last the English obtain the Victory 4000 French and Scots killed amongst whom were John Earl of Buchan Archibald Earl Dowglas his Son the Earl Wigton and divers other eminent Persons the Duke of Alenson and many great ones are taken Prisoners a great Victory and bought at a great price the lives of above 2000 English lost on the place The Scottish Parliament thinketh it now more than high time to endeavour the Liberty of their King Ambasladors are sent to that end and are honourably Entertained by the Duke of Glocester then Governing all in England in the Non-age of his Nephew The Scots demand their King the Duke adviseth the English Council to Treat with them A great Ransom is demanded The Scots having no other remedy consent to Engage for it in lieu of one Moiety the Dowry of the Scottish Queen Joan Daughter to the Earl of Somerset a woman of singular Vertue and Beauty taken to Wife by the Scottish King at the earnest desire of the Duke of Glocester was detained and for the other certain Noble Men are sent Pledges an hard measure to an Infant Prisoner who it seems paid Dear for his Schoolgate And thus after his Years Imprisonment King James returneth Anno 1423 a Parliament is immediately called the King and Queen Crowned an Act passed for the payment of the 20th part of every man's Personal Estate for discharging the other Moiety of the King's Ransom Commissioners appointed to Collect it the People every where repine against it as unaccustomed to such Impositions some Great ones hunting after the vanity of Popular Applause cherish their Discontent which the good King perceiving remitted the Tax finding out another Expedient to discharge his Ransom In the same Parliament divers of the Nobility are Imprisoned for high Misdemeanors The King immediately releaseth them only Mordake Duke of Albany his two Sons and his Father in Law the Earl of Lenox remained under restraint and by Sentence of their Peers the usual manner of Trying Great ones in that Nation are adjudged to Death for their manifold Treasons and were accordingly not without the vigorous influence of Atholl their Uncle Beheaded on the Castle hill at Sterlin The same Year came Ambassadors from France to renew the Antient League and to crave in Marriage Margaret Daughter to King James for the Dauphine of France Lodovick Son to Charles the 7th both propositions are chearfully assented unto and the Ambassadors after much honourable Entertainment return satisfied the King forthwith bendeth himself to a Reformation and great need there was for as once in Israel so now in Scotland when there was no King every man did what seemed good in his own Eyes whereby the Kingdom groaned under the greatest Confusions and Disorders that could be the Civil Estate after much pain and trouble is at last reduced into some tolerable Condition Heads of Rebellious Factions men some taken off some Imprisoned some in hope of amendment pardoned Oppressions suppressed Roberies restrained and promising foundations laid to prevent such Insolence in time to come Amongst those pardoned in hope of Amendment Alexander Lord of the Isles was one a Great man and of a restless Spirit no sooner enlarged than he beginneth to meditate Revenge for his Imprisonment as short as it was He raiseth an Army of 10000 men falleth down to Ennerness burneth the Town to the ground and layeth Seige to the Castle the King sendeth an Army against him he raiseth his Siege flyeth to the Mountains maketh a stand about Lough Aber resolving to run the hazard of a Battel in those places of advantage two great Clanns Clan-Chaton and Clan-Chameron revolt from him many others are suspected by him in this fear he disbandeth his Army and with a few Attendants he flyeth into the Isles from thence he sendeth his Orators to the King to implore his Pardon nothing could be obtained though the Messengers were gracious enough to their Sovereign Alexander himself is required to appear in Person before the King committing himself wholly to his Majesty's mercy the Rebel conscious of his own Guilt is much perplexed nevertheless considering his present condition how desperate it was resolveth to fly to Mercy and privately repaireth to Edenburg where then his Majesty was On Easter-day Morning he Addresseth himself to Court covered with a Flaxen Frock he prostrateth himself before the King as he past to Divine Service with a most humble and penitent Oration he beggeth Pardon and Restoration to his Majesty's Favour and that for his sake whose restoring to Life they that day Celebrated The Time the Place the Habit his mournful Oration move at present to Compassion especially the Queen who became a most earnest Mediatrix on his behalf the King delayeth his Answer to the end of Divine Service which being performed his Majesty resolving neither absolutely to Pardon nor condignly to Punish for security of the Peace Alexander is sent Prisoner to Tamtalion and his Mother as the great Instrument of all his Pernicious ways is sent to St. Colmes In revenge of this Imprisonment Donald Maloc a Great man in the Isles breaketh out in a new Rebellion for Suppressing of whom the Earls of Marre and Caithnes are sent Donald Surpriseth them and putteth Caithnes and most of his Army to the Sword Marre happily escaping puft up with this Success Donald marcheth to Loughaber the King goeth out in Person against him Donald having done much Mischief in the Countrey flyeth into the Isles Divers Heads of Clannes undertake to Suppress him notice whereof being given to that Arch-Rebel he privately conveyeth himself into Ireland many of his Associates are killed 300 of them taken Prisoners are sent to the King all without exception of any deservedly Hanged which exemplary Justice proved happily to preserve those Barbarous places in Peace for a longer time than could be expected As his Majesty shewed his Justice in the Case I now mentioned about the same time he gave a manifest of his Mercy in enlarging two notable Robbers Duffe and Murray being enlarged they quarrel one with another Cull together their Retainers maintained on the Spoils of the People and being 1200 on each side furiously Engage in a bloody Conflict such Execution done on both sides that not above to on the one and 9 on the other side escape alive Notwithstanding all which Disasters Mr. Donald a notorious Robber breaketh out into an open Rebellion after some Mischief done Mr. Donald is apprehended himself Beheaded and twelve of his Associates Hanged Before his Execution the Law of Retaliation is by the King 's special Command executed upon him A poor Widdow pillaged by him threateneth him with resolution to repair to the King for Redress and I will fit thee for thy Journey said the Rogue he calleth for a Black-Smith and commands him to Nail to her Feet two Horse-Shooes go on saith he now these will preserve thy Feet from bruising the poor Woman dissembleth her resolution and is dismissed Mr. Donald being
was too late and being ready to breath out his last when they found him some of his dearest Friends Ask him how he did to whom he Answered with marvellous good chear I am well and in a good condition I now Dye as almost all my Ancestors have done in the Bed of Honour some things only I Crave of you my Noble and Dear Friends which I desire to be performed as you Love and Honour me First That my Death be no Discouragement to you Secondly That you Conceal my Death during the time of the Battel both from Friends and Foes Thirdly That you suffer not my Standard to be overthrown And Lastly That you would Avenge my Death These things if you perform I have my desire and in hope thereof I bear all other things and my present Fate with a good heart With these words wherein he shewed himself a Souldier he takes leave of them and they of him and having covered his Body from the sight of the Souldiers they advance his Standard and Charge with the greater Fury crying out A Dowglass A Dowglass the English are forthwith put into great disorder the Earl Percy is taken Prisoner and in the same Charge his Valiant Son too being dangerously wounded some Nineteen hundred English are slain some Fourteen hundred are Prisoners whereof most wounded and to the Scots it was not a dry Victory The next day the Bishop of Durham coming up with some Auxiliaries the English Rally again and resolve to give Battel the Army being again made up Ten Thousand Men the Scots making vertue of necessity there being no possible safety for them to endeavour an Escape resolve to stand to it under the Command of the Earl of Murray The Bishop advancing Murray having first taken an Oath of all the Prisoners that they should remain true Prisoners though their friends should rescue them by strength of Arms is ready to receive him and commandeth the Soldiers to wind their Horns each Soldier having about his Neck an Horn larger than our ordinary Harvest Horns the Noise whereof was so great and the View of the dead Corps slain over Night so terrible that the Hearts of the raw and new raised Soldiers began to fail the Bishop is forced as his Safest course to retreat into their Quarters from whence they came without attempting any thing the Scots are no less glad being sufficiently wasted and weary to look homeward Murray dismisseth Percy the Younger upon his Parole above One Thousand Common Soldiers are set at Liberty the Earl himself and about Four Hundred of the Chief are carried Prisoners into Scotland The Joy the Scots had in this Victory which happen'd July 19. 1390. was wholly swallow'd up in the Death of the dougheir Dowglass a very noble Cavalier indeed whose Body was Interred at Melross with the greatest Evidences of Sorrow that could be Soon after Dyed in Peace the Good and Peaceable King Robert a general Peace being concluded in France England and Scotland for certain Years the Seventy Fourth Year of his Age and Nineteenth of his Reign a good Man and a good King a great Justiciary an Encourager of Vertue a Suppressor of Vice especially of Theft and Robery stedfast in his Word fortunate in his Wars tho' by reason of his Age and Natural Averseness to War he seldom or never Engaged in Person He had two Wives the one Elizabeth Daughter to Sir Adam More by whom he had three Sons John Earl of Carist Robert Earl of Say Alexander Earl of Buchan and Badgenoch the other Enfence Daughter to Hugh Earl of Ross by whom he had two Sons Walter Earl of Straherne and David Earl of Athol and one Daughter Enfence given in Marriage to James Lord Dowglass Son to William Earl of Dowglass THE LIFE OF ROBERT III. JOHN son to King Robert Succeeded his Father and began his Reign Anno 1390. who immediately changed his Name choosing to be called by the Name Robert as an Auspicious Name the former two Roberts Kings of that Nation being men eminent in Vertue and prosperous in Atchievements He came to his Crown in a time free of Wars from abroad but full of Jars at home by the unquiet and ravenous disposition of his Nephew Duncan Son to Alexander Earl of Buchan who having Abased himself to be Captain of a Rebellious Rout of Robers spoyling and plundering divers Places especially in Angus was at last not without some Blood shed Suppressed by the industry of the Earl of Craford Soon after a dangerous fend fell out between two Great and Populous Families in the North for Reducing of whom were sent Thomas Dunbar Earl of Murray and James Earl of Craford who perceiving the great mischief likely to attend their Endeavours of a forcible Reducement contrived a more subtle way to quiet them after a representation made to the Heads of those Clans a part of the danger of their mutual Fewds and of the Kings Wrath against both they Advise them to conclude their Fewds as the Horatii and Cariatii did at Rome by the Choice not of three but of three hundred on each side to Fight Armed with Swords only in the sight of the King and his Nobles whereby the Victor should gain Honour the Vanquished safety from further Punishment and both regain his Majesties Favour whereof they gave them full assurance the Proposition is embraced on both sides of St. John's Town Mounts raised and Galleries made for the accommodation of the Spectators the Combatants are chosen and on the day appointed together with a multitude of beholders all of them appear on the place only one through fear privately withdrew himself this putteth some delay to the Encounter the one party looking upon it as a dishonour to Fight with the other wanting one of their Number the other Party not finding one who would Engage himself to make up their Number desire one of the Three Hundred to be put aside but of all that Number not one could be induced to withdraw accounting it an indelible disgrace to be shuffled out of such a choice Company of Valorous men at last an ordinary Tradesman tendereth his Service desiring no greater Reward than one single piece of Gold in hand as an honourable badge of his Valour and an Annuity of a small Sum for Life should he survive the Conflict his Demands are soon granted and immediately beginneth the Conflict with as much Fury as the height of Wrath the insatiable desire of honour and the fear of shame more than death could produce to the horrour and amazement of the Spectators whose hearts trembled within them to see as indeed it was an horrid Sight to behold such a rueful Sight of Furious men butchering one another and observed it was by all that of all the Combatants none shewed more shall I call it Valour than the Tradesman did who had the good Fate to survive that dismal day and on the Conquering side too whereof only ten besides himself out-lived that hour to
Family of the Guise Widdow of the late Duke of Longoville in Marriage to King James the Marriage is agreed to the Year following she arriveth in Scotland and the Marriage solemnized at St. Andrews 1538. This Year exemplary Justice was done upon divers Persons of Quality conspiring the Death of the King some the Year following were Burnt some Banished for embracing the Protestant Doctrine Preached in Germany by Luther and others James Hammilton the Bastard accused of High-Treason is sentenced to Death his Head and Quarters affixed to publick places in Edenburgh the King soon after thought in his Dream that Hammilton cut off first his right and then his left Arm threatning withal to appear again to take his own Life the King awaking is very much troubled with thoughts of this Dream and revolving with himself what might be the meaning of it a Messenger comes to him with the sad News of the Death of both his Sons at the same time the one at Sterlin the other at St. Andrews King Henry of England sendeth the second time to invite King James to a Conference at York the Scotch Clergy still oppose it and the Conference again refused King Henry in great Indignation against his Nephew for refusal of Conference with him resolveth to talk with him in harder Terms and to that end he raiseth an Army and sendeth it into Scotland and under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk The Scottish Ambassadors in vain intreating a Cessation King James prepares a considerable Army for defence the English enter into Scotland and after some mischief done at the approach of the Scotch Army they retreat the Lord Gordon marcheth before the main body with Ten thousand Men doing much hurt and annoyance to the Rear of the English Army King James with all earnestness presseth an Engagement with the English the Nobility peremptorily oppose him in it the King enraged upbraideth them with Cowardise unworthy to be owned as Sons of their Noble Ancestors vowing that though they should all desert him himself and his own Family alone should give the Enemy Battel The Lord Maxwell to pacify the King tendereth his Service to lead into Cumberland Ten thousand Men thereby to divert the Enemy The King accepteth his Service but being enraged against the whole Nobility he resolves that none of them should have the Honour of any thing done in that Expedition and for the cause giveth a Dormant Commission to Oliver Sinclare Brother to the Lord Roslin Having entred Cumberland and now in view of Five hundred English Horse Sinclare produceth his Commission it is read at the head of the Army Maxwell is thereby inraged the whole Army falleth in Mutiny and in such a confusion that they become a Prey to the Five hundred English Horse divers of the Nobility and the new General Sinclare are sent Prisoners to the Tower of London this dishonourable Disaster which hapned at Solway strikes the Valorous King with such grief and sorrow that he never after joyed but soon after departed this Life having first made Peace with King Henry at whose request he recalled Archibald Earl of Angus Thus dyed King James the Fifth a Prince of singular Endowments most patient of Cold Hunger and Travel sometimes setting on Horseback Twenty Four hours when the necessity of his affairs required it a great Justitiary and a person of singular Foresight and Wisdom THE LIFE OF QUEEN MARY QUeen Mary was the only Child James the Fifth her Father left to Inherit the Crown born to him not above eight days before his death James Hammilton Earl of Aran is therefore chosen Vice-Roy to whom King Henry of England sent his Ambassador Sir Radolph Sadler to procure Peace between the two Kingdoms and to demand Mary in Marriage to his Son by the influence of the late Prisoners in England especially the Exiled Dowglasses whom King Henry had wrought much to his Service by his Royal Favours whose Counsels were now very prevalent in the management of publick affairs both were assented the Contract of Marriage Signed and Pledges promised for better performance of all Conditions agreed upon notwithstanding of the Opposition of the Queen and Cardinal who fearing the Subversion of Popery still established in that Kingdom by this agreement endeavour what they can to cross all Tumults are stirred against the English Ambassador and daily Affronts put upon his Attendants in the Streets the Ambassador complaineth and demandeth the Pledges promised for confirmation of the Agreement lately made exemplary Justice is executed upon the chief movers in the Tumults in answer to this Complaint but the Cardinal by the influence of his power had so obstructed the matter of his demand that not one of the Nobility would yield up himself voluntarily a Pledge to the English and to such a business none could be compelled King Henry hereby provoked seiseth all the Scottish Ships in the English Havens and Harbours and proclaimeth War against the Scots in the mean while the Queen Mother sendeth to France to entreat the French King to send home Matthew Earl of Lennox to strengthen her against the English Faction otherwise Religion and the French League were like to come to nothing Lennox is sent home and forthwith levieth Four Thousand men and with this strong guard cometh to the Queen the Vice-Roy inferior in Power sends Commissions to treat for Peace by agreement the young Queen is committed to the Education of Four Indifferent Noble Men ingaged in neither Faction viz. the Lords Graham Areskin Lindsay and Leviston and accordingly they take charge of her at Sterlin where all the Nobility do Homage to her The Vice-Roy joyneth himself wholly to the Cardinal which Conjunction so inrageth Lennox that immediately he flyeth to Arms raiseth an Army marcheth to Leith and provoketh the Cardinal to Fight the Cardinal keeps himself close in Edenburgh Castle Lennox through want of Provisions is forced to withdraw and to put himself in a posture of Defence in and about Glascow King Henry hearing of these Stirs sends into Scotland to demand the custody of the young Queen until she came to years fit for Marriage The French Faction now prevailing his Demands are refused An Army is therefore forthwith sent into Scotland under the Conduct of the Earl of Hereford and a great Navy of Two hundred Sail under the Command of Viscount Lisle as Admiral The English enter the City of Edenburgh without resistance first they Pillage and then they Fire it and divers other Towns and Villages about it the like fate befel the Town of Leith and forthwith they return to England laden with Spoil The Queen Mother writeth to the French King and layeth all these mischiefs at Lennox his door as the only enemy of their Peace and Union by reason of his private Feud against the Vice-Roy for the death of his Father At her Request Lennox is recalled to France but finding the French King provoked against him he still keeps to his posture of Defence
Custody of James Hammilton Earl of Aran engaging the Earl under pain of Treason for his Security Hume glad of so favourable a Keeper perswades Hammilton to withdraw with him and to take upon himself the Supreme Government as being equal in Propinquity of Blood to the King though by a Sister with the Vice-Roy himself Hammilton hearkneth to him the Earl of Lennox Hammilton his Nephew joyneth with them after a few Stirs they return next Spring to Court are pardoned and reconciled The Vice-Roy retireth to Faulkland and after some Months returneth to Edenburgh and thither inviteth Hume and his Brother who contrary to the advice of all his Friends obeyeth A Convention of his Peers is called Hume and his Brother without objection of any Crime not formerly pardoned are Condemned and Beheaded at Edenburgh their Heads likewise set up in the two most publick places of the City The Vice-Roy next Winter passeth over into France leaving his Charge in the hands of Angus Aran and Arguile the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glascow to whom he adjoyned Darsie Governour of Dunbar a Frenchman assigning to each of them his Province soon after Darsie is killed by the Humes having as they conceived a chief influence in the Death of the late Earl this Murther much troubled the rest intrusted with the publick Affairs a Messenger is dispatched to the Vice-Roy to desire his return After five Years absence and much Confusion all the Kingdom over by the Feuds especially of Dowglas and Hammilton the Vice-Roy returneth October 28th 1521 Dowglas is Banished to France an Army is raised to divert the English then Warring in France and marcheth towards the Borders of England the Nobility refuse to March out of Scotland the Vice-Roy much perplexed sendeth to the Lord Dacres Governour of the English Borders and desireth a Conference with him Dacres the publick Faith being ingaged for his Safety cometh into the Scots Camp and after some Debate a Truce for some Years is concluded The Vice-Roy goeth again to France King Henry notwithstanding of the Lord Dacres his Truce sendeth an Army into Scotland under the Conduct of Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey after some waste done in Merse and Tividale the Earl retreats for revenge whereof the Scotch Borderers make Inroads into England which provoketh the Earl to return into Scotland to set on Fire the Town of Jedburgh which done he retreats the second time without sight of an Enemy The Queen Mother now returned from England endeavours a Peace between the two Nations King Henry with a design to break off the Ancient League between the Scots and the French tendereth a fair proposition of Marriage of his Daughter Mary to James the King of Scots Some heartily embrace his Motion pleading for a solemn League and Covenant with England declaring the great Benefits which should redound from such an Union to both Nations some again strangely oppose it pretending that the League with France of the benefits whereof they have had so long experience could neither in Policy nor Honesty be Violated as for a Covenant with England though it be possible that some good may come of it Yet knowing that as Covenants ratified by solemn Oaths with hands lifted up to God are amongst good Men the strongest of all Obligations so by some others they are only made use on as Snares to entrap and Engines to catch the Credulous to their destruction which done then are Covenants laid aside as Almanacks out of date Therefore said they Let us not be so fond as to relinquish our experienced God for that which is in Hope only and may possibly ay and probably too deceive us By this time the Vice-Roy landeth in the West with Three thousand Foot and an Hundred Curasiers at Glascow divers new levied Forces Rendezvouz with them the Vice-Roy cometh himself to Edenburgh calleth a Council of the Nobility commendeth their Fidelity and Stability to the French assureth them of the reciprocal affection and constancy of the French to them and their Nation and in fine with all earnestness he inciteth them to an Expedition against England This last motion takes not well the Nobility attending him only to the English Borders protest against an Invasion the Vice-Roy is forced to abate of his vigour against England yet the French must be sent to try their valour against Wark Castle where being soundly banged they return with hast enough to the Scotch quarters King Henry vigilant enough towards his affairs raiseth an Army of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot marcheth towards Scotland the Scots retreat to Lawder a bitter Winter comes on huge storms of Snow fall all action intercepted and both Armies Disbanded Next Spring the Vice-Roy passeth again over into France the Queen the Earls of Aran Lennox Crafurd and some others take the opportunity of his absence and accompany the young King not yet come to Age to Holyrude House where a Council of the Peers being called by their advice the King takes the Government upon him the Nobility swear Fealty to him and all Officers of State receive new Commissions from him The Earl of Angus hearing of this Mutation returneth from France Lennox and Arguile neglected in the publick Administration receive him with much joy in hope of some Mutation of Affairs to the Queen now estranged from him in her affection his return is no way pleasing much less to Hammilton who then ruled all his deadly enemy the Devil of Division begins now to Reign the Queen and Hammilton abide at Edenburgh Castle as a place of greatest Safety the Discontented Faction assembleth at Glasow advanceth towards Edenburgh the Castle unprovided of all things needful for a Siege yieldeth it self they within have liberty to march whither they please the King only reserved and committed to the tuition of Angus Arguile and Lennox who were by course to attend him every man his four Months Angus Monopolizeth all Power into his own hands this produceth Envy and Emulation Arguile withdraweth refusing to meddle Lennox continueth at Court but medleth not neither both shew their dislike of Angus his Usurpation A design is forthwith set on foot by the King 's own desire to Rescue him out of the hands of the Dowglasses The Scots a powerful Family in the South attempt it to that end they appear at Melrose with some Forces a bitter Conflict falls out between them and Dowglas the King himself and Lennox Spectators of the Fight Dowglas had the Day the chief and most of the Scots killed on the place July 20. 1526. Dowglas perceiving now plainly that Lennox was his enemy by his indifferency in this Conflict thought it high time to reconcile himself to the Hammiltons the Agreement is made Hammilton shares with him in the Government Lennox repaireth to Sterlin sends to divers of the Nobility consulteth with them touching the Rescue of the King all resolve and unanimously Assistance is promised accordingly against a day appointed before the day comes Lennox thought it
the English Arms and Title of the Queen of England and Ireland during the Life of Queen Elizabeth Secondly That the Queen of England or her Heirs of her Body if such should happen should not do any thing to the prejudice of the Queen of Scotlands Title to the Crown of England Thirdly That a mutual Care may be had to preserve the Peace and Union of both Kingdoms These things happily concluded there was a fair prospect of a flourishing State had not the heart-burnings and emulations of the Religioso's of Scotland fermented and by the restless Tongues of their Preachers discomposed all their Settlement they who swell the least punctilio's that are disgustful to them into Enormous Crimes did not whisper but cry aloud that the Queens designs were all to reinduce Idolatry and Superstition the Earl of Arran contriving withal to get the Queens Person into his Power and Disposal the safety of her Person being the only rub in his way to the Crown But the Queen having timely Notice of all these Projects appointed a good Guard to Attend her Person which was maliciously intercepted by Adversaries as a Foundation preparatory to a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government The Winter following the Queen knowing what influence her Base-Brother James had in the Affections of the People and Popular Ministers whose grand Patron he was and not Ignorant of his own Ambition is soon moved to Create him Earl of Marr and soon after Earl of Murray which highly displeased the Earl of Huntley the greatest Peer in the North conceiving himself and his Jurisdiction thereby prejudiced and proved the grounds of a great and lasting feud between them Moreover Anne Keith the Earl Martials Daughter is given him in Marriage his Greatness is not only Envied by the Gourdons but also by the Hamiltons who look upon him as a dangerous Competitor to the Crown mutual contrivances there are to Ruin each other the Hamiltons as it was suggested Conspiring the Death of Murray by the Wisdom of the Queen their Feuds are kept from breaking out into open Hostility only in the North a Skirmish hapned between Huntley and Murray in which Huntley himself was taken Prisoner and immediately dyed not so much with the Wounds in his Body as in his Mind his two Sons John and Adan are likewise taken Prisoners and carryed to Aberdeen John is there beheaded whose untimely death was much bewailed by the Queen Adam being very young is pardoned the Eldest Son George flies to Hamilton his Father in Law for Sanctuary who begs his Pardon of the Queen but by the prevailing Power of Murray who then over-ruled all young Huntley must be delivered up and is sent Prisoner to Dunbar from thence he is called to Edenburgh and there Condemned for Treason and returned a Prisoner to Dunbar In May following the Queen is Crowned in great State at Edenburgh and about Michaelmas after by the Queens favour and approbation Matthew Stuart Duke of Lennox after 22. Years absence returns to Scotland and hath his whole Estate restored to him to the great content of the Queen the next Spring his Son Henry the Lord Darnly also arrives a man of a very comely and proper Person and behaves himself in the Court with such Civility and Prudence that the Queen with small Arguments was induced to cast her Affections upon him and to accept him for her Husband in order whereunto he is first Created Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Ross and at last in despight of all the opposition that Murray could make by the instigation of Queen Elizabeth against it who to prevent the Marriage sent Sir Nicholas Throgmorten to Require Lennox and Darnly to return to England upon pain of Confiscation of their Estates the Marriage is Solemnized at Edenburgh July 28. with consent of most of the Nobility and by the publick Herauld Henry and Mary are Proclaimed King and Queen of Scotland this Marriage uniteth Hamilton and Murray who with Arguile Glencarne Rothes and others Combine against the present Proceeding and upon the Summons to return to their former Obedience they all refuse and are Proclaimed Traitors the King and Queen advance to Glascow with an Army of 4000 men and upwards the Rebels stay at Paisley not wholly Unanimous in their Counsels Hamilton's Advice tending to no less than the destruction of the King and Queen ever inculcating in the Ears of his Complices ' That howsoever private Feuds might be otherwise compromised yet the Enmity of Kings could not any other way be extinguished but by their Death the rest of the Nobility knowing this to be an Hellish Design of his own out of the Ruin of the Queen to raise himself to the Throne of Scotland divide from Hamilton and retire towards Dumfreis and from thence they Fly into England About this time some Discontents unhappily arise between the King and the Queen and by the occasion of the ambitious and malitious surmises of ill disposed men the King is Enraged 〈…〉 Seigneur David a French man the Secretaâ—â— as an Instrument of Mischief between him and the Queen their Wicked Design to make the Breach greater between them not being discerned by the King he as being naturally too flexible and credulous is wrought upon to joyn with them in the Destruction of the Secretary On the Night appointed for that horrid work of darkness the King took with him the Earls of Morton Linsay and Ruthen besides five or six more Armed Men himself first entring the Queens Chamber and Ruthen following him he finds the Secretary set at Supper with the Queen and spying them he arose and the Queen offering to interpose he clasps fast hold about her wast who not knowing the Design cryes out but the King forcing David from his hold pacified her assuring her That there was no hurt intended her only the destruction of one Villain that was about her whom he runs through with his Sword and then they all drag his wounded Body into an outward Room and striving who should give him most wounds they cut his Body all to pieces The City of Edenburgh hearing of a Tumult at Court but altogether Ignorant what the matter might be put themselves suddenly into Arms and forthwith march to Holy-rood-house the Kings Pallace and the Guard being full of Armed men the King calleth to them out of a Window that there was no danger attending them himself and the Queen being in health and safety he thanked them for their Care and Readiness and advised them for the present to return home peaceably to their Houses The Day following the Noble men who lately fled into England appear according to a late Summons they had received to Answer what should be objected against them no Judge Accuser nor Witness appearing against them they there protest their readiness judicially to Answer all things chargeable upon them every one returns in Peace to his own Lodging The Queen Accompanied with the King retireth to Dunbar and admitteth Murray and Arguile