about these times a good and vertuous Lady died 1486. and was buried at Cambu-kennel the 29. of February The overthrow and death of Richrd being known abroad King Iâ—mes taking the advantage of the time besieged the Castle of â—umbar The garrison'd Souldiers finding no reliet nor assistance from their Countrey and ascertained of the change of their Master rendered up the Fort to the hands of the Scots it was of no great importance to the English and only served to be a fair bridge of Treason for Scottish Rebels and a Cittadel of Conspiracies Henry King of England after his victory and Coronation sent Richard Fox Bishop of Excester and Sir Richard Edgecomb Embassadours to King Iames for renewing the Truce and if it were possible to agree upon a stable and lasting Peace between the Realms King Iames taking a promise of the secrecy of the Embassâ—dours that what he imparted to them should not be laid open to his Nobility told He earnestly affected a Peace with all his Neighbours but above all others with their King as much for his own valour as for the honour and interests of the two Kingdoms But he knew his people so stubborn and opposite to all his designs that if they understood his mind and resolutions they would endeavour to cross his intentions wherefore publickly he could only condescend to seven years truce a long peace being hardly obtained from men brought up in the free licence of war who disdained to be restrained within the Narrow limits of Laws Notwithstanding they should undertake for him to King Henry in the word of a Prince that this Truce before the exspiring of it should be renewed and with all solemntyes again confirmed The Embassadours respecting his good will towards their King accepted the conditions Thus was there a Truce or Peace convenanted and confirmed for seven years to come between the two Realms After so many back-blows of fortune and such canvassing the King enjoying a Peace with all his Neighbours abroad became exceeding religious the miseries of life drawing the mind to the contemplations of what shall be after it During hisresidence at Edenburgh he was wont to come in Procession from the Abby of Holy-rood-house to the Churches in the High-Town every Wednesday and Fryday By which devotion he became beloved of his People Nothing more winning their hearts than the opinion they have of the Sanctity of a person And that he did not this for the fashion nor hypocrisy the application of his wit and power to the administration of strict justice did prove for he began to suppress the insolencies of strong oppressors defend and maintain the Rights of the poor against Tyrants and abusers of their Neighbors He sitteth himself in Council dayly and disposeth affairs of most weight in his own person In the Moneth of October following the Peace with England 1487. a Parlament was called in which many acts were made against Oppressours Justices were appointed to pass thorough the whole Kingdom and see malefactors deservedly punished Acts were made that no convention of friends should be suffered for the accompanying and defence of criminal Persons But that every one attainted should appear at the most with six Proctors that if found guilty they should not be reft from Justice by strong hand Such of the Nobility who feared and consequently hated him finding how he had acquired the love of his people by his piety in the observance of Religion and his severity in executing Justice were driven unto new meditations They began to suspect he would one day free himself from these turbulent Spirits who could not suffer him to enjoy a Peace nor raign He had advanced at this time to Offices of State and Places men whose Fortunes did wholly depend upon his safety and wel-fare at which some Noblemen whose Ambition was to be in publick charge and of the Counsell pretending to that out of right which was only due unto them by favour did highly storm and look upon those others with envious eyes The King thus falling againe into his old sickness they bethought them how to renew their old remedie They were also jealous of the remembrance of the dis-service they had done him and that he would never forget old quarrells They were prepared and ready to make a Revolution of the state but had not yet found their Center to begin motion nor a ground for Rebellion All this while there was not matter enought for an insurrection nor to dispose the Peoples Hearts to a Mutinie The King delighted with his Buildings of the Castle of Sterlin and the amenity of the Place for he had raised there a faire and spacious Hall and founded a College for divine service which he named the Chappel Royal and beginning to be possest and taken up with the Religion of these times endeavoured to endow this foundation with constant Rents and ample Revenues and make this Rock the choyse Sanctuary of his Devotions The Priory of Coldingham then vacant and fallen in his hands he annexed the same to his Chappel Royal and procured an Act of Parliament that none of the Lieges should attempt to doe contrary to this union and annexation or to make any Impetration thereof at the Court of Rome under the paine of Treason The Priors of this Convent having been many years of the Name of Hume it was by the Gentlemen of that Name surmi'sd that they should be interested and wronged in their Estates by reason of the Tithes and other Casualtyes appertaining to this Benefice if a Prior of any other Sirname were promoted to this Place The King being often petitioned and implored that he should not alter the accustom'd form of the Election of that Prior nor remove it from their Name nor suffer the Revenues to be otherways bestowed than they were wont to be of old and he continuing in his resolution of annexing them to his Chapel after long pawsing and deliberation amongst themselves as men stirred up by the male-contents and a proud faction fit for any the most dangerous entrprise they proceed upon stronger Grounds to over-turn his intentions and divert his purpose The Lord Hailles and others of the Sirname of Hepburn had been their constant friends Allies and Neighbours with them they enter in a combination that they should mutually stand to the defence of others and not suffer any Prior to be received for Coldingham if he were not of one of their two Sirnames This Convâ—nant is first privately by some mean Gentlemen sworn who after draw on their Chiefs to be of the Party Of how small beginnings doth a great mischief ariseâ— the male contended Lords knowing those two Sirnames to be numerous active and powerfull in those parts of the Countrey where they remayn'd lay hold upon this Overture and beginning from their particulars they make the cause to be general They spread Rumours abroad that the King was become terrible and not to be trusted notwithstanding all his Protestations and outward
she should have been reserved for some neighbor Prince by which Alliance the state of the Kingdom and the Person of the King might have been in great safety For if the King should chance to be infested by some insolent nobility the name and power of a neighbor Prince were sufficient to keep him safe on his Throne which by this match was endangered They suggested that the Boydes builded their estimation in the air of popular applause and endeavored to endear themselves in the opinion of the multitude A Prince is not a Lord of that people that loveth another better then him Should the Boydes be accused of peculate robbing the King and the commonTreasure the King might make a prey of their unlawful conquest and by their Attaindors reward the services of many of his necessitated friends it being acquired most height to which their riches was increased should be feared the faults of all the disorders of the Common wealth are laid upon the Boydes as the Authors of every breaking out sedition that they might the more securely possess the places neer the King At this time complaints from all parts of the Kingdom and by all sorts of persons incessantly being given unto him advance the intentions of their enemies and the Kings minde naturally inclined to fears and superstition being long tossed and perplexed began to turn away from the Boydes and with their power in some degrees brought lower and lessened Preambles of Ruine but he would go leasurely to produce this effect and make one change bring forth another The King increasing in yeers and youthful perturbations is councelled for the continuing of the Race and Succession and the keeping hiâ— Person without the common disorders of the world to think upon some match profitable for his country and honorable for himself He is courted by many and courteth others the Duke of Burgundy had offered him his daughter as to other Princes his friends and neighbors but his minde was not to have her married at all during his life-time Andrew Stewart Lord Evandale then Chancelour of the Kingdom with the Bishops of Glasgow and Orkenay being sent Embassadors to Christern King of Denmark for an accommodation and taking up some business concerning the Isles of Orkenay and Schythland 1468. the quarrel was taken away by a marriage to be celebrated between the King and Lady Margaret King Christerns daughter a Lady thought worthy of his bed in respect of the excellency of her beauty her royal descent and greatness of her birth All matters being agreed upon these Isles engaged for her Dowry there wanted onely an honorable retinue and convoy to bring home the Lady To this negotiation by the craft of some about the King and vanity of others who gloryed to see their friend promoted to such great honour Thomas Earle of Arran as a man flourishing in fame and riches and able to maintaine and discharge all magnificence is deputed as the fittest person Thus by the ambition and unattentiveness of his friends his worth was made the Scaffold of his ruine the lamentable condition of men of high desert In the beginning of the Harvest accompained with some young Noblemen and Gallants most of which were his select friends and well-wishers he ascendeth his ships Whilst as the King of Scotlands brother in law he is some moneths riotously entertained at the Danish Court the rigor of that Northern climate by the congealing of the Ocean moored up his ships and barred all return till the following Spring In this absence of a man so neer unto the King his Father and Uncle by age sickness and their private affaires not so frequently haunting the Court as they were accustomed the Kennedyes and they of the contrary faction having shaken the Kings affection and broken these bands his pleasures idlenese and vacancy from the publike affairs of the State by which the Boydes thought they had kept him sure move him now a litile delighting in action to proceed to the consideration of such matters as might be objected against the government of the Bodyes But that this might not appear to be an act of Faction but the universal consent of the Kingdom apart a Parliament was summoned to be holden in November at Edenburgh Here Robert Lord Boyd with his brother Sir Alexander are summoned to answer in Judgement to such points as should be exhibited against them At the appointed day the Lord Boyd appeared but accompanyed with such multitude of the common people and numbers of his friends vassals and followers all in arms with such ostentation and boasting that the King and Courtiers were well pleased to suffer them dissolve scatter of their own free wills At this insolency and malapertness yet to our own time an usual custome in Scotland the King conceived such indignation that he raised a strong guard to attend justice and his commandments and laid secretly Forces to assist these if the Boydes should oppose his laws by convocation of the Lieges The Lord Boyd after private intelligence of the Mines of the Court to blow him up rather amazed then in choler at the change of his Masters mind fled into England his brother Sir Alexander arested by sickness and relying upon his own integrity more then he ought to have done considering the malice of his enemies was brought before the Parliament his brother and he were challenged that upon the tenth of Iuly 1466. they laid hands upon the Kings Person and against his purpose brought him on the high way to the Castle of Calendar and that by their private power and consent contrary to the established order of the State and the other Regents advice they brought the King to Edenburgh when Sir Alexander sought to produce an act of Parliament for abolition or approbation of this deed as good service it was kept up and he being condemned had his head cut off Their other accusations contained the topical faults of Favourits that they had enriched themselves out of the Kings Treasure monopolized things belonging to the Crown diminished the Revenues thereof removed worthy men from the Counsel placing such in their rooms as had dependency from them Thomas Earle of Arran imployed in a publike charge by the kingdome absent unheard is declared Robel with his father and his moveables escheated to the King to his original faults was added that he dared marry the Kings sister without consent of the States the King being of non-age At the noise of this thunder clap Robert Lord Boyd left this world at Anwick No sooner had the Spring rendered the Baltick Seas Navigable when the Danish Lady with her Fleet Anchored in the Forth The Earle of Arran who was the Paranymphe and her convoy in that general gladness by the perswasions of some of his friends was preparing to come on shore and to submit himself to the Kings clemency but his Lady who had afar discerned his danger coming aboard disguised and giving him particular information of the
entertained by King Iames and so many friends as either his Alliance or Virtues had acquired After some few daies stay desiring to have audience in Counsel they wâ—re admitted where Bishop Lightoun is said to have spoken to this effect The respect and reverence which the Nation of the Scots carryeth towards all 〈◊〉 is all where known but most that love and loyalâ—y which they have to the sacred Persons of their own native Princes for as Monarchy is the most ancient form of Government so have they ever esteemed it the best it being more easie to find one instructed and trained up in heroical virtues than to find many And how well soever Governours and Vice-Gerents rule the Common-wealth yet is that Government but as the light of the Moon or stars in absence of the Sun and but representations of shadows for reall Bodies This hath moved the three estates of that Kingdom to direct us here unto you Our King these many years hath been kept from us upon just or unjust Grounds we will not argue that providence which hath appointed every thing to its own end hath done this for the best both to you and us and we are now to treat with you for his Delivery Beseecâ—ing you to remember that his Father of sacred memory recommended him out of that general duty which one Prince oweth to aâ— other to your Kings Protection in hope of Sanctuary and in request of ayd and comfort against secret and therefore the more dâ—ngerous Enemies And to confess the Truth hitherto he hath been more assured amongst you than if he had remained in his own Countrey your favours being many waies extended towards him having in all liberal Sciences and vertues broâ—ght him up That his abode with you seemeth rather to have been a remaining in an Academy than in any Captivity and thus he had been lost if he had not been lost Besides though we have the happiness to claim his Birth and Stemm ye have the claim of his Succession and Education He â—eing now matched with the Royall Blood of England in Marriage Thus his Liberty which we intreat for is a benefit to your selves and those Princes which shall claim the descent of his off-spring For if it should fall forth as what may not by the variable changes of Kingdomes come to pass that this Prince by Vsurpers and Rebells were disgarnished of his own Crown they are your Swords which should brandish to set him on his Royall throne We expect that as ye have many wâ—ies rendred him yours ye will not refuse to engage Him yet more by his Liberty which â—e must acknowledge wholly and freely to receive from you and by benefits and and love to overcome a King is more than by force of Arms. And since he was not your Priâ—oner by chance of Warr having never raised Arms against you but by way of Protection detained here and entertained so ye will respecting your ancient honour and Generosity send him freely back to his own yet if it be so that ye will have acknowledgemâ—nt for what ye have bestowed on his education the distress of the present estate of his Subjects and Crown considered We will not stand upon triâ—les of Money for the Redemption of a Prince above all price The Lords of the Council were diverse waies inclined to this Embassie some thought it not fit to dismiss him For his remaining in England seemed the more to assure the kingdome of Scotland unto them having the King and his children in their custody what dared they not enterprise or not bring to pass Or if Scotland should plot any thing by way of Rebellion the King having his party within the Realm by the assistance of the English would keep under the other Factions and thus the Estate by both being made weak it would be a fair breach for a Conquest and the annexing that Kingdome to the Crown of England That he knew too much of the Estate and affairs of England to be sent away to a Nation ever their Enemies That being at liberty and amongst his own he might resent the injury of his long restraint Others of the Council thought it best to dismiss hiâ— They had learned by experience that the keeping of the King of Scots hindered no waiâ—s the Scots from assisting the French yea rather that it did exasperate their choller and make them in Revenge addict themselves wholly to the French the Governour no waies keeping to the English and siding the French upon whom to be revenged they could find no surer way than to set at liberty the King whose return of necessity must needs change the face of the State and trouble him As for the conquest of the Crown of Scotland it was not at that time of such moment for England they having the most part of France in their Subjection which was as much if not more as they could hold then it would prove a more harmless and sure purchase to make Scotland theirs by the Succession of Lady Iaâ—eâ— of Sommerset than by war the event whereof is ever doubtful and beyond any assurance of Man The Liberty of the King of Scots might prevent the encreasing strength of the Kings Enemies in France and sâ—cure the Peace and tranquillity of the Common wealth at home King Iames being all English by education If he proved not of their Party yet he must prove neutral to both the Kingdoms Henry the sixth then King of England being of under-age was governed by his three Uncles of his Fathers side Humphrey Duke of Glocester who was made Protector of his Person and Realm Iohn Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Excester But Henry Beaufoord Cardinal Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England a man eminent in Blood and Riches Uncle to the Lady Iane in effect governed all These gave way rather then approved that the King of Scots should be set at liberty and sent home And though they would have dismissed him freely in respect of the Dowry of his Queen which was not delivered having use of present moneys for the maintenance of the Wars in France and the more to cover the injustice of his Captivity they thought it expedient to set a Ransom upon him The Commissioners having met it was declared that for a sufficient sum of moneys their King might return and enjoy his own Liberty the one half to be paid in hand able Hostages remaining in England till the other half was fully discharged The Ransom agreed upon was four hundred thousand Merks but by the power of the Cardinal the third was discharged for which he was long after accused before the King by the Duke of Glocester The Governour and Estate of Scotland having known the sum laid upon them for the Liberty of the King though the hasty acquiring of it was grievous unto them preferring Glory and things necessary to matters of money immediatly dispatched so much as could be gathered together
and an aboliâ—ion for all was past and the Kings hand at it they doubted not to null and make it void All being done by a King constrained by a powerful Army and a close prisoner which writing could not oblige any private man far less a King what he then bargained was upon constraint and yielded unto upon hopes of saving his life and an act exacted by force The Duke of Albany finding by the malice and detraction of a malignant faction his brothers countenance altered towards him and danger the requital of his late setting him at liberty the established reconciliation being shaken by suspitions and fancy of revenge obeying necessity fled to his Castle of Dumbar out of which he came to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester the consideration of his grievances In his absence he is convinced of many points of treason besides the being accessarie to the taking of Berwick by the English As his dangerous and long intelligence with the King of England his sending of many Messengers at all occasions unto him That without any safe-conduct or pass from his Brother and not so much as acquainting him he had left the Countrey come into England to devise conspiracies against his King and native Kingdom The Lord Creighton as his friend associate and complice is forefeited with him against whom Informations were given that often and divers times under the pretence of hunting secretly with the Duke at Albany he road into England and there meeting with Commissioners sent by King Edward he deliberated of matters concerning novations and of the altring the state That there he kept appointments with Iames Earl of Dowglass the often quench'd fire-brand of his Country That in spight of the Kings forces sent there to lie in Garrison he kept the Castle of Creighton The greatest discontent the King conceived against him was love to one of his Sisters and some feminine jealousies When the Duke understood the proceedings against himself and the Lord Creighton and that for their contumacy and not appearing to answer and give in their answer they were convict of Treason and their lands to be seased upon He caused give up the Castle of Dumbar of which he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately placed by Sea a Garrison in it About this time Edward King of England left this world 1483. and his brother Richard Duke of Gloucester did first take the name of Protector and Governor of the Kingdom of England and after his brothers Sons put in the Tower and their Mother the Queen taking Sanctuary in the moneth of Iune possest himself of the Crown The Duke of Albany finding that Richard by his change of Fortune had not changed his affection towards him imploreth his aid in restoring him to his own and repairing not his wrongs alone but a wrong done in his sufferings to the King of England sith there was now an open breach of the Truce and Peace so solemnly by him set down and confirmed by his Brother If he could be furnished but with a few number of choice men of reputation and power to pass into Scotland and take a tryal of the Minds and good will of his fâ—iends and confederates he douted not at his entring the Countrey to finde numbers who by his presence would hazzard upon the most desperate dangers Richard finding the man his Supplicant with whom he endeavoured once an intire frindship and whose advancement in Authority he had most studied condescendeth that five hundred men and Horses should be chosen upon the borders with others who were ontlawes and necessitated sometime to make incursions and with Iames the old Earl of Dowglase a man well known and renowned in the West-borders should make an in-road into Scotland The two and twentie day of Iuly the banished Champion having chosen a good number of their borderers put forward towards Loch Maben to surprize a Fair spoil a publick Market seise upon all the Buyers and Sellers which here meet and traffick every St. Magdalens festival under pretence of Devotion and the liberty of trading many English had hither relsorted at the twelfth hour of the day when the Merchants and Countrey-people were in greatest security the burâ—e is invaded and not bloud but wares sought after the Lard of Iohnstoun who was warden and lard of Cock-pool with many stout borderers having surveyed and Ridden through the places where the people were met to prevent and hinder all disorders and dangers at the noise of an incursion of the English dispatch Poasts to the adjacent bounds for supply and in the mean time rencounter the plunderers of the Fair. Here is it fought with greater courage than force and in a long continued skirmish the danger of the loss stir'd up and incited the parties as much as fame and glory The day was neer spent leaving the advantage to either side disputable when the supply of fresh men come to defend their Countrey and friends turned the Fortune of the fight and put the English borders all to the rout The Duke of Albany by the swiftness of his Horse and the good attendance of his Servants winneth English ground but the Earl of Dowglass loaden and heavy with years and armes is taken by Robert Kirken-patrick who for that service got the lands of Kirk-michael and brought as in triumph to Edenburgh It is recorded that when the Earl was come in the Kings presence he turn'd his back refused to look him in the face considering the many outrages he had perpetrated against his Father and this late offence The King taken with the goodly personage gravity and great age of the man commiserating his long patience and cross fortune being in his young daies designed to be a Church-man confined him as in a free Prison in the Abacy of Lyndores Besides he considered that when occasion served he might bring him out of this solitariness and in these turbulent times by his counsel and presence play more advantageously his game of State being a man of long experience in the affairs of the world and the most learned of all his Nobility He was now become tyred of the Earl of Anguss the remembrance of his first offence remaining deeply ingraven in his heart and to counterpoise his greatness this was the only weight The Duke of Albany found little better entertainment in England the battel being lost some men taken and killed this being the first roade upon Scotland under the reign of Richard who had been formerly so fortunate in his own person his fame injur'd and reputation by this diminished the Duke began to be disliked and was not received with that kindness he was wont whereupon by the assistance and convoy of Iohn Liddale he secretly retired to France After the road of Lochmaben sundry incursions are made by the Scots upon the English borders and by the English upon the Scottish The Champian ground is scoured houses are burnt booties taken with great loss to
execute that Tragedy making report to the Tyrant that he had performed his command for both Brethren was saved and with speed and secrecy convoyed to Tourney there conceal'd and brought up by his Fathers Sister Margarite Dutchass of Burgundy Nhat King Iames should acknowledge this for Truth and friendly assist this young Man who was that very Richard Duke of York to recover his inheritance now most unjustly usurped and Possessed by Henry Tuder Earl of Richmond That the right of Kings extended not onely to the safe preservation of their own but also to the aid of all such Allies as change of time and State hath often hurled down from Crowns to undergo an exercise of sufference in both fortunes and Kings should reposses Kings wrongfully put from their own As his Predecessors to whose royal vertues he was heir had repossessed Henry the sixth King of England spoiled of his Kingdom and distressed by which Charity obliging all virtuous Princes unto him he should find ever as his own Maximilian of Bohemia Charles of France and Margarite Dutchâ—ss Dowager of Burgundy King Iames graciously receiving this young man told him That whatsoever he were he should not repent him of putting himself into his hands and from that time forth though many gave Informations against him as a Counterfeit entertained him every way as a Prince embraced his quarrel and seiling both his own eyes and the eyes of the world he gave consent that this Duke should take to wife Lady Katherine Gordoun daughter to the Earl of Huntley which some thought he did to increase the Factions of Perkins in England stir the discontented Subjects against King Henry and to encourage his own Subjects to side on his quarrel Not long after in person with this Duke of York in his Company who assured him of powerful assistance he entered with an Army into Northumberland but not one Man comming to side with them the King turned his enterprize into a Road and after he had spoiled the Countrey returned into Scotland It is said that Perkin acting the part of a Prince handsomely where he saw the Scots pillaging and wasting of the Countrey came to the King and in a deploring manner requested him to spare his afflicted people that no Crown was so dear to his Mind as that he desired to purchase it with the blood and ruin of his people whereunto King Iames answered he was ridiculously careful of an interest another man possessed and which perhaps was none of his The King of England who delighted more to draw treasure from his people than to hazard the spilling of their blood to revenge the predatory war of the Scots and find out Perkin requireth a subsidy of his Subjects and though few believed he would follow so far a flying Hart he was levying a puissant Army No sooner this Subsidy began to be collected amongst the Cornish-men when they began to grudge and murmur and afterwards rebelled which when it was understood of the King he retained the forces raised for his own service and use In the mean time dispatching the Earl of Surrey to the North to attend the Scots incursions whilst the Cornish-men are in their March towards London King Iames again entered the Frontiers of England with an Army and besieged the Castle of Norham in person But understanding the Earl of Surrey was advancing with greater forces loaden with spoil he returned back again the Earl of Surrey finding no Enemy sat down before the Castle of Aytoun which he took and soon after returned into England the cold season of the year with the unseasonableness of the weather driving away time invited a Treaty of Peace on both sides Amidst these turmoyls and unprofitable incursions of the two Kingdoms Ferdinando and Isabella of Spain sent one Peter Hialas to treat a marriage between Katherine one of their Daughters and Arthur Prince of Wales This allyance being agreed upon and almost brought to perfection King Henry desirous of quietness and to have an end of all Debates especially these with Scotland communicateth his intentions to Hialas a man wise and learned and whom he thought able to be employed in such a service for it stood not with his Reputation to sue unto his enemy for Peace But Hialas a stranger unto both as having Direction from his Master for the Peace of Christian and Neighbor Princes might take upon him this reconciliation Hialas accepteth the Embassage and comming to King Iames after he had brought him to hearken to more safe and quiet Counsels wrote unto King Henry That he hoped that Peace might easily be concluded if he would send some wise and temperate Counsellour of his own that might treat of the Conditions Whereupon the King directeth the Bishop of Duresm Richard Fox who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to confer with Hialas and they both to treat with some Commissioners deputed from King Iames. The Commissioners of both sides meet at Iedbrough and dispute many articles and conditions of Peace Restitution of the spoils taken by the Scotish or dammages for the same is desired but that was passed as a matter impossible to be performed An enterview in person at Newcastle is desired of both Kings which being referred to King Iames his own arbitrement he is reported to have answered that he meant to treat a Peace and not go a begging for it The breaking of the Peace for Perkin Warbeck is highly aggravated by the Bishop and he demanded to be deliver'd to the King of England That a Prince should not easily believe with the common people that Perkin was a fiction and such an one that if a Poet had projected the figure it could not have been done more to admiration than the house of York by the old Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the fourth having first raised Lambert Simnel and at last this Perkin to personate Kings and seduce the people His birth education not residence in any one place proved him a Pageant King that he was a reproach to all Kings and a person not protected by the Law of Nations The Bishop of Glasgow answered for his Master That the love and Amity grounded upon a Common cause and universal conclusion amongst Kings to defend one another was the main foundation upon which King James had adventured to assist Edward Duke of York that he was no competent Iudge of his title he had received him as a Suppliant protected him as a person fled for refuge espoused him with his Kinsewoman and aided him with Arms upon the belief that he was a Prince that the People of Ireland Wales and many in England acknowledged him no less than their King whether he were so or not sith for a Prince he had hitherto defended him he could not leave him upon the Relation of his most terrible Enemy and the present Possessour of his Crown That no Prince was bound to render a Subject to another who had come to him for Sanctuary less a
Castile who had presented her with many tokens of affection and by his Embassadours earnestly sought her from her Brother But their great errand was to divide the King from his Brother-in-law King Henry and make him assist Loâ—ys these two Potentates intending a war against other Anne Daughter of Francis Duke of Bretaign after the death of her Sister Isabella remained sole heir of that Dutchy her wardship falling to the French King Charles the eight He terrified so her Subjects guided her kinred and the principal persons about her that making void the pretended marriage of Maximilian king of the Romans which was by Proxie she was married unto him Notwithstanding he had the Daughter of Maximilian at his Court with great exspectation of a mariage to be celebrate with her After the death of King Charles Lovys the twelf having marryed Iane the Sister of Charles and Daughter to Lovys the eleventh by his many favours bestowed upon Pope Alexander the sixth and his Son Cesar Borgia obtaineth a Brief of Divorce against her by the power of which her weakness for the bearing of Children the necessary upholders of a Crown by his Physicians being proved he had married Anne of Bretaign for he would not loose so fair a Dowry for the blustering rumour of Malecontents which in a little time would grow stale and vanish Pope Alexander dead Iulius the second a turbulent unquiet but magnificent Prelate and a stout defender of Church-Patrimony suspitious of the power of the French in Italy and that they would not rest content with the kingdom of Naples and Dutchy of Milan but one day hazard for all fearing also they would because they might put him out of his Chair and substitute in his Room their Cardinal of Amboise or some other of their own began to study novations and means to send the French back to their own Countrey his ordinary discourse being that he would one day make Italy free from Barbarians He requireth King Lovys to give over the protection of the Duke of Ferrara and of Annibal Bentivoglio whom he had thrust out of Bulloign The King refusing to forsake Confederates the Pope betaketh him to his spiritual Arms and threatneth with Excommunication the Duke and all who came to his aid and support especially the French they decline his Sentence and appeal to a true and lawful General Council with which they threaten him Henry the eight then in the fervour of his youth amidst a great Treasure left by his Father and by more than ordinary bands of love and friendship tyed to the Pope as having dispensed with the marying his Brothers widdow interposeth himself as an Indifferent Mediator and Intercessor for Peace between the two parties but in effect was the chief maintainer of the Quarrel effecting nothing because he would not Conditions being refused by King Henry he essayeth draw the French arms from the Popes territories by cutting them work neerer home and bringing a necâ—ssity upon them to defend their own Upon this determination he desireth king Lovys to restore and render to him his Dutchies Guyenne and Normandy with his antient inheritance of Anjow and Mayne and the other old Possessions of the English in France which wrongfully had been detained and kept from him and his Ancestors The war of Italy by â—hese threatnings was not left of for the Pope conming to Bollogn with intention to invade Ferrara is besieged with his Cardinals and he sendeth Declarations to the Christian Princes protesting the French not only thirsted after the Patrimony and Inheritance of S. Peter but even after Christian blood Mean while he absolveth the Subjects of King Lovys from their oath of Allegiance abandoneth his kingdom to any can possess it at a Council at Lateran he dispatched a Bull wherein the title of most Christian King is transferred upon Henry king of England who to his former titles of France having now the approbation of the Pope and the kingdom interdicted prepareth an expedition in person After which with five thousand barded Horses Fourty thousand Foot comming in Picardie he encampeth before Therovenne a Town upon the Marches of Picardie Here the Emperour Maximiliam resenting yet his old injury entreth into the King of Englands pay and weareth the cross of Saint George But so long as he staied in the Army it was govâ—rned according to his counsel and direction King Iames before his meeting with Bernard Stuart and Bishop Forman was fully purposed to prove an indifferent beholder of this War but Bernard having corrupted the Courtiers and the Bishop the chief Church-man of the kingdom after their long and earnest intercession he was drawn altogether to affect and adhere to the French To throw the apple of Dissention Bishop Forman is sent to king Henry to demand certain Jewels by their Fathers Will or her Brothers Prince Arthurs appertaining to Queen Margarite his Sister King Henry mistrusting that Embassy offereth all and more than they demand from him Shortly after the English beginning to interrupt the traffick of the French by Sea king Iames will send his Ships lately well mann'd and equipp'd for fight which not long before had been prepared as was given out to transport the king into Syria to his Cosin Queen Ann supposing this Gift would rather seem a Pledge of friendship and alliance to the English than any Supply of Warre But Iames Earl of Arrain having got the command of them instead of falling towards France arriveth in Ireland whether by tempest of weather or that he would disturb the Kings proceedings in assisting the French instigated and corrupted by King Henry it is uncertain and after he had spoild Knock-Fergus a maritime village returneth with them to the Town of Ayre The King taking in an evil part the invasion of Ireland but more the lingring of the Earl for he had received Letters from Queen Anne and Bishop Forman regretting the long and vain expectation of his Ships giveth the Earl of Anguss and Sir Andrew Wood a Commission for both him and them The Earl of Arrain by his Friends at Court understanding his Masters displeasure ere they could find him hoiseth up Sails and committeth him self rather to the uncertain fortune of the Seas than the just wrath of a King After great Tempest arriving in French Bretaign these Ships built at such extraordinary Charges Sayls and Cordage being taken from them rotted and consumed by weather in the Haven of Erest Now matters grew more exasperate between the Brother Kings Robert Car Warden of the Borders is killed by three English Hieron Lilburn Struthers Andrew Barton who upon an old quarrel begun in the reign of King Iames the third had purchased Letters of Reprisal against the Portingals by Thomas Howard the English Admiral is slain and his Ships taken To this last Grievance when it was expostulated King Henry is said to have answered That truce amongst Princes was never broken for taking or killing of Pyrates Alexander Lord Hume Warden of the East
Successour under the Government of a woman for inheritance a miserable and bloody war It is no dream that ye are to fight a mighty people now turned insolent by their riches at home and power abroad that your Nobilitie are indigent ye know and may be brib'd to leave you in your greatest danger What a folly what a blindness is it to make this war yours and to quench the fire in your Neighbours house of France to kindle and burn up your own in Scotland ye have no such reason to assist the French as ye have to keep your promises to England and enjoy a Peace at home Though the English should make a conquest of France will they take your Crown or disin herâ— their own râ—ce this is even as the left hand would cut off the right Should the Letters of the Queen of France a woman twice married the first half in Adultery the last almost Incest whom ye did never nor shall ever see prove more powerful with you than the cryes of your little Son and mine than the tears complaints curses of the Orphans and Widdows which ye are to make If ye will go suffer me to accompany you it may be my Countrey-men prove more kind towards me than they will to you and for my sake yield unto a Peace I hear the Queen my Sister will be with the Army in her husbands absence if we shall meet who knowes what God by our means may bring to pass The King answered all her complaints with a speedy march which he made over the Tweed not staying till the whole forces came to him which were arising and prepared The twenty two of August comming into England he encamped neer the water of Twisel in Northumberland where at Twisel-haugh he made an Act that if any man were slain or hurt to death by the English during the time of his aboade in England his heirs should have his Ward Relief and mariage Norham Wark Foord Eatel are taken and cast down Amidst this hostility the Lady Foord a noble Captive was brought in a pitty-pleading manner with her daughter a Maid of excellent beauty to the Camp Not without the Earl of Surreys direction as many supposed for they have a vigorous Prince and his Son though natural by the gifts of Nature and Education above many lawful to try the Magick of their eloquence and beauty upon The King delighting in their Company not only hearkeneth to the discourse of the Mother but giveth way to her counsel which was if she should be dismissed to send him true and certain intelligence of what the English would attempt taking her way to their Camp but in effect proved the winning of time to the Earl of Surrey and the losing of occasion to him Her few daies stay bred in him a kind of carlessnesse sloath procastination and delay a neglect and as it were a forgetfnlness of his Army and business eighten daiestarying in England in a Territory not very fertile had consum'd much provision the Souldiers began to want necessaries a number in the night by blind pathes returned to their own Countrey In a short time only the Noblemen and their Vassals attended the King These request him not to spend more time on that barren Soyl but to turn their Forces against Berwick which Town was of more importance than all the Hamleâ—s and poor Villages of Northumberland neither was it impregnable or difficâ—le to be taken the Town and Castle being no waies provided and furnished to endure a siege The Courtiours move the King to continue the beleaguering of Berwick till their comming back which would be an easie conquest Northumberland once forrag'd in absence of the bravest of the English then in France Whilest the Army languished and the King spent time a Foord the Earl of Surrey directeth an Herauld to his Camp requiring him either to leave off the invasion of his Masters Countrey and turn back giving satisfaction for wrongs committed or that he would appoint a day and place wherein all differences might be ended by the Sword This Challenge being advised in Counsel most voices were that they should return home and not with so small number as remaâ—ned endanger the State of the whole Kingdom enough being already aâ—chieved for fame and too much for their frienâ—hip with France why should a few Souldiers and these already tired out by forcing of Strengths throwing down Castles be hazarded against such multitudes of the English supplyed lately and encreased with fresh Auxiliaries Thomas Howard Admiral a Son of the Earl of Surrey having newly brought with him to New Castle out of the Army lying in France five thousand men and one thousand tall Sea men If they should return Home the English Army could not but disband and not conveniently this year be gathered again consisting of men levied from far and distant Places Again if they should be engaged to come to a Battail their own Countrey being fields to them well known would prove more commodious and secure to fight upon than English ground besides the opportunity of furnishing and providing the Camp with all necessaries at less charges The French Embassadour and others of his faction remonstrate to the King what a shameful retreit he would make if at the desire of the Enemy he returned and without the hazard of a Battel being so neer unto him that by fighting in England he kept his own Couvtrey unforraged and consum'd the Provision of his Enemy which at last would weaken his forces That for contentment to both Armies Islay a Scottish Herauld should return with Rouge-Cross the English and condescend upon a day promising them the mean time tarrying and aboad till the righteousness of the cause were decided in a Battel The set and appointed Day by the Heraulds in which the two Armies should have joined being come and the English not appearing nor any from them The Nobility again resort to the King show how by the â—light of the Enemy matters were prolonged from one day to another the English forces daily encreasing whilst the Scottish wear away and waxed fewer that â—light should be opposed to â—lights the day designed by the Heraulds not being kept it would be no reproach to them to turn home without battel or if retiring to fight upon their own ground If this counsel pleased him not but that he would there give them battel The next was to study all advantages for victory either by stratagem or the odds and furtherance of the Place of fight Where the Chiviot hills decline towards the plainer fields arising behind them with high tops with best Ordnance should be fortified the water of Till running deep and foord-less upon the right hand and but passable at the Bridge the first Companies of the enemy being passed before they could be relieved and succoured by their followers the Bridge by the Artilery should be beaten down and the enemy charged when they began to pass the Water The King impatient of
claim made by Alexander Stuart the elder brother of the Governour who was begotten on a Daughter of the Earl of Orkenay to whom the Duke of Albany their Father had been lawfully joined in marriage before his coming to France and thus before the marrying of the Earl of Bulloignes daughter the Mother of Iohâ— the Governour upon which ground Alexander had grea reason to make his claim and protestation as heir to his Father Notwithstanding of his challenge and bravado Alexander being more fit for a Cowl than a Crown in open Parlament gave over all title he had to the Crown in his brothers favour Whereupon to deprive him ever hereafter of lawfull Succession they turned him Priest being made Bishop of Murray and Abbot of Skoon A truce being sincerely kept with England tumults within the Countrey appeased particular deadly fewds and jarres of private persons eithâ—r curbed or smothered up the Governour giveth himself soâ—e weeks to his Courtly recreations at Faulk-land with what pastime soever he be delighted or beguile the hours all the day long in the might he is often haunted by his old familiar the Priour of St. Andrews whom ambition spight malice never suffered to take any rest This man put in the Governours head and made him beliâ—ve that his endeavours and pains heretofore would prove but vain in settling the Government and that the peace of the Kingdom should never be lasting firm and permanent if so dangerous a Subject as the Lord Chamberlain remained alive whom neither rewards could soften nor honours and preferment oblige and make constant How many times had he been pardoned How often and without a cause had he returned again to his foâ—mer Conspiracies Should the Governour of his own free-will or of necessity be moved to return to France what would not the boldness of this man attmept in his absence which his authority and presence could never curb and keep within compass the life of this man would be the death and total ruin of the Peace of the concord and harmony of the State bring forth nothing 〈◊〉 dangerous and wicked effects the violence of ambition having pulled him from his own judgement Should he be challenged and put to a tryal of hiâ— Peers He could not shun the blow of Justice the cry of his oppression and wrongs having reached heaven A member so often in vain cured and still gangrened should be cut off The Governour whose Brains the Priour had now embrued with jealousies thought it no great matter upon the inâ—ormations he had received to put the Chamberlain to a Tryal for if he proved not guilty it would be but to leave him in that state and case he was found in and calumnies though they do not burn yet black Being come to Edinburgh he appointed a convention of the Nobility all which time he earnestly trâ—fficked with the Friends of the Lord Chamberlain that he should not be absent the matters to be determined in Counsel concerniâ—g him nearly and he had need of his advice and counsel The Court and City being full of whisperings and expectation of some sudden change many disswadeth the Chamberlain from appearing if he appeared that he would leave his Brother Master William a man equal in judgement and courage to himself behind He trained into false hopes by the blâ—â—dishments of the Governour towards his friends and inveigled by presumption with his Brother and Sir Andrew called by the Countrey Lord David Car of Farnehast commeth to Court where they were with many ceremonies welcomed by the Governour with more than ordinary favours enâ—ertained and shortly after all three imprisoned produced in judgment to answer to such things as should be objected against them according to the Lawes of the Kingdom and submitted to the Sentence of a Jury No new criâ—e was laid to their charge Iames Earl of Murray the natural Son of the late King accused the Chamberlain of the death of his Father who by many witnesses was proved alive and seen to come from the Battel of Flowden This by pregnant evidences not being proved he was indicted of divers other points of Treason and his private faults are found out and laid against him they renew the memory of the late stirs of State and these disorders of which he was eithâ—r the Author or accessary to them He had favoured and maintained the Factions Thefts and Robberies of wicked Malâ—fâ—ctours on the Borders he had not honourably nor honestly carryed himself at the Battel of Flowden performing neither the duty of a Souldier nor Commander He had suffered the English to repair and of new fortifie the Castle of Norham which without either trouble to himself or danger of his Friends he might have hindred Of every of which points and particularities he not clearly justifying himself the Judges prepared and directed by the Governor whom they record to have given information of a hainous crime comitted by the Chamberlain and his brother for the odiousness of it not to be revealed to the people pronounce him and his Brother guilty and condemn them to have their Heads cut off The day following the sentence was put in execution and their heads fixt on the most eminent part of the Town of Edenburgh David Car of Farnhast either by the Jury being declared not guilty as some have recorded or by the Corrupting of his Keepers as others or by the permission of the Governor escap'd this danger which brought the People to believe the Chamberlain was by his means entrapped To sinck whom he put himself in hazzard of drowning This Calamity of the Family of the Humes being so antient potent and couragious brâ—d terrour and astonishment in many of the other Noblemen of the Kingdom and estranged their Hearts from the Governour his ears began to be after attentive to every rumour and his eyes pryed into each accident at lâ—st as if he were wearyed with wrastling with the many disorders and cumbersome Factions of the Countrey he sought how by some fair way he might for a while return to France Embassadours being sent from King Francis to Scotland to renew the antient League between the two Nations when the Nobles assembled to make choice of the man on whom they should transfer the honour of the accomplishment of so solem an action and pass to France the Governour carryed the matter so by means of the French that it was conferred on himself but with his condition to entertain them with hopes of his Return that he should not stay above six Moneths out of the Countrey Having obtained this privileged absence of them his next care was to preserve the State from any alterations till his Return and to find the Government as he left it Hereupon to preserve the Person of the King he is conveyed from Sterlin to the Castle of Edinburgh and trusted to the custody of the Earl of Marshall the Lords Ruthen and Borthick two of which should be alwaies resident with him and accompany and assist
Streets out of Windows furnished him he invested a part of the Town and barricadoed some Lanes with Carts and other impediments which the time did afford The adverse party trusting go their number and the supply of the Citizens who calling to mind the slaughter of their Deacon shew them small favour disdaining the Earl should thus muster on the Streets in great fury invade him Whilst the bickering continued and the Town is in a Tumult William Dowglas brother to the Earl of Angus Sir David Hume of Wedderburn George Hume brother to the late Lord with many others by blood and Friendship tyed together enter by violence the East Gate of the Town the Citizens making small resistance force their passage through the throngs seek the Earls enemies find them scoure the streets of them The Master of Montgomery eldest Sonne to the Earl of Eglintoun Sir Patrick Hamiltun Brother to the Earl of Arran with almost fourscour more are left dead upon the place The Earl himself findeth an escape and place of retreat through a Marsh upon the North side of the Town The Chancelour and his retinue took Sanctuary in the Dominican Fryers the tumult by the slaughter of some and flight of others appeased the Earl of Angus now freed of danger licensed all who pleased without further pursuit peaceably to leave the Town of Edenburgh and return to their own Houses Some daies after the Humes well banded and backed with many Nobles and Gentlemen of their linage by the Earl of Angus consent took the Lord Humes and his brothers heads from the place where they had been fixt and with the funeral Rites of those times interr'd them in the Black-Fryers The Earl of Angus having angled the peoples hearts by his Magnificence Wisdom Courage and Liberality his Faction began to bear greatest sway in the Kingdom For the continuance of which the King of England dealt most earnestly with the French King to keep the Duke of Albany still in France with him But the French had contrary designs And when the Duke understood the great discords of the Nobility of Scotland persons of Faction being advanced to places dangerous immunities being granted to the Commons France and England beginning to be tyred of their Peace and preparing for a new war to curb the Scottish Factions keep the Nation in quietness in it self by giving the Subjects other work abroad whilst common danger should break of particular discords Notwithstanding of the English Ships which lay in wait to take him after he had been about five years in France in November he arrived on the west coasts of Scotland at a place named Garloch The Governour comming to Edenburgh set himself to amend the enormities committed in his absence the Magistrates of the Town are deposed because in the late uproar they had been evil seconds to the Lords of the west when they went to surprize the Earl of Angus A Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to make appearance in February to be tryed and to answer for offences committed by them in the Governours absence The appointed time being come these who appeared not were indicted and â—led into England Amongst which and the chief were the Humes and Cockburns men Authors and accessary to the death of Sir Anthony Darcey The tyde now turning and mens affections changed the Earl of Angus with his brother Sir George Dowglâ—s by the intercession of the Queen are constrained to seek a Pardon which was obtained for them but with the condition that they should leave the Countrey and stay in France one whole year which they obeyed Others have recorded they were surprized in the night and in French Ships conveyed privately away Mr. Gaven Dowglas Bishop of Dunkell in the absence of his Nephew finding the Governour violent in the chase of the Faction of the Dowglasses fled privately to the Court of England where he gave informations to King Henry against him He alone had taken to him the custody of the young King the sequel wâ—ereof he much feared he was an irreconciliable enemy to the whole Family of the Dowglasses The principal cause of his comming to Scotland was to engage the Nation in a War against England that the English Should not assist the Emperour against the French King and make his Nation slaves to France This Bishop shortly after dyed at London and was buryed in the savoy Church having been a man noble valiant learned and an excellent Poet as his works yet extant testifie The King of England upon such informations sent Clarencieux King of Arms to Scotland to require the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between the French King and him in their last truce It belonged said Clarencieux to his Master to tender the life wellfare honour fortunes of his Nephew of none of which he could be assured so long as the Duke ruled and stayed in Scotland It was against all reason and unbeseeming the man should be sole Guardian to a King who was the next heir to the Crown how easily might he be tempted by opportunity to commit the like unnatural cruelty which some have done in the like case both in England and other parts of Europe if he loved his Nation and Prince as he gave out he required him to leave the Country which if he yield not unto but obstinately continued in a re resolution to stay he denounced from his Master present war He farther complained Thâ—t the Earl of Anguss who was King Henries Brother-in Law was by him banisht and detained in France That during the banishment of the Earl which had been neer a whole year the Duke had impâ—tuned his Sister the Queen with dishonest love The Governour answered Clarencieux That what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain That neither the King of England nor France had power to banish him a Forainer over whom their authority did not reach his native country like over like having no jurisdiction As concerning the King of Scotland who was yet young in years he reverenced him as his soveraign Lord and would keep and defend both him and his Kingdome according to his Conscience honour and bound duty that there were ever more men in the world who desired to be Kings than there were Kingdomes to be bestowed upon them of which number he was none having ever preferred a mean estate justly enjoyed before a Kingdome evil acquired For the Earl of Angus he had used all Courtesies towards him notwithstanding of his evil demerits not for his own sake he did confess but for the Queens sake whom he honoured and respected as the Mother of his Prince and towards whom he should continue his observance That the King of England needed not misdoubt he would attempt any thing should derogate from the honour of his sister that complements of meer curtesie in France might
be surmised sometimes by English Ladies to be solicitations and suits of Love For the War with which in case of his Stay he threatned his nation he would use his best endeavours to set his in a posture of Defence When this answer was reported to King Henry he gathered a great Army to invade Scotland and essay if by their own dangers the Scots people could be moved to abandon and disclaim the Dukes authority Seven great Ships came to Inche-keeth and spoiled the adjacent Coasts all the Scots and French which did then inhabite London and other places of England were put to their fines and commanded to go off the Countrey In compensation and for equal amends the French King seized all English mens goods in Bourdeaux imprisoned the persons and retained the money to be paid for the restitution of Tournay The Earl of Shrewsbury making incursions on the Borders burned the one half of Kelso and plundered the other At this time the Emperor Charles the fifth came to England and stirred King Henry to take arms against the French Kings and the French had sent Embassadours to Scotland intreating and conjuring the Scots by their old and new League to arise in arms and invade England The Governour assembled the three Estates at Edinburgh which together condescended to the raising of an Army to resist the incursions of the English and defend the Kingdom to encourage every man for fighting the Wards of those which should fall in this expedition were freely remitted and discharged by Act of Parlament and pensions designed to the Widdows and Daughters of those who dyed in this service This Empyrick balm could the French apply to cure the wounds of the Scotish Common-wealth The Earl of Shrewsbury advancing as was reported towards the west Borders an Army was far gathered and encamped on Rosline-moor which after according to the orders given marched to Annandale and forwards came to the Esk a River running in the Irish Seas neer Carlile the Governour delighted with the Seat and standing of the place caused dig Trenches and by the advice of certain French Gunners placed some Field Pieces and small Ordinance for defence of them and spread there his Pavilions The Citizens of Carlile terrified at the sudden approach of so powerful an Army offer many presents for the safety of their Town whch he rejected The English Army not minding to invade the Scots so long as they kept themselves on their own ground and advanced not the Governour endeavoured to make the Scots spoil the Countrey by incursions but he findeth them slack and unwilling to obey and follow him most part refusing to go upon English Ground amongst whom Alexander Lord Gordon was the chief and first man The Governour finding his command neglected and some Noblemen dissenting from what he most intended commeth back to the place where they made their stand and desires a reason of their stay They told him they had determined to defend their own countrey not invade England That it neither consisted with the weal of the Common-wealth nor as matters went at that time had they sufficient forces to make invasive War That the Governour did not instigate them to invade England for the love he carryed to Scotland but for a benefit to the French by diverting the war prepared by the English against them That by invading they might make themselves a prey to their enemies they were Men and not Angels it was enough for them whilst their King was under age to defend his Kingdom from the violence of Foreigners Put the case they werein one battel victorious considering the slaughter and loss of their Nobles and Gentry in that purchase they might be overthrown in a second fight and then to what would the King the Country be reducedâ— their last King might serve them for a pattern the Revenge of whose death should be delayed till he himself were of years to undertake it The Governour brought to an exigent said they should have propounded these difficulties before they took Arms and on the place of Battel Temerity misbecame Noblemen in action but especially in matters of War in which a man cannot err twice At the convention of the three Estates when war was in deliberation they should have inquired for the causes of it he was not to bring them upon the danger of war without their own consent The English had made many incussions upon their Countrey burning and ravaging who stand only upon defence stand upon no defence a better defence of their own Countrey could not be found than by invading the Countrey of their Enemies They should not be dejected for that accident at Flowden since it was not the fault of the Souldier but the Treason of their Chamberlain who had suffered for it That the glory of the Nation should raise their courages and inflame their bosoms with a desire of revenge The Kings honour and their piety towards the Ghosts of their Compatriots crav'd no less from them That if they would not invade England at least for their Reputation and Fame with the World they would pitch there a short time their Tents and try if the English would hazard to assail them That it would be an everlasting branding their honour if timorously in a suddennesse they show their backs to their enemies and dared them not in the face by some daies stay The Queen though absent had thus perswaded the Noblemen and having understood the Governour to be turned now flexible she dispatched a Post to him requesting he would be pleased with a Truce for some Moneths and that he would commune with the Warden of the English Marches whom she should move to come to his Tent and treat with him The Governour finding he stood not well assured of some of his Army and knowing what a cumbersome task it was to withstand the violence of their desires determined to follow their own current seemed well pleased to hearken to their opinion Hereupon the Lord Dacres Warden of the West Marches came unto the Governours Camp the eleventh of September and as some have recorded the Queen also where a Cessation of Arms was agreed unto for some daies in which time the Queen and the Governour should send Embassadours to treat for a Peace with King Henry and shortly after Embassadours were directed to the Court of England but returned without any good don King Henry demanding extraordinary and harmful conditions to the Realm of Scotland The year 1522. Andrew Forman Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews dyed and Iames Beatoun Arch-Bishop of Glasgow and Chancellour of the Kingdom came in his place of St. Andrews the Arch-Bishop rick of Glasgow was conferred upon Gaven Dumbar whom the King after advanced to be Chancellor of the Kingdom The Governour resenting highly the slighting of the Embassadours by the King of England but more the contempt and scorn of the Scottish Nobility in refusing to follow him in October by the West Seas past over to France promising that
long ere now have satisfyed his ambiâ—ion and at more easie rate when the King his father with most of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland receiv'd that fatal overthrow by the Hills of Flowden and Banks of Till the refusing of an interview might divide the King and his Vncle upon which might follow some unnatural War Upon the other part the Church-men set all their Power to hinder this interview perswading themselves it would give a terrible blow to their Estates or Religion The principal cause say they why the King of England is so passionately earnest to have this meeting is to perswade his Nephew to conform Church-matters in Scotland to those already begun in England to abolish the Popes authority to drive Religious persons from their Lands Rents Houses invest the jewels and ornaments of the Churches Which counsel and example if King Iames should follow he would hazard or lose the friendship he had with the Pope Emperour and French King his best confederates abandoned of which he and his Kingdom would be left a Prey to the tyranny of his Uncle if Henry kept no faith to God Men had no reason to trust unto him That this Interview was to intrap his person He being the man whom the Pope and Emperour had designed to set upon his Throne and revenge their quarels That it was grosly to err to he carried away with a shadow and appearance and leave a Substance to trust at once his Crown person and liberty to an Enemy And sith examples move more than precepts let him think upon the hazard of King James the first eighteen years Prisoner and after sold to his Subjects Malcolm and William Kings of Scotland He should remember if yet he were therein to be instructed that Princes serve themselves with occasions over their Neighbours that they have greater care to satisfy their ambition than fear of shame for doing of wrongs with the present times or posterity That their Oaths were no longer kept than they observed their advantages That after he falleth in his hands he ought to follow his manners Religion forsaking and giving over his own natural disposition manners and freedom have no other affections nor motions than his For who commeth under the roof of a Tyrant turneth slave though he was a free man ere he did enter That this meeting with the body would endanger the Soul and infect it with his errours corrupting it with false opinions grounded upon a liberty to live to â—ensuality and Epicurean pleasure If upon the slighting of this Interview King Henry should denounce war against King Iames and invade his Countrey they in his just defence should furnish moneys to entertain an Army and overturn his proceedings For the present necessity they offer to pay to him fyfty thousand Crowns yearly and in any hazard of the Estate voluntarily to contribute all their rents and revenues providing it would please his Majesty to suffer justice to proceed against those who scandalously had sequestred themselves from the holy Church and to the contempt of his Laws publiquely made profession of the opinioâ—s of Luther That the goods of all who should be convict of Heresie which they esteemed to no less than an hundred thousand Crowns of yearly Rent should be brought to the Exchequer and their lands annext to the Crown To this effect they intreat his Majesty to give them sufficient Judges truly Catholick and full of zeal and severity After long reasoning upon both sides it was agreed the King should not altogether refuse to meet his Vncle but adhere to the first to offer propunded to this Embâ—ssador concerning this Inter-view The meeting to be at New castle one thousand at the most in train with either King the time to be the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel These Conditions not being embraced by King Henry would if not abolish totally at the least prolong the time of this meeting the King of England thinketh his Nephew too imperious to assume the Injunction of the whole circumstances of their meeting but rather than his suit should take no effect accepteth both of the Place and number of the Train and that the might have some point yeelded unto him requireth the time may be the first of August These Conditions being almost agreed upon three or four hundreth Riddesdale and Tinedale men with other Borderers break upon Liddesdale and therewith large incursions kill and forrage This during the Treaty falling miserably forth so much irritated King Iames that accepting the offers of his Clergy he gave over inwardly all intentions of any inter-view By prolonging time labouring to winde himself out of the Maze Hereupon he sendeth Letters full of excuses for his stay representing his many grievances and wrongs suffer'd and the seeds of discord began now to be sowen amongst them To lightâ—n and recreate his cloudy thoughts the Queen is delivered at Sterlin of another Son who with great solemnity is baptized in the Chappel of the Castle and named Arthur The Prelates after mature deliberation present Sir Iames Hamiltoun natural Son to the Earl of Arran to be supream Judge of the Inquisition against all suspect of Heresie and new opinions differing from the Faith of the Roman Church The King approving their judgements in their choice admitteth him Sir Iawes chearfully accepteth this new honour For now his ambition will find many guilty miserable supplicants Yet was this charge his ruin For whilst he persecuteth all who were informed against to be suspect of the Reform'd Religion having many in Jayls and numbers in his Scrâ—les to bring within the Labyrinth of a Process the supream Providence arresteth himself Iames Hamiltoun Sherif of Linlythgow Brother to Master Patrick Hamiltoun Abbot of Ferme who had suffered for Religion and was cousin to Sir Iames Hammiltoun of Fennard Lord Inquisitor for embracing his Brothers opinions had been persued so by the Church-men that he was constrain'd to forsake his own Countrey and some yeers wander as a banisht man abroad But by his friends at Court having purchased a License or Protection for some moneths to see his desolate Family and put his private Affairs in order cometh home Where finding the censorian Power to be in his cousins hands for where should he have Sanctuary if he were challenged by so neer a Kinsman for matters of Religion imagining to himself an over-sight and preterition out-dateth by his stay his Protection Sir Iames to curry the favour of the Church-men and testifie how dearly the cause of the Catholike Faith touched him resolveth to begin with his Cousin For if he were so burnt up with zeal that he spar'd not his own blood in the quarrell of the Roman Faith what Heretick could pass unpunisht Besides the investing himself in the Sherifs Office and Lands which he never minded to restore he had a Picque against him for that whilst he sate Judge in Lithgow he pronounced a sentence by which he was interested in some petty gain The