necessary if possible to prevent the Conjunction of Dowglas and Hammilton to that end he advanceth to Linlithquo where the Hammiltons were drawn together Dowglas then at Edenburgh marcheth with all possible expedition bringing along with him to countenance his affairs the person of the King who all along retardeth the journey accounting Lennox more his Friend than those with him pretending indisposition of Body ever and anon dismounteth making shew to pay some necessary office to Nature Dowglas frets and in vain spending many entreaties for expedition at length George Dowglas Brother to the Earl is so peremptory with him as in most Rebellious terms to tell him That rather than their Enemies should get possession of his Person they would rend him in pieces and divide him in halves between them This Traiterous word made an indelible impression on the heart of the King though at present silence was his best and only return At last the Armies joyn Lennox and his Patty are put to the rout many slain the Earl himself killed bewailed of all Hammilton and Dowglas both mourn for him above all the King is afflicted the remnant of his Party with sorrow and grief enough submit and are all forced to compound for their Treasons as was pretended in bearing Arms against the King the Earl of Cassils refusing to submit was way-laid and killed by one Hugh Campbell Lennox his Death divulged maketh a very deep impression in the hearts of most men especially his own Retainers one of his Servants resolveth with himself to avenge his Lord's death on the Person of the Bastard Hammilton by whom Lennox was killed To that end he repairs to Edenburgh and on his way meeting with one of his Fellow-servants he asked him saying Didst thou see Hammilton the Bastard Yea said he I saw him and hast thou not killed him unthankful Wretch who murthered our Dear Lord and Master said the Fellow Go and be hang'd thou art not worthy to live and with these words he pass'd on in his way and came streight to Holyrude House where in the Pallace-Yard stood Two thousand Armed men all Retainers to Dowglas and Hammilton there the Fellow walks full of Revenge and waiting the opportunity to execute the desire of his heart Hammilton unawares comes in his way without Arms the Fellow falls upon him in the Penthouse under the Porters-Lodge and wounds him in six several places of his Body the Armed men are all presently in confusion and well nigh in one anothers blood The Hammiltons suspecting this bold attempt to be done by the Dowglasses newly only reconciled to them to avenge some old Quarrels The Fellow is at last apprehended who had opportunity fair enough had he attempted it to escape with his Sword in his hand still smoaking with Hammilton's blood he is forthwith hurried to Tolbnith boldly professing that what he did was to revenge the death of his Dear Lord declaring with inexpressible confidence that he was sorry for nothing but that he was disappointed of his design so bravely begun by him he is put to Torture for the discovery of such as animated him to that bold attempt his Flesh is seared with burning Irons which he endured with such courage and resolution as no man could spy either by his words or by his countenance or otherwise any the least sense of pain in him at last his Right Hand was cut off which he endured without shrinking calling out to such as stood by That unhappy Hand well deserved this punishment which executed not the design of a Resolute mind The Dowglasses think themselves now secure enough no man daring to oppose them in any thing But in the midst of their security the King makes an escape from Faulkland to Sterlin there the Nobility from most parts of the Kingdom fly to him by whose advice his Majesty issueth out an Edict inhibiting the Dowglasses any further medling in publick Affairs discharging them or any of their retainers under pain of Death to come within Twelve Miles of the Court this Edict being served on the Earl in his Journey towards Sterlin he retreats to Edenburgh and prepareth Forces for his defence A Proclamation issueth from the King to call a Parliament to Assemble November the 3d. in the interim his Army advanceth towards the City Dowlas withdraws The King peaceably entreth the City Terms of Peace are offered to the Dowlasses viz. That the Earl himself should confine himself on the North of Tay his Brother George and his Vncle Archibald to the Castle of Edenburgh The Conditions are refused they are Summoned to appear before the Parliament they disobey the Earl himself his Brother George his Uncle Archibald and his dear Friend Alexander Drumond of Carnock all by sentence of Parliament Banished all People charged under pain of Treason not to relieve them the Dowlasses break out into open Violence Arguile is sent to reduce them to order whose advance they prevented by flight into England The King spendeth some time with great care and charge in suppressing the Depredations then very great on the Borders which Expedition over he establisheth the Court of Sessions formerly indeed set on foot by the Vice-Roy the Duke of Albany Constituted of Fifteen Judges of the most learned of the Law impowred to hear and determine all Civil Causes a very grave Court continuing in great Honour and deserved Respect in that Nation to this day About this time King Henry of England prepareth for War against the Scots irritated thereunto by the Scotch Exiles and Refuges in England King James having Constituted the Earl of Murray his Vice-Roy prepareth for Defence by Mediation of the French then a common Friend to both Peace is concluded King James sends Ambassadors to France to treat concerning his Marriage to a Daughter of France The King of England to prevent it sends the Bishop of St. Davids and William Hrward Brother to the Duke of Norfolk Ambassadors into Scotland to invite King James to a Personal Conference with himself whereunto he is soon persuaded by the great Promises they made of Marriage to Mary the King 's eldest Daughter if all other things succeeded well in the Treaty The Scotch Council especially the Clergy fearing Innovations in Religion then set on foot by King Henry are much troubled that his Majesty had consented to this Conference they ply him with continual surmises of Ruine to Himself to the State to Religion should this Conference hold the King is over-ruled and observeth not the day appointed but forthwith Saileth into France and is immediately espoused to Magdalen Daughter to Francis King of France the Marriage solemnized on New-years Day 1537 and both arrive in Scotland about the end of May following within six Weeks after the young Queen Dyeth to the inexpressible grief of all the Nobles put on Mourning Apparel not before that time in use in that Kingdom Immediately after David Beton Cardinal and Robert Maxwel are sent to France to demand Mary of the
of a Dangerous Traitour The Earl thus destroyed and without Issue his Cousin James succeedeth him in the Rights and Honours of the Earldom his Sister Beatrice enjoying whatsoever was not Entailed to the Heir Male James dyeth soon after his Son William Succeedeth and Marrieth his Cousin Beatrice to the great encrease of his Wealth and Power with which increased Pride and Insolence and with both Envy and Fear which the Earl perceiving resolveth to satisfie the People whom he had deeply Oppressed and to pacifie the King now come to Age whom he had highly displeased to this end he repaireth to Court submitting himself to the King whose Pardon he craved promising Amendment in all things done amiss the King receiveth him into Favour in hope of better things and indeed such was his Reformation that he was admired of all and dreaded of some especially the Vice-Roy and Chancellor knowing Guil and Fear being always inseparable Companions who suspecting and expecting the result of all his Counsels to be their Ruine they withdraw from Court laying down their Places in publick Affairs the Vice-Roy to his House in the Countrey the Chancellor to Edenburgh-Castle Earl Dowglas takes the opportunity of their Absence and by his Counsel especially both are Summoned to appear before his Majesty and great Council to give an Account of their publick Imployments both make shew of a great desire to obey but at present excuse their Non-appearance pretending Danger by reason of Earl Dowglas his Power and Enmity against them by Influence of the Earl his Counsel they are declared Traitours and their Estates confiscate Costersine a Retainer to the Earl is sent with Commission to levy their Personal Estates and to return them to the Exchequer which was accordingly done In revenge of all which the Chancellor raiseth some Forces first pillageth and then burneth Costersine his Estate and many Lands belonging to Dowglas himself This Quarrel occasioneth many Stirs in divers places in the Countrey At last Dowglas Besiegeth the Chancellor in the Castle of Edenburgh After nine Months Siege the Castle for want of Provisions is forced to surrender upon Articles of which this was the Chief A general Act of Oblivion to be past by the King in Parliament in behalf of the Chancellor and his Friends and leave to be granted to him to live in peace at his own House without Molestation of him or his This over Dowglas bendeth himself against the Levistons many of them are cited before the Parliament at Edenburgh all accused of Treason divers found Guilty Condemned and Executed Soon after Chrichton is reconciled to the King and by him made Chancellor again and sent Ambassador to France to renew the old League and to demand some Princess of the Blood in Marriage to the young King Mary Daughter to the Duke of Geldria by the Duke of Burgundy his Sister is forthwith Espoused and next Year after Arriveth in Scotland is Married to the King and Crowned Queen at Halyrude-House Anno 1449. By this time the Truce between the two Kingdoms England and Scotland determineth new Stirs begin and after some Depredations on both sides the Truce is renewed and continued for Seven Years but to very little purpose restless Men soon break the Peace the English break into Scotland spoil and plunder many places the Scots do the like in England the English raise a great Army to Invade the Scots under the Command of the Earl of Northumberland and one Magnus a Knight a Man of great Valour and Experience in War-like affairs The Scots likewise raise an Army under the Command of George Earl of Ormond Brother to the Earl Dowglas the two Armies joyn Battel between Anand and Eske in Scotland Magnus too daring a Man adventureth too far and falleth by his own rashness his Fall is the Ruine of all the whole Army runneth and is put to a satal Rout Three Thousand English killed and divers Prisoners of Quality a Rich Plunder obtained by the Scots with the Loss of 600 of their Men. This Overthrow enrageth the English a new Army is appointed to be Levied Civil Wars in England cross all An Ambassador is sent to Scotland to desire Peace Peace could not be obtained A Cessation of Arms only concluded and that with much ado for three Years Earl Dowglas next Year following desirous to see the Papal Jubilee travelleth through France with a Princely Retinue to Rome No sooner gone than whole troops of People Oppressed by him have their recourse to the King praying instantly and incessantly for Reparation of wrong done by him His Majesty is in a strait the Petitions being such as could not in Justice be refused and the Earl not being present could not in Justice be Condemned in the mean time the Earl his Proctor is called for to get in what Answer he could who refusing to appear is committed to Prison Many counsel harder things against him as guilty of high Contempt of Royal Majesty the King inclining to Moderation calleth for him out of Restraint and Commandeth him to Plead for his Lord freely and without Fear which the Proctor thus encouraged accordingly performed His Majesty having patiently heard all that possibly could be said adjudgeth reasonable Satisfaction to be made to the Oppressed The Proctor craveth respite till the return of his Lord The King adjudgeth present Satisfaction and to that end Lord William Sinclare Earl of Orkney and at that time Lord Chancellor is sent into Galloway and Dowglasdale to Commissionate Collectors to Levy my Lord's Retinue for Satisfaction of the Sums adjudged the Collectors all slighted and continued return home having done just nothing This inrageth his Majesty the chief Obstructors are sent for who refusing to appear are all denounced Rebels and Forces sent to reduce them to Order they fly to strong Holds against which the Party sent could do nothing the King marcheth in Person against them Maban Castle immediately Yieldeth Dowglas Castle reduced not without some loss to the King is laid level to the ground all the Faction at length submitteth and payeth out of Dowglas his Estate the Sums adjudged The Earl having notice of all these Troubles returneth from Rome much perplexed making a Pause in England until by his Brother he understood the King's gracious Affection towards him in the assurance whereof he Addresseth himself to his Majesty craving his Pardon for all former Miscarriages and promising all dutiful Obedience for the future is not only received into Favour but soon after declared Vice-Roy This extraordinary Grace is as soon forgot made use on to none other purpose save to advance his own Ambitious Designs whereof all Men were the more Jealous by his private withdrawing into England where he entertained a Clandestine Conference with the English King of which giving none other Reason save the Petition of some Plundred Goods the Scottish King is no less Enraged against him than Jealous of him and which the Earl understanding and knowing his Majesty's Clemency craveth
Dowglas Earl of Angus Heads of a contrary Faction Oppose her great Justling between the two Factions even unto Blood had not the Wisdom of the Bishops interposed In fine It was agreed that two of each Faction should be intrusted with the Tuition of the young King and the Government of the whole Kingdom of the Queens Faction were James Groham and Robert Boid then Lord Chancellor of the other Robert Earl of Orkney and John Kennedy chief of that Clan To these were added the Bishops of Glasco and Dunkell Men of great Learning and Integrity the Queen her self only permitted to have some inspection into the King's Education without medling in the publick Administration The younger Children are wholly committed to her Tuiton which were Alexander Duke of Albany John Earl of Marre and two Daughters These things happily Established in Parliament Audience is given to the English Ambassadors their business was for Peace and accordingly a Peace for Fifteen Years is concluded Next Year after the Queen Mother dieth Alexander the King's Brother returning from France is taken Prisoner by the English The Scots complaining of it as a breach of Peace the Child is immediately set at Liberty Things now quiet abroad new Stirs arise at home by the restless and rebellious Spirit of Donald Lord of the Isles who falleth down into the lower Countries with an Army surpriseth Ennerness and Proclaimeth himself King of the Isles and advanceth into Athol with a very powerful Army The Earl of Athol not prepared to oppose so great a Power flyeth to the Sanctuary of St. Brigit never at any time Violated before by the most barbarous of Men The rich Booty of the place was of more price to that barbarous Raven than the esteem of its Sanctity he barbarously entereth into the Sanctuary taking the Earl and his Lady and divers others Prisoners putteth most of the Priests to the Sword and having Pillaged what he could sets the Sacred place on Fire and making much hast home with his Booty the wrath of God pursueth him his Ships are cast away his Men most of them drowned himself reserved to a greater Judgment runneth Mad and remaineth so in a great height to his dying-day Such of his Fellows as escaped the present Judgment are stricken with such Inward Horrour that they voluntarily performed Penance with very great expressions of Remorse going Bare-footed in Sackcloath to the place they so much Contemned satisfying to the utmost of their power for the Expiation of their Offence This Storm over a Calm continued for a Season but all is soon overclouded by the malignant Spirit of Ambition and Envy The Boids labour to get all into their hands to which end Thomas Brother to the Lord Boyd appointed to Instruct the King in Martial Discipline and Exercises endeavoureth by evil Counsel to Alienate his Majesty's affections from all those Nobles to whose Tuition he was committed and watching his opportunity the King following his Sport with a small Retinue nigh Luilithquo is forcibly snatched out of the hands of Kennedie Earl Casles by the foresaid Thomas not without some Violence offered to the Person of the old Earl And now begins the Devil of Deadly Fewd to work the Boydes bring the King to Edenburgh Kennedie and divers others repair to their several homes watching opportunity of revenge the Boyds observing the Nobility to keep from Court procure a Parliament to be called in which Robert the Chief of the Boydes upon his bended knees complaineth of the hard Construction put upon the King's remove from Linligtheuo beseeching his Majesty to declare his sense and pleasure in that business whether he or any of his had therein offended his Highness the young King what through the fear of their Power and afraid of their flattering words with which they had seasoned him declareth that What they did was good Service done deserving rather a Reward than any Punishment this Declaration was Recorded in the Books of Parliament and an instrument to this effect given the Lord Boyd under the Broad-Seal and the same day he is declared Vice-Roy until his Majesty should happily arrive at the age of One and Twenty and as an addition to all his Greatness Mary the King 's eldest Sister is given in Marriage to Thomas Son to the said Robert Lord Boyd And now such Foundations being laid they promise themselves security in this great Pomp and Prosperity But behold the vanity of the World the envy of the People the emulation of the Peers and the alienation of the King's mind suddenly overthrow all About this time the Lord Chancellor is sent to Denmark to demand Margaret Daughter to the Danish King in Marriage to James King of Scotland he safely arrived is honourably entertained and the Marriage immediately concluded Denmark's Interest in Shitland and Orkney given in lieu of her Dower The happy Issue of this Embassage being signified to the King an Ambassadour with a Train of young Noble Men and Gentlemen is appointed to be sent over into Denmark to attend the young Queen into Scotland the young Lord Boyd Earl of Aran and now Brother in Law to the King is on all hands thought the fittest Man for this Service the young Lord accepts of his Honourable Imployment and with a very stately Train sets Sail about the end of August no sooner is he gone than a Parliament is called to Assemble November 22d in which the Boydes are all accused of High-Treason Robert the Chief flyeth into England Alexander his Brother appeareth and Pleadeth for himself is adjudged Guilty Condemned and Beheaded the Treason charged on both was Violence offered to the King's Person when they forcibly pulled him out of the Arms of the old Earl of Kennedy Miclinlithquo Behold the Uncertainty of humane Judgments the same Fact declared Good Service in one Parliament is in another judged High-Treason The next Spring the Danish Fleet arriveth with the young Queen after her Reception with very great expressions of Joy the Marriage is Solemnized in a great Concourse of the Nobility The Lord Boyd hearing of the Disasters of his Family dares not Land to partake of this Solemnity but goeth a solitary Man beyond the Seas and is entertained by the Duke of Burgundy by whom he was Honoured above all others for his gallant Service in War but in Scotland another account is made of him where he is declared Traitor and his Lands confiscated and to add to his Calamity the King recalleth His Sister Married to the Earl and being encouraged by some of the Nobility with hopes of a Reconciliation between the King and her Lord by her presence to intercede over she comes in obedience to the King's Command being arrived a Divorce from her Husband is presently propounded in order whereunto publick Summons are given at his House in Kilmernock and at the chief Sea-ports in the Kingdom requiring his return within Sixty days according to the Law which he not performing not daring indeed to perform
by reason of his non-adherence a Divorce issueth out and the former Marriage declared Null The Divorce published the young Lady is Married not without her great grief and reluctancy at the King 's special and peremptory Command to James Earl Hammilton the issue of which unhappy Marriage proved in most after-Generations an unhappy Annoyance to the Crown by whom she had James and Margaret The Lord Boyd out-lives not this Disaster dyeth with Grief at Antwerp where the Duke of Burgundy erected for him a most stately Tomb thus in a trice fell the flourishing Family of the Boydes a real Instance of the instability and vanity of the World These Stirs over the Peace is renewed with England and at home Disturbances not many nor great But this Calm lasted not long Fears and Jealousies the bane of all States disturb all and like an evil Spirit divide between the King and the Nobility Affairs standing thus his Majesty useth the Counsels of some Knights and Gentlemen in whose wisdom and integrity he confided much this enrageth the Nobility yet more and as if this had not been afflictious enough his younger Brother John conspireth his Death by the means of wicked Sorcerers for which Treason he is condemned to Dye by the opening of a Vein which accordingly was executed Alexander the other Brother suspected conscious to this Treason is Committed to Edenburgh Castle from thence he Escapeth and Saileth into France where he takes to Wife the Daughter of the Earl of Bononia Ambassadours are again sent from England to renew the Peace and to Ratifie the same by a new Affinity of an inter-marriage between James Son to King James and the Lady Cicilie Daughter to King Edward to be Solemnized so soon as both come to age fit for Marriage in the mean while a part of the Dowry to be paid down and in case the Marriage happened not to be Consummated the same to be repaired to the English These things were all happily concluded but the more was the pity not very long observed Dowglas an old Exile and Alexander the King's Brother by this time come over to England perswade King Edward to War against the Scots and on the other hand King Lewis of France incites King James against the English King Edward levieth Twenty thousand Men pretending to vindicate some Wrongs done by some late Inroads made by the Scots and under the Command of the Duke of Glocester accompanied with divers Noble Men amongst whom was Alexander Duke of Albany they March Northward King James prepareth an Army for defence advanceth to Lawder not far from the Borders where the discontent of some of the Nobility breaketh out into Violence against the King's Counsellors they Surprize them in the Night and drag most of them from the King's presence and are all by special influence of the Earl of Angus Sir John Ramsey only except immediately hanged in the view of the Army their great Crime save that some of them were advanced to the dignity of Noble Men was the Coyning of Brass Money in use many days before and continueth in that Kingdom to this day The truth is the King's Favour to them and their Faith to the King was their greatest Treason After this Disaster the Army dissolveth the King returneth to Edenburgh with no less Fear than Grief and Indignation The Duke of Glocester advanceth to the Gates of Edenburgh leaving Four thousand of his Army to Besiege the Castle of Berwick the Nobility in this distraction raiseth an Army to stop this Current Alexander Duke of Albany with the consent of the Duke of Glocester goeth over into the Scots Army where the Command in chief so handsomely was the Game played is immediately transferred to him a Treaty immediately set on foot by agreement Berwick is immediately surrendered the Duke returns to England and a Truce for certain Years appointed King Edward having seen so many late strange Mutations in England and fearing the like fate to King James which had happened to some of the English Kings viz. the ruine of his Family sendeth an Herald to Scotland and at Edenburgh proclaimeth the late contract of Marriage between the two young Princesses to be void demanding the repayment of that part of the Dowry paid King James being now at more liberty than before repayeth the Money not without some Indignation Duke Alexander perceiving that his Majesty's Eye was upon him and that his traiterous Design to compass the Crown was discovered flyeth privately into England and betrayeth the Castle of Dunbar to King Edward the Parlinment declareth him Traitor pardoning all his Associates after pardon granted Chrichton Son to the late Chancellor keepeth Correspondence with the Duke is summoned to answer disobeyeth and is Banished The Duke and Earl Dowglas both Exiles resolve to try their Fortune and Favour of the People return to Scotland with Five hundred Horse the Country riseth against them after a bloody Conflict nigh Lough Maban the Duke is overthrown and escapeth Dowglas is apprehended and sent Prisoner to Lindores By this time King Edward of England dieth and committeth his Son Edward the Fifth to the Tuiton of his Brother Richard Duke of Glocester the Duke impiously Murdereth his two Nephews and setteth himself on the Throne Immediately he sendeth his Ambassadors to Scotland to treat for Peace King James in detestation of their Master refuseth them Audience at last with much ado Audience is granted no Peace could be obtained a Truce only for three Years concluded by reason of the King 's own unsetled condition Soon after this Truce King Richard is killed at Bosworth Field Henry the Seventh obtaineth the Crown and cometh in Person to Newcastle from whence he sendeth his Ambassadors to Scotland Richard Fox Bishop of Exeter and Sir Richard Edgcombe they are Honourably received their Master and the matter of their Embassy which was Peace both indear them to King James who very freely told them that there was nothing he desired more than Peace though he durst not promise a lasting Peace with England by reason of the restless and unquiet Spirits of his Nobility which he heartily bemoaned to them adjuring them to conceal from his Nobles the carnest desire he had of Peace from which he knew they would be the more averse finding him bent towards it and in fine he prayeth them to rest satisfied with a Truce for Seven Years promising that before the determination thereof he on his part should be ready to renew it Seven Years more as one passionately desirous to live in peace with the English all his Life This Answer is returned to King Henry and a Truce accordingly for Seven Years concluded In the mean while Alexander Duke of Albany dieth in France leaving behind him two Sons Alexander and John afterwards Vice-Roy in Scotland King James now promiseth himself some quiet the Original of all his troubles removed and in order thereunto he Proclaims a general Pardon receiveth his Enemies into Favour Honoureth some
much discontented which the French Ambassador Lamote layeth hold on as the fittest opportunity to work him into a War against the English his pernitious perswasions seconded with the daily solicitations of the Scottish Clergy especially Foreman Bishop of Murray his Ambassador then in France prevail too much and overcome him at last to denounce by his Herald War against King Henry then in France who answered the Herald with expressions of the greatest disdain that could be Arms are raised on both sides the Scots under the Command of their King the English under the Conduct of the Earl of Surrey Both Armies advance and at last joyn Battel at Flodden in Northumberland the Battel is exceedingly furious and continueth some hours within Night the darkness whereof commandeth at last a Cessation of Arms No man knowing on whose side the Victory lay each Army thinking it self worsted The Earl of Hume who traiterously refused to joyn in Battel with his Brigade enricheth himself with the Spoil of the Field and departeth by break of day at which instant the Lord Dacres came into Field and finding the Scotch Carriages without Guard and the Camp not wholly Pillaged dispatcheth a Messenger to the Earl of Surrey forthwith to Rally and to return which was with marvellous Expedition performed no Enemy appearing and now the Day being up the English Celebrate the Victory with great Joy This Overthrow is reckoned by the Scots the greatest that ever befel them not so much for the Number as the Quality of the Slain many of the Nobility and Gentry besides Five thousand common Souldiers were killed on the place King James himself never after appeared what to determine of him I know not the English contend that he was killed in the Battel his Body found and exposed to publick View the Scots assert that the Corps so exposed were the Relicts of Sir Alexander Elphinston in Habit Stature and Figure resembling their King as some others did that day the better to encourage the Army Some contend that he escaped into Scotland after the Battel and was traiterously Murdered by the Retainers of the Earl of Hume nigh Kelso to avoid his wrath for their Treachery on the day of Battel and some there are who are bold enough to assert that the King perceiving the huge Slaughter of the Nobility and Gentry privately withdrew himself and in an obscure habit travelled as a Pilgrim to Jerusalem to make good his former Vow where he spent the remnant of his days in Sorrow however it was certain it is That after the Battel he never appeared to the World A Prince of a most comely Person and of that moderation and temper that no provocation could force from him any the least intemperate word and yet a man of an undaunted and indeed too resolute a Spirit very much inclined to Mercy never executing Penal Justice without grief and sorrow of Heart I leave him with that Epitaph he had bestowed upon him for his wanting of a Tomb. Fama orbem replet mortem sors occulit at tu Desine scrutari quod tegit ossa solum Si mihi dent animo non impar fata sepulchrum Augusta est tumulo terra Britanna meo THE LIFE OF JAMES V. JAMES the Fourth thus lost his Son James a Child of two years of Age is Proclaimed King the Queen his Mother conformable to the last Will of the King published before his last Expedition towards England in which it was provided that the Queen should have the Supreme Power during the time of her Widowhood and the King his Minority hath the Supreme Government committed to her and as a tender Mother writeth with all earnestness to her Brother King Henry the Eighth of England imploring his Royal and Fraternal favour particularly that he would be pleased out of his tender regard to her and her young Son to abstain from War against the Scots King Henry very nobly returneth Answer that the Scots should be choosers of War or Peace this gladded the heart of the Scottish Queen who assuredly by her discreet Government had proved a Nursing Mother to that Nation but that within one year she was pleased to Marry herself to Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus by which Marriage her Government determined and immediately Divisions break out amongst the Nobility touching the choice of a Vice-Roy The Dowglasses wholly for the Queen the Earl of Hume a Person then of great Power and Authority opposeth her contending for a free Choice to be made of one of the Nobility after much Debate it was at last concluded that the Duke of Albany John Son to Robert Brother to James the Third should be declared Vice-Roy which being done Letters are dispatched to him then an Exile in France The Duke accepteth the Honour and Charge and arriveth at Dunbarton about the 8th of May 1515 forthwith in Parliament is the Duke restored to his Patrimony and declared Vice-Roy The Vice-Roy beginneth his Government in a Progress all the Kingdom over endeavouring to establish Peace among all The Earl of Hume the great Instrument of the Vice-Roy his advancement finding himself much neglected repenteth him of his Service done to him and tenders the same to the Queen whom he formerly opposed suggesting to her the danger of the young King now in the hands of such a Vice-Roy whose Father for his traiterous Conspiring against the King and his ambitious aspiring the Crown was Exiled to his dying day the present Vice-Roy his Son born and brought up likewise in Exile appearing a man of no less Ambition than his Father the young King the only Rub in his way to the Crown must needs therefore be in great danger if some extraordinary Expedient be not found out for his Safety and in order hereunto he adviseth her to withdraw herself and her Son into England under the Protection of her Brother who so largely the other day declared his Royal affection and favour towards her All is soon and secretly bewrayed to the Vice-Roy who immediately surpriseth the King and his Mother the Queen in the Castle of Sterlin The Queen and all Dowglas his Faction are removed from the King the Tuition of whom he commits to the care of three Noble Men besides the Lord Areskin Governour of the Castle The Lord Hume and his Brother withdrew to England the Queen and the Earl of Angus her Husband soon follow after the Vice-Roy sendeth his Agents after them and complaineth of their Causeless departure All of them are by their Friends perswaded to return the Queen only being heavy with Child is advised to stay where soon after she was brought to Bed of a Daughter Named Margaret The Earl of Hume Summoned to appear before the Vice-Roy in a publick Convention is Condemned and his Estate confiscate because of non-appearance Ten thousand Horse and Foot are raised to reduce him which the Earl perceiving he casteth himself upon the Faith and Favour of the Vice-Roy by whose command Hume is committed to the
whatever Spoils were taken from the Enemy to be converted to the Queen's use the Scots to receive and exercise the same Religion professed and used in the Church of England and to send Pledges into England to remain there as Hostages during the Marriage of the French King and the Scots Queen and one Year after All Sealed and Ratified at Barwick the 27th of February 1560. Six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse Auxiliaries are sent down under the Command of the Lord Grey unto whom the Lords of the Congregation joyn their Army at Hadington and in this conjunction they march towards Leith lay Siege to it both by Sea and Land an English Navy lying then in the Road many bloody Skirmishes there were on both sides The French Bishop cometh into the Scots Camp and from thence he went to the Castle at Edenburgh to speak with the Queen Regent retired thither for her safety and protection and earnestly endeavours a Peace but all in vain the Scots not hearkning to any unless the French were all in the first place sent home which could not be yielded to at this time a great Fire happened in Lieth which put the Besieged into a great Consternation the English likewise fired the two Mills belonging to the Garrison and assault the Town by Storm but are repulsed with loss the French quickly repairing the Breaches the English made who at length begin to think the work tedious and full of trouble they send to Queen Elizabeth to know her pleasure the Duke of Norfolk encourageth them much by sending them new Supplies no less than Two thousand well appointed men Assuring them that neither Men nor Money should be wanting so long as it was in his power to supply them promising if need were his own presence in the mean time he sendeth his Tent and adviseth them to set it up in the view of the Town This gives Life to the business again the Siege is renewed and the Queen of England sends Sir William Cecil one of the Privy Counsellors and Secretary of State and Doctor Wootton Dean of York one also of the Council to treat with the French in order to a Peace a meeting is appointed in July following but in the interim the Queen Regent wasted with care and grief dyeth at Edenburgh Castle a Woman of singular wisdom and vertue honoured by most of the worst of her enemies and her Death much lamented by all after her death Commissioners are appointed and meet to treat of an Accommodation which had then been agreed upon but that the French insisted upon a freedom to carry home whatsoever Booty Bag or Paggage they had got whereof they had store by their Winters plundering of Fife which would not be granted by the Scots and therefore Acts of Hostility Sallies and Onsets are made with various fortune and success At last both Parties sufficiently weary and straitned in Provisions the Treaty is renewed and Articles agreed on viz. That neither the French King nor his Queen of Scotland should thenceforth use the Arms or Titles of England and all Letters Sealed with those Arms should be called in within six Months space that the French transport themselves with their Booties Bag and Baggage within twenty days and that the English supply them with such Ships as they should want they leaving Pledges with the English until the safe return of their Ships That Leith be delivered up to the Scots and Dismantled That the Forts built by the French at Dunbar be demolished That the English immediately after the performance of Articles do return into England That the French should still keep a Garrison at Inch-Keeth and Dunbar Castle That an Act of Oblivion first past by the Queen and the French King her Husband be afterwards Confirmed by their Authority in the ensuing Parliament to be held in August On these Terms Peace was Proclaimed Soon after the French King Francis dyeth the Queen heavily afflicted with grief for the death of her Husband and much perplexed by the turbulent condition of the state of France resolveth to return into Scotland and fearing the English Navy by reason of an Offence given to Queen Elizabeth by placing the English Arms in the Scots Coat she privately goes aboard a small Vessel which none would suspect to be Fraught with so rich a Cargo and safely arriveth in Scotland immediately before her arrival her base Brother James procured a Commission from her to hold a Parliament which was accordingly done The French Ambassador moveth That the French League may be renewed and that which the English lately made may be broke off and that the Revenues of Ecclesiastick Persons may be restored to them But the Scots Parliament now wholly constituted of such as pretend to the Reformation of Religion answered That the French League should be continued but that with the English could not be broken without the greatest Dishonour and Ingratitude in the world The Restauration of the Revenue of the Ecclesiasticks was wholly rejected and an Act passed for the demolishing all the Abbies and Priories in the Kingdom which was immediately put in execution The sorrowful Queen being arrived had no better remedy than Silence and Convenience and was forced to condescend That the state of Religion as it was lately renewed and established by the Lords of the Congregation should not by her nor her Authority suffer any Change or Alteration no Mass to be said publiquely any where except in her Majesty's Chappel which was all the indulgence the Lords would afford her The Ministers moved both by their own Zeal and the Instigation of the Earl of Arran Cry out and Thunder in their Pulpits against this Permission and Admonish the Lords of their Duty to reduce her to order a submission to and a susception of the Directory for publick Worshin The Nobility notwithstanding all these over-loud Clamours encroach not upon the Queen's privilege for which the Ministers turn the edge of their Tongues as sharp as Swords against them crying out of their Apostacy and lukewarmness in the Cause of God William Mettelane is sent Ambassadour to England to tender to Queen Elizabeth the great Respects of the Scottish Queen towards her and with this Message the Lords sent also their Letters to the Queen humbly thanking her for her late Seasonable Assistance and requesting her to continue her Princely Favour towards their Queen and a firmer establishment of Union between both Kingdoms as an Expedient thereunto they propound to her Majesty That she would be pleased to pass an Act of Parliament Declaring That in case her self should dye without Issue the Queen of Scots to be her rightful Heir and lawful Successor to her Crown This last motion highly displeased Queen Elizabeth saying That it was most unreasonable to require her to Sew her Winding-Sheet with her own hands and to expose it every day to her own view After much Debate it was at last agreed upon First That the Scots Queen should forbear