thighs and legs did appertain They had differing passions and diverse wills often chiding others for disorder in their behaviour and actions after much deliberation embracing that unto which they both consented By the Kings direction they were carefully brought up and instructed in Musick and Foreign Languages This Monster lived twenty and eight years and dyed when Iohn Duke of Albany Governed Claud Gruget maketh mention of the like Monster born in Paris before the marriage of Henry the fourth the French King with Margarite of Valois but the birth and death of it were neer together The King by his great Liberality unto Strangers abroad and his laviâ—h spending at home for religious Places were founded Castles repaired Ships builded three of an extraordinary greatness finding himself needy of Treasure to support the dayly expences at Court engaged to many and sunck deep in debt and that Subsidies he could not levy except by the Suffrages of his Parliament by whose power they were imposed and rated setteth the most learned Counsellors at Law and men experienced in foreign Policy to find out new means and waies to acquire and gather him monies by Laws already made and Ordained which was in effect to pole the people by executing the rigour of Justice the Fortunes of wise men arising often on the expences of Fools after the example of King Henry the seventh of England his Father-in law who taking the advantage of the breach of his penal Statues gave power to Sir Richard Empson and Edmond Dudley by Informers and Promoters to oppress and ruin the estates of many of his best Subjects whom King Henry the eight to satisfy his wronged people after his decease caused execute Old customes are by these men pryed into and forgotten absolet Statutes quickned Amongst the titles of possessing of Lands in Scotland there is one which in process of time of an ungodly custom grew strong and is kept for a Law being fetched by imitation from the Lawes of the neighbouring States That if the possessour of Lands dy and leave a Minor to succeed to him his Tutelage belongeth to the King and the profit of the Lands until the Minor be of the age of one and twenty years This is of those lands which are termed Wards The King causeth bring up his Wards but bestoweth no more of their Rents upon them than is useful to such of that age By another Law they have not any thing better than this which they call Recognition that if the evidences of any possessour of ward-Ward-lands be not in all points formal and above exceptions of Law the lands the possessours put from them shall return to the Lord Superiour and like to this That if a Possessour of Ward Lands without the consent of the Superiour sell and put away the half or above the half of his land and Farm the whole land and Farm returneth to the Superiour or Lord Paramount They have lands held with clauses which they call irritant that if two terms of a few duty run unpaid into the third the Land falleth unto the Superiour When those lawes and other like them by reason of the Neighbourin cursions and troubles with England and the civil broyls at home had been long out of use amongst the Subjects and the execution of them as it were in a manner forgot these Projectors and new Tol-masters the king giving way to enrich his Exchequer awakned them Many of the Subjects by these inquirles were obnoxious to the king and smarted but most the most honest who were constrained either to buy their own lands and inheritance from the Exchequer or quit and freely give some portion of them to those Caterpillars of the State The King was so dearly beloved of his people that in the height of those Grievances which reached near the exorbitant avarice of his Father none refused or made difficultie to give all that the laws ordained The King seeing their willingness to perform and knowing their great disability thereunto out of his singular Grace and Goodness remitteth not onely the rigour but even the equity almost of his lawes insomuch that thereafter none of his Subjects were damnified in their persons or estates by his proceedings which gain'd him the hearts of all And to put away all suspitions and jealousies from their minds an Ordinary practice amongst Princes acts that fill Princes coffers ever being the ruin of their first Projectors of any wrong intended He suffered the Promoters and Projectors of this polling with others of the most active to be thrown into Prisons where some miserably ended their daies The year 1507. Iames Prince of Scotland and Isles was born at Holy-rood-House the 21. of Ianuary the Queen in her throwes of birth being brought neer the last agony of death the King overcome with affection and religious vows taketh a Pilgrimage for her recovery on foot to Saint Ninian in Galloway a place in those credulous times famous for the burial of St. Ninian the Apostle of the Britains and notorious by the many Processions and Visits of the neighbour Countreys of Ireland and England at his return he findeth his Queen recovered the child after dyed at Sterlin with the Bishop of Galloway who was appointed to attend him The year following the Queen brought forth another son named Arthur at Holy-rood-House but he died also in the Castle of Edenburgh and Henry the seventh his Grandfather accompanyed him to the other world King Iames to the Coronation of the young King his Brother-in-law sendeth Embassadours After the death of his two Sons and his Father-in-Law as if he had been warned from above to think upon his own mortality whether he had resolute intention so to do or that for reasons known to himself he would have it so appear he giveth out That out of remorse for bearing arms in the Field where his Father was slain he had a resolution to leave his kingdom and visit the holy Sepulchre Then to prepare his way Robert Blacka-Towre Abbot of Dumfermling is directed but the Abbot in his journey is arrested by death and the King findeth other hinderances to keep him at Home Amidst these deliberations his Queen is delivered in the Pallace of Linlithgow of her third Son in the Moneth of April 1512. who succeeded to the Crown and was named Iames. About this same time Bernard Stuart that famous Warrior under Charls the eight of France who commanded the French in Bosworth Field came to Scotland followed by Andrew Forman then Arch-Bishop of Burges and Bishop of Murray with Alexander Stuart the Kings natural son after promoted to be Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews The cause which was given out to the rumours of the people of their comming was That the French King having no male children crav'd the advice and counsel of the King of Scotland his Confederate concerning the marriage of his Eldest Daughter whether he should bestow her upon Francis of Valois the Daulphine and Duke of Augulesm or upon Charles King of
nothing agreed upon nor concluded they resolve at last to decide the cause by their swords The Earl of Crawâ—ord then remaining at Dundee advertized of the present danger of his friends posteth in all haste to Arbroth and cometh at the very chock of the skirmish and when they were to enter the fight Here intending by his wisdom to take up the Quarrel and presuming upon the respect due to his place and person he rashly rusheth forwards before his Companies to demand a parly of Alxander Ogleby with his Son but ere he could be known or was heard he is encountred by a common Souldier who thrust him in the mouth with a Spear and prostrate him dead upon the ground This sudden accident joyned the Parties who fought with great courage and resolution The Victory after much blood inclined to the Master of Crawford Alexanderâ—Ogleby sore wounded was taken and brought to the Castle of Finelvin where he died the Lord Huntley escaped by the swiftness of his Horse Iohn Forbess of Pitsligow Alexander Barkley of Garteley Robert Maxwell of Tillen William Gordoun of Borrowfield Sir Iohn Oliphant of Aberdaguy with others fell on the Oglebies side 1445. they fought the 24. of Ianuary 1445. Now by attending opportunities to increase publick disorders turn the times dangerous and troublesome and confound the State the Earl of Dowglass kept himself in the absolute Government by umbragious ways he nourished discontentments in all parts of the Country amongst the Nobility Gentry Commons of the Realm Alexander Earl of Crawford put to death Iohn Lynton of Dundee Robert Boyd of Duchal and Alexander Lyle â—lew Iames Stuart of Auchenmintee Patrick Hepburn of Haills surprised the Castle of Dumbar Archembald Dumbar as if he would but change places with him taketh the Castle of Haills where he was besieged by the Earl of Dowglass and with conditions of safety rendred it Sir William Creighton all this time kept the Castle of Edenburgh and when by intreaties nor power he could not be induced to render it to the King his Castle of Creighton is plundered a garrison placed in it and the Castle of Edinburgh by the Earl of Dowglass is besieged and blocked up Nine moneths the Assailers lie about it but it proveth impregnable and without loss of many Subjects cannot be taken about the end of which time mens courages waxing colder conditions are offered and received which were that the Chancellor should be restored to grace place and whatsoever hâ—d been withheld from him by his enemies at Court an abolition and abrogation of all former discontentments should be granted the besieged should pass out bag and baggage free At a Parliament holden at Perth the Chancellor was purged by an Assise of his Peers of what was laid against him his lands and goods seized upon by the King or Dowglasses are decreed to be restored as well to his followers as himself he is established in his dignities and places of honour notwithstanding of all Edicts Proclamation Confiscation before which were declared null all matters past put in oblivion as not done This considering the credit of the Earl of Dowglass was thought very strange but Iames Kennedie Bishop of St. Andrews whose respect and authority was great with the Church-men perfected this Master-piece of State and the Earl of Dowglass knew though the Chancellor was unbound he had not yet escaped During these Garboyls in Scotland Margaret Sister to King Iames and wife to the Daulphin of France Lewis died at Chalones in Champaigne a vertuous and worthy Lady beloved of all France but most of Charles the seventh her Father in Law who for her respect matched her three Sisters who remained at his Court honourably Hâ—lenora with Sigismond Arch-duke of Austria Elizabeth to the Duke of Bretaigne Mary with the Earl of Camphire She was buried in the great Church of Chalones but after when the Daulphine came to be King he caused transport and bury her in the Abbey Church of Laon in Poittow Many Elegies were published upon her death which are yet extant Sir Iames Stuart the Black Knight husband to the Queen at this time died also He had turned a voluntary exile to shun the dangers and envy of the Factions of the Country which he incurr'd by his free speeches against the misgovernment and miseries of the time and as he was bound â—owards Flanders by the Flemings was taken upon the Seas The Queen out-lived not long her Daughter and Husband â—he was buried the fifteenth of Iuly in the Charter-house of Perth near her first husband Iames the year 1446. She brought forth to the black Knight of Lorn three sons Iohn Eâ—rl of Athole Iames Earl of Buchane Andrew Bishop of Mâ—rray The Chancellor having recovered his honours and State to the disadvantage of the Earl of Dowglass though of good years and tyred with the troubles of publike life yet findeth not any desired rest A Marriage being designed for the King with Mary daughter of the Duke of Guilders by the instructions of Charls the seventh the French Kings but secretly by the procurement of the Earl of Dowglass the Chancellor as a Man grave great in plâ—ce and experimented with the Bishop of Dunkel and Nicholas Otterburn is sent over the Seas in Embassie This troublesom and unprofitable honor abroad is laid upon him that he might be separate from the King and suspended from opposing to the private designs of the Earl at home This obstacle of his ambition removed which had neither moderation nor limits the Earl may excluded such Officers in State or Court who were not agreeable to him and substitute others of his Creation after his pleasure he hath now room and opportunity for his greatest designs His kindred are without pausing preferred to Offices of State his brothers to new honours Archembald is made Earl of Murray by the Marriage of a Lady of the house of Dumbar who was Heir of the Lands and the Kings Ward George is created Earl of Ormond Iohn made Lord of Balvenie and hath his Donation ratified in an Assembly of three Estates who were convented at Edinburgh for matters concerning the Marriage of the King but in effect that the Earl might pursue his old enemies The Commissioners are chosen after his pleasure are prepared and instructed by him prelimitated and to combine power with craft he entreth in an offensive and defensive League with many Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen of the Kingdom All the wheels and vices of his Clock being right set Alexander Levingston late Governor Alexander his eldest son Robert Levingston Treasurer David Levingston Iames Dundes Robert Bruce of Clackmannan Knights for Peculate and converting the Princes Treasure to their private use are forfeited taken and committed to sundry Prisons in December 1447. at which time they were brought to Edinburgh Alexander the Governor Iames Dundas and Robert Bruce after Fines laid upon them were permitted back to Dumbarton there to be kept Prisoners during the Kings pleasure Alexander
by wars have found their ruin in a luxurious peace Men by a vâ—luptuous life becomming less sensible of tiue honour The Court and by that example the Countrey was become too soft and delicate superfluous in all delights and pleasures Masques Banqueting gorgeous appâ—rel revelliâ—g were not only licensed but studied and admired Nothing did please what was not strange and far brought Charity began to be restrained publique magnificence falling in private Riot What was wount to entertain whole families and a train of goâ—dly men was now spent in drâ—ssing of some little rooms and the womannish decking of the persons of some few Hermophrodites To these the wife King had while given way knowing that delicate soft times were more easie to be governed and a people given to mild arts and a sweet condition of life than rough and barbarous so they turned not altogether womanized and that it was an easie matter to bring them back again to their old posture At these abuses some of the feverer sort of the Clergy began to caip yet could they not challenge the Prince who in the entertainment ofr his own person scarce exceeded the degree of any private Man yea was often under the Pomp and Majesty of a King But the blemish of all this excess was laid on the English who by the Queen their Countrey woman with new guises dayly resorted hither and turned new-fangle the Court. The King not only listened to their plaints but called a Parliament to satisfy their humours Here Henry Wardlaw Bishop of S. Andrews highly aggravating the abuses and superfluities of Court and Countrey all disorders were pry'd intio and Staâ—uâ—es made against them They abolished râ—ots of all sorts of Pearl many Rivâ—rs in Scotland affording them not only for use but for excess only women were permitted to wear a sunall Carkanet of them about their Necks costly Furs nad Ermins were wholly forbidden together with abuse of Gold and Silver lace Penaltiâ—s were not only imposed upon the transgrâ—ssours but on workmen which should make of fell them excâ—ssive expense in banqueting was restrained and dainties banished from the Tables of Epicures with Jeasters and Buffones In this year 1430. the first of Iune was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun at 3 of the clock afternoon the day turning black for the space of an half hour as though it had been Night therefore it was after called or the Commons The BLACK HOUR The as and greatest matter which busied the Kings thoughts was the increasing of his Revenues and bringing back the Dâ—measn of the Crown a work no less dangerous than deep and diffiâ—il and which at last procured him greatest hatred For till then smothered malice did never burst forth in open flames And though this diligence of the king concerned much the publique weal yet such as were interessed by rendring what they had long possessed though without all reason esteemed themselves highly wronged The Patâ—imony of the Crown had been wasted and given away by the two Governours to keep themselves popular and â—hun the envy of a factious Nobility Thus the King had neither in magnificence to maintain himself nor bestow upon his friends or strangers He had advisedly perused all evidences nad charters belonging to the Crown hereupon he recalls all such Lands as had been either alienated from it or wrongfully usurped Together what was wont to beidly given away as forfeitures escheats and wards were restrained to the Crown and kept to the King himself There remained upon considerations of increasing the Demesns of the Crown the Lands of the Earl of March whose Father had rebelled against the Kings Father Robert though faults be personal and not hereditary and the heirs of ancient houses hold little of their last possessours but of their Predecessours those the King seased on The Earl proved by good evidences and writings brought forth his Father had been pardoned for that fault by the Regents of the Kingdom he was answered again that it was not in the Regents power to pardon an offence against the State and that it was expresly provided by the Laws in crimes of lese majesty that children should undergo punishment for their Fathers transgressions to the end that being thus heirs to their Fathers raâ—hness as they are to their Goods and Lands they should not at any time with vast ambition in the haughty Pride of their own power plot or practice to shake and tear the Publick Peace of the Prince nad Countrey Thus was the remission by the Parliament declared void and Earl George himself committed to the Castle at Edenbrough William Earl of Anguss Warden of the Middle March William Chreighâ—oun Chancellour Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailles immediately received the Castle of Dumber the keeping of which was given to Sir Adam Hepburn The King not long after set Earl George at Liberty and to save him from the like dangers which were wont to befall his Predecessours to fly into England for every small cross and light displeasure at Court he bestowed on him as it were in exchange for these lands in the Marss the Earldom of Bâ—chan in the North with a yearly pension to be paid out of the Earl-dome of March setting the Tay and the Forth betwixt him and his too kind friends of England Buchan had faln to the King by the decease of Iohn who was Son to Robert the second and Earl of Buchan He was slain at Vernueill in France with the Marshall Duglass and left no lawfull children after him to succeed The Earldome of Marre was incorporate also to the Demesn Royall by the decease of Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre who was natural Son to Alexander Stuart who was the Son of Robert the second He was Man of singular prowess and in his youth followed the warres under Philip Duke of Burgundy he married Iane Daughter to the Earl of Holland and had greatly oblieged his Countrey by transporting Stallions and Mares hither out of Hungary the Stood of which continued long after to his Commendation and the commodity of the Kingdome The Earldom of Strathern was appropriated also to the Crown by the Decease of David Stuart Earl of Strathern Unclâ— to the King who having but one onely Daughter who was married to Patrick Graham a younger Brother of the Lord Grahams the Earldom being â—ailed to the Masculine Line was divolved again to the Crown Thus did King Iames succeed to three Brothers who were Sons to Robert the second All Good men with these proceedings of the King were well pleased for iâ— Princes could keep their own and that which justly belâ—ngeth unto them they could not be urged to draw such extraordinary Subsidies from the blood sweat and tears of their people yet was this the Shelf on which this Prince perished for many who were accustomed to be Copartners of such off-fallings began to storm and repine at his actions but none was so implacable as Robert Graham Uncle and Tutor to Miles Graham the son of Eupheme
high and long continued title of a King which the best part of his Subjects yet reverenced he had sufficient Friends and Warlike men who appearing in a Field with him would raise a just fear in the hearts of those who so hainously dared disobey him That God would be present to revenge wronged Majesty and turn their hopes in despair That the Common People were ever changing and a little time would make them flow to these from whom they did ebb and all would return again except such as were guilty of other offences or such whose poverty made them fear a beggerly Peace as their greatest punishment That his chiefest and principall City stood good for him which example the other Towns would undoubtedly follow that Rebellion was like Thunder the noise of which if observed duely was often more terrible then the blow and dissolved ordinarily in tears of Repentance and fair Weather that here the prudence of Prince manifesteth it self when he cannot suppress and stop all the evils in his State to suffer and tolerate the least and with leasure and time abolish and extirpate the greater and make vertue of Rebellion The King by the Bishops Counsel and Assistance gathereth an Army but will not try the hazard of a Battel before those he had advertised and sent for should-joyn with these already about him and his Forces from all the Quarters of the Kingdom be united In the North the Earl of Huntley had raised a goodly Company to come to his aid but the Earl of Crawford a Confederate of the Earl of Dowglass with a power of the men of Anguss and all who would follow him guided by some French Commanders essayed to cut off his passage and rencountreth him at Brecheâ— the Battel is fought and the victory inclined where the Kings Standard was displayed by the Earl of Huntley The equity of the cause laid aside the occasion of this Victory was ascribed to Iohn Coloss of Bonnymoon who having one of the wings of the Army to guide which confisted of battel-axes great swords and long spears and the best invasive weapons in the hottest of the skirmish gave ground and left the middle Ward naked upon his side the reason of his revolt is reported that the night before the Battel when every man was resolving with his affairs of the world Bonnymoon requested the Earl of Crawford of whom he held his Lands Ward and relief since the next day he was resolved either to be victorious or die in the field to subscribe a Precept himself falling for entring his Son to his Lands This the Superiour refusing the Vassal out of a just indignation when he should have charged retired and his Company with him Such thoughts possessed not the Earl of Huntlies minde he dealt not so sparingly with his friends in hope of their good service To the Forbesses Oglebies Leslies Grants Irwines he freely gave many of his own lands which raised their courage to the height In requital of which the King after bestowed upon him the Lands of Badyeenoâ—h and Lochâ—ber In the conflict the Earl of Huntley lost two Brothers the Earl of Crawford and Sir Iohn Lindsay his brother being left on the Field fled to his house of Phanheaven where he was heard to say He would be content to remain seven years in Hell to have in so timely a season done the King his Master that Service the Earl of Huntley had performed and carry that applause and thanks he was to receive from him This conflict happened upon the Ascention day the 18 day of May 145â— The King by the confluence and resort of many worthy Subjects unto him having time to breathe and finding himself in a calm keepeth a Convention of the States at Edenburgh Ere the Earls of Douglass Crawford Ormond Murray the Lord Balvenye Sir Iames Hamilton and others are cited to answer according to Law They instead of appearing in the Night upon the Doors of the principal Churches and other places eminent fix many Placates and Libels signed with their hands which bear the Earl of Douglass nor his Followers will never obey command nor charge in time coming nor answer citation for that the King is not a just Master but a Blood-sucker a Murtherer a Transgressor of Hospitality a Surpriser of the Innocent and such who deserved no harm at his hands Not long after the King levied an Army which by the approaching Winter did little Service and the Earl of Douglass to save the Lands of Beatrice his Brothers Widow unseparated from the House sought by a Dispensation from the Pope to have her in Marriage alledging her untouched of his Brother which being refused him he kept her in place of his wife the effect of his Sorbon Divinity and found hereby more Bryers then Roses The Barl of Crawford placing two stricts of Seas betwixt him and the King spoileth the Lands of all those who forsook him at Brechen and Arckembald Earl of Murray burneth the Pile of Srath-Boggy pertaining to the Earl of Huntley In revenge of which the Earl of Huntley burnt and herried all the Lands of the Earl of Murray beyond the Spey The King too in this madness of Man-kinde defaceth his own Countrey pulling down the Houses of his Rebel-Subjects and wasting Annan-dale This ravage and mutual overturning of all having continued almost two whole years the Faction of the Earl far inferior to the Kings now weakned with such lasting Incursions sundry of the chief men and heads considering the least faults were the best that it was better to strike fail in time then make a full Shipwrack of their persons Honors and the well of the Kingdom and State counsel the Earl that Fervors growing colder since it could not be undone which was done he would not set greater work on foot but proceeding with conveniency submit himself friendly to the King who had as much goodness as generosity and sought and required nothing of his Subjects but obedience and having now prove how difficile it was to overcome them by Arms was perhaps as much tyred as they would pardon these faults which he could not otherways amend Necessity in Affairs of Princes constraining them to yield to many things in Government against their first Conclusions and resolve to grant that which they could not well hinder That there were many hours in the day and the hearts of Princes were subject to change in them that he should not â—orsake the publique weal of the Kingdom for his private Considerations That after this trouble of State he might be more esteemed and sought after by the King as it is ordinarily practised among Princes and great men who affect onely that which is necessary unto them To these the Earl answered That they had went too far forwards to think upon any cowardly reâ—reat and coming back again that the onely vertue under a Tyrant was to die constantly that other vertues did fight but constancy alone triumphed That for himself he would