that our History may appear to be all of a piece and void of Breaks as much as may be Walter therefore had a Son named Alane who as they say follow'd Godfrey of Bullogn into the Holy Land in the Year 1099. Alexander was his Son who begat Walter Stuart he had Issue Alexander whose Son was John the Father of Walter Stuart that marry'd the Daughter of King Robert Bruce and begat on her Robert Stuart call'd in the Scotch Chronology Robert the second King of Scotland but he was the first Stuart that was advanced to the Throne of that Kingdom But before we can fairly come to give you an exact Account hereof it will be necessary to premise a short Scheme of the Contests between the said Baliol and Bruce because somewhat interwoven with the Affair of this Family Upon the disastrous death of Alexander the Third who broke his Neck as he was gallopping his Horse at Kingcorn over the West-clift of the place near the Sea-side and left no Issue but had only a Grand-child by his Daughter in Norway very young and who died soon after Scotland fell under an Interregnum for the space of six Years and nine Months as Buchanan computes it for so long it was between the Death of Alexander and the declaring of John Baliol King of Scotland and in the mean time you may be sure there wanted not Pretensions to the Crown and the case briefly was thus William King of Scotland had a Brother named David Earl of Huntington and great Uncle to this Alexander the III. which David had three Daughters Margaret marry'd to Allan Lord of Gallaway Isabel to Robert Bruce Lord Annadale and Cleveland and Adda to Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington now Allane begat on his Wife Margaret a Daughter named Dornadilla marry'd in process of time to John Baliol after King of Scotland and two other Daughters Bruce by his Wife Isabel had Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick as having married the Inheritrix thereof but as for Huntington he laid no manner of Claim Now the question was whether Baliol in right of the eldest Daughter or Robert Bruce being descended of the second but a Male should have the Crown he being in the same Degree and of the more worthy Sex The Controversie was tossed up and down by the Governors and Nobles of the Kingdom for a long time but at last upon serious deliberation it was agreed to refer the whole matter to the decision of Edward the I. King of England which he was not a little glad of For resolving to fish in these troubled Waters he stirs up eight Competitors more that he might further puzzle the Cause and at length with twenty four Councellors half Scots half English and a great many Lawyers so handled the Business that after a great many cunning delays he secretly tampers with Bruce who was then conceiv'd to have the better Right of the Business that if he would acknowledge to hold the Crown of him he would adjudge it in favour of him But he generously answering That he valued a Crown at a less rate than for the wearing of the same to put his Country under a Foreign Yoke Edward turns about and makes the same motion to Baliol who did not stick to accept of it Baliol having thus gotten a Crown as unhappily kept it for he was no sooner invested with it and done Homage to King Edward according to Agreement but the Aberthenys having slain Mackduff Earl of Fife he not only pardon'd them the Fact but gave them a piece of Land that was in Controversie between them Whereupon Mucduff's Brother being enraged makes a Complaint of him to King Edward who sent for him used him so that he made him rise from his Seat at Parliament and go to the Bar and answer for himself He hereupon was so enraged at this manner of Usage that when King Edward sent to him for Assistance against the French he absolutely refused it and proceeded so far as to renounce his Homage to him This incensed King Edward to the quick and so with an armed Power he hastens to Berwick where he routed the Scots took and kill'd to the number of Seven Thousand of them among them most of the Nobility of Fife and Lowthian and some time after gave them also a great Overthrow at Dunbar which occasion'd the immediate surrender of the Castle of the said place into his Hands After this he marches to Montross where Baliol was brought to resign up both himself and his Crown to King Edward all the Scotch Nobility at the same time doing him Homage The Consequence whereof was that Baliol was sent Prisoner to London and from thence after a Years detention into France But while Edward was possess'd of all Scotland one William Wallace arose who tho' but a private Man bestirred himself in the publick Calamity of his Country and gave the English several notable Foyls This brought King Edward into Scotland again with an Army and falling upon Wallace routs him who was overcome with Emulation and Envy from his Countrymen as well as power from the Enemy upon which he laid by his Command and never acted after but by slight Incursions but the English Army after this being beaten at Roslin Edward comes in again and takes Sterling and makes them all render him Homage Robert Bruce Son to the foresaid Bruce that contested with Baliol for the Crown was in King Edward's Court and him the King had often promised to put in possession of the Crown But Bruce finding at last that all his promises were illusory and nothing but smoak he enters into a Confederacy with John Cummin sirnamed the Red how he might get the Kingdom but being basely betray'd by him to King Edward he had much ado to make his escape and when he was got into Scotland the first thing he did was to stab Cummin at Drumâ—reis and then got himself Crown'd King at Scone Never did any Man come with greater disadvantage to the possession of a Crown or underwent greater Hardships for the sake of it He was beaten over and over by King Edward's Troops forced to flee to the Highlands with one Companion or two and to lurk in the Mountains in great misery as if he had been rather a Beast of prey than a rational Creature And while he was in this miserable State it is storied of him by Fourdon That being in a Morning lying down on his Bed in a little Cottage whither he was glad to retire and make the same his Pallace he espies a Spider striving to climb up into her Web which she had spun to the roof of the House but failing of her purpose the first time she attempts it the second and third time and so on to the sixth and last wherein she accomplishes it and gets in the King who as well as his Companion had all the while view'd the Action said Now let 's get up and hasten to the Lowlands to try our Fortunes
Queen of Scots that his Son William was Created Earl of Gowry in King James's Minority and two years after fell into actual Rebellion at Dundee for which he was Beheaded at Sterlin in 1584. but Sir James Melvill who had as good an opportunity to know this Affair as any man says The Earl of Gowry was related to the King in high Favour and by the villanous Contrivance of a Court Faction cut off for little or no fault and seems to censure his hard Fate and not to excuse the King himself in his proceedings against him The Earl's Eldest Son named John was not long after restored in Blood and had leave to Travel and Sanderson said he had a Manuscript containing that the Earl at Padua caused an Hand and Sword aiming at a Crown to be used for his Device and that the Earl of Argyle acquainted King James that he found a Prophesie at an House in Orleans in France where the Earl of Gowry had had Lodgings that he should with too much love fall into Melancholly have great Power and Rule and Die by the Sword After his return that he carried himself very Haughtily and being too big for Court observance retired to his Family leaving his Brother Alexander who was made Gentleman of the King's Bed-Chamber to play the Courtier and Cloak the Design and thus according to Sanderson's Relation was the Conspiracy formed The Earl sent his Brother Alexander from St. Johnstown where he lived to the King at Faulkland to entice him to come thither with as much Privacy as could be and commands one of his Servants Andrew Henderson by Name to go with his Brother and one Andrew Ruthwen to the Court which they in the morning did being the 5th of August 1600. and as the King was putting his Foot into the Stirrup to go a Hunting Alexander informed him that he had apprehended one lately come from beyond Seas with much Gold about him and several suspicious Letters to some Popish Lords advising his Majesty to receive the Money and the Letters and to examine the Person who was in safe Custody at his Brother the Earl's House but ten miles of and this with as much speed and privacy as could be to which the King assents and that he would go at Noon while his Attendants were at Dinner Alexander hereupon dispatched Henderson to give the Earl notice that the King would be there about Noon and that the Business took so well with him that he had clipt him about the Neck that he had but a slender Retinue as the Duke of Lennox Sir Thomas Erskin and about a Dozen more Well said the Earl Get on your Plate Sleeves for I must take an Highland Robber The King staying at his sport of Hunting somewhat longer than was expected the Earl had half Dined when Andrew Ruthen aforesaid came in haste and acquainted him the King was hard by and presently after came in Alexander and Bloire who withdrew to consult and sent Henderson for the Earls Gauntlet and Steel Bonnet the King quickly followed and was received by the Earl who conducted him into Dinner In the mean time Alexander bids Henderson fetch the Keys of the Chambers from one Rynd and presently after one Crâ—uston calls Henderson to come to the Earl who commanded him to do whatever his Brother Alexander should bid him which was to be locked up in the round Chamber and to stay there silently till his return When the Dinner was near over and the King eating some Fruit and the Lords and other Attendants gone to eat Alexander begs of him to make use of that opportunity and withdraw to dispatch the Business and up he leads him through four or five Rooms locking every Door as he passed behind him until they came to the round Chamber where Henderson stood armed They were no sooner entred but Alexander pulls out Henderson's Dagger held it to the King's Breast and said with a stern Countenance Now Sir you must know I had a Father whose Blood calls for Revenge and you must Die surely if this had been true the very fright must have killed King James but to proceed the King seeing his danger deals gently with his fury excuses himself from the guilt of his Death by his then Infancy advising him not to lay violent hands on the Sacred Person of his Sovereign pleading the Laws of God and Man and his Merits in Restoring his Brother to his Estate and Honours by Breeding his Sister the nearest in the Queen's Affections and by his Reception of himself to be of his Bed-Chamber and withall promising Pardon for all that was past which so wrought upon Alexander for the present that he left the King in Henderson's Custody untill he returned back from his Brother having first taken an Oath of the King not to stir nor cry out and so locks them both in Alexander being gone Henderson in the mean time relented and swore he would not kill him but presently Alexander returns with a String in his Hand and said Sir There is no Remedy By God you must Die and so strives to Bind him Nay says the King I was Born free and will not be Bound and so struggling together Alexander got the King's Head under his Arm and clapped his Hand upon his Mouth which the King bit by the Thumb and dragging him to the Window bad Henderson open it where the King cryed out to the back Court Treason where the Duke of Lennox Earl of Mar and others were in pursuit of him it having been given out that he was gone the back way into the Park As soon as they knew it was the King they ran to the Chamber where he Dined but could find no entrance In the mean time John Ramsey Groom of the Bed-Chamber and Sir Thomas Erskin endeavoured to get up by the Turn-Pike back-stairs being directed thither by a Boy of the House who saw Alexander ascend that way and forcing one Door open found them panting Ramsey immediately draws his Fauchion and run Alexander in the Belly being bid to strike low for the King found him armed with a Coat of Mail and so with the assistance of Sir Thomas Erskin Doctor Herres and one Wilson quickly dispatched him whilst Henderson slipt out of the way but the danger was not yet over for perceiving by the noise of unlocking the Doors that the Earl himself was coming to assault them they advised the King to withdraw into the Lobby but first cast the King's Coat over the Dead Body which was no sooner done but the Earl enters by his double Keys attended with seven of his Servants the foreway and his Case of Rapiers and his usual Arms ready drawn to whom Erskin to divert him from his purpose earnestly said What do you mean my Lord the King is killed and points to his Brothers covered Body bleeding on the Floor at which Gowry stoops dropping the points of his Weapons when suddenly Herres assaulted him with his Sword and being
to the utmost for to serve his Majesty and was really rewarded with a Suit worth 1500 Pounds tho' he was cheated of one half by a true Scot that pretended great friendship to him he returned to Sommerset about Three next Morning which was the day he was to come to his Trial and told him he had been with the King found him a most Affectionate Master and full of Grace in his intentions towards him but said for to satisfy Justice the Earl must appear tho' to return again instantly without any further proceedings against him and that thereby he should come to know his Enemies and their Malice tho' they should have no power to hurt him with this device he allaid the Earl's Fury and got him quietly about Eight in the Morning to the Hall yet fearing his former bold Language might revert him again and that finding himself thus brought within the Toye by this trick he might be more enraged to fly into some strange discovery he took care to place two Servants on each side of him every one having a Cloak on their Arms and gave them a positive Command If Sommerset did any way fly out against the King that they should immediately Hoodwink him with the Cloak take him by force from the Bar and carry him away for which he would not only secure them from any danger but they should be sure of a bountiful Reward but the Earl finding himself over-reached recollected a better temper and went on calmly in his Tryal where he held the Court till Seven at night but he that had seen the King's restless motion and concernedness of Mind all that day by his sending to every Boat he saw landing at the Bridge and cursing all that came without tidings would have easily judged all was not right and that there were very good grounds for Sommerset's boldness but at last having word brought him that he was condemned with the particulars of the Trial all was quiet You may judge of the Story as you please but my Author Sir A. W. says he and another Gentleman had it from Sir George Moor's own Mouth in Wanstead Park and 't is very remarkable that tho' the King made the most direful imprecations that could be to Sir Edward Coke at Theobalds upon the discovery of Overbury's Murder he would pardon any thing of them yet he gave both the Earl and Countess as deep in the sudds as any a Lease of their Lives allowed the Earl 4000 l. per Annum and kept correspondence with him by Letters almost every week to his dying day I shall not enter upon any further narration of Overbury's death of the Countess of Essex Divorce and her Marriage with Sommerset how the Discovery was made how the King was made a Pimp as he told Sir Edward Coke to carry on their Bawdry and Murder as being not pertinent to the present Design but acquaint you that the Lady Arabella Steward whose Genealogy we have already given you dying about this time in the Tower sets Mens Tongues and Fears at work that she went the same way she had been Married some years before to Sir William Seymour Son to the Lord Beauchamp and Grandchild to Edward Earl of Hertford and both of them being at some distance allyed to the Crown such a conjunction would not be admitted in the Royal Almanack so dreadful is every Apparition that comes near Princes Titles especially if they light upon jealous and weak Minds Sir William was for the Marriage committed to the Tower and the Lady Arabella confined to her House at Highgate but both of them after some imprisonment concluded to make their escape together beyond Sea appointing to meet at a certain place upon the Thames Sir William leaving his Man in his Bed to act his part with his Keeper got out of the Tower in disguise and came to the place appointed she dress'd like a young Gallant in Man's Cloaths followed him from her House but staying somewhat longer than the limited time it made him suspicious of her interception so that he went away leaving notice if she came that he was gone away before for Dunkirke the poor Lady thus desolate fraught with Fears and lugging in her slight was apprehended and sent in her Husband's room into the Tower where she ended her sorrowful days somewhat too early as was generally believed tho' no clear proof thereof could e'r be made it 's certain the King was very jealous of his Title to the Crown which at times made him very uneasy tho' besides actual possession he had apparently the best of any Title in the World and the free Speeches of his Subjects upon that head did not a little contribute to that uneasiness as was that of Tobie Matthews Bishop of Durham who being at Law with the King about some Priviledges which he claimed in his Bishoprick and having one day stated the case before some of his Friends and they seeming to approve of it Yes says the Bishop I could wish he had but half as good a Title to the Crown But one Hydra's Head is no sooner cut off but up starts another one of the Judges for Wales being about this time holding the general Assizes at Pembrooke there was among other Malefactors brought to the Bar to be Tryed for Murder one whose Name was Plantagenet a Name that for some hundreds of years had swayed the English Scepter from the time of Henry II. down to Henry VII the Judge hearing of the Name deferred the Man's Tryal and sends to acquaint the King with it who upon the news was in no small tiff but dispatcht away Orders immediately to bring the Man up when he was brought into his Presence Cousin said he How do you do the poor Man in a trembling amazement made no ready Answer but at length recollecting his Spirits replyed He knew of no Relation he was to his Majesty nay but said the King If thy Name be Plantagenet thou must be my Cousin and so entring into another Communion with him engaged him for a considerable Reward to change his Name into that of Steward from whom as I have been credibly informed the Family of the Stewards late of the County of H. but now extinct were descended It was now the Fifteenth year of the King's Reign when he goes to visit his Native Country of Scotland accompanied with Buchingham now prime Favourite but upon his return some of the looser Bishops pretending Recreations and Liberty to Servants and the common People of which they craved to themselves too much already procured the King to put out a Book to permit Dancing about Maypoles Churchyards and such debauched exercises upon the Lords Day after Evening Prayer wherein all Ministers were enjoined to read it to their Parishioners and those that refused were brought into the High Commission which was Plague sufficient but this brought him some disquiet and particularly one time the King being to go from London to Theobalds on a Monday
Narration of Conjectures and Opinions but content my self to inform you as the observation of a person that 's my Friend who has for many Years been very critical and exact to pry into the Court-Conduct and has not had the least opportunity so to do that the Dauphiness at first had been so well received by the King that some malignant Spirits made it their publick Discourse But that a terward meeting with a colder entertainment when they saw it impossible to engage the Duke of Bavaria her Brother to the interest of the Crown of France the Princess her self became so sensible of the change that she grew sad and melancholy upon it till now at length Death it self has put a final period to her grief as I am forced to do to this letter through a pressing occasion who am My Lord Your Lordships most Humble and most devoted Serv. Paris April 28. 1690. N. S. LETTER XIV An exact Account of the number and strength of the French Fleet in 1690 with some intimations of a Conspiracy formed against the Government at the same time My Lord I Cannot but express my great Sorrow to find that many things that relate to the English Affairs and which should be managed in the Cabinet and only known by the Execution of them are so common in most Mens Mouths on this side There must be false Friends some where and who knows but they are the very Men who would possess the Government that the Enemy is not so formidable as is given out But I cannot believe your Lordship to be among the number of those incredulous ones tho' I am confident you 'l find it an hard task to convince those who should concern themselves of their imminent danger This Court seems long since fully to be satisfyed of the King's intention to go for Ireland and that much of his time and thoughts have been taken up for the work that lies before him there and therefore they are more busy here than ever in projecting methods and carrying on designs to allarm England in his absence I heartily wish your Out-works may be firm and strong they are likely to be attacked by a formidable power from without and I do not question but there are attempts formed within to second the same it being in a manner a common Discourse here And this I can firmly assure your Lordship of that several English Men who were some time ago about the Court and this City are all of a sudden disappeared but have since rendevouz'd at Brest with a full design to Embark on Board the Fleet which whatever Men may flatter themselves in England with is very formidable and very near ready to put out to Sea having its full complement of Mariners with an additional number of Landmen which are not sent there without some considerable design in view I am confident some men in England would laugh me to scorn should I tell them that the French Fleet is composed of Fourscore and two great Men of War Forty Frigats Thirty Fireships and Fifteen Gallies but your Lordship I hope will have a better Opinion of my Sincerity than to think I would any ways impose upon you That this formidable Fleet is designed for the English Coast is not doubted but as to any particular management all that ever I could learn is that an attempt will perhaps be made during the King's being in Ireland to raise a Mutiny and that in the Interim King James is to leave the command of his Army to Lauzun and Tirconnell and to hasten with all speed into England to favour which part of the French Fleet is to block up the River of Thames another part in conjunction with the Gallies are to land the Men on board somewhere in the West and such spare Arms as they have with them which is thought to be a great Number and when this is done they are to set sail for the Irish Coast to hinder King William and his Forces from returning Now my Lord I confess I do not think all these things practicable but there must be something more than ordinary in the Wind and you cannot be too cautious There are various other discourses that pass up and down continually concerning this grand Expedition which I shall not trouble your Lordship with as being meer conjectures and therefore I conclude only with subscribing my self as I am unfeignedly and so shall remain My Lord Your Lordships most Humble Faithful and Obedient Servant Paris June 2d 1690. N. S. LETTER XV. Of the late King James his arrival in France out of Ireland and of an uncertain report raised of King William's Death occasioning much ridiculous Mirth and Bon-fires at Paris c. My Lord THat the Arms of this Country have lately prevailed in two great conflicts the one by Sea and the other by Land is sufficiently known here by the publick rejoycings that have been made for both in all parts of the Kingdom and I cannot sufficiently express to your Lordship the Agony I have been under especially when I heard of the defeat by Sea but the arrival of the late King some days ago at St. Germans hath cheered up my drooping Spirits wonderfully again It s universally agreed here that King william has had the better of him though the defeat is minced very much at Court who thereupon foreseeing that it would be a matter of much enquiry and seem no less than a paradox among the people that he should quit Ireland so soon where his presence must have been absolutely necessary for the heartning of his foiled party they have given a reason for his retirement so ridiculous that let them believe it who will I think I shall not yet and I am sure your Lordship will not and that is that Monsieur Lauzun had in a manner constrained him to withdraw himself into France because his extraordinary courage caused him to expose himself like a common Soldier even to so much danger that it had like to have cost him his life And if the foresaid reason was so very ridiculous I am sure your Lordship will not think the rejoycings made in this City upon the groundless report of a Lacque of the Kings who got out of Ireland a few days after his Master to be less so For upon his Arrival he was pleased to acquaint the Court that Duke Schomberg was not only killed but King William dead also which good News as they call it was of that importance that it was glibly swallowed down and the proof thereof never enquired into and the News happening about Mid-night to come into the City the Commissaries immediately ran up and down the Streets knocking up the People and crying out to them Rise Rise make Bonfires So that in about an hours time all Paris was in a Blaze and nothing to be heard there but Hautboys Drums and Trumpets Not content with this the Rabble made the Effigies of King William and Queen Mary dragged them through
so but advanced nearer the Kings Person and said Sir What offence have I done who had so much of your Favour when I parted from you with your permission The King Answered Why did you refuse to send me the Maiden whom I wrote for and gave despightfull Language to him I sent for her Sir said he there is none about your Majesty dare avow such a thing to my face As for the Maiden I told the Prior that I was well enough to be the Messenger my self to convey her to your Majesty but thought him an unmeet Person whom I knâ—w to be a lover of Women and the greatest deflowrer of Wives and Maidens in Scotland Then the King said Hast thou then brought the Gentlewoman with thee Yes Sir said he Alas saith the King They have told me so many lies of thee that they have got a Warrant from me to commit thee to Prison but I shall mend it with a contrary Command Then said the Treasurer lamentingly My life or Imprisonment is but a small matter but it breaks my heart that the world should hear of your Majesties facility For he had heard that during his absence they had caused the King to send to England and to give over the designed interview at York The Prelates having gained this point they jog the King forwards to prosecute the reformed and get James Hamilton Bastard Brother to the Earl of Arran and a fit Instrument for their purpose to be Judge in matters of Religion About the same time came into Scotland one James Hamilton Cousin-German to the foresaid James who after long banishment at length got leave to return to his Country for a time to prosecute a Law-Suit he had against the Bastard James But when he found after his Arrival what dangers himself and other true Professors of the Gospel were in he dispatch'd his Son to the K. who was then going over to Fife and having got to him before he was gone on board he acquaints him tremblingly who was by Nature very suspicious that it was a matter of great moment and would prove dangerous to the whole Kingdom unless the King would take care to secure Hamilton and take away his Commission The King who was then hastning to Fife sent the young man to Edenburg to the Lords of the Sessions and ordered James Lermouth James Kinnedy and Thomas Aresky to meet and charged them to give as much heed to what the Messenger should Declare as if he himself were present and sent them a Ring which they knew from off his Finger for a Token These having set their heads together secure James who had just dined and was ready for his Journey in his own House and send him prisoner to the Castle But when they had learned by their spies that the King upon earnest application made to him on his behalf was inclined to discharge him and that besides the danger the publick might be in they themselves had reason to fear least if so Factous and powerfull a man and now provoked by so great an ignominy did come off clear he would be sharply and severely revenged They posted to Court and perswaded the King by laying the nearness of the danger the wicked disposition cruel mind and Wealth of the Man as much as possible they could before him not to discharge him without a Tryal The King therefore going to Edenburg and from thence to Seaton commands him to be tryed for his life and having been Convicted lost his head The Crime laid to his charge was that he had on a certain day determined to break the Doors open and to murder the King and had secret cabals with the Dowglasses that were publick Enemies Strange proceedings those were tho' the Man died in a manner unlamented as being obnoxious to most people and having lead a most wicked Life only the Priesthood were much concerned at his fall as having placed all the hopes of their Fortunes in his Welfare But however he might have been an ill man otherwise by the sequel it was interpreted that the King had done little less then murdered him for from henceforth he was grievously afflicted with turbulent dreams whereof amongst the rest this was one He saw this same James Hamilton rush into his presence with a drawn Sword and first cut off his right Arm and then the left and when he had threatned to return in a short time and cut off his head he vanished The King when he avoke was in a great fright and while he revolved with himself upon the Event of his dream presently comes News to him that both his Sons one at St. Andrews and the other in Sterling were dead almost in the very same moment of time This was black and ominous upon him and now we come to shew you his Exit which was violent as well as the rest that went before him When Henry VIII found himself thus basely disappointed by his Nephew he was not a little incensed thereat and prepared an Army to invade Scotland There were near two years spent with nothing but Incursions on both sides there being neither a certain Peace nor a Just War between them at length the Army under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk drew near to the Marches the Scots encounter the Duke with an Herault to expostulate concerning the Motives of the War and withal dispatched the Ld. Gowrdon with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers The Herault was detained till the Eng. Army came to Berwick to prevent his giving them Intelligence of their strength And in October the Duke entring Scotland continued there ransacking the Country without any opposition till the middle of November by which time King James had Levyed a great Army and was resolved on a Battle The Nobility did all they could to disswade him from it and especially shewed a great unwillingness that he should any way hazzard his own Person the loss of his Father in like manner being fresh in their memories and Scotland too sensible of the Calamities that ensued upon it The K. proving obstinate they detain him by Force being desirous rather to run the risque of his displeasure then of his life This tenderness of him in the Language of rage and indignation he Terms Cowardice and Treachery and threatned when once he should get loose to fight the Enemy with his own Family only The Lord Maxwell seeking to allay him promised with Ten Thousand men only to invade England and with far less then the English forces to divert the War The K. seems to consent hereto and being offended with the rest of the Nobility he gives the Lord Sinclair a private Commission which was not to be opened till such time as they came to give Battle wherein he made him General of the whole Army Sinclair having decryed Five Hundred English Horse Commanded by Sir Thomas Wharton and Sir William Musgrave on the adjacent Hills he breaks his Commission open and Commanded it to be publickly read