long e're they seized upon the Kings Evil Councellors that were about him and sent them all away save only John Ramsey a very young man that clung to the King and who intreated for him that he might be spared The rest were lead to Judgment and with the loud cries of the Army calling for Justice upon those miscreants were hanged out of the way and such forwardness was shewed to have them dispatched speedily that when they wanted Ropes upon such a sudden occasion every one was ready to offer his Horses Halter or the Reins of his Bridle for that purpose These Wretches were charged with many private injuries and among the more publick ones was their advising the King to Coin base Copper Money which the Common people by way of reproach called Black-Money and that this was the principal cause of the scarcity that was in the Land the want of Trade and many other Calamities too long to be incerted To the Kings charge was laid the unjust death of the Earl of Mar his Brother his advancing of Cockram a Mason to the said Earldom his practising of Magick and resolvedness to destroy his Relations This done they returned to Edenburg and appointed the King himself to be kept in the Castle of the said City by the E. of Atholl and in the mean time they send to the English Army for a Cessation of Arms for three Months The Duke of Albany was honourably received into his Country again and had the Castle of Dunbar with the Earldoms of March and Mar conferred upon him and was withal Proclaimed the Kings Lieutenant General While things were in this state the English take the Castle of Berwick the Town having been surrendred to them before The Duke of Albany making a faint of relieving the same but did nothing At length the Duke accompanied with the Chancellor Archbishop of St. Andrews and others went to Sterling to pay the Queen and Prince a visit they had not been there long when the Queen entering into a secret Conference with the Duke unknown to the rest about the King's Confinement and urging how noble and generous as well as advantagious an act it would be in him to imploy his power for his releasement he consents to the undertaking and so returning to Edenburg besieged the Castle and took it remov'd the Earl of Athol and so sets the King and all his Servants at liberty for which extraordinary favour the King shewed him great tokens of his affections but they were not long-lived for the remembrance of old offences are of greater force in a degenerous and impotent mind than fresh kindnesses And to foment his jealousies he had always those at his Elbow who never ceased to upbraid the Duke to him of affecting too much popularity and to construe the same as an infallible sign of his intentions to snatch at the Crown when ever a fit opportunity presented The Duke who was not ignorant of those jealousies entertained of him and at last finding there was a design formed against him of no less than taking away his Life and that as appeared by poyson withdraws privily into Dunbar Castle And the King as conscious of his evil doings fearing the displeasure of his Nobles hereupon withdraws also into the Castle of Edenburg where the Earls of Angus Buchan and others forsook him and assisted the Duke But the King being haunted still by his Evil Spirits I mean those vile fellows whom he had again placed about his Person he summoned the Duke and his adherents to appear and answer for such treasonable Crimes as he had to lay to their Charge and withall prepared an Army to Besiege Dunbar which the Duke having notice off he flies into England And afterwards being accompanied with the Earl of Dowglass and others was engaged to invade the Marches of his own Country but meeting with ill success and being checked by the King of England for his ill Conduct he grew sullen thereupon and withdrew secretly into France where not long after according to the usual fate of his Family running at Tilts with Lewis Duke of Orleans he was wounded with the splinter of a Spear and thereof Dyed So that here is two of them gone the fate of the third is now approaching with winged hast For the King having once got a Peace with the English and the Castle of Dunbar into his hands which seemed for some time to put a check upon his exorbitance he returns to his old haunts gives himself over not only to be guided by Favourites and mean Persons as before who were his Leeches to drain his Subjects to satiate his covetous desires but to unlawful pleasure with loose Women Among the men Favourites John Ramsey saved as you have heard before by the Kings importunity from an Halter was chief This Man having been advanced to the dignity of Lord Stuard K of the ing's Houshold and endowed with many large demesns became so elated in mind that not being content with that large fortune nothing would serve but he must have an order that none besides himself and his Companions should go armed in those places where the King resided designing by this devise to fortifie himself and his Faction against the Nobility of the Kingdom whom he found to go frequently armed themselves and accompanied with such as were well provided for their defence But this Edict procured him more hatred than it wrought fear in his Enemies In the mean time the King minded nothing as much as to gratifie his mind with the blood of those who were thought to be the Authors of Rebellion And seeing he could not bring about his purposes he endeavours to surprise them by cunning for feigning to be reconciled to one of them after another he entertained them with that gentleness and in so soothing a manner as came below the Dignity of a Prince to do Others of them who excelled in Riches and Power he accumulated with Rewards and Honours making David Lindsey Earl Crawford Duke of Montross and George Earl of Angus he would have frequently in his Company carrying it so by communicating his secret Counsels unto him as if he were throuhgly reconciled But his Rewards and Blandishments had but little effect upon any of them in respect to any opinion his Sincerity for they who knew his disposition doubted not but all that semblance of Goodness and Favour tended to no other end than either to surprise them one after another or to set them at variance one against another which when he had got the chief of Nobility to Edenburg did more clearly appear for having sent for Dowglass to him into the Castle he shewed him what a brave opportunity he now had to be revenged on them for if he did but secure the Heads of the Factions and punish them the rest would be quiet That if he lett his opportunity that presented it self slip he could never afterward hope for such another Dowglass who well knew that the Kings mind
all his days they framed an Accusation against Morton and got him committed to Edinburgh Castle from whence in a short time he was brought to his Tryal and Condemned for having an hand in the Lord Darnley the King's Father's Murder that he was privy to the same he did not deny at his Execution and withall confessed that he had a design to send the young King into England for his Safety and so there 's another Governor gone who was the fourth and last and every one whereof died a violent Death and now the King assumes the Government himself and if he was unhappy during the time of the Regency I think it will appear it was no better with him ever after for he himself was as much governed now by his Favourites and Sycophants as the Kingdom had been by a Regent and the first into whose Hands he fell was Aubonie now Created Duke of Lennox and a Papist and the aforesaid James Steward who assumed to himself the Style and Title and then the Earldom of Arran These two led him by the Nose at their Pleasure and carried all things with an high Hand lording it over the rest of the Nobility and aiming at their Estates which made them begin to look about them and concluding after serious Consultation that from two such Counsellors no wholsome Advice could proceed for the Peace of the Country and Establishment of Religion but rather if they were suffered to go on still both the one and the other would be endangered they resolve to remove them The King was at that time designing to go from Athol to Dumfermling to take his usual Divertisement of Hunting where the Lords designed to encounter him with a supplication full of Complaints against the Duke and Earl with pressing Instances for the removing of them and least their supplication should miscarry they backt it with strong Forces which could not be resisted The King had but a very few attendance at Dumfermling for Lennox staid at Dalkeith and Arran at Kinweel and several of the Council were gone to hold the Assizes in divers Shires of the Country Sir James Melvill was at Edenburgh whither a Gentleman one morning came to his Bed-side and told him that he had formerly done him several kindnesses which till then he was never able to recompence but that now he would make him an Instrument of saving the King his Master out of the Hands of those who were upon an enterprise to take and secure him Melvill replied he could hardly believe such a thing but that he feared the Duke of Lennox might be in danger who was gone to Glasgow because of the Hatred that was bore to him by the Nobility The Gentleman subjoyned they will lay hands first on the King's Person and then the Duke and Earl of Arran dare no more be seen their insolency being looked upon as the Cause of almost all the Disorders of the Nation and when he had so said he desired the King might be acquainted with the matter but to have his Name concealed from him for he said that design would be put in execution in ten days time and as Sir James started up to put on his Cloaths he slipt out at the door with a short farewell Sir James upon this Information rides with all the expedition imaginable to Dalkeith where the Duke of Lennox then was and laid the whole matter open before him and advised him withal to lose no time but to Ride to the King to give him notice that he might make timely provision for his own security but the Duke chose rather to dispatch a Gentleman with all possible diligence to the King upon that Occasion and wished Sir James to write to the Earl of Gaury about the same for it seems the Gentleman that gave him the first Information of the Plot had not named Gaury with the rest of the Lords to him either out of forgetfulness or else because he had been but lately won over to the Party by the Land of Drumwhafel who had assured him that Lennox had resolved to kill him whereever he met him and used this as a convincing argument to Embark the Earl in the same Cause but however matters fell out the Lords receded from their first Resolution of presenting their supplication as aforesaid and would not tarry 〈◊〉 the King came to Dumferling but they surprised him at Huntingtown-House which was the Earl of Gaury's its uncertain whether it were not done with a design to imbark the Earl more deeply in their Bond or that fearing least the design was discovered they made the greater haste to execute the same by seising the King there which was afterward called the Road of Ruthven The King is once more a Prisoner and the Lords conduct him to Sterling-Castle where he is kept for a time In the mean while the French King and Queen Elizabeth by their Ambassadors make Instances for his Liberty and Condole his Misfortune but so hen-hearted was he that he ordered their Ambassadors to declare to their respective Princes that he was well satisfied with the Lords that were about him that they were his own Subjects c. and when the Lords called a Council to resolve what course to take he agreed with them to form an Act declaring That what they had done was good service to himself the Kirk and Commonwealth though Mr. Carey who I think was afterward Created Earl of Monmouth whispered him in the Ear and desired him to tell the plain Truth which he engaged to conceal from all others whatsoever and only acquaint the Queen his Mistress therewith he told him his Heart was full fraught with Grief and Displeasure at his Misfortune The Lords having thus effected their purpose as having now rid the Court of the Duke of Lennox who fled into France and the Earl of Arran whom they committed to the Custody of the Earl of Gaury most of them withdrew from the Court to their respective homes whereupon the King retaining a displeasure still in his Heart towards them takes occasion to appoint a Convention to be held at St. Andrews whereunto by Missive Letters he invited some of the Nobility but none of the Lords that had lately left him designing thereby to get loose out of their Hands and to retain about him such Lords as he had written for and notwithstanding some about him endeavoured to divert him from the said Resolution alledging the fresh Jealousie that would be Created in the absent Lords by such a procedure and with all the Power they had to be revenged of the conceived affront he rejected the advice wherefore for the better management of his design it was thought expedient that he should go a few days to St. Andrews before the Convention was to meet that being once there a Proclamation might be issued out to forbid any Nobleman whatsoever to come to the said Convention without express Orders from the King so to do and to this end it was
to be a breach of Faith in the King and himself to be charged with being Author of the said Murder but none resented it so highly as the Lord Ochiltrie who took such despight that his Friend should be slain during a time of Treaty that he solemnly Declared he took part with the Earl of Bothwell and divers others in revenge of his Quarrel encouraging the said Earl to assassinate the King within his Palace of Falkland having several at Court familiar enough with the King who guided him at pleasure to favour the said Conspiracy but things could not be carried with that Secrecy but that some about him got intelligence of the Design and advised him for his own safety to pass over to Coupar and with all expedition to Assemble the Barons of Fife for his own safety but such as had contrived his Ruin perswaded him to stay alledging that the Earl of Louthian would not come from Louthian till such a day tho he kept to his time and came to Falkland two days sooner according to appointment and this they did with a design to have surprized the King before he could either have entred within the Tower of Falkland or making any tolerable Provision for his own Defence and because they knew Sir James Melvill and his Brother Sir Robert might be some obstruction to the Design they advised the King to send them home to their Houses the very same night that they uuderstood the Earl of Bothwell purposed to be there but before the Brothers departed they advised the King to ride quietly to Bambrigh that from thence he might when he pleased take Boat and go over to Angus where he would have leisure to Assemble Forces out of Perth and Dundee with the adjacent Countrys but this advice was also rejected Sir Roberâ— upon the Road homewards had notice given given him by one of Bothwell's gang that he was already got as far as Fife and would be in Falkland about Supper time who forthwith dispatched his Gentleman whose Name was Robert Aufleck to acquaint his Majesty therewith and to desire him to go into the Tower with all expedition but they called him Fool and laughed him to scorn for his pains and so he left them in great discontent but upon his return he met Bothwell and his followers upon the height of Lammonds it being by this time dark night and so struck in with them as if he had been one of the gang and used great diligence to get first to the King shutting the Court Gate after him upon his entrance he urged the King to get into the Tower with utmost expedition which at length he did and so for this time escaped also for tho Bothwell came well provided of all things for forcing the Palace where he thought to surprize the King and tho' it was alledged some shot Paper only out of the Culverins in the Tower upon Bothwell's Men yet others shot Bullets which together with the fear he was in lest the Country might come caused him to retire and flee none pursuing them The Assassination failing this terminated in open Rebellion Bothwell associating himself with the Popish Lords the more to strengthen his Party who for a time prevailed but at last were necessitated to go beyond Sea and Bothwell several years after died at Naples but no sooner was one fear over but comes on another but of a different nature the King you have heard before plaid the Knight-Errant rather than be without a Wife who was Anne Sister to the King of Denmark a Lady that bears a fair Character in the Annals of Time tho' I find one say of her that she was a Person he heard little of saving that Character which Salust gives Sempronia that she could Saltare elegantius quam necesse est probae See had about two years before bore him a Son Prince Henry to whom the King assigned the Earl of Marr Governor now the Queen 't is not known upon what design nor well by whose agency and Promotion laid a project in the King's absence to surprize the Prince and take him out of the Earl's hands but the King 's suddain arrival from Faulkland to Edenburg and taking the Queen away along with him to Sterlin rendred the Project abortive Hower it were the very projection put King James into no small Bodily fear as appears by the following Letter he writ to the Earl of Marr upon that occasion which is recited by Sanderson in his Life of King James My Lord of Mar BEcause in the security of my Son mine is Conserved and my Concredit of his Charge to you upon Trust of your Honour and Honesty This I Command as singly and solely of my self being in Company of those I like not that upon any Charge or Necessity that possibly come from me you shall not deliver him and in case that God call me at any time see you that neither for the Queen nor for the Estates Pleasure you deliver him out of your hands till he be 18 years of Age and that then he Command you himself James Rex This Court juggle and jealousie was followed by a more dangerous one from the Presbytery who met at Edinburg to treat of their Ecclesiastical Affairs and some other matters that came under their Consideration but the Kings Sentiments and theirs were as remote as East and West which produced such Heats and Factions that the King dissolves the Convention they stand stifly to it and meet for all that several Lords espouse their Cause at last the King truckles and was willing to come to an Accommodation but to shew the Image of Authority first asked Who they were that durst Convene against his Proclamation but his Mouth was quickly stopped by the Lord Linsay's reply saying That they durst do more than so and would not endure Destruction of Religion and by the Nobles crying out Arm others Bring forth Haman and some the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon it made the King and his Council flee from Edenburg to Linlithgo but futy by degrees began to cool and some Concessions of all sides introduced a little Tranquillity in the State and some Remissions of the Kings Fears but the Revolution of about two years ushered in that memorable Conspiracy of the Earl of Gowry which because not foreign from the scope of the present Treatise and by reason of the Barbarity and Tragical circumstances thereof as well as it has been the subject of the discourse of many but hardly a Man to be met with that can give the true state of it I shall endeavour to oblige the Reader with a distinct and impartial Narrative of the same even according to what the Court Party and King's Favourites have related concerning it Sanderson in his Life and Death of King James says the Surname of the Earls of Gowry was Ruthven and a Family of small account till Anno 1568. when the chief of them among other Confederates endeavoured to Imprison Mary
the King of England stick most to the heart of this Court which may at last turn to a mortal Convulsion which none can be more desirous to see than My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and most Obedient Servanâ— Paris June 10. 1689. N. S. LETTER IV. Of Cardinal d' Este his solliciting the Pope for Money for the late King James and his proposing a Croisade for the restoration of him to his Throne again My Lord I Have in my last endeavoured to give your Lordship the Sence and Resolution of this Court concerning the present posture of Affairs and mighty Efforts are made for the support of the late King's Interest who is as you well know now in Ireland both here and at Rome too by the Agency of this Court and least the Differences that have been so long depending between both Courts should any ways obstruct the Cause they have at length laid the foundation of an accommodation and the great motive to press it on is taken from the miserable condition of the late King's Affairs and that his Holiness could not but know that the main of the Catholicks hopes resting in the most Christian King for the redressing of them those very hopes would also vanish if his Holiness still obstinately persisted to refuse an accommodation with him The Cardinal d' Este the late Queen's Unkle is the person pitched upon to manage this Negotiation whose further instructions are to sollicite the Pope for some present supply of Money for his Nephew and not only so but to propose to the Old Father the publishing a Crolsade for the restoration of him to his Kingdoms But finding this did not relish well with the Old Dad his Eminency confin'd himself to a request that his Holiness would exhort the Emperor King of Spain and other Catholick Princes to it and mediate an accommodation between them for the more effectual carrying on the same But this is but Thunder afar off and will never endammage the Brittish Isles I heartily wish you may be as secure from intestine commotions and machinations there is nothing more talked of here and I have some reason to fear some measures have been conserted here for the fermenting of that inquietude which has possest too many amonst you upon this change of Government your Lordship will pardon me since I write with the same freedom and sincerity as formerly and remain My Lord Your Constant and most faithful Servant Paris June 17. 1689. N. S. LETTER V. Of the Queen of Spains Death the formal Story made in France of her being Poisoned and a Marriage feared between his Catholick Majesty and the Infanta of Portugal My Lord NOW things are come to an open Rupture and hostility between the two Crowns of Spain and France some account of which I have already transmitted to your Lordship you cannot conceive how violently they vend their Spite and Malice against the Spanish Court and more especially take occasion to renew publickly the discourse which was at first scarce whispered of the Queen of Spains being poisoned in which they pretend to interest themselves very much as she was a Daughter of France and say that she being secretly admonished in the midst of all the troubles that befell her to take care of her self found out a way to dispatch a Frenchman that was then in Spain to her Father the Duke of Orleans and to desire him to send her some treacle by the most cunning Courtier that was in the Kingdom that thereupon the Duke who had a most tender Love and Affection for the Queen his Daughter being deeply concerned at the News which portended his approaching Misfortune had discovered what had happened to the King who at the same time took care to send away what the Queen desir'd But that by the time that the Courier was arrived at the City of Burgos he met there with another who told him that he was carrying the News of the Queen's Death To which particulars are superadded these circumstances of her Sickness that being suddenly taken with a Vomitting she should say as formerly the deceased Madam her Mother of whose Death I have to the best of my remembrance formerly given your Lordship some account after she had drank the Glass of Succory Water to which she atttributed her Death That she was poisoned That her Vomitting was attended with most violent Convulsions which being reported to the Count de Rebenac â—enquires the French Embassador then at the Spanish Court he went to give the Queen a Visit but that When he came there entrance into her Chamber was denied him under a pretence that it was not the custom in Spain for Men to visit Women neither in Health nor Sickness That thereupon he became very importunate for Entrance urging that he came not to see her as Queen of Spain but as she was a Daughter of France and the King his Masters Niece They further add that this contest continued and was spun out to a long time under pretence of knowing the King's Pleasure and that at length after long attendance the Door was open'd to him but yet at such a time when the Queen was so very ill that she could not speak one word That she dyed within a short while after one Convulsion succeeding another till she gave up the Ghost That besides all these concurring circumstances the designs formed last Year by the Council of Spain to have his Catholick Majesty divorced from her and their applications to the Pope for that purpose under the pretended Allegations that the French before they parted with her had used all Aritifices of the Devil to prevent her having of Children but not being able to lay convincing proofs before him of the matter they had put off that project these things they say gave no small umbrage to some Clandestine practices against her life to say nothing of the project at the same time to get the â—nfanta of Portugal married to him and thereby lay a Ground-plot for the uniting of Portugal once more to Spain c. But my Lord whatever surmizes they have had of such a design then its certain there is nothing they are more apprehensive of at this time than such a Conjunction which must inevitably add one Kingdom more to the number of the Confederates and against them and all Engins are on work to divert the success of it I hope the King of England and his Allies are sensible of this and will take care to countermine the Enemy in time which are the hearty wishes of My Lord Your Lordships to serve and Command whilst Paris July 2d 1689. N. S. LETTER VI Of some secret Designs hatching against the Establisht Government in England My Lord IT is not long since I gave your Lordship a hint of the apprehensions I had of some evil Designs formed against the Established Government and I am so far from lessening the same that I grow more and more jealous of their progress day by
new Fortifications to each Place as he thinks necessary with an Assurance that no Money shall be wanting to that end Besides which Care of their Frontiers the Guards are ordered to be augmented with Ten Men in each Troop and such Care taken that they shall be the choicest Men of France Over and above this I am well assured that besides 20000 Recruits that are to be raised for the old Regiments there will be new Commissions very speedily issued out for a new Levy of 30000 Men Horse Foot and Dragoons And if the Power at Sea will be as formidable as some give out I am not without a strong Jealousie of some Attempt projected to be made against England it self though the French-Men have come off with so many Broken Bones in Ireland But of this I can say very little that is certain at present but I desire your Lordship to rest assured that no Endeavours shall be wanting to give you an Account also of their Marine Affairs in him who is proud to serve you and who am and always will be My Lord Your Honour 's most Humble and Obedient Servant Paris Nov. 19. 1691. N. S. POSTSCRIPT I had almost forgot to acquaint your Lordship that whatever Sentiments you may have in England of the Affairs of Savoy and the Siege of Montmelian they seem here so certain of reducing it as if it were already in their Hands LETTER XXIV Of King James's Declaration in the year 1692. and his Invitations to the English Nobility to come into France to be present at his Queen's Delivery c. My Lord I Have since my last to your Lordship been under so many Visicitudes of Fortune and among other Afflictions been visited with so long and severe a fit of Sickness that I cannot but perswade my self that your Honour has long ere now concluded me either Dead or turned Runagade and abandoned your Service the thoughts of which later hath afflicted me in a very sensible manner and doth now incite me with considerable hazzard to attempt the undeceiving of you hereby in that particular and withall to communicate what I have very lately learnt by the means of a Friend great at St. Germans of the posture of things in relation to England I hope you are not without considerable apprehensions of danger from hence and so have made timous preparations to ward off the blow and whatever the designs may be on your side its most certain that there have been positive resolutions taken to make a Descent upon the English Coast with a formidable power very speedily and the late King is resolved to be at the head of the Enterprize To that end I am assured all the Irish Troops and other French Forces which will be joined with them and which will make up a Body of Fifteen Thousand Men are to hold themselves ready to march upon the first notice towards the Coast of Normandy where they are to Rendevouz and where the late King designs to be with them with all the privacy imaginable and all this under a pretence of Guarding the Coasts against the insults of the English There are several Transport Ships already got together for this Expedition and the French Fleet under Monsieur Tourville is in a great forwardness and will be very formidable I am fully satisfyed though I can give your Lordship no particulars I am told also there is a Manifesto or Declaration a contriving and designed to be Published when things are ripe for it importing the late King's Resolutions to attempt the recovery of his Crown with what forces of his own Subjects he has with him in conjunction with as few Auxiliary Troops as may be that the English may take no Umbrage thereat Shewing the justness of his Cause the great reason his People have to receive him that they cannot be happy till his re-establishment promising mighty things for the Nation in respect to the settlement of Religion and grandeur of the English Monarchy and also a general Amnesty to all those that shall return quickly to their Duty excepting a few whose Names I could not yet learn I do not question my Lord but there has been much discourse in England concerning the late Queen's Pregnancy I can give no manner of account of it any otherwise than that the reality of it is not doubted here and that I am told it has been projected to direct a Letter to all the English Nobility to invite them to come into France and be present at the Delivery which is thought will be in less than two Months according to custom and to alledge they may do it with the greatest safety in regard the French King will give his Royal Word they shall return without Let or Molestation so soon as the said Queen shall be Delivered But as I do not expect to see your Lordship here on this occasion so I hope you may be very useful to keep our Countrymen that are on this side here still and disappoint their designs which none is more desirous of than My Lord Your Humble Servant St. Germains March â—1 1692. N. S. LETTER XXV The French Artifices to raise a mistrust in England of the Officers of the English Fleet in 1692. My Lord I do not question but your Lordship by this time is fully convinced of the intended Invasion as I hinted in my last And it may be you have already felt the effects in some measure of the evil Seeds that are sown amongst you by those that are in this Courts Interest in order to divide and make you jealous of one another in this ticklish juncture If your Lordship will give me leave to put in my sentiment hereupon I say were I to advise the Government and I have good grounds for what I say I would have it hold a watchful Eye over the affairs and motions of the Officers of the Fleet for there have been measures concerted to raise a mistrust and suspicion of the fidelity of the said Naval Officers and for ought I know are by this time near begun to be put in Execution They would have it here believed that several of them have a design to favour the late King's Descent and that others are disaffected and not hearty in the service Such a belief in England must be very pernicious if not fatal at present especially if once the Officers be so far imposed upon as to fear being discharged of their Imployments which apprehension seems to be the main design of England's Enemies to propagate But I must be abrupt as I have been short and beg your Lordship's Pardon who am in hast My Lord Your Humble Servant Paris April 17. 1692. N. S. LETTER XXVI Of the French magnifying their power at Sea after the fight in May 1692. c. and of the late Queen Mary's being brought to Bed at St. Germans of a Daughter My Lord THO' there is nothing more grievous to both Courts here than the late defeat of the French Fleet
that our History may appear to be all of a piece and void of Breaks as much as may be Walter therefore had a Son named Alane who as they say follow'd Godfrey of Bullogn into the Holy Land in the Year 1099. Alexander was his Son who begat Walter Stuart he had Issue Alexander whose Son was John the Father of Walter Stuart that marry'd the Daughter of King Robert Bruce and begat on her Robert Stuart call'd in the Scotch Chronology Robert the second King of Scotland but he was the first Stuart that was advanced to the Throne of that Kingdom But before we can fairly come to give you an exact Account hereof it will be necessary to premise a short Scheme of the Contests between the said Baliol and Bruce because somewhat interwoven with the Affair of this Family Upon the disastrous death of Alexander the Third who broke his Neck as he was gallopping his Horse at Kingcorn over the West-clift of the place near the Sea-side and left no Issue but had only a Grand-child by his Daughter in Norway very young and who died soon after Scotland fell under an Interregnum for the space of six Years and nine Months as Buchanan computes it for so long it was between the Death of Alexander and the declaring of John Baliol King of Scotland and in the mean time you may be sure there wanted not Pretensions to the Crown and the case briefly was thus William King of Scotland had a Brother named David Earl of Huntington and great Uncle to this Alexander the III. which David had three Daughters Margaret marry'd to Allan Lord of Gallaway Isabel to Robert Bruce Lord Annadale and Cleveland and Adda to Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington now Allane begat on his Wife Margaret a Daughter named Dornadilla marry'd in process of time to John Baliol after King of Scotland and two other Daughters Bruce by his Wife Isabel had Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick as having married the Inheritrix thereof but as for Huntington he laid no manner of Claim Now the question was whether Baliol in right of the eldest Daughter or Robert Bruce being descended of the second but a Male should have the Crown he being in the same Degree and of the more worthy Sex The Controversie was tossed up and down by the Governors and Nobles of the Kingdom for a long time but at last upon serious deliberation it was agreed to refer the whole matter to the decision of Edward the I. King of England which he was not a little glad of For resolving to fish in these troubled Waters he stirs up eight Competitors more that he might further puzzle the Cause and at length with twenty four Councellors half Scots half English and a great many Lawyers so handled the Business that after a great many cunning delays he secretly tampers with Bruce who was then conceiv'd to have the better Right of the Business that if he would acknowledge to hold the Crown of him he would adjudge it in favour of him But he generously answering That he valued a Crown at a less rate than for the wearing of the same to put his Country under a Foreign Yoke Edward turns about and makes the same motion to Baliol who did not stick to accept of it Baliol having thus gotten a Crown as unhappily kept it for he was no sooner invested with it and done Homage to King Edward according to Agreement but the Aberthenys having slain Mackduff Earl of Fife he not only pardon'd them the Fact but gave them a piece of Land that was in Controversie between them Whereupon Mucduff's Brother being enraged makes a Complaint of him to King Edward who sent for him used him so that he made him rise from his Seat at Parliament and go to the Bar and answer for himself He hereupon was so enraged at this manner of Usage that when King Edward sent to him for Assistance against the French he absolutely refused it and proceeded so far as to renounce his Homage to him This incensed King Edward to the quick and so with an armed Power he hastens to Berwick where he routed the Scots took and kill'd to the number of Seven Thousand of them among them most of the Nobility of Fife and Lowthian and some time after gave them also a great Overthrow at Dunbar which occasion'd the immediate surrender of the Castle of the said place into his Hands After this he marches to Montross where Baliol was brought to resign up both himself and his Crown to King Edward all the Scotch Nobility at the same time doing him Homage The Consequence whereof was that Baliol was sent Prisoner to London and from thence after a Years detention into France But while Edward was possess'd of all Scotland one William Wallace arose who tho' but a private Man bestirred himself in the publick Calamity of his Country and gave the English several notable Foyls This brought King Edward into Scotland again with an Army and falling upon Wallace routs him who was overcome with Emulation and Envy from his Countrymen as well as power from the Enemy upon which he laid by his Command and never acted after but by slight Incursions but the English Army after this being beaten at Roslin Edward comes in again and takes Sterling and makes them all render him Homage Robert Bruce Son to the foresaid Bruce that contested with Baliol for the Crown was in King Edward's Court and him the King had often promised to put in possession of the Crown But Bruce finding at last that all his promises were illusory and nothing but smoak he enters into a Confederacy with John Cummin sirnamed the Red how he might get the Kingdom but being basely betray'd by him to King Edward he had much ado to make his escape and when he was got into Scotland the first thing he did was to stab Cummin at Drumâ—reis and then got himself Crown'd King at Scone Never did any Man come with greater disadvantage to the possession of a Crown or underwent greater Hardships for the sake of it He was beaten over and over by King Edward's Troops forced to flee to the Highlands with one Companion or two and to lurk in the Mountains in great misery as if he had been rather a Beast of prey than a rational Creature And while he was in this miserable State it is storied of him by Fourdon That being in a Morning lying down on his Bed in a little Cottage whither he was glad to retire and make the same his Pallace he espies a Spider striving to climb up into her Web which she had spun to the roof of the House but failing of her purpose the first time she attempts it the second and third time and so on to the sixth and last wherein she accomplishes it and gets in the King who as well as his Companion had all the while view'd the Action said Now let 's get up and hasten to the Lowlands to try our Fortunes
seeing his Enemies were unprepared of all things necessary for a Siege That his Fleet also which he had prepared to be an help to him at all adventures might be at hand This advice did indeed seem to be sound and real and had been safe enough in all probability in the event had it not been that the Governour of the Castle being corrupted by the opposite Faction excluded him from admittance And now all things conspire to his ruin for the Lords were now at his heels that he could not possibly retire to the Castle of Edenburg again and the Forces raised by the Earls of Huntley Errol Athol and diverse other Noblemen who stuck to him and which they said amounted to the number of Forty Thousand Men being not yet come up he would not stay for them and so with those Forces he had with him hazards a Battle The Battle was at first very fierce and the first Wing of the Nobâ—es Army gave way but the Annandalians and their Neighbours who inhabite the Western parts of Scotland press hard upon the Kings Forces and with their huge Spears much longer than their Adversaries quickly broke the King's main Body who finding now it was in vain to stand it and being injured with the fall of his Horse retires to a Mill that was not far off from the place of Battle with a design as was thought to get aboard his Ships which were not far off where being taken with a few more he was slain It 's not fully agreed who killed him but pursued he was to the foresaid place by Patrick Grey Sterling Keiry and a Priest whose name was Borthick and who it was said being asked by the King for a Confessor roughly replied That though he was no good Priest yet he was a good Leech and with that stab'd him to the Heart And here you see how contemptible the Majesty of a Prince is that is sullied with degenerous actions and there was this further ignominy affixed to his Death That it was enacted in the next Sessions of Parliament that he Justly suffered and strictly forbidden that any who had bore Arms against him or thier descendants should be upbraided therewith Young he was being about 35 years when he died and of them had Reigned near Twenty Eight in the year of our Lord 1488. The Son who had headed this Army is now advanced to the Father's Throne and known by the name of James the IV. being then about Sixteen years of Age. Wood who Commanded the Ships before mentioned was with great difficulty brought to submit and did afterward this King great Service who it seems had some remorse for his contributing so much to his Fathers Death for in token thereof he wore continually an Iron Chain about his middle all the days of his life made frequent visits to Religious places c. all which methinks seems to have been put upon him by some crafty Priest tho Historians are silent in that particular but he had hardly been warm in his Throne when those Nobles that were of his Father's Party sent their Emissaries to all the parts of the Kingdom and exhort one another not to endure the present state of things That so many brave Men should not suffer such publick paricides who had murdred one King and kept the other in servitude so proudly to illude them and to charge them with being guilty of High-Treason who fought for the King's defence and safety but that they should arrogate to themselves who were violators of all Divine and Humane Laws the title of being defenders of the Honour and Dignity of the Commonwealth and preservers of their Country in whose hands the King himself was not free as being enforced first to take up Arms against his Father and King and having wickedly slain him to prosecute his Father's Friends and such ns engaged in his defence by an unjust and Cruel War that was intollerable When many things of this nature had been bandyed about amongst the Common People Alexander Forbes to excite in them a greater hatred towards the present Administration caused the dead King 's bloody Shirt to be hung up on a long Pole and exposed publickly at Aberdeen and other places where there was great concourse of People This being as it were a publick Edict to stir up all Men to revenge so foul a Deed. Nay many of them who had engaged with them actually in the slaughter finding that all things did not go as they would have it now joyned with these Malecontents And as things were transacted in these parts about Aberdeen much to the new King's prejudice Matthew Stewart Earl of Levins a popular and potent Man in his Country summons all such as he had influence over this side the Forth to come to him and having raised a good body of Men finding he could not make his way over Sterling Bridge which was guarded by the Royalists he hastens towards a Ford not far from the River-head at the foot of Mount Grampias with a design to joyn with his Friends in those parts Now when John Drummond had notice hereof by Alexander Mac Alpin his Tenant and who had joyned the Enemy and found plainly that all things were so careless and secure in the Enemies Camp that they dispearsed themselves up and down as every one pleased and had no Centry nor Scouts and destitute of all Military Order and Discipline he immediately with the Courtiers and a few Voluntiers he had with him sets upon them un-a-wares and in a manner all asleep which was in too many of them continued by Death the rest unarm'd run back headlong from whence they came and many were made Prisoners but some known Friends and Acquaintance were let go they were severe only upon such as wrote or spoke very contumeliously of the Government and so this storm blew over and not long after a Parliament was called wherein past a general Act of Indemnity so that now nothing was expected here but Halcyon Days but a Storm quickly arose which terribly shook not only this but the Kingdom of England also by one Perkin Warbeck's pretending himself to be Richard Duke of York and second Son to King Edward IV. and so to have an undoubted Right to the Crown of England He came over from France into Scotland and possest this King so far with a belief of his Right and the Justice of his Cause that he not only gave him the Lady Margaret the Earl of Huntley's Daughter for a Wife but also raised an Army to defend his Cause which took up some Years of his Reign little enough to his or the Kingdoms Commodity and Advantage At last a Truce for some Years was agreed on between him and the King of England and the Consequence of that was first orders for Perkin of whom you may read at large in my Lord Bacon's History of Henry VII to depart the Realm of Scotland then a Marriage between King James and the Lady Margaret
and by But before her arrival in Scotland John Forbes a young Gentleman of a great Family was accused of a Design he had many years before to Assassinate the King It was believed to be a malitious prosecution of the Huntley's but Condemned he was and lost his head and a few Days after came on another Tryal which on the account of the Family of the accused Parties the Novelty of it and the heinousness of the punishment was very Lamentable and Tragical and plainly shews the Kings mind was cruel and implacable Joan Dowglass Sister to the Earl of Angus of whom we have said so much and Wife to John Lyons Lord of Glames also her Son and latter Husband Gilespy Campell John Lyons Kinsman to her former Husband and an old Priest were accused for endeavouring to poyson the King All these tho' they lived continually in the Country far from the Court and their Friends and Servants could not be brought to witness any thing against them yet were put on the rack to extort a Confession from them and so were Condemned and shut up in Edenburg Castle Joan Dowglass was burnt alive with great Commiseration of all the Spectators The Nobleness both of her self and Husband did much affect the beholders Besides she was in the vigour of her youth much celebrated for her rare Beauty and in her very punishment she shewed a manlike Fortitude But that which people were more concerned for was that they thought the enmity against her Brother who was banished did her more prejudice then her own objected Crime Her Husband endeavoured to escape out of the Castle of Edenburg but the Rope being too short to let him down to the foot of the Rock brake almost all the bones of his body with the fall and so ended his Days Their Son a young Man and of greater Innocent simplicity then to have the suspicion of such a wickedness justly charged upon him was for all that shut up a Prisoner in the Castle And the accuser of all these William Lyons by name afterwards perceiving that so eminent a Family was like to be utterly ruined by his false Information Repented when it was too late and confessed his offence to the King Yet so bloody was he an instance I think hardly to be parallelled in all the records of time that it did not prevent the Execution of the Condemned or hinder their Estates from being Confiscate and the aforesaid young Gentleman was not discharged from his Imprisonment and Restored to his Inheritance till after the King's Death which is now upon the Wing But as we have given you the Tragical part of his past life in all the Circumstances of them we shall depeint unto you all the concurrent causes of his Tragical and Untimely Death and to that End we are necessitated to recount some few things to you that in order of time precede and you must note That King Henry VIII having upon the account of his Divorce from Queen Katherine Proclaimed himself head of the Church and utterly disclaimed the Pope's Authority in England he thereby contracted great enmity not only from Rome but also from Spain and the Empire Wherefore to strengthen himself against any Combination that he expected to be made against him he was desirous to entertain a strict amity with his Nephew James V. of Scotland and to that End directs Ambassadors to him inviting him to a Conference at York whither Henry offered to come and meet him Alledging That by such an interview matters might be better concerted for the mutual Interest of both Kingdoms K. James after a serious Deliberation returns Answer he would attend his Unkle at the Time and Place appointed who thereupon made very great preparations to Entertain him with utmost solemnity But the Scotch Clergy apprehensive least their King through his Unkles Perswasions and Example might be wrought upon to shake off the Pope's Authority in Scotland as he had done in his own Dominions Resolve to do the utmost of their endeavours to prevent the intended interview and so mustering up all their Forces by themselves and the Kings minions and flatterers acquaint him with the evil Câ—nseâ—uence of his going to England shew how King James I. had been kept Prisoner in England how ill the French their old Confederates and the Emperor would take it at his hands That King Henry was excommunicate that a dangerous Heresy had overspread not only the greatest part of that Kingdom but had infected even the King himself That many of his own Nobility were favourers of the said Heresy which notwithstanding if he took care timously to suppress it would be of mighty advantage to him and he might very much increase his revenue by their Estates a list of whose names they presented to him which he put in his Pocket thinking it a very profitable proposal and therefore with all expedition to be put in Execution The Lord Grang his Treasurer and who secretly favoured the Reformation was then much in his favour and to him the King shews the foresaid List telling him what great advantage he would make of it whereat the Treasurer smiled and withall desired leave to speak his mind freely upon which the King drew his Sword and merily said to him I le kill thee if thou speak against my profit Then the Treasurer began to set before him at large the various troubles of his Reign while in minority and what an hand the Clergy had in all the disorders that he had not been long a free Prince And that though his Majesty had done very much in thâ— time in setling the Highlands and the Borders yet desired him to consider of what a dangerous consequence it might be if his Nobility should get intelligence that some greedy fetches had been insinuated to him under pretence of Heresie to dispoile them of their Lives and Inheritances And thereby endanger his own Estate at the instance of those whose Estates were in danger and who would hazard him and his to save their own I mean continued the Treasurer the Prelates who are afraid least your Majesty according to the Example of the King 's of England and Denmark and other Princes of the Empire should make the like Reformation among them and therefore they are clearly against your having any familiarity with the King of England or to have your Affairs so settled as to give you leisure to look into and reform the abuses of the Church Then he went on and shewed him how the Revenues of the Crown were wasted and the vast Estates of the Clergy their addictedness to the Pope their sly carriage in insinuating themselves into all secrets of State the wisdom of the Venetians in that particular in excluding the whole Levitical Order from their Senate-house the gross abuses of the Church of Rome the scandalous lives of the Scotch Clergy and last of all urged how dishonourable and dangerous it would be to his Majesty not to keep his word with
the King of England who was a valiant Prince and of an high stomach and appeared for the time to have an upright meaning his occasions pressing him thereto And that having but one only Daughter and being himself grown fat and corpulent there were but small hopes of his having any more Children and that therefore it was his undoubted interest to hold a good correspondence with him being his Sisters Son nearest of Blood and ablest to maintain and unite the whole Island of Britain That the detention of King James I. in England was a far different case and desired him to consider what bad success the King his Father had in making War against the K. of England his Brother That that was but too manifestly felt by all the Subjects and that little better was to be looked for if a new and unnecessary War were begun by his refusing to be at the intended meeting at York This Speech was sufficient to convince him had not his Stars inclined him otherwise as his true interest to conform himself to the Will of his Uncle King Henry However for the present he was mightily pleased with it and seemed resolved to follow thâ— Treasurers advice And at his first meeting with the Prelates who â—arried then a very great sway in the Country he could not contain himself any longer when they came to him hoping to find their Plots put in excution But after many sharp words and expostulations that they should advise him to use such cruelty upon so many Noble Men and Barons to the endangering of his own repose he said Wherefore gave my Predecessors so many Lands and Rents to the Kirk was it to maintain Hawks Dogs and Whores for a Company of Idle Priests The K. of England Burns the K. of Denmark Beheads you I shall stick you with this Whinyard And thereupon whips out his Dagger which made them all scour out of his presence with trembling hearts the King declaring himself resolved to keep his promise aforesaid with his Unkle esteeming it now both his Honour and Interest so to do This procedure of the King struck a terrible damp upon the Prelates Spirits who found themselves now in a very desperate state However not to be wanting to themselves and cause they began again to re-assume some Courage and enter upon Consultation how to gain the King back again to their bow and knowing that money was a bait that seldom failed and would be very likely to catch him they make an offer in the first place to pay him yearly out of the Rents of the Church the sum of Fifty Thousand Crowns for the maintenance of some Regular Troops besides the ordinary Subjects which obeyed his Proclamation in case the King of England made War upon Scotland upon the King's failure to keep the appointment at York Yet they concluded that unless the matter was proposed and favourably interpreted to the King by such as had his Ear that would not do the business Wherefore they made very liberal Gifts unto the K. Familiar Servants with an Additional promise to Oliver Sinclar that they would procure him to be advanced to great Honours and made General of the whole Army against England in case King Henry intended to make War against their Nation which they affirmed he neither would nor durst do having already so many Irons in the fire Having laid this project they proceed to put it in Execution and so communicated the same to the Minions of the Court which was cheerfully agreed to by them who by their vile flattery obtained the greatest favour But the chief bait they laid for the King and wrought their Ends by was by alluring of pretty Women to him each striving to be the first that should advertise him whose Daughter such an one was and how she might be obtained But the Treasurers presence whom they feared and knew to be a man of Resolution very much obstructed their Designs wherefore a convenient opportunity was to be attended for in his absence from Court which happened not long after For the King had given the Ward and Marriage of Kelley in the County of Angus to his second Son and he went thither to take possession thereof Thereupon they fall to work make their proposals to the King which were stoutly backed by Oliver Sinclar and such of the Clergy as had best acquaintance at Court and especially at the time when they gratifyed his Lust with mens Wifes and Maidens as before noted and with all this oyling they found him at last pretty plyable and this induced them to lay hold of the opportunity to ruin the Treasurer whom they suspected to be the only Remora of their whole Design And therefore they lay before him how that he was turned Heretick and had always a new Testament in English in his Pocket and besides that through his Majesties favour he was grown so high and so proud that there was no enduring of him but withal so extream covetous that he was the unfitest man alive for that Office and overbold for procuring of the King the Ward of Kelley for his second Son which was worth Twenty Thousand Pounds But to this the King Answered That he looked upon his Treasurer to be a plain honest Gentleman that he loved him so well at that he would give him again the said Ward and Marriage for a Word of his Mouth The Prior of Pittenweem a cunning Fox replies Sir the Heiress of Kelley is a jolly fair Lass and I dare venture my life that if your Majesty will send for her presently he will refuse to send her But the King affirmed still the contrary till at last they procured him to send actually for the young woman and the Prelates and their faction contrived it so that the said Prior of Pittenweem should carry the Letter and Conduct the young woman back to the King But when he came the Treasurer who knew him to be his deadly Enemy refused to deliver her Alledging the said Prior to have been all his days a vile Whore-master having deflowred several Virgins and so thought him unfit for such a charge This was what the Prior wanted and so very Joyfully he returns with the Answer to the King to whom together with his wicked associates he handled the matter with that finess and industry that he rendered the Treasurer very obnoxious to him and far as that he granted a Warrant to commit him into Custody within Edenburg Castle which they forgot not to do as soon as ever he came to Court But the Treasurer suspecting some eviâ— practises against him during his absence thought no way so proper and effectuall for his security as to get with all diligence into the Kings presence which notwithstanding all their Conspiracies he effected and found him at Supper But when he came there the King looked down and would neither speak to him nor know him whereat he was not a little concerned However he would not put the matter up
at the Queen's return into Scotland That the Persons lately Banish'd should be Recall'd because their Country could not well want their Service and that David must be destroy'd for as long as he was alive the King could not maintain his Dignity nor the Nobility live in Safety having all set their Hands to this Schedule wherein the King professed himself the Author of the Homicide they presently resolved to attempt the Fact both to prevent the Condemnation of the Nobility that were absent as also lest delay might give an opportunity to discover the design and therefore when the Queen was at Supper one evening the Earl of Argyle's Wife and David sitting with her and that in a narrow private room and that there were but a few Attendants about them for the place would not hold many James Douglas Earl of Morton with a great number of his Friends were walking in an outward Chamber their faithful Friends and Vassals were commanded to stay below in the Yard to quiet the Tumult if any should arise The King comes out of his Chamber which was below the Queen's and goes up to her by a narrow pair of Stairs which were open to none but himself and was followed by Patrick Ruven armed with but four or five Companions more at most and entring into the Closet where they were at Supper and the Queen being somewhat moved at the unusual appearance of armed Men and also perceiving Ruven in an uncouth posture and meagre by reason of his late Illness but yet in his Armour asked him What was the matter for the Spectators thought that his Fever had disturbed his Head and put him besides himself but they were soon convinced of that mistake for he immediately commanded David to rise and come out for the place where he sat was not fit for him The Queen presently got up and sought to defend him by the interposal of her Body but the King took her in his Arms and bid her be of good chear they would do her no hurt only the Death of that Villain was resolved on and thereupon they haled David into the next Room then into the outer-Room and there those that waited with Dowglas made an end of him with many Wounds which was against the Mind of all those that Conspired his Death for they had resolved to Hang him up publickly all knowing it would have been a grateful Spectacle to all the People There was a constant Report at that time That one John Damiot a French Priest counted a Conjurer told David once or twice that now he had feathered his Nest it was time for him to be gone and withdraw himself from the Envy of the Nobles who would at length prove too hard for him and that he should make answer The Scots were greater Threatners than Fighters He was also warned a little before his Death That he should take heed of a Bastard to which he replied That as long as he lived no Bastard should have so much Power in Scotland as that he had need to be afraid of him for he thought his Danger was predicted from the Earl of Murray the Queen 's Natural Brother but the Prophecy was either fulfilled or eluded by George Dowglass's giving him the first Blow who was a base begotten Son of the Earl of Angus after he had began then every one rushed in to strike him either to Revenge their own particular Grief or the publick Concern This was the end of the so highly honoured David Rizzio whose Original and Profession we have given you an account of before and to which last with some other of the now recited passages no doubt of it Henry IV. of France afterwards alluded when one in his presence taking occasion to extol the Wisdom of King James and calling him by the Name of Salomon he said Well he might be termed so seeing he was the Son of David the Fidler David was no sooner killed but a tumult arose all the House over for the Earls of Huntley Athol and Bothwell who were together at Supper in another part of the Palace were rushing out but they were kept within their Chamber by those who guarded the Courts below and had no harm done them When Ruven who you see was a prime Manager of this Affair and who did as it were give David his Death's Wound by commanding of him out of the Queen's Presence as aforesaid went out of that Privy-Room into the Queen's Bed Chamber where not being able to stand because of his Weakness he sat down and called for something to Drink whereupon the Queen fell upon him with such Words as her present grief and fury suggested to her calling him a Perfidious Traytor asking him How he durst be so Impudent as to be in her Presence sitting whereas she her self stood this he excused as not done out of any Contempt or want of the Sense of his Duty but out of the weakness of his Body but gravely and wisely advised her that in managing the Affairs of the Kingdom she would rather Consult the Nobility who had a concern in the publick than Vagrant Rascals who could give no pledge of their Fidelity and who had nothing to hazard either in Estate or Credit neither was the Fact then committed without a President that Scotland was a Kingdom bounded by Laws and was never wont to be govern'd by the Will and Pleasure of any one Man but by the Regulation of the Law and Consent of the Nobility and if any former King had done otherwise 't is certain he had smarted severely for it Neither were the Scots at this day so far degenerated from their Ancestors as to bear not only the Government but even the Servitude of a Stranger who was scarce worthy to be their Slave This Speech did enrage the Queen more than before whereupon the company departed having placed Guards in all convenient places for fear any Tumults should arise In the mean time what was transacted flew all over the Town and as every ones Disposition was right or wrong they took Arms and away they went to the Palace where the King shewed himself unto them out of a Window and told the multitude That he and the Queen were safe and that there was no cause for their Tumultuous Assembly for what was done was done by his Order and what that was should be known in due time and therefore at present every one should go to his own House upon which command they withdrew except some few that staid to keep Guard Next morning the Nobles that returned from England taking the opportunity offered to come to their Trial in the Town-Hall being ready to plead their Cause for that was the day appointed but none appearing against them they openly protested it was not their Fault for they were ready to submit to a Legal Trial and so every one returned to his own Lodgings The Queen under these Perplexities sent for her Brother Murray and after a long Conference gave
him hopes that she would for ever after commit her self to her Nobles hereupon the Guards were slackened tho' many thought that her Clemency did presage no good to the publick for she gathered together the Soldiers of her old Guard and went through a back Gate by night with George Seaton who attended upon her with 800 Horse first to his own Castle then to Dumbar She also carried the King along with her who for fear of his Life was forced to Obey When she came thither she hastned to gather Forces together and pretending a Reconciliation with those that were lately returned from Banishment she turned her fury upon the Slayers of David and put out a severe Proclamation against them many of them that were accused were Banished some to one place and some to another some were Fined but they that were most Innocent and therefore thought themselves most secure were put to Death but the principal Contrivers of the Fact were fled some to England and others to the Highlands And such as were least suspected to have an hand in it were dispossest of their Offices and Imployments and their Enemies put into their Places and to colour her rigorous Proceedings against the rest a Proclamation was made by an Herauld in such a publick sorrow not without Laughter that no man should say the King had any hand in or was privy to David's Slaughter but what was stranger than all the rest was That she caused David's Body which was Buried before the Door of a Neighbour Church to be removed in the night and placed in the Sepulchre of the late King and his Children which gave occasion to ill-favoured Reports for the blemishing of her Honour for what greater Confession of Adultery with him could she well make than as far as she was able to equal such an obscure Fellow who was neither well brought up nor had deserved well of the publick in his last Funerals with her Father and Brothers And to increase the Indignity of the thing she put the Varlet almost in the Arms of Magdalen de Valois the late Queen As for her Husband she threatned him and obliquely in her Discourses scoff'd at him doing her utmost endeavour to take away all Power from him and to render him as contemptible as she could But the time of her Delivery now drawing nigh she was Reconciled to the Earls of Murray and Argyle and retir'd to Edinburg-Castle where on the 19th day of June 1566. a little after 9 in the morning she was brought to Bed of a Son afterward called James the Sixth of Scotland and the First of Great Britain After her Delivery she received all other Visitants with kindness enough suitable to the occasion of a publick Joy but her Husband to whom she should have been most kind but his presence was disdained and his company unacceptable And now the Earl of Bothwell is the Man 't is he that managed all Affairs and the Queen was so inclined to him that she would have it understood no suit would be obtain'd from her but by his Mediation and as if she were afraid her favour to him were but mean and not sufficiently known she took on a certain day one or two with her and went down to the Haven called New-Haven and her Attendance not knowing whether she intended she went a-board a small Vessel prepared there for her by some of Bothwell's Creatures who were Pyrates of known Rapacy with this Guard of Robbers she ventured to Sea to the Admiration of all good Men taking none of her honest Servants along with her and Landed at Allâ—way a Castle of the Earl of Mar's where she demoan'd her self for some time saith Buchanâ—n as if she had forgot not only the Dignity of a Queen but even the Modesty of a Matron but these Joys will one Day turn sharp and sower The Poor King when he heard of her Departure followed her by Land as fast as he could his Designs and Hopes being to be with her and so enjoy Conjugal Society as Man and Wife but â—e as an importunate disturber of her Pleasures was bid to go back from whence he came and had hardly time allowed him for his Servants to refresh themselves A few Days after when she returned to Edenburgh she would not go into her own Pallace but took up her Lodgings where the Annual Convention called the Exchequer Court was then held for it seems David Chalmers a Creature of Bothwell's had a House near it whose back Door was Contiguous to the Queen's Garden through which Bothwell might pass in and out to her at his pleasure and the King in the mean time finding no place for favour and being tired with impeads retired after her in discontent a while after the Queen went to Jedburgh to hold a Convention and Bothwell in some time to Liddisdail where he was wounded by a High-way-Pad and so was carryed to Hermitage Castle in great danger of his Life but when the News was brought thereof to the Queen then at Barthwick thô the Winter was very sharp yet she flew in hast first to Malrose then to Jedburgh and thô she received certain Intelligence there that Bothwell was alive yet being impatient of any delay and not able to forbear tho' in such a bad time of the Year notwithstanding the Difficulty of the way and the Danger of Robbery she put her self on her Journey with such an Attendance as hardly any honest Man tho' he were but of a mean Condition would trust his Life and Fortune to From thence she returned again to Jedburg and made great and diligent Preparation that Bothwell should be brought thither but here it was that she fell into a sore and most dangerous Sickness so as no body expected she would have lived but she recovered it being designed for a worse Fate when the King heard of her Illness he posted to Jedburgh both to give her a Visit and to testifie his observance by all the good Offices he could do and also to incline her to a better course of Life hoping she might now repent for what she had done as Persons in great danger are wont to do But she on the contrary gave him not the least Sign of a reconciled Mind but gave a Charge that no body should rise up nor Salute him as he came in or to give him any Entertainment so much as for one Night but at the same time suspecting the Disposition of the Earl of Murray as courteous and civil tampered with his Wife to make hast now to fain her self Sick and go immediatly to Bed that so under colour of that Sickness the King might be excluded from thence yea she made it her business to enforce him to be gone for want of Lodging which he had plainly been necessitated to do had it not been for one of the Family of the Humes who for very shame pretended a sudden cause for his departure and so left his Lodgings free for the King
or Bier turn'd up side down and brought by Porters into the Palace where she her self view'd the Body which was the most beautiful and comliest of the Age. The Nobles that were present desired that a Royal and Magnificent Funeral should be made for him But she good Woman caused him to be carryed out by Bearers in the Night to be buryed in no manner of State and that which increased the Indignity the more was that his Grave was made near David Rizzio's as if she had designed to Sacrifice the Life of her Husband on purpose to appease the Ghost of that base Varlet There were two surprizing Prodigies hapning at that time which are worthy of Relation and were Construed as being very Ominous to that poor Prince one of them a little preceded the Murder and thus it it was One John Londin a Gentleman of Fife having been Sick for a long time of a Fever did the Day before the King was Murdered about Noon lift up himself a little out of his Bed and as if he had been in great Astonishment cry'd unto such as stood by him with a loud Voice Go help the King for the Parricides were just now going to Murder him And a while after he called out with a Mournful Tone Now 't is too late to help he is already Slain and the Person himself died soon after the other did accompany the Murder it self There were three of the Familiar Friends of the Earl of Athol the King's Cousin who were Men of Reputation for their Valour and Fortunes that had their Lodgings not far from the King 's who when they were asleep about Midnight there seem'd a Man to come to Dugal Stuwart who was next the Wall and to pull his Hand over his Beard and Cheek so to awake him saying Arise they are offering Violence to us upon which he presently awakes and considering of the Apparition with himself another of them Cries out presently in the same Bed Who kicks me Dugall answered perhaps 't is a Rat which us'd to walk about in the Night whereupon the Third who was not awake got up presently out of his Bed and was a going to run away asking Who was that had given him a Box on the Ear Which words were no sooner spoke by him but that one seemed to go out of the House by the Door not without some Noise While they were descanting together on what they had heard and seen the Noise of the King's House that was blown up drove them all into a great Fright The Earl of Athol highly resented the King's Murder and so did Murray which put both of them in danger of their Lives nay Bothwell understanding that Murray was Sick at his own House of the Gout did under a pretence of Visiting him design to Murder him as he had done before but Murray had removed a little before to his Brother Robert's House and so escaped and now the Queen and Bothwell are as unseparable as their Shadows and take a full swing of their pleasures but the Arrival of the French Ambassador and his insisting how infamous the King's Murder was among Strangers put some damps upon their Enjoyments besides they were not a little sollicitous concerning the Rumours spread of Bothwell being concern'd in the Fact and how to avoid the Danger and clear of all suspicion was now become the main Head of their Consultation There was a Design laid before to have him try'd and acquitted for presently upon the King's death Bothwell and some of his Complices came to the Earl of Argyle who was Hereditary Capital Judge in Criminal Causes and first pretended they were wholly ignorant of what was done and wondered at it all as a New unheard of and incredible thing then they proceded to the Examination of it and to that end Summoned some poor Women out of the Neighbourhood but they stuck between Hope and Fear being uncertain whether they ought to speak or hold their Peace but tho' they were very cautious in their words yet uttering more then was expected they were dismist as having spoken nothing upon any certain Ground and as for their Testimony it was easie enough to dispute it whereupon some of the King's Servants whom the Fire had not destroy'd were sent for and being interrogated concerning the Ingress of the Assassines answered That the Keys were not in their Power and it being urged on them again in whose Power then They reply'd the Queens whereupon the further Examination was put off as they pretended but indeed was quite supprest for they were afraid if they went any further the Court Secrets would become all publickly known And yet to set a Gloss upon the Matter a Proclamation was Published and a Pecuniary Reward was offered to the Discoverers of the King's Murder but who durst be so bold as to Impeach Bothwell seeing he was to be the impleaded the Judge the Examiner and the Exacter ef the Punishment too Yet this fear which stopped the Mouths of divers single Persons could not bridle the Multitude for Libells were Published Pictures made and Night-hawkings and Cries were uttered whereby the Parricides might easily understand that their whole Design was discovered who projected the Wicked Fact and who was assistant to put the same in Execution and the more the People were forbidden the more did their Grief make them speak and tho' the Conspirator seemed to despise these things yet they were so inwardly prick'd and touch'd that they could not dissemble their Sorrow And therefore committing the Examination about the King's Death in which they ought to have proceeded they fell more severely and in earnest upon another Guest and that was against the Authors of Libels or as they called it the Calumniators of the Earl of Bothwell and this they so severely prosecuted that they spared no Pains nor Cost theâ—e and made it Capital not only to Sell but even to Read those Libells when they were Sold but they who endeavoured to bridle the Tongues of the People by threatning Capital Punishments to them were not satisfied with the King's death but still retain'd their Hatred against him though now in his Grave For the Queen gave her Husbands Goods Arms Horses Apparel and other Houshold-stuff either to his Fathers Enemies or to the Murderers themselves as if they had been forfeited into her Exchequer And as these matters were openly acted so many did as publickly inveigh against them so that a Taylor who was to fit some of the King's Cloaths for Bothwell's Body was so adventurous as to say now he saw the Old Country Custom verified that the Executioner had the Cloaths of them that suffered by his Hands But tho' these things wrought no small disquietude to the Parricides Day by Day yet nothing stuck so close to them as the Dayly Complaints of the Earl of Lennox who though he would not adventure to come to Court by Reason of Bothwell's Power accompanyed with the highest Luxury yet he so earnestly
contrived that the Earl of March should give him an invitation to be at the place two or three days before the time under pretence that the preparations he had made of Wild Meats and other things for his Reception would be spoiled if he came not somewhat sooner than the appointed day a silly excuse but on he goes contrary to the advice of some about him who were sensible of the inconveniencies that might attend it especially since the Lords whom he had summoned could not be there so soon and when he arrived at St. Andrews he took up his Lodgings at an old Inn whose greatest security was the Yard Dykes of little consideration Melvil who saw the vanity of such doings goes to the Provost to see what force he could make for the Kings security in case he were exposed to any danger who answered very few and those not to be relied upon but returning to the King and believing that the Proclamation had been made that no Man should come to the Convention unsent for he found the Abbot of Dumfermling and the Earl of Marshal there the Abbot who was of the contrary Faction yet did by his Wit and Dissembling Practices so manage the King that the Proclamation was not only stopped but Missive Letters sent to the rest of the Nobility to come but under the Restriction that each Nobleman should come attended with no more than two Persons Some of his Adherents who foresaw this would unravel the whole design reminded him of the danger and advised him to retire into the Castle which they could not persuade him to do till after Supper Next day all the Lords as well written as unwritten for came to St. Andrews the latter strongly armed and the others not The Abbot who was with the King in the Castle pretending all manner of Zeal for his Service advised him to let none of the Lords come within the Castle accompanied with any more than twelve Persons which tho' he were now in a place of security if well managed had like to have brought him again into a State of Captivity for the next morning the Castle was full of Men and the contrary Party being well Armed had already possest themselves of the Stair-Head and Galleries resolving a second time to be Masters of the King and all his Followers but the Earl of March his Gentlemen with the Provosts Men and some others got thither with such diligence that the design was rendered Abortive for that time so that next day the King for fear of a further surprise gave them fair Words promising all alike there of his Favour and Protection which for the time seemed to give Contentment to all the parties In the mean while the Earl of Arran got the Favour to be confined in his own House at Kinneall from whence he sends to Congratulate his Majesty's safe deliverance begging leave to come to Court to kiss the King's Hand which for the time was deninied but he still persisting in his Sollicitation by the help of some Friends and promising to make no manner of stay but to withdraw again to his Habitation the King whose Affections were still towards him and Born it seems to be ruled by others tho' he could not chuse but know he was obnoxious to the whole Kingdom and had been a principal Cause of the King 's former confinement grants him leave the Earl had no sooner access no more thought of his Promise but staid not only at Court but in a short time altered all the ways of procedure with a design to draw the management of all publick Affairs to himself as before this was a great mortification to many about the King and Colonel Steward resented it highly saying That if his Majesty suffered that Villain to remain at Court he would yet again undo all but at last they were reconciled and became great Friends and from henceforward the Earl managed the King Council and all other Affairs of the Kingdom as despotically as if he had been Grand Signior or Mayor of the Palace in France the King was easily induced by him to spend most of his time a Hunting and to be content with whatever Relation he gave him of the Publick Affairs and when he had gained this point he bent his whole force for to ruin the Ruthwen Road Lords notwithstanding the Publick Faith given them for their Indemnity Queen Elizabeth about this time sent to King James a sharp Letter concerning his mismanagement of his Affairs and promised to send Sir Francis Walsingham into Scotland by whom she said she intended to deal with him as an Affectionate Sister and one from whom he might see he should receive Honour and Contentment with more safety to himself and Kingdom than by following the pernicious Councils of those crafty dissembling Advisers about him but there was nothing could stop the career of this mighty Favourite Arran who obtains the Government of Sterling-Castle to the rest and banished several Noblemen as the Earls of Mar Angus c. and by his insolent behaviour drove the Noble Earl of Gawry and almost all other honest Men from Court at length Walsingham arrived who after he had been with the King and pursued his Instructions prepared to return home Arran would fain have entred into a familiar Conference with him but Sir Francis disdained to speak with him the other enraged with the conceived affront and finding no other way of Revenge but what must bring great dishonour upon the King a poor tool to suffer it gave Orders that the Captains of Berwick and several worthy Gentlemen who came to convoy Secretary Walsingham should not be suffered to enter into the King's Presence-Chamber and not content herein when the King had ordered a rich Diamond to the value of 700 Crowns to be given to the Secretary instead thereof the Earl puts a scornful Present upon him of a Ring with a Chrystal stone sett therein only a Presumption undoubtedly that Harry 8. would have punisheed with the loss of his Head had the Earl been his Subject but this way of procedure was so far from exciting the King to vindicate his own Honour which was abominably blemish'd hereby that when he was determined to go to Edenburg to call a Convention of the Estates more Honours must be put upon the Earl for to that of the Government of Sterling-Castle already in his Hands was added that of Edenburg Castle the two most important Fortresses in the Kingdom and least a Military Power was not yet sufficient both for his Greatness and Security he gets himself Declared Lord Chancellor and so Head of the Civil Power in the Kingdom and now he Triumphs making the whole Subjects tremble under him and by daily seeking out and inventing new crimes against others to get their Lands and Possessions several of the Nobility he banished but more especially shot directly at the Earl of Gawrey's Life and Estate but the Earl could not be content to Domineer as he
towards him advised him now at length to submit otherwise he should hear the Sentence of Death resolved on by the Court against him but he still refused to plead and desired he might have liberty to say some things for the good of the People before both Houses but the President said this would but delay and retard Justice But the King answered that he had not sought occasions of delay else he would have made a more Elaborate contestation of the Cause but that there could be no hurt in a delay of a day or two rather than precipitate Judgment which might lay the Nation under perpetual Miseries and so desired to withdraw and the Court to consider The King was carried to Cotton-house and the Judges withdrew to the Court of Wards and in half an hour returned and when the King insisted still that he might be first heard before his Parliament and not prevailing the President went on and shewed how contumacious he had been how hateful his Crimes were and asserted the Parliamentary Authority producing Examples both Domestick and Foreign especially out of Scotland wherein the People had punished their Kings and then affirmed that the Power of the People of England was not less over their King That the Guilt of this King was greater than of all others as being one who according to Caligula's wish had attempted to cut off the neck of the Kingdom by waging War against the Parliament for all which he was in his Charge called Tyrant Traytor Murderer and a Publick Enemy to the Commonwealth and that it had been well if that any of those terms might have been spared At which words the King said How Sir but the other went on and argued that Rex est qui bene regit Tyrannus qui populum opprimit and so lodged Arbitrary Government on him which he sought to put upon the People That his Treasons were his breach of trust to the Kingdom as his Superior and was therefore called to an account Minimus majorem in judicium vocat That his Murders were many as being guilty of the Blood shed in the War between him and his people which could not be cleansed but by the Blood of him who shed that Blood he wished him to have God before his Eyes and called God to witness that the Court came meerly out of the Conscience of their Duty to that place and imployment which they were resolved to effect and called for God's assistance in his Execution Here the King made a motion to speak but was told his time was now past and his Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times Convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout to which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so exprest several passages at his Trial in refusing to answer for all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge that the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murderer and Publick Enemy shall be put to death by severing his Head from his Body And then the President said the Sentence now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgment and Resolution of the whole Court to which the Members of the Court stood up and assented by holding up their Hands Then the King was taken away and the Court broke up As the King was lead along some of the Mobb carried it very rudely and unchristianly towards him and that Night which was Saturday January 27. he was Lodged in Whitehall next day the Bishop of London Preached before him in his Chamber and the same day the President and all the Members of the High Court of Justice fasted in the Chappel at Whitehall On Monday Morning he was conveyed to St. James's and in the mean time Sir Hardress Waller Colonel Harrison Colonel Dean Commissary General Ireton and Col. Oaks were to consider of the time and place for Execution and the President and Judges met on Monday Morning Jan. 29. in the Painted Chamber who together with the Committee resolved that the open Street before Whitehall was the fittest place that the King should be there Executed on tho next day between Ten and Two a Clock upon a Scaffold covered with Black The King who was now apprehensive of the approach of his fatal end exprest his desires by a Member of the Army That in regard Sentence of Death was past upon him and that the time of Execution might be near that he might see his Children and so receive the Sacrament and to prepare himself for Death and that the Bishop of London might pray with him in private in his Chamber all which was granted him When the fatal day appear'd which was Tuesday Jan. 30. about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon he was called upon to come forth from St. James Palace now his Prison and was Conducted on Foot over the Park to Whitehall Guarded with a Regiment of Foot part whereof marched before the rest behind with Colours flying and Drums beating his private Guard of Partizans being next him Dr. Juxton Bishop of London on the one side and Col. Tomlison on the other they went up by the Stairs to the Park Gallery and so into his Cabinet-Chamber where he continued at his Devotion and refused to Dine only about Twelve-a-Clock he Eat a Bit of Bread and drank a Glass of Claret From thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting-House and the Great Window Enlarged out of which he ascended the Scaffold the Rails whereof were hung round and the Floor covered with Black with the Block and Axe set in the middle and the Executioners wearing Vizzards standing by He looked round about upon the People who were kept a considerable distance off by the thick Guards and Troops of Horse that beset the Scaffold and turning to the Officers and more particularly to Col. Tomlison begun with what necessity there lay upon him to say somewhat lest his silence might be made an argument of his guilt and with a Protestation of his innocency in reference to any design he had to retrench the just Priviledges of Parliament yet acknowledged his punishment to be just from God and instanced only in his giving way to the death of the Earl of Strafford appealed to the Bishop of London who stood by for his forwardness to forgive his Enemies yet professed a great concernedness for the Weal of the Kingdom shewed how the then Managers of the State were in the wrong to think to govern by the Sword advised them to restore his Son to the Inheritance of his Ancestors and the People to their Rights and due Liberties
to run away with the prey from both of them The People of England were no more satisfied before with their imaginary happiness in the King's Restoration but they were now upon the ill management of Affairs the much Treasure that had been spent to so little purpose and more especially upon our Conjunction with the French to the manifest hazard of the Protestant Religion as well as the Civil Rights of Europe as much uneasie and suspitious of the Court-proceedings And it did not a little incense them that the French made such a Progress in Flanders and got all by Land while we got nothing but Blows at Sea and therefore the House of Commons on the 31. of October 1673. Voted that considering the present State of the Natition they would not take into further Consideration any Aids or Charges upon the Subject except it did appear that the obstinacy of the Dutch did render it necessary nor before the Kingdom should be effectually secured from Popery and Popish Counsels and other Grievances redressed which procedure thunder-struck the King and his Frenchified Council so as that a Peace with the Dutch was quickly huddled up and so he then set up for a Mediator of Peace between the rest and the Treaty spun out to a very great length at Nimeguen and was at last concluded after some years Conferences without King Charles consent by Beverning the Dutch Agent which spared him a labour of entring into an actual War with Franee as the Parliament would have had him and to which he was as unwilling as he had been before forward in his engaging against the Dutch a Protestant State The remainder of his succeeding Reign was as uneasie to himself and to the Nation upon the account first of the Popish Plot the many endeavours to stiffle it the Bill of Exclusion and the Division of the Nation into Whig and Torry hereupon then that called the Presbyterian Plot both Plots they said against his life which if true he was the more unhappy for which last the Noble Lord Russel suffered and the Great Earl of Essex had his Throat Barbarously cut in the Tower of London the King's Prison and King Charles had the unhappiness to be there that day where he had not been hardly in twenty years before And last of all the forfeiture and seizure of Charters which tho carried on with great fury in his Reign that thereby he might have a Parliament of his own choosing as Cromwell had and so do what he pleased yet he did not live to compleat his designs Tho' the Censures upon the manner of his Death are various yet most are agreed says the Author of the Introduction to King Charles II. Character there was some fraud in it some ascribing it to the intreagues of France who as they Undid his Father by a Wife Ruined the Son by a Mistress and therefore alleadge that the French King being weary of feeding him with Pensions and dreading his natural Parts if upon any disgust he should come to unite with his Parliaments against France he thought it his Interest to take him off and make way for a Successor who as he made open profession of his own Religion would be more pliable to his dictates Then as touching the method of effecting it they say that the Dutchess of P. who bewitched him with her Amours and had not only drained the substance of his Body but likewise the substance of his Purse either of which being once accomplished the Love of a St â—t to her Paramour vanishes so that having a mind to change Gallants or seeing no more hopes of former advantages she gave him such Provocatives as made him act beyond his natural Strength and threw him into those Apoplectick Fits which carryed him off There are others who ascribe his Death to the Romish Faction who being angry at his having so often deceived them and impatient till they came to a tryal of skill for establishing their Religion while Lewis XIV was in the height of his Power and Glory did therefore administer the fatal Dose which sent King Charles II. a Packing and brought his Brother to the Throne under whose auspicious Conduct they made no question of restoring the Church of Rome to the full possession of all she had formerly enjoy'd in these three Kingdoms It 's certain there were some accidents fell out some time before the King's Death that raised some Jealousy in the breast of the Romanists who thought by that he would upon the presenting of the first opportunity face about as they found by experience he had more then once done and fall in with the Interest of a Party he now for some years by their instigation had been endeavouring to destroy and root out of the World And what rendred their suspitions of him the more incurable was that a Pamphlet having been spread abroad a little before Christmas 1684. setting forth that the Earl of Essex had not cut his own Throat but had been Murdered by Russians set on by the Papists c. the King upon the hearing of it should say Well I am resolved to examine Essex's Cause once more And that he might meet with no obstruction in the way he ordered the Duke his Brother to prepare to go for Scotland which the other whether smelling the design or that the train to blow the King up was already layd by him absolutely refused to do this occasioned high words between them insomuch that the late M. of H. who was well known to be a great favourite coming on the Sunday before the King Dyed to wait upon him after Evening Service he found him in his Closet alone under great concern of Mind puffing after a more then ordinary rate and looking pensive with his Face towards the ground which the M. observing made him stand still till the King looking up asked hastily How now my Lord How do you do to which the M. answering the better to see his Majesty well and soforth the King returned again to his former posture but at length broke forth into these Words My Lord will you be ingenious with we and answer me one question to which the Marquess replying he would if he could Then said the King I charge you upon your Alleagiance to tell me how I stand affected with the People of England The M. after some pause answered Sir you have been always ranked among the mercifull and Clement Princes and have given evident Testimonies of your being so upon various occasions but I must tell your Majesty that of late your Government has been somewhat uneasy to your People Well said the King one thing I am resolved on I 'll once more throw my self upon the People of England and to that end will go this week into the City and I 'le call a Parliament at the Guild-Hall the M. was somewhat surprized at these words and said Sir If that be your Resolution I pray God to bless it but let me beg of