upon the Kingdom as gotten by other Mens wickedness and danger now sure to himself did therefore shew them all the Countenance and Favour imaginable Whereupon all things were prepared for the Perpetration of the designed Murder whilst the King was hearing one of them relating the various Adventures of his Life and the rest were busy in running to see a wild Beast of an extraordinary bigness the other thrust him through the Breast with an Hunting Spear and so slew him Upon the committing of which horrible Fact there was a great Hubbub and Concourse of People some take up their dying King others persue the Murderers who were taken and deservedly executed yet they were not put to Death before they had been Rackt and by that means they confest the Design of Donaldus and the wickedness of Carantius who had withdrawn himself to dissemble the Matter This Carantius first sled to the Brittons but they hearing of the cause of his Banishment did detest so execrable a Guest whereupon he went to the Roman Camp Donaldus II The Thirty Second King THE best of Men as well as of Kings being thus slain by the detestable Treachery of his Brother in the Eleventh Year of his Reign Donaldus the youngest of his Three Brothers was set up King in his stead He whilst he was preparing to Revenge his Brothers Death Word was brought him that Donaldus the Islander had entred Murray not now carrying himself as a Robber but as a King Whereupon He with a few of his Soldiers which were near at hand having left a Command for the rest to follow marches directly towards the Enemy Donaldus being informed by his Spies That the King had but a small Force with him continued his March Day and Night and by that means prevented the news of his approach The King being thus surprized seeing he could not avoid Fighting performed more than could have been expected from so small a Number but at length was overcome by the multitude of his Enemies and being grievously wounded with Thirty more of the prime of his Nobility was taken Prisoner about 3000 Men were slain in the Fight and 2000 taken The King dyed within Three days either of his Wounds or for Grief of his overthrow having scarce Reigned One full Year Donaldus III. The Thirty Third King AFter his Death Donald the Islander who before without any Authority had assumed the Name of King did now manage all things as a Legitimate Prince being advantaged much by the fear of the Nobles who left their Kinsmen who were pâ—isoners with him should be slain which Donaldus did daily threaten to do durst not make any Insurrections against him He was a very Tyrant in his Government and Cruel to all his Subjects for he was not content by an Edict to forbid any others to bear Arms but his own Servants and Officers too and also he hurried the Nobility to violent Deaths whose Destruction he esteemed to be the establishment of his Government Yea He proceeded to sow Seeds of Discord amongst those who survived his Cruelty neither did he think any Sight more lovely than the mutual slaughter of his Subjects For he counted their Ruin was his Gain and judged himself to be freed of so many Enemies as were slain out of both Armies Neither was he afraid of any thing more than the union of his Subjects against him Hereupon he kept himself commonly within the Verge of his own Palace and being conscious of the wrong he had done to all as Fearful of them and Formidable to them he seldom went abroad These Miseries câ—ntinuing Twelve Years at length Crathilinthus the Son of King Findâ—chus with much ado was found out to revenge the publick Wrongs and Calamities He had been bred up privately with his Foster-Father and was thought to have been dead But having few about him equal to him in strength or cunning dissembling his Name and his Lineage he first applyed himself to Court and being received into near Familiarity by the King by the dexterity of his Wit he became his most intimate and greatest Favourite At last when all things succeeded according to his Desire he discover'd to a few of his Confidents Who he was and What he designed and gathering a small Party about him having got a convenient opportunity he slew Donaldus and departed privately with his Associates Crathilinthus The Thirty Fourth King WHen the Death of the Tyrant was divulged both the Fact itself and the Authors thereof too were entertained with a general Acclamation so that Crathilinthus upon the discovery and legal proof of his Stock was made King with more Unanimity and Applause than ever any King had been before him in regard he had been the Author not only of their Liberty but of their Safety too At the beginning of his Reign by Publick Consent he caused the Children and Kindred of the Tyrant to be put to death as if he would extirpate Tyranny from the very Root Afterwards he made a Progress over all his Kingdom to Administer Justice as accustomed he repaired as carefully as he could what was damaged by Donaldus Thus having established Peace at home and abroad after the Custom of the Nation he spent his time in Hunting In order to which Exercise being on Mount Grampius near the Borders of the Picts he Nobly entertained the young Gallants of the Picts that came to visit him yea he was not content with that Friendship that had been anciently betwixt them grounded on old Acquaintance and strengthened by a mutual Peace but he took them also into a nearer Courtship and Familiarity But that Familiarity had almost proved his ruin For the Picts having stoln a Dog of the Scotish Kings wherein he much delighted the Keeper having discovered the Place where he was concealed in going thereto and endeavouring to bring him back was slain Hereupon a great Outcry was presently made and a Multitude of both Parties were gathered together between whom there was a sharp Combat wherein many were slain on both sides amongst whom there were not a few of the young Nobility of both Nations by which means there were sown the Seeds of a most Cruel War betwixt them For from that Day forward each Nation did vex the other with Hostile Incursions and never gave over till they met together with full Armies Neither could Peace be made up between them upon any Terms though both Kings desired it For although they were not ignorant that it was to their Disadvantage to be at odds one another the Romans and Brittons being their perpetual Enemies and Assailants yet they were so madded by and so set upon the Desire of Revenge that whilst they were eager on that account they neglected the Publick Calamity impending on them both and unless Carantius a Roman Exile one of mean Descent but a good Soldier had interposed they had fought it out to the last Man even till both Nations had been destroyed This
a Friendly Patriot for he not only forgave the Earl the many grievous Injuries he had done him but further commended his Suit and spake in his Favour to the King for he foresaw as it after hapned That by this Accession the Kings Party would be strengthen'd and his Enemies weaken'd daily for the future in regard many were likely to follow the Example of this Great Man And besides the King thinking that his former Fierceness was tam'd and that he was really penitent for what he had done was not hard to be intreated but gave him his Pardon restor'd him to his former Estate and Honour only advis'd him for the future to keep within the Bounds of his Duty And indeed Craford being thus ingag'd by the Lenity and Facileness of the King did afterwards endeavour to perform him all the Service he possibly could he followed him with his Forces in his March to the furthest Parts of the Kingdom and having setled Things there for the present he entertained him nobly at his House in his return and when he march'd to make a full end of the Civil War he promis'd him all the Force he could make and indeed the whole course of his Life was so chang'd that laying down his former Savageness he liv'd courteously and in Complaisance with the Neighbouring Nobility so that his Death which followed soon after brought the greater Grief to the King and to all the People The King thus weakning Douglas's Party by degrees his remaining Hopes were from England if possibly he might obtain Aid from thence Hereupon he sent Hamilton to London who brought him back Word that the King of England would undertake a War against Scotland on no other Terms but that Douglas must submit himself and all his Concerns to that King and acknowledge himself a Subject of England So that his Hopes thence were cut off and on the Other side the King of Scotland prest hard upon him by his Edicts Proscriptions and Arms yea by all the Miseries which accompany Rebellious Insurrections So that Hamilton advis'd the Earl not to suffer the King to nim away his Forces by piece-meal and by catching a Part to weaken and in time overthrow the Whole he should rather march out with his Army trust Fortune put it to a Battel there to dye Valiantly or conquer Honourably This Resolution said he is worthy of the name of the Douglassâ—s and the only Way to end the present Miseries Being alarum'd with this Speech he gather'd as great an Army as he could of his Friends and Dependants and marched out to raise the Siege of the Castle of Abercorn for the King after he had demolish'd many Castles of the Douglasses had at last besieged That It was a very strong Hold seâ—tuate almost in the Mid-way between Sterlin and Edinburgh When Douglas came so near that he saw and was seen by the Enemy his Friends advis'd him to push at all and either to make himself renown'd by some Eminent Victory or by a Noble Death to free himself from Reproach and Misery but when all his Party were ready for the Onset he daunted all their Spirits by his own Delay for he retreated with his Army again into his Camp and determin'd to draw and eke out the War at length His Commanders dislik'd his Design and Hamilton not enduring his Cowardize and despairing of the Success of his Arms that very Night revolted to the Kings Party Upon this his Defection the King gave him his Pardon but not putting any great Confidence in him because of his Subtilty he sent him Prisoner to Rosseline a Castle belonging to the Earl of the Orcades but afterwards by the Mediation of his Friends he was releas'd and receiv'd into Favour and that unbloody Victory ascribed to him as the main Occasion thereof The rest of the Douglassians follow'd Hamilton's Example and slipt away from him every one whither he thought most convenient for himself so that at length the Castle after much Loss on both sides was taken the Garison put to the Sword and after 't was half demolished it was left as a Monument of the Victory Douglas being thus deserted by almost all his Friends with a few of his Familiars fled into England from thence not long after he made an Inrode with a smal Party into Annandale which was then possest by the Kings Garisons but being worsted in a Skirmish He and his Brother Iohn escap'd Archibald Earl of Murray was slain George was much wounded and taken Prisoner and after his Wounds were cur'd was brought to the King and put to Death In an Assembly of the Estates held at Edinburgh in the Nones of Iune in the Year 1455. Iames Iohn and Beatrix all Douglasses were again proscrib'd The Publick Acts do make Beatrix their Mother which seems not very probable to me unless perhaps they might be called her Sons by Adoption Earl Iames having thus lost his Brothers being deserted by his Friends and distrusting the English that he might leave no Stone unturn'd apply'd himself to Donald King of the Aebudae a man bad enough in his own Nature They met at Dunstafnage where he easily persuaded him to joyn with him in the War whereupon they committed great Outrages on the Kings Provinces near adjoyning without distinction either of Age or Sex there was nothing spar'd which could be violated by Fire or Sword the like Cruelty was us'd in Argyle and Arran and then being laden with Booty he return'd home and afterward having wasted Loch-Abyr and Murray he turn'd to Innerness he took the Castle pillag'd and burnt the Town Neither were the English quiet all this while but watching their Opportunity they made Incursions into Merch where they slew some men of Note who endeavoured to oppose their furious Ravaging and so returned home without Loss but full of Plunder from that opulent Country The next Year after Beatrix Wife to the former Earl of Douglas and also living for some years with Iames his Brother as his Wife came in to the King She laid all the Fault of her former Miscarriages upon Iames that she being a Woman and helpless was inforc'd to that Wicked Marriage but at the first Opportunity as soon as Iames was absent she was fled from that Servitude that now she laid her self and all her Concerns at the Kings Feet and whatever Order he should please to make concerning her or her Estate she would willingly obey it The King receiv'd her into his Protection gave her an Estate in Balvany and Married her to his Brother the Earl of Athole by the same Mother The Wife of Donald the Islander followed her Example she was the Daughter of Iames Levingston and was Married to Donald by her Grandfather the Regent by the persuasion also of the King that so He might a little soften the rugged disposition of the man and keep him firm to the Kings Party But then her Kinsman being restor'd to
was one of the chief that nothing could be orderly or lawfully determined For in Trials of Life and Death there use to be great Flockings together of Friends and Vassals according to the Faction Favour or Nobility of the Accus'd as it happen'd also at that time The chief of the Faction adverse to the King viz. the Earls of Hamilton Gordon and Argyle gather'd all their Force against that Day hoping that if the Judgment were disturb'd by force as 't was easy so to do that they might quietly end the Conflict at one Skirmish as being Superior in Number of Men Opportunity of the Place and also better provided for War The Regent expected not a vying in Force but in Law and therefore had made no preparation on the other side and so being unwilling to put things to the utmost Hazard before he needs must and also lest the Majesty of the Government might be lessened by contending with his Inferiors he put off the Day of Trial and so He a Day after about Ianuary 1 st having sent the Earl of Northumberland to a Prison in Lough-Levin went to Sterlin The adverse Faction thus again disappointed and perceiving the Authority and Power of the Regent to increase and that besides his Popularity at home he was also supported by the English being stirr'd up partly by Emulation partly by the large Promises from the Queen of Scots who by Letters inform'd them that the French and Spanish Aid would be presently with them proceeded to accomplish that which they had long design'd even the cuting off the Regent As long as he was alive they knew their Projects could not take effect and therefore they sent Messengers thrô all Countries to the chief of their Faction to enter into a League to that purpose To this League the Hamiltons subscrib'd and Those who either themselves or their Children were Prisoners in the Castle of Edinburgh The Governour himself was thought to be privy to it and That which follow'd did increase the Suspicion of him Iames Hamilton Son of the Arch-bishop of St. Andrew's Sister promised his Assistance and indeavour'd to find a fit Time and Place to commit the Murder It happen'd that at the same time some hopes were given to the Regent That Dunbarton would be surrendred upon Conditions thither he went but return'd without his Errand Hamilton being intent on all Occasions his Ambushes not succeeding well first at Glasgow then at Sterlin appoints Linlithgo to be the Place fittest to execute his Purpose because that Town was in the Clanship of the Hamiltons and the Archbishop his Uncle had an house there not far from the House where the Regent us'd to lodge in that House being appointed for the Murder he secretly hid himself The Regent was made acquainted with the Plot both before and also that very Day before it was light the Discoverer for more surety added that the Murderer lay hid in 3 or 4 Houses from his Lodging that if he would send a small Party with him he would pluck him out of his hole and so discover the whole Design and Order of the secret Plot yet the Regent would not alter his former purpose only he design'd to go out of the Town thrô the same Gate he enter'd in and then turn about and proceed in his Journy nor did he keep to this Resolution neither either because he did undervalue such Dangers as believing his Life to be in God's Hand to whom he was willing to render it when 't was call'd for or else because the Multitude of Horse waiting for him stopt up the way When he was mounted on Horseback he thought to ride swiftly by the suspected Places and so to avoid the Danger but the Multitude of the People crouding in hinder'd his Design so that the Murderer out of a wooden Balcony which he had purposely cover'd with Linen as if 't were for another use shot him with a Lead-bullet a little below the Navil and it came out almost by his Reins and also kill'd the Horse of Iames Douglas which was beyond him he himself escap'd by a back Door or Passage of the Garden which he had pluck'd down on purpose and so mounted a swift Horse set on purpose to carry him off after he had committed the Fact by Iames Hamilton Abbat of Aber-Brothwick and so he went to Hamilton with the great Gratulation of Those who waited to hear the Event of his audacious Enterprize when they heard he had effected it they commended him highly and rewarded him as if now the Kingship had been actually translated into their own Family In the mean time at Linlithgo the rest were startled at the suddenness of the Crack and the Regent told them he was Wounded and as if he had not felt it he leap'd from his Horse and went on foot to his lodging They which were sent for to Cure the Wound at first said 'T was not Mortal but his Pain increasing tho his Mind was not disturb'd he began seriously to think of Death Those which were about him often told him that This was the fruit of his own Lenity in sparing too many notorious Offenders and amongst the rest his own Murderer who had been condemn'd for Treason Whereto he return'd a mild Answer according to his Custom Saying Your importunity shall never make me to Repent of my Clemency Then having settled his houshold-Affairs he commended the King to the Nobles there present and without speaking a reproachful Word of any Man he departed this Life before Midnight about Ianuary 23 in the Year of our Salvation 1571. His Death was lamented by all Good Men especially by the Commons who lov'd him Alive and lamented him Dead as the publick Father of his Country For besides his many other noble Atchievements they call'd to Mind that not a Year before he had so quieted all the troublesome Parts of the Kingdom That a Man was as safe on the Road or at his Inn as in his own House and Envy dying with him They who were disaffected to him when alive did really Praise him when dead They admir'd his Valour in War which yet was always accompanied with a great desire of Peace his Celerity in Business was always so successful that an especial Providence of God seem'd to shine on all his Actions besides his Clemency was great in moderately punishing and his Equity as great in his Legal Decisions When he had any spare time from War he would sit all day long in the Colledg of Judges so that his Presence struck such a Reverence into them that the Poor were not opprest by false Accusations neither were they tir'd out by long Attendances in regard their Causes were not put off to gratify the Rich. His house like an Holy Temple was free not only from flagitious Deeds but even from wanton Words after Dinner and Supper he always caus'd a Chapter out of the Holy Bible to be read and tho he had still a
had not refus'd to give him entrance so that the Enemy was almost at his Heels and before he knew whither to betake himself he was forc't with that Strength which he had to run the hazard of a Fight At the beginning they fought stoutly and the first Ranks of the Nobility's Army began to give ground but the Men of Annandale and the Neighbouring Parts inhabiting the West of Scotland came boldly up and having longer Spears than their Adverse Party they presently routed the Kings Main Battel he himself was weakned by the Fall of his Horse and fled to some Water-Mills near the place where the Battel was fought his Intent was as is suppos'd to get to his Ships which lay not far off there he was taken and a few more with him and slain there were Three that persued close after him in his Flight i. e. Patrick Grey the Head of his Family Sterlin Car and a Priest named Borthwick 't is not well known Which of them gave him his Deaths Wound When the News of his Death though as yet not fully certain was divulg'd through Both Armies it occasion'd the Conquerors to press less violently upon those who fled away so that there were the Fewer of them slain For the Nobles manag'd the War against the King not against their Fellow Subjects There was slain of the Kings Party Alexander Cuningham Earl of Glencarn with some Few of his Vassals and Kindred but there were many wounded of Both sides Thus Iames the Third came to his end a Man not so much of a bad Disposition by Nature as corrupted by ill Custom and Acquaintance For having at first given forth a Specimen of great and notable Ingenuity and of a Mind truly Royal he degenerated by degrees the Boyds being the first Occasion thereof into all manner of Licentiousness When the Boyds were taken off then Persons of the Lowest Sort were his Advisers to all kind of Wickedness and besides the Corruption of the Times and the evil Examples of his Neighbour Kings contributed not a little to his Overthrow and Ruin For Edward the Fourth in England Charles in Burgundy Lewis the Eleventh in France Iohn the Second in Portugal had all laid the Foundations of Tyranny in their respective Kingdoms also And Richard the Third exercised it most highly and cruelly in England His Death was also branded with this Ignominy that in the next Assembly the whole Parliament voted that he was justly slain and Provision was made for all that had born Arms against him that neither They nor their Posterity should be prejudic'd thereby He died in the Year of our Lord 1488 in the Twenty Eighth Year of his Reign and the Thirty Fifth of his Age. The Thirteenth BOOK JAmes the Third being thus slain near Sterlin in or about the Month of Iune they who were his Contrariants being as yet uncertain what was become of Him retreated to Linlithgo There Word was brought them that some Boats had passed to and fro from the Ships to the Land and that they had carried off the Wounded Men. Whereupon a Suspicion arose amongst them that the King himself also was gone a Shipboard which occasioned them to remove their Camp to Leith From thence the Prince for that 's the Title of the King of Scot's eldest Son sent some Agents to require the Admiral of the Fleet to come ashore to him His Name was Andrew Wood he was a Knight and being mindful of the King's Kindness towards him remained constant in his Affection to him even after he was dead but he refused to come ashore unless Hostages were given for his safe Return Seaton and Flemming two Noblemen were appointed as Hostages When he landed the King 's Council asked him if he knew where the King was and who were they that he carried off to his Ships after the Fight As for the King he told them he knew nothing of him but that he and his Brothers had landed out of their Boats that so they might assist the King and all his good Subjects but having endeavoured in vain to preserve him they then returned to the Fleet He added if the King were alive they resolved to obey none but him but if he were slain they were ready to revenge his Death He uttered also many reproachful Speeches against the Rebels yet nevertheless they sent him away in Safety to his Ships that so their Hostages might not suffer When the Hostages were returned the Inhabitants of Leith were called up to the Council and pressed by Promises of great Reward to rig out their Ships and subdue Andrew Wood. They all in general made answer that he had two Ships so fitted with all Things for a Fight and so well furnished with valiant Seamen and withal that he himself was so skilful in Naval Affairs that no ten Ships in all Scotland were able to cope with his Two So that that Consultation was put off and they went to Edinburgh There they were fully informed of the King's Death and appointed a magnificent Funeral to be made for him at Kambus-Kenneth a Monastery near Sterlin on the 25 th day of the Month of Iune IAMES the IVth the CV'th King IN the Interim an Assembly was summoned about creating a new King There were few which came together to perform this Service and those were mostly of the Party that had conspired against the former King The new King at his first entrance sent an Herauld to the Governour of Edinburgh-Castle for him to surrender it which he did and then he passed over to Sterlin and that Castle was also delivered up to him by the Garison-Souldiers When the Vogue was up in England how troublesom Matters were in Scotland five Ships were chosen out of that King's Fleet who entred into the Firth of Forth and there made havock of the Goods of all Merchants making many descents on both Shores they mightily infesting the Maritime Parts for they expected greater Disturbances on Land by the sidings of the Scots one against another For seeing the adverse Party were rather shattered than broken in the late Fight in regard they were not all there and of those that were there were but few slain they thought a feircer Tempest would have arisen from Minds which yet continued to be inflamed with Hatred and Envy and which were elevated by confidence in their own Strength And it encreased the Indignation that now the power over so many Noble and Eminent Persons was so easily fallen not into the King's but to a few particular Mens Hands for tho the King might retain the Name and Title of a King yet being but a Youth of 15 Years old he did not govern but was himself governed by those that killed his Father For the whole management of Matters would reside in Douglas Hepburne and Hume and their Confidence was the more encreased because all the Shores were infested with the two Fleets the Scottish and the English To obviate this
GEORGH BUCHANANI Scoti Poetae Historici Eximij Vera Effigies Ex Archetypo quod in Musaeo D Thomae Povey adservatur expressa THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND Written in Latin By George Buchanan Faithfully Rendered into ENGLISH I have carefully and diligently perused this Translation of BVCHANAN's History and finding it to be faithfully and exactly done have therefore allowed it to be Printed August 13 th 1689. I. FRASER LONDON Printed by Edw. Iones for Awnsham Churchil at the Black Swan in Ave-Mary-Lane near Pater-Noster-Row 1690. TO THE READER 'T IS sufficient Commendation of the ensuing History That it was Written by Mr. George Buchanan Who was no less the Glory of the Age wherein he Lived than of his Country Being a Person both of that Elevation and Justness of Thought and of that Neatness and Elegancy of Expression that among all the Ancient as well as the Modern Writers few do equal and none do exceed him And as he knew in Reference to Persons and Things What to say and What not to say so he was of that Courage and Integrity to conceal nothing that ought to be delivered but hath used the same Freedom in Transmitting down the Lives of Princes to Posterity that they allowed themselves in leading them And if ever any Book deserved the Character of answering the Title this doth being truly a History and not a Romance wherein the Author representeth Things as they were Commending without Flattery and Censuring without Satyr GEORGE BUCHANAN's EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO JAMES the Sixth King of the SCOTS AT my Return after Four and Twenty Years absence from my Country I desired nothing more than to review my Papers that were dispersed and many ways injured by the Iniquity of the Times For I found that the over-Officiousness of my Friends to precipitate the Publication of what was yet unfit to see the Light and that excessive Liberty which Transcribers take to Censure the Works of other Men had altered many Things and corrupted others according to their several Humours But whilst I was endeavouring to remedy these Disorders the sudden and unexpected Solicitations of my Friends broke my Measures all of them as if they had Conspired together Exhorting me to lay aside Things of less Weight that rather delight the Ear than instruct the Mind and apply my self to Write the History of our Nation as a Subject not only suitable to my Age and sufficient to Answer the Expectation of my Country Men but deserving great Commendation and most fit to preserve ones Memory to succeeding Ages Amongst other Reasons which I omit they added That though Britain be the most Famous Island in the World and every part of its History contain most Remarkable Things yet scarce one was to be found in any Age who durst attempt so great a Work or had acquitted himself as the Subject deserved Neither was it the least Inducement to this Vndertaking that I hoped my pains herein would not be unfitting for nor unacceptable to you For it seemed to me Absurd and Shamefull That You who in this Your tender Age have Read the Histories of all Nations and retain very many of them in Your Memory should only be a Stranger at Home Besides an incurable Distemper having made me unfit to discharge in Person the Care of Your Instruction committed to me I thought that sort of Writing which tends to the Information of the Mind would best supply the want of my Attendance and resolved to send You Faithfull Counsellors from History that you might make use of their Advice in Your Deliberations and imitate their Virtue in Your Actions For there are amongst Your Ancestors Men Excellent in every Respect of whom Posterity will never be ashamed and to omit others You will hardly find in History any one Worthy to be compared with our David And if the Divine Goodness was so Liberal to him in those most wretched and wicked Times we may with Reason hope That You may be as the Royal Prophet says A Pattern of all those Excellencies which Mothers desire in their Children when they give them their best Wishes and that this Government which seems to be hurried on to Ruin and Destruction may be supported 'till the time shall come when all Sublunary Things having finished the Course appointed them by Gods Eternal Decree shall arrive at their designed Period Edinburgh Aug. 30. The LIFE of George Buchanan Written by Himself Two Years before His Death GEORGE BUCHANAN was Born in Lennox-Shire commonly called the Sheriffdom of Dumbarton in Scotland Scituate near the River or Water of Blane in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Five Hundred and Six about the First Day of February in a Country Town within that Shire of a Family rather Ancient than Rich. His Father died of the Stone in the Flower of his Age whilst his Grandfather was yet alive who being a Spend-Thrift their Family which was but low before was now reduced to almost the extremity of Want Yet such was the frugal care of his Mother Agnes Heriot that she brought up Five Sons and Three Daughters to Mens and Womens Estate Of the Five Sons George was One. His Uncle Iames Heriot perceiving his promising Ingenuity in their own Country Schools took him from thence and sent him to Paris There he applied himself to his Studies and especially to Poetry either having a Natural Genius that way or else out of Necessity because 't was the only Method of Study propounded to him in his Youth Before he had been there Two Years his Uncle Died and he himself fell dangerously Sick and being in want beside he was forced to return into his own Country After his return to Scotland he spent almost an year in taking care of his Health then he went into the French Army of Auxilliaries newly arrived in Scotland on purpose to obtain some Skill in the Art Military But that Expedition proving Fruitless the Army retreated in a very sharp and snowy Winter so that he again relapsed into a Disease which confined him all that Winter to his Bed Early in the Spring he was sent to St. Andrews to hear the Lectures of Iohn Major who though very old Read Logick or rather Sophistry in that University The Summer after he accompanied him into France and there he fell into the Troubles of the Lutheran Sect which then began to encrease He struggled with the Difficulties of Providence almost Two Years and at last was admitted into the Barbaran Colledge where he was Grammar Professor almost Three Years During that time Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils one of the young Scotish Nobles being in that Country was much taken with his Ingenuity and Acquaintance so that he entertained him for Five Years and brought him back with him into Scotland Afterwards having a Mind to return to Paris to his old Studies he was detained by the King and made Tutor to Iames his Natural Son In the mean time an Elegy made by him at leasure times came
the agreeing impudence of some few For they write of those times in which all things were dubious and uncertain with so much positiveness and confidence as if their design were rather to court the Readers Ear than to respect the Faithness of their Narrations For in those first times seeing the use of Tillage was not common neither among the Britains nor many other Nations but all their Wealth consisted in Cattle Men had no regard to their substance which was very small because they were either expelled from their Habitations by such as were more powerful than themselves or they themselves did drive out the weaker ones or else they sought out better Pasture for their Cattle in Wild and Desert places Upon one or other of these Grounds they easily changed their Dwellings and the Places they removed to with new Masters soon got new Names Besides the Ambition of the wealthier sort added much to the difficulty who to perpetuate their Memory to Posterity called Countrys Provinces and Towns by their own Names Almost all the Cities in Spain had two Names The Names of the Inhabitants in It and also the Names of the Cities and Countries therein received frequent alterations Not to speak of Egypt Greece and other remote Countries Saepius nomen posuit Saturnia tellus Fair Italy says Fame Full oft hath chang'd her Nameâ— Add hereunto that those Nations who live in the same Country have not always the same Names That which the Latins call Hispania The Greeks Iberia The Poets Hesperia St. Paul in his Epistle Theodoret and Sozomen in Their History call Spania i. e. Spain The Name of the Greeks so celebrated by the Latins and all Nations of Europe is more obscure than the Greeks themselves The Hebrews and Arabians keep their Old Words almost in all Nations which were not so much as heard of by other People Scot and English are the common Names of the British Nations which at this day are almost unknown to the Ancient Scots and Britains for they call the one Albines the other Saxons And therefore 't is no wonder if in so great an uncertainty of Human Affairs as to the Names of Men and Places Writers who were born at several times far distant one from another and having different Languages and Manners too do not always agree amongst themselves Though these things have occasioned difficulties great enough in searching out the first Original of Nations yet some of the Moderns too being acted by a Principle of Ambition have involved all things in more thick and palpable darkness For whilst every one would fetch the Original of his Nation as high as he could and so endeavour to enoble it by devised Fables by this immoderate Licence of coyning Fictions What do they but obscure That which they ought to Illustrate And if at any time they speak Truth yet by their frequent and ridiculous Untruths at other times they detract from their own Credit And are so far from obtaining that Esteem which they hoped for that by reason of their Falshoods they are laughed at even by those whom they endeavour'd to cajole into an Assent To make this plain I will first begin as with the Ancientest Nation so from the most notorious and impudent Falshood They who compiled a New History of the Ancient Britains having interpolated the Fable of the Danaides proceed further to feign That one Diocletian King of Syria begat 33 Daughters on his Wife Labana who killing their Husbands on their Wedding night their Father crouded them all together into one Ship without any Master or Pilot who arriving in Britain then but a Desert did not only live solitarily in that cold Country and not very full of Fruits growing of their own accord neither but also by the Compression of Cacodaemons forsooth they brought forth Giants whose Race continued till the arrival of Brutus They say the Island was called Albion from Albine and that Brutus was the Nephews Son of Aeneas the Trojan and the Son of Aeneas Sylvius This Brutus having accidentally killed his Father with a Dart it was looked upon as a lamentable and piteous Fact by all Men yet because it was not done on purpose the punishment of Death was remitted and Banishment either enjoyned or voluntarily undertaken by him This Parricide having consulted the Oracle of Diana and having run various hazards through so many Lands and Seas after 10 years arrived in Britain with a great number of Followers and by many Combats having conquered the terrible Giants in Albion he gain'd the Empire of the whole Island He had three Sons as they proceed to Fable Locrinus Albanactus and Camber between whom the Island was divided Albanactus ruled over the Albans afterwards called Scots Camber over the Cambrians i. e. the Welsh They did both Govern their several Precincts as Vice-roys yet so as that Locrinus had supreme Dominion who being Ruler of the rest of the Britans gave the Name of Loegria to his part Later Writers that they might also propagate this Fabulous Empire as much as they could do make this Addition to it That Vendelina succeeded her Father Locrinus Madanus Vendelina Menpricius Madanus and Ebrancus Menpricius which later of Twenty Wives begat as many Sons of which Nineteen passed into Germany and by force of Arms conquered that Country being assisted by the Forces of their Kinsman Alba Sylvius and from those Brothers the Country was called Germany These are the things which the Brittons and after them some of the English have delivered concerning the first Inhabitants of Britain Here I cannot but stand amazed at their design who might easily and without any reflection at all have imitated the Athenians Arcadians and other famous Nations and have called themselve Indigenae seeing it would have been no disgrace to them to own that Origin which the Noblest and wisest City in the whole World counted her Glory especially since that Opinion could not be refuted out of Ancient Writers and had no mean Assertors besides yet that they had rather forge Ancestors to themselves from the Refuse of all Nations whom the very Series of the Narration itself did make suspected even to the unskilful Vulgar and also none of the Ancients no not by the meanest suspition did confirm Besides if that had not pleased them seeing it was free for them as some of the Poets have Writ to have assumed Honourable Ancestors to themselves out of any old Books I wonder in my heart what was in their Minds to make choice of such of whom all their posterity might justly be ashamed For what great folly is it to think nothing Illustrious or Magnificent but what is Profligat and Flagitious or at least but a size below it yet some there are that value themselves among the ignorant upon the score of such Trifles as for Iohn Annius a Man I grant not unlearned I think he may
330 Years before the Birth of Christ. Feritharis Second King of Scotland FErgus dying left Two Sons behind him Ferlegus and Mainus neither of them yet able to manage the Government so that the Chiefs of the Clans meeting together to declare the succeeding King there was great Contention amongst them Some urging the late Oath whereby they had bound themselves to preserve the Scepter for the Fergusian Family others alleging What great hazards they might run under an Infant King At last after a long Dispute a Medium was found out whereby neither the Infant not yet fit to manage the Government should actually Reign nor yet their Oath be violated which was That whilst the Children of their Kings were Infants one of their Kindred who was judged most accomplished for the Government should weild the Scepter in their behalfe And if he dyed then the Succession of the Kingdom should descend to the former Kings Sons This Law did afterwards obtain for almost 1025 Years even until the days of Kenneth the III. of whom I shall speak in his place By virtue of this Law Feritharis Brother to Fergus obtained the Kingdom and managed it 15 Years with such Equity and Moderation that his Subjects found him a just King and the Orphans or Pupils a good Guardian Having by this Carriage procured Peace abroad and got the Love of his Subjects at home yet he could not allay the Ambition of his Kindred For Ferlegus being inflam'd with a desire to Reign having first communicated his Design to the most turbulent of the Soldiers and such as were most desirous of Innovation and Change comes to his Uncle and demands the Kingdom of him which he held as he alleg'd not as his Own but in Trust only for him Feritharis was so far from being disturbed at this rash undertaking of the young Man That calling an Assembly of the States together he Declared to them That he was ready to lay down and resign the Regal Scepter adding also many words in Commendation of the young Man As for himself he had rather freely resign up the Kingdom with which he was but intrusted willingly which his death now near at hand would deprive him of that so his Fidelity towards his Nephews might appear to be rather of Good Will than of Necessity But such was the Respect and Love all did bear to Feritharis that they utterly disliked this over-hasty Desire of the Kingdom in Ferlegus which they manifested not only by their Countenances and Frowns but by the loud Acclamations of the whole Convention and Assembly And having discovered by Spies the Conspiracy against the Uncle thô they judged the Author of so detestable a Design to be worthy of Death yet the Memory of this Father Fergus and the present Favour and Desires of his Uncle did so far prevail that they did not inflict it on him for his designed Wickedness only they set Keepers about him which should watch over and pry into all his Words and Actions But he being impatient not presently to obtain what he hoped for in his Mind thô the delay would have proved but short deceiving his Keepers with a few others privy to his design fled away First to the Picts and finding there no encouragement for his desired Innovation afterwards to the Brittons where he lived an obscure and consequently an ignoble Life But Feritharis a few Months after was taken off 't is doubtful whether by Disease or Treachery The former Ambition of Ferlegus the Deâ—ection of his Conspiracy and his late Flight raised such Suspitions that he was guilty of his Death that he was unanimously condemned in his absence about the Fifteenth Year after his Fathers Death Mainus the Third King FErlegus being condemned Mainus his Brother was created Third King of the Scots a Man more like to his Father and Uncle than his Brother Ferlegus He confirmed and setled Peace with his Neighbours abroad punished the Wicked and Profligate at home and constantly performed Religious Exercises whereby he procured to himself such an Opinion of Justice and Piety That as well Foreigners as his own Subjects thought it a Nefarious thing to hurt such a Person He was better guarded by this Opinion of his Sanctity than by his Military Forces after he had Reigned 29 Years he departed this Life being much lamented by all Good Men. Dornadilla the Fourth King HE left a Son behind him called Dornadilla the Successor of his Kingdom in point of Equity like his Father but very unlike him in the other parts of his Life For he spent much of his time in Hunting as judging that Exercise to be proper enough in a time of Peace and healthful as also very beneficial to harden the Body for War And besides the Mind did suck in the purest pleasures therefrom and was greatly strengthened thereby against Covetousness Luxury and other Vices which spring from Idleness Report says That the Venatory Laws which the Ancient Scots observe to this day were made by him He deceased in the 28th Year of his Reign Nothatus the Fifth King AFter his Death the People placed Nothatus his Brother on the Throne his own Son Reutherus being yet Immature in point of Age for the Government This Nothatus changed the Government which till then had been moderate and bounded with Laws into an Arbitrary Domination and as if his Subjects had been given him to Prey upon not to Defend he punished High and Low promiscuously with Forfeiture of Goods Banishment Death and all sort of Miseries so that scarce any addition could be made to his Cruelty By these Severities most of the People were cow'd out only one Dovalus of Galway an Ambitious Man thinking it a seasonable opportunity for him to advance himself by reason of the Peoples Hatred against their King and knowing also that his own Life was insidiously aim'd at by the King he resolves to prevent him And accordingly all things being in a readiness and being accompanied with a great number of his Vassals and Friends away goes he to the King and openly upbraids him with the Slaughter of the Nobility with the seizure of their Goods and Estates and with his Enslaving the Commonalty and demands of him to restore the Kingdom which he was not able to manage to the Right Heir Nothatus being thus Bearded and Affronted contrary to his Expectation yet remitted nothing of his former Stoutness but answered peremptorily That he would maintain what he had done by his Kingly Prerogative and if he had carried it somewhat Despotically it was to be imputed not to his own Disposition but to the Contumacy of the Subject who had enforced him thereto These Taunts increased the Animosities between them so that at last it came to Blows and Nothatus was Slain by Dovalus and his Partisans after he had Reigned Cruelly and Avariciously Twenty Years Reutherus the Sixth King WHereupon Reutherus was made King by the
the former King And a while after many other Persons as they did excel in Virtue or in Wealth were circumvented by him by one wile or other and so unjustly brought to their Ends. At last to free himself from the Fears of a Successor he took up a Resolution to destroy Corbredus Galdus his Kinsman with his Brothers who were Royally Educated in hopes of the Kingdom The Charge of this Assassination was committed to Cormoracus one of his Privado's He being laden with many Gifts but more Promises was sent away to perpetrate the Villany but attempting it with less Caution than such a Butchery required he was taken in the very Fact by some of Galdus his Train with a naked Fauchion in his Hand being Arraigned and put to the Torture he confessed the Author and the designed order of the whole Conspiracy and so was executed immediately When this wicked Plot was divulged abroad there was a general Combination of almost all sorts of People against the King insomuch that having slain many of those who were Panders to his Lust as they could be found at last they endeavoured to make their way to the King himself the Source and Fountain of their Mischief In the mean time Conanus one of the Kings Parasites a Man meanly descended but highly Respected and Trusted by his Master levied some Troops and had the Confidence to send them forth against the Nobles but being forsaken of his Men he was taken and Hang'd The Commons having now got Galdus for their General found out Dardanus who was privately lurking to secure himself while they were apprehending of him he endeavour'd to lay violent Hands on himself but being prevented he was brought to Galdus and immediately put to Death his Head was carried up and down in Mockery and his Body thrown into a Jakes after he had Reigned Four years Corbred II The Twenty First King COrbred the Second Sirnamed Galdus succeeded him a Prince equally dear to Lords and Commons both upon the account and early proof of his own personal Virtue and promising Ingenuity as for the Memory of his worthy Father Some imagin that he was That Galgacus who is mentioned by Tacitus and that he was Sirnamed Galdus by the Scots because he had been educated amongst the Britains For the Scots according to their Ancient Custom call all Strangers Galds or Galls as the Germans call them Wals as I shewed largely before After he had undertook the Government he increased the great Hopes which had been pre-conceived of him For making an Expedition into the Islands of Sky and Lewis he quelled the Seditions lately raised there and suffered to come to an head by the negligence of Dardanus and that with a due and prudent mixture of Mercy and Severity He slew the Captains of those Banditti and enforced the rest for fear of punishment either voluntarily to banish themselves or else to return to their former rural Employments He as I believe was the First of the Scotish Kings that ever advanced his Ensigns against the Romans who had by little and little propagated their Empire even to the very Borders For Petitius Cerealis first broke the Forces of the Brigantes and his Successor Iulius Frontinus conquered the Silures 'T is very probable that the Scots and Picts sent Aid to those Nations who were situate not far from their Borders Iulius Agricola succeeded the former Generals who having overcome the Ordovâ—ces and reduced the Island Man when he was come to the narrowest part of Britain thinking that it was not far to the end of the Island he was encouraged to the Conquest of it all And therefore in the Third Year of his Generalship he overcame and plundered the neighboring Countries of the Scots and Picts until he came to the River Tay And thô his Army was much distressed by Tempest yet he had time to build Forts in all places convenient for Defence by which means he defeated the Designs of his Enemies and withal brake their Force For before the Adverse party being Men inured to hardship what they lost in the Summer would many times recover in Winter when the Roman Legions were dispersed into Winter Quarters And somtimes they would assault and take their Enemies Castles and Garisons being not sufficiently fortified But at that time by the cunningness of Agrippa in Building his Forts and by his skill in making them defensible and withal by relieving them with his Forces every Year Their Arts were deluded In the Fourth Year of his Government perceiving that the Firths of Forth and of Clyd were severed but by a small Tract of Land having fortified that Place with Garisons he spoiled the Countries bending to the Irish Sea In his Fifth Year he sent a Fleet to Sea and made descents in many places and plundred the Maritime Coasts fortifying those that looked towards Ireland with Garisons not only for that present occasion but also that he might from thence more easily transport an Army to that Country By this prudence of Agricola the Scots and Picts being shut up in a narrow Angle and secluded from any commerce with the Britains prepared themselves for the last shock and rancounter Neither was Agricola less careful but commanding his Navy to fetch a compass about to discover the utmost parts of the Island he led his Army beyond the Forth and drew towards the Caledonians There their Enemies being ready as in a desperate Case to run their last hazard assaulted some of the Roman Garisons which struck such a Terror into them that some of the Romans as fearing either the Number of their Enemies or their Obstinacy by reason of their desperation gave their advice to retreat with their Army into a place of greater safety But their General being resolved to Fight when he was informed that the Enemy approached him in three distinct Brigades he also drew towards them having divided his Army into Three Squadrons also which Project was almost his total Ruin For his Enemies understanding his Design did with their whole Army assault one of his Legions by night and having killed the Sentinels had almost taken his whole Camp But being prevented by the coming in of other Legions after they had fought desperately till Day light at length being put to flight they returned into the Mountains and Woods Those things were acted about the Eighth Year of his Expeditions Both Parties prepare themselves as for their last Encounter against the next Spring The Romans as judging that the Victory would put an end to the War And their Enemies looking upon their All to be at stake and that they were about to fight for their Liberty Lives and for whatsover is to be accounted Dear and Sacred amongst Men Hereupon judging that in former Battels they were overcome by Stratagem rather than by Valour they betook themselves to the higher Grounds and at the foot of Mount Grampius waited for the coming of the Romans There
Objected Crimes he craved Mercy and humbly deprecated the punishment of his Offences Which said he if I can obtain I will recompense and make amends for my Errors in Government by my future Care Industry and Valour These things he humbly supplicated upon his Knees so that the Anger of the Nobles being now turned into Pity they lifted him up from the Ground and ordered him to continue in the Government remitting his own Punishment to himself As for Them they were well enough satisfied if he did now truly and heartily repent of what he had done amiss heretofore From that Day forward Argadus assembled the Wisest Men of the whole Kingdom about him and acted nothing but by their Advice yea during the Remainder of his Magistracy he Enacted many Laws for the Good of the Publick of which This was the chief That he restrained the Arbitrariness of Provincial Judges and forbad them to give Sentence against all Offenders alike but to have respect to alleviating Circumstances where any such were He either restrained or put to Death Flagitious Persons and amended the Publick Manners which had been corrupted by a long course of Licentiousness not only by inflicting Legal Punishments on Transgressors of the Laws but by affording them the Leading Example of his own Regular Life Whilst these things were acting Conarus partly afflicted with Grief and partly worn out by Diseases ended his filthy and ignominious Life in Prison in the Fourteenth Year of his Reign Ethodius the Twenty Fifth King EThodius was set up in his stead Mogaldus's Sisters Son He immediately convened the Estates and thereupon highly extolled Argadus and after he had bestowed on him great Honours and large Rewards he made him Plenipotentiary under him for the Administration of the Government when he had made his Progress to view all the Counties and Parts of his Dominions according to Custom he Sailed over to the Aebudae Islands Argadus was sent by him to quell the Disturbers of the Publick Peace who soon suppressed them and brought them Prisoners to the King These Combustions thus appeased he returned into Albium but the Islanders being freed by his absence from their present Fear and further being persuaded by false Reports spread abroad That he was engaged in a Foreign War and besides being provoked rather than suppressed by the punishment of their Associats began to raise new Tumults Argadus was again sent to suppress them but they being assisted both by the Picts and Irish gave him Battel without any delay in which Fight Argadus himself being circumvented by Treachery was slain That Blow made the King lay aside all other Business and to march thither himself where he so wasted them with some light occasional Skirmishes and by his frequent Alarms and Inroads upon them that being inferior to him in Force they retired into a Valley encompassed on all sides with craggy Rocks having only one Passage leading into it that so the Conveniencie of the Place as they thought might somewhat contribute to their Safety Ethodius perceiving the disadvantage of the Place for his Enemy disposed of his Guards in fit Avenues and also made a Wall and a Graft at the mouth of the Passage by which means they were brought to that extreme Penury of all things that they were forced to yield up themselves to the King at discretion They were willing to accept of any Conditions but the King gave them only These That Two hundred of them such as the King should cull out with their General should be surrendred up to him The rest should every Man return to his own home The Punishment of those who were thus given up being presently inflicted on them had almost raised up a new Sedition For the common Soldiers were so enraged at so terrible a Spectacle that for want of Arms they threw Stones at the King's Officers Neither was their tumultuous Fury allayed without much Bloodshed Thus Ethodius having setled Peace every where in order to the Administration of Justice made his Progress over all his Kingdom much delighting himself in Hunting by the way so that he made many Venary Laws of which a great part are observed to this very day He had an Irish Musician or Harper lying all night in his Bed-chamber according to the Custom of the Scotish Nobility by whom he was slain in the night in revenge of a Kinsman of his whom he said the King had put to Death When he was led forth to Execution he was so unconcerned at his Torture that he seemed to be very glad as if he had done but his Duty and acted his Part with applause Satrael The Twenty Sixth King ETHODIVS being thus slain when he had Reigned Three and Thirty years and his Son being not of Age fit to Govern his Brother Satrael was elected King this Man being of a naughty yet cunning Disposition endeavoured to establish the Kingdom in his own Family and so to destroy the Sons of Ethodius In order whereunto those Nobles who were most dear to Ethodius were by Calumnies purposely devised suppressed and slain by him Afterwards because the Commons did much regret the slaughter of their Nobles he began to oppress them also which matter in a little time did so increase the Hatred conceived against him and so diminish his Authority that Tumults and Seditions did thereupon arise He durst not go forth to suppress them because he knew he lay under a publick Odium so that he was sculkingly slain at home by his own Men in the Night when he had Reigned Four years Donaldus I. The Twenty Seventh King DONALDVS another Brother of Ethodius was set up in his Room who equalled yea exceeded the Vices of Satrael by as great and as many contrary Virtues his Clemency joyned with his Love of Equity did much enhaunce the price of his other Excellencies He by the terrour and weight of his Authority and also by present Punishments inflicted quelled all intestine Commotions and rightly conceiving that the Souldiery who were before wanton and idle and spoiled by Luxury might be made more ready to resist an Enemy he caused a Muster to be made of them and so accustomed them to Training and Exercising their Arms and Military Discipline that in a short time the new-listed Tyroe's did equal the Valour of the Veterans and old Souldiers The Peace which he had abroad did much forward this his design For the Roman Legions some few years before made a Mutiny in Britanny as desiring any other General rather than Commodus and especially Aelius Pertinax who was sent to suppress them so that leaving the Scots and Picts they turned the whole stress of the War upon themselves It was also a further advantage to him in order to a Peace that Donaldus had first of all the Scotish Kings embraced the Christian Religion yet neither he nor some other of the succeeding Kings though a great part of the Nobility did favour
Carantius being sent to the Sea-Coasts of Bolognâ— by Dioclesian to defend Belgick Armorica from the Incursions of the Francs and Saxons after he had taken many of the Barbarians yet would neither restore the Prey to the Provincials the Right Owners nor yet send them to the Emperor hereupon a suspicion arose that he purposely allowed the Barbarians to plunder that so he might rob them at their return and thereby enrich himself with the Spoil For this Reason Maximianus commanded him to be slain but he taking Authority upon him seized upon Britany and to strengthen his Party against Bassianus the Roman Lieutenant-General he reconciled the Discords betwixt the Scots and Picts and entred into a firm League and Alliance with them Both. The Romans made many Attempts against him but by his Skill in Military Affairs he defeated all their Designs After he had restored the Scots and Picts into the possession of those Lands which they formerly held he was slain by his Companion Allectus after he had Reigned seven Years Allectus having Reigned three Years was slain by Asclepiodotus and thus Britanny was restored to the Romans in the Twelfth Year after its Revolt But neither Asclepiodotus nor he who succeeded him Constantinus Chlorus did any memorable thing in Britain but that this later begat Constantin afterwards Emperor on Helena his Concuâ—bne Amidst these Transactions Crathilinthus died after he had Reiigned 24 years Fincormachus The Thirty Fifth King FIncormachus his Cousin-German succeeded him who perform'd many excellent Exploits against the Romans by the aid of the Britains and Picts Yea some Battels he fought them without any Auxiliaries at all At length when the Romans were weakned by their Civil Wars at home and perpetual molestations abroad Matters being a little quieted the Scots were also glad to embrace Peace Who being thus freed from external cares did principally endeavour to promote the Christian Religion they took this occasion to do it because many of the British Christians being afraid of the cruelty of Dioclesian had fled to them Amongst which sundry eminent for Learning and Integrity of Life made their aboad in Scotland where they led a solitary Life with such an universal Opinion of their Sanctity that when they died their Cells were changed into Temples or Kirks From hence the Custom arose afterwards amongst the Ancient Scots to call Temples Cells This sâ—rt of Monks were called Culdees whose Name and Order continued till a later sort of Monks divided into many Sects did expel them Yet these last were as far inferiour to the former in Learning and Piety as they did exceed them in Wealth in Ceremonies and in Pomp of outward Worship whereby they please the Eye but infatuate the Mind Fincormachus having settled affairs in Scotland with great equity and reduced his Subjects to a more civil kind of Life departed this Life in the 47th Year of his Reign Romachus The Thirty Sixth King AFter his Death there was a great contest about the Kingdom between Three Cousin-Germans begot by the Three Brothers of Crathilinthus their Names were Romachus Fethelmachus and Augusianus or rather Romachus's Plea was that his Father was the Eldest of the Three Brothers of Crathilinthus and that his Mother was descended from the Blood-Royal of the Picts as also that he himself was of a stirring Disposition and likely to procure Friends and Allys That which made for Augusianus was his Age and Experience in the World as also his admirable Deportment to which was added the Favour of the People and that which was the principal of all Fethelmachus who was before his Competitor now voted for him By reason of this Sedition the matter being like to be decided by Arms nothing could be concluded in the First Convention of the Estates but That being dissolved the whole Kingdom was divided into Two Factions and Romachus who was least in the favour of the People called in the Picts Militia for his assistance that so he might strengthen himself by Foreign Aid Augusianus being informed that Ambushes were laid for him judged it better once for all to try the shock of a Battel than to live in perpetual solicitude and fear Whereupon gathering his Party into a body he fought with Romachus but being overcome by Him He and Fethelmachus fled together into the Aebudae Islands But perceiving he could not be safe there because on the account of his Victory he was formidable to the Heads of the Factions and that he was also amongst a people naturally venal and corrupted by the promises of Romachus he fled into Ireland with his Friends Romachus having thus removed his Rival and obtained the Kingdom rather by force than the good will of the People did exercise his Power very cruelly over his Enemies and to put a pretence of Law on the matter when he went about the Country to keep Assizes he took no Counsel of others as was accustomed but assumed all Capital causes to his own Arbitrement so that he made great Execution amongst the People and strook a general Terror into the hearts of all good Men. At length when all were wearied with the present state of Affairs the Nobility made a sudden combination against him and before he could gather his Forces together he was taken in his flight to the Picts and put to death in the Third year of his Reign His Head was carried up and down fasten'd to the Top of a Pole and afforded a joyful Spectacle to the People Angusianus The Thirty Seventh King HEreupon Angusianus was recalled by general consent to undertake the Kingly Government In the beginning of his Reign They which were the Ministers of Cruelty and Covetousness under Romachus being afraid to live under so good a King stirred up Nectamus King of the Picts to make War upon Him in revenge of his Kinsman Angusianus being a lover of Peace sent Embassadors to them very often to advise them That both Nations would be much prejudiced by those Divisions in regard the Brittons did but watch an Opportunity to destroy them both But they hearkned not unto them either out of confidence of their strength or out of anger and vexation of Spirit So that perceiving them to be averse from Peace he led forth his Army against them and after a sharp conflict obtained the Victory The King of the Picts made his escape with a few in his company and after he had a little master'd his fear being inflam'd with Rage and Fury he obtained but with great difficulty of his Subjects to raise him a new Army And when it was levied he marched into Caledonia Angusianus having again propounded Terms of Peace which not being hearkned unto he drew his forces towards the Enemy The Fight was maintain'd with equal obstinacy on both sides one striving to retain their acquired Glory and th' other endeavouring to wipe away their received Ignominy and Disgrace At length the Scots Angusianus being slain brake
other Reserves into Service he drew on also the Squadrons left to guard the Baggage into the Fight They being intire routed the Brittons which stood against them so that the Victory began on that side whence the fear of a Total overthrow did proceed The rest of the Brittons following the Fortune of the other Brigade ran away too and flying into the Woods and Marishes near to the place where the Battel was fought as they were thus straggling dispersed and unarmed their Enemies Baggage-men and Attendants slew abundance of them There fell of the Brittons in this Fight 14000 of their Enemies 4000. After this Fight the Brittons having lost almost all their Infantry send Ambassadors to the Scots and Picts Commissioning them to refuse no Conditions of Peace whatsoever The Confederate Kings seeing they had All in their Power were somewhat inclined to Mercy and therefore Terms of Peace were offered which were hard indeed but not the severest which in such their afflicted State they might have propounded The Conditions were That the Brittons should not send for any Roman or other Forein Army to assist them That they should not admit them if they came of their own accord nor give them Liberty to march thrâ— their Country That the Enemies of the Scots and Picts should be Theirs also vice versâ and That without their Permission they should not make Peace or War nor send Aid to any who desired it That the Limits of their Kingdom should be the River Humber That they should also make present Payment of a certain sum of Money by way of Mâ—lâ—t to be divided amongst the Soldiers which also was to be paid yearly by them That they should give an hundred Hostages such as the Confederate Kings should approve of These Conditions were entertained by the Brittons grudingly by some but necessarily by all and the same necessity which procured it made them keep the Peace for some years The Brittons being left weak and forsaken of Foreigners that they might have an Head to resort to for publick Advice made Constantine their Countryman a Nobleman of high descent and of great repute whom they had sent for out of Gallick Britanny King He perceiving that the Forces of the Brittons were broken both abroad by Wars and at home by Fewds Robberies and Discords thought fit to attempt nothing by Arms but during the Ten years he reigned he maintained Peace with his Neighbours at last he was Slain by the Treachery of Vortigern a Potent and Ambitious man He left Three Sons behind him of which Two were under Age the Third and Eldest as unfit for Government was thrust into a Monastery yet he was made King principally by the Assistance of Vortigern who sought to obtain Wealth and Power to himself under the Envy of another mans Name The Fields which were now tilled in time of Peace after a most grievous Famine yielded such a plentiful Crop of Grain that the like was never heard of in Britain before And from hence those Vices did arise which usually accompany Peace as Luxury Cruelty Whoredom Drunkenness which are more pernicious than all the Mischiefs of War There was no Truth or Sincerity to be found and that not only amongst the Vulgar but even the Monks and the Professors of an Holier Life made a mock at Equity Faithfulness and constant Piety of Life of which Bede the Anglo-Saxon and Gildas the Britton do make an heavy Complaint In the mean time the Ambassadors who returned from Aetius brought word That no relief could be expected from him for the Brittons had sent Letters to Aetius some Clauses whereof as they are mentioned by Bede I shall here recite both because they are a succinct History of the Miseries of that Nation and also because they demonstrate How much many Writers are mistaken in their Memoirs The Words are these To Aetius the third time Consul the Complaints of the Brittons And a little after The Barbarians drive us to the Sea the Sea beats us back again upon the Barbarians between These two kinds of Deaths we are either Killed or Drowned Now Aetius was joyned in his Third Consulship with Symmachus in the 450th year after Christ. Neither could there any Aid be obtained from him who was then principally intent upon the observing the Motions of Attila The rest of the Brittons being driven to this desperate point only Vortigern was glad of the publick Calamity and in such a general hurly-burly he thought he might with greater Impunity perpetrate that Wickedness which he had long before designed in his mind which was to cause the King to be Slain by those Guards which he had appointed about him and afterwards to avert the suspition of so foul a Parricide from himself in a pretended Fit of Anger as if he were impatient of delay in Executing Revenge he caused the Guards also to be put to death without suffering them to plead for themselves Thus having obtained the Kingdom by the highest degree of Villany he managed it with as little Sanctity For suspecting the Faithfulness of the People towards him and not confiding in his own strength which was but small he engaged the Saxons to take his part who then exercised Pyracy at Sea and infested all the shores far and near He procured their Captain Hengist with a strong Band of Soldiers to come to him with three Galleys and he assigned Lands to him in Britain so that now he was to fight not as for a strange Country but as for his own Demeasne and Estate and therefore was likely to do it with greater Alacrity When this was noised abroad such large Numbers of Three Nations the Iutes the Saxons and the Angles are reported to have flocked out of Germany into Britain that they became formidable even to the Inhabitants of the Isle First of all about the year of our Lord 449. Vortigern being strengthned by those Auxiliaries joyned Battel with the Scots and Picts whom he Conquered and drove beyond the Wall of Adrian As touching Eugenius the King of the Scots there goes a double Report of him some say he was slain in fight beyond the River Humber others that he died a natural Death However he came by his end this is certain he governed the Scots with such Equity that he may deservedly be reckoned amongst the Best of their Kings For tho' he spent the first Part of his Life almost from his Childhood in War yet he so profited under the Discipline of his Grandfather and his Mind was so established thereby that neither Military Freedom as it usually doth did draw him to Vice neither did it make him more negligent in conforming his Manners to the Rule of Piety nor did his prosperous Success make him more arrogant And on the other side the Peace and Calm he enjoyed did not abate the sharpness of his Understanding nor break his Martial Spirit but he managed his Life with such an equal and
poised Temper that by the advantage of his natural Disposition he did equal or rather exceed those Princes who are instructed in the Liberal Arts and from thence come to the Helm of Government Dongardus The Forty Second King THE same Year that Eugenius died which was in the 452 Year of our Lord his Brother Dongardus was made King in his place He was of a Disposition like his Brother for as he was willing to embrace Peace upon good Conditions so when occasion required he was not afraid of War And therefore in reference both to Peace and War he not only prepared all things necessary to resist the Invasion of an Enemy but also he trained up the Youth and Soldiery of his Country in Pains and Parsimony That so they might be restrained from Vice and their minds not grow feeble and languid by long Quiet and too much Prosperity But the Seditions at home raised by the Brittons were the Cause that his Arms were not much famed abroad But being freed from that Encombrance he gave himself wholly up to the Reformation of Religion for the Reliques of the Pelagian Heresy did as yet trouble the Churches To confute them Pope Celestine sent Palladius over in the life of his Father Eugenius who instructed many that grew afterwards famous for Learning and Sanctity of Life and especially Patricius Servanus Ninianus Kentâ—gernus The same Palladius is reported to have appointed Bishops first in Scotland Whereas till then the Churches were govern'd only by Monks without Bishops with less Pomp and external Ceremony but with greater Integrity and Sanctimony of Life The Scots being thus intent about purging and settling Religiâ—n and Divine Worship escaped free from that Tempest of War which did shatter almost the whole World In the Second year of the Reign of Eugenius Vortigern was deposed and his Son Vortimer chosen King of the Brittons He renewed the Ancient League with the Scots and Picts that so he might more easily break the Power of the Saxons which was also made Tripartite of Three Nations against the Romans in the Days of Carausius Dongardus did not long survive this League for he died after he had reigned Five Years Constantine I. The Forty Third King COnstantinos his youngest Brother succeeded him in the Government who in his private Condition lived temperately enough but as soon as he mounted the Throne he let loose the Reins to all Debauchery He was avaricious and cruel towards the Nobility but familiar with men of an inferiour Rank He gave himself wholly to the Constupration of Virgins and Mâ—trons and to excessive Feastings having always Musicians and Stage-players about him and all other Ministers of Lasciviousness and Pleasures The Scotch Nobility being offended at these Miscarriages came often to him to put him in mind of his Duty He received their Admonitions very haughtily bidding them to look after their own Affairs saying That he had better Advice from others He also told them That they were much mistaken if they thought to Limit their King on pretence of Advising him And as he was thus arrogant towards his Subjects so he was as abject and submissive to his Enemies For he granted them Peace at first asking and forgave them the Injuries they had committed withal he demolished some Castles and deliver'd up others to them This Carriage of his did so far incense the Scots and Picts that the Scots were ready to Rebel and the Picts who before had secretly dealt with the Saxons set up for themselves and at last made a publick League with them But amongst the Scots there was one Dugal of Galway of great Authority amongst the Commons he for the present restrained the Multitude by an Insinuating Oration wherein he acknowledged That many of those things which they complained of were true and what they desired was just But yet if War should come as an accession to their other Miseries the Kingdom would be endangered yea hardly retrievable from Destruction especially seeing the Picts were alienated from them the Brittons since Vortimers Death but their uncertain Friends and the Saxons who were very strong and potent and who managed there Victories with great Cruelties and in whose Commerce their was no Faithfulness were always intent upon the Destruction of all their Neighbours Thus by the Prudence of the Ancienter the Tumult of the Common People was appeased but the King continuing to reign tho' with the Hatred and Contempt of all was at length slain by a Nobleman of the Aebudae for vitiating his Daughter by force in the Fifteenth year of his Reign This is the common Report concerning his Death but I rather incline to the Opinion of Iohannes Fordonus who says in his Scotochronicon that he reigned 22 years and at last died of a wasting Disease In his Reign Aurelius Ambrosius came into This Britain out of the Lesser beyond Sea he was the Son of Constantine who held the Kingdom some years before but he being Treacherously Slain and his Brother who reigned after his Father being also slain by Vortigern by like Treachery the Two other remaining Sons of Constantine were conveyed by their Fathers Friends into Gallick Bretagne I think this Original of Aurelius Ambrosius is truer than That which others deliver among whom is Bede for they say that he was the last of the Roman stock who reigned in Britanny These two Brothers when Vortimer was slain by the fraud of his Stepmother and Vortigern had made himself King without Authority or Power being now grown up and fit to Govern returned with the great Favour and Expectation of all men into the Island to recover their Fathers Kingdom and withal they brought no inconsiderable number of Britains out of Gaul along with them After their Arrival before they would alarm the strangers they subdued Vortigern in Wales and then sent Messengers to the Scots and Picts desiring their Allyance and craving their Conjunction in Arms against the Saxons the most bitter Enemies of the Christian Name Their Embassy was kindly received by the Scots and the League before made with Constantine was again renewed which from that day remained almost inviolate till the Kingdom of Britanny was oppressed by the Angles and the Kingdom of the Picts by the Scots But the Picts answered the British Ambassadors That they had already made a League with the Saxons and that they saw no Cause to break it but they were resolved to run all hazards with them for the future as partakers of their good or bad success Thus the whole Island was divided into Two Factions the Scots and Brittons waging continual War against the Picts and Saxons Congallus I. The Forty Fourth King COngallus succeeded Constantine the Son of Dongardus Constantine's Brother He was inclineable to Arms but durst not then attempt any thing in regard the People were effeminated and weakned by Sloth and Luxury during the Reign of his Uncle And tho' Many in compliance with his
Disposition as usually Kings have many such Parasites did often persuade him to take Arms yet he would never be induced thereunto First then he applied himself to correct the publick Manners neither did he attempt to reduce the Ancient Discipline till he had Created new Magistrates and by their means had abridged Suits and Controversies and restrained Thefts and Robberies Peace being setled at home he endeavoured to reclaim others to a civiller course of Life first of all by his own Example and if any took no Copy from him but persisted obstinately in their Evil Courses Such he either gently chastized and punished or else sleighted them as despicable and worthless Persons and thus he quickly reduced all things to their former state Seeing as I said before at the beginning of his Reign he gave up himself wholly to the study of Peace the Brittons began to persuade Aurelius Ambrosius to recover Westmorland from the Scots which they had possessed many years Hereupon several Embassys being sent to and fro betwixt them the Matter was like to be decided by the Sword if fear of the Common Enemy had not put an end to the Dispute so that the League made by Constantine was renewed and no Alteration made in reference to Westmorland Congallus had War with the Saxons all the time of his Reign but it was a slow and intermittent one as Parties fortuitously met in driving of their respective Preys in which kind of Fighting the Scots being nimble light and most Horsemen accounted themselves Superior to their Enemies but they never came to a pitch'd Battel For Congallus was of opinion That it was best to commit as few things as we could to the Arbitrement of Fortune and therefore he sent Part of his Forces to help Aurelius Ambrosius and with the rest he wearied his Enemy and never suffered him to rest Night nor Day Merlin and Gildas lived in the days of these and the next Kings They were both Brittons and obtained great Fame amongst Posterity for the Opinion conceived of them concerning Prophecies and Divinations Merlin was a little the Ancienter of the Two a Cheat and Impostor rather than a Prophet His Vaticinations are scattered up and down but they are obscure and contain no Certainty at all to encourage any ones hopes before their fulfilling or to satisfy them when they are so that upon neither account can you affirm them to be True And besides they are so framed that you may accommodate or apply them to different or contrary Events as you will your self Yet tho' they are dayly furbished up and also augmented by new Additions such is the Folly oâ— credulous men That what they understand not they are yet bold to affirm to be as True as Gospel and tho' they be taken in a notorious I â—e yet they will not suffer themselves to be convinced thereof Gildas was later than he a Learned and Good Man and one who was had in great Veneration both Alive and Dead for his Excellent Learning accompanied with Sanctity of Life The Prophecies which go under his Name are such Ridiculous Sentences and so course and ill-framed in Wording and also in the whole Series of their Composure that no Wise Man can esteem them to be His Yet each Prophet as you call them had a Patron suitable to his own Disposition Merlin had Vortigern for his Patron and after him Vter to whom he was a Pander for his Lust. Gildas had Aurelius Ambrosius a Person no less admirable for the Probity of his Life than for his Victories in War after whose Death Gildas retired unto Glastonbury in Sommerset-shire where he lived and died very devoutly Our Books of the Life of Aurelius Ambrosius do make mention of him After his Death Vter the youngest of Constantines Three Sons succeeded him in the Year of our Lord Five Hundred And the next year after Congallus King of Scotland departed this Natural Life in the Twenty Second year of his Reign Goranus The Forty Fifth King GORANVS his Brother Succeeded him who after his Example governed Scotland with great Piety and Justice as much as Foreign Wars would suffer him so to do for he not only travelled all over the Kingdom as the good Kings of old were wont to do to punish Offenders but also to prevent the Injuries which great Men did offer to the Poor who in such Cases dared not to complain and to curb their oppressive Domination over them he appointed Informers who were to find out such Miscarriages write them down and bring them to him a Remedy necessary perhaps for those times but in our days a very hazardous one He was the chief Means and Occasion that the Picts deserting the Saxons made a joint League with the Scots and Britains At that time Lothus was King of the Picts a Person who excelled the Princes of his time in all accomplishments both of Body and Mind Goranus dealt earnestly with him to break his Alliance with those Barbarous Nations alleging That he ought to remember his own Country in which they were all born and especially their common Religion That he was much deceived if he imagined that the Peace betwixt him and the Saxons would be faithfully kept when once the Brittons and Scots were overthrown seeing he had to do with Men of inhuman Cruelty and insatiable Avarice That they had given sufficient proofs how little they esteemed Leagues or any other thing when they wickedly slew the Nobility of the Brittons who had so well deserved of them upon Pretence of calling them out to a Conference That the Son in Law was saved alive by the Father in Law not for any releif of his Calamity but for upbraiding of the Enemy he added That the Sacredness of Leagues which amongst other Nations are accounted the firmest bonds of Union was amongst them as a Snare or Bait to catch the simple and unwary in To what purpose was it to run so many hazards to free themselves from the Tyranny of the Romans if they must spontaneously give themselves up to the much harder and baâ—er Servitude of the Saxons This were not to make a change of their Condition but of their Masters only Yea it was to prefer a Truculent and Barbarous One before One that was mild and gentle What a Foolish and Wild a thing was it to take away Lands from the Scots and Brittons and to deliver them to the Germans And so to despoil those who were but lately their Friends and endeared to them by many ancient Courtesies and Respects that they might enrich Pirates the common Enemies of Mankind even to their own Destruction That it ought to be esteemed the most grievous thing of all by one who was a true Christian to consent to that League whereby Christian Religion must be extinguished profane Rites renewed and wicked Tyrants Enemies of Piety and Humanity armed with Power against God and his Law Lothus knew all this to be true
immediately after Congallus but there are More who insert Kinnatellus betwixt Them Aidanus The Forty Ninth King AIdanus being Nominated King by Kinnatellus and confirmed by the People received the Royal Habiliments from Columba For the Authority of that Man was so great in those days that neither Prince nor People would undertake any thing without his Advice And at that time after he had in a long Speech persuaded the King to rule Equitably over the People and the People to be Loyal to their King he earnestly pressed them Both to persist in the pure Worship of God for then Both of them would prosper but if they forsook it they must expect Destruction as the reward of their Offences Having perform'd this Service he returned into his own Country The first Expedition of Aidanus was against the Robbers who infested Galway coming thither he put their Commanders to Death and Fear restrain'd the rest but a greater Storm encountred him at at his Return For after he had had three Conventions of the Estates in Galway Abria or Loch-abyr and Caithness and thought all things were settled there there was a Tumult arose amongst them in Hunting that much Blood was spilt and the Kings Officers who came to punish the Offenders were repulsed and beaten The Authors for fear of Punishment fled into Lothian to Brudeus King of the Picts when Ambassadors were sent to him to deliver them up according to the League betwixt them they were refused whereupon a feirce War commenced betwixt the Scots and Picts but it was quickly ended by the means of Columba who was according to his Merit highly esteemed by both Nations In the mean time England was again divided into Seven Kingdoms and the Brittons were driven into the Peninsula of Wales but the Saxons not contented with such large Dominions stirred up a new War betwixt the Scots and Picts The Author and Kindler thereof was Ethelfrid King of Northumberland a Covetous Man and who was weary of Peace out of the desire he had to enlarge his Dominions He persuaded the Picts but with difficulty Brudeus hardly consenting thereto That they should drive away Preys out of the Scots Territories and so give an occasion to a War Aidanus understanding the Treachery of the Saxons that he might also strengthen himself with Foreign Aid renewed the ancient League with Malgo the Britton He sent his Son Grifinus and his Sisters Son Brendinus King of Eubonia now called Man a Military Man with Forces who joyning with the Brittons entred Northumberland and after Three days march came to the Enemy but the English refused to engage them because they expected new Succors which were reported to be neer at hand for indeed Ceulinus King of the East Saxons a very Warlike Man was coming to them with great Forces the Scots and Brittons fell upon him in his March and wholly destroyed the Front of his Army which was a long way before the rest together with his Son Cutha but they were afraid to engage the rest lest they should be circumvented by Ethelfrid who was not far distant The two Kings of the Saxons being joined together again renewed the Fight with much Slaughter on both sides wherein the Scots and Brittons were put to flight There were slain of the Scots Nobles Grifinus and Brendinus in the opposite Army Ethelfrid lost one of his Eyes and Brudeus was carried wounded out of the Field to the great Astonishment of his Party The next Summer after Ethelfrid uniting his Forces with the Picts marched into Gallway supposing he should find all things there in great Consternation by reason of their ill Success the last Year But Aidanus coming with his Forces thither sooner than his Enemies thought set upon the straggling Plunderers and drave them with great trepidation to their Camp Thus having chastized their Temerity supposing now they would be more quiet the Night after he passed by their Camp and joyned himself with the Brittons Both Armies having thus united their forces pitch'd their Tents in a narrow Valley of Annandale and their Enemies as now Cock-sure of their Destruction beset the passages entring into it But they having fortify'd their Camp as if they intended there to abide in the Night when the Tide was out marched thro' the Ford which was known to them amidst the quavering Sands into Cumberland and afterward into Northumberland making great Havock whithersoever they came The Enemie followed them at their Heels and when they came in fight of one another both Armies prepare themselves for the Fight The Scots and Britains added Four Commanders to those they had before who were noble Persons of great experience in Warlike affairs that so the rash-Headed Common Soldiers might be commanded by a greater Number of Captains of the Brittons there were added Constantine and Mencrinus of the Scots Calenus and Murdacus By their Conduct and Incouragement the Soldiers fell upon the Enemy with so great Violence that he was presently broken and put to flight There goes a Report that Columb being then in the Isle Icolumbkil told his Companions of this Victory the very same hour in which it was obtained Of the Saxon Nobles there were slain in this fight Cialinus and Vitellius both great Warriors and highly descended about Eleven years after this Victory the Saxons and Picts infested the adjacent Country whereupon a Day was appointed wherein the Brittons and Scots should meet and with their united Forces set upon the Saxons Aidanus tho' very old came to the place at the appointed time and staid for the Brittons but in vain for they came not yet he drove Preys out of his Enemies Country Ethelfrid having now gotten a fair Opportunity to act something in set upon the dispersed Scots and made a great slaughter amongst them Aidanus having lost many of his Men fled for his Life yet the Victory was not unbloody to the Saxons for they lost Ethelfrid's Brother and some of those Squadrons that followed him were almost wholly cut off Aidanus having received this overthrow and being also informed of the death of Columb that Holy Man whom he so highly honoured foreseeing to what Cruelty the Remainder of the Christians were likely to be exposed being worn out with Age and Grief did not long survive he Reigned 34 years and died in the Year of our Lord 604. In his Reign it was That a certain Monk Named Austin came into Britain being sent by Gregory Pope of Rome who by his Ambition in Preaching a New Religion mightily disturbed the Old for he did not so much Preach the Christian Religion as the Ceremonies of the Roman Church Yea the Brittons before his coming were Converted to and taught the Principles of the Christian Religion by the Disciples of Iohn the Evangelist and were instituted in the same by the Monks who were Learned and Pious in that Age. As for Austin He laboured to reduce all things to the
caused himself to be carried abroad in a Litter meanly Apparrel'd and there he made a publick Confession of his Wickedness and so dyed in the Year of our â—edmption 668. Scotland groaned under this Monster 18 Years Maldvinus The LV King MAldvinus the Son of Donald succeeded him who that he might strengthen those Parts of the Kingdom which were weakned by the Tyranny of the former King made Peace with all his Neighbors Having quieted things without he was disturbed by a Sedition at home arising between the Argyle and Lennox Men. Maldvinus drew forth against the Authors of this Tumult that so he might punish them without prejudicing the Commonalty They to avoid the King's Wrath composed their private jars and fled into the Aebudae Isles The King sent for them to have them punished and the Islanders not daring to retain them delivered them up Their punishment kept the rest in their Duties About this time it was That when the Scotish Monks had spread the Doctrine of Christ very far over England and had so instructed the English Youth that now they seemed able of themselves to Preach the Gospel plainly even to their own Countrymen together with their Institution and Learning they also entertained and suck'd in some Envy against their Teachers so that by reason of this Prejudice the Scots-Monks were forced to return into their own Country Which Contumely as it cut off the Concord between both Kingdoms so the Modesty of Those who had received the wrong kept both Nations from open Hostility only frequent Incursions were made and Skirmishes hapned in divers places There fell out at this time a terrible Plague over all Europe such as was never Recorded by any Writer before Only the Scots and Picts were free therefrom By reason of the frequent Injuries mutually offered and Preys driven away on both sides Both Nations were like to break forth into an open War if the death of Maldvinus had not prevented it After he had Reigned 20 years his Wife suspecting that he had been naught with an Harlot Strangled him and Four Days after She herself was punished for the Fact by being burnt alive Eugenius V. The LVI King AFter him Eugenius the 5th Son of King Dongard undertook the Kingdom Egfrid the King of Northumberland with whom he principally desired to be at Peace sought to deceive him by fained Truces and he again assaulted Egfrid by the same Art Thus when Both made shew of Peace in Words they each secretly prepare for War When the Truce was ended Egfrid thô his Friends dissuaded him from it joyned Forces with the Picts and entring into Scotland he foraged Galway But he was overthrown by Eugenius the Picts giving ground in the Fight and lost almost all his Army so that he hardly escaped wounded and with a few Followers home The next Year his Friends then also Dissuading him he drew forth his Army against the Picts who pretending to run away drew him into an Ambush and cut him off with all his Men. The Picts laying hold of This so fair an Opportunity recovered those large Territories which had been taken from them in former Wars And the Brittons who freed themselves from the Government of the Angli or English together with the Scots entred Northumberland and made such an Havock there that it never recovered itself since Soon after Eugenius dyed in the 4th Year of his Reign Eugenius VI. The LVII King EVGENIVS the VI the Son of Ferchard succeeded Eugenius the V As did Alfrid Brother to Egfrid succeed him in Northumberland Both Kings were very Learned especially in Theology according to the rate of those times And also friendly one to the other on the account of their common Studies So that the Peace was faithfully maintain'd betwixt them Alfrid made use of this Tranquillity to settle the bounds of his Kingdom thô in narrower Limits than before But the Scots had neither an Establish'd Peace nor yet a Declared War with the Picts Excursions were frequently made with different and interchangable Successes thô Cutberectus an English Bishop and Adamannus a Scotish Bishop did in vain labour to reconcile them Yet This they effected that they never fought a pitched Battel In the mean time Eugenius being inflamed with an inexpiable Hatred against the Perfidiousness of the Picts was stopped in the midst of his Career to Revenge for he dyed having Reigned 10 Years In his Reign it is reported That it Reigned Blood all over Britain for 7 days and that the Milk Cheese and Butter were also turned into Blood Amberkelethus The LVIII King AFter him Amberkelethus the Son of Findanus and Nephew of Eugenius the 5th obtained the Kingdom At the beginning of his Reign he counterfeited Temperance but soon returned to his Natural Disposition and broke forth into all manner of Wickedness Garnard King of the Picts laying hold of this Opportunity gathered a great Army together and invaded the Scots Amberkelethus could hardly be excited to take Arms without much Importunity but at last he did as he was going forth in the Night to ease himself with Two Servants he was slain with an Arrow it was not known who shot it when he had not Reigned full Two Years some say That when he pressed upon the Enemy in a thick Wood that he was hurt with an Arrow by them and so dyed 10 days after Eugenius VII The LIX King EVGENIVS the 7 th Brother of the former King was Declared King by the Suffrage of the Soldiers in the Field that so the Army might not disband nor be without an Head He putting little confidence in an Army Levyed by a slothful King lengthened out the War by Truces and at last concluded it by Marrying Spondana Daughter of Garnardus She not long after was slain in her Bed by Two Athol-men who had conspired to destroy the King The King himself was accused of the Murder but falsly and before he was brought to Judgment the Murderers were found out Whereupon he was freed The Offenders were most exquisitely punished When Matters were composed abroad the King turned himself to the Affairs of Peace delighting much in Hunting But his chief Care was for Religion It was his Design and Appointment That the Noble Acts and Enterprizes of Kings should be Registred in Monasteries He maintain'd a continued Peace 17 Years with all his Neighbours and then dyed at Abernethy Mordacus The LX King EVGENIVS a little before his Death commended Mordacus the Son of Amberkelethus to the Nobility to be his Successor There was Peace all over Britain during his Reign as Bede says about the end of his History He did imitate Eugenius not only in maintaining Peace but in endowing of Monasteries also He Repaired the Convent of White-horn which was demolished He dyed at the Entrance into the 16th Year of his Reign Etfinus The LXI King IN the Year of our Lord 730 Etfinus the Son of Eugenius the 7 th
entred upon the Kingdom He being emulous of the Kings before him kept the Kingdom in great Peace during the space of 31 years that he managed the Government When he was old and could not perform the Kingly Office himself he appointed Four Vice-gerents to Administer Justice to the People Whilst These presided over the Affairs of Scotland some loose Persons resuming their former Luxuriant Extravagancies by the Magistrates Neglect or as some think Fault put all things into an Hurly Burly But their wicked Pranks were the less taken notice of by reason of the excessive Cruelty and Pride of one Donaldus who ranging over all Galway made the Country People pay Tribute to him or else he robbed them and reduced them to great Want Eugenius VIII The LXII King A Midst these Tumults Eugenius the 8 th the Son of Mordacus was set up in the room of Etfinus deceased His first Enterprize was to suppress Donaldus whom he overthrew in many bloody Fights took him Prisoner and publickly executed him to the Joy of all the Spectators He put Mordacus to death Vicegerent of Galway for Siding with Donaldus and set a Pecuniary Fine on the rest of the Vicegerents He made Satisfaction to the People who had been robbed out of the Offenders Estates The Bad being terrified for fear of these Punishments and a great Calm ensuing after a most violent Tempest he confirmed the Leagues heretofore made with the Neighbouring Kings Yet after all this he who got so much Glory in War when once Peace was made gave himself up to all manner of Vice And seeing he would not be reclaimed neither by the Advices of his Friends nor of the Priests all the Nobles conspired to destroy him which they did in a Publick Convention in the 3d year of his Reign The Companions and Associats of his wicked Practices ended their Lives at the Gallows all Men rejoycing at their Executions Fergusius III. The LXIII King FERGVSIVS the III the Son of Etfinus succeeded him who under a like counterfeit pretence of Virtue being fouly vitious dyed also after the like violent manner having Reigned the like Number of years viz. 3. He was poisoned by his Wife Others write That when his Wife had often upbraided him with his Contempt of Matrimony and his Flocks of Harlots but without any amendment that She Strangled him at night as he was sleeping in his Bed When Enquiry was made into his Death and many of his Friends were accused and yet though severely tortured would confess nothing The Queen thô otherwise of a fierce Nature yet pitying the suffering of so many Innocents came forth and from an high Place told the Assembly That She was the Author of the Murder and presently lest She should be made a living Spectacle of Reproach She ran her Self through with a Knife which Fact of Hers was variously spoken of and descanted upon according to the several Humours and Dispositions of the Men of that time Solvathius The LXIV King KING Solvathius the Son of Eugenius the 8 th is the next in Order Who if he had not contracted the Gout by reason of Cold in the 3d Year of his Reign might well be reckoned for his Personal Valour amongst the Best of Kings yet notwithstanding his Disease he appeased all Tumults by his Generals with great Wisdom and Prudence First of all Donaldus Banus i. e. White being Fearless of the King by reason of the Lameness of his Feet had the boldness as to seize upon all the Western Islands ând to call himself King of the Aebudae Afterwards making a Descent on the Continent and carrying away much Prey he was forced by Cullanus General of the Argyle-men and by Ducalus Captain of the Athol-men into a Wood out of which there was but one Passage so that their endeavours to escape were fruitless but He and His were there slain every Man One Gilcolumbus excited by the same Audacity and Hope assaulted Galway oppressed before by his Father but he also was overthrown by the same Generals and put to death In the mean time there was Peace from the English and Picts occasioned by their Combustions at home Solvathius Reigned 20 Years and then dyed being Praised of all Men. In the year of Christ 787. Achaius The LXV King ACHAIVS the Son of Etfinus succeeded him he having made Peace with the Angels and Picts understanding that War was threatned from Ireland composed the Seditions that were like to break forth at home not only by his Pains-taking but by his Largesses also The Cause of the Irish War was This. In the former Kings Reign who was unfit to make any Expedition The Irish and the Islanders out of hope of Prey and Impunity had made a descent upon Cantire the adjoyning Peninsule with great Armies both at once But a Feud arising between the Plunderers many of the Islanders and all the Irish were slain To revenge this Slaughter the Irish Rigged out a great Navy to Sail into the Aebudae Achaius sent Embassadors to them to acquaint them That they had no just cause for a War in regard that Thieves fighting for their Prey had slain one another That the loss was not that so many were slain but rather that any of them had escaped They farther alleged That the King and his National Councils were so far from offering any injury to the Irish that they had put all the Authors of the late Slaughter to death The Embassadors discoursing many things to this purpose were so coursly and barbarously rejected by the Irish That they set forth their Fleet against the Albine Scots even before their departure when their Fleet was on the Main a Tempest arose and destroyed them all This Mischance occasioned some sentiments of Remorse and Pity in the Irish so that now they humbly fued for that Peace which before they disdainfully refused But first of all Achaius made Peace between the Scots and Franks chiefly for this reason because not only the Saxons who inhabited Germany but even those who had fixed themselves in Britanny did infest Gaul with Piratical Invasions And besides Charles the Great whose desire was to enoble France not only by Arms but Literature had sent for some Learned Men out of Scotland to read Greek and Latin at Paris For yet there were many Monks in Scotland Eminent for Learning and Piety the antient Discipline being then not quite extinguished amongst whom was Iohannes Sirnamed Scotus or which is all one Albinus for the Scots in their own Language call themselves Albini He was the School-Master of Charles the Great and left many Monuments of his Learning behind him and in particular some Precepts of Rhetorick which I have seen with Iohannes Albinus inscribed There are also some Writings of Clement a Scot remaining who was a great Professor of Learning at the same time too in Paris There were many other Scotish Monks who passed over into Gaul out
Alpinus and many of his Nobles were taken Prisoners and cruelly slain The Kings Head was fastned to a Pole and carried up and down the Army till at last they set it up for a Spectacle in the most eminent place of the greatest Town they had which then was Abernethy The place where he was slain as yet retains his Name being called Bas Alpin i. e. The Death of Alpin Kennethus II. The Sixty Ninth King ALpin being slain after he had Reigned Three Years his Son Kennethus succeeded him The next Summer the Picts having some hopes that if they did but endeavour it the Scots might easily be driven out of Britain as they had been heretofore hereupon they hired some Troops of the English and joyned them with what Forces of their Own they could make But a sudden Sedition arose betwixt the Commanders and that so outragious an One That King Brudus himself could not compose it so that the Army disbanded thereupon and Brudus died about Three Months after rather Heart-broken than of any Disease His Brother Druskenus was made King in his stead who in vain attempted to compose things at home but in the interim some Scotish Youngsters stole away the head of Alpinus from the place where the Picts had set it up and brought it to Kennethus he not only commended them for their Noble Exploit but also rewarded them with Lands Kennethus called together an Assembly to consult about War with the Picts and though the King himself and the forwardest of the Soldiers did advise to revenge the Treachery of such a perfidious People yet the Major part and especially the Graver sort thought it more adviseable to stay till their Forces which were weakned in former Wars had recovered themselves in the mean time they would neither seek Peace nor yet make War with the Picts till a better opportunity for either did offer it self This Opinion prevailed so that there was Peace betwixt the two Nations for Three Years as if it had been by common Consent But in the Fourth Year Kennethus desirous to renew the War yet finding few of the Nobles of his Mind invited them to a Banquet the Entertainment continued till late at Night so that they were all necessitated to lodge there which they might more easily do in regard every Man according to the custom of his Ancestors lay on the Ground and so they disposed of them in that large House having nothing under them but Leaves and Grass When they were gone to Bed the King suborned a Youth one of his Kinsmen commanding him to clothe himself with the Skins of Fishes dried in the Wind and so to enter by Night and to speak through a long Tube that the Voice might better reach their Ears at a distance and thus to exhort them to War as if a Message had been sent them from Heaven to that purpose The Nobles suddenly awoke at this Voice which at that time seem'd to them to be Greater and more August than a Mans many also were laden with Wine and the sudden flashing of Light from the Fishes Skins darting upon their drowsie Eyes and dazling them drove them into a great Astonishment in fine an un-wonted Apparition affected the Eyes of them all and a kind of Religious Consternation seized upon their Minds And That which increased the Admiration was That the Messenger stripping himself of his disguised Habit and by a secret Passage conveighing himself away as in an instant seemed to have vanished out of sight When the News hereof was brought to the King in the Morning and many did add to the Story as is usual in such Cases he also affirmed That the like Apparition was seen by him in his Sleep Hereupon a War was concluded upon by the general Consent of them all as if they were Commanded thereunto by God himself When the Armies were led forth to Battel as soon as ever they came in fight one of another every one ran upon the Enemy which stood next to him not staying for the Command of their Captains The Fight was as fiercely continued as it was eagerly begun At last the Victory inclined to the Scots Those in whom the Picts put most Confidence proved their Ruin For the English Troops seeing that all things were managed without Order and by Tumultuary Force withdrew themselves into the next Hill as if they had only been Spectators of other Mens Dangers There was a mighty Slaughter made of the Picts For the Scots were highly provoked against them not only by their ancient Hatred but by the remembrance of their later Cruelty against Alpinus and the rest whom they had taken Prisoners But that which chiefly inflamed their Minds was a Watch-Word spread abroad among the Scots That they should remember Alpinus From that very moment they spared neither Age nor Rank of Men The Hills covered the departure of the English and the Scots were so pertinaciously intent in revenging themselves on the Picts that they could not follow them This Victory reduced the Picts to so low an ebb and rendred their Condition so deplorable that though they endeavoured to make Peace yet all was in vain for the Scots would hearken to no Conditions but the full surrendring up of their Kingdom The next Year when all Places were surrendred up beyond Forth Northwards and Garisons placed in them as Kennethus was marching his Army against those on this side thereof word was brought That some of the Garisons which he had left behind were taken and the Souldiers slain Hereupon he marched his Army back against the Rebellious Picts of whom he spared neither Man Woman nor Child But wasted the whole Country with Fire and Sword Druskenus seeing the Picts were inraged almost like Mad-men at the Cruelty exercised over them and knowing now that they must fight not for their Kingdom but for their very Lives and the Lives of their Wives and Children gathered together all the Force that ever he could make and so passing the Forth came to Scone a Town situate on the Bank of the River Tay where he waited for the coming of the Scots There they again endeavoured to make a Pacification offering to surrender all the Country beyond the Forth but the Scots would have All or none The Fight as in such Circumstances of Necessity was very fierce At last the Pertinacy of the Picts was broken and the River Tay putting a stop to their flight was the cause of their Destruction For Druskenus and almost all his Nobility being not able to pass it were there slain And the Fortune of the common Souldiers was not better for as they crowded to the River in several places to save themselves they laboured also under the same incapacity of passing it and so they every one of them lost their Lives Hence it is as I judge that our Writers say We Fought with the Picts seven times in one Day The Force of the Picts was wholly broken by this Overthrow and
Kennethus wasted Lothian and the adjacent Country together with Those beyond the Forth that they might never be able again to recover themselves The Garisons for fear surrendred themselves Those few Picts who were left alive fled into England in an indigent and necessitous Condition The Sixth BOOK AS I formerly called Fergusius the First and after him Fergusius the Second with great reason the Founders of the Scotish Kingdom so I may justly reckon Kennethus the Son of Alpinus a Third Founder also Fergus the First from a mean beginning advanced the Affairs of the Scots to such an height as that they were Envy'd by their Neighbours Fergus the Second when they were banished and dispersed into remote Countrys and in the Judgment of their Enemies almost extirpated did as it were recal them to Life and in a few years reduced them to their Ancient Splendor But Kennethus was so Couragious as to accept of the Kingdom when Matters were almost desperate yea when others thought that the small remainder of Scots could hardly have been defended or kept together and not only so but he brake the power of the Enemy tho' assisted with Foreign aid and Triumphant also for his late Victory in many sharp yet prosperous Fights and being thus weakned he drave him out of Britanny and took from him the Kingly Name which to this day he could never recover again Tho' these were Great Atchievements yet they were not the Greatest he performed For as he enlarged his Kingdom to double of what it was before so he Governed it both by making New Laws and also by reviving the Old ones That neither Licentiousness arising from War nor Pride the product of Victory nor any footsteps of those Evils which are wont to accompany Luxury and Ease did appear during his Life Yea the Affairs of Scotland seem'd to be supported for many Years after by the Laws called by Posterity the Macalpin Laws as much as by Arms. But to let pass these things I shall proceed to relate his Noble Acts as I have begun Kennethus having driven out the Picts distributed their Lands amongst his Soldiers according to every ones Valour and Merit whose Ambition put New Names on many Places and Countrys cancelling and obliterating the Old He parted Horestia betwixt Two Brothers Aeneas and Mern one part of which in Old Scotish is yet called Aeneja they who more affect the English Speech call it Angus The other Mern The Country adjoyning from Tay to the Forth was called by the Ancients Ross i. e. Peninsule there are some signs of the Name yet remaining as Culross a Town which is as it were the Back or Hinder part of Ross and Kâ—nross which signifies the Head of Ross. Now at this day all that Country is called Fife from an Eminent Person called Fifus whose Sirname they say was Duffus Barodunum a Town in Lothian or as some call it Dâ—nbar was so called as it is thought from a Great Man named Bar. Lothian had its name not long ago from Lothus King of the Picts Cuningham is wholly a Danish Word used as I think by the Danes after the Death of Kennethus who possessed that Country for some years having driven the Scots beyond the Wall of Severus for Cuningham signifys in the Danish Language the Kings House or Palace 'T is also probable That Merch was so called by the Danes because it was the Limits between both Kingdoms As for Edinburgh either by the gross Ignorance or perverse Ill-will of some it is sometimes called Vallis Dolorosa i. e. The Dolesom Valley and sometimes Castrum Puellarum Maiden-Castle the Name in it self is not very obscure tho' it be made so by ill management They borrowed those Names from the Gallick-Fables which were devised within the space of 300 Years last past This is certain That the Ancient Scots called it Dunedinum the Later Edinburgum wherein they follow the Country Custom in imposing of Names whereas that Castle in a middle Appellation between both I think may be better named Edinum But enough in this place concerning the Old and the New Names of the Countrys of which I have spoken more largely before To return then to Kennethus Having enlarged his Kingdom as I said before and settled wholsome Laws for the Government thereof he endeavoured further to confirm his Royal Authority by mean and trivial Things even bordering upon Superstition it self There was a Marble-Stone which Simon Breccus is reported to have brought into Ireland out of Spain which Fergus the Son of Ferchard is also said to have brought over into Scotish Albion and to have placed it in Argyle This Stone Keunethus removed out of Argyle to Scone by the Rivet Tay and placed it there included in a Chair of Wood. The Kings of Scotland were wont to receive both the Name and the Habiliment of Kings sitting in that Chair till the days of Edward the First King of England of whom in his Place Kenneth Translated the Episcopal See which the Picts had placed at Abernethy to Fanum Reguli which after Ages called St. Andrews But the Ancient Scots-Bishops being chosen out of Monasteries not then contending for Place or Honour but for Sanctity and Learning did perform their Functions every where occasionally as opportunity was offered without Envy or Emulation no certain Diocesses being allotted to them in regard the Ecclesiastical Function was not yet made a matter of Gain After this sort Kennethus Reigned 20 Years In the beginning of his Fifth year he overthrew the Picts as the Black Book of Pasley hath it The other Sixteen years after he had destroyed the Government of the Picts he lived in great Tranquillity having Peace at home by reason of his just Government and Peace abroad by the Power of his Arms. He enlarged his Dominions from the Orcades to the Wall of Adrian A. C. 854. Donaldus V. The Seventieth King DONALDVS his Brother was chosen King next who quite altered the whole Publick Discipline together with his own Demeanour For whereas in the Life time of Alpinus he made a shew of Temperance and by that means had obtained the Love of the better sort When his Brother was dead as if he had been freed from all Fear and Restraint he gave himself up wholly to Pleasure And as if there had been no danger from any Enemy without he neglected all Military Study and kept almost none about him but Hunters Hawkers and Inventors of new Pleasures Upon these he spent the Publick Revenue The young Fry who were prone to Pleasures did extol the King to the Skies as a Noble and Generous Prince and scoffed at the Parsimony of former Times as Rude and Illiberal The Ancient Counsellors seeing all things likely to run to Ruin in a very short time came to the King and put him in mind of his Duty of his present Evils and Miscarriages and of the Danger imminent
thereupon He nevertheless persisted in his slothful kind of Life which gave opportunity to the Remainders of the Picts as if an hopeful Alarm had been given them even from the very bottom of Despair to address themselves to Osbreth and Ella Two of the most potent and prevalent Kings of the English for then England was divided into many Kingdoms They bewail'd their misfortune to them and craved earnestly their Assistance promising That they and all their Posterity would become Feudataries to the English in case they obtained the Victory over the Scots which they prejudg'd would be an easy one by reason of the slothful Nature of Donald The English were easily persuaded and having setled things at home they led out their Army into Merch from whence they sent Heralds to Donaldus requiring that the Lands which the Scots had forceably taken away from the Picts their Friends and Allies might be restored which unless he would do they would not neglect their old Confederates who had now also newly cast themselves upon them Donaldus by the advice of the Estates which in this time of imminent Danger he had thô unwillingly convened Levied an Army and met with the Enemy at Iedd a River of Teviotdale where he joyned Battel and overthrew Osbreth enforcing him to fly to the next Mountains From thence he marched on by Tweed unto the Sea side recovered Berwick which had been taken by the English and again deserted by them upon the ill news of the success of the Battel where he took all the Ships riding in the Mouth of the River and seized upon all the Enemies Provisions therein There he got an opportunity to renew his interrupted Pleasures and as if his Enemies had been wholly overthrown he drowned himself in all kind of Voluptuousness Whereupon the English who in the last Fight were rather scatter'd than subdued understanding by their Spies the Carelesness and Security of the Scots gathered together what Force they could out of the Neighborhood and by night set upon the Scots who were laden with Wine and fast asleep making a great slaughter amongst them but they took the King who was between sleeping and waking Prisoner From thence they followed the Course of their Victory and to make their Ravage more compleat they divided their Army into Two Parts and so marched into the Enemies Country Part of them when they came to the Forth got Vessels and essayed to pass over by Water into Fife but a great Number of them were Shipwrackt and drowned and the rest by the violence of the Storm were forced back to the Shore where they embarked from whence marching to Sterling and joyning with the rest of their Army they pass over the Forth on a Bridge The Scots after their flight gathered themselves into a Body thereabouts having the bare show rather than the strength of an Army and sent Ambassadors to the English for Peace which they did not refuse because their strength was weakened by the unsuccessful Battel of Iedd and also by their own Shipwrack The English propounded hard Conditions yet such as the present State of Affairs made to seem tolerable As that The Scots should yield up all the Land which was within the Wall of Severus That their Bounds should be beneath Sterling the Forth beneath Dunbarton the Clyd and between the Two Rivers the Wall of Severus Amidst such hard Terms of Peace yet this happened as joyous so unexpected to the Scots That no mention was made concerning the Reduction of the Picts For the English and Britains divided the Lands surrendred up betwixt them the River being a Boundary betwixt them both There are some who think the Money yet called Sterling was then Coined there The Lands being thus divided the Picts who thought to recover their own being eluded of their hopes passed over to the Cimbrians and Scandians i. e. as we now speak to Denmark and Norway Those few of them that staid in England were all put to death by them upon pretence that they would attempt Innovations by their soliciting of Forein Aid Donaldus after he had made Peace upon his Return was Honourably received partly out of Respect to his Ancestors and partly in hopes of his Repentance But he persevering in his wonted Slothfulness the Nobles fearing that so filthy and sluggish a Person who would neither hearken to the Counsels of his Friends nor be reclaimed by his own Calamities would lose that part of the Kingdom which remained cast him into Prison where either for Grief in having his Pleasure restrained or for Fear to be made a Publick Spectacle of Scorn he laid violent hands on himself in the Sixth Year of his Reign Others report that This Donaldus performed many Noble Exploits both at home and abroad and that he dyed a natural death at Scone in the Year of our Lord 858. Constantinus II. The Seventy First King COnstantinus the Son of Kennethus undertook the Kingdom after him at Scone he was a Prince of a great Spirit and highly Valorous He was desirous to obliterate the Ignominy received under Donaldus and to enlarge his Kingdom unto the Bounds left by his Father but he was otherwise advised by his Nobles because the greatest part of the Soldiery were slain under Donaldus and the remainder was grown so Corrupt that it was not fit to put Arms into their hands And thereupon the King first bent his care to amend the Publick Discipline and so he reduced the Order of Priests to their Ancient Parsimony by severe Laws in regard they had left off Preaching and had given up themselves to Luxury Hunting Hawking and to Courtly-Pomp He caused the Young Soldiers who were effeminated with Pleasures to lye on the Ground and to Eat but once a day Drunkards he punished with Death He forbad all sports but those who served to harden both Body and Mind for the Wars By these Laws the Soldiery of the Kingdom were reduced to a better pass And presently upon a certain Islander named Evenus whom he himself had made Governour of Loch-Abyr a Man of an unquiet Spirit and Ambitious of Dominion rose up in Arms who knowing That the Youthful Fry of Soldiers could not well bear the Severity of these New Laws First gathered together a small Number and then a greater complaining of the present State of Things And when he found his Discourse was acceptable to them he easily persuaded them to conspire for the Destruction of Constantine But being more active than cautelous in gathering strength to their Faction they were betrayed by some of their Own and slain before they knew any Forces were gathered together against them Evenus the head of the Conspiracy was hanged About this time it was That the Danes then the most Potent and Flourishing Nation amongst the Germans were solicited by the Picts against the Scots and also by one Buernus or as others write Verna whose Wife Osbreth had forceably
Danes who had been afflicted with so many Calamities Neither did he long survive his Victory The English chose his Brother Edred King after him against whom the Danes who possessed Northumberland and never cordially observed any Peace made with the English did rebel and took from him many strong Places whilst he was busied in other parts of his Kingdom and principally York but he overcame them by the assistance of 10000 Scots Malcolm returning home gave himself up wholly to the Arts of Peace And to cure the Inconveniencies occasioned by the Wars especially Luxury and Bribery he himself did ordinarily Visit all the Scots Courts of Judicature once in two years and administred Justice with great Equity At length whilest he was busie in punishing Robbers and in restraining the lewd Manners of the younger sort he was slain by some Conspirators of Murray-Land in the night in the Fifteenth year of his Reign The Perpetrators of that Villany were with great diligence sought after and found out by the Nobles and being apprehended were put to several exquisite Deaths according to every ones share of demerit in committing the Parricide Indulfus The Seventy Seventh King INdulfus Reigned after him who having setled things in Peace at home lived seven years after in great Tranquillity But in the Eighth year of his Reign the Danes taking it amiss that the Alliance with the English was preferred before Theirs and that a perpetual League was made between the two Kings against them came with a Navy of 50 Ships into the Firth of Forth when the Scots little expected any such thing insomuch that they had almost surprized and overthrown them unawares In such a sudden emergency all were full of fear and amazement insomuch that some carried their Goods into the midland Country as a place of more safety others came to the Sea-side to hinder the Enemies Landing Hago and Helricus were the two Admirals of the Fleet. They endeavoured first to Land in Lothian and afterwards in Fife but in vain then they essayed to enter the Firth of the River Tay but there also they were hindred from making any descent on Land so that they Coasted about the Sea-Coasts of Aeneia or Angus of Mern Marr and Buchan but in all places being hindred from Landing they hoisted their Sails into the Main as if they intended to return home But within a few days when all was secure they came back again and having gotten a convenient place in Boâ—â— at the Mouth of the River Cullin they there landed their Men without opposition before the Country People could give any alarm of their Arrival When Indulfus heard of their landing he marched towards them before they could well have any notice of his coming and first he set upon the straggling Plunderers and drove them to the rest of their Army but made no great Slaughter of them because the Camp of the Danes was near for them to retreat to When the Armies came in sight of each other they both set the Battel in array and fell to it with equal force and courage Whilst they were thus fiercely fighting Grame and Dumbar with some Troops of Lothian-Men appeared on the Rear of the Danes which struck them into such a Pannick fear that they all run away some to their Ships others to unknown places whithersoever the Fear of the Enemy drove them But a great part of them cast themselves into a Ring in a Woody Vale and there waited for an occasion of acting valorously or dying resolutely Indulfus as if his Enemies had been wholly overcome rode up and down with a few Attendants and casually lighting on them was there slain at the beginning of the Tenth year of his Reign Some say that he was slain with an Arrow shot out of a Ship having disarmed himself that he might be more nimble in the pursuit and press the more eagerly upon them as they were going a Shipboard Duffus The Seventy Eighth King AFter his Death Duffus the Son of Malcolm got the Kingdom in the beginning of his Reign he made Culenus Son of King Indulfus Governour of Cumberland and sent him into the Aeâ—â—dae which were then in War and Disorder by reason of the frequent Robberies committed there For the young Soldiers of the Nobility having got a great Pack of their Fellows about them made the Common People tributary to them imposing a pecuniary Mulct on every Family besides Free-quarter and yet Culenâ—s dealt not harmer with them than with the very Governors themselves of the Island who ought â—o have restrained such outrages He commanded That for the future They by whose negligence these disorders had happen'd should make Satisfaction to the Commonalty and also pay a Fine to the King This Injunction strook such a Terror into these Idle paltry Fellows that Many of them went over into Ireland and there got their Living by their Daily labour As this matter was acceptable to the Commons so it was as offensive to the Noble Allies of Those who were Banished and to many of the younger sort who did approve that idle kind of Life These Men in all their Meetings and Assemblies First secretly Afterwards in the presence of a Multitude of such as applauded them began openly to revile their King alleging That he despised the Nobility and was drawn away and seduced by the Counsel of sorry Priests That he put Men of Gentile Extraction to Servile Offices That he advanced the most abject of the People to the Highest Honours That in fine he made such Medleys as to turn all things Topsy-Turvy They added farther That if things should continue at that pass either the Nobility must transport themselves into other Countrys or else must make them a new King who might Govern the People by those ancient Laws whereby the Kingdom had arrived to that height out of so small beginnings Amidst these things the King was assaulted with a new and unusual Disease no evident cause thereof appearing so that when all Remedies had been tryed in vain a Rumour was spread abroad by I know not who that he was bewitched the suspicion whereof arose either from some Indications of his Disease or else because his body did waste and pine away by continual sweating and his strength was so much decay'd that the Physicians who were sent for far and near knew not what to apply for his relief Thus no Common causes of the disease discovering its self they had recourse to a Secret one And whilst all were intent on the Kings Malady at last News was brought That Nightly Assemblies and Conspiracies were made against him at Foress a Town in Murray The Report was taken for truth there being nothing to contradict it Whereupon some faithful Messengers were sent to Donald Governor of the Castle in whom the King confided much even in his greatest Affairs to find out the truth of the matter He by the discovery of a certain Harlot whose Mother was
bridled and saddled for all Events and being not able to find the way in regard the Snow covered all the Track they were confounded and arrived at a Lake by the Town of Forfar where endeavouring to pass ovâ—r the Ice being not very firm they sunk with their Weight and were all drowned Their Bodies lay undiscovered for a season by reason the Ice closed again but when a Thaw came they were found and hung upon Gibbets in the High-ways there to rot for the Terrour of the Living and in Reproach to them after they were dead This is the common Report about Malcolm's End though some write that he was slain by an Ambush laid by the Kinred of Grimus and Constantinus the former Kings after a bloody Bâ—ttel joyned and fought betwixt them Others say that he was killed by the Friends of a Noble Virgin whom he had forceably vitiated but all agree that he came to a violent Death Malcolm Reigned so justly above Thirty Years that unless Avarice had corrupted his Mind in 's Old Age he might well have been numbered amongst the Best of Princes The Year in which he died was a Prodigious One for in the Winter the Rivers did mightily overflow and in Spring there were great Inundations of the Sea And moreover a few Days after the Summer Solstice there were very pinching Frosts and mighty Snows by which means the Fruits of the Earth being spoiled a great Famine did ensue The Seventh BOOK I Have declared in the former Book how eagerly Kennethus and his Son Malcolm did strive to settle the Succession to the Crown in their Families That the Eldest Son might succeed the Father But what the Success thereof was will appear in the Sequel This is certain That that Publick Benefit which was promised to the whole Kingdom nor yet the private Advantage alleged to arise to our Kings thereby were not at all obtained by this New Law An Universal Good to All was pretended in thus settling the Succession that Seditions Murders and Treacheries might be prevented amongst Those of the Blood and also that Ambition with the other Mischiefs accompanying it might be rooted out from amongst the Nobles But on the contrary when I enquire into the Causes of Publick Grievances and compare the Old with the Modern it seems to me That all those Mischiefs which we would have avoided by this New Law are so far from being extinguished by the Antiquating of the Old that they rather receive a great Increase therefrom For not to speak of the Plots of their Kinred against Those who are actually in the Throne nor of a present King 's Evil Suspitions of those whom Nature and the Law would have accounted as most dear to him I say omitting these things which in the Series of our History will be further explained all the Miseries of former Ages may seem light and tolerable if compared with those Calamities which followed upon the Death of Alexander the Third Neither will I insist upon the Particulars following viz. that That Law doth enervate the Force of all Publick Councils without which no Lawful Government can subsist That it doth willingly and by consent create those Evils to our selves which others who have Interest in Publick Governments do chiefly if not only deprecate viz. To have Kings over whom other Governors must be appointed and so the People are to be universally committed into their Power who have no Power over themselves insomuch That those Persons who are hardly brought to Obey Wise Prudent and Experienced Kings are now required to yield Obedience as it were to the very shadow of a King by which means we willingly precipitate our selves into those Punishments which God threatens to Those who despise and contemn his Holy Majesty namely That Children Male or Female may Reign over us whom the Law of Nations and even Nature it self the Mother of all Laws hath subjected to the Rule of others As for the private Benefit That Kings aim at by this Law i. e. That they may perpetuate their Name and Stock how vain and fallacious that Pretence is the Examples of the Ancients yea even Nature it self might inform them if they had but considered by how many Laws and Rewards the Romans endeavoured to perennate the mighty Names of their Families of which yet no one Footstep remains at this Day no not in any part of the World which they had Conquered Which Disappointment doth deservedly attend those who fight against even Nature it self by endeavouring to cloath a fading frail Thing subject to Momentany Alterations and Blasts of Fortune with a sort of Perpetuity and to endow it with a kind of Eternity which they themselves neither are Partakers of nor can be yea they strive to effect it by those Mediums which are most cross to their purpose For what is less conducive to Perpetuity than Tyranny Yet this New Law makes a great Step thereto for a Tyrant is as it were the White or Mark exposed to the Hate of all Men insomuch that he cannot long subsist and when he falls all His fall with him It seems to me That God doth sometimes gently chastize and disappoint this endeavour of Foolish Men and sometimes he doth expose it even to Publick Scorn as if it were emulous of his own Power There can be no clearer or fitter Example of Gods Will and Pleasure than That which we have now under our Hands For Malcolm who so much laboured to confirm the Law which was almost forcibly Enacted by his Father by common Suffrage and Consent For the Kings Children to be substituted in the Room of their deceased Parents even He left no Male-Child behind him but he had Two Daughters One called Beatrix whom he Married to a Nobleman named Grimus the Thane of the Western Islands and the Chief of all other Thanes and therefore styled in that Age Abthane the Other named Doaca he Married to the Thane of Angus by whom he begot Mackbeth or Macbeda of whom in his Place Donaldus VII The Eighty Fourth King MALCOLM being slain as hath been related Donaldus his Nephew by his Daughter Beatrix succeeded him A Prince of great Courtesy and of more Indulgence to his own Kindred than became a King For he was of a mild and Inclineable Disposition and from his Youth gave forth Omens of his Popularity For in the most difficult times when he was made Governor of Cumberland by his Grandfather and could not câ—me to the King by reason of the Danish Troops which swarmed over the Country and stopped all Passages to Swear to the Laws yet he faithfully took part with the English until Canutus having had the rest of England surrendred to him made an Expedition against him and then he submitted himself to the Danes on the same Conditions under which he obeyed the English before This also was popular in him That he administred Justice with great Equity and every Year he visited the Provinces
of Silver as a Largess being moved thereunto either out of Remembrance of his former Bounty to him or on the Consideration of his present Want Neither were ever the Scots and English more Gracious than at that time as many judge There William fell very Sick and a Rumour of his Death being noised abroad caused new Combustions in Scotland Harald Earl of the Orcades and of Caithnes hated the Bishop of Caithnes because as he alledged he was the Obstacle that he could not obtain what he desired of the King and therefore he took him Prisoner cut out his Tongue and also put out his Eyes The King returning home overthrew Harald in several Skirmishes and destroyed most of his Forces Harald himself was taken in his Flight and brought back to the King who when his Eyes also were first put out by way of Retaliation was afterwards hanged his whole Male-Stock were Gelded the rest of his Kinn and Companions of his Wickedness were deeply Fined These things are thus related by Hector Boetius and common Report confirms them yea the Hill receiving its Name from Testicles gives credit to the Relation so that it seems truer than what others Write in this matter These things happened in the Year of our Salvation 1198. in which Year the King had a Son named Alexander Born to him and Richard of England dying his Brother Iohn succeeded him Whereupon the King of Scots went into England to take his Oath to him for the Lands which he held in England and in the beginning of Iohn's new Reign his Coming was not more acceptable than his Departure displeasing because he refused to follow Iohn in his Expedition into France against Philip his old Friend So that as soon as Iohn returned out of France he sought Occasion for a War with the Scots and began to build a Fort over against Berwick William having in vain complained of the Injurie by his Embassadors gathered a Company together and demolished what was built thereof Upon which Armies were Levied on both sides but when their Camps were near to one another Peace was made by the Intervention of the Nobles on these Terms That William's Two Daughters should be given in Matrimony to Iohn's Two Sons assoon as ever they were Marriageable A great Dowry was promised and Caution made That no Fort should be built and Hostages also were given in the case William at his return fell into an unexpected Danger The greatest Part of the Town of Berth was swept away in the Night by an Inundation of the River Tay Neither was the King's Palace exempted from the Calamity but his Son an Infant with his Nurse and 14 more were drowned the rest hardly escaping Many also of the Promiscuous Multitude lost their Lives The King perceiving that the Water had overwhelmed the greatest part of the Ground on which the City stood and that almost every House in the Town had suffered thereby caused a new City to be built a little below in a more commodious place on the same River and making some small variation of the Name called it Perth in Memory as some say of one Perth a Nobleman who gave the King the Land on which the City was built About the same time the King took Gothered Makul Captain of the Rebels in the North who was betrayed to him by his own Men. When he was Prisoner he constantly abstained from all Food to prevent as 't is thought a more heavy Punishment This was in a manner the last memorable Fact of William's which yet in regard of his unweildy Age was acted by his Captains For he Dyed soon after in the 74 th year of his Age and the 49 th year of his Reign A. D. 1643. Not long before his Death Leagues were renewed with Iohn King of England almost every Year for he being a Man desirous to enlarge his Dominions thô he had War with the French abroad with the Romanists at home and moreover was never on sure Terms of Peace with the Irish or Welsh yet did not break off his Inclination to invade Scotland which had then an old Man for their King and the next Heir to him a Child Frequent Conferences happened on this Occasion rather to try what might be obtained than in hopes of any good Issue at length the Matter broke out into open Suspicion And after many Leagues made between Them at last William was called to Newcastle upon Tine Whither he came but there falling into a dangerous Disease he returned without doing any thing In fine a little before his Death he was invited to Norham on the Tweed and when his Sickness would not permit him to go his Son was desired to come in his stead which yet by the Advice of the Council was refused the Leagues established in those Interviews I shall not particularly mention for they almost all contain the same things having in them nothing New save that in One of them it was Articled That the Scotish Kings should not Swear nor be Feudataries to the Kings of England Themselves for the English Lands they held but their Children only The Mention of these things is wholly omitted by the English Writers also I believe for this very Cause Alexander II. The Ninety Fourth King WIlliam was succeeded by Alexander his Son begot on Emergard who was Kinswoman to the King of England and Daughter to the Earl of Beaumont He was but Sixteen years of age when he began to Reign entring upon the Government in troublesom Times he composed and setled things more prudently than could be expected from one of his years First of all he Indicted a Publick Convention of the Estates and therein by a Decree he confirmed all the Acts of his Father that good and prudent Prince His first Expedition was into England not out of any private Ambition but to bridle the Tyranny of Iohn and it was then said that he was sent for in by the Ecclesiasticks of that Kingdom He left Norham upon certain Conditions when he had begun to besiege it and piercing further into the Kingdom he carried it very severely against all the Royalists Upon his Return home Iohn invaded Scotland quickly after He made a mighty Devastation in Dunbar Hadington and all the Neighbouring Parts of Lothian and to spread the War and Ruin further he determined to return another Way Alexander being very desirous to decide it by a Battel pitcht his Tents between the Pentland Hills and the River Eske which way as it was bruited he would return but Iohn to avoid fighting marched along by the Sea and burnt the Monastery of Coldingham he also took and burnt Berwick which was then but meanly fortified As he thus marched hastily back Alexander followed him as fast as he could and making great havock all over Northumberland came as far as Richmond But Iohn by speedy marches having retreated into the heart of England Alexander returned by Westmorland and
Rebels with their General The same year Alexander with his Wife went for England to allay the Tumults as much as he could raised against Henry and to reconcile him to the Nobility Whilest he was busie about this at York his Wife went with the Queen of England a Pilgrimage to Canterbury but at her return she fell sick died and was buried at London Not long after her Death the King being Childless Married Mary the Daughter of Ingelram Earl of Coucy in France in the year of Christ 1239 by whom he had Alexander who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Two years after viz. in 1242 whilst the King was hastening to England to visit that King newly returned from France and refreshed himself a while at Hadington in Lothian with Horse-Races the Lodging or Inn of Patrick of Gallway Earl of Athol was set on Fire wherein he and two of his Servants were burnt the Fire speading it self a great way further It was not thought to have casually happened because of the Noted Fewds between Patrick and the Family of the Bizets And though William the Chief of that Family was at Forfar above 60 Miles from Hadington the same night that the Fire happened as the Queen could testify in his behalf yet because the adverse Party being the Kindred of Patrick pleaded That many of his Servants and Tenants were seen at Hadington at that time William was Summoned to appear He came to Edinburgh at the day prefixed but not daring to stand to his Tryal because of the Potency of his Adversaries which were the Cumins's he would have Tryed the matter in a Duel but That being not accepted he and some of his Sept banished themselves into Ireland where he left a Noble Family of his Name and House There was also another Seditious Tumult in Argyle Raised by Sumerled Son of the former Sumerled but he was soon suppressed by Patrick Dunbar and submitting to the Kings Mercy obtained Pardon for all his past Offences The King not long after fell sick and died in the 51 Year of his Age the 35 of his Reign and of our Lord 1249. Alexander the III. The Ninety Fifth King ALexander the Third His Son was Crowned King at Scone the same Year a Child not past Eight years Old The Power of all things was mostly in the Faction of the Cumins's For they turned the Publick Revenue to the Enrichment of themselves oppressed the Poor and by false Accusations cut off some of the Nobles who were averse to their humours and desires and dared to speak freely of the State of the Kingdom and being Condemned their Goods were Confiscated and brought into the Kings Exchequer from whence they who rather Commanded than Obeyed the King received them back again for their Private Emolument A Convention of the Estates being held the chief Matter in agitation was to pacify the King of England lest in such a troublesome time he should make any Attempt upon Them and to do it more easily an Affinity was proposed This Way seemed more commodious to the Anti-Cuminian Party to undermine their Power than openly to oppugn it Whereupon Embassadors were sent to England who were kindly received and munificently rewarded by that King who granted them all their Desires The next Year which was 1251 both Kings met at York the 8th of the Calends of Dâ—cember There on Christmas day this Alexander was made Knight by the King of England and the day after the Match was concluded betwixt him and Margarite Henrys Daughter A Peace was also renewed betwixt them which as long as Henry lived was inviolably observed And because Alexander was yet but a Child and under Age it was Decreed by the advice of his Friends That he should consult his Father-in-Law as a Guardian in all Matters of Weight Some of the Prime men being accused by Virtue of this Decree secretly withdrew themselves When the King returned home Robert Abbat of Dumferling Chancellor of the Kingdom was accused because he had Legitimated the Wife of Alane Durward who was but the Natural or Base-born Daughter of Alexander the Second That so if the King dyed without Issue she might come in as Heiress Upon this Fear the Chancellor as soon as ever he returned home surrendred up the Seal to the Nobles Gamâ—lin afterwards Bishop of St. Andrews succeeded him in his Office The Three next Years they who were the Kings Council did almost every one of them carry themselves as Kings whatever they catched was their own so that the poor Commonalty was left destitute and miserably oppressed The King of England being made acquainted therewith out of his paternal Affection to his Son in Law came to Werk-Castle scituate on the Borders of Scotland and sent for his Son in Law Alexander and his Nobles thither There by his Advice many advantageous Alterations were made especially of those Magistrates by whose Defaults Insurrections had been made at home And also many profitable Statutes were Enacted for the Future The King returned to Scotland with his Wife and having an English Guard to convey him home he resolved to dwel in the Castle of Edinburgh Walter Cumins Earl of Monteath kept the Castle who was disaffected because of the Change of the Publick State made by the King of England yet he was compelled to surrender it by Patrick Dunbar with the Assistance of the English Forces The greatest Part of the Nobility and of the Ecclesiasticks were offended in regard their Power was somewhat abridged by those New Statutes which they looked upon as a Yoke imposed upon them by the English and a Beginning of their Servitude Yea they proceeded to that height of Contumacy that being Summoned to give a Legal Account of their Management of Affairs in former times they made light of the Summons The same Persons who were the Principal Actors in disturbing things before were now the Chief Incouragers to Disobedience They were generally the Clans of the Cumins's Walter Earl of Monteath Alexander Earl of Buchan Iohn Earl of Athol William Earl of Marr and other Considerable Men of the same Faction They dared not to put their Cause on a Legal Tryal as being conscious to themselves of the many Wrongs done to the Poor and meaner Sort yea to the King himself and therefore they resolved to out-face Justice by their Impudent Audacity For being informed That the King was but lightly Guarded and lived securely at Kinross as in a time of Peace They immediately gathered a Band of their Vassals about them Seized him as he was asleep and carried him to Sterling and as if there were no Force in the Case but they had been rightfully Elected they discharged and expelled his Servants took New and managed all things at their own Will and Pleasure so that now the Terror and Consternation was turned upon the Former Counsellors But this Sedition was allay'd by the Death of Walter Cumins who
was Poysoned as it is thought by his Wife an English Woman The Suspicion thereof was encreased on her because tho' she were Wooed by many Nobles yet she Married Iohn Russel her Gallant a Young English Spark She was accused of Witchcraft too and cast into Prison but she bought out her Liberty Russel and his Wife obtained Letters from the Pope permitting them to commence an Action of the Case against their Adversaries for the Wrong done them before the Popes Legate But it was to no purpose because the Scots urged an Ancient Privilege exempting them from going out of the Kingdom when they were to plead their Causes When the King was of Age upon the humble Petition of the Cumins's he Pardoned them as if all their offences had been expiated by the Death of Walter He was induced so to do as some say by reason of the Greatness of their Family and also because he feared Foreign Wars when Matters were so unsetled at home But that War began not so soon as Men thought it would In the Year of Christ 1263. in the Calends of August Acho King of Norwey with a Fleet of 160 Sail came to Air a Maritime Town of Coil where he Landed 20000 Men. The Cause of the War as he pretended was that some Islands which were promised to his Ancestors by Mackbeth were not yet put into his Hands viz. Bote Aran and both the Cumbras's which were never reckoned amongst the Aebudae But it was enough for him who sought a pretence for a War that they were called Islands Acho took two of the greatest of them and reduced their Castles before he could meet with any Opposition being lifted up by this success he makes a descent into Cuningham the next Continent over against Bote in that part of it which they call the Largs There he met with Two Misfortunes almost at one and the same First he was overcome in Fight by Alexander Stuart the Great Grandfather of him who first of that Name was King of Scotland and being almost taken by the Multitude of his Enemies he hardly escaped in great Fear to his Ships The other was That his Ships being tossed in a mighty Tempest hardly carried him with a few of his followers who escaped into the Orcades There were slain in that Battel Sixteen Thousand of the Norwegians and Five Thousand of the Scots some Writers say that King Alexander himself was in this Fight Yet they also make Honourable mention of the Name of this Alexander Stuart Acho died of Grief for the Loss of his Army and of his Kinsman too a Valiant Youth whose Name is not mentioned by Writers His Son Magnus who was lately come to him perceiving Things in a desperater Posture than he ever thought they would be brought to especially having no hopes of Recruit from home before the Spring and also finding the Minds of the Islanders alienated from him and that he was forsaken of the Scots too in Confidence of whose Aid his Father had undertaken that War these things considered he easily inclined to Terms of Peace The Spirit of the young Man was quailed both by the unlucky Fight and also by his Fear of the Islanders For Alexander had then recovered by sending about some Ships the Isle of Man situate almost in the midst between Scotland and Ireland upon these Conditions That the King thereof should send in Ten Gallies to the Scots as oft as there was occasion and that the Scots should defend him from a Foreign Enemy When Magnus saw That the rest of the Islands inclined to follow the Example of the Manks-Men he sent Ambassadors to treat of Peace which Alexander refused to make unless the Aebudae were restored at last by the diligence of the Commissioners it was agreed that the Scots should have the Aebudae for which at present they were to pay 1000 Marks of Silver and 100 Marks an Year And moreover That Margarite Alexanders Daughter being then but Four years old should Marry Hangonan the Son of Magnus assoon as she was fit for Marriage About this time the King of England being infested with Civil War had Five Thousand Scots sent him for his Assistance under the Command of Râ—bert Bruce and Alexander Cumins whom the English Writers call Iohn the greatest part of them were slain in Fight and Cumins with the Englâ—sh King himself and his Son and a great part of the English Nobility of the Kings Party were taken Prisoners Moreover the Scots King was much troubled at the Arrogance of the Priests and Monks in his Kingdom who being enriched by former Kings began to grow wanton in a continued Peace Yea they endeavoured to be equal if not superior to the Nobility whom they excelled in Wealth The young Nobility repining at it and taking it in great disdain used them coursly whereupon complaints were made by them to the King who imagining either that their Wrongs were not so great as they represented them or else that they suffered them deservedly neglected their pretended Grievances whereupon they Excommunicated All but the King and in great Wrath determined to go to Rome But the King remembring what great Commotions Thomas Becket the prime promoter of Ecclesiastical Ambition had lately made in England called them back from their Journy and caused the Nobility to satisfie not only their Avarice but even their Arrogance too And indeed they were the more inclinable to an Accord with the King because he had lately undertaken the Patronage of the Ecclesiastical Orders against the Avarice of the Romanists For a little before Ottobon the Popes Legate was come into England to appease the Civil Discords but not being able to effect the thing he came for he omitted the publick Care and studied his own private Gain and Lucre he Indicted an Ecclesiastical Assembly of the English Procters from Scotland being also called thereunto in the mean time he endeavoured to exact Four Marks of Silver from every Parish in Scotland and Six from all Cathedrals for the Expence of Procurations This Contribution or Tax was scarce refused when News was brought That another Legate was arrived in England intending also for Scotland on pretence to gather up Money for the Holy War and besides that procurable by Indulgences and other Lime-Twigs to catch Money he endeavoured to wrest from all Bishops Abbats and Parish Priests as judging them to be immediately under Papal Jurisdiction the Tenth part of their yearly Revenues that so Edward and Edmond Sons to the King of England might go more Nobly and Numerously attended to the War in Syria The Scots judged this Tax to be very grievous and unjust especially because the English seemed to be so forward to have it granted as if Scotland were not sui Iuris or an absolute Kingdom but Dependent on England Moreover they were afraid lest the Legat should riotously mispend the Money designed for the War as was done some Years
Changes happening in so long a War had confounded the Right of Mens Possessions he commanded every one to produce and shew By what Title he held his Estate This Matter was equally grievous to the Old Possessors as well as the New Valiant Men thought they enjoyed That by a good Right which they had taken from their Enemies and they took it much amiss That what they had got as the Price of their Military Toil yea of their Blood too should be rent from them in Times of Peace As for the old Owners of Estates seeing there was no one House almost but had suffered in the War They had lost their Deeds by which they held their Lands as well as their other Goods Whereupon they all entred upon a Project valiant in appearance but bold and temerarious in the event For when the King in the Parliament commanded them to produce their Titles every one drew his Sword and cried out We carry our Titles in our Right Hands The King being amazed at this sudden and surprising Spectacle though he took the Matter very heinously yet he stifled his Indignation for the present until a fit Time of Revenge And it was not long before an Occasion was offered him to shew it Divers of the Nobles being conscious to themselves of the Audacity of their late Attempt and fearing to be punished for it conspire together to betray the Kingdom to the English The Fact was discovered to the King and that so plainly that the Letters declaring the Manner Time and Place were intercepted and their Crime made evident Whereupon they were all taken and brought to the King without any Tumult at all raised at their Apprehension And because it was much feared That William Souls Governor of Berwick would deliver up both Town and Castle to the English before the Conspiracy was publickly divulged he made a Journy thither as it were by she by A Convention was made at Perth to try the Prisoners where the Letters were produced and every ones Seal known being convicted of High-Treason by their own Confession they were put to Death The Chief were David Brechin and William Lord Souls of the Nobility also Gilbert Mayler Richard Brown and Iohn Logie besides there were many others of all Orders accused but there being only Suspicion against them they were dismissed The Death of David Brechin only did diversly affect Mens minds for besides that he was the Son of the Kings Sister he was accounted the Prime young man of his Age for all Arts both of Peace and War He had given given evident Proofs of his Valour in Syria in the Holy War He being summoned in by the Popular Conspirators never gave his Consent to the Treason only his Crime was That being made acquainted with so foul a Machination he did not Discover it The Body of Roger Mowbray who dyed before Conviction was Condemned to all kind of Ignominy but the King remitted that Punishment and caused it to be buried Some some few Months before this Process was had the Popes Legates who at the request of the English came to compose the Dissensions betwixt the Kingdoms not being able to do any thing therein lest they might seem to have done nothing for the English in their Legation Excommunicated the Scots and forbad them the Use of Publick Divine Service the Popes Thunderbolts being terrible in Those days Bruce to shew how little he valued the Popes Curses in an unjust Cause gathered an Army and invaded England following the Legate at his Departure almost at his very heels There he made a foul havock with Fire and Sword and came as far as the Cross at Stanmore The English not to suffer so great Ignominy to pass unrevenged levied so numerous an Army that they promised themselves an easy Victory even without Blood Robert thought it dangerous to run the Hazard of All in a Battel against the mighty Army of so great a King but rather he resolved to help out the matter with Policy rather than by Force He drave all the Cattle into the Mountains whither Armies could not but with great Difficulty ascend and all other things of use for an Army he caused either to be reposited in Fortify'd Places or to be wholly spoiled The English who came thither in hopes of a speedy Battel and had not Provisions for a long March when they perceived what Devastation was made in their own Country were inflamed with Anger Hatred and Desire of Revenge and resolved to pierce into the middst of Scotland and to ferret the King out of his boroughs yea and force him to a Fight tho' against his Will For the Greatness of his Forces did encourage him to hope that either he should blot out his former Ignominy by an Eminent Victory or else should recompense his Loss lately received by an enlarged Depopulation With this Resolution he came in all hast to Edinburgh he spared Churches only in his March but the further he was to go the more scarcity he was like to find So that in five days time he was forced to retreat At his return he spoiled all things both Sacred and Prophane He burnt the Monasteries of Driburgh and Mulross and killed those old Monks whom either Weakness or Confidence in their Old Age had caused to stay there As soon as Bruce was informed that Edward was returned for want of Provision and that Diseases did rage in his Army so that he had lost more Men than if he had been overcome in Battel he almost trod upon his Heels with an Army noted more for the Goodness than the Number of Soldiers and came as far as York making grievous havock as he went He had almost taken the King Himself by an unexpected Assault at the Monastery of Biland where Edward in a tumultuary Battel was put to Flight all his Household-stuff Money Bag and Baggage being taken To blot out the Ignominy of this Infamous Flight Andrew Berkley Earl of Carlisle was a while after accused as if he had been bribed to betray the English and so he lost his Life in Punishment for the Cowardize of another Man The next Year a double Embassy was sent One to the Pope to reconcile him to the Scots from whom he had been alienated by the Calumnies of the English and Another to renew the Ancient League with the French They Both easily obtained what they desired For when the Pope understood That the Controversy arose by the Injury and Default of Edward the First who affirmed That the King of Scots ought to obey as a Feudatary the King of England and That the English had nothing to defend their Claim by but old Fables and late Injuries and besides That in Prosperity being Summoned by the Pope they always avoided an equal Decision of Things tho in their Adversity they were always humble suiters to him for his Aid and on the other side the Scots always were willing
to have their Cause heard and never shunned the Determination of an Equal Judge nor the Arbitration of any Good men and moreover when they produced many Grants and Summons of Former Popes which made for them and against their Enemies the Scots were always present at the day and the English tho' they had Notice given never came Hereupon the Pope was easily reconciled to the Scots and the French as easily induced to renew the Ancient League only one Article was added to the old Conditions That if any Controversy did hereafter arise amongst the Scots concerning him who was to succeed in the Kingdom the same should be decided by the Council of the States and the French if there were need were to assist Him by his Authority and with his Arms who by Lawful Suffrages was by them declared King Our Writers cast the Rise of the Hamiltons now a powerful Family in Scotland upon these Times There was a certain Nobleman in the Court of England who spake Honourably of the Fortune and Valour of Bruce whereupon one of the Spencers Bed-Chamber Man to the King either thinking That his Speech was Reproachful to the English or else to curry Favour with the looser sort of the Nobility drew forth his Faucheon and making at him gave him a slight wound in the Body The Man being of a great Spirit was more concerned at the Contumely than at the Damage and being hindered by the coming in of many to part the Fray from taking present Revenge the day after finding his Enemy in a sit Posture in the same place he run him thorough And fearing the Punishment of the Law and the great Power of the Spencers at Court he fled presently into Scotland to King Robert by whom he was courteously received and some Lands near the River Clyde were bestowed upon him His Posterity not long after were admitted to the Degree of Noblemen and the Opulent Family of the Hamiltons was Sirnamed from him and also the Name of Hamilton was imposed on the Lands which the King gave him Not long after Edward had great Combustions at home insomuch that he put many of the Nobles to Death and advanced the Spencers the Authors of all Evil Counsel higher than his own Kindred could bear so that he was apprehended by his Son and by his Wife who had received a small Force from beyond the Seas and kept close Prisoner and not long after he was slain by a course sort of Death an hot Iron was thrust into his Fundament through a Pipe of Horn by which his Bowels were burnt up and yet no Sign of so terrible a Fact appeared on the outside of his Body His Wife and Son were thought Privy to the Parricide either because his Keepers would never have dared to commit such a Deed so openly unless they had had Great Authors or else because they were never called in Question for so Immane a Butchery These Disturbances in England which were followed by the Kings Death Bruce also growing old and weak in Body were the Occasions that Peace for some Years did intercede between the Two Neighbour Nations For Bruce being freed from the Fear of the English and being also called upon by his Age converted his Thoughts to settle his Domestick Affairs And first he made hast to confirm the Kingdom which was not yet quite recovered nor fully setled from the Commotions of former Times to his only Son yet but a Child by the Consent and Decree of the Estates And if he died without Issue then he appointed Robert Stuart his Nephew by his Daughter to be his Successor He caused the Nobles to take an Oath for the Performance of this Decree But afterwards fearing That after his Death Baliol would begin his old Dispute about the Kingdom especially seeing his Heirs because of their Minority might be liable to be injured by others he sent Iames Douglas to Iohn Baliol being in France with large Gifts and Promises That he would cease his Claim to the Kingdom This he did not so much to acquire a new Right because according to the Scotish Custom The King is made by the Decree of the Estates who have the Supream Power in their Hands but that he might cut off all Occasion from Wicked Men to Calumniate his Posterity and also that he might Eradicate the very Seeds of Sedition Douglas found Baliol far more placable than he or others thought he would be for he was now surrounded with the Miseries of Extream Old Age. He ingenuously Confessed That his Peccant Exorbitance was justly restrained and that he was deservedly driven out of the Kingdom as unworthy to Reign And therefore he was very willing That his Kinsman Robert should enjoy the Crown by whose high Valour singular Felicity and great Pains-taking 't was Vindicated into its Ancient Splendour In one thing he rejoyced That they by whom he was deceived did not enjoy the Reward of their Perfidiousness When Robert had setled these Matters according to his own desire the same Year which was 1327. our Writers say That Ambassadors were sent into Scotland by Edward the Third for a Pacification in which Matter they seemed to act Treacherously and instead of Peace they carried home War but what the particular Fraud was is not expressed and the English say That the War was openly denounced by Robert but they describe not the Cause of it surely it must needs be some great and mighty One or else a valetudinary old Man when Peace was scarce setled at home and who might have been sated with his former Victories rather than with War would not so soon have been provoked to reassume his Arms. This is certain That the King by reason of his Age could not manage the War himself in Person so that Thomas Randolfe and Iamâ—s Douglas the Valiantest and Wisest of all that Age were sent by him into England with Twenty Thousand brave nimble Horse but no Foot at all The Reason was That they might fly up and down swiftly and not abide in one place nor be forced to Fight the English unless they themselves pleased For they knew that the English would make Head against them in their first Expedition with a far more numerous Army Neither were they deceived in their Opinions for the King of England besides his Domestick Forces had procured great Assistance of Horse from Belgium but in regard they and the English fell out at York some English Writers say That they returned home again But Frossard a French Writer of the same Age says That they accompanied the English during the whole Expedition and that not only for Honours sake but also for Fear of Sedition they had the next Place to the Kings Regiment always assigned to them in the Camp The King having made a Conjunction of all his Forces which were clearly above Sixty Thousand Men marched against the Scots who had already passed over the Tine Now there were
to settle Matters at home When the Marriage of his Son was magnificently celebrated he perceiving the end of his Life to be near at hand composed himself almost into the Habit of a private Man for some years before all the Grand Affairs of State had been managed by Thomas Randolph and Iames Douglas and lived in a small House at Cardross a place divided from Dumbritton by the River Levin and kept himself but in case of great Necessity from the Concourse of People Thither he called some of his Friends a little before his Death and made his Will He confirmed those to be his Heirs which were so declared by the Convention of Estates First David his Son being eight year old next Robert his Nephew by his Daughter he commended them to his Nobles and especially to Thomaâ— Randolph his Sisters Son and Iames Douglas Afterward he settled his Houshold Affairs and exhorted them all to Concord amongst themselves and to observance of Allegiance to their King if they did so he would assure them to be unconquerable by a Foreign Power Moreover he is reported to have added Three Commands or if you will Counsels First That they should never make any one Man Lord of the Aebudae Islands Next That they should never fight the English with all their Force at one time and Thirdly That they should never make with them a Perpetual League In Explicating his First Advice he discoursed much concerning the Number Bigness and Power of the Islands and concerning the Multitude Fierceness and Hardiness of their Inhabitants They with Ships Such as they were yet not inconvenient for those Coasts coping with Men unskill'd in Marine Affairs might do a great deal of Mischief to others but receive little Damage themselves And therefore Governors were Yearly to be sent thither to administer Justice amongst them by Officers who should not be continued long in their Places neither His Second Advice concerning the English stood upon this Foot Because the English as inhabiting a better Country did exceed the Scots in Number of Men Money and all other Warlike Preparations and by reason of these Conveniencies they were more accustomed to their Ease and not so patient of Labour or Hardship On the other side the Scots were bred in an hardier Soil and were by reason of their Parsimony and continual Exercise of a more healthy Constitution of Body and by the very manner of their Education made more capable to endure all Military Toil and therefore That they were fitter for suddain and occasional Assaults so to weaken and weary out their Enemy by degrees than to venture all at once in a pitch'd Battel His Third Advice was grounded upon this Reason Because if the Scots should have a long Peace with the English having no other Enemy besides them to exercise their Arms upon they would grow Lazy Luxurious and so easily become Slothful Voluptuous Effeminate and Weak As for the English though they had Peace with the Scots yet France was near them which kept their Arms in ure If then those who are skilful in Warlike Affairs should cope with the Scots thus grown unskilful and sluggish they might promise to themselves an assured Victory Moreover he commended to Iames Douglas the Performance of the Vow which he had made which was to go over into Syria and to undertake the Cause of Christendom in the Holy War against the Common Enemy thereof And because he himself by reason of his Home-bred Seditions or else being broken with Age and Diseases could not perform the Vow himself he earnestly desired That Douglas would carry his Heart after he was deceased to Jerusalem that it might be buried there Douglas looked upon This as an Honourable Imployment and as an eminent Testimony of the Kings Favour towards him and therefore the next Year after the Kings Death with a good Brigade of Noble young Men he prepared for his Voyage But being upon the Coasts of Spain he heard That the King of Arragon managed a fierce War against the same Enemy with which he was to fight in Syria and thinking with himself that it mattered not in what Place he assisted in the Cause of Christianity he Landed his Men and joined himself with the Spaniard where after many prosperous Fights at last despising the Enemy as a weak and fugitive one he thought to attempt something against him with his own Men and so rushing unadvisedly on the Army of the Sarazens he was by them drawn into an Ambush wherein he and most part of his Men were slain His chief Friends that perished with him were William Sinclare and Robert Logan This happened the next year after the Kings Death which was 1330. To be short Robert Bruce was certainly a most Illustrious Person every way and he can hardly be parallelled for his Virtues and Valour even in the most Heroick Times for as he was very Valiant in War so he was most Just and Temperate in Peace and though his unhoped for Successes and after that Fortune was once satiated or rather wearied with his Miseries a continual course of perpetuated Victory did highly Ennoble him yet to me he seemed to have been more Glorious in his Adversities For What a strong Heart was That which was not broken no nor yet weakened by so many Miseries as brake in upon him all at once Whose Constancy would it not have tried to have his Wife a Prisoner and to have his Four Valiant Brothers cruelly put to Death And his Friends at the same time vexed with all kind of Calamities and they which escaped with their Lives were Exiled and lost all their Estates As for himself he was outed not only of a large Patrimony but of a Kingdom too by the powerfullest King of those Times and one who was most ready both for Advice and Action Though he were beset with all these Evils at one time yea and brought into the extreamest Want yet he never doubted of recovering the Kingdom Neither did he ever do or say any thing which was unbecoming a Royal Spirit He did not do as Cato the Younger and Marcus Brutus who laid violent Hands on themselves neither did he as Marius incensed by his Sufferings let loose the Reins of Hatred and Passion against his Enemies but when he had recovered his Ancient State and Kingdom he so carried it towards them who had put him to so much Hardship and Trouble That he seemed rather to Remember that he was now their King than that he had been sometimes their Enemy And even a little before his Death though a great Disease made an addition to the Trouble of his Old Age yet he was so much Himself as to confirm the Present State of the Kingdom yea and to consult the quiet of his Posterity So that when he died all Men bewailed him as being deprived not only of a Just King but of a Loving Father too He departed this Life the Seventh of
the Ides of Iuly in the Year of Christ 1329. and of his Reign the Twenty Fourth The Ninth BOOK THE Nobles of Scotland having performed the Funeral Obsequies for the late King assoon as they could conveniently did Indict a Convention of the Estates for the Electing of a Regent where the Inclinations of the Publick easily pitched on Thomas Randolf Earl of Murray for even in the Kings Life Time he had for some Years managed that Office and the King at his Death had also Recommended him to the People by his last Will and Testament David II. The Ninety Eighth King THE Coronation of the King was deferred till the Eighth of the Calends of December the next Year following that so by the Permission of the Pope he might be Anointed and that new Ceremony be performed more Augustly amongst the Scots Assoon as the Regent was chosen he first of all ratified the Peace made with the English afterward he applied his Mind to settle quiet at home and to suppress publick Robberies In order whereto he kept a strong Guard of Armed Men about him which were ready on all Occasions so that when News was brought him as he was going to Wigton which is a Town in Galway that there was a strong Band of Thieves who beset the Highways and robbed Travellers in that Country he sent out his Guard against them even as he was in his Progress who took them every Man whom he caused to be put to Death He was Inexorable against all Murderers so that he caused a certain Man to be apprehended who had obtained the Popes Bull of Pardon for his Offence and thereupon thought himself secure to be apprehended alledging That the Pope might Pardon the Soul-Guilt but the Body-Punishment belonged to the King To prevent Robberies which were yet too frequently committed by reason of the remaining Contagion of the Wars he made a Law That the Country Men should leave their Iron Tools and Plough-Gear in the Field all Night and that they should not shut their Houses nor Stalls If any thing were stollen the Loss was to be repaired by the Sheriff of the County and the Sheriff was to be reimbursed by the King and the King was to be satisfied out of the Estates of the Thieves when they were taken There was one Country Man either over-greedy of Gain or else judging that Caution to be Vain and Frivolous who hid his Plough Iron in the Field and came to the Sheriff to demand Satisfaction as if it had been stollen the Sheriff paid him presently but inquiring further into the Matter and finding that he was the Author of the Theft himself he caused him to be Hanged and his â—oods to be Confiscate He restrained the loose Pack of Drolling Vagabonds and Minstrellers from wandring up and down the Country under most grievous Penalties If any one assaulted a Travellor or any Publick Officer in performing his Office he made it Lawful for any Body to Kill him So that when Thirty Assailants had been slain by the Companions of a certain Publick Minister at a Village called Halydon he pronounced That the Fact was just and Indemnified the Committers of it This Domestick Severiâ—y made him Formidable to flagitious Persons at home as his Valour did to his Enemies abroad And therefore the English who upon Roberts death watched all Occasions to revenge themselves perceiving That they could attempt nothing by open Force as long as Randolph was living turned their Thoughts to secret Fraud and Stratagem The speediest Way to be rid of their Enemy seemed to be by Poysoning him Neither wanted there a fit Minister to attempt it which was a certain Monk of that Class which are idly brought up and for want of Masters to teach them better they do many times pervert Good Wits to Evil Arts and Practices There were Two Professions joyned in him viz. Monkship and the Profession of Physick the First seemed proper to gain him Admittance the Second rendred him fit to perpetrate the Wickedness Hereupon he comes into Scotland giving out in all Places That as he had Skil in all other Parts of Physick so especially in curing the Stone by which means he obtained an easy Access to the Regent and being employed to cure him he mixed a Slow-working Poyson with his Medicine and then taking a few Days Provision with him he returned again into England as if he had gone only to get and prepare more Drugs and Medicines There he makes a Solemn Asseveration before Edward That Randolf would dye by such a certain day In Hopes whereof Edward levied a great Army and marching to the Borders found there as great an Army of Scots ready to receive him not far from his Camp whereupon he sent a Trumpeter to them upon Pretence to demand Reparation for Damages but he was enjoyned to inquire Who commanded the Scots Forces Randolph his Disease growing on and the Monk not returning at the Day appointed suspected all things for the worse and therefore dissembling his Grief as much as he could he sate in a Chair before his Tent Royally apparelled and gave Answer to the Demands of the Herald of Arms as if he had been a man perfectly Healthy and Sound The Herald at his Return acquainted the King with what he had seen and heard so that the Monk was punished as a Lying Cheat and Edward marched back his Army only leaving a Guard on the Borders to prevent Incursions Randolph also was hindred from marching forward by the Violence of his Disease but returning he disbanded his Army and at Musselborough about Four Miles from Edinburgh departed this Life in the year of our Salvation 1331. and the 13th of the Calends of August having managed the Regency Two years after Robert's death He was a Man no whit Inferiour to any of our Scotish Kings in Valour and Skill in Military Affairs but far Superiour to them in the Arts and Knacks of Peace He left Two Sons behind him Thomas and Iâ—hn Both worthy of so great a Father When Randolf Guardian of the Kingdom for so they then called him was dead Duncan Earl of Marr was chosen in his Place the 4th of the Nones of August The King being then Ten year old on which very Day a sad Message was brought to Court That the day before the Calends of that Month Edward Baliol was seen in the Firth of Forth with a Navy very Numerous To make all things more plain concerning his coming I must go a little back When King Robert died there was one Laurence Twine an English man of the Number of Those who having received Lands in Scotland as a Reward of their Military Service dwelt there He was of a Good Family but of a Wicked Life He conceiving Hope of greater Liberty upon the Death of One King and the Immature Age of Another gave himself up more licentiously to unlawful Pleasures so that
there were Ten thousand Horse and Foot from the Neighbouring Places a promiscuous multitude which came in They encouraged the Bishop to march the nearest way to the Enemy and to give him Battel alleging That He was so wearied with his yesterdays Fight and so many were wounded and the rest secure by reason of their late Victory that he might obtain an easie Conquest over them The Earl of Murray upon whom the Eyes of all were fixed when Douglas was gone was advertised of his coming by his Scouts whereupon he consulted with his Chief Commanders about the Prisoners To kill them in cold Blood after they had given them Quarter seemed cruel and to save alive a number of Enemies almost equal with their own seemed dangerous The Resolve was That they should all Swear not to stir whilst the Battel was fought and though their Friends might relieve them yet they should continue and own themselves as Prisoners still Upon these Terms they were left in the Camp with a small Guard who were commanded to fall upon them all if any one did stir This Matter thus setled the Scots being full of Courage by reason of their Former Victory marched out with their Army being fortified and secured in the Rear with Marshes and on the Right and Left with Trees which they cut down and moreover the Word of Command was given That as soon as the Enemy drew near every Man should blow his Horn which he carried behind him at his Back which would make such a mighty Noise and Sound as was terrible of it self but being multiplied by the Repercussion and Eccho of the Neighbouring Hills gave forth the Representation of a Greater Force than indeed they were The English had marched very fast and moreover were to fight amongst the dead Bodies of their own Men being astonished at that horrible Noise and also at the Alacrity of their Enemies who stood in good Order over against them and besides having no Skilful Commander over so tumultuary a Body and also the Commander not much confiding on such a Raw Soldiery they presently turned their Colours and marched back as they came In the mean time Lindsay who as I have said was taken Prisoner and left at Newcastle being seen and known by Redman was courteously treated by him and set at Liberty without Ransom The Scots having passed over this sudden Brunt so easily resolved to return home but before they dismissed Ralfe Percy who was much wounded so that he could not endure the Jogging of an Horse and sent him to Newcastle to be healed of his Wounds upon his Promise That as soon as ever he was able to ride he would wait on the Earl of Murray where he pleased to appoint and engaging his Faith thereto as the manner is he departed Seven hundred other Prisoners followed his example and were released on their Parol upon the same Terms Many of the Common Soldiers who were like to be more burdensom than beneficial was dismissed gratis Of the Nobler sort Henry Percy and almost 400 more were detained and carried into Scotland and shortly after upon Payment of a Ransom set upon their Heads they were all set at Liberty so that in that Age as Ennius says Men did not huckster out a War but fought it out as contending mainly for Liberty and Glory Three days after the Bodies of Douglas and the other Great Commanders that fell were carried to Mulross and there magnificently interred When the Tidings of these Matters were brought to the other Army which was wasting Cumberland it disturbed all their Mirth so that the Joy conceived for their good Success was turned into bitter Mourning The Loss of Douglas did so affect all Military Men that not only that Army which followed him but this Other also returned home in Silence and Sadness as if they had not been Conquerors but Conquered The Publick Sentiment was also further increased That he died without Children and in the Flower of his Age and that almost He alone was deprived of the Fruit of the Victory which he had gotten His Estate fell to Archibald Earl of Galway Sirnamed the Austere who also was a brave Cavalier in his days This is that memorable Fight of Otterborn remarkable not only for the Magnanimity and Hardiness of the Commanders and Soldiers therein and their Modesty in Victory but also for the various and changeable event of it That the Conqueror in the highest expectation of his Glory was taken off by Death and could not enjoy the Fruit of his own Labour And the Conquered General though then discomfited and made a Prisoner yet outlived this Battel many years in great Glory and Splendour It was Fought the 12th of the Calends of August in the year of our Lord 1388. By this Victory Matters were more composed and quiet both at home and abroad but in regard the King by Reason of his Age was not fit to manage Business and withal understanding of the Reflection that was made upon him by reason of the late Expedition which was undertaken without him and his eldest Son Iohn was of a slow nature and addicted more to Ease than to difficult Enterprizes he therefore Indicted an Assembly of the Estates and made Robert Earl of Fife Deputy of the Kingdom by the name of Governor yet they who managed that Office before him were usually called Custodes i. e. Keepers When Henry Percy eminent for Stock and Prowess was Prisoner in Scotland the Earl of Merch commonly called Earl Mareschal a Man fiercer in his Words than Actions was put in his Place He undervaluing the Scots Valour in the Fight of Otterborn and also grievously blaming the Cowardize of the English did thereby incur the Hatred of Both Nations And indeed Robert Vice-King of Scotland was so offended at his boasting Insolence That he thought it a just Cause to make an Expedition against him Hereupon he entred the Enemies Country and with Archibald Douglas then Earl of Douglas marches directly towards the Enemy who was reported to stay for him with a great Army when he came near him he gave him opportunity to engage which he declining he sent a Trumpeter to him to desire him to try it out in a plain Field but the Mareschal kept himself in his Fastnesses and Places unaccessible so that Robert after he had shewed his Army some hours to the Enemy sent them forth to pillage in the Neighbourhood and he ransacked those Places especially which the Mareschal was wont to have his Residence in and afterwards he marched them back laden with Booty without any Fight at all This Expedition though undertaken upon slight grounds yet was very pleasing both to the English and the Scots who Both rejoyced to see the vanity of the Man so to be confuted but he to excuse the Matter as often as Mention was made of it did allege That he did it for the Love of his Countrymen as being
the mean time Henry Percy the Younger called Hot-Spur and George Dunbar ceased not to infest the Neighbouring Lands of the Scots with their Incursions Which when they had often and successfully done their Boldness encreased with their Success so that gathering 2000 Men together they entred Lothian and made great havock about Hadington They besieged Hales-Castle but in vain When they came to Linton a Village scituate on the Tine a River of Lothian they were so disturbed at the sudden Coming of Douglas against them that they left their Prey and all their Baggage behind them and ran away in such Fear that they never stopp'd till they came to Berwick This was done about the beginning of February in the Year 1400. The same Year upon the return of the Herald War was denounced against England and then also Archibald Douglas Sirnamed the Austere a man inferiour to none of his Ancestors in all kind of Praise fell sick and died in a very bad time for his Country which had lately lost by sundry misfortunes so many brave Generals before His Son of the same Name succeeded him In the Ides of August the English King with great Forces entered Scotland When he came to Haddington he stayed there three days and then marched to Leith and staying there as many days he laid Siege to the Castle of Edinburgh The Governor led an Army against them but very slowly so that it easily appeared that he did not much care if the Castle of Edinburgh were taken by the English and in it David the Kings Son For by this time his wicked Ambition did begin to shew it self For he undervalued his Brother as an effeminate Person and sought the Destruction of his Children as much as he could that he might enjoy the Kingdom himself So that their Loss he counted his Gain But the King of England and his Army on the contrary did Exercise their Enmity very moderately as if by an Ostentation of War they had only sought for Peace for having made some sleight Onset on the Castle he raised the Siege and returned home without doing any considerable damage to the Places thro' which he marched insomuch that in his Marches both backward and forward he got the Praise and Commendation of a mild clement and moderate Enemy he was courteous to Those that surrendred themselves he offered no violence to consecrated Places yea he rewarded those bountifully who had formerly entertained his Father All which did more ingratiate Him and render the Governor more odious in regard he did not prosecute the War with any Eagerness as against an Enemy nor yet endeavour to make so easy and beneficent a King his Friend After Henry was returned for England George Dunbar did still trouble the Borders rather with frequent than great Inroads To suppress him there was more need of a diligent than numerous Force and therefore Douglas divided the Forces of each County into small Bands and appointed Commanders over them who by turns were to stop the Enemy or if they saw cause to Fight him The First lot sell upon Thomas Halyburton of Birlington who took a great Booty from the Enemy out of the Lands near to Bamburgh But Patrick Hepburne who wandred further abroad with a greater Band of men had not the like Success for trusting too much to the Numbers of his men and not being very wary in his Retreat with his Prey he was cut off by the English and with him all the flower of the Lothian Soldiery Archibald Douglas to revenge the slaughter of his Friend by the consent of the Governor gathered above Ten thousand men together abundance of the Nobles accompanied him in his March and amongst them Murdo the Governors Son when they came to Northumberland at New-Castle upon Tine they passed the River and spoiled the Country with Fire and Sword but there encountring with Henry Percy the Younger and George Dunbar in a pitch'd Battel they were overcome many of the Nobles were slain Douglas was taken Prisoner having lost one of his Eyes so were also Murdo Earl of Fife Thomas Earl of Murray and George Earl of Angus with many other Noble and Illustrious Persons And indeed the strength of Scotland was not so much weakned 〈◊〉 any one Fight for many years before as it was in This. It was fought at Homeldon a Town in Northumberland in the Noâ—es of May and Year of Christ 1401. Percy having obtained so notable a Victory resolved to subject all the Country which lay betwixt Northumberland and the Forth to the English Scepter and he thought it would be a work of no great difficulty so to do in regard most of the Nobility of those Countrys were either slain in the Fight or held Prisoners by him Thereupon beginning with Cocklaw a Castle in Teviotdale the Governor agreed That unless the Castle was relieved by the Scots in forty days he would surrender it up When these Conditions was brought to the King and then to the Governor some were of Opinion that the Castle should be surrendred in regard it was not of That Consequence as for the sake thereof to hazard the strength of the Kingdom a second time which had been so sorely shalâ—en and weakned in the late Fight This Dejection of spirit proceeded not so much from Fear of the Enemy as from the Perfidiousness of the Governor who gaped for the Kingdom He on the other side to avert all Suspicion from himself in high confident Words affirmed That this Cow-heartedness and Confession of Publick Fear would more encourage the Enemy than the loss of a Battel And if any one thought That the English would be contented with the taking in of One Castle they were very much mistaken for as Fire is more encreased by a light Aspersion of Water so the desire of the English upon Surrender of some Places would not be extinguished but rather inflamed to the Taking of more so that What was given up at First would be but a Step to a further Progress But says he if all of you refuse to march out for the relief of the Castle I my self will go alone for as long as I live and am in health I will never suffer such a Mark of Disgrace to be branded on the Scotish Name Upon this stout Speech of the Governors the rest either extinguishing or dissembling their Suspicion cryed out That they would follow Hâ—m But Fortune decided the Controversy and blew off that danger For Percy was called back to the Civil War in England and so the Siege was raised without Blows Whilst these things were acted abroad against the Enemie matters stood less prosperously at home For shortly after the Death of Archibald Douglas the Year before there immediately followed the Decease of the Queen Annabella and of Walter Trayle Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews insomuch that all mens minds did presage a great Mutation of Affairs For the splendour of
Military Matters was upheld by Douglas the Ecclesiastical Authority and Resemblance such as it was of Ancient Discipline by Trayle and the Dignity of the Court by the Queen as did soon appear by what happened after her death For David the Kings Son was a Young man of a fierce Disposition and enclined to Wantonness and Lust. The Indulgence of his Father encreased those Vices for tho' he had not Authority enough to maintain the Reverence due from him to his Father yet by the diligent Monitions of Those who were appointed to be his Tutors in his Youth but much more by the Counsel and Advice of his Mother his Youthful Heats were somewhat blunted and restrained but when she was dead he as new freed from this Curb returned to his own Manners and Lustful Courses for laying aside all shame and fear he took away other Mens Wives by Force yea and Virgins too tho' well descended and Those that he could not persuade by fair means he ravished by Compulsion and if any one endeavoured to stop him in his libidinous ways he was sure to come off not without Punishment Many Complaints were brought to his Father about These his Exorbitancies so that he wrote to his Brother the Governour to keep him with him and to oversee his Conversation until his Lustful Spirit did abate And till he gave some hopes of his Amendment of Life The Governour had now an Opportunity put into his hands to effect that he most desired which was â—o destroy his Brothers Issue so that he met David three Miles from St. Andrews and carried him into the Castle thereof which he kept in the nature of a Garison after the Arch-Bishops death After a while he took him out from thence and carried him to his own Castle of Falcoland and there shut him up close Prisoner intending to starve him But that miserable death which his Uncles Cruelty had designed him to was prorogued and staved off for a few days by the Compassion of Two of the Female Sex one was a Maid and Virgin whose Father was Governour of the Castle and Garison She gave him Oate Cakes made so thin that they would be folded up together as 't is usual in Scotland so to make them and as often as she went into the Garden near the Prison she put them under a Linen Vail or Hood which she did as it were carelesly cast over her Head to keep her from the Sun and thrust them into the Prison to him thro' a small Crany rather than a Window The other was a Country Nurse who Milked her Breast and by a little Canale conveighed it into his Mouth By this mean fare which served rather to encrease than kill his hunger his wretched Life and Punishment was protracted and lengthned out for a little while till at length by the vigilance of the Guards they were discovered and put to Death The Father mightily abhoring the Perfidiousness of his own Daughter whilst he endeavoured to manifest his Faithfulness to an unfaithful Regent The Young man being thus left destitute of all human Support having by Force of Hunger gnawed and torn his own Flesh died at length more than a single kind of Death His End was concealed from his Father thô it were commonly known abroad because no Man durst to be the Messenger of such sad Tidings to him But to return to the Affairs of England as far as they are intermixed with Ours When Percy and a great Number besides of the Nobility had conspired to make War upon their own King he agrees with Douglas whom he still held Prisoner since the Battel of Homeldon That if he would improve his Interest by assisting him against the King as strenuously and as faithfully as he had before done against him he would set him at Liberty without ransom which Douglas frankly promised him to do as being willing to omit no Opportunity of service against the English King Hereupon he gathered some of his Friends and Tenants about him and prepared himself for the Fight wherein he behaved himself as stoutly as he promised to Percy so that without regard to the Common Soldiers his Mind and Eye was wholly intent upon the King only and in regard there were several Commanders cloathed in Royal attire which was done on purpose by the English either to deceive the Enemy if they should press hard upon him or else that the Soldiers in more places than one might find him a present witness of their Courageousness or Cowardize Douglas took notice of One of these who had Gallant Armour and rushed in upon him with all his might and so unhorsed him But he being relieved by those who were next he did the same to a Second and a Third who were all attired as Kings thus Edward Hall the English Writer affirms as well as Ours so that he was not taken up so much with the Apprehension of his own danger as with a wonderment from whence so many Kings should start up at once At length after a terrible and bloody Fight Fortune turned about and the King won the day Douglas was sore wounded and found amongst the Prisoners and whereas many urged to put him to death the King saved him and did not only commend his Faithfulness to his Friend but also rewarded him for his Valour and when his Wounds were cured after he had staid some Months with him upon the Payment of a great sum of Money he was released In the mean time the Scotish King heard of the death of David his Eldest Son by the unnatural Cruelty of his Uncle The Author was sufficiently pointed at by private whisperings tho' no man dared publickly to accuse so potent a man Whereupon the King sends for his Brother and makes an Expostulation with him concerning the matter He had prepared his Tale before-hand and charges others with the Guilt of the Young Mans death as for him and his they were ready forsooth whenever the King pleased to plead and assert their Innocency in a due course of Law as for the Murderers some of them he had taken already and the others he would diligently look out Thus the matter being brought to Examination in the Law The Author of the wickedness Summons a Council sets up an Accuser and he who was impleaded as Guilty was by them acquitted as Innocent of the Murder The King imprecated a most dreadful punishment from the God of Heaven above to be poured down on him and his Posterity who had committed that horrid Wickedness And thus being overpressed with Grief and bodily Weakness he returned to Bote whence he came The Suspicion was encreased in him That his Brother had committed the Parricide tho' he was too powerful to be brought by him to Justice and Punishment for the same But he like a strong dissembler brings the supposititious Authors of the wickedness out of Prison and put them to Cruel deaths 't is true they were
were fit for such or such Promotions Which Course if succeeding Kings had followed certainly we had never fallen into these times wherein the People cannot endure the Vices of the Priests nor the Priests the Remedy of those Vices Neither was the King ignorant that the Church was incumber'd with those great mischiefs under which it then labour'd by reason of the Immoderate Opulency thereof and therefore he did not approve the Prodigality of Former Kings in exhausting their Treasury to inrich Monasteries so that he often said That though David was otherwise the Best of Kings yet his profuse Piety so praised by many was prejudicial to the Kingdom yet notwithstanding He himself as if he had been carry'd away by the Rapid Torrent of Evil Custom could not withhold his hand from building a Monastery for the Carthusians near Perth nor from endowing it with large Revenues One thing in him was very admirable that amidst the greatest Cares for the high Affairs of the Publick he thought the most inferior and private Matters not unworthy of his Diligence provided some benefit came to the Publick by them For whereas Scotland had been exercised with continual Wars after the death of Alexander the Third for almost 150 years wherein her Cities had been so often spoil'd and burnt and her Youth generally made Soldiers so that other Trades were much neglected he invited Tradesmen of all sorts to come out of Flanders proposing great Rewards and Immunities to them by which means he filled his Cities almost empty before in regard the Nobility did usually keep themselves in the Country with this sort of Artificers neither did he only restore the appearance of ancient Populousness to the Towns hereby but also ingag'd a great number of Idlers to fall to honest Labour and hereby it came to pass that what was with small cost made at home need not with far greater be fetch 't from abroad Yet whiles he was thus strengthning all the weak parts of his Kingdom by proper Remedies he ran into the great dislike and offence of his Subjects especially for Two Reasons The one seem'd light in appearance yet ' was That which is the beginning of almost all Calamity to a People For when Peace was universally setled Idleness Luxury and Lust to the destruction first of ones self then of others followed thereupon Hence arose sumptuous Feastings Drinking Caresses by day and night personated Masks Delight in strange Apparel Stateliness of Houses not for necessary Use but to please the Eye A corruption of Manners falsely called Neatness and in all things a general neglect of the Country Customs so that nothing forsooth was accounted handsom or comely enough but that which was New-fangled and Strange The Commonalty did willingly cast off the fault of these things from themselves and laid it on the English Courtiers who followed the King and yet they did not inveigh against such wanton and pleasurable Courses more bitterly in their Words than they studiously practis'd them in their Lives But the King obviated this Mischief as much as he could both by good Laws and also by his own good Example for he kept himself in his Apparel and Frugality within the rate of the Richer sort of private Men and if he saw any thing of Immoderation in any part of a Man's Life he shew'd by his Countenance and sometimes by his Words that 't was displeasing to him By this means the course of increasing Luxury was somewhat restrain'd rather than the new Intemperance extinguisht and the old Parsimony reduc'd His other Fault was bruited abroad by his Enemies and afterwards broke forth into a Publick Mischief Robert the King's Uncle and Murdo his Cosin-German who had the Regency of the Kingdom for many Years seeing they themselves aspir'd to the Throne and yet knew not how to remove Iames out of the way they did what was next to it i. e. Engage the Affections of Men so to them that the better sort might have no extraordinary miss of a King nor any ardent Desires after him so that they us'd such great Moderation in the management of Affairs that their Government seem'd to many not only tolerable but very desireable if Mâ—rdo's Son had carried it with a semblable Popularity and Moderation For they so engaged the Nobles to them by their Liberality and Munificence that some injoyed the Lands belonging to the King by Connivence To others they gave them and in favour of some particular Men they Cancell'd Proceedings and Judgments in Law and restor'd some who had been banish'd and amongst them one Eminent and Potent Person George Dunbar Earl of Merch who during his Exile had done much mischief to his Country and by this means they hop'd so to ingage the Nobility that they would never so much as think of calling home the King and then if Iames Dy'd without Issue the Kingdom would come to them without any Competitor but if he should chance to return from his Banishment yet their Faction would be so powerful that if the King bore them a Grudge yet they were able to defend themselves by force against him but when the King did actually return the old Favour and Respect born to the Uncle seem'd to be quite extinguish'd by the new Injury and Flagitiousness of Murdo so that it plainly appear'd that nothing was more popular than Iustice. And therefore the People were not only consenting but also contributed their assistance to the Execution of Murdo the Father and his Two Sons and to the Banishment of of a 3d. So that the King's Revenue was Augmented by the Confiscation of their Estates and also by the Accessâ—on of the Estates of Iohn Earl of Buchan who Dyed Childless in France and of Alexder Earl of Merch who was also Childless and a Bastard who Dy'd at home concerning whom I shall speak a few Words by way of Digression This Alexander was the Son of Alexander Son to King Robert In his Youth by the ill Advice of some bad Men he turn'd to be a Commander amongst Thâ—eves but when he came to â—an's Estate he was so Reform'd that he seem'd plainly to be quite another Man so that his Vices gradually decreasing by the benefit of wholsom Counsel he so manag'd things both at home and abroad that he left a Memory behind him precious to Posterity For at home he quell'd the Insurrectioâ— of the Islanders at Harlaw making great Slaughter of them And so he extinguisht a dangerous War in the very Rise and Bud and thô he had great Wealth well gotten and had bought 〈◊〉 stately Sâ—â—ts insomuch that he much exceeded his Neighbourâ— yet he addicted not himself to Idleness or Pleasure but went with â— good Party of his Country-men into Flanders where he follow'â— Charles D. of Burgundy against the Luick-landers in which War he got both Estate and Honour and besides he Married richly in Holland and Island of the Batavians but the Hollanders not being able
to bear the Government of a Stranger he return'd back and provided a stately Fleet with great Cost yet no great Benefit because it was against Men who were very well provided both with Land and Sea-Forces At length he set upon their numerous Fleet returning from Dantzic which he took and pillaged and slew the Mariners and burnt the Ships so that he repaid the Enemy for the Loss he receiv'd from them many times over yea he so subdued the Fierceness of their Minds that they desired a Truce for an Hundred Years and obtain'd it He also caus'd a Breed of brave Mares to be brought from as far as Hungary into Scotland whose Race continu'd there for many Years after These Rich Earls Dying without Issue Buchan and Marr their Patrimonial â—nheritances descended Rightfully to the King And moreover he alone injoy'd all the Possessions of the Three Brothers Sons to King Robert the 2d by his last Wife but not without the Grudges of the Nobility who had been accustomed to Largesses that he alone should enjoy all the Prey without sharing any Part of it amongst them Further they conceiv'd another and fresher Cause of Offence That the King had revok'd some Grants made by Robert and Murdo the last Regents as unjust Amongst those Grants There were Two noted ones George Dunbar who was Declared a Publick Enemy was afterwards recall'd by Robert and part of his Estate restor'd to him His Son George succeeded him therein to the Joy of many who were well pleas'd that so Ancient and Noble a Family which had so often deserv'd well of their Country were restor'd to their Ancient Dignity But the King who look'd narrowly and perhaps too pryingly into his Revenue was of Opinion that the Power to restore Incapacities to recal Exiles and to give back their Goods forfeited for Treason and so brought into the King's Exchequer was too great for One that was but a Guardian of another Man's Kingdom and chosen but as a Tutor only to Claim and Use especially since Largesses made in the Minority of Princes by the Old Laws of Scotland might be recalled if not confirm'd by their respective Kings when they came to be of Age. And therefore Iames that he might reduce the Merch-men into his Power without noise in regard they were a Martial People and Borderers upon England detains George with him and sends Letters to the Governour of the Castle of Dunbar Commanding him on receipt thereof he should immediately Surrender it up to William Douglas Earl of Angus and Alexander Hepborn of Hales whom he had sent to receive it Hereupon George complain'd that he was wrongfully dispossest of his Ancient Patrimony for anothers Fault and such a Fault too as was forgiven by him who then had the Supreme Power The King to pacifie him and to proclaim his Clemency amongst the Vulgar bestowed Buchan upon him This Fact of the King 's was variously spoken of as every ones Humour and Disposition led him And moreover there was also another Action which much hastned his End the Beginning whereof is to be fetcht a little higher I said before that King Robert the 2d had Three Sons by his Concubine he had also Two by his Wife Eufemia Walter Earl of Athole and David Earl of Stratherne yet when their Mother the Queen was Dead he Married the Concubine afore-spoken of that so he might by that Marriage Legitimate the Children he had by her and leave them Heirs to the Crown and accordingly at his Death he left the Kingdom to the Eldest of them To the 2d he gave great Wealth and the Regency also The 3d. was made Earl of several Counties In this Matter tho' his other Wif's Children thought themselves wrong'd yet being younger and not so powerful as they they smothered their Anger for the present And besides their Power was somewhat abated by the Death of the Earl of Strathern who left but only one Daughter behind him afterwards Marry'd to Patrick Graham a Noble young Man and one of a potent Family in that Age on whom he begat Meliss Graham His Parents liv'd not long after and the Child after a few Years being yet a Stripling was sent as an Hostage into England till the Money for the King's Ransom was paid But the Earl of Athole tho' every way too weak for the adverse Faction yet never gave over his Project to cut off his Kindred nor cast away his Hopes to recover the Kingdom and because he was inferior in open Force he craftily fomented their Divisions and Discords and invidiously made use of their Dangers to promote his own Ends so that by his Advice that large Family was reduc'd to a few For many were of Opinion that he gave the Counsel to take off David King Robert's Son and Iames had not escap'd him neither unless he had past a good part of his Life in England far from home for he gave Advice to the Earl of Fife that seeing his Brother was a Drone he Himself should seize on the Kingdom When the King lost all his Children and was obnoxious to his Brothers Will and not long after dyed of Grief himself There was only the Regent of the Kingdom with his Children that hindred his hopes in regard he was an active Man of great Wealth Power and Authority and moreover very Popular and full of Children These Considerations did somewhat retard his Counsels but when Robert Dyed of a Natural Death and his Son Iohn was slain in the Battel of Vernevil then he resum'd his former Project with greater earnestness and bent all his Mind and Endeavour how to free Iames and set him at variance with Murdo and his Children And seeing they could not all of them stand safe together which soever of them fell he foresaw that his Hope would be advanced one step higher to the Kingdom And when Iames was returned into his Country he turn'd every Stone to hasten Murdo's Destruction he suborn'd Men fit for the turn to forge Crimes against him and he himself sate Judge upon Him and his Sons And when they were cut off there was only Iames left and one little Son a Child not yet 6 Years old And if he were slain by the Conspiracy of the Nobles he did not doubt but himself who was then the only remaining Branch of the Royal Stock should be advanc'd to the Throne Athole was in these Thoughts Night and Day yet he conceal'd his Secret Purposes and made a great shew of Loyalty to the King in helping to rid his Allies out of the way for that was his only Contrivance that by the Offences of Others he might increase his own Power and diminish his Enemies In the mean time Meliss Graham who as I said before was given in Hostage to the English was depriv'd of Strathern because the King making a diligent Enquiry into his Revenue found that 't was given to his Grandfather by the Mothers-side upon condition That if
long Journys as ever she was able to make to inform him of a sad Message which was that there was a grievous Conspiracy form'd against his Life and unless he took special Care his Destruction was at hand The King being dismay'd at this sudden news Disbanded his Army and return'd home but was very ill spoken of amongst the Vulgar because just upon the point of Surrender at the beck of a Woman he retir'd after the Kingdom had been at so much charge and trouble so that he seem'd to have sought for nothing by his Arms but Disgrace After he return'd he went to the Monast'ry of the Dominicans near the Walls of Perth to make a private enquiry into the Conspiracy as well as he was able but his design was smelt out by Men that Watcht all opportunities to do mischief for one of the Kings Domesticks who was in the Plot Historians call him Iohn but his Sirname is not mentioned discovered to his Complices what was doing at Court so that they hastned the matter lest their secret Caballs should be discovered and Remedies apply'd against them Walter Earl of Athole the Kings Uncle tho' he were the Ring-leader of the Conspiracy yet did what he could to avert all Suspicion from himself He sent for his Kinsman Robert Graham of whom I have spoken before as fit for Execution but rash in Counsel and who bore an old grudge to the King because of his former Imprisonment and Banishment and also upon the account of his Brothers Son to whom he was Guardian in his hope who had Strathern taken from him he joyns with him Robert his Nephew by his Son an active Young Man he informs them what he would have them to do and that when the Deed was done he should be in high Authority and then he would provide for their Safety well enough they freely promise to do their Endeavour and accordingly hasten to perpetrate the Fact before the whole Series of the Plot was made known to the King Hereupon they privately gathered their Company together that so knowing the King had but a few about him in the Monast'ry of the Dominicans he might with as little noise as might be cut him off and that they might surprize him unawares they advise Iohn his Servant above-mentioned whom they had drawn to their Party to be assistant to them according to his promise he brings the Conspirators in the midst of the Night into the Court and placed them privately near the Kings Bed-Chamber and shews them the Door which they might easily break in regard he had taken away the Bar thereof Some think that they were received into the Palace by Robert Nephew of the Earl of Athole In the mean time whilst they waited there being solicitous how to break the Door which they thought would be their greatest Obstacle Fortune did the Work without their Helps for Walter Straton who a little before had carried in Wine coming forth and perceiving Men in Arms endeavour'd to get in again and cry'd out with as loud a Voice as he could Traitors Traitors Whilst the Conspirators were dispatching him a noble young Damsel of the Family of the Douglas's as most say tho' some write She was a Lovel shut the Door and not finding the Bar which was fraudulently laid aside by the Servant She thrust her Arm into the Hole or Staple instead of a Bolt but they quickly brake that and so rusht in upon the King The Queen threw herself upon his Body to defend him and when He was thrown down She spread Herself over him and after She had receiv'd Two Wounds She could hardly be pluckt off And then when he was left of all they gave him 28 Wounds and some of them just in his Heart and so kill'd him Thus this Good King came to his End and that a most Cruel one too and much lamented by all Good Men by the Conspiracy of most wicked Assassins and Robbers when his Death was divulg'd by the Noise and Lamentation which was made a great Concourse of People came presently into the Court and there spent the rest of the Night for the Paricides had made their Escape in the dark in Bewailings and Complaints There every one spake variously according to their several Dispositions either bitterly to raise a greater Odium against the Parricides or lamentably to increase the Grief of their Friends each Man reckon'd up what Prosperities or Adversities he had undergone In his Childhood he was expos'd to the Treacheries of his Uncle and endeavouring to escape them he was precipitated into his Enemies hands Afterwards his Father died and the rest of his Youth was spent in Exile among his Enemies Then Fortune chang'd and he had an unlook'd for Restoration and after his Return in a few Years he Govern'd so that the turbulent State of the Kingdom was chang'd in a Calm and Serene One. And again having a suddain Mutation of Affairs He whom his Enemies had spar'd abroad was now slain by the Treachery of his Kindred at home and that in the Flower of his Age and in the midst of his intended Course to settle good Laws and Customs in his Kingdom And besides they gave him his deserved Elogies for all his Virtues both of Body and Mind for Mens Envy was extinguish'd towards him now he was dead For tho his Bodily Stature was scarce of a full size yet he was robust and strong so that he exceeded all his Equals in those Exercises wherein Agility and Manhood use to be shewn and as to his Mind he was endued with that quickness and vigor of Wit that he was ignorant oâ— no Art worthy the Knowledge of an Ingenious Person yea he could make plain Latin Verses according to that Age Ex tempore Some Poems of his written in the English Tongue are yet extant in which there appears excellency of Wit tho' perhaps some more polite Learning be wanting in them he was excellently well skill'd in Musick more than was meet or expedient for a King for there was no Musical or Singing Instrument but he could readily Play thereon and Tune his Voice so that he might have been compar'd with the best Masters of that Art in those Days But perhaps some will say These are but the Flowers of his Studies where is the Fruit These are more for Ornament than Instruction or Use to strengthen a Man for doing of Business Know then that after he had Learn'd other Parts of Philosophy he was also skill'd in Politicks concerning the Regulation of Kingdoms and of Mens Manners How Great and how Ripe Civil Abilities were in him doth sufficiently appear by the order of the Matters perform'd by him and by the Laws which he made whereby he exceedingly benefited not only his own Age but even Posterity also And his Death declar'd that there is nothing more Popular than Justice for they who were wont to detract from him whilst he was alive now he was dead had most
him or so to disarm him that for the future he might do them no more Mischief though said they his disarming was not very safe in regard such a Beast as he who had been accustomed to Blood and Rapin would never be at quiet so long as the Breath was in his Body This was Alexander's Discourse in Council to whom all did assent so that an Order was made that every one should go home and levy what Force they could to besiege the Castle of Edinburgh from which they were not to depart till they had taken it And that this might be done with greater Facility the Queen promised to send thither a great Quantity of Provision which she had in her Store-houses in Fife but Haste was to be used whiles their Counsels were yet private and the Enemy had no Warning to provide things fit and necessary for a Siege And in the interim they need not fear Douglas who they knew was a mortal Enemy to the Chancellor so that now seeing they had all the Power Treasure enough and withal the Authority of the Kings Name That being now taken from Him he could have no Hope but to fly to their Mercy Thus the Assembly being Dissolved all things were speedily provided for the Expedition and a close Siege laid to the Castle The Chancellor was acquainted well enough with their Designs but he placed the greatest Hope of his Safety and of maintaining his Dignity in Douglas his Concurrence with him Whereupon he sent humble Suppliants to him to acquaint him That he would always be at his Devotion if he would aid him in his present Extremity urging that he was deceiv'd if he thought that their Cruelty would rest in the Destruction of himself alone but that they would make his Overthrow as a step to destroy Douglas too Douglas answer'd his Message with more Freedom than Advantage viz. That both Alexander and William were equally guilty of Perfidiousness and Avarice and that their falling out was not for any point of Virtue or for the good of the Publick but for their own private Advantages Animosities and Feuds and that it was no great matter which of them had the better in the Dispute yea if they fell Both in the Contest the Publick would be a great Gainer thereby and that no good Man would desire to see an happier sight than two such Fencers to hack and hew one another This Answer being noised abroad in Both Armies for the Castle was already besieged was the Occasion That a Peace was sooner clapt up than any one thought it would There was a Truce made for Two days wherein Alexander and William had a Meeting where they discours'd one with another how dangerous it would be both for the Publick and their private Estates too if they should persist in their Hatred even to a Battel seeing Douglas did but watch the event of the Combate that he might come fresh and fall upon the Conqueror and so attract all the Power of the Kingdom to himself when either One of them was slain or Both weakn'd and broken and therefore the Hâ—pes of Both their Safeties were plac'd in their common and mutual Agreement so that the present Dangers easily reconciled those Two who were upon other accounts also otherwise prudent enough William according to Agreement gave up the Keys of the Castle to the King professing that both Himself and â—t were at his Service and that he never entertain'd any other Thought than to be obedient to the Kings Will Hereupon he was received into Favour with the universal Assent of all that were present The King supped that night in the Castle thus surrendred to him and the next day the Government of the Castle was bestowed on William and the Regency on Alexander Thus after a deadly hatred between them it was hoped that for ever after the Foresight of their mutual Advantage and the Fear of their Common Enemy had tied a firm and indissoluble Knot of Friendship betwixt them After these Civil Broils between the Factions were composed besides Robberies and the Murders of some of the common sort which were committed in many places without punishment there were some remaining Feuds which broke out between some Noble Families The year after the Kings Death in the Third of the Calends of October Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock had treacherously slain Alan Stuart of Darnly in a Truce as he met him between Linlithgoe and Falkirk The next year after on the 7th of the Ides of Alan's Brother with his Party fought Thomas where many were slain on both sides their Numbers being almost equal and amongst the rest Thomas himself fell The Death of Archibald Douglas fell out opportunely at this time because in his Life time his Power was formidable to all He died of a Fever the next year after the Death of Iames the First His Son William succeeded him being the Sixth Earl of that Family he was then Fourteen years of Age a young Man of great hopes if his Education had been answerable to his Ingenuity But Flattery which is the perpetual Pest of great Families did corrupt his tender Age which grew a little more insolent by the premature liberty in entring on his Estate for such Men as were accustomed to Idleness and who made a Gain of the Folly and Indiscretion of the Rich did magnifie his Fathers Magnificence Power and almost more than Royal Retinue and by this means they easily persuaded a plain simple Disposition and unarmed against such Temptations to maintain a great Family and to ride abroad with a Train beyond the State of any other Nobleman so that he kept his old Vassals about him in their former Offices by his Respects to them and obtained also new Clans by his profuse Largesses he also made Knights and Senators and so distinguisht the Order and Degrees of his Attendants as to imitate the publick Conventions of the Kingdom in fine he omitted nothing which might equal the Majesty of the King himself Such Carriages were enough to create Suspicions of themselves but good Men were also much troubled for him upon another account that he would often go abroad with 2000 Horse in his Train amongst whom some were notorious Thieves and many of them worthy of Death for the Murders they had committed yet with these he would come to Court and even to the Kings Presence not only to shew his Power but even to strike Terrour to the Hearts of others This his Insolence was further heightned by his sending some Eminent Persons as his Ambassadors into France viz. Malcolm Fleming and Iohn Lauder who were to declare the Merits of his Ancestors from the Crown of France and to desire that the Title of Duke of Tours might be bestow'd upon him which he easily obtained for his Grandfather had that Honour conferr'd upon him by Charles the Seventh for his great Service performed in the Wars and his Father also had
received and admitted to the Kings Table but in the midst of the Feast some Armed Men beset him being Weaponless and put a Bulls Head upon him which in those Times was a Messenger and Sign of Death When the young Man saw that he was troubled and sought to arise but the Armed Men laid hold on and carry'd him to a Court near the Castle where by the loss of his Head he paid for the Intemperance of his Youth David his Brother and Malcolm Fleming whom next to his Brother he trusted most of all were also put to Death with him 'T is said that the King who was now fully entring on his being of Age wept for his Death and that the Chancellor did greatly Rebuke him for his unseasonable Tears at the Destruction of an Enemy whereas the Publick Peace was never like to be settled as long as he was alive William dying thus without Children Iames Sirnamed Crassus or the Gross from his Disposition succeeded him in the Earldom for 't was a Male-Feo as Lawyers speak the rest of his Patrimony which was very great fell to his only Sister Beatrix a very beautiful Person in her Days This Iames the Gross though he were no bad Man yet was no less suspected by the King and hated by the Commons than the former Earl because though he did not maintain Robbers as the former Earl had done yet he was not very Zealous in subduing them but he was substracted from this Envy by his Death which happen'd Two Years after William the Eldest of his Seven Sons Succeeded him he being Emulous of the ancient Power of the Family that he might restore it unto its Pristine Splendor resolv'd to Marry his Uncles Daughter who was the Heiress of many Countries Many of his Kindred did not approve of the Match partly because 't was an unusual and by consequence an unlawful thing and partly because by the Accession of so much Wealth he would be envy'd by the People and also formidable to the King For a Rumor was spread abroad and that not without ground that the King himself would do his utmost to hinder the Match This made William to hasten the Consummation of the Marriage even in the time when Marriages were forbidden that he might prevent the Kings endeavours to the contrary Thus having obtained great Wealth he grew insolent and envy follow'd his Insolence in regard Troops of Robbers did swarm every where whose Captains were thought to be no Strangers to Douglas his Design Amongst them there was one George Gorm of Athole who pillag'd all the Country about him and set upon William Ruthven Sheriff of Perth because he was leading a Thief of Athole to the Gallows and fought with him as it were in a set Battel At last Gorm the Captain and 30 of his Followers were slain and the rest sled to the Mountains This Bustling Fight was in the year of Christ 1443. A few days after the Castle of Dunbarton impregnable by Force was twice taken in a little time Robert Semple was Commander of the Lower Castle and Patrick Galbreth of the Higher and their Government was so divided that each had a peculiar entrance into his own Part. These Two were not free from Factions amongst themselves For Patrick was thought secretly to favour the Douglasses whereupon Semple perceiving that his Part was but negligently guarded seiz'd upon him and commanded him to remove his Goods The day after Patrick entred with four Companions attending him without Arms to fetch out his Goods where first he light upon the Porter alone and then catching up Arms drave him and the rest out of the Upper Castle and thus sending for Aid out of the Neighbouring Town he beat them out of the Lower Castle also and so reduc'd the whole Fort into his own hands About that time there were very many Murders committed upon the inferior Sort which were partly perpetrated by the Douglassians and partly charg'd upon them by their Enemies The King was now of Age and manag'd the Government himself so that Douglas being unable to stand against the Envy of the Nobles and the Complaints of the Commons too resolves to become a New Man to satisfie the People and by all means possible to atone the Heart of the King which was alienated from him and in order thereunto he came with a great Train to Sterlin And when he had Intelligence by some Courtiers whom he had greas'd in the Fist and made his Own that the Kings Anger was appeas'd towards him then and not before he came into his Presence and threw down his Life and Fortune and all his Concerns at his Feet and to his Dispose he partly excused the Crimes of his former Life and paâ—â—ly because That seemed the readier way to Reconciliation he ingenuously confest Them withal affirming that whatever Fortune he should have hereafter he would ascribe it solely to the Clemency of the King not to his Own Innocency but if the King were pleas'd to receive Satisfaction from him by his Services and Obsequiousness he would do his utmost endeavour for the future that no Man should be more Loyal and observant of his Duty than himself and that in restraining and punishing all those exorbitant Offences which his Enemies cast upon him none should be more sharp and severe than he in regard he was descended from that Family which was not raised by oppâ—â—â—sing the Poor but by defending the Commons of Scotland by theâ—â— Arms By this Oration of the Earls and the secret Commendation of the Courtiers the King was so chang'd that he forgave him all the Crimes of his former Life and received him into the Number of his Privadoes and communicated all his secret Designs to him And indeed the Earl in a very little time had so obliged the King to him by his Obsequious Carriage and had won so much on his Ministers by his Liberality yea had so ingratiated himself into all Men by his modest and courteous Condescension that the ordinary sort of People conceiv'd great Hope of his gentle and pliable Deportment but the Wiser were somewhat afraid whither so sudden a change of Manners would tend And especially Alexander Levingston and William Creighton imagining that all his Counsels would tend to their Destruction having laid down their publick Offices in the Government went away severally Alexander to his own Estate and William into the Castle of Edinburgh there to watch and observe where the Simulation of Douglas would terminate and end Neither did their preconceiv'd Opinion deceive such Wise Men as they were For Douglas having gotten the King alone and destitute of graver Counsel and who was somewhat unwary too by reason of the Greenness of his years thought now that he had a fit Opportunity to revenge the Deaths of his Kinsmen and so easily persuaded the King to send for William Creighton and Alexander Levingston with his two Sons Alexander and Iames to
Triumphed over And so She herself and her Kingdom which was enlarged and increased by her Husband Odenatus was lost in a moment Neither may I pass over in silence what is principally to be regarded in the management of other Mens Affairs That the Chief Command is not to be intrusted to such sort of Persons who are not accountable for their Mal-Administration I do not at all distrust the Disposition Faithfulness nor Care of the Queen but if any thing be acted amiss as it often happens by the Fraud of others and Matters be carried otherwise than the Publick Good or the Dignity of Her Place doth Require What Mulct can we exact from the Kings Mother What Punishment can we require Who shall give an account for Miscarriages The Highest Matters will then be managed in the Meetings of Women in the Nursery or Dressing Room You must There either each Man in particular subscribe to Decrees or All in General Make them and She whom you scarce now restrain tho' She be without Arms and obnoxious to you by Laws and Customs when you have by your Authority put Power into Her hands you will certainly feel Her Womanish Wilfulness and Extravagance Neither do I speak this as if I did fear any such thing from our Queen who is the Choicest and Modestest of all Women but because I think it base and unseemly for us who have all things yet in our own Hands and Power to place the Hope of our Safety which we may owe to our Selves only in anothers Power especially since both Divine and Human Laws the Custom of our Ancestors yea and the Consent of all Nations throughout the whole World make for us 'T is true some Nations have endured Women to be their Chief Magistrates but they were not elected to that Dignity by their Judgment and Suffrage but were cast upon them by the Lot of their Birth and Nativity but never any People who had freedom of Vote when there was plenty of able Men to chuse did ever prefer Women before Them And therefore most Eminent Patriots I advise and earnestly intreat you That according to the Laws of our Country and the Customs of our Ancestors we chuse One or if you think fit More the Best out of the Noblest and Best who may undertake the Regency till the King arrive at that strength both of Body and Mind as to be able to manage the Government Himself And I pray God to Bless your Proceedings herein Kennedy spake thus with the Approbation of the undoubtedly major part of the Assembly and the rest perceiving that it was in vain to oppose passed over to their Opinion The Matter was thus composed That neither Party seemed to have the Better of the other Two of each Faction were chosen for the Guardianship for the King who were to manage all Publick Affairs with Fidelity to Collect and Expend the King's Revenue and to undertake the Charge of the Royal Family Of the Queens side William Graham and Robert Boyd then Chancellor Of the Other Robert Earl of the Orcades and Iohn Kennedy All on both sides the Chief of their Families To these were added the Two Bishops of Glasgo and Caledonia The Queen was allowed to be present at the King's Education but She was not to touch any part of the Publick Government As for the other Children which were Four viz. Alexander Duke of Albany and Iohn Earl of Mar and Two young Females She had the Charge of their Educations Herself Matters being thus composed at home Embassadors from England had their Audience who desired a Truce which was granted for Fifteen Years The next Year which was 1463. The King's Mother Died being not well spoken of in point of Chastity The same Year Alexander the King's Brother returning from his Grandfather by the Mothers-side out of France was taken Prisoner by the English but freed soon after in regard the Scots urged it as a Breach of the Truce and threatned a War thereupon Peace being obtained abroad it was not long before Intestine Commotions arose at home for when the Disputes and Controversies betwixt the Nobility concerning ordering the State of the Kingdom were bruited abroad and magnified by vulgar Rumors And Moreover the King's Minority together with the fresh Remembrance of the Licentiousness of the late Times were brought upon the Stage all these Temptations put together did easily let loose the Reins to Men who were turbulent enough in their own Nature Alan of Lorn a Seditious Person had a mind to enjoy the Estate of Iohn his Elder Brother and therefore kept him Prisoner intending there to detain him so long alive till the hatred of his cruel Practise did with time abate and so he yield to his Will and Pleasure when Calen Cambel Earl of Argyle heard of it he gather'd a Band of his Tenants together freed Iohn and cast Alan into Prison in his room resolving to carry him to Court that he might suffer Punishment for That as well as for his other noted Robberies but he prevented his Punishment by Death whether voluntary or fortuitous is not known In another part of the Country Donald the Islander as being a more powerful Person began to make a far greater Commotion for after the Kings Death as free from Fear and judging That turbulent state of things to be a fit Opportunity for him to injure his Inferiors and to increase his own power he came to Enverness with no great Train and was kindly invited into the Castle by the Governor thereof who had no Thoughts or so much as the least Fear of any Hostility from him when he was entred he turned out the Garison seized upon the Castle and gathering his Islanders about him proclaim'd himself King of the Islands He sent forth Edicts into the Neighbour Countries That the Inhabitants should pay Tribute to none but himself and that they should acknowledge no other Lord or Master denouncing a great Penalty to those that did otherwise The News hereof caus'd Debauch'd Persons to flock to him from all Parts so that having made up an Army great enough he entred Athole with such celerity that he took the Earl thereof who was the Kings Uncle and his Wife Prisoners before they suspected any such thing For the Earl hearing the sudden Tumult of a War distrusted the strength of his Castle of Blare and went into the Church of St. Brides near adjoining to defend himself there as in a Sanctuary by the Religion of the Place many also of his Vassals and Countrymen being surprized at the sudden danger carried and laid up their best Goods there That Church was venerated in those Parts with great Ceremony and it had remain'd inviolate to that very day by reason of the great Opinion of its Sanctity but the consideration of Gain was more prevalent with that Savage and Avaritious Person than any sense of Religion For he violently pull'd out the Earl and his
could not be so easily managed but were forced to a Surrender and so they were tow'd up against the Stream of the Tay to Dundee where they staid till the dead were buried and the wounded were distributed abroad to Chirurgeons for their Cure This Battel was fought the 10 th day of August in the Year of our Redemption 1490. A few days after Wood went to the King and carried with him Stephen Bull with the other Commanders of the Ships and the notedst of his Souldiers which he presented to him Wood was highly commended by the King for this Exploit and honourably rewarded The King freely dismissed the Prisoners and their Ships and sent them back to their King with an high commendation of their Valour For in regard they fought for Honour not for Booty he therefore would shew that Valour was to be honoured even in an Enemy King Henry tho he was much aggrieved for the loss of his Men in this unhappy Fight yet he gave the King of Scots Thanks and told him that he gratefully accepted his Kindness and the Greatness of his Mind About this time a new kind of Monster was born in Scotland in the lower part of its Body it resembled a Male Child not much differing from the ordinary shape of a humane Body newly born but above the Navel the Trunk of the Body and all the other Members were double representing both Sexes male and female The King gave special Order for its careful education especially in Musick wherein it arrived to admirable Skill and moreover it learned several Tongues and sometimes the two Bodies did discover several Appetites disagreeing one with another and so they would quarrel one liking this another that and yet sometimes again they would agree and consult as it were in common for the good of both This was also memorable in it that when the Legs and Loins were hurt below both Bodies were sensible of the Pain in common but when it was pricked or otherwise hurt above the sense of the pain did affect one Body only which difference was also more perspicuous in its Death for one of the Bodies died many days before the other and that which survived being half putrified pined away by degrees This Monster lived twenty eight years and then died when Iohn was Regent of Scotland I am the more confident in relating this Story because there are many honest and creditable Persons yet alive who saw this Prodigy with their Eyes When the People of the North of Scotland heard of this Naval Victory they gave over all thoughts of War and return'd each to his own home This Tumult and Broil being so easily quieted the King applied his Mind not only to quell all Seditions for the present but also to prevent all occasions of them for the future he summoned his First Parliament to be held at Edinburgh the 6th day of November there many wholesom Laws were made for the Establishing of publick Concord and to the end that Peoples minds might the better agree in the general the Fault was cast but upon a few particular Persons and the punishments were either very easy or else wholly remitted When a Dispute arose concerning the lawfulness of the War Iohn Lyon Lord Glames rose up and shewed several Heads of Articles which the Nobles had formerly sent to the King in order to a Pacification to which Iames the third had often both assented and subscribed and that indeed he had struck up a Peace with his Nobles upon those Terms unless some evil Counsellors had drawn away his Mind therefrom and so perswaded him to call in the old Enemy to fight against his own Subjects And by reason of this his Inconstancy the Earls of Huntly Arrol Earl of Marshal and Lyons himself with many other noble Persons had forsaken him at that time and had set up Iames the 4 th his Son as being a great Lover of the publick Peace and Welfare After a long dispute at last they all consented to a Decree wherein those that were slain in the Battel of Sterlin were affirmed to have been cut off by their own Default and that their Slaughter was just and that they who had took up Arms against the Enemies of the Publick though covering their hidden Fraud under honest pretences were guilty of no Crime nor consequently liable to any Punishment All who had Votes in the Assembly subscribed to this Decree that so they might give a better account of the Fact to Foreign Embassadors who they heard were a coming Many other Statutes were then also made to restore to the Poor what had been taken violently from them to inflict light Mulcts on the Rich and to indemnify both Parties That their taking up of Arms at that time might never turn to the Prejudice of them or their Posterity This Moderation of Spirit was highly commended in a young King of but fifteen Years old and who was also a Conqueror and had the Command of all but it was further heightned by his Benignity and Faithfulness in performing his Promises to which may be added which the Vulgar do most admire that he was of a graceful well-set Body and also of a vivid and quick Apprehension so that by his using this Victory neither with Avarice nor Cruelty and by his real pardoning of Offendors in a short time there grew up a great Concord amongst both Factions both of them equally striving to shew their Love and Duty to the King A few only who were most obstinate were mulct with a small Fine or with the loss of part of their Estates but none at all were deprived of their whole Patrimony neither were the Fines brought into the King's Exchequer but expended on the Charges of the War This his Royal Clemency was the more grateful because Men did yet retain fresh in their Memories upon what slight occasions in the former King's Reign many eminent Men were outed of All and how much inferior to them those were who came in their places Moreover to engage the chief Leaders of the contrary Faction to a greater Fidelity he joyned them in Bonds of Affinity to himself for whereas his Aunt had two Daughters begot by several Husbands he married Gracina Boyd to Alexander Forbes and Margaret Hamilton to Matthew Stuart Thus in a short time the Minds of all were reconciled and a pleasant Peace and Tranquillity did ensue yea as if Fortune had submitted her self to be an Handmaid to the King's Virtues there was so great an encrease of Grain and Fruits of the Earth as if a Golden Spring had suddenly started up out of a more than Iron Age. Thus after the King had suppressed Robberies by Arms and other Vices by the Severity of the Laws lest he might seem a sharp Avenger of others but indulgent to himself and withal to make it appear that his Father was slain against his Will he wore an Iron Chain about his Waste as long
as he lived and every Year he added one Link thereunto and tho this Practice might seem formidable to those that were the Causers of his Father's Death yet they had such Confidence either in the Gentleness of the King's Disposition or in their own Power that it occasioned no Insurrection at all Amidst this publick Jubilee and also the private Rejoycings of particular Persons about the seventh Year of the King's Reign Peter Warbeck came into Scotland But before I declare the Cause of his coming I must fetch things something further back Margaret the Sister of Edward the fourth King of England having married Charles Duke of Burgundy she endeavoured all the ways she could if not to overthrow yet at least to vex Henry the Seventh the Leader of the contrary Faction In order whereunto she raised up one Peter Warbeck as a Competitor for the Kingdom he was a Youth born of mean Parentage at Tornay a City of the Nervii but of such Beauty Ingenuity Stature of Body and Manliness of Countenance that he might easily be believed to have been descended of a Royal Stock And by reason of his Poverty he had travelled up and down in several Countries so that he was known but by very few of his own Relations and there he had learned several Languages and had hardened himself to all kind of bold and impudent Carriage when Margarite who was intent on all occasions to disturb the Peace of England had got this Youth she kept him a while privately by her till she had informed him with what Factions England laboured at that time what Friends and what Enemies she had there in a word she made him acquainted with the whole Genealogy of the Royal Progeny and what Happinesses or Misfortunes had attended each of them When things seemed thus to be somewhat ripe she was resolved to try Fortune and took private order that he should be sent in a decent Equipage first into Portugal then into Ireland there he had a great Concourse of People flock'd about him and was received with huge Applause as the Son of King Edward of England either because his own Disposition assisted also by Art was inclined to Dissimulation or because being there amongst wild Kerns he was soon likely to raise great Stirs and Tumults When a War brake forth suddenly betwixt the French and the English he was called for out of Ireland by Charles the Eighth and had great Promises made him so that coming to Paris he was there honourably received in the Garb and Equipage of a Prince and had a Guard appointed him yea the English Exiles who were numerous at that Court put him in a sure hope of the Kingdom But that Tumult being quieted upon Terms he departed privately out of the Court of France for fear lest he should have been delivered up and so retired to Flanders there he was highly caressed by Margaret as if it were the first time that ever she had seen him and was diligently shewed to all the Courtiers and several times in the hearing of many of them he was desired to relate the Story of all his Adventures Margarite as if this were the first time she had ever heard it did so accommodate her dissembled Affections in compliance with each part of his Discourse both when he related his Successes and also his Misfortunes that every body thought she believed what he had spoken to be certainly true After a day or two Peter was desired to go abroad in the habit of a Prince and had thirty Men to be his Guard wearing a white Rose which is the Badg of the York-Faction amongst the English and so was every where declared as the undoubted Heir of the Crown of England When these things were divulged first in Flanders afterward in England the Minds of Men were so stirred up that a great concourse of People flock'd in to him not only of those who lurked in Holes and Sanctuaries for fear of the Laws but even of some Noble-men whom their present State did not please or who desired Innovations But when a longer delay which Peter hoped would bring in more Force to him was likely to abate his present Strength if he were discovered to be a Counterfeit therefore he determined to try his Fortune in a Fight so that having gotten a pretty great Party together he landed some few of them in Kent to try the Affections of the Kentish-men but in vain All those who landed were taken so that he was forced to steer his course for Ireland and there also he met not with the entertainment he hoped for so that he sailed over into Scotland well knowing that Peace betwixt Scotland and England never used to continue very long He being admitted into the King's Presence made a lamentable complaint of the Ruin of the York-Family and what miserable Calamities he himself had suffered and therefore he earnestly besought him to vindicate Royal Blood from such contumely and shame The King bid him be of good chear and promised he should shortly find That he had not desired his help in his Distresses in vain A few days after a Council was called where Peter made a sad Story of his Misfortunes That he being born of a King the most Flourishing of his Time and that of the highest hopes too was left destitute by the untimely death of his Father and so was like to have fallen into the Tyrannical Hands of his Uncle Richard before he was sensible almost what Misery was That his Elder Brother was cruelly murdered by him but that he himself was stolen away by his Father's Friends so that now he durst not live no not a poor and precarious Life even in that Kingdom of which he was the lawful Heir That he had so miserably lived amongst Foreign Nations that he preferred the Condition of his deceased Brother before his own in regard he was snatch'd away from all further Calamity by a suddain and violent Death That he himself was reserved as the ridicule of Fortune and that his Sorrow had not that alleviation that he durst bewail his miserable State amongst Strangers to incline them to pity him for after he had begun openly to profess what he was Fortune had assaulted him with all her Darts and to his former Miseries had added a daily fear of Treachery for his crafty Enemy had sometimes tampered with those who entertained him to take away his Life and sometimes he had privily suborned his Subjects under the name of Friends to discover his secret Designs to corrupt his true Friends and to find out his secret ones and to calumniate his Stock and Pedigree by false Accusations amongst the Vulgar to reproach his Aunt Margaret and those English Nobles that owned him and yet notwithstanding that she being supported by a good Conscience against the revilings of Enemies and also out of compassion to her own Blood had supported him in his low Estate with her Assistance
or else were likely speedily to follow after It considering also his eminent Virtues yea his popular Vices did easily deceive vulgar Minds under a specious Resemblance and Affinity to Virtue For he was of a strong Body just Stature a Majestick Countenance of a quick Wit but by the default of the Times not cultivated by Learning He did greedily imbibe one ancient Custom of the Nation for he was skilful in curing of Wounds for in old Times that kind of Knowledg was common to all the Nobility as Men continually accustomed to Arms. The Access to his Presence was easy his Answers were mild he was just in Judgment and moderate in Punishment so that he seemed to be drawn to it against his Will He bore the malevolent Speeches of his Enemies and the Monitions of his Friends with a Greatness of Mind which arose in him from the Tranquillity of a good Conscience and the Confidence of his own Innocency insomuch that he was so far from being angry that he never returned them an harsh Word There were also some Vices which crept in among these Virtues by reason of his two great affectation of Popularity For by endeavouring to avoid the Name of a covetous Prince which his Father had incurred he laboured to insinuate himself into the Good will of the Vulgar by sumptuous Buildings by costly Pageants and immoderate Largesses so that his Exchequer was very low and his want of Money such that if he had lived longer the Merits of his former Reign would have been extinguished or at least out-ballanced by his Imposition of new Taxes so that his Death seemed to have hapned rather commodiously than immaturely to him IAMES the Vth the CVIth King WHen Iames the Fourth was slain he left his Wife Margaret and Two Sons behind him the Eldest of which was not yet full two Years old The Parliament assembled at Sterlin proclaimed him King according to the Custom of the Country on the 24 th day of February and then they addressed themselves to settle the publick Affairs in doing whereof they first perceived the greatness of their Loss For those of the Nobility who bore any thing of Authority and Wisdom before them being slain the major part of those who survived by reason of their youthful Age or incapacity of Mind were unfit to meddle with Matters of State especially in so troublesom a time and they who were left alive of the better sort who had any thing of Prudence in them by reason of their Ambitions and Covetousness abhorred all Counsels tending to Peace Alexander Hume Lord Warden of all the Marches had got a great Name and a large Estate in the King's Life-time but when he was dead he obtained an almost Regal Authority in the Countries bordering upon England He out of a wicked Ambition did not restrain Robbers that so he might more engage those bold and lewd Persons to him thinking thereby to make way for his greater Puissance but that Design was unhappy to him and in the end pernicious The Command of the Country on this side the Forth was committed to him the Parts beyond to Alexander Gordon to keep those Seditious Provinces within the Bounds of their Duty But the Name of Regent was in the Queen her self For the King had left in his Will which he made before he went to fight that if he miscarried as long as she remained a Widow she should have the Supream Power This was contrary to the Law of the Land and the first Example of any Woman who ever had the Supream Rule in Scotland yet the want of Men made it seem tolerable especially to them who were desirous of Peace and Quietness But her Office continued not long for before the end of the Spring she married Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus one of the prime young Men of Scotland for Lineage Beauty and Accomplishments in all good Arts and before the end of that Year the Seeds of Discord were sown They took their Rise from the Ecclesiastical Order for after the Nobles were slain in all publick Assemblies a great part were of that sort of Men and many of them did their own business amidst the publick Calamity and got such Estates that nothing did more hasten their Ruin than that inordinate Power which they afterwards as arrogantly used Alexander Stuart Archbishop of St. Andrews was slain at Flodden and there were Three which strove for that Preferment but upon different Interests Gawin Douglas upon the account of the Splendor of his Family and his own Personal Worth and Learning was nominated to the place by the Queen and accordingly took Possession of the Castle of St. Andrews Andrew Hepburn Abbat of St. Andrews before any Archbishop was nominated gathered up the Revenues of the place as a Sequestrator and he being a potent factious and subtile Man was chosen by his Monks to the Vacancy for he alleged that the Power of electing an Archbishop by ancient Custom was in Them so that he drove out the Officers of Gawin and placed a strong Garison in the Castle Andrew Forman had obtained great Favour in the Courts both of Rome and France by his former Services so that besides the Bishoprick of Murray in Scotland which he held from the beginning Lewis the 12 th of France gave him the Archbishoprick of Bourges And Pope Iulius had also dismissed him loaden with many rich Preferments for he bestowed on him the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews the two rich Abbies of Dumfermling and Aberbrothock and made him his Legate à Latere as they call him besides But so great was the Power of the Hepburns at that time that the Hume's being yet at Concord with them no Man could be found that durst proclaim the Popes Bull for the Election of Forman to that Dignity until at last Alexander Humes was induced by great Promises and besides other Gifts with the actual Donation of the Abby of Coldingham to David his younger Brother to undertake the Cause which seemed to be honest and just and especially because the Family of the Formans was in the Clanship or Protection of the Hume's so that he caused the Popes Bull to be published at Edinburgh And that was the Original of many Mischiefs which ensued for Hepburn being a Man of a lofty Spirit from that day forward studied day and night how to destroy the Family of the Hume's The Queen whilst she sat at Helm did this one thing Worthy to be remembred that she wrote to her Brother that he would not make War upon Scotland in respect to her and her young Children and that he would not infest the Dominions of his Cousin by his Foreign Arms which of its own accord was divided into so many Domestick Factions but that he would rather defend them against the Wrongs of others upon the account of his Age and the Affinity betwixt them Henry answered very Nobly and Prince-like That if the Scots desired
in those parts the rest was taken away by the Country-men who were so ignorant of the price of it that they thought the Cinnamon therein to be but a low priz'd Bark and so sold it to make Fire with yet the whole Envy of the matter fell upon the Douglasses Upon this change of Affairs the Tories who had a long time refrain'd their Depredations for fear of Punishment came forth out of their lurking holes and grievously infested all the circumjacent Countries And though many Pranks were plaid by others up and down yet all the Murders and Robberies every where committed were charg'd upon the score of the Douglasses by those Courtiers who thought they humour'd the King by so doing that so they might make the name of that Family otherwise popular invidious to the vulgar And in the beginning of Winter the King march'd to Tantallon a Castle of the Douglasses by the Sea side to take it in that so no Refuge might be left for the Exiles and that he might take the place with less Labour and Cost he was supplied with Brass-Guns and Powder from Dunbar That Castle was distant from Dunbar six Miles and it was garison'd by the Souldiers of Iohn the Regent because it was part of his Patrimony he continued the Siege for some days wherein some of the Besiegers were slain others wounded and some blown up with Gun-Powder but none at all of the Besieged were lost so that he raised his Siege and retreated In his return David Falkner who was left behind with some Foot-Souldiers to carry back the Brass-Ordnance was set upon by Douglasses Horse who were sent out to snap up the Stragglers in the Rear and slain his Death did so inrage the young King who was incens'd enough before that he solemnly swore in his Passion that as long as he liv'd the Douglasses should never have the Sentence of their Banishment revoked And as soon as he came to Edinburgh to straiten them the more by the Advice of his Council he order'd that a party of Souldiers should be continually kept at Coldingham which was to be rather an active or flying than a numerous one to prevent the pillaging of the Country by them The charge of doing it was commended by the King to Bothwel one of the greatest Persons for Authority and Puissance in Lothian but he refused the Imployment either out of Fear of the Power of the Douglasses which not long since all the rest of Scotland was not able to cope with or else because he would not have the Disposition of the young King who was eager and over-violent of his own accord to be inur'd to such Cruelty as totally to destroy so noble a Family And whereas the King had no great Confidence in the Hamiltons as being Friends to his Enemies and he did also disgust them upon the account of the Slaughter of Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox and besides there being none of the Nobility of the adjacent parts that had Power or Interest enough for that Service at last he resolved to send Calen Cambel with an Army against the Rebels a Person living in the furthest parts of the Kingdom but a prudent Man of approv'd Valour and upon the account of his Justice very popular The Douglassians when the Hamiltons and the rest of their Friends failed them were reduced to great straits so that they were compell'd by Calen and by George chief of the Humes to retire like Exiles into England In the Month of October two eminent Persons came Embassadors from the King of England about a Peace which tho earnestly desir'd by both Kings yet they could scarce find out the way to make it up For Henry being about to make War upon Charles the Emperor was willing to leave all safe behind his back and with the same labour to procure the Restitution of the Douglasses As for Iames he did much desire to have Tantallon Castle in his Power but his Mind was very averse to restore the Douglasses and for that Reason the Matter was canvassed to and fro for some Days and no Temper for Accommodation could be found out but at last they came to this That Tantallon Castle should be surrendred to Iames and a Truce be granted for five Years and their other Demands the King was to promise the granting of under his Signet The Castle was surrendred accordingly but the other Demands were not as punctually performed save only that Alexander Drummond had leave given him to return home for Brittain's sake For some Months before Iames Colvill and Robert Carncross upon suspicion of their favouring the Douglasses were removed from Court and their Offices bestowed on Robert Brittain who then was in high Favour at Court and had great Command there After this tho Matters were not quite settled abroad for the English had burnt Arn a Town in Teviotdale before their Embassadors return'd yet the rest of the Year was more quiet but the Insolence of the Banditti was not quite suppressed whereupon the King caus'd William Cockburn of Henderland and Adam Scot noted Robbers to be apprehended at Edinburgh and for a Terror to the rest he put them to Death The next Year in the Month of March the King sent Iames Earl of Murray whom he had made Deputy-Governour of the whole Kingdom to the Borders there to have a Meeting with the Earl of Northumberland in order to settle a Peace and to treat about mutual Satisfaction for Losses But a Contention arose betwixt them about expiating the Murder of Robert Car. The One pleaded that the Process ought to be form'd in Scotland according to the Law The Other would have it in England In the Interim each of them sent Messengers to their several Kings to know their Minds in the Case On the 17 th of the Calends of May there was held a Council of the Nobility where after a long Debate which lasted till Night 't was concluded That the Earl of Bothwel Robert Maxwel Walter Scot and Mark Carr should be committed Prisoners to Edinburgh Castle And that the Earls and chief Men of Merch and Teviotdale should be sent Prisoners to other Places it being supposed That they privately scatter'd abroad the Seeds of a War against England And in Iuly the King levied about 8000 Men and marched out against the Robbers and that with so much speed that he quickly pitch'd his Tents by the River Ewse Not far from thence lived one Iohn Armstrong chief of one Faction of the Thieves who had struck such a Fear to all the neighbouring Parts that even the English themselves for many Miles about bought their Peace by paying him a certain Tribute yea Maxwel was also afraid of his Power and therefore endeavoured his Destruction by all possible ways This Iohn was enticed by the King's Officers to make his Repair to the King which he did unarm'd with about fifty Horse in his Company but having forgot
present Duke of York and Vice-roy of the Kingdom of England Iames willingly assented to such large and alluring Promises and accordingly fixt a day for the Interview But there were two Factions which resolved to oppose his Journy for England First the Hamiltons who secretly laboured to keep the King from marrying that so they being the next Heirs he might have no Children to exclude them from the Succession And next the Priests also were mightily against it and their Pretences were seemingly just and honest as first the danger he would run if with a small Retinue he should put himself into the Power of his old Enemy for then he must comply with his Will though it were never so much against his Own They also recited the Examples of his Ancestors who either by their own Credulity or else by the Perfidiousness of the Enemy were drawn into a Nouse and from flattering Promises of Friendship had brought home nothing but Ignominy and Loss They also urg'd the unhappy Mistake of Iames the First who in a time of Truce landing as he thought in his Friends Country was there kept Prisoner eighteen Years and at last had such Conditions imposed upon him which he neither lawfully could nor ought to have accepted and then said they he was avariciously sold to his own Subjects Moreover first Malcolm after him his Brother William Kings of Scotland were brought on the Stage who were inticed to London by Henry the 2 d. and then carried over into France to make a shew of assisting in a War there against the French King their old Ally But say they if it be objected Henry the 8 th will do none of these things they answered first How shall we be assured of that next Is it not a point of high Imprudence to venture ones Fortune Life and Dignity which are now in ones own Power into the Hands of another Besides the Priests saw that all their Concerns were now at stake and therefore they must now or never stand up for them in order whereto they caused Iames Beton Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and George Creighton Bishop of Dunkelden two old decrepit Men to come to Court there to baul it out That Religion would be betrayed by this Meeting and Interview even That Religion said they which had been observed so many Ages by their Ancestors and which had all along preserved its Defenders till now The Ruin of which would be attended with the total Destruction of the Kingdom also to forsake that Religion upon every light Grounds especially in such a time wherein the whole World doth conspire together with Arms in their Hands for its Preservation could not be done without great Danger at present and Infamy for future yea it would be a thing of great Wickedness and Impiety also With these Engines they battered Iames's Mind which of it self was inclined enough to Superstition and moreover they corrupted those Courtiers who could do most with him desiring them in their Names to promise him a great Sum of Mony so that hereby they wholly turned away his Mind from the Thoughts of an Interview Henry took this Disappointment in great Disdain as indeed he had reason so to do and thus the Seeds of Dissension were again sown between the two Kings In the mean time the King was weary of his single Life and by reason of foreign Embassies and his Court-Distractions at home was variously agitated in his Thoughts all pretended the publick Good but some aimed at their own private Advantage under that Vail and though many persuaded him to an Affinity with Charles in regard of the flourishing Estate of the Empire at that time yet he rather inclined to an Alliance with France And therefore seeing the matter could not be ended by Embassadors he himself resolved to sail over into France and accordingly rigging out a small Navy the best he could fit in so short a time on the 26 th of Iuly he set Sail from Leith none knowing whither he would go many were of opinion that his Design was for England to visit his Uncle and to ask him pardon for disappointing the Interview agreed on the Year before But a Tempest arising and being also toss'd with contrary Winds the Pilot ask'd him what course he should steer If there be a necessity said he Land me any where but in England Then his Mind was understood He might have return'd home but he was willing rather to sail round Scotland and to try the Western Ocean there also he had very bad Weather and by the advice of a few of his Domesticks as he was asleep he was carried back again when he was awake he took the matter in such great Indignation that for ever after he bore an implacable Hatred against Iames Hamilton whom he also disgusted before upon the account of the killing the Earl of Lennox neither was he well pleased with the rest of the Authors of that Counsel ever after and there were some who in compliance with the King 's angry Humour buzz'd him in the Ears That the Hamiltons under a pretence of a serviceable Attendance and Duty had accompany'd him on purpose to undermine his Voyage However he put to Sea again with a great Train of Nobles September the 1 st and in ten days arrived at Diep in Normandy from thence that he might prevent the News of his Arrival he went disguis'd and in great speed to the Town of Vendosme where the Duke then was and saw his Daughter which pleased him not so that he presently made haste to Court he came unexpectedly upon Francis and the whole Court and yet was honourably receiv'd by him and on the 26 th of November almost against his Will he bestow'd in Marriage his Daughter Magdalene upon him For her Father as I related before judging his eldest Daughter by reason of her sickly temper unfit to bear Children offer'd him his youngest or any other Woman of the French Nobility for a Wife but Iames and Magdalene had contracted a Friendship by Messengers which was confirmed by the mutual Sight Meeting and Discourse one with another so that neither of them could be diverted from their purpose The Marriage was celebrated Ianuary the 1 st in the Year 1537 to the great Joy of all and they both arrived in Scotland the 28 th of May being attended by a French Navy She lived not long after but died of an Hectick Feaver Iuly the 7 th to the great Grief of all except the Priests for they feared that her Life would have put an end to their Luxury and Ambition because they knew she was educated under the Discipline of her Aunt the Queen of Navar. As for others they conceiv'd such a Grief for her Death that then as I think Mourning Garments began first to be used in Scotland which yet after forty Years do scarce continue to be worn though the publick Manners do decline and seem to require it
Ambassadors were presently sent into France Cardinal David Beton and Robert Maxwel to bring over Mary of the House of Guise Widow to the Duke of Longoville for the King presaging the Loss of his Wife had cast his Eye upon her This same Year the Earl of Bothwel because he had past over secretly into England and also had held private Cabals with the English in Scotland was banish'd out of England Scotland and France Moreover about the same time many Persons were accused and condemned for high Treason Iohn Forbes an active young Man the Head of a great Family and Faction was brought to his end it was thought by the Emulation of the Hâ—ntly's for there was one Straughan a Man fit for any flagitious Enterprize who was many Years very familiar with Forbes and was either privy to or else Partaker or Author of all his bad Actions He being not as much respected by him as he thought he deserv'd deserted him and apply'd himself to his Enemy Huntly and before him accused Forbes of Treason or as many think he there plotted the Accusation with Huntly himself against him viz. That Forbes many Years before had a Design to kill the King The Crime was not sufficiently prov'd against him nor by fit and unexceptionable Witnesses neither was the Plot of his Adversaries the Huntlys against his Life hid in the Process yet on the 14 th of Iuly the Judges who were most of Huntly's Faction condemn'd him and he had his Head struck off His Punishment was the less lamented because though Men believed him guiltless as to the Crime he suffered for yet they counted him worthy of Death for the Flagitiousness of his former Life Straughan the Discoverer because he had concealed so foul an Offence so long was banish'd Scotland and liv'd many Years after in France so deboistly and filthily that Men thought him a fit Instrument for any wicked Prank whatsoever The King not long after as if he had repented of his Severity against Forbes took another Brother of the Forbes's into his Family and another he advanced to a rich Match restoring to them their Estate which had been confiscate A few Days after there was another Trial which on the account of the Family of the accused Parties the Novelty of the Wickedness charged on them and the heinousness of the Punishment was very lamentable Ioan Douglas Sister to the Earl of Angus and Wife to Iohn Lyons Lord of Glames also her Son and later Husband Gilespy Cambel Iohn Lyons Kinsman to her former Husband and an old Priest were accused for endeavouring to poison the King All these tho they lived continually in the Country far from Court and their Friends and Servants could not be brought to witness any thing against them yet were put on the Rack to make them confess and so were condemn'd and shut up in Edinburgh-Castle The fifth day after Forbes was executed Ioan Douglas was burnt alive with the 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 commended for her rare Beauty and in her very Punishment she shewed a manlike Fortitude But that which People were most concern'd for was That they thought the Enmity against her Brother who was banish'd did her more prejudice than her own objected Crime Her Husband endeavoured to escape out of the Castle of Edinburgh but the Rope being too short to let him down to the Foot of the Rock he brake almost all the Bones of his Body in the Fall and so ended his Days Their Son a young Man and of greater innocent Simplicity than to have the Suspicion of such a Wickedness justly charged upon him was shut up Prisoner in the Castle and after the King's Death was released and recovered the Estate which had been taken away from his Parents Their Accuser was William Lyons he afterwards perceiving that so eminent a Family was like to be ruined by his false Information repented when it was too late and confess'd his Offence to the King and yet he could not prevail to prevent the Punishment of the Condemned or to hinder their Estates from being confiscate The next Year following on the 12 th of Iune Mary of the House of Guise arrived at Balcomy a Castle belonging to Iames Laird of Lermont from whence she was conveyed by Land to St. Andrews and there in a great Assembly of the Nobility she was married to the King In the beginning of the Year following which was 1539 many Persons were apprehended as suspected of Lutheranism And about the End of February five were burnt nine recanted but many more were banish'd amongst the Sufferers of this Class was George Buchanan who when his Keepers were asleep made his Escape out of the Window of the Prison to which he was committed This Year the Queen brought forth a Son at St. Andrews and the next Year another in the same Place Also this Year and the former Matters were rather somewhat hushed than fully composed some Men wanting rather a Leader than an Occasion to rebel For tho many desired it yet no Man durst openly avow himself Head of any Insurrection And now the King having Heirs to succeed him and thereby becoming more confident of his Settledness and Establishment began to slight the Nobility as a sluggish and unwarlike Generation and not likely to attempt any thing against him whose Family was now rivetted and confirmed by Issue-Male So that he applied his Mind to sumptuous and unnecessary Buildings he stood in need of Mony for that Work and in regard he was as Covetous as he was Indigent both Factions of Nobles and Priests were equally afraid and each of them indeavoured to avert the Tempest from falling upon them that it might light on the Other And therefore whenever the King complain'd of the Lowness of his Exchequer amongst his Friends One Party would extol the Riches of the Other as if it were a Prey ready for the Seisure and the King hearkned sometimes to the One and sometimes to the Other and so kept both in Suspence between hope and fear So that when Ambassadors came at that time out of England to Court to desire the King to give his Uncle a Meeting at York promising some mighty Advantages by that Interview and making a large Harangue concerning the Love and Good-will of their King towards him The Faction which was adverse to the Priests persuaded him by all means to meet at the Time and Place appointed When the Sacerdotal Party heard of this they thought their Order would be quite undone if they did not hinder the Meeting and so disturb the Concord by casting in Seeds of Discord betwixt the King and his Nobles And considering of all ways how to effect it no Remedy seemed more ready at hand for the present Malady than to attempt the King's Mind which
Accused had committed no such heinous Offence and besides they foresaw the Danger that would insue About the same time the Queen of England sent her a very large and obliging Letter full of prudent Advice in reference to the present Estate of Scotland endeavouring to incline her Kinswoman from a wrathful to a reconcilable Temper The Nobility knew that such Letters were come and they guess'd at What the Contents were and thereupon the Queen counterfeited a civiller Respect to them than ordinary and began to read them in the presence of many of them when she was in the middle David stood up and bid her Read no more she had read enough she should stop that Carriage of his seemed to them rather arrogant than new for they knew how imperiously he had carried it towards her heretofore yea and sometimes he would reprove her more sharply than her own Husband ever durst do At that time the Cause of the Banish'd was hotly disputed in the Parliament-House some to gratify the Queen would have the Punishment due to Traitors to be pass'd upon them others contended that they had done nothing worthy to be so severely treated In the mean time David went about to all of them one by one to feel their pulses what each ones Vote would be concerning the Exiles if he was chosen Speaker by the rest of the Convention he told them plainly the Queen was resolved to have them condemn'd and 't was in vain for any of them to contend against it and besides he would be sure to incur the Queen's Displeasure thereby His Design in this was partly to confound the weaker Spirits betwixt Hope and Fear and partly to exclude the more resolv'd out of the number of the Judges select or Lords of the Articles or at least that the major Part might be of such a Gizard as would please the Queen This audacious Improbity of so mean a Fellow was fear'd by some and hated by all Whereupon the King by his Father's Advice sent for Iames Douglas and Patrick Lindsy his Kinsmen one by the Father the other by the Mother's side they advise with Patrick Ruven an able Man both for Advice and Execution but he was so weakned with a lasting Disease that for some Months he could not rise out of his Bed however they were willing to trust him amongst some few others in a matter of so great Concernment both by reason of his great Prudence and also because his Children were Cousin-Germans to the King The King was told by them what a great Error he had committed before in suffering his Kinsmen and Friends to be driven from Court in favour of such a base Rascal as Rize yea he himself did in effect thrust them out from the Court with his own Hands and so had advanced such a contemptible Mushroom that now he himself was despised by him they had also much other Discourse concerning the State of the Publick The King was quickly brought to acknowledg his Fault and to promise to act nothing for the future without the Consent of the Nobility But those wise and experienc'd Counsellors thought it not safe to trust the verbal Promises of an Uxorious young Man as believing that he might in time be enticed by his Wife to deny this Capitulation to their certain Ruin and therefore they drew up the Heads of their Contract in Writing to which he willingly and forwardly subscribed The Heads were For the establishing Religion as 't was provided for at the Queen's Return to Scotland To reduce the Persons lately banished because their Country could not well want their Service To destroy David for as long as he was alive the King could not maintain his Dignity nor the Nobility be in Safety They all set their Hands to this Schedule wherein the King professing himself the Author of the Homicide they resolved presently to attempt the Fact both to prevent the Condemnation of the absent Nobles and also lest Delay might discover their Design And therefore when the Queen was at Supper in a narrow private Room the Earl of Argyle's Wife and David sitting with her as they were wont and there were but a few Attendants for the Room would not hold many Iames 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 be The King comes out of his own 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 Patrick Ruven follow'd him arm'd with but four or five Companions at most they entred into the Closet where they were at Supper and the Queen being something mov'd at that unusual Appearance of arm'd Men and also perceiving Ruven in an uncouth posture and lean by reason of his late Disease and yet in his Armour asked him What was the matter for the Spectators thought that his Feaver had disturb'd his Head and put him besides himself He commanded David to rise and come forth for the Place he sat in was not fit for him the Queen presently rose and sought to defend him by the interposal of her Body but the King took her in his Arms and bid her to be of good chear they would do her no hurt only the Death of that Villain was resolved on they haled David out into the next then into the outer Chamber there those that waited with Douglas made an end of him with many Wounds which was against the Mind of all those who conspired his Death for they resolved to hang him up publickly as knowing it would be a grateful Spectacle to all the People There went a constant Report that one Iohn Damiot a French Priest counted a Conjurer told David once or twice that now he had feather'd his Nest he should be gone and withdraw himself from the Envy of the Nobles who would be too hard for him And that he should answer The Scots were greater Threatners than Fighters he was also told 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 need fear it for he thought his Danger was predicted from Murray but the Prophecy was either fulfill'd or eluded by Douglas's giving him his first Blow who was the base-begotten Son to the Earl of Angus after he had began then every one rush'd in to strike him either to revenge their own particular Grief or the publick Concern Hereupon a Tumult arose all over the House and the Earls of Huntly Athol and Bothwel who were 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 Ruven went out of that Privy-room into the Queen's Bed-Chamber where
settled there was Quietness from Force and Arms but the Peace was but Ticklish Mens minds were yet in a Fermentation and their Indignation which they could not hide did seem to portend some sudden Mischief In this great uncertainty of Affairs all Mens thoughts and Eyes were fixt upon what the insuing Parliament would do The time of its Sitting was the 25 th of August where the Assembly was so Numerous that no Man ever before remember'd the like Concourse Therein the Authority of the Regent was confirm'd but about the Queen they differ'd in their Opinions for it appearing by many Testimonies and Proofs especially by her own Letters to Bothwel that the whole Plot of the bloody Fact was laid by Her Some being moved with the Heinousness of the thing and Others being afterwards made acquainted therewith by Her lest They themselves should be punished as Accessories to so odious a Crime to remove her Testimony out of the way Voted That she should suffer the utmost extremity of the Law but the Major part Sentenced Her only to be kept in Prison After the Parliament rose The Winter was spent in settling Judicatories and punishing Delinquents The Embassadors of the French and English had Audience they Both desir'd to see the Queen but she being a Prisoner on a publique Account 't was deny'd them None but Bothwel was then in Arms Whereupon some were sent with a Navy to catch him as he was exercising Piracy near the Orcades and the Isles of Schetland The publick Stock was then so low that they were forc'd to borrow Mony of Iames Douglas Earl of Morton to rig and fit the Navy so that his private Purse at that Time bore the Burden of the publick Charge Bothwel was there in a manner secure both because of the fierceness of Winter-Tempests then raging in those Seas which made them inaccessible for a Fleet as also because he knew the Treasury which he himself had exhausted could not afford Mony to set out One so that by the sudden coming of William Kircade of Grange who commanded the Fleet he was almost surpriz'd some of his Company were taken but he himself escap'd with a few in Company by the contrary side of the Island amongst the Shallows and Fords where great Ships could not follow and so sail'd to Denmark Where giving no good Account Whence he came nor Whither he was Bound he was put in Ward and afterward being known by some Merchants he was clapt up close Prisoner where after ten Years nasty Imprisonment and other Miseries at last he grew Mad and came to a Death suitable to his base and wicked Life At the beginning of the next Spring the Regent determin'd to make a Progress over the whole Kingdom to settle Courts of Justice there that so he might repair and amend what was Amiss or else shrewdly Shaken by the Tumults of the former Years Which Proceeding of his was variously interpreted according to Mens several Humours and Dispositions The adverse Faction declaim'd every where against the Regent's Severity or as they phras'd it Cruelty which was formidable to them who by reason of the greatness of their Offences could not endure to be regulated by the Law in regard they had been us'd to Licentiousness in former Times But if the Queen were set at Liberty some of them had Rewards Others Impunity in their Eye by which means many were drawn in to the contrary Faction yea some of those too who had been Instruments in her Apprehension Maitland was as great an Enemy to Bothwel whom he look'd upon as a vile and naughty Person and one that would have cut his Throat as he was a Favourer of the Queen's Affairs and because he was out of hope to overthrow him as long as the Queen was alive therefore he inclin'd in the Parliament to that side that would have had her punish'd according to Law Iames Balfure was in the like Circumstances as imagining Bothwel to be his implacable Enemy tho neither of them was thought innocent in the matter of the King's Death But when Bothwel was taken and kept Prisoner in Denmark they then apply'd their Thoughts wholly to the Deliverance of the Queen not only because they hop'd for an impunity of their common Crime more easily from her but also because they thought She that had made away her Husband would do but little better with her Son whose Infancy and Shadow of Royal Name was That alone which kept her from the Throne but besides they judg'd it also for their own Security lest the Son should come to the Kingdom to be a Revenger of his Father's Death Moreover they were no obscure Conjectures That the Queen's mind was not much abhorrent from such an Attempt For she was often heard to say The Child was not long-liv'd for a skilful Astrologer had told her at Paris that her first Child would not live above a Year and t is thought that she her Self came once to Sterlin in the same Hope intending to bring the Child with her to Edinburgh which Suspicion caus'd Iohn Erskin Governor of the Castle not to suffer the Child to be taken from him it also made a great part of the Nobility then met at Sterlin to associate themselves by Oath to maintain the said young Prince in Safety Moreover the Hamiltons were might and main for freeing the Queen because if her Son were remov'd by her means They were one degree nearer to the Crown and after that 't were no hard task to take her off also because she was hated of all for her Crimes and having once been stopp'd in her Tyranny would afterwards let forth the Reins looser and more impetuously to Cruelty Argyle and Huntly of which one had a Mother the other a Wife of the Family of the Hamiltons did cherish their hopes and wish'd them good Success but they had also proper Reasons of their own to incline them so to do because neither of them was judg'd to be wholly ignorant or guiltless of the Queen's Crimes Besides William Murray of Tillibarden being alienated both by Reason of his different Opinion in point of Religion and bearing also a private Grudg against the Regent tho he had been highly serviceable in taking the Queen yet did not only revolt from the Royal Party himself but also drew a great many of his Friends along with him upon proposal of no small Rewards to them These were the Principals in delivering the Queen there were many others also that fell in with their Party whom either domestick Necessity private Grudges desire of Revenge Hope of bett'ring their Fortune or else Propinquity or Obligation to those above nam'd did draw in and engage In this troublesome state of Affairs the Regent was equally unmoveable against the Intreaties of his Friends and the Threats of his Enemies tho he knew by the publick Libels which they posted up and down the Cause of their hatred and their desire of Revenge And
managed Designs to alter things The Pope was not wanting by his Exhortations and Promises to stir up their Minds already inraged but the Kings were not sufficiently agreed amongst themselves and their Forces were so exhausted that they rather desired a War than were able to make it Besides there was an Emulation betwixt them one could not well bear that the other should have so great an Accession as England if it were conquered to his Dominions Moreover some Disputes arose betwixt Them and their Subjects which diverted their Thoughts from foreign Affairs though the Novelty of a Woman's Reign and she a young Woman too without an Husband gave Encouragement thereto especially since those who were ill affected to her said she was born to Henry the 8 th in an unlawful Marriage and also the former Differences about the Kingdom and about Religion were rather stifled than extinguished yea the Sparks of Discontent did glow in Mens Minds which in a short time were likely to break forth into a great Flame In the mean time the English Papists had made many Attempts but in vain for they were soon quell'd and though their Designs never succeeded yet Foreigners still feeding them only with blooming Hopes not with real Supplies they still persisted in the same resolute Design wanting rather a Commander for their Numbers than Power or Courage to come together The Common People of that Sect had taken a View of all the Nobility and they found none fit enough to whom they might commit their Lives and Fortunes many of the most stirring had been consumed in the Civil Wars many had past over to the other Party some were so old that they were unfit for publick Business or else the Vigor of their Minds as well as the Strength of their Bodies was so debilitated that they desired Peace if it were but a tolerable one There was only one Man who for Courage and Power seemed fit to undertake so great a Business and that was Thomas Howard who though he was of himself inclinable to Quietness yet there were some Causes which moved him to study Innovations For his Father and Grand-father though they had been highly eminent both in War and Peace yet in the Storms of an unstable Court they had been so toss'd that their highest Glory was ballanc'd with as great Disgrace His Father was condemn'd for Treason and publickly beheaded and Two Queens his Kinswomen had been also put to Death He in those Difficulties was liberally brought up and so preserved his Family from being quite extinguish'd and blown up In his very Youth he gave a Specimen of great Prudence and in a few Years by the Death of his Wives and by new Marriages he grew so rich that next to the Queen he was the most potent of the English for Wealth and Prudence the rest of the Nobility yielded to him but as for his Skill in Military Matters he had yet given no Proof of his Valor but in the Controversies of Religion he carried himself so swimmingly and ambiguously that tho he favoured Popery in his Heart yet he was such a Fosterer of the contrary Party that Many of them made sure of him in their Thoughts as their Own Amids these things the Queen of Scots was overcome in Battel and fled to England whence she wrote Letters to that Queen concerning the cause of her coming she was bid by her to retire to the House of the Lord Scroop Warden of the Marches till she did consider of her Demands in Council Scroop's Wife was Howard's Sister and by her Means the Treaty of Marriage was secretly begun betwixt the Queen and Howard and the Opportunity seemed to be offered by God himself seeing Howard's third Wife was lately dead and he was then a Widower The Design was concealed as being intrusted but to a few yet 't was whisper'd abroad among the Common People For narrow Spirits cannot conceal great Hopes but Ioy gives them Vent and so they fly abroad The Matter was so far advanc'd That the Fire of a Civil War seemed ready to break out yea some were so confident of Success after they had considered the Strength of the Parties that they thought Howard might easily do what he pleased without using any Force Things were in this Posture when the Scots Nobles had a great Meeting at Perth to hear the Demands of both Queen's both of them having wrote to them The Queen of England's Letters proposed one of these Three Conditions The first was absolute That the Queen might be restored to her Throne and Dignity as formerly But if that could not be granted Then that she might reign jointly with her Son that so she might injoy Princely Honour in Letters and publick Acts in the mean time the Regency should be in the Hands of the present Regent till the King came to the Age of seventeen If neither of those could be obtained then the third Condition was if the Queen could be persuaded to accept of it That she should live privately at home being content with those Honours which saving the Authority and Majesty of the King might be granted to her This last Request was easily assented to if the Queen would accept it But the other Two were peremptorily refused For the better and more incorrupt Part of the Nobility were resolute in this That they neither could nor ought to determine any thing which did diminish the King's Authority especially being lawfully inthron'd but the two former Heads did take off from the King's Honour yea it exposed his Life too being a Pupil unless it could be thought that his Mother who was known to be cruel towards her Husband and was not well affected toward her Son neither being exasperated by her Banishment besides should be no more kind to him than she had been ever before Also the Letters from the exil'd Queen were read wherein she desired That some Judges might be appointed to consider of her Marriage with Bothwel and if 't was found contrary to Law that she might be divorced from him Those Letters did highly incense the King's Party because she wrote her self as Queen and commanded them as Subjects Yea some would not have had them answered at all because they indeavoured to abridg the King of his Power and to instate the Rule in the sole Power of an exil'd Queen but that Part of the Council which was for the Queen alleged that they wondered much why those who had formerly the last Year much desired that she would separate her Cause from Bothwel's now when it was freely offer'd to them should hinder it as eagerly or rather more as they had before earnestly desired it if a Word or two in the Letters did displease them that Fault might easily be amended yea some there were who undertook provided the Matter of the Divorce might be handled in the mean time to procure a Commission from her in what Expressions they themselves would have it On the contrary
learned Man to interpret it yet if there were any eminent Scholars there as there were oft Many and such were still well respected by him he would ask their Opinions which he did not out of a vain Ambition but out of a desire to conform himself to the Rule thereof He was in a manner too liberal he gave to Many and often too and his Alacrity in giving commended the Gift To a great many who were modest in receiving he presented privately with his own Hand In a word He was honest and plain-hearted to his Friends and Domesticks for if any of them did amiss he reprov'd them more sharply than he did Strangers By these his Manners Deportment and Innocency of Life he was dear and venerable not only to his Country-Men but even to Foreigners especially to the English to whom in all the vicissitudes of Providence in his Life his Virtues were more known than to any other Nation The Twentieth BOOK ALL that Time which immediately followed the Death of the last Regent although it were free from Blood-shed yet was embroyled with the various Attempts of the Factions Before the Murder the Hamiltons in great Numbers had met at Edinburgh under the Pretence of prevailing with the Regent to release Iames Hamilton the Head of their Kin or Tribe who was yet kept Prisoner in the Castle But after the Murder was perpetrated they sent some from amongst them to the rest of the Hamiltons who were to dissuade the other Clans for so they would have made People believe from joining with or protecting the publick Parricides But as very many suspected it was to bid them be prepared and ready for all Occasions For the next Night after the Murder Walter Scot and Thomas Carr of Farnihest entring into England did ravage over all Places with Fire and Sword and that with somewhat more Cruelty than was used in former times Neither was it so much the Desire of Prey or Revenge which mov'd them to this unusual Crueltie as that it was long before resolved by the Bishop of Saint Andrews and the rest of the Heads of the Faction to incense the English against the Scots And if they could provoke them no other way to take up Arms then by Injuries to draw them tho unwillingly into a War The Governour of the Castle although convinced by many Evidences so that all Mens Eyes and Discourse were upon him by way of Reflection as yet continued in his former counterfeited Loyalty to the King 'T was upon his account that William Maitland was delivered out of Prison For when he had in many Words pleaded his Innocency before the Council the Nobles then present attesting That it did not with any certainty appear to them That he was guilty of those Crimes which were laid to his Charge for he was accused to have been privy to the King 's and Regent's Murders and also to be the Author of the Civil War that was lately raised in England he was at last dismissed yet so that the Matter seem'd to be deferred till Another time rather than absolutely to be decided at That He also protesting his Innocency upon Oath did promise to appear whensoever the King's Kindred would set a Day for his Trial. Afterwards when upon consulting about the State of the Kingdom they had almost agreed That of those whom the Queen before she abjured her Government had nominated Tutors to the King he that would undertake it provided he had not afterwards revolted to the adverse Faction should have the chief Administration of Affairs Maitland now contriving the Disturbance of Matters brought it so about that it should be again signified to the absent Lords that they might if they pleased be present in the Parliament of the Regent to be assembled at a set Day lest they might afterwards complain That so great an Affair was hastily rash'd up in their Absence Athol with a few others consented neither did the rest refuse it more that they would take away all occasion of Detraction and Calumny from their Adversaries than that they had any Hopes that this Delay of the Parliament would bring any Profit to the Publick After these Things Thomas Randolph the English Embassador had Audience for That Queen the Regent being yet alive had sent her Embassadors to demand those English Exiles who after Howard's Conspiracy was detected and he punished for fear of Punishment had escaped thither The Regent giving these Embassadors Audience at Sterlin put them off till his Arrival at Edinburgh and after his Death Things being in Confusion they departed without an Answer But when they conven'd about choosing a Regent Randolph who for some years had been in Scotland for that he was thought to be well read in the Affairs and in the Men of that Nation and that his former Embassies had been also advantagious to both Nations was in dear Esteem of all that were good like himself He being introduc'd into the Council having declared How great his Queen 's Good-will had always been towards the Scots That as she had not formerly been wanting to them in their Disturbances so she would not fail them now Then he rehearsed their Incursions into England the Slaughters Rapines Burnings of late Days committed Adding That she knew well enough That none of these Things were acted by the Publick Council therefore that at present her Kindness and Friendship towards them was the same it ever was So that although she had been grievously and without any Cause provoked yet she did not as she might justly do repeat Matters nor publickly require Reparation nor for the Fault of a Few seek Punishment of All That indeed she was not ignorant what a great Disturbance in Affairs was risen of late yet she was not doubtful of the Good-will of honest Men towards her That in Favour of them she did not only free the Publick from any Guilt but if by reason of domestick Troubles they could not compel the Disturbers of the Peace to resettle Matters that she would join her Forces with theirs that so by common Consent they might exact Punishment of those Violators of Leagues and Truces But if they were not able to do That that then she would revenge their Injuries with her own Souldiers That her Army should pass peaceably through the Country without the least Damage to it That none that had not been guilty of the Crimes should be concerned in the Punishment The remaining Heads of his Embassy contained Admonitions ever profitable in all Legal Assemblies but now as the present Posture of Affairs was very necessary viz. That they should first of all with all Care and Vigilance have regard to Religion which alone teaches us our Duty both towards God and towards Man That seeing no Common-wealth at Discord within itself can long subsist they should bend their chiefest Endeavours and strive with their utmost Force that at Home among Fellow-Subjects and Country-Men Peace and Concord might be religiously observed
II. Son of Stephen King of England seeks occasion for a War against Scotland 224 Malcolm of Scotland acknowledges himself his Feudatary ibid. Henry IV. of England 326 His Death 333 Succeeded by Henry V. ibid. Henry V. takes James I. King of Scots with him into France 336 Henry VI. undervalues the Nobility and advances Vpstarts 392 A Conspiracy against him by the Nobles of England ibid. He is taken by the Duke of York and brought to London 396 He flies into Scotland 397 Ioins Battel with Edward IV. and is overcome 398 Returns privately to England and is taken ib. Henry VII succeeds Richard III. who was slain in Battel 429 He denounces War against France 16 Desires to make a perpetual League with the Scots 430 Marries his Daughter Margarite to James IV. 14 War denounced against him by James as he was besieging Tournay 20 His Magnanimous and Kingly Answer to the Heraulds ibid. He eases the Commonalty of some old Burdens 71 Henry VIII desires the exiled Douglasses may be restored 60 By the French Embassador he desires a Peace with the Scots ibid. He sends Controversal Books of Divinity to James V. 62 Complains the Scots had violated the Law of Nations wars upon them takes Leith and burns Edinburgh 82 83 His Forces are worsted 89 His General persuades the Scots to Peace 102 Gives the Scots a great Overthrow 104 Henry of France sends some German Foot into Scotland 106 He displaces the Regent by Subtilty 113 Henry Percy invades Scotland 306 His Horse affrightned with rattling Instruments 307 His Duel with James Douglas 317 Henry Percy the younger overthrows the Scots at Homeldon 327 Conspires against his own King 329 Henry Stuart comes out of England into Scotland 171 Made Duke of Rothsay and Earl of Ross by the Queen of Scots 174 At which many of the Nobles are disgusted 175 He marries the Queen ibid. Strangely disrespected at the Baptism of his own Son 186 He withdraws from Court ibid. Is poisoned but overcomes it by the strength of his Youth 186 187 A Design to destroy him 187 188 Is actually murdered 190 Heraulds slain against the Law of Arms 230 Hergustus King of the Picts 127 131 Hepburn John insinuates himself into the new Regent 32 Heris hanged by James Douglas 384 Hâ—rmodra Isle 30 Herodian quoted 76 Heruli who 89 Hethland Isles see Schetland High Isle 25 Hirta Isle 30 Historians their flattering Dispositions 46 Hoia Promontory 21 Hollanders Fleet spoiled by Alexander Earl of Marr 349 Holland Horse sent for over into England 275 Holmes i. e. Plains full of Grass 35 Holy Isle or Lindisfarm 398 Honnega Isle 37 Horestia 18 Parted between two Brothers 170 Horses Isle or Naich 28 Hugh Kennedy his couragious Answer 51 Huilin Isle 30 Hulmena 31 Humber River 13 Humble Isle or Ishol 25 Hume Castle surprized by the Scots 107 Hungus the Pict fights prosperously against Athelstan 165 He prays to God and is encouraged by a Vision ibid. He offers Tithes to St. Andrew ibid. His Death 166 Hunting Laws made by King Dornadilla 89 And by King Ethodius 116 Huntly overthrown by James Earl of Murray taken and pardoned 235 237 Hypoconistical i. e. Diminutive 6 I JAmes I. Son of Robert III. sailing for France is taken by the English 330 Where he is educated and married 331 338 His Return to Scotland upon a Ransom 398 Crowned King ibid. Renews a League with France 340 352 Punishes the Captains of Thieves 341 343 Twins born to him 344 He rectifies Weights and Measures ibid. Reforms the Ecclesiastical Estate and erects publick Schools 345 Invites Tradesmen from beyond the Seas 347 Perfidiousness imputed to him answered 353 354 Is cruelly murdered 356 His Character 356 357 James II. King of Scots 359 Carried out of the Castle of Edinburgh in a Chest by his Mother 361 Taken again by the Chancellour and brought to Edinburgh 365 Enters on the Government 371 Marries Mary Daughter to the Duke of Guelderland 380 He kils William Douglas 386 Marches to assist the English Nobles 391 392 Deceived by a counterfeit Embassador from Rome suborned by the English 393 Takes Roxburgh Town ibid. His casual Death in his Camp 394 His Queen encourages the Souldiers and takes Roxburgh Castle ibid. His Character 395 James III. begins his Reign at seven Years old 396 Six Regents of the Kingdom in his Minority 407 His Mother's Death ibid. In his Time a Truce made with England for five Years 407 Marries Margarite the King of Denmark's Daughter 413 415 His Death foretold 420 He degenerates into Tyranny ibid. Addicts himself to Evil Counsellours 231 The Nobles arm against him 432 Is slain by them in Fight 433 His Character 434 James IV. 1 Chosen General by the Nobles against his Father 432 His first Parliament which justifies taking Arms against his Father 5 His Clemency and sorrowful Resentment for his Father's Death 6 He leads an Army into England 11 Marries Margarite Henry VII of Enggland's Daughter 14 Builds a vast Ship and is profâ—se in other Buildings ibid. Resolves to go to Jerusalem but prevented 15 Sends Forman into England to pick a Quarrel 16 Denounces War against England 20 Resolute in his Opinion 22 Fights with the English at Flodden where he is overthrown and slain 24 25 Doubtful Reports concerning his Death 26 Some Aspersions cast upon him indeavoured to be wiped off 27 His Character 27 28 James V. 28 Enters upon the Government 46 He and his Mother in the Power of the Douglasses 47 He frees himself from them 53 He is an Enemy to their Faction 50 Inclinable to a French Alliance 65 Three Maries offered to him 62 Treats with the Emperour about a Match 61 Visits the Orcades 62 And other Isles of Scotland ibid. Receives Controversal Books of Divinity from Henry of England 63 Agrees to an Interview with Henry which is disappointed 64 Sails to France and marries Magdalen Daughter to their King Francis who soon dies 65 He accuses his Nobility as Dastards 70 He marries Mary of the House of Guise 66 67 His presaging Dream 69 He dies with Grief for the Loss of his Army 71 His Character 71 72 James VI. his Birth 183 His Mother endeavours to get him under the Power of Bothwel 205 Enters on the Government 214 215 James Abernethy a skilful Physician 186 James Earl of Arran Son to James returning from France sides with the Reformers 135 Goes to his Sister Mary the Queen 151 Hardly persuaded to allow the admission of the Mass in the Queen's Chappel 159 Made Earl of Marr and afterwards of Murray 161 James Balfure Governour of Edinburgh Castle for the Queen 206 207 He raises Insurrections 226 James Culen taken and executed for his Crimes 279 James the first Earl of Douglas 308 James Douglas joins with Bruce 263 He marches with great Forces into England 275 James sirnamed Crassus the Douglasses being dead succeeds to the Right of the Earldom 370 He dies ibid. James Douglas marries Eufemia Daughter to Robert
English Camp and does Execution The English Army Retreats Cruelty to Prisoners Iune 24. A Peace concluded between the Scots and English with the Conditions thereof Bâ—â—ce's last Will and Testament His Three Advices to his Successors wâ—th the Reasons upon which they were grounded 〈◊〉 Bruce's Vow to assist in the Holy War recommended to Douglas to perform Bruce would have his Heart buried at Ierusalem Douglas in his Voyage to Ierusalem assists the Spaniards against the Moors and was there slain Bruce his high Encomiâ—ms Iuly 9 th Randolf made Regent or Guardian November 24. * Situate near the Irish Sea He executes a Murderer though he had the Popes Pardon A notable Law made by the Regent to prevent Theiving The Collusive Cheat of a Country Man punished Stâ—ict Laws made by the Regent * In Tâ—vâ—otdaâ—â— A Monk Poysons Randolf with a slow-working-dose Edward marches for Scotland Edward punishes the Monk because his Poyson did not kill Randolf as soon as he said it would Edward retreats Iuly 20. Randolf's death and Character Duncan Earl of Marr made Guardian in Randolfs Place August 2. Iuly 31. Edward Baliol appears on the Scots Coast. * The Story of Twine or Tuenam Loresâ—n He stirs up Edward Baliol then in France to invade Scotland Edward Baliol Lands in Scotland * A Burgh on the North side of Firthâ—n â—n Fife over against Lâ—â—th in â—othâ—an August 〈◊〉 He overthrows Alexander Seaton In Strathernâ— And afterwards beats the Regent Himself making great slaughter of his men and himself being also slain Edward Baliol Declared King Aug. 25. K. David Bruce in his Minority to secure him sent to France Murray made Regent by K. David's Party A Castle standing on the North Bank of the River Ear in Strathern Built on the side of the River Don. Perth Walls demolished A County in the South of Scotland not far from Northumberland A Town in the head of Annandale near the source of the River Annan Baliol like to be surprized by Archibald Douglas Dec. 25. The Brucianâ— prevail against the Baliolans and Declare War against England The Brucian Nobles divide the Provinces they were to Govern And Declare War against Franâ—â— The King of England espouses Baliol's Cause and invaded Scotland His Pretensions for the War He claims Berwick The Scots Answer to the 〈◊〉 The English besieges Berwick * Apâ—iâ— 13. A Capitulation with the English about the surrender of Bâ—rwick Iuly the 30. Archibald Doâ—â—las made Regent by 〈◊〉 Party He makes inroads into England And comâ—â— near the Eâ—â—lish Army 〈◊〉 Berwiâ—â— Alexander Seatons Sons threatned to be put to Death unless he surrendred Berwick His Wife incourages him to part with his Children rather than the Town Alexanders Children put to Death by a Sâ—mmum jus as some think The Scots overthrown near Berwick Bâ—â—wick Surrendred to the English Edward pufft up with hiâ— Success refuses to hear foreign Ambassadors who were sent to mediate â— Peace Dissensions between the English in Scotland occasion a War * Now demolished The Nobles Bandy against Baliol. And Baliol against them Iohn Sterlin besieges the Castle at Loch-Leven * A Veteri poâ—â—e But the Governor beats him off and raises the Siege Edward enters Scotland again but retreatâ— and 〈…〉 with him to 〈…〉 General in Scotland Robert Stuart and Calen Cambel rise in Arms for Bruce and make Prosperous Beginnings Robert Stuart and Iohn Randolf made Regents in behalf of David Bruce In Teviotdale April 1. A Fewd between Douglas and Cumins Edward invades Scotland * 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 Provinces The Gueldrians Auxiliaries to the English overthrown by Randolfe Randolf taken Prisoner Cumin's large Promises to Edward Perth taken by Edward Edward 〈◊〉 to England Cumins left Regent by him in Scotland In Marr. * On the side of the River Don in Marr. Cumin's Army overthrown and himself slain Murray made Regent The English again enter Scotland Standing on a Rock in the Sea And upon their Retreat leave Edâ— Baâ—iol their General A strong Castle in Buchan Mâ—rray's prosperous Succeâ—sâ—s 〈◊〉 Cruelty Salisbury and Aruâ—del Command some English in Scotland Monfort slain by Preston A piece of Savage Inhumanity Talbot overthrown by Keâ—th Dunbar resâ—ved and the Siege raised Murray the Regent dyes Stuart made Regent His prosperous Beginnings He Saâ—lâ— over to David then in France At his return he Levies an Army Bullock turns to the Scots Perth taken by the Scots so is Sterlin And Edinburgh Castle by Stratagem Aâ—ex Ramsays House the School of War His Expedition into England He harasses Northumberland And takes Roxburgh * The Earl of Salisbury taken Prisoner by the Scots as some say * It is 3 Miles in Compass Three Governors of the Borders The English driven out of all Scotland except Berwick * Iuly 2. K. David returns to Scotland Edward enters Scotland with a great Army Embassadors from Scotland obtain a Pacification Iune 1. The Scots Nobles stock in to David A Town in Teviotdale Ramsay taken and starved to Death by Douglas Bullock put to Death Douglas pardoned David makes several Expeditions into England A Truce for two Years betwixt the Scots and English Calais besieged by the English See p. 4. Note i. David at the solicitation of the French enters England with an Army Where he receives a great overthrow and is taken Prisoner by Iohn Capland Upon which the English regain a great part of Scotland A strong Pass on the Sea shore in that Bourn which divides East-Lothian from the Meâ—â—s A Plague in Scotland Bloody Feude Douglas prevails against the English Iohn of France persuades the Scots to make no Peace with the English but by his Consent The English waste Lothian Norham burnt by the Scots The English drawn into an Ambush Berwick Town taken by the Scots but not the Castle Edward enters Scotland Baliol Surrenders the Kingdom to him Edward retreats upon which the Scots recover some of their Losses Edward overthrows â—ohn of France in Aquitaâ—n and hath two Kings his Prisoners at one time 〈◊〉 Bruce â—â—eased upon pâ—ying a great Ransom wherein the Pope assists the Sâ—â—ts David settles the Succession first on Alexander and then on Robert Stuart Great Inundations of Water endammage Lothian A Grievous Pestilence Eight Prudent Persons chosen out of all the Orders to prepare Matters for that High Court Davids unacceptable Propositions to the Scots Davids Policy to subvert the Islanders His Death and Character William's Son Marries Eufemia the Kings Daughter August 11. New Discordâ— betwixt the Scots and English Lilburn overthrown A Town in the Merss six Miles Northwest from Berwick Iohn Scotus born at Duns Percy enters Scotland They run from the Scots Sea to 〈◊〉 and divide 〈◊〉 from Lothian Percâ—'s Horse are affrighted with rattling Instruments and 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 Robert upon his Queens decease Marries Elizabeth More by whom he had Children before whom he prefers to great 〈◊〉 Edward the Third dies and his Grandchild Richard the Second succeeds him Ambassadors from Charles
Head sent to the K. from Ireland The King reforms Publick Manners He also rectifies Weights and Measures His Queen brings forth Twins Doâ—glaâ— and Kennedy released from Prison He reforms the Ecclesiasticaâ— Estate Which was Wofully degenerated and corrupted He Erects Publick Schools and is present himself at their Disputations Parish Priests and Begging Friers the Causes of the Decay of Ecclesiastical Discipline with the Manner how King Iames aims to prefer only Worthy Persons to Benefices and Church Preferments He invites Tradesmen out of Flanders Luxury and Prodigality the trust of Idleness Robert and Murdo affect the Throne Murdo and his Sons put to Death The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and his Exploits Exceptions taken against Iames. A Castle standing upon the Tâ—ne 3 Miles below Hadington The Dispute between Robert's Legitimate and Natural Children occasion great Troubles The Earl of Athol's Ambition A Town of Normandy in France Plots against Iames. Upon the Account of Wardships c. Embassadors from France and England to Scotland The Scots joyn with the French against England Iames Marries his Daugâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 oâ— France and sends her thither A Stately City on the Lâ—â—r The English Writers imputing Perfidiousness to Iames are blamed by this Author and their Reflections upon him Wiped off In Champaign in France A Fight between the Sâ—â—ts and Engâ—ish Iames enters England but retires upon notice of a Conspiracy formed against him by his own Kindred K. Iames Cruelly Assassinated His Death highly lamented with his Laudable Character Earl of 〈◊〉 and other of Iames's Murderers Tortured and Executed Descants upon such severe Executions Marchâ—7 â—7 Alexander Levingston made Regent William Creigton made Chancellor Douglas labours to imbroil things The Râ—gent and Chancellor disâ—gree The Queen by Policie get the Kings Person out of the Chancellors Power * Situate below â—anton Bridge on the Ti ne in 〈◊〉 Lothian The Chancellor highly accused And besieged in Edinburgh Castle The Chancellor craves Aid of Douglas But receives an affronting Answer from him Whereupon he agrees with the Regent And sâ—rrenâ—ers up Edinburgh Castle September 29. Lying on the River 〈◊〉 in Cuningham Iuly 9. Deadly â—ewds The 〈◊〉 of Archibaâ—d Dougâ—as With the Profuseness of his young Heir * Or Lâ—ther a great and ancient Family in Lothian The Queen with her Husband Iames Stuart and others committed to Prison August 2. August 31. But she is Releast again The Aebudians ravage the Continent A Two years Pestilence in Scotland The Râ—gent and Câ—â—â—cellor again Disagree The Chancellor surprâ—zes the Kings Person The Regent being out-Witted by the Chancellor inwardly frets And Meditates a Reconciliation with him His Condescending Haâ—angue to the Chancellor A New Knot of Amity between the Regent and the Chancellor The Miseries of the Commons Occasioned Principally by the Earl of Douglas Where he and his Brother David were slain William Douglas Marries Beatrix his Uncles Daughter The high 〈◊〉 oâ— Thieves Dunbarton Castle twice surprized King Iames being of Age enters on the Government Douglas throws himself at the Kings Feet acknowledges his Offences is Pardoned and Received into Favour The Regent and Chancellor lay down their Offices Douglas by his Power at Court summons them to Appear They excusing themselves are declared publick Enemies * Oâ— Forester In Mid-Lothian two 〈◊〉 West of Edinburgh A Town on the River 〈◊〉 West-Lothian A Castle standing on a Rock lying near the Firth of Forâ—h above Abercorn Creighton late Chancelor defends himself by force Douglas incensed against Creighton's Friends The Clans of the Lindsys and Ogilbys Fight Ian. 24. The Lindsys prevail Iuly 15. Creighton received into Favour and is made Chancellor again Deadly Fewds betwixt particular Persons and Families An Abby in Lennâ—x A Castle standing upon Tine near Hardington Douglas attempts the Levingstons of whom Iames is put to Death c. Creighton sent Embassador to France The Bishop of Glasco frightned by a Voice from Heaven for his wicked Life which does him to Death Iames Kennedy retires from a Corrupt Court Dunbar E. of Murray Dies and Archibald Douglas succeed◠〈◊〉 A Barony â—â—ing on the 〈◊〉 Spey The immoderate Power of the Douglas's eâ—poses them to Envy The Miserable Estate of the Commons under Douglas Mutual Incursions betwixt the Scots and English Or Saâ—s The English overthrown by the Scots A Truce between the Scots and English Iames Married to Mary of Gelderland Colvil put to Death by Douglas Douglas goes vain-gloriously in a year oâ— Iubilee to Rome In his absence his Enemies sue him and 〈◊〉 Damages for wrongâ— received Which are answered out of his Estate Douglas at his return from Rome received into Favour And made Regent Douglas gives Iames new occasion of Suspicion Douglas design against Creighton's Life 〈◊〉 deâ—ends himself 〈…〉 Douglas joyns with Craford and Ross. He provokes the King In the Case of Herris And Macklan Douglas on safe Conduct comes to Court Where the King Stabs him with his own Hand Mâ—rch 27. Whereupon the rest of the 〈◊〉 rise in Arms. The Douglasâ—â— proclaimed publick Enemies Iames Douglas Marries his Brothers Wife A Famine and Pestilence in Scotland Douglas persuaded to a Reconciliation with the King Which he refuses Craford forsakes Douglas and is pardoned by the King Douglas applys to England for Aid but in vain Hâ—milton 〈◊〉 Douglas * Standing upon Nâ—â—th-Esk in Mid-Lâ—thiâ—n 4 Miles above Daâ—keith Iune 5. Douglas joyns with the Enlish and then with Donald the Islander Douglas's Wife forsakes him and 〈◊〉 to the King Lying on the River Spâ—â— So doth Donald's Wiâ—e too In Mid-Lothian Thornton put to death for Murder The death of Will. Creightoâ— A Party of English worâ—â—ed in Scotland Donald the Islander submits to the King The English Nobles crave Aid of Iames against Henry their King He marches to their Assistance but is diverted by a Counteâ—feit Leâ—at from Rome Iames takes Roxborough Town And besieges the Castle Where he is casually slain The Queen shews Herself a virago immediately after her Husbands Death Roxburgh Castle Surrendred and Demolisht Iames II. his Character Iames III. begins his Reign about 7 years of Age. Henry of Enggland taken Prisoner by the Duke of York York overthrown by the Queen So is Warwick The Queen overthrown and flies witâ— her Husband into Scotland Berwick surrendred to the Scots by King Henry Henry's Queen sues for Foreign Aid * Or Renny Which having obtained 〈◊〉 enters Scotland and England again Holy-Isle seven miles South-East of Berwick on the Coast of Northumberland Henry's Army overthrown at Hexham Alnwick Castle besieged and Douglas's gallantry in bringing off the Garison Henry of England taken Prisoner and his Queen 〈◊〉 Disputes in the Assembly of Estates about the Regency Which the Queen claimâ— But Kennedy and Douglas oppose A Truce for a Month betwixt the Parties The Commonalty dislike the Queens Regency The Queens Plea for the Regency Kennedys Grave and Prolix Oration in Answer thereunto Queen of Palmira a City in Syria now called Faid
prevented and how * On the North-west of Spain in the Cantabrian Ocean Henry of England wars against France Andrew Forman sent into England by Iames to pick a Quarrel And from thence into France Hamilton sent with a Fleet to France but turns to Knockfergus in Ireland Hamilton at last arrives in France * Little Britain lying in the Chanel on the Northwest of France Robert Car severe against Moss-Troopers He is slain †Standing on a Rock above the Firth of Forth * In Northumberland The Murderers of Robert Carr escape not unpunished The Story of Andrew Breton A sharp Fight between the English Admiral and Breton where Breton was slain K. Iames complains to Henry of Breton's Death Alexander Hume marches with a Party into England But is worsted in his Retreat K. Iames resolves a War against England The pretended Causes of the War K. Henry's Answer to King Iames's Herald A strange Apparition of an old Man forbidding K. Iames to proceed in his War with England * A place near Cowper in Fife Yet he proceeds and enters England below Ouler in Northumberland The English challenge him to give them Battel The French Embassador presses Iames on to a Battel * In Northumberland K. Iames resolved to fight Which Earl Douglas disswaded him from in an Oration Repartees between the King and Douglas concerning a present Fight Earl Douglass in discontent retires * Or Floddonhill lying between the Town of Ouler and the River of Tweed †In Northumberland on the North side of the River Blico three miles above Stannington-Bridg ‖ Or Milfeild Flodden Fight and the Manner of it described Various Reports concerning K. Iames's Death Howard Earl of Surrey General against the Scots at Flodden falls afterwards into Disgrace The Character of K. Iames the Fourth Scots Nobility all anciently had Skill in Chirurgery Iames the 5 th of about 2 years old proclaimed King The Ambition of Alexander Hume * Q. Margaret the first Female Regent in Scotland She loses her Regency by her Marriage Three Competitors for the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews Douglas Hepburn and Forman * Lying within two Miles of Aymouth in the Merss near the Scotish Sea The Nobility divided about choosing a Regent in the room of Q. Margaret * Iohn Duke of Albany then in France chosen Regent †A little Town in Cuningham standing on the Firth of Clyd Iohn Duke of Albany the new Regent arrives in Scotland Peter Muffat a noted Robber punished * Hepburn insinuates himself into the new Regent Douglas Hume and Forman accused by Hepburn as the Three â—eads of the then Factions * Hume * Hume in discontent applies himself to the Queen and Douglas * Hume's Design disappointed Three Governors over the young King the Queen and Douglas being displaced * Hume the Queen and Douglas fly into England But upon Reconciliation with the Regent return home again (a) Alexander Hume raises an Insurrection But submits and is made Prisoner He escapes and creates further Disturbances But is quelled with his Party Both the Hume's come to Court Are imprison'd Tryed and Executed (c) Chiefly by the Instigation of Iohn Hepburn (d) Andrew Car escapes out of Prison The Regent desires leave to pass over into France * He appoints seven Deputies to govern in his absence (f) Q. Margaret returns to Scotland * Or Inse-Garvy a fortify'd Rock lying in the middle of the Forth or Scotish Sea (g) A Town in the Merss a mile west of Duns (h) Wederburn in the Merss (i) Darcy slain by David Hunt (k) Discord between Douglas Earl of Angus and Andrew Car. (l) Archibald Douglas surrenders up his Government (m) The Western Nobles conspire to apprehend the Earl of Angus (n) But he defends himself by force and worsts them (o) The Regent after 5 Years absence returns from France * In Mid-Lothian (p) The Regent raise an Army against England (q) But the Nobility oppose his Design Whereupon he claps up a Truce with the English and râ—treats The Regent a second time goes into France A Skirmish between the French and English Fleeâ—â— The Earl of Surry with an Army ravages over part of Scotland Iedburgh taken by the English A strange Fright among the Horses of the English Army The English Army retreats The Regent arrives in Scotland from France a second time Q. Margaret with her Brother Henry the 8 th of England persuade the Scots to break with the French with their Arguments to inforce it But the French Faction in Scotland oppose in with their Reasons Cardinal Woolsy a self-ended and ambitious Statesman * The Regent again marches with an Army into England †Besieges Werke-Castle is repulsed and retreats ‖ Werke-Castle described * In the 〈◊〉 near 〈◊〉 Castle * The Regent undertakes his third Voyage into France ‖ In his absence the young King enters upon the Government * And vacates the Regents Power †Margarite's Husband returns from France through England into Scotland ‖ He with his Partisans seize on the young King and manage the Government * Three Moderators of the Kingdom Douglas Stuart and Cambel †But Douglas soon ouâ—â— the other Two At which the Nobility is much discontented and endeavour to take the King by Force out of his Hands * Walter Scot overthrown by the Douglasses in his Endeavours to free the King ‖ Iohn Stuaâ—t Earl of Lennox with the King's Privity renews the Design of redeeming the King from the Douglasses * A Mile above the Bridg near Linlithgo ‖ Lennox fights with the Douglassians and Hamiltonians is worsted and slain Great Severity used by the Douglasses against Lennox's Party * The couragious Answer of Hugh Kennedy in behalf of Gilbert Earl of Cassils The bold Attempt of an Under-Groom to destroy Iames Hamilton in Revenge of his Master's the Earl of Lennox his Death The Groom apprehended and tortured yet dies very resolutely Patrick Hamilton nobly descended put to Death upon the account of Religion * The strange Death of Alexander Cambel the self-condemned Persecutor of Patrick Hamilton * The King frees himself from the Douglasses * Or Falcoland about the middle of Fife The Douglasses forbidden by Proclamation to intermeddle in the Government New Officers at Court ‖ August 26. * In East-Lothian opposite to the Bass-Isle †In Sterlingshire not far from Toâ— wood ‖ The Douglasses arm in desperation * In Lothian †About four Miles South of Dalkeith ‖ November 21. * A Town lying in the Firth or Forth in East-Lothian four Miles South of Dunbar †Tantallon-Castle besieged by the King ‖ In the Author it is Tantallon but I judg it to be a Mistake of the Transcriber for Duâ—bar * The Siege of Tantallon raised †Within two Miles of Eymouth in the Moss ‖ The Douglasses forced to fly into England * Embassadors from England to piece up an Accommodation between King Iames and the Douglasses †In Twidale ‖ Iames Earl of Murray
Death * Bothwel outlawed †Ianuary 26. ‖ Lent observed on a Politick not Religious Account * Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox returnâ— out of France after twenty two Years Exile †Henry Stuart his Son comes out of England and is in great Favour with the Queen ‖ The Story of David Rize * In Prâ—vence situated on the Mediterranean-Sea at the foot of the Alps which divides France from Italy near Villa-Franca †Rize his Politick Court to Henry Stuart Lord Darnly Bothwel avoids his Trial. Various Disputes concerning the Queen's marriage with Darnly * Viz. Reformed The Queen actually Marries Henry Lord Darnly Which disgusts many of the Nobility A Politic Maxim both Prudent and also Equitable * A Town standing on the West-side of Clyde 2 Miles above Bothwel-Bridg The Nobles that rose up in Arms are quelled Rize persuades the Queen to cut off some of the Scotish Nobility and to entertain Foreigners as a Guard to her Person The Queen after her hasty Marriage is assoon alienated from the King who at the instigation of Rize is plausibly dismist from Court * Or Pebils * A Castle on North-Esk two Miles above Dalkâ—ith in Mid-Lothian with the demesnes thereof The King being 〈…〉 made sensible of Rizes scandalous Familiarity with the Queen resolves to destroy him The Peremptoriness of Rize ‖ Or President Articles of Agreement betwixt the King and the Nobles for the destruction of Rize c. Rize haled from the Table as he was at Supper with the Queen and slain Damiot's warning to Rize to get him packing out of Scotland which he scornfully rejected Ruven's memorable Speech to the Queen on the occasion of Rize's Death The King takes Rize's Death upon himself †The banished Nobles offer themselves to their Trial. ‖ Rize's Body buried by the Queen's Order in the Sepulchres of the Kings of Scotland * A Proclamatiâ—â— against Rize's Murderers †The Queen delivered of King Iames the Sixth * The Queen disgusts her Husband and favours Bothwel †In Clackmannan-shire on the North side of the Forth below Sterlin ‖ Bothwel wounded by an High-way-Pad †In Liddisdale †A Castle in Mid-Lothian * The Queen falls sick yet continues to flight the Applications of her Husband to her * She meditates a Divorce Strange Disrespect to the King at the Baptism of his own Son Thereupon he withdraws from Court Is poisoned but overcomes 〈◊〉 by the Vigour of his Youth The Story of the Infernal Design to destroy Henry Stuart King of Scotland agitated and complotted with the Series of its Procedure The King strangled And then the House wherein he was blown up with Gunpowder ‖ The Bishop of St. Andrews shrewdly suspected about the King's Death The Assassiâ—â— do falsly impute the King's Murder to Murray and Morton The English inflamed against the Scots upon hearing the horrid Murder of their King Prodigies accompanying the King's death Bothwel designs to destroy Murray The Assassination of the Scots King odious to all Nations Bothwels Mock-Trial for the King's Murder before the Earl of Argyle A Proclamation published for a Blind to discover the King's Murderers The bold Speech of a Taylor The Queen solicitous to procure the Government of Edinburgh-Castle into her own Hands The Earl of Lennox first publickly accuses Bothwel of the King's Murder * April 15. Whereupon a Court is hastily summon'd By which Bothwel is acquitted tho but Conditionally Bothwel challenges his Accusers Bothwel procures a Schedule from some of the unwary Nobility incouraging his Marriage with the Queen Which some of them afterwards retract The Queen to be sâ—emingly surprized by Bothwel in order to her Marriage with him The Water of Almond divides Mid-lothian from West-lothian in Linlithgo-shire Bothwel actually surprizes the Queen And is divorc'd from his former Wife for Adultery Ecclesiasticks backward to publish the Bans or to celebrate the Marriage between the Queen and Bothwel Yet at last the Bishop of Orkney marries them The French Embassador refuses to come to the Wedding ☜ Even the Vulgar dislike the Queen's Marriage Politic Instructions to the Bishop of Dunblanâ— to excuse the Queen's hasty Marriage at the French Court. The Queen frames an Association for the Nobility to subscribe Which the Earl of Murray refus'd to do And therefore departs the Land A contrary Association entred into by several of the Nobility to preserve the young King The Queen escapes from the associated Nobles in Mans Apparel And arms against them A State Maxim irrefragably true Both Armies ready to ingage Monsieur Crock the French Embassador mediates for a Peace But not prevailing he withdraws himself Bothwel's daring Challenge answered But the Queen forbids the Duel The Queen's Army refuses to fight * In Fife Whereupon Bothwel flies and the Queen is taken Prisoner The Bishop of Dunblane chouzed in his Embassy to France Wondrous Discoveries concerning the King's Murder in Bothwels Cabinet of Letters The Queen pitied in her Distress The Hamiltons stir in her behalf Governours appoinetd for the young King by the Queen her self The Earl of Murray returns from Travel And is chosen Regent Iohn Knox preaches a Sermon at the Coronation of K. Iames the 6 th The Coronation-Oath taken by Proxies by reason of the King's Minority Bothwel flies to the Northern Isles and from thence to Denmark Where he is imprisoned and dies Distracted The Queen's Party of which the Hamiltons were the chief design Her Deliverance out of Durance * In Strath-â—arn The Regent remarkable Speech and Resoluâ—ioâ— An Embassador from France The Queen escapes out of Prison and gathers Forces against the Regent The French Embassador busy betwixt the Parties * Two Miles South of Glasgow A Fight between the Royalists and the Queen's Forces Wherein the Queen is overthrown and flies for England The French Embassador sculks away after the Fight In Clydsdalâ— Queen Elizabeth of England doth in part adopt the cause of the Scots Queen Whereupon the Regent with some others meet the Queen of England's Commissioners at York to debate Matters George Buchanan accompanies the Regent into England A Plot to cuâ— off the Regent in his Journy Disputes between the Commissioners of both Sides Upon their Disagreement Queen Elizabeth avokes the Cause to London Commissioners sent to London by the Regent Maitland not true to the Regent The Regent himself comes to London The Queen of Scots endeavours to raise Commotions in Scotland in the Regent's Absence The Regent manages his Accusation against the Queen and her Party To the convincement of the Queen of England and her Privy-Council 〈◊〉 acquitted from Guilt by the Queen of Scots's Commissioners themselves Iames Hamilton returns from France and labours to embroil things in Scotland hoping thereby to get the Regency from Mâ—rray The Queen of England tampered with by the Hamiltonians to make Hamiâ—ton Regent The Royalists answer their Reasons in a large discourse The Cruelty of Robert against his Brother's Children Laodice's Unnaturalness towards her own
Dovalian Faction without the Suffrages of the People The Nobles hearing of it though they judged Nothatus worthy of the worst of Punishments yet did not approve so bad an Example and they took it in greater disdain because a Publick Convention was not consulted but the choice of the chief Magistrate devolved on the Pleasure and Arbitrement of one Man Besides that it was not to be thought an Obliging Act in him thus to advance the young Man to the chief Power who was as yet unfit to Rule For such as look'd narrowly into the matter would find That only the Name of King would be given to Reutherus but the whole Power would reside in Dovalus However it did not much concern the Publick whether Nothatus or Dovalus were King unless perhaps they did hope for a more Tolerable Life under Him who being a private Man durst adventure to Murder his King and so to deliver over the Scepter to another private Man than under one who was not so extream or Cruel in his Government until by the Permission of the People he was back'd with Power and with the Terrour of an Army The Kindred of Nothatus hearing such things to be bruited abroad insinuating themselves into the Societies of those who did Regret such Evil Carriages at last gain'd this Point That War should be denounced against Dovalus and that Ferchard Nothatus his Son in Law should be General of their Army Neither did Dovalus refuse to give Battel They fought twice in one and the same Day the Dovalians though Superior in number yet were beaten and put to flight more of them being Slain in the pursuit than in the Battel For besides Dovalus himself and the chief of his Faction there fell also Getus the King of the Picts with many of his Men. Reutherus the new King was taken Prisoner and pardoned out of respect to his tender Age to the Memory of his Father and to the Royal Blood which ran in his Veins Neither was the Victory Un-bloody even to the Conquerors themselves almost all the chief of the Clans being Slain with many common Souldiers also This Conflict of the Scots and Picts brought matters to that low ebb in Britain that they who survived fled into Desert and Mountainous Places and even into the Neighbour Islands lest they should become a prey to the Brittons who having now gotten that opportunity which they long thirsted after peirced into the Country as far as Bodotria now called Forth without any resistance Afterwards having made a little Settlement of Things there they went forward against the Caledonians and having scattered those who were there gathered together to oppose them they seized upon the Champion Countries of the Picts and placing Garisons there thinking the War to be at an end they return'd home with their Army In the mean time the remainders of the Scots and Picts which had retired to the Mountains Woods and other inaccessible Places did vex the Governors of Castles and Garisons by Robbing them of their Cattle upon which they themselves also did Live and being increased by the accession of greater Forces from the Islands they sometimes burnt Villages and fetcht in Preys further off so that the Ground was left without Tillage in many places The Brittons either being detained by home-bred Dissensions or not thinking it adviseable or safe to lead their Army into such difficult and almost inaccessible Places where they could meet their Enemies with no Forces more numerous than they had to oppose them did by their slow Actings increase the boldness of their Contrariants The Scots and Picts being thus miserably afflicted for Twelve years at length a new Fry of Lusty Warlike Youths grew up who in so great streights that they had undergone were enured to Hardship those sent Messengerâ— all about and mutually exhorting one another they resolved to try their Fortunes Whereupon Reutherus sails out of Ireland into the Aebuaae and from thence into Albium and Landing his Forces at the Bay now called Lough Brien and there joyning with young Gethus the Son of old Gethus who was slain who was also his Wifes Brother they Consulted together concerning the Manage of the War The Issue of their Consult was That it was best to draw towards the Enemy unawares whilst he was unprepared assoon as they met the Service was so hot and the Fight so sharp that neither Army had reason to boast so that Both of them being wearied with Slaughter made Peace for some years Reuther or as Bede calls him Reuda returned to his ancient Seat of Argyle and the Scots were a long time after from him called Dalreudini for Daal in old Scotish signifieth a Part as some or a Meadow or Plain as others From whence he made a further Progress and in a short time enlarged his Dominions even to their Ancient Bounds After he had Reigned Twenty Six Years he died leaving a Son behind him named Thereus begot upon the Daughter of Gethus Reutha the Seventh King BEcause Thereus was yet scarce Ten Years old and so too young to undertake the Kingdom according to the Law long before made and observed concerning the Succession of Kings therefore his Uncle Reutha was declared King who being free from External Wars endeavoured to reduce the People who were grown almost wild by their former Sufferings and also insolent upon their late Victory though a bloody one into a milder Carriage and Deportment and accordingly he enacted many publick and profitable Laws of which not a few yet remain amongst the Ancient Scots Having Reigned Seventeen Years with so good a Decorum being reverenced and beloved of all either for want of Health to which he himself imputed it or else fearing the Ambitious Nature of his Kinsman Thereus he resigned up the Government the People being hardly brought to consent thereunto and at his Resignation there was a large Panegyrick made in his Praise Thereus the Eighth King THereus was substituted in his stead in the first Six Years of his Reign he so managed the Government that Reutha's Predictions concerning him seemed to be true But after That time was expired he ran headlong into all manner of Vice not by degrees but all at once insomuch that putting the Nobles to Death by False Indictments some lewd Fellows thereupon did without fear range over all the Kingdom using Rapines and Robberies at their pleasure The Phylarchae i. e. chief of the Clans bewailing the deplorable State of the Publick determined to proceed judicially against him which he having notice of fled to the Brittons where despairing of his return he ended his Days in great Contempt and Ignominy In the mean time Conanus a prudent and regular Person was elected Vice-Roy he restored and strengthened what the other had impaired and weakened he restrained Robberies and having composed Matters as well as he could he received News of the Death of Thereus whereupon in a Publick Assembly or Convention of the
Estates he abdicated the Magistracy about the Twelfth Year after Thereus began his Reign Josina the Ninth King JOsina Brother of the late King was raised to the Helm of Government He did nothing memorable one way or other only he had Physicians in very high esteem because when he was banished with his Father into Ireland they had been his great Intimates Whereupon the rest of the Nobility complying with the Humour of the King it came to pass that for many Ages there was scarce a Nobleman or Gentleman in Scotland which had not the Skill to cure Wounds For there was then little use of other parts of Physick amongst such Men who were educated parsimoniously and enured to much Labour and Toil. He died in a good old Age having Reigned Four and Twenty Years Finnanus The Tenth King HIS Son Finnanus succeeded him who walking in his Fathers Steps endeavoured nothing more than to accustom his Subjects to a just and moderate Government labouring to maintain his Kingly Authority more by Good Will than Arms And that he might cut up the Root of Tyranny he made a Decree That Kings should determine or command nothing of great Concernment without the Authority of their Great Council He was beloved both by his Subjects and by Foreigners He deceased having Reigned Thirty Years Durstus The Eleventh King NOthing did so much aggravate the Loss of Finnanus as the profligate and deboist Life of his Son Durstus who succeeded him For First of all he banished from his presence his Fathers Friends as troublesom Abridgers of his Pleasures Then he made the Corruptest Youngsters his Familiar and Bosom Friends giving up himself wholly to Wine and Women He drove away his Wife the Daughter of the King of the Britains who was prostituted to his Nobles At length when he perceived that the Nobility were conspiring against him as if he had been just then awakened out of a deep sleep foreseeing that he was not safe at home and knew not where to find a secure place abroad if he were banished in regard he was so hated both of his Subjects and Strangers too he therefore thought it his best course to dissemble a Repentance for his former Evil Life by that means thinking he might retain the Regal Government and in time be reveng'd of his Enemies too And thereupon in the first place he recalled his Wife and by that means endeavour'd to make fair Weather with the Britains He assembles the Heads of his Subjects and under a solemn Oath to do so no more he Enacts an Amnesty for what was past He commits Notorious Criminals to Prison as if he had reserved them for further Punishment And religiously promised That for the future he would Act nothing without the Counsel of his Nobles When by these Arts he had made others believe That he was a true Convert he celebrates this Reconciliation and Concord with Plays Feastings and other Divertisements proper for Publick Rejoycings Thus all Mens Minds being filled with Jollity he invites the Nobility to Supper and then shutting them up in one place being unarmed and fearing nothing he sent in Ruffians amongst them who destroy'd them every Man That Calamity did not so much abate and quell the Minds of the rest with fear as it raised and blew up their Languishing Anger into New Flames VVherefore gathering a great Army together they all conspired to rid the Earth of so foul a Monster Durstus perceiving that all other hope failed him resolved to try his fortune in a Battel with a few others whom the like fear of Punishment for the Wickedness of their former Lives had drawn in to joyn with him in which Fight he was slain after he had Reigned Nine Years Though all Orders and Estates were justly incens'd against him yet they gave so great Deference to the Name of King and to the Memory of his Ancestors that he was buried amongst his Royal Predecessors Evenus the Twelfth King AFter his Death in a Publick Assembly of the Nobles there was a very great Contest some alledging that according to their Oath made to King Fergus the ancient Custom was to be observed others fearing that if they made any one of the Kindred of Durstus King that either the Similitude of Manners would incline him to the same Wickedness or else the Propinquity of Blood would make him study Revenge At last Evenus Brothers-Child to Durstus being commended for his former Life and for his extream Hatred against the Tyrant whilst he was alive was sent for from amongst the Picts whither he had voluntarily banished himself out of hatred to Durstus and unanimously created King He is reported to be the first who made his Subjects to take an Oath of Allegiance to him which Custom is yet retained by the Heads of the Clans Evenus that he might rectifie the Manners of his Subjects which were depraved by the former King did first reduce Youth to the Ancient Parsimony in Diet Apparel and in their daily Conversation For by that means he judged they would be more Valiant in War and less Seditious in Peace He diligently viewed all the Parts of his Kingdom administring Justice with great Moderation and punishing Offenders according to their Demerits He assisted the King of the Picts with Aid against the Brittons betwixt whom there was fought a long and cruel Battel till Night parted them the Victory being so uncertain that both Armies departed with equal Slaughter and as equal Fear The Brittons went home The Scots and Picts retired into the next adjacent Mountains But the Day after from the High Grounds perceiving the departure or flight of their Enemies they came and gathered up the Spoils as if they had been Conquerors and so return'd home with their Army Evenus having repelled his Enemies again betook himself to the Arts of Peace And that it might not be troublesom to Kings to Travel over the Countries so oft for the Administring Justice which was then their Custom to do he divided the Kingdom into Circuits and setled Ordinary Judges to do that Work He also appointed Informers to bring in Accusations against the Guilty Which Office being found inconvenient was either abrogated by a Law or else grew obsolete by Custom He died in the Nineteenth Year of his Reign leaving a Base-born Son called Gillus behind him a Crafty Man and desirous of the Kingdom Gillus The Thirteenth King THere were yet living of the Blood-Royal as Heirs to the Crown Two Twins Dochamus and Dorgalius the Sons of Durstus Though their Age was not the Cause of the Difference yet there arose a deadly Fewd between them concerning the Kingdom which was also further increased by the Fraud of Gillus The Matter being referred to the Arbitration of their Kindred such was the Obstinacy of the Factions that nothing could be determined Gillus who advis'd each of them to kill one another when his Secret Counsel took no effect