Henry VIIth's Daughter and lastly a Peace between both Kings during their Lives This Kings Reign is remarkable upon many accounts which being not the scope of this Treatise we designedly omit But one passage I meet with in Lesley's History of this Kingdom which for the rarity of it I cannot omit and hope the Reader will not think it an Impertinent Digression About this time says the aforesaid Author The King to tell you a business that to this day is remembred with great Laughter among the Roman people created a certain Italian with whose Wit and Pleasant Conversation he was much taken Abbot of Tungland This man thinking to magnifie his own parts did on a certain time perswade the King that he was so well skilled in the Secrets of Nature and more especially in the noble Science of Chimistry that he could transmute any other Metal into Gold if the King would please to bear the Charges thereof But after much Time and Treasure spent and long Expectation of this Glorious Effect all proved Abortive and came to nothing so that the vain Braccadocio fell into great contempt both by the King and People which grieved him very sore so that he sets all his Wits on work how he might do somewhat that might regain his fame in the world and at the same recover the King's Favour At last he gave out a Report that he would by flying be in France before the Kings Ambassadors who were sent thither and were then actually under sail to pursue their Voyage and that this might not be all talk without any Performance he boldly appointed a Day and Place which was Sterling from whence to begin his flight the noise whereof brought you may be sure a great concourse of People together among whom was the King himself When the Time was come the man gets up to the Top of Sterling Castle and having fastned the Wings which he had made of the Feathers of several Fowls to his sides he lifts himself into the Air thinking to pursue his course But alas he came quickly down headlong to the ground his Wings availing him nothing whereupon the people who knew not whether they should rather Rebuke his Presumption or Pity his Misfortune flocked about him and asked him how he did he made Answer that he had broken his Thigh-bone and despaired of ever flying any more at which they all laughed their fill But this Icarus to salve the matter laid the fault of his flying wholly upon his Wings because they were not made of Eagles Feathers and the like but only of Poultry which were not fit to cut the Air with flight and which by a certain innate Virtue operating according to the Nature of those Fowl drew the Feathers downwards to the Dunghill where those Birds fed But to re-assume the Thread of our Story things continued in a tollerable state of Tranquillity till the death of Henry VII the King's Father-in-law but Henry VIII a young ambitious and active Prince had not long mounted the English Throne when he makes Preparations to recover his Right in the Kingdom of France The French King to fortifie himself as much as possible against the impending Storm requir'd Aid of the King of Scotland who by his Embassadors would have accommodated Matters and perswaded both Kings to a Peace But King Henry persisting in his Resolution the Scot won by French Promises of Money and Ammunition joyns with them in League against England and because the English Commissioners appointed to accommodate the Differences between both Nations about some Irregularities and Depredations committed upon the Borders would not come up to their Terms James takes this occasion to send Lyon King at Arms to King Henry by this time besieging Terwin with Letters of Complaints commanding him for want of satisfying the Contents of the said Letters to denounce War against England When Henry had read the Letters and advised with his Council thereupon he told the Herauld he would make him answer If he would promise faithfully to declare the same to his Master Lyon replied Whatever his Master commanded him to say to others that he was obliged to do and would but for the Commands of others to his Master therein he desired to be excused but added your Highness Letters that declare your Pleasure I am willing to carry tho' your Answer requires doing and not saying I mean that you should immediately return home The King sharply retorted I 'll return at my own Pleasure to your Damage and not at thy Master's Summons and so delivers him a Letter to carry to his Master importing he had receiv'd his Full of frivolous Complaints which had been sufficiently answer'd before sharply sets forth the baseness of the Scotch Nation but says at the same time it was always their Ancestors custom to invade his Dominions in his absence which they never offered nor durst do while he was within the Land but however that he had taken caution for his security and would not desist from his present enterprize which the Scotch King had nothing to do with as being no Competent Judge for so the words are of so high Authority to require him in that behalf c. But before the Herault arrived and the Letters could be delivered King James had precipitated his own fall at Floddenfield For having dispatched Commissions for the raising of Forces he determines to put himself at the head of them before they were fully Compleated but first goes to a place called Limuch and there heard even Song as they called it where after he had entred the Chappel came an old man to him whose hair was somewhat of a yellow red hanging down over his Shouldiers his Forehead high with Baldness bare Headed clad in a Blewish Garment with a white Girdle and had a very Reverend Countenance and said King I am sent to admonish thee that thou go not forward to the place which thou hast determined which warning if thou dost despise it shall succeed ill with thee and all such as shall attend thee Further I am Commanded to give thee Intelligence before-hand that thou eschew the familiarity and Custom or Counsell of Women if thou do otherwise it shall tend to thy Dishonour and Hurt And when he had so said he mingled himself with other Company and when Prayers were over and that the K. sought for him he could by no means be found for he was never seen after the delivery of this Message which seemed the more strange because that many who stood near him and observing all he said and intent to hear more from him could not perceive his departure of which Number David Linsey a Person of known Virtue and approved Reputation was one who told me the same saith Buchanan of a most certain truth or else I would have past it over for a Fable handed down to us by Common Fame But no premonitions from Heaven nor Advises upon Earth could divert the Career of this willfull Prince
pleased over the King 's Natural Subjects but he must mock and deride with the ignorant multitude the Danish Ambassadors also and use them with all the despight imaginable for it seems they knowing his former meanness in Swedeland made no great Court to him which raised his Fury this was quickly perceived by some about the King whom the Earls Practices and Insolence had disobliged and who failed not to let the King know it and for all the Earls Ascendency made him somewhat to decline in Favour which another accident gave a helping hand to for Sir Francis Russell upon some disorders that fell out upon the Borders happening to be slain of the English side Mr. Woton the English Ambassador who stood in competition with the Earl for the King's Favour took occasion to lay the blame upon him alledging that the Laird of Fernihast who was Warden of the Scots Borders had Married the Earl of Arran's Brothers Daughter and that the said Earl had caused the slaughter to be committed that the Borders might break loose Wotton was seconded by others in this complaint so effectually that the Earl was committed prisoner to the Castle of St. Andrews where having remained for a few days he got by the intercession of the Master of Gray whom he won with fair promises to be his Friend It 's strange he should find any who had disobliged every Body leave to retire to his own House and here the King played a Noble prank but whether he used it as Lex talionis for the sham-Ring Arran had put upon Walsingham as aforesaid and which he durst not otherwise punish I am not certain but it looks like his little tricks which notwithstanding he dignified with the name of Kingcraft for when the Earl was upon his journey homeward he sends to him with all possible diligence for to lend him a great Gold Chain which he knew he had got from Sir James Belfour which weighed 57 Crowns to be given to the Danish Ambassadors which if the Earl had refused to do he would it's likely have lost the King and in delivering of it he lost his Chain Arran being thus retired makes several attempts to recover his former station and the King it was observed retained a Favour for him and would have been content to have Himself and Kingdom still Governed by him he was once again admitted to Court but others had stepped in and the King had not power to remove them so that the Earl after long retirement and discontent was surprized at last by James Douglass at Parkhead and slain by him in revenge of the death of the Earl of Morton his Unkle and but little care taken to punish the same many thinking it indeed strange that he should be permitted so long to live who had carried it so arrogantly and insolently towards all Men in the time of his Ascendency at Court but several other Accidents intervened before the Earls Exit The next Man that had the chief Credit and Management of Affairs was Mr. Wotton the English Ambassador but tho' the King begun now to be Governed by a Favourite and a Forreiner under this Character yet it did not end here as you shall hear by and by when the Scene is transplanted into England Wotton knew as well as any Man alive how to humour him in his pleasures and such familiar access had he at all times to his Person that he attempted to have brought in the banished Lords whose Interest he had espoused not without the direction to be sure of the English Court secretly into his presence in the Parish of Sterling at such a time as they should have so many Friends at Court that he must have remained once more at their Devotion but all things did not so concur as to put this Enterprize in practice so it was laid aside and Mr. Wotton essayed a Second but more desperate attempt which was to Kidnap Jemmy out of the foresaid Park into England see Sir James Melvill but Sir Robert Melvill coming to a timeous Knowledge hereof took measures to prevent it which made the English Ambassador withdraw home without bidding of them once a good night the Lords for all this enter the Borders being assisted by the Lords Hamilton Maxwel Hume and several others and advance to the number of Three thousand Men towards Sterling entring the Town without any opposition where they were no sooner arrived but there appear'd two Factions with the King in the Castle the one favouring the Lords whose part the King took as if he had really desired the Lords should have come thither in this manner to tear his Minions from his Heart and so once more the King is in their Power which they exercised with great moderation only a few were committed for the present to the custody of some Noblemen and so a Parliament was called as the best expedient to heal all their breaches Things continued in some sort of Concord for a little while and the Convicting and Beheading of the Queen his Mother in England seemed to possess all their Minds with amazement at the Fact for the present tho' I do not find he did at all resent it but this was no sooner over but there appears a new Faction at Court headed by the Earl of Huntley whose aim was at the removing of the Master of Gray and Maitland the Chancellor with their Adherents but finding it was not so easily to be effected Huntley Bothwell and others contrived to seize the King's Person and to keep him in their custody but this proving Abortive the noise of the Spanish Invasion which was dreaded in Scotland as well as in England seemed to lay all Animosâ—tâ—es aside for the present but this blowing over the King's Thoughts seemed to be taken all up about Marrying the Sister of the King of Denmark was the Lady proposed and Queen Elizabeth consulted with thereupon who disswaded him therefrom and said she had Interest with the King and Princess of Navarr and that she would imploy the same for effectuating of a Marriage between him and the said Princess but the King was bent upon the former and because he found the Chancellor and some others oppose it he could not or would not be seen openly to controul them but dealt secretly with some of the Deacons of the Craftsmen of Edenburg to form a Mutiny against the Chancellor and some of the Council threat'ning to kill them in case the Marriage with the Daughter of Denmark were hindred or any longer delayed whereupon the Earl of Marshal was sent thither with Power to Treat about the said Marriage but withal in so stinted and limited a degree contrived by the Craft of the Chancellor and his Faction that he was necessitated to send the Lord Dinguall back from thence to desire either liberty to return hence or to have sufficient Power to conclude the Treaty when he came he hapned to find the King at Aberdeen without the Chancellor c so
an entire disappointment of his hopes that way and they to be so beaten as they were never before nor after by the English Fleet. Oliver Cromwel sometime after assuming the Supream Power by the Title of Protector he and Mazarine grew so gracious one with another that France began now to be too hot to hold King Charles so as he was necessitated to retire thence to the Elector of Cologn and afterwards into the Spanish Netherlands where he ordered the English Scots and Irish in those parts which amounted to between four and five thousand Men to joyn the Spaniards to attempt the relief of Dunkirk then besieged by the French and English But herein he was as fatal in his Arms as he had been all along before for the Spanish Army were utterly routed and this defeat broke his whole design so that he never after made use of Arms to recover his Inheritance but retired to Bruges where he stay'd to see the event of things The death of Oliver Cromwell together with the many changes of Government that happened thereupon in England gave new life to his hope and made him go in person to the Pyrenaean Treaty to promote his Interest from whence he returned through France to Bruxells But coming to understand that Sir George Booth and the Cheshire Men were supprest by Lambert it did not a little damp his hopes and made him return again to Bruxells from about St. Maio's where he privately lay in readiness to take Shipping for England upon the first good event of Sir George and others undertakings for him But his Crown was not to be recovered by War how then came he to be restored A grand step towards it was the Rump Parliament's Jealousie of Monk and his Jealousie of them again But what contributed most to it was the unsetled state of the Nation under the many Vicissitudes of Government that had been introduced since the death of the King his Father which made the People very uneasie and long for a Settlement upon any terms and therefore the Convention when they met in order to it on April 25. 1660. did hand overhead without any Preliminaries of asserting the Rights and Liberties of the English so manifestly violated by his Father and Grandfather restore him without any contradiction which did not a little contribute to the succeeding uneasiness of his Reign as well as the Nations trouble But restored he was as aforesaid and on May 25. following Landed at Dover and was received every where with utmost Demonstrations of Joy About October following came over the Queen-Mother seemingly to Treat about a Marriage between Mounsieur of France and her fair Daughter Henrietta Maria But it 's like the Marriage between the King and the Infanta of Portugal was no less designed which was after Consummated and wherein he was as unhappy in respect to Procreation by her as he was fruitful in what ground soever else he sowed his seed which he was Prodigal enough of But there was yet somewhat else of far more dangerous consequence to poor England and more dishonourable to the King that brought the Queen-Mother over and that was the Sale of Dunkirk to the French whose Agent she was in that fine spot of work If the King's Arms whilst an Exile in conjunction with the Spaniards were so unsuccessful in the relief of Dunkirk then Besieged by the joint force of English and French he was much more unhappy in the Sale of it afterward for 400000 l. whereof one moiety was detained for the Portion of Henrietta Maria his Sister and not to the Spaniards who were kind to him in his adverse Fortunes and had most right to it but to the French who had done all they could by their Embassador Bourdeux to hinder his Restoration and on whose side the Ballance then lay which it had been his business to have kept even as his Predecessors the Kings of England were wont to do and particularly Henry 8. and Queen Elizabeth This action I think was us unparallel'd as any can be found in our English Annals It was indeed a Charge against Mary Queen of Scots that she would have transferred her Right of Succession to the English Crown to the then King of Spain Philip 2. but that if true was giving away what was not in her power to dispose of and much such another Donation as that of the Pope's to the Emperor Charles of the Kingdom of Mexico tho with a different fate to both Nations but here was neither Donation force nor any visible necessity but a voluntary act in King Charles to the inestimable damage of England as has been but too sensibly felt to this very day You must note that the gazing World stood a little while amazed at the strange Revolution in England by the King 's easie and pacifick Restoration and with what transports of Joy he was received by the Nation then in a most Warlike posture and as much dreaded by our Neighbours and particularly by the French who had formed designs for an Universal Monarchy But now they were put to a stand to see what such a mighty power and apparently lasting Settlement in England would produce yet finding at length that here all thoughts of Military glory and extention of Dominion seemed wholly to be laid aside and all the severity of the preceding times daily degenerate to the Luxuries of an Effeminate Reign they began to reassume their former design and to prosecute the foundation Cardinal Richlieu had laid for them But that they might make sure work on 't and see that they made a true judgment of the English affairs they resolved to try such an Experiment as would throughly decide the matter and what must that be but overtures for the buying of Dunkirk which succeeding as aforesaid according to their wishes raised their hopes higher than ever of attaining their ends And because they knew well enough that the English were a powerful People by Sea and that while they retained the Soveraignty of it it would be a hard rub in their way they joyn their strength with the Dutch to dispute the Dominion of it with us but the Dutch were as unfortunate in their Allyance in the first Dutch War as the English were in the second when they joyned with them against the Dutch for excepting the time that the English Fleet was divided in the first War and that base business of burning the Ships at Chatham so much to the King and Nations dishonour the Dutch came by the worst of it in all the rest of the Engagements and it was much the same luck the English had by their Conjunction in the second War the French both times standing aloof as looking on and no doubt laughing in their sleeves to see the two most Potent Nations in the World by Sea weaken and destroy one anothe whilst they in the mean time not only saved their own stake but learned how to fight and doubted not but in time
the Worlds take of him are likely never to wear out Things are now brought to that pass that I cannot rely upon the Enemies word nor they upon mine and I should be still in fear that they would violate their agreements with me supposing I would never keep faith with them any longer than I esteemed it for my conveniency I know it will be a fruitless thing for me to make protestations that what happened last year in reference to the violation of the Capitulation of the Cities in the Palatinate came to pass without my approbation or privity that excuse will be imputed to Folly or Treachery unless I could publickly put to death the Authors of that infidelity which the evil Counsellors about my Father will not permit for fear both the crime and the punishment should fall upon themselves These are generous Sentiments my Lord which if well cultivated may perhaps prove useful to himself and to the confederated Enemies of France at this time and I can think them no other than the remains of such as were infused into him by the good old Duke his Governour who stuck not once to tell his Father upon the account of his Cruelty to his Protestant Subjects That it became not a King to be a Bigot I shall confine my self now and always to a bare transmission of what I shall judge worthy your knowledge leaving the application wholly to your Lordship without I have other commands from you which I do not know how to receive in my ticklish circumstances at present but such when known to me as I shall always obey to the utmost of my power as far as I find them safe and consistent with your Honour and so I remain My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and Entirely devoted Serv. Versailles May 30. 1689. N. S. LETTER III. Of the Declaration of War made by France against the Crown of Spain after she had endeavoured in vain to keep the Spaniards neutral My Lord YOur Lordship may perhaps call to mind what I formerly transmitted to you out of our Minutes concerning the efforts made by this Crown to induce the Spaniards to a Neutrality in the War formed by France against the Republick of Holland and her then Confederates And I am now to acquaint you there have been the like and greater efforts made to keep that same Crown from falling into the present Conjunction of the Allies against her though both the attempts have failed of the desired success It s true the Spaniards thought fit to temporize the latter end of the last Year and the beginning of this till they found the Revolution in England accomplished and the Government reduced to a settled form and then they made no bones openly to testify their Aversion to France and her interest as well as good-will to the Confederates at the same time by such Acts as gave evident signs both of the one and the other And your Lordship cannot think how greatly mortified this Court is at the News they have lately received of my Lord Stafford King James his Embassadors being dismist by the King of Spain and that they would no longer own his Character It has occasion'd much discourse here and People daily vend their Sentiments upon it as they are variously affected towards the parties concerned and among other things I cannot forbear mentioning one passage which though perhaps already known to your Lordship yet give me leave to please my self since I have nothing more momentous to transmit with a short relation of it It seems upon the late King James his Accession to the Throne the Spanish Embassador Don Ronquillo took upon himself to advise him not to suffer himself to be guided by Friars and Monks the King for answer told him That the Kings of Spain were wont to do it The Embassador replied again I know it Sir but that is our misfortune Therefore your Majesty ought to take warning by our Example and not to dash your self against that Rock and surely if he had taken up with this Counsel he might have been still in great security upon his Throne and his Embassador in the highest esteem in Spain But to return the foremention'd prevarications in the Court of Spain as they are pleased to denominate them here has at length produc'd a Declaration of War against Spain which has been dispatch'd by a Trumpeter to the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and the substance whereof is here subjoined That the unfeigned desire his most Christian Majesty had to observe the Truce concluded on in the Year 1684. had caused him to take no notice of the demeanor of the Spanish Ministers in the Courts of all the European Princes where they had made it their whole business to animate the several Princes to take up Arms against France That His Majesty is not ignorant of the share they have had in the Negotiation of the League made at Ausburg That he is also well acquainted with what share the Governour of the Spanish Neatherlands has lately had in the Prince of Orange his Enterprize against the Kingdom of England But that yet not being inclinable to believe that what was transacted by him was done by his Catholick Majesty's Command his most Christian Majesty was in good hopes to have perswaded his Catholick Majesty to have concurred with him for the effectual Restoration of the lawful King of England and the preservation of the Catholick Religion against the Protestant League that was formed or at leastwise to have observed an exact Neutrality To which purpose he had made several proposals that seemed to have been well received so long as the success of the Prince of Orange continued doubtful but that when it came to be once known at Madrid that the King of England had left his Dominions that then nothing was meditated upon but a War against France That his Christian Majesty was moreover further informed that the Spanish Embassador in England paid dayly visits to the Prince of Orange and was very importunate with him to declare War against the Kingdom of France That the Governour of the Spanish Low Countries was raising Men with utmost diligence and had promised the States General to joyn their Forces in the beginning of the Campaign and laboured with the Prince of Orange to send numbers of Men into Flanders Of all which procedures he had informed his Catholick Majesty and offered him a sincere continuation of the Truce provided he would give no succour to his Majesty's Enemies But now finding after all that his Catholick Majesty was resolved to favour the Usurper of England whose Agents had received considerable Summs both at Cadiz and Madrid His Majesty therefore to prevent the Evil intentions of his Catholick Majesty has resolved to declare War against him both by Sea and Land c. Your Lordship cannot but discern by the whole purport of this Declaration where the shoe must Pinch and nothing is more manifest then that the successful enterprizes of
new Fortifications to each Place as he thinks necessary with an Assurance that no Money shall be wanting to that end Besides which Care of their Frontiers the Guards are ordered to be augmented with Ten Men in each Troop and such Care taken that they shall be the choicest Men of France Over and above this I am well assured that besides 20000 Recruits that are to be raised for the old Regiments there will be new Commissions very speedily issued out for a new Levy of 30000 Men Horse Foot and Dragoons And if the Power at Sea will be as formidable as some give out I am not without a strong Jealousie of some Attempt projected to be made against England it self though the French-Men have come off with so many Broken Bones in Ireland But of this I can say very little that is certain at present but I desire your Lordship to rest assured that no Endeavours shall be wanting to give you an Account also of their Marine Affairs in him who is proud to serve you and who am and always will be My Lord Your Honour 's most Humble and Obedient Servant Paris Nov. 19. 1691. N. S. POSTSCRIPT I had almost forgot to acquaint your Lordship that whatever Sentiments you may have in England of the Affairs of Savoy and the Siege of Montmelian they seem here so certain of reducing it as if it were already in their Hands LETTER XXIV Of King James's Declaration in the year 1692. and his Invitations to the English Nobility to come into France to be present at his Queen's Delivery c. My Lord I Have since my last to your Lordship been under so many Visicitudes of Fortune and among other Afflictions been visited with so long and severe a fit of Sickness that I cannot but perswade my self that your Honour has long ere now concluded me either Dead or turned Runagade and abandoned your Service the thoughts of which later hath afflicted me in a very sensible manner and doth now incite me with considerable hazzard to attempt the undeceiving of you hereby in that particular and withall to communicate what I have very lately learnt by the means of a Friend great at St. Germans of the posture of things in relation to England I hope you are not without considerable apprehensions of danger from hence and so have made timous preparations to ward off the blow and whatever the designs may be on your side its most certain that there have been positive resolutions taken to make a Descent upon the English Coast with a formidable power very speedily and the late King is resolved to be at the head of the Enterprize To that end I am assured all the Irish Troops and other French Forces which will be joined with them and which will make up a Body of Fifteen Thousand Men are to hold themselves ready to march upon the first notice towards the Coast of Normandy where they are to Rendevouz and where the late King designs to be with them with all the privacy imaginable and all this under a pretence of Guarding the Coasts against the insults of the English There are several Transport Ships already got together for this Expedition and the French Fleet under Monsieur Tourville is in a great forwardness and will be very formidable I am fully satisfyed though I can give your Lordship no particulars I am told also there is a Manifesto or Declaration a contriving and designed to be Published when things are ripe for it importing the late King's Resolutions to attempt the recovery of his Crown with what forces of his own Subjects he has with him in conjunction with as few Auxiliary Troops as may be that the English may take no Umbrage thereat Shewing the justness of his Cause the great reason his People have to receive him that they cannot be happy till his re-establishment promising mighty things for the Nation in respect to the settlement of Religion and grandeur of the English Monarchy and also a general Amnesty to all those that shall return quickly to their Duty excepting a few whose Names I could not yet learn I do not question my Lord but there has been much discourse in England concerning the late Queen's Pregnancy I can give no manner of account of it any otherwise than that the reality of it is not doubted here and that I am told it has been projected to direct a Letter to all the English Nobility to invite them to come into France and be present at the Delivery which is thought will be in less than two Months according to custom and to alledge they may do it with the greatest safety in regard the French King will give his Royal Word they shall return without Let or Molestation so soon as the said Queen shall be Delivered But as I do not expect to see your Lordship here on this occasion so I hope you may be very useful to keep our Countrymen that are on this side here still and disappoint their designs which none is more desirous of than My Lord Your Humble Servant St. Germains March â—1 1692. N. S. LETTER XXV The French Artifices to raise a mistrust in England of the Officers of the English Fleet in 1692. My Lord I do not question but your Lordship by this time is fully convinced of the intended Invasion as I hinted in my last And it may be you have already felt the effects in some measure of the evil Seeds that are sown amongst you by those that are in this Courts Interest in order to divide and make you jealous of one another in this ticklish juncture If your Lordship will give me leave to put in my sentiment hereupon I say were I to advise the Government and I have good grounds for what I say I would have it hold a watchful Eye over the affairs and motions of the Officers of the Fleet for there have been measures concerted to raise a mistrust and suspicion of the fidelity of the said Naval Officers and for ought I know are by this time near begun to be put in Execution They would have it here believed that several of them have a design to favour the late King's Descent and that others are disaffected and not hearty in the service Such a belief in England must be very pernicious if not fatal at present especially if once the Officers be so far imposed upon as to fear being discharged of their Imployments which apprehension seems to be the main design of England's Enemies to propagate But I must be abrupt as I have been short and beg your Lordship's Pardon who am in hast My Lord Your Humble Servant Paris April 17. 1692. N. S. LETTER XXVI Of the French magnifying their power at Sea after the fight in May 1692. c. and of the late Queen Mary's being brought to Bed at St. Germans of a Daughter My Lord THO' there is nothing more grievous to both Courts here than the late defeat of the French Fleet
every part of it Some time elapsed before this dreadful news of the Prince's death came to the Ears of the King none adventuring to be the sad Messenger unto him of that which almost all knew off but when he was advertised of it and had also some secret intimations given him his Brother had had a deep if not the sole hand in it for none durst accuse so great a Man openly he grew very sad and melancholy thereupon and the rather in that he had not power to take Vengeance upon him for the perpetrating of so barbarous a deed and for doing him so unretrievable an injury However to make some semblance of Kingly Authority he sends for the Duke his Brother to come to him at leastwise to expostulate with him about the fact The Duke who knew the purport of the message as well as himself frames a fair and specious story to excuse himself as tho he were as innocent of the fact as the Child Unborn And for a farther proof of it urges his care to seek out the Perpetrators of that horrid deed and that he had now at length made so far a progress in the matter that he did not doubt but if the King would be pleased to come to Edenburgh he should be able to bring in all the Offenders The King who was then at a place called Bute where for the most part he ever resided tho he was very unfit to travel upon many accounts and especially by reason of a tedious fit of sickness he had laboured under yet so great and eager a desire he had to see his Son's death punished that he made a hard shift to get in a Chariot into Edenburgh When he was come thither the Governour convenes the Council and orders the parties accused to be brought before them the King himself being also present The Accusers as the Duke who was rather the guilty person had before contrived it stoutly charge them with the fact The King after he had imprecated Vengeance from Heaven and the most dreadful Curses upon them and their Posterity who had perpetrated so horrid an act being over-prest with sorrow and infirfirmity of Body returns to Bute from whence he came The Duke that he might colour the matter as much as might be brings the supposed Criminals to their Tryals and by corrupt Judges such as the Duke had provided for that purpose were Condemned as guilty of his Murder whom in all their life time they had never seen Tho this matter waâ— managed on the part of the Governor with all the Fineness and Address imaginable yet the King was not so satisfied in his Mind but that he retain'd still a great suspition of the Duke's having an Hand in his Sonâ—s Death But forasmuch as he well knew that the Duke had all the Kingdom of Scotland under his Obeisance partly by Policy and partly by virtue of his Office of Governour he durst not shew his resentment nor attempt to call him to an account for it but was rather afraid on the other hand lest having ambitious Desires to possess himself of the Crown he would also make it his Business to procure the death of his second Son James and by that means take off the only Rub in his way The King I say being thus sollicitous in Mind about securing that to his Posterity which his unnatural Brother was intent to deprive them of consults with Walter Wardlaw Arch-bishop of St. Andrews about his Son's Security After serious deliberation they at last conclude it was no ways safe for Prince James to remain in Scotland and therefore he resolved to send him over into France to Charles the VI. an old Allie and real Friend to the Scotish Nation knowing he could no where be more safely and liberally educated than there But considering the uncertain vicissitude of Humane things and that no Precautions for his future Security might be wanting the King delivers his Son a Letter written to the King of England in his Behalf if it should be his hard Fortune to fall into the Hands of the English The King in pursuance to the said Resolution orders all things to be got in a readiness for his Passage and appointed Henry Sinclear Earl of Orkney to take care for the safe Conveyance of him They took Shipping at the Bass and so shear'd their Course for the French Shoar but when they were got as far as Flamborough-Head they were as some say taken by the English who had heard of their sailing and laid in wait to intercept them But others write that the Prince finding himself extreamly Sea-sick and not able to endure it desired he might be put on Shoar there and so was taken into Custody and carry'd up to the English Court but however it happened taken he was in the ninth Year of his Age Anno 1406. Henry IV. was then King of England to whose Presence when the Prince was come he deliver'd him his Father's Letter which because of the rarity of it as being written in the Scotish Dialect of those times we have thought fit to insert and is as followeth Robert King of Scots to Henry King of England Greeting THY great Magnificence Humility and Justice are right patent to us by thy Governance of thy last Army in Scotland howbeit sike things had been uncertein to us afore for tho' thou seemed as Enemie with most awful Incursions in our Realme Èœit we found mair Humanities and Plaisures than Damage by thy cumming to our Subdities speciallie to yame that receivit thy noble Fader the Duke of Longcastle the time of his Exile in Scotland we may not câ—is your fare while we are on life but I yl layf and loif thee us maist noble and woarthy Prince to joys thy Realme for yocht Realmes and Nations contend among themself for Conâ—uests of Glory and Launds Èœit na accasioun is amang us to invade other Realmes or Lieges with Injuries but erar to contend amang our self â—uhay shall perseue other with maist humanitee and kindness As to us we will meis all occasion of battell quare any occurres at thy pleasure Farther bycause we have no lesse sollicitude in preserving our Children fra certein deidley Enemies than had some time thy noble Fader we are constreined 〈◊〉 seek Support at uncowth Princes Handâ— Howbeit the invasioun of Enemies is sa great that small defense oâ—urres against yame â—ithaut they be preserved by Amitie of nobill Men. For the World is sa full of perversit malice that na crueltie nor offence may be devisit in erd bot the samme may be wroucht be motion of gold or silver Heirfore because we knaw thy Hyness full of Monie nobill Vertueâ— with sike Puissance and Riches that na Prince in our daies may be compared thairto we desire thy Humanity and Support at this time We traist it is not unknowen to thy Majesty how our eldest Son David is slain miserablie in Prisoun by our Brother the Duke of Albanie quhome we
was as implacable towards him as the rest of them cunningly discusses that rash and evil Counsel arguing with him what a base and flagitious offence all the world would look upon it to be if he should without due Process of Law suddenly hale to execution so many Illustrious Persons to whom he was reconciled as having given his Royal Word for pardoning of what was past and that not long since and now secur'd with the Publick Faith for the fierce and enraged minds of Enemies would not be broken with the ruine of a few and coming once to despair of Pardon they would turn their wrath into fury and the consequence of that would be that they would grow more stobborn and obstinate and less value the King's Authority and their own lives and if your Highness will take my Counsel continued the Earl Iâ—ll put you in a way whereby to salve the King's Honour and Dignity and that revenge may at the same time be prosecuted For I having gathered my Friends and Tenants together will openly and in the day time lay hold of them and then you may try them where you will and punish them as you please and this will be not only more Honourable but also more safe for the King than if they should be killed at unawares in the Night as it were by Thiefs The King believing the Earl spoke what he thought for he knew well enough that he was able to perform what he promised he gave him many thanks for his advise and dismissed him laden with large Promises of Reward The Earl having warned the Peers to take care of their safety and to withdraw from the imminent danger that hung over their Heads does himself also retire to a place of safety The King from hence forwards finding his secret Counsels laid open and not daring to trust any body betook himself to the Castle of Edenburg and from thence being conveyed by Sea to the Countries beyond the Forth which still were obedient to him did in a short time levy a good Army And now the Nobility who before designed nothing but that the King should amend in his male administration finding all accommodation with him desperate and his evil disposition incurable bend all their Counsels to remove him A bad Steward its most certain he had been and now they are resolved to call him to a severe account for the same The great difficulty that stood in their way and which they were deliberating to remove was whom they should appoint to be their Captain who when the King were brought to a compliance might be constituted Vicegerent of the Kingdom It was adjudged highly necessary it should be a person that was pleasing to the Commonallity of an Illustrious Name That the Faction might not be opprest and weakned out of an envy to his Greatness and at last after they had thought of one and another they pitched unanimously upon the King 's own Son the Prince of Scotland who being taken from his Keepers and Governours of his tender years was urged to a speedy compliance for if otherwise they were resolved to transfer the Kingdom into the hands of the King of England who would take care to root out him and his Family for the better security of it Now the King had past over the Forth and pitched his Tents at a place called Blackness and the Sons Army ready prepared to give Battle were not a far off But by the mediation of the Earl of Athol the King's Uncle things were at present brought to an accommodation and Athol himself was delivered as an Hostage to Adam Hepborn Earl of Bothwell in whose custody he remained till the K. death which now was not far off But the agreement as being between such as had an incurable jealousie of one another did not last long In the mean time Couriers and Mediators past continually from one to another at last the Lords gave determinate answer That seeing the King acted nothing sincerely with an intention to perform they adjudged it better to be engaged in a certain War than a delusive and treacherous Peace That the only hopes of agreement was if the King would Abdicate the Throne and have his Son advanced in his room if not it would be to no purpose for them to try and frustrate one another with Conferences The King not to be wanting to himself in this desperate Fortune orders his Embassadors in England and France to communicate this answer to those Kings whom he earnestly sollicites to make use of their Authority or if need were their Forces too in his behalf for the repressing of the insolence of a few Rebels and reduce them to Reason and their Duty and to esteem his Fortune common with their to own and such as might by the Contagion thereof easily creep to other Nations He sent also to Eugenius IIII. Pope of Rome to intreat him out of his Paternal care and love to the Scotish Name and Nation to send a Legate into Scotland to enforce the Rebells according to the Authority of his Holiness's Power and Jurisdiction to lay down their Arms and obey their King The Pope having one Adrian Castlean for his Legate in England a Man of great Learning and Prudence he Writes to him to use his endeavour to compose the Scotch Affairs and bring them to a settlement But this came a day after the fare for the Lords who knew well enough that these proceedings of the King abroad were in agitation and withall that his mind was implacable towards them resolved before he should have an opportunity to augment the number of his Forces to try it out by Arms and though they had the Kings Son with them as well to manifest their Authority to the Common People as to shew that they were not angry with or had no quarrel against their Country but a pernicious King who would have ruined them yet least the minds of the people should be alienated by the cunning or forreign Ambassadors and other accidents that attend procrastination they were busied night and day how to commit all to the hazard of a Battle But the Kings timerousness was an obstacle to their eagerness and hast who because he had ordered considerable Levies to be made for the augmentation of the Troops he had on foot already in the northern parts of the Kingdom did in the mean time keep himself close within the Castle of Edenburg But that he might precipitate his fate he was brought by his Followers whether designedly or ignorantly is uncertain to forsake this wholsome Counsel which he looked upon to be safest for him for they perswaded him that by reason of the frequent tides there which might cause delay and danger to them that were about to meet together it were more adviseable he should go to Sterling Castle the best situated place of any for gathering of Forces together out of all parts of the Kingdom That he would be as safe there as in Edenburg Castle
at Night and that â—xet Morning was designed for sports and Pastimes they went speedily to Bed in the meanâ—time Gun-powder was placed in the Room below to blow up the House and all other things were craftily and cautiously transacted yet in a small matter they left a Tract whereby to be discovered For the Bed in which the Queen used sometimes â—o lye was taken away and a worse put in the room of it as if tho' they were prodigal enough of their Credit yet they would spare a little Money but before the Queen had left the King one Paris a French-man and a Partizan in the Conspiracy entred into the King's Bed-chamber and there stood still yet so that the Queen might see him and that was the Sign agreed on betwixt them that all things now were in a readiness The Queen as soon as she saw Paris as if Sebastin's Marriage had come into her Mind she began to blame her self that she had been so negligent as not to Dance that Night at the Wedding as it was agreed on and to put the Bride to Bed as the manner is whereupon she presently started up and went home to her Palace whither when she came she had a pretty deal of Discourse with Bothwell who being at length dismist went into his Chamber changed his Cloaths put on Soldiers Habit and with a few in his Company passed through the Guards into the Town two other Parties of the Conspirators came several ways to the appointed place and a few of them entred into the King's Bed-Chamber of which they had the Keys as I said before and whilst he was fast asleep they took him by the Throat and Strangled him and one also of his Servants who lay near him When they were Slain they carryed their Bodies through a little Gate which they had made on purpose in the Walls of the City into a Garden near at hand and then they set Fire to the Gun-powder which blew up the House from the very Foundation and made such a Noise that it shook some of the Adjacent Houses yea those that were fast asleep in the farthest part of the City were awakned and frightned at the Noise when the Horrid Fact was done Bothwell was let out by the Ruins of the City Walls and so returned to the Palace through the Guard by another way then that he came this was the common report of the King's Death which held for some Days and which you 'll find a fuller Confirmation of in due place The Queen had sat up that Night to wait for the Event and hearing the Tumult called together those of the Nobility who were at Court and Bothwell amongst the rest and by their advice sent out to know what was the matter as if he had been ignorant of all that was done some went to inspect the King's Body which had only a Linnen Shirt on the Upper-part of it the rest lay naked and his other Cloaths and Shoes lay near him the Common People also in great Multitudes came to see him and many conjectures there were upon it yet they all agreed sorely against Bothwell's Mind that he could never be thrown out of the House by the force of the Gun-powder for there was no part broken bruised black or blue about his Body which in a Ruin by Gun powder must needs be besides his Cloaths lying near him were no ways â—â—â—dged with the Flames or covered with any Ashes so that it was impossible it could have been thrown thither by any Casualty but must be placed there on purpose by some Bodies Hands so Bothwell returned again and as if he had been in great admiration brought the News to the Queen of the sad Disaster whereupon she went to Bed and lay secure soundly Sleeping a great part of the next Morning Sir James Melvil says he himself came that same Morning to the Door of the Queens Chamber where he met the Earl of Bothwell who told him her Majesty was sorrowful and quiet a likely matter which had occasioned him to come forth and also added that the strangest Accident had fallen out that ever was heard on for Thunder had come out of the Sky and had burnt the King's House and himself was found dead lying at a little distance from the House under a Tree then desired Sir Jamâ—s to go to see his Body and said there was not any hurt nor a mark on all of it but when Sir James had been up to see him he had been taken up into a particular Room and kept by one Alexander Durham so as that he could not get a sight of him In the mean time the Paâ—ricides to add Villany to Villany did spread Reports abroad and which were carryed by Day-light to the very borders of England that the King was Murdered by the Design of the Earls of Murray and Morton yet every body thought privately with themselves that the Queen mâ—st needs be the Author of the Murder neither was the Bishop of St. Andrews free from suspicion for there were shrew'd Conjectures against him as the high and cruel enmities between the Families that he was never well reconciled to the Queen before she hatch'd that Wickedness in her Mind and that of late when he accompanyed her to Glascow he was made acquainted with the utmost of her Projects And Men's suspicion were encreased of him because at that time he had retired to his Brother's House the Earl of Arran which was nigh to the House where the King was Slain whereas before he always used to live at some eminent part of the City where he might conveniently receive Visits and curry favour with the People by Feasting them and besides Lights were seen in his House and a Watch all that same Night from the upper part of the City and when the Designed Powder Clap was given then it was observed the Lights were put out and his Vassals many of whom watched in their Arms were forbidden to go out of Doors But the true Story of the Matter of Fact which broke out after some Months gave occasion to People to look upon those things as certain Indications which before were but suspicions only When the Murder was committed the Conspirators as before hinted presently dispatch'd Messengers into England who were to report that the King was cruelly Murdered by his own Subjects especially by the Contrivance of the Earls of Murray and Morton and the News did so enflame the English to a Hatred of the whole Scotch Nation that for some Days no Scotch Man durst walk the Streets without running the Risque of his Life and tho' many Letters past to and fro that made some Discovery of the Secret Contrivance of the Design yet the People would hardly be appeased In the mean time the King's Body was left for a time as a Spectacle to be gaz'd on and a great concourse of People continually flock'd to see it the Queen having ordered that it should be laid upon a Form
Heart to dishonour the King's Mother or how could you answer afterward for what you were doing seeing it tended to hazard the King her Sons Right to England intending to bring his Mothers Honesty in question it had been rather the Duty of you her Subjects to cover her Imperfections if she had any remitting to God and Time to punish and put order thereto who is the only Judge over Princes Lidingtown shewing his Innocence and Desire to have the accusation supprest the Duke asked if the Regent could keep secret and being thereof assured by Lidingtown he took occasion next day to enter into a Conference with the Regent and after some preliminary Discourse spoke to him to this effect That he would be very faithful to the Queen his Mistress as long as she lived but that she was too careless what might come after her about the Peace and Welfare of her Country tho' it was the Interest of the Kingdom of England to take greater notice thereof by determining the Succession to prevent Troubles that otherwise might ensue that tho' they had divers times essay'd to do something therein at every Parliament yet their Queen had evidenced great discontent thereat shewing thereby that she cared not what Blood was shed after her for the Right and Title of the English Crown which consisted only in the Person of the Queen and King of Scotland her Son which had been put out of doubt ere now if matters had not fallen out so unhappily at home and yet he and other Noblemen of England as Fathers of their Country were minded to be careful thereof watching their opportunity but that they wondred what could move him to come there and accuse their Queen for albeit she had done or suffered harm to be done to the King her Husband yet there was respect to be had to the Prince her Son upon whom he and many in England had fixed their Eyes as Mr. Mâ—lvill who had been late Ambassador there could testifie he therefore wished that the Queen should not be accused nor dishonoured for that to her Sons sake and for respect to the right both had to succeed to the Crown of of England and further the Duke said I am sent to bear your Accusation but neither will I nor the Queen my Mistress give out any Sentence upon the Accusation and that you may understand the verity of this point more clearly you shall do well the next time that I require you before the Council to give in your Accusation in Writing to demand again my Mistress's Seal and Hand Writing before you shew your Folly that in case you accuse she shall immediately Convict and give out her Sentence according to the proof of the matter otherwise that you will not open the Pack which if her Majesty shall refuse to grant unto you which doubtless she will do then assure your self that my Information is true and take occasion hereupon to stay from further Accusation This Discourse catched the Regent and he promised to comply therewith in every part and so at the next meeting with the Council demanded the foresaid security from the Queen before he would give in his Accusation hereupon they sent Post to Court to know what to do and the Queen's answer was That being a true Princess her Word and Promise would be abundantly sufficient Cecill and Wood the Regents Secretary were amazed at this manner of procedure and therefore it was advised to desire the Lords on both sides to come from York to Court where the Queen was able to give more ready answers and resolves In the mean time the Duke Regent and Lidingtown put their Heads together and agreed That the Regent should by no means consent to accuse the Queen and that the Duke should obtain to him the Queen's Favour with a Confirmation of the Regency and so would go on as sworn Brethren the one to Rule Scotland and the other England c. When the Regent was arrived at Hampton-Court where the Queen then resided he was daily prest to give in his Accusation especially by those about him who thought it strange that he should be so slow until at length they were advertised by one of the Lords of the Queen's â—action of all that had past between the Regent and Duke of Norfolk for the Duke had secretly given the Queen of Scots notice of what he had done she to one of her Confidents who advertised the Earl of Morton of the whole Morton took it very ill that the Regent should engage in any such thing without his knowledge but before either he or his Friends would take upon them to know any thing of the matter they consult together and resolve to get Mr. John Wood to acquaint Cecil with the whole desiring him to press forwards the Accusation wherein of himself he was abundantly eager They left nothing and one for their part to effectuate the same putting the Regent in hopes one while that the Queen would give her Hand and Seal that she would Convict the Queen of Scots if he accused her others of the firmest of them persuaded him that she would ne'er give it under Hand and Seal designing thereby to distract him to see what he would do in case he obtain'd his Desire Mr. Wood said it was fit to carry in all the Writs to the Council and he would keep the Accusation in his Bosom and would not deliver it till the thing demanded of the Queen was first granted The rest of the Regents Lords and Councellors had concluded among themselves that as soon as the Duke of Norfolk as chief of the Council should require the Accusation they would all with one Voice persuade the Regent to give it in Lidingtown and Sir James Melvill prest the Regent to remember his Engagements to the Duke who replied he would do well enough and that it would not come to that length and being accordingly brought before the Council the Duke demanded the Accusation the Regent required assurance from the Queen for the Prosecution in case he gave it in 〈◊〉 to this it was answered as before that the Queen was a true Princess and that her Word was sufficient and all the Council cryed Would he distrust the Queen who had given such proof of her Friendship to Scotland The Regents Council chimed in with them and said the same thing whereupon Cecill â—ed If they had the Accusation there yes says Mr. Wood and with that pluckt it out of his Bosom but I will not deliver it says he till her Majesty's Hand and Seal be delivered to the Regent for what he demands he had no sooner said the Words but the Bishop of Orkney snatch'd the Paper out of his hand saying Let me have it I 'll present it Wood ran after him as if he would have taken him but up gets the Bishop to the Council Board and gives in the Accusation which made the Lord Chamberlain of England cry out Well done Bishop thou art
clear and distinct a View of that Part of the History of this Family which I have taken upon me to Write as possibly I could And so far forth as any Thing contained herein shall redound to the Reader 's Information or Benefit by so much proportionably shall the same be taken by me for more than a Compensation of all my Impended Labour As to what concerns the Pleasurable Part Although History in general be a Study that carries as much Diversion and Agreeableness in it yea and much more if the Judgment of One be allowed who is a passionate Lover of it than any other Science whatsoever Yet it must be confess'd that the very Epithet of Tragical bears a very harsh and ungrateful Sound and such as cannot but offend some and more particularly the Comedy-Admirers of this Age who are not a few as appears by the ordinary Course of the Stage Yet I have taken Care so to attemper my Matter as now and then to intermix some agreeable Passages therewith but yet not without all just Deference to the Law and Truth of History which cannot but suit their Genius also To conclude If any other Cavils shall be raised against me as That I have been any where too Satyrical or given my Pen too much Freedom in exposing Vices or otherwise I shall once for all give in for Answer what a great Princess and a Descendant from Mary Queen of Scots was pleased to say to a Person who would have excited her to resent what a Protestant Author had somewhat severely written concerning the Amours of that Queen viz. That there ought to be a Permission for Men to speak the Truth especially after their Death for that if History did not do Justice to their good and bad Qualities we should find but very few that would be Vertuous LETTER I. The Author revives his Correspondence with his Lordship and intimates his resolves to continue it as time and his circumstances would admit of with some account of the Fears and Terrors the French Papists are in of the Prince of Orange as he is called by them My Lord WHen I had dispatch'd away my last to your Lordship I did not expect a sudden opportunity if at all to revive my correspondence with you the mighty change that hath been wrought in England having quite stopped up the ways of my former Conveyance But revolving frequently with my self that it would be a matter highly grateful to your Lordship to have from time to time some secret information of the Affairs of this Country I have left nothing unessay'd whereby I might be in a capacity to gratify your curiosity and so have now sooner indeed than my own expectations found out a way that I hope though my fears are also very great now and then may effect it which is by though I must also inform your Lordship that there is a more than ordinary care and circumspection used now to keep all Court-Intreagues from taking Air by frequent altering of their Cyphers Entries and other Methods Your Lordship knows best how the face of things appear in England upon so grand a Revolution they put the best Meen they can upon it here and tho' there is a fair shew made at Court of it yet nothing is more certain than that the Kingdom is in a general Consternation of which surprizing marks are to be seen as well in the Lovre as in Paris and the Provinces Some have smiled here and I doubt not of your Lordship and our Friends in England smiling too when I tell you that the French King astonished and not knowing how to believe that the Prince and Princess of Orange have been Crowned in England and proclaimed in Scotland has asked several times a day whether the News was true or no so dreadful to him is that fatal Accident and which has made him dispose of his Armies into all Quarters where there can be any semblance of Danger as if he expected to be attacked every way But all these terrors from without makes the Court abate nothing of their vigorous prosecution of the peaceable remains of the reformed within so that upon the least suspition of any meetings of them they run from all the Neighbouring parts to circumvent them For there being a report lately raised in Perigord that a religious assembly of Hugonots was held at the House of one M. Dupare the alarum Bell was immediately rung and all the Town got together and ran to the House but found no body in it save a few Children But this did not hinder the Neighbouring Villages to take the Allarm who run in heaps to Massacre the Hugonots and Prince of Orange whom they believe to be always at their heels And such Pannick Terrors does the apprehension of him strike into them that about the same time the Preacher of Sarlate was forsaken by all his Auditors upon an imaginary Rumour thought to be spread abroad that the Prince of Orange was at the Gates of Regaudi how desirable would it be that King William and his Confederates might strike the Blow while the Iron is hot But I shall not Dictate but conclude with my hearty wishes that this or any other intelligence I may transfer to your Lordship hereafter may be of any advantage through your Honours Wise Conduct and Management to my Native Country and so remain highly satisfy'd of his opportunity to testify how ready I am at all times to serve and obey You and to subscribe my self My Lord Your Humble and most Devoted Servant Paris May 14. 1689. N. S. LETTER II. Of the Dauphin's Dissatisfaction with his Command of the French Army in Germany and what use might be made of it by the Confederates if dexterously managed My Lord I Do not question but your Lordship is very well acquainted with the present posture of things in reference to the Armies of this Kingdom and that particularly the Dauphine has the Command again this Year of the Army upon the Rhine But what his real sentiments are concerning it your Lordship cannot be thought to know and perhaps but very few others yet it is apparent by the Air and Countenance of this Prince that he does not take the Field with the same Chearfulness as he did last year and something that has lately dropped from him and which I had communicated to me from one about him who knew the truth of it hath something so remarkable in it and by a wise Conduct may be so made use of as to turn to such solid advantage that I do not know any thing at present so worthy to be Communicated to your Lordship Said he I am not so much concerned at the great number of Enemies I have to fight with as the difficulty I labour under how to treat with them for above all things it behâ—ves one that is Successor to a Crown to be true to his Engagements more especially in such a Reign as this is For that the first impressions
day Not that I am able to Name either Person or Place or positive design to your Lordship but sure I am there is a Snake in the Grass and perhaps it will be found some of those from whom was expected most Service and Fidellity will be found to act a counterpart However it be I can assure you that Barillon late Embassador in England from this Crown though he has been forced to quit the Brittish Isle ignominiously enough yet he hath found out a way to leave two if not three Frenchmen of his Train behind to no good end to be sure and I do not question but you will hear more of them without they be secured in time And though it does plainly appear both by the countenance and minutes of this Court that things do not go so trim and glibly with them in England as in former times when they had no more to do than to consult those infallible Oracles the Dutches of Portsmouth and Goodman Peters yet I do not question but it will appear that their Oracles are not quite silenced there I beg your Lordship to pardon this freedom and to entertain a favourable opinion of the sincere intentions of My Lord Your Honours to Serue and Obey Paris June 25. 1689. N. S. LETTER VII A Summary of the Articles concluded on the French King's part for restoring of the Late King James to his lost Dominions My Lord I Can't forbear taking notice to your Lordship tho' I have done it once and again already of the great difficulties I labour under to procure any true and certain intelligence of matters transacted on our side in reference to the Affairs of England And I can as little forbear endeavouring to communicate whatever such intelligence comes into my Hands to your Honour though it be accompanied with such imminent danger as you cannot but be a little sensible off and which I heartily wish none of my Friends may ever have the black apprehensions of how much more your Lordship whom I ever have and shall Love and Honour Wherefore be pleased to receive hereby the heads of those Articles agreed and concluded on the French King's part for the furthering the late King James in the recovery of his abdicated Throne and they are these following First He doth Solemnly promise and engage to assist and promote the late King his dear Brother in his Pretensions with Men Money and all possible force both by Sea and Land and firmly resolves never to lay down his Arms or be at Peace with his Enemies till such time as his said Brother shall be remounted on the English Throne and be peaceable possessor of the same Secondly That till such time as the foresaid Article should be put in full Execution and thoroughly accomplished he hath obliged himself to support him the late King and all his other dependants in his Kingdom of France or elsewhere with all suitable grandeur and dignity Thirdly That he should with utmost expedition and application assist him with a competent number of Forces by Land and a sufficient Navy by Sea towards the reducing under his Obedience the hostile part of the Kingdom of Ireland and not desist till the same were entirely recovered unto him And after that it were so reduced and subjected by their conjoint Arms the late King should be in possession of it till such time as he shall be in full possession of the English Throne but no longer But how to unravel the later Clause of this Article at present is beyond my skill and so I will leave it Fourthly He hath also over and above the preceding Engagements promised to give him all the assistances necessary from time to time both by Sea and Land for the recovery of England and Scotland unto him when he shall arrive in one or either of the said Kingdoms in Person and in the mean time hath engaged to be aiding and assisting to his party in either of the two Nations as time and occasion should serve My Lord I do question but you would be highly satisfyed to have a view of the Stipulations on the late King's part to his Gallick Majesty and I hope your Lordship has Entertained such an Opinion of me as to think my satisfaction can be no less in being able to gratify your Honours Curiosity upon this head which I shall not fail to endeavour to do and heartily wish an accomplishment of in my next who am My Lord With all due Observance Your Honours most Obedient and Devoted Ser. St. Germ. July 31. 1689. N. S. LETTER VIII Articles stipulated on King James's his part for the giving up Ireland c. to the French upon his recovery of England and Scotland My Lord THat your Lordship has safely received my last I have had some intimations of by my friend from I earnestly wish for the like success to this and your speedy receipt of it seeing it hath so luckily fallen out with me that the purport of it contains what I cannot but flatter my self will redound much to your Honours satisfaction I mean the Articles stipulated on the late King's part to the French King of which I gave an hint in my last though I could not then as much as hope with any tollerable confidence of being so soon able to procure them First then The late King hath agreed in consideration of the French King's assistances as mentioned in my last and as soon as he shall be restored and fully resetled in his Dominions and not before that he may not give any umbrage to the English to quit all manner of claim to the Title or Arms of France and take effectual care to put the same out of the Royal English Escutcheon Secondly That he shall entirely quit and resign up the soveraignty of the narrow Seas to the French and that to that purpose he shall give orders to his Ships of War c. to strike to the French Flags Thirdly That he shall be obliged to assist him the French King with thirty Capital Ships of War and Twenty Thousand Land-men in any War when he shall have occasion for them and this at his own proper cost and charges Fourthly That he shall make or enter into no allyance against France nor to any other without the French King's Privity and Consent but unfeignedly observe a perpetual League both Offensive and Defensive with the Crown of France Fifthly That he shall permit unto the French King at all times and occasions the free use of all his Ports for the retreat of his Ships and be obliged to furnish him then and there with proper Conveniences and able Workmen to repair his endamaged Ships or to build new ones when soever he shall require it Sixthly That he shall admit into his standing forces whose number and strength shall from time to time be limitted and regulated by him in concert with the French King a constant Body of Twenty Thousand French and Ten Thousand Catholick Switzers or more or
less of them in proportion to the Troops of his own Subjects and this after his full re-settlement on the Throne And not only so but shall deliver up Dover Castle Plymouth and Portsmouth to be Garrisoned by French Soldiers as cautionary Towns for the security of performance Seventhly That in regard of the Situation of the Irish Ports and their conveniency for the French Fleets as also in consideration of the agreement of the Irish with the People of France in Religion He shall after his full restoration to the English and Scotch Kingdoms be obliged to give Ireland to the French King in full compensation of all the Moneys he has already expended or shall expend further in his Quarrel and for vindicating of his right to his Dominions But that however because of the Scituation of the Islands of Sicily and Sardinia in the Mediteranean for the English Navigation and Trade into the Levant the sly Monsieur hath obliged himself to conquer those Kingdoms for the late King at his own Expence and with his own Arms and to give them up entirely to him in lieu of his Kingdom of Ireland Eighthly That still towards the furthering a stricter Friendship and Allyance between the two Nations of England and France and for perpetuating a mutual amity and sincere Correspondence If in case by the Violent or Natural Death either of King William or Prince George of Denmark or both of them one or both of the Princesses Royal shall become Widdows and that their Persons can be seized That then they shall be convey'd with all expedition and secrecy into France and be put into the French King's Power and shall there be Married Nolens Volens to such Prince or Princes as he shall appoint or think fit for them Ninthly That the Eldest or Surviving Issue of such Marriage shall succeed to the Crowns of Ireland and Scotland and England only to remain to the pretended Prince of Wales with the American Plantations Thus My Lord I have now given you the Stipulations so much desired by you I 'le leave your Lordship to descant and make such use of them as your known Wisdom and Ability shall direct for the good of the King and Country and shall reserve some further things which I cannot conveniently Write now and which relate to this subject to another opportunity and in the mean time I am and ever shall remain My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and Faithful Servant Paris Aug. 19. 1689. N. S. LETTER IX Some Reflections upon King James's League with the French King with an account of some further terms agreed upon between them in relation to the English Protestants in Ireland My Lord THis Court is mighty uppish upon the success of the late King James or I may more truly say their own in Ireland which if totally reduced by their conjoint Arms is to be one day their own as appears by the seventh Article stipulated between the two Kings and of which I gave your Lordship an account in my last And 't is not doubted but the Count d' Avaux hath already taken Livery and seisin of it privately in his Majesty's Name And that it is really so I am not only assured of by the said Articles but the same is more then probable by the great care and exactness that is had at Brest and other Ports of the Ocean to keep an account of all the Cloaths Arms Ammunition and Provisions that are shipped off there for Ireland and which according to some of the accounts stated and transmitted hither somewhat whereof I have had the opportunity to have a slight view of are set down at such extravagant rates as if they designed in a short time not only to ballance the account with him for Ireland but to make him considerably their Debter over and above for the carrying on another Game But they may chance to reckon without their Host in this as well as all the rest I pray God keep King William and his Royal Consort and may she and her Royal Sister be never so unhappy as to fall into the French power as your Lordship sees has been again conserted by the Ninth and last Article If ever it should so happen which God of his Mercy avert and that any such Match or Matches shall come to pass and issue come thereof my Friend hath secretly whispered me That then the pretended Prince of Wales is not like to be long liv'd But I still trust all these towering hopes of our Enemies will evaporate into Smoak and that their designs shall have as little Effect upon the lives and fortunes of our true Princes as their contrivances against the Religion and property of their Subjects shall become abortive and fruitless and whom they have agreed upon to treat in the following manner First That all possessors of Lands in Ireland that are of the Protestant Religion and will not turn Papists shall be bound to sell their Estates at a set price to the French King who shall let them out to the old Irish proprietors at certain Quit-rents and services that shall in a reasonable time reimburse him of the purchase Money Secondly But still to shew their good Nature and Lenity it s agreed that all Protestants that will shall have leave freely to depart with their Effects whither soever they please And lastly That such as will stay shall have liberty of Conscience granted them for the space of Twenty Years till the Country shall be fuller stockt with French Catholicks and other Papists I am well satisfied your Lordship will not think these Machinations a matter of nothing but as a good Patriot which you have shewed your self to be in the most Arbitrary times will stir up your self and honest Countrymen to obviate them seasonably which I as heartily wish as I have little reason to doubt it who am My Lord Your faithful and most Obedient Servant Paris Octo. 27. 1689. N. S. LETTER X. Of King James's Army in Ireland and Duke Schomberg's with Cardinal Bouillon's Motion for a Contribution for the support of the former My Lord THE raising of the Siege of London-derry and the landing of the English Army without interruption in Ireland under Duke Schomherg with other successes and advantages are so far from discouraging this Court in their hopes of a speedy conquest of that Kingdom that they have already in the Cabinet vaunted it to be as good as their own and that perhaps they need not stay for another Campaign to re-establish the late King upon the Throne of England and put themselves in an entire possession of the other Kingdom according to the full extent and meaning of the Stipulated Articles which I have formerly transmitted to your Lordship But because Money here is very hard to come by in such a proportion as to answer those vast Expences they are at to carry on the War upon the Continent which must be got at any rate they have resolved to carry on the Irish
Affairs with two Court-projects which are of that Stamp that for all their boasting makes wise Men have but a poor opinion of the Event For it cannot be thought that any great matters should be done at Rome for the support of the late King though by this Court's contrivance and instigation the Cardinal de Bovillon in a Congregation of Cardinals lately held there propounded they should Tax a voluntary Contribution upon themselves for his supply and that to set a good and laudable example unto others he offered a considerable Summ But by all that I could learn hitherto the motion was not much relished and 't is very likely the Congregation smoak the design that the Cardinal thought that the best way to find the French King his Master Money who undoubtedly cannot but need it and that he that supplies the one King supplies the other And if the first carries so little probability of success with it I am sure your Lordship will say the other has much less and that to make Copper to pass for Silver Coin forbodes a general disatisfaction in the Inhabitants of that Country where that innovation is introduced and cannot be thought to make the soldiery over mertlesome and daring It s almost past belief how much this teagish invention for it will by no means be allowed to be the production of the French refined Policy is ridiculed in every Corner But I shall not presume to detain your Lordship any longer and therefore conclude subscribing my self My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and most devoted Serv. Paris Decm 12. 1689. N. S. LETTER XI Of the Resolutions taken in France to support King James in Ireland and to reinforce his Army with a good body of French Troops c. My Lord AS to what secret and underhand machinations there may be on foot against the Established Government in England or Scotland I cannot perceive this Court have any great share therein otherwise then as the Emissaries of it in Ireland are assistant to the late King to promote and execute his designs and therefore I am in no capacity at present of giving your Lordship any the least intimations of such projections But this is in general your Honour may be fully assured of that there will be no efforts wanting on the part of this Crown both by Sea and Land this Spring to further him in his Pretentions there being all dilligence and expedition used to get both the Convoy and Forces ready which both the one and the other will be found to be more considerable than perhaps you are aware of in England If there be any apprehensions of such a design there my Lord as it becomes his Majesty to take all effectual care for to hinder the further progress of the French Arms in Ireland there is not a whit less care to be used that the contagion do not spread further in Scotland least after all the pretenses these Forces and Squadrons are designed for the lattet and land there when least expected However they seem to demur at present upon the matter and that out of design as 't is whispered to be first fully informed in what forwardness the Prince of Orange as they call him is in his Preparations and how formidable his force is like to be I am heartily sorry my Lord that I cannot penetrate more to the quick to the design of this Court but yet I hope what I have here suggested of the Fruit of my own observation and converse may be of some use to my Country and be a means to propagate your Honours good Opinion of my ready Willingness at all times and to the utmost of my power to serve both it and you who am My Lord Your Lordships very Humble and most devoted Servant Versailles Feb. 5. 1690. N. S. LETTER XII Of Count de Lauzune's going for Ireland and of some secret designs of the French King against some place in the Netherlands My Lord WHat I intimated to your Lordship in my last of the Resolutions of this Court to support the late King's Interest in Ireland doth now daily appear more and more visible by the many men of War that with utmost diligence are fitted up and the Troops that dayly defile towards Brest c. As to the certain number either of the one or the other there can be nothing gathered from common fame and therefore having pryed as narrowly as I could into the Cabinet by the means of I am assured the Landmen will amount at least to the number of Seaven Thousand and the convoy will hardly be less than Forty men of War which according to computation may be ready to sail in a fortnights time But as there is nothing omitted here for keeping up an interest in Ireland and so to divert the King of Englands Army that way there is no less care taken to allarm the Confederates on Flanders side and they talk as if the King had an Eye upon Charleroy or some other of the frontier Towns I could wish Leige were well looked too for however that 't is given out that the Count de Montal has promised the King to make him Master of Charleroy in twelve days time with an Army of Ten Thousand strong provided he can hinder the Confederates from relieving it yet the King's Journey which is whispered will be very sudden and speedy to Campaign gives no small Umbrage to the other which upon the whole is of great concern to the Confederates I am also well assured the Guards of the body have or will shortly have orders to march to the last montioned place near which are a great number of Troops posted which can draw together in a very short time which with my humble duty to your Lordship is all I have at this time to communicate who am My Lord Your Honours to serve and Command whilst Paris Feb. 14. 1690. N. S. LETTER XIII Of the Death of Madam the Dauphiness and an account of the deportment of the French Court thereupon My Lord WHat I writ to your Lordship in my last letter concerning some design upon Leige or Charleroy doth by the sequel now appear to have miscarried and I am desirous to attribute the same to the conduct and watchfulness of the Confederates And though the King after his return to Versailles has publickly declared he will not take the Field this Summer which is interpreted by many to be a tacit Confession of the disappointment of his designs yet your Lordship may be satisfied from me that no diligence is omitted to get ready another Convoy and Reinforcement besides that mentioned in my last which Convoy is not yet returned for Ireland And so intent is this Court upon Business and Diversion that the Death of the Dauphiness hath not discontinued the latter and less necessary of them for above the space of two days which has afforded cause of much discourse and censure already thereupon I shall not trouble your Lordship with a long
of War That the late King whom some have so much cried up for a Lover of Military Glory has no Share therein But his Admirers have found out as they think a very plausible Pretence for his Absence Because it is not known in what Quality he would have appeared in the Field But the Truth is my Lord they have no great Opinion of his Valour and Conduct and he has succeeded so very ill in his own Concerns and Undertakings that they are very much afraid his Presence should infuse some malignant Influence into the French King's Designs And whatever Veneration those now in England of his Interest and from thence denominated according to his Name may have for him there is hardly a Day passes here wherein some Satyrical Piece or other does not appear against him far enough from sparing Personal Reflections But this will make the Confederates in general but small Amends for the Loss of Mons However I could not but once take notice of it to your Lordship desiring you to believe how ready I am to the utmost of my Intelligence My Lord To Serve and Obey you whilst Paris April 18. 1691. N. S. LETTER XX. Of the Raising of the Siege of Coni and of the Death of that Grand Minister of State to the French King the Marquis of Louvois and also of Monsieur Barillon's once the French King's Ambassador in England My Lord THE general Affairs of the War are so publick that your Lordship cannot but come to the Knowledge of such Transactions as fall out from Time to Time as soon as any other in the Kingdom and they are such at this Juncture as sufficiently perplex this Court especially so far as they regard Italy and Savoy in particular from whence they have just received the bad News of the raising the Seige of Coni which is yet but whispered amongst them But your Lordship may so far rely upon my Intelligence in this particular as confidently to report it in England of which News I question not your giving hereby the first Intelligence But though this ill Success is so much the more mortifying to this Court in that they fully reckoned upon the Taking of the Place seeing all others that had hitherto been besieged by their Arms on that side have made little or on Resistance and that they own themselves they have lost before it Eighteen Hundred of the best of their Men Yet another Accident has my Lord this very Day happened here which at present seems more surprizing and a greater Subject of Discourse than the other and that is the Death of our Grand Minister of State the Marquess de Louvois Your Lordship knows what Relation I have stood to him in and what Word I sent you once by Major H if there was a Possibility of his seeing you of my then Circumstances upon the same Foot Things being still much the same I shall not further trouble you with a vain Repetition of what I am now well assured the said Major has reported to your Honour but observe That the Marquess having dined with the Princess d'Espenoy and Madam de Soubize he found himself presently after ill in the King's Chamber from whence he retired into his own to be Let Blood but not finding any Ease by Bleeding in one Arm and being extreamly oppressed in his Spirits nothing would content him but he must needs be Let Blood in the other and thereupon died at the same time These my Lord are the naked Circumstances of this Great Man's Departure and you may relie upon it though I do not question but many may be apt to ascribe his Death to some extraordinary and violent Cause since I have even already heard a Whisper of it in a Corner But whatever Reflections the World may make upon the Causes of his Death I foresee there will be no less Animadversions upon the Train of Consequences that may attend it Perhaps many of the Confederates may be apt to believe that the Death of Monsieur de Louvois may produce such an Alteration of Affairs here as may not a little contribute to the Advantage of theirs since much of the happy Success that has hitherto attended the King's Designs will be ascribed to the Address Cunning and Policy of this Minister and that the French Lilies will wither in another's hands I do very well know that such Suggestions carry a great Appearance of Truth in them But if I may freely deliver my Opinion to your Lordship from my own Observation and Experience I cannot but declare my self contrary to the aforesaid Sentiments which if any Ways relyed on will be found to prove but broken Reeds For believe me my Lord the French King has had a greater Share in the publick Transactions of his Kingdom than any of his Ministers for all the Time I have known France And no one understands his own Affairs and Interests as well as himself to say nothing of the Assistance of so many politick Persons and Men of great Abilities he has constantly about his Person and who serve him with more than ordinary Zeal and Affection which will sufficiently compensate for the Loss of one single Minister Your Honour cannot but be sensible why I observe this at the present Juncture such an Aery Advantage as this is like to prove can bring no solid benefit to my Country but a real Detriment will infallibly succeed a Dependance upon it But the Death of Monsieur Barillon which happened a few Hours before the other and who knew England better than any other French-man may I trust conduce more to the Tranquility of the Kingdom within which none more passionately desires to hear of than My Lord Your ever Obliged and Most Faithful Serv. Versailles July 16. 1691. N. S. LETTER XXI Of Monsieur Pompone's being made Minister of State And of some Particulars relating to a Peace said to be offered by France to the Confederates My Lord WHat I observed to your Lordship in my last how vain the Hopes of the Confederates were like to prove of any good Advantage to their Affairs by the Death of Monsieur de Louvois appears here daily more and more by divers Instances that might be given But I shall only confine my self to inform your Honour that the Advancement of Monsieur Pompone to be Prime Minister of State is a clear Demonstration of the Truth I have advanced as 't is of the King 's great Skill and Judgment also Though indeed it must be owned that this new Favourite enters upon his Ministry in a ticklish Juncture of Time yet for my own part I am fully satisfied Things are not so bad with France as the World would believe them to be and the following Proposals of Peace intended to be or as some say already offered to the Confederates would insinuate of which I communicate to your Lordship a Copy as I have received them from a Friend with some difficulty First That the Most Christian King will acknowledge
King William for Lawful and Rightful King of England c. upon Condition he shall allow to the late King James and his Consort a handsom and competent Subsistence during each of their Lives and the Survivor of them Secondly That towards promoting effectually so good a Work he is willing to restore to His Catholick Majesty of Spain the City of Mons and other Places he has taken from him c. Thirdly That the City and Fortress of Philipsburg shall be restored by him to the Bishop of Spire in the Condition it is now in without any Alteration whatsoever Fourthly That he will entirely quit Strasburg and restore it to its ancient Privileges of a Free and Imperial City Fifthly That he will demolish all the Fortresses he has built along the Rhine for several Years past Sixthly and Lastly That the Duke of Savoy shall be restored to all the Territories he has lost since the War and also receive full Satisfaction for all the Losses sustained therein But my Lord whether any such Offers have been or are like shortly to be offered to the Confederates by this Court I am not fully satisfied but of this I am and desire your Honour to be so too that Things are not yet brought to that Extremity with France whatever some Men may be apt to flatter themselves with as for her to be truly real and sincere in such like Offers Neither indeed do I find it believed here at all and they are much more concerned to break off the Negotiation which is on foot between the Emperor and the Grand Seignior than they have present real Intentions to accommodate their own immediate Affairs and be at Peace with their Neighbours But what Progress they have made to keep their Mahometan Friend in their Alliance I will not take upon me to inform your Lordship with any Certainty I only note that they begin to talk of it here already with very great Assurance as a thing at least three quarters done I am afraid I have been both tedious and impertinent too for which I heartily beg your Lordship to pardon me and to construe all as proceeding from the unfeigned Intentions I have to serve you to the farthest Extent of my Power who am and ever shall remain My Lord Your most Humble and Devoted Servant Paris July 27. 1691. N. S. LETTER XXII Of a Couple of Pamphlets spread up and down Paris One Intituled A Letter from a Burgher of Norinburg to a Deputy of the Dyet at Ratisbonne And the other From my Lord an English Privy-Counsellor to the Earl of P with an Intent to foment Divisions amongst us My Lord TO trouble your Lordship with an Account of the many Forgeries daily published here to the intended Dis-service of the Confederates I hold it none of my Business But there has very lately appeared up and down this City a pair of such singular Pamphlets levelled to the forementioned Purpose that since I cannot possibly inclose them herein without manifestly incurring the Hazard of my Life and your Lordship's Reputation yet I hold my self obliged to give you the Import of them The one is intituled A Letter from a Burgher-master of Norinberg to a nameless Deputy of the Dyet of Ratisbonne and contains in Substance That Germany has no Reason to rejoice at the Progress of the Imperial Arms against the Infidels under a Pretence of Fear lest the Emperor's Power should increase to the prejudice of the Liberty of the German Potentates and other Dependants upon the Empire It does insinuate That as soon as he has Peace with the Turk he will have at least an Army of Fourscore Thousand Men all composed of his own Soldiers which he will not fail to quarter by fair or foul Means upon the Territories of the Electors other Princes of the Empire and the Free Cities And then would slily infuse in the Close a Terrour into the Germans of their being reduced to the same deplorable Condition as they were in the Year 1628. when they had none but the City of Stralsburg c. which yet by the help of the Swede withstood the whole Force of the Emperor Ferdinand II. Your Lordship knows the Story full well I need not relate it as you do how to make a solid Judgment of the Invalidity of these Whimwham Pretensions as well as to refute such Cobweb-Arguments The Second is much of the same Stamp only the Text is taken from the Progress of King William's Arms in Ireland From whence they would foolishly infer as in the former That his growing thus formidable foreboded no Good to the Nations round him to France I believe it does not and that not only England Scotland and Ireland but Holland too and even the Catholick Spanish Low-Countries ought to look about them since it was very manifest he had now formed a Design to reign with an Arbitrary and Despotick Power over all those Countries and more particularly the former of them notwithstanding all Pretensions of vindicating their Rights and restoring to them their lost Liberties and his present allowing to the Parliament seemingly a greater Extent of Authority than they enjoyed in former Times 'T is too impertinent to run through all the vain Repetitions used by them upon this Subject I shall therefore content my self to say in a Word there is a great deal more of the Ribaldry behind to the same purpose and that I 'll trouble your Lordship no longer with it Though I confess I could meet at this time with no better Entertainment for you who am yet proud of the Opportunity to caution my Country against any Snares laid for its Liberty from hence and overturning its Settlement by groundless and unseasonable Jealousies as I am always to acknowledge how much I am My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and Devoted Servant Paris Octob. 12. 1691. N. S. LETTER XXIII Of the great Preparations made in France for the Carrying on the War against the Confederates in the Year 1692. My Lord 'T IS more the profound Respect I have always had and ever shall retain for your Lordship that makes me thus continue my Correspondence than the Weight of any Informations I am able to transmit from hence where things are managed with as much Application as the Contrivances are secret and mysterious I have in a former Letter hinted to your Honour That whatever Appearances there might be made for to dazzle the Eyes of the Confederates yet that Things were not really brought to that pass in France Which appears confirmed to me now Day by Day by the formidable Preparations that are even already made for the approaching Campaign of which let your Lordship be pleased to take such Particulars as I have been able to learn and whose Effects I wish the Confederates may seasonably obviate Our great Engineer here Mon. Vauban is lately gone by a secret Order to view Dinant Rocroy and other Frontier Places on that side where he has Orders to add as many
once more we have attempted it in five rencounters already and fail'd but in the sixth we shall prevail and so having gather'd some Force together he advanced towards Sterling where he gave Edward the II. who was then King of England such a Defeat as Scotland never gave the like to our Nation and so continued War with various Fortune with Edward the III. till at last Age and Leprosie brought him to his Grave But some time before his Death he got the Crown settled upon his Son David then a Child and for want of his having Issue upon Robert Stuart his Sister's Son and this by Act of Parliament and the Nobles sware to it accordingly His Son David of between eight and nine Years old inherited that which he had with so much Difficulty and Danger obtain'd and wisdom kept He was in his Minority govern'd by Thomas Randolf Earl of Murrey whose severity in punishing was no less dreaded than his Valour had been honoured but he soon after dying of Poyson and Edward Baliol the Son of John coming with a Fleet and being strengthned with the assistance of the English and some Robbers the Governor the Earl of Mar was put to the Rout so that Baliol makes himself King and David was glad to retire into France Amidst these Parties Edward the III. backing of Baliol Scotland was pitifully torn and the Bruces in a manner extinguished till Robert Stuart afterward King of Scotland with the Men of Argyle and his own Friends and Family began to renew the claim and brought the Matter into a War again which was carry'd on by Andrew Murray the Governor and afterward by himself so that David after nine Years Exile adventured to return where making frequent Incursions he did at length in the fourth year after his Return march into England and in the Bishoprick of Durham was routed and fled to an obscure Bridge shewed by the Inhabitants to this day where he was taken Prisoner by John Copeland and continued so for the space of eleven Years Soon after his Releasment and Return home he calls a Parliament wherein he enacted several Laws for the punishment of such as had fled from him at the Battle of Durham and more particularly levelling at Robert Stuart as being one of them who had been the Cause of that great Overthrow He got that Act passed in his Father's time whereby the Crown was appointed for want of Issue of his Body lawfully begotten to descend to the said Robert Stuart to be repeal'd and John Southerland Son to Jane his youngest Sister made Heir apparent in his stead and the Nobility swore to the observance of the said Law This made the Earl of Southerland so confident of the matter that he gave almost all his Lands away among his Friends and Acquaintance But alas he was wretchedly mistaken for his Son being afterwards one of those sent as Hostages into England for the security of the payment of King David's Ransom he died there of the Plague and Robert Stuart attain'd the King's Favour again and succeeded as Heir to the Crown being the first of the Name of the Stuarts that ever sway'd a Scepter But things did not go on so smoothly with Robert Stuart upon the Death of Southerland his Competitor first and of King David afterward but that he met with another Rub in his way from William Earl of Dowglas who when the Lords were assembled at Lithguo about the Succession came thither with a great Power and urged he ought to be preferr'd before Stuart as being descended from the Baliols and Cummins But finding at length that his own Friends and particularly the Earls of March and Murray his Brethren with the Lord Erskein who all three were in great power as being Governors one of Dunbritton another of Sterling and the third of Edinburg opposed him he thought it most advisable to desist from his Claim And so Robert Stuart was Crown'd at Scone on Lady-day in the Year 1370. being the 47th Year of his Age. But that Dowglas might be a little soothed up under his present Disappointment and kept from disturbing the common Tranquillity the King bestows Euphemia his eldest Daughter in Marriage upon him Whether it were thro' an advanced Age or Sloth we find he did but little since his Accession to the Crown but his Lieutenants and the English were perpetually in action during the course of his Reign which was according to Buchanan nineteen Years and four and twenty Days And tho' it's true we do not find his Death to have been violent or any ways accelerated by Grief of Heart but natural in an old age having lived seventy-four Years yet surely he laid the Foundation for the many Parricides Fratricides and other dreadful Calamities that befel his Posterity in a very great measure by preferring his Illegitimate Children by Elizabeth Moor his Concubine before those he had lawfully begotten on Euphemia Ross his Wife And the Case was briefly thus At the time of his attaining the Crown the foresaid Euphemia Daughter to Hugh Earl of Ross was his lawful Wife by whom he had two Sons Walter afterward created Earl of Atholl and David Earl of Strathern but before he was married he kept one Elizabeth Mure for so the Scotch write the Name as his Concubine and had by her three Sons John Earl of Carrick Robert Earl of Mentâ—ith and Fife and Alexander Earl of Buchan with several Daughters Now Queen Euphemia departed this Life three Years after her Husband became King who forthwith marry'd Elizabeth Mure his old Paramour either to legitimate the Children he had by her which it seems was the manner in those days or else for old acquaintance her Husband Gifford for you must know he had got her matched to cover her shame dying about the same time as the Queen had done This step drew on another and there was no stoping now but the Children formerly begotten on this Woman in Adultery must have the Crown entailed upon them by Parliament in prejudice to the other two who by any thing that appears in History were finer Gentlemen and fitter as they had a juster Claim to govern then either of these I know the Lord Viscount Tarbert in a late Pamphlet has taken upon him to vindicate the Legitimacy of Moor's Children against all the Authority of the Scotch Historians who lived at or near those times and ever since who could not be ignorant of so material a thing as this and to this end he Cites several Records It 's not my business to answer his allegations but I am sure the Records would never have named John that afterwards succeeded Tanquam haeres if he had been true and undoubted Heir And so I leave any one to judge if the Records do not thereby make much more against his Legitimacy than it does for it But right or wrong the Sluts Will must be gratified and so John succeeds his Father in the Scottish Kingdom but not by the
chesit to be Governor quan we were fallen into decrepit age to our Subdittes and Realme beseekaund thy hieness thairfore to be sa favarable that this Bearer James our second and allanerlie Son may have to liefe under thy Fayth and Justice to be some memory of owr Posterity knuwaund the unstable Condition of mans life sa sodanlie altered Now flurisaund an sodenlie falling to utter consumption Forthir beliefe well quhan Kings and Princes hes na other beild bot in thair owin folkes thair Empireis caduke and fragill for the minds of common People are evir slowaund and mair inconstant than wind Èœit quhen Princes are robarat be amited of othir uncowth Kings thair brathir and neighbowris na adversitie may occure to eject thaim fra thair dignitie viall Forthir gif thy hieness thinke nocht expedient as Gad forbeid to obtemper to thir owr desires Èit we request any thing quhilk was ratisijt in owr last trewes and conditioun of Peace that the supplicatioun made be ony of the two Kings of Ingland and Scotland sall staund in manner of saufe conduct to the Bearer And thus we desire to be observat to this owr allanerlie Sonne and the gracious God conserve thee maist nobill Prince When King Henry had read this Letter he deliberated with his Council what was most expedient for him to do upon this occasion at last considering there were divers English Rebels harbour'd in Scotland he resolved to keep Prince James as his Prisoner but yet in such Honourable State that he could not have met with such Treatment and Advantages of a Princely and Liberal Education in his own native Country The immature and violent Death of Prince David as has been already noted had sunk King Robert's Spirits very low but when the dreadful News of Prince James being made Prisoner in England reached his Ears which was as he sat at Supper he had like to have died in the Arms of the Standers by his Heart was so overpower'd with Grief and Melancholy as to admit of no manner of Consolation exclaiming against his hard Fortune in marrying a Woman of so mean a degree to the disparagment of his Blood as was Queen Annabel by whom he had these Sons which as he took it was the only Cause why Forreign Princes as well as his own Subjects had him thus so much in Contempt So being carried into his Chamber what with wilful Abstinence and violent Sorrow he died in three Days after having reign'd about sixteen Years Anno Dom. 1408. A Man he was of a mighty stature but had not an Heart proportionable to his Bulk as appears manifestly by the Circumstances of his Death which tho' not procur'd by violent Hands yet was sufficiently tragical and herein discover'd himself to be far from the Temper Senecca speaks of Nihil tam acerbum est in quo non aquus animus solâ—tium inveniat The Death of King Robert introduced an Interregnum in Scotland for the space of near Eighteen Years for so long a time was James detain'd a Prisoner in England and there was no way left but to confirm the old Governor in his Station again who held it for the space of fifteen Years longer and at length died a natural Death but 't is strange he should that had been so unnatural to his own Nephew by famishing him to Death and done so many barbarous actions for to clear himself and to palliate his horrid Fact He was succeeded in his Estate and Honours by Mordo his eldest Son who was also chosen Governor of the Kingdom a Man full of Repugnant Vices and so unfit for the management of that high Office he was entrusted with that he was not capable to rule his own Family He had three Sons Walter James and Alexander who abusing the Lenity and Foolish Indulgence of their Father and playing many Outragious Tricâ—s to the Offence and Prejudice of many and one of them at length being displeased with his Father in that he would not give him a Falcon he had for a long time greatly desired he stept unto him and audaciously plucking the Bird from off his Father's Fist wrung his Neck from his Body before his Face whereupon the Father being somewhat enraged with such presumptuous Doings of his Son said Walter for so was his Name seeing it is come to that pass that thou and thy Brothers will not be ruled by my soft and gentle Government I shall ere long bring him home that shall chastise both you and me after another manner and from hence forwards he made it his whole Business to get King James redeem'd from the Hands of the English and to set him on the Throne To this purpose he call'd a Parliament at Perth where it was unanimously agreed to send a solemn Embassie to the King of England to demand the Restitution of their King and to offer Terms for his Releasment James had contracted some Friends in England during his Captivity especially by the means of the Lady Jane Daughter to the Earl of Somerset whom he had taken to Wife so that in a short time the Terms for his Liberty were agreed on and so he sets forwards towards Scotland Where he was no sooner arrived but he was encountred with diverse Complaints against several Persons and especially Walter Stuart the Son of the Governor aforesaid who was sent to Prison in the Bass and in the next Parliament convened at Perth Duke Mordo himself with Alexander another of his Sons were arrested and committed to safe Custody the Duke to Carlaurock and his Dutchess to a place call'd Tantalloun Not long after James Duke Mordo's third Son to hasten the fate of the Stuarts being moved with great Indignation that his Father and Brethren were thus as he conceived unjustly imprison'd came suddenly with a good Band of Men to the Town of Dunbritton sack't and burn the Place killing one Stuart more to wit John sirnamed the Red as Buchanan says and the King's Uncle with two and thirty Persons besides But he was so straitned by the King's Arms and pursued so close that he was forced to flee into Ireland and soon after died there an exile The same Year the King call'd a Parliament at Sterling whereing Mordo with his two Sons Walter and Alexander and Duncan Stuart Earl of Lenox four of them at one clap were convicted of High-Treason and the two Sons the very same day were beheaded in the open place before the Castle and next Morning Duke Mordo and Lenox run the same Fate in the same place It 's a constant Fame saith Buchanan tho' I find it written no where that the King sent the Heads of the Father Husband and Children to Isabella Wife to the said Mordo his Cousin-Germane to try a barbarous Practise whether she who was known to be a fierce Woman would as mostly it happens through excess of Grief discover the Secresie of her Mind upon such an occasion But she notwithstanding all that grievous and unlook'd
for Spectacle did not inordinately break forth into any bitter Words but only said with a calm Temper If the faults were true which have been laid to their Charge the King had done nothing but what is Right and Just unto them As this King's Reign was usher'd in with the foresaid Troubles it continued to be in a ferment upon other Accounts and particularly for the great Pension raised for his Ransom and for raising of other Moneys which tho' the Revenues were exhausted was interpreted Covetousness in him But in the thirteenth and last Year of his Reign a sharp Rencounter happening between Henry Percy and William Dowglas Earl of Angus at a place call'd Piperden in the Kingdom of Scotland James thinking himself injured hereby by the English as the Scotch Historians write but Hall and Graston charge him home with Ungratitude herein raises a great Army and lays Siege to the Castle of Roxborough but when as the Scotch write he had almost brought his Work to Perfection and that the besieged began to capitulate about surrendring of the place the Queen in all haste came to the Camp and acquainted him there was a horrid Conspiracy framed against his Life and conjured him to use all the Precautions imaginable to secure himself The King was surprized with the Message he forthwith raised the Siege and returned home to provide for his better safety tho' all avail'd little But that you may have a clearer Idea of the whole Matter we must a little look back and tell you again that Robert II. had three Sons by his Concubine whom he afterward married and so settled the Crown upon them to the Exclusion of his two legitimate Sons by his Queen Euphemia Ross who were Walter Earl of Athol and David Earl of Strathern Now these two tho' they found themselves injured by such a Preference of an illegitimate Race before them Yet being inferiour both in Years and Wealth they dissembled their Resentment for the present The Death also of the Earl of Strathern weakned their Hands who left one only Daughter behind him who was given in Marriage to Patrick Graham a noble Youth and a most potent and illustrious Family as any in that Age on whom he begat Melisse Graham whose Parents did not long survive And the Child not many Years after being then a Stripling was sent into England among those who were Hostages till the Money for the Kings Ransom were discharg'd and paid But Atholl tho' he were every ways inferior to the opposite Faction yet ever made it his Business to take off his Kindred and did not lay aside his Hopes of recovering the Crown and because he was not capable of doing any thing by open force he craftily sowed Discord among them and so plied the Matter that as has been already in some measure set forth a very numerous Family were reduced to a few for the most part by his Council For many were of Opinion that it it was by his Contrivance that David Duke of Rothsay King Robert's Son was cut off neither had James escap'd his Snares unless he had spent the greatest part of his Life in England far from his reach He would have encouraged the Earl of Fife to seise upon the Kingdom taxing his Brother with Slothfulness and fit to be taken off and when the King having now no Children to succeed him for James was then a Prisoner in England and obnoxious to the Pleasure of his Brother had suddenly died of Grief there was only the Governor now and his Children that impeded his Hopes But when Robert the Governor was dead and his Son John kill'd at the Battle of Vernole in France he re-assumed his former Thoughts with greater Vigour and strain'd all his Wits to compass the same first by getting of King James released and then contriving Duke Mordo's and his Children's Death and since it was almost inconsistent that all these should subsist and be safe together he foresaw that which soever fell of them he was one degree nearer to the Crown Therefore when James was at last return'd to his Country he set all his Engines on work to hasten Mordo's death finds out fit tools to bear Testimony against him and set himself as Judge upon him and his Children and when they also were cut off there was only King James and a young Son of six Years old that stood in the way and when he by a conjuration of the Nobility were once removed the Earl did not doubt but himself who was the only surviving Person of the Royal Stem should be advanced to the Throne Atholl therefore I say being night and day agitated with such Considerations did however keep all his Designs close and secret and thro' a counterfeit Zeal for the King's Welfare made it his Business to cut off his Relations and Friends and more especially to advance his own Estate by the Misfortune and Crimes of other Men and so to lessen his Adversaries In the mean time King James to further his own Misfortune deprived Melisse Graham who we have said was one of the Hostages in England of the Earldom of Strathern alledging it was bestowed on his Grandfather of the maternal side and his Masculine Line and for want of such Issue to revert to the Crown The Misfortune of the young Man induced many to commiserate his Case but made Robert his Guardian almost stark mad and so being more impatient of the Injury offer'd to his Kinsman stuck not to accuse the King openly of unjustice and being cited to appear to make his defence but did not a Sentence of Banishment pass'd against him This did but enrage him more and more and his whole Business seem'd to be to engage others who had been injur'd in their own Persons or Friends to entertain the same Sentiments of the King in respect to his Avarice and Cruelty as he had done but it had been well if he had rested here You have heard before how the King was advertised of a Conspiracy against him at Roxborough and how the King to obviate the same retired home and took up his Lodgings in the Convent of the Dominicans at Perth and what Designs Walter Earl of Atholl had been hatching from time to time Now this Walter the King's Uncle tho' he were Principall Author and Contriver of the Conspiracy yet he did his utmost endeavour to put off all manner of Suspition of it from himself therefore he privily sends for and discourses with Robert Graham afore-mentioned who as being an active bold rash Man and an hater of the King upon account of his own Imprisonment and â—anishment and the Injury done to his Nephew by divesting of him of the Earldom of Strathern he thought to be a Person most fit for his purpose and with him he engaged his own Grandson Robert Stuart a stout hardy Youth who readily engaged in the Work He instructs them what they were to do assured them of his favour when the Fact was perpetrated
Man as the Chancellor and without delay raises Forces and Besieges him in Edenburg Castle He perceiving the danger had no other way left but to send to the Earl of Dowglass for his Assistance Dowglass disdains them both and would not be concerned The Chancellor seeing this agrees with the Governor and he was still to keep the Castle and his Chancellorship Not long after died Dowglass and was succeeded by his Son William who kept a greater port and retinue than his Father But things could not hold long in this State for the Chancellor disdaining that the Governor should take the whole Administration upon him leaves him and the King at Sterling where he then was and repairs to Edenburg and there imploys all his Wits how he might recover the King from the Governor and after he had well thought of it he rides one morning with four and twenty Men in his Company to the Park of Sterling where he knew the King was a Hunting and that the Governor was absent at Perth He found the King with a very small retinue and saluted him very dutifully and finding him in some surprize at the Company he exhorted him in a few words as the time would permit to be of good cheer and fear nothing that they were come to deliver him from his Captivity that he might be no longer under the Government of another but take the Administration into his own hands and much to the same purpose All which the King received with a pleasant aspect either because the motion pleased him as desirous to Rule or to dissemble the fear he had of the Chancellor and so went with him to Edenburg The Governor upon his return was horribly surprized at the News but being now unable to remedy the matter by the means of friends he and the Chancellor came to an Accommodation again and the result was that the Governor should still continue in his Office and the King remain in the keeping of the Chancellor as at first So that the freedom before tendred to him and with which he seem'd to be well pleas'd was now but a meer illusion being as much a Captive as ever And if the King was no better for this Agreement It proved fatal to the Earl of Dowglass Both Governor and Chancellor dreading his power now conbine together to ruine him and to that End a Parliament must be called where several Complaints were made against Dowglass and his followers But they two perswade the Parliament to send for the Earl in a friendly manner and not as a delinquent to take his place in that Assembly And by the Governors contrivance Honourable Letters were directed to him in the Name of them all full of soothing expressions intimating his own Person was so far from being in any danger by such his attendance in Parliament that if any of his Friends or Family had chanced to be guilty of any disorders all should be frankly remitted This bait took the young Gentleman and so with his Brother David and an handsom retinue sets forward for Edenburg the Chancellor the better to cloak the Treachery rode out many miles from Edenburg to meet him Caressed and Entertained him splendidly on the way at the Castle of Creichton and to blind him the more there in the most friendly and tender manner in the World began to advise the Earl in what concerned his Duty towards his Prince and the Honour and Glory of his Family and this showed him on to Edenburg tho' things could not be carried on so coverlly between the Governor and Chancellor in the management of this intrigue but that some of the Earls Friends began to smell a Rat and advised him not to go to Edenburg But finding him quite averse to Counsel and void of all suspicion they urged him to send his Brother David back to the End he might not hazard the whole Family under the fortune of one stroke as his Father had before admonished him upon his Death-Bed But all in vain and so to Edenburg Castle they came where the Governor meets him and Carressed him highly and because he should now think his Entertainment every ways suitable to the semblance made of it all along he was set to Dine at the King's Table but latet Angus in herba the Earl before he hâ—d well half Din'd was strangely surprized with the sight of a Bulls Head set before him which in those Days was a certain sign of Death whereat being about to rise from the Table he and his Brother David were immediately seized by Armed men set there for that purpose carried into the Court yard and there forthwith beheaded It was said the King in whose presence this was done and who now was entring into years of Maturity and Discretion lamented his Death bitterly for which the Chancellor severely rebuked him but however it was in this case it 's most certain he afterwards most barbarously murdered one of this Earls Successors with his own hands as you 'l see by and by This Earl of Dowglass was Succeeded in his Estate and Honours by his Unkle James Dowglass Baron of Abercorn who is Succeeded by his Son William who to prevent the division of the Inheritance Married the only Sister of the last William Beheaded who was Stiled the fair Maid of Gallaway This Earl flourishing in Estate and Honours and finding the King take the Administration of the Government upon himself came to Sterling and in a short time grew into high Favour with him insomuch that through his perswasion the Chancellor and Governor were not only discharged from their Offices but put out of the Council and their Friends banished the Court and themselves Summoned to appear before the King and upon default proclaimed Rebels so that now the Tables are quite turn'd Dowglass Rules all and the King suffers minority under him in his Just Age as he really did under the others during his nonage himself and his Kindred and Friends possessing all places of profit and Preferment in the Kingdom But the Earl having I know not what crochet in his brain must needs go into Italy and a Noble retinue he had with him but leaves his Estate during his absence to be managed by his Brother the Earl of Ormond His back was no sooner turned but his Enemies set all their Engines on work to put him out of the Kings Favour and good Esteem and prevailed so far upon him as to put out an unreasonable Summons requiring the Earl to appear within forty Days or else he should be put to the Horn and so his Lands were seized on to the Kings hands The Earl being advertised hereof returns with all speed and was again received into Favour But happening to go into England without leave this incensed the King highly against him yet upon submission was again reconciled But there was nothing could reconcile him and the Chancellor Creichton envy brought them to make attempts upon each other's life and at last the Earl
was so put to it that he was forced to flee out of Edenburg to save his own life whereupon he enters into a Confederacy with his Friends for his own security which together with some Depredations made in the Lord Ferres Lands by some of the Earls Tenants without redress from him upon Complaint made thereof enraged the King to an high degree against him But sore disorders still increasing through the Earls not punishing of the offenders at last Ferres makes an inroad by way of reprisal into his Lands was taken and by the Earls command was put to Death tho' the King by an Herault commanded the contrary so that upon serious Deliberation the King finding his power unsufficient for curbing him had no other way left than to send to him in a most Courteous manner to come to him who was then in Sterling Castle The Earl apprehensive of some design upon his Person refused without he had an assurance of safe Conduct under the Kings great Seal which being Granted he came and was received with a great semblance of good Will by the King who toâ—k him into a Room by themselves and there after some other Admonitions expostulated with him about the Confederâ—cy he had entred into with the Earl of Crawford and others and would have urged him to forsake the same Alledging it was no ways Honourable for him but hurtfull and tho' he took it very ill at his hands yet he allowed him the Liberty to disâ—null it tho' himself had full power to command it Dowglass was very obsequious in all things 'till this business of the League came in Question whereunto he did not Answer distinctly but would have put it off 'till he had discoursed with his Confederates thereupon neither could he well see at present what could be in that League which could be offensive to the King that he should insist so much upon his breaking of it whereupon the King who it's likely had already determined to commit the perjur'd Fact tho' his flattering Courtiers would have his displeasure only to arise from the Earls present stubborness said if you will not I will break it and without any more ado struck him with his Dagger in his breast those that stood at the Door hearing the bustle rushed in and dispatched him by many wounds His Brethren and Kindred being at first surprized and then exasperated at the horridness of the Fact and the faithless proceedings of the King towards the Earl flew to their Arms and made no less than a Civil War of it which was waged between the King and them with various Fortunes at last the King prevailed which brought great Destruction and Calamity upon that Noble Family of the Dowglasses And then it was that King James began to Reign as the Historian says their greatness having been hitherto a Check upon him But his Civil broils were scarce ended when he was brought to engage in the fatal controversy which happened in England between the Houses of York and Lancaster He at first sided with King Henry VI against Richard Duke of York but afterward faced about Upon the Duke's promise that Cumberland and other Lands should be restored unto him that had been in the possession of his Ancestors if the Duke prevailed and so assisted the Yorkians having therefore raised an Army as he was entering into England he was for a time diverted cunningly by an English Gentleman who took upon him to be the Pope's Nuncio His Speech Habit and Retinue were perfectly Italian and to make the matter more plausible with the Cloak of Religion he had a Monk along with him and so with the Popes Counterfeit Letters they approached to the King and charged him to proceed on no farther and threatned him if he did to curse him For that the Pope to the end the War might be carried on against the Common Enemy of Christianity with greater vigor having now Composed all differences in Europe was set upon Accommodating this matter in Britain That they indeed were sent before to preadmonish him but that another Legate would quickly follow with an Ample power to Compose the Civils Discords in England and to procure satisfaction for the injuries sustained by the Scots This bait took him and so he Disbanded his Army But alas nothing could divert this Prince's now impending Fate for being soon after advertised of the trick put upon him by the foresaid Counterfeit Nuncio he re-assembles his Army and because he could not directly Joyn with York's Forces He marches to the Siege of Roxborough and having quickly master'd the Town lays close Seige to the Castle which made a brave defence The Duke and his Companions having in the mean time prevailed sent to give King James thanks for his Assistance desire him now things were amicably terminated to return home least the English being incensed they should be forced to march against the Scotch Army The King having received the Message asked those that brought it whether the Duke of York and his Friends said any thing in relation to the promises they had made when he came into their Assistance but finding no satisfaction in that point he proceeds with great Fury to assault the Castle and Batters the Walls with Cannon which began then to be much used as they were much dreaded and being very forward and intent upon his work one of his Guns being over-charged burst and a slice thereof struck the King dead to the ground and hurt no other besides himself a strang fatality that brought him to his end when he had lived twenty nine Years and of them Reigned twenty four Anno. 146â— He left three Sons behind him James that Succeeded him Alexander Duke of Albany and John Earl of Mar who were a plague to one another while alive and not one of them died a natural death as we shall shew in its proper place James III. a Minor of seven Years old as his Father before him came to the Crown and at first fell under the Care and Regency of his Mother as did the whole Kingdom a Woman after the decease of her Husband James II. that lead a Scandalous life keeping one Adam Hepborn who was himself a Married Man for her Gallant but death put an end to her Lewdness and Government together about three Years after Then he came into the hands of the Boyds who Ruled the roast for a long time but at last made a fatal Catastrophe he took to Wife Margaret Daughter to the King of Denmark and Norway Anno. 1469. And about this time began to Exercise the Royal power himself He involved himself at first with the Affairs of the Church and not long after became miserably enslaved with the predictions of Astrologers and Witches to which he was strangely addicted and which brought not only destruction upon his kindred but also at last upon himself which we shall now prosecute as they fell out in order He was on a time it seems informed by some
Sycophant or other that his kindred laid in wait for his life and that he was in great danger which agreeing with the sayings of the Witches which he had Consulted and who had told him that the Lyon should be devoured by his Whelps it made very deep impressions upon his suspicions mind and so from a Prince at first very hopefull and of great expeâ—â—ation degenerated to a Monstrous Tyrant So that now these suspicions having once possession of his mind from henceforth he looked upon his neer Relations and almost all the best of the Nobility as his Enemies The Nobility on the other hand finding none preferred by the K. but Men of base degree were not a little disatisfied and began to alienate their Affections from him wherefore they met together upon this occasion to concert measures how they might purge the Court of those abject Fellows and reduce it to its former State of Grandeur The principal of this Assembly were the Kings two Brothers Alexander and John the latter whereof having discoursed of the Irregularities and the present State of that Kingdom somewhat frankly and liberally and with less Caution than the rest he was suddenly taken by night in his own House by the Court Faction and conveyed to a place called Crâ—gmiller and there Imprisoned by the King's order and not long after by the same Courtly Crew was adjudged to Die and Executed accordingly in the Cannon Gate by cutting his Veins and letting him bleed to Death And as they had thus barbarously murdered his Person they proceeded also to murder the Earls fame for they gave out that his Crime was that he had had Secret Consultation with Witches about destroying the King and to put as good a Colour as they could upon this unnatural Act tho' it were by heaping up iniquity upon iniquity they brought several other Witches and Sorcerers to their Tryal for the said Fact and burnt them at Edenburg for the same So that here is one of the three Brothers dispatch'd you 'll here of the rest by and by Alexander the other Brother and Duke of Albany tho he had neither acted nor said any thing that might Justly disgust either the King or Courtiers that were about him yet as he was next of Kin so it seems he was next in danger for these Blood-suckers mistrusting with themselves that they could ne'er be safe as long as he was alive got him suddenly seized and sent Prisoner to Edenburg Castle He was kept close there by such as did believe his power might be Fatal to them and finding there was no way by his Friends for to pacify the Kings displeasure he had nothing to do now but to consider how he might make his escape he had none to communicate his design to or to further him in it but one only Servant of his own that was left to be with him in his Chamber him he sent to get a Ship ready to attend him at the next Part at the time appointed which he does effectually In the mean time his persecutors to Plague him the more with their delusions sent several Messengers from the Court who feigned in the presence of his Keepers for he was not allowed to talk with any privately that the King's Anger began to be pacified and that he might shortly hope for his Liberty but when the day appointed for his escape was come he puts as good a meen as possible he could upon the matter and begins to feign a belief in what the Messengers said in Favour of him and Questioned not but to have a speedy and honourable deliverance And to further the Design treats his Keepers with a splendid Supper and Drinks with them till it was late at night but when they were gone and fast asleep he falls to work and makes a Rope of the Sheets of his Bed long enough as he thought to reach the ground and first for to make a Tryal therof le ts down his Man by it by whole fall he finds it was shorter then it should have been Having therefore lengthened the Rope as much as the present Circumstance would admit he follows his Man who in his descent had broke his Leg takes him up upon his back and carries him about a mile to the Sea-side and having got a Favourable Wind set sail for Dumbarton and from thence having first well secured the Castle he sailed into France The Duke was honourably received in France and Married the Earl of Bologn's Daughter but upon the Death of his Wife who lived not long with him finding Affections cool towards him he goes over into England and was entertained by Edward IIII. then King of England who assisted him with an Army to invade Scotland under the Command of his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester King James makes all the Force he could to oppose them but being Governed by his former Councells the Nobility took it in high disdain and therefore they met together in the Church of Lowder where the King and his Army then were to deliberate what they should do in such a conjuncture Where Archibald Dowglass Earl of Angus takes upon him to set forth the occasion of their meeting which he did in a very pathetick Speech and shew'd at large all the enormities of the King's Reign down to the present time the danger they then stood in from a Foreign Army and therefore exhorts them first to shake of the Domestick Yoke of servitude they were under before they Engaged with the Enemy c. this Oration wrought so effectually upon their minds that they were immediately ready to run in headlong into the Pallace without any Consideration of what they were to do But the principal Men amongst them appeasing the tumult advised that a sufficient number should only enter in without any shew of Commotion and take out the Criminals lead them to Judgment and Punish them according to Law In the mean time while these things were in Agitation comes a Rumour into the Court that the Nobles held a Consultation together before day in the Church the subject whereof was uncertain but that it must be strange that such Men should Assemble together without the King and his Councellors Knowledge The King hereupon being hastily awaken out of his sleep enquires of those about him what he had best to do in the mean time he sends Cockram before to observe what was done and to give him an Account of all with speed he with a few followers goes towards the Church and meets the cheif of the Nobility advancing towards the Court whom they no sooner espied but Dowglass laid hands on him and catching hold of a large Gold Chain he had about his neck squeezed him first a little and then sends him to Prison himself with the rest going directly to the King's Bed-Chamber Where when they came they filled all with Astonishment so as that there seemed to be a little pause upon the matter for the present but it was not
long e're they seized upon the Kings Evil Councellors that were about him and sent them all away save only John Ramsey a very young man that clung to the King and who intreated for him that he might be spared The rest were lead to Judgment and with the loud cries of the Army calling for Justice upon those miscreants were hanged out of the way and such forwardness was shewed to have them dispatched speedily that when they wanted Ropes upon such a sudden occasion every one was ready to offer his Horses Halter or the Reins of his Bridle for that purpose These Wretches were charged with many private injuries and among the more publick ones was their advising the King to Coin base Copper Money which the Common people by way of reproach called Black-Money and that this was the principal cause of the scarcity that was in the Land the want of Trade and many other Calamities too long to be incerted To the Kings charge was laid the unjust death of the Earl of Mar his Brother his advancing of Cockram a Mason to the said Earldom his practising of Magick and resolvedness to destroy his Relations This done they returned to Edenburg and appointed the King himself to be kept in the Castle of the said City by the E. of Atholl and in the mean time they send to the English Army for a Cessation of Arms for three Months The Duke of Albany was honourably received into his Country again and had the Castle of Dunbar with the Earldoms of March and Mar conferred upon him and was withal Proclaimed the Kings Lieutenant General While things were in this state the English take the Castle of Berwick the Town having been surrendred to them before The Duke of Albany making a faint of relieving the same but did nothing At length the Duke accompanied with the Chancellor Archbishop of St. Andrews and others went to Sterling to pay the Queen and Prince a visit they had not been there long when the Queen entering into a secret Conference with the Duke unknown to the rest about the King's Confinement and urging how noble and generous as well as advantagious an act it would be in him to imploy his power for his releasement he consents to the undertaking and so returning to Edenburg besieged the Castle and took it remov'd the Earl of Athol and so sets the King and all his Servants at liberty for which extraordinary favour the King shewed him great tokens of his affections but they were not long-lived for the remembrance of old offences are of greater force in a degenerous and impotent mind than fresh kindnesses And to foment his jealousies he had always those at his Elbow who never ceased to upbraid the Duke to him of affecting too much popularity and to construe the same as an infallible sign of his intentions to snatch at the Crown when ever a fit opportunity presented The Duke who was not ignorant of those jealousies entertained of him and at last finding there was a design formed against him of no less than taking away his Life and that as appeared by poyson withdraws privily into Dunbar Castle And the King as conscious of his evil doings fearing the displeasure of his Nobles hereupon withdraws also into the Castle of Edenburg where the Earls of Angus Buchan and others forsook him and assisted the Duke But the King being haunted still by his Evil Spirits I mean those vile fellows whom he had again placed about his Person he summoned the Duke and his adherents to appear and answer for such treasonable Crimes as he had to lay to their Charge and withall prepared an Army to Besiege Dunbar which the Duke having notice off he flies into England And afterwards being accompanied with the Earl of Dowglass and others was engaged to invade the Marches of his own Country but meeting with ill success and being checked by the King of England for his ill Conduct he grew sullen thereupon and withdrew secretly into France where not long after according to the usual fate of his Family running at Tilts with Lewis Duke of Orleans he was wounded with the splinter of a Spear and thereof Dyed So that here is two of them gone the fate of the third is now approaching with winged hast For the King having once got a Peace with the English and the Castle of Dunbar into his hands which seemed for some time to put a check upon his exorbitance he returns to his old haunts gives himself over not only to be guided by Favourites and mean Persons as before who were his Leeches to drain his Subjects to satiate his covetous desires but to unlawful pleasure with loose Women Among the men Favourites John Ramsey saved as you have heard before by the Kings importunity from an Halter was chief This Man having been advanced to the dignity of Lord Stuard K of the ing's Houshold and endowed with many large demesns became so elated in mind that not being content with that large fortune nothing would serve but he must have an order that none besides himself and his Companions should go armed in those places where the King resided designing by this devise to fortifie himself and his Faction against the Nobility of the Kingdom whom he found to go frequently armed themselves and accompanied with such as were well provided for their defence But this Edict procured him more hatred than it wrought fear in his Enemies In the mean time the King minded nothing as much as to gratifie his mind with the blood of those who were thought to be the Authors of Rebellion And seeing he could not bring about his purposes he endeavours to surprise them by cunning for feigning to be reconciled to one of them after another he entertained them with that gentleness and in so soothing a manner as came below the Dignity of a Prince to do Others of them who excelled in Riches and Power he accumulated with Rewards and Honours making David Lindsey Earl Crawford Duke of Montross and George Earl of Angus he would have frequently in his Company carrying it so by communicating his secret Counsels unto him as if he were throuhgly reconciled But his Rewards and Blandishments had but little effect upon any of them in respect to any opinion his Sincerity for they who knew his disposition doubted not but all that semblance of Goodness and Favour tended to no other end than either to surprise them one after another or to set them at variance one against another which when he had got the chief of Nobility to Edenburg did more clearly appear for having sent for Dowglass to him into the Castle he shewed him what a brave opportunity he now had to be revenged on them for if he did but secure the Heads of the Factions and punish them the rest would be quiet That if he lett his opportunity that presented it self slip he could never afterward hope for such another Dowglass who well knew that the Kings mind
seeing his Enemies were unprepared of all things necessary for a Siege That his Fleet also which he had prepared to be an help to him at all adventures might be at hand This advice did indeed seem to be sound and real and had been safe enough in all probability in the event had it not been that the Governour of the Castle being corrupted by the opposite Faction excluded him from admittance And now all things conspire to his ruin for the Lords were now at his heels that he could not possibly retire to the Castle of Edenburg again and the Forces raised by the Earls of Huntley Errol Athol and diverse other Noblemen who stuck to him and which they said amounted to the number of Forty Thousand Men being not yet come up he would not stay for them and so with those Forces he had with him hazards a Battle The Battle was at first very fierce and the first Wing of the Nobâ—es Army gave way but the Annandalians and their Neighbours who inhabite the Western parts of Scotland press hard upon the Kings Forces and with their huge Spears much longer than their Adversaries quickly broke the King's main Body who finding now it was in vain to stand it and being injured with the fall of his Horse retires to a Mill that was not far off from the place of Battle with a design as was thought to get aboard his Ships which were not far off where being taken with a few more he was slain It 's not fully agreed who killed him but pursued he was to the foresaid place by Patrick Grey Sterling Keiry and a Priest whose name was Borthick and who it was said being asked by the King for a Confessor roughly replied That though he was no good Priest yet he was a good Leech and with that stab'd him to the Heart And here you see how contemptible the Majesty of a Prince is that is sullied with degenerous actions and there was this further ignominy affixed to his Death That it was enacted in the next Sessions of Parliament that he Justly suffered and strictly forbidden that any who had bore Arms against him or thier descendants should be upbraided therewith Young he was being about 35 years when he died and of them had Reigned near Twenty Eight in the year of our Lord 1488. The Son who had headed this Army is now advanced to the Father's Throne and known by the name of James the IV. being then about Sixteen years of Age. Wood who Commanded the Ships before mentioned was with great difficulty brought to submit and did afterward this King great Service who it seems had some remorse for his contributing so much to his Fathers Death for in token thereof he wore continually an Iron Chain about his middle all the days of his life made frequent visits to Religious places c. all which methinks seems to have been put upon him by some crafty Priest tho Historians are silent in that particular but he had hardly been warm in his Throne when those Nobles that were of his Father's Party sent their Emissaries to all the parts of the Kingdom and exhort one another not to endure the present state of things That so many brave Men should not suffer such publick paricides who had murdred one King and kept the other in servitude so proudly to illude them and to charge them with being guilty of High-Treason who fought for the King's defence and safety but that they should arrogate to themselves who were violators of all Divine and Humane Laws the title of being defenders of the Honour and Dignity of the Commonwealth and preservers of their Country in whose hands the King himself was not free as being enforced first to take up Arms against his Father and King and having wickedly slain him to prosecute his Father's Friends and such ns engaged in his defence by an unjust and Cruel War that was intollerable When many things of this nature had been bandyed about amongst the Common People Alexander Forbes to excite in them a greater hatred towards the present Administration caused the dead King 's bloody Shirt to be hung up on a long Pole and exposed publickly at Aberdeen and other places where there was great concourse of People This being as it were a publick Edict to stir up all Men to revenge so foul a Deed. Nay many of them who had engaged with them actually in the slaughter finding that all things did not go as they would have it now joyned with these Malecontents And as things were transacted in these parts about Aberdeen much to the new King's prejudice Matthew Stewart Earl of Levins a popular and potent Man in his Country summons all such as he had influence over this side the Forth to come to him and having raised a good body of Men finding he could not make his way over Sterling Bridge which was guarded by the Royalists he hastens towards a Ford not far from the River-head at the foot of Mount Grampias with a design to joyn with his Friends in those parts Now when John Drummond had notice hereof by Alexander Mac Alpin his Tenant and who had joyned the Enemy and found plainly that all things were so careless and secure in the Enemies Camp that they dispearsed themselves up and down as every one pleased and had no Centry nor Scouts and destitute of all Military Order and Discipline he immediately with the Courtiers and a few Voluntiers he had with him sets upon them un-a-wares and in a manner all asleep which was in too many of them continued by Death the rest unarm'd run back headlong from whence they came and many were made Prisoners but some known Friends and Acquaintance were let go they were severe only upon such as wrote or spoke very contumeliously of the Government and so this storm blew over and not long after a Parliament was called wherein past a general Act of Indemnity so that now nothing was expected here but Halcyon Days but a Storm quickly arose which terribly shook not only this but the Kingdom of England also by one Perkin Warbeck's pretending himself to be Richard Duke of York and second Son to King Edward IV. and so to have an undoubted Right to the Crown of England He came over from France into Scotland and possest this King so far with a belief of his Right and the Justice of his Cause that he not only gave him the Lady Margaret the Earl of Huntley's Daughter for a Wife but also raised an Army to defend his Cause which took up some Years of his Reign little enough to his or the Kingdoms Commodity and Advantage At last a Truce for some Years was agreed on between him and the King of England and the Consequence of that was first orders for Perkin of whom you may read at large in my Lord Bacon's History of Henry VII to depart the Realm of Scotland then a Marriage between King James and the Lady Margaret
long Wound his left Arm almost cut off in two several places could scarce hang to his Shoulder and had been besides shot through several parts of his Body with Arrows and this seems to have the greatest appearance of truth in it tho' what Buchanan and others his Countrymen alledge is not improbable viz. That after the King found the Battle encline to the English without any hopes of retrieving it he passed the Tweed and near Kelso was slain by Humes's followers it remaining uncertain whether it was done by his Command or that these Ruffians thinking to gratify the humour of their Patron were in hopes when the King was once cut off they might transact what villany they pleased impunedly but if he survived they were in great apprehensions of being called to a severe account for their tardiness during the Battle To which they also add other conjectures that the very night after the Battle the Monastery of Kelso was seised by one Carr a confident of Hume and the Abbot chasheered which its likely he durst not have attempted if he had known the King had been alive But these things are so uncertain says Buchanan that when Hume was afterward called to an Account and Tryed for the Fact by the Earl of Murrey the King 's base Son it came to nothing they were not able to prove it upon him but withal adds that Lawrence Faliser a Person of integrity but then a Lad and spectator of of the Action did often affirm to him that he had seen the King on Horse Back pass the Tweed and hence many took occasion to report which lasted many years that the King was alive and would appear in due time after he had pay'd his vow of going to Jerusalem to view the Holy Sepulcre But this savours two much like the legendary Story of Arthur of old and of Charles Duke of Burgundy not many Years before of whom they related such another Tale But to return and take for granted that he died as before noted upon the place of Battle his Body being enclosed in a Sheet of Lead was brought into England and by the Kings Command laid in some bye Vault or Corner without any Funeral rites he saying That it was a due punishment for one who had perjuriously broken his League So that Death it self had not put a Period to his misfortune Tho' otherwise he was a Prince of great perfections both of Body and Mind and endued with most of those Royal Virtues that are necessary for the equal poize of a Scepâ—er which caused that sharp but true saying to drop from the Pen of a learned Author upon him that he perished Non suo sed Stuartorum Fato The loss of James IIII. in this manner seemed to carry with it the most dreadfull presages of Confusion and Misery that ever threatned any Country for he left his Queen Margaret and two Sons behind him the Eldest whereof James V. that succeeded him in the Kingdom being not fully two years old most of the Nobility who bore any thing of Wisdom and Authority before them being slain in the foresaid Battle and the major part of such as survived by reason of their Youth or Incapacity of their mind very unfit to meddle with matters of State especially in so teachy a time as that was And those who were left alive of the better sort who had any thing of Prudence through Ambition and Covetousness abhorring all Counsels tending to Peace and Concord However something must be done for the Publick weal and as the fittest expedient for a settlement a Parliament was convened at Sterling who Proclaimed James V. King and according to the Deseased King's Will The Queen was constituted Regent of the Kingdom so long as she remained a Widdow But she soon after Marrying Archembald Dowglass Earl of Angus a young Gentleman who for Lineage Comliness and other Accomplishments might be ranked amongst the prime Nobility of Scotland lost her Office and Authority and this occasioned a great feud among the Nobility The Dowglassian Party endeavoured to have the Queen continued in the Office Alledging That this was the way to have Peace with England which was not only advantagious but highly necessary for them at that time as matters stood with them But the Humes whereof Alexander Hume Warden of all the Marches and a very Potent Man was head making up the adverse faction under pretence of publick Good and that it was against the old Laws of the Kingdom to have a Woman however otherwise dignifyed to be Regent stiffly opposed the Queen and her Adherents so that at last after they had passionately struggled about the choise either out of wicked Ambition or secret Envy They past by all that were there present and incline to choose John Duke of Albany Son of Alexander of whom we have spoken before Brother of James III. and who lived then in good Repute in France from whence soon after he arrived in Scotland The Duke was ignorant of the old Customs of the Country as having been bred abroad all his Days which John Hepburn a Crafty Knave and one who had contested with Andrew Foreman about the Archbishoprick of St. Andrew's a little before well observing makes it his business to insinuate himself into the Regents Favour under pretence of informing him of the Laws and Manners of the Land but in Truth and Reality that he might advance himself upon the wrack and ruine of others And to this End he tells the Regent there were at that time three Factions in the Kingdom the one headed by Archibald Dowglass Earl of Angus the Queens Husband who was wonderfully Popular and upon the account of his Alliance with England and his own Personal and Hereditary Merits bore a Spirit too big for a private Man Alexander Hume was the next whose Power and Interest was so great that there was a necessity of repressing of him in time Foreman his former Competitor was the third who said he 't was true was not to be feared upon the account of Kindred and Nobleness of descent yet by reason of his great Wealth he would make a great Accession of Strength to what Party soever he inclined But to this last Part the Governor gave little heed as knowing it to be an invidious accusation of Hepburn proceeding from the noted feuds between Foreman and himself But the suspicion of Hume sunk deeper into the Regents mind which the other quickly perceiving he falls in for his own security with the interest of the Queen and her Husband and lamenting the danger the young King might be in if he should fall into the Regents Hands who was next Heir and bent to translate the Kingdom to himself he perswades the Queen to retire with the King to her Brother into England But these Consultations were not so secretly carried on but that the Governor had notice thereof who being an Active Man hastens with all his Forces to Sterling and quickly took the
Castle with the King and Queen in it and so takes the poor King from the Mothers Bosom appointing him to be kept and managed as he pleased Upon which Hume and his Brother William flee into England and the Queen with her Husband soon followed them the Regent was concerned at their departure sets all his Engines at work to procure their return which Dowglass the Queens Husband and the Humes soon after did but Alexander Hume contrary to many large promises being Summoned to appear before the Assembly of Estates refused to come and thinking himself aggrieved encouraged Tories to commit great Outrages in the Neighbourhood for which being like to be called to an Account by an Armed Power he was perswaded to surrender himself so was Committed to the Custody of James Hamilton Earl of Arran his Sisters Husband at Edenburg with a charge that himself should be esteemed a Traytor if he suffered him to escape But Hume perswades Hamilton to make his escape with him and to make a Party so as to enter upon the Government himself he being the next Heir after the former Kings Children in regard he was born of a Sister of James III. and therefore it was more Just he should enjoy the next place to the King then John who its true was the Son of a Brother but born in Exile and in all other things a perfect Foreigner and one that could not as much as speak the Scottish Language With them joyns John Stuart Earl of Lennox with many of his followers but the Earl was soon after reconciled to the Governor and it was not long before Hamilton and Hume returned also to Court and had an amnesty for all that was past Hume and his Brother in a little while after upon some new suspicion the Governor had of them but mostly as 't was thought upon the Calumny of John Hepborn aforsaid their implacable Enemy were Seized Condemned and Executed the people looking on and judging they had hard measure The Regent having brought things into a tolerable state of Settlement Constitutes seaven Deputies whereof the Earl of Angus was one and goes over into France where he staid five years which were full of rapine scuffles and inquietude but I do not find but that the young King continued all this while in the same hands But the Regent finding that in his absence the Dowglasses had mightily prevailed he in order to prevent further seditions sends the Earl of Angus head of that Family into France and another of the name to Rome who died by the way and next Year after his return raised an Army to invade England in Favour of the French But the Nobility opposed his Design and so he was forced to Disband and quickly upon that goes into France again The English Army in the mean time enter Scotland carry all before them and take Jedburg and endeavour by their Navy to intercept the Regent in his return but herein they failed and he with the followers he brought with him from France Compleats another Army actually invades England and Besieged the Castle of Work But finding a vigorous resistance and withal Winter approaching breaks up his Siege The Spring following he calls an Assembly of the Nobles tells them the causes why he must needs go again into France but promised them a speedy return yet he never did For the young King upon Advice from his Mother and most of the Nobility enters upon the Government himself and so vacates the Regents power And now the mystery of iniquity begins to work for tho' the King had assumed the Royal Power yet he and his Kingdom shall be Subject to the Will of others as much and more than before You have heard how Archibald Dowglass had been sent by the Regent into France who hearing of this alteration at home sent one Simon Penning an active Person and one in whom he confided very much to the King of England to perswade him to let him to return home through his Dominions which was granted for it seems King Henry was well enough pleased at the diminution of the Authority of so active a Person as the Duke of Albany and at the change made in Scotland so that the Earl was entertained by him in a very Courteous manner and dismist Honourably But his return did variously affect the minds of the Scots for seeing all the Publick business now transacted by the Conduct of the Queen and the Earl of Arran a great many of the Nobility the head whereof were John Steward Earl of Lennox and Campell Earl of Argyle taking it in very ill part that they were not admitted to any part of the publick Administration received the Earl of Angus with high expressions of Joy as hoping by his aid either to gain over the Power of the adverse faction to themselves or at least to abate their pride On the other hand the Queen who was alienated from her Husband was much concerned at his arrival and sought by all means to undermine him Hamilton also out of the relicts of his own Hatred was none of his Friend besides he feared least Dowglass who he knew would not be content with a second place should mount the saddle and make him truckle under so that he strain'd to maintain his own Dignity and opposed him with all his might They kept themselves therefore within Edenburg Castle and tho' they had seen very well that many of the Nobility affected alterations yet considing in the strength of the place and the Authority of the Kingly Name a sorry defence they thought themselves secure from all force In the mean time the opposite party held a great meeting of the Nobles where they chose three of their own Faction to be Guardians both of King and Kingdom and who should they be but the Earl of Angus John Steward Earl of Lennox and Colen Campell Earl of Argyle And using great Celerity in their business first they passed the Forth and caused James Beaton a shrewd Man to joyn with them who perceiving the strength of the party durst not stand out From thence they went to Sterling and Conferred all publick Offices and imployments upon such as were of their own gang only and afterwards directed their march for Edenburg which they entred without any resistance For it was not Fortifyed at all and immediately fell to work with the Castle about which they cast a small Trench and Besieged it The Defendants who had made no Provision for a Siege surrender'd up both it themselves King and all All were sent away but the King who now had more especially three new Masters before named and who take the whole weight of the Government upon their Shoulders They agreed among themselves that they would manage it by turns each of them attending four Months a piece upon the King who was their prey But this Conjunction was neither hearty nor of long duration Dowglass his turn was first served who brought the King into the Archbishop
aid at hand had set themselves in array at the Bridge of the River Aven which is about a mile from Linlithgow and placed a small Guard upon the Bridge to secure the Pass and drew up the rest of their Forces at the brow of the Hiâ—â— which they knew the Enemy must pass Lennox seeing that this passage over the Bridge was stopped Commanded his Men to pass over a small River a little above by the Nunnery called Manuell and so to beat the Hamiltonians from the Hills before Dowglass's Forces had joyned them The Lennoxians advanced towards the Enemy thorough thick and thin but were much incommoded by the others throwing of Stones down the Hills upon them and when they came to handy strokes the word was given that the Dowglasses were at hand and indeed they from their march ran in hastily into the Fight and soon carried the Day so that Lennox's Men were grievously wounded and put to flight The Victory was used by the Hamiltonians with much cruelty and among the Number of the slain was the Earl of Lennox himself highly lamented by all Persons and more especially by the King himself who now saw no visible hopes of ever retrieving his Liberty and could not choose but see how fatal his presence was to all that attempted it Now the Dowglasses are Lords paramount and carry all before them those that had taken up Arms against their King as they phrased it for fear of a Tryal were forced to compound with them for money or to put themselves into the Clanships of the Hamiltons or themselves and such as refused they utterly ruined yea and the Queen her self thought fit to retire to a place of Secrecy least she should fall into the hands of her Husband whom she hated But fury abating with time and the Dowglasses being severally intent upon other matters and concerns and secure as they thought as to the Kings Departure from them gave him at last an opportunity to gain his Liberty which all the former attempts of his Friends could not effect for him They believed now that his mind was fully Reconciled to them by those Blandishments and Immoderate Pleasures they had indulged him in and besides thought that if he were minded to remove there was no faction strong enough to oppose them neither was there any strong Garrison whither to retire but only to Sterling Castle which was allotted to the Queen for her Habitation And then it was deserted for a time by the Queens Officers when she hid her self for fear of the Dowglasses and when the tumult was a little appeased 't was somewhat Fortified but rather for a shew then any real defence The King having obtained some small relaxation saw that this must be his only refuge and and therefore he deals privately with his Mother to exchange that Castle and the Lands adjoining for other Lands as convenient for her and providing all other requisites as private as he could the Dowglasses not being so intent as formerly in their watch over him he retired by night with a small retinue from Falkland to Sterling whither he soon sent for some of the Nobles to come to him and others hearing the News came of their own accord so that now he seemed sufficiently secured against all force Then he issued out a Proclamation that the Dowglasses should abstain from all the Administration of publick affairs and that none of their Dependants should come within 12 miles of the Court upon pain of Death This Proclamation was quickly seconded with an Assembly of the Nobles at Edenburg where they had such Terms offered them as they would not accept whereupon their Offices were taken from them and themselves Summoned to attend the Parliament at Edenburg But they knowing the danger Endeavoured to seise upon Edenburg and dissolve the Parliament but failed in the attempt So that thâ— Earl of Angus retired to his Castle of Tanâ—allon and the Parliament proceeded in their business and the Earl with his Brothers Relations and intimate Friends were out Lawed They on the other hand being enraged at these proceedings and seeing all hopes of Pardon cut off betook themsâ—lves to open force and Committed all sorts of Outrages upon the Lands of their Enemies and with their Horse advanced many times to the very Gates of Edenburg so that the City was almost besieged by them The King thinking to unroost them all at once raises Forces and lays siege to Tantallon Castle but all that ever he could do could not take it At length the Dowglasses finding the Hamiltons and the rest of their Friends fail them found it necessary to retire for their better safety into England from whence came Ambassadors shortly after about settling a firm Peace between both Kingdoms and with the same labour to procure the Restitution of the Dowglasses King James was mighty desirous to have Tantallon Castle in his Power and at the same time his mind as averse to the Restoration of the Dowglasses and for that reason the matter was convassed too and fro for some Days and no temper of Accommodation could be found out But at length they came to this That Tantallon Castle should be surrendered to K. James a Truce between both Nations for five Years and the other demands in referrence to the Dowglasses he promised to grant under his Signet When the Castle was surrendered according to Composition the King failed of his Royal Word and not one of the Dowglasses were permitted to return which was foul prevarication in him and a stain that will not easily be blotted off his Memory seeing this was a principal matter in the Agreement and the Equivalent for the Castle The Truce about half expired was infringed by a War between both Nations which the French Ambassador endeavoured to compose and about the same time James transacts with the French King and afterward with the Emperor about a Match which was like to endanger his life For the Hamiltons almost confident of the Succession yet looking upon it a long way about to stay either for Fortuitous or Natural dangers to befall him and fearfull in case he married he might have Lawfull Issue of his own studied to hasten his Death by Treachery a fair opportunity was offered them to effect it by his Night-walkings to his Misses having but one or two in Company but however it were they ne'er could put their purpose in Execution The Emperor's offers were rejected and at last he went over himself into France to seek him a Wife and brings over along with him Magdelen Daughter to Francis the French King but she died soon after and had no issue The Death of Magdalen did but whet his desires to get him another Wife and to that End he dispatched Cardinal David Beaton and others into France to treat of a Match between himself and Mary of the House of Guise Widdow to the Duke of Longeville by whom he had two Sons and a Daughter of whom you 'll hear by
and by But before her arrival in Scotland John Forbes a young Gentleman of a great Family was accused of a Design he had many years before to Assassinate the King It was believed to be a malitious prosecution of the Huntley's but Condemned he was and lost his head and a few Days after came on another Tryal which on the account of the Family of the accused Parties the Novelty of it and the heinousness of the punishment was very Lamentable and Tragical and plainly shews the Kings mind was cruel and implacable Joan Dowglass Sister to the Earl of Angus of whom we have said so much and Wife to John Lyons Lord of Glames also her Son and latter Husband Gilespy Campell John Lyons Kinsman to her former Husband and an old Priest were accused for endeavouring to poyson the King All these tho' they lived continually in the Country far from the Court and their Friends and Servants could not be brought to witness any thing against them yet were put on the rack to extort a Confession from them and so were Condemned and shut up in Edenburg Castle Joan Dowglass was burnt alive with great Commiseration of all the Spectators The Nobleness both of her self and Husband did much affect the beholders Besides she was in the vigour of her youth much celebrated for her rare Beauty and in her very punishment she shewed a manlike Fortitude But that which people were more concerned for was that they thought the enmity against her Brother who was banished did her more prejudice then her own objected Crime Her Husband endeavoured to escape out of the Castle of Edenburg but the Rope being too short to let him down to the foot of the Rock brake almost all the bones of his body with the fall and so ended his Days Their Son a young Man and of greater Innocent simplicity then to have the suspicion of such a wickedness justly charged upon him was for all that shut up a Prisoner in the Castle And the accuser of all these William Lyons by name afterwards perceiving that so eminent a Family was like to be utterly ruined by his false Information Repented when it was too late and confessed his offence to the King Yet so bloody was he an instance I think hardly to be parallelled in all the records of time that it did not prevent the Execution of the Condemned or hinder their Estates from being Confiscate and the aforesaid young Gentleman was not discharged from his Imprisonment and Restored to his Inheritance till after the King's Death which is now upon the Wing But as we have given you the Tragical part of his past life in all the Circumstances of them we shall depeint unto you all the concurrent causes of his Tragical and Untimely Death and to that End we are necessitated to recount some few things to you that in order of time precede and you must note That King Henry VIII having upon the account of his Divorce from Queen Katherine Proclaimed himself head of the Church and utterly disclaimed the Pope's Authority in England he thereby contracted great enmity not only from Rome but also from Spain and the Empire Wherefore to strengthen himself against any Combination that he expected to be made against him he was desirous to entertain a strict amity with his Nephew James V. of Scotland and to that End directs Ambassadors to him inviting him to a Conference at York whither Henry offered to come and meet him Alledging That by such an interview matters might be better concerted for the mutual Interest of both Kingdoms K. James after a serious Deliberation returns Answer he would attend his Unkle at the Time and Place appointed who thereupon made very great preparations to Entertain him with utmost solemnity But the Scotch Clergy apprehensive least their King through his Unkles Perswasions and Example might be wrought upon to shake off the Pope's Authority in Scotland as he had done in his own Dominions Resolve to do the utmost of their endeavours to prevent the intended interview and so mustering up all their Forces by themselves and the Kings minions and flatterers acquaint him with the evil Câ—nseâ—uence of his going to England shew how King James I. had been kept Prisoner in England how ill the French their old Confederates and the Emperor would take it at his hands That King Henry was excommunicate that a dangerous Heresy had overspread not only the greatest part of that Kingdom but had infected even the King himself That many of his own Nobility were favourers of the said Heresy which notwithstanding if he took care timously to suppress it would be of mighty advantage to him and he might very much increase his revenue by their Estates a list of whose names they presented to him which he put in his Pocket thinking it a very profitable proposal and therefore with all expedition to be put in Execution The Lord Grang his Treasurer and who secretly favoured the Reformation was then much in his favour and to him the King shews the foresaid List telling him what great advantage he would make of it whereat the Treasurer smiled and withall desired leave to speak his mind freely upon which the King drew his Sword and merily said to him I le kill thee if thou speak against my profit Then the Treasurer began to set before him at large the various troubles of his Reign while in minority and what an hand the Clergy had in all the disorders that he had not been long a free Prince And that though his Majesty had done very much in thâ— time in setling the Highlands and the Borders yet desired him to consider of what a dangerous consequence it might be if his Nobility should get intelligence that some greedy fetches had been insinuated to him under pretence of Heresie to dispoile them of their Lives and Inheritances And thereby endanger his own Estate at the instance of those whose Estates were in danger and who would hazard him and his to save their own I mean continued the Treasurer the Prelates who are afraid least your Majesty according to the Example of the King 's of England and Denmark and other Princes of the Empire should make the like Reformation among them and therefore they are clearly against your having any familiarity with the King of England or to have your Affairs so settled as to give you leisure to look into and reform the abuses of the Church Then he went on and shewed him how the Revenues of the Crown were wasted and the vast Estates of the Clergy their addictedness to the Pope their sly carriage in insinuating themselves into all secrets of State the wisdom of the Venetians in that particular in excluding the whole Levitical Order from their Senate-house the gross abuses of the Church of Rome the scandalous lives of the Scotch Clergy and last of all urged how dishonourable and dangerous it would be to his Majesty not to keep his word with
the King of England who was a valiant Prince and of an high stomach and appeared for the time to have an upright meaning his occasions pressing him thereto And that having but one only Daughter and being himself grown fat and corpulent there were but small hopes of his having any more Children and that therefore it was his undoubted interest to hold a good correspondence with him being his Sisters Son nearest of Blood and ablest to maintain and unite the whole Island of Britain That the detention of King James I. in England was a far different case and desired him to consider what bad success the King his Father had in making War against the K. of England his Brother That that was but too manifestly felt by all the Subjects and that little better was to be looked for if a new and unnecessary War were begun by his refusing to be at the intended meeting at York This Speech was sufficient to convince him had not his Stars inclined him otherwise as his true interest to conform himself to the Will of his Uncle King Henry However for the present he was mightily pleased with it and seemed resolved to follow thâ— Treasurers advice And at his first meeting with the Prelates who â—arried then a very great sway in the Country he could not contain himself any longer when they came to him hoping to find their Plots put in excution But after many sharp words and expostulations that they should advise him to use such cruelty upon so many Noble Men and Barons to the endangering of his own repose he said Wherefore gave my Predecessors so many Lands and Rents to the Kirk was it to maintain Hawks Dogs and Whores for a Company of Idle Priests The K. of England Burns the K. of Denmark Beheads you I shall stick you with this Whinyard And thereupon whips out his Dagger which made them all scour out of his presence with trembling hearts the King declaring himself resolved to keep his promise aforesaid with his Unkle esteeming it now both his Honour and Interest so to do This procedure of the King struck a terrible damp upon the Prelates Spirits who found themselves now in a very desperate state However not to be wanting to themselves and cause they began again to re-assume some Courage and enter upon Consultation how to gain the King back again to their bow and knowing that money was a bait that seldom failed and would be very likely to catch him they make an offer in the first place to pay him yearly out of the Rents of the Church the sum of Fifty Thousand Crowns for the maintenance of some Regular Troops besides the ordinary Subjects which obeyed his Proclamation in case the King of England made War upon Scotland upon the King's failure to keep the appointment at York Yet they concluded that unless the matter was proposed and favourably interpreted to the King by such as had his Ear that would not do the business Wherefore they made very liberal Gifts unto the K. Familiar Servants with an Additional promise to Oliver Sinclar that they would procure him to be advanced to great Honours and made General of the whole Army against England in case King Henry intended to make War against their Nation which they affirmed he neither would nor durst do having already so many Irons in the fire Having laid this project they proceed to put it in Execution and so communicated the same to the Minions of the Court which was cheerfully agreed to by them who by their vile flattery obtained the greatest favour But the chief bait they laid for the King and wrought their Ends by was by alluring of pretty Women to him each striving to be the first that should advertise him whose Daughter such an one was and how she might be obtained But the Treasurers presence whom they feared and knew to be a man of Resolution very much obstructed their Designs wherefore a convenient opportunity was to be attended for in his absence from Court which happened not long after For the King had given the Ward and Marriage of Kelley in the County of Angus to his second Son and he went thither to take possession thereof Thereupon they fall to work make their proposals to the King which were stoutly backed by Oliver Sinclar and such of the Clergy as had best acquaintance at Court and especially at the time when they gratifyed his Lust with mens Wifes and Maidens as before noted and with all this oyling they found him at last pretty plyable and this induced them to lay hold of the opportunity to ruin the Treasurer whom they suspected to be the only Remora of their whole Design And therefore they lay before him how that he was turned Heretick and had always a new Testament in English in his Pocket and besides that through his Majesties favour he was grown so high and so proud that there was no enduring of him but withal so extream covetous that he was the unfitest man alive for that Office and overbold for procuring of the King the Ward of Kelley for his second Son which was worth Twenty Thousand Pounds But to this the King Answered That he looked upon his Treasurer to be a plain honest Gentleman that he loved him so well at that he would give him again the said Ward and Marriage for a Word of his Mouth The Prior of Pittenweem a cunning Fox replies Sir the Heiress of Kelley is a jolly fair Lass and I dare venture my life that if your Majesty will send for her presently he will refuse to send her But the King affirmed still the contrary till at last they procured him to send actually for the young woman and the Prelates and their faction contrived it so that the said Prior of Pittenweem should carry the Letter and Conduct the young woman back to the King But when he came the Treasurer who knew him to be his deadly Enemy refused to deliver her Alledging the said Prior to have been all his days a vile Whore-master having deflowred several Virgins and so thought him unfit for such a charge This was what the Prior wanted and so very Joyfully he returns with the Answer to the King to whom together with his wicked associates he handled the matter with that finess and industry that he rendered the Treasurer very obnoxious to him and far as that he granted a Warrant to commit him into Custody within Edenburg Castle which they forgot not to do as soon as ever he came to Court But the Treasurer suspecting some eviâ— practises against him during his absence thought no way so proper and effectuall for his security as to get with all diligence into the Kings presence which notwithstanding all their Conspiracies he effected and found him at Supper But when he came there the King looked down and would neither speak to him nor know him whereat he was not a little concerned However he would not put the matter up
so but advanced nearer the Kings Person and said Sir What offence have I done who had so much of your Favour when I parted from you with your permission The King Answered Why did you refuse to send me the Maiden whom I wrote for and gave despightfull Language to him I sent for her Sir said he there is none about your Majesty dare avow such a thing to my face As for the Maiden I told the Prior that I was well enough to be the Messenger my self to convey her to your Majesty but thought him an unmeet Person whom I knâ—w to be a lover of Women and the greatest deflowrer of Wives and Maidens in Scotland Then the King said Hast thou then brought the Gentlewoman with thee Yes Sir said he Alas saith the King They have told me so many lies of thee that they have got a Warrant from me to commit thee to Prison but I shall mend it with a contrary Command Then said the Treasurer lamentingly My life or Imprisonment is but a small matter but it breaks my heart that the world should hear of your Majesties facility For he had heard that during his absence they had caused the King to send to England and to give over the designed interview at York The Prelates having gained this point they jog the King forwards to prosecute the reformed and get James Hamilton Bastard Brother to the Earl of Arran and a fit Instrument for their purpose to be Judge in matters of Religion About the same time came into Scotland one James Hamilton Cousin-German to the foresaid James who after long banishment at length got leave to return to his Country for a time to prosecute a Law-Suit he had against the Bastard James But when he found after his Arrival what dangers himself and other true Professors of the Gospel were in he dispatch'd his Son to the K. who was then going over to Fife and having got to him before he was gone on board he acquaints him tremblingly who was by Nature very suspicious that it was a matter of great moment and would prove dangerous to the whole Kingdom unless the King would take care to secure Hamilton and take away his Commission The King who was then hastning to Fife sent the young man to Edenburg to the Lords of the Sessions and ordered James Lermouth James Kinnedy and Thomas Aresky to meet and charged them to give as much heed to what the Messenger should Declare as if he himself were present and sent them a Ring which they knew from off his Finger for a Token These having set their heads together secure James who had just dined and was ready for his Journey in his own House and send him prisoner to the Castle But when they had learned by their spies that the King upon earnest application made to him on his behalf was inclined to discharge him and that besides the danger the publick might be in they themselves had reason to fear least if so Factous and powerfull a man and now provoked by so great an ignominy did come off clear he would be sharply and severely revenged They posted to Court and perswaded the King by laying the nearness of the danger the wicked disposition cruel mind and Wealth of the Man as much as possible they could before him not to discharge him without a Tryal The King therefore going to Edenburg and from thence to Seaton commands him to be tryed for his life and having been Convicted lost his head The Crime laid to his charge was that he had on a certain day determined to break the Doors open and to murder the King and had secret cabals with the Dowglasses that were publick Enemies Strange proceedings those were tho' the Man died in a manner unlamented as being obnoxious to most people and having lead a most wicked Life only the Priesthood were much concerned at his fall as having placed all the hopes of their Fortunes in his Welfare But however he might have been an ill man otherwise by the sequel it was interpreted that the King had done little less then murdered him for from henceforth he was grievously afflicted with turbulent dreams whereof amongst the rest this was one He saw this same James Hamilton rush into his presence with a drawn Sword and first cut off his right Arm and then the left and when he had threatned to return in a short time and cut off his head he vanished The King when he avoke was in a great fright and while he revolved with himself upon the Event of his dream presently comes News to him that both his Sons one at St. Andrews and the other in Sterling were dead almost in the very same moment of time This was black and ominous upon him and now we come to shew you his Exit which was violent as well as the rest that went before him When Henry VIII found himself thus basely disappointed by his Nephew he was not a little incensed thereat and prepared an Army to invade Scotland There were near two years spent with nothing but Incursions on both sides there being neither a certain Peace nor a Just War between them at length the Army under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk drew near to the Marches the Scots encounter the Duke with an Herault to expostulate concerning the Motives of the War and withal dispatched the Ld. Gowrdon with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers The Herault was detained till the Eng. Army came to Berwick to prevent his giving them Intelligence of their strength And in October the Duke entring Scotland continued there ransacking the Country without any opposition till the middle of November by which time King James had Levyed a great Army and was resolved on a Battle The Nobility did all they could to disswade him from it and especially shewed a great unwillingness that he should any way hazzard his own Person the loss of his Father in like manner being fresh in their memories and Scotland too sensible of the Calamities that ensued upon it The K. proving obstinate they detain him by Force being desirous rather to run the risque of his displeasure then of his life This tenderness of him in the Language of rage and indignation he Terms Cowardice and Treachery and threatned when once he should get loose to fight the Enemy with his own Family only The Lord Maxwell seeking to allay him promised with Ten Thousand men only to invade England and with far less then the English forces to divert the War The K. seems to consent hereto and being offended with the rest of the Nobility he gives the Lord Sinclair a private Commission which was not to be opened till such time as they came to give Battle wherein he made him General of the whole Army Sinclair having decryed Five Hundred English Horse Commanded by Sir Thomas Wharton and Sir William Musgrave on the adjacent Hills he breaks his Commission open and Commanded it to be publickly read
before the Army which so distasted all of them and especially the Lord Maxwell that all things were presently in a Confusion and the Army ready to disband The opportunity of an adjoining Hill gave the English a full prospect into their Army and invited them to make advantage thereof and so they fell upon the Scots with a furious charge quickly routed them slew a great number of them and took abundance of prisoners among whom Sinclair their General made one The News of this defeat was no sooner brought to the King who was not far off but he fell into a great rage and fury which terminated in sadness and heavy grief of heart as Robert II. his great Ancestor did upon the taking of his Son James by the English and this brought him to watch and be abstemious disdaining to eat his Victuals And coming to understand that the Country was full of murmurings that the Kingdom should be thus endangered for the Prelates pleasure and knowing withal that such Complaints were Just and True this made him burst out with some threatning and revengeful language against such as had given him such bad advice and so hastned his untimely Death For those evil Councellors had no sooner understood what he said but they considered the danger they might be in if he should survive and fearing the Effects of his displeasure they poisoned him having learnt the Art in Italy called an Italian Posit in the Three and Thirtieth year of his Age and two and Thirtieth of his Reign See Melvill's Memoirs Cardinal Beaton who t is supposed had a great hand in his Death counterfeited his will wherein himself and three more were appointed Governors of the Kingdom He left one only Daughter Mary that Succeeded him in his Kingdom and Misfortunes and was at her Fathers Death but eight Days old He never saw her and 't was said when he was informed of her Birth it did rather aggravate his sorrow then exhilarate his mind as foreseeing Scotland would one way or other fall under the Government of the English Nation The King cut thus off in the flower of his Age the tumults of the former times were rather hushed up then composed so that Wise men foresaw such a tempest impending over Scotland as they had neither ever heard before in the ancient records of time nor had themselves seen the like For what from private animosities and dissension upon the score of Religion and from a War from aboard with a puissant King now enraged with the Scots prevaricating with him there was reasonably to be hoped for little less then an utter desolation However something must be done and the Cardinal according to his Develish subornation takes the Administration into his hands but James Hamilton Earl of Arran being presumptive Heir to the Crown and his friends as well as many others disdaining to be under the bondage of a Mercenary Priest they encouraged him to assume the Regency which the return of the Prisoners taken in the last Battle by the English who were released by the King of England with the hopes and upon promise of procuring their young Queen to be married to Prince Edward and thereby to have the two Crowns United did not a little promote so that the Cardinals forgery being in a little time detected he was casheered and his Kinsman Arran substituted in his room Not long after came Sir Ralph Sadler Ambassador from King Henry into Scotland to treat about the foresaid Match but the Cardinal and his faction raise forty colourable pretences to affront him and elude his Message and to fortify themselves as much as might be sent for Mathew Stuart Earl of Lennox out of France by whose Interest they thought to ballance that of the Hamiltons But soon after his arrival finding the Regent and Cardinal had joined Interests and that himself was eluded in respect to the promise made him of Marrying the Queen Dowager and having the chief management of affairs and withal mis-representing his proceeding to the French King he has recourse to Arms But not finding himself to have Force sufficient to cope with the Regent with the additional Interest of the Queen and Cardinal he makes some sort of Accommodation with them But at last experimenting there was but little sincerity in all their Actions and that himself was opprest and in danger of his life every moment he made some faint resistance and in the end withdrew into England where he was Honourably received by the King who besides his other respects gave him Margaret Dowglass in Marriage who was Sister by the Mother side to James V. last King of Scotland begot by the Earl of Angus upon Margaret Sister to Henry VIII from which Marriage sprâ—ng Henry Stuart Lord Darnley Husband to Mary Queen of Scots and Father to James VI. of Scotland and I. of England of whom more here after The King of England in the mean time being highly affronted with the Scots violating of their faith with him in respect to the Marriage resolves to call them to a severe account for their perfidity and to that End invades their Country with a puissant Army commits great ravages and even Pillaged and Burnt Edenburg it self and then retreated The Scots with the assistance of the French whose Alliance they had preferred before that of the King of England endeavoured to retrieve the loss by the Invasion of the English Bordirs but made little of the matter So â—hat things for a time seemed to hang in â—uspence between both Nations and the Cardinal with his cut-throat Ecclesiasticks had leasure to prosecute those that espouesd the Reformation and because the Civil power would not meddle with the matter they take the whole into their own hands And among others put to Death one George Wiseheart burning him for an Heretick and who when the Governor who stood by exhorted him to be of good cheer and ask Pardon of God for his offences He replied This flame occasions trouble in deed to my body but it hath in no wise broken my spirit but he who now proudly looks down upon me from yonder lofty place pointing to the Cardinal shall e're long be as ignominiously thrown down as now he proudly â—ies at his ease Which strangely came to pass and which because of the Tragicalness of the Story we think will not be impertinent to insert in this place The Cardinal being on a time at St. Andrew's and having appointed a day for the Nobility and especially those whose Estates lay nearest the Sea to Meet and Consult what was fit to be done for the common safety for their Coasts were severely threatned by the great Naval preparations of the English made against them He determined for the more effectual Execution of his Design to take a strict view of all the Sea-Coasts to Fortify all Convenient Places and to put Garrisons into them Among the rest of the Noble Men Sons who came into the Cardinal Norman Lesley Son to the
Earl of Rothes was one This same Person had done great and eminent Services for the Cardinal but on a time there fell out a dispute concerning a private business which enstranged them a while one from another but Norman upon great promises made to him quitted his right in the matter contested for But coming after some months to demand the performance of what was promised him They fell from plain discourse to hot words and afterwards to down-right railing uttering such reproachfull words to one another as became neither of them and so they parted in great rage from one another The Cardinal fancying that he was not treated with that deference due to his Eminency and Norman full of Wrath and Fury as being Circumvented by fraud so that he returned home with thoughts bent upon revenge and openly among his Friends inveyed against the intollerable Pride of the Cardinal insomuch that they agreed to take away his Life And that the matter might pass with the least suspicion Norman with five only in his Company came to St. Andrew's and took up his usual Inn that his intentious might be concealed by reason of the paucity of his followers But there were ten more in the Town Privy to the Conspiracy who all in several places expected the Signal to fall on The Days were then very long as being in the Month of May and the Cardinal was Fortifying the Castle for his Defence for fear of any surprize in such great haste that the workmen continued at work almost Night and Day So that when the Porter early in the morning opened the Gates to let in the workmen Norman had placed two of his Men in ambush in an adjacent House with orders to seize the Porter And when they had by so doing made themselves Masters of the Gate They were to give the Signal to the rest By this means they all entered the Castle without any noise and dispatched four of their number to watch the Cardinal's Door that no Tydings might be carried in to him others were appointed to go to the Chambers of the rest of the household to call them up for they knew well enough both the Men and the Place them they roused up half awake and calling them by their Names threatned them severely to kill them without any more ado if they made but the least Out-cry so that they lead them all out of the Castle in great silence without doing them the least harm And now all the rest being put out they alone remained Mastâ—rs of the Castle Whereupon those that were posted at the Cardinal's Door knock'd at it and being asked by those within what their Names were they told them and then were admitted Having as have some written given their words that they would hurt no body But when they once got in they dispatched the Cardinal with many wounds In the mean time the Rumor run about the Town That the Castle was taken insomuch that the Cardinals Friends half drunk and half asleep started out of their Beds and cryed out Arms And thus they run to the Castle and called with Menaces and Reproaches for Ladders and other things necessary for a Storm They within seeing this that they might blunt the present impetuosity of their minds and put some check upon their fury Cryed out to them and demanded why they made such a bustle for the Man was dead whom they thought to rescue and with that threw out the Cardinals dead body in the sight of them all even out of that very place where before he rejoicingly beheld the Execution of George Wiseheart The English in the mean time pursue their expedition and make terrible havock in the Country at last the Regent with the assistance of the French gave them some repulse which was followed with a perswasive Letter from the English to a Peace But the Regent with his Regiment of Popish Priests about him and with whom he consulted alone about it rejected the proposals and gives them Battle but receives a most terrible defeat and the Priests and Monks paid the shot For the English who well knew it was by their Advice their Generous Offers had been refused took terrible Vengeance upon them and gave them no Quarter that bloody day But this and other Succesfull expeditions that followed could not prevent the Priestly faction to send their young Queen over into France which was the thing the English mostly dreaded as having a desire to have her Married to Edward VI. which would have United both Kingdoms But now the French had gained that point they grew very imperious and almost intollerable to the Scots themselves and at last came to an Agreement with the English to quit Scotland which was done in May 1550. The Regents Proceedings had disgusted many and he began to decline in his Authority so that he was brought at last by the French Artifice to resign his Office which by the same Interest was conferred upon the Queen â—owager But this was out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire and almost all the time of her Regency was spent with furious contests between her and the Reformed who at last with the Assistance of the English carried the Day tho' the young Queen was in the mean time Married to the Dauphine of France and the Q. Regent at last was forced to resign her Office by Death worn out with sickness and with grief that she could not Accomplish her Design After the Queen Regents Death Peace was concluded between both Parties and the French were to leave Scotland a point the Regent would never yeild to in her life time tho' often prest unto it and the Death of Francis the Queen of Scots Husband now become King of France occasioned her return into her own Country and the rather because she found her Mother-in-Law who managed matters of State now somewhat alienated from her and she could not endure to truckle to her Soon after her arrival she dispatched William Maitland Embassador to Q. Elizabeth to Confirm the Peace lately made but the Chief of his Errand appear'd to be to press Elizabeth to declare her to be the next Heir to the Crown of England which motion because Queen Elizabeth did not a little stomach and and I do verily believe had some influence upon Queen Mary's Future Calamity we shall a little more particularly insist upon together with the Queens reply to the Ambassador upon it He began first to acquaint her how highly the Queen his Mistress was affected toward her and how much she desired to maintain Peace and Amity with her he also carried to her Letters from the Nobility in which was mentioned a Friendly Commemoration of former obligations and Courtesies But one thing they earnestly desired of her that both publickly and privately she would shew her self Friendly and Courteous towards their Queen and being incited by good Offices she would not only preserve them in her ancient Friendship but superadd daily stronger obligations if possible
next Day in the Morning he was commanded away from thence to Sterlin again which Order for his return was the more reflected on because at the very same time Bothwell was carryed out of the place where be Lodged to the Queen's Lodging in the Face of all the People and tho' neither of them were well recovered she from her Sickness and he from his Wounds yet they Journeyed first to Kelsâ— then to Coldingham and next to Cragmillen not caring for the Reports that were spread of them by the way and 't was observed that the Queen in all her Discourse professed that she could never live unless she were Divorced from the King and ever and anon said a Divorce might easily be obtained if the Popes Bull were recalled whereby leave was given them to Contract the Marriage against the Papal Laws but seeing this matter was not like to succeed as she expected she left of other Methods and applyed her Mind wholly to his Murder And as a Manifestation of her Affections to Bothwell and her Hatred to her Husband when a little before Winter the Ambassadors of England and France came to be Witnesses at the Baptism of the Prince she strove both by pecuniary and all other industrious ways that Bothwell should appear the most magnificent of any among all her Subjects and Guests at the Entertainment whereas her Lawful Husband at the Baptism was not allowed necessaries yea was forbid to come in sight of the Ambassadors his Servants also appointed for his Daily Attendants were taken from him and the Nobility forbid to pay any observance to him But in her present carriage and comportment in times past by how much the more implacable she was towards him by so much the more did the People pity him by seeing a Young and an harmless Gentleman thus reproachfully used and yet not only to bear it patiently but even to endeavour to appease her Rage by the Servilest Offices he could perform that so he might gain some Degree in her Favour As for his Apparel and Dress she threw the Fault upon the Embroiderers Goldsmiths and other Tradesmen tho' it was but a false shamless pretence For it was well known to every body it was her doings Whereas for Bothwell's Ornament she wrought many of them with her own Hands besides the Foreign Ambassadors were advised not to enter into any Conference with the King tho' they were in the same Castle together for the most part of the Day The young Gentleman being thus uncourteously used exposed to the scorn of all and his Rival honoured before his Face resolved to retire to his Father to Glasgow who as some conceived had sent for him and that nothing might be wanting on the Queen's part to shew her accustomed Hatred at his departure She took away all the silver Plate which he had used ever since he was Married and put Pewter in their stead besides she gave him Poison before his departure that so the Evil might be more secret if he died when absent from the Court but the Poison wrought sooner than those who gave it supposed it would for he had scarce been gone a mile from Sterling when such a grievous Pain took him all over his Body that it was very apparent his Disease was not usual but fraudulently design'd but he no sooner came to Glasgow but that the mischief did manifestly discover it self for there arose blue Pustules all over his Body with so much Pain and Torment that there was little hope of his Life and when James Abernethy an able faithful and experienced Physician was consulted about his Distemper he made present answer that he had taken Poison Hereupon he sent for the Queen 's Domestick Physician but the Queen would not suffer him to go fearing lest his Skill might Cure him and she was not also willing that many should know of his being Poisoned When the Ceremonies of the Baptism were over and the Company by degrees gone home the Queen was private with Bothwell and scarce any other company at Drummond and Tullibardin a Nobleman's House where she spent some days about the beginning of January and so returned to Sterling and pretended daily to go to Glasgow but at the same time expected to hear every Minute of the Kings Death and to prevent the worst she resolved to have her Son in her own Power and that her design might occasion no suspicion they began to find fault that the House wherein he was kept was inconvenient that in such a moist and cold place he might be subject to Rheums but the true cause of his removal was far otherwise for 't was very plain that the place whither he was carried was far more obnoxious upon the aforesaid account by being scituated in a low marshy Ground having a Mountain betwixt it and the Sun rising whereupon the Child scarce seven months old was brought in a very sharp Winter to Edenburg but when she there heard that the King was recovered as having overcome the Poison by the vigour of his Youth and strength of his Natural Constitution she renewed her Plot to destroy him acquainting also some of the Nobility therewith In the mean time News was brought her that the King designed to fly into France or Spain and that he had spoke about it to the Master of an English Vessel which was then in the Frith of Clyde Hereupon some thought that an opportunity was offerred her to send for him and if he refused to come to kill him out of the way yea some offerred to be her Agents in the thing and all of them advised that the Fact should be privately committed and that it should be hastened before he was perfectly recovered of his Illness The Queen having already gotten her Son into her Possession that she might also have her Husband in her Power though not as yet agreed in the design how he should be made away resolved to go to Glasgow having as she imagined sufficiently cleared her self from his former suspicions by many kind Letters she had lately sent him but her Words and Deeds were not both of a piece for she took almost none with her in her Retinue but the Hamilton's and other Hereditary Enemies of the King In the mean time she commits to Bothwell's Care to do what was Contributary to the Design at Edenburg for that place seemed most convenient for them to act this Hellish Tragedy and also to conceal the Fact when 't was perpetrated For there being a great Assembly of the Nobles the suspicion might be put off from one to another and so divided between many And now when the Queen had tried all the ways she could to dissemble her Hatred at last by many Chidings Complaints and Lamentations she could yet scarce make him believe that she was reconciled to him but comply he does and so though hardly yet recovered from his Sickness was brought in a Litter to Edenburg to the fatal place designed for his Murther
the frankest Fellow among them all none of them will make thy leap good meaning his former leaping out of the Lord Grang's Ship to save himself but Lidingtown seeing the Regents unconstancy rounds him in the Ear that he had disgraced himself and put his Life in danger by the loss of so good a Friend as the Duke of Norfolk and that he had lost his Reputation for ever The Regent soon repents his Folly and desires to have the Accusation again alledging he had some more to add thereto but was answered That they would keep what they had and were ready to receive any addition he should please to give in The Duke of Norfolk had much ado to keep his Countenance Wood tip'd the wink upon Cecil who smiled upon him again the Regents company were Laughing only Lidingtown had a sorrowful Heart and the Regent himself left the Council with Tears in his Eyes and retired to his Lodgings at Kingstown and continued there for a long time in great displeasure and fear without Money to spend or hopes to get any from the Queen In the mean time the Agreement between the Duke and Regent was told the Queen for Morton caused one John Willock to declare what had past between them to the Earl of Huntingdon who caused the Lord Leicester to acquaint the Queen therewith The Duke finding how all things stood thought to out-brave it and stuck not to tell the Queen her self While he lived he would ne'er Offend her but Serve and Honour her and after her the Queen of Scots as in his Opinion truest Heir and the only means for saving of Civil Wars and much Bloodshed that might fall out which Words were as a Dagger to the Queen's Heart though for the time she dissembled her Displeasure but to further this great Man's Fall though Sir Nicholas Throgmorton seemed to mean honestly he got the Duke and Regent reconciled again and then the Duke declared to him that he was resolved to marry the Queen of Scots his Mistress and that he would never permit her to come into Scotland nor yet that she should ever Rebel against the Queen of England during her time and also that he had a Daughter who would be a fitter Match for King James than any other for many Reasons and so procured the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds from the Queen for the Regent for which himself became security and was forced afterward to pay the same When the Regent had got the Money he was easily induced by some about him to acquaint the Queen with all that had past between the Duke and himself and withall engaged to transmit back unto her all the Letters which the Duke should write to him when he came into Scotland which was done accordingly The Duke was then the greatest Subject in Europe he Ruled the Queen and all those that were familiar with her and was Courted by all Factions both Protestants and Papists both paying him a very great Deference and at that time commanded all the North of England and it was in his Power to have set the Queen of Scots at liberty if he had pleased but when the Queen had had his Letters from Scotland she sent for the Duke to come to Court whereupon he first posted in haste to Secretary Cecil on whose Advice and Friendship he much relied who told him there was no danger he might come and go at his Pleasure no man would or durst offend him and so the Duke only with his own Train came to Court Cecil in the mean time informed the Queen that the necessity of the time obliged her not to omit this occasion but to take the matter stoutly upon her self and forthwith command her Guards to lay hands upon the Duke or else no other durst do it which if she did not at this time she would endanger the safety of her Crown The Queen embraced the Advice and so orders the Duke to be secured when he thought all England was at his Devotion who after a long Imprisonment was Executed ending his Life as Sir James Melvill says devoutly in the Reformed Religion From Carlisle this forlorne Queen was removed to Bolton under the custody of Sir Francis Knowles and from thence to Tutbury under the Care of the Earl of Shrewsbury and in whose custody she remained for the space of Fifteen years but the many Attempts made for her Liberty and other more dangerous suspicions increasing against her caused her to be committed to the keeping of Sir Anias Pawlet and Sir Drue Druery where she sollicited with more greater importunity than ever the Bishop of Rome and the Spaniard by Sir Francis Inglefield to hasten what they had in hand with all speed against the Queen of England whatever became of her and at length holding correspondence with Babington and the rest of the Conspirators against Queen Elisabeth's Life which you may read in Cambden's Elizabeth at large this drew on the fatal Day whereon she was to be called to an account for what she had done and to this end it was agreed to have her Tryed upon the late Statute made against such as should attempt any violence against the Queen's Person c. and 24 Lords and others of inferior Degree were Commissionated by the Queen's Patent for her Tryal who met Octob. 11. 1586. in Fothringham Castle in the County of Northampton where the Queen of Scots was then in custody and next day sent Sir Walter Mildmay and others to her with the Queen's Letter about her Crimes and Tryal which when she had read she complained of her ill usage excused her carriage and seemed to question the Commissioners Authority but they justify their Authority and advise her to appear to her Tryal but she excepted against the new Law and required to have her Protestation admitted which was denied at length she is brought on the 14 th Day to appear to whom Bromley the Chancellor made a Speech how Queen Elizabeth their Sovereign being informed of her Conspiracies against her Life she was now called upon to Answer for the same and to clear her self if she could and make her Innocency appear to the World here she would have urged her Protestation again of being no Subject of England but a Crowned Head but that being again rejected she submitted her self to a Trial and after a long Hearing and several proofs made of her being privy to the Design against the Queen's Life and of her intention to convey her Title and Claim to the Kingdom of England to the Spaniard c. The Court Adjourned till the 25 th of October to the Star-Chamber at Westminster at what time Wacee and Curle her Secretaries did viva voce voluntarily and without hope of Reward avow all and every the Letters and Copâ—es of Letters produced at the Trial to be True and Real upon which Sentence was pronounced against her and Ratified by the Seals and Subscriptions of the Commissioners in these words By their unanimous
severed her Head from her Body leaving only a little Gristle uncut without the least stir or motion of the Body and lifting up her Head said God Save our Queen her Lips moved for about a Quarter of an Hour after and her Head-Cloaths falling off her Head appeared as Grey as if shee had been Seventy years old whereas she was but Forty six Having thus brought this unhappy Queen to her fatal Catastrophe we now return to her Son James VI. who notwithstanding afterward his vain â—oast of his inherent Birth-right when he came to be King of England during her long Captivity in England being above 18 years possest her Throne in Scotland he was Born on the 19 th of June in the year 1566 and about Fourteen Months after Crowned King in his Mother's stead she being forced by the Nobles to resign to him The Kingdom during some part of his Minority was Governed by the Earl of Murray as Regent but he being murthered basely by one Hamilton at Lithgow Matthew Stuart Earl of Lenox the King's Grandfather was advanced into his room during whose Regency two Factions continued as before the one for the young King and the other for the Deposed Queen but by the means of Sir James Melvill and others the Queen was brought upon the point of Agreement with the Regent but the Earl of Morton returning to Court he and Randolph the English Ambassador suspecting the probability of such an apparent agreement which had been kept secret from them they fell a plotting which way to obstruct the same and resolved as the most probale means to have a Parliament convened and therein got all the Queens Lords forefaulted whereby the Regent should utterly ruin the ancient Families of the Hamiltons and this would afford a bait to every one of the King's Lords seeing they should be made sharers of the spoil and every one of them get wealth enough Mr. Randolph for their incouragement gave them assurance from England so as they needed not fear any resistance from their Adversaries and Morton to clench the Nail First represented in Council that the Queen's Lords had an intention to re-establish Popery upon which Allegation he knew he would make them odious to the generality of the People and upon their being Forefaulted that each of them should have a share of the said Lord's Estates which brought the Council readily to consent to a Parliament to be held at Sterling to the same purpose The Queen's Lords to be even with them held another Parliament at Edenburgh at the same time and with the same Design of Forefaulting as the King's Lords in the mean time the Laird of Grainge was highly concerned at those violent proceedings wherefore he sent for the Laird of Fer in haste and Buccleugh to come to him one Evening to Edenburg with a good Guard along with them and tell them according to the projection had already devised that that same Night after they had Supped and fed heir Horses they should ride with them to Sterling so as to be there early in the Morning before any of the Lords who held the Parliament were out of their Beds hoping by the Intelligence he had received assuredly to surprize them before they could be advertised thereof the Project they all readily agreed to but they would not allow Grange to go along with them for fear any disaster should befall him who was the Life of them all and so on they march under the Leading of the Earl of Huntley and some others and were got to Sterling by Four next Morning whereinto they entred by a little passage being conducted by a Townsman one George Bell which entry of theirs was immediately after their Night watches had retired to their Rest they divided their Men into several Partys and appointed such as they thought meetest at every Lord's Lodgings leaving one body under Capt. Hackerston at the Market-Cross to see good Order kept and to prevent any spoil to be committed only they ordered the Stables to be searched and all the Horses in the Town to be carried away which was punctually executed but because Captain Hackerstown did not come in due time with his Company to attend at the Market-Cross according to appointment a Company of unruly Servants broke open the Shops and run up and down to take what spoil they could get in the mean while after they had taken out all the Lords from their Lodgings and were leading of them prisoners down the steep Causey of Sterling on foot intending to take them Horses at the Nether-Gate and to ride to Edenburg with their Captives those within the Castle hearing the noise of the Townsmen crying out because of the plundering of their Houses and considering what a disgrace it would be to them if they did not shew themselves Men upon such an occasion they Sallied out boldly and perceiving the disorder of the Enemy rescued all the Prisoners saving the Regent whom one shot in the Back at the Command as was alleged of the Lord Pachey he died of the Wound some days after The next Regent was the Earl of Mar the Discord still continued His Government held not long for being one day invited to Dinner by the Earl of Morton he returned home and sickned died soon after not without vehement suspicion of having been poisoned at his Banquet Morton came in after him Regent the Division between the Lords not yet made up some Overtures of an Accommodation were made but the Queen's Lords finding the Regent not sincere in all Respects refused the Agreement and were at last Besieged in Edinburgh Castle by an English Army which they surrendred upon Articles that were basely broke and most of them executed The King now growing up began to hate the Regent he being aware of it â—ed those about him to infuse in him a good Opinion of him but in vain and so a Council was appointed at Edenburg wherein it was agreed to Depose him Morton thereupon retires to the House of Lochleven within the Lough for his greater security but while he was there his Head was continually a plodding how he might again become Master of the Court then at Sterling which he accomplished in the dead of one night in this manner When he came to the Gates of the Castle they were opened to him by the two Abbots and a Faction they had drawn in there with them though the Master of Mar and Earl of Argyle made what resistance they could yet Morton prevailed but handled the matter so discreetly and moderately as possible he could that the alteration might not appear to be over sharp or violent but the Lord Aubonie about that same time coming into Scotland from France which Lord was afterward Created Duke of Lennox and was Brothers Son to the late Earl of Lennox He and James Steward of Oghiltrie did in a short time gain the ascendency over the King's Affections who was like a Tennis-Ball tossed from one Favourite to another
all his days they framed an Accusation against Morton and got him committed to Edinburgh Castle from whence in a short time he was brought to his Tryal and Condemned for having an hand in the Lord Darnley the King's Father's Murder that he was privy to the same he did not deny at his Execution and withall confessed that he had a design to send the young King into England for his Safety and so there 's another Governor gone who was the fourth and last and every one whereof died a violent Death and now the King assumes the Government himself and if he was unhappy during the time of the Regency I think it will appear it was no better with him ever after for he himself was as much governed now by his Favourites and Sycophants as the Kingdom had been by a Regent and the first into whose Hands he fell was Aubonie now Created Duke of Lennox and a Papist and the aforesaid James Steward who assumed to himself the Style and Title and then the Earldom of Arran These two led him by the Nose at their Pleasure and carried all things with an high Hand lording it over the rest of the Nobility and aiming at their Estates which made them begin to look about them and concluding after serious Consultation that from two such Counsellors no wholsome Advice could proceed for the Peace of the Country and Establishment of Religion but rather if they were suffered to go on still both the one and the other would be endangered they resolve to remove them The King was at that time designing to go from Athol to Dumfermling to take his usual Divertisement of Hunting where the Lords designed to encounter him with a supplication full of Complaints against the Duke and Earl with pressing Instances for the removing of them and least their supplication should miscarry they backt it with strong Forces which could not be resisted The King had but a very few attendance at Dumfermling for Lennox staid at Dalkeith and Arran at Kinweel and several of the Council were gone to hold the Assizes in divers Shires of the Country Sir James Melvill was at Edenburgh whither a Gentleman one morning came to his Bed-side and told him that he had formerly done him several kindnesses which till then he was never able to recompence but that now he would make him an Instrument of saving the King his Master out of the Hands of those who were upon an enterprise to take and secure him Melvill replied he could hardly believe such a thing but that he feared the Duke of Lennox might be in danger who was gone to Glasgow because of the Hatred that was bore to him by the Nobility The Gentleman subjoyned they will lay hands first on the King's Person and then the Duke and Earl of Arran dare no more be seen their insolency being looked upon as the Cause of almost all the Disorders of the Nation and when he had so said he desired the King might be acquainted with the matter but to have his Name concealed from him for he said that design would be put in execution in ten days time and as Sir James started up to put on his Cloaths he slipt out at the door with a short farewell Sir James upon this Information rides with all the expedition imaginable to Dalkeith where the Duke of Lennox then was and laid the whole matter open before him and advised him withal to lose no time but to Ride to the King to give him notice that he might make timely provision for his own security but the Duke chose rather to dispatch a Gentleman with all possible diligence to the King upon that Occasion and wished Sir James to write to the Earl of Gaury about the same for it seems the Gentleman that gave him the first Information of the Plot had not named Gaury with the rest of the Lords to him either out of forgetfulness or else because he had been but lately won over to the Party by the Land of Drumwhafel who had assured him that Lennox had resolved to kill him whereever he met him and used this as a convincing argument to Embark the Earl in the same Cause but however matters fell out the Lords receded from their first Resolution of presenting their supplication as aforesaid and would not tarry 〈◊〉 the King came to Dumferling but they surprised him at Huntingtown-House which was the Earl of Gaury's its uncertain whether it were not done with a design to imbark the Earl more deeply in their Bond or that fearing least the design was discovered they made the greater haste to execute the same by seising the King there which was afterward called the Road of Ruthven The King is once more a Prisoner and the Lords conduct him to Sterling-Castle where he is kept for a time In the mean while the French King and Queen Elizabeth by their Ambassadors make Instances for his Liberty and Condole his Misfortune but so hen-hearted was he that he ordered their Ambassadors to declare to their respective Princes that he was well satisfied with the Lords that were about him that they were his own Subjects c. and when the Lords called a Council to resolve what course to take he agreed with them to form an Act declaring That what they had done was good service to himself the Kirk and Commonwealth though Mr. Carey who I think was afterward Created Earl of Monmouth whispered him in the Ear and desired him to tell the plain Truth which he engaged to conceal from all others whatsoever and only acquaint the Queen his Mistress therewith he told him his Heart was full fraught with Grief and Displeasure at his Misfortune The Lords having thus effected their purpose as having now rid the Court of the Duke of Lennox who fled into France and the Earl of Arran whom they committed to the Custody of the Earl of Gaury most of them withdrew from the Court to their respective homes whereupon the King retaining a displeasure still in his Heart towards them takes occasion to appoint a Convention to be held at St. Andrews whereunto by Missive Letters he invited some of the Nobility but none of the Lords that had lately left him designing thereby to get loose out of their Hands and to retain about him such Lords as he had written for and notwithstanding some about him endeavoured to divert him from the said Resolution alledging the fresh Jealousie that would be Created in the absent Lords by such a procedure and with all the Power they had to be revenged of the conceived affront he rejected the advice wherefore for the better management of his design it was thought expedient that he should go a few days to St. Andrews before the Convention was to meet that being once there a Proclamation might be issued out to forbid any Nobleman whatsoever to come to the said Convention without express Orders from the King so to do and to this end it was
seconded by Ramsey struck him to the Heart yet not so readily but that the Earl thrust him into the Thigh assisted by Cranston who wounded Erskin and Herres in the Hand and they him through the Body and lived only long enough to be hanged and quartered Then came in the Lords and the rest of the Company and after having surveyed the Earl's Body they found it did not Bleed till a Parchment was taken out of his Bosom with Characters in it and these Letters which put together made Tetragrammaton having been told as the Story went his Blood should not be spilt as long as he had that spell This is the substance of the Conspiracy I will not descant upon the many Absurdities and incoherent Circumstances couched under this Relation but will leave it to the Readers Censure and tell you only that most Authors that have mentioned it seem to turn the Tables to lay the Assassination at the King's door and one I find Sir J. H. saying he Blasphemed God for his pretended Deliverance once a year all his life after but Mr. Wilson is a little more modest who expresses himself hereupon to this purpose This year August 5. being the first of the King's Reign in England had a new Title given to it the King's Delivery in the North must resound here whether the Gowries attempted upon the King's Person or the King upon theirs is variously reported It may be he retained something of his Predecessor and great Parent Henry VII that made Religion give way to Policy oftentimes Cursing and Thundring out the Churches Fulminations against his own Ministers that they might be received with the more intimate Familiarity with his Foreign Enemies for the better discovery of their Designs I will not say the Celebration of this Holy-Day had so much Profaneness for Fame may be a Slanderer but where there is a strength of Policy there is always a power of wordly Wisdom that manages and sways it Now we are to transplant the Scene into the Southern part of the British Isle for our bright Occidental Star Queen Elizabeth of famous Memory having for the space of above forty four years shined in our British Horizon and darted out the Rays of her Renown to the remotest parts of the habitable Globe and now exchanged an Earthly for an Heavenly Diadem King James succeeded her in all her Dominions who being both a Protestant and a Pacifick King diverted the Fears of the English and made some Allay of Grief in their Hearts for the lost of their Nursing Mother and Sovereign Lady who though she were glorious and happy almost in all her Affairs during the course of her long Reign yet she may be truly said to have been much more celebrated after her Death for the Vices of others and Male-Administration of this and the succeeding Reigns erected a more lasting Monument of Renown and contributed a more indelible lustre to her Fame than any of the worthiest Atcheivements of her Life so that it may be as truly said of her as it was of old by Suetonius concerning that brave Roman Germanicus Auxit gloriam desideriumque defunctae insequentium tempâ—rum atrocitas Here for a time we are to expect nothing but Shows Pageants Creations of Honours of which King James was never no niggard and all manner of Jollity but the advancement of some so far disgusted others who thought themselves neglected that it produced him a Conspiracy as the Authors of that Age know not what to make off it was apparent the muddy Waters were stirred but it was with such a mixture that little could be visible in it For Sir Walter Rawleigh the Lords Cobham and Grey were Protestants Markham Baynam and the two Priests were Popish the Charge was that they had endeavoured all in Conjunction to introduce Popery to seize the King and Prince and to set the Crown up-the Head of the Lady Arabella Steward younger Brother to Henry Lord Darnley both Sons to Matthew Earl of Lennox by his Wife Margaret Daughter by the Earl of Angus to Margaret the Mother of James V. and Daughter of Henry VII But this was a sorry foundation to go upon and so the superstructure thus huddled together could not last long wherefore the execution of some and Imprisonment of the rest quickly dissipated this Cloud and all was Serene again and Halcion days But here give me leave to say somewhat as well in Vindication of the Memory of that true Englishman and Noble Gentleman Sir Walter Rawleigh who was Condemned for this Conspiracy and Beheaded many years after when he had been General by the King's Commission and had by that Power over the Lives of many others contrary to the Civil Law which says He that hath Power over the Lives of others ought to be Master of his own as to shew the perversion of Justice in that Reign and the poorness of the King's Spirit to be gull'd at that rate by his Ministers in this as well as other Particulars Sir Walter was Tryed at Winchester and made a brave Defence All the material Evidence brought against him was the Lord Cobham's Accusation which he only desired might appear viva voce and he would yield without any further Defence but that would not be granted for they knew full well Cobham would not or could not accuse him you must know Wade then Lieutenant of the Tower and a great Creature of the Earl of Salisbury's had tampered with Cobham about the aforesaid Accusation of Rawleigh knowing Cobham's weakness but that would not do and therefore he circumvented him one day by getting of him to set his Name in a blank piece of Paper and so filled up the Accusation himself Salisbury Rawleigh's great Enemy being thus armed against him urgâ—d Sir Walter several times to yield upon the producing of his Accusation under Cobham's own Hand Sir Walter answered he knew Cobham's weak Judgment and did not know how far he might be imposed upon but was confident he would not accuse him to his Face and therefore would not put his Life upon that hazard and thus the Trial held till nine at night at last his Fate carried him against his Reason and he yielded upon the producing his Hand which was immediately done and it was in truth his Hand but none of his Act. It happened some years after this that Queen Anne fell into a desperate and 't was believed incureable fit of Sickness and â—hen the Skill of all her Physicions had failed Sir Walter by his long Studies having arrived to an admirable Perfection in Chymistry was sent to who undertook and performed the Cure for which he would receive no other Reward but that her Majesty would procure certain Lords to be sent to Cobham to examine him Whether he had accused Sir Walter Rawleigh of Treason at any time under his Hand The King at the Queen's Request as in Justice he could do no less sent six Lords viz. the Duke of Lennox the Earls of
Parliaments stiffness to supply their Court Extravagancies in time of Peace and rejection of the King 's much desired proposal to unite both Nations by a Naturalization of the Scots without they would come under the English Laws and Government was some allay to his Delights At last an accident broke out which wrought in him no small disquiet as you have already heard while King James was only King of Scotland that he was entirely at his Favourites Devotion which as has been related had many Tragical Effects you must know he was become no changling now he was King of England and among others one Robert Carr a young Man of no fortune in the World and who it seems had been formerly one of his Pages in Scotland coming to Court in a good Garb and being a comely Person was taken notice of by the King and in a short time was Knighted by him made Gentleman of his Bed-Chamber Viscount Rochester and at length Earl of Sommerset and over-topped all the rest of his Favourites abundantly even to Cope with the Prince himself who disdaining to be thus bearded by an upstart of yesterday would not afford him a good look nor speak to him and some said that some love Jealousies the Prince being now in his Puberty encreased the Emulation between Carr and him The Countess of Essex then a top Gallant Lady in the Bloom of her years and disdaining the Company of the Noble Earl her Husband being the Bane of Contention between them but be this as it will the Countess was enamoured on the Favourite and cast her Love-Anchor there but I should think the Prince above all these Thoughts by the following passage for being on a time Dancing among the Ladies and the Countesses Glove falling down it was taken up and presented to him by one that thought he did him acceptable Service but the Prince refused to receive it saying publickly He would not have it it was streatched by another meaning Carr then Viscount Rochester But things could not continue long in this State for as the Court were full of Rejoycings upon the Palsgrave's arrival in England to Marry the Lady Elizabeth there was a damp struck upon the Hearts of all true Englishmen upon the suddain immature and I doubt violent death of the Noble Prince Henry in the flower of his years Sir A. W. says his death had been foretold by one Bruce a famous Scotch Astrologer for the which the Earl of Salisbury caused him to be banished who left this farewell with the Earl That it should be too true but that his Lordship should not live to see it The Earl dying in Day and the Prince in November following to the infinite grief of all but Sommerset and the Family of the Howards who by his death thought themselves secured from all future dangers for he being an open Prince and hating all baseness would often say He would not leave one of that Family to piss against a Wall I do not know why Sir Anthony might not have put the King himself into the foresaid number I am sure he shewed but small symptoms of Sorrow at his death which happened as was said but then in November by his commanding no Man should appear at Court in Mourning in the Christmass Holidays following the Jollity Feasting and Magnificence whereof must not be laid aside upon any account whatsoever it is certain that the Princes Court was frequented more than the King 's and by another sort of Men so that the King upon seeing of him once at a distance in the Park with a far more numerous Train than himself was heard to say What will he bury me alive jealousie is like a fire that burns all before it and that fire is hot enough to dissolve all Bonds that tend to the diminution of a Crown Don Carlos Prince of Spain and Henry's Contemporary not long before this for wishing himself but one day in his Father's Throne fell soon after into the hard hand of an immature fate However it were the manner of the Prince's death was variously rumour'd some saying he was poison'd with a bunch of Grapes others with the venemous scent of a pair of Gloves presented to him and some again that a French Physician gave him poison and it was observed that poison was never more in fashion than at this time but surely there was something black enough in it for when Sir Thomas Mouson a long time after who was one of the Countess of Essex's Agents in the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury had past one days Trial at Guildhall the Lord Chief Justice Coke vented some expressions as if he could discover more than the death of a private Person saying God knows what is become of that sweet Babe Prince Henry but I know somewhat and blessing himself at the horror of such villanies as came to his knowledge and 't was believed that in searching the Cabinets he had lighted on some Papers that spake plain in that which was ever whispered and what strongly increased the suspicion was that Monson's Trial was laid aside he quickly set at liberty and the Chief Justices wings clipt for ever after And no less jealousie did something relating to the Earl of Somerset's Trial for the said Murder of Overbury create in Men's Minds about this matter for when the Lieutenant of the Tower according to Custom gave Somerset notice of his Trial next day he absolutely refused it saying They should carry him in his Bed that the King had assured him he should not come to any Trial neither durst the King bring him to any this was an high strain and a Language not understood by Sir George Moor the Lieutenant and tho' otherwise esteemed a wise Man it reduced him to his Wits end After some pauses he at last resolves to go to the King then at Greenwich as late as it was being Twelve a Clock at night he bounced at the Back Stairs as if he had been mad to whom Jo. Leveston one of the Grooms came out of his Bed and enquired the reason of that unreasonable distemper Moor tells him he must speak with the King immediately Loveston answered He was quieted meaning in his Scottish Dialect He was fast asleep but Moor said he must awake him and so was called in and left alone with the King in his Bed-chamber where he tells him those passages that happened between Sommerset and himself and desired to be directed by the King what he should do for he was gone beyond his Reason to hear such bold and undutiful Expressions from a faulty Subject against a Just Sovereign Hereupon the King falls into a fit of Tears and said On my Soul Moor I wot not what to do thou art a Wise Man help me in this great streight and thou shalt find thou dost it for a faithful Master with other sad Expressions to the same purpose Moor leaves the King in that Agony but first assured him he would strain his Wits
Morning his Carriages must go through the City on the Sabbath-day before with a great deal of clutter and noise in the time of Divine Worship which coming to the Ears of the Lord Mayor he commanded them to be stopped and this carried the Affairs of the Carriages with a great deal of violence into the Court and having represented the business to the King with as much asperity as Men in Authority crossed in their Humors could express the same it put the King into a great Rage Swearing He thought there was no more Kings in England but himself but after he was a little calmed he sent a Warrant to the Lord Mayor commanding him to let them pass which he obeyed with this Answer While it was in my power I did my Duty but that being taken away by a higher Power It 's my Duty to obey which the King upon second Thoughts took so well that he thanked him for it And now the Troubles of his Daughter and Son-in-law by assuming the Crown of Bohemia come on apace which ended not only in the loss of that Crown but even of his own Patrimony the Palatinate and together with the Match with Spain for his Son Prince Charles perplex'd the remainder of his Reign and wrought him continual trouble having spent more Treasure upon Embassies when the former then would have raised and maintained a sufficient Army to recover his Son-in-law's Patrimony owning in his Speech to the Parliament Jan. 20. and the Eighteenth year of his Reign that my Lord Doncaster's Journey upon that account had cost him Three thousand five hundred Pounds but he was very modest and minced the matter being indeed ashamed to tell the whole Summ which amounted to a far greater proportion and may be guessed at by the following Relation When he Landed at Rotterdam his Expences the first Morning before he went to the Hague in the Inn where he lay came to above Two hundred Pounds now this splendid and expensive Living coming to be known by the Inn keeper of the Peacock at Dort c. hoping he would make that place in his way to Germany made great preparations for him of his own head without any other Order but my Lord taking his way by Vtrecht the Inn-keeper followed him complaining heavily how he was baulked in his expectations and what Charge he had been at to provide for his Lordship which at length coming to the Lord's Ear he commanded his Steward to give him Thirty Pounds and never tasted of his Fare and it was credibly assured by some of his Retinue that his very Carriage could cost no less than Threescore Pounds a day for he had abundance of young Nobles and others in his company so that upon a modest computation of the whole expence of his Journey it could amount to no less than Fifty or Threescore thousand Pounds while he was at the Hague some advised old Maurice Prince of Orange our King William's Great Unkle to Feast him Yes Yes said the Prince Bid him come when the Steward had notice hereof how the Prince took no farther notice of the matter he attended the Prince and told him there would be great preparations expected for the Ambassadors Ordinary Meals were Feasts and he had a very numerous and splendid Train of Nobles and Gentry that did accompany him Well said the Prince Prepare me a Dinner such as I used to have and let me see the Bill of Fare when the Steward brought the Bill the Prince liked it very well but the Steward said Sir This is but your ordinary Diet now you should have something exttaordinary because this is an Extraordinary Ambassador the Prince thinking what the Steward said to be something reasonable and finding but one Pig set down in the Bill commanded him to put down another Pig and that was all the additions he would make for knowing the Ambassador to be a Scotch Man and that they generally hate Swines flesh it seems he thought nothing a fitter Entertainment for him than a couple of Pigs but the King 's mincing of these matters his many Carresses Huffs and Protestations would not do with the Parliament for there was such a multiplication of Grievances and infringments of the Peoples Liberty and such a backwardness from the Court for the redress of them that at length they were dissolved in displeasure and this set every Man's Tongue loose upon him that tho' the King loved Hunting above all other exercises and had many good Hunters about him yet all these and the strength of a Proclamation to forbid talking of State Affairs could not refrain them from mouthing it out that Great Brittain was become less than little England that they had lost strength by changing Sexes and that he was no King but a Fidlers Son otherwise he would not have suffered so many disorders at home and so much dishonour abroad and the story of David Riccius saith Wilson written by Buchanan the King 's own Tutor had been like to die in every Englishman's Opinion if it had not had a new impression by these miscarriages These Domestick Troubles together with the many delays and dissatisfactions he received from Spain and Rome about the Spanish Match begot him so much trouble and vexation of Spirit that pressing upon his Natural Temper it wrought some Fits of Melancholy in him which those about him with facetious Mirth would strive to mitigate and having exhausted their store or not making use of such as were more pregnant Buckingham and his Mother instead of Mirth fell upon Prophaneness thinking thereby to please him and perhaps says Wilson they were only mistaken in the unseasonableness of the time being not then suitable to the Humour for they caused Mrs. Aspernham a young Gentlewoman of the Kindred to dress a Pig like a Child and the old Countess like a Midwife brought it into the King in a rich Mantle And then Turpin who had Married one of theâ— Kindred whose Name was renowned for a Bishop in the Romances of the Emperor Charlemaigne was drest like a Bishop in a Sattin Gown Lawn Sleeves and other Pontifical Ornaments who with the Common-Prayer Book began the Words of Baptism one attending with a silver Bason of Water for the Service The King hearing the Ceremony of Baptism read and the squeeking noise of the Brute Animal which he most abhorred turned about to see what Pageant it was and finding Turpin's Face which he very well knew drest like a Bishop and Buckingham whose Face â—he most of all loved stand for God-Father he cried out Away for shame what Blasphemy is this and turning aside with a frown turned all the sport and jollity they expected to a cold damp of Spirit Neither did the Prince's going into Spain any ways mend the matter but made it every way worse and worse for in stead of Consummating he and Buckingham quite broke off the Match which King James had so much set his rest upon but what was worst of all
Eighty no less than Fifty Ships were missing for seven days But this was but the beginning of the Misfortunes of this Miserable Expedition for the Confusion of Orders was such as the Officers and Soldiers scarce knew who to Command or whom to Obey so that when they came to Cadiz a Conquest which would have paid the Charge of the Voyage and to the Honour of the English offer'd it self for the Spanish Shipping in the Bay lay unprovided of defence so as the surprising of them was both easie and feasible but this was neglected and when the Opportunity was lost Sir John Burroughs Landed the Army and took a Fort but was forced to quit it because of the Disorder and Intemperance of the Soldiers who upon that return'd on Board again and sailed away for England re insecta which occasion'd no small clamour from the People and especially in that none was punished for Mismanagement But how dishonourable soever this Expedition was the King and his Minister lost much more Reputation by lending a Fleet to the French King to beat that of the Rochellers under Monsieur Sobiez the Great Duke of Roan's Brother whereby a foundation was laid to ruin the Protestant Interest in France and which all the power that e're they could afterward make when the Tables were turned could not relieve though the Duke himself who was much sitter for the Delicacies of a Court than the toyls and stratagems of War was at the head of it and perished by the hands of Felton at Portsmouth just as he was ready to Embark the second time in person for that purpose It 's true the design was pursued by the Earl of Lindsey who several times attempted to force the Barricadoes of the River before Rochel but all in vain or if he had it would have been to no purpose for the Victuals wherewith they should have been relieved were all tainted and all the Tackle and other Materials of the Fleet defective so that they could not stay long there The many and unheard-of Violations of the Priviledges of the Subject by Loans Benevolences Ship-money Coat and Conduct-money c. with the continual Jars between this King and all his Parliaments during his Reign so as that there has been scarce three days of mutual harmony between them throughout which cannot be said of any other King since the Conquest how bad soever his Imprisoning Fining and banishing of the Members and his riding the Nation for above fifteen years together by more than a French Government because they are noted else where I think no where so well as in the History of the four last Reigns Written by that Learned Gentleman and my worthy good Friend when alive Mr. Roger Coke I shall not recite the same in this place as not falling exactly under the notion of this Treatise Tho I am to imform you these were the things together with the imposing the Service-Book upon the Scots where the Quarrel was begun by an Old Woman casting her Stool at the Priest when he was reading of it as they said that were the foundation of those dreadful Wars waged so many years within the Bowels of the three Kingdoms which do not fall under our present consideration neither and of the King 's subsequent destiny the Particulars whereof with some other concurring and intervening accidents we shall give you at large After the War had been manag'd between the King and Parliament with various fortune for some years and several Treaties set on foot to compose those unhappy and fatal Differences at last came the fatal day wherein the Quarrel came to be decided between them at Naseby in Northamptonshire which was on Saturnday June 14. 1645. Sir Thomas Fairfax was the Parliaments General and the King commanded his own Army in Person who in the beginning of the Fight prevailed for Prince Rupert Routed the Parliaments Left Wing commanded by Ireton but Pursuing to far left the Kings Left Wing open to be charged by Cromwel who falling furiously on and the rest Rallying obtained a most absolute Victory But among the vast number of Prisoners and Horses taken with Arms and Ammunition that which was even a greater loss to the King then the Battle was that one of his Coaches with his Cabinets of Letters and Papers fell into the Parliaments hands whereby his most Secret Counsels with the Queen which were so contrary to those he declared to the Kingdom were discovered For in one of his Letters he declared to her his intention to make Peace with the Irish and to have 40000 of them over into England to prosecute the War there In others he complained he could not prevail with his Mungrel Parliament at Oxford so he was pleased to call those Gentlemen who had stuck to him all along to Vote that the Parliament at Westminster were not a Lawful Parliament That he would not make Peace with the Rebels the Parliament without her approbation nor go one jot from the Paper She sent him That in the Treaty at Vxbridge he did not positively own the Parliament it being otherwise to be constru'd tho' they were so simple as not to find it out and it was Recorded in the Notes of the King's Council that he did not acknowledge them a Parliament Which Papers the Members took care to Print and Publish to the World and shewed by a publick Declaration what the Nobility and Gentry who followed the King might trust too and I dare say this stuck so close in the Minds of many that nothing contributed more to his Ruine then this double dealing of his Now the King's Garrisons surrender by heaps Oxford was the last which being blocked up by the Parliaments Forces the King thought himself in no security in it For the Parliament refused to admit him to come to London unless he signed their propositions wherefore the French Ambassador in the Scots Quarters advising him to throw himself into the Scots Power it was Hobson's Choice one even as good as the other and so being accompany'd by one Hudson a Minister and Mr. John Ashburnham he threw himself into the Scots hands who having got him into their Power resolve to make a double Bargain of him viz. to have him to order Montross to disband his Army and retire into Scotland and then to Sell him to the Parliament for as much Money as they could get for him The first is no sooner ask'd but granted but the bargain for the Sale of him and surely never was any King in this World so unhappy as to be sold by his own Subjects before himself being a mighty business to the Scots it lasted from the 5 th of May 1646 to January following when being concluded the Parliament who now had a full right to him after they had bought him confine him to â—oldenby-house an House of his own in Northamptonshire under a select Guard of their own choosing So that as Mr. Cook observes he that before had sifted the worthy
lines to this unfortunate King who now had no more to do then patiently to submit to what time produced but how pleasing soever these Votes were to the Army the Scots and diverse parts of the English Nation were not content with them and so they rise in Arms in Essex Kent Suffolk Norfolk Wales and the North and declare for the King and People Part of the Fleet also Revolted to Prince Charles but all these Revolts were quelled by a Victorious Army in a short time But while the Army was busied abroad the Members having gotten possession of the Fleet and the City of London being well affected to them they joyn with the Scotish Commissioners and rescine the Votes of the Non-addresses to the King and appointed a conference with him at Newport in the Isle of Wight to continue for forty days and to that purpose take him out of Prison and allow him the Liberty of the Island and the King upon the matter with reluctancy enough grants the Scots and the Members their own Demands But no endeavours of his Subjects nor the joynt desires of the Scots and Members could protect this unhappy Prince from his approaching Ruine for the Army now every where Victorious over the Scots and Royalists draw together and make a Remonstrance against all Peace with the King that Justice might be done upon Him the Crown-land and Church-land might be sold to Pay their Army and that the present Parliament be Dissolved and another Called But the Members were intent upon the King's Answer to their Propositions and laid aside the Armies Remonstrance which they take as a slighting of them and then seized the King in the Isle of Wight and make Him a Prisoner in Hurst-Castle an unhealthy place and March to London putting Garrisons in Noblemen's Houses and Whitehall and Post themselves about the Pallace-yard But the Members for all this Met upon the First of Decemb. 1648. and Voted the King's Concessions to be a sufficient ground for a Peace and then Adjourn'd for a Week yet when they were to Meet again they found all the Avenues to the House beset with Soldiers who Excluded all that were not of their Faction from entring the House which were not one fourth part and made the residue Prisoners This Juncto called afterward the Rump Parliament having in this manner Purged the House Assume to themselves the Supream Power of Ordering the English Affairs Confirm the Votes of Non-Addresses and raze the Votes of having a Conference with the King and the Declaration that the King's Concessions were a sufficient ground for a Peace out of the Journals of the House and Vote First That all Power resides in the People Secondly That the Power belongs to the Peoples Representatives in the House of Commons Thirdly That the Votes of the Commons have the Force of a Law without the King Fourthly That to take up Arms against the Representatives of the People or the Parliament was High-Treason Fifthly That the King Himself took up Arms against the Parliament and therefore was guilty of all the Blood shed in the Civil War and ought by His own Blood to expiate the fame But the Ordinance for the King's Trial being sent up to the Lords for their Concurrence they Rejected it January the 2 d and Adjourned for 10 days but first sent back that they would give Answer Whereupon the Commons search the Lords Journal-Book and find these Votes 1. To send an Answer 2. That their Lordships do not concur to the Declaration 3. That their Lordships Reject the Ordinance for Tryal of the King But the Commons for all that go on and Vote the Lords Dangerous Order the King to be brought to London under a Guard Read and Ingrossed the Ordinance for his Tryal on the 6 th of January and the Manner was referred to the Commissioners who were to Try Him and to that end to Meet in the Painted Chamber on Munday January the 9 th who Resolved that Proclamation should be made in Westminster-Hall that the Commissioners were to Sit again to Morrow and that all those who had any thing to say against the King should be heard In this manner Mr. Denby who was Sergeant at Arms to the Commissioners Rode into the Hall with his Mace and some other Officers all bare attended with Six Trumpets on Horseback who Sounded in the midst of the Hall the Drums of the Guard in the mean time Beating without in the Pallace-yard at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside The Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London Petition'd the House of Commons for Justice against the King to Settle the Votes that the Supream Power was in them and the City resolved to stand by them to the utmost and because nothing should obstruct the intended Work Hillary Term was Adjourned for Fourteen days and Proclamation made thereof in the Cities of London and Westminster and other Market-Towns but that this poor Prince might have some glimmering of hope the Scots Parliament begun January 2 d. understanding what was done at London in reference to the King's Tryal Dissent from the said proceedings and Direct some Papers To William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons which the House took as an Affront and Denyal of their Authority and so thought not sit to Read them but yet Voted to send Commissioners into Scotland to preserve a Good Correspondence between both Nations Several Ministers from their Pulpits Declaimed also against the Proceedings against the King's Person some of the Nobility offer'd themselves Pledges in his behalf and January 19 the Scottish Commissioners deliver'd some Papers and a Declaration from the Parliament of Scotland wherein they express a dislike of the present Proceedings and declare That the Kingdom of Scotland had an undoubted Interest in the King's Person who was not deliver'd to the English Commissioners at Newcastle for the Ruine of his Person but for the more speedy Settlement of the Peace of his Kingdoms That they extreamly Dissented and Declared against the Tryal of Him in regard of the Great Miseries that were like to ensue thereupon and desired leave to make their Personal Addresses to Him The like Papers were also Presented to the General but all signify'd nothing for the Commissioners for the Tryal proceeded to make all things in a readiness and to that purpose Order'd that the Sword and Mace tho' they had the King's Arms thereon should be brought into the Court at His Tryal and the King to be brought from St. James's where he was then a Prisoner to Sir Robert Cotton's House at Westminster They erected a Tribunal called The High Court of Justice over which was appointed One hundred and fifty Judges at the upper end of Westminster-Hall the Courts of Chancery and Kings-Bench being ordered into one and these Judges were impower'd to Convent Hear Judge and Execute Charles Stuart King of England All things being now fitted up the King on Saturday the 20 th was brought from St. James
through the Park in a Chair to Whitehall and from thence carried by Water under a Guard to Sir Robert Cotton's House at the back end of Westminster-Hall the Judges in the mean time met in the Painted Chamber attending upon their President Serjeant Bradshaw in his Scarlet Robe who had the Sword born before him by Col. Humphrey the Mace by Serjeant Denby and twenty Men with Partizans for his Guard When they came into the Court the President sat him down in a Crimson Velvet Chair of State fixed in the midst of the Court with a Desk before him and a Cushion of Crimson Velvet thereon and the Seats on each side of him were Benches covered with Scarlet-cloth And after silence made the Great Gate of the Hall was set open for any to enter in after which Col. Thompson was commanded to bring forth the Prisoner who was conducted with twenty Partizans and other Guards and was by the Serjeant with his Mace received to the Bar where was a Red Velvet Chair set for him He looked sternly upon the Court and up to the Galleries then sat him down but presently got up again and looked downward on the Guard and multitude of Spectators not shewing the least regard to the Court all the while then was the Act of Parliament read over for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England by the Clerk who sat on the right side of the Table covered with a Turky Carpet placed at the feet of the President upon which lay the Sword and Mace and the several Names of the Judges in the Roll were called over and Eighty answered to their Names When that was over then the King's Charge was brought wherein he was accused in the Name of the People of England of Treason Tyranny Murders Rapines c. and more especially for levying War against the Parliament And the President stood up and said Sir You have heard your Charge containing such matters as appears in it and in the close it is pray'd that you answer to your Charge which this Court expects The King replied By what Authority did they bring him to a Trial who was their King against the Publick Faith so lately given him when he commenced a Treaty with both Houses of Parliament Urged them to shew what Lawful Authority they had to call him to an account which if they did he would readily answer otherwise advised them to avert the Judgments that might hang over their heads for such their proceedings against him The President rejoyned that he was called to an account by the People of England by whose Election he was admitted King The King here insists upon his inherent birth-right and that the Kingdom was Hereditary for above a thousand years and that he stood more apparently for the Liberty of the People of England by rejecting an unlawful and arbitrary Authority than the Judges or any other whatsoever did by asserting of it That no Lords appear'd there who to constitute a Parliament should have been present and some King also but that neither the one nor the other nor both the Houses of Parliament nor any other Judicature on Earth had any Authority to call the King of England to account much less some certain Judges chosen by his accusers masked with the Authority of the Lower House and the same proculcated However he wills them again to produce their Authority and he would not be wanting to his Defence for as much as it was the same offence with him to acknowledge a Tyrannical Power as to resist a lawful one But the President made answer That he was not to question the Jurisdiction of the Court that they were satisfied with their Authority as it was upon God's Authority and the Kingdom 's in doing of Justice and that this was their present work To which the King said That it was not his own nor their apprehensions neither that ought to decide it and so the President ordered the Prisoner to be taken into Custody and then the Court adjourned till the Monday following being the 22. of January to the Painted Chamber and from thence to the same place again and the King was carried back in the same manner as before to St. James's The Court accordingly met on Monday in the Painted Chamber and there considering the King's Resolution to deny the Jurisdiction of the Court or of that which did constitute it of which debate they had no proper cognizance nor could they being a derivative power which made them Judges from which there was no Appeal they therefore order that if the King offer to dispute the same again the President should tell him That the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament had constituted that Court whose power might not be permitted to be disputed by him and that if he refused to answer it should be accounted a Contumacy to the Court that if he answered with a Salvo his pretended Prerogative above the Court he should be required to give a Positive answer yea or no that he should not have a Copy of his Charge till he owned the Court and declared his intentions to answer This being concluded on the King is again brought to the Bar in the same manner where the Solicitor Cook moved that the Prisoner might make a positive answer or that the Charge might be taken pro Confesso and so the Court proceed to Justice and the President did briefly repeat the passages of the last day and commanded the King to answer to the Articles of Charge unless he had rather hear the Capital Sentence given against him But the King still persisted to Interrogate concerning their Authority that he had weighty Reasons why he should not acknowledg this new form of Judicature that they had no Law for it and that they could not have an extraordinary Authority Delegated from the People seeing they had not consulted so much as every tenth Man in that matter But the President put him in mind of his doom and told him the Court was abundantly satisfied of their Authority nor were they to hear any Reasons that should detract from their Power And when the King urged to give in his Reasons in Writing it would by no means be admitted and so the President commanded the Prisoner to be taken away The third Days Trial which was Tuesday was in effect the same as the last mentioned in respect to the Court's demands and the King's answer so that the Court adjourned till next Morning at Ten of the Clock but the Examination of Witnesses and other intervening business prevented their then sitting so that it was Saturday Morning January 27. before they assembled and 68. of the Judges answered to their Names As the King was brought into the Court the Soldiers cried for Justice and Execution and the King desired to be heard a few words and so goes on to shew how a sudden Judgment could not be soon recalled c. But the President magnified the Patience the Court had had
towards him advised him now at length to submit otherwise he should hear the Sentence of Death resolved on by the Court against him but he still refused to plead and desired he might have liberty to say some things for the good of the People before both Houses but the President said this would but delay and retard Justice But the King answered that he had not sought occasions of delay else he would have made a more Elaborate contestation of the Cause but that there could be no hurt in a delay of a day or two rather than precipitate Judgment which might lay the Nation under perpetual Miseries and so desired to withdraw and the Court to consider The King was carried to Cotton-house and the Judges withdrew to the Court of Wards and in half an hour returned and when the King insisted still that he might be first heard before his Parliament and not prevailing the President went on and shewed how contumacious he had been how hateful his Crimes were and asserted the Parliamentary Authority producing Examples both Domestick and Foreign especially out of Scotland wherein the People had punished their Kings and then affirmed that the Power of the People of England was not less over their King That the Guilt of this King was greater than of all others as being one who according to Caligula's wish had attempted to cut off the neck of the Kingdom by waging War against the Parliament for all which he was in his Charge called Tyrant Traytor Murderer and a Publick Enemy to the Commonwealth and that it had been well if that any of those terms might have been spared At which words the King said How Sir but the other went on and argued that Rex est qui bene regit Tyrannus qui populum opprimit and so lodged Arbitrary Government on him which he sought to put upon the People That his Treasons were his breach of trust to the Kingdom as his Superior and was therefore called to an account Minimus majorem in judicium vocat That his Murders were many as being guilty of the Blood shed in the War between him and his people which could not be cleansed but by the Blood of him who shed that Blood he wished him to have God before his Eyes and called God to witness that the Court came meerly out of the Conscience of their Duty to that place and imployment which they were resolved to effect and called for God's assistance in his Execution Here the King made a motion to speak but was told his time was now past and his Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England in Parliament have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he had been three times Convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanors was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. as in the Charge which was read throughout to which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his Answer but he refused so to do and so exprest several passages at his Trial in refusing to answer for all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge that the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murderer and Publick Enemy shall be put to death by severing his Head from his Body And then the President said the Sentence now read and published is the Act Sentence Judgment and Resolution of the whole Court to which the Members of the Court stood up and assented by holding up their Hands Then the King was taken away and the Court broke up As the King was lead along some of the Mobb carried it very rudely and unchristianly towards him and that Night which was Saturday January 27. he was Lodged in Whitehall next day the Bishop of London Preached before him in his Chamber and the same day the President and all the Members of the High Court of Justice fasted in the Chappel at Whitehall On Monday Morning he was conveyed to St. James's and in the mean time Sir Hardress Waller Colonel Harrison Colonel Dean Commissary General Ireton and Col. Oaks were to consider of the time and place for Execution and the President and Judges met on Monday Morning Jan. 29. in the Painted Chamber who together with the Committee resolved that the open Street before Whitehall was the fittest place that the King should be there Executed on tho next day between Ten and Two a Clock upon a Scaffold covered with Black The King who was now apprehensive of the approach of his fatal end exprest his desires by a Member of the Army That in regard Sentence of Death was past upon him and that the time of Execution might be near that he might see his Children and so receive the Sacrament and to prepare himself for Death and that the Bishop of London might pray with him in private in his Chamber all which was granted him When the fatal day appear'd which was Tuesday Jan. 30. about Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon he was called upon to come forth from St. James Palace now his Prison and was Conducted on Foot over the Park to Whitehall Guarded with a Regiment of Foot part whereof marched before the rest behind with Colours flying and Drums beating his private Guard of Partizans being next him Dr. Juxton Bishop of London on the one side and Col. Tomlison on the other they went up by the Stairs to the Park Gallery and so into his Cabinet-Chamber where he continued at his Devotion and refused to Dine only about Twelve-a-Clock he Eat a Bit of Bread and drank a Glass of Claret From thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting-House and the Great Window Enlarged out of which he ascended the Scaffold the Rails whereof were hung round and the Floor covered with Black with the Block and Axe set in the middle and the Executioners wearing Vizzards standing by He looked round about upon the People who were kept a considerable distance off by the thick Guards and Troops of Horse that beset the Scaffold and turning to the Officers and more particularly to Col. Tomlison begun with what necessity there lay upon him to say somewhat lest his silence might be made an argument of his guilt and with a Protestation of his innocency in reference to any design he had to retrench the just Priviledges of Parliament yet acknowledged his punishment to be just from God and instanced only in his giving way to the death of the Earl of Strafford appealed to the Bishop of London who stood by for his forwardness to forgive his Enemies yet professed a great concernedness for the Weal of the Kingdom shewed how the then Managers of the State were in the wrong to think to govern by the Sword advised them to restore his Son to the Inheritance of his Ancestors and the People to their Rights and due Liberties
to the abrogating of which by the enormous power of the Sword because he could by no means be induced he was brought thither to undergo a Martyrdom for his People Then he prayed and being minded by the Bishop to satisfie the Spectators as to his Religion he said that he had deposited the Testimony of his Faith with that holy Man meaning the Bishop That his Life and Profession had been well known and that now he died in the Christian Faith according to the Profession of the Church of England as the same was left him by his Father of Blessed Memory And then turning about to the Officers and professing the hopes he had of his Salvation he began to prepare for the Circumstances of Death The Bishop put on his Night-cap and uncloathed him to his Sky-coloured Sattin Wastcoat he delivered his George to the Bishop's hands and charged him to remember to give the same to the Prince and having prayed again he stooped down to the Block and had his Head severed from his Body at one Blow about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon the day aforesaid in the year 1648. dying the same death as to kind as his Grandmother Mary Queen of Scots had done sixty two years and eight days before at Fothringham Castle in Northamptonshire and I think was no whit inferior to her in the misfortunes of his Life And to note a few his three Favourites to wit Buckingham Laud and Strafford undergoing a violent death and the two latter falling by the Axe as forerunners of his own destiny And as to his own Personal errors when Bristol was cowardly surrendred by Fines had he then marched to London as he might have done very well all had been his own but loytering to no purpose at Gloucester he was soon after well banged by the Earl of Essex When he had worsted Essex in Cornwall he neglected the like opportunity of getting to London Guilty he was of the same oversight in not commanding the Duke of Newcastle to march Southwards toward the Metropolis of England before the Scots entred the English Borders and in not doing the like himself after he had taken Leicester for there was nothing then that could have hindred him to become Master of the City The same ill success he had as to his Treaties about being restored And in short he was generally unfortunate in the World in the esteem not only of his Enemies but in some sort of his Friends too for as the later were n'er pleased with his breach of Faith so the former would say he could never be fast enough bound and the Blood that some years before dropt upon his Statue at Greenwich and the falling off of the Silver Head of his Cane at his Trial were interpreted as dismal presages of his disastrous fate His Head and Trunk after the Execution were immediately put into a Coffin and conveyed to the Lodgings in Whitehall and there Embowelled and from thence conveyed to St. James House and Coffined in Lead About some fortnight after the Duke of Lennox Marquess of Hartford Earl of Southampton and Bishop of London got leave to bury the Body which they conducted to the Chappel at Windsor and Interred it there in the Vault of Henry the Eight with this Inscription only upon his Coffin Charles King of England And herein he was more unhappy than his Grandmother Mary for whereas her Corpse were some years after her death taken up by her Son King James and Reposited with all the Funeral Pomp that could be in the Chappel of King Henry the Seventh her Great Grand Father This King's Remains notwithstanding the Commons had Voted in 1669 the Sum of 50000 l. for the Charge of taking it up a Solemn Funeral had of it and a Monument for it yet lay neglected as if it had been blasted by fate King Charles the Second his Son they said forbidding of it A Physician that made inspection into the dissection of the Body related that nature had designed him above the most of mortal men for a long life but Providence ordered it otherwise for he was cut off in the Forty ninth year of his Age being his Climacterical and twenty fourth of his Reign leaving six Children behind him three Sons Charles Prince of Wales James Duke of York and Henry Duke of Gloucester whereof the two Elder were Exiles and three Daughters Mary Princess of Orange Elizabeth a Virgin who not long survived him and Henrietta Maria born at Exeter Charles his Eldest Son who was then at the Hague when he heard of his Father's disastrous fate assumed the Title of King of England c. tho an Exile and without any Kingdom to command He was born at St. James's May 30. 1630. it was said a Star appeared over the place where he had been born in broad day which in those times was interpreted to prognosticate his happiness but the Ecclipse of the Sun which happened presently after was no less a presage of his future Calamities There was little remarkable in him or concerning him till the year 1639 when the unhappy disaster of breaking his Arm befell him and that not long after he was afflicted with a violent Feaver accompanied with a little of the Jaundice but having at length recovered his perfect health and the fatal differences begun long before but now daily increasing between the King his Father and the People he accompanied him into the North of England where he was a Spectator of that dismall Cloud which tho small at its first gathering yet was pregnant with that dreadful storm which in a short time spread it self over him his Father and three Nations For going to take possession of Hull as they thought they were by Sir John Hotham denied Entrance and forced to wait several hours at the Gate all in vain From this time forward the War increasing between the King and Parliament he was first spectator of that successless Battle to his Father's Arms at Edgehill staid some time after at Oxford From thence returning to the Field and the King's forces in the West under the command of the Lord Hopton of which the Prince was nominally General being routed by General Fairfax he was necessitated to retire to the Isle of Scilly and from thence betook himself into France To whom his Father now depriv'd of Command himself sent a Commission of Generalissimo of those few Royalists that survived the late unhappy overthrows and this brought him to the Isle of Guernsey where he possest himself of some Vessels that lay there and having joyned them to those he had brought with him out of France he sailed from thence into the Downs where he seized several rich Merchant-Ships and expected some Land-forces from Holland raised by the Prince of Orange for his Service But alas he was as unfortunate now in his Warlike attempts as his Father had been before and was still in his Treaties of Peace for Poyer and Langhorn who made a
rising in Wales were soon beaten so were the Surry Essex and Kentish Forces without any reinforcements from him as was designed and when he Landed some forces for the relief of Deal-Castle they were vanquished almost as soon as Landed This with the taking of Colchester by Sir Thomas Fairfax sent him back again to his Sister the Princess of Orange to the Hague Here it was that he was first Entertained with the horrible news of his Father's Tragical death and then saluted by the name of King but a forlorn Man and without any Subjects to govern for now the Rump Parliament ruled the Roast in England and had assumed to themselves the Supream power of the Nation by the name and title of the Commonwealth of England but this procedure of theirs did not relish well with the Scotch Covenanters and especially now they found that those Persons in the English Parliament that had been most forward in establishing the Solemn League and Covenant between both Nations were not only laid aside but clapt up into nasty PRISONS Wherefore being willing to lay hold on any Twig the Scots resolve not to put up the supposed injury tamely but to try their Fortune with the Rump by Arms and to that end agree to invite the King over to take Possession of his ancient Kingdom of Scotland but yet tye him so by vertue of the Treaty with him to take their Solemn League and Covenant as a Testimony of his sorrow for his Father's Sins and to banish all those out of his Court who would not take the Covenant or bare Arms for his Father But they could not have found a Plant as Mr. Coke observes more unlikely to produce the Fruit of Repentance or to establish Presbytery than himself however over Shooes over Boots prepare he does to waft himself over for Scotland To be a King in fact he desired above all other things and in June 165O landed at the Spey in the North having scaped a scouring for some of the Rump Ships lay in wait for him as he passed the Sea and narrowly mist him In some time after he was solemnly Crowned at Scone but alass it was no long-liv'd Dignity and he had but little Joy of his Crown for Cromwel had entred Scotland with the English Army and having beaten the Scots in several smaller Rencounters did at last upon the 8 of September utterly overthrow the much more numerous Kirk Army at Dunbar commanded by old General Lesley killing 3000 of them in the Battle and pursuit and taking 9000 Prisoners with all their Baggage and Ammunition with above 200 Colours To augment these Miseries the King who was very squeamish in Religion and could not submit to the rigid discipline of the Kirk runs from Scone towards the High-lands after whom ran Montgomery promising if he would return the Kirk would remit part of the Discipline and so he came to St. John's Town But here was no lasting Tranquillity for him for tho' in this time he raised a very numerous Army yet the Kirkmen being beaten at Dunbar as aforesaid by the English began to rail bitterly against those who had called the King in too hastily before he had given true signs of Repentance and they assumed the Kingly Authority so far as to make such Generals of the Kirk Army as they thought sit But Cromwel in the mean time prevails in his Conquests and tho' Scotland were a cold Climate yet he made it too hot for the King and his Army to hold long there and therefore he slips with them to England by the way of Carlile but was followed close at the heels by Lambert and Harrison and soon after by Cromwel himself with the main Army But he arrived at Worcester City with little opposition and there Cromwel came up with him where they joyned Battle but as all his attempts before in his Fathers Cause had proved succesless he met with no better Fortune now he fought in his own Cause nor indeed hardly ever did in all his Life-time by Arms for here his Army was utterly Routed by Cromwel that very day twelve Month he had beaten the Scots at Dunbar 3550 whereof were killed with Duke Hamilton and General Forbes and 5000 taken Prisoners of which number were the Earls of Rothes Kanworth and Kelly the Lords Sinclaer and Monâ—gomery General of the Ordinance and soon after David Lesley who fought not or but little in the Battle was Routed by Colonel Lilburn and together with Lauderdale the Lords Kenmoure and Middleton taken Prisoners The poor King seeing all now irrecoverably lost about six in the Evening marched out at St Martin's Gate leaving all that was valuable but his Life behind him as a prey to the Enemy and being come to a place called Barbon-Bridge he consults with the few followers he had with him what to do among whom it was resolved he should endeavour to get back into Scotland and one Walker who belonged to the Lord Talbots Troop was made choise of to be his Guide Northward But Walker being at a loss when he came to Kinver-Heath and not knowing which way to go the King consulted with the Lords yet about him whither he might repair with most safety to take a few hours rest in regard he found himself quite worn out and spent whereupon the Earl of Derby advised him to go to Bosoobel where in his Flight from Wiggan to Worcester he met with a trusty Person and where there was great conveniency of Concealment This being agreed to Mr. Gifford who knew the way best was appointed to conduct him thither but he proposing to carry him first to White-Ladies a house about half a mile from Boscobel where he might repose himself a while and then take farther Resolutions this was consented to and thither they immediately repaired and were readily entertained by George Pendrel the youngest of the five Brethren By this time the King found himself extream hungry and very much tired with his long and hasty march and here it was that he rubbed his hands and face with the foot of the Chimney had the locks of his hair disorderly cut off and was stripped of his blew Ribbon buff Câ—at and other Princely Ornaments which to prevent a discovery were buryed under Ground and his Case now was not imparallell to his Great Ancestor Robert Bruce King of Scotland who for fear of Edward I. King of England was forced to sculk in the High-Lands and there to live for a time more like a Brute Beast then a Man much less a Prince as we have noted towards the beginning of this History The Kings fine Shirt was also exchanged for a course Canvass one borrowed of one Martin and a suit of Cloaths answerable to it of Richard Pendrells put on by him and then he assumes the name and imployment of a Woodman and so with Richard with a Bill in his hand he went into the Wood while the other Brothers went out to scout It was not above
to run away with the prey from both of them The People of England were no more satisfied before with their imaginary happiness in the King's Restoration but they were now upon the ill management of Affairs the much Treasure that had been spent to so little purpose and more especially upon our Conjunction with the French to the manifest hazard of the Protestant Religion as well as the Civil Rights of Europe as much uneasie and suspitious of the Court-proceedings And it did not a little incense them that the French made such a Progress in Flanders and got all by Land while we got nothing but Blows at Sea and therefore the House of Commons on the 31. of October 1673. Voted that considering the present State of the Natition they would not take into further Consideration any Aids or Charges upon the Subject except it did appear that the obstinacy of the Dutch did render it necessary nor before the Kingdom should be effectually secured from Popery and Popish Counsels and other Grievances redressed which procedure thunder-struck the King and his Frenchified Council so as that a Peace with the Dutch was quickly huddled up and so he then set up for a Mediator of Peace between the rest and the Treaty spun out to a very great length at Nimeguen and was at last concluded after some years Conferences without King Charles consent by Beverning the Dutch Agent which spared him a labour of entring into an actual War with Franee as the Parliament would have had him and to which he was as unwilling as he had been before forward in his engaging against the Dutch a Protestant State The remainder of his succeeding Reign was as uneasie to himself and to the Nation upon the account first of the Popish Plot the many endeavours to stiffle it the Bill of Exclusion and the Division of the Nation into Whig and Torry hereupon then that called the Presbyterian Plot both Plots they said against his life which if true he was the more unhappy for which last the Noble Lord Russel suffered and the Great Earl of Essex had his Throat Barbarously cut in the Tower of London the King's Prison and King Charles had the unhappiness to be there that day where he had not been hardly in twenty years before And last of all the forfeiture and seizure of Charters which tho carried on with great fury in his Reign that thereby he might have a Parliament of his own choosing as Cromwell had and so do what he pleased yet he did not live to compleat his designs Tho' the Censures upon the manner of his Death are various yet most are agreed says the Author of the Introduction to King Charles II. Character there was some fraud in it some ascribing it to the intreagues of France who as they Undid his Father by a Wife Ruined the Son by a Mistress and therefore alleadge that the French King being weary of feeding him with Pensions and dreading his natural Parts if upon any disgust he should come to unite with his Parliaments against France he thought it his Interest to take him off and make way for a Successor who as he made open profession of his own Religion would be more pliable to his dictates Then as touching the method of effecting it they say that the Dutchess of P. who bewitched him with her Amours and had not only drained the substance of his Body but likewise the substance of his Purse either of which being once accomplished the Love of a St â—t to her Paramour vanishes so that having a mind to change Gallants or seeing no more hopes of former advantages she gave him such Provocatives as made him act beyond his natural Strength and threw him into those Apoplectick Fits which carryed him off There are others who ascribe his Death to the Romish Faction who being angry at his having so often deceived them and impatient till they came to a tryal of skill for establishing their Religion while Lewis XIV was in the height of his Power and Glory did therefore administer the fatal Dose which sent King Charles II. a Packing and brought his Brother to the Throne under whose auspicious Conduct they made no question of restoring the Church of Rome to the full possession of all she had formerly enjoy'd in these three Kingdoms It 's certain there were some accidents fell out some time before the King's Death that raised some Jealousy in the breast of the Romanists who thought by that he would upon the presenting of the first opportunity face about as they found by experience he had more then once done and fall in with the Interest of a Party he now for some years by their instigation had been endeavouring to destroy and root out of the World And what rendred their suspitions of him the more incurable was that a Pamphlet having been spread abroad a little before Christmas 1684. setting forth that the Earl of Essex had not cut his own Throat but had been Murdered by Russians set on by the Papists c. the King upon the hearing of it should say Well I am resolved to examine Essex's Cause once more And that he might meet with no obstruction in the way he ordered the Duke his Brother to prepare to go for Scotland which the other whether smelling the design or that the train to blow the King up was already layd by him absolutely refused to do this occasioned high words between them insomuch that the late M. of H. who was well known to be a great favourite coming on the Sunday before the King Dyed to wait upon him after Evening Service he found him in his Closet alone under great concern of Mind puffing after a more then ordinary rate and looking pensive with his Face towards the ground which the M. observing made him stand still till the King looking up asked hastily How now my Lord How do you do to which the M. answering the better to see his Majesty well and soforth the King returned again to his former posture but at length broke forth into these Words My Lord will you be ingenious with we and answer me one question to which the Marquess replying he would if he could Then said the King I charge you upon your Alleagiance to tell me how I stand affected with the People of England The M. after some pause answered Sir you have been always ranked among the mercifull and Clement Princes and have given evident Testimonies of your being so upon various occasions but I must tell your Majesty that of late your Government has been somewhat uneasy to your People Well said the King one thing I am resolved on I 'll once more throw my self upon the People of England and to that end will go this week into the City and I 'le call a Parliament at the Guild-Hall the M. was somewhat surprized at these words and said Sir If that be your Resolution I pray God to bless it but let me beg of
your Majesty never to let it go out of your own Breast any further tilâ— you put it in Execution Which when the King had promised to do they parted The King that night supped at P. Lodgings where he seemed to be very merry and in the close drunk a Dish of Chocolate prepared by a Wise Lady of which he complained again and again that it tasted hotter than ordinary but he sipped it off and thence went to his Rest Next morning which was Munday he was taken very Ill which no doubt was the effect of the last nights Entertainment however they might call his Distemper and so continued till the Fryday following in extream Misery and Anguish when he dyed most People suspecting he had foul Play And many that saw him during his Illness believing it to be so and particularly says the Author of his Character the most knowing and deserving of his Physitians Doctor Short did not only believe him Poysoned but thought himself so too not long after for having declared his opinion a little too boldly in the case And as the manner and contrivance of this King's Death was the work of Darkness so were his Funeral Obsequies for never any King who dyed possest of a Crown was so obscurely and contemptibly Buryed being hurryed in the dead of the Night to his Grave as if his Corps had been to be arrested for Debt and not so much as the Blew-Coat Boys to attend it King Charles was no sooner gone but James Duke of York his only surviving Brother ascends the English Throne by the style and Title of James II. And made open Profession immediately of the Popish Religion for which some in his Brother's Reign were severely punished for but saying he was such or so inclined and not only so but ordered his Brothers Dying in the Communion of the Church of Rome and before his Death his receiving his Viaticum and other Ceremonies of that Church and attested by Father Huddleston to be printed and also the Papers taken out of the King 's strong Box shewing That however he outwardly appeared otherwise in his Life yet in his Heart he was sincerely a true Roman Catholick He made profession in his Speech to the Council the day of his Brother's Death that he would preserve the Church and State of England as by Law Established and as he would never depart from the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so he would never invade any Man's Property but how ill he conformed himself hereunto is but too manifestly known to all the World For the very first Week he took both the Customs and the Excise granted only for his Brothers Life before they were given him by Parliament And for the Church I think no Man so Audacious as to deny the design of his whole tho' blessed be God short Reign was to overthrow it by the introduction of his own Monkish Religion in the room of it But if he was unhappy first in making such a Promise of adhering to both Church and State as then Established contrary no doubt to the designs he had framed before of Ruining them he was much more so in the methods he took to bring his ends about which Terminated at last in a fatal Abdication yet so as that he remains to this day naturally alive to be a living Monument and confessor of his own egregious folly And the loss of the Button of his Scepter that day he was Crowned which as far as I could hear was never found was I remember then Interpreted by some as a presage of no lasting connection between him and the Nation His petty success against the D. of Monmouth and his Adherents did not a little elate his spirits which gave him an opportunity to keep a standing Army and put such Officers into it as were of his own stamp and so being backt with this Armed Power he proceeds bare-fac'd to dispence with the Laws by granting Liberty of Conscience to all that dissented from the Church of England thinking hereby and by a timely regulating of Corporations to gain such a Parliament as would quite repeal them And that in the mean time he might curb the Church and the Universities he puts his High Commission upon their Backs thinking by it to worry them into a compliance And because my Lord of London would not comply with his Arbitrary Proceedings Jeffery's with this Popish Bull I mean the High Commission roared him into a Suspension And because the Fellows of Magdalen-Colledge would not contrary to their Statutes and Oaths choose a President to the King's mind he first entertained them with a Dish of Billingsgate and then by virtue of the same Commission sent them a Grazing into the Countries to make room for his own Popish Seminaries and Cut-throat Jesuits But among all the actions of this King 's Diminitive reign That of sending the Bishops to the Tower not for refusing to take care to have the Declaration of Indulgence read in their respective Diocesses but for Petitioning of him in a regular and dutiful manner wherein they gave their Reasons why they could not comply with his order together with an Introduction of a Prince of Wales into the World as a new Miracle to the Legend the next day after their Commitment was the rashest most inconsiderate and madest thing he could be guilty of Surely when he did this he wanted some body to pray over the Poets wish for him Dii te damasippe Deaeque Donent Tonsore For it was most apparent by the Universal Joy expressed throughout the Nation at their Acquitment how they resented their Commitment and Trial And if the King did before decline in the affection of the People day by day I may truly say this was a concluding act and lost him England For now all the Eyes of the People are turned from him towards Holland where the Prince of Orange was Arming to come to their relief The King would not at first believe that the vast Preparations in Holland concerned him tho the French King had given him notice of them the 26. of August before but being at length convinced by the States Manifesto of the truth of the matter he undid in one day all that he had been doing since his first coming to the Crown as dissolving his Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs restoring the City of London to all its Ancient Franchises and Charters as fully as before the Quo Waranto and giving order for the resetling the Expelled Fellows of Maudlin Colledge in their places again He made also great Preparations both by Sea and Land for to defend himself but tho he be naturally still alive and he above knows who knows all things what his end may be yet all these Precautions and windings against the grain were so far from preventing that they did now but concur to precipitate his Civil death which we shall now briefly relate unto you The Prince of Orange having on November the Fifth Landed
his Army in Torbay he presently Published his Declaration setting forth the Cause of his coming Upon which some of the Nobility and Gentry joyned him and others made Preparations in the remoter parts to declare for him King James upon the News of the Princes Landing ordered his Army to march Westward with a resolution to follow in Person But before he went he thought it requisite to provide for the safety of his darling Prince of Wales whom the Prince of Orange in his Manifesto spread about the Kingdom some days before declared upon just and visible grounds that both himself and all the Good People of England did vehemently suspect not to be born of the Queen's Body Wherefore several Persons were summoned who were present at the pretended birth to declare the truth upon Oath and to have the same registred in Chancery but the King not daring to trust to the validity of these Affadavits which the Nation had all the reason in the world to suspect he ordered the Yonker to be sent away with a strong Guard to Portsmouth that if things went ill he should be convey'd over into France In the mean time the Prince of Orange prospered in his Army and advanced as far as Exeter and was joyned among multitudes of others that flocked in to him daily out of the adjacent Countries by the Lord Cornbury with Three Regiments along with him which he carried off from the King's Army About this time the Prince received also intelligence that the Lord Delamere had declared for him in Cheshire King James being informed of all these things was horribly dismayed and uncertain whether he should go to the Army or no However at length he took up a resolution of going to Salisbury where he began to bleed violently at the Nose which together with the many ill adventures that befell him there as his being forsaken by his own Daughter the Princess Anne Prince George the Duke of Grafton the Lord Churchill and many others who went over to the Prince then at Sherborn all of them dangerous limbs to be lost by him he returned Novemb. 26. in the Evening to London where for an accumulation of the rest of his Misfortunes he received an Address from the Fleet for a Free Parliament So that thinking London nay all England now too hot to hold him he first sent his Queen and pretended Son into France and quickly after followed himself In order thereunto he put himself Aboard a small Smach Commanded by one Captain Saunders but was forced for shelter to put into Eastwall the Eastern part of the Isle of Sheppy in order to the taking in of Ballast where the Inhabitants of Feversham being abroad to pick up Jesuits and other suspected persons met this Vessel and having seized it found this wretched Prince attended only by Sir Edward Hales and Mr. Labady therein who not being at first known were all of them but coarsly handled by the Mobilâ—ty more particularly the King himself who was rifled of what Gold and Jewels he had about him and had his Clothes rent and torn in the searching of him When the Lords at London had notice of his being at Feversham they sent some Persons to attend him to move him to return but they had in the mean time made their application to the Prince of Orange for to assist them for the Security of the Protestant Religion and sent some of their number with Four Aldermen and Eight Commoners to attend him at Henley The King who was detained at Feversham till the aforesaid Orders came from London did December 15. remove to Rochester and from thence next day being Sunday returned to Whitehall attended once more like a King of England with a Troop of Granadiers and three Troops of the Life-guard But it was only Pageant greatness for a set of Boys only followed him through the City and made some Huzza's but the rest of the People silently looked on And here he found the Popish Religious houses laid as flat to the ground as his own heart was now sunk deep in his body Upon his Arrival at London and finding there no ease he desired the Prince that he might return to Rochester again which being granted readily he took his final farewell of the City and went to the foresaid place where he staid till the 23. of December when about One or Two in the Morning he privately withdrew taking only Mr. Shâ—â—don and Delabady along with him with whom he went to Dover and there Embarkt in a Vessel that lay ready for his Transportation to France So he went out like a snuff in England but still retained some glimmering light in Scotland and Ireland in the last of which he arrived in Person the March following But his light in Scotland did not long burn for the Convention there as well as in England rejected him as the Violator of all their Rights and Dundee falling by the Sword the July following 1689 together with the Surrender of Edenburg Castle and other misfortunes quite extinguished his hopes there But in Ireland he had a name to live as King till about a year after when his Army being totally routed at the Boyn by our brave King William he made as much haste to get over into France as if he had been to go to take possession of a Crown instead of running away from one Various Struggles he made still to recover a Regal Life but he prosecuted his ends by such Villanous Methods and Instruments and more especially by setting his Vile Assassins on Work to Murder the best of Kings and bravest of Men our Lawful and Rightful Sovereign King William III. as are not to be mention'd but with utmost Horror But through the goodness of Heaven they have met with as little success as the Practices have been foul and Clandestine and so we leave him to him that made him and withall wish him a far greater proportion of rest and happy Tranquillity in the future World then he hath found of unrest and disquietude here and a much speedier translation into that state then the hast himself hath made to precipitate his own Abdicated fate The Abdicated Throne was filled up by the Advancement of a Prince and Princess to it that England was n'er blest with the like before one in Religion and one in Interest and Affection with the Nation our King Hero-like Fighting our Battels abroad and pray think it not a small thing for England has not enjoy'd such a Blessing these Hundred and fifty years and it has scarce ever been well with us when our Kings did not go in and out before our People and our Queen as wisely and gently Swaying the Scepter at Home to the Gladning of all our Hearts and in all Her excellent Comportment choosing to Rule in the Love and Affections rather than the Fears of Her People Here we promis'd our selves a lasting Tranquility and many happy days to come under the benign influence of her Reign but Alass alass our hopes quickly vanished our Joys faded our Hearts failed us for fear and sable clouds of Despair overshaddowed our whole Isle by Her unexpected by Her early I say by Her early tho' natural Transition from a Corruptible to an Incorruptible Diadem Her gain it was but our loss She tho' young yet ripe for ineffable Joys above And we tho' long inur'd to Tryal unripe for to sustain the loss of Her here below And surely no Prince ever departed this Transitory Life that was so unfeignedly lamented by his Subjects as this incomparable Queen as was apparent by our universal mournful weeds without a demonstration of the blackning sadness of our hearts within The last she was and incomparably the best of the Stuarts that wore a Crown and the Second of that number that went to Her Grave in Peace as Robert II. who was the first of the Stuarts that ever was King was the only other of the Kingly Race that did so I know Mr. Coke says in his Character of King Charles II. That none of His Name hereafter was ever like to have a Stone to cover his Grave as King of England but that I will not say as not pretending to know what is laid up in the Womb of Futurity But if you please after all this Mournful Entertainment I 'll tell you a Story The Lyon on a time called to the Sheep and asked her If his Breath smelt she innocently said Ay which made him bite off her head for a Fool then he called to the Wolf and asked him who reply'd No and his head he bit off for a Flatterer last of all he put the same Question to the Fox but the Fox truly for his part desired to be excused for he had a Cold upon him and could not Smell FINIS Robert Stuart by the Name of Robert II. tho' the first of the Stuarts was crowned King of Scotland Mar. 25. Anno Dom. 1370 Robert III. Alias John Stuart began his Reign An. Dom. 1390. James Stuart I. began his Reign actually Anno 1423. having been a Prisoner in England almost eighteen Years James Stuart II began his Reign March 27. 1437. James Stuart III. began his Reign Anno 1460. James Stuart IV. began his Reign An. 1488. James Stuart V. began his Reign Feb. 14th 1513. James Stuart I. began his Reign over Great-Britain Mar. 24. 1602. †Charles Stuart I. began His Reign over Great Britain March 27 th 1625. Charles Stuart II. assumed the Title of King upon his Father's Death Jan. 30. 1648. Charles Stuart II. Restored to his Dominions An. 166â— James Stuart II. came to the Crown February 6. 1684 5. William of Nassaw III. and Mary Stuart II. began their Reigns Febr. 13. 1688 9.
and taking occasion to send her other Companions about frivolous Errands was secretly by him conveyed out of the Lough where she was kept Her escape being told those who were then at Dinner in the Castle they made a great stir but to little purpose for all the Boats were haled ashore and their loop holes to put out their Oars were all stopped up that so no speedy pursuit might be made She was no sooner got out of the Lough but that there were Horsemen ready on the other side to receive her who carried her to the several Houses of the Partisans in the Design and the day after to Hamilton a Town 8 miles distant from Glasgow and and at the noise thereof many resorted to her and in a short time she gathered an Army of about 6500 men In the mean time the Regent was not idle but got together what force he could at Glasgow yet not enough to equal their number however understanding that the Enemy designed to march by Glasgow and to leave the Queen in Dunbarton Castle and so either to fight or lengthen out the War as they pleased or if they found him to be so bold as to stop their passage which they believed he durst not do they resolved then to Fight and were confident they should beat him and the Regent I say understanding this resolved to be before hand with them and to urge them to Fight as soon as ever he could and to that end drew out his Men into the open Field before the Town the way that he thought the Enemy would march and there for some hours waited for them in Battle Array but when he saw their Troops pass by on the other side of the River he presently understood their design and commanded his Foot to pass over the Bridge and his Horse to Ford over the River which they might do it being low Water and so to march to Langside which was a Village by the River Carth where the Enemy were to pass situated at the foot of a Hill to the South-West the passage on the East and North was steep but on the other side there was a gentle descent into a plain thither the Regent and his Army hasted with such speeed that they had near possest the Hill before the Enemy who aimed at the same place understood their design tho' they marched thither by a nearer cut but there were two things that did very much contribute to the advantage of the Regent and his Party as they were no less a disadvantage to the Queen and her Followers for the Earl of Argyle who on the Queen's part commanded in chief fell suddenly down from his Horse sick and by his fall much retarded the march of his Party the other was that their Forces being placed here and there in little Vallies could never see all their Enemies at once whose paucity as indeed they were not many made the other despise them and the disadvantage of the place to At last when the Queen's Forces drew nigh and saw the Ground they aimed at taken up by the Enemy they advanced to another little Hill over against them and there divided their Party into two Bodies so did the other Party into two Wings placing their Musketeers in the Village and Gardens below near the Highway Both Armies being thus Marshalled in Battle Array the Queen 's Cannoneers and Foot were driven from their Posts by the Regents Forces on the other hand the Regents Horse being fewer in number were beat back by the Enemy and when they had performed that Service they endeavoured also to break the Battalions of Foot in order whereunto they charged directly up the Hill but were beat back by the Archers placed there and by some of those who after their rout had rallied again and joyned with the rest of their Body In the mean time the Left Wing of the Enemy marched by the Highway where there was a rising Ground lower down into the Valley where tho' they were gall'd by the Regents Musketeers yet passing by those straits they opened and rang'd their Body There it was the two Battalions held out a thick stand of Pikes as a Breast-work before them and fought desperately for half an hour without giving ground on either side insomuch that they whose long Pikes were broke threw Daggers Stands pieces of Pikes or Launces yea whatever they could come at into their Enemies Faces but some of the hindermost Ranks of the Regents Forces beginning to fly away whither for fear or treachery is uncertain no doubt their flight had much disordered those who stood to it unless the Ranks had been so thick that the foremost did not well know what the hindmost did then they which were in the second Battalion taking notice of the danger and perceiving no Enemy coming to Charge them sent some whole Troops to wheel to the Right and to joyn with the first whereupon the adverse Party could not bear their Charge but were wholly routed and put to flight but the Regent upon the pursuit forbid the Execution The Queen stood about a mile from the place to behold the Battle and after the discomfiture fled with some Horsemen of her Party who had escaped out of the Battle towards England from whence she shall never return to see her Native Country more being arrived at a place called Workinton in the County of Cumberland she dispatched away a Letter to Queen Elizabeth full of Complaints of hard usage in Scotland and craving her Assistance and Protection and leave to come to her but the Queen denied her access and ordered her to be conveyed to Carlisle from whence she wrote again to the Queen which brought her case under the Deliberation of the English Council who at last resolved to detain her in England till such time as she should give satisfaction for Usurping the English Arms and answered for the Death of the Lord Darnley her Husband for Darnley's Mother the Countess of Lennox had of late grievously complained to Queen Elizabeth about it and earnestly besought her to call her to a Tryal for the Murder of her Son as Mr. Cambdâ—n in his History of Queen Elizabeth has it But because her Detention in England might appear to be just in all Foreign Courts Secretary Cecil and others of the Council prevailed with Murray the Scots Regent to come into England to accuse her before such Commissioners as Queen Elizabeth should appoint and the place of meeting was to be York and to that end the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Sussex with several other Councellors went to York to hear the Regents accusation It was observed the Duke delay'd to receive the Accusation but at last speaks to Secretary Lidington that before that time he had ever esteemed him a Wise Man until that time he came before Strangers to accuse the Queen his Mistress as if England were Judge over the Princes of Scotland but continued the Duke how could you find in our