the Most did it to gratify the Queen only Andrew Stuart of Ochiltry openly profest that he would never give his Consent to the admission of a Popish King As for Murray he was not averse from the Marriage for he was the first Adviser that the young Man should be call'd out of England but he foresaw what Tumults it would occasion if it were celebrated without the consent of the Queen of England besides he promis'd to procure her Consent that so all things might go on favourably Provision being made about Religion but perceiving that there would be no freedom of Debate in that Convention he chose rather to be absent than to declare his Opinion which might prove destructive to himself and no way advantagious to the Commonwealth Moreover there was a Question started and discours'd amongst the Vulgar Whether the Queen upon her Husbands death might not marry any other Man whom she pleas'd Some were of Opinion That a Queen might have the same freedom as Men even of the Commonalty have Others on the contrary affirming That the Case was different in reference to Heirs of Kingdoms where at once an Husband was to be taken to a Wife and a King to be given to the People and That it was far more Equitable that the People should provide an Husband for one young Queen than that a young Queen should chuse a King for all the People In the Month of Iuly came an Embassador from England who declar'd That his Mistress did much admire That seeing they were both equally allied to Her they should precipitate so great an Affair without acquainting her therewith and therefore She earnestly desir'd that they would stay a while and weigh the thing a little more seriously to the great Advantage probably of both Kingdoms This Embassy effected nothing Whereupon Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was sent by the Queen of England to tell Lennox and his Son that they had a Convoy from her to return at a set Day and that Day was now past and therefore she commanded them to return which if they did not they were to be banish'd and their Goods Confiscate They were not at all terrified with the Commination but persisted in their purpose In the mean time the Queen being sensible that it would seem a very incongruous Match if She who was lately the Wife of a Great King and besides the Heir of an Illustrious Kingdom should marry a private young Man who had no Title of Honour conferr'd upon him she made an Edict proclaiming Darnly Duke of Rothsea and Earl of Ross. Moreover the Predictions of wizardly Women in both Kingdoms did contribute much to hasten the Marriage who prophesy'd that if it were Consummate before the end of Iuly it foretold much future Advantage to them Both if not much Reproach and Ignominy Besides Rumors were spread abroad of the Death of the Queen of England and the Day mention'd before which she should die Which Prediction seem'd not so much to divine things as to declare a Conspiracy of her Subjects against her This also added much to the Queen's haste she knew her Uncles would be averse from the Marriage and if it were longer delay'd she fear'd they would cast in some Remora to disturb the Thing now almost finish'd For when the secret Decree and Resolution was made to carry on the Holy War thrô all Christendom and Guise was appointed General of the League to extirpate the Reform'd Religion hereupon he nourish'd high and ambitious Hopes and therefore determin'd by his Sisters Daughter so to trouble Britain with domestic Tumults that they should not be able to Aid their Friends beyond Sea And David who could then do most with the Queen urg'd That the Marriage would be highly advantagious to all Christendom because Henry Darnly and his Father were stiff Maintainers of the Popish Religion were very Gracious in both Kingdoms allied to great Families and had large Clanships under them This being long debated was at last carried For he knew That if the Marriage were made by the Consent of the Queen of England and the Nobility of Scotland that he should lose two great Points One that he should be no ways ingratiated as before and the Other that Religion would be secur'd But if the Queen adher'd to the Council of Trent then he promis'd Honours Ecclesiastical Dignities heaps of Mony and unrivall'd Power to himself So that turning every Stone He at last procur'd that the Marriage should be hasten'd The Scots not being much for it and the English very much against it Note That the Name of Henry is joined with Mary in the Title tho before their Marriage is accounted for at the Close of the Catalogue of the Scotish Kings prefixed before the Body of this History Mary and Henry Stuart the CVIIth Queen and King HEnry Stuart was marry'd to Mary Stuart Iuly 28 th and O Yes being made Proclamation thereof was publickly read with the applause of the Multitude God Save Henry and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and the day after they were proclaim'd in like Manner by an Herauld at Edinburgh This Matter did grievously offend the Nobility and the Commons also yea some fretted and openly storm'd That 't was a thing of the worst Example that ever was For To what purpose was it to call a Council about making a King and never to ask their Advice nor to comply with their Authority but to set up an Herauld instead of a Senate and a Proclamation for a Statute of Parliament or Order of Council so that it was not said they a Consultation but an Essay rather how the Scots would bear the yoke of Tyranny The absence of so many Nobles increas'd the Suspicion The chief Nobility were away Iames Duke of Castle-herault Gilespy Earl of Argyle Iames Earl of Murray Alexander Earl of Glencarn Andrew Earl of Rothes and many others of Rich and Noble Families Heraulds were sent to them to command them to come in which they not doing were banish'd and went most of them into Argyle and their Enemies were recall'd to Court The King and Queen having got as much Force together as they thought were sufficient to subdue the Rebels with 4000 Men came to Glasgow The Rebels kept themselves at Pasley where various Consultations were held according to the Disposition of the Parties The King and Queen sent an Herauld at Arms to have the Castle of Hamilton surrendred to them which not being done they prepare themselves for the Fight The contrary Faction was at variance one with another and divided into several Opinions The Hamiltons who had the greatest Power in those Parts were of Opinion That no firm Peace could be made till the King and Queen were Both taken out of the way as long as they were safe nothing could be expected but new Wars continual Plots and a counterfeit Peace worse than an open War private Men said they may forget Injuries offer'd them being weary of
managed Designs to alter things The Pope was not wanting by his Exhortations and Promises to stir up their Minds already inraged but the Kings were not sufficiently agreed amongst themselves and their Forces were so exhausted that they rather desired a War than were able to make it Besides there was an Emulation betwixt them one could not well bear that the other should have so great an Accession as England if it were conquered to his Dominions Moreover some Disputes arose betwixt Them and their Subjects which diverted their Thoughts from foreign Affairs though the Novelty of a Woman's Reign and she a young Woman too without an Husband gave Encouragement thereto especially since those who were ill affected to her said she was born to Henry the 8 th in an unlawful Marriage and also the former Differences about the Kingdom and about Religion were rather stifled than extinguished yea the Sparks of Discontent did glow in Mens Minds which in a short time were likely to break forth into a great Flame In the mean time the English Papists had made many Attempts but in vain for they were soon quell'd and though their Designs never succeeded yet Foreigners still feeding them only with blooming Hopes not with real Supplies they still persisted in the same resolute Design wanting rather a Commander for their Numbers than Power or Courage to come together The Common People of that Sect had taken a View of all the Nobility and they found none fit enough to whom they might commit their Lives and Fortunes many of the most stirring had been consumed in the Civil Wars many had past over to the other Party some were so old that they were unfit for publick Business or else the Vigor of their Minds as well as the Strength of their Bodies was so debilitated that they desired Peace if it were but a tolerable one There was only one Man who for Courage and Power seemed fit to undertake so great a Business and that was Thomas Howard who though he was of himself inclinable to Quietness yet there were some Causes which moved him to study Innovations For his Father and Grand-father though they had been highly eminent both in War and Peace yet in the Storms of an unstable Court they had been so toss'd that their highest Glory was ballanc'd with as great Disgrace His Father was condemn'd for Treason and publickly beheaded and Two Queens his Kinswomen had been also put to Death He in those Difficulties was liberally brought up and so preserved his Family from being quite extinguish'd and blown up In his very Youth he gave a Specimen of great Prudence and in a few Years by the Death of his Wives and by new Marriages he grew so rich that next to the Queen he was the most potent of the English for Wealth and Prudence the rest of the Nobility yielded to him but as for his Skill in Military Matters he had yet given no Proof of his Valor but in the Controversies of Religion he carried himself so swimmingly and ambiguously that tho he favoured Popery in his Heart yet he was such a Fosterer of the contrary Party that Many of them made sure of him in their Thoughts as their Own Amids these things the Queen of Scots was overcome in Battel and fled to England whence she wrote Letters to that Queen concerning the cause of her coming she was bid by her to retire to the House of the Lord Scroop Warden of the Marches till she did consider of her Demands in Council Scroop's Wife was Howard's Sister and by her Means the Treaty of Marriage was secretly begun betwixt the Queen and Howard and the Opportunity seemed to be offered by God himself seeing Howard's third Wife was lately dead and he was then a Widower The Design was concealed as being intrusted but to a few yet 't was whisper'd abroad among the Common People For narrow Spirits cannot conceal great Hopes but Ioy gives them Vent and so they fly abroad The Matter was so far advanc'd That the Fire of a Civil War seemed ready to break out yea some were so confident of Success after they had considered the Strength of the Parties that they thought Howard might easily do what he pleased without using any Force Things were in this Posture when the Scots Nobles had a great Meeting at Perth to hear the Demands of both Queen's both of them having wrote to them The Queen of England's Letters proposed one of these Three Conditions The first was absolute That the Queen might be restored to her Throne and Dignity as formerly But if that could not be granted Then that she might reign jointly with her Son that so she might injoy Princely Honour in Letters and publick Acts in the mean time the Regency should be in the Hands of the present Regent till the King came to the Age of seventeen If neither of those could be obtained then the third Condition was if the Queen could be persuaded to accept of it That she should live privately at home being content with those Honours which saving the Authority and Majesty of the King might be granted to her This last Request was easily assented to if the Queen would accept it But the other Two were peremptorily refused For the better and more incorrupt Part of the Nobility were resolute in this That they neither could nor ought to determine any thing which did diminish the King's Authority especially being lawfully inthron'd but the two former Heads did take off from the King's Honour yea it exposed his Life too being a Pupil unless it could be thought that his Mother who was known to be cruel towards her Husband and was not well affected toward her Son neither being exasperated by her Banishment besides should be no more kind to him than she had been ever before Also the Letters from the exil'd Queen were read wherein she desired That some Judges might be appointed to consider of her Marriage with Bothwel and if 't was found contrary to Law that she might be divorced from him Those Letters did highly incense the King's Party because she wrote her self as Queen and commanded them as Subjects Yea some would not have had them answered at all because they indeavoured to abridg the King of his Power and to instate the Rule in the sole Power of an exil'd Queen but that Part of the Council which was for the Queen alleged that they wondered much why those who had formerly the last Year much desired that she would separate her Cause from Bothwel's now when it was freely offer'd to them should hinder it as eagerly or rather more as they had before earnestly desired it if a Word or two in the Letters did displease them that Fault might easily be amended yea some there were who undertook provided the Matter of the Divorce might be handled in the mean time to procure a Commission from her in what Expressions they themselves would have it On the contrary
to revenge the Cardinal's Death 101 Lewis Isle 30 Many Whales taken there 32 Lewis XI espouses Margarite the King of Scots's Daughter 340 He lays the Foundation of Tyranny 434 Lewis de Galais Embassador from France to the Queen's Party 254 Liddisdale so called from the River Lidal 13 140 Liguria 11 Lilborn worsted by the Scots 306 Linga Isle 30 37 Lingaia Isle 39 Lindil Isle 29 Linlithgo 30 Lindsay's and Ogilby's Fight 373 The Lindsays prevail 374 Lismore Isle 25 Loch-Abyr 19 20 Loch-Aw 17 Loch-Brien 31 Loch-Earn ibid. Loch-Fin 17 Loch-Ger ibid. Loch-Long ibid. Loch-Lomund ibid. Loch-Loubrun 21 Loch-Louch 20 Loch-Maban 300 The Castle in it taken by the Scots 309 Loch-Ness 20 Whose Water never freezeth ibid. Loch-Ryan 14 Loch-Spey 140 Loch-Tee 20 Lochindores Castle 296 Locrine Son of Brute 42 Loegria an old Name for England ibid. Lollius Urbicus in Britain 113 London anciently called Augusta 89 Longay Isle 25 Lords of the Articles who 305 Lorn County 17 Lothian so called from Lothus King of the Picts 13 Lothus King of the Picts 13 He joins with the Scots against the Saxons 148 Complains that his Sons were deprived of the Kingdom of Britain ibid. He is commended ibid. Lox or Lossy River 20 Luctacus King of Scots a flagitious Person 111 He is slain ibid. Lud or Lloyd allows that by Prudania is meant Britain 2 He is refuted 71 72 73 77 78 79 80 Luing Isle 25 Lunga Isle 25 27 Luparia or Wolf Isle 25 Lupicianus in Britain 88 89 Luss River 14 Lusitania why Portugal so called as some say 47 Lust a Punishment to it self 186 Lutherans persecuted 63 67 91 Mackbeth's Son slain by Malcolm 215 Luxury accompanies Peace 143 M MAalmori Isle 26 Macalpine Laws 70 Macdonald rises in Arms but is overthrown and kils himself 207 208 Mackbeth King of Scots his Character 208 His Dream 210 211 He flies 214 Macdonald his cruel Fact to a Woman retaliated on himself 343 344 Macduff ill resents Mackbeth 212 He stirs up Malcolm against him ibid. Three Priviledges granted him by Malcolm 215 The first Earl of Fife 214 He complains against Baliol to Edward of England 250 Macklan executed by Douglas 384 Maenavia Isle 24 See Man Magistrates have Power over Mens Bodies but not over their Consciences 127 Magna or Megala Isle 29 Magnus his carousing Goblet â—4 Magnus King of Norwey seizes on the Islands 221 Makes Peace with the Scots 242 Magus Towns so ending 68 69 Maiatae who 26 Mainland see Pomona Main an English Commander against the Scots slain in Fight 3â—9 Main Son of Fergus 97 King of Scots 98 Makul a Criminal abstains from Food 236 Maldon not in Scotland 16 Maldwin King of Scots 160 A Plague in his Time over Europe ibid. He is strangled by his Wife 1â—â— Malgo a Britain ibid. Malcolm Fleming executed by the Douglasses 37â— Malcolm I. 18â— Sits in Courts of Iudgment himself ibid. He is slain ibid. Malcolm II. Competitor with Constantino for the Crown 197 Confirms the Law for Succession 2â—â— Overthrown by the Danes 2â—1 Afterwards overthrows them in several Battels 202 His Murderers drowned 2â—4 Malcolm III. brings in foreign Titles of Honour into Scotland 214 He recovers the Kingdom from Mackbeth ib. Quâ—ls Conspiracies made against him 215 217 His Vow to St. Andrew 218 He erects new Bishopricks and makes wholesome suâ—pâ—uary Laws ibid. Builds the Cathedrals of Durham and Dunfermling 219 Is slain by the English with his Son Edward ibid. His Queen and other Female Relations very pious 218 Malcolm IV. takes a Feâ—datary Oath to Henry of England 227 He accompanies him into France 229 Is despoiled by him of Part of his Patrimony in Englâ—nd ibid. Is persuaded by the Scots to marry but gives them a negative Answer 231 Man Isle its several Names 24 Marcelâ—inâ—â— quoted and corrected 56 Marble Stone on which the Scots Kings were crowned 171 Maâ—ble white Mountains of it in Sutherland 21 Marchetâ— Mulierum what the Scots call so 219 Margaritâ—â— or St. Margarite's Port 35 Margarite Creighton who 428 Margarite Queen of England delivers her Husband Edward by Force of Arms 397 She flies into Scotland and thence into France ibid. Margarite Sister to Edward of England Wife to Charles of Burgundy endeavours to raise Commotions in England 6 Margarite Daughter of Henry VII marries James IV. 14 The first Female Regent in Scotland 29 After her Husband's Death she marries Archibald Dougâ—as ibid. She flies with her Husband into England 34 But returns 37 Displeased with her Husband ibid. Persuades the Scots to break with the French 42 But opposed therein by the French Faction 43 Marianus Scotus 180 Mariners to offend them dangerous to Passengers 286 Marr and Mâ—arn Counties whence so called 19 170 Martha Countess of Carick falls in Love with Robert Bruce and marries him 247 Martiqâ—â—â— the Earl of it comes â—â—to Scotland with his 〈◊〉 148 Mary Wife of 〈◊〉 II. her manly Spirit 394 Mary of Guise Widow of the Duke of Longuevil marries James IV. 67 By degrees she dispossesseth the Regent 112 113 Takes upon her the Ensigns of the Government 113 114 Imposes new Taxes 117 Changes ancient Affability into Arrogance 127 Persecutes the Reformed and is perfidious 130 1â—1 Makâ—s a Truce with the Reformed 134 The Administration of the Government taken from her by Proclamation 139 She dies in the Castle of Edinburgh 146 Her Disposition and Character 147 Mary Queen of Scots born 71 Begins her Reign ibid. Henry of England desires her for his Son's Wife 75 She is sent into France 107 From whence that Kingâ— sends Letters desiring her a Wife for his Son 120 Embassadors sent thither for that purpose of which some die there 121 122 She marries the Dolphin 121 When Mary of England died she carried her self as the next Heir and assumed the Royal Arms of that Kingdom 127 When her Husband died she resolves to return into Scotland 151 Her subtil Answer to a cunning Cardinal 153 She lays the Foundation of Tyranny 196 Designs a Guard for her Body ibid. Her unbecoming Familiarity with David Rize 172 She marries Henry Stuart 175 She punishes David's Homicides 183 Her strange Proclamation about Rize's Death ibid. She brings forth James VI. ibid. She is willing by all means to be rid of her Husband 183 184 185 A joculary Process against her Husband's Murderers 193 She marries Bothwel 199 The French Embassador and the Scotish Nobles dislike her Marriage ibid. She frames an Association against the Nobles 204 And they Another against her 205 Earl of Murray leaves Scotland in Discontent ibid. Besieged with Bothwel at Borthwick and escapes in Man's Apparel 206 Surrenders her self Prisoner 209 210 Proved guilty of her Husband's Death by Letters 211 Hamilton designs her Deliverance 216 She escapes 218 Is overthrown by the Nobles and 〈◊〉 for England 221 She endeavours by Balfure to raise Tumults in Scotland 226 Designs to marry Howard of England 233 23â— Continued in the Lord Scroop's House 239
Death * Bothwel outlawed †Ianuary 26. ‖ Lent observed on a Politick not Religious Account * Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox returnâ— out of France after twenty two Years Exile †Henry Stuart his Son comes out of England and is in great Favour with the Queen ‖ The Story of David Rize * In Prâ—vence situated on the Mediterranean-Sea at the foot of the Alps which divides France from Italy near Villa-Franca †Rize his Politick Court to Henry Stuart Lord Darnly Bothwel avoids his Trial. Various Disputes concerning the Queen's marriage with Darnly * Viz. Reformed The Queen actually Marries Henry Lord Darnly Which disgusts many of the Nobility A Politic Maxim both Prudent and also Equitable * A Town standing on the West-side of Clyde 2 Miles above Bothwel-Bridg The Nobles that rose up in Arms are quelled Rize persuades the Queen to cut off some of the Scotish Nobility and to entertain Foreigners as a Guard to her Person The Queen after her hasty Marriage is assoon alienated from the King who at the instigation of Rize is plausibly dismist from Court * Or Pebils * A Castle on North-Esk two Miles above Dalkâ—ith in Mid-Lothian with the demesnes thereof The King being 〈…〉 made sensible of Rizes scandalous Familiarity with the Queen resolves to destroy him The Peremptoriness of Rize ‖ Or President Articles of Agreement betwixt the King and the Nobles for the destruction of Rize c. Rize haled from the Table as he was at Supper with the Queen and slain Damiot's warning to Rize to get him packing out of Scotland which he scornfully rejected Ruven's memorable Speech to the Queen on the occasion of Rize's Death The King takes Rize's Death upon himself †The banished Nobles offer themselves to their Trial. ‖ Rize's Body buried by the Queen's Order in the Sepulchres of the Kings of Scotland * A Proclamatiâ—â— against Rize's Murderers †The Queen delivered of King Iames the Sixth * The Queen disgusts her Husband and favours Bothwel †In Clackmannan-shire on the North side of the Forth below Sterlin ‖ Bothwel wounded by an High-way-Pad †In Liddisdale †A Castle in Mid-Lothian * The Queen falls sick yet continues to flight the Applications of her Husband to her * She meditates a Divorce Strange Disrespect to the King at the Baptism of his own Son Thereupon he withdraws from Court Is poisoned but overcomes 〈◊〉 by the Vigour of his Youth The Story of the Infernal Design to destroy Henry Stuart King of Scotland agitated and complotted with the Series of its Procedure The King strangled And then the House wherein he was blown up with Gunpowder ‖ The Bishop of St. Andrews shrewdly suspected about the King's Death The Assassiâ—â— do falsly impute the King's Murder to Murray and Morton The English inflamed against the Scots upon hearing the horrid Murder of their King Prodigies accompanying the King's death Bothwel designs to destroy Murray The Assassination of the Scots King odious to all Nations Bothwels Mock-Trial for the King's Murder before the Earl of Argyle A Proclamation published for a Blind to discover the King's Murderers The bold Speech of a Taylor The Queen solicitous to procure the Government of Edinburgh-Castle into her own Hands The Earl of Lennox first publickly accuses Bothwel of the King's Murder * April 15. Whereupon a Court is hastily summon'd By which Bothwel is acquitted tho but Conditionally Bothwel challenges his Accusers Bothwel procures a Schedule from some of the unwary Nobility incouraging his Marriage with the Queen Which some of them afterwards retract The Queen to be sâ—emingly surprized by Bothwel in order to her Marriage with him The Water of Almond divides Mid-lothian from West-lothian in Linlithgo-shire Bothwel actually surprizes the Queen And is divorc'd from his former Wife for Adultery Ecclesiasticks backward to publish the Bans or to celebrate the Marriage between the Queen and Bothwel Yet at last the Bishop of Orkney marries them The French Embassador refuses to come to the Wedding ☜ Even the Vulgar dislike the Queen's Marriage Politic Instructions to the Bishop of Dunblanâ— to excuse the Queen's hasty Marriage at the French Court. The Queen frames an Association for the Nobility to subscribe Which the Earl of Murray refus'd to do And therefore departs the Land A contrary Association entred into by several of the Nobility to preserve the young King The Queen escapes from the associated Nobles in Mans Apparel And arms against them A State Maxim irrefragably true Both Armies ready to ingage Monsieur Crock the French Embassador mediates for a Peace But not prevailing he withdraws himself Bothwel's daring Challenge answered But the Queen forbids the Duel The Queen's Army refuses to fight * In Fife Whereupon Bothwel flies and the Queen is taken Prisoner The Bishop of Dunblane chouzed in his Embassy to France Wondrous Discoveries concerning the King's Murder in Bothwels Cabinet of Letters The Queen pitied in her Distress The Hamiltons stir in her behalf Governours appoinetd for the young King by the Queen her self The Earl of Murray returns from Travel And is chosen Regent Iohn Knox preaches a Sermon at the Coronation of K. Iames the 6 th The Coronation-Oath taken by Proxies by reason of the King's Minority Bothwel flies to the Northern Isles and from thence to Denmark Where he is imprisoned and dies Distracted The Queen's Party of which the Hamiltons were the chief design Her Deliverance out of Durance * In Strath-â—arn The Regent remarkable Speech and Resoluâ—ioâ— An Embassador from France The Queen escapes out of Prison and gathers Forces against the Regent The French Embassador busy betwixt the Parties * Two Miles South of Glasgow A Fight between the Royalists and the Queen's Forces Wherein the Queen is overthrown and flies for England The French Embassador sculks away after the Fight In Clydsdalâ— Queen Elizabeth of England doth in part adopt the cause of the Scots Queen Whereupon the Regent with some others meet the Queen of England's Commissioners at York to debate Matters George Buchanan accompanies the Regent into England A Plot to cuâ— off the Regent in his Journy Disputes between the Commissioners of both Sides Upon their Disagreement Queen Elizabeth avokes the Cause to London Commissioners sent to London by the Regent Maitland not true to the Regent The Regent himself comes to London The Queen of Scots endeavours to raise Commotions in Scotland in the Regent's Absence The Regent manages his Accusation against the Queen and her Party To the convincement of the Queen of England and her Privy-Council 〈◊〉 acquitted from Guilt by the Queen of Scots's Commissioners themselves Iames Hamilton returns from France and labours to embroil things in Scotland hoping thereby to get the Regency from Mâ—rray The Queen of England tampered with by the Hamiltonians to make Hamiâ—ton Regent The Royalists answer their Reasons in a large discourse The Cruelty of Robert against his Brother's Children Laodice's Unnaturalness towards her own
than the Skill and Diligence of Physitians doth to others The same Parsimony makes much both for the elegancy of their Beauties and the talness of their Stature They have but a small increase of Corn except only of Oats and Barly Out of which they extract both Bread and Drink too Of Animals which Herd together they have Sheep Kine and divers Goats so that they have abundance of Milk Butter and Cheese among them They have also an innumerable company of Sea-Fowl of which and of Fishes their Diet doth for the most part consist There is no venemous Creature there no nor any one Deformed to look upon They have little Horses in shew contemptible but strong enough for all uses even beyond belief They have never a Tree growing no nor Shrub neither besides Heath which happens not so much for the fault of the Soil or Air as of the Laziness of the Inhabitants as doth easily appear by the roots of Trees which in many Places are there digged out of the Earth As oft as Foreigners import any Wine thither they drink it greedily even to excess They have an Ancient Cup or Goblet among them which to procure the greater Authority to their Carousings they say did belong to St. Magnus who first instructed them in the Principles of the Christian Religion It so far exceeds the bigness of other Drinking-bowls that it may seem to have been a relick of the Feast of the Lapithae They try an Experiment upon their Bishops at their first coming to them therewith He that can drink up a whole One at one Draught which seldom happens they count him a very Nonsuch of a Man and do look upon it as an happy Omen and Presage that the Crop of the following Years will be superabundant From which practice of theirs a Man may easily conjecture that their Parsimony which I spake of proceeds not so much from Reason and Choice as from Penury and Want and the same necessity which produced it at first did perpetuate and transmit it to their posterity Till the Neighbor-Nations being corrupted by prevailing Luxury their Ancient Discipline was by degrees weakned and impaired and They also gave up themselves to charming Pleasures and Delights and being thus inclined to Luxury they were hurried on thereto by their commerce with Pyrates who not daring to land on the Continent because it was full of Inhabitants took in fresh Water at these Islands and there either chang'd their Wine and other Merthandize for the Provisions of the Country or else sold them to the Islanders at a low price And the Islanders being few in number and unarmed too and dispersed also in the tempestuous Sea that they could not convene to assist one another being conscious of their own weakness either did receive or at least did not reject Security brought home to their doors especially it being mixed with Gain and Pleasure to boot which are the usual Companions thereof But this pollution of Manners did infect the Great ones mostly and the Priests Among the Vulgar many footsteps of their former Moderation do yet remain The Sea is there very raging and tempestuous which is caused not only by the violence of Winds and the position of the Heavenly Constellations But also by the meetings of contrary Tides raised up and flowing in from the West Ocean and making such a conflict between the Streights of the Land that the Surges occasioned thereby sometime meeting opposite one to another and being all impetuously whirled together cannot be passed neither by Oars nor Sails If any Mariners dare come too near one of these Three mischiefs befals them They are either driven back with a forcible violence into the Sea or else by the rapidness of the foaming Waves they are dashed upon Shelves and Rocks Or lastly are swallowed up by the rolling Vortices of the insucking Waters There are only two Seasons wherein these Streights are passable either when upon the Falling back of the Tides the conflict of Waters ceasing the Sea is thereby calmed or else when it comes in a full Chanel to the height of its increase at Spring-Tides That force languishing on both sides which raised and made the Waters Tempestuous and Stormy The Ocean as it were founding a Retreat to its Storms and thereupon the Mountainous Surges thereof do retire that I may so speak into their own proper Caverns and Recesses Moreover Authors do not agree concerning the number of the Orcades Pliny reckons them to be Forty others about Thirty But Orosius comes nearest the Truth he makes them Thirty Three of which Thirteen are inhabited the rest not but left to feed Cattle For many of them are low and so narrow in compass that if they should be Tilled they would scarce maintain above one person or two Some of them shew like bare Rocks or else such as are covered but with squalid Moss The biggest Isle of the Orcades is call'd by many of the Ancients Pomona At this day they call it the Main Land because it exceeds the rest so much in bigness for it is Thirty mile long It is well inhabited for it hath in it Twelve Parish Churches and one Town besides which the Danes who were long Masters of the Orcades called Cracoviaca we Scotchmen call it by a corrupt name Kirkwall In this Town there are two Castles of a reasonable bigness standing near together one belonging to the King the other to the Bishop And between them is a Church magnificent enough for those places Between the Church and the Castles there are frequent Buildings on both sides which the Inhabitants call Two Cities one the Kings the other the Bishops The whole Isle runs out into Promontories between which the Bays of the Sea making an influx do afford safe Anchoring for Ships and here and there a good Port. In Six several Places of this Island there are Metals i. e. White and Black Lead so good that there are not better in all Britain This Island is about Twenty four Mile distant from Caithness The Pictish Sea called Pentland Firth running between them of whose Nature we have spoken before In that narrow Sea there are many scattered Islands of which Strom-oy not unfruitful for the bigness of it is distant from Caithness but a Mile but they do not reckon that amongst the Orcades because of its propinquity to the British shore and also because the Earls of Caithness have always been Lords of it Sayling from hence towards the North we meet with South Ranalds or Ranals-Oy the first of the Orcades which is Sixteen Mile from Dungsby-head Skiffs and small Ships pass over in Two Hours from it to this Island the Tide being with them though there be no Wind such is the Violence of this Current This Island is Four Miles in length and it hath a convenient Port Sirnamed St. Margarets hope From it a little towards the East are two small
entred upon the Kingdom He being emulous of the Kings before him kept the Kingdom in great Peace during the space of 31 years that he managed the Government When he was old and could not perform the Kingly Office himself he appointed Four Vice-gerents to Administer Justice to the People Whilst These presided over the Affairs of Scotland some loose Persons resuming their former Luxuriant Extravagancies by the Magistrates Neglect or as some think Fault put all things into an Hurly Burly But their wicked Pranks were the less taken notice of by reason of the excessive Cruelty and Pride of one Donaldus who ranging over all Galway made the Country People pay Tribute to him or else he robbed them and reduced them to great Want Eugenius VIII The LXII King A Midst these Tumults Eugenius the 8 th the Son of Mordacus was set up in the room of Etfinus deceased His first Enterprize was to suppress Donaldus whom he overthrew in many bloody Fights took him Prisoner and publickly executed him to the Joy of all the Spectators He put Mordacus to death Vicegerent of Galway for Siding with Donaldus and set a Pecuniary Fine on the rest of the Vicegerents He made Satisfaction to the People who had been robbed out of the Offenders Estates The Bad being terrified for fear of these Punishments and a great Calm ensuing after a most violent Tempest he confirmed the Leagues heretofore made with the Neighbouring Kings Yet after all this he who got so much Glory in War when once Peace was made gave himself up to all manner of Vice And seeing he would not be reclaimed neither by the Advices of his Friends nor of the Priests all the Nobles conspired to destroy him which they did in a Publick Convention in the 3d year of his Reign The Companions and Associats of his wicked Practices ended their Lives at the Gallows all Men rejoycing at their Executions Fergusius III. The LXIII King FERGVSIVS the III the Son of Etfinus succeeded him who under a like counterfeit pretence of Virtue being fouly vitious dyed also after the like violent manner having Reigned the like Number of years viz. 3. He was poisoned by his Wife Others write That when his Wife had often upbraided him with his Contempt of Matrimony and his Flocks of Harlots but without any amendment that She Strangled him at night as he was sleeping in his Bed When Enquiry was made into his Death and many of his Friends were accused and yet though severely tortured would confess nothing The Queen thô otherwise of a fierce Nature yet pitying the suffering of so many Innocents came forth and from an high Place told the Assembly That She was the Author of the Murder and presently lest She should be made a living Spectacle of Reproach She ran her Self through with a Knife which Fact of Hers was variously spoken of and descanted upon according to the several Humours and Dispositions of the Men of that time Solvathius The LXIV King KING Solvathius the Son of Eugenius the 8 th is the next in Order Who if he had not contracted the Gout by reason of Cold in the 3d Year of his Reign might well be reckoned for his Personal Valour amongst the Best of Kings yet notwithstanding his Disease he appeased all Tumults by his Generals with great Wisdom and Prudence First of all Donaldus Banus i. e. White being Fearless of the King by reason of the Lameness of his Feet had the boldness as to seize upon all the Western Islands ând to call himself King of the Aebudae Afterwards making a Descent on the Continent and carrying away much Prey he was forced by Cullanus General of the Argyle-men and by Ducalus Captain of the Athol-men into a Wood out of which there was but one Passage so that their endeavours to escape were fruitless but He and His were there slain every Man One Gilcolumbus excited by the same Audacity and Hope assaulted Galway oppressed before by his Father but he also was overthrown by the same Generals and put to death In the mean time there was Peace from the English and Picts occasioned by their Combustions at home Solvathius Reigned 20 Years and then dyed being Praised of all Men. In the year of Christ 787. Achaius The LXV King ACHAIVS the Son of Etfinus succeeded him he having made Peace with the Angels and Picts understanding that War was threatned from Ireland composed the Seditions that were like to break forth at home not only by his Pains-taking but by his Largesses also The Cause of the Irish War was This. In the former Kings Reign who was unfit to make any Expedition The Irish and the Islanders out of hope of Prey and Impunity had made a descent upon Cantire the adjoyning Peninsule with great Armies both at once But a Feud arising between the Plunderers many of the Islanders and all the Irish were slain To revenge this Slaughter the Irish Rigged out a great Navy to Sail into the Aebudae Achaius sent Embassadors to them to acquaint them That they had no just cause for a War in regard that Thieves fighting for their Prey had slain one another That the loss was not that so many were slain but rather that any of them had escaped They farther alleged That the King and his National Councils were so far from offering any injury to the Irish that they had put all the Authors of the late Slaughter to death The Embassadors discoursing many things to this purpose were so coursly and barbarously rejected by the Irish That they set forth their Fleet against the Albine Scots even before their departure when their Fleet was on the Main a Tempest arose and destroyed them all This Mischance occasioned some sentiments of Remorse and Pity in the Irish so that now they humbly fued for that Peace which before they disdainfully refused But first of all Achaius made Peace between the Scots and Franks chiefly for this reason because not only the Saxons who inhabited Germany but even those who had fixed themselves in Britanny did infest Gaul with Piratical Invasions And besides Charles the Great whose desire was to enoble France not only by Arms but Literature had sent for some Learned Men out of Scotland to read Greek and Latin at Paris For yet there were many Monks in Scotland Eminent for Learning and Piety the antient Discipline being then not quite extinguished amongst whom was Iohannes Sirnamed Scotus or which is all one Albinus for the Scots in their own Language call themselves Albini He was the School-Master of Charles the Great and left many Monuments of his Learning behind him and in particular some Precepts of Rhetorick which I have seen with Iohannes Albinus inscribed There are also some Writings of Clement a Scot remaining who was a great Professor of Learning at the same time too in Paris There were many other Scotish Monks who passed over into Gaul out
with contrary Winds at Sea was Shipwracked and cast ashore and being brought to the King he and all his underwent their most deserved punishments They who brought him to the King were liberally rewarded his Castle was burnt and all that were therein were slain And the Body of Duffus was honourably interred amongst his Ancestors As these things did highly ingratiate Culenus to those who were good so the remaining part of his Life did accumulate so much Odium on him as never any King before him ever laboured under For whether induced by his own Nature or urged for fear of Danger as he would have it thought he suffered the severity of the Discipline used under Indulfus and Duffus to grow cold and remiss and permitted the younger Tribe being given up to unseasonable Debauchery and Foreign Delights to run into those Licentious practices which were forbid by the Laws till at last they broke forth into open Violence and Robbery And when he saw the greatest part of the young Nobility addicted to those Vices he also immerged himself in the same so that he abstained not from vitiating Noble Matrons and even Religious Nuns which in that Age on the account of their Chastity were had in great Veneration no nor from his own Sisters or Daughters neither nay he kept Troops of other Harlots hired by his Panders in his Court as in a Brothel-house When he was admonished and put in mind of these things by Wise and Prudent Persons on the behalfe of the young Nobility he answered That something was to be indulged to their Age and as for himself thô he confessed That some things were amiss yet he was forced out of fear to tolerate them For I remember said he what great Calamity the unseasonable Severity of the former King brought not only on himself but on the whole Kingdom also That the Nobility were the Stay and Prop of the Throne That it was not true that the Martial Spirits of Men were always broken by this free kind of Life or made low and abject nor That the Thoughts of Arms were so neglected by them in Peace as if they expected That there would never be any more War at all 'T is true proceeded he The Luxury of Youthful Age is so far to be restrained that it proceed not too far that so the good Seed of Ingenuity might not be choaked as it were by overmuch jollity in the very bud yet it is not wholly to be abridged or taken away lest the Seeds of Virtue should be plucked up together with it When the Nobles heard this his Defensatory Plea and perceiving they could do no good upon him by their Persuasions but rather create trouble to themselves if they should use the same liberty of Speech to him in their Rejoynders they withdrew themselves from the Court fearing lest they should be compelled to be Witnesses yea Partakers also of these facinorous Practices the sight and hearing whereof they did detest and abhor The King being freed from such troublesom Interposers gave up himself wholly to Wine and Women He proposed Rewards to those who could invent any new kind of Pleasure thô never so sordid and detestable His Court was filled Night and Day with wanton Songs and the Huzza's of Drunkards So that Intemperance and Impudence were as much praised by him as Modesty and Chastity are wont to be esteemed by Good and Pious Princes Those Evils which thô allowed or connived at by the Law in other Men yet are acted by Them in Secret were here openly committed without Shame The young Nobility being thus Effeminated by Pleasure and a Multitude of Parasites and Flatterers with them extol the King to the Skies as if he were the very First of their Kings who had joyned Splendor and Magnificence with Authority as tempering the Severity of his Government with Lenity and easing the burdens of Care and Labour by some Relaxation of Spirit and Allowance of Delight Now to continue these Luxuriant courses there was need of great Expence and therefore the wealthier sort were Fined upon fained Accusations and the Plebeians were suffered to be preyed upon and harassed with all sorts of servile Offices He that was not pleased with the present state of things was accounted a barbarous Country-Clown or if he seemed to be of an higher Spirit than ordinary he was presently accused by a company of Informers as if he studied Innovation in the State After 3 Years were spent in this flagitious Liberty when Men were silent out of Fear or Sâ—oth Luxury began to be a punishment to itself For when the King's Strength was exhausted by immoderate Lust and his Body had contracted Deformity by excessive Banquetings those Diseases followed which are wont to be Companions of such Vices so that there remained nought but a rotten Carkass fit for nothing but to â—ear the Punishment of his former mispent Life The King being thus disabled for all Functions of Life the strength both of his Body and Mind being enervated and weakened by Intemperance and his Courtiers also following the same practices some Aâ—â—â—â—cious Fellows being encouraged by hopes of Prey and Impunity committed publick Robberies and Murders regarding neither the Plebeians as being Men of poor Servile Spirits nor the Courtiers as Persons enfeebled by Luxurious wickedness Hereupon the founder Part of the Nobility being encompassed with a double mischief and therefore enforced to look to the Main called an Assembly of the States at Scone The King also was willed to be there That he might consult in common with the rest in such a dangerous Juncture of Affairs for the Publick Safety He being inwardly struck at this Summons and as it were awakned from his drowzy Sloth began to advise with his Confederates What a Man in such streights were best to do And thô he knew not how to make any Resistance nor yet how to fly away and thô his Mind also presaged no good to him yet he resolved to go to the Assembly And as miserable Men are wont to flatter themselves in Adversity so he did not altogether Despair That he either out of Pity or out of Respect to his Fathers Memory should procure some Favour that he might not be suddenly cast down from so great a Dignity to an Abyss of Misery In his Journy to Scone having a Train big enough but unarmed and dispirited about him he was slain at a Neighbour Village called Methvin by the Thane or Sheriff of that Country because he had forceably vitiated his Daughter When his Death was made known thô all Men were well pleased to be freed from such a Monster with less trouble than they supposed they should yet the Perpetration of the Fact by Roharans or Rodardus the Thane was very much disliked by all People He Reigned as the former King did 4 Years and 6 Months Kennethus III. The Eightieth King KENNETHVS the Brother of Duffus and Third of that Name succeeded
Culenus He being contrary to the former King in his Disposition Manners and the whole course of his Life used as much diligence in amending the Lives of the younger fort as the other had done in corrrupting them thô herein his Task was the greater in regard Men are carried headlong to Vices with a greater Propension of Mind but the way to Virtue is by a sâ—eep Ascent And indeed This was the Thing that gave the chief Occasion to the Opinions of some Philosophers who contended That Man was Naturally made to enjoy Pleasure but that he was hâ—â—ed to Virtue as it were violently and against his own Inclination I grant Both parts of the Dilemma are false but perhaps the Original of the mistake was from hence That seeing there is a double Power of Nature in Man One of his Body the Other of his Mind the Vigour of the Body seâ—â—s to exert itself sooner and quicker than That of the Mind And as Plants do first send forth Stalks Leaves and Flowers pleasant to behold before the Seed begins to be formed in its proper Pod and Receptacle but when the Seed ripens all those other things fade and at last wither away so our Bodies do grow Youthful before the Virtue of our Mind which is yet but weak and tender can exert its force but as the Members do grow Old by degrees so the strength of Mind and Judgment doth more and more disclose it self And therefore as in Corn we restrain the Luxuriant growth thereof either by causing it to be Eaten up or by cutting its over-rank Blade down so in Young Men the Law supposes That the forwardness of Wit which overhastens to shew it self should be restrained by careful Culture until growing Reason may be able of it self to repress the Violence of the now infirm Body But to return to Kennethus He well knowing That the Commonalty do usually comply with the Humour of their Prince and do diligently imitate what he Loves first did form a good discipline in his own Court and Family that so he might express in Deeds what he commanded in Words and as he propounded his own Life to be an Example to his Houshold so he would have the Manners of his Domesticks to be exemplary to others He first purged his Court from all Ministers of Lust and Wickedness that so he might more Justifiably do the same in other parts of his Kingdom Whereupon he resolved to travel over the whole Country to Indict Assemblys for the preventing and punishing of Thefts Murders and Robberies for the encouraging of Men to Labour by Rewards and for exhorting them to Concord by alluring Speeches that by this means the Ancient Discipline might be restored But in the Execution of this his purpose he found greater difficulty than he imagined for the Major part of the Nobility either had Guilty Consciences themselves and so feared their own Personal Punishments or else were Allyed in Blood to Those who were Guilty And therefore the First Assembly being Indicted at Laâ—erick a Town of Clysdale They who were Summoned to appear being forewarned of their Danger by their Kindred some of them fled into the Aebudae Isles Others to other Parts infamous for Robberies The King understanding the Cheat and being not ignorant of the Authors of it dissembled his Anger and dissolved the Assembly and so passed with a few of his Confederates into Gallway as if he were to perform a Vow he had made to St. Ninian Being come thither he consulted with Those whom he judged most faithful to him What was to be done in such a case The Result was That a Convention of all the Nobility should the next Year be held at Scone upon pretence of some considerable Matters to be advised upon concerning the Good of the whole Nation in General That there the Heads of the Factions might be apprehended without any Tumult and when they were Imprisoned their Clans and Tenants might be made to bring in the Malefactors to the King This Project was judged most adviseable but it was kept Secret and communicated but to few until the meeting at Scone came There the King had caused his Servants to prepare Soldiers and to keep them privately in the next House to his Palace the day before the States Assembled and at the Opening of it the Nobility being very Numerous came where they were courteously treated by the King but upon a Sign given they were immediately beset with Armed Men. They being surprized with Fear at this sudden Change the King encouraged them by a gentle Speech telling them That they need not be afraid for he intended no hurt to any good or innocent Man and those Arms were not provided for their Destruction but Defence He farther alleged how they could not be ignorant That all his endeavours since he first came to the Crown tended to This That Wicked and Debauch'd Persons might be punished and the Good enjoy the Estates either left them by their Ancestors or acquired by their own Industry and besides might have the quiet enjoyment of those Rewards which the King bountifully had bestowed upon them according to every ones Worth and Desert and that things might easily be brought to that pass if they would lend their helping Hands The last year said he when I summoned some oâ—â—he Offenders to appear on a certain day none at all came that failure as he understood was not made so much out of Confidence of their own strength as of the Assistance of some of their Kindred and Friends which if it were true was dangerous to the Publick and also very reflective upon such Kindred Now was the time when they might redeem both Themselves from Crime and the Kingdom from being molested by Robberies This was easy to be done if those which were most powerful in every County would cause the Malefactors to be apprehended and brought to condign punishment where those Malefactors were was visible to all But if they made Excuses and having so fair Opportunity to merit well of their Country were willingly defective to improve it The King to whose Care the safety of the whole was committed could not be excused if he set them at Liberty before the Offenders were brought to Punishment and that This was the End why he detained them in Custody And if any one thought his long durance would be a trouble to him he might thank himself seeing it was in his own Power not only to procure his Liberty but also to obtain Honour Reward and the Praise of all Good Men into the bargain The Nobles having heard this Harangue unanimously answered That they had rather assert their Innocency by Deeds than Words Whereupon they promised him their Assistance and desired him to lay aside all Suspition if he had conceived a sinister Opinion of any of them Upon this their Solemn Engagement the King told them the Names of the Offenders The Nobles by their Friends made diligent search
England on such Terms That the Government of Cumberland was always looked upon as previous to the Throne of Scotland for it had been so observed for some Ages past The King perceiving That this Malcolm for the Reasons aforementioned would be an hindrance to his Design not daring to do it openly caused him privately to be made away by Poyson Thus died that excellent young Man much lamented and near to his greatest Hope some Signs of Poison appeared in his Body but no Man ever dreamt of suspecting the King Yea his Deportment was such as to avert all Suspicion for he Mourned and Wept for his Death and made an Honourable mention of his Name when occasion was administred to speak of it and caused him magnificently to be Interred no Ceremony being omitted which could be invented for the Honour of the Deceased But this superlative Diligence of the King to remove the Suspicion from himself gave a shrewd Jealousie to the more Sagacious Yet they forbore to speak out for the Reverence all bore to and had conceived of the Kings Sanctity But soon after the King himself scattred some Words abroad to try the Minds of Men How they would bear the abrogating of an old Law and the enacting a new concerning the Succession of their Kings viz. That according to the Custom of many Nations if a King died his Son should succeed him and if he were under Age then to have a Protector or Tutor assigned to him so the Kingly Name might rest in the Child but the Power of Government in the Tutors or Guardians till he came to Age. Though a great Part of the Nobles praised his Speech as being willing to Gratifie him yet the Suspicion concerning the Death of Malcolm prevailed upon the Major part and especially upon the Nobility and Those of the Royal Stock who were afraid of the King Mens Spirits being in this posture Ambassadors came from England to comfort the King upon the loss of his Kinsman and withal desiring That in substituting another Governor he would remember That Cumberland being the Bond of Concord betwixt the Two Nations he would set Such a Person over it who might be an indifferent Arbiter of Peace and that would maintain the ancient Alliance betwixt the Two Nations for the Good of them Both and if any new Suspicions or Jealousies should arise that he would labour to extinguish them The King judged this Embassy fit for his purpose so that having Convened the Nobility at Scone he made a grave Harangue to them against the ancient Custom of the Assemblies of Estates in this Point wherein he recited all the Seditions which had happened for that Cause and with how great Impiety some of the surviving Kindred had treated the Children of former Kings and what Wars Rapines Slaughters and Banishâ—â—nts had ensued thereupon On the other side he put them in Mind How much more Peaceable and less Turbulent the Parliamenâ—â—â—y Assemblies of other Countries were and what great Reverence was born to the Royal Blood when without convasing for Succession Children succeeded their Parents in the Throne Having thus spoken he referred the matter to that Great Council to determine something in this Case He acquainted them also with the Demands of the English Ambassador and to give a greater Manifestation of his Condescention and Civility whereas it was in the Kings Power alone to appoint a Governor of Cumberland he left it to them to nominate One supposing that by this his Moderation he might the more easily obtain his Desire concerning the Succession to the Crown For if he himself had Nominated his Son for a Governor he thought he should have prejudiced his other Request because as I said before the Government or Prefecture over Cumberland was looked upon as the Designation of the Person to be the next succeeding King of Scotland Constantine the Son of Culenus and Grimus the Son of Mogal Brother to King Duffus who were thought most likely to oppose both Requests were first asked their Opinions in the Case who partly for Fear of Danger and partly that they might not run cross to the Major part of the Nobility who had been prepossessed and influenc'd by the King gave their Vote That it was in the Kings Power to Correct and Amend Laws which were inconvenient to the Publick and also to appoint what Governor he pleased over Cumberland The rest though they knew that they had spoken contrary to their own Sense yet Consented to what they said And by this means Malcolm the Kings Son though not of Age but Immature for Government was declared Governor of Cumberland and also Prince of Scotland which Title signifies in Scotland as much as Daulphin doth in France and Caesar amongst the old Roman Emperors and the King of the Romans amongst the Modern Germans whereby the Successor to the preceding Magistrate is understood Other Laws were also made viz. That as the Kings Eldest Son should succeed his Father so if the Son died before the Father the Nephew should succeed the Grandfather That when the King was under Age a Tutor or Protector should be Chosen some Eminent Man for Interest and Power to Govern in the Kings Name and stead till he came to Fourteen Years of Age and then he had Liberty to choose Guardians for Himself And besides many other Things were Enacted concerning the Legitimate Succession of Heirs which ran in common to the whole Nobility as well as to the King The King having thus by indirect and evil Practises setled the Kingdom on his Posterity as he thought yet his Mind was not at rest For though he were very Courteous to all and highly Beneficial and Obliging to a great many and withal did so manage the Kingdom that no one Part of a good King was wanting in him yet his Mind being disquieted with the guilt of his Offence suffered him to enjoy no sincere or solid Mirth but in the Day he was vexed with the Thoughts of that foul Wickedness which did inject themselves and in the Night terrible Apparitions disturbed his Rest. At last a Voice was heard from Heaven either a true one as some think or else such an one as his disquieted Mind suggested as it commonly happens to Guilty Consciences speaking to him in his Sleep to this Sense Dost thou think That the Murder of Malcolm an Innocent Man secretly and most impiously Committed by thee is either unknown to me or That thou shalt go unpunished for the same Nay there are already Plots laid against thy Life which thou canst not avoid neither shalt thou leave a Firm and Stable Kingdom to thy Posterity as thou thinkest to do but a Tumultuous and Stormy one The King being terrified by this dreadful Apparition betimes in the Morning hastned to the Bishops and Monks to whom he declared the Confusion of his Mind and his Repentance for his Wickedness They instead of prescribing him a true Remedy according to the
Swain himself in token of Good will did the same according to the custom of his Nation But Duncan knowing that the force of the Potion would reach to their very Vitals whilst they were asleep had in great silence admitted Mackbeth with his Forces into the City by a Gate which was furthest off from the Enemies Camp and understanding by his Spies that the Enemy was fast asleep and full of Wine he sent Bancho before who well knew all the Avenues both of that Place and of the Enemies Camp too with the greatest part of the Army placing the rest in Ambush He entring their Camp and making a great Shout found all things in a greater Posture of Negligence than he imagined before There were a few raised up at the Noise who running up and down like Mad-men were slain as they were met the others were killed sleeping Their King who was almost dead drunk wanting not only Strength but Sense also was snatcht up by some few who were not so much overcome with Wine as the rest and laid like a Log or Beast upon an Horse which they casually lighted on and so carried to the Ships There the Case was almost as bad as in the Camp for almost all the Seamen were slain ashore so that there could scarce be got together so many of them as were sufficient to guide one Ship Yet by this means the King escaped to his Country The rest of the Ships by stress of Weather fell foul upon one another and were sunk and by the accession of Sand and other Trash which the Water carries heaped up together there was made an Hillock dangerous to Sailers which the Vulgar call Drumilaw-Sands While the Scots were joyous for this Victory obtained without Blood News was brought that a Fleet of Danes rod at Kingâ—orn which was sent by Canutus to help Swain The Soldiers and Passengers Landing did seize upon and carry away the Goods of the Fifians without any Resistance Bancho was sent with Forces against them who assaulting the foremost made a great Slaughter amongst them These were the principal Men of the Nation the rest were easily driven back to their Ships Bancho is reported to have sold the burying Places for the Slain for a great deal of Money Their Sepulchres they say are yet to be seen in the Isle Aemona 'T is Reported that the Danes having made so many unlucky Expeditions into Scotland bound themselves by a Solemn Oath never to return as Enemies thither any more When Matters thus prosperously succeeded with the Scots both at home and abroad and all things flourished in Peace Mackbeth who had always a Disgust at the un-active Slothfulness of his Cousin and thereupon had conceived a secret Hope of the Kingdom in his Mind was further encouraged in his Ambitious Thoughts by a Dream which he had For one Night when he was far distant from the King he seemed to see Three Women whose Beauty was more August and Surprizing than bare Womens useth to be of which one Saluted him Thane of Angus another Thane of Murray and a Third King of Scotland His Mind which was before Sick betwixt Hope and Desire was mightily encouraged by this Dream so that he contrived all possible ways by which he might obtain the Kingdom in order to which a just occasion was offered him as he thought Duncan begat Two Sons on the Daughter of Sibert a petty King of Northumberland Malcolm Sirnamed Cammorus which is as much as Iolt-head and Donaldus Sirnamed Banus i. e. White Of these he made Malcolm scarce yet out of his Childhood Governor of Cumberland Mackbeth took this matter mighty Hainously in regard he look'd upon it as Obstacle of Delay to him in his obtaining the Kingdom for having arrived at the Enjoyment of his other Honours promised him by his Dream by this means he thought that either he should be secluded altogether from the Kingdom or else should be much retarded in the Enjoyment thereof in regard the Government of Cumberland was always look'd upon as the first step to the Kingdom of Scotland Besides his Mind which was feirce enough of it self was spurred on by the daily Importunities of his Wife who was Privy to all his Counsels Whereupon communicating the matter to his most intimate Friends amongst whom Bancho was one he got a fit opportunity at Innerness to way-lay the King and so slew him in the Seventh year of his Reign and gathering a Company together went to Scone and under the shelter of popular Favour made himself King Duncan's Children were astonished at this sudden Disaster They saw their Father was slain the Author of the Murder in the Throne and Snares laid for them to take away their Lives that so by their Deaths the Kingdom might be confirmed to Mackheth Whereupon they shifted up and down and hid themselves and thus for a time escaped his Fury But perceiving that no place could long secure them from his Rage and that being of a feirce Nature there was no hope of Clemency to be expected from him they fled several ways Malcolm into Cumberland and Donald to the Kindred of his Father in the Aebudae Islands Mackbeth The Eighty Fifth King MAckbeth to confirm the ill-gotten Kingdom to himself procured the favour of the Nobles by great Gifts being secure of the Kings Children because of their Age and of his Neighbouring Princes in regard of their mutual Animosities and Discords Thus having engaged the great Men he determined to procure the favour of the Vulgar by Justice and Equity and to retain it by Severity if nothing else would do Whereupon he determined with himself to punish the Free-booters or Thieves who had taken courage from the Lenity of Duncan but foreseeing that this could not be done without great Tumults and much ado he devised this Project which was to sow the Seeds of Discord amongst them by some fit Men for that purpose that thereupon they might challenge one another and so some of them might fight in equal and divided Numbers one with another All this was to be done on one and the same day and that in the most remote parts of Scotland too when they all met at the time appointed they were taken by an Ambush which he had laid for that purpose Their Punishment strook a Terrour into the rest Besides he put to death the Thanes of Caithnes Ross Sutherland and Narn and some others of the Clans by whose Fewds the Commonalty were miserably harassed before Afterwards he went into the Aebudae Islands and used severe Justice there After his return from thence he once or twice summoned Macgill or Macgild the powerfullest Man in all Galway to appear but he refused so to do rather out of fear for being of Malcolm's Faction than for the guilt of the Crimes objected to him whereupon he sent Forces against him who overthrew him in Battel and cut off his Head The publick
that Avarice might be also bounded and forborn when the fear of Penury as it must be upon a Throne is removed Malcolm subjoyned That he had rather now make an ingenious Confession to him as his Friend than to be found guilty hereafter to the great damage of them both For my Self to deal plainly with you said he There is no Truth nor Sincerity in me I confide in no Body living but I change my Designs and Counsels upon every blast of Suspition and thâ—s from the Inconstancy of my own Disposition I use to make a Judgment of other Mens Whereupon Mackduff replyed Avant says he Thou Disgrace and Prodigy of the Royal Name and Stock worthier to be sent into the remotest Desert than to be called to a Throne and in a great Anger he was about to fling away Then Malcolm took him by the hand and declared the Cause of this his Dissimulation to him telling him That he had been so often assaulted by the Wiles of Mackbeth that he did not dare lightly to trust every body But now he saw no Cause to suspect any Fraud in Macduff in respect either of his Lineage his Manners Fame nor Fortune Thus they plighting their Faith one to another consulted concerning the destruction of the Tyrant and advised their Friends of it by secret Messages King Edward assisted him with Ten Thousand Men over whom Malcolm's Grandfather by the Mothers side was made General At the Report of this Armies March there was a great combustion in Scotland and many flock'd in daily to the new King Mackbeth being deserted by almost all his Men in so suddain a Revolt not knowing what better course to take shut up himself in the Castle of Dunsinnan and sent his Friends into the Aebudae and into Ireland with Money to hire Soldiers Malcolm understanding his Design makes up directly towards him the People praying for him all along as he went and with joyful Acclamations wishing him good Success His Soldiers took this as an Omen of Victory and thereupon stuck up green Boughs in their Helmets representing an Army Triumphing rather than going to Fight Mackbeth being terrified at the Confidence of his Enemy immediately fled and his Soldiers forsaken by their Leader surrendred themselves up to Malcolm Some of our Writers do here Record many Fables which are like Milesian Tales and fitter for the Stage than an History and therefore I omit them Mackbeth Reigned Seventeen Years In the first Ten he performed the Duty of a very good King in the last Seven he equalled the Cruelty of the worst of Tyrants Malcolm III. The Eighty Sixth King MALCOLM having thus recovered his Fathers Kingdom was Declared King at Scone the 25 th day of April in the Year of our Redemption 1057. At the entrance of his Reign he convened an Assembly of the Estates at Forsar where the First thing he did was to restore to the Children their Father's Estates who had been put to death by Mackbeth He is thought by some to have been the First that introduced New and Foreign Names as distinguishments of Degrees in Honour which he borrowed from his Neighbor-Nations and are no less Barbarous than the former were Such as are Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons Riders or Knights Mackduff the Thane of Fife was the First who had the Title of Earl conferred upon him and many others afterwards according to their respective Merits were honoured with New Titles Some write That at that time Noblemen began to be Sirnamed by their Lands which I think is false for that Custom is not yet received amongst the Ancient Scots and besides then all Scotland used their Ancient Rights and Customs but instead of a Sirname after the manner of the Greeks they added their Fathers Name to their own or else adjoyned a Word taken from some Event or from some Mark of Body or Mind and that this Custom did then obtain amongst the Gauls is plain by those Royal Sirnames of Crassus Calvus Balbus and also by the Sirnames of many Noble Families in England especially such as followed William the Conqueror and fixed their Habitations there For the Custom of taking Sirnames from Lands was received but lately amongst the other Gauls as appears by Frossard's History no mean Author Mackduff had Three Requests granted to him as a Reward for his Services One That his Posterity should place the King who was to be Crowned in the Chair of State Another That they should lead the Van of the Kings Armies And a Third That if any of his Family were Guilty of the unpremeditated slaughter of a Nobleman he should pay Four and Twenty Marks of Silver as a Fine if of a Plebeian Twelve Marks Which last Law was observed till the days of our Fathers as long as any of that Family were in being Whilst these things were acted at Forfar They who remained of the Faction of Mackbeth carryed his Son Luthlac to Scone who was Sirnamed Fatuus from his Disposition and there he was Saluted King Malcolm assaulted him in the Valley Bogian where he was slain three Months after he had Usurped the Name of King yet out of respect to his Kingly Race His and his Fathers Bodies were buried in the Royal Sepulchres in Ionia Afterwards he Reigned four years in Peace Then word was brought him that a great Troop of Robbers were Nested in Cockburn-Forest and that they infested Lothian and Merch to the great damage of the Husbandman Patric Dunbar with some Trouble overcame them losing Forty of his own Men in the Onset and killing 600 of Them Forty more of them were taken Prisoners and hanged Patric for this Exploit was made Earl of Merch. The Kingdom was now so settled that no open Force could hurt the King yet he was assaulted by Private Conspiracies The whole Plot was discovered to him whereupon he sent for the Head of the Faction and after much familiar Discourse he led him aside into a secret Valley commanding his Followers to stay behind There he upbraided him with the former Benefits bestowed on him and declared to him the Plot he had contrived against his Life adding further if Thou hast Courage enough why dost thou not now set upon me seeing we are both Armed that so thou mayst obtain thy desire by Valour not by Treachery He being amazed at this sudden Discovery fell down on his Knees and asked Pardon of the King who being a Merciful as well as Valiant Prince easily forgave him Matthew Paris makes mention of this Passage In the mean time Edgar to whom next to Edward the Crown of England belonged being driven by contrary Winds came into Scotland with his whole Family What I am to speak concerning this Person that it may be the better understood I shall fetch things a little higher Edmond King of England being slain by the Treachery of his Subjects Canutus the Dane who Reigned over Part of the Island presently seized upon
of the Enemies Numbers promised to devote the Village whither he was going to St. Andrew the Apostle the Tutelary Saint of Scotland if he returned Victor from that Expedition After a few Removes he came to the River Spey the violentest Current in all Scotland where he beheld a greater number of Soldiers than he thought could have been levied out of those Countries standing on the other side of the River to hinder his Passage Whereupon the Standard Bearer making an Halt and delaying to enter the River he snatch'd the Standard out of his Hand and gave it to one Alexander Carron a Knight of known Valour whose Posterity had ever afterwards the Honour of carrying the Kings Standard in the Wars and in stead of Carron the Name of Scrimger was given him because he being full of true Valour though ignorant of the Modes and Niceties of War had out-done One who was a Master in handling of Arms and who valued himself highly upon that Account As the King was entring the River the Mitred Priests with their Mitres on their Heads prevented him who by his Permission having passed over to the Enemy before had ended the War without Blood The Nobles surrendred themselves upon Quarter for Life Those who were the most Seditious and and the Authors of the Rising were Tryed had their Goods Confiscated and themselves Condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Peace being thus by his great Industry obtained both at home and abroad he converted his pains to amend the publick Manners for he lived Devoutly and Piously himself and provoked others by his Example to a Modest Just and Sober Life It is thought that he was assisted herein by the Counsel and Monitions of his Wife a choice Woman and eminently Pious She omitted no Office of Humanity towards the Poor or the Priests neither did Agatha the Mother or Christiana the Sister come behind the Queen in any Religious Duty For because a Nuns Life was then accounted the great Nourisher and Maintainer of Piety Both of them leaving the toilsome Cares of the World shut themselves up in a Monastery appointed for Virgins Then the King to the Four former Bishopricks of St. Andrews Gasgow Whithorn and Murthlack where the old Discipline by the Bishops Sloth and Default was either remitted or laid quite aside added That of Murray and Caithness procuring Men Pious and Learned according to the rate of those times to fill the Sees And whereas also Luxury began to abound in those days in regard many English came in and great Commerce was had with Foreign Nations and also many English Exiles were entertained and scatt'red almost all over the Kingdom he laboured though to little purpose to restrain it But he had the hardest Task of all with the Nobles whom he endeavoured to reclaim to the Practice of their ancient Parsimony for they having once swallowed the bait of Pleasure did not only grow worse and worse but even ran headlong into Debauchery yea they laboured to cover that foul Vice under the false Name of Neatness Bravery and Gallantry Malcolm forseeing that such courses would be the Ruin not only of Religion but also of Military Discipline did first of all Reform his own Family very exactly afterwards he made most severe Sumptuary Laws denouncing great Punishment against the Violators of them Yet by those Remedies he rather stopp'd than cured the Disease nevertheless as long as he lived he employed all his endeavours to work a thorough Reform therein It is also Reported That his Wife obtained of him That whereas the Nobles had gradually obtained a Priviledge to lye the first Night with any Married Bride by the Law of Eugenius That Custom should be altered and the Husband have Liberty to Redeem it by paying half a Mark of Silver which Payment is yet called Marcheta Mulierum Whilst Malcolm was thus busied in reforming the publick Manners William King of England dies His Son William Rufus succeeded him Peace could not long be continued between two Kings of such â—ifferent Dispositions For the King of Scots chose that Time to Build two Temples or Cathedrals in one at Durham in England the other at Dumferling in Scotland upon Both which Piles he bestowed great Cost so that he endeavoured to retrieve Church-Affairs which then began to flag and decay And withal he translated Turgot Abbat of the Monks at Durham to the Bishoprick of St. Andrews This he did whilst Rufus was plucking down Towns and Monasteries and making Forests that he might have the more room to hunt in And when Anselme the Norman then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury did with freedom rebuke him for the same he Banished him the Land He also sought for an Occasion of War against the Scots And thereupon he surprized the Castle of Alnwick in Northumberland having slain the Garison which was therein Malcolm having demanded Restitution but in vain Besieged the Castle with a great Army They within being reduced to great extremity and want talk'd of surrendring it and desired the King to come and receive the Keys with his own Hand which as he was a doing being tendred to him on the point of a Spear the Soldier run him into the Eye and killed him And his Son Edward also being forward to revenge his Fathers Death and thereupon more negligent of his own safety made an unwary assault upon the Enemy wherein he received a Wound of which he died soon after The Scots being afflicted and troubled at this double Slaughter of Two of their Kings broke up the Siege and returned home Margaret did not long survive her Husband and Son but died of Grief The Bodies of the Kings which at first were buried at Tinmouth a Monastery at the mouth of Tine were afterwards brought back to Dumferling Malcolm held the Kingdom Thirty and three years being noted for no Vice but famous to Posterity for his great and many Virtues he had six Sons by his Wife Margaret of whom Edward was slain by the English in the Siege of Alnwick Castle Edmond and Etheldred were Banished into England by their Uncle Donald where they died The other Three Edgar Atheldred and David succeeded in the Kingdom one after another He also had Two Daughters the Elder Maud Sirnamed the Good Married Henry King of England the younger named Mary had Eustace Earl of Bologn for her Husband Several Prodigies hapned in those days and in particular there was such a mighty and unusual an Inundation of the German Ocean that it did not only drown the Fields and Country and choked them up with Sand but also overthrew Villages Towns and Castles And besides there were great and terrible Thunders and more were killed with Thunderbolts than were ever Recorded to have perished by that Death in Britain before Donaldus VII Sirnamed Banus The Eighty Seventh King UPon the Death of Malcolm Donaldus Banus i. e. The White his Brother who for
being a Grand-son than Iohn Baliol who was but a Great Grand-son As for Dornadilla with whom he stood in equal Degree yet he was to be preferred before her as a Male before a Female The Scots Nobles could not decide this Controversie at home for by reason of the Power of both Parties the Land was divided into Two Factions For Baliol by his Mother held all Galway a very large Country and besides he was allied to the Cumin's Family which was the most Powerful next the Kings for Mary the Sister of Dornadilla had Married Iohn Cumins Robert on the other side in England possessed Cleveland in Scotland Annandale and Garioch and by his Son Earl of Carrick who was afterwards King was related to many Noble Families and he was also very Gracious with his own People so that for these Reasons the Controversie was not able to be decided at home yea if it should have been equitably determined yet there was not a sufficient Party in Scotland to compel both sides to stand to the Award and therefore Edward of England was almost unanimously chosen to be the Decider thereof Neither was there any doubt made of his Fidelity as being Born of such a Father as the late King of Scotland had Experienced to be both a Loving Father in Law to him and a just Guardian too and on the contrary the English King had received a late and memorable Testimony of the Scots Good-Will towards him in that they so readily consented to the Marriage of his Son with their Queen Whereupon Edward as soon as he came to Berwick sent Letters to the Peers and Governors of Scotland to come to him protesting That he Summoned them to appear before him not as Subjects before their Lord or Supreme Magistrate but as Friends before an Arbitrator chosen by themselves First of all he required an Oath of the Competitors to stand to his Award in the next place he required the same Oath of the Nobles and Commissioners to obey Him as King whom he upon his Oath should declare so to be and for this he desired a publick Scrol or Record signed by all the States and each ones Seal affixed thereto to be given to him This being done he chose of the most prudent of all the Estates 12 English and adjoyned 12 Scots to them from them also he exacted an Oath to Judge Rightly and Truly according to their Consciences in the Case These things were managed openly and above board which in appearance were honest and taking with the People but his private Design was secretly agitated amongst a few only how he might bring Scotland under his Subjection The Thing was thought feasable enough in regard the Kingdom was divided into Two Factions but to make the Way more Intricate and the Fraud more Covert he raised up Three other Competitors besides Bruce and Baliol that out of so great a Number he might more easily bring over One or More to his Party And lest so great a Matter might seem to be determined unadvisedly he consulted with Those who were most eminent in France for Piety Prudence and the Knowledge of the Law Neither did he doubt but that as that sort of Men are never always of One Opinion he should fish something out of their Answers which might make for his purpose The New Competitors seeing no Grounds for their Pretensions of their own accord quickly desisted but to the Lawyers whom he Governed and Influenced as he pleased a false or made Case was Stated and Propounded Thus A certain King that was never wont to be Crowned nor Anointed but only to be placed in a kind of Seat and declared King by his Subjects yet not a King so free but that he was under the Patronage of another King whose Homage or Beneficiary he professed himself to be Such a King died without Children Two of his Kinsmen begat by Sempronius Great Vncle of the deceased King claim the Inheritance to wit Titius Great Grand-son by the Eldest Daughter of Sempronius and Seius Grand-son by his Younger Daughter now Which of These is to be preferred in â—n undividable Estate The Case being propounded well near in those very Words They all Generally answered That if any Law or Custom did obtain in the Kingdom which was sued for they were to be Guided by and stand to it if not then they must be Guided by him under whose Patronage they were because in Judging of Freehold Custom doth not ascend i. e. The usage and award of the Superior is to be a Law to the Inferiour but not on the contrary It would be too prolix a Task to reckon up particularly all the Opinions but in brief almost all of them answered very doubtfully and uncertainly as to the Right of the Competitors but as the Case was falsely put they all gave the Supreme Power of Judgment in the Controversie to Edward Hereby the Matter was made more intricate and involved than before so that the next Year they met again at Norham There Edward by Agents fit for his purpose gently tried the Minds of the Scots Whether they would willingly put Themselves under the Power and Jurisdiction of the English which as was alleged their Ancestors had often done But when they all unanimously refused so to do he called to him the Competitors whom he himself had set up and by great Promises extorted from them to Swear Homage to him and he persuades the rest to remove the Assembly to Berwick as a more convenient Place There he shut up the 24 Judges Elected as before in a Church without any Body else amongst them commanding them to give their Judgments in the Case and till they did so no Man was to have Access to them But they being slow in their Proceedings he ever and anon went in alone to them and by discoursing sometimes One and sometimes Another finding that most were of Opinion That the Right lay on Baliol's side tho' he were inferiour in Favour and Popularity he went to Bruce who because he was Legally cast by their Votes he thought he might more easily persuade to assent to his Design and promised him the Crown of Scotland if he would put himself under the Patronage of the King of England and be Subject to his Authority Bruce answered him ingeniously That he was not so eager of a Crown as to accept of it by abridging the Liberty his Ancestors had left him Hereupon he was dismissed and he sends for Iohn Baliol who being more desirous of a Kingdom than of honest Methods to come by it greedily accepted the Condition offered him by Edward John Baliol The Ninety Sixth King WHereupon Iohn Baliol was declared King of Scotland 6 Years and 9 Months after the Death of Alexander The rest of the Scots being studious of the publick Tranquillity led him to Scone and there Crowned him according to Custom and all Swore Fealty to him except Bruce He being thus made King by
Lewd Persons yet Innocent of that Particular Fact for which they suffered In the interim the King advised with his Friends how he might preserve Iames his Youngest Son for whose safety he was very solicitous and whom he had left in the custody of Walter Wardiloe Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews an honest man and faithful to him They gave their Opinion in the case that he could not be safe in any part of Scotland and that therefore it was best to send him over to Charles the IV. King of France the old Ally and only Friend of the Scotish Nation for he could be Educated no where more safely and honourably than there The fresh Example of David Bruce stuck yet in their Minds who in dubious and troublesome times at home had there for some years an Honourable retreat and Entertainment Hereupon a Vessel was prepared and he put on bord at the Basâ— a Rock rather than an Island Henry Sinclare Earl of the Oreades was sent with him as his Guide or Rector whilst they were compassing the shore he Landed at the Promontory of Flamburgh either driven in by Tempest or else to refresh himself on shore from his Sâ—â—-Vomit and Nauseation There he was detained by the English till they sent to their King who commanded that he should be brought up to Court So that neither the Law of the Truce which was made a little before for 8 years nor the supplicating Letters of his Father did prevail but he was kept as a Lawful Prisoner For his Father at his departure had sent Letters by him to the King of England if possibly he should be necessitated to land there wherein he made complaining and lamentable discourses both of his own and also of the common fortune of all Mankind But tho' the King of England were not ignorant of the Inconstancy of human affairs yet the old grudge against the Nation of the Scots more prevailed with him than either the respect of the Youth 's Innocent Age or the Tears of his grieved Father or the dignity of the Kingly Name or the Faith of the Pacification and Truce For having referred the matter to his Council how he should treat the Son of the King of Scots being arrived in his Dominions Those who had any regard to Equity and were weary of the present War inclined to the milder Opinion viz. That the Royal Youth who fled from the Cruelty of his own Countrymen and was now their Suppliant should be hospitably and Friendly Entertained That so a feirce Nation and unconquer'd by the War of so many Ages might be won and wrought over to a Reconciliation by Courtesie For this they thought was the most solid and firm victory not when Liberty was taken away by force but when Minds are united by the indissoluble bond of Amity Others were of contrary Opinion That he might be lawfully detained as a Prisoner either because many of the Scots Nobility had Personally assisted Percy in the Insurrection which he made against the King or because his Father had Entertained and Relieved Percy the Elder when he was Banished and Condemned as a Traitor in England This Opinion as commonly the worst things do prevailed thâ— they that were present at the Consult knew well enough that those Scots who fought against the English King in Percy 's Insurrection were not sent by any Publick Commission from the King but came out of their private Affection to Douglas who was then also in Percy 's Power They might also have remembred what Henry himself had answered to the Scots a few Years before when they demanded George Dunbar to be given up yet notwithstanding they stuck to this last Opinion as commonly in the Courts of Princes a false preâ—ence of Advantage doth weigh down Honest and Righteous Counsels Yet in one thing Henry dealt Nobly and Royally with his Captive That he caused him to be Educated in Learning and Good Discipline This Calamity of the Son was brought to his Fathers Ears whilst he was at Supper and did so overwhelm him with Grief that he was almost ready to give up the Ghost in the Hands of his Servants that attended him but being carried to his Bed-chamber he abstained from all Food and in 3 Days dyed for Hunger and Grief at Rothesay which is a Town in the Island Bote in the 16th Year of his Reign in the Calends of April and Year of Christ 1406. He was Buried at the Abby of Pasley This Robert for tallness of Stature and for the Beauty and Composition of his whole Body was inferior to none of his Contemporaries His Life was very harmless and there was no Virtuous Accomplishment fit for a private Man wanting in him so that it may be truly said of him That he was a better Man than a King After the King's death the Government of the Kingdom was setled upon Robert his Brother by the Decree of all the Estates who had many things in him worthy of that Office and Dignity if out of a blind Ambition to Rule he had not used unjust Courses to hasten to the Throne He was Valiant in War Prudent in Counsel Just in Judgment Liberal to the Nobles and Tender in Levying Taxes on the Commons The same Year Percy the Elder again entred into a Conspiracy against the King to revenge upon him the deaths of his Brother and Two Sons who had been slain but his Design was discovered many of his Accomplices taken and put to death and he himself for fear fled into Scotland that from thence he might pals over into Flanders and France to procure Auxiliaries to renew the War In the mean time Henry the King of Englands Son made great Incursions into Scotland both by Land and Sea when he was returned home with a great Booâ—y the Castle of Iedburgh which the Enemy had kept from the Fight in Darham to that day was taken by the Commons of Teviotdale Pillaged and then by the Governors Order wholly demolished And George Earl of Merch who had done much damage to his Countrymen in behalfe of the English being not able to procure from them Aid to recover his Own nor an honest Maintenance amongst them neither pacified the Governor by his Friends and so returned home yet he lost part of his Patrimony viz. his Castles in the Loch-Maban and Annandale which were given to Douglas for the Losses he had sustained and thus all Offences were forgiven on both sides and he passed the rest of his Life in great Concord with his Neighbours and faithful Subjection to his King The next Year Percy after he had made a vain and fruitless Peregrination over France and Flanders returned into Scotland to his old Friend the Earl of Merch by whom he was courteously Entertained and Accommodated according to his Estate There he Transacted by private Messengers about returning into his own Country and amongst the rest he wrot to Ralph Rokesby his Ancient
the Men of the contrary Faction yea sometimes his Mansion Houses and Farms would be burnt and he utterly undone So that both Parties with a more than Hostile Enmity destroyed one another by mutual Slaughters But the good Men who had join'd themselves to neither Faction not well knowing what to do kept themselves at home privately bewailing the deplorable State of their Country Thus whilst every Party sought to strengthen it self the Publick was neglected and stood as 't were in the midst forsaken of them all The Queen who was with the Regent at Sterlin that she might seem to make a considerable Accession to her Party perform'd an attempt both Bold and Manly For she undertook a Journey to Edinburgh on pretence to visit her Son and so was admitted into the Castle by the Chancellor There she was Courteously entertained and after some Complements had past she turn'd her Discâ—urse to bewail the present State of the Kingdom making a long Oration how many and great Mischiefs would flow from this publick Discord as from a Fountain for her Part she had always endeavour'd that the Differences might be composed that so they might have at least some tolerable if not a fully peaceable State of a Kingdom But seeing she could not prevail either by her Authority or Counsel to do any good abroad she was no come to try what she could do privately for she was resolved to do her utmost that her Son might be liberally and piously educated in hopes of the Kingdom that so in time he might be able to apply some Remedy to these spreading Evils And seeing this her Motherly Care was given her by Nature she hop'd that no Man would Envy her therein as for other Parts of the Government let them take it who thought themselves fit to manage and undergo so great a Burden yet they should manage it so as to Remember that they were to give an account to the King when he came to be of Age. This Harangue she made with a Countenance so compos'd that the Chancellor was easily persuaded of her Sincerity neither did he discover any thing in her Train of Followers which gave him the least hint to suspect either Fraud or Force so that hereupon he gave her free Admission to her Son when she pleased and they were often alone together and sometimes she staid with him all Night in the Castle In the mean time the Crafty Woman did oft entertain the Governour with Discourse concerning peicing up of Matters between the Parties and she called also some of the contrary Faction to the Conferences and thus she insinuated her self so far into the Man that he made her acquainted with almost all his Designs When she had thus chous'd and gull'd the Chancellor she easily persuades the young King to follow her as the Author of his Liberty out of the Prison and so to deliver himself out of the Hands of a Person who pretended the Kings Name for all his Wickedness and who had drawn all Publick Offices to himself and thus neglecting the Good of the Publick had highly advanced his own particular Fortune To effect this there wanted only a Will in him to hearken to the good Counsel of his Friends for other Matters let him leave Them to her Care By such kind of Glozing Speeches she being his Mother and crafty too easily persuaded him who was her Son and but a Youth to cast himself wholly upon her especially seeing a freâ—r Condition of Life was proposed to him Whereupon she prepared all things for their Flight and then goes to the Chancellor and told him that she would stay that night in the Castle but early in the morning she was to go to White Kirk that was the name of the Place to perform a Vow which she had made for the Safety of her Son and she commended him to his Care until she return'd He suspected no deceit in her Words but wisht her a good Journy and a safe Return and so parted from her Hereupon as ' was agreed before the King was put into a Chest wherein she was wont to put her Womans Furniture and the day after carried by faithful Servants out of the Castle to the Sea-side at Lâ—ith The Queen followed after only with a few Attendants to prevent all suspicion There was a Ship there ready to receive them into which they entred and with a Fair Gale made for Sterlin The Kings Servants waited late in the morning expecting still when he would awake and arise out of his Bed so that before the Fraud was detected the Ship was quite out of danger and the Wind was so favourable that before the Evening they landed at Sterlin There the King and Queen were received with great Joy and mighty Acclamations of the Regent and of all the promiscuous Multitude The Craft of the Queen was commended by all and the old Opinion of Wisdom which the Chancellor had obtained became now to be a Ridicule even to the Vulgar This Jovialty and immoderate Joy of the Commons lasted as is usual Two days and was celebrated by them all The Third day those of Alexanders Faction came in some out of new Hopes others invited by the Authority of the Kings Name to whom when the Series of the Project was declared in order the Courage of the Queen in undertaking the Matter her Wisdom in carrying it on and her Happiness in effecting it were extolled to the Skies The Avarice and Universal Cruelty of the Chancellor and especially his Ingratitude to the Queen and the Regent were highly inveighed against He was accused as the only Author of all the Disorders and consequently of all the Mischiefs arising therefrom Moreover That he had diverted the Publick Revenue to his own use That he had violently seized on the Estates of Private Persons and what he could not carry away he spoil'd That he alone had all the Wealth Honour and Riches when others were pining in Ignominy Solitude and Want Those Grievances though great yet were like to be seconded with more oppressive Ones unless by Gods Aid and Counsel the Queen had no less valiantly than happily freed the King out of Prison and so deliver'd others from the Chancellor's Tyranny for if he kept his own King in Prison it was evident what private Men might fear and expect from him What hope could there ever be that he would be reconciled to his Adversaries who had so perfidiously circumvented his Friends And how could the inferior sort expect Relief from him whose unsatiable Avarice all their Estates were not able to satisfie and fill up And therefore seeing by Gods help in the first place and then by the Queens Sagacity they were freed from his Tyranny all Courses were to be taken that this Joy might be perpetual And to make it so there was but One way which was to pull the Man as it were by the Ears out of his Castle that Nest of Tyranny and either to kill
overthrow such suspected Persons The Noise of this Discord betwixt such Potent Factions let loose the Reins to Popular Licentiousness For the People accustom'd to Robberies did by Intervals more eagerly return to their former Trade The Seeds of Hatred which were supprest for a time did now bud forth again with greater Vigour and the Seditious did willingly lay hold on these Occasions for Disturbances so that there was a general Liberty taken to do what Men listed in hopes of Impunity Neither were the Kennedys wanting to the Occasion who partly did spread abroad Rumors to inflame the People and to cast all the Cause of their Disturbance and Miseries upon the Boyds and partly also as some thought they were not much averse from the Design of the Seditious but did privily cast Fewel into the Fire This was plain and evident by their very Countenancâ—s That this troublesom State of Affairs was not unpleasant or unacceptable to them There seem'd but only One thing wanting utterly to subvert the flourishing Power of their Enemies and That was to make the King of their Party For they had Strength enough or too much they knew that the Commonalty who affect Innovations and love every thing more than what is present would crowd in to their Party hereupon they agreed to try the King's Mind by some crafty Persons who should pretend themselves to be Lovers of the Boydian Faction In the interim Embassadors were appointed to pass over into Denmark to desire Margarite the Daughter of that King as a Wife for Iames and that they should take all the care they could that the Old Controversie concerning the Orcades and the Isles of Shetland which had cost both Nations so much Blood might be accorded The Chief of the Embassie was Andrew Stuart Son to Walter who was then Chancellor of Scotland The Danes easily assented to the Marriage and they quitted all their Right which their Ancestors claim'd over all the Islands about Scotland in the Name of a Dowry only the private Owners of Estates in those Islands were to enjoy them upon the same Terms as they had formerly done Some write that they were passed over in Mortgage till the Dowry was paid but that afterward the King of Denmark gave up all his Right thereto for ever to his Nephew Iames who was newly born by his Daughter When the Chancellor had inform'd the King that all things were finish'd according to his desire the next Consult was to send an handsom Train of Nobles to bring over the New Queen And here by the Fraud of his Enemies and Inadvertency of his Friends Thomas Boyd Son of Robert Earl of Arran was chosen Embassador his very Maligners and Envyers purposely commending his Aptness for that Imployment by reason of his Valour Splendor and Estate fit for such a Magnificent Errand He judging all things safe at Home in regard his Father was Regent willingly undertook the Imployment and at the beginning of Autumn with a good Train of Friends and Followers he went a Ship-board In the mean time the Kennedy's had loosened the Kings Affection to the Boyds and whereas they thought to retain his Good Will by Pleasures and Vacation from Publick Cares Those very Baits they imputed as Crimes to them and by magnifying their Wealth though Great in it self yet as too Bulky and even dangerous to the King himself and withal alleging what a great Advance would accru to his Exchequer by the Confiscation of their Estates upon their Conviction they did variously agitate the infirm Mind of the King who was inclin'd to Suspicions and Avarice And the Boyds on the other side though they endeavour'd by their Obsequious Flatteries and their hiding the publick Miseries from him to banish all Melancholly Thoughts out of his Mind yet the Complaints of the Vulgar and the Solitariness of the Court Both which were of set purpose contriv'd and increast by their Enemies could not be hid And besides there were some who when the King was alone did discourse him freely concerning the Publick Calamities and the Way to Remedy them yea the King himself as if he were somewhat awakned to Manly Cares declar'd That what was sometimes Acted abroad did not please him But the Boyds though they perceiv'd that the King was every Day less and less Tractable to them than formerly and withal that popular Envy rose higher and higher against them yet remitted nothing of their former Licentiousness as trusting to the Kings former Lenity and to the Amnesty which they had for what was past Whereupon the contrary Faction having secretly wrought over the King to their Party and Thomas Earl of Arran being sent packing Ambassador into Denmark from whence he was not expected to return till late in the Spring because those Northern Seas are Tempestuous and Unpassable for a great part of the Year upon these accounts they thought it a fit season to attempt the Boyds who were Old and Diseased and therefore came seldom to Court and besides were destitute of the Aid of many of their Friends who were goâ—â— away in the Train of the Embassy The First thing tâ—â—y did was to persuade the King to call a Parliament which had been much long'd for a great while to meet at Edinburgh on the Twenty Second Day of November in the Year 1469. Thither the Boyds Two Brothers were Summoned to come and make their Appearance where Matters were variously carried towards them as every ones Hatred of them or Favour to them did dictate and direct But they were so astonisht at this sudden Blow as having made no great Provision against so imminent a Danger that their Minds were quite dejected not so much for the Power of the adverse Faction as for the sudden Alienation of the Kings Mind from them so that Robert in Despair of his safety fled into England but Alexander who by reason of his Sickness could not fly was call'd to his Answer The Crime objected to both the Brothers was That they had laid Hands on the King and by private Advice had carried him to Edinburgh Alexander alleg'd That he had obtain'd his Pardon for that Offence in a publick Convention and therefore he humbly desired That a Copy of that Pardon might be Transcrib'd out of the Parliament Rolls but this was denied him What his Accusers did object against that Pardon the Writers of those Times do not Record and I though a Conjecture be not very difficult to be made in the case yet had rather leave the whole Matter to the Readers Thoughts than to affirm Uncertainties for Truths Alexander was Condemn'd on his Tryal and had his Head cut off Robert a few years after dy'd at Alnwick in England the Grief of Banishment being added to the pains of his old Age. His Son though absent and that upon a publick Business was declar'd a publick Enemy without Hearing and all their Estates were Confiscate Thus stood the matter of Fact but I
to Liberty Hereupon a new Face of things presently appeared throughout the whole Kingdom and all Matters both Sacred and Profane were brought to Court to be huckster'd and sold as in a Publick Fair. But Patrick Graham was the only Man who endeavour'd to stop the precipitous Ruin of the Church when his Enemies sway'd all at home he staid at Rome some years but being there inform'd by his Friends in what State things were he trusting in his Alliance to the King being the Son of his Great Aunt resolv'd to return home but that he might make some Essay of the Minds of Men before he sent the Bull which he had obtain'd from the Pope for his Legantine Power and caus'd it to be Proclaim'd and Publish'd in the Month of September and the Year of our Lord 1472. which rais'd up much Envy against him For they that had bought Ecclesiastical Honours at Court were afraid to lose both their Prey and Money too and they who thought to make advantage by this Court Nundination were griev'd to be thus disappointed yea that Faction did no less Storm that had obtain'd Ecclesiastical Preferments from the King for Mercenary Gain that so they might sell them to others Their Fear was that this gainful Practice would be taken out of their Hands All these made a Conspiracy against Patrick and in his absence loaded him with Reproaches they came to Court and complain'd that their Ancient Laws as well as the Kings late Decrees were Violated and that the Romanists were carrying on many Matters very prejudicial to the Kingdom and unless the King did speedily oppose their Exorbitance they would quickly bring all things under their Power yea and make the King himself truckle under them To prevent this Danger there were some sent by Order of Council to Patrick before he had scarce set his Foot on Shoar to forbid him to execute any part of his Office until the King had heard the Complaints made against him and a Day was appointed him to appear the First of November at Edinburgh in order to an Hearing In the mean time when his Friends and Kinsfolk did assure him that the King would do what was Equitable in so just a Cause The adverse Faction hearing of it did so ingage the King and his Courtiers by the Promises of great Sums of Money that Patrick could never have a Fair Hearing afterwards When he was come to the Assembly he produc'd the Popes Bull and Grant wherein he was Constituted Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate of Scotland and the Popes Legate for Three Years to order Ecclesiastical Affairs The Inferiour sort of Priests were glad of the thing that an Office so necessary was put into the Hands of so Pious and Learn'd a Man but they did not dare to speak it out for Fear of some powerful Persons who had got the Ear of the King and his Counsellors His Adversaries made their Appeal to the Pope who alone could be judge in the Case which they did on purpose to create delay that so the Favour of the People towards Patrick might in time abate He himself was sent back by the King to his Church but forbid to wear the Ensigns and Habiliments of an Archbishop till the Cause was determin'd neither was he to perform any Office but what the former Bishops had done before him Whilst these things were acting William Sivez rose up a new Enemy against Patrick but the bitterest of all the rest and that upon a light Occasion He was a young Man of a prompt Wit and had lived some Years at Lovain under the Institution of Iohn Sperinc a Man well-skill'd in the Study of Physick and Astrology in both which Faculties he was very Famous and returning home he quickly insinuated himself into the Favour of the Courtiers partly upon the account of his other Accomplishments and partly because of his noted Skill in Astrology This Endowment won him great Respect from the Court which was then addicted to all sorts of Divinations even to a Madness so that this Sivez being of a Fluid Wit and in great favour at Court was soon made Arch-Deacon of St. Andrews But the Bishop would not admit him to that Office whereupon he communicated Counsel with Iohn Locc Rector of the Publick Schools there and a back Friend of Patricks and they Two plotted together to overthrow him The Rector having a Grant from the Pope whereby he was Privileg'd and Exempted from Patricks Jurisdiction pronounced the Sentence of Excommunication against him But he so slighted this Commination of one of an Inferiour Order to himself that though it were Twice or Thrice serv'd upon him yet he remitted nothing of the ordinary Course of his former Life whereupon his Enemies as is usual in such Cases wherein Ecclesiastical Censures are contemn'd implore the Assistance of the King and cause Patrick to be shut out of all Churches Officers of the Exchequer were sent to Inventory his Goods his Retinue was Commanded under an heavy Penalty to depart and a Guard was set upon him to observe that he did nothing contrary to the Edict The rest of the Bishops that they might not seem ungrateful towards so Benevolent a King levied a great Sum of Mony which they had violently extorted out of small Benefices and presented him with it The King being Master of such a Sum seem'd to deal more mildly with Patrick as if he took pity on him and accordingly he sent the Abbat of Holy-Rood and Sivez to him Whereupon the Bishop was reconcil'd to the King and also Sivez and the Bishop were made Friends but his Mony was gather'd up before and carried to the King Now Patrick seem'd to be freed out of all his Troubles and so he retir'd to his Mannor House of Monimul and prepar'd himself for the Execution of his Office both Publickly and Privately when behold the Roman Mony-Mongers were sent in upon him by his Adversaries and because he had not paid his Fees for the Popes Grant or Bull as they call it they also Excommunicated him The Man was reduced to extream Poverty for his Revenues both before and after his return were for the most part gather'd up by the Kings Collectors and brought into his Exchequer and what ever his Friends could make up was given to the King and his Courtiers And when the Kings Officers were again sent to take Possession of his Estate Guards were set upon him by the King his Houshold Servants were discharg'd and he was kept pris'ner in his Castle and thereby was depriv'd of the Advice of his Friends also William Sivez his Capital Enemy was First impos'd upon him by the King as his Coadjutor as they call him as if he had been besides himself The Pope also afterwards approving of the Man for that Service and also the aforesaid Sivez was made Inquisitor by the Power of the Adverse Faction to inquire into his Life and Conversation many trifling many
Friends Clients and Vassals and those not very well pleased neither abode in the Camp The major part advised him that he should no longer punish himself and his Men by abiding in a Country that was wasted by War and if it had not been so yet was poor of it self but rather that he would retreat and attempt Berwick the taking of which one Place would turn more to account than of all the Towns and Castles thereabouts neither said they would it be very difficult to take it in because both Town and Castle were unprovided for Defence But the King thought that nothing was too hard for his Arms especially since the English were intangled in the War with France so that some Court-Parasites soothing him up in his Vanity he judg'd that he might easily reduce that Town in his Retreat Whilst he thus lay encamped at Foord there came Heraulds from the English desiring him to appoint a Place and Time for the Battel Hereupon he called a Council of War wherein the major part were of opinion That it was best to return home and not to hazard the State of the whole Kingdom with so small a Force especially since he had abundantly satisfied his Credit his Renown and the Laws of Friendship neither was there any just Cause why he should venture his small Army and which had been also wearied out with the taking of so many Castles against the more numerous Forces of the English who had also newly received an Addition of fresh Men for it was reported That at that very time Thomas Howard arrived in the Camp with 6000 Men sent back out of France Besides if he retreated the English Army must of necessity disband and then they could not bring together Another to be levied so far off till the next Year But if he would needs fight it were better so to do in his own Country where Place Time and Provision were more at his Command But the French Embassador and some Courtiers whom French Largesses had wrought over to him were of another Mind and easily persuaded Iames who longed to fight to abide the Enemy in that place In the mean time the English came not at the Day appointed by the Herauld and then the Scots Nobles took that opportunity to go again to the King and told him that it was the Craft of the Enemy to protract the time from one day to another whilst their own Force encreased and the Scots were diminished and that therefore he should use the same Art against them That it was now no Dishonour for the Scots to retreat since the English had not kept the designed Time without fighting or else not to fight but when they themselves thought fit The first of these Advices was in many respects the more safe but if that did not please him he had a fair opportunity offered him to comply with the other For seeing the Till had very high Banks and was almost no where fordable there was no passing for an Army over it within many Miles but by one Bridg where a few Men might keep back a great Multitude yea if part of the English should get over he might so place his Ordnance as to cut off the Bridg and so they who had passed over might be destroyed before they could be relieved by those on the contrary side The King approved of neither Advice but answered resolutely That if the English were 100000 strong he would fight them All the Nobility were offended at this temerarious Answer and Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus who was far superior to all the rest in Age and Authority endeavoured to appease the King's Fury by a mild Oration and to open the Nature and Reason of the two former Advices You have said he sufficiently satisfied your Alliance with France in that you have called off a great part of their Enemy's Army from them for by this means they cannot run over all France as by the multitude of their Forces they hoped to do neither can they do any great damage to Scotland because they cannot long keep their Army together in a cold Country already wasted by War and otherwise not very fruitful and moreover the Winter now approaching which in the Northern Parts useth to begin betimes As for the French Embassador said he I do not wonder that he is so earnest to press us to a Battel for he being a Stranger studies not the common good of our whole Party but the private Advantage of their own Nation and therefore it is no News if he push us on to fight and so be prodigal of other Mens Blood Besides his Demand is shameless for he requires that of us which his own King tho highly wise and prudent doth not think fit to do for the maintenance of his whole Kingdom and Dignity Neither ought the loss of this Army to be accounted small because we are but few in number For that which is any ways eminent for Valour Authority or Counsel in the whole Kingdom of Scotland is here summ'd up in a Body If these are lost the rest of the Commonalty will be but an easy Prey to the Conqueror Besides to lengthen out the War is at present more safe and more conducive to the main Chance For if L'amot's Opinion be that the English are to be either exhausted by Expences or wearied out by Delays what can be more adviseable in the present Posture of Affairs than to compel the Enemy to divide his Force so that part of them must attend us as if we were continually likely to invade them and the fear thereof would take off a great stress of the War from the French tho with no small Toil of ours Besides we have consulted sufficiently for the Glory and Splendor of our Arms which these Men who I am afraid are more forward in Words than Actions pretend as a Disguise and Vail for their Temerity For what can be more splendid than for the King to demolish so many Castles to destroy the Country with Fire and Sword and from so large Devastations to bring home so much Booty that many Years Peace will not restore a Country so desolated to its former hue And what greater Advantage can we expect in a War than that in so mighty an hurry of Arms to our great Honour and Renown but the Shame and Disgrace of our Enemies we give our Souldiers leave to refresh themselves having gotten Estates and Glory to boot And this kind of Victory which is obtained rather by Wisdom than by Arms is most proper for a Man especially for a General in regard the common Souldiers can challeng no part thereof All that were present assented to what he spoke as appeared by their Countenances but the King had taken a solemn Oath that he would fight the English and therefore he entertained his whole Discourse with great Disgust and bid him Get him home again if he were afraid He thereupon fell
mightily enriched by this Booty and thereupon omitted the severity of their Ancient Discipline yea there were some amongst them who counted That Gain as a Pious and Holy Fraud alleging That the Mony could never be better bestowed than to be given to Devout Persons that they might pray forsooth for the Redemption of their Souls out of Purgatory The Fight was carried on so obstinately that towards Night both Parties were weary and withdrew almost Ignorant of one anothers Condition so that Alexander Hume and his Souldiers who remained untouched gathered up a great part of the Spoil at their pleasure But the next day in the Morning Dacres being sent out with a Party of Horse to make discovery when he came to the place of Fight and saw the Scots Brass-Guns without a Guard and also a great part of the Dead unstripp'd he sent for Howard and so gathered up the Spoil at leasure and celebrated the Victory with great Mirth Concerning the King of Scotland there goes a double Report The English say he was slain in the Battel But the Scots affirm That in the Day of Battel there were several others cloathed in the like Coat of Armour and the Habit of the King which was done on purpose on a double account partly that the Enemy might principally aim at one Man as their chief Opponent on whose Life the safeguard of the Army and total ruin of the Enemy did depend and partly also if the King hapned to be slain that the Souldiers might not be discouraged nor sensible of his loss as long as they saw any Man armed and clothed like him in the Field and riding up and down as a Witness of their Cowardise or Valour And that one of these was Alexander Elphinston who in Countenance and Stature was very like the King and many of the Nobility perceiving him armed in Kingly Habiliments followed him in a Mistake and so died resolutely with him but that the King himself repassed the Tweed and was slain by some of Humes his Men near the Town of Kelsoe but it is uncertain whether it were done by his Command or else by the forwardness of his Souldiers who were willing to gratify their Commander for they being desirous of Innovation thought that they should escape Punishment if he were taken off but if he were alive they should be punished for their Cowardise in the Fight Some Conjectures are also added as that the same Night after this unhappy Fight the Monastery of Kelsoe was seized upon by Car an Intimate of Hume's and the Abbat thereof ejected which it was not likely he would dare to have done unless the King were slain and moreover David Galbreth one of the Family of the Hume's some Years after when Iohn the Regent questioned the Hume's and was troublesome to their Family is said to have blamed the sluggish Cowardise of his Allys who would suffer that Stranger to rule so arbitrarily and imperiously over them whereas he himself had been one of the Six that had put an end to the like Insolency of the King at Kelsoe But these Things were so uncertain that when Humes was afterward tried for his Life by Iames Earl of Murray the King 's Natural Son they did not much prejudice his Cause However the Truth of this Matter stands yet I shall not conceal what I have heard Lawrence Talifer an Honest and a Learned Man to report more than once He was then one of the King's Servants and was a Spectator of the Fight he saw the King when the Day was lost set upon an Horse and pass the Tweed many others affirmed the same thing So that the Report went currant for many Years after That the King was alive and was gone to Ierusalem to perform a Religious Vow he had made but would return again in due Time But that Rumor was found as vain as another of the same Batch which was heretofore spread abroad by the Brittons concerning their Arthur And but a few Years since by the Burgundians concerning Charles This is certain That the English found the Body of the King or of Alexander Elphinston and carried it into England and retaining an inexpiable Hatred against the Dead they left it unburied in a Lead Coffin I know not whether their Cruelty therein were more foolish or more barbarous because he had born sacrilegious Arms against Pope Iulius the Second whom the English then sought to curry favour with or else as some say because he was perjured as having contrary to the Oath and League between them taken up Arms against Henry the Eighth Neither of which Exprobrations ought to have been laid to his Charge especially by such a King who during his Life was not constant or tight in any one Religion nor by such a People who had took up Arms so often against the Bishop of Rome Not to speak of many of the Kings of England whom their own Writers do accuse as guilty of Perjury as William Rufus who is charged with That Crime by Polydore and Grafton Henry the First by Thomas Walsingham in his Description of Normandy King Stephen hath the like Brand inured upon him by Neobrigensis Grafton and Polydore Henry the Eighth by the same Newberry Grafton and Polydore Richard the First by Walsingham in his Hypodigma Neustriae Richard the Third by Grafton and Walsingham Edward the First by Walsingham I cull out these few for Example-sake not of the First Kings of the Saxon Race of which I might instance in a great Many but in Those of the Norman Family whose Posterity enjoy the Kingdom to this Day and who lived in the most flourishing Times of England's Glory to put them in mind not to be so bitter against Strangers who with so much Indulgence bore the Perjuries of their own Kings especially since the guilt of the Crime objected lies principally on those who were the first Violaters of the Truce But to return to the Matter Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey had gone off with great Renown for That Victory over the Scots if he had used his Success with Moderation but being a Man almost drunk with the Happiness of his prosperous Success and little mindful of the Instability of Human Affairs he made his Houshold Servants as the English custom is to wear a Badg on their left Arms which was a White Lyon his own Arms on the top of a Red one and rending him with his Paws God Almighty did seem to punish this his insolent Ambition for there were in a manner none of his Posterity of either side but dyed in great Disgrace and Ignominy But King Iames as he was dear to all whilst living so he was mightily lamented at his Death and the Remembrance of him stuck so fast in the Minds of Men as the like was not known of any other King that we have heard or read of 'T is probable that it hapned by making a Comparison with the bad Kings who preceded his Reign
of fifteen Men who were to have a perpetual Power and even a Tyrannical Government for their Wills were their Laws In favour of the Pope they were very severe against the Lutherans and the Pope on the contrary to gratify a King so well deserving at his Hands gave him the Tithes of all Parsonages for the next Year following This Year the English perceived that the State of Affairs in Scotland grew every day more quiet than other but yet that they were destitute of foreign Aid because they themselves had joined with the French against Charles the Emperor Hereupon they sought out an occasion for a War In April they made an Expedition out of Berwick and spoiled Coldingham Douglas and many other neighbouring Towns and drove away great Booty They had no apparent Provocation neither did they denounce War before-hand How eager they were upon War appears by that King's Proclamation soon after publish'd wherein 't was said that the Garison of Berwick was provoked by some licentious and contumelious Words which the Scots had let fall But the Words mentioned in the Proclamation carry no Contumely in them at all But this Cause not seeming just enough for a War they demanded Canabie a small Village in the Borders with a poor Monastery in it as if it belonged to them which they never pretended to before and likewise that the Douglasses might be restor'd For the King of England perceiving that his Aid was absolutely necessary to the French King so that he could by no means want it and also knowing that he had him fast in a League wherein the Interest of Scotland was not considered hereupon he thought it no hard Matter to bring the Scots to what Conditions he pleased Moreover because the Emperor was alienated from him by the Peace with France and the Divorce with his Aunt and the Pope of Rome did raise up Wars amongst all Christian Princes he thought he should omit a great opportunity at home for innovating of things if he neglected That The King of Scots that he might not be unprovided against this Storm by a publick Proclamation made all over the Kingdom appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray to be his Vicegerent and because the Borderers of themselves were not able to cope with the English who had also a great number of Auxiliaries with them he divided the Kingdom into four Parts and commanded each of them to send out the ablest Men amongst them with their Clans and Provision for fourty Days These Forces thus succeeding one another by turns made great Havock in the Towns and Castles in those Parts so that the King of England was frustrated in his Expectation seeing the War was likely to be drawn out in length and other Concerns were also to be cared for by him and therefore he was willing to hearken to a Peace but would have it fought for at his Hands for he thought it was not for his Honour either to offer it or to seek it of himself And therefore it seem'd most convenient to transact the Matter by the King of France the common Friend to both Nations Whereupon the French King sent his Embassador Stephen D'Aix into Scotland to enquire by whose Default such a War was commenced between the two Neighbour-Kings The King of Scots clearly acquitted himself from being any Cause of the War he also made a Complaint to him how long his Ambassadors had been detained in France without Hearing And at the Ambassador's Departure he sent Letters by him to his Master desiring him to observe the ancient League which was renewed by Iohn the Regent at Roan he also sent David Beton into France to answer the Calumnies of the English and besides to treat concerning the keeping of the old League and to contract a new Affinity between France and Scotland He also sent Letters by him to the Parliament of Paris very bitter and full of Complaints concerning those matters which had been transacted and agreed between Francis their King and Iohn Regent of Scotland how that ancient Friendships Pacts and Agreements were slighted in behalf of Those who were once their common Enemies His Ambassador Beton was commanded if he saw that the things he had in Command did not succeed well in France to deliver those Letters to the Council of the Judges and presently to withdraw himself into Flanders with an Intent as it might be conjectured to make a League Agreement and Affinity with the Emperor In the mean time War was waged in Britain and Disputes were manag'd at New-castle concerning the Lawfulness thereof when the Embassadors sent from both Nations could not agree on terms of Peace Monsieur Guy Flower was sent over by the King of France to compose matters The Scotish King told him that he would gratify his Master as far as ever he was able and also he had some Communication with him as much as was seasonable at that time concerning the conjugal Affinity about which he had sent Embassadors before which were then in France Flory or Flower being thus the Umpire for Peace the Garisons were withdrawn on both sides from the Borders and a Truce was made which was afterwards followed with a Peace When the Peace was settled the King having for some Years last past transacted Business with the King of France and with the Emperor by his Embassadors about a matrimonial Contract now being freed from other cares his Thoughts were more intent that way than ever For besides the common causes which might incline him to some potent Alliance he was thoughtful how to perpetuate his Family by Issue of his Body he himself being the last Male that was left alive insomuch that his next Heirs had already conceived a firm hope in their Minds of the Kingdom which did not a little trouble Him who was otherwise suspicious enough of himself And indeed things did very much concur to raise them up to that hope as for instance their own domestick Power the Kings being a Batchelor his Venturousness in slighting all Danger so that he would not only stoutly undergo all Hazards but often court and invite Them for with a small party he would march against the fiercest Thieves and tho they were superior in number yet he would either prevent them by his Speed or else fright them by the Reverence of his Name and so force them to a Surrender he would sit Night and Day on Horse-back in this Employment and if he did take any Refreshment or Food 't was that which he lighted on by chance and but little of that neither These Circumstances made the Hamiltons almost confident of the Succession yet it seem'd to them a long way about to stay for either fortuitous or natural Dangers and therefore they studied to hasten his Death by Treachery A fair Opportunity was offer'd them to effect it by his Night-Walkings to his Misses having but one or two in his Company But all these things not answering
Forman Principal Herauld King of Arms as they call him giving him these Commands in answer to them First of all you shall declare to them that I am mightily surpriz'd and look upon it as an unexpected thing that any other Man should claim any Power here besides my Son in Law and Daughter on whom all my Authority depends The former Actings of the Nobles and these their present Postulations or rather Commands do sufficiently declare that they acknowledg no Authority Superior to themselves That their Petition or rather their Threats though guilded over with smooth Words were not at all new to Her Next you shall require the Duke of Castle-herault to call to Mind what he promis'd to me by word of Mouth and to the King by Letters that he would not only be Loyal to the King but also would take effectual Care that his Son the Earl of Arran should not mix himself in these Tumults of his Country you shall ask him Whether his present Actings do correspond with those Promises To their Letters you shall Answer That for the sake of the publick Tranquillity I will do and so I promise whatsoever is not contrary to Piety towards God or Duty towards the King as for the destruction of Law and Liberty it never entred into her Heart much less to subdue the Kingdom by Force For whom said She should I conquer it seeing my Daughter doth now as lawful Heiress possess it As to the Fortification at Leith you shall ask Whether ever She attempted any thing therein before they in many Conventions and at length by a mutual Conspiracy had openly declar'd That they rejected the Government set over them by Law and without her Advice or Notice though She held the Place and Authothority of a chief Magistrate had broke the publick Peace at their Pleasure and had strengthned their Party by taking of Towns and had treated with old Enemies for establishing a League yea that now many of them kept English in their Houses so that to omit other Arguments What Reason have they to judg it lawful for themselves to keep up an Army at Edinburgh to invade those who are in Possession of the Government and yet it must not be lawful for me to have some Forces about me at Leith for my own Defence Their aim is principally This to compel Me by often shifting of Places to avoid their Fury as I have hitherto done Is there any mention in their Letters about Obedience to lawful Magistrates Do they discover any Way to renew Peace and Concord By what Indication do they manifest that they are willing that these Tumults should be appeased and all things reduced to their former State Let them colour and guild their Pretensions how they please with the shew of publick Good yet 't is plain that they mind nothing less for if that one thing were a Remora to Concord I have often shewed the Way that leads thereto They themselves are not ignorant that the French at the Command of their own King had long since quitted Scotland if their Actings had not occasion'd their longer Stay And therefore if now they will offer any honest Conditions which may afford a probable ground of hope that the Majesty of the Government may be preserved and that they will with Modesty obey their Superiours I shall refuse no Way of renewing Peace nor omit any thing relating to the Publick Good neither am I only thus affected towards them but the French King is of the same mind too who hath sent over an Illustrious Knight of the Order of St. Michael and another prime Ecclesiastical Person with Letters and Commands to that purpose whom yet they had so slighted as not to vouchsafe them an Answer no nor Audience neither And therefore you shall require the Duke the other Nobles and Country-men of all sorts presently to separate themselves otherwise they shall be proclaimed Traitors To this Letter the Nobles sent an Answer the day after which was October 23. to this purpose We plainly perceive by your Letters and Commands sent us by your Herauld how you persist in your Disaffection to God's true Worship to the Publick Good of the whole Country and to the Common Liberty of us all which that we may perserve according to our Duty we do in the Name of our King and Queen suspend and inhibit that publick Administration which you usurp under their Names as being fully persuaded that your Actingâ— are quite contrary to their Inclinations and against the Publick Good of the Kingdom And as you do not esteem us a Senate and publick Council who are the lawful Inhabitants of this Kingdom and Country so we do not acknowledg you as Regent in supream Authority over us especially since your Government if you have any such entrusted to you by our Princes is for weighty and just Reasons abrogated by us and that in the Name of those Kings to whom we are born Counsellors especially in such Things as concern the Safety of the whole Common-wealth And though we are determined to undergo the utmost Hazard for the freeing of that Town wherein you have a Garison from foreign Mercenaries which you have hired against us yet for the Reverence and due Respect we bear you as the Mother of our Queen we earnestly intreat you to withdraw your self whilst Necessity compels us to reduce that Town by Force which we oft endeavour'd to gain by fair Means And withal we desire that within the space of twenty four hours you would withdraw likewise Those who challenge the Name of Embassadours to themselves and forbid them either to decide Controversies or to manage Civil and Martial Affairs and also that all Mercenary Souldiers in that Town would retire likewise for we would willingly spare their Lives and consult their Safety both by reason of that ancient Amity which hath interceded betwixt the Kings of Scotland and France and also by reason of the Marriage of their King with our Queen which doth equitably ingage us rather to encrease our Union than diminish it The same Day the Herauld also related that the Day before in a full Assembly of Nobles and Commons it was voted That all the Regent's Words Deeds and Designs tended only to Tyranny and therefore a Decree was made to abrogate her Authority to which all of them subscribed as most just Moreover they did inhibit the Trust her Son-in-Law and Daughter had committed to her they also forbad her to execute any Act of publick Government till a general Convention of the Estates which they determined to summon as soon as conveniently they could The 25 th day the Nobles sent an Herauld to Leith to warn all the Scots to depart out of the Town within the space of twenty four hours and to separate themselves from the Destroyers of publick Liberty After these Threats Horsemen made Excursions on both sides and the War began yet without any considerable Slaughter In the beginning of
committed no Offence which was remediless and uncurable Towards the end of the War there were three French Generals having distinct limits allotted them who manag'd Military Affairs in Scotland viz The Count Martigues of the House of Luxemburgh who was afterwards made Duke of D'Estames L'abros of a Noble or Equestrian Family highly experienc'd in Military Matters and a Third was the Bishop of Amiens accompanied with some Doctors of the Sorbon as if the Matter were to be determin'd by the Pen not the Sword All the Counsels of these Three did tend to open Tyranny Martigues his Advice was to destroy all the Country near to Leith by Fire and Sword that so the desolateness of the Country and the want of Necessaries might compel the Scots to raise the Siege But if that Counsel had took Effect many peaceable Persons poor besides and for the most part Papists too would have been destroy'd and the Besieged would have had no benefit neither for the Sea being open Provisions might easily have been brought by Ships from all the Maritim places of Scotland and England into the Leaguer of the Besiegers and the devastation of the Land and Soil would have redounded as much on the Papists as on the Embracers of the True Religion L'abros was of opinion That all the Nobility of Scotland were to be cut off without distinction and that a thousand French Curiassiers were to be garison'd on their Lands who were to keep under the common Sort as Vassals This his Design was discover'd by some Letters of his intercepted which were going for France and 't is scarce credible how the Hatred against the French begun upon other Causes was increas'd thereby As for the Bishop of Amiens he would have had all Those to be seiz'd on and put to Death without pleading in their own Defence whom he thought not so favourable to the Pope's Cause as he would have them yea all Those who were not so forward to assist the French Party as he expected and he mightily blam'd the French Souldiers for suffering those who were disaffected to their King to strut it openly up and down One he particularly aimed at viz. Mr. William Maitland a Noble and learned Man whom because the Sorbonists could not refute by their Reasons the Bishop design'd to take off by the Sword yea he upbraided the French Souldiers for permitting him to live and advis'd them to kill him which he having notice of took his opportunity to withdraw himself from the French and so escap'd into the Scots Camp The Seventeenth BOOK A Few days after the Death of the Regent a Truce was made for a short time to hear the Embassadors who were come to treat of Peace out of both Nations France and England Hereupon the Nobles assembled These could not effect any thing the greatest obstacle to an agreement was That the French who the Winter before had obtain'd great Booties out of the neighbouring Parts refus'd to depart unless they carry'd their Baggage and plunder along with them This was denied them Whereupon Irruptions were made more fierce than ever though not so prosperous to the French At length when both sides were weary of the War and the Inclinations to Peace could no longer be dissembled the Embassadors on both sides met again in a Conference The things which most inclin'd all to Peace were these The French had no hopes of any relief and their Provisions grew daily scant and were not likely to hold out long so that their Condition was almost wholly desperate And for the English they were wearied out with the long Siege and wanted Necessaries as well as the French so that They likewise desir'd an end of the War And the Scots too receiving no Pay could hardly be kept from running away So that they easily hearkned to a Capitulation Thus by the joint Consent of all Parties on the 8 th day of Iuly in the Year of our Lord 1559 Peace was Proclaim'd on these Conditions That the French should Sail away in 20 days with their Bag and Baggage and seeing they had not Ships enough to transport them all over at present they were to hire some from the English leaving Hostages till they were safely return'd That Leith should be render'd up to the Scots and the Walls thereof demolish'd That the Fortifications lately made by the French at Dunbar should be slighted That these Articles being perform'd the English should immediately reduce their Forces That Mary Queen of Scots by the consent of her Husband Francis should grant an Oblivion of all that the Scotish Nobility had done or attempted from the 10 th day of March 1559 till the 1 st of August 1560. And that a Law should be made to that purpose to be confirm'd in the next Parliament there which was appointed to be in August And Francis and Mary were to give their Consent to the holding that Assembly That 60 of the French should keep the Island of Keith and the Castle of Dunbar that so the Queen might not seem to be ejected out of the Possession of the whole Kingdom at once After this departure of the foreign Souldiers there was a great Tranquillity and Cessation from Arms till the Queen's Return The Assembly of the Estates were kept at Edinburgh wherein the greatest Debate was about promoting the Reform'd Religion The Statutes made were sent into France for the Queen to give her consent to and subscribe This was done rather to sound her Mind than out of any hope to obtain any thing from Her Embassadors also were dispatch'd for England to give them thanks for their Assistance so seasonably afforded Not long after Iames Sandeland Knight of Rhodes came unto the French Court a Man as yet free from the Discords of the Faction his business was to excuse things past and to pacify the the Grudges remaining since the former Wars and so to try all ways to establish Peace and Concord But his arrival hapned to be in very troublesome times for the whole Conduct of the French Affairs was then in the Hands of the Guises who when they perceiv'd that neither Threatnings nor Flatteries did prevail endeavour'd to oppress the contrary Faction by force of Arms and when they could lay no other plausible Crime against their Contrariants they accus'd them of High-Treason for betraying the Kingdom Hereupon the King of Navarr was condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment and his Brother the Prince of Conde sentenc'd to Death Annas Duke of Momorancy and the two Sons of his Sister Iasper and Francis Colignes and their Kinsman the Vidam of Charters were destin'd to the Slaughter and besides those above 7000 more were put into the black List of Criminals Moreover all means were us'd to terrify the People The City of Orleans was full of Foot-Souldiers Guards of Horse were posted all up and down the Country all the High-ways were beset by them Sentence was past by a few Men in the Court concerning
the adverse Party urg'd That they saw no new Cause of such great haste 60 days was but a lawful time for Bothwel who was out of the Kingdom to appear within which time a new Commission might be sent Neither ought that Delay to seem long especially to her who had past over so great a Matter in Silence now two Years and now also she had sent Letters which were of themselves an Hindrance why those who were willing to gratify her could not comply with them but if she desired a Divorce 't was easy to be obtained let her but write to the King of Denmark desiring him to punish the Murderer of her former Husband if he were dead though they all were unwilling yet she might marry where and whom she pleased but if she refused This then 't was plain she spake not sincerely and from her Heart but made a counterfeit Pretence of Divorce that if she married again she might also live in a disputable and uncertain Matrimony even with her next Husband too And hereof there was a shrewd Suspicion because she desired such Judges to determine of the Divorce who had no Power in the Case For what Power could the Regent have over Exiles with whom he had nothing at all to do who unless they themselves pleased might refuse to stand to his Judgment or how should they submit to anothers Judgment who were under the Power and Dominion of other Princes but seeing that there seem'd to be some hidden Fraud in the Case a Decision was not to be hastily made but the Queen of England was to be acquainted therewith in whose Power it was either to promote or hinder it Hereupon a Young Nobleman of the Regent's Friends was sent to the Queen of England to acquaint her with the Acts of the Convention Some may perhaps wonder That seeing greater Matters were transacted with less Dispute there should be such ado made about the Divorce But this was the cause of it Howard had privately transacted by his Friends concerning his marrying the Queen of Scots and the Conspiracy was so strong both at home and abroad That 't was bruited among the Vulgar the Design was to take away both of the lawful Princes and so to seize on the two Kingdoms for themselves the Place Time and the Whole of the Design was so ordered that all things seem'd to be secure against any Force whatsoever The Conspirators did most insist on This To remove what might hinder the Marriage If that were done they seemed secure that all the rest should fall in of it self On the contrary They which were for the King made it their chief Business to cast in Rubbs to delay it for in the Interim many secret Designs might in time be discovered and the Conspiracy prevented by the Care of both Princes In this Posture of Affairs the Decree of the Scots Council was brought to the Queen of England but she alleging she was not satisfied with that Answer and the Messenger did not seem to her a fit Person with whom she might confer in so dangerous a time and about such weighty Matters desired to be better inform'd by the Scots of those Matters Whereupon there was another Assembly of the Nobility Indicted at Sterlin where they drew up this Answer That as for the last of her Requests it might admit a Consultation in order to an Agreement but the second was of that kind that no Consultation at all could be admitted on that Head without manifest Impiety in regard it would not only diminish but even extirpate the Royal Authority For besides that all Partnership in Supream Magistracy is dangerous how can Two be equally join'd in Government whereof One was a Youth scarce out of his Infancy the Other a Woman in the prime of her Age of a crafty Disposition having past through Variety of Fortunes who as soon as ever she can creep into Part of the Government will by the Strength of that Faction which though she was removed by a publick Decree from the Administration thereof do yet labour to introduce her not by Entreaties but Threats or else by corrupting the King's Enemies or lastly by foreign Souldiers whom she is now busy to procure soon derive the whole Authority to her self How will she indure that an Infant should be equall'd with her who would not be match'd even with her Husband Besides if she should marry some potent Man such a Matter being now on Foot her Strength would be doubled and her Husband as of Necessity he must be admitted into Part of the Government perhaps he would not willingly suffer that his Children should be prevented in the Succession by a Son-in-Law and then in what a Case would the Child be What if his Friends as all Men are inconstant should prefer a present Largess before their future Hope and so side with the strongest What can attend the Child being now thrust down into the second and anon into the third Place but utter Ruin As for other things they had rather leave them to her private Thoughts to meditate upon than to make a previous Conjecture What an angry Woman having Power in her Hands prompted by the Imperious Counsels of her Uncles having evidenc'd her Cruelty towards her Husband being also exasperated by her Banishment would attempt against a Child especially when stript of all Aid of Nature and Providence and exposed as a Sacrifice to her Rage And what Life would his Friends live by whom she thought she was so grievously wrong'd Besides what would the State of Religion be when she could vent that Rage which in former time her Fear had concealed especially if an Husband of known Arrogance should further excite her innate Cruelty How easily might his Friends be destroyed when the young King was slain or else how soon might the King be subverted when he had lost his Friends For these Reasons the Queen could not be assumed into a Part of the Government without evident Destruction to the King's Affairs Matters standing thus there was no need to speak any thing to the first Head of her Demands Robert Petcarn was sent to carry this Answer into England a Man of no less Prudence than Loyalty and he came to that Court in the very nick of time when the Conspiracy to kill the Queen and to seize on both Kingdoms was discovered and made known The Plot was so strongly laid That the Queen of England began to be afraid of her self and after she had imprisoned Howard in the Tower of London she durst not proceed to punish the Queen of Scots but was consulting to send her by Sea to the Regent of Scotland but when the Storm was a little over that Design did not hold In the mean time the Regent in regard the Power of the adverse Faction did mightily increase sends for William Maitland who was a great Incendiary to the Conspiracy from Perth to Sterlin he being conscious of his Guilt though he had