Lennox and his Patty are put to the rout many slain the Earl himself killed bewailed of all Hammilton and Dowglas both mourn for him above all the King is afflicted the remnant of his Party with sorrow and grief enough submit and are all forced to compound for their Treasons as was pretended in bearing Arms against the King the Earl of Cassils refusing to submit was way-laid and killed by one Hugh Campbell Lennox his Death divulged maketh a very deep impression in the hearts of most men especially his own Retainers one of his Servants resolveth with himself to avenge his Lord's death on the Person of the Bastard Hammilton by whom Lennox was killed To that end he repairs to Edenburgh and on his way meeting with one of his Fellow-servants he asked him saying Didst thou see Hammilton the Bastard Yea said he I saw him and hast thou not killed him unthankful Wretch who murthered our Dear Lord and Master said the Fellow Go and be hang'd thou art not worthy to live and with these words he pass'd on in his way and came streight to Holyrude House where in the Pallace-Yard stood Two thousand Armed men all Retainers to Dowglas and Hammilton there the Fellow walks full of Revenge and waiting the opportunity to execute the desire of his heart Hammilton unawares comes in his way without Arms the Fellow falls upon him in the Penthouse under the Porters-Lodge and wounds him in six several places of his Body the Armed men are all presently in confusion and well nigh in one anothers blood The Hammiltons suspecting this bold attempt to be done by the Dowglasses newly only reconciled to them to avenge some old Quarrels The Fellow is at last apprehended who had opportunity fair enough had he attempted it to escape with his Sword in his hand still smoaking with Hammilton's blood he is forthwith hurried to Tolbnith boldly professing that what he did was to revenge the death of his Dear Lord declaring with inexpressible confidence that he was sorry for nothing but that he was disappointed of his design so bravely begun by him he is put to Torture for the discovery of such as animated him to that bold attempt his Flesh is seared with burning Irons which he endured with such courage and resolution as no man could spy either by his words or by his countenance or otherwise any the least sense of pain in him at last his Right Hand was cut off which he endured without shrinking calling out to such as stood by That unhappy Hand well deserved this punishment which executed not the design of a Resolute mind The Dowglasses think themselves now secure enough no man daring to oppose them in any thing But in the midst of their security the King makes an escape from Faulkland to Sterlin there the Nobility from most parts of the Kingdom fly to him by whose advice his Majesty issueth out an Edict inhibiting the Dowglasses any further medling in publick Affairs discharging them or any of their retainers under pain of Death to come within Twelve Miles of the Court this Edict being served on the Earl in his Journey towards Sterlin he retreats to Edenburgh and prepareth Forces for his defence A Proclamation issueth from the King to call a Parliament to Assemble November the 3d. in the interim his Army advanceth towards the City Dowlas withdraws The King peaceably entreth the City Terms of Peace are offered to the Dowlasses viz. That the Earl himself should confine himself on the North of Tay his Brother George and his Vncle Archibald to the Castle of Edenburgh The Conditions are refused they are Summoned to appear before the Parliament they disobey the Earl himself his Brother George his Uncle Archibald and his dear Friend Alexander Drumond of Carnock all by sentence of Parliament Banished all People charged under pain of Treason not to relieve them the Dowlasses break out into open Violence Arguile is sent to reduce them to order whose advance they prevented by flight into England The King spendeth some time with great care and charge in suppressing the Depredations then very great on the Borders which Expedition over he establisheth the Court of Sessions formerly indeed set on foot by the Vice-Roy the Duke of Albany Constituted of Fifteen Judges of the most learned of the Law impowred to hear and determine all Civil Causes a very grave Court continuing in great Honour and deserved Respect in that Nation to this day About this time King Henry of England prepareth for War against the Scots irritated thereunto by the Scotch Exiles and Refuges in England King James having Constituted the Earl of Murray his Vice-Roy prepareth for Defence by Mediation of the French then a common Friend to both Peace is concluded King James sends Ambassadors to France to treat concerning his Marriage to a Daughter of France The King of England to prevent it sends the Bishop of St. Davids and William Hrward Brother to the Duke of Norfolk Ambassadors into Scotland to invite King James to a Personal Conference with himself whereunto he is soon persuaded by the great Promises they made of Marriage to Mary the King 's eldest Daughter if all other things succeeded well in the Treaty The Scotch Council especially the Clergy fearing Innovations in Religion then set on foot by King Henry are much troubled that his Majesty had consented to this Conference they ply him with continual surmises of Ruine to Himself to the State to Religion should this Conference hold the King is over-ruled and observeth not the day appointed but forthwith Saileth into France and is immediately espoused to Magdalen Daughter to Francis King of France the Marriage solemnized on New-years Day 1537 and both arrive in Scotland about the end of May following within six Weeks after the young Queen Dyeth to the inexpressible grief of all the Nobles put on Mourning Apparel not before that time in use in that Kingdom Immediately after David Beton Cardinal and Robert Maxwel are sent to France to demand Mary of the
afterwards apprehended the Widdow repaireth to his Majesty reporteth and proveth this Insolent Trick Mr. Donald is called for out of Prison Horse-shooes are clap'd on himself and twelve of his Companions and commanded to march through the Streets of Edenburgh an Officer publishing the Cause of this strange Punishment their tedious Journey ended all of them are put to Death as before mentioned King James hearing that Maloc was under the Power of an Irish Lord sendeth a Messenger to Ireland to require the Lord to deliver him the Irish Lord fearing his Escape and the Anger of so War-like a Prince resolveth to make all sure by cutting off the Rebel's Head which was accordingly done and sent over to the King The publick Robberies thus Suppressed many good Laws are Established for the good and to the Joy of all the People And as an addition to the Joy two Popular Lords of the Nobility Dowglas and Cassils are enlarged from Prison and received into his Majesty's favour And for the Complement of all their Joy the Queen is safely brought to Bed of two Sons October 14th 1430. The Civil Estate thus happily regulated his Majesty thinketh of a Reformation of the Clergy but to small purpose they being then and in those days within the Verge of the Pope his Jurisdiction Secular Princes durst not exercise their Regal Power over them all this good King could do was to plant the Schools and Universities Seminaries of good Learning with Pious and Learned men to whom he gave so many Encouragements that the fruits of so good a Project were soon seen and perceived by all to the great Joy of all good Men and the immortal Praise of so good a Prince Neither did this good King rest in the encouragement of the Liberal Sciences but resolving to advance all Mechanick Trades wholly decayed by the tediousness misery of an 150 Years War sendeth over to Flanders and from thence conduceth most exquisite Artificers of all sorts to whom he gave great Rewards and large Immunities by which Princely Munificence Trades of all sorts thrive and flourish the Poor set to Work and many Enriched every man acknowledging the happiness of that People who live under the sweet and liberal Dews of a vertuous and munificent Prince Soon after arrived Ambassadors from France to demand the young Lady formerly Espoused to the Dauphine to be sent over for the Consummation of the Marriage Ambassadors likewise come at the same time from England with full purpose at once to break not only this Matrimonial but also that Antient National League between the two Kingdoms of France and Scotland to which end they propound a League Offensive and Defensive with a Tender of Berwick and Roxborrow to be Restored forthwith many other things likewise were Tendered promising very fairly to the Good of both Kingdoms if as fully performed as freely promised King James remitteth this great Business to the Advice of his Parliament The Parliament after much Debate resolve to keep unviolably their Antient League with France and according to the desire of the French Ambassador to send over the young Lady without further delay The English Ambassadors resent this Denial as a Dishonour and immediately denounce War against the Scots threatning withal by their Navy to Way-lay the Princess in her passage to France The Princess is sent over forthwith under the guard of a very stately Navy the English Navy attempting nothing her Highness safely Arriveth and her Marriage to the Dauphine with the greatest expressions of Joy solemnized at Turon About the same time Earl Percy entreth into Scotland with 4000 rather to spoil than fight Dowglass Earl of Anyus is sent against him with the like number Percy is overthrown a few slain on either side of the English 1500 taken Prisoners King James thus provoked by Way-laying the young Lady by Sea and by this Inroad by Land raiseth a great Army with purpose to Invade Northumberland in this way he layeth Siege to Roxborrow then in the hands of the English expecting in few days the Delivering of it into his hands In the mean while cometh the Queen into his Camp discovering to him a most horrid Treason intended by his own nighest Kindred against both his Person and Posterity His Majesty perceiving that her Relation proceeded not from Womanish fear but from such real Grounds as were not to be slighted raiseth his Siege and without Advice of any Disbandeth his Army to the no less Astonishment than Discontent of most about him being Strangers to the cause of this sudden and unexpected Change His Majesty posteth to St. John's Town as a Bird into a Snare of purpose to make a fuller Discovery of that horrible Plot. The Treason being ripe and ready for Execution the Traitors privately repair thither with a small hand of Conspirators The Captains of that Traiterous Band Athol and his Cousin Graham knowing the Weakness of the King's Guard enter privately into the Monastery where his Majesty lay and by Conduct of one of his Houshold Servants debauched into the Conspiracy they come to the Stairs which led to the Royal Chamber The Cup-bearer at the same time coming down perceiving them in Arms Crieth out with a loud Voice Treason him they forthwith Murder and make hast to the Door made fast by no stronger bar the Iron Bolt being stolen away by the Traiterous Servant in Conspiracy with them than the Tender wrest of a young Gentleman which quickly broke the Assassinates furiously rush in and run towards his Majesty which the Queen perceiving casteth her self upon the King endeavouring poor Lady to preserve him they drag her from him not without some dangerous Wounds and forgetting all fear of God and Man thrust their Swords above Forty times through the Heart and Body of the most Excellent Prince The cause of this horrid Assassination was that old Mother of much Mischief Ambition Athold the King 's old Uncle having already by his Hellish Subtlety brought some of his nighest Kinsmen who lay in his way to the Crown to untimely Ends resolveth at last to strike at the main Rub the King himself for accomplishing whereof he snatcheth the advantage of the Discontent of Robert Graham Tutor of Straherne to whom he propoundeth his Design craveth his Conjunction therein with assurance not only of Protection but of ample Rewards and great Preferments when he comes to his Kingdom Graham graspes at all and joyneth in the Traiterous Design with him To this Combination Athol calleth his own Grandchild Robert a Youth nimble both in Head and Hand whom he likewise debaucheth into this Treasonable Plot. The Treason thus Craftily contrived is Cunningly carried on and at last cruelly Executed as before This was a sad Day in Scotland a day of Mourning and great Lamentation for the loss of such an Incomparable Prince the Nobility filled with Grief and Indignation breath out Revenge post out Parties into every Corner of the Kingdom to apprehend the Assassinates and their Complices
Inricheth many and admitteth others into his most Secret Counsels But all this cannot serve his turn their Guilt they thought was greater than could be forgiven this Gangreen'd in their thoughts every day so deadly an enemy is Guilt and Fear being always companions and come to that height that the King's Life and their Safety cannot consist his Ruine is therefore contrived and resolved on the want of a Popular Leader is a main Rub in their way The Prince himself is thought the fittest to countenance this horrid Design His Keepers are corrupted The young and unwary Prince seduced and to their Proposition he must yeild otherwise they deal plainly with him to tell him that he and the Regal Power both must be delivered into the Hands of King Henry of England Thus the young Prince is frighted from all Duty and Loyalty to his Dearest Father to countenance as Commander in chief a most Traiterous Combination of perverse and seditious Men An Army is forthwith raised in pursuance of their Design The King prepareth for Defence useth all honourable means for Peace and by mediation of the Earl of Athol his Uncle soliciteth for it the Rebels return an Answer telling him That unless he resign his Crown to his Son and depart the Kingdom there could be no Peace This Answer the King dispatcheth to his Ambasladors in France and England requiring them to request the Assistance of both King 's in this common cause wherein all Kings are concerned who accordingly send their Ambassadors to the Scots declaring their proceedings against their King to be Wicked and Pernicious and not to be endured by Christian Princes so much concerned in such a dangerous Example The Pope is likewise sent to to interpose his Ghostly and Paternal Power who accordingly sendeth to his Legate Adrian de Castello an Italian the great Restorer of the Latine Tongue then in England forthwith to apply himself to Compose the Scottish troubles but all in vain as being too late the Rebels Army presseth towards the King's Incamped by Blackness and to make all sure they Assail him as well by Fraud as Force Some of his Council about him are corrupted so are likewise some of his Commanders in Martial Affairs especially the Governor of Sterlin the Key of the Kingdom the corrupt Council about him with fair pretences perswade him to appear on the head of his Army and to forsake the Castle of Edenburgh where he resolved to secure himself until he heard the result of Foreign Counsels assuring him that Sterlin then in the Rere of his Army and in the hands of Faithful Men was a place of no less security for his Person than was Edenburgh Castle and of far greater advantage to receive Recruits and all other accommodations for his Army having the benefit of the Countrey behind him and his Navy not far from him This Counsel was so fair and promising that even such as were faithful to him perswade him to it and according to this advice the King repaireth to Sterlin the Governor Sey perceiving the Rebels Army pressing after the King 's Traiterously refuseth Entrance to him The poor King is now in a Pound and with his small Army is forced to Fight his Majesty behaveth himself very gallantly and routeth the Van of his Enemies but their Reserve regains all the King's Army is overthrown himself dismounted and wounded privately flyeth into a Mill hoping to get into his Navy but the fatal hour approacheth some of the Rebels discovering him pursue after him and impiously Murther him and all the faithful remnant of his Servants about him Thus died King James the Third a good and peaceable Man every way well disposed but plagued by the Ambition of restless and unquiet Spirits who Traiterously sought and wrought his Ruine The Battel over and no news of the King the Rebels supposing that he had gained his Navy send to Sir Andrew Wood chief Captain of the Ships Seton and Fleming being left Hostages in the Navy Sir Andrew appeareth before the Chief of them called the Prince his Council being demanded whether his Majesty was aboard the Navy and what those Boats were that passed to and fro before and after the Battel Stoutly replyed that his Majesty was not aboard for which he was the more sorrowful and as to the Boats they transported himself and other faithful Subjects to the King's assistance conformable to the duty of their Allegeance whom alone they were resolved to serve were he alive to be benefited by their service but now being Slain in Battel by some barbarous Rebels they resolved to avenge his Death to the last drop of their Blood having sufficiently declaimed against the wickedness of that horrid Rebellion and all engaged in it he is remitted safely to his Navy by reason of the Hostages given in pledge for him The Rebels retreat to Edenburgh where notice is given to them of the King's death the news whereof pierces the heart and soul of the young Prince now when too late sensible of his Error and sadly resenting his great unhappiness and above that his deadly sin in being accessary to the misfortune of his dearest Father causeth a stately Funeral to be solemnized for him at Kammiskeneth an Abby nigh Sterlin where his Corps were Interred and for himself he prepared an Iron Chain with which he begirt himself wearing it all the days of his Life about his middle close to his Skin in testimony of the deep sense he had of his sin adding yearly one Ring thereunto not so much to enlarge it as to remember the sad occasion of it THE LIFE OF JAMES IV. JAMES the Third thus unhappily fallen under the hands of merciless Men his Son James Succeedeth and entreth his Reign Anno 1488 who sorrowful enough if in such a case any sorrow can be enough for his Father's Fall which could not be recovered laboureth to compose all Differences and to reunite the two grand Factions in order to a peaceable Reign to which end having the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterlin Surrendered to him a Messenger is sent to Sir Andrew Wood Captain of the Ships to call him to attend his Majesty's pleasure the publick Faith being pledged for his safety the Captain repaireth to Court the King with inexpressible sorrow and immoderate grief regretting what was past and representing the present dangers of the State by the unhappy Divisions of the Kingdom he prevaileth with the Captain to submit to him and to take Commission from him to reduce five English Ships roving and robbing all along the Coast which with small loss and trouble he performed assisted only with two Ships the English Ships are brought from Dunbar where the Conflict was to Leith and their Captain presented to King James who munificently rewarded Sir Andrew for this gallant piece of Service In the mean while the Nobility who were Loyal to the late King send their Messengers to their Friends adjuring all such as had any sense of their present
overthrown her self for Safety is forced to fly into England to shelter her self under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth her nearest Cousin The Regent or Vice-Roy after his Victory packeth a Parliament wherein divers of the Queens Friends and Adherents are declared Traytors and their Estates Confiscate Himself Marcheth into divers Places of the Kingdom spoils and lays wast and demollisheth the Houses and Castles of such as continued in their Loyalty Queen Elizabeth hearing of the Scotch Queens Refuge into England Commanded her by a Condoling Letter to stay at the Lord Scroops House until she had further Order from her and in the interim writeth to the Vice-Roy of the danger of the Example in which all the Kings and Crowns of the World were concern'd and desiring some Commissioners might be sent to her to give her a full Account of all their Proceedings against their Queen The Vice-Roy having the French King his Enemy already durst not run the hazard of Offending the Queen of England too whereas now his Friend in whose displeasure he might plainly read his own Destruction he resolveth to gratifie the Queen of England and to send Commissioners to shew her the best Prospect of the Story but the Nobility ashamed of the thing refuse to be sent upon so Unworthy and Dishonourable a Message or to be Employed in a matter so detestable he resolves himself to undertake it which accordingly he did Accompanied with one or two of the Rebellious Nobility and George Buchanan a devoted Slave to the Vice-Roy whose heart did as much thirst after the Blood of the Queen as ever his Venomous Pen had Surfeited it self in the pollution of her Sacred Name which so wounded his gangered Conscience when it was too late That he Craved of God no longer time to Live than he might be able to Cure those Sores and Salve those Wounds which himself had made in the Fame and Reputation of that Good and Vertuous Queen The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Ralph Sadler Commissioners for the Queen of England give them a Meeting at York whither likewise repaired some Agents for the Exiled Queen who gave their Audience Protesting that they did not appear there before the English Commissioners as competent Judges to determine or give Sentence in the Affairs of their Soveraign Lady but rather as in the presence of Friends and Neighbours to convince them of the unparalle'ld Wrongs and Injuries done to the Person and Honour of their Queen through whose sides they had wounded all the Kings and Supream Magistrates in the World and to Crave the Assistance of the English Queen her nighest Kinswoman in the World either to persuade her Rebellious Subjects to receive her again as their Sovereign and restore her to all the Rights and Priviledges of her Crown or that failing to grant her so considerable Forces as might be able to reduce them to Order and Obedience which would be a Concession no less Honourable to the Queen of England than Profitable to the Queen of Scotland As a Counterpoize to this Protestation the English Commissioners do also Protest That they allowed not of that Protestation to the Prejudice of the Superiority that the Kings of England had always Claimed over the Kings of Scotland which now belonged to the Queen their Mistress in the Right of the Crown of England Then they proceeded to the Business the Commissioners for the Exiled Queen first laid open all the Grievances and Wrongs that were thrown upon her and under which she now laboured in a Languishing Exile The Commissioners for the Young King in whose Name the Commission ran recriminate and highly Charge the Queen no ways Accountable to them supposing or hoping the English Commissioners to have Power to pass Sentence against their Queen in case they could by any means make them believe her Guilty of those things they Charge her withal But being frustrate in these Hopes and hearing every Article of the Charge distinctly and fully Answered by their Queens Commissioners the Vice-Roy contends That nothing was done which in the like Cases had not been done by their Predecessors and their late proceedings being Confirmed by Act of Parliament they were now past recall and could not be Abrogated by any private person whatsoever whereby he imagined that he had prevented all Arguments that might be offered for a Peaceable Reception of the Queen to her Rights which were now alienated by Act of Parliament But the English Commissioners not satisfied with these things they urge That the true Causes of such rigorous Proceedings with their Queen might be produced the knowledge whereof was the end of their present Meeting The Vice-Roy having nothing else to offer desired that first the Queen of England would Engage for the Tuition of their Young King Letters are sent to Acquaint the Queen with this motion Her Majesty desires two Commissioners of the Vice-Roy's Faction to be sent to her to London to inform her more clearly in the whole matter Two Commissioners are accordingly sent Metellane and Mackgill but the Queen upon second Thoughts judgeth it necessary that the Regent himself be there who repairs to London where after much Debate before the Queen and the Council at last the Commissioners are dismissed and no more Determined at London than at York The Vice-Roy returns home and not long after the Lord Boyd brings Letters from both Queens to the Scots Parliament wherein the Queen of England makes a Threefold Overture in behalf of Queen Mary First That she might be restored to her former Government or this not Granted That in the second place she might be admitted to Reign in Title only in Conjunction with her Son and the Exercise of the Regal Power to rest still in the Vice-Roy until the Young King came to Seventeen Years of Age and if they would not do that in the third place She might have free Liberty to return safely into her own Countrey if it should seem good to her and to Live a Retir'd and Private Life having an Honourable Maintenance allowed her The former Two were peremptorily Denied and the Last had never been yielded to but that they were well assured that the Queen would never Accept of it The Queen of Scotland's Proposals were likewise Read desiring them to Appoint certain Judges to take her Marriage with Bothwell into Cognisance That if it did appear Unlawful that it might be accordingly adjudged and annulled The Letter is Debated but no Answer returned only this Concluded That the Queen of England be first Advertised with a Suggestion that this Motion tended only to make way for her Marriage to the Duke of Norfolk wherein her Majesty of England was indeed much concerned A Messenger is dispatched with the Parliaments Resolves concerning both Letters at his Arrival the Queen of England was Offended that they should send so mean and inconsiderable a Person to Treat with Her of so great and important Affairs as the Rights of Princes he