was too late and being ready to breath out his last when they found him some of his dearest Friends Ask him how he did to whom he Answered with marvellous good chear I am well and in a good condition I now Dye as almost all my Ancestors have done in the Bed of Honour some things only I Crave of you my Noble and Dear Friends which I desire to be performed as you Love and Honour me First That my Death be no Discouragement to you Secondly That you Conceal my Death during the time of the Battel both from Friends and Foes Thirdly That you suffer not my Standard to be overthrown And Lastly That you would Avenge my Death These things if you perform I have my desire and in hope thereof I bear all other things and my present Fate with a good heart With these words wherein he shewed himself a Souldier he takes leave of them and they of him and having covered his Body from the sight of the Souldiers they advance his Standard and Charge with the greater Fury crying out A Dowglass A Dowglass the English are forthwith put into great disorder the Earl Percy is taken Prisoner and in the same Charge his Valiant Son too being dangerously wounded some Nineteen hundred English are slain some Fourteen hundred are Prisoners whereof most wounded and to the Scots it was not a dry Victory The next day the Bishop of Durham coming up with some Auxiliaries the English Rally again and resolve to give Battel the Army being again made up Ten Thousand Men the Scots making vertue of necessity there being no possible safety for them to endeavour an Escape resolve to stand to it under the Command of the Earl of Murray The Bishop advancing Murray having first taken an Oath of all the Prisoners that they should remain true Prisoners though their friends should rescue them by strength of Arms is ready to receive him and commandeth the Soldiers to wind their Horns each Soldier having about his Neck an Horn larger than our ordinary Harvest Horns the Noise whereof was so great and the View of the dead Corps slain over Night so terrible that the Hearts of the raw and new raised Soldiers began to fail the Bishop is forced as his Safest course to retreat into their Quarters from whence they came without attempting any thing the Scots are no less glad being sufficiently wasted and weary to look homeward Murray dismisseth Percy the Younger upon his Parole above One Thousand Common Soldiers are set at Liberty the Earl himself and about Four Hundred of the Chief are carried Prisoners into Scotland The Joy the Scots had in this Victory which happen'd July 19. 1390. was wholly swallow'd up in the Death of the dougheir Dowglass a very noble Cavalier indeed whose Body was Interred at Melross with the greatest Evidences of Sorrow that could be Soon after Dyed in Peace the Good and Peaceable King Robert a general Peace being concluded in France England and Scotland for certain Years the Seventy Fourth Year of his Age and Nineteenth of his Reign a good Man and a good King a great Justiciary an Encourager of Vertue a Suppressor of Vice especially of Theft and Robery stedfast in his Word fortunate in his Wars tho' by reason of his Age and Natural Averseness to War he seldom or never Engaged in Person He had two Wives the one Elizabeth Daughter to Sir Adam More by whom he had three Sons John Earl of Carist Robert Earl of Say Alexander Earl of Buchan and Badgenoch the other Enfence Daughter to Hugh Earl of Ross by whom he had two Sons Walter Earl of Straherne and David Earl of Athol and one Daughter Enfence given in Marriage to James Lord Dowglass Son to William Earl of Dowglass THE LIFE OF ROBERT III. JOHN son to King Robert Succeeded his Father and began his Reign Anno 1390. who immediately changed his Name choosing to be called by the Name Robert as an Auspicious Name the former two Roberts Kings of that Nation being men eminent in Vertue and prosperous in Atchievements He came to his Crown in a time free of Wars from abroad but full of Jars at home by the unquiet and ravenous disposition of his Nephew Duncan Son to Alexander Earl of Buchan who having Abased himself to be Captain of a Rebellious Rout of Robers spoyling and plundering divers Places especially in Angus was at last not without some Blood shed Suppressed by the industry of the Earl of Craford Soon after a dangerous fend fell out between two Great and Populous Families in the North for Reducing of whom were sent Thomas Dunbar Earl of Murray and James Earl of Craford who perceiving the great mischief likely to attend their Endeavours of a forcible Reducement contrived a more subtle way to quiet them after a representation made to the Heads of those Clans a part of the danger of their mutual Fewds and of the Kings Wrath against both they Advise them to conclude their Fewds as the Horatii and Cariatii did at Rome by the Choice not of three but of three hundred on each side to Fight Armed with Swords only in the sight of the King and his Nobles whereby the Victor should gain Honour the Vanquished safety from further Punishment and both regain his Majesties Favour whereof they gave them full assurance the Proposition is embraced on both sides of St. John's Town Mounts raised and Galleries made for the accommodation of the Spectators the Combatants are chosen and on the day appointed together with a multitude of beholders all of them appear on the place only one through fear privately withdrew himself this putteth some delay to the Encounter the one party looking upon it as a dishonour to Fight with the other wanting one of their Number the other Party not finding one who would Engage himself to make up their Number desire one of the Three Hundred to be put aside but of all that Number not one could be induced to withdraw accounting it an indelible disgrace to be shuffled out of such a choice Company of Valorous men at last an ordinary Tradesman tendereth his Service desiring no greater Reward than one single piece of Gold in hand as an honourable badge of his Valour and an Annuity of a small Sum for Life should he survive the Conflict his Demands are soon granted and immediately beginneth the Conflict with as much Fury as the height of Wrath the insatiable desire of honour and the fear of shame more than death could produce to the horrour and amazement of the Spectators whose hearts trembled within them to see as indeed it was an horrid Sight to behold such a rueful Sight of Furious men butchering one another and observed it was by all that of all the Combatants none shewed more shall I call it Valour than the Tradesman did who had the good Fate to survive that dismal day and on the Conquering side too whereof only ten besides himself out-lived that hour to
Dowglas Earl of Angus Heads of a contrary Faction Oppose her great Justling between the two Factions even unto Blood had not the Wisdom of the Bishops interposed In fine It was agreed that two of each Faction should be intrusted with the Tuition of the young King and the Government of the whole Kingdom of the Queens Faction were James Groham and Robert Boid then Lord Chancellor of the other Robert Earl of Orkney and John Kennedy chief of that Clan To these were added the Bishops of Glasco and Dunkell Men of great Learning and Integrity the Queen her self only permitted to have some inspection into the King's Education without medling in the publick Administration The younger Children are wholly committed to her Tuiton which were Alexander Duke of Albany John Earl of Marre and two Daughters These things happily Established in Parliament Audience is given to the English Ambassadors their business was for Peace and accordingly a Peace for Fifteen Years is concluded Next Year after the Queen Mother dieth Alexander the King's Brother returning from France is taken Prisoner by the English The Scots complaining of it as a breach of Peace the Child is immediately set at Liberty Things now quiet abroad new Stirs arise at home by the restless and rebellious Spirit of Donald Lord of the Isles who falleth down into the lower Countries with an Army surpriseth Ennerness and Proclaimeth himself King of the Isles and advanceth into Athol with a very powerful Army The Earl of Athol not prepared to oppose so great a Power flyeth to the Sanctuary of St. Brigit never at any time Violated before by the most barbarous of Men The rich Booty of the place was of more price to that barbarous Raven than the esteem of its Sanctity he barbarously entereth into the Sanctuary taking the Earl and his Lady and divers others Prisoners putteth most of the Priests to the Sword and having Pillaged what he could sets the Sacred place on Fire and making much hast home with his Booty the wrath of God pursueth him his Ships are cast away his Men most of them drowned himself reserved to a greater Judgment runneth Mad and remaineth so in a great height to his dying-day Such of his Fellows as escaped the present Judgment are stricken with such Inward Horrour that they voluntarily performed Penance with very great expressions of Remorse going Bare-footed in Sackcloath to the place they so much Contemned satisfying to the utmost of their power for the Expiation of their Offence This Storm over a Calm continued for a Season but all is soon overclouded by the malignant Spirit of Ambition and Envy The Boids labour to get all into their hands to which end Thomas Brother to the Lord Boyd appointed to Instruct the King in Martial Discipline and Exercises endeavoureth by evil Counsel to Alienate his Majesty's affections from all those Nobles to whose Tuition he was committed and watching his opportunity the King following his Sport with a small Retinue nigh Luilithquo is forcibly snatched out of the hands of Kennedie Earl Casles by the foresaid Thomas not without some Violence offered to the Person of the old Earl And now begins the Devil of Deadly Fewd to work the Boydes bring the King to Edenburgh Kennedie and divers others repair to their several homes watching opportunity of revenge the Boyds observing the Nobility to keep from Court procure a Parliament to be called in which Robert the Chief of the Boydes upon his bended knees complaineth of the hard Construction put upon the King's remove from Linligtheuo beseeching his Majesty to declare his sense and pleasure in that business whether he or any of his had therein offended his Highness the young King what through the fear of their Power and afraid of their flattering words with which they had seasoned him declareth that What they did was good Service done deserving rather a Reward than any Punishment this Declaration was Recorded in the Books of Parliament and an instrument to this effect given the Lord Boyd under the Broad-Seal and the same day he is declared Vice-Roy until his Majesty should happily arrive at the age of One and Twenty and as an addition to all his Greatness Mary the King 's eldest Sister is given in Marriage to Thomas Son to the said Robert Lord Boyd And now such Foundations being laid they promise themselves security in this great Pomp and Prosperity But behold the vanity of the World the envy of the People the emulation of the Peers and the alienation of the King's mind suddenly overthrow all About this time the Lord Chancellor is sent to Denmark to demand Margaret Daughter to the Danish King in Marriage to James King of Scotland he safely arrived is honourably entertained and the Marriage immediately concluded Denmark's Interest in Shitland and Orkney given in lieu of her Dower The happy Issue of this Embassage being signified to the King an Ambassadour with a Train of young Noble Men and Gentlemen is appointed to be sent over into Denmark to attend the young Queen into Scotland the young Lord Boyd Earl of Aran and now Brother in Law to the King is on all hands thought the fittest Man for this Service the young Lord accepts of his Honourable Imployment and with a very stately Train sets Sail about the end of August no sooner is he gone than a Parliament is called to Assemble November 22d in which the Boydes are all accused of High-Treason Robert the Chief flyeth into England Alexander his Brother appeareth and Pleadeth for himself is adjudged Guilty Condemned and Beheaded the Treason charged on both was Violence offered to the King's Person when they forcibly pulled him out of the Arms of the old Earl of Kennedy Miclinlithquo Behold the Uncertainty of humane Judgments the same Fact declared Good Service in one Parliament is in another judged High-Treason The next Spring the Danish Fleet arriveth with the young Queen after her Reception with very great expressions of Joy the Marriage is Solemnized in a great Concourse of the Nobility The Lord Boyd hearing of the Disasters of his Family dares not Land to partake of this Solemnity but goeth a solitary Man beyond the Seas and is entertained by the Duke of Burgundy by whom he was Honoured above all others for his gallant Service in War but in Scotland another account is made of him where he is declared Traitor and his Lands confiscated and to add to his Calamity the King recalleth His Sister Married to the Earl and being encouraged by some of the Nobility with hopes of a Reconciliation between the King and her Lord by her presence to intercede over she comes in obedience to the King's Command being arrived a Divorce from her Husband is presently propounded in order whereunto publick Summons are given at his House in Kilmernock and at the chief Sea-ports in the Kingdom requiring his return within Sixty days according to the Law which he not performing not daring indeed to perform
a little corrected an Epitome might be extracted not undelightful nor unuseful for the present Age Being an Age wherein great Attempts have been made against the Succession so long uninterrupted and the Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown though never so Sacred have all been disputed by Men of so loose and disloyal Principles that could they effect their Designs upon those Supports to an Hereditary Crown would not easily be persuaded to give over attempting till they have Extirpated not only the Royal Line but Royalty and Monarchy it self Nor can the most Christian Charity think otherwise when we see many of those very Men to be great Sticklers and all of their persuasion to be great Favourers of the Design who thought they had once effectually done it before and now by the Terrors of a guilty Conscience are Stimulated to repent the Wickedness not thinking themselves easie or safe under the protection of a Family which they have so Barbarously and so Inhumanly Affronted tho' perhaps the greatest instance of Royal Clemency and Mercy that History affords And certainly that single act of Barbarity committed against the Sacred Person of our late Martyr'd Sovereign were there nothing else in their whole practice is enough to sully the fairest Fucus to confute their best Arguments for the support of their pretended Zeal and to render their very Principles Odious and Abominable to all reasonable Men in future Ages The Perusal of these few Remarks or Historical Observations full of Loyalty and Impartiality together with a Reflection not only upon the Restauration of His Majesty to the Honours and Dignities of His Three Crowns but also upon those Deliverances which bear a later Date and are fresh Instances of Mens Disloyalty of our King 's great Wisdom and God's peculiar Providence over him These things I say taken into Serious Consideration may afford Men a Convincing prospect of the Folly as well as the Impiety of all Attempts against a Throne of Divine Establishment and that attested by so many miraculous Deliverances and Preservations All that the People do is but to imagine a vain Thing That God who hath set the Crown upon his Head will enable him to break all their Bonds asunder and to cast away their Cords from him Yea he that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh them to scorn the Lord shall have them in derision THE PRAYER COntinue O gracious God to be thus Propitious to thine Anointed our Sovereign Lord King CHARLES the Second and grant that there may never want One of that Royal Family to set upon his Throne so long as the Sun and the Moon endure THE LIFE OF ROBERT II THE FIRST Of the Royal Family of Stuarts Kings of Scotland RObert the Second of that Name descended of Walter High Stewart of Scotland in the days of King Malcolme came in the Right of his Mother Sister to King David and Daughter to King Robert Bruce to Sway the Scottish Scepter and was the First of the Stuarts on whose head that unravished Câ—â—â—â— was Set about the Year 1371. and the 55th of his Age. In the beginning of his Reign a French Ambassadour sent by Charks the Fifth of France arriveth in Scotland to Congratulate his coming to the Crown and to renew the Antient League between the two Crowns of France and Scotland and to invite the Scots in persuance of an Article in the same League to raise an Army against England of purpose to force home some or most of the English Forces then making War in France the Antient League is without scruple renewed and the Scots soon prevailed withal to raise an Army against the English being provoked by denyal of Justice on the Murtherer of a Scottish Gentleman contrary to the Laws Established for preservation of Peace amongst the Borderers and being much more incensed by divers depredations especially by the inroad made by the Earl Percy the Year immediately preceeding contrary to the Articles of Peace concluded for fourteen Years between the two Kingdoms To preface the Scottish Expedition into England Alexander Ramsey with forty choice Gentlemen surpriseth Berwick Castle Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland immediately Besiegeth them with 10000 well Armed men after some few days valiant defence the Castle is stormed the Garrison wholly put to the Sword Ramsey the Captain in Chief only preserved By this time the Scottish Army advanceth and under the Conduct of James Earl Dowglass entreth England by the way of Carlile they plunder Penreth in the Fair time and return very richly laden with Spoil and with their Spoil carry home with them the Plague of Pestilence which raged all the Kingdom over for two Years together more furiously than ever in that Nation before To avenge this mischief done Fifteen Thousand English under the Conduct of General Talbot are sent into Scotland they spoil and plunder at pleasure but returning laden with Booty and Encamping nigh the Borders in a strait Valley secure and expecting no Enemy are suddenly surprised by 500 Scottish Horse who giving them a Fierce Charge put all in Confusion some kill'd divers taken Prisoners the rest provide for their Safety by flight leaving their Spoil behind them The English finding the Wars against both Kingdoms of France and Scotland a Burden too heavie resolve if possible to make Peace with Scotland to which effect John Duke of Lancaster Uncle to the English King Richard the Second is sent Ambassadour to Scotland is honourably received and entertained by King Robert James Earl Dowglas is appointed Commissioner to Treat with him a Cessation of Arms is concluded for three Years which King Robert caused inviolably to be observed notwithstanding of a great Advantage given him by a dangerous Rebellion then broke out in England by the instigation of one Ball a Priest upon occasion of a four penny Poll imposed on the People King Robert Commandeth his Commissioner Earl Dowglass to tender a Noble Entertainment to the Duke the English Ambassadour if it pleased him to reside in Scotland during the said Rebellion or if it pleased him in such a dangerous Storm to return to England to tender to him the Service of a strong Guard of 2000 men then ready to attend him Dowglass tendereth both the Duke Acknowledging with all Thankfulness the Nobleness of the Scottish King refuseth both and sets out for England the Governour of Berwick I know not why denieth him Enterance the Duke returneth to Edenburgh resideth there and is very Honourably Entertained with frequent Expressions of far greater Civilities than could be expected The Three Years Truce determined in the Year 1384. Archibald Dowglass Earl of Galloway Accompanied with James Earl Dowglass George Earl of Merse or Marches besieges Maban Castle and after Nine Days Siege in the Cold of Winter the Castle is delivered the Earl of Dunbar likewise surpriseth a great Booty nigh Piggin which he conveyed to be secured in Roxborrow then in the hands of the English King Richard having Notice of the Scottish Stirs
refreshment having eat much of his own Flesh and many of his Members miserably perished in the extremity of Hunger a great evidence indeed of God's anger against his Lustful youth but no less evidence of a cruel and barbarous heart in the merciless and inhuman Uncle This Cruelty is for a time concealed from the good King at last Time revealeth it not without some indignation of the Author The Duke is questioned but by a cowardly if not traiterous Jury pack'd by himself acquitted the poor distressed King praying to Heaven for a Vengeance upon them and all their Posterity who were guilty of that horrid Murther the Duke to gloss all the better draggeth some to Prison Flagitious men indeed but altogether innocent of this Crime condemneth and executeth them as Murtherers of the Prince palliating one wickedness with another as many other wicked men have done The good King solicitous for his onely Son now remaining resolveth for his greater safety to send him over to France to be educated in the Court of Charles the Sixth the French King and commendeth him to the safe conduct and oversight of Lord Henry Sinclare Earl of Orkney he setteth Sail from the Basse and passing by Flamborrowe-head a Storm ariseth and forceth the Ship into Harbour the Prince afflicted with Sea-sickness goeth on Shore is apprehended by the English and sent Prisoner to King Henry of England who notwithstanding of the Mournful Letters of the afflicted King his Father sent up of purpose some weeks before to prevent the obstruction of his Journey and contrary to the Advice of the most of his Council pleading for his Liberty detaineth him Prisoner This hard measure is in great measure recompenced by the liberal Education he gave him whereby he became the most Learned Prince of his time the sad news of his Imprisonment brought to his still afflicted Father for the loss of his eldest Son as he sat at Supper cut him to the Heart and oppressed with Grief he falleth down dead his Company about him in vain seeking to recover Life in him they carry him to his Chamber where his Spirits revive a little but abstaining from all manner of nourishment after three days abstinence he departeth this Life opprest with two cruel tyrants Hunger and Grief in the 16th Year of his Reign April the First 1406 A Prince of a very proper and proportionable Person a Good man and a Meek not furnished indeed with Austerity and such like qualities as might have rendered him more fit than in truth he was to Govern a People so unlike himself in Conditions THE LIFE OF JAMESI KIng Robert departed this Life his Son James Prisoner in England is Proclaimed King of Scotland and his Uncle Robert Duke of Albany continued by Act of Parliament in his Government at this time a sweet calm of Peace continued between the two Kingdoms above twelve years together a great blessing to both Nations In the mean while a black Cloud appeareth in the North of Scotland Donald Lord of the Isles pretending the recovery of his Lands in Ross which the Governor kept from him by a a trick of Law Invadeth Ross from thence marcheth into Murray from thence into Buchan and so to Aberdeen doing much Mischief all along as he went To stop this Current Alexander Earl of Marre and others of the Nobility advance against him with such Forces as could be raised on the sudden both Armies Encounter at Harlaw a fierce Battel continueth for many hours with such slaughter on both sides that at Night the darkness whereof was the first commander of Cessation each Army thought it self overcome no man appearing next day morning to claim the glory of the Victory onely the poor Village Harlaw where the Battel was is famous from it to this day This Rebellion over the Dauphine of France sendeth an Ambassadour to Scotland to demand Assistance against the English according to their ancient League then warring in France declaring with a sad Narrative that himself was disinherited and the English King Henry the 5th Married to his Sister the Lady Catharine declared Regent of France in present and Heir apparent to the Crown with whom likewise the Duke of Burgundy had joyned his whole Force this pitiful Letter soon quickened the Scottish Nobility dreading the effects of King Henry his Greatness an Army of 7000 resolute and stout men are sent immediately over into France under the Conduct of John Earl of Buchan Archibald Earl of Wigton Son to Archibald Earl Dowglas with whom were divers Persons of Quality all safely arrive and are immediately sent by the Dauphine towards Turon the Duke of Clarence Brother to the English King well high surpriseth them in their way they take the Alarm nigh Bergie and on Easter-Eve they give Battel to the English fought with great valour and various fortune on both sides at last the Duke of Clarence is dismounted his whole Army routed 2000 slain on the spot amongst whom were the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Kime the Lords Gray and Ross Many Prisoners likewise taken whereof divers Persons of Quality as the Earls of Huntington and Somerset and others The Earl of Salisbury a man of singular vertue and valour endeavoureth to repay this loss but could effect nothing save the recovery of the dead Body of the Duke of Clarence which he afterwards sent over into England After this Victory the Dauphine createth Buchan Constable of France one of the highest Preferments in that Kingdom In the same Year 1420 Robert Duke of Albany departed this Life and his Son Mordake established in his place Buchan returneth from France and is immediately recalled he arriveth at Rochett accompanied with Archibald Earl of Dowglas and Five thousand Auxiliary Foot the Dauphine much cheared up at their arrival receiveth them with ample Gratulation John Duke of Bedford is sent over from England much about the same time with 4000 Horse and 10000 Foot and soon after King Henry himself arriveth and with him James King of Scotland of purpose by his presence to withdraw the Scots from the Dauphine or at least to render them the more suspected to him but he is disappointed in both the Scots unanimously declaring that they could not render whilst a Prisoner the Obedience otherwise due to him Soon after both the French and English King depart this Life Henry the Sixth of England about Eights Months old is Proclaimed King of England and France John Duke of Bedford appointed Regent of France The Dauphine at the same time Proclaimed by his Adherents King of France by the Name of Charles the 7th The Regent advanceth against him with a powerful Army the Duke of Alenson encountereth him Charles himself is with general consent and unanimous request of all his Friends desired to withdraw and not to hazard his Person the miscarriage whereof was an apparent ruine of them all and giveth him Battel not far from Vornoil The Fight continued very fierce for some hours at
afterwards apprehended the Widdow repaireth to his Majesty reporteth and proveth this Insolent Trick Mr. Donald is called for out of Prison Horse-shooes are clap'd on himself and twelve of his Companions and commanded to march through the Streets of Edenburgh an Officer publishing the Cause of this strange Punishment their tedious Journey ended all of them are put to Death as before mentioned King James hearing that Maloc was under the Power of an Irish Lord sendeth a Messenger to Ireland to require the Lord to deliver him the Irish Lord fearing his Escape and the Anger of so War-like a Prince resolveth to make all sure by cutting off the Rebel's Head which was accordingly done and sent over to the King The publick Robberies thus Suppressed many good Laws are Established for the good and to the Joy of all the People And as an addition to the Joy two Popular Lords of the Nobility Dowglas and Cassils are enlarged from Prison and received into his Majesty's favour And for the Complement of all their Joy the Queen is safely brought to Bed of two Sons October 14th 1430. The Civil Estate thus happily regulated his Majesty thinketh of a Reformation of the Clergy but to small purpose they being then and in those days within the Verge of the Pope his Jurisdiction Secular Princes durst not exercise their Regal Power over them all this good King could do was to plant the Schools and Universities Seminaries of good Learning with Pious and Learned men to whom he gave so many Encouragements that the fruits of so good a Project were soon seen and perceived by all to the great Joy of all good Men and the immortal Praise of so good a Prince Neither did this good King rest in the encouragement of the Liberal Sciences but resolving to advance all Mechanick Trades wholly decayed by the tediousness misery of an 150 Years War sendeth over to Flanders and from thence conduceth most exquisite Artificers of all sorts to whom he gave great Rewards and large Immunities by which Princely Munificence Trades of all sorts thrive and flourish the Poor set to Work and many Enriched every man acknowledging the happiness of that People who live under the sweet and liberal Dews of a vertuous and munificent Prince Soon after arrived Ambassadors from France to demand the young Lady formerly Espoused to the Dauphine to be sent over for the Consummation of the Marriage Ambassadors likewise come at the same time from England with full purpose at once to break not only this Matrimonial but also that Antient National League between the two Kingdoms of France and Scotland to which end they propound a League Offensive and Defensive with a Tender of Berwick and Roxborrow to be Restored forthwith many other things likewise were Tendered promising very fairly to the Good of both Kingdoms if as fully performed as freely promised King James remitteth this great Business to the Advice of his Parliament The Parliament after much Debate resolve to keep unviolably their Antient League with France and according to the desire of the French Ambassador to send over the young Lady without further delay The English Ambassadors resent this Denial as a Dishonour and immediately denounce War against the Scots threatning withal by their Navy to Way-lay the Princess in her passage to France The Princess is sent over forthwith under the guard of a very stately Navy the English Navy attempting nothing her Highness safely Arriveth and her Marriage to the Dauphine with the greatest expressions of Joy solemnized at Turon About the same time Earl Percy entreth into Scotland with 4000 rather to spoil than fight Dowglass Earl of Anyus is sent against him with the like number Percy is overthrown a few slain on either side of the English 1500 taken Prisoners King James thus provoked by Way-laying the young Lady by Sea and by this Inroad by Land raiseth a great Army with purpose to Invade Northumberland in this way he layeth Siege to Roxborrow then in the hands of the English expecting in few days the Delivering of it into his hands In the mean while cometh the Queen into his Camp discovering to him a most horrid Treason intended by his own nighest Kindred against both his Person and Posterity His Majesty perceiving that her Relation proceeded not from Womanish fear but from such real Grounds as were not to be slighted raiseth his Siege and without Advice of any Disbandeth his Army to the no less Astonishment than Discontent of most about him being Strangers to the cause of this sudden and unexpected Change His Majesty posteth to St. John's Town as a Bird into a Snare of purpose to make a fuller Discovery of that horrible Plot. The Treason being ripe and ready for Execution the Traitors privately repair thither with a small hand of Conspirators The Captains of that Traiterous Band Athol and his Cousin Graham knowing the Weakness of the King's Guard enter privately into the Monastery where his Majesty lay and by Conduct of one of his Houshold Servants debauched into the Conspiracy they come to the Stairs which led to the Royal Chamber The Cup-bearer at the same time coming down perceiving them in Arms Crieth out with a loud Voice Treason him they forthwith Murder and make hast to the Door made fast by no stronger bar the Iron Bolt being stolen away by the Traiterous Servant in Conspiracy with them than the Tender wrest of a young Gentleman which quickly broke the Assassinates furiously rush in and run towards his Majesty which the Queen perceiving casteth her self upon the King endeavouring poor Lady to preserve him they drag her from him not without some dangerous Wounds and forgetting all fear of God and Man thrust their Swords above Forty times through the Heart and Body of the most Excellent Prince The cause of this horrid Assassination was that old Mother of much Mischief Ambition Athold the King 's old Uncle having already by his Hellish Subtlety brought some of his nighest Kinsmen who lay in his way to the Crown to untimely Ends resolveth at last to strike at the main Rub the King himself for accomplishing whereof he snatcheth the advantage of the Discontent of Robert Graham Tutor of Straherne to whom he propoundeth his Design craveth his Conjunction therein with assurance not only of Protection but of ample Rewards and great Preferments when he comes to his Kingdom Graham graspes at all and joyneth in the Traiterous Design with him To this Combination Athol calleth his own Grandchild Robert a Youth nimble both in Head and Hand whom he likewise debaucheth into this Treasonable Plot. The Treason thus Craftily contrived is Cunningly carried on and at last cruelly Executed as before This was a sad Day in Scotland a day of Mourning and great Lamentation for the loss of such an Incomparable Prince the Nobility filled with Grief and Indignation breath out Revenge post out Parties into every Corner of the Kingdom to apprehend the Assassinates and their Complices
of a Dangerous Traitour The Earl thus destroyed and without Issue his Cousin James succeedeth him in the Rights and Honours of the Earldom his Sister Beatrice enjoying whatsoever was not Entailed to the Heir Male James dyeth soon after his Son William Succeedeth and Marrieth his Cousin Beatrice to the great encrease of his Wealth and Power with which increased Pride and Insolence and with both Envy and Fear which the Earl perceiving resolveth to satisfie the People whom he had deeply Oppressed and to pacifie the King now come to Age whom he had highly displeased to this end he repaireth to Court submitting himself to the King whose Pardon he craved promising Amendment in all things done amiss the King receiveth him into Favour in hope of better things and indeed such was his Reformation that he was admired of all and dreaded of some especially the Vice-Roy and Chancellor knowing Guil and Fear being always inseparable Companions who suspecting and expecting the result of all his Counsels to be their Ruine they withdraw from Court laying down their Places in publick Affairs the Vice-Roy to his House in the Countrey the Chancellor to Edenburgh-Castle Earl Dowglas takes the opportunity of their Absence and by his Counsel especially both are Summoned to appear before his Majesty and great Council to give an Account of their publick Imployments both make shew of a great desire to obey but at present excuse their Non-appearance pretending Danger by reason of Earl Dowglas his Power and Enmity against them by Influence of the Earl his Counsel they are declared Traitours and their Estates confiscate Costersine a Retainer to the Earl is sent with Commission to levy their Personal Estates and to return them to the Exchequer which was accordingly done In revenge of all which the Chancellor raiseth some Forces first pillageth and then burneth Costersine his Estate and many Lands belonging to Dowglas himself This Quarrel occasioneth many Stirs in divers places in the Countrey At last Dowglas Besiegeth the Chancellor in the Castle of Edenburgh After nine Months Siege the Castle for want of Provisions is forced to surrender upon Articles of which this was the Chief A general Act of Oblivion to be past by the King in Parliament in behalf of the Chancellor and his Friends and leave to be granted to him to live in peace at his own House without Molestation of him or his This over Dowglas bendeth himself against the Levistons many of them are cited before the Parliament at Edenburgh all accused of Treason divers found Guilty Condemned and Executed Soon after Chrichton is reconciled to the King and by him made Chancellor again and sent Ambassador to France to renew the old League and to demand some Princess of the Blood in Marriage to the young King Mary Daughter to the Duke of Geldria by the Duke of Burgundy his Sister is forthwith Espoused and next Year after Arriveth in Scotland is Married to the King and Crowned Queen at Halyrude-House Anno 1449. By this time the Truce between the two Kingdoms England and Scotland determineth new Stirs begin and after some Depredations on both sides the Truce is renewed and continued for Seven Years but to very little purpose restless Men soon break the Peace the English break into Scotland spoil and plunder many places the Scots do the like in England the English raise a great Army to Invade the Scots under the Command of the Earl of Northumberland and one Magnus a Knight a Man of great Valour and Experience in War-like affairs The Scots likewise raise an Army under the Command of George Earl of Ormond Brother to the Earl Dowglas the two Armies joyn Battel between Anand and Eske in Scotland Magnus too daring a Man adventureth too far and falleth by his own rashness his Fall is the Ruine of all the whole Army runneth and is put to a satal Rout Three Thousand English killed and divers Prisoners of Quality a Rich Plunder obtained by the Scots with the Loss of 600 of their Men. This Overthrow enrageth the English a new Army is appointed to be Levied Civil Wars in England cross all An Ambassador is sent to Scotland to desire Peace Peace could not be obtained A Cessation of Arms only concluded and that with much ado for three Years Earl Dowglas next Year following desirous to see the Papal Jubilee travelleth through France with a Princely Retinue to Rome No sooner gone than whole troops of People Oppressed by him have their recourse to the King praying instantly and incessantly for Reparation of wrong done by him His Majesty is in a strait the Petitions being such as could not in Justice be refused and the Earl not being present could not in Justice be Condemned in the mean time the Earl his Proctor is called for to get in what Answer he could who refusing to appear is committed to Prison Many counsel harder things against him as guilty of high Contempt of Royal Majesty the King inclining to Moderation calleth for him out of Restraint and Commandeth him to Plead for his Lord freely and without Fear which the Proctor thus encouraged accordingly performed His Majesty having patiently heard all that possibly could be said adjudgeth reasonable Satisfaction to be made to the Oppressed The Proctor craveth respite till the return of his Lord The King adjudgeth present Satisfaction and to that end Lord William Sinclare Earl of Orkney and at that time Lord Chancellor is sent into Galloway and Dowglasdale to Commissionate Collectors to Levy my Lord's Retinue for Satisfaction of the Sums adjudged the Collectors all slighted and continued return home having done just nothing This inrageth his Majesty the chief Obstructors are sent for who refusing to appear are all denounced Rebels and Forces sent to reduce them to Order they fly to strong Holds against which the Party sent could do nothing the King marcheth in Person against them Maban Castle immediately Yieldeth Dowglas Castle reduced not without some loss to the King is laid level to the ground all the Faction at length submitteth and payeth out of Dowglas his Estate the Sums adjudged The Earl having notice of all these Troubles returneth from Rome much perplexed making a Pause in England until by his Brother he understood the King's gracious Affection towards him in the assurance whereof he Addresseth himself to his Majesty craving his Pardon for all former Miscarriages and promising all dutiful Obedience for the future is not only received into Favour but soon after declared Vice-Roy This extraordinary Grace is as soon forgot made use on to none other purpose save to advance his own Ambitious Designs whereof all Men were the more Jealous by his private withdrawing into England where he entertained a Clandestine Conference with the English King of which giving none other Reason save the Petition of some Plundred Goods the Scottish King is no less Enraged against him than Jealous of him and which the Earl understanding and knowing his Majesty's Clemency craveth
his Pardon with shew of great Humility which by the mediation of the Queen is soon obtained The King resolving notwithstanding to trust him no more in that height of Power in Government committeth the chief management of all Publick Affairs to the Earl of Orkney and to Chrichton the old Chancellor Dowglas reckoning this a Note of Disgrace rageth against the whole Court Vowing the Destruction of Chrichton which he well nigh made good by an Ambush laid for him as he pasled from Edenburgh to his House at Chrichton A Troop of Armed Men all on the sudden compass him round he forceth his Paslage and escapeth the Snare not without some dangerous Wounds his Wounds are Cured he returneth to Edenburgh Earl Dowglas fearing the King's displeasure withdraweth from the City still resolving Revenge for accomplishing whereof he entereth a League Offensive and Defensive with the Earls of Craford and Ross in the strength whereof he presumeth so much as to contemn all Opposition the King himself is Despised in his Eyes Harris and Mr. Lennan two Galloway Knights both of Antient Families are put to Death by him under pretence of Justice in despight of all the King could do or say Rumours are likewise every where cast out of his aspiring to the Crown At last his Majesty sendeth for him forthwith to repair to his Court at Sterlin the Earl refuseth pretending Danger from the Power of his Enemies then at Court Divers of the Nobles send their Letters of Assurance to him and move the King to Seal a Paper in the nature of a Pass which the Earl receiving cometh to Court confiding in the often experienced Clemency of the King his Majesty receiveth him Graciously and Inviteth him to Supper after Supper the King with some of his most Intimate Counsellors withdraw and with them the Earl into a Withdrawing-Room In the presence of those his Counsellors he Expostulateth with the Earl his strange Deportment towards him mentioning the bounty of the Crown to his Family and his own Extraordinary Grace to himself not only his Pardon more than once granted but singular Pledges of his Favour frequently Conferred and all most strangely abused Notwithstanding all which his Majesty once again tenders to him the assurance of his Favour and Grace in hope of amendment repairing nay rather requesting the Cancelling of that odious League with Craford and Ross so dangerous and dishonourable to his Majesty Dowglas answereth Dimisly enough to all save in the point of the League wherein he desires to be Excused The King presseth him with all Earnestness to persist no longer in it which the Earl peremptorily refusing the King is moved into an extraordinary Passion breaking out into these words If thou wilt not break it by God I will and then before his Counsellors were aware he thrusteth his Ponyard into his Heart This unhappy Accident casteth all into Consussion Dowglas his four Brothers then in Town raise a Dangerous Tumult and with much ado are appeased Immediately they fly into their own Countrey and break out into open Rebellion dragging the King's Pass and the Noble Mens Letter to the late Earl at their Horse Heels with words of Disgrace not fit to be mentioned They Pillage Burn and Slay all they suspected bare any Favour to the King The King calleth a Parliament at Edenburgh before which they are Summoned to appear all Contemptuously refusing are proclaimed Traitors with the Countess Dowager Wife to the late Earl and with her the Earl of Craford James the eldest Brother and now Earl to preserve the Wealth of his Family Marrieth his Brother's Wife craveth the Pope his Dispensation which being refused he allureth as many into his Faction as possibly he could far more siding with him than possibly could be expected insomuch that the whole Kingdom for two Years together became a very Stage of Murther and Rapine Famine and the Pestilence threatning Ruine to all Divers of Dowglas his Wiser Friends being touched with the Sense of these Calamities counsel him to cast himself upon the King's mercy he scorneth the Motion declaiming against them as Pusillaminous declaring rather to Dye than to Submit Earl Craford taketh another and wiser course choosing rather to Submit he casteth himself in his Majesty's way passing through Angus and like a Penitent indeed he comes Bare-footed into his Royal Presence and prostrateth himself before Him with Tears in his Eyes and the greatest expressions of Sorrow that could be made craving in a most Penitent Oration his Majesty's Pardon The King and all then and there present are touched with Compassion towards him his Pardon is forthwith granted the Earl sensible of his Grace tendereth his Service to his Majesty which being accepted he behaveth himself as a gallant Man and a good Subject to his Dying day Dowglas sendeth Hammilton to the English King to crave Assistance from him which could not be obtained unless Dowglas should declare himself a Subject to the Crown of England a Condition so unreasonable even in his Judgment though sufficiently Rebellious against his native Prince that he choosed rather to Perish than to Embrace it Hammilton therefore returning without hope of English Help persuadeth Dowglas to put all to the hazard of a Battel which accordingly was resolved on his Army marcheth and advanceth towards the King's then Besieging Abercorne Castle The two Armies in view one of another Dowglas proveth two slow his Army is thereby much discouraged which Hammilton perceiving withdraweth goeth over to the King craves his Pardon and obtaineth it Dowglas retreateth and deserted almost of all flyeth into England The Castle is taken by Storm and the Garrison put to the Sword the Ruines of that stately Castle remaining as a Monument of that Victory Dowglas soon after returneth into Anandale giveth Battel to some of the King's Forces there and receiveth the Foil his Brother Archilbald is Killed on the place his Brother George Wounded and taken Prisoner is sent to the King and Beheaded A Parliament is again called to Assemble at Edenburgh 1455 Dowglas and his Adherents are again declared Traitors and their Estates Confiscated Dowglas flyeth into the Hebrides and entereth into League with Donald Lord of the Isles They fall down into the main Countrey where they Pillage and consume all with Fire and Sword wheresoever they came laying wast divers Counties Beatrice Wife to both Earls of Dowglas and both Brethren casteth her self at the King's feet craveth his Pardon pretending that she was forced to the Marriage of her Lord's Brother by fear of present Destruction She declareth her self as willing to submit to the King's Justice as to accept of his Mercy whereof she acknowledgeth her self most unworthy she receiveth Pardon and is beyond all Mens expectation received into Favour yea and Donald Lord of the Isles sendeth his Orators to his Majesty to crave his Pardon all that could be obtained was a Command to to make Satisfaction to the People for the Mischief done by him which being
done a Promise is made to assure him of Pardon Earl Dowglas passeth over into England craveth Assistance of Henry Earl of Northumberland which was no sooner asked than obtained Forces are raised and under the Conduct of the two Earls they make an Incursion into the Meuse in Scotland wasting and pillaging all the Earl of Angus is sent to give some Check to the violent Current which was done to good purpose being soundly beaten they are forced to retreat leaving their Spoil behind them King James not satisfied with this Victory resolveth to revenge the manifold Incursions made into Scotland by an Expedition into England provoked the more by the Entertainment and Assistance given to the Earl Dowglas a Proclaimed Traitor In the mean while Agents are sent to him by some of the English Nobility the Duke of York the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick and others then in Arms against King Henry to crave some Auxiliary Forces from his Majesty in recompence whereof they promise in case of Success the Rendition of all the Scottish Towns Forts and Castles in the English Possession King James though unwilling to meddle in this Quarrel yet being glad of an Opportunity to regain his Towns and having formerly concluded a War for reparation of Wrongs done declareth to the English Commissioners that he would hasten his Expedition into England which he doubted not would be much to the advantage of the Lords in Arms and therefore expected that in case of Success the Proposition now made touching his Towns should then be performed The English Commissioners return satisfied the Scottish Army forthwith advanceth which had not marched many Miles when behold an Impostor and with him a Cozening Monk presenteth himself to the King pretending himself to be the Pope's Legate but sent indeed by King Henry of England This Jugler informeth his Majesty that his Holiness intended to settle if possible a general Peace in Christendom in order to a War against the Turk the Enemy of Christians and therefore in his Holiness his Name he requireth his Majesty to retreat assuring him that in case of Disobedience he had Command given to him to denounce the Pope's Curse against him which in those days was so Dreadful that no Man durst be so desperate as to incur the danger thereof King James therefore obeycth retreateth and Disbandeth his Army This Cheat is soon discovered the King enraged recalleth his Army and forthwith advanceth and in his way Stormeth the Town of Roxburgh then Garrison'd by the English the Castle refusing to yield is closely Besieged in the interim Messengers come from the English Lords to give notice to his Majesty of King Henry his Overthrow and return him thanks for his Royal care of their Safety intreating him to desist from the Siege lest the English being provoked thereby send down an Army contrary to their minds against him King James much moved at this last Passage demandeth of the Messengers what Instructions they had from their Lords concerning the Promise of Surrendering into his hands all his Towns Forts and Castles in the English power they acknowledge none The King bids them tell their Lords That not their Words but their Swords must raise him from the Siege The Siege continueth and is reinforced by additional Forces under Earl Hantkey and Donald Lord of the Isles who to ingratiate himself the more to his Majesty tendereth himself and his Forces as a Forlorn Hope in what Design or Service soever it shall please his Majesty to command him In the midst of all this Preparation behold the Fatal hour approacheth the King being himself very skilful in discharging of great Ordnance draweth nigh to see the Cannoneer discharge a great Cannon called the Lion newly sent to him from beyond Sea the Cannon discharged flyeth in pieces a Wedge whereof pierceth the King's body and immediately he dyeth Such of his Courtiers and Commanders as were by though astonished at this sad Spectacle yet are so present in mind as to cover his Body from the view of the Souldiers lest all should turn to Confusion The Queen who that very morning came into the Camp with a chearful Countenance wisely consealing the great grief of her heart exhorteth the Nobility to go on with Resolution notwithstanding that sad disaster and for their further encouragement produceth her young Son the Prince a Child of seven Years old they salute him King and being much animated by this couragious Deportment of the Queen the Siege goeth on more furiously than before The English within spent with much labout and continual watchings Sound a Parley obtain Articles of Surrender march out honourably with freedom to Transport into England whatsoever belonged to the Garrison the Castle Surrendered is forthwith Demolished Thus Dyed James the Second about the 11th of September 1460 in the 22th Year of his Reign and the 29th of his Age he lived in a most desperate time and Rebellious Age but disposed with such a well composed Mind that Prosperity and Adversity were equally entertained by him the Death of Earl Dowglas the only instance of his Impotency a Man of singular Courage and no less Clemency munificent to his Friend and merciful to his Foe In a sad time he fell leaving Sorrow enough behind him and a sad People for so great a loss THE LIFE OF JAMES III. JAMES the Third entereth his Reign at Kelso the 7th Year of his Age Anno 1460. The Peers having done the Homage the King repaireth to Edenburgh-Castle to remain there under the Tuition of the Queen until a Parliament could conveniently be called for setling the Affairs of the King and Kingdom In the mean while King Henry the Sixth of England after various Fortune of War is at last after the fatal Blow he received at Towton nigh Ferrybridges where died 35091 English forced to fly with the Queen and Prince into Scotland for Relief where he is Honourably received and entertained the Scottish King's Sister Margaret is given in Marriage to his Son Prince Edward Some considerable Forces are raised for his Assistance to recover his Crown having delivered Berwick to King James as part or his Antient Inheritance before the days of King Edward the First King Henry marcheth with his Army into England and is overthrown in Battel by Edward the 4th nigh Hexham escapeth to Berwick Edward returneth to London Queen Margaret procures some Forces from France all Cast away in the Holy Island by distress of Weather such as escaped the Sea are either Slain or Imprisoned King Henry now desperate of Relief resolveth to try the Affections of his Friends in England and to that end putteth himself into a Disguise and coming Southward is discovered apprehended carried to London and laid up in the Tower By this time the Scots are at leisure to meet in Parliament great Contention there was into whose hands the Government should be committed during the King's Minority the Queen claimeth it Kennedie Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and George
oppressions not to be so stupid as to endure the Usurped Power of those Men who breaking through all the Laws of God and Man Murthered the last King detaining upon the matter this present King under the bondage of their own Wills which tyranny was so much the rather not to be endured because they arrogated to themselves to be called the Restorers and Preservers of the Scottish Liberties when indeed they exercised a most cruel and unsupportable Tyranny keeping their fellow Subjects in Slavery and abusing the King's Authority to the final destruction of all those who were faithful to his Father and to inflame the affections of the People the more Alexander Forbese chief of that Family carrieth on the point of a Spear through Aberdeen and all the cheif Towns and Cities in the North the King's Shirt torn in divers pieces and all bloody by the Wounds his Majesty received inviting all Men who had any sense of Humanity or Religion to avenge that horrid Murther the Earl of Lennox bestirring himself on this side Forth to the same purpose an Army in this Popular fury rolleth together as in a moment marcheth to Sterlin where finding the Bridge Fortified resolve to Foard over some Miles above where they that night Encamped without Order or Watch or any persons designed for the exercise of Military Discipline This looseness is bewrayed to the Enemy who advanceth Surpriseth all Killeth many and Imprisoneth more some of whom were afterwards put to death Thus was this tumultuary Army as suddenly ruined as raised This Tumult over King Henry of England inraged at the disaster of his five Ships and looking upon it as a publick dishonour propoundeth great Rewards to all such as would undertake to bring to him Wood the Scotch Captain dead or alive Sir Stephen Bull undertaketh the Service and with three choice Ships of the English Navy setteth Sail casts Anchor at the May where he attends Captain Wood then returning from Holland in few days Wood appeareth the Ships draw up and give Fire Fighting bitterly all that day next day morning the Conflict is renewed they Grapple and fasten by Iron Hooks their Ships one to another fighting with that eagerness that none of them perceiving the motion of the Tide all are carried over to the Mouth of Tay where the Water being shallow and the English Ships great and in danger of the Sands the English are forced to yield the Ships are brought to Dundee 10. August 1490. Sir Stephen Bull and other the most eminent Officers and Gentlemen are brought to King James by whom they were Nobly entertained after much commendation of their Valour he grants them their Liberty desiring them to return with their Ships with a tender of his Royal Respects to their Master King Henry King Henry much pleased returneth thanks to King James declaring the great Esteem and honourable Respect he bare to him for his Royal and extraordinary Munificence By this time a Parliament is called in Edenburgh where his Majesty endeavoured by all possible means a Composure of the grand Divisions of the Kingdom some Laws are enacted for preservation of the Peace and the late unhappy Battel nigh Sterlin where the King was Slain is so hudled up that the business of that Day should never after be remembred to the Prejudice of either Parties a very strange Close considering that this Convention was composed most of such as opposed the former King The moderation and discretion of the young King not yet arrived at the Fifteenth Year of his Age was such that a Concord is made up far above all means hope or expectation every man had a dutiful regard to so hopeful a Prince Being thus setled the reflections of his Grace appear daily more evidently towards his Fathers Friends two of his own Cousins Daughters to his Aunt Mary he bestows in Marriage to two Eminent Men amongst them the one Daughter to the Lord Boyd to the Lord Forbese the other Daughter to Earl Hamilton to Mathew Earl of Lennox And to Manifest the deep sense he had of his Father's Fall he begirt himself with an Iron Chain as I have mentioned before which galled the hearts of the Rebellious Faction his pretended Friends more than it did his own Flesh though it made impressions therein deep enough insomuch that Fear more than Love restrained them from breaking out against him About this time a strange Monster was born in Scotland a Male Child which from the Navel downward differed nothing from the common form of other Men but from the Navel upward there were two distinct Truncks of the Body with Head Arms and all other Members as to two several individual Persons the Faces were one towards another what the one did was by the advice and consent of the other and if either transgress'd this Rule Strife arose between them and peradventure Blows oftentimes Scratching Nipping and Pricking one another if they received a Punch or Blow below the Navel both were sensible but if above where their Members were distinct only he was sensible whose parts were touched This Monster King James carefully educated and caused them to be instituted in the knowledg of Letters wherein they marvellously profited especially in the knowledge of diverse Tongues they were most exquisite in Musick and both admired for the sweetness of their voices they lived some twenty eight years the one died before the other some three or four Months by the smell of the defunct body the survivor was much annoyed and daily languished until the hour of his death And about the same time too a Monstrous Cheat came into Scotland and much cherished by the King too Peter Werbeck who pretending himself to be Son to King Edward the Fourth of England happily escaped from the cruel Claws of his Uncle Richard had admittance to King James his presence who behaved himself with a behaviour so beseeming his condition and in a most elocuent Oration did so pathetically deliver himself touching the distress of his Family and his own marvellous preservation that the King and most of his Council though not without the reluctancy of some of the wiser took compassion of him and resenting his condition as the common interest of all Princes with incredible in consideration promise him assistance towards the regaining of his just Rights provoked the rather as was pretended to satisfie such as opposed Peter's design by the breach of Truce made by the English Ships whilst Scotland was gasping under the confusion of a Civil War indeed the late horrid Rebellion in which James the Third perished Peter is highly honoured and exposed to the People by the Title of the Duke of York a most vertuous and beautiful Lady Katherine Daughter to Earl Huntley one of the chief Peers of that Nation is given to him in Marriage an Army is likewise levied and marcheth into England passeth quietly through Northumberland no adverse Army appearing nay nor any one Man coming in to own Peter the pretended
Prince King James admiring that no man would own him persuading himself that it was not only Love to their own rest and quiet but likewise dislike of his Claim and Title returneth home with his Army and Winter drawing on Disbandeth it This sudden change smites Peter's Soul with sorrow but such was his cunning that he pretends to be well pleased devoutly professing rather never to come to his Crown than to make his way through the blood of his People King Henry hearing of the Scots return resolveth for all that to avenge himself to which end he commandeth a powerful Army to be raised under the Conduct of the Lord Dawbeny The Spring drawing on and the Army ready to March a Rebellion breaketh out in Cornwall and diverteth all King Henry is forced to wave his Northern Expedition and to apply his Forces to Suppress the Western Insurrection The Scots hearing of an Army prepared against them forthwith roll together some considerable Forces and with an Army of some Thousands of Horse and Foot advance to the Borders of England but such was the Wisdom of Richard Fox Bishop of Durham and the Vigilance of the Earl of Surrey that the Scots soon return no great harm done the English follow soon after them take and demolish the Laird of Aton his House fome four Miles from Berwick and forthwith retreat King Henry sendeth the Spanish Ambassador Peter Hialus then lying at London to treat of a Marriage between a Daughter of Spain and Arthur Son to King Henry to Scotland to use his best endeavours to compose the Differences between the two Kingdoms King James yieldeth such a willing and ready ear to the Ambassador that he forthwith sendeth to King Henry to desire some English Commissioners to be sent down to expedite the Treaty so fairly begun the King commandeth the Bishop of Durham to joyn with the Ambassador the Commissioners on both sides meet at Jedburgh The English press the delivering of Werbeck to their King's Justice the Scots desire to be excused their Publick Faith being engaged for his Safety which in no case must be violated This blasts all hopes of Peace yet such was the Wisdom of the Commissioners that a Truce for some few Months was agreed on The Treaty dissolved King James fairly dismisseth his chargeable Guest Werbeck with a very plentiful Viaticum Werbeck Landeth in Ireland thence Wafteth himself over into England and joyneth with the Remnants of the Cornish Rebels is at last carch'd confesseth the whole Cheat and is Hanged his Wife is by all much pitied and honourably entertained by King Henry from whom she received such a liberal Pention as honourably maintained her all her Life New Stirs fall out between the Borders by reason of some Wrongs done by the English Garison at Norham King James complaineth and required satisfaction of King Henry who very fairly promised it to which end the Bishop of Durham is sent into Scotland who by his wisdom very speedily composeth all things At their Conferences which was at Melcoss King James makes known to the Bishop the earnest desire he had to have Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry given him in Marriage as a Pledge to assure a mutual Peace between the two Kingdoms and craveth the Bishop's assistance in so good a work The Bishop cherishes his desires and chearfully promiseth his assistance To which purpose he presently posteth to London and acquainteth his Majesty of England with the desires of the Scotch King King Henry is well pleased with the proposition whereof the Bishop gives speedy notice to King James The Arch-Bishop of Glascow and the Earl Bothwell are dispatched Ambassadors to demand the Lady in Marriage to their King the Marriage is concluded in a very short time the Espousals published at Paul's Cross the Earl Bothwell Espoused her in the Name of King James Next summer the Lady is sent into Scotland attended by the Earls of Surrey and Northumberland King James received her attended by the cheif of his Nobility at St. Lambert's Church in Lamermoore in Scotland and the Year following Solemnly Married her at Edenburgh for some Years following enjoying a sweet calm of Peace they lived very happily The King buildeth divers fair Edifices as his Castle at Sterlin which if he had lived to finish it in proportion to its beginning had been a most stupendious work his Pallace at Falkeland and some others and divers Ships likewise he commanded to be built such and so great as in those days no Christian King had but amidst all this prosperity and joy the Iron Chain pincheth him and his Father 's untimely Death to which he ever thought himself accessary because by his Presence he countenanced and strengthned those Cruel hands which impiously Murdered him lyeth heavy upon his Spirit In this anguish of Spirit he resolveth according to the Superstition of those Days to Travel to Jerusalem there to Mourn away some part of his time and to do such Acts of Penance as might expiate his Crimes his Navy is prepared his Attendants appointed neighbouring Princes acquainted with his design for his more safe and free passage in the mean while Wars break out between Spain and France and by the earnest entreaty of the Spaniard the English King sends over an Army to Invade the Kingdom of France many other Princes likewise combine against the French King James perceiving such extraordinary stirs and not knowing what might be the issue of them is perswaded by his Council to lay aside his Journey for a season The French King in this strait earnestly solicites him according to their Ancient League to make a diversive War against England the Scottish Clergy put him on what may be but all in vain he resolves not to stir having indeed no just nor honourable Quarrel only with much ado he was at last wrought on to grant the sending out of his Navy for the guard of the French Seas which proved the ruine of those gallant Ships before mentioned James Hamilton Earl of Aran is sent Admiral in this Naval Expedition who willingly it should seem mistaking his way arriveth at Knock-Forgus in Ireland pillageth and burneth the Town and as if he had performed a gallant and acceptable piece of Service returneth to Aire in Scotland King James advertised of this exploit and of his return is highly inraged gives Commission to Arehibald Earl of Dowglas to take Command of the Navy and Summons Hamilton to answer for the unsufferable wrong done to his Friend and Ally who having notice of the King's wrath setteth Sail and arriveth in France disposing of his Tackling and all his War-like Instruments as seemed good to himself he layeth up his Navy in Brest where it consumed to nothing The restless Borderers soon weary of Peace fall to their old trade of Depredation mutual Inroads are made and mischief enough done on both sides and at this time two Scottish Merchants Ships are unhappily taken by the English Admiral The Scottish King is
Custody of James Hammilton Earl of Aran engaging the Earl under pain of Treason for his Security Hume glad of so favourable a Keeper perswades Hammilton to withdraw with him and to take upon himself the Supreme Government as being equal in Propinquity of Blood to the King though by a Sister with the Vice-Roy himself Hammilton hearkneth to him the Earl of Lennox Hammilton his Nephew joyneth with them after a few Stirs they return next Spring to Court are pardoned and reconciled The Vice-Roy retireth to Faulkland and after some Months returneth to Edenburgh and thither inviteth Hume and his Brother who contrary to the advice of all his Friends obeyeth A Convention of his Peers is called Hume and his Brother without objection of any Crime not formerly pardoned are Condemned and Beheaded at Edenburgh their Heads likewise set up in the two most publick places of the City The Vice-Roy next Winter passeth over into France leaving his Charge in the hands of Angus Aran and Arguile the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glascow to whom he adjoyned Darsie Governour of Dunbar a Frenchman assigning to each of them his Province soon after Darsie is killed by the Humes having as they conceived a chief influence in the Death of the late Earl this Murther much troubled the rest intrusted with the publick Affairs a Messenger is dispatched to the Vice-Roy to desire his return After five Years absence and much Confusion all the Kingdom over by the Feuds especially of Dowglas and Hammilton the Vice-Roy returneth October 28th 1521 Dowglas is Banished to France an Army is raised to divert the English then Warring in France and marcheth towards the Borders of England the Nobility refuse to March out of Scotland the Vice-Roy much perplexed sendeth to the Lord Dacres Governour of the English Borders and desireth a Conference with him Dacres the publick Faith being ingaged for his Safety cometh into the Scots Camp and after some Debate a Truce for some Years is concluded The Vice-Roy goeth again to France King Henry notwithstanding of the Lord Dacres his Truce sendeth an Army into Scotland under the Conduct of Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey after some waste done in Merse and Tividale the Earl retreats for revenge whereof the Scotch Borderers make Inroads into England which provoketh the Earl to return into Scotland to set on Fire the Town of Jedburgh which done he retreats the second time without sight of an Enemy The Queen Mother now returned from England endeavours a Peace between the two Nations King Henry with a design to break off the Ancient League between the Scots and the French tendereth a fair proposition of Marriage of his Daughter Mary to James the King of Scots Some heartily embrace his Motion pleading for a solemn League and Covenant with England declaring the great Benefits which should redound from such an Union to both Nations some again strangely oppose it pretending that the League with France of the benefits whereof they have had so long experience could neither in Policy nor Honesty be Violated as for a Covenant with England though it be possible that some good may come of it Yet knowing that as Covenants ratified by solemn Oaths with hands lifted up to God are amongst good Men the strongest of all Obligations so by some others they are only made use on as Snares to entrap and Engines to catch the Credulous to their destruction which done then are Covenants laid aside as Almanacks out of date Therefore said they Let us not be so fond as to relinquish our experienced God for that which is in Hope only and may possibly ay and probably too deceive us By this time the Vice-Roy landeth in the West with Three thousand Foot and an Hundred Curasiers at Glascow divers new levied Forces Rendezvouz with them the Vice-Roy cometh himself to Edenburgh calleth a Council of the Nobility commendeth their Fidelity and Stability to the French assureth them of the reciprocal affection and constancy of the French to them and their Nation and in fine with all earnestness he inciteth them to an Expedition against England This last motion takes not well the Nobility attending him only to the English Borders protest against an Invasion the Vice-Roy is forced to abate of his vigour against England yet the French must be sent to try their valour against Wark Castle where being soundly banged they return with hast enough to the Scotch quarters King Henry vigilant enough towards his affairs raiseth an Army of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot marcheth towards Scotland the Scots retreat to Lawder a bitter Winter comes on huge storms of Snow fall all action intercepted and both Armies Disbanded Next Spring the Vice-Roy passeth again over into France the Queen the Earls of Aran Lennox Crafurd and some others take the opportunity of his absence and accompany the young King not yet come to Age to Holyrude House where a Council of the Peers being called by their advice the King takes the Government upon him the Nobility swear Fealty to him and all Officers of State receive new Commissions from him The Earl of Angus hearing of this Mutation returneth from France Lennox and Arguile neglected in the publick Administration receive him with much joy in hope of some Mutation of Affairs to the Queen now estranged from him in her affection his return is no way pleasing much less to Hammilton who then ruled all his deadly enemy the Devil of Division begins now to Reign the Queen and Hammilton abide at Edenburgh Castle as a place of greatest Safety the Discontented Faction assembleth at Glasow advanceth towards Edenburgh the Castle unprovided of all things needful for a Siege yieldeth it self they within have liberty to march whither they please the King only reserved and committed to the tuition of Angus Arguile and Lennox who were by course to attend him every man his four Months Angus Monopolizeth all Power into his own hands this produceth Envy and Emulation Arguile withdraweth refusing to meddle Lennox continueth at Court but medleth not neither both shew their dislike of Angus his Usurpation A design is forthwith set on foot by the King 's own desire to Rescue him out of the hands of the Dowglasses The Scots a powerful Family in the South attempt it to that end they appear at Melrose with some Forces a bitter Conflict falls out between them and Dowglas the King himself and Lennox Spectators of the Fight Dowglas had the Day the chief and most of the Scots killed on the place July 20. 1526. Dowglas perceiving now plainly that Lennox was his enemy by his indifferency in this Conflict thought it high time to reconcile himself to the Hammiltons the Agreement is made Hammilton shares with him in the Government Lennox repaireth to Sterlin sends to divers of the Nobility consulteth with them touching the Rescue of the King all resolve and unanimously Assistance is promised accordingly against a day appointed before the day comes Lennox thought it
Family of the Guise Widdow of the late Duke of Longoville in Marriage to King James the Marriage is agreed to the Year following she arriveth in Scotland and the Marriage solemnized at St. Andrews 1538. This Year exemplary Justice was done upon divers Persons of Quality conspiring the Death of the King some the Year following were Burnt some Banished for embracing the Protestant Doctrine Preached in Germany by Luther and others James Hammilton the Bastard accused of High-Treason is sentenced to Death his Head and Quarters affixed to publick places in Edenburgh the King soon after thought in his Dream that Hammilton cut off first his right and then his left Arm threatning withal to appear again to take his own Life the King awaking is very much troubled with thoughts of this Dream and revolving with himself what might be the meaning of it a Messenger comes to him with the sad News of the Death of both his Sons at the same time the one at Sterlin the other at St. Andrews King Henry of England sendeth the second time to invite King James to a Conference at York the Scotch Clergy still oppose it and the Conference again refused King Henry in great Indignation against his Nephew for refusal of Conference with him resolveth to talk with him in harder Terms and to that end he raiseth an Army and sendeth it into Scotland and under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk The Scottish Ambassadors in vain intreating a Cessation King James prepares a considerable Army for defence the English enter into Scotland and after some mischief done at the approach of the Scotch Army they retreat the Lord Gordon marcheth before the main body with Ten thousand Men doing much hurt and annoyance to the Rear of the English Army King James with all earnestness presseth an Engagement with the English the Nobility peremptorily oppose him in it the King enraged upbraideth them with Cowardise unworthy to be owned as Sons of their Noble Ancestors vowing that though they should all desert him himself and his own Family alone should give the Enemy Battel The Lord Maxwell to pacify the King tendereth his Service to lead into Cumberland Ten thousand Men thereby to divert the Enemy The King accepteth his Service but being enraged against the whole Nobility he resolves that none of them should have the Honour of any thing done in that Expedition and for the cause giveth a Dormant Commission to Oliver Sinclare Brother to the Lord Roslin Having entred Cumberland and now in view of Five hundred English Horse Sinclare produceth his Commission it is read at the head of the Army Maxwell is thereby inraged the whole Army falleth in Mutiny and in such a confusion that they become a Prey to the Five hundred English Horse divers of the Nobility and the new General Sinclare are sent Prisoners to the Tower of London this dishonourable Disaster which hapned at Solway strikes the Valorous King with such grief and sorrow that he never after joyed but soon after departed this Life having first made Peace with King Henry at whose request he recalled Archibald Earl of Angus Thus dyed King James the Fifth a Prince of singular Endowments most patient of Cold Hunger and Travel sometimes setting on Horseback Twenty Four hours when the necessity of his affairs required it a great Justitiary and a person of singular Foresight and Wisdom THE LIFE OF QUEEN MARY QUeen Mary was the only Child James the Fifth her Father left to Inherit the Crown born to him not above eight days before his death James Hammilton Earl of Aran is therefore chosen Vice-Roy to whom King Henry of England sent his Ambassador Sir Radolph Sadler to procure Peace between the two Kingdoms and to demand Mary in Marriage to his Son by the influence of the late Prisoners in England especially the Exiled Dowglasses whom King Henry had wrought much to his Service by his Royal Favours whose Counsels were now very prevalent in the management of publick affairs both were assented the Contract of Marriage Signed and Pledges promised for better performance of all Conditions agreed upon notwithstanding of the Opposition of the Queen and Cardinal who fearing the Subversion of Popery still established in that Kingdom by this agreement endeavour what they can to cross all Tumults are stirred against the English Ambassador and daily Affronts put upon his Attendants in the Streets the Ambassador complaineth and demandeth the Pledges promised for confirmation of the Agreement lately made exemplary Justice is executed upon the chief movers in the Tumults in answer to this Complaint but the Cardinal by the influence of his power had so obstructed the matter of his demand that not one of the Nobility would yield up himself voluntarily a Pledge to the English and to such a business none could be compelled King Henry hereby provoked seiseth all the Scottish Ships in the English Havens and Harbours and proclaimeth War against the Scots in the mean while the Queen Mother sendeth to France to entreat the French King to send home Matthew Earl of Lennox to strengthen her against the English Faction otherwise Religion and the French League were like to come to nothing Lennox is sent home and forthwith levieth Four Thousand men and with this strong guard cometh to the Queen the Vice-Roy inferior in Power sends Commissions to treat for Peace by agreement the young Queen is committed to the Education of Four Indifferent Noble Men ingaged in neither Faction viz. the Lords Graham Areskin Lindsay and Leviston and accordingly they take charge of her at Sterlin where all the Nobility do Homage to her The Vice-Roy joyneth himself wholly to the Cardinal which Conjunction so inrageth Lennox that immediately he flyeth to Arms raiseth an Army marcheth to Leith and provoketh the Cardinal to Fight the Cardinal keeps himself close in Edenburgh Castle Lennox through want of Provisions is forced to withdraw and to put himself in a posture of Defence in and about Glascow King Henry hearing of these Stirs sends into Scotland to demand the custody of the young Queen until she came to years fit for Marriage The French Faction now prevailing his Demands are refused An Army is therefore forthwith sent into Scotland under the Conduct of the Earl of Hereford and a great Navy of Two hundred Sail under the Command of Viscount Lisle as Admiral The English enter the City of Edenburgh without resistance first they Pillage and then they Fire it and divers other Towns and Villages about it the like fate befel the Town of Leith and forthwith they return to England laden with Spoil The Queen Mother writeth to the French King and layeth all these mischiefs at Lennox his door as the only enemy of their Peace and Union by reason of his private Feud against the Vice-Roy for the death of his Father At her Request Lennox is recalled to France but finding the French King provoked against him he still keeps to his posture of Defence
The Vice-Roy marcheth against him and after some small bickerings Lennox retireth into England and is honourably entertained by King Henry to whom he tenders his Service in opposition to the French Faction then prevailing in Scotland of which his Majesty so well accepted that he gave to him in Marriage his Neice the Lady Margaret Dowglas Daughter to Margaret his own Sister and Wife to James the Fourth by her second Husband the Earl of Angus Lennox and his Friends most of them have their Estates confiscate The English re-enter Scotland Fire Jeeburgh and Kelso waste most of the Countrey thereabout and leaving a Garrison at Coldingham they return home with their Booty The Vice-Roy in the depth of Winter layeth Siege to Coldingham and all on the sudden retireth to Dunbar leaving his Army in which he durst not confide at the Siege by this unexpected desertion the Army falls into Confusion by the wisdom and valour of the Earl of Angus the Cannon and all other things belonging to the Army are safely brought off and carried to Dunbar Next Spring Thomas Duke of Norfolk is sent down with an Army to joyn with that on the Borders with a design to reduce all on this side forth to the Obedience of the English The Vice-Roy by the incouragement of Angus marcheth toward the Borders and at Ancram obtaineth a Victory over the English which Disaster much inraging the English King the Vice-Roy sends to France to crave assistance Three thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse are granted and sent under the Command of Sir James Montgomery by whose assistance the Vice-Roy marcheth in a Plundering Expedition within the English Borders and soon after Disbandeth his Army next Winter Montgommery returneth to France And now some Stirs begin by such as endeavoured some Mutations and Reformation of Religion George Wisheart having fallen away from Popery and embracing the Reformation begun in Germany is apprehended and at a Council of Bishops and some others held at St. Andrews is Condemned as guilty of Heresie The Cardinal sendeth to the Vice-Roy to desire the Law to be executed against him who wisheth the Cardinal not to be too hasty but to forbear a little which distasted the Cardinal not a little at whose command forthwith Execution is done upon him at Saint Andrews the Cardinal beholding the Tragedy from his Windows not without some Pomp which Wisheart perceiving said to the Governour of the Castle standing by him He who now insulteth over me shall in few days be tumbled over the same Window with more disgrace than now he setteth with state At the uttering of which words he is strangled to death and his Body burnt to ashes This fact of the Cardinal and the manner of his proceeding without the Authority of the Vice-Roy gave distast to many at last his Death is contrived and perpetrated by Norman Lisle Son to the Earl of Rothuse whose discontent arose from the refusal of a private grant which the Cardinal conceived not fit to be yielded to him Lisle calls some sixteen Consorts together to whom he discovered his intent craving their concurrence all was agreed unto the time and manner is appointed for execution over Night they come privately to St. Andrews and lodge severally in divers Inns to render themselves the less suspected next Day morning by break of day two of the Conspirators come to the Castle and being known Men the Porter openeth to them they enter and the rest follow streight the Porter is laid fast and all the Cardinal's Servants secured threatning them with Death if once they whispered which done they repair to the Cardinal his Chamber they knock the Cardinal admiring what this should mean that Strangers and none of his Servants should at such a season come to his Chamber-door refuseth to open Norman Lisle well known to him and a man much favoured by him protested they minded him no hurt at all but that they had a matter of great Importance to Communicate to him the dispatch of which required that their unseasonable coming to his Chamber the Cardinal trusting their Protestations openeth his Door they enter fall forthwith upon him and barbarously Murther him By this time News are carried into the City of the Surprisal of the Castle The Cardinal his Friends and Retainers immediately Arm beset the Castle threatning the death of all within if the Cardinal were not preserved alive the Murtherers told them it was too late and therewith cast his dead Body barbarously cut over the same Window from whence he beheld the Tragedy of the late mentioned Martyr George Wisheart which added not a little to the high Opinion the People had of Wisheart remembring the last words he spake concerning the Cardinal This Impious Murther highly provok'd the Court the Vice-Roy Summoneth the Murtherers to appear before him they refuse and are declared Traitors but they having seised the Cardinal his Treasure and having in their power the Vice-Roy his Son who then remained with the Cardinal and confiding in the strength of the Castle stand upon their guard The Vice-Roy layeth Siege to the Castle and after some four Months Siege in vain he withdraws his Force and returneth to Edenburgh to be present at Parliament then ready to Assemble and now behold the Judgment of God upon those Barbarous Murtherers they being formerly Men in all outward deportment not only Civil but Religious and reputed Men of tender Consciences give themselves now over to all manner of wickedness Murthers profane Swearing drinking to Excess and Whoring were things of course with them their wickedness came to this height The Vice-Roy too slow in avenging so much Wickedness layeth again Siege to the Castle assisted with some French Forces after much Battery they are content to deliver themselves to the French Admiral Monsieur Strozius upon Quarter for Life they are set on the French Shoar and disperse themselves all of them living ever after in great Misery are in their several turns pursued by the wrath of God to violent and untimely Ends. About this time the Duke of Sommerset now after the Death of King Henry the Lord Protector of England Invadeth Scotland with a powerful Army the Vice-Roy all on the sudden rolleth together Thirty thousand Horse and Foot to whom the English Protector sendeth a very fair Letter requiring their young Queen may be assured in Marriage to the young King of England according to former Agreement and for their better Security he demands the said Princess may be Educated not in any Foreign Country but at home until she come to such years as might inable her to make her own Choice Further desiring that in the interim there might be Peace between the two Nations and no treaty of Marriage admitted with any other Prince All which being granted the Protector promiseth not only to withdraw his Army but likewise to make reasonable satisfaction for all the hurt he had done to all which Proposals the Scottish Vice-Roy returns no Answer
The two Armies appearing in view one of another the Earl of Huntley sendeth an Herald to the Protector offering Combat either single or Ten to Ten or Twenty to Twenty for the determination of the Quarrel and for avoiding the effusion of Christian Blood the Protector inraged by the slight of his last Letter slighteth the Challenge both Armies Engage in Pinkey Field nigh Musselbraugh in a bitter Conflict the Victory at first on-set inclineth to the Scots many English slain their Horse put to Rout the Scots pursue and having spent their Shot return to the main of their Army in some Confusion the Main observing in what Disorder that strong Party returned supposed the English to be on their Rear all on the sudden possessed with a Panick fear they cast down their Arms and run the English Rally and pursue with no small Execution divers both of the Gentry and Clergy are killed many Prisoners of all sorts one of the Scottish Lords a Prisoner being demanded how he liked the Marriage of the Scotch Queen to the English King I always liked the Marriage saith he but upon my Faith I fancy not the Wooing by Fire and Sword After this Victory which happened to the English April 10. 1547 Louthian is most burnt and wasted by them the Islands of Inchkeeth and Inchcolme and the Castle of Brochty Fast Castle Hume Castle Lauder and Roxbrough all Garrisoned by the English the rest of the Army returneth into England The Scottish Nobility Assemble at Sterlin to consult what to do in such an Exigent as then the Affairs of that Nation stood in the young Queen is safely conveyed into France Ambassadors are likewise dispatch'd thither to crave Assistance according to their League Six thousand Men are granted and arrive at Leith under the Command of Monsieur Dessins by whose assistance the Vice-Roy layeth Siege to Hadington which proving too tedious a business Dessins marcheth into Tividale and from thence maketh divers Incursions into England Dessins is called home and Monsieur Termins is sent over to Command the French They again prepare to lay Siege to Hadington which the English understanding their Stores being spent they Fire the Town and withdraw some other of their Garrisons are likewise deserted and some surprised by the Scots and all on the sudden the English are wholly voided out of Scotland and in May following the French return into France Next Year 1552 The Queen Mother Saileth into France whither likewise the Vice-Roy sent the Lord Carnegi Ambassador to render thanks for their Seasonable Assistance He is honourably received and entertained The French King earnestly desires that the Vice-Roy would deliver up his Government into the hands of the Queen Mother The Ambassador ingageth himself to imploy all his interest that his Majesty's desire may be satisfied and forthwith returneth accompanied with the Bishop of Ross then Legier in France Both move the Vice-Roy to satisfie the desire of the French King the Vice-Roy with much ado yields his assent he being first discharged in Parliament of all Accompts which ought to be made by him as Vice-Roy which accordingly was done and no other thing required of him save that he should promise upon Oath to deliver whatever he had in present possession belonging to the late King The Queen Mother returneth into Scotland accompanied with one Monsieur de Oysell appointed to assist her in Council and in a Parliament held at Edenburgh the Vice-Roy delivereth up the Regalia into the hands of Monsieur d' Oysell who received them in the Name of the Queen and delivered them to her by consent of Parliament by the Title of Queen Regent Anno 1555. These things exceedingly please the French King The Vice-Roy is created Duke of Chastellhe-Roy and Twelve thousand Livres given him in a Yearly Pension and he declared in the Scotch Parliament Heir to the Crown should the young Queen dye without Issue The Queen Regent gives the first Essay of her Government against the stubborn Red-Shankes amongst whom were many Notorious Robbers all reduced into Obedience by the Queen Regent with little noise and admired success After this Highland Expedition a design was set on foot by the French Council about the Queen Regent to conduce a certain number of Mercinary Souldiers as a standing Army for the Defence of the Kingdom for maintenance whereof a certain Monthly Rate was to be setled on all the Real and Personal Estates proportionably through the whole Kingdom This design is deeply Resented by the whole Nobility and Gentry Two are sent the Lords Calder and Weems to declare their dislike of this design and to represent to the Queen Regent that this design as it was without Precedent in that Kingdom so it could not be endured being not only Dishonourable to the whole Nobility whose Ancestors from whose worth they were not yet degenerated have been a sufficient Guard against the strongest Invasions and most desperate Insurrections that ever were but likewise most Dangerous to the whole Nation in regard that the boundless Lusts of such men so impowred were like enough to break out into such Exorbitances as might confound all and into such Insolences as their very Masters and Maintainers might sooner mourn for than mend and that it could not in reason be supposed that Men of mean or no fortunes should be more tender of the welfare of the Kingdom than such who by their Estates and Fortunes were interessed in the Common good and that it could not be expected that such Fellows who had nothing to lose could be so faithful and valiant in defence of other Mens Estates as they whose large Fortunes and Families do engage them to assert the Liberty and Welfare of the Nation and that it could not be apprehended that such Mercinary Men would be so tame as willingly to lay down their Arms when at once they must therewith relinquish their living at ease in the Cream of other Mens Estates and return to their former painful and Mechanick Occupations This Remonstrance was so lively represented to her Majesty that she utterly disclaimed and cried out upon the Design declaring the deep sense she had of all those Mischiefs which were so discreetly and timely represented to her Soon after the young Queen Mary growing on towards years fit for Marriage being of singular Beauty and adorned with such rare and admirable Parts both for Vertue and Wisdom the French King Henry the Second at whose Court whither she was conveyed soon after the Battel at Muslebrugh she had such Royal Education as well became her Birth very earnestly desired to Marry her to his Eldest Son the Dauphine of France to which purpose he writeth to the Queen Regent desiring that the Scotch Nobility might declare their Assent to this so much desired Marriage and forthwith to send over certain Commissioners to be present at the Nuptials A Parliament is called at Edenburgh the French King's Letters are read three of the Nobility the Earls ' of
Arch-Bishop scarce escaping to Faulkland where the Queen Regents Army lay but the Queen understanding their approach sendeth from Faulkland where her self lay and requireth Hammilton Duke of Casteaulroy the Commander in chief to send Commission to Treat Three of the most Popular Nobility are sent yet could not prevail for any terms of Peace all that would be granted was the agreement to a Truce for eight Days Provided that the Queens Army remove into Louthian Whilst another Treaty may be had at St. Andrews which accordingly her Army did and immediately Hammilton and James Stuart advance to St. Johnston lay Siege to the Town which in few days yielded to them They proceed to Scone which they consume with Fire and from thence to Sterlin where all the Religious houses are pillaged and laid level to the ground then advancing to Lithquo the like is done there then entring Edenburgh they find business enough there to stay them for some days to demolish Religious houses to purge the Churches from Images and beautiful Sculptures and to establish Zealous Preachers of the Reformation in them The Queen having retreated to Dunbar returned towards Edenburgh when the Armies were ready to engage by the Negotiation of the Duke of Casteaulroy and the Earl of Morton a Cessation of Arms was at last agreed on from July the 24th to January the 10th next following In the mean time there was an universal toleration of Religion and no Man compelled to the use of any Rites or Ceremonies therein there was no Garrison to be placed at Edenburgh the Priests were peaceably to enjoy the Tithes of the Church for that Year no more Religious Houses were to be demolished or alienated the Pallace-Royal at Holyrude House with all there belonging to the Crown were to be restored to the Regent This Truce was firmly enough observed on both sides But about this time Henry the Second of France being forewarn'd of the Danger of that Day was strangely killed in a Tilt by the Earl of Montgomerry the now French King and the Queen of Scots advertised of the design of James Stuart Prior of St. Andrews to aspire to the Crown writ Letters to him adjuring him not only by common Duty but likewise by the special Favours received to return to his Obedience by deserting the Faction in which he had engaged himself whereunto James Stuart returned his Protestations of all due respects to the King and Queen but withal peremptorily declaring to adhere to those of the Congregation in despite of all Opposition This Answer is highly resented and a Garison of French is forthwith sent into Leith the Earl of Aran Son to Hammilton privately withdraweth from the French Court and comes into Scotland where he joyns with those of the Congregation with whom he likewise persuades his Father the Duke forthwith to joyn and they immediately attempt the Besiege of Leith which the French reinforce with Two Thousand Men sent over under Monsieur de la Broche with whom came the Bishop of Ameans and three Doctors of Sorbon to dispute if Occasion offered the Points of Religion then in controversie De la Broche in capacity of an Ambassador designed a Conference with the Lords of the Congregation which they refused requiring the return of the French into France and the dismantling of Leith otherwise no Treaty could be admitted The Queen Regent sendeth Forman the King at Arms to them adjuring them to return to their former Obedience to their King and Queen and to the known Laws of the Land assuring them that if they will promise to Disband their Army then at Edenburgh her Forces at Leith who had never been sent over but that their repeated Insurrections necessitated their Majesties to do it should soon be returned notwithstanding the great Contempt offered to the French Ambassadors to whom they would not so much as vouchsafe a Conference Protesting withal that nothing should be wanting in her to condescend to any thing not inconsistent with Piety towards God and Loyalty towards their Majesties In fine She requires the Duke his Son and all others of the Nobility and Gentry forthwith to withdraw from all such as were resolved still to disturb the Peace under the pain of High Treason The Lords receiving this Message are enraged and in answered thereunto return her a Suspension from her Government and in the King and Queens Name require her to forbear all exercise of Power under the pretence of any Title of Regent assuring her that against all Hazards they resolved to regain the Town of Leith out of the hands of the French and therefore out of the respect they had to her as their Queens Mother they requested her to withdraw out of the Town during the time of the Siege the like request they sent to the French Ambassadors and all their Souldiers out of the respect they bare to the French the day following they send their Commands requiring all Scotch Men then in Leith to forsake the Town then the Besiege or rather Blocking up of the Town began some Skirmishes there were in which the Besiegers had still the worst of it and in all Attempts were repulsed with loss and what added to their Calamity they begin to be jealous one of another the common Souldiers began to Mutiny for want of Pay whereupon they intended to mint their Plate but wanted Tools to do it in their streights they address to the English to whom John Cockhurne is dispatched to Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts Governors of Barwick and the places adjacent to supply their present necessity with relief some Money is granted but Cockburne in his return is surprised by the Earl of Bothwell and sent Prisoner to the Queen The Besieged frequently make their Sallies out of the Town to the great prejudice of the Besiegers in so much that at last they are forced to retire to Sterlin where a Council was called to consider what was to be done in this Exigency John Knox Preached before the Council and persuading to a further action and a constant prosecution of the work begun be assures them of Success The result of the Meeting was to send a Message to Queen Elizabeth and crave her Assistance William Mettelane is dispatched and finds Friendly entertainment in the English Court He solicites her Majesty's aid in the common cause of Religion and Liberty Many of the Queen's Council dislike the Proposal and declare That help in this cause of Subjects against Sovereign Authority would be a President of most pernicious and dangerous consequence others of her Council think and speak more favourably of it At length the Queen's Zeal for Religion and Enmity against the French prevail with her and hopes of Assistance is given at Barwick Commissioners meet to sign Articles of Agreement which was That in case any Foreigner should Invade either Kingdoms mutual assistance is promised the Queen to pay the English Auxiliaries in Scotland and the Scottish Auxiliaries in England and
Subscribed the King and Queen promising the Restipulation of their Protection which was accordingly done Murray only refuses to Subscribe the Bond and gets leave to go into France having first set some on work again to Embroyl the State and to Blow up the Coals of Rebellion the chief of them were the Earls of Arguile Morton Marre Athol Glencarne and the Lords Lindsey and Boyd but Arguile Repents him of the Confederacy returns to his Obedience and discovers the whole Design to the Queen The others adjoyning to themselves the Lord Hume and others of the South on the sudden they raise an Army of Two Thousand Horse and closely Besieged the Castle of Borthwick wherein the King and Queen lay who next day happily Escaped the Queen putting her self under the disguise of mans habit came to Dunbar where they Secured themselves in the Castle and thither resorted divers of the Loyal Nobility Gentry and Commonalty for the Safety of the Queen who resolves to Advance with her Forces towards Leith to disturb her Enemies then ranting at Edenburgh They hearing of the Queens measures forthwith March and nigh Musselburgh came in sight of the Queens Forces The Armies lying in View of each other and ready to joyn in Battel the French Ambassadour interposeth himself and endeavours a Pacification assuring the Lords of the Queens Gracious Inclinations to them and that she was ready to Pardon and Pass an Act of Oblivion for all that was past They Insolently Replyed That they came not to Crave her Favour Nor said Glencarn to Ask Pardon but rather to give it The French Ambassador seeing no hopes of an Accommodation retires to Edenburgh the Queens Army begins to Divide and grow Mutinous the Queen sends a Messenger to the Conspirators desiring them to send William Kircady the Laird of Grange to whom she purposed to make some Overtures of Peace and in the mean while no Acts of Hostility were to be offer'd Kircady is sent and the Cessation Agreed to Bothwell returns to Dunbar and the Queen offers to come into the Adverse Army assurance being given her That her Army should March off and Return without Molestation to their several Homes or respective Habitations They Accord to this and the deserted Queen very debasingly Attir'd comes into the Rebels Quarter where she was entertained with such Scorn and Contempt with such Vile and Opprobrious Language from the Soldiers as is neither Tolerable not Fit to be mentioned One Banner they had Contrived with the Picture of the Dead King and the Infant King James by him with this Inscription Judge and Revenge my Cause O Lord This they carried upon Two Spears before her wherever she went until at last her Spirits over-burdened with Grief sank under it and she dyed away and being revived and refreshed they renewed their Insolencies towards her and in Triumph carried her into Edenburgh all bespattered with Gore and Reproach and her Face so bedaubed with Dust and her own Tears which she had plentifully shed that she was indeed a most rueful and deplorable Spectacle to behold and all who had any sparks of Loyalty or Sense of Duty in them are much Afflicted at the Sight that Night she was sent to Craigmillars Lodgings who was then Provost of the Town the next day she is Conveyed by Ruthen and Lindsey to Lochlevix Castle a Place Encompassed with waters on every side for nigh well a Mile Bothwell during the time of the Queens Discourse with Kircady makes his Escape first into Orkney and from thence into Scotland The Conspirators send to the Imprisoned Queen and require her to Resign the Crown in Favour of her Son and to name Guardians for him during his Minority the distressed Queen is forced to yield to all that they had Confidence to Demand She was through Fear and Flattery induced to a Resignation of the Crown under her Hand subscribing the Writ with Tears flowing from her Eyes the Tuition of her Young Son is Committed to James Earl of Murray John Duke of Castle-Roy to the Earls of Lennox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarn and Marre James Earl of Murray is by this time returned from his Retirement in France and by these Lords he is Chosen Vice-Roy and the Young King now Two Years of Age is Crowned at Sterlin Murray is Confirmed in his Government as Vice-Roy in a Parliament Assembled August 25. and the first Essay of his Power is against Bothwell who now lay lurking with some few Ships about Orkney Kircady is sent against him who upon Intelligence fled into Denmark and there miserably ended his Days but with his last Breath Cleared the Queen of all Consent Privity or Knowledge of the King's Death as did also Hephorn Paris Daglish and other Servants of Bothwell that were put to Death by Murray for the Murder who upon the Gallows charged it upon Murray and Morton as the Conspirators with Bothwell Some Ambassadors arrive in Scotland from England and France and desire Admittance to the Queen but are peremptorily denyed it by the Vice-Roy the hard Usage of the Queen and the Insolence of that Ill Woman the Mother of the Vice-Roy was such that many even of her Enemies who knew the Truth of it were bowed into a Compassion towards her and began to contrive some Expedient for her Liberty which the Queen her self not long after by her own Wisdom and Prudence brought to pass Guarded and Watched she was by the Vice-Roy's nearest Allies and trustiest Servants his Mother and Three Brothers which were of another Father had the Charge of her in a Place impregnable and out of which an Escape had been impossible considering the breadth of the Lake that encompassed it had not God turned the hearts of some of her Enemies towards her such was her Deportment in that grievous Restraint and her Meek and Chearful entertainment of all Affronts put upon her by the Vice-Roy's Mother That one of the Sons Half-Brother to the Vice-Roy endued with some Principles of Ingenuity and in whom were some Remains of Loyalty out of a sense of Duty towards the Queen begs her Pardon for all past and her Favour for the future promising his Service in order to her Freedom A Boat is forthwith prepared and with a few that were made privy to the Honest Design the Queen escapeth April 5. 1568. the Guard in vain endeavour to pursue after her all other Boats about the Castle being by the Contrivers of the Escape made unserviceable the Queen safely Arrives on the Shore where Lord Seaton with some few Horse were ready to receive her the first Night she is Lodged privately at Nudrie in West-Lothian and from thence the next day she goes to Hamilton where a considerable Number of the Nobility and Gentry meets her in Arms and a great many of her Enemies Revolt from the Vice-Roy and return to their Obedience The Vice-Roy forth with Advanceth with an Army against her and in a Battel at Landside near Glascow the Queens Forces are
overthrown her self for Safety is forced to fly into England to shelter her self under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth her nearest Cousin The Regent or Vice-Roy after his Victory packeth a Parliament wherein divers of the Queens Friends and Adherents are declared Traytors and their Estates Confiscate Himself Marcheth into divers Places of the Kingdom spoils and lays wast and demollisheth the Houses and Castles of such as continued in their Loyalty Queen Elizabeth hearing of the Scotch Queens Refuge into England Commanded her by a Condoling Letter to stay at the Lord Scroops House until she had further Order from her and in the interim writeth to the Vice-Roy of the danger of the Example in which all the Kings and Crowns of the World were concern'd and desiring some Commissioners might be sent to her to give her a full Account of all their Proceedings against their Queen The Vice-Roy having the French King his Enemy already durst not run the hazard of Offending the Queen of England too whereas now his Friend in whose displeasure he might plainly read his own Destruction he resolveth to gratifie the Queen of England and to send Commissioners to shew her the best Prospect of the Story but the Nobility ashamed of the thing refuse to be sent upon so Unworthy and Dishonourable a Message or to be Employed in a matter so detestable he resolves himself to undertake it which accordingly he did Accompanied with one or two of the Rebellious Nobility and George Buchanan a devoted Slave to the Vice-Roy whose heart did as much thirst after the Blood of the Queen as ever his Venomous Pen had Surfeited it self in the pollution of her Sacred Name which so wounded his gangered Conscience when it was too late That he Craved of God no longer time to Live than he might be able to Cure those Sores and Salve those Wounds which himself had made in the Fame and Reputation of that Good and Vertuous Queen The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Ralph Sadler Commissioners for the Queen of England give them a Meeting at York whither likewise repaired some Agents for the Exiled Queen who gave their Audience Protesting that they did not appear there before the English Commissioners as competent Judges to determine or give Sentence in the Affairs of their Soveraign Lady but rather as in the presence of Friends and Neighbours to convince them of the unparalle'ld Wrongs and Injuries done to the Person and Honour of their Queen through whose sides they had wounded all the Kings and Supream Magistrates in the World and to Crave the Assistance of the English Queen her nighest Kinswoman in the World either to persuade her Rebellious Subjects to receive her again as their Sovereign and restore her to all the Rights and Priviledges of her Crown or that failing to grant her so considerable Forces as might be able to reduce them to Order and Obedience which would be a Concession no less Honourable to the Queen of England than Profitable to the Queen of Scotland As a Counterpoize to this Protestation the English Commissioners do also Protest That they allowed not of that Protestation to the Prejudice of the Superiority that the Kings of England had always Claimed over the Kings of Scotland which now belonged to the Queen their Mistress in the Right of the Crown of England Then they proceeded to the Business the Commissioners for the Exiled Queen first laid open all the Grievances and Wrongs that were thrown upon her and under which she now laboured in a Languishing Exile The Commissioners for the Young King in whose Name the Commission ran recriminate and highly Charge the Queen no ways Accountable to them supposing or hoping the English Commissioners to have Power to pass Sentence against their Queen in case they could by any means make them believe her Guilty of those things they Charge her withal But being frustrate in these Hopes and hearing every Article of the Charge distinctly and fully Answered by their Queens Commissioners the Vice-Roy contends That nothing was done which in the like Cases had not been done by their Predecessors and their late proceedings being Confirmed by Act of Parliament they were now past recall and could not be Abrogated by any private person whatsoever whereby he imagined that he had prevented all Arguments that might be offered for a Peaceable Reception of the Queen to her Rights which were now alienated by Act of Parliament But the English Commissioners not satisfied with these things they urge That the true Causes of such rigorous Proceedings with their Queen might be produced the knowledge whereof was the end of their present Meeting The Vice-Roy having nothing else to offer desired that first the Queen of England would Engage for the Tuition of their Young King Letters are sent to Acquaint the Queen with this motion Her Majesty desires two Commissioners of the Vice-Roy's Faction to be sent to her to London to inform her more clearly in the whole matter Two Commissioners are accordingly sent Metellane and Mackgill but the Queen upon second Thoughts judgeth it necessary that the Regent himself be there who repairs to London where after much Debate before the Queen and the Council at last the Commissioners are dismissed and no more Determined at London than at York The Vice-Roy returns home and not long after the Lord Boyd brings Letters from both Queens to the Scots Parliament wherein the Queen of England makes a Threefold Overture in behalf of Queen Mary First That she might be restored to her former Government or this not Granted That in the second place she might be admitted to Reign in Title only in Conjunction with her Son and the Exercise of the Regal Power to rest still in the Vice-Roy until the Young King came to Seventeen Years of Age and if they would not do that in the third place She might have free Liberty to return safely into her own Countrey if it should seem good to her and to Live a Retir'd and Private Life having an Honourable Maintenance allowed her The former Two were peremptorily Denied and the Last had never been yielded to but that they were well assured that the Queen would never Accept of it The Queen of Scotland's Proposals were likewise Read desiring them to Appoint certain Judges to take her Marriage with Bothwell into Cognisance That if it did appear Unlawful that it might be accordingly adjudged and annulled The Letter is Debated but no Answer returned only this Concluded That the Queen of England be first Advertised with a Suggestion that this Motion tended only to make way for her Marriage to the Duke of Norfolk wherein her Majesty of England was indeed much concerned A Messenger is dispatched with the Parliaments Resolves concerning both Letters at his Arrival the Queen of England was Offended that they should send so mean and inconsiderable a Person to Treat with Her of so great and important Affairs as the Rights of Princes he