done a Promise is made to assure him of Pardon Earl Dowglas passeth over into England craveth Assistance of Henry Earl of Northumberland which was no sooner asked than obtained Forces are raised and under the Conduct of the two Earls they make an Incursion into the Meuse in Scotland wasting and pillaging all the Earl of Angus is sent to give some Check to the violent Current which was done to good purpose being soundly beaten they are forced to retreat leaving their Spoil behind them King James not satisfied with this Victory resolveth to revenge the manifold Incursions made into Scotland by an Expedition into England provoked the more by the Entertainment and Assistance given to the Earl Dowglas a Proclaimed Traitor In the mean while Agents are sent to him by some of the English Nobility the Duke of York the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick and others then in Arms against King Henry to crave some Auxiliary Forces from his Majesty in recompence whereof they promise in case of Success the Rendition of all the Scottish Towns Forts and Castles in the English Possession King James though unwilling to meddle in this Quarrel yet being glad of an Opportunity to regain his Towns and having formerly concluded a War for reparation of Wrongs done declareth to the English Commissioners that he would hasten his Expedition into England which he doubted not would be much to the advantage of the Lords in Arms and therefore expected that in case of Success the Proposition now made touching his Towns should then be performed The English Commissioners return satisfied the Scottish Army forthwith advanceth which had not marched many Miles when behold an Impostor and with him a Cozening Monk presenteth himself to the King pretending himself to be the Pope's Legate but sent indeed by King Henry of England This Jugler informeth his Majesty that his Holiness intended to settle if possible a general Peace in Christendom in order to a War against the Turk the Enemy of Christians and therefore in his Holiness his Name he requireth his Majesty to retreat assuring him that in case of Disobedience he had Command given to him to denounce the Pope's Curse against him which in those days was so Dreadful that no Man durst be so desperate as to incur the danger thereof King James therefore obeycth retreateth and Disbandeth his Army This Cheat is soon discovered the King enraged recalleth his Army and forthwith advanceth and in his way Stormeth the Town of Roxburgh then Garrison'd by the English the Castle refusing to yield is closely Besieged in the interim Messengers come from the English Lords to give notice to his Majesty of King Henry his Overthrow and return him thanks for his Royal care of their Safety intreating him to desist from the Siege lest the English being provoked thereby send down an Army contrary to their minds against him King James much moved at this last Passage demandeth of the Messengers what Instructions they had from their Lords concerning the Promise of Surrendering into his hands all his Towns Forts and Castles in the English power they acknowledge none The King bids them tell their Lords That not their Words but their Swords must raise him from the Siege The Siege continueth and is reinforced by additional Forces under Earl Hantkey and Donald Lord of the Isles who to ingratiate himself the more to his Majesty tendereth himself and his Forces as a Forlorn Hope in what Design or Service soever it shall please his Majesty to command him In the midst of all this Preparation behold the Fatal hour approacheth the King being himself very skilful in discharging of great Ordnance draweth nigh to see the Cannoneer discharge a great Cannon called the Lion newly sent to him from beyond Sea the Cannon discharged flyeth in pieces a Wedge whereof pierceth the King's body and immediately he dyeth Such of his Courtiers and Commanders as were by though astonished at this sad Spectacle yet are so present in mind as to cover his Body from the view of the Souldiers lest all should turn to Confusion The Queen who that very morning came into the Camp with a chearful Countenance wisely consealing the great grief of her heart exhorteth the Nobility to go on with Resolution notwithstanding that sad disaster and for their further encouragement produceth her young Son the Prince a Child of seven Years old they salute him King and being much animated by this couragious Deportment of the Queen the Siege goeth on more furiously than before The English within spent with much labout and continual watchings Sound a Parley obtain Articles of Surrender march out honourably with freedom to Transport into England whatsoever belonged to the Garrison the Castle Surrendered is forthwith Demolished Thus Dyed James the Second about the 11th of September 1460 in the 22th Year of his Reign and the 29th of his Age he lived in a most desperate time and Rebellious Age but disposed with such a well composed Mind that Prosperity and Adversity were equally entertained by him the Death of Earl Dowglas the only instance of his Impotency a Man of singular Courage and no less Clemency munificent to his Friend and merciful to his Foe In a sad time he fell leaving Sorrow enough behind him and a sad People for so great a loss THE LIFE OF JAMES III. JAMES the Third entereth his Reign at Kelso the 7th Year of his Age Anno 1460. The Peers having done the Homage the King repaireth to Edenburgh-Castle to remain there under the Tuition of the Queen until a Parliament could conveniently be called for setling the Affairs of the King and Kingdom In the mean while King Henry the Sixth of England after various Fortune of War is at last after the fatal Blow he received at Towton nigh Ferrybridges where died 35091 English forced to fly with the Queen and Prince into Scotland for Relief where he is Honourably received and entertained the Scottish King's Sister Margaret is given in Marriage to his Son Prince Edward Some considerable Forces are raised for his Assistance to recover his Crown having delivered Berwick to King James as part or his Antient Inheritance before the days of King Edward the First King Henry marcheth with his Army into England and is overthrown in Battel by Edward the 4th nigh Hexham escapeth to Berwick Edward returneth to London Queen Margaret procures some Forces from France all Cast away in the Holy Island by distress of Weather such as escaped the Sea are either Slain or Imprisoned King Henry now desperate of Relief resolveth to try the Affections of his Friends in England and to that end putteth himself into a Disguise and coming Southward is discovered apprehended carried to London and laid up in the Tower By this time the Scots are at leisure to meet in Parliament great Contention there was into whose hands the Government should be committed during the King's Minority the Queen claimeth it Kennedie Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and George
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
oppressions not to be so stupid as to endure the Usurped Power of those Men who breaking through all the Laws of God and Man Murthered the last King detaining upon the matter this present King under the bondage of their own Wills which tyranny was so much the rather not to be endured because they arrogated to themselves to be called the Restorers and Preservers of the Scottish Liberties when indeed they exercised a most cruel and unsupportable Tyranny keeping their fellow Subjects in Slavery and abusing the King's Authority to the final destruction of all those who were faithful to his Father and to inflame the affections of the People the more Alexander Forbese chief of that Family carrieth on the point of a Spear through Aberdeen and all the cheif Towns and Cities in the North the King's Shirt torn in divers pieces and all bloody by the Wounds his Majesty received inviting all Men who had any sense of Humanity or Religion to avenge that horrid Murther the Earl of Lennox bestirring himself on this side Forth to the same purpose an Army in this Popular fury rolleth together as in a moment marcheth to Sterlin where finding the Bridge Fortified resolve to Foard over some Miles above where they that night Encamped without Order or Watch or any persons designed for the exercise of Military Discipline This looseness is bewrayed to the Enemy who advanceth Surpriseth all Killeth many and Imprisoneth more some of whom were afterwards put to death Thus was this tumultuary Army as suddenly ruined as raised This Tumult over King Henry of England inraged at the disaster of his five Ships and looking upon it as a publick dishonour propoundeth great Rewards to all such as would undertake to bring to him Wood the Scotch Captain dead or alive Sir Stephen Bull undertaketh the Service and with three choice Ships of the English Navy setteth Sail casts Anchor at the May where he attends Captain Wood then returning from Holland in few days Wood appeareth the Ships draw up and give Fire Fighting bitterly all that day next day morning the Conflict is renewed they Grapple and fasten by Iron Hooks their Ships one to another fighting with that eagerness that none of them perceiving the motion of the Tide all are carried over to the Mouth of Tay where the Water being shallow and the English Ships great and in danger of the Sands the English are forced to yield the Ships are brought to Dundee 10. August 1490. Sir Stephen Bull and other the most eminent Officers and Gentlemen are brought to King James by whom they were Nobly entertained after much commendation of their Valour he grants them their Liberty desiring them to return with their Ships with a tender of his Royal Respects to their Master King Henry King Henry much pleased returneth thanks to King James declaring the great Esteem and honourable Respect he bare to him for his Royal and extraordinary Munificence By this time a Parliament is called in Edenburgh where his Majesty endeavoured by all possible means a Composure of the grand Divisions of the Kingdom some Laws are enacted for preservation of the Peace and the late unhappy Battel nigh Sterlin where the King was Slain is so hudled up that the business of that Day should never after be remembred to the Prejudice of either Parties a very strange Close considering that this Convention was composed most of such as opposed the former King The moderation and discretion of the young King not yet arrived at the Fifteenth Year of his Age was such that a Concord is made up far above all means hope or expectation every man had a dutiful regard to so hopeful a Prince Being thus setled the reflections of his Grace appear daily more evidently towards his Fathers Friends two of his own Cousins Daughters to his Aunt Mary he bestows in Marriage to two Eminent Men amongst them the one Daughter to the Lord Boyd to the Lord Forbese the other Daughter to Earl Hamilton to Mathew Earl of Lennox And to Manifest the deep sense he had of his Father's Fall he begirt himself with an Iron Chain as I have mentioned before which galled the hearts of the Rebellious Faction his pretended Friends more than it did his own Flesh though it made impressions therein deep enough insomuch that Fear more than Love restrained them from breaking out against him About this time a strange Monster was born in Scotland a Male Child which from the Navel downward differed nothing from the common form of other Men but from the Navel upward there were two distinct Truncks of the Body with Head Arms and all other Members as to two several individual Persons the Faces were one towards another what the one did was by the advice and consent of the other and if either transgress'd this Rule Strife arose between them and peradventure Blows oftentimes Scratching Nipping and Pricking one another if they received a Punch or Blow below the Navel both were sensible but if above where their Members were distinct only he was sensible whose parts were touched This Monster King James carefully educated and caused them to be instituted in the knowledg of Letters wherein they marvellously profited especially in the knowledge of diverse Tongues they were most exquisite in Musick and both admired for the sweetness of their voices they lived some twenty eight years the one died before the other some three or four Months by the smell of the defunct body the survivor was much annoyed and daily languished until the hour of his death And about the same time too a Monstrous Cheat came into Scotland and much cherished by the King too Peter Werbeck who pretending himself to be Son to King Edward the Fourth of England happily escaped from the cruel Claws of his Uncle Richard had admittance to King James his presence who behaved himself with a behaviour so beseeming his condition and in a most elocuent Oration did so pathetically deliver himself touching the distress of his Family and his own marvellous preservation that the King and most of his Council though not without the reluctancy of some of the wiser took compassion of him and resenting his condition as the common interest of all Princes with incredible in consideration promise him assistance towards the regaining of his just Rights provoked the rather as was pretended to satisfie such as opposed Peter's design by the breach of Truce made by the English Ships whilst Scotland was gasping under the confusion of a Civil War indeed the late horrid Rebellion in which James the Third perished Peter is highly honoured and exposed to the People by the Title of the Duke of York a most vertuous and beautiful Lady Katherine Daughter to Earl Huntley one of the chief Peers of that Nation is given to him in Marriage an Army is likewise levied and marcheth into England passeth quietly through Northumberland no adverse Army appearing nay nor any one Man coming in to own Peter the pretended