to the servilest of his Work which they being not able to endure Macduff Earl of Fife Posts to England where he found Malcolm the late Kings Son at King Edwards Court whom he invited home to revenge his Fathers Death and possess the Crown which was his own by right Malcolm suspecting Treachery pretended several excuses to try Macduffs sincerity but when he found him Cordial he declared his Willingness Whereupon getting assistance of Men from King Edward he entred Scotland Macbeth hearing of his arrival went about to oppose him but Macduff surprizing him in his Castle of Dunfinnan killed him with his own hand the seventeenth year of his Reign 86. Malcolm Surnamed Kanmor Son to Duncan the first succeeded A. D. 1057. He was a worthy Prince and in Compensation of their Service and Loyalty in his Restauration created many Earls Lords Barons and Baronets commanding that their Lands should be called after their Names He made also his Thanes Earls many new Surnames began at this time as Calder Lochbart Gordoun Seytown Lander Kennethe Meldrome Schau Liberton Livermond Cargill Strachan Ratray Dundass Meazeis Mertine Cockbourn Lesly Abercromby At this time also William Duke of Normandy conquered England which was the occasion that these Surnames being expelled their Country came to Scotland viz. Ramsay Vans Lindsay Lownal Towres Preston Bissat Foules Wandlaw Maxwell from France came the Names of Frazer Sintcare Boswel Montray Montgomry Boyes Campbel Beaton At this time Walter Son to Fleance came to Scotland who shortly after was created high Steward of the Kingdom King Malcolm was killed at the siege of Anwick by one Robert Moubray who came from the Castle upon a light horse holding in his hand a Lance with the Keys of the Castle upon the point of it King Malcolm looking stedfastly to the Lance the other run him through the Eye with it escaping to the next Wood Whereupon King William changed this Moubrey's Name to Percy King Malcolm dyed the thirty sixth year of his Reign and was buried in Dunfermling 87. Donald the seventh Sirnamed Bane being Malcolm Kanmores Brother usurped the Crown A. D. 1093. But within a year he was expelled by Duncan base Son to the foresaid Malcolm 88. Duncan the second usurped the Crown but did not enjoy it long being killed by Macpendar Earl of Mearnes at Taich by procurement of Donald the seventh who after was Crowned King He gave the North and West Isles to the King of Norway for his assistance to recover the Crown He was taken Captive by Edgar his Successor and put in Prison where after some years he dyed miserably 89. Edgar Malcolm Kanmores Son succeeded A. D. 1098. He was the first anointed King Governing with great Wisdom and Sobriety He dyed the nineteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Dumfermling 90. To him succeeded Alexander the first Sirnamed Fierce A. D. 1107. Soon after his coming to the Throne certain Traitors were by his Chamberlains means let in to his Chamber intending to have killed him in Bed but he being surprised at their noise got out of Bed and caught a Sword in his hand wherewith he killed the Chamberlain and six of the other Traitors the rest hasted away but being pursued and some of them overtaken Confessed that divers of the Nobles were in the Conspiracy them the King pursued killing some and taking others He dyed in Peace the seventeenth year of his Reign and was buried in Dumfermling 91. To him succeeded his Brother David the first A. D. 1124. He possessed Northumberland and Cumberland Huntington and Westmorland He married Maud Daughter to the Earl of Northumberland who dyed in the flower of her Age for which the King took such Grief that he resolved never to Marry again but gave himself wholly to works of Charity He purged his Court from all Vices so that his whole Family were given to Vertuous Exercises no Rioting nor Drunkeness nor Lascivious or wanton Songs were suffered This Victorious and Religious King dyed in Carlyle the twenty ninth year of his Reign and was buried at Dumfermling where King James the first visiting his Tomb called him a Sore Saint to the Crown 92. Malcolm the fourth Sirnamed the Maiden next Heir after King David began his Reign A. D. 1153. A just and mild Prince in the beginning of his Reign there was a great Famine in Scotland whereof many dyed Sumerled Thane of Argyle taking advantage of the present Calamity raised a Rebellion purposing to make himself King but he was soon crush't his Friends killed and himself forced to fly to Ireland soon after being invited to London by King Henry of England under pretence of confirming him in his Title to Northumberland Cumberland and Westmorland he carried him with him into France where he had Wars for that time he no sooner was returned home then he made War with England to the great loss of both Kingdoms He dyed at Jedburgh the twelfth year of his Reign 93. To him succeeded William his Brother Sirnamed the Lyon A. D. 1165. He demanded Northumberland which by Right belonged to his Crown to be re-delivered to him which the King of England being taken up with Wars in France durst not altogether refuse but condescended to let him have such parts of it as his Grand-father possest but soon after he was by a Stratagem taken Prisoner at Alunick and sent to France where the King of England was whence not long after he was Ransomed with a sum of Money being returned home he expelled all the Murrays out of Murray-Land for that they were Seditious and Tumultuous in his absence About this time the Pope sent to King William a Sword with the Sheath and Hilts all of Gold set about with precious Stones with a Hat or Diadem giving him the Title of the Defender of the Church After this he retired to Bertha where he stayed not long when by a sudden Inundation of two Rivers Tay and Almond the Towns Walls were beat down the Castle demolished the young Prince and his Nurse with several others drowned the King himself narrowly escaping He founded and built the City of Perth granting to it several great and ample Priviledges He dyed the forty ninth year of his Reign and was buried in Aberbrothick 94. His Son Alexander the second succeeded to him A. D. 1214. Having pacified all Rebellions at home he led his Army into England where having made Peace with King John he married his Sister Afterward he went into France and renewed the old League with this Addition that neither of them should receive or protect the Enemies of the others Kingdom nor Marry with any Stranger without making one another privy thereto In the mean time his Queen dyed without any Succession within a year after he married Mary Daughter to Ingelram Earl of Coucy in France who bare to him Alexander the third in his time came Cardinal Egadius into Britain to beg Money for the Holy War of which he got a great deal but
sent to bring home the Queen he was no sooner gone then his Interest at Court began to fall for a Parliament being called the Lord Boyd and his Brother Sir Alexander are summoned to appear thereupon he distrusting this Case fled to England but his Brother was taken and Arraigned the Earl of Arran also though absent is declared a Rebel The Queen arriving with her fleet arriving in the Ferth My Lady Arran went aboard in disguise and informed her Husband of the calamity of his House perswaded him to do for himself whereupon he hoisted Sails and returned with his Lady to Denmark The King sendeth Letters full of promises and threatnings to move his sister to return to Scotland which when she did she was constrained to be divorced from her Husband and to Marry James Lord Hamilton not long after the Earl of Arran dyed in great misery at Antwerp Queen Margaret the third year after her Marriage brought forth a Son who was named James the King of Denmark to Congratulate the happy delivery of his Daughter released all his claims to the Isles of Orkney and Sherland but in the midst of this calm a cloud begins to overcast the Kings Splendor for his Brothers being Princes of unquiet and restless spirits they set themselves altogether to study Novelties and to bring him into contempt with his Subjects to this end they had drawn away many of the young Nobility and Gentry to follow them The King was Naturally Superstitious giving much head to divinations which gave also his Brothers occasion to vilifie him and incense his people against him yea the Earl of Marre became so Insolent that in the Kings own presence he began to raile against the Government of the state and Court which the King highly resenting caused to Imprison him where he fell in a high Fever whereof he dyed The Duke of Albany imputed the death of his Brother to the Court party but while he was keeping his Cabals in order to an Insurrection he was surprised and Imprisoned in the Castle of Edenburgh out of which he soon after made his escape to France thence he came to England and began to tamper with King Edward revealing to him the weakness of the Kingdom of Scotland and how easily it might be subdued the Nobility not respecting the King but much affecting a change in the Government which by his assistance might easily be effected he promised also to settle a corespondence with the Nobles of Scotland which he did then that they might get their design wrought gives way for the breaking loose of the Borders fierce incursions are made by the English upon Scotland and by the Scots upon the English and the discontented Nobility blame the King for all thereupon pretending the necessity of the times and the danger the Kingdom was in they entered into a Bond of association after which they enter the Kings bed chamber where they seized some of his Servants in his presence and put them to death as incendiaries in the state About this time the Duke of Gloucester set forward toward Scotland with two and twenty thousand men finding Berwick two strong for him he marches directly to Edenburgh there by publick writings at the Market places he gave out high demands all which King James being shut up in Edenburgh Castle answered with silence the disatisfied Lords having obtained what they chiefly aimed at wished the English at home again therefore they desire a peace with them which the Duke of Gloucester granted upon condition that all his demands were satisfied one of which was to reinstall the Duke of Albany which after much debate was granted and he with his Army returned home The Duke of Albany having recovered his Estate and Honours his first work was to restore the King to his Prerogatives reconciling him to his discontented Lords but he himself stood not long in his favour for by the advice of some of his Enemies about the King a Plot is resolved upon to bring the Duke within compass of Law which he being aware of fled to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester his grievancies in his absence he is convinced of many points of Treason whereupon he and the Lord Crightton his Associate are both forfeited which when he heard he presently caused to give up the Castle of Dunbar whereof he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately put a Garison in it Not long after the said King Edward dyed and his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester Succeeded The Duke of Albany obtains five hundred Horse from King Richard with which he came with the old Earl of Douglass to Lochmabban to surprise a Fair which was held there whereupon the Laird of Johnston who was warden dispatched Posts about for supply of men with which he Encountred the Duke here it is most Couragously fought on both sides but at last the English are quite routed the Duke hardly by swiftness of his Horse escaped but the Earl of Dowglass is taken and brought in Triumph to Edenburgh where the King adjudged him to perpetual confinement soon after followed a Truce with England for three years but before the time was expired Henry Earl of Richmond came with some Companies out of France of which that Famous warriour Bernard Stewart Lord Albany Brother to the Lord Darnly had the leading which by the resort of his Country men turned into an Army and Rencountred Richard at Bosworth where he was killed and Henry Proclaimed King of England King James taking advantage of this change besieged Dunbar which was soon surrendred upon Articles After this King Henry sent Embassadors to King James to agree if possible upon a lasting and firm Peace between the two Crowns at length after some difficulty they agree upon a Truce for seven years The King having settled a Peace with England betakes himself to the Exercise of Religion having founded a Colledge for divine Service in the Castle of Sterling he endeavoured to annex the Priory of Goldingham to it The Priors of this Convent having for many years been of the Name of Humealedged that they were wronged of their Right First they began to Petition but finding this uneffectual they began to associate with their Neighbours giving it out that the King was a meer Tyrant not to be trusted by which means many of the Hearts of the Subjects were alienated from the King The King understanding how things stood he made choice of a Guard to defend his Person resolving to live beyond the River Ferth of which when the Lords of the Insurrection were certified they surprize the Castle Dunbar and tumultuously over-run the Countries besouth the Ferth Thus coming to Lithgow they resolved to make the Duke of Rothesay the Kings own Son their Head whom having corrupted his Keepers with Bribes they constrained to go with them But the King loosing neither Courage nor Councel passeth the Ferth near Blackness with his Forces before his arrival at this place
Hepburn came with fresh Men to the Scots Whereupon the English retreated leaving eighteen hundred of their Men dead in the place and a hundred and forty taken Prisoners among which were the two Peircies above mentioned But the Valiant Earl of Douglass dyed in this Battel being thrice run through the Body and Mortally wounded in his Head which was a greater loss and Grief to his Nation then the gain of this Victory could ballance The next year a Parliament was called at Perth wherein Robert Earl of Fife the Kings second Son was elected Governor the King himself by reason of his great Age not being able to Govern He was a Valiant Victorious and fortunate Prince in all his Wars for his Governours and Captains returned always with Victory He was very constant and a great Iustitiar hearing patiently the Complaints of the Poor causing all wrongs to be redressed He dyed peaceably in the Castle of Dun-Donald the seventy fifth year of his Age and the nineteenth year of his Reign The same year John his eldest Son was called to succeed who thinking that Name ominous to Kings and there wanted not Examples as of him of England and him of France and thinking something of the Felicity of the two former Roberts was Crowned by the Name of 101. Robert the third A. D. 1390. He was more remarkable for his Peaceableness and Modesty then for any other Vertue the first seven years of his Reign were past in Peace by reason of his Truce with England but not without some fierce Fiends among his Subjects especially the Clankays and Clanchattes the King seeing the Difficulty of reducing them made this Proposition to them that three hundred of each side should try it by Dint of Sword before the King the Conquered to be pardoned and the Conqueror advanced this being agreed to a place was appointed upon the North-side of Perth but when the Clans presented themselves there was one of one side missing whom then his party could not supply A Trades-man steps out and for half a French Crown and promise of Maintenance during his Life filled up the Company The first was furious but none behaved himself more furiously then the other Mercenary Champion who was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side their remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the stroak of the other threw himself in the Tay and escaped with his Life By this means the fiercest of the two Clans being cut off the remainder being Headless were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes which was the first time that Title was known in Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of his Reign tho' the Truce was not expired yet the Seeds of War began to bud upon this occasion George Earl of March betrothed his eldest Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Douglass incensed at this got a Vote of Parliament to revoke this Marriage and giving a greater sum of Money got a Marriage confirmed in Parliament betwixt David and Mary his Daughter The Earl of March nettled at this demands Redress but not being heard he leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Percy who with his Assistance did much hurt to the Lands of the Douglasses the Scots declare the Earl of March an Enemy and sends to demand him of the English which they refusing several Incursions happened upon both sides till at length Piercy was defeated by the Douglass's at Lynton-bridge At this time David Earl of Cravford and the Lord Welles in England ingaged to run certain Courses on Horse-back with sharp Spears for Life and Death upon London-bridge which they performed most gallantly The People Perceiving the Earl of Cravford to sit so stifly cryed the Scotch man was lock'd in his Saddle he hearing this leapt out of the Saddle upon the Ground and presently mounted again to the great wonder of the Beholders The second time they run without any hurt but the third time the Lord Welles was beat out of his Saddle and sorely hurt with the fall By this time the Queen dying her Son David who for his Extravagancies was by her means kept under restraint broke out into his former disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and wickedness complaint being brought to his Father he committed him to his brother Robert this Design was to root out all that Off-Spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Faulkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one Woman thrusting in some Oaten Cakes at a Chink and another giving him Milk out of her Breasts through a Trunk but both these being discovered the Youth being forced to tear his own Flesh dyed of a multiplyed Death which Murder being whispered to the King he was so abused by the false Representations of his Brother that Grief and Imprecations was all the relief that he had left him and being now retired sickly to Boot Castle and unable to punish him The King therefore Solicitous to preserve James his youngest Son is resolved to send him to Charles the sixth of France And having taking shipping at the Bassas he passed by the Promontory of Flambrough and whether he was forced by a Tempest or that he was Sea-sick he was forced to Land there he was taken by the English and detained Prisoner notwithstanding the eight years Truce and tho' it came to be debated at the Councel Table yet his Detention was carried in the Affirmative But the News so struck his aged Father that he had almost presently dyed but being carried to his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and Sorrow He dyed within three days the sixteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Pasley Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour about four years after Donald of the Isles enters Ross as his pretended Inheritance with ten thousand Men which he easily subdued thence he went to Murray and Mastered it also and so went on to Aberdeen to stop this Torrent Alexander Earl of Marr followed by most of the Nobility met him at Harlaw where they joyned in so bloody a Battel and lost so many noble and considerable Persons that tho' Night parted them neither could pretend to the Victory to this year the University of S. Andrews owes it's Rise The English being taken up with a War with France nothing considerable was acted between them and the Scots for ten years after at which time Robert the Governour dyes and Murdoch his Son a very unfit Person was put in his place who suffered his Sons to come to that petulancy that they were not only offensive to the People but with all disobedient to their Father who having a brave Faulcon which his Son Walter had often begged but in vain he
Noble and Wise Prince in the thirteenth year of his Reign He was buried in the Charter-house of Perth which he himself had founded 103. The three Estates of the Kingdom set the Crown upon the Head of James the second at Holy-rood-house while yet a Child in the sixth year of his Age A. D. 1437. The Government is intrusted to Alexander Levingston of Calander and the Custody of the Kings Person to Sir William Crichtoun Whereupon Archibald Earl of Douglass grudging that these Honours had been conferred upon Men far below himself retired home and gave Orders that none of his Vassals should acknowledge the present Government also he used all means to weaken the hands of the Chancellor and Governour sowing by his Instruments the Seeds of Division between them which accordingly answered Expectation they begin to cross and Counter-act one another which made them at length that neither of them was obeyed the Country having usurped a Licencious Liberty doing what he thought best The Queen seeing things thus mis-managed betwixt them and finding that the Chancellor was mostly to blame she at last resolves to change the Game of State To effect her design she came to Edenburgh and with fair Speeches prevailed with the Chancellor to let her enter the Castle and delight her self some days in the Company of her Son after some days staying where having fixed every thing for her purpose she puts the King into a Trunck as if he had been some Fardel of her Apparel and conveys him by water to Sterling presently after Proclamations are made against the Chancellor and he Commanded to render the Castle which he refusing to do he is presently besieged But the two Rulers being better advised considering that Douglass waited to see them undo one another come to an agreement Much about this time the Queen Dowager married James Stewart's Son to the Lord of Lorn the Governour fearing what might follow upon the Novation committed them both to the Castle of Sterling then the Queen began to repent her of her former Courtesies to the Governour resolving once more to Face about which the Chancellor observing lays hold upon the Opportunity and strikes in with her presently they contrived how to take the Prince out of the Governours hands which they after effected thus the King being one Morning hunting in the Park the Governour being at Perth the Chancellor coming to him by the Queens assistance prevails with him to go to Edenburgh and take the Government upon himself which when the Governour hears of he very calmly came to Edenburgh where the Chancellor and he becometh Friends The great Confusions that were in the Country did necessitate the the calling of a Parliament where many grievous Complaints were brought against several Oppressors and among the rest William Earl of Douglass Son to Archibald was represented as the Source whence the Miseries of the Country sprang The Parliament resolve to proceed against him by way of Rigour but the Governor and the Chancellor advise them rather to write a fair Letter to him and invite him by fair means to come in and submit which was accordingly done and wrought so effectually upon him that he resolves presently to obey hoping thereby to get himself set up He upon his arrival was together with his Brother David and Sir Malcolm Flyming of Cummerald with great Ceremony conducted by the Governour to the Castle of Edenburgh where the King was at this Table he was set to Dine this so elevated his Heart that he Blessed himself with the Expectation of other Favours But amidst these Entertainments behold the Instability of Fortune near the end of the Banquet the Head of a Bull which was the sign of present Death in those days is set down before him At which sudden Spectacle he leapt from the Table all agast but he is presently seized upon by armed Men who led him to the outer Court of the Castle and notwithstanding the Tears and Crys of the young King that they might spare his Life he together with his Brother and Flyming had their Heads cut off This Act left Grief and Terror in the Hearts of the People who ever after hated the Actors of the Tragedy The Kings Nonage being now near expired he takes the Government upon himself and finding the two Rulers being so long settled in the Government not to be Ambitious and Head-strong he resolves to entertain another Faction more powerful than they So setting his thoughts upon William Earl of Douglass Son to the Baron of Abercon him he received into Favour This sudden change of Court moved the two Rulers to withdraw after which they were both removed from their Offices and at last summoned before the King to answer such things as they should be Legally accused of They finding that there was a design upon them did not appear Whereupon they were both forfeited This produced great Confusion in the State all being divided into Factions and Parties Whereupon followed much Effusion of Blood especially between the Layndsays and the Ogletives Douglass to keep himself high did much abett these Broils making his own use of them yet not long after the Chancellor notwithstanding Douglass's power and Policy is restored to his Fortune and Dignity The King being setled upon the Throne married Mary Daughter to the Duke of Gnilders soon after the Peace with England expired and the Borders of both Kingdoms break and mutually invade each other which issued in a Truce for seven yeers But this Truce stood not long both Nations being equally inclined to break it Whereupon after several Incursions on both sides at last they came to a Battel The Scots were Commanded by the Earl of Ormond the English by the Earl of Northumberland Magnus Red-beard a man trained from his Youth in the Wars of France who is said to have required no more for his Service to the Crown of England then that by his own Valour he must Conquer of Scotland Here it is valiantly fought for a long time with doubtful Victory till at length Magnus being killed it inclined to the Scots the loss of the English was great many brave Men being killed and taken Prisoners upon their side but the Scots lost few of any Note except Cragy Wallace This Battel brought on a Truce for three years This Victory no sooner was obtained and thereby Peace abroad but presently they fall out at home this Douglass being always the first mover of strife But now finding himself over-powered by Adversaries both at Court and in the Country he leaveth the Kingdom and goeth to Rome he was not long gone but by the means of his Enemies he is cited to appear before the Council upon several days together with his Brother and Vassals to answer such things as should be objected against them and upon not appearing are all denounced Rebels the Earl of Douglass hearing of this unexpected News at Rome takes a Journey and comes to the Borders of Scotland whence he sent
the Hamiltons were forced to retire having left above fourscore of their number dead upon the Street These broils coming to the Governours ears in France he made all the haste he could home coming to Edenburgh he set himself to amend the Enormities committed in his absence a Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to appear and answer but some fearing the Event appeared not Whereupon their Estates are forfeited several fled into England among which were the Humes and the Cockburns who were the Authors of Darcies death others submitted and were pardoned The King of England being informed of the Condition of Scotland sent thither an Embassador requiring the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between him and the King of France in their last Truce To which he answered that what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain that neither the King of England nor France had Power to Banish him a Foraigner over them where Authority did not reach his Native Country like over like having no Jurisdiction Whereupon King Henry gathered a great Army to Invade Scotland Now they draw to Arms on both sides the Governour marches with his Army to Carlile where he pitched his Camp upon the River Esk this struck great Terror to the Citizens of Carlile who offered him divers presents for their safety of the Town which were rejected but the Nobility refusing to go upon English ground suspecting that the Governour only played the Game of the French he was forced to come to a Truce However the Governour resolving to be revenged upon England went to France where he obtained from the King Three Thousand Pikes and One Thousand Lances with which he returned home and having raised an Army with them he Marches to England and Besieges Wark but is Repulsed whereupon much against his will a Truce for some Months is concluded on Soon after the Administration of the Government was put upon the Prince himself the Thirteenth Year of his age the Governour returning to France after which he never returned to Scotland A Parliament is called wherein a Peace is concluded with England and eight Lords appointed to have the Custody of the Kings Person quarterly Embassadors were sent to England to treat for a Marriage between the King and the King of Englands Daughter which came to nothing The State began of New to be tossed with the troublesom factions of the Queen and the Earl of Angus the Queens Faction accused Angus of High Treason for detaining the King against his will to which the Earl moved the King to give an answer shewing that he was not kept against his will But with all sent another Letter secretly desiring by any means he might be removed from the Earl upon this advertisment the Queen and they of her Faction Assemble what Forces they could raise and with great expedition marched from Sterling to Edenburgh The Earl of Angus with the Citizens of Edenburgh and the King though against his will Marched out against them when the Leaders of the Queens Forces understood that the King himself was in Person in the advers Army they would advance no farther but retired back again to Sterling where they Disbanded and returned every man to his own dwelling place presently after the Queen sues for a Divorce from the Earl of Angus which the Archbishop of S. Andrews granted with the Earls own consent The King wearied of his confinement in the Earl of Angus his custody consults with the Lord of Buccleugh and some Borderers how he might be set at Liberty they Essayed it by Arms at Melross but were put to the worst then the Earl of Lenox undertook it and raised some Forces for that end but the Earl of Angus having gotten the assistance of the Earl of Arran with several others quite routed him near Costerphin where he was killed in cold Blood Now the Earl of Angus thinks himself secure enough having put all things in as he thought to rights he takes a progress to Lothian leaving the King at Faulkland Now the King amidst his Solitary walks in his Park bethinks himself what a fair oportunity he had resolved to essay by stratagem what the Factions of his Nobles could not perform by Force thereupon he directeth the Forester of the Park to advertise such Gentlemen about as kept Hounds to attend him next Morning for he would have his Sport early he Suppeth sooner then he used Commanding all to their rest the waiters all shifted and the Court hush'd shutting his Camber door in the Apparel of one of his Grooms unperceived he passed the Guards to the stable where with two who attended him with ready Horses he posted to Sterline where many of the Nobility and Gentry flocking to him he discharged the Earl of Angus from all Publick Offices whereat he was so exasperated that he and his Friends followed very extravagant Courses but the King pursued them so that after much misery at home they were constrained to fly into England where they were Charitably received and Honourably entertained by King Henry The next year the King visited the Borders holding Justice Courts and executing Justice upon all Oppressors Thieves and Out-Laws there in Ewsdale He caused eight and twenty famous Robbers to be Hanged others he brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick Execution and Example yet the Borders were nothing the more Peaceable for by the means of the Earl of Angus the English make daily Incursions and Spoiles the Country the Scots likewise serving the English with the same Sauce till at last by the Mediation of the French King a Peace is concluded on during the Princes Lives and one Year after the Decease of him who should Dye first About this time the Pope's Power began to Totter in England King Henry having renounced all Subjection to him because he would not Grant him a Divorce from his Queen Katharine who had been before Married to his Brother Prince Arthur and then by a Dispensation from the Pope to him The Pope finding King Henry peremptory in his purpose did together with the Emperor deal with King James to make War with England and to this end sent an Ambassador privately to Scotland King Henry went on with his Affairs in England and Executed John Fisher Bishop of Rochester for asserting the Pope's Supremacy in England Upon this the whole Conclave stirr'd up the Pope against King Henry wherefore he sent another Ambassador to Scotland most invectively Exclaiming against the King of England's Cruelty and humbly desiring King James's assistance against him King James to try his Uncle's Mind send an Ambassador to England to acquaint him with the Emperors and Popes Embassage King Henry presently dispatched William Lord Howard to Scotland who made such hasty Journeys that he prevented the News of his coming he found the King at Sterline a part of
the mean time the Queen was conveyed out of Lochlavin by George Douglass the Governours Brother my Lord Seaton and divers of the House of Hamiltone with their dependers waited to receive her and conveyed her to Hamiltoun The Regent being at Glasgow draws together what men he could so suddenly command and with them Marches to Langsidemoor where it was Fought most Briskly but the Queen though being more in number was worsted after which she lost all courage never resting till she was in England The Regent returned Victor and destributed the Spoyl among his Friends and Dependants The Queen of England sends Ambassadors to the Regent desiring him to send Commissioners to her to give her a reason of their thus proceeding against their Queen upon which he himself went to Berwick for that purpose After long reasoning they parted without concluding any thing The Regent returning home did not sit long Idle for the Earl of Hamilton pretending a right to the Regency conveins his friends at Glasgow the Regent presently went against him He finding himself disappointed of many that he expected to come to his Assistance submitted himself and is made prisoner Queen Mary being by the Queen of Englands order conveyed to Carlisle The Duke of Norfolk in hopes to get her in Marriage became mighty forward to procure her liberation which made Queen Elizabeth begin to grow jealous of him whereupon he is committed to the Tower a Conspiracy being discovered which he managed for relievving the Queen of Scots The Regent having brought things to some order at home the Hamiltons seeing it impossible for them now to contend with him Killed him most Treacherously and Basely as he was passing through Lithgow having shot him with a Hakbut out at a Window January the 22 d. 1569. About three Months after Lennox the Kings Grandfather is chosen Regent Hamilton being by all refused he marches with 5000 to Lithgow to suppress the Queens Faction they intended to call a Parliament there great Confusion follows over all the Kingdom A Parliament being summoned by the Regent at Sterling they began to reform abuses which are very many but they thinking themselves secure took no care to keep Guards Whereupon one George Bell marches from Edenburgh in the Night time as guid to the Earl of Huntly he commanded five hundred men they surprised them all in their Beds some escaped and others were taken Prisoners but the Regent himself was killed in the Tumult Those who were for the King chose the Earl of Mar Regent about this time the Duke of Norfolk was arraigned and found guilty of Complotting with Queen Mary against Queen Elizabeth and within four Months after had his Head chopt off upon Tower-Hill where he confessed all the indictment Mar about a year after being chosen Regent dyes at Sterline to succeed whom Mortoon was without controversie Elected The King was committed to the keeping of Alexander Arskine and Mr. George Buchanan made his Tutor none of the Queens Party being permitted to come near him The Factious had by this time become very unnatural the Mother against the Son and the Son against the Mother Edenburg Castle which Kirkaldie of Grange kept for the Queen is besieged and taken by the Regent and the Governour with his Brother Hanged The Regent proud of his Success began to be somewhat extravagant which was a forerunner of his downfall which his Enemies improved to his disadvantage Whereupon he is deposed The King seeing that things were turning from bad to worse took the Scepter in his own Hand having the Assistance of twelve Noblemen whereof Mâ—rtoun was one A Parliament soon after is called at Edingburgh where the King appeared to his People being yet but twelve years Old In this Parliament was ratified that Confession of Faith inserted in the late Test in Scotland Anno Dom. 1582. Fell out the Road of Ruthwen where the King was Seized by some of his Nobles and carried to Edinburg upon pretence That he was Misled by bad Councils They kept him under a sort of Restraint for above a Year but at last being at St. Andrews he was Relieved by Collonel Stewart Captain of the Castle for as the King had entred the Gate the Collonel presently shuts it and by this means shuts out the company that attended the King Soon after many of them are Imprisoned but all obtain a Pardon except the Earl of Goury who was Arraigned Condemned and Executed Anno Dom. 1584. About which time there is a Plot discovered in England to set the Queen of Scots at Liberty in which the Lord Pagâ—t Throgmorton and others were concerned who accordingly suffered for it But the Suspition of all reflected upon Queen Mary which hastened her ruine Whereupon she was removed from her Fifteen Years Imprisonment under the Earl of Shrewsberry to Sir Amias Pawlet and Sir Drew Drury in Fothrengam Castle on purpose to put her upon extremities of Redress against their extream Imprisoning Whereupon she deals with the Pope and Spain to hasten the means of her Relief but it proved the hastening of her destruction The Council of England after long deliberation what to do with Queen Mary at last resolved to proceed against her upon Act 27. Eliz. Against Plotters or Contrivers of the Queens Death To which purpose a Commission under the Great Seal issued out Impowering twenty-four Noble-Men and others therein who came to the Castle the 11th of Octob. 1536. to Try her The manner of her Tryal was thus A Chair of State was set as for the Queen of England at the upper end of the Presence Chamber Beneath against it was placed a Chair for the Queen of Scots close to the Walls on both sides of the Cloath of Estate seats were made for the Lords next to these were the Knights Privy Councellors Forward before the Earls sate the two Chief Justices and on the other side other two Justices At a Table in the midst sate the Attorney General the Solicitor a Sergeant at Law the Clerk of the Crown and two Notaries The Inditement being read she declined their Jurisdiction being a free Princess and not a Subject to the Crown of England to which it was Answered That her declinator was in vain for whosoever offends the Laws of England in England must be subject to the same and accordingly examined and Judged So they proceeded to examine the Evidence and after a long Tryal and much spoken on both sides she is found guilty Not many dayes after a Parliament was called wherein Queen Elizabeth was besought that the Sentence against the Queen of Scots might be put in Execution The Queen desired that some other methods might be consulted for safely and that poor distressed Queen spared but they answer What no other satisfaction Whereupon the Sentence was Proclaimed throughout London and all the Kingdom King James hearing of his Mothers condition writ several Letters to Queen Elizabeth passionately desiring that the Sentence might be reversed but all to no
befooled by perfidious men which brought a great reproach upon Them and their Posterity Though it be false that they Sold him yet it is a sad truth that His Majesty told them that the English would no longer stand to their Agreement than they thought it for their Interest His Majesty being now in the English's hands they at first carried themselves somewhat respectfully to him but they began soon after to appear like themselves having purged the House of Commons of all such as they thought would oppose them they began to keep His Majesty almost a close prisoner in the Isle of Wight The Scots hearing how the King was thus contrary to the promise and engagement abused by the English sent their Commissioners to London to put the Parliament in mind of the agreement at New-Castle but before they came the Game was altered the Parliament being purged by the Army the barbarous Juncto prove unexorable wherefore the Commissioners return home and acquainted the Nobility how matters stood Whereupon an Army is presently listed under the Duke of Hamilton with which he marches to England but is unfortunately overthrown at Preston most of the Souldiers being killed and himself taken prisoner and brought up to London where not long after he together with the Earl of Holland and Lord Capel were Executed on Tower-hill Within a few days his Majesty is brought from the Isle of Wight to Windsor during his abode there the Officers of the Army and the Members they left in the House proceeded to that height of Insolence as to bring the King to a Tryal Which when it was Voted and passed in the pretended House of Commons they proceeded to make an Act for the Tryal of his Sacred Majesty which they intituled An Act of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament for Erecting of an High Court of Justice for Trying and Judging Charles Stewart King of England This Terrible form of proceeding against his Majesty struck great terrour to the hearts of all sober and good men yea the Presbyterian Ministers who before were against him now declare themselves both in their Pulpits and by earnest Petitions to the Parliament to be zealous abhorrers of the Kings Death and every where make publick Protestations against the Tryal yet nevertheless the Juncto goes on And upon Fryday January the 19 th 1648. his Majesty was brought by a strong Guard of Horse from Windsor to St. James's and from thence to Westminster where he was Tryed and found Guilty contrary to the Laws of God and Man And upon January the 30 th about two a Clock in the Afternoon he submitted his Royal Neck to the Fatal stroak upon a Scaffold Erected between White-Hall Gate and the Gate leading to the Gallery to St. Jameses The 24 th year of his Reign he was Interr'd in St. Georges Chappel at Windsor His sacred Majesty that now Reigns being at this time in France with the Queen Mother is by Unanimous consent of all his Subjects in Scotland proclaimed at Edenburg Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Scotland England France and Ireland c. and presently after they sent their Commissioners to treat with His Majesty who was then in the Isle of Jerzey After much debating on both sides at last Breda in Holland is agreed upon as a fit place for a solemn Treaty Here the Commissioners from the Church and State met the King and delivered the Propositions During the Treaty the above-mentioned Marquess of Montross was seized in Scotland and Executed which troubled his Majesty so much that it went nigh to break the Treaty but at length through the urgency of Affairs it was concluded And being brought to Edenburgh it was agreed that another Message should be sent to invite the King over to take Possession of the Crown which was his own by an unquestionable Title but the English Parliament replyed If they could hinder it it should not be so Wherefore they prepare an Army to invade Scotland under the command of their General Oliver Cromwell However the Scots no wise daunted at the Storms threatned from England resolved to adhere to his Majesty though upon their own terms The King arriving at the mouth of Spey in the North several Lords were sent to accompany him to Edenburgh but in the mean time Cromwell was advanced as far as Haddington against him Sir David Lâ—sly sent Sir John Brown with a Party of Horse which continued skirmishing for some while but produced no great Effect The next Rencounter was at Dumbar where the Scots had a Bloody Overthrow from Cromwel which did exceedingly strengthen his Interest in Scotland The first work that the Scots went about after this disaster was the Coronation of the King which was done at Scone with as great Solemnity as the state of Affairs could allow The Ceremony being over His Majesty removed to Sterling resolving to debate his right to Cromwell where people of all ranks flocked to him insomuch as in a short time he had an Army of 22000 Men but they dividing amongst themselves gave Cromwel opportunity to pass over forthwith defeating a part of the Kings Army at Innerkething possest himself of the whole Country His Majesty seeing after the defeat that Cromwel was like to Conquer all Scotland makes choyce of his most faithful Friends to venture with him into England where he might with more safety and advantage hazard three Kingdoms than in a Field wherefore with 16000 men he privately marched to England by the way of Carlyle and without any considerable opposition came to Lancashire where at Warrington Bridge some considerable Forces of the Parliament were ready to cut down the Bridg but the Scots were with them so suddenly that they prevented the breaking down of the Bridg forced their way over the Planks Hence his Majesty marched to Worcester in very good order Cromwel hearing of his motions sends Lambâ—rt with a select Party of Horse after him the Parliament also raised numerous Forces in most Countryes in England all which marched to Worcester against the King In the mean time Lambert gained a most Advantagious Pass at Hopâ—on by a desperate attempt having caused some of his Troopers to swim the River on Horseback carrying their Houlsters and Pistols in their hands to save them from wet whereby they put Major General Massey and his men to the retreat So that the Parliamentarians had a fair opportunity to make a Bridge over the River over which Cromwel passed and joyned the rest of the Army which put the King upon a necessity of Fighting the City being attacked on all sides Whereupon his Majesty marched out of the City with horse and foot against them Where followed a most desperate engagement insomuch that his Majesties Horse was twice shot under him every man resolving to dye in the Bed of Honour rather than to have their Prince and Country thus trod upon by the base Usurpers But the Enemy still advancing with