going through France he spent it all and told his Holiness when he came to Rome that he had been robb'd by the way Whereupon presently another Legat was sent to Britain But the People hearing how they were cheated of their Money by the last procured an Order discharging this not to enter the Kingdom King Alexander dyed in Peace the thirty fifth year of his Reign and was buried at Melross 95. Alexander the third succeeded his Father A. D. 249. Being nine years of Age at his Coronation Ambassadors were sent to England demanding Margaret King Henry the third's Daughter in Marriage for King Alexander which was granted the next year the two Kings had a meeting at York where the Marriage was Solemnized During his Minority the Realm was well Governed by his Nobles taking the Government upon himself his first work was to summon the Earls of Monterth Athole and Buchan and the Lord Strabogy who were all of the Name of Cumings they not daring to appear were denounced Rebels They being now afraid thought nothing so much for their safety as the having the King in their Power which they got and confined him in the Castle of Sterling but the Earl of Athel who was the head of the Party dying their Hearts failed them and every one of them getting his Remission they set the King at Liberty soon after the Danes with a great Army invaded the Country the King with his Forces went against them and routed them killing twenty four Thousand of them the King returned to Norway with only four Ships which was all that was left of his whole Fleet. At this time Alexander Earl of Carrick passed to the Holy-Land having a Daughter who succeeded to his Estate she Married Robert Rance Lord of Annaudale and bare to him that noble and invincible Champion Robert Bruce King of Scotland King Alexander had two Sons by his Queen viz. Prince Alexander and David and one Daughter Margaret who was married to the King of Norway she bare to him Margaret called the Maiden of Norway The King and Queen going to London to the Coronation of King Edward the first David the second Son dyed in their absence within a few years after the Prince dyed at Lundores to the great Grief of the Nation and not long after the King dyed by a fall from over a Rock at Kinghorn the thirty seventh year of his Reign Leaving none of his own direct Line to succeed him The Nobility having met upon this so important occasion they put the Kingdom into the hands of six Regents for the South side Robert Arch-Bishop of Glasgow John Cumine and John the great Steward of Scotland For the North the Arch-Bishop of S. Andrews Macdiff Earl of Fife and Cumine Earl of Buchan Edward of England sends to demand the Daughter Grand-Child in marriage as next Heir to the Crown which was agreed too but the Death of the Lady frustrated all that Negotiation by which means great contention arose between Bourn and John Baliol. Baliol managing the English and Bruce the French interest Baliol being in the second degree of relation and Bruce in the third the one being David Earle of Huntingtons Grand Child the other his great Grand Child matters standing thus the whole was referred to King Edward who coming to Berwick and calling Lawyers to his assistance pretends all equity but raised up eight other Competitors the better to weaken the claim of the other two and so handled the business that Bruce having refused the Crown in Homage to England upon his aceptance of these conditions 96. John Balliol was declared King A. D. 1293. In the fourth year of his Reign an Appeal being made against him to King Edward by Mac-Duff and he refusing to rise from his Seat to answer it King Edward enters Scotland masters the Country takes Baliol and sends him Prisoner to London and afterward to France where he dyed long after in Exile About this time Sir William Walace arose who to his Honour did so Heroically defend his Country in its low condition as made it easily appear that if he had had as happy a fortune to advance as he had to relieve he might have been Commemorated for as great a man as ever was in any age for having upon a quarrel Slain a Young English Gentleman and enforced to lurk in the Hills for safety of his life he became inured to such hardness that awaking his natural Courage he be came the Head of all the Malecontents and filled both the Kingdomes with his terror so that having gleaned up to a tumultuary Army he became Baliols Viceroy thus after some little skirmishes he reduced all beyond the Forts after which he went to England and Ranged up and down for some time and returned without opposition after which the English enters Scotland with a great Army and finding the Scots disposed under three Leaders who disputed among themselves for Priority quite routed them but soon after they made a general insurrection to oppose which King Edward sent Ralph Conniers with a great army who a by tripple Victory were defeated at Kolkin All this while Robert Bruce continued with King Edward who weary of the Kings delays and offputs at last strikes in with John Cumin Baliols Cousin german they agreed that Bruce should have the Kingdom and Cumine all Bruces Lands Cumine notwithstanding communicates this agreement to King Edward Bruce hath notice and by shooing his Horse backward escapes to Lockambban there he finds Cumines Letters advising to cut him off upon which he hastens to Dumforess where he heard that Cumin was and after his exprobrating his infidelity Stabs him dead in the Franciscan Monastery About the same time Walace was traiterously Betrayed by Sir John Monteits at Glasgow and delivered to the English and being brought to London was Cruelly executed in Smithfield and his Limbs hung up in the most Eminent places 97. Robert Bruce was after he had stayed for the Popes absolution for defiling the Monastery with the murder of Cumine Crowned at Scone 1306. a Valiant and Heroick Prince he had many Enemies both at home and abroad which Edward taking advantage off with the assistance of the Cumines quite Routed him forcing him to the Hills where he endured great Misery to the great ruine and Slaughter both of his Family and Friends but making to gether some little force he took Carrick and Innerness by surprisal and by this means augmented his Train so that he was in case to withstand Edward having obtained a considerable Victory though sick and forced to be held on horse back this gave him time to take in the remaining strength but they were within a year retaken from him which incouraged Edward the second to enter with a great Army to Scotland but had a great defeat at Bannokburn which occasioned the loss of Berwick and Bruces confirmation in Parliament some few years after were spent in light Skirmishes and Incursions Robert having some rest
Hepburn came with fresh Men to the Scots Whereupon the English retreated leaving eighteen hundred of their Men dead in the place and a hundred and forty taken Prisoners among which were the two Peircies above mentioned But the Valiant Earl of Douglass dyed in this Battel being thrice run through the Body and Mortally wounded in his Head which was a greater loss and Grief to his Nation then the gain of this Victory could ballance The next year a Parliament was called at Perth wherein Robert Earl of Fife the Kings second Son was elected Governor the King himself by reason of his great Age not being able to Govern He was a Valiant Victorious and fortunate Prince in all his Wars for his Governours and Captains returned always with Victory He was very constant and a great Iustitiar hearing patiently the Complaints of the Poor causing all wrongs to be redressed He dyed peaceably in the Castle of Dun-Donald the seventy fifth year of his Age and the nineteenth year of his Reign The same year John his eldest Son was called to succeed who thinking that Name ominous to Kings and there wanted not Examples as of him of England and him of France and thinking something of the Felicity of the two former Roberts was Crowned by the Name of 101. Robert the third A. D. 1390. He was more remarkable for his Peaceableness and Modesty then for any other Vertue the first seven years of his Reign were past in Peace by reason of his Truce with England but not without some fierce Fiends among his Subjects especially the Clankays and Clanchattes the King seeing the Difficulty of reducing them made this Proposition to them that three hundred of each side should try it by Dint of Sword before the King the Conquered to be pardoned and the Conqueror advanced this being agreed to a place was appointed upon the North-side of Perth but when the Clans presented themselves there was one of one side missing whom then his party could not supply A Trades-man steps out and for half a French Crown and promise of Maintenance during his Life filled up the Company The first was furious but none behaved himself more furiously then the other Mercenary Champion who was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side their remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the stroak of the other threw himself in the Tay and escaped with his Life By this means the fiercest of the two Clans being cut off the remainder being Headless were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes which was the first time that Title was known in Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of his Reign tho' the Truce was not expired yet the Seeds of War began to bud upon this occasion George Earl of March betrothed his eldest Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Douglass incensed at this got a Vote of Parliament to revoke this Marriage and giving a greater sum of Money got a Marriage confirmed in Parliament betwixt David and Mary his Daughter The Earl of March nettled at this demands Redress but not being heard he leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Percy who with his Assistance did much hurt to the Lands of the Douglasses the Scots declare the Earl of March an Enemy and sends to demand him of the English which they refusing several Incursions happened upon both sides till at length Piercy was defeated by the Douglass's at Lynton-bridge At this time David Earl of Cravford and the Lord Welles in England ingaged to run certain Courses on Horse-back with sharp Spears for Life and Death upon London-bridge which they performed most gallantly The People Perceiving the Earl of Cravford to sit so stifly cryed the Scotch man was lock'd in his Saddle he hearing this leapt out of the Saddle upon the Ground and presently mounted again to the great wonder of the Beholders The second time they run without any hurt but the third time the Lord Welles was beat out of his Saddle and sorely hurt with the fall By this time the Queen dying her Son David who for his Extravagancies was by her means kept under restraint broke out into his former disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and wickedness complaint being brought to his Father he committed him to his brother Robert this Design was to root out all that Off-Spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Faulkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one Woman thrusting in some Oaten Cakes at a Chink and another giving him Milk out of her Breasts through a Trunk but both these being discovered the Youth being forced to tear his own Flesh dyed of a multiplyed Death which Murder being whispered to the King he was so abused by the false Representations of his Brother that Grief and Imprecations was all the relief that he had left him and being now retired sickly to Boot Castle and unable to punish him The King therefore Solicitous to preserve James his youngest Son is resolved to send him to Charles the sixth of France And having taking shipping at the Bassas he passed by the Promontory of Flambrough and whether he was forced by a Tempest or that he was Sea-sick he was forced to Land there he was taken by the English and detained Prisoner notwithstanding the eight years Truce and tho' it came to be debated at the Councel Table yet his Detention was carried in the Affirmative But the News so struck his aged Father that he had almost presently dyed but being carried to his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and Sorrow He dyed within three days the sixteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Pasley Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour about four years after Donald of the Isles enters Ross as his pretended Inheritance with ten thousand Men which he easily subdued thence he went to Murray and Mastered it also and so went on to Aberdeen to stop this Torrent Alexander Earl of Marr followed by most of the Nobility met him at Harlaw where they joyned in so bloody a Battel and lost so many noble and considerable Persons that tho' Night parted them neither could pretend to the Victory to this year the University of S. Andrews owes it's Rise The English being taken up with a War with France nothing considerable was acted between them and the Scots for ten years after at which time Robert the Governour dyes and Murdoch his Son a very unfit Person was put in his place who suffered his Sons to come to that petulancy that they were not only offensive to the People but with all disobedient to their Father who having a brave Faulcon which his Son Walter had often begged but in vain he
his Brother to Court to know the Kings mind towards him The King promised upon his Submission to accept of him which he performed making him for his further Encouragement Lieutenant General of his Forces But he stood not long privately in his Prosperity for going to the Court of England upon some design the King was highly dissatisfied with him yet upon his humble Submission he is pardoned but divested of all publick imployment within the Kingdom Thus being degraded from his Honnour 's he gives himself wholly to study revenge and that he might the more successfully effect his Design he gets the Earls of Cranford Ross-Murray the Lord Balveny with many other Barons and Gentlemen to enter in a Confederacy both offensive and defensive with him after they broke out in unsufferable Insolences spoiling and plundering the Lands of such as were not of their Faction and killing and destroying such as offered to oppose them The King begins to be apprehensive of their Design therefore thinks it high time to look to himself and his Country Whereupon he sent for Douglass to come and speak with him at Sterling which he at first feared to do but upon second Thoughts he accompanied with many of the Confederates went to Court where the King very Graciously received him the day being far spent the Gates of the Castle shut all removed except some of the Council and the Guards the King takes the Earls apart very friendly and remembred him of Favours received and wrongs forgotten Taxing him with the exorbitant abuses of his followers then he told him of a Covenant which he heard was made betwixt him and some of the other Nobility and desired to know what he had to say Douglass answered in plain terms it was so but that the Covenant was made for his own safety the King further expostulated with him to break it which he refusing to do the King with his Dagger ended the Quarrel killing him in the place About the end of this Tragedy a pair of Spurs between two Platters is directed to Sir James Hamilton as a part of the Kings Banquet Whereupon he and the rest takes the Allarum and setting Fire to divers places of the Town they make their escape the King to vindicate himself emits Declarations shewing all his good Subjects the Reasons that moved him to take Douglass's Life that it was not a fit of Passion nor an Act of private revenge but meerly to save the State from utter Ruin Yet the Mobile were diversly affected some justifying the Fact as Noble and Just but others as the greater number as boldly Condemned it as Inhumane and Cruel these of the League missing no Opportunity that was for their Interest made it their work to sow Sedition and Discord and to encourage all Breaches and Contempt of the Laws which encreased their number so that the King was reduced to a very low condition till at last Cranford one of the Confederates being routed by the Earl of Huntly he recovered some strength and having called a Parliament at Edenburgh summoned the Confederate Lords to appear before which they scornfully refused to do Whereupon the King levying an Army forced them to retire yet the Country suffered sadly by their unbridled Fury At length after much loss on both sides the King daily prevailing the Earl of Cranford submitted himself to his mercy as several others did afterward Whereupon the Earl of Douglass fled to England there having gathered together several desperate Men he made several inroads upon the Border The King having with much difficulty recovered the Royal Authority of his Ancestors England in the mean time being at the point of utter ruine by the contest of Henry the sixth and the Duke of York was much solicited by both of them but he told the Ambassadors that he had more reason to look to his own concerns then to assist either of them which he intended to do thereupon raising a Powerful Army he passed the Tweed and besieged Roxburgh where having applyed his battery to the Castle he began to storm it but by the space of an over-charged Piece the King's thigh bone being broken was struck immediately Dead the twenty Fourth year of his Reign having left three sons James who succeeded Alexander Duke of Albany and John Earl of Marre and was buried at Holy-Rood house After his death the Queen with her Son came to the siege and encouraged the Nobles who took and demolished the Castle and also the Castle of Warke 104. To him Succeeded his Son James the third A. D. 1460. A good Prince corrupted by wicked Courtiers who with advantage of his years being but seven years of age when he began to Reign his education is intrusted to his Mother the Government of the Kingdom to the Earls of Anaudale Castle Orkney and the Lords Boyd and Graham the Bishops of St. Andrews Glasgow and Dnubek In this Princes Nonage great confusions increased both at home and abroad at home by the Islanders who extreamly infested the country and came as far as the Blairth of Athole and burnt S. Brides Church where the Earl and his Lady took Sanctuary carrying them to the Island Ila from whence as these Savages were going further they were all miserably destroyed by a tempest Nor was it better abroad England being in a flame by the Civil Wars Henry being taken and released again by his Queen flees to Scotland desiring their assistance against his Enemies and that he might be the better heard caused the Town of Berwick to be delivered to the Scots thereupon the Queen who managed the War geting some supply marched taking the King with her into England but was soon overthrown at Durham A. D. 1466. the Queen of Scots dyed having left many sound and profitable instructions to the King her Son who now coming to fifteen years of age is by his Regents committed to the Lord Boyds Brother to be Educated in the Excercise of Chivalry by which means the Boyds became to darken all others in the State nothing being done without them the Kenedies who had been the Kings best Friends seeing things go thus left the Court after which the Glory of the Court and Country suffered a great Eclipse The Lord Boyde to be yet higher gets the sole Government setled upon himself which laid the Foundation of his ruine and not satisfied with this he obtains his Son to be Married to the Kings eldest Sister this highly displeased the rest of the Nobility that his ambition should be so boundless which gave matter to his former Enemies to work upon all oppression and violence is winked at on purpose at last they procure Complaints from all parts of the Kingdom against the Boyds which made the Kings affection begin to turn away from them A. D. 1468. A match being proposed and agreed upon between the King and Margaret Daughter to the King of Denmark the Boyds Enemies procures the Earl of Arran who had Married the Kings Sister to be
his Ambassage was That the two Kings must have an interview at York this so startled the Church-men fearing that his Uncle might infect the King with the Opinions of the new Reformers that they opposed it with all their might Yet the King and his Council proposed that the Meeting might be at New-Castle which the Lord Howard would in no wise hear of but departed in a chafe King James having so many great Matches in his offer now resolves to accept of some one or other wherefore Sailing from Kirkaldie in ten days he arrived at Diep in Normandy and from thence to Vandosme where the Lady Mary of Burbon was but upon some considerations he setled not his Affections upon her though a great Beauty but went to Paris where he fell in Love with Magdalen Daughter to King Francis with her he was Married in the Church of Nostradam with great Solemnity and soon after Returned with her to Scotland but to his great Grief she Dyed within a few Months after and was Buried at Holyrood-House Not long after the King desirous of Succession sendeth David Beaton and the Lord Maxwel to France to propose Marriage in his Name to Mary of Lorrain In the mean time two Plots against his Life are discovered at Court one by John Eldest Son to the Lord Forbes who thereupon was put to Death yet the King was much Grieved afterward finding great probability that he was accused through Malice The other was Jane Doughlass with her Husband Archbald Campbel of Keepneeth who in the thoughts of many were as groundlesly Accused as the first yet both were found Guilty and Dyed for it The King's Marriage with the foresaid Lady being Concluded they are Married by Proxie and she Arrived in Scotland A. D. 1538. Soon after the Queen Dowager Dyed at Methwen and was Buried in the Charter-House of Perth Now began the Kingdom to be divided in Matters of Religion the Reformation breaking in upon them which perplexed the King exceedingly not knowing what course to take His Council was against violent Courses to be followed but the Prelates who had most his Ear gave him a quite contrary Advice after which most vigorous Inquisitions are established and Punishments denounced against all such as departed from Popery whereupon some are Burnt alive others Banished and many Imprisoned amongst which was that famous Poet and Historian Master George Buchanan who whilst his Keepers Slept escaped by a Window of the Prison the Muses holding the Rope The King of England having by this time so Irritated the Pope that he was Excommunicated sendeth again to his Nephew King James desiring an Interview at York the Nobility were clearly for it but the Church-men fearing their Bacon was as much against it pretending the hazard that his Person and Kingdom would be lyable to After long reasoning upon both sides it was agreed That the King should not altogether refuse to meet his Uncle but adhere to the first offer proposed to his Ambassador concerning this Interview which the King of England rather than his Sute should take no effect accepts But an Incursion which hapened upon the Borders made him that he lost all heart to the Interview hereupon he sendeth many Letters excusing his stay also representing his many Grievances and Wrongs thus were the Seeds of Discord again sown amongst them The reformed Religion by this time begins to be professed by many for the curbing of which the Prelates presents Sir James Hamilton natural Son to the Earl of Arran to be Supream Judge of the Inquisition which turned to his own Ruine for while he is vigorously Persecuting all such as were suspected of the reformed Religion having many in Jayles and multitudes in Scrolls to bring within the Labyrinth of a Process the Supream Providence Arresteth himself For having a Process against James Hamilton Sheriff of Lithgow his own Couzen the said James Accuses him of High Treason for which notwithstanding all that the Prelates could do in his Favour he was Tryed Condemned and put to Death Not long after divers of the Nobility became to Favor the Protestant Religion which so perplexed the King that he knew not what to do he became very sullen and retired that he would scarce suffer his own Domesticks to come near to add to his perplexity as he lay in the Palace of Lithgow in the midst of the Night he leaped out of his Bed and called for Lights commandeth his Servants to search for Thomas Scot his Justice Clerk who he said stood by his Bed-side loaden with great Weights cursing the time that ever he Served him for by too much Obedience to him he was by the Justice of God condemned to everlasting Torments Soon after News came That the said Thomas Scot Dyed at Edenburgh much about the same Hour of the Night Another Instance of the same nature was Sir James Hamilton a little after his Death seemed to the King to have appeared to him in a gastly manner with a Sword in his hand with which he thought he cut off both his Arms advertising him he would come again shortly and be more fully revenged The next day after the Vision word came that both his Sons were departed this Life almost in one hour King Henry finding himself disappointed by his Nephew of their Meeting and understanding the Church-men to have been the occasion of it maketh Prizes of all the Scottish Ships that his Fleet could meet with by Sea and Incursions with his garrisoned Souldiers by Land King James directeth James Lermonth of Darsie to his Uncle to give sufficient Reasons for his not meeting him at New-Castle and to demand Restitution of his Ships King Henry not only refuseth to restore the Ships but also delaying the Answer of the Scottish Ambassador to gain time sendeth Sir Robert Bâ—wes seconded with the Earl of Angus and Sir George Douglass in hasty manner to invade Scotland These to the number of Three Thousand Burn and Destroy all before them till at last the Earl of Huntly with some Borderers meeting them at a Place called Valldanrigg quite routed them Killed many and took some Prisoners The next Summer King Henry sent the Earl of Norfolk towards Scotland with an Army of Forty Thousand Men accompanied with a great many of the English Nobility King James advertised of their coming Mustered an Army of Thirty Thousand Men on Falla-moor to Oppose them When the Duke of Norfolk understood that he was resolved to give him Battel choosing rather to make an honourable Retreat than give a doubtful Charge he retireth off the Scottish ground Whereupon King James encouraged his Nobility and Army to follow them and revenge old Quarrels The Nobles answered That to defend their Prince and Country they would hazzard their Lives or whatever was dear to them If the Enemy had stayed upon Scottish Ground they would either make them retire or Dung the Field with their Carcasses But to Invade England they did not think their Quarrel just
enough neither had they Ammunition enough to Engage with so strong an Enemy in his own Country that they thought it enough that upon their approaching they made the English retire if not fly for whether they did fly or retire they had suffered as much Wrong as they had done The King finding them thus obstinate returneth with his Army to Edenburgh where he immediately Disbanded them he begins most bitterly to reflect upon the Noble mens refusing to Invade England which was aggravated and abetted by Cardinal Beatâ—n Oliver Sinclave and others The Lord Maxnel seeing the King so highly Offended desired His Majesty to give him Ten Thousand men and he would ingage his Honour to effect something to the King's Satisfaction the King thanketh him for his Offer appointeth a Rendezvous upon the West Marches No Proclamations are divulged for the levies of Men but close Letters sent The Cardinal and the Earl of Arran March towards Haddingtoun and the East Borders and several Earls Lords and Barons accompanied with the King 's Domestick Servants ride to the West Borders The Night before they rode the King himself came to Lochmabban to attend the Event Sir Thomas Wharton Warden of the Marches much troubled at such a frequent Assembly of the Scottish Riders raising the Power of the Country placeth them by a Hill where he might take a view of the Forces The Scottish Lords beholding the English putting themselves in a Fighting posture desire to know the King's Lieutenant-General whereupon Oliver Sinclave is mounted upon crossed Pikes and the Commission read wherein he is designed to be Lieutenant and all Commanded in the King's Name to follow him No sooner began the Commission to be read but such a Tumult and confused Clamour arose in the Army that there was no Order kept every thing running in Confusion The English taking advantage of the Disorder brake in among them while they stand in Amaze doubting whether to Fly or Stand. Here is a general Surprize most part willingly rendering themselves to the English without any shew of Defence many of the Nobility and Gentry were taken and carried Prisoners to London where they remained till after the King's Death The certainty of this voluntary Defeat coming to the King at Lockmabban so Stupified and Astonished him that he had neither Council nor Resolution what to follow apprehending by this and their former Actions that the Nobility had Conspired his overthrow After which he came to Faulkland where he gave himself over to Sorrow Now are his Thoughts busied with Revenge as also with rage against his Nobility Long Watchings continual Cares and Passions abstinence from Food and Recreation had so extenuated his Body that pierced with Grief Anguish Impatience Despair he remained affixed to his Bed To Comfort him Letters came from Lithgow to him That his Queen was delivered of a Daughter when he heard it was a Daughter he turned his Face from them that read the Letter and Sighing a Farewel to the World It will end as it began sayes he the Crown came by a Woman and it will go with one The Cardinal put some blank Papers in his hand of which they Composed a Letter-Will which whether he Subscribed or not is uncertain After which he spoke not many Words that could be understood he Dyed the Thirteenth of December Anno Dom. 1542. in the Thirty-Third Year of his Age and Thirty-Second of his Reign not without Suspition of having got an Italian Posset by the Cardinal's means The King was no sooner Dead leaving his young Daughter who was afterward called Mary to Succeed then the Cardinal proclaimed his Last Will wherein were expressed four Protectors or Regents of whom himself was the First and Principal and with him were joyned the Earls of Huntly Argyle and Murry But within a Week after the Chase was turned For the Earl of Arran being advised by the Lord of Grange who was Treasurer and Master Henry Balneaves with some others caused to Assemble the Peers of the Realm representing to them his undoubted Title to the Government of the Kingdom during the Minority of her to whom by Line he should Succeed if she want Succession of her own body The Cardinal opposed himself and all his Interest against Arran but it was carried by many Voices whereupon Arran was declared Governor and with publick Proclamation invested in his Office A Parliament soon followed wherein the Clergy most violently pressed That severe Edicts might be Published against those they called Hereticks But others Propounding in Parliament whether such of the People as could not speak Latine might not have the Word of their Salvation in the Language they understood as Lawfully as they that understood Latine must have it in that Language it was Voted Affirmative and at last after much debating it passed into an Act That it was free for all Men and Women to Read the Scripture in their own vulgar Tongue and all Acts made to the contrary were rescinded King Henry before the Parliament was ended sent an Ambassador to Scotland whose Embassage was to Contract a perpetual League and Amity between the Two Kingdoms and that all Occasions of Wars might be taken away a Match was proposed by the Ambassador between young Prince Edward and the Queen of Scotland which was by the Governour and Parliament Accepted whereupon they sent their Ambassadors to England where things came so far that both Partyes declared their Agreement in all Particulars except the time when the young Queen should be delivered to the English The Papists foreseeing what would probably follow if the Queen should be put in their Enemy the King of England's hand begin with all their might to Oppose it about this time the Governors base Brother John Hamilton came from France who was very helpful to his brethren the Papists in carrying on all their Affairs At last partly by few promises of great Things and partly by Threatning to declare him an Enemy to Holy-Church if he complied not they make him Condescend to break with England whereupon ensued great and bloody Wars between the Two Kingdoms for King Henry immediately sent a strong Army to Scotland who came as far as Edenburgh committing great Hostilities In compensation of which the Scots enter England Burning and Destroying all before them returning again with great Spoil Mr. George Wishart being by Cardinal Beaton burnt Alive for the Protestant Religion the said Cardinal was surprized by Norman Loslie Master of Rothes William Kirkaldie of Grange and John Loslie of Park-Hill in his Castle of St. Andrews and put to Death Possessing themselves of the Castle for their Security knowing that now they were to have many and powerful Enemies which accordingly fell out for the Papists procure an Army from France under the conduct of Monsieur Deosel who besieged the Castle and soon after took it King Henry being now Dead his Son King Edward sent an Army of Ten Thousand Men to Scotland The Popish Party there procures the
by the Duke of Lennox and the Marquess of Hamilton were his God-Fathers and the Queen-Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond his God-Mother The King in the Year 1633. made a Journey to Scotland attended with a splendâ—d Train of the Nobility of both Kingdoms and upon June the Eighteenth was solemnly Crowned King at Edinburgh which Solemnity being over his Majesty called a Parliament and in which he passed an Act for Ratification of the old Acts some suspecting that the Confirmation of Episcopacy was by it intended with all their Strength opposed it but in vain Not long before his Majesty went to Scotland being desirous if possible to have it prevented he Writ to a Lord who had the Trust of the Crown to bring it to England that he might be Crowned there But the Lord answered That he durst not for his Life do it but if his Majesty would be pleased to accept of it in its proper place he should find his People there ready to yield him the highest Honour but if he should put it off much longer it might tend to his Majesties and their great Loss neither could they be long without some to Govern them In the Year 1633. October the Thirteenth the Queen brought forth her second Son who was Baptized James and entituled Duke of York Much about this time the Discontents in Scotland began to increase some of the Nobility siding with the Male-contents of which the Lord Balmirreno the chief Secretary of State was one who was thereupon Arraigned by his Peers and found Guilty but obtained the King's Pardon December the Twenty-Eighth 1635. the Lady Elizabeth was Born and now great Differences arose about Church-matters chiefly occasioned by Arch-Bishop Laud's zealous injoyning of Ceremonies as placing the Communion-Table at the East end of the Church upon an Ascent with Rails Altar-wayes with many other things not formerly insisted on by the Church but now obstinately opposed by many which brought things into great confusion His Majesty earnestly desiring an Uniformity in Religion in Scotland a thing attempted before by King James enjoyned the Scots the use of the Liturgy and Surplice with all the English Ceremonies and began first in his own Chappel Proclamation being made That the same Order should be kept in all Churches The Bishops were satisfied with it but the Ministers and People was so discontented that when the Dean of Edinburgh began to read the Common-Prayer the Women began to grumble upon which the Bishop of Edinburgh steps up into the Pulpit to command Silence but this did but augment their Fury to such a height that they Assaulted him some with Cudgels others with Stones and others for want of better Weapons were forced to pelt him with the Stools upon which they sat to the great hazard of his Life The Arch-Bishop of of St. Andrews being then Lord Chancellor interposing was like to have been served with the same sawce The like Disturbance happened in several other places whereupon the Council emitted Proclamations to prevent Tumults which was so little regarded by the multitude that the Bishop of Galloway going the next day to the Council was by them pursued to the Council Chamber They Seized also the City Magistrates that they might not joyn with the Council to curb them The Lords of the Council having at length with fair words in some measure pacified them they presently emit Proclamations to keep the Peace but produced no such Effect for they stifly petitioned against the service-book which incensed the King extreamly Thus matters went in the Year 1637. The next Year the Scots hearing That the King was making preparations in England to reduce them by force they entred into a Covenant to defend the Religion they profest whereupon they sent for General Lesly and other Officers from beyond Sea putting themselves in a posture of Defence But the Duke of Hamilton obtained a Declaration from the King discharging the use of the service-book the five Articles of Perth for a time consenting also that Church-matters may be ordered by general Assemblies This Declaration being published and a general Assembly convened at Glasgow the Bishops are summoned to appear there as Guilty persons but in answer to the Summons the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters for a while would not vouchsafe to Read until they had dispatched what business they pleased The King having notice of their Proceedings against the Bishops ordered their Assembly to be dissolved which accordingly was done but the Covenanters presently emit a Protestation against it In this Assembly they quite abolished Episcopacy Whereupon the King raises an Army in England with which he marched in Person against the Scots but while his Majesty stayed at York by the mediation of some persons a Treaty of Peace was agreed upon wherein it was agreed That the King should publish a Declaration ratifying what his Commissioners had promised in his name That a general Assembly and a Parliament be held at Edinburgh within a short time And lastly That upon disbanding their Forces and restoring the King to his Forts and Castles the King was to recall his Fleet and Forces and make Restitution of their Goods since the Breach The King not finding the Scots punctual to their Articles returned to England and Nullified the agreement resolving now to try other courses Whereupon the Scots apprehending their danger prepared for their own defence The King resolves upon a War and with some difficulty compleateth his Army whereof himself was Generalissimo He began his march to the North July the Twentieth 1640. by which time the Scottish Army was upon the Border Wherefore the King sent the Lord Conway with Twelve Hundred Horse and Three Thousand Foot to secure the Passes upon the River Tyne General Lesly being advanced thither desired Leave to pass to the King with their Grievances which was denied whereupon he commands his Horse to take the Water the Foot to their no small hazard following and force their Passage which they did and put the Lord Conway to a disorderly Retreat Soon after they took New-Castle and then Durham At last His Majesty condescends to Treat with them and to that end receives a Petition from them containing their Grievances for redressing of which it was agreed That sixteen English Lords should meet with as many Scots Rippon was a place appointed for the Treaty here they appointed another Treaty to be held at London for composing all differences Much about this time Montross fell off from the Covenanters having by several private Letters tendered his service to the King which came all to be discovered by the means of some that were about His Majesty However the Treaty went on at London and at last was concluded Whereupon the Scots after five months abode in England returned home By this time a Parliament was called at Westminster wherein the breach was so far from being healed that it was made wider Divers of the
Kings Favourites were impeached amongst which Arch-Bishop Laud was one and soon after him the Earl of Strafford This Year 1641. His Majesty went towards Scotland where he was entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection and confirmed the Treaty between the two Nations by an Act of Parliament which he summoned himself during his abode there In the mean time the horrid Rebellion in Ireland broke out wherein those cruel Butchers did most barbarously murther about 200000. Protestants Men Women and Children The King being then in Scotland moved the Parliament to send thither Sir George Monroe with 2500. men to reduce the Rebels The King being returned from Scotland the Parliament then sitting at Westminster the breach daily grew wider wherefore the Scotish Commissioners interposed between the King and Parliament for composing their differences which were now grown to such a height that the King not long after left London and returned to York Now began the Calamity of a sad War for which they began Vigorously to make preparations on both sides The Scots finding as they pretended that the King was refractory to an Agreement with his Parliament and giving ear to those vile Libels that were spread abroad which accused His Majesty of conniving at the Papists both in England and Ireland being called by the Parliament to their assistance entred England Jan. 16. 1643. their Army being in number 18000. Foot and 2000. Horse In the mean time matters are fitting in Scotland by James Earl afterward Marquess of Montross who having received the Kings Commission by Sir Robert Spotswood to be General Governour of Scotland passed into the heart of the Kingdom where he raised what men he could for the Kings Service resolving with them to divert the Covenanters They upon the other side raised an Army to oppose him Their first Rencounter was near Perth where the Covenanters under the Command of the Lords Elcho Tullibardine and Drumond were quite routed here the Atholmen and Irishmen of which he had 1500. did him good service From thence he marcht Northward to Aberdeen where at the Bridge of Dee he defeated another Body of the Covenanters under the Lord Burleighs command After this Victory he went about most of the Northern Countries and brought a great many of them under Subjection though himself and his Army were reduced to great straits by reason of the coldness of the weather and scarceness of Victuals yet he would not give over his enterprise From thence he marched into Argileshire where he burnt destroyed all before him and returned back again to Lochabor He stayed not long there when hearing that Argile was coming against him and was already the length of Innerlochy He resolves finding his men bent for 't to fight him which accordingly he did and quite worsted him Not long after he had an absolute Victory over General Major Hurry at a place in the Highlands called Aldearn which did very much weaken the Covenanters And Baily resolving revenge at Alford was served with the same sauce himself The next Victory that this Valiant Champion obtained was at Kilsyth a fatal day it was to the Covenanters for here they lost a great many Gentlemen of Quality besides a vast number of common Souldiers yea such of their Leaders as escaped this bout finding as they thought their strength quite gone fled some to England others to Ireland and some also came in and Submitted to Montross upon Mercy Thus things being in humane probability brought to great order Montross receives Orders from the King at Oxford to march Southward with his Army Where His Majesty promised to send him some recruit of Horse to fight Sir David Lesly who was coming from England against Montross But Lâ—sly preventing the Kings recruits surprises Montross at Philiphaugh where he quite routed him Thus the wheele of Fortune turnes now upon this gallant Nobleman who was Conqueror hitherto and forces him with a very few followers to shift for himself leaving many of his Friends dead in this fatal place Montross by this loss being brought very low he marched toward the North with the few men he had and after many endeavours to make up his Army again he is surprised by a Message from His Majesty Commanding him to lay down his Armes and go into France where he should stay till further Orders which accordingly he did though with great reluctancy in the Year 1646. But to return to the Scots Army in England They after they had served the Parliament upon several occasions and particularly at Marston-Moor where they helpt them to obtain a Victory against Prince Rupert retired to New-Castle The King being brought so low that he was hardly able to keep any thing of an Army in the Field came thither in disguise acquainting the Scotish-General That he would now commit himself to him looking upon him as a man of Honour that would do nothing but what is Just and Loyal in a matter of such weight The General answered His Majesty He would with all his heart serve him and that the most effectual service that he thought he could do him was to mediate a Peace between His Majesty and His Parliament The Parliament being Advertised that the King was in the Scotish Army sent their Messengers thither to know upon what account they detained the King of England in their Camp who were only called in to assist the Parliament but not to Act by themselves Telling them further That if the King were in Scotland as he was then in England they would not presume to keep him up from his Subjects there as the Scots did in England the Committee of the Army answered That they knew very well the People of Englands Right to the King to be as good as theirs neither did they detain His Majesty from them but that he was with them as their King in no wise under restraint but at full Liberty as became his Majesty to be And further that it was their earnest desires to see a well-setled Peace between His Majesty and his two Houses Presently after they had another message desiring them to return home for that the Parliament had no further service for them thanking them withal for the Service they had done The Committee replyed that they came not to England without the Parliaments call and that the Terms upon which they were invited thither were not fulfilled by the Parliament their Army wanting almost 500000 l. of their Arrears That upon payment of it they would go home At last it was agreed that the Scots should have 200000 pound of their Arrears in hand and the rest should afterward be sent after them So that within weeks after they would draw the Army out of England As for the Kings Person it was agreed That he should be kept by the English in Honour and Splendor suitable to his Royal Dignity and that nothing should be transacted in England concerning His Majesty without the Advice and Consent of the Scots Thus were they
the Hamiltons were forced to retire having left above fourscore of their number dead upon the Street These broils coming to the Governours ears in France he made all the haste he could home coming to Edenburgh he set himself to amend the Enormities committed in his absence a Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to appear and answer but some fearing the Event appeared not Whereupon their Estates are forfeited several fled into England among which were the Humes and the Cockburns who were the Authors of Darcies death others submitted and were pardoned The King of England being informed of the Condition of Scotland sent thither an Embassador requiring the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between him and the King of France in their last Truce To which he answered that what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain that neither the King of England nor France had Power to Banish him a Foraigner over them where Authority did not reach his Native Country like over like having no Jurisdiction Whereupon King Henry gathered a great Army to Invade Scotland Now they draw to Arms on both sides the Governour marches with his Army to Carlile where he pitched his Camp upon the River Esk this struck great Terror to the Citizens of Carlile who offered him divers presents for their safety of the Town which were rejected but the Nobility refusing to go upon English ground suspecting that the Governour only played the Game of the French he was forced to come to a Truce However the Governour resolving to be revenged upon England went to France where he obtained from the King Three Thousand Pikes and One Thousand Lances with which he returned home and having raised an Army with them he Marches to England and Besieges Wark but is Repulsed whereupon much against his will a Truce for some Months is concluded on Soon after the Administration of the Government was put upon the Prince himself the Thirteenth Year of his age the Governour returning to France after which he never returned to Scotland A Parliament is called wherein a Peace is concluded with England and eight Lords appointed to have the Custody of the Kings Person quarterly Embassadors were sent to England to treat for a Marriage between the King and the King of Englands Daughter which came to nothing The State began of New to be tossed with the troublesom factions of the Queen and the Earl of Angus the Queens Faction accused Angus of High Treason for detaining the King against his will to which the Earl moved the King to give an answer shewing that he was not kept against his will But with all sent another Letter secretly desiring by any means he might be removed from the Earl upon this advertisment the Queen and they of her Faction Assemble what Forces they could raise and with great expedition marched from Sterling to Edenburgh The Earl of Angus with the Citizens of Edenburgh and the King though against his will Marched out against them when the Leaders of the Queens Forces understood that the King himself was in Person in the advers Army they would advance no farther but retired back again to Sterling where they Disbanded and returned every man to his own dwelling place presently after the Queen sues for a Divorce from the Earl of Angus which the Archbishop of S. Andrews granted with the Earls own consent The King wearied of his confinement in the Earl of Angus his custody consults with the Lord of Buccleugh and some Borderers how he might be set at Liberty they Essayed it by Arms at Melross but were put to the worst then the Earl of Lenox undertook it and raised some Forces for that end but the Earl of Angus having gotten the assistance of the Earl of Arran with several others quite routed him near Costerphin where he was killed in cold Blood Now the Earl of Angus thinks himself secure enough having put all things in as he thought to rights he takes a progress to Lothian leaving the King at Faulkland Now the King amidst his Solitary walks in his Park bethinks himself what a fair oportunity he had resolved to essay by stratagem what the Factions of his Nobles could not perform by Force thereupon he directeth the Forester of the Park to advertise such Gentlemen about as kept Hounds to attend him next Morning for he would have his Sport early he Suppeth sooner then he used Commanding all to their rest the waiters all shifted and the Court hush'd shutting his Camber door in the Apparel of one of his Grooms unperceived he passed the Guards to the stable where with two who attended him with ready Horses he posted to Sterline where many of the Nobility and Gentry flocking to him he discharged the Earl of Angus from all Publick Offices whereat he was so exasperated that he and his Friends followed very extravagant Courses but the King pursued them so that after much misery at home they were constrained to fly into England where they were Charitably received and Honourably entertained by King Henry The next year the King visited the Borders holding Justice Courts and executing Justice upon all Oppressors Thieves and Out-Laws there in Ewsdale He caused eight and twenty famous Robbers to be Hanged others he brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick Execution and Example yet the Borders were nothing the more Peaceable for by the means of the Earl of Angus the English make daily Incursions and Spoiles the Country the Scots likewise serving the English with the same Sauce till at last by the Mediation of the French King a Peace is concluded on during the Princes Lives and one Year after the Decease of him who should Dye first About this time the Pope's Power began to Totter in England King Henry having renounced all Subjection to him because he would not Grant him a Divorce from his Queen Katharine who had been before Married to his Brother Prince Arthur and then by a Dispensation from the Pope to him The Pope finding King Henry peremptory in his purpose did together with the Emperor deal with King James to make War with England and to this end sent an Ambassador privately to Scotland King Henry went on with his Affairs in England and Executed John Fisher Bishop of Rochester for asserting the Pope's Supremacy in England Upon this the whole Conclave stirr'd up the Pope against King Henry wherefore he sent another Ambassador to Scotland most invectively Exclaiming against the King of England's Cruelty and humbly desiring King James's assistance against him King James to try his Uncle's Mind send an Ambassador to England to acquaint him with the Emperors and Popes Embassage King Henry presently dispatched William Lord Howard to Scotland who made such hasty Journeys that he prevented the News of his coming he found the King at Sterline a part of