affairs to be brought to a good end and finished by the opportunity occasions than force and power with an able Company of Mariners and Souldiers setteth his Daughter to Sea The English Fleet had waited upon her but Providence so appointed she escaped them and they encountred a fleet of Spaniards keeping their course towards the Netherlands Them they beset with fourscore Vessels commanding the Ladies and all of their Company to be delivered unto them when they would not accept of friendly answers they fall to handy blows till in end by loss of men and some Ships they understood their errour The Lady Margaret thus without danger by the Western Seas arrived at Rochel having for their Convoy a whole Colony of Gentle-women the Histories say an hundred and forty went with her all of noble parentage of which train were her five Sisters from Rochel she held her progress to Tours there with an extraordinary Pomp and Magnificence the Twenty fourth of June Anno 1436. was she married to the Daulphin Lewis The King to defray the charges raised by transporting and marriage of his Daughter the French seeking with her small or no Dowry these times preferring Parentage and Beauty before Gold or Riches all that was craved being a supply of Men of Arms for their support against the English laid a Subsidie on his Subjects the one half of which being levied and the People grudging and repining at the exacting of the other half it being taken from men who lived hardly in a barren soyl He caused render a part of it again and discharged the remainder At this time by Sea and Land the English in revenge of the refusal of the offers of their Ambassadours began to use all Hostility against the Scots Henry Piercy of Northumberland invadeth the Country with four thousand men whether of his own bravery abhorring ease and idlenes or that he had a Commission so to do is uncertain with him came Sir Henry Cliddesdale Sir John Ogle Richard Piercy and many men of choice and worth the frontier Garrisons invade all places near unto them To resist these incursions William Dowglass Earl of Anguss getteth charge a man resembling his Ancestors in all vertues either of War or Peace and the most eminent of his time with him went Adam Hepburn of Hailes Alexander Elphinstoun of Elphinstoun in Lothian and Alexander Ramsey of Dalhowsie of all being Four thousand strong These covetous of glory besides the ancient quarrel of the two Nations having the particular emulations of the Names and Valour of their Ancestors to be spurs unto them make speedy journeys to have a proof of their vertue and courage The Lists of their meeting was Popperden a place not far from Bramstoun Rhodam Roseden Eglingham all cheared with the stream of a small Brook named Crammish which arising out of the Cheviot loseth its name in the Till as the Till after many windings disgorgeth it self in the Tweed Adam Hepburn and Alexander Elphinstoun led the Van-guard of the Scots Sir Richard Piercy Sir John Ogle of the English Alexander Ramsey and Henry Cliddisdail kept the Rears the two Generals rode about the Armies remembring them of their ancient valour the wrongs received the justness of the Quarrel the glory of the Victory the shame of the overthrow No sooner were they come within distance of joyning when the sound of the Drums and Trumpets was out-noised by the shouts of the Assailants who furiously ren-countred The Guns being about this time found out were here first practised between the Scots and the English in an open field When the Fight with equal order had been long maintained on both sides now the Scots then the English yielding ground many of the Commanders at length began to fall most of the English Then was the Piercy constrained to be at once Commander and Souldier but ere he could be heard some Companies had turned their backs among the thickest throngs of which breaking in he found so great disorder that neither by Authority Intreaty or Force he was able to stay their flying Thus distracted between the two courses of honour and shame he is hurried far from the place of Fight And Victory declared her self altogether for the Scots which was not so great in the execution as in the death and captivity of some brave men Of the Scots Two hundred Gentlemen and common Souldiers were slain amongst which was Alexander Elphinstoun maintaining the Battel with his sword voice and wounds and two other Knights Of the English died Sir Henry Cliddisdail Sir John Ogle Sir Richard Piercy with fifteen hundred Gentlemen and common Souldiers of which fourty were Knights four hundred were taken Prisoners The King irritated by the way-laying of his Daughter the Invading of his Borders and encouraged not a little by this little smile of Fortune at Popperden it being more sure to prevent than repel dangers and with the same Policies to defend by which the Enemies offend resolveth by open Wars to Invade England He was also stirred unto this by his intelligence from his friends in France who had brought greater matters to pass then in so short a time could have been expected for concealed envy and old malice bursting out between Richard Duke of York and Edmund Duke of Sommerset Philip Duke of Burgundy being entred in friendship with King Charles the English began to be daily losers and were put out of Paris and many Towns of France To this effect King James having raised an Army cometh to Roxburgh a place fatal to his and there besiegeth the Castle of Marchmond which is Roxburgh it was valiantly defended by Sir Ralph Gray but when he was come so near the end of his labours that they within the Castle were driven to terms of Agreement and conditions for giving up the Fort the Queen in great haste cometh to the Camp representing to her Husband a Conspiracy the greatness of the peril of which if it were not speedily prevented should endanger his Estate Person and Race Whether she had any inckling of the Conspiracy indeed or contrived this to divert his Forces from the Assault and further harm of the English her Friends and Countreymen it is uncertain The King who found his imagination wounded upon this point after many doubtful resolutions and conflicts in his thoughts raiseth the Siege disbandeth the Army and accompanied with some chosen Bands of his most assured Friends returned back to provide for his own safety A strange resolution to disband an Army for a tale of Treason where could there be greater safety for a King than in an Army Yet have Conspiracies been often in Camps and in his own time Richard Earl of Cambridge brother to Edward Duke of York Henry Lord Scroope with Sir Thomas Gray at the instigation of the Daulphin of France for a great sum of money conspired to Murder Henry the Fifth King of England in the midst of his Armies if they had not been surprised The King feared all because he
with his Queen his Son and the remainder of his dispersed friends secured himself by flight into Scotland James Kennedy Bishop of Saint Andrews to whose person the Authority of the State was then reduced received him with Magnificence and Honour and put him in hopes by the Assistance of Scotland to restore his fortune King Henry as well to reserve some Refuge and Sanctuary for himself as to win the heart and insinuate himself in the favour of the People of Scotland caused render the Town of Berwick to them which the English had violently possessed since the days of Edward the First For which favour the Scottish Nobility vowed at all times to come to his supply and defend him to their uttermost and that the friendship begun might continue without all vacillation the Queens of Scotland and England both descended of the French Race began to treat of an Alliance promising Edward Prince of Wales should be married with the Lady Margaret the King of Scotlands Sister none of them then having attained the years of Marriage The miseries of King Henry encreasing suffered not these two Queens to stay long together Margaret with her Son Edward to implore the aid of her Friends maketh a Voyage towards France to her Father Rhene King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem Duke of Anjou a Prince large of Titles short of Power These who had followed King Henry into Scotland whilest he is left only intentive to devotion in the Cloyster of the Gray-Fryers at Edenburgh return back again to solicite their Friends in England for a second rencounter Upon the arrival of Queen Margaret in France she obtaineth of her cousin Lewis the Eleventh that those who favoured and assisted the Duke of York were prohibited Traffique and commanded to remove out of the French Dominions and that Five hundred Soldiers should come to her aid a number so small and so unworthy the name of an Army that it was but a competent retinue for so great a Princess with these she came to the coast of Scotland and from thence sailed to Tinmouth where being impulsed by the Inhabitants and forced again to put to Sea she was by a furious Tempest driven to Berwick Here leaving the Prince her Son Edward with the encrease and supply of some Scots taking the King her Husband with her she advanced into the Bishoprick of Durham in her march through Northumberland her Army encreased to a great number The Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Piercy and divers of King Henrys well-wishers having resorted unto her King Edward finding King Henry by the fresh air of the North to have acquired new Spirits prepareth to oppose him and having sent down the Lord Mountague Brother to the Earl of Warwick he himself with greater Forces shortly followed Mountague having through the Shires where he went and the Bishoprick of Durham gathered a convenient Army marched directly against King Henry In the mean time Henry Beaufort Duke of Somerset the Lords Hungerford Ross Moulines Sir Ralph Piercy present themselves to hinder his further progress They are overthrown and King Henry with great difficulty escapeth to Berwick At the news of this overthrow King Edward being in his March towards Durham finding the presence of his Person or Army needless turned towards York and gave the Earl of Warwick command to take in all the Castles and Fortresses which as yet held good for King Henry in the North. Amongst the Garrisons placed in Northumberland by the Queen there was a Garrison of the French in the Castle of Anwick under the Command of Peter Bruce otherwise named le Seigneur de la Varoune Seneschal of Normandy which held long good against the English This Peter Bruce was in great account with Charles the Seventh Father to Lewis the Eleventh and for this was not much liked of Lewis but sent over with Queen Margaret to make wrack upon apparent dangers having escaped Tempests at Sea he took the Castles of Bambrough and Dunstanbrough which he demolished After he essayed to keep the Castle of Anwick but the Earl of Warwick King Edward lying near to Durham there beleagured him Whether this man came from the Race of the Bruces of Scotland or no is uncertain for the vulgar Writers in this detract him naming him Bryce and a Breton or that the Scots would give a proof of their friendship to the Queen of England and of their valour to the French whilst he is every where beset and near past hope of relief the Earl of Anguss then Warden of the Marshes raised a Power of twenty three thousand horse-men remarkable for their Valour These about the midst of the day coming near the Castle of Anwick and by their colours and arms being known a far to Captain Bruce he taketh a resolution to sally out and meet them the strongest of the Scottish Horsemen receiving them convoy them safely to their Borders some of the Besiegers would have fought in the pursuit but the English General gave him fair passage King Edward having taken all the Castles and Forts which in the North held out against him placing Garrisons in them returned to London as King Henry void both of counsel and courage came back to Edenburgh Here he had not long stayed when tired with the tediousness of his exile the prolonging of a wretched life being more grievous to him than death it self and allured by false hopes of his Friends he resolveth to hazard upon a return to his own Kingdom his Crown lost all his Favorers and well-wishers almost slaughtered he cometh into England then disguised and by night journies shifting from place to place at last betrayed by some of his Servants he is found out It is recorded a Son of Sir Edward Talbots apprehended him as he sate at Dinner at Wadding Town-hall and like a Common Malefactor with his Legs under the horse belly guarded him up towards London By the way the Earl of Warwick met him who led him Prisoner to the Tower Margaret his desolate Queen with her Son is driven once again to flie to their Father Rhene into France King Edward his Competitors all dead or suppressed finding a Cessation of Arms expedient and a breathing time from War to settle and make sure his new Government as to other his neighbour Princes for Peace sendeth Embassadors to Scotland to treat for a Truce for some years The Earl of Argile Bishop of Glasgow Abbot of Holy-rood-house Sir Alexander Boyd Sir William Cranstoun being chosen to this effect Commissioners come to York and the English Commissioners there attending them a Truce for fifteen years is agreed upon and solemnly by both Kings after confirmed Mary Queen of Scotland daughter to Arnold Duke of Gilders and mother to King James the projected Marriage of her Daughter with Edward Prince of Wales by the miseries of King Henry and Queen Margaret her kinswoman proving desperate her Son Alexander either as he went to the Low-Countries to see his Grand-father or returned from him
all solemnity of greatness returned towards London being welcomed by the King with many demonstrations of great joy He to show how much he approved the conditions of this Peace went solemnly in procession from St. Stephens Chappel now the Parliament House accompanied with the Queen his Sister and a mighty retinue of the greatest Lords into Westminster Hall Where in presence of the Earl of Anguss the Lord Gray and Sir James Liddale Embassadors extraordinary from Scotland the Peace was Ratified At the return of the Scots Embassadors to their Country King Edward sent an Herauld with them who in his Masters name gave over the Marriage contracted between the Lady Cicilia and the Prince of Rothsay and required the money which had been delivered upon hopes of consummation to his King The Citizens of Edenburgh had given their Bond for the redelivery and a day being granted to them for the Payment they at the appointed day entirely delivered the sum Some thought King Edward recalled this Marriage of a suspicion he conceived that the Ambition of the Duke of Albany and the hatred of the Subjects against their King amidst the manifold distractions of the Realm might hazard the Succession of the Prince of Rothsay to the Crown But King Edward having gained what he had endeavoured most to acquire a division amongst the Nobles of Scotland and by this a Security from their assisting the French rejected the Match Besides the Duke of Gloucester who after his coming in Scotland was laying the Foundations of the Usurping the Crown of England his Brother once dead thought the Alliance of his Brothers Daughter with a King of Scotland too strong a Support to that Race which he was to declare Bastard and a Rock upon which he was confident he should make a fearful shipwrack Neither his Brothers daughter being married to a King of such martial and turbulent Subjects as the people of Scotland durst he ever attempt the taking away of her Brothers and King Edward in neglect of this Match committed a greater error of State than he did in his marrying the Lady Elizabeth Gray and forsaking the Lady Bona Daughter to the Duke of Savoy According to the Records of some Authors whilst the King is kept nine Months in the Castle of Edenburgh the Duke of Albany the Lord Evandale Chancellour the Earl of Arguile the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews the Earl of Athol his Uncle who for the preservation of his person and honour of his Office accepted the charge to attend him in that Fortress govern'd the State The King say the honest Records had all honour which appertained to a Prince save that he could not come abroad and none was permitted to speak unto him except in the audience of some one of his Lords Keepers and that his Chamber doors were shut before the setting of the Sun and long after the rising opened Proclamations were Publisht in his Name and Authority and other publick Writings Such who only heard of him could not but take him to be a free and absolute Prince when near he was but a King in phantasie and his Throne but a Picture the Regal Authority being turned into a Cloak to cover the Passions of those who did govern The Duke of Albany daily importuned by the solicitations Prayers and tears of the Queen a calm and temperate Lady for her Husbands Liberty finding himself not so respected by the other Governours as his Birth and merits did deserve being a man who delighted in nothing more than in changes and novations of Court and State after so many scorns and rebukes offered to his Brother and King commiserating his long sufferance and believing that good turns would make past offences be forgotten and recent benefits were sufficient to blot away old injuries with all remembrance of former discontents whilst the other Governours at Sterling securely passed the time posted in the Night to Edenburgh Here a meeting being appointed of some of his Friends and Vassals who knew nothing of his intentions by the assistance of the Citizens of Edenburgh men entirely loving their King and devoted to him all the time of the Insurrection of his Nobles who gave the first assault yet was it rather their intelligence than Force the Castle is surprized the King and all his Servants set at liberty This unexpected and noble Act of the Duke of Albany having so fortunate a success brought a mighty change on the Court and State The King is now again reinstall'd and hath this Residence in his own Palace to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen have frequent concourse rejoycing to see such evident tokens of love pass between the two Brothers if their affection could have continued The Provost and Baylies of Edenburgh in recompence of their Service were made Sheriffs within all the bounds of their own Territories and rewarded with other Priviledges contained in that Patent which they call their Golden Charter One thousand four hundred eighty two The Lords of the contrary Faction who remained at Sterlin by this new accident betook themselves to new thoughts and considerations every man full of fears and repinings flying to his own dwelling place and conceiving a great hatred against the Duke of Albany They said he was inconstant rash mad in setting at liberty the man who would prove his Executioner and one who would never forget any profer'd injury that if he perished before them it was but his own just deserving and procurement The Duke contemning those reproaches and answering their calumnies and evil words with patience and good deeds by the mediation of the Earl of Anguss studied a reconciliation between the King and his discontented Lords And his endeavours had such good success that in a short time after this Atonement some of them turned so familiar and inward with the King that like the Ivy they began to sap the wall by which they had been supported They made the wound of the Kings old jealousies ranckle again and added poyson to former discontents remembring him of the unnaturalness of his Brothers first Rebellion and assuring him that his ancient Ambition had yet more power of him than his new fears of honesty and respect That howsoever he shewed outwardly the arguments of a reconciled Brother he loved yet to govern and aimed at the Crown That he had wrought his liberty to bring a greater confusion in the State than he had ever done before The King who ever had a watchful eye over his reconciled enemies and who desired to be freed and fairly quited of them all gave way to their calumnies And they after long deliberation resolve upon a Plot to bring the Duke within compass of Law and summoned him to answer upon Treason And this was the rendring of the Town of Berwick to the English which they undertook to prove was only by his Intelligence procuration and being in company with the Duke of Gloucester in that expedition Though the Duke had an absolute and general Pardon and an
At that same time John Lord Drummond Stuart of Strathern a Nobleman couragious and adventurous is directed to wait upon the Earl of Lennox stopt his ravaging and wasting the Country and kept him back from joyning with his Confederates of the North and infesting the more civil parts being the greatest ablest and nearest Man of that Faction The Earl had raised many High-land and West-land Men Recorded to be Two thousand but when he could not pass the River of Forth at the Bridg of Sterlin the Lords having invested the Town he assayeth to pass among the Fens and Marshes at a Ford not far from the head of the River where other his Confederates had appointed to meet him Whilst he is encamped at Tilly-moss far from all appearance or suspicion of danger the Lord Drummond by the advertisement of Alexander Mackealp who had taken Arms with the Earl only to find out his ways in the Night invadeth his Camp the Sentinels and these of the foremost Guard seized upon or killed or driven back they in the nearest Cabines amazed with the sudden mischief rise to Arm themselves and think of Fight but finding the danger to be on all sides and thorough the whole Camp neither seeing before them nor hearing any directions given them for the great noise of the Invaders it being impossible to put themselves in array confusedly each overthrowing other take themselves to hopeless and disordered flight Sleep here to some is continued in death many disburthened themselves of their Arms seek Sanctuary amongst the winding paths of these Marshes Others are taken but by their acquaintance and friends suffered after to escape Revenge is only followed against such who in malice had enterprized any thing against the present Government and persevered in their attempts This defeat of the Earl of Lennox by the Lord Drummond is seconded with the rumour of a Sea Victory obtained by Sir Andrew Wood against Stephen Bull a man excelling in Maritime Affairs who had come upon the Scottish Seas to revenge the quarrel of his Masters Ships not long before taken and spoiled by Sir Andrew They had met near the Island of the May at the mouth of the River of Forth and arraging themselves for Fight had been two days by the Waves and Winds carryed along the Coast of Fife driven at last amongst the Mounts of Sand where the Tay loseth his name in the Sea the English Ships taller and of a greater burthen than the Scottish by ignorance or negligence of their Mariners embarqued and stuck moor'd upon the Shelves and being forc'd by necessity to render were brought as Prizes to Dundee The rumour of these Victories spread abroad so amaz'd the Companies raised in the North by the Lord Forbess and other his Confederates that they changing their opinions with the event of Actions gave over further prosecution or desire of War and every Man retired to his own home After which by indifferent friends having sought a reconciliation it being more expedient to take them in by Policy than by Force they were easily received in favour amongst which was the Earl of Lennox and the Lord Forbess The Governours to ingratiate themselves more with the People by calming the present Troubles and uniting the divided members of the Common-wealth that every man might have a publick assurance for the freedom of his Person and private estate and fortunes call a Parliament and it is held at Edenburgh in February having the Law in their own hands that the Insurrection might be thought just here was it adjudged that those who were slain in the field of Sterlin had fallen by their own deservings and justly suffered the punishment of their rashness that the Victors were innocently guiltless of the blood there shed and fairly acquitted of any pursuit The three Estates testifying the same by their subscriptions and Signets It was Ordained That they who came against the present King in aid of his Father should take Remissions or Pardons and so many of them as were in Hereditary Offices as Wardens Justices Sheriffs Stewards Bailyes Lieutenants or in other publick Charges should be suspended from them for the space of three years that such who had offices for term of life or for terms should be dispossessed and denuded of them altogether All which though done under a colour of Punishment was only to invest Places and to turn some of themselves rich by their spoils The punishment of mean Men challenged of these garboyls is either made little or passed over All Donations howsoever made by Patent from the King or by Parliaments in prejudice of the Crown beginning from the month of September before till the day of his decease are repelled and annihilated All honours bestowed on such the late King sought to oblige unto him were recalled The Earl of Crawford was divested of his title of being Duke of Montross as the Lord of Balmayn was of his of being Earl of Bothwell Embassadours are directed to the Emperour Pope Kings of France and Denmark and other Princes to renew the Leagues ancient Confederacies and Allyances as in times past had been the custom of the Kings of Scotland to their neighbour Princes but especially to take away the blame of their Kings slaughter from the Governours and manifest to all the World the candor of their Minds and justice of their proceedings For that some few English Ships had shut up the narrow Seas of Scotland and interrupted the Commerce of Merchants pillaging the Coasts Order was established for building of many Ships and that every Seaport should be stored with them as well to maintain traffick abroad with Strangers as for Fishing and to be Walls to the Country at home In a matter so important and near concerning the Weal and standing of the State the Barons were ordained to share and bear a part with the Merchants and Burroughs And in so fair a project to encourage his people the King himself was content first to begin and to build Ships for his own and the Publick Service of the Kingdom This being one of the greatest miseries of the late King that he suffered himself to be misgovern'd by as they term'd them worthless men some Prelates and Noblemen eminent in Learning and Vertue are selected who should still be resident with the King and of his Council without the advice consent and decree of six of which if any matters of importance were proceeded on and concluded they should be void and null Governours are appointed to bring up his Brothers Now is every thing ordered to the best Justice is executed on oppressours and Robbers and in the remotest parts of the Kingdom the King himself in person seeth it administred He is of so contrary a temper to the humour of his Predecessours that he granted freely to every man what could be demanded in reason To give a testimony to the world of the Agonie of his Mind for the death of his Father and what remorse and anguish he suffered
the Pope the Kings of Spain or France after some revolutions of years seeking to trouble the state and peace of this Isle should entertain and maintain one of the Heirs of the Earls of Strathern as Queen Elizabeth did Don Antonio the Prior of Crato who claimed the Crown of Portugal to reclaim whose Kingdom She sent the Earl of Essex _____ and Drake or should marry one of them to their neerest Kinswomen and send him armed with power to claim his Title to the Crown of Scotland as King James the fourth of Scotland practised upon Perkin Warbeck naming himself Richard Duke of York to whom he gave in marriage Lady Katharine Gordoun Daughter to the Earl of Huntley and thereafter with all his forces to estable his said Ally in his Title invaded England It would be considered whether they had a fair bridge to come over to this Isle It would likewise be considered if the Earl of Strathern though a mean Subject these two hundred years having been debarred from all title to the Crown and now by the indulgency and exceeding favour of the Prince being restored to his descent in blood and served Heir to his great Progenitors and indirectly as by appendices to the Crown if either out of displeasure or for want of means to maintain their estates he or his should sell and dispose their Rights and Titles of the Kingdom of Scotland to some mighty and Foreign Prince such as is perhaps this day the King of Sweden who wanteth nothing but a title to invade a Kingdom not knowing whither to discharge his victorious forces It would be considered if that title disposed to that Prince were sufficient to make him King of Scotland Or if establishing his right upon fair conditions such as is liberty of conscience absolution and freedom from all taxes and subsidies the transferring of Ward lands into fewd the people of Scotland might give him their Oath of Allegiance or if he might redact the King of Scotland to give him satisfaction and compound for his right of the Crown of Scotland It would to these be considered If times should turn away the minds of Subjects from their Prince by superstition sedition and absolute Rebellion as what may not befall an inconstant ever wavering Nation to an Aristocratie Oligarchy Democratie or absolute Anarchy If the Rebellious subjects and abused Populace might not make advantage of such Men who draw their titles from Evanders mother to trouble the present times That nothing could be more dangerous to the Nobleman himself than this service may be understood by the like examples Clouis King of France having understood that a Nobleman of Artois named Canacare blown up by Powder had vaunted that he was come and lineally descended from Clodion le Chevelu and by that same Succession was heir of the Crown of France closed not his ears to it saies the History but caused extirpate that Sower of impostures and all his Race Henry the fourth King of England after the deposure of King Richard the second kept Edmond Mortimer Earl of March who had a just title to the Crown under such Keepers that he could never do nor attempt any thing till he dyed But Henry the seventh King of England took away Edward Plantaginet Duke of Warwick Heir to George Duke of Clarence by reason of his jealousie of Succession to his Uncle Edward the fourth Margaret Plantaginet his sole Daughter married to Sir Richard Pole knight by Henry the eight restored to the Earldom of Salisbury was attained threescore and two years after her Father had suffered and was in the Tower of London beheaded in whose person dyed the surname of Plantaginet Ann Plantaginet Daughter to Edward the fourth being marryed to Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey and Duke of Norfolk was the ground and chief cause wherefore King Henry the eight cut off the head of Henry Earl of Surrey though the pretended cause whereon he was arraigned was the bearing certain arms of the house of York which only belonged to the King Mary Queen of England cut off the head of Lady Jane Gray and the Lord Guilford her Husband for their title to the Crown and that same reason was the overthrow and finall destruction of Mary Queen of Scotland by Queen Elizabeth The Duke of Guise by a Genealogy deduced from Charles the Great in the reign of Henry the third the French King was thought to aspire to the Crown of France and suffered at last for this and his other presumptions It is notoriously known that these two hundred years the Race of Euphane Ross in her children David Earl of Strathern and Walter Earl of Athol and all their Succession by all the Kings of Scotland sithence have been ever suppressed and kept under and for reason of State should still be kept low and under unless a Prince would for greater reason of State advance them to give them a more horrible blow and by suborning mercenary men make them aim above their reach to their last extirpation Dum nesciunt distinguere inter summa precipitia Princeps quem persequitur honorâ—… extollit in alium An intended Speech at the West Gate of Edenburgh to King JAMES SIR IF Nature could suffer Rocks to move and abandon their natural places this Town founded on the strength of Rocks now by the chearing Rays of your Majesties presence taking not only motion but life had with her Castle Temples and Houses moved towards you and besought you to acknowledge her yours and her indwellers your most humble and affectionate Subjects And to believe how many souls are within her Circuits so many lives are devoted to your sacred Person and Crown And here Sir She offers by me to the Altar of your glory whole Hecatombs of most happy desires praying all things may prove prosperous unto you that every Virtue and Heroick Grace which make a Prince eminent may with a long and blessed Government attend you Your Kingdoms flourishing abroad with Bays at home with Olives presenting you Sir who art the strong Key of this little World of Great-Britain with those keys which cast up the Gates of her affection and design you power to open all the springs of the hearts of those her most Loyal Citizens Yet this almost not necessary For as the Rose at the fair appearing of the morning Sun displayeth and spreadeth her purples So at the very noise of your happy return to this your native Countrey their hearts if they could have shined through their breasts were with joy and fair hopes made spatious Nor did they ever in all parts feel a more comfortable heat than the glory of your presence at this time darteth upon them The old forget their age and look fresh and young at the appearance of so gracious a Prince the young bear a part in your Welcom desiring many years of life that they may serve you long all have more Joys than Tongues For as the words of other Nations far go beyond
sort they set Tribute others they compel to Minister to them sustenance and necessaries The God Prince Law which they obey are their barbarous Chieftains amongst which he is thought the best who doth most transcend in Villany The King seemed to give small faith to these relations entertaining kindly and feasting from all parts all such who daigned to see him mostly those who were the Chiefs and Principals of the Families in these bounds by whose means all whom innocency did guard came freely to Court and many guilty by fair promises and hopes of the Kings clemency presented themselves Others though most refractory and unwilling at first that they might not seem out of the fashion of their Companions and appear suspect resorted thither Thinking these Offices might be interpreted to proceed of good will and obedience which were done of emulation Fourty of these Leaders and Chiefs meeting at once and being together within the inclosure of the Castle Walls were surprized and committed to close Prisons Some days after two whose wickedness was throughly known Alexander Mack-Rore or Mackrarey and John Mackcarture were hanged James Cambel for the murther of John of the Isles renownd amongst his own was beheaded The rest upon hope of further Tryal were committed to Prisons of which for example and terror to others many were executed the remains in peaceful manner sent home the King having graciously exhorted them to a life according to the Law of God and Man Alexander of the Isles Earl of Ross being taken in this trap was brought by the King to Perth where he was accused of oppression and many barbarous cruelties were proved against him yet such was the Kings clemency he was only some few days committed and after lovely advice at the Council-Table rather to obey his Prince than render himself Chieftain of Thievish Troops he was freely dismist but benefits oblige not ignoble Minds and mercy shown to a fierce and obstinate nature disgraceth the beauty of the clemency of a Prince for no sooner was he returned to his own Territories where interpreting imprisonment a dishonour and shame to a Man of his Power and Qualities and telling that a promise made by one imprisoned by the Judgment of Lawyers themselves was nothing worth he gathered together a Rabble of Outlaws and Mountainers came towards the Town of Innerness which peaceably he entered and was courteously received having before dispersed his men among the Fens and Hills toward the West they so soon as Night had brought the inhabitants to rest spoiled them and set their houses on fire And because the Castle was the place in which he had been surprized he besieged it with a thousand lewd fellows practised in daily depredations and Robberies At the noise of this cruelty the Gentlemen of the Neighbouring Shires from all quarters assemble themselves for the defence of their Friends the King listeth speedy preparations at the approach of which the Clans Whattons and Camerons with other Thieving Troups dispersed themselves and fled into their lurking holes Alexander abandoned of their Forces with so many as he could keep together fled into Lochquhabar from thence passed to the Isles deliberating to go to Ireland but things answered not his expectation for by his Spy finding that he was way-laid and that numbers of people a prize being set upon his head in all places laboured to surprize him when he had long continued desolate and a vagabond at last he began to intercede with his Friends at Court for Mercy to him from the King Sundry tempt the Kings Clemency but he will not promise nor assure them of any favour before Alexander in person as Supplyant render himself and his estate to his disposure Thus finding no escape and destitute of all help he was emboldned to come privately to Edinbrough there on Easter day wrapped in a mourning Garment and concealed in the dragg of the multitude the King being in the Church of the Holy-rood at divine Service he fell prostrate at his knees beseeching him for grace which at the request of the Queen and other Assisters he obtained His life and private estate was granted him but that he should do no more harm and be reduced to a more modest behaviour William Dowglass earl of Anguss was appointed to take him in custody and that within the Castle of Tantallon his Mother Euphem Daughter to Walter Lesly sometime Earl of Ross a Mannish implacable woman who had solicited and raised her Son to all that mischief was committed to the Isle of S. Colm Donald Balloch Cousin-germain to Alexander Lord of the Isles a man of a haughty mind resenting the Kings proceedings against his Cousin raised a great number of Out-laws and Robbers and invaded Lochquhabar omitting no cruelty which enraged Savages use to commit Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre and Alane Earl of Caithness with such numbers of People as they could in hast raise came to defend the Country against the incursions of these Highland men and rencountred them at Innerlochty where by an over-weening opinion of Victory which easily deceiveth young Souldiers imagining they went to fight with untrained raw Theeves who would never abide their march and misregard of martial Discipline Allan was slain and Alexander Earl of Marre discomfited and Balloch insolent of his Victory with a great Booty returned to the Isles The King at the Rumour of this disaster in all celerity with a great Army came to Dunstaffage intending from that to pass to the Isles which when the Clans and other chief men understood turning their defence into submission they came in hast to Dunstaffage and humbly begg'd pardon laying the fault of the whole Rebellion on Balloch and some adventuring Thieves many of which Balloch had pressed to that mischief against their minds the King finding extream rigour at that time a cure unreasonable taking their oath of fidelity and that they should persue Balloch and his followers accepted them in his favor only transporting some of the most factious along with him They in few days to seem worthy of the Kings mercy surprized a great number of them three hundred of which died all on Gibbets and punishment had taken away a much greater number had he not considered that there is no man so miserable who is not a member of the State The King lest hope of impunity might cherish Rebellion resolves to find Balloch and hearing he lurked in Ireland in the bounds of one named Odo he sends to have him delivered Odo either out of fear of the Kings displeasure or hope of rewards seizeth on him and suspecting if he sent him alive he might by power or stratagem slight his Convoy chopping off his head and sent it to King James then remaining at Sterling The Clans Whattons and Camerons spairing the Magistrates sword yet executing Justice by mutual slaughters one of another had rendred the North very peaceable of that scum of Thieves some Chieftains were shut up in fast Prisons among which two
Chancellor standing by his Princes favour and a long practice of the affairs and course of the World The Earl fearing the Authority of the King might sway the Ballance and make the party unequal if he should be brought to call to remembrance passed actions and attempts of his Predecessors findeth nothing more expedient to curb his enemies and strengthen his proceedings than to renew his old Confederation and combine with him many others Hereupon the Earls of Crawford Ross Murray Ormond the Lord Balvenny Knight of Cadyow many Barons Gentlemen with their Allies Vassals Servants to a great number subscribed and swore solemnly never to desert one another during life That injuries done to any one of them should be done to them all and be a common quarrel neither should they desist to their best abilities to revenge them That they should concur indifferently against whatsoever Persons within or without the Realm and spend their Lives Lands Goods Fortunes in defence of their Debates and Differences whatsoever This confederation and Covenant again renewed turned the Earl imperious in his deportments presumptuous beyond all limits and his followers and adherents insupportable to their neighbours The Lands of such who were not of their party or refused to think all their thoughts and second them in their enterprizes were plundered and goodness was a cause to make men suffer most pillage and ransacking of their Goods and other miserable calamities At this time the Thieves and Robbers of Liddes-dale and Annandale break into the Lands of John Lord Herress a Noble Man who had continued constantly faithful to the King and drive with them a great booty of Cattle Complaints being given to the Earl of Dowglass of the Depredations of his men and finding no redress the Lord Herress essayeth to drive the like prey in recompence of the damage but being unequal in power his fortune was to be taken by the Thieves and brought as a Prisoner to the Earl who layed him fast in Irons and notwithstanding of the Kings Letters full of Intreaties and Threatnings without any formality of Law caused Hang him as a Felon The like mischief was practised in other places After this contempt of Soveraignty it was universally blazed that the Earl of Dowglass in respect of his new Covenant the power of his Kinsmen and Allies the entertaining of such who were discontent and discountenanced at Court the love and favour of the men of Arms in Scotland ever governed by some of his Name his riches the honour of his Ancestors had resolved to dissemble no longer but openly to play his game essay one day if he could set the Crown upon his own head being then able to raise an Army of Forty thousand warlike persons men ready to go with him whither or against whom they cared not attending only the occasion and his Commandment The King who before but disdained the pride after this League became jealous of the Earl of Dowglass a League giving a Law to a King breaking all bonds of Soveraignty and inviting a people to look for a new Master and though his modesty and patience served only to turn the Earl more insolent and his boldness more active yet in a foul game he bare a fair countenance knowing the last thing which a Soveraign Prince should do is to shew himself Male-content and offended with any of his Subjects for instead of chastising him he would give him fairer means and greater power to do him harm He would not shew a token of any prejudicial thought to the Earls proceedings till he had first heard himself Thus very calmly he desired him to come and speak with him at Sterlin whiles he conscious of his own misdemeanor except upon a publick assurance under the great Seal for his safe coming and return refused to do A safe conduct obtained 1452 about the Shrew-tide in the year One thousand four hundred fifty two he came to the Court then remaining at Sterlin Castle accompanied with many of his Confederates and a powerful Retinue The King with a gracious countenance and all apparent respect received him endeavouring rather by kindness and humanity than by rigor to reclaim him to his former obedience The day near spent the Gates of the Castle shut all removed except some of the Council and the Guards the King taking the Earl friendly apart remembred him of favors received wrongs forgotten the duties as a Subject he owed to his Prince his capitulation before he would come and speak with him he taxed him with the exorbitant abuses and outrages of his followers then he told him what Informations he had of a Covenant of mutual defence and adherence betwixt him and some of his Nobles and Gentlemen which he would scarce believe He prayed him to consider the murmuring or rather begun sedition of his people his long patience in tolerating his proceedings his misbelief of evil reports towards him until he had heard what he had to say for himself and his innocency The Earl answered the Kings towardness in equal terms trusting much to his confederation for his favours he should strive with all obsequiousness to deserve them That as he had the honour to command others who obeyed him he knew very well how to be commanded and obey his Prince and in what disobedience consisted that as none of his Subjects enjoyed more Lands and Honours than himself there should not one be found who more willingly would engage all his fortunes and person for the Honour of his Prince That they who layed snares for his life being so near his Majesty for the surety of his person he could not come to Court except upon a publick assurance and well accompanied For the wrongs committed by his Followers and Vassals he would give what satisfaction should be required Concerning the Band of mutual friendship betwixt him and some Noblemen they would have adhered together without any writing they were driven thereunto for their own safety not out of mind to offer but repel injuries That he was infinitely oblig'd to his goodness in not condemning him before he was heard and for that he had not lent a credulous ear to his enemies mischievous devices The King replyed effects and not words make the affection and submission of a subject known and could there be any greater surety for him than to rely on the Laws of the Commonwealth and Country especially continued he in a Country where Laws and not Faction rule and where a man 's own goodness is able to preserve him But such men as you are raise these Factions to the subversion of all Laws and Authority and for Subjects to make an offensive and defensive League against all persons is to disclaim all Government and do what they please without controulment commit Treason in the highest degree and make your own Swords and Power justifie your proceedings which though ye first use against mean persons and conceal the progress of your actions for there are degrees in evil
the Publick-weal of the Kingdom for his private Considerations That after this trouble of State he might be more esteemed and sought after by the King as it is ordinarily practised among Princes and great men who affect only that which is necessary unto them To these the Earl answered That they had went too far forwards to think of any cowardly retreat and coming back again that the only vertue under a Tyrant was to die constantly that other vertues did fight but constancy alone triumphed That for himself he would never trust his life to the mercy of those who under colour of friendship and banqueting had first made away his two Kinsmen and after his own Brother for if they being Innocents were thus handled what might he expect who had been the occasion of such distraction in the State He that once had broken his faith except by a surety is unable again in Law to contract and enter in Bond with any who will be surety between a King and his Subjects That Treaties Agreements Covenants Bargains of a Prince with rebellious Subjects engage him no farther no longer than the Term-time or day which pleaseth him to accept observe and keep them as they turn or may turn to his utility and advantage that as in Nature there is no regress found from privation to an habit so neither in State men once disgraced do return to their former Honours That Princes mortally hated all Subjects who had either attempted to over-rule them by power or had cast any terrour upon them and howsoever by constraint they bear sail for a time in the end they were sure pay-masters That there was nothing more contrary to a good Agreement then to appear to be too earnest and busie to seek to obtain it he would sue for none That all his days he had loved sincerity constancy and fidelity and could not unsay and recant what he had promised and practised nor do against his heart His friends and his own standing was by their Swords which should either advance their enterprizes and turn them Victor or they would die Honourably like themselves and Men and not ignobly be murdered like Beasts This free and dangerous resolution of the Earl moved many who heard to provide for their own safety and resolve not to suffer long misery for other mens folly finding this war was not like to have any end and that danger and death would be the only reward of their Rebellion Amongst others the Earl of Crawford after great adversity when he could not move the Earl of Dowglass to submit himself to the Kings clemency with many tears and protestations of his sincerity love and counsel to him left him and some weeks after as the King was in Progress in Anguss in a sad penitential manner accompanied with his best friends coming in his way with much humility and sorrow He acknowledged his fault pleading rather for pity to his house which had so long flourished than to his person The King knowing his example would be no small occasion to weaken the power of the Earl of Dowglass and that of all the Rebels he was the greatest object of his Clemency was content to receive him but he would have it done by the mediation of James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews and the Lord Creightoun once his greatest Enemies which he refused not to embrace Thus freely remitted with those who accompanied him he returned to his own House of Phanheaven where within few moneths he died of a burning Ague The three Estates after assembled at Edenburgh where James Earl of Dowglass the Countess Beatrix whom he kept by way of a pretended Marriage Archembald Dowglass Earl of Murray George Earl of Ormond John Dowglass Lord of Balveny with others their adherents friends and followers are Attainted of High Treason and their Lands and Goods are Confiscate and discerned to be seized on to the Kings use The Earldom of Murray is given to James Creighton who had married the eldest Daughter of the Earl of Murray but he perceiving he could not possess it in peace turned it back again to the King At this time George Creightoun was created Earl of Caithness William Hay Constable Earl of Arrol Darly Halles Boyd Lyle and Lorn Lords of Parliament the King maketh a rode into Galloway reducing every strong hold and Castle of the Country to his Power Dowglass-dale he abandoned to the spoil of the Souldier Matters at home turning desperate the Earl of Dowglass being brought to that pass that he knew not what to wish or fear James Hamilton of Cadyow is sent to England to invite the ancient enemy of the kingdom to take a part of her spoil and help to trouble the King But the English had greater business amongst themselves than could permit them to Wed the Quarrels of the Earl After Sir James Hamilton was returned with an excuse and regret that some of the English Lords could not supply their confusion but only by their counsel he advised the Earl of Dowglass to trust to his own Power and Forces which were sufficient measuring their Courage and not counting their Heads to hold good against the King There was no human affairs where men were not necessitated to run some danger nor any business taken in hand with such a certainty which by unknown causes and even light ones might not run a hazard of some mishap That he should study to embrace and accept of what was most honourable and least dangerous it was better once to try the worst then ever to be in fear of it it was fit for him to commit something to fortune and wisdom could counsel nothing but to shun the greatest evil This lingring war would not only tire but over-come and vanquish them when one fair day of battel either by death or victory would crown their desires Others advised him not to hazard upon a Battel except upon seen and approved advantage and to time it out a while in this lingring War a Truce might be agreed upon which ere long might turn in a Peace in which every thing passed might be forgotten and pardoned That Wars were managed more by occasions and times than by arms That the King could not be now but tyred since he had learned that by essaying by arms to overcome them he had gained nothing but trained up his Subjects whom he called Rebels in all Warlike Discipline and had his Country spoiled and the Policy defaced Should they once enter in blood all hopes were gone of any conditions of peace At this time the King besieged the Castle of Abercorn to relieve the besieged hither marcheth with all his Forces the Earl of Dowglass being come within view of the Kings Army he observeth their march slow the countenance of his Souldiers altered much whispering and their spirits in a manner dejected Countrymen were to Fight against Countrymen friends against friends and all against their Prince Interpreting this rather to proceed from their weariedness than
with great loss to both and little advantage to any of the Parties Richard having his Reign in his Infancy and not yet settled nor come to any growth and maturity being obnoxious to the scandal of his Brothers Sons and possessed with fears of Henry Earl of Richmond then remaining in France who by all honest and good men was earnestly invited to come home and hazard one day of battel for a whole Kingdom knowing it necessary for the advancement of his designs to have Peace with all his Neighbour Princes to render himself more secure and safe at home and terrible to his Enemies abroad sendeth Embassadours to Scotland to treat a Peace or a suspension of Arms for some years King James no softlier rocked in the Cradle of State than Richard chearfully accepteth this Embassage for by a Peace he may a little calm the Stormy and wild minds of tumultuous Subjects reducing them to a more quiet fashion of living and seclude his Rebels and banisht from entertainment in England and all places of Refuge and Sanctuary The two Kings agreeing in substance Commissioners are appointed to meet at Nottingham the seventh day of September For the King of Scotland appear'd the Earl of Arguil William Elvingstoun Bishop of Aberdeen the Lord Drummond of Stobhall the Lord Olyphant Archibald Whitelaw Secretary Duncan Dundass Lyon King of Arms. For Richard of England appeared the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Stanley the Lord Gray the Lord Fitshugh John Gunthrope Privy Seal Thomas Barrow Master of the Rolls Sir Thomas Bryan Chief Justice In the latter end of September these conclude a Peace between both Realms for the space of Three years The same to begin at the rising of the Sun September twenty nine in the year One thousand four hundred eighty four and to continue unto the setting of the Sun on the Twenty ninth of September in the year One thousand four hundred eighty seven During which time it was agreed that not only all Hostility and War should cease between the two Realms but that also all Aid and Assistance against enemies should be afforded It was agreed the Town and Castle of Berwick should remain in the hands of the English for the space of the foresaid term with the same bounds the English possessed That all other Castles Holds Fortresses during the term of three years should remain in the hands of those that held them at that present the Castle of Dumbar only excepted which the Duke of Albany delivered to the English when he left his Country Which Castle for the space of six months should be exposed to the Invasion of the Scots if they could obtain it and during the assaulting of this Castle the Truce should not be broken Neither should the English within the Castle do any harm to the Scots dwelling thereabouts except to those who invade the Castle and at that time And that it should be lawful to any of the Parties to use all Stratagems and extend their power either for winning or defending the said Castle It was agreed That no Traitor of either Realm should be received by any of the Princes of the other Realms and if any Traitor or Rebel chance to arrive in either Realm the Prince thereof should deliver him upon demand made Scots abiding within the Realm of England and sworn there to the King may remain still so their names be made known to the King of Scotland within fourty days If any Warden of either Realm shall Invade the others Subjects he to whom such a Warden is subject shall within six days Proclaim him Traitor and certifie the other Prince thereof within twelve days In every safe conduct this Clause shall be contained Providing always that the Obtainer of the safe Conduct be no Traytor If any of the Subjects of either Prince do presume to Aid and help maintain and serve any other Prince against any of the Contractors of this Truce then it shall be lawful for him to whom he shewed himself enemy to apprehend and attach the said Subject coming or tarrying within any of their Dominions Collegues comprehended in the Truce if they would assent thereunto on the English part were The King of Castile the King of Arragon the King of Portugal the Arch-Duke of Austria and Burgundy the Duke of Bretaign Upon the Scottish part Charles King of Denmark and Norway the Duke of Guilderland this Treaty was appointed to be Published the first of October in all the great and notable Towns of both Realms It was agreed that Commissioners should meet at Loch-maben the eighteenth of November as well for Redress of Wrongs done on the West Marches as for declaring and Publishing the Peace where the greatest difficulty was to have it observed Richard after this Truce intreated a Marriage between the Prince of Rothsay eldest Son to King James and Lady Ann de la Pool Daughter to John Duke of Suffolk of his Sister To this effect Embassadours met at Nottingham others say at York and it is concluded Writings thereupon being drawn up ingrossed and sealed And Affiances made and taken up by Proctors and Deputies of both parts Lady Ann thereafter being stiled the Princes of Rothsay But by the death of her Uncle she enjoyed not long that Title After the League and intended Marriage King James wrote friendly Letters to Richard concerning the Castle of Dumbar Whether he could be content that the same should remain only six months in the power of the English or during the whole space of Truce That he was not minded to seek it by Arms during the term of the whole Truce Notwithstanding he earnestly required out of the bond of Love and friendship between them since it was given unto the English by Treason and neither surprised nor taken in lawful War it might be friendly rendred Richard dall'yd with him and pass'd away that purpose with complemental Letters all the time of his Government which was not long for the year One thousand four hundred eighty six Henry Earl of Richmond came with some Companies out of France of which that famous Warriour Bernard Stuart Lord Aubany Brother to the Lord Darnley in Scotland had the Leading which by the resort of his Country men turned into an Army and rencountred Richard at Bosworth where he was killed and Henry-Proclaimed King of England To which Victory it was uncertain whether Vertue or Fortune did more contribute Alexander Duke of Albany before this disaster of Richard at a Tilting with Louys Duke of Orleance by a splint of a Spear in his head had received his death-wound One thousand four hundred eighty three He was a man of great courage an enemy to Rest and Peace delighting in constant changes and novations He left behind two Sons John Duke of Albany begotten of his second Marriage upon the Earl of Bulloignes Daughter who was Tutor to King James the Fifth and Governour of Scotland and Alexander born of the Earl of Orkenays Daughter his
That they would accordingly resent and Revenge it Rage prevailing against Reason and fears the Lords made that same answer to these Embassadours which they had sent to the King himself before As for the Popes Embassie which was sent by Adrian de Castello an Italian Legate was coming and the Lords fearing the danger of it for in those times it might have drawn the most part of all the Towns and the Commons for fear of Ecclesiastical Censures to have adhered to the King or stood in an indifferency made all possible haste before it should have been delivered to make Head against their Soveraign and decide their Quarrel in a Battle Urban the Fourth Armed Henry the Third King of England against all those that would not return to their due and old obedience to him and all his disloyal Subjects The King was in a strong Fort and if he had remained still there matters in a little time had faln forth more to his wishes and his Enemies might have been brought to a submission for his good Subjects of the North as the Forbesses Oguilbuyes the Graunts Frazeres Meldrums many of the Gordounes Keethes and others who adhered to him out of affection and duty were advancing towards him But whether misinformed or betrayed by some of his own who made him believe that unless he could command the Country about Edenburgh the Castle was of no such importance as was the Castle of Sterlin for him in consideration of the passage over the River of Forth at a Bridge for those were coming to his Aid The Lords of the Association counterfeiting a Retreat and dispersing themselves in the Country that they might draw him from that Hold he rashly and unadvisedly issued out of the Castle and left his beloved Town of Edenburgh The Earls of Montross Glencarn Lords Maxwel and Ruthen accompanied him to the Blackness his Forces here encreasing he marched towards Sterlin the Rendevous and destinated Place of meeting for all his Loyal Subjects there he displayed his Royal Standard Here the perfidious Constable an unparralleld example of ingratitude who had betrayed the Son in an Hostile manner kept the Father out of his own Castle Cannons mounted Pistols cockt and level'd at him and exposed him a prey to his Rebels In the amazement and deliberation what to go about being thus shut out of his Castle Tidings came to him That the Confederates were come near to Falkirk a little Town six miles Eastward from Sterlin that his Army should not be discouraged by this unexpected accident trusting to his right and present Power being more stout than prudent he resolveth to set all upon the hazard of a Battle The Confederates had passed the Carron a River under the Falkirk and were encamped above the Bridge near the Torwood The King set forwards with his Army upon the otherside of the Torwood near a small brook named Sawchy-Burn This field is a Plain not far distant from that Bannoch-burn where King Robert the Bruce overthrew the great Army of Edward Carnarvan Here both Armies advance forward in Battel array The Lords rang'd their Host in three Squadrons the Vanguard was led by the Lords Hume and Hailles and their friends consisting of East Lothian and March-men The middle ward was composed of the Liddesdale Annandale Ewesdale Tiviotdale Tweddale Galloway-men the main Battle was of West Lothian-men where most of the Lords were and amongst whom the Prince was kept In the Kings Army the Earl of Monteeth Lords Aresken Graham Ruthen Maxwel commanded the Vanguard The left wing which consisted of Westland and Highland men was committed to the Earl of Glencarn The Lords Boyd Lyndesay the Earl of Crawford commanded in the Rear or great Battel amongst whom was the King armed from head to foot upon a great Coursier easie to be known and discern'd from the rest The first Charge is valiantly given and Launce meeting with Launce the Vanguard of the Lords began to yield ground and was strongly repulsed But the next Charge being given by Annandale Men and the ranck Riders of the Borders The middle ward of the Kings Army is beaten back to the main Battle Notwithstanding of which it is Fought a while with marvellous obstination and great hardiness and assurance until the Standard Royal was beaten down and those who defended it were slain the violence of the bickering being mostly where it was planted The Kings Army now beginning to bow not being sufficient to resist the numbers of fresh Assailers the Horse-men obeying no direction turned their backs In this rowt and confusion of Horse and Foot-men the King seeking to retire towards the River of Forth where not far off some Boats and the Ships of Sir Andrew Wood attended the fortune of Battel by the fall of his Horse in leaping a Ditch being sore bruised was carried by such who knew him not to a Mill at Bannoch-Burn The day was now the Confederates and wrong had prevailed against Right when the Prince of Rothsay amazed at the noise and clamours of the flying and following Souldiers and in suspition of the worst gave out express and strait Commandment with threatnings to the Disobeyers that none should presume to pursue his Father nor others in the Chase Notwithstanding which he was followed and killed in a Mill in cold Blood These who followed him were the Lord Gray Robert Sterling of Keer Sir Andrew Borthick a Priest whom Fame reporteth after shiriving to have stobb'd him with a Dagger The Ensigns taken the Army dissipated and put to flight the Baggage rifled the Death of the King being rumoured through the Armies the Victors turned slow in the chase and gave field-room to all that would fly no severity being used against any found unarm'd for the Lords of the Association pursu'd the King not the People The discomfited fled towards Sterlin the victorious retir'd to their Camp and the next morning to Linlithgow On the Kings side Alexander Cunningham Earl of Glencarn was slain and as some have Recorded the Lords Areskin Simple Ruthven John Ramsey of Balmayn created Earl of Bothwell and his chief favourite with their friends and Vassals the Laird of Inneys Alexander Scot Director of the Chancery with some Noblemens Friends and Vassals many were hurt who recovered of their wounds and this Battle seem'd rather a brave encounter and meeting of Launces in some Lists than a Field of great deeds of Arms and the Victory was obtained rather by disorder and the rashness of the Vanquished than by the Valour of the Victorious This Battle was Fought the year One thousand four hundred eighty eight the Eleventh day of June which is the Festival of St. Barnabas the Twenty ninth year of the Reign and thirty five of the Age of this King He had issue James the Fourth who succeeded Alexander Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and John Earl of Marr The Conspirators with all funeral Rites and Royal Pomp as in expiation of the wrongs they had done him living near his
for the faults of those who brought him to the Field against him he girded himself with a chain of Iron to which every third year of his Life thereafter he added some rings and weight Though this might have proved terrible to the Complices of the Crime yet either out of Conscience of his gentle disposition and mild nature and confidence in his generosity or of the trust they had in their own Power and Faction they bewrayed no signs of fear nor attempted ought against the common peace and tranquillity some Records bear that they forewarned him by the example of his Father not to take any violent course against them or which might irritate the people against him and every thing to embrace their counsels and that finding him repining and stubborn beyond mediocrity giving himself over to Sorrow and pensiveness they threatned him with a Coronation of one of his Brothers telling him it was in their power to make any of the Race of his Predecessors their King if he were head-strong and refractory to oppose to their wholsom directions and grave Counsels Amidst this grief of the King and overweaning of his supercilious Governours Andrew Forman Secretary to Alexander the Sixth Bishop of Rome arrived in Scotland with instructions for the Clergy and Letters from his Master to the King and the Nobles The King 's were full of ordinary consolations to asswage his Passions and reduce his mind to a more calm temper for the accident of his Fathers Death The most glorious victory a Prince could acquire was sometimes to overcome himself and triumph over his disordered passions In all perturbations to which we are subject we should endeavour to practise that precept No thing too much but chiefly in our passions of sorrow and wrath which not being restrained over-whelm the greatest and most generous Minds that by passion the fewest actions and by reason the most do prosper Though a King he must not imagine himself exempt from things casual to all mankind especially in Seditions and civil tumults from which no kingdom nor State hath been free There being no City which hath not sometimes wicked Citizens and always and ever an headstrong and mad multitude he should take what had befaln him from the hand of his Maker who chastiseth those he loveth What comes from heaven he should bear necessarily what proceedeth from Men couragiously there was no man so safe excellent and transcendent who by an insolent Nobility and ravaging Populacy might not be compell'd to perpetrate many things against his heart and intentions The will being both the beginning and subject of all sin and the consenting to and allowing the action being the only and main point to be considered and lookt into of which he was free the sin committed was not his nor could the punishment which by the Divine Justice might follow belong unto him Sith he had done nothing of himself but as a bound man had been carryed away by mutinous Subjects these that lead transgress not always they that follow To these men remorse and torture of conscience belong'd it was they should lament and mourn who under false pretences had abused the people maskt their ambition and Malice with a Reformation of errours in the State whose Rage could not be quench't but by the Bloud of their Soveraign It was these should bewail their injustice and cruelty the sin shame and judgment for so hainous a Fact followed these men He should not impute the wrongs and wickedness of others by which he had been a sufferer with his disastered Father to himself Revenge belonged to the Almighty to whose Tribunal he should submit his quarrel He should not decree the worst against his mutinous Subjects nor turn them desperate as if there were no place to Repent Great offences ordinarily were seldom punisht in a State that it was profitable for a Prince sometimes to put up voluntarily an injury the way to be invincible was never to contend and to stand out of danger was the benefit of Peace that he should apply soft Medicine where it was dangerous to use violent That following his Maker he should endeavour to draw good out of evil As he was for that disaster of his Father pittied by Men upon Earth so assuredly he would be pardon'd in Heaven If his Subjects returned to their crooked Byas and did revolt again he would make the danger his own use his Ecclesiastical Censures and Spiritual Power against them till they became obedient and submitted themselves to the sway of his Scepter In the Letters to the Nobles he exhorteth them to obedience Ambition was the cause of Sedition which had no limits and which was the bane and wrack of State and Kingdoms of which they should beware of Kingdoms subsisting upon the reputation of a Prince and that respect his Subjects carryed towards him He was the Eye and Sun of Justice the Prince weakned or taken away or his Authority contemned the Commonwealth would not only fall into a Decadence but suffer an Earthquake and perish Either after by Forrainers be invaded or by intestine dissentions rent asunder Confusions followed where obedience ceased and left Contempt deposed Kings as well as death and Kings are no longer Kings when their Subjects refuse to obey them That good people made good Kings which he requested them to endeavour to be as they would answer to God whose Lieutenants Princes were and by whose power they ruled After this time the Lord Evaindale being dead the Earl of Anguss was made Chancellour and the Lord Hume obtained the place of great Chamberlain of Scotland the Country enjoyed a great calm of Peace the grounds of Dissention seeming to be taken away The King in the strength and vigour of his Youth remembring that to live in Idleness was to live to be contemned by the World by change of Objects to expel his present sadness and to enable himself for Wars when they should burst forth gave himself to recreations by Games and with a decent Pomp entertained all Knightly exercises keeping an open and Magnificent Court When time and Exercise had enabled him and he thought he had attained to some perfection in Martial sports Tilting and Barriers proclaimed Rewards propounded and promised to the Victors Challenges are sent abroad unto Strangers either to be Umpires or Actors of Feats of Arms. Charles the Eight the French King having an Ambition to reannex the Dutchy of French Bretaign to the Crown of France either by Arms or the Marriage of Ann the apparent heir under the pretext and shadow of those painted Justings sendeth to Scotland some of the bravest Gentlemen of his Court desiring privily the assistance of King James against the English if it should fall forth that the King of England troubled his Designs Not long after well and honourably accompanied arriveth in Scotland a young man naming himself Richard Duke of York Son to Edward the Fourth true Inheritor of the Crown of England divers Neighbour
himself but made use of men who drew more hatred upon their own heads than moneys into their Princes Coffers Though he delighted more in War than the Arts he was a great admirer and advancer of learned men William Elphinstoun Bishop of Aberdeen builded by his Liberality the College of Aberdeen and named it The King's College by reason of those Privileges and Rents the King bestowed upon it His Generosity did shew it self in not delivering of Perkin Warbeck he trusted much and had great confidence in his Nobility and governed by love not by fear his People It is no wonder amidst so much worth that some humane frailty and some according Discord be found There is no day so bright and fair which one moment or other looketh not pale and remaineth not with some dampish shadow of discoloured Clouds He was somewhat wedded to his own humours opinionative and rash Actions of rashness and temerity even although they may have an happy event being never praise worthy in a Prince He was so infected with that Illustrious crime which the Ambitious take for vertue desire of Fame that he preferred it to his own life and the peace of his Subjects He so affected Popularity and endeavoured to purchase the love of his People by Largesses Banquetting and other Magnificence diving in debt that by those Subsidies and excessive Exactions which of necessity he should have been constrained to have levied and squeezed from the People longer life had made him lose all that favour and love he had so painfully purchased that death seemed to have come to him wishedly and in good time The wedding of others quarrels especially of the French seemeth in him inexcusable a wise Prince should be slow and loath to engage himself in a War although he hath suffered some wrong He should consider that of all humane actions and hazards there is not one of which the precipitation is so dangerous as that of beginning and undertaking a War Neither in Human Affairs should there more depths be sounded nor hidden passages searched and pryed into than in this He should remember that besides the sad necessity which is inseparable from the most innocent War the wasting and destroying of the Goods and Lives of much people there is nothing of which the Revolutions and Changes are more inconstant and the conclusions and ends more uncertain The Sea is not more treacherous false and deceiving nor changeth not more swiftly her calms into storms than Wars and the fortune of Arms do the event and success belying the beginning It is not enough that a Prince know a War which he undertaketh to be just but he should consider also if it be necessary and if it be profitable and conduce to the State which he governeth As Men of strong and healthful bodies follow ordinary delight in their youth he was amorously carried away He confined the Earl of Anguss in the Isle of Arran for taking Jane Kennedy a Daughter of the Earl of Cassilles out of Galloway a fair and noble Lady of whom he became enamoured as he went in his Pilgrimage to St. Ninians In his last Expedition the Lady Foord was thought to have hindred the progress of his Arms and hasten'd the success of the Battle Though vertue be sometimes unfortunate yet is it ever in an high esteem in the memories of Men such a desire remained of him in the hearts of his People after his loss that the like was not of any King before him Princes who are out of this Life being only the delights and darlings of a People Ann the French Queen not many days out-lived the rumour of his death He serves for an example of the frailty of great men on the Theatre of this world and of the inconstancy of all Sublunary things He had children James and Arthur who dyed Infants James who succeeded him Alexander born after his death who dyed young Alexander a Natural Son Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews so much admired and courted by Erasmus Margarite a Daughter of the Lord Drummonds married to the Earl of Huntley whose Mother had been contracted to the King and taken away to his great regret by those who govern'd the State that he should not follow the example of King Robert his Predecessour who marryed a Lady of that Family James Earl of Murray Iams V King of Scotes Ano 1514 THE HISTORY Of the LIFE and Reign of James the Fifth KING of SCOTLAND THe fatal accident and overthrow of the King and Flower of the Nobility of Scotland at Flowden filled the remnant of the State with great sorrow but with great amazement and perplexity for by this great change they expected no less than the progress and advancement of the Victors Arms and Fortune and feared the Conquest Servitude and Desolation of the whole Kingdom The rigorous season of the year being spent in mourning and performing of last duties to the dead for their lost kinsmen and friends and the gathering together the floating Ribs and dispersed Planks of this Ship-wrack the Pears assembled at Sterlin where being applying themselves to set their confusions in order and determine on the Remedies of their present evils the lively pourtraict of their Calamities did represent it self to the full view The Head and fairest parts which Majesty Authority Direction Wisdom had made eminent were cut away some turbulent Church-men Orphant-Noblemen and timorous Citizens fill their vacant places and many who needed directions themselves were placed to direct and guide the Helm of State such miseries being always incident to a People where the Father of the Country is taken away and the Successour is of under age In this Maze of perplexity to disoblige themselves of their greatest duty and give satisfaction to the most and best the Lawful Successour and Heir JAMES the Prince is set on the Throne and Crowned being at that time One year five months and ten days of Age and the hundred and fifth King of Scotland The last Will and Testament which the late King had left before his expedition being publickly seen and approved the Queen challenges the Protection of the Realm and Tutelage of her Son as disposed unto her so long as she continued a Widdow and followed the Counsel and advice of the Chancellour of the Realm and some other grave Counsellours and she obtained it as well out of a Religion they had to fulfil the Will of their deceased Sovereign as to shun and be freed of the imminent Arms and imminent danger of her Brother the King of England Being established in the Government and having from all that respect reverence and observance which belong to such a Princess she sent Letters to the King of England that having compassion upon the tears and prayers of a Widdow of his Sister of an Orphan of his Nephew he would not only cease from following the War upon Scotland then at War with it self and many ways divided but ennobled by courage and goodness be a defence unto
had followed and accompanied her which should have moved them to leave their Country unto whom if they pleased to return they should be welcom enjoy their wonted freedom and keep peaceably what they had possessed If they were conscious to themselves of any misdemeanour he would not be too precise in the search of it He also trafficked by the friends of those who favoured the Dowglasses and Humes to persuade them to a Return giving them fair Promises of obtaining what they should demand Till at last he removed them to bow and yield to his desires The fugitive Gentlemen return'd but the Queen being with child and near the time of her delivery was necessitated to stay still till at Harbottle Castle she brought forth her daughter Margaret after Grandmother to James King of Britain So soon as she was able to endure travel and be transported King Henry with an honourable retinue brought her to his Court where she was by him and his Sister Mary late Queen of France welcomed In May she made her progress through London to Baynards Castle and from thence to Greenwich The Contrivers of the exploit of transporting the King to England being within the Country and as it were secure the Governor whose head was filled with suspitions not thinking himself bound by promises will have them give a reckoning of their enterprize and flight into England Against some he hath clear proofs fair and manifest evidences against other bare surmises and naked suspitions for they had not left the Country nor had they been partakers of the Queens fortunes Here with an unexpected suddenness Mr. Gavin Dowglas Uncle to the Earl of Anguss Bishop of Dunkel Mr. Patrick Panther Secretary to the late King were committed Mr. Gavin in the Castle of St. Andrews Mr. Patrick in Garvet Castle The Lord Drummond grand-Father to the Earl of Anguss having beaten a Lyon Herauld who too imperiously had given a charge to answer to such things should be objected against him was imprisoned in the Castle of Blackness Alexander Lord Hume being charged to answer for his actions and proceedings and not appearing was denounced Rebel his moveables seised on and brought to the Exchequer Stir'd up and irritated by this outrage he maketh Roads upon the neighbour bounds plundereth Dumbar which was the Governors chief resort and to revenge his wrongs setteth on work the Robbers on the borders To repress and bridle this ravaging the Governor in person with a thousand hardy Souldiers marcheth to the Borders directeth some companies to find out the Lord Hume but he either dismaid at the worth and fortune of the Governor or broken and bowing under the burthen of his own miseries cometh to the Governor and submitted his life and estate to his faith and clemency brought to Edenburgh he is trusted to the custody of James Earl of Arran the Husband of his Sister with threatnings under pain of high Treason that he should not part with him nor suffer him to escape The Lord Hume had not long staid in the Castle of Edenburgh when with glosses of probalities of changes casual and such as might fall forth he moved the Earl of Arran to be of his Mind and brought him to conspire against the Governor and hazard to put himself in his place of State He himself was the only man who had brought in the Governor and he knew well how to put him out if the Earl would be of the Party and by his negligence not reject a Supream honor thrown in his arms He is begun already not to be lov'd if he was not already hated by the Subjects by his imperious proceedings If the King of England could find some few Noblemen to make head against him he would constrain him to leave the Country The Earl of Arran was neerest heir to the King it was more reason he should be second in the Kingdom than John who though descended of a brother yet a banisht man and a stranger to the Scots Nation with whom had they not so much as intercourse and familiarity of language After many such like inducements the Prisoner took away his Keeper with him to the South parts of the Country and both by Letters to their Familiars Kindred and acquaintance and private meetings with other Noble men strove to make strong and increase their faction In the beginning of the Spring John Stuart Earl of Lennox the Sisters son of the Earl of Arran listed himself in the Party of the Conspiring Lords and with a number of his Friends and Followers invested the Castle of Glasgow which if they could have kept had been a great advancement to their intentions But the Governour gathering an Army of as many as hast would suffer him to Assemble the Defenders not being strong enough to resist him recovered the Castle with small loss of his men After which in indignation he marched to throw down the Castle of Hamilton here victorious anger was conquer'd by pity and compassion for the old Countess of Arran being at that time there resident who was Daughter to King James the Second Sister to King James the Third Mother to the Earl of Arran Gandmother to the Earl of Lennox Aunt to the Governour a Lady venerable for years and vertues with tears of affection and sorrow falling down at the Governours feet and received by him with great commiseration in a merciful manner not only preserv'd the Castle but by the means of the Arch-Bishop Andrew Forman entred into a Treaty for Peace to her Son and the Earl of Lennox And in November the two Earls coming to Edenburgh by the means of this Arch-bishop were reconciled with the Governor About this time his Mother being far from him to discharge the last duties of affection towards him Alexander Duke of Rothsay Brother to the King a Child to admiration beautiful and Delightful died at Sterlin and was buried in the Abby Church of Cambuskenneth The term of Peace between the two Kingdoms being almost expir'd and both having a desire to continue it the English sent their Commissioners to Coldingham to whom the Duke then resident at Dumbar sent Monsieur du Plains Embassador for the French King Sir William Scot of Balweary and Gavin Dumbar Arch-Dean of Saint Andrews These after some altercation concerning the Scottish Fugitives conclude a Peace between the Nations from the midst of January till the feast of Whitsuntide after The English comprehended in the Articles the Earl of Anguss the Lord Hume and the rest of the Queens strayed Faction with all their Kinsmen Clients and Followers The Lord Hume was received again into the Governours favor with condition that if he after break his promises and oaths his old faults should be remembered and joined to his new Master Gavin Dowglass and Mr. Patrick Panther were set at Liberty The Lord Drummond who had been forfeited was again restored the Earl of Anguss with these who had followed him with many ceremonies and great store of Friendship was
better at the hands of the Scots and that the Duke of Albany should have deputed men of their own nation to have governed them and not a stranger being a people delighting in Misgovernment ever well pleased at the Falls and tragical ends of their Rulers and joying to see any hard hap happen to them they deem happy The Bishop of Dunkell who had accompanied the Governour to France used such diligence at the Court that he was imployed to be the first Messenger to the Country of the great promises and many Ceremonies of the French at the confirmation of the League with their protestations for the preserving and maintaining the Liberties of the Kingdom of Scotland against all who would essay to empair them Not long after arrived the Earl of Lennox and an Herauld with Letters from King Francis and the Governour amplifying and putting a larger gloss on the same But when by other Letters the Queen and Nobles had received certain intelligence that King Francis and the King of England had composed their Quarrels entred in a new band of Amity a defensive League being passed between them Tournay rendred to the French promises upon either side solemnly made for a Match to be between the Daulphine of France eldest son to King Francis and the eldest daughter of Henry King of England when age should enable them for marriage and that in the large Treaty of Peace not one word was set down for the quietness and help of those who for the quarrel of France hast lost their King and endangered their whole Kingdom no care had of their welfare and prosperity they stormed not a little and thought their lives and travels evil imployed Then with as great hast as such a matter required they dispatched Letters back again to the Governour blotted with complaints and expostulations The year following to excuse his oversight the French King sent a Reason why he had not made mention of the Scottish nation in his league with England He had studied to give satisfaction to some of the Scottish Nobility obliquely touching the Duke of Albany whose minds he knew to be altogether averse from any peace or Truce with the English nation whose undaunted Spirits and great courages were only bent to revenge the deaths of their King Kinsmen and Compations This evasion not giving satisfaction to the best advised of the Council the French King interposed his endeavours with King Henry to have a cessation of arms for as short a time as he could devise Whereupon Clarencieux and one la Fiot coming to Scotland the one from the King of England the other from the French King a Truce was concluded between the two Kingdoms for one year and a whole day The reason of this Truce was thought mostly to be for that the Kings of England and France the next Summer were to have an interview and with all Princely courtesies entertain each other The Kingdom began to be sensible of the absence of the Governour factions increasing the Commons suffering dayly outrages the Nobility and Gentry deciding their Rights by their Swords The Earl of Rothsay and the Lord Lindsay contending which should be Sheriff of Fyfe with tumultuary arms invade each other and hardly by the Deputies were restrain'd till the one was committed to the Castle of Dumbar and the other to the Castle of Dumbartoun Robert Blackadour Prior of Coldingham with six of his Domestick Servants is killed by the Laird of Wedderburn The King out of a suspition that the plague was in Edenburgh being transported to the Castle of Dalkieth by the Convey of the Earl of Arran who was then Provost of the Town it being the season when the Townsmen make election of their Magistrates for the year following when the Earl was returned and sought to enter the Town he found the Gates shut upon him by the Citizens who alledged he came to invade their liberties in the free choice of their Magistrates the tumult continueth the most part of the night and the next morning early the people dividing in factions and skirmishing in the streets a Deacon of the Crafts is killed by the faction of the Hamiltons which alienated the minds of the Townsmen altogether from the Earl of Arran and made them encline to the Earl of Anguss some of whose friends and followers had rescued some of the Citizens and taken part with others which made many after conceive this discord was plotted by some Noblemen enemies to the Earl of Arran amongst which the Earl of Anguss was the chief After this tumult the Earl of Anguss and Arran sought likewise to cross each other in their proceedings the one maintaining the enemies of the other who had a quarrel against the Earl Arran the Earl of Anguss befriended him as the Earl of Arran supported and sided those who had any discontent against Earl of Anguss A suit falling between the Earl of Anguss and David Car Laird of Farnehast about the Ballywick of Jedbrough Forrest the Lands appertained to the Earl the Title and power to fit Judge belonged to the Lairds of Farnehast Sir James Hamilton the natural Son of the Earl of Arran assisted the Laird of Farnehast and besides those who out of good will friendship kindred vassalage did follow him he gathered fourty Souldiers such as were found upon the Borders men living upon Spoil and rapine to be of his parry The Laird of Cesfoord then Warden of the Marches who with his Counsel and Force sided the Earl of Anguss at the Rumour of the approach of Sir James to Jedbrough encountreth him and his fourty Hirelings abandoning him in his greatest danger Cesfoord killing some of his followers brought to make use of his spurs towards the Castle of Hume where after a long chase he got Sanctuary The day following the Laird of Farnehast held a Court in the Town of Jedbrough as Baily to the Earl of Anguss and the Earl himself kept his Court three miles distant in Jed-ward Forrest In the month of May after certain Noblemen assembled at Edenburgh to accommodate all quarrels and make an atonement between the Dowglasses and Hamiltons Many Lords of the West here meet attending the Earl of Arran the Earls of Lennox Eglintoun Cassiles the Lords Ross Simple the Bishop of Galloway Abbot of Pasley The Provost of the Town of Edenburgh Archembald Dowglas of Kilspyndie Uncle or Cousen Germain to the Earl of Anguss yielded up his place to Robert Logan Laird of Restlerig The Lords of the West by the advice of James Beatoun Chancellour in whose House they often assembled laid a plot to surprize the Earl of Anguss then attended but by some few of his Friends and as it were solitary they thought him too great and insolent a Subject to whose power never one of theirs alone was equal in all points and they had many things to challenge him upon when the Governour should return The Earl of Anguss forewarned of their intention imployed the Bishop of
Dunkell his Uncle to offer them what honourable satisfaction they could require All that he propounded being rejected by implacable men and finding the only way to be freed of violence to be violent and that danger could not be avoyded but by a greater danger with an hundred hardy resolute men armed with long Spears and Pikes which the Citizens as he traversed the Streats out of Windows furnished him he invested a part of the Town and barricadoed some Lanes with Carts and other impediments which the time did affrad The adverse party trusting to their number and the supply of the Citizens who calling to mind the slaughter of their Deacon shew them small favour disdaining the Earl should thus muster on the Streats in great fury invade him Whilst the bickering continued and the Town is in a Tumult William Dowglass brother to the Earl of Anguss Sir David Hume of Wedderburn George Hume brother to the late Lord with many others by blood and Friendship tyed together enter by violence the East Gate of the Town the Citizens making small resistance force their passage through the throngs seek the Earls enemies find them scoure the streets of them The Master of Montgomery eldest Son to the Earl of Eglintoun Sir Patrick Hamiltoun Brother to the Earl of Arran with almost fourscore more are left dead upon the place The Earl himself findeth an escape and place of retreat through a Marsh upon the North side of the Town The Chancellour and his retinue took Sanctuary in the Dominican Fryers the tumult by the slaughter of some and flight of others appeased the Earl of Anguss now freed of danger licensed all who pleased without further pursuit peaceably to leave the Town of Edenburgh and return to their own Houses Some daies after the Humes well banded and backed with many Nobles and Gentlemen of their linage by the Earl of Anguss consent took the Lord Humes and his brothers heads from the place where they had been fixt and with the funeral Rites of those times interr'd them in the Black-Fryers The Earl of Anguss having angled the Peoples hearts by his Magnificence Wisdom Courage and Liberality his Faction began to bear greatest sway in the Kingdom For the continuance of which the King of England dealt most earnestly with the French King to keep the Duke of Albany still in France with him But the French had contrary designâ— And when the Duke understood the great discords of the Nobility of Scotland persons of Faction being advanced to places dangerous immunities being granted to the Commons France and England beginning to be tyred of their Peace and preparing for a new War to curb the Scottish Factions keep the Nation in quietness in it self by giving the Subjects other Work abroad whilst common danger should break off particular Discords Notwithstanding of the English Ships which lay in wait to take him after he had been about five years in France in November he arrived on the West Coasts of Scotland at a place named Garloch The Governour coming to Edenburgh set himself to amend the enormities committed in his absence the Magistrates of the Town are deposed because in the late uproar they had been evil seconds to the Lords of the West when they went to surprise the Earl of Anguss A Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to make appearance in February to be tryed and to answer for offences committed by them in the Governours absence The appointed time being come these who appeared not were Indicted and fled into England Amongst which and the chief were the Humes and Cockburns men Authors and accessory to the death of Sir Anthony Darcy The tyde now turning and mens affections changed the Earl of Anguss with his Brother Sir George Dowglass by the Intercession of the Queen are constrained to seek a Pardon which was obtained for them but with the condition that they should leave the Country and stay in France one whole year which they obeyed Others have Recorded they were surprized in the Night and in French Ships conveyed privately away Mr. Gavin Dowglass Bishop of Dunkell in the absence of his Nephew finding the Governour violent in the Chase of the Faction of the Dowglasses fled privately to the Court of England where he gave informations to King Henry against him He alone had taken to him the custody of the young King the sequel whereof he much feared he was an irreconcilable Enemy to the whole Family of the Dowglasses The principal cause of his coming to Scotland was to engage the Nation in a War against England that the English should not assist the Emperour against the French King and make his Nation slaves to France This Bishop shortly after dyed at London and was buried in the Savoy Church having been a man Noble Valiant Learned and an excellent Poet as his Works yet extant testifie The King of England upon such informations sent Clarencieux King of Arms to Scotland to require the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between the French King and him in their last Truce It belonged said Clarencieux to his Master to tender the life wellfare honour fortunes of his Nephew of none of which he could be assured so long as the Duke ruled and stayed in Scotland It was against all reason and unbeseeming the man should be sole Guardian to a King who was the next heir to the Crown how easily might he be tempted by opportunity to commit the like unnatural cruelty which some have done in the like case both in England and other parts of Europe if he loved his Nation and Prince as he gave out he required him to leave the Country which if he yield not unto but obstinately continued in a resolution to stay he denounced from his Master present war He farther complained That the Earl of Anguss who was King Henries Brother-in-Law was by him banisht and detained in France That during the banishment of the Earl which had been near a whole year the Duke had importuned his Sister the Queen with dishonest love The Governour answered Clarencieux That what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain That neither the King of England nor France had power to banisht him a Foreiner over whom their authority did not reach his native Country like over like having no jurisdiction As concerning the King of Scotland who was yet young in years he reverenced him as his Soveraign Lord and would keep and defend both him and his Kingdom according to his Conscience honour and bound duty that there were ever more men in the world who desired to be Kings than there were Kingdoms to be bestowed upon them of which number he was none having ever preferred a mean estate justly enjoyed before a Kingdom evil acquired For the Earl of Anguss he had used all Courtesies towards him notwithstanding of
Gavin Dumbar whom the King after advanced to be Chancellor of the Kingdom The Governour resenting highly the slighting of the Embassadours by the King of England but more the contempt and scorn of the Scottish Nobility in refusing to follow him in October by the West Seas past over to France promising that if a peace in this mean time were not concluded with England he would the next Summer bring such War-like Briggades of French and Germans that he should not stand much in need of his own Countrymen who had continued so refractory and backward to his designs He demanded from King Francis five thousand German Horsemen and ten thousand foot to be transported to Scotland which with the Scots who would accompany him he thought sufficient to continue a War with England The French could not spare so many men having Wars both with the Emperour and the English but they gave him three thousand Pikes and one thousand Launces The Governour intending to return to Scotland receiving intelligence that the Ports towards the coasts of France were watched by the English to intrap him in his passage bestowed his Ships so covertly here and there in small companies to avoid all suspition of any purpose he had to stir that year as that thereupon the English Fleet under the Conduct of Sir William Fitz-Williams which had attended and waited his coming forth until the Midst of August brake up bestowed themselves in convenient Ports against the next spring The Duke then watching opportunity and readily gathering together his dispersed Ships to the number of some fifty Sail imbarked his men at Brest in Bretaign the one and twenty of September and landed at Kirkowbry or the Isle of Arran in the West of Scotland In his company was Richard de la Pool who had been banished England and to his power faithfully assisted the Governour He arrived the same time that Jedbrough was burnt by the English for Thomas Earl of Surrey high Admiral of England the Marquess of Dorset and his Brother with a competent power entring Scotland had burnt many Towns and overthrown Castles and Piles At his coming the Duke assembled the Lords at Edenburgh where they agreed that an Army should forthwith be gathered and the 28. of October was appointed for their meeting at Dowglass-dale At the day prefixt the Army marched towards Coldstream upon the Tweed Out of this Army the Governour having selected a number of the hardiest Souldiers of Scots and French and convoying some Artillery over the water under the command of David Car of Farnehast on the last of October they besieged the Castle of Wark which was defended by Edward Lile or Lisle The Assailants upon the outmost Ward continuing their Battery entred by main force the second Ward but being there repulsed and beaten back a great Tempest arising and fearing the swelling of the River of Tweed might cut them off from their Army on the other side they turned back and repassed the Water the Report of the Earl of Surreys forces come to rescue the Castle and lying Anwick had also perplexed them not a little the Earl of Surrey at his approach finding the Enemy retired to the other side of the River the Castle safe and having no Commission to pass the English marches or to invade Scotland made no further pursuit In the mean time the Queen who had ever sought to make firm friendship with her Brother and break the amity of France sent to him to yield to a cessation of War hoping in that time to work some agreement between the two Nations Whereunto the King consenting the Governour finding the Scottish Lords averse to his intentions that he was this time served as he had been before they refusing still to enter upon England and that striving would but the more chafe them also condescended Thus a Truce was promised and faithful peace concluded till the last of November being the Feast of St. Andrews the Winter past without any invasion of the English on Scotland or the Scots on England During the time of this Truce many serious consultations were amongst the Lords of Scotland whether it were more fit to continue this War or give it over Many of them held it unreasonable that for the only pleasure of the French King the Realm of Scotland should suffer any more damage by the Contiuning of so needless a War and that the Duke of Albany was alwaies set to perform what the French desired not what was expedient for the Scottish Nation nor what was in their possibility to accomplish Wherefore they wished that their young King now having attained some years of discretion and passing the age of a Child might bear some sway in the Government of the Realm Some argued that a King sooner than the Sons of Noblemen went out of the bondage of Tutelage and enjoyed greater immunities his age often being reckoned from the time of his conception That the administration and charge of the Kingdom should early be given him that he might with his years grow in the 〈◊〉 of Governing Since we find the same to be usual in the perfection of other arts and Sciences Others entertained other thoughts That to a child who could not by the weakness of his judgment discern Right from Wrong the Helm of State should not be trusted and that the Peers of the Kingdom might be challeng'd of dotage by their Neighbor Countreys for giving to a Child the Sword of Justice which he might thrust in their own entrails one day or wound therewith the bosom of the Commonwealth The Governour finding the Lords divided amongst themselves and their reasons averse to his intentions and that not only the people but the Souldiery were weary of him and had bent their affections upon their young King foolishly preferring the ignorance and simplicity of a child to his prudency experience and long practice of State requested them to give him leave to return to France and to forgive him any errour he had committed which he protested was of ignorance not of malice Having from men distasted with him without any opposition obtained what he required far from any outward shew of inward discontentment or disquieting himself at the ingratitude of some whom he had advanced to Honors he came to Sterlin where after some days stay with the King when he had given him such instructions of State as he was able to understand for he was but then in the thirteenth year of his Age with many tokens of love and demonstrations of sincere affection he took his leave of him and his Ships attending his passage on the West with a great retinue of Scots and French he held his way towards them and recommended him self to the Sea in the Spring time now the third time for France after which he return'd not at all into Scotland He was a Prince adorned with many Virtues Active Couragious Resolute and knew how to use men as they are If he had not been
blood when they are first surprized neither are too strict circumstances of Law to be observed when a small delay may abolish all observing of order and Laws The Duke to raise his own reputation to the disadvantage of the King with all secrecy of his intentions had procured himself a vast Authority with the Nobles by a semblance of liberality wasting the Patrimony of the Crown as remitting Treasons restoring again Lands annexed to the Crown He had studied so to conciliate to him the minds of the Commons that the desire of a King did not much touch them using such moderation in his proceedings that his Government seemed unto many not only tolerable but desirable He had essayed to draw the Earl of Dowglass and had drawn the Earl of March to enter into a League with him and these Noblemen then in the Castle of St. Andrews divided the Nobility and made them break their Allegiance to the King Upon which attempt it seemeth that that Act of this Kings second Parliament was made That no Subjects should league themselves together The King esteemed all that Government of Robert and Mordock to be an usurpation of the Crown and feared the like thereafter His Son James had burnt Dumbartoun and treacherously killed the Kings Uncle which was not done without his knowledge if not his Counsel Though he relieved the King of his Captivity he suffered him to remain very long a Prisoner neither did he practise his deliverance till he perceived the whole States of the Kingdom resolved to call him Home and was compelled by the injuries of his own Children To exasperate new injuries by old rancours his Father Robert spurred by Ambition had famished to death the Kings Brother David in the Castle of Faulkland to escape whose Tyrranny the King yet a child was committed to the protection of stranger Princes What ever the particulars of their accusations have been it is above the possibility of any Governor or Man in eminent place and authority so to carry himself but a discontented Prince if he will set him to a tryal shall bring some one or other of his actions to whirl him within compass of Justice Thus the imprecation of Robert the third took effect upon the race of Robert the Governour for after the death of the Duke of Rothesay he is said to have cursed him most deadly praying as he had slain his Brothers Son and filled their house with blood so God would punish him his Stock and Posterity There is not any wickedness which beareth not its punishment and repentance at the last if we can have patience to attend the last act of those Tragedies played on this Theatre of the World By the Attaindor of the Duke the Earldoms of Fife Monteith and Lennox were devolved to the Crown The Castle of Inch-Merin in Loch-Lommond which had a while been kept good for James who fled into Ireland by John Montgomery and Humphrey Cunning was brought to the obedience of the King When the Lords and Gentlemen who were in Prisons attending the Kings pleasure understood what necessary justice had been executed upon the Duke and his Sons they were grievously perplexed yet the King like a wise Physitian would take no more blood then might take away the disease and all further causes of Faction For within twelve moneths thereafter he set them all at Liberty and received them in his wonted favour upon promise of their loyal demeanour and dutiful obedience in time to come But being thus freely discharged the conceit was taken that Mordocks head and his sons with Lennoxes was only the aim and that they were used but as a Countenance of State to dazle the eyes of the People The Wars continuing between the English and the French the one to keep what he was in possession of the other to reobtain what he had lost Charles the seventh a wise and Victorious Prince knowing the Friendship of Scotland to be of no small importance to any that should fight against the English the flower and strength of the Scottish Souldiers which had followed the French Wars being then blasted and spent sendeth John Stuart of Darnley Marshal of a Garison of Horsemen with the Earl of Dowglass as the French write then Marshal of France to Scotland to have a fresh supply of Men of Arms and Renauld of Charters Archbishop of Rheymes who there had Crowned his Master and as Chancellour of France to renew the ancient League between the French and Scots But the main business about which the Archbishop came was the trafficking of a Marriage between Lewis the Daulphine though then very young with Margaret Daughter to King James This Match the English had either neglected or contemn'd which afterwards they sued for the renewing of the old League and Amity betwixt the two Nations was easily condescended unto it being but a witness to the world of their mutual kindness The chief Articles of which were The War or Injury moved or done by the English men to one of the said Nations to be as Common-wrong to both If the English men make War on the French Nation then the Scots at the costs and charges of the French King shall minister to them succours Likewise if the Scots be molested by the English Wars the French Nation having their charges allowed shall be to them Aiders and Assisters That none of both Nations shall either contract or make peace with the Realm of England without the consent and agreement of the other The Marriage being found commodious for both Nations was likewise with great contentment agreed upon and concluded fresh recruits of Souldiers were levied and dispatched with the Embassador to France The South and Champion parts of Scotland brought under obedience and a peaceful Government the King will have the remotest Countries of his Kingdom even those blocked up and baricadoed by the snowy Clifts of Grantsben to acknowledge his Justice The wildness of the soyl had made the Inhabitants there more fierce than Fierceness it self and let them out to all unlawful Riots and Rapines To restrain their insolent humors and bring them within compass of Civility in the year 1426. he caused repair the Castle of Innerness which is situated in the uttermost borders of Murray and by their incursions which had been turned desolate hither some years after cometh he in person and keepeth open Court that being near the evil he might have the better means to provide for and consider it But he seemed to have arrived in some Territory of the Scythians having known and found things which none did nor dare relate unto him for he had learned that not many miles off there were men some of which had one thousand some two thousand Robbers at their call who were accustomed to drive preys from the more civil Neighbours and Borders pilling and spoiling polluting and ravishing without any difference of right or wrong holy or prophane but only following their ravenous and insolent humours On the quieter
to their private use are forfeited taken and committed to sundry Prisons in December Four thousand four hundred forty seven at which time they were brought to Edenburgh 1447 Alexander the Governour James Dundas and Robert Bruce after Fines laid upon them were remitted back to Dumbarton there to be kept Prisoners during the Kings pleasure Alexander the Governours Son a young man of great expectation with Robert Levingston Treasurer and David Levingston not so much by any crime proved against them as by the Divine Justice in punishing the severity of the Governour for the execution of the Earl of Dowglass in the Castle of Edenburgh had their heads cut off the people much deploring their misfortune By this blow the Earl of Dowglass though he was more terribly avenged than if he had proved his power against the old Man having thus as it were killed him twice Though by this strict Justice he pretended the Publick weal his end was to govern all by his absolute Authority and make the world see what credit he had to help or harm when he pleased admire his pompous attendance his haughty carrying of all business and his power in State The Chancellor having perfected his Embassie Mary daughter to Arnold Duke of Guilders born of the Duke of Burgundies Sister a Lady young beautiful and of a masculine constitution arriveth in Scotland and with great solemnity accompanied with many strangers and the Nobility of the Kingdom is married to the King in the Abbey Church of Holy-rood-house As these Nuptial Rites were finished the Peace between Scotland and England expired and the Borders of both Kingdoms break and mutually invade others Amidst much robbery spoil and havock upon either side the Earl of Salisbury Lievtenant and Warden upon the West depopulateth the bordering Villages and burneth the Town of Dumfreis the Earl of Northumberland spoiling the East burneth the Town of Dumbar John Dowglass Lord of Balvenny invadeth the English bounds and burneth the Town of Anwich the ravaging and depredations in a short time turning equal the two Kingdoms agree upon a suspension of Arms and place and day to treat about a general Peace at the last by an Assembly of the States One thousand four hundred forty nine A Truce is condescended unto for seven years At this time Alexander Seatoun Lord Gordon is created Earl of Huntley and George Leslie Baron Earl of Rothes This Truce was not long kept by any of the Nations but as it had been drawn and plaistered up for the fashion they conspire equally to break it New incursions are made slight skirmishes began to wound either side and banish Peace just arms were constrained at last to be opposed to injurious oppressions The Scots having made desolate some parts of Cumberland an Army under the leading of the Earl of Northumberland is raised commanded by Magnus Red-beard whom the Scots by reason of the length of his beard named Magnus with a red Main A man trained from his youth in the Wars of France who is said to have required no more for his Service to the Crown of England than what he might by his own valour conquer of Scotland The English march from the West Borders pass the River of Soloway and Annand and encamp near the River of Sark The Earl of Dowglass declareth his Brother George Earl of Ormond Lieutenant for the King against them who with the power of the South and West loseth no time to encounter the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Piercy his Son Magnus Red-beard Sir John Pennington Sir Robert Harrington led the English Battalions The Earl of Ormond Lord Maxwell Lairds of Johnston and Craiggy Wallace the Scottish Here occasion and place serving it is valiantly fought the fortune of the day long doubtful till Magnus whose experience and direction in War in those days was deemed unparalleld his courage here turning into temerity was beaten from his horse and slain After his fall many turning their backs the Earl of Northumberland himself with great danger escaped more in the chase were lost than in the Battel such who essayed to pass the River by the confusion and the weight of their Arms were plunged in the water others who could not find the Fords being taken and brought to the Castle of Lochmaben amongst which were Sir John Pennington Sir Robert Harrington the Lord Piercy who by saving his Father engaged himself Few renowned amongst the Scots were here lost except Craiggy Wallace a principal actor who governing himself by honour and courage died of his wounds there received not many days thereafter The English to repair their loss raised an Army but by the daily supplies raised for France and their projected Civil Wars the Duke of York Earls of March Warwick and Salisbury beginning to toss the State it was kept at home for their own use and a truce was agreed upon and concluded with Scotland for the space of three years One thousand four hundred and fifty This Victory obtained chiefly by the valour of the Dowglasses advanced highly their credit with the young King and the Court sounded with nothing more than their praises But great fortunes are as hard to bear as to acquire and ordinarily prosperity carryeth us into insolencies without pondring the consequence of our actions William Colvill Knight upon a private quarrel having slain James Auchinleck a follower of the Earl of Dowglass the Earl avenged his death not only with the slaughter of William but with the throwing down of his House and spoil of all his Lands which turned cold the affections of many about the Court towards him and made him terrible to all of a contrary Faction to his After whether tyred with his working thoughts or to shun more hatred and envy or to try what time would produce amidst the inward grudges and rancours of Court or that he held his own Country too narrow Lists for his glory he leaveth the Kingdom substituting one of his Brothers Procurator for his affairs and in his absence to govern his estate accompanied with his Brother Mr. James a Man learned and brought up in Sorbon Divinity Expectant of the Bishoprick of Dunkel James Hamilton of Cadyow the Lords Grahame Seatoun Oliphant Saltoun and many Gentlemen he arriveth in Flanders cometh to France passeth the Alps and it being the year of Jubilee stayeth at Rome where he was honourably received and welcomed Envy never leaveth great Actors he had not been long absent from his Prince when many are suborned to give up complaints against the oppressions riots wrongs of his Kindred Servants and Vassals The faults of his Governing the King are pryed into every oversight and escape aggravated to the height The King at first was loth to lend an ear to misreports and calumnies of a man lately so well deserving and dearly of him beloved but overcome by importunity and urged by the numbers of Complainers he gave way that his Brother and Procurators should make answer for wrongs suffered by
want of good will to enter the Lists as well to refresh and cherish them to be more prompt and lusty of courage the next morning as to take counsel what course to follow and how to dispose of their Game he stayeth that afternoon and pitcheth his Tents To men unfortunate every thing turneth an enemy Whether Sir James Hamilton gave way to this or not uncertain but after it is said that in a chafe he told the Earl he had neglected the opportunity of Fight and should never see so fair a day again in which he might have hazarded one cast of a Dye for a whole Kingdom But his Fortune was now declined and perhaps would never stand upright that by giving that night to his Souldiers to pause and deliberate on the matter they would perchance take the safest way be more advised what to enterprise the next morning readily not Fight at all consisting of a number of bold young Gentlemen Volunteers who for the most part out of bravery and compassion followed him That the Kings Army by his lingring and lying off was encouraged finding they were to cope with men who would advise ere they fought After which speeches he bad the Earl farewel And now knowing that the way lay open both for Pardon and Favour to him that would first seek it he in the night breaketh out with some friends and having got over the fields betwixt the two Camps was brought safely to the King who graciously received and freely pardoned him The Army having understood the clandestin Revolt and escape of Sir James Hamilton disbanded every man slipping away by secret passages to his own habitation that on the morrow there was nothing to be seen but the solitary field upon which they had encamped The King out of joy of this bloodless Victory caused Proclaim in all his chief Towns That since Soveraign Authority had no less splendor by the actions of Clemency then by these of Justice all those who had followed the Earl of Dowglass and been of his party rather by mis-fortune and unadvised rashness than any evil will against him should be freely pardoned Those who would abandon the Earl and come to the Kings Camp whosoever they were no Justice no Law should trouble them but they should be received to mercy and have all Pardon After this Proclamation many submitted themselves to the King and were pardoned though Sir James Hamilton was remitted yet that under colour of reconciliation worse mischief might not be plotted the King sent him with the Earl of Orkney to the Castle of Rossline during his pleasure and the taking in of the Castle of Abercorn remembring also it was some prejudice to a Prince to be obliged to any Rebel The Earl of Dowglass gathering together the split pieces of his Ship-wrack with his Brothers and so many of his Confederates as would not forsake him flieth to England here with much Travel by many promises of Rewards great hopes of spoil gathering unto him a power of Out-laws Felons Bancker-outs and such as lived by Rapine as well of his own Nation as of the English he maketh a Rode upon the West borders of Scotland some Villages being burnt many preys much spoil being driven into England at last he meeteth with the valiant men who were appointed to defend the Marches the Maxwells and Scots here in a furious skirmish his Companies are discomfited Archibald Earl of Murray's Brother is slain and his Head sent to the King the Earl of Ormond is taken Prisoner himself with the Lord Balvenny with great difficulty escaped in a Forest when he sought to return again into England he findeth all passages stopped up the ways layed for him and beginning to feel much want he is constrained in a disguised habit to lurk meanly in the inmost parts of Scotland till he wandred toward the far High-lands where finding Donald Earl of Ross Lord of the Isles one of his League a man cruel arrogant unpolisht after many discourses and long conference with him being no less eloquent than active he possesseth him with great hopes after a division of the Kingdom between them two of an absolute power and Government of all the Highlands besides the wealth and treasure which he would purchase by the spoil He requireth only he would break upon the more civil Countries bring all the Fire-brands he could to kindle and trouble them and cut work for the King whilst he with new supplies and a great Army to be raised in England should invade the Marches and bordering Countries The Earl of Ross who thought nothing impossible to him being to himself in these barbarous parts by phantasie a King and was used to vaunt of a long pedegree from Fergus relisheth the profit and possibility of this Enterprise sweareth to leave nothing undone for the accomplishing of it and parting with him upon mutual assurance entreateth only celerity and swift performance of what they had concluded Scarce was the Earl of Dowglass in England when the Earl of Ross the two Pillars of his Designs being Injustice and Violence supported by fair hopes from the South with his wild Mountainers and Islanders like an inundation over-runneth the Neighbour bounds Argile suffereth the first effects of their fury the Isle of Arran is taken and the Castle made a Bon-fire as if they were the Sacrifice for the sins of the rest the Bishop of the Isles saveth himself by flight and taketh Sanctuary Lochquebar and Murrayland are spoiled the Town of Innerness is set on fire the Castle surprised Murders Ravishings Robberies with what insolency the barbarous Canibals could commit are every where and the sad image of death ravageth amongst the common people The Earl of Dowglass now at his last shifts and efforts leaveth no shifts nor helps unsought out such who lived upon prey and spoil resort unto him he maketh hot incursions and after a most hostile manner which purchaseth him the hatred of all his Country-men and turned those who were indifferent in his quarrel his professed enemies this ravage continuing Henry Earl of Northumberland after slain at Caxtoun-field whom love of the valor of the House of Dowglass and the true commiseration had brought to take arms with him invadeth one quarter of the Marsh and the Earl of Dowglass turneth towards another But whilst they are dispersed and more eager and intentive to carry away spoil than to look to their own safety and military discipline the Earl of Anguss with Sir James Hamilton of Cadyow put them both with number and confusion overborn to flight slaying many and taking more Prisoners After this overthrow during the Kings reign the Earl of Dowglass deliberating not to oppose longer to necessity but to be still till better times never attempted to Invade his Country Amidst these incursions the Earl of Ormond at Edenburgh is beheaded the Countess of Dowglass Beatrice all hopes being lost of restoring her Husband despoiled of her Lands and fair Heritage turned now a Monster
a neighbour Prince were sufficient to keep him safe on his Throne which by this match was endangered They suggested that the Boyds builded their estimation in the air of popular applause and endeavoured to endear themselves in the opinion of the multitude A Prince is not a Lord of that people that loveth another beter than him Should the Boyds be accused of peculate and robbing the King and the common Treasure the King might make a prey of their unlawful conquest and by their Attaindors reward the services of many of his necessitated friends it being acquired most part by spoils and the taxing of the Subjects unlawfully The height to which their riches was encreased should be feared the faults of all the disorders of the Commonwealth are laid upon the Boyds as the Authors of every breaking out and sedition that they might the more securely possess the places near the King At this time complaints from all parts of the Kingdom and by all sorts of persons incessantly being given unto him advance the intentions of their Enemies and the Kings mind naturally inclined to fears and superstition being long tossed and perplexed began to turn away from the Boyds and with their power in some degrees brought lower and lessened Preambles of Ruine but he would go leasurely to produce this effect and make one change bring forth another The King encreasing in years and youthful perturbations is counselled for the continuing of the Race and Succession and the keeping his Person without the common disorders of the world to think upon some match profitable for his Country and honourable for himself He is courted by many and courteth others the Duke of Burgundy had offered him his Daughter as to other Princes his friends and neighbours but his mind was not to have her married at all during his life-time Andrew Stwart Lord Evandale then Chancellour of the Kingdom with the Bishops of Glasgow and Orknay being sent Embassadours to Christern King of Denmark for an accommodation and taking up some business concerning the Isles of Orkenay and Schythland One thousand four hundred sixty eight the quarrel was taken away by a marriage to be celebrated between the King and Lady Margaret King Christerns daughter a Lady thought worthy of his bed in respect of the excellency of her beauty her royal descent and greatness of her birth All matters being agreed upon these Isles engaged for her Dowry there wanted only an honourable retinue and convoy to bring home the Lady To this Negotiation by the craft of some about the King and vanity of others who gloried to see their friend promoted to such great honour Thomas Earl of Arran as a man flourishing in fame and riches and able to maintain and discharge all magnificence is deputed as the fittest person Thus by the ambition and unattentiveness of his friends his worth was made the Scaffold of his Ruine the lamentable condition of men of high desert In the beginning of the Harvest accompanied with some young Noblemen and Gallants most of which were his select friends and well-wishers he ascendeth his ships Whilst as the King of Scotlands brother in law he is some months riotously entertained at the Danish Court the rigor of that Northern Climate by the congealing of the Ocean moored up his ships and barred all return till the following Spring In this absence of a man so near unto the King his Father and Uncle by age sickness and their private affairs not so frequently haunting the Court as they were accustomed the Kennedyes and they of the contrary Faction having shaken the Kings affection and broken these bands his pleasures idleness and vacancy from the publick affairs of the State by which the Boyds thought they had kept him sure move him now a little delighting in action to proceed to the consideration of such matters as might be objected against the Government of the Boyds But that this might not appear to be an act of Faction but the universal consent of the Kingdom apart a Parliament was summoned to be holden in November at Edenburgh Here Robert Lord Boyd with his brother Sir Alexander are summoned to answer in Judgment to such points as should be exhibited against them At the appointed day the Lord Boyd appeared but accompanied with such multitude of the common people and numbers of his friends vassals and followers all in arms with such ostentation and boasting that the King and Courtiers were well pleased to suffer them dissolve and scatter of their own free wills At this insolency and malepartness yet to our own time an usual custom in Scotland the King conceived such indignation that he raised a strong guard to attend justice and his commandments and laid secretly Forces to assist these if the Boyds should oppose his laws by convocation of the Lieges The Lord Boyd after private intelligence of the Minds of the Court to blow him up rather amazed than in choler at the change of his Masters mind fled into England his brother Sir Alexander arested by sickness and relying upon his own integrity more than he ought to have done considering the malice of his enemies was brought before the Parliament his brother and he were challenged that upon the tenth of July One thousand four hundred sixty six they laid hands upon the Kings Person and against his purpose brought him off the high way to the Castle of Calendar and that by their private power and consent contrary to the established order of the State and the other Regents advice they brought the King to Edenburgh when Sir Alexander sought to produce an act of Parliament for abolition of approbation of this deed as good service it was kept up and he being condemned had his Head cut off Their other accusations contained the topical faults of Favourites that they had enriched themselves out of the Kings Treasure monopolized things belonging to the Crown diminished the Revenues thereof removed worthy men from the Council placing such in their rooms as had dependency from them Thomas Earl of Arran employed in a Publick charge by the kingdom absent unheard is declared Rebel with his father and his moveables escheated to the King to his original faults was added that he dared marry the Kings Sister without consent of the States the King being of non-age At the noise of this thunder clap Robert Lord Boyd left this world at Anwick No sooner had the Spring rendred the Baltick Seas Navigable when the Danish Lady with her Fleet Anchored in the Forth The Earl of Arran who was the Paranymphe and her convoy in that general gladness by the persuasions of some of his friends was preparing to come on shore and to submit himself to the Kings clemency but his Lady who had afar discerned his danger coming abroad disguised and giving him particular information of the calamity of his house the weakness of his friends at Court and the many snares envy and malice had laid to surprise him he hoysted Sails
to the Cannons Gate in Edenburgh the King compassionate of his disease sendeth his Physitians to attend him they to restore his understanding which was molested open some veins of his head and arms in which time whether by his own disorder or misgovernment in his sickness the bands being loosed which tyed the lancing or that they took too great a quantity of blood from him he fainted and after sowning died unawares amongst the hands of his best friends and servants These who hated the King gave out that he was taken away by his command and some Writers have recorded the same but no such faith should be given unto them as to B. W. E. who was living in that time and whose Records we have followed who for his place could not but know and for his possession would not but deliver the very Truth certain Witches and Sorcerers being taken and examined and convicted of Sorcery at this time and being suborned they confessed that the Earl of Marr had dealt with them in prejudice of the King and to have him taken away by incantation For the Kings Image being framed in Wax and with many spels and incantations baptized and set unto a fire they perswaded themselves the Kings person should fall away as that Image consumed by the fire and by the death of the King the brothers should reach the Government of the State with such vanities was the common people amused Alexander Duke of Albany imputing the death of his brother to the favourites of the King and a vouching them to have been the occasioners of his distraction stirred the Nobility and People to revenge so foul a deed but whilst he keeps private meetings with them of his Faction in the Night to facilitate their enterprise betrayed by some of his followers he is surprised and imprisoned in the Castle of Edenburgh Out of which about the appointed time of his tryal by the killing of his keeper he escaped and in a Ship which to that effect was hired sailing to the Castle of Dumbar of which he had the keeping he passed to France After the escape of the Duke of Albany the Lord Evandale Chancellour of the Kingdom raising the power of the nearest Shires beleagured the Castle of Dumbar the besieged unprovided of Victuals as men expecting no such alterations betake themselves in small Boats to the Sea and came safe towards the Coasts of England The Castle having none to defend it is taken some Gentlemen in pursuit of the flying souldiers by their own rashness perished The Kings of Scotland and England tossed along with civil troubles and affecting peace with all their neighbours by an equal and mutual consent of thoughts send at one time Ambassadors to one another who first conclude a Peace between the two Nations and that the Posterity might be partakers of this accord contract afterwards an Alliance between the two Kings It was agreed that the Princess Cicilia youngest daughter to King Edward should marry with James Duke of Rothsay when they came to years of discretion A motion heard with great acceptance but it was thought by some familiar with King Edward and in his most inward Counsels that really he never intended this marriage and that this negotiation aimed only to temporize with Scotland in case that Louys of France should stir up an Invasion of England by the King of Scotland King Louys at this time had sent one Doctor Ireland a Sorbonist to move King James to trouble the Kingdom of England and to give over the projected marriage which when King Edward understood knowing what a distance was between things promised and performed to oblige King James and tye him more strongly to the bargain that this marriage might have more sway he caused for the present maintenance of the Prince and as it were a part of the Dowry of Lady Cicilia deliver certain sums of money to King James Notwithstanding of which benevolence the witty Louys wrought so with the Scottish Nobility that King James sent Embassadors to the King of England entreating him not to assist the Duke of Burgundy his brother in Law against King Lovys which if he refused to do the Nobility of Scotland who were now turned insolent would constrain him by reason of the ancient League between the French and the Scots to assist the French The Duke of Albany during his abode in France had married a Daughter of the Earl of Bulloigne she was his second Wife his first having been a Daughter of the Earl of Orkenay a Lady of great Parentage and many Friends who incessantly importuned King Lovys to aid the Duke for the recovery of his Inheritance and places in the State of Scotland out of which he was kept by the evil Counsellors of his brother Louys minding to make good use of his brother and underhand increasing discords and jealousies between him and the King of England slighting his suits told him he could not justifie his taking of Arms to settle a Subject in his Inheritance That Princes ought to be wrought upon by persuasion not violence and he should not trouble a King otherways then by Prayers and Petitions which he would be earnest to perform Upon this refusal the Duke of Albany having buried his Dutchess troubled with new thoughts came to England King Edward with accustomated courtesies receiving him giveth him hopes of assistance entring of in communication with him how to divert the Kingdom of Scotland from the invasion of his Dominions at the desire of the French the Agents and traffickers of Louys lying still in Scotland and daily bribing and soliciting the Scots Nobility to necessitate the English to stay at home The Duke freely and in the worst sense revealed the weakness of his Kingdom that his King was opinionative and had nothing of a Prince in him but the Name His ungoverned Spirit disdained to listen to the temperate Counsel of sober men obeying only his own judgment Such who govern'd under him were mean persons and of no account great only by his favour and indued with little virtue who ruling as they listed and excluding all others made use of his Authority for their own profit and advantage The Nobility were male-contents and affected a change in the Government which might easily be brought to pass by the assistance of King Edward If he would help to raise some civil broyls and dissention in the Nation it self he needed not to be in fear that they could or would trouble his country by any Invasion The King hearing the Duke manifest what he most affected approving his judgment promised him all necessaries and what he could desire to accomplish the design and he undertaketh by some fair way to traffick with the Nobility of Scotland for an alteration of the present form of Government After a dangerous intelligence the Lords of Scotland who under the shadow of the Publick good but really out of their disdain and particular interests conspired against the King send the
Duke word the golden Age could not be fram'd nor arms taken for the good of the Commonwealth nor the State alter'd without the sequestring of those from the King who misgovern'd him And these could not be remov'd by that power which was amongst themselves without great danger and trouble considering the Kings Faction and the Malignant Party If King Edward would agree to the raising of an Army in England in favour of the Duke of Albany and for restoring him to his Places and Inheritance out of which he was most unjustly ejected and other pretences of which they should afford the occasions which no way should do harm to the Kingdom of Scotland disorder'd already and laid waste more by the licence of a Tyrant in Peace than it could have been by War and at this time bestow upon them favours as they might one day hereafter challenge to receive the like the Nobility of Scotland should be ready with another Army not to fight but to seize upon the Kings Favourites and misgovernors of the State for which the English should have many thanks That this Enterprize could not but prove most successful the hatred of the Commons considered against such violent oppressions The King was fallen into so low esteem that assaulted by the English he would be constrain'd by the submission of his Crown to intreat for safety The King of England understanding this was to touch the finest string of State and Dominion for it is a matter of much consequence and main importance to defend the Subjects of another Prince for under this Mask and pretence of protecting the Liberties of a People of assistance and aid an Usurpation and oppression of all Liberty might be hidden and many have established and setled themselves in those Kingdoms which they came to relieve from Tyranny and the Oppression of their Rulers keeping by Force what was granted to them at first by way of trust and under the colour of helping usurped a Sovereignty agreeth easily to what was demanded and resolved upon The Lords of the Association to play more covertly their Game and mask their intentions the Commons ever suffering and paying for the faults and errors of the great ones give way for the breaking loose of the Borderers Fierce incursions by the English are made upon Scotland and by the Scots upon England some Villages on either side are burnt The secrecy to this business which was inviolably observed was of great importance which is the principal knot and tye of great affairs Rumours are spread that the Dukes of Gloucester and Albany with James late Earl of Dowglass and Alexander Jerdan and Patrick Halyburton men proscrib'd and upon whose heads a price was set were at Anwick with a powerful Army and in their march towards Kelso The King wakned out of his Trances by the Alarms of his Nobility and clamors of the People made Proclamations to all between sixty years and sixteen to meet him at Edenburgh and to be in readiness to oppose their old enemies of England now come upon the Borders After many delayes and much loytering an Army is assembled by the Nobility which consisted of Two and twenty thousand and five hundred and a number of Carts charged with small Ordinance New Incursions being blazed to have been made by the English the King amidst these Troops marched to Lawder The Army was encamped and all things Ordered the best way the occasion could suffer them little or nothing being left to Fortune if the English should Invade whom the Lords knew were not at all yet gathered and though gathered and in a Body and upon the Borders or nearer would never Invade them The King at this time is marvellously perplexed and become suspicious of the intentions of his Nobility in this Army in this confusion of thoughts fell upon two extreames In his demeanor and conversation too familiar and inward with his old Domestick Servants and Favourites which rendred them insolent believing the bare Name of King to be sufficient whilst weakness and simplicity had made him despised and them hated and too retired reserved and estranged from his Nobility which made them malicious This he did as his pensiveness conjectured that his Nobles should not attempt any thing to the prejudice of his royal Authority independant of any Council But what he most feared came to pass he resolved and dispatched all matters by his Cabinet Counsel where the Surveyor of his Buildings was better acquainted with the affairs of the State than the gravest of his Nobility This preposterous course of favour made the great men of the Kingdom to fall headlong upon their rash though long projected attempt After many private conferences in their Pavillions the Chiefs of the Insurrection as the Earls of Anguss Lennox Huntley the Lords Gray Lile and others about Midnight come together in the Church of Lawder with many Barons and Gentlemen Here every of them urging the necessity of the times and the dangers the Commonwealth was like to fall into requireth speedy resolutions and having before premeditated deliberated and concluded what to follow they draw up a League and confederation of mutual adherence in this order Forasmuch as the King suffereth himself to be governed by mean persons and men of no account to the contempt of the Nobility and his best Subjects and to the great loss of the Commons The Confederates considering the imminent dangers of the Kingdom shall endeavour to separate the Kings Majesty from these naughty upstarts who abuse his Name and Authority and despise of all good men and have a care that the Commonwealth receive no dammage And in this quarrel they shall all stand mutually every one to the defence of another The design agreed upon and the Confederacy sworn the Chiefs of them in Arms enter the Kings Pavillion where after they had challenged him of many misorders in his Government contrary to his Honour the Laws and good of his Kingdom they took Sir William Roger a man from a Musitian promoted to be a Knight James Homill Robert Cochran who of a Surveyor of his works was made Earl of Mar or as some mitigate that Title Intromittor and taker up of the Rents of that Earldom by whose device some Authors have alledged copper moneys had been coyned by which a dearth was brought amongst the Commons which as others have recorded was an unjust imputation for that copper money was coined in the Minority of the King in the time of the Government of the Boyds with others All these being convicted by the clamours of the Army were immediately hanged upon the Lidder John Ramsey a youth of eighteen years of age by the intreaties prayers embraces of the King was preserved Thus they the late objects of envy were turn'd and become the objects of pity and compassion The body of the Commons and the Gentry of the Kingdom by this notorious act at Lawder being engaged and being made partakers of the Quarrel of the discontented Noblemen
and for their own safety tyed to second and assist all their intentions and to advance their ends The King is conveyed to Edenburgh and shortly after he either enclosed himself in the Maiden Castle as his Lodging or which is more probable was there by the contrary Faction committed as his Prison the Earl of Athol and some other Lords being appointed to attend him During this time the general humours of the Kingdom being ripe for mischief Alexander Duke of Albany every thing falling right as it was plotted prevailed so with King Edward that the Duke of Gloucester the King of Englands brother with the Title of Lieutenant General for him set forwards toward Scotland The Army consisted of Two and twenty thousand and five hundred In his retinue went of the Nobility Henry Earl of Northumberland Thomas Lord Stanley with them was the Duke of Albany The Earl of Dowglass came not being reserved for an after-game The Duke of Albany having been before Commander of Berwick and a Man who was still in his absence beloved of that Garrison diverted the Duke of Gloucester from Anwick where he had incamped in June to assail the Town of Berwick By his intelligence they enter the Town without great opposition and it is given up to their discretion The Castle by the Lord Hails the Captain was made good against their assaults The Duke of Gloucester fore-seeing that this Siege would spend much time considering the uncertainty of events and being invited to march forward by the Lords of the association of Scotland committing the charge of assailing the Castle to the Lord Stanley Sir John Elrington and Sir William Parr with the body of the Army marched directly to Edenburgh The Country lay open to their Invasion no Army taking the Field to oppose them they came in Scotland the twentieth day of August One thousand four hundred eighty two 1482. The Army encamped at Restlerig the Duke himself entred the Town of Edenburgh which at the intreaty of the Duke of Albany who was his Harbinger he spar'd receiving such presents as the Citizens offered unto him His entry seeming rather a Triumph than Hostile Invasion The King being shut up from him and immured in the Castle the Duke by a publick writing at the Market Places gave out high Demands That King James should perform what he had Covenanted with his Brother King Edward That he should give satisfaction for the Damage done the English during the last Inroads of the Borders which if he refused to accomplish he as Lieutenant to his Brother was to exact of him and take satisfaction of his Country denouncing him open War and proclaiming him all Hostility King James forsaken of his People and wronged by his Lords laying aside his Passions and taking to him more moderate and discreet thoughts as a Man in Prison answered nothing to his Demands The Lords who by their Kings misfortune had reckon'd their felicity having obtain'd what they chiefly desir'd to obviate the common and last danger the thraldom of their Kingdom by these strangers whom they had drawn into the Country for the recovery of their liberties assemble themselves together at Hadington with some Companies not to Fight but to Supplicate They sent the Lord Darnley and the Elected Bishop of Murray to entreat a suspension of Arms and require a firm and lasting Peace for time to come The beginning of the War and taking of Arms was for the safety of this the neighbour Country of England miserably thral'd by a licentious Prince there was nothing more unworthy of a King or Republick than not to keep their promis'd Faith The English could have no colour for executing their indignation further upon this Country which already by the rapine of their own Men was impoverish'd and unmanur'd Only now to be recover'd by entertaining Peace with their Neighbours and amongst themselves They require that the Marriage contracted between the Prince of Rothesay and Lady Cicily King Edwards Daughter might be accomplish'd when it should please the King of England and the age of the two Princes might suffer it For any spoil taken in these last incursions the interest considered upon both sides satisfaction should be given out of the publick contributions The Duke of Gloucester as forgetting and seeming not to know the grounds of their coming into the Country and looking to nothing more than his own Fame and Glory Answer'd his coming into Scotland was to right the honour of his Country so often violated and to restore the Duke of Albanie unjustly commanded to Exile to his own native soyl and the dignity of his Birth as concerning the Marriage of the Prince of Scotland with the Daughter of England He knew not how his Brothers resolution stood at the present whereupon he requir'd repayment of the monys lent to their King upon their first agreement and withal a delivery of the Castle of Berwick up into his hands or if they could not make the Castle to be render'd they should give their oaths upon the holy Evangelists that they should neither assist the Besieged or harm the Besiegers till the Castle were either by Force taken or upon fair conditions rendred The Lords having received this Answer yielded freely to all the Conditions except they found themselves perplexed in the rendring of Berwick it being a Town of old appertaining to the Crown of Scotland though by force and Violence the English had a long time kept it That did not take away their right and Title After much contesting agreeing to the surrender of Berwick they desired that the Walls of the Town should be demolished that it might not be a place of Tyranny and Incursion over their bordering Countries No arguments could prevail against the Duke of Gloucesters Resolutions and being stronger in Power he persever'd in his demands and in all likelihood this was agreed upon between the Duke of Albany and the Confederate Lords and the English before their entring Scotland Thus the Castle and Town of Berwick returned to the English the Twenty fourth of August One thousand four hundred eighty two after it had been delivered by Queen Margarite to gain Sanctuary for her Husband King Henry when expelled England and remained in the Possession of the Scots twenty and one years They likewise appointed a day for restitution of all the Monys lent by King Edward and promised upon a full discussion to make satisfaction for all dammages done the English by any Inroad of the Scottish Borders For the Duke of Albanies provision whose safety was principally pretended in this Expedition a general Pardon was promised for him and all his followers Together with an abolition of all discontents whereby he had given unto him the Castle of Dumbar with the Earldoms of Mar and March he should be reinvested in all his former Dignities and Places and by consent of the Nobility of Scotland he was Proclaimed Lieutenant of the Kingdom The Peace Proclaimed the Duke of Gloucester in
abolition for all was past and the Kings hand at it they doubted not to null and make it void All being done by a King constrained by a powerful Army and a close Prisoner which writing could not oblige any private man far less a King what he then bargained was upon constraint and yielded unto upon hopes of saving his life and an Act exacted by force The Duke of Albany finding by the Malice and detraction of a malignant Faction his Brothers countenance altered towards him and danger the requital of his late setting him at liberty the established reconciliation being shaken by suspicions and fancy of revenge obeying necessity fled to his Castle of Dumbar out of which he came to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester the consideration of his grievances In his absence he is convinced of many points of Treason besides the being accessary to the taking of Berwick by the English As his dangerous and long intelligence with the King of England his sending of many Messengers at all occasions unto him That without any safe conduct or pass from his Brother and not so much as acquainting him he had left the Country come into England to devise Conspiracies against his King and native Kingdom The Lord Creighton as his friend associate and complice is forefeited with him against whom Informations were given That often and divers times under the pretence of hunting secretly with the Duke of Albany he rode into England and there meeting with Commissioners sent by King Edward he deliberated of matters concerning novations and of the altering the State That there he kept appointments with James Earl of Douglass the often quench'd fire-brand of his Country That in spight of the Kings Forces sent their to lie in Garrison he kept the Castle of Creighton The greatest discontent the King conceived against him was love to one of his Sisters and some feminine jealousies When the Duke understood the proceedings against himself and the Lord Creighton and that for their contumacy and not appearing to answer and give in their answer they were convict of Treason and their Lands to be seized upon He caused give up the Castle of Dumbar of which he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately placed by Sea a Garrison in it About this time Edward King of England left this World One thousand four hundred eighty three and his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester did first take the name of Protector and Governour of the Kingdom of England and after his Brothers Sons put in the Tower and their Mother the Queen taking Sanctuary in the Month of June possest himself of the Crown The Duke of Albany finding that Richard by his change of Fortune had not changed his affection towards him imploreth his Aid in restoring him to his own and repairing not his wrongs alone but a wrong done in his sufferings to the King of England sith there was now an open breach of the Truce and Peace so solemnly by him set down and confirmed by his Brother If he could be furnished but with a few number of choice men of reputation and power to pass into Scotland and take a tryal of the Minds and good will of his Friends and Confederates he doubted not at his entring the Country to find numbers who by his presence would hazard upon the most desperate dangers Richard finding the man his Supplicant with whom he endeavoured once an entire friendship and whose advancement in Authority he had most studied condescendeth that five hundred men and Horses should be chosen upon the borders with others who were outlaws and necessitated sometime to make incursions and with James the old Earl of Douglass a man well known and renowned in the West-borders should make an in-road into Scotland The two and twentieth day of July the banished Champion having chosen a good number of their borderers put forward towards Loch-Maben to surprize a Fair spoil a publick Market seize upon all the Buyers and Sellers which here meet and Traffick every St. Magdalens Festival under pretence of Devotion and the liberty of Trading many English had hither resorted at the twelfth hour of the day when the Merchants and Country-people were in greatest security the Burse is Invaded and not Bloud but Wares sought after the Laird of Johnstoun who was Warden and Laird of Cockpool with many stout Borderers having Surveyed and Ridden through the places where the People were met to prevent and hinder all disorders and dangers at the noise of an Incursion of the English dispatch Posts to the adjacent bounds for supply and in the mean time rencounter the Plunderers of the Fair. Here is it Fought with greater courage than force and in a long continued Skirmish the danger of the loss stir'd up and incited the parties as much as Fame and Glory The day was near spent leaving the advantage to either side disputable when the supply of fresh men come to defend their Country and Friends turned the Fortune of the Fight and put the English borderers all to the rout The Duke of Albany by the swiftness of his Horse and the good attendance of his Servants winneth English ground but the Earl of Dowglass loaden and heavy with years and arms is taken by Robert Kirken-patrick who for that service got the lands of Kirk-michael and brought as in triumph to Edenburgh It is Recorded that when the Earl was come in the Kings presence he turn'd his back and refus'd to look him in the face considering the many outrages he had perpetrated against his Father and this late offence The King taken with the goodly personage gravity and great age of the man commiserating his long patience and cross fortune being in his young days designed to be a Church-man confin'd him as in a free Prison in the Abacy of Lyndores Besides he considered that when occasion served he might bring him out of this solitariness and in these turbulent times by his counsel and presence play more advantageously his game of State being a man of long experience in the affairs of the World and the most learned of all his Nobility He was now become tyred of the Earl of Anguss the remembrance of his first offence remaining deeply ingraven in his heart and to counterpoise his greatness this was the only weight The Duke of Albany found little better entertainment in England the Battel being lost some men taken and killed this being the first road upon Scotland under the Reign of Richard who had been formerly so fortunate in his own Person his Fame injur'd and reputation by this diminished the Duke began to be disliked and was not received with that kindness he was wont whereupon by the Assistance and Convoy of John Liddale he secretly retired to France After the Road of Lochmaben sundry incursions are made by the Scots upon the English borders and by the English upon the Scottish The Champian ground is scoured houses are burnt booties taken
remain'd lay hold upon this Overture and beginning from their particulars they make the cause to be general They spread Rumours abroad that the King was become terrible and not to be trusted notwithstanding all his Protestations and Outward demeanour that he yet meditated Revenge and had begun to invade and shake the ancient Priviledges of the Humes more out of spight and discontent against them for having assisted and follow'd the Lords of the Reformation of the State than any intention of the increasing the Rents of his new erected Chappel That ere long he would be avenged upon all whom he either knew were accessary or suspected to have been upon the Plot of Lawder Bridge or his Committing in the Castle of Edenburgh That it was sometime better to commit a fault unpardonable than venture under the Pardon That the King had taken a Resolution to live upon the Peoples contributions and give his own Revenues to particular Men. The faults of his Counsellours are highly exaggerated They are base Persons and he himself given to dissimulation misdevotion and revenge as occasion served he would remember old wrongs It was good to obey a King but not to lay the head upon a Block to him if a Man could save himself After long smother of discontent and hatred of the Nobility and People Rankor breaking daily forth into Seditions and alterations The Lord Hume and Haylles being the Ring-Leaders many Noblemen and Gentlemen under fained pretences especially the courses of swift Horses keep frequent meetings Where they renew their Covenant agreed upon at Lawder Church the necessity of the times and the danger of the Commonwealth requiring it and gave their Oaths that at what time soever the King should challenge them directly or indirectly or wrong them in their Rights Possessions Places Persons They should abide together as if they were all one Body marry each others quarrels and the wrongs done to any one of them should be done to them all When the King understood the Confederacy of the Lords to anticipate the danger he made choice of a Guard for the preservation of his Person and Servants Of which he made John Ramsay of Balmayne a Man whom he had preserved at Lawder and advanced to be Master of his Houshold at Court Captain giving him a Warrant not to suffer any Man in Arms approach the Court by some miles This in stead of cooling exasperated the Choler of the Male-contents and stirr'd them to assemble with numerous Retinues all in Arms. The King scarce believing the Minds of so many were corrupted and persuading himself the Authority of a King would supply the want of some Power summon'd certain of them upon fourty days to answer according to Law Of those some rent his Summons and beat shamefully his Heraulds and Messengers for discharging their Offices Others appeared but with numbers of their Adherents Friends Allies and Vassals And here he found that the faults of great Delinquents are not without great danger taken notice of and reprehended he used some Stratagems to surprise the Heads and Chiefs of their Faction But unadvisedly giving trust to the promises of those who lent their ears but not their hearts to his words his Designs were discovered before they produced any effects his secrets all laid open to his great hatred and disadvantage the Discoverers taking themselves to the factious Rebels and cherishing unkind thoughts in all whom they saw distasted with his Government Perceiving himself betrayed and his intentions divulged he remained in great doubt to whom he should give credit The nature and manner of all things changed by the League of the Confederates he thought it high time to remove a little further from that Torrent which might have overwhelmed him and made them Masters of his Person To temporize and win time caused furnish the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterling with provision of Victual Ammunition and Garrisons to defend them from the dangers of War he resolved to make his abode beyond the River of Forth and to leave the South Parts of the Kingdom After which deliberation he entred a Ship of Sir Andrew Wood a famous Navigator and stout Commander at Sea which pretended to make sail for the low-Countries and was lying at Anchor in the Forth These who saw him aboard spread a rumour that he was flying to Flanders The Lords of the Insurrection making use of this false report seized on his carriage in the Passages towards the North rifled his Coffers spoiled his Servants of their stuff and baggage And then after certainty that he was but Landed in Fyfe and from that was in Progress to the Northern parts preparing and directing his good Subjects to be in readiness to attend him at his return they surprized the Castle of Dumbar The monys found in his Coffers wage Soldiers against him and the Harness and Weapons of his Magazines arm them Having gathered some companies together tumultuously they overrun the Countries upon the South of the Forth rifling and plundering all men who went not with them or whom they suspected not to favour their desperate and seditious ends In his progress the King held Justice Courts at Aberdeen and Inneress where William Lord Creighton not long before impeacht with the Duke of Albany submitted himself to his Clemency and was received in favour and pardoned after which grace he shortly left this World Whilst the King in the North the Lords in the South are making their Preparations When they were assembled at Lithgow they find themselves many in number and strong in Power the success of their proceedings being above their hopes there only wanted a man eminently in esteem with the People and noble of Birth to give lustre to their Actions shadow their Rebellion and be the titular and painted head of their Arms. When they had long deliberated upon this great Man they assented all that there was none to be Parrallel'd to the Prince of Rothsay the Kings own Son So strongly Providence befools all human Wisdom and fore-sight his Keepers being corrupted by Gifts Pensions and promises of divers Rewards he is delivered into their hands and by Threats That they would otherwise give up the Kingdom to the King of England he is constrained to go with them To heighten the hatred against the King and the closlier to deceive the People for the love of Subjects is such towards their natural Kings that except they be first deceived by some pretences and notable sophism they will not arise altogether in Arms and Rebel they make Proclamations and by their Deputies by way of Remonstrances spread abroad Seditious Papers in what a Sea of blood would these men launch into that all true Subjects should come in defence of the Prince and take Arms because his Fathers jealousies and superstitious fears were risen to that height that nothing but his Sons Death or Imprisonment could temperate them That he was raising an Army to take his Son out of their hands that he might
middle Ward which the King led with which now the Earl of Bothwel with the power of Lothian was joyned fought it out couragiously body against body and Sword to Sword Numbers upon either side falling till darkness and the black shadows of the Night forced as it were by consent of both a Retreat Neither of them understanding the fortune of the day and unto whom Victory appertained Many brave Scots did here fall esteemed to above Five thousand of the noblest and worthiest Families of the Kingdom who choosed rather to die than out-live their friends and Compatriots The King 's Natural Son Alexander Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews the Bishop of the Isles the Abbots of Inchjefray and Kill-winny the Earls of Crawford Mortoun Arguyl Lennox Arrel Cathness Bothwel Athol the Lords Elphinstoun Areskin Forbess Ross Lovet Saintclare Maxwell with his three Brothers Simple Borthwick Numbers of Gentlemen Balgowny Blacka-Towre Borchard Sir Alexander Seatoun Mackenny with Macklean George Master of Anguss and Sir William Dowglass of Glenbervy with some Two hundred Gentlemen of their name and Vassals were here slain The English left few less upon the place but most part of them being of the common sort of Souldiers and men of no great mark compared with so many Nobles killed and a King lost the number was not esteemed nor the loss thought any thing of The Companies of the Lord Hume had reserved themselves all the time of the Fight keeping their first Order and when by the Earl of Huntley he was required to relieve the Battalions where the King fought he is said to have answered That that man did well that day who stood and saved himself After the retreat his Followers gathered a great booty of the spoils of the slaughtered This Fight began September the Ninth about four of the clock after Noon and continued three hours the year One thousand five hundred and thirteen About the dawning of the next Morning the Lord Dacres with his Horse-Troops taking a view of the Field and seeing the brazen Ordnance of the Scots not transported with most part of the faln Bodies not rifled sendeth speedy advertisement to the Howards and the pensive Army inviting all to the setting up of Trophies Spoil and transporting of their great Ordnance to Berwick amongst which were seven Culverins of like size and making called the Seven Sisters Divers diversly report of the Fortune of the King We without affirming any thing for certain shall only set down what Fame hath published a false Witness often of Human Accidents and which many times by malignant brains is forged and by more malignant Ears received and believed The English hold that he was killed in this Battle the Scots that many in like Arms with the like Guards were killed every one of which was held for the King Amongst others Alexander Lord Elphinstoun his Favourite who had married Elizabeth Barley one of the Dames of Honour of Queen Margarite He was a man not unlike to the King in face and stature and representing him in Arms in the Field with the valiantest and most couragious of the Army fought it out and acting Heroically his part as a King was killed heaps of slaughtered bodies environing his In the search where the Fight was the number taleness furniture of the dead bodies being observed their Faces and Wounds viewed his body as if it breathed yet Majesty was amidst the others selected acknowledged for his Masters brought to Berwick and embalmed That it was not the body of the King the girdle of Iron which he ever wore and then was not found about him gave some though not certain testimony Some have Recorded that the fortune of the day inclining to the English four tall men mounted upon lusty Horses wearing upon the points of their Launces for cognoscances Streamers of Straw mounting the King on a Sorrel Hackney convoyed him far from the place of fight and that he was seen beyond the Tweed between Kelso and Dunce After which what became of him was uncertain Many hold he was killed in the Castle of Hume either by the intelligence between the English and the Lord Humes kindred or out of fear for they were at the slaughter of the Kings Father and the most violent in that Fight or of hopes of great fortunes which would follow innovations and the confusion of the State being men who liv'd best in a troubl'd Commonwealth and upon the Borders One Carr a follower of the Lord Humes that same night the Battle was fought thrust the Abbot of Kelso out of his Abbacy which he never durst attempt the King being alive Another David Carbreth in the time of John the Governour vaunted that however John wronged the Humes he was one of six who had abated the insolency of King James and brought him to know he was a Mortal To these is added that the Governour John not long hereafter cut of the Heads of the Lord Hume and his Brother without any known great cause The Common people ever more addicted to Superstition than Verity believed he was living and had passed over the Seas and according to his promise visited the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine There for his other offences and the bearing of Arms against his Father in Prayers and Pennance he spent the remainder of his tedious days That he would return again when he found opportunity and the necessity of Europe requir'd him This report was of as great truth as that which the Burgundians have of the Return of their Duke Charles after the Battle of Nancy most of them believing he escaped from the conflict He was lost the twenty and five year of his Reign the thirty and ninth of his Age the Ninth of September One thousand five hundred and thirteen This King was of a vigorous body his stature being neither too tall nor too low of a pleasant countenance of a pregnant wit but by the faults of the times in which he lived not polished with Letters He excelled in Horse-manship Fencing and Shooting By much watching slender diet and use he was enabled to endure all extremities of Weather Scarcity or want of rest with good health of body He was just in giving judgment in punishing Malefactors severe yet tractable and moderate With the peril of some few he restrained vices and rather shook the Sword than struck with it He knew there were some things though Princes might yet they ought not to do He was easie of access most courteous in speech and meek in answering every man He was so far from being overtaken with anger or other violent perturbations that he was never observed to have given an evil or disobliging word to any or that the colour of his face changed by any offence offered him or informations given him relying without passion upon his own magnanimity He was of a free and liberal disposition far from any ostentation As he understood well the Art of giving so to acquire and purchase he was not sufficient of
her and the Infant her Son against all injuries to be offered them by Forrainers abroad of any of the Factious Nobility who would oppose themselves against her at home To which King Henry answered That with the Peaceable he would entertain Peace and with the Froward and Turbulent War If the Scots would live in Peace they should have it for his part but if they would rather Fight he was not to refuse them That her Husband had faln by his own indiscreet rashness and foolish kindness to France that he regretted his death as his Ally and should be willing to prohibite all hostility against the Country of Scotland during the minority of her Son for a remedy of present evils one years Truce and a day longer was yielded unto in which time he had leasure to prosecute his designs against France without fear of being disturbed or diverted by the Incursions and inroads of the Scots upon his Borders The Government of a Woman and a Child over a People ever in Motion mutinous and delighting in Changes could not long subsist firm nor continue after one fashion The first shake and disorders of the Kingdom arose and was occasioned by the ambition and avarice of the Church-men the Moth-worms of State being seconded by the Factious Nobles and Male-contents and it was the distribution of the Offices Places Benefices vacant by the deaths of those slain in the late Battel Andrew Forman Arch-Bishop of Burges Bishop of Murray and Legate to the Pope Julius Gavin Dowglass Bishop of Dunkel Uncle to the Earl of Anguss John Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews contend all three for the Arch-bishoprick of St. Andrews Gavin Dowglass was presented to it by the Queen Andrew Forman by the Pope John Hepburn was chosen by the Chapter his Canons and sundry of the Nobility favoured his Election they said also the place whilst it was vacant belonged unto him and his Party was so strong that none dared publish the Popes Bull in favour of Andrew Forman for many days Till Alexander Lord Hume then Chamberlain and Warden of the East Marshes won by many promises and the Abbacy of Coldingham engaged and presently given in hand to his younger Brother David in despight of the opposition or the Lord Haylles and the Faction of the Hepburns then seditious and powerful well backed by his Friends Vassals Adherents all in Arms caused publish and proclaim it at the Market cross of Edenburgh which action first incensed the Prior to Plot mischief against the Family of the Humes William Elphinstoun Bishop of Aberdeen by many of the Clergy and some of the Nobility had been desired to accept this Dignity but he refused it being now weary of earthly greatness and making for another World for at this time at Edenburgh he left this As ordinarily when one Faction is near extinguished the remnant subdivideth after these jars of the Church-men which were cherished by the Nobility the Nobles began to jar among themselves and grudge at others preferments Alexander Lord Gordon ruled and commanded the Countries Northward the River of Forth as Alexander Lord Hume Usurped almost a Royal Authority and commanded over the Countreys on South-side of the Forth the Earl of Anguss went about a fairer Conquest James Earl of Arran Lord Hamiltown being nearest in blood to the King could not but with indignation look upon the undeserved greatness of these Usurpers under the shadow of this Oligarchy turbulent evil disposed and men abhorring quietness ravaged the Country and did what they pleased Amidst these confusions the Queen in April brought forth the posthumous child in the Castle of Sterlin whom the Bishop of Cathness Abbot of Dumfermlin and the Arch-Dean of St. Andrews baptized and named Alexander After she was recovered and had required her wonted strength of Body she found the Authority of her place was turned weak and that she enjoyed nothing but the name of Governing the people delighting to live rather without rule and in all disorders than to be subject to the obedience of a Woman though a Queen After great deliberation and many essays in vain to curb their insolency and vindicate her Authority from their contempt as also to save her Son from the dangers of an insulting Nobility and settle her estate she resolved to Match with some Nobleman eminent in Power and worth who could and would Protect her and hers in greatest extremities Amongst the choice of the young Noblemen of Scotland for a long Succession of renowned Ancestors comeliness of Person noble conversation prudence in affairs of State being lovely courteous liberal wise none was comparable to the Earl of Angus him she determines to make Partner of her Royal Bed and Fortunes and as ordinarily in matters of love it falleth out by the impatience of delay without acquainting her Brother the King of England or the Nobles of the Kingdom with her design she afterwards marryeth him transferring if she could the whole weight of the Kingdom and the reins of the Government of the State into his hands having no more freedom in her own determinations No sooner was this revealed to the World when the Nobility and Gentry divided into two Factions one adhering to the Dowglass in whom kindred friendship long observance had bred hopes of benefit and preferment another of such whom envy of his greatness and advancement had made hungry of change The first would have the Government continued in the Queens person and her husband's because hereby the Realm should still have peace with England which at that time was the most necessary point to be respected The adverse Party of which the Lord Chamberlain was the Principal who was a man both in Power Parentage Riches equal if not beyond to many of the great Men of the Country importuned the Election of a new Governour and Protector of the young King The Queen losing by her marriage both the tutelage of her Son and the Government should not take to heart that another were chosen and put in her place Her marrying the Earl of Anguss had made him too great already to be a Subject the continuing of her in Authority would promote him to the greatness of a Prince Who should be Governour is upon both sides long and contentiously argued Many gave their voices for the Earl of Arran as being near in blood to the King and a man affecting peace more than others and every way sufficient for such a Charge The Chamberlain had determined of another and told it was a wrong to bar from so high an honour a man of the Masculine line in blood to the King and prefer one of the Femine John Duke of Albany Son to Alexander Duke of Albany the Brother of King James the Third before all others by all reason should be preferred to the Government Being demanded if he would the first to gave example to others set his hand to this Election he without pausing performed it with a protestation that though the rest
be presented to justice without some stir commotion tumult of the Grandees and their factious friends Amidst so many strong parties and confederate male-contents the Governour by the power of the Scots themselves and his own Kindred Friends and Followers were not powerful enough safely to administer justice for which cause the King of France should be implored to send hither competent forces to quell the insolencies and shake the pride of the factious Nobles The heads of the factions which had a principal sway in the Kingdom at that time would either be cut off or kept under but with such cunning and dexterity that it should not be perceived nor found out that many were aimed at and interessed when some few did suffer and fall That for the present there were three heads to be looked unto as feared and like to bring Novations in the State being men able to change the present Government The Earl of Anguss a man in the prime of his youth of high flying thoughts by his Alliance with the King of England and that estimation the people conceived of him by the demerits of his Ancestors and the singular love the Subjects bare him carryed a mind above the fortune of a private man and seemed not born to live a subjects life each action of his bearing in it majesty and magnificence he had power to hurt if he would hurt The Lord Chamberlain a man unpolisht stubbornly stout hazardous mighty in riches and power and consequently proud of a working mind and vehement Spirit whom time and experience had hardned by great exploits and most dangerous actions who had the malice to be a Spectator of the discomfiture of his Prince and Countrymen at Flowden was likely to attend the opportunity of traverses and changes The third was the Arch-Bishop Andrew Forman once Secretary to the Pope who though he was not of any Noble Stem nor descent of blood nor for his Followers Friends and Adherents much to be taken notice of or feared yet considering him as his Legateship pluralty of benefices many pensions from Princes had guilded him over and balancing him by his present treasure he could make a weak party strong and add weight to what side soever he inclined He was therefore with piercing eyes to be lookt into and all his actions and ways to be observed The Governour gave not great attention to what the Prior had instructed against the Arch-Bishop having before had some inkling of the rancor gnudge and enmity between them And he was conscious the Arch-Bishops riches were above envy he having been ever more solicitous magnificently to spend what he had acquired than hoord up Neither did he bestow so much upon any of his Countrymen as he did upon the French the Friends and Servants of the Governour He knew he was also so circumspect as not to adhere to any of the factions of the time in a neutrality indifferently and friendly entertaining all his Compatriots Nor was he much moved at his information concerning the Earl of Anguss finding him a man peaceable courteous to all and affable and though of aspiring thoughts carryed often away with his private delights and Courtly pleasures But what the Prior informed against the Lord Chamberlain he deeply ingraved in his memory and ever after his countenance bewrayed certain flaws of ill concealed discontent Neither did he thereafter shew him wonted favours which the Chamberlain observing and guessing at the change of the Governnors mind towards him by more than ordinary evidences and signs He having been the only man who wrought his advancement and coming to Scotland his deserts new either forgot or ungratefully remembred full of grief and disdain retired from the Court to his own Castles where when he had rested a while half astonished to see his hopes so frustrate he taketh new resolutions and determinations to play the Governour double or quite Hereafter he leaveth no means untryed to become entire with the Queen and her Husband and by observance and frequent meeting with them he wrought himself not only to be imbraced as their Friend but their Counsellor and one in whom they had great confidence He many times with them deplored the Publick Calamity when his own particular only stung him accusing himself of his too much forwardness in calling home a man born an Exile whose Father died banish'd for his ambition and had essayed to take the Crown from his Eldest Brother Sith this man was the nearest of blood to succeed who could not perceive his last work would be the making away the innocent Child his Pupil to ascend the Royal Throne himself in the height of Malice accomplishing what his Father out of a desire to Rule did Project By his tender years the King could not prevent his danger his Mother might anticipate it that new necessities requir'd new remedies only one Postern gate remained yet open which was that the Queen would transport her Son to England When this Plot was whisper'd to the Governour who wanted not his Emissaries among the Queens Attendants it was no sooner reveal'd than believ'd and no sooner believ'd when being a man who used celerity in all his Actions with as many men as hast could suffer him to gather forthwith marched from Edenburgh to Sterlin there unawares he surprized the Castle and in it the Queen with her two Sons A Council being assembled the King with his Brother Alexander are sequestred from their Mother and trusted to the custody of four Lords who by turns interchangeably should attend the two Princes and have a care of their education That no violence should be offer'd them certain Gentlemen of the French and Scots are appointed still to wait on nd guard them from this suspition the seeds of enmity began to be sown between the Queen and the Governour which neither time nor wisdom thereafter could take away and root out Amidst this storm of Court the Lord Chamberlain brought to a new traverse of his thoughts with his Brother Mr. William Hume fly towards England the Queen with her Husband and Sir George Dowglass his Brother with an unexpected suddenness hast to Tantallon and from thence to Berwick from which they had a convoy to the Nunnery of Colstream Here they attended advertisement from the King of England what course to follow and know his pleasure He recommended them to the Protection and care of the Lord Dacres and assigned the Castle of Harbottle in Northumberland for his Sisters residence during her abode in these Northern parts and the troubles of Scotland The Governour not a little perplexed at the flight and escape of those Conspiratours sendeth Embassadors to the Court of England to clear himself to the King of what might be surmised against him concerning these new strangers come to his Country He had done nothing which should have offended the Queen made her afraid or to entertain or harbour a sinister thought of his proceedings Neither did he intend any thing against these
labour from returning into Scotland again Eight Lords were chosen to have the custody of the Kings person quarterly every one his Moneths successively and the whole to stand for the Government of the State yet with this Limitation That the King by their Counsel should not determine nor ordain any thing in great affairs to which the Queen as Princess and Dowager gave not her free consent and approbation The Lords were the Arch-bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow the Bishops of Aberdeen and Dunkell the Earls of Anguss Arran Lennox Arguyl Time urging resolution the Lords of Parliament direct the Earl of Cassiles again to the Court of England to declare their resolution concerning the marriage of the King and the establishing a Peace between the Kingdoms The news of the overthrow of the French Army and the taking of their King at Pavia by the Imperialists being come to the Court of England before the Arrival of the Earl of Cassiles King Henry told the Scottish Embassadours in plain terms He could not determine any thing concerning the Marriage of his Daughter without acquainting the Emperour her neerest Kinsman and his Confederate with his proceedings which could not be done in hast and so soon as they required considering the troubles of Italy Hereupon the Embassadours their hopes of this Alliance delayed having obtained a Truce between the two Nations for the space of three years and three moneths faithfully to be kept returned to their own Country The State began of new to be tossed by the troublesom Factions of the Queen and Earl of Anguss the Original of which sprang from matters of the Church the Abbacy of Holy-rood-House falling vacant by the promotion of George Creightoun Abbot to the Bishoprick of Dunkell the Earl of Anguss to whom the custody of the King was entrusted either by lot or consent moved him to confer this Abbacy upon his Brother Mr. William Prior of Coldinham without acquainting the Queen with the Gift or seeking the consent of the other Rulers at this the Queen turned so displeased that abandoning the King to the pleasure of the Earl of Anguss She with her Followers retired to Sterlin By this inconsiderate retreat the Earl administred all alone leaning to the greatness of his own power that some might have thought the Queen set her Game to make up his All favours and punishments pass by him All Offices and Places of importance are distributed to his favourites He made Archembald Dowglass his Uncle Treasurer Sir George his Brother Great Chamberlain the Abbacies of Coldingham and Holy-rood-House were in his Brothers hands neither temporal nor ecclesiastical Dignity escapt him his greatness instantly procureth him envy The Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews the Earls of Arran Arguyl Murray who were of the Queens faction lay a plot to accuse Anguss of high Treason They challenge him That he kept the King against his will insolently restrained his Liberty and that contrary to the order established by the Estates which was that the custody of his person should every four Moneths by turns be allotted to the Governours of the Country in a Circle That he could not dispose of any thing of moment alone the contrary of all which he had usurped whereupon they charge him to dismiss the King and restore him to them and the other Counsellours equall in Government with him under the pain he should be reputed a Traytor and no loyal Subject for this invassalling his Prince to his attendance The Earl of Anguss himself to this answered not but Sir George his Brother moved the King to give the answer himself His Mother and those other Rulers should not be thus solicitous for him for with none more cheerfully willingly and contentedly could he live and spend his time than with the Earl of Anguss neither could he leave the company of one so highly favoured of his Uncle and so well meriting of himself For all this answer he had secretly sent Letters to his Mother and those of the adverse party intreating They would remove him from the Earl and not suffer him any longer to remain under his imperious Government and if it could not be otherways done to accomplish it by main force of arms if they had any pitty or if any Sparks of duty remained unquenched in them towards him if they dared Enterprize ought for a Royal though now thrâ—lled Supplyant or obey the Command of a King in Prison that the answer which he sent before unto them and his Mother was by constraint and compulsion drawn from him and far from his Mind Upon this advertisment the Queen and they of her Faction assemble what power they could raise in such a suddenness at Sterlin and with great expedition marched towards Edenburgh to separate the King from the Earl his Guardian Who resolved to repel force by force with the Townsmen of Edenburgh many friends and adherents and the King though against his will marched out of Edenburgh to encounter the fight of these Rebels When the Leaders of the Queens forces understood the King in person was in the adverse Army either dazled with the splendour of the presence of a King or fearing if they joyned in battel the person of their Prince might be endangered or that they found themselves not strong enough in number and arms for a Conflict they retired back again to Sterlin where they disbanded and returned every man to his own dwelling place The Queen with the Earl of Murray went to Murray-land the Earl of Arran and Arguyl to the West the Archbishop of St. Andrews to Dumfermling This Faction dissipated the Earl of Anguss remained more stable and assured of his Guardianship and now he findeth no Competitour The want of the great Seal being a hinderance to many of his projects and he disdaining to be a suiter to his enemy for dispatch of publick affairs caused the King send a Letter for it and the Archbishop with all respect sent it immediately to the Earl with whom to be equal he took himself to new Meditations The Queen many waies provokt by her Husband the Earl of Anguss and lastly by detaining her Son against his will and contrary to the publick course agreed upon the Archbishop persuaded her To intend a process of Divorcement against him and dissolve her marriage this might produce some great effect at least it could not but diminish the Earls reputation among the people The Queen and the Earl many times in private between themselves agreed upon a separation disliking each others conditions for it was fatal to her as to her Brother King Henry to delight in change of Wedlock and be jealous of her Matches The Earl is therefore cited before the Archbishop of St. Andrews to hear the sentence pronounced according to the Laws of the Church in those times at the day appointed he appeareth The Queen alledged He had been betroathed given his faith and promise of marriage to a noble woman of the Kingdom a daughter of
Traquare before the marrying of her and so by reason of that Precontract he could not be her lawful husband The Earl confesseth the Archbishop pronounceth the sentence of Divorcement but with this Reservation and Restraint That the Child come of the Queen and the Earl the time of their marriage by the ignorance of the Mother the Queen should not suffer any loss dammage or disadvantage The King of England resented highly this Divorcement endeavour'd by his Letters to hinder it for he thought some things tolerable in men which were incompetent and shameful in women and after never carried such respect to his Sister as he had done before Of these she made little reckoning for after the sentence given she married Henry Stuart Son to the Lord Evendale whom K. James to do honour to his Mother promoted to be Lord Meffan and General of his Artillery Whilst the King remained a shadow to the Earls Government amidst so many distractions discords and jars of the Grandees the Court turned solitary and unfrequented by any Noblemen save these of the Dowglasses own faction amongst which the Earl of Lennox shewed himself most indifferent For he for his own ends attending the Court in a short time so framed himself to the Kings humours that he delighted alone in his conversation and often had none of his inward thoughts and secret intentions from him Among others he many times importuned him to give him a sound advice how he might be delivered from the Earl of Anguss of whose bondage they had been long weary whose rule over him was now turned into tyranny his ambition having mounted to that height that he was not content to command the Kingdom but to thrall and keep under his Soveraign Lord the King himself that the effects of his Governing were the dispersing of his Nobles and banishing of his mother from him The Earl of Lennox who by his familiarity with the King was become suspicious of Anguss and had an intention to tumble out a man hated of his Prince establish himself in his place and rule the young King alone aggravating his and the Countries miseries told him after much intreaty The Lord of Balclough was the only person to be imployed in such a service a man of unlimited desires displeased strong in power mightily hated and who had inveterate hatred against the Earl of Anguss who wanted nothing but opportunity to execute his rancour If this conceived exploit had not a desired success then he himself would by main force either win his Prince or lose his life in the Enterprise The Laird of Balclough secretly advertised of the Kings intention giveth way to much oppression and many insolencies on the borders the redress of which re-acquired the presence of the Prince Complaints are given against them and the King to do justice companied with the Earls of Anguss Lennox Lords Hume Flamin Areskin Cesfoord Farnehast and others cometh to Jedbrough But when they had staied there some daies small redress was of wrongs no justice executed the chief men of the Borders not producing the Delinquents of their Names to answer according to law as was the ancient custom Thus as they came they were returning when at Melross as they hoverd at the passage of a Bridge over the Tweed certain companies of men in arms appeared on the descents of Hellidon Hill which being come within distance of discerning were known to be commanded by the Laird of Balclough and number'd a thousand all borderers and broken men The Earl of Anguss not a little mov'd at so sudden an apparition by an Herauld craveth to understand their intentions and how in such a hostile manner they dared come so near the Kings person withal charging them under pain of high Treason to retire The Laird of Balcloughs answer was he came to do the King service invite him to his house show him what forces he was able to raise upon the Borders when necessity should require his service and assistance That he would not obey a charge contrary to the Kings mind of which he was conscious and herewith he marched forwards Presently the Earl alighting on foot leaving the Earl of Lennox Lords Areskin Maxwell Sir George Dowglas Ninian Creightoun with the King as Spectators of the Game with the Lord Flammin and other his Friends marshall'd his Men for the Charge which was given with a great shout and clamor of these Borderers The Lord Hume Lairds of Farnehast and Cesfoord had taken their leave of the King who gladly dismist them but upon advertisement of the sudden fray being not far of they return in hast with an hundred Launces in good time for the Earl of Anguss and falling upon one of the Wings of Balcloughs troups force them to yield ground and some to turn their backs upon which suddenly followeth the Chase Cesfoord and Farnehast eagerly persewing Here at the descent of a little Hill by the blow of a Launce which a Domestick of Balcloughs threw from his Army the Laird of Cesfoord is slain and by his death the Chase left off to be follow'd and a long deadly fewd between the Scots and Cars was begun fourscore Borderers were kill'd in this bickering assisting Balclough himself was wounded with many of his friends the Earl of Anguss lost not a few besides the Laird of Cesfoord The Earl of Anguss after this road of Melross perceiving his enemies to increase and the affections of some of the Nobility turned from him composing the old difference between him and the Earl of Arran entered into condition of a strict friendship with him and was content he should be his partner and fellow governour in distribution of Casualities and ruling the Country When the King had considered how twice his intentions had been broken and unhappily without success he began to essay the third by the Earl of Lennox whom challenging of his promise he desired to gather an Army and joining his Forces with the Queens to restore him to his Liberty The Earl of Lennox before suspected after the League and friendship of the Earl of Anguss with the Earl of Arran became a declared enemy to Anguss withdrew himself from Court and some few Moneths being passed at Sterlin he maketh a Declaration to all the Lieges of his intentions inviting them to 〈◊〉 and side with his cause One thousand men came from the High-lands to him the Earl of Cassole and Master of Kilmayers come from the West with two thousand the Queen and Archbishop James Deutoun direct many of their Vassils from Fyffe to him Thus with three strong Briggades he marched towards Linlithgow The Earl of Anguss understanding these preparations to be against him imploreth the assistance of his best Friends to withstand them especially the Cars and Humes to whose valour he had lately been so far obliged He sendeth Letters to the Earl of Arran and the Gentlemen of the name of Hamiltoun regretting the estate of the Commonwealth requiring their speedy aid That in
Hume accepted that charge prosecute them where they might be apprehended till after much misery and night-wandring at home they were constrained with Alexander Drummond of Carnock who had been partaker of their misfortunes by his consanguinity with the Earls Mother who was Daughter to the Lord Drummond to fly into England where they were charitably received and honourably entertained by King Henry the Eight Now are the Offices and Lands of the Dowglasses disposed upon the Archbishop of Glasgow Gavin Dumbar is made Chancellor Robert Bartoun who was in especial favour with the King Treasurer great Customer General of the Artillery and Mines and other Charges are given unto others The King of England intended a War against the Emperor Charles the Fifth sendeth Embassadors to Scotland for a certain time to treat a Peace and if it were possible to reconcile the Dowglasses with the King Five years truce was resolved upon but for the Dowglasses the King would hearken to no offers only Alexander Drummond by the intercession of Robert Bartoun and the Embassadors had liberty to return home When the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Murray who had full power to conclude a Truce had met the other Commissioners upon the Borders the Factious great men and rank Ryders there put all in such a confusion by urging difficulties that they parted without agreeing unto any Articles or certain Conclusions which the King took in so evil a part that divining from what head this interruption sprung he committed sundry Noblemen to the Castle of Edenburgh till they gave Hostages and secured the Borders from invasion or being invaded In the month of June following with a great power he visited these bounds executing Justice upon all Oppressours Thieves and Out-Laws In Ewsdale eight and fourty notorious Riders are hung on growing Trees the most famous of which was John Arm-strong others he brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick Execution and Example as William Cockburn of Henderland Adam Scot of Tushelaw named King of Thieves The year 1530. the King instituted the Colledge of Justice before it was ambulatory removing from place to place by Circuits Suits of Law were peremptorily decided by Bayliffs Sheriffs and other Judges when any great and notable cause offered it self it was adjudged Soveraignly by the Kings Council which gave free audience to all the Subjects The power and priviledges of this Colledge was immediately confirmed by Pope Clement the Seventh In this Court are fifteen Judges ordinary eight of them being Spiritual Persons of the which the most antient is President and seven Temporal men The Chancellor of the Realm when he is present is above the President There are also four Councellors extraordinary removeable at the Princes pleasure This Institution is after that Order of Justice which is administred in Paris first instituted by Philip the Fourth the French King the year 1286. The King about this time storeth his Arsenals with all sort of Arms the Castles of Edenburgh Sterlin Dumbartoun and Blackness are repaired and furnisht with Ordnance and Ammunition Whilst no certain Truce is concluded between the Realms of England and Scotland the Earl of Angus worketh in this interim so with the King of England that Sir Edward Darcey is sent to the Borders who when his solicitation for restoring the Earl at the Scottish Court had taken no effect yea had been scorned after he had staied at Berwick with the Garrisoned Soldiers and some selected companies out of Northumberland and Westmerland maketh a Road into Scotland Coldingham Dunglas and adjacent Villages they burn ravage the Countrey towards Dunce Some Scottish Ships and Vessels were also at this time taken by Sea When a reason was sought of this Invasion in a Cessation of Arms and calm of Truce They require the Dowglasses may be restored to their ancient Inheritances and whatsoever had been with-held from them and that Cannabie a poor Abbacy be rendred to the English as appertaining of old to the Crown of England The Earl of Murray being declared Lieutenant maketh head against them but the English daily increasing in number and his Companies not being sufficient to make good against so many and large Incursions the power of Scotland is divided into four Quarters every one of which for the durance of fourty days by turns taketh the defence of the Countrey The English finding by this intercourse of new Soldiers the War to be prolonged would have gladly accepted of Peace but they disdained to sue for it to the Scots it was thought expedient that the French a Friend then to both should be a Mediatour to reconcile them wherupon after an Ambassador had come from France Commissioners first meet at Newcastle and after at London James Colvil of Easter Weyms Adam Otterburn of Redhall William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen the Abbot of Kinloss These conclude a Peace To continue between the two Realms during the two Princes lives and one year after the decease of him who should first depart this life About this time the secrets of the Ecclesiastical Doctrine and Authority beginning to be laid open to the view of the World the politick Government of Kingdomes began to suffer in the alteration and discovery The Lady Katherine Daughter to Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queen of Spain and Sister to the Mother of Charles the Fifth Emperor had been Married to Arthur Prince of Wales Eldest Son to Henry the Seventh King of England he dying by the dispensation of Pope Julius the Second her Father in Law gave her again in Marriage to Henry his other Son the Brother of Arthur This Queen though fruitful of Children and often a Mother brought none forth that long enjoyed life and came to any perfection of growth except one only Daughter Mary Her Husband either out of spleen against the Emperor Charles or desire of Male Children or other Causes known to himself pretended great scruples in his Conscience would make himself and the World believe that his Marriage was not lawful After deliberation with his Church-men whom he constrained to be of his mind he kept not longer company with his Queen his Church-men used all their eloquence to make the Queen accept of a Divorce which she altogether refused and had her recourse to the Pope who recals the cause to himself At Rome whilst in the consistory the case is made difficult and the matter prolonged King Henry impatient of delays and amorous divorceth from his own Queen and Marrieth Anne Bullen 1533. Then the Pope with his whole Cardinals gave out their Sentence That it was not lawful for him by his own authority to separate himself from his Wife that his Marriage with Katharine was most lawful not to be questioned and that under pain of Excommunication he should adhere unto her King Henry well experienced in the great Affairs of the World considering how the threatnings and thunders of the Bishops of Rome even in these ancient and innocent times when they were
which now for fear of their Lives they would be forced to forsake or to proceed with great timorousness and neglect if by any secular power they might be called in Judgment and embrue Scaffolds with their blood The Pope though highly provokt parted not from his Resolution yet used a sort of moderation he threatneth still to let fall the blow in the mean time holding his hand Thus to give satisfaction to his Court he formed a Process against King Henry and a most severe Sentence but abstained from the publication of it during his pleasure Secretly sending many Copies of it to those Princes he thought could be useful to his Designs when occasion should serve and he proceed with a constant rumor of the Bull shortly to be put in execution and publisht Amongst many interested in wrongs by the King of England considering there was none comparable to the Nation and King of Scotland he directeth hither John Antonio Compeggio This Legate findeth King James at Faulkland 22. February 1535. and here with many Ceremonies and Apostolical Benedictions delivereth him a Cap and a Sword Consecrated the Night of the Nativity of our Saviour which the fame of his valour and many Christian virtues had moved his Master to remunerate him with Also saith the Original that it might breed a terror in the heart of a wicked neighbouring Prince against whom the Sword was sharpned The Popes Letter in most submissive stile contained A Complaint for the death of John Bishop and Cardinal of Rochester miserably taken away by the hand of an Hang-man The Calamities of England occasioned by the Kings Divorce from Katherine of Spain and his Marriage with Ann Bullen That since the Roman Church had received great disgrace and a deadly wound and by patience procured more and more wrongs from the King of England She was constrained to use a searing Iron For the application of which She had recourse to his Majesty a Prince for his Ancestors piety and his own renowned His aid maintenance protection she implored Since King Henry was a Despiser a Scorner One who set at naught the censures of the Church an Heretick Schismatick a shameful and shameless Adulterer a publick and profest homicide Murtherer a Sacrilegious Person a Church-Robber a Rebel guilty of lese-Majesty Divine outragious many and innumerable ways a Felon a Criminal By all Laws herefore justly to be turned out of his Throne The King of Scotland for the Defence of the Church would undertake something worthy a Christian King and himself he would endeavour to suppress Heresie defend the Catholick faith against those whom the justice of Almighty God and judgments were now prepared and already ready to be denounced The King kindly entertained the Legate answered the Pope with much regret for the estate and stubborness of the King of England Who would not be struck with Pitty that a King who late amongst Christian Princes was honoured with the Title of Defender of the Faith should be obnoxious to so many Crimes that now amongst Princes he could scarce be reputed a Christian This Compassion was common to him with others but he by a necessity of Nature and nearness of Blood felt a more piercing sorrow he should leave no means untried to recal his Uncle to the obedience of the Church and though by his Embassadors he had once or twice went about the same but in vain he would study a way how face to face he might give him his best Counsel and remonstrate how much good he would do the Christian World and himself by returning again to the Church Mean while he requested him not to be heady forward nor rash in executing the Sentence against his Uncle which would but obdure him in his separation King James not having lost all hopes of his Uncle directeth the Lord Areskin to England to acquaint him with the Emperors and Popes Embassages and to take his Counsel about a Marriage with the Duke of Vandosons Daughter whom the French King had offered to him his own Daughter being weak and sickly In this Embassage there was a complaint against the Londoners who in their passage to the Island fishing spoiled the Coasts of Orknay and the adjacent Islands with a Roquest that King Henry would not succour the Lubeckers against the Duke of Hulstein The King of England not to prove inferior to the Emperour and Pope in conferring honours upon his Nephew admitteth him to the Fraternity of the Garter which he delivered to the Lord Areskin his Embassador And thereafter dispatched William Lord Howard Brother to the Earl of Norfolk as if that name were a sufficient Scar-crow to the Popes Sword and the Emperours Golden-fleece to Scotland who made such hasty Journeys that he prevented the News of his coming and at unawares found the King at Sterlin The Substance of his Embassage was That the King of England and Scotland might have an interview at York at which meeting the King of Scotland should be declared Duke of York and General Lieutenant of the Kingdom of England That his Master having Instructions of the Alliance offered him by neighbouring Princes did offer to his own and his Counsels judgments if they could find a more fit than to contract a Marriage with his Daughter which might be easily perfected if his Master and King James could condescend upon some few points When the King had taken these Propositions into deliberation the Church-men suspecting if this meeting and match had way the King would embrace the Opinions of the new Reformers set all their wits to overthrow it The nearest Successors to the Crown covering their claim and interest argued That to Marry the Lady Mary of England who for many years would not he marriagable was not a right way to continue his Race by procreation of Children and that his impatience of living alone would not be much abated by marrying a Child That King Henry projected this Marriage to no other end than to hinder him from better Alliances or to facilitate an entry to the Kingdom That when a Prince would take advantage of any neighbour Prince it was more safely done by Alliance than open force That it was more safely King Henry being a wary Prince never meant to marry his Daughter at all as long as himself lived but to keep her at Home with him bearing many Princes in hand to save him from Dangers both at home and abroad which counsel was practised lately by the Duke of Burgundy Most oppose neither to the meeting of the two Kings nor to the Alliance but to the place of their meeting which seemed unto them of no small importance being in the heart of England and amidst the most martial people of that Nation They require the two Kings might have their interview at Newcastle this place when they meet being most commodious for furnishing all necessaries by Ships That the number of their Train should be agreed upon as one thousand which none of the two Kings should
exeeed That the time should be at the Feast of Saint Michael the Arch-Angel between the Harvest and the Winter which would hast the consummation of the Ceremonies and not suffer the Kings to prolong time but invite their return to their own chief and principal Cities When it was declared to the Lord Howard that the consent of the Nobles of the Kingdom obtained the enterview at the Feast of Michaelmas at Newcastle might be condescended unto he would neither accept of the place nor time His Master having already as matter he had never put in question made great preparations for this interview at York that he would think his offers slighted and an affront put upon him if any excuses were alledged to the contrary Thus with some bravadoes to the Council he departed The King to give satisfaction to his Uncle of his Councils proceedings with the Lord Howard sendeth after him Sir Adam Otterburn of Red-hall who layeth the fault of his not appearing upon the Lord Howard complaining That he menaced the Counsellors and would have forced their Votes that he was a Friend to Sir George Dowglass and other Rebels who convoyed him to Scotland and accompanied him back again It was against the credit and honour of free born Princes to be threatned what was friendly begun should friendly continue and end Princes should not be constrained especially in matters which were not of Debt but benevolence Amidst these importunities and solicitations King James with five well manned Ships taketh the Seas giving out a Voyage for France and the French record it was his first adventure to come to them but it is more likely this proceeded from Policy of State to try the affections and demeanour of the great ones of his Kingdom in his absence rather than any intended Voyage towards Forreigners For with this Fleet he arriveth at Orkenay there in some Forts placeth Garrisons sails about the Islands of Sky and Lewes surprizeth the chief of the Clannes of those Highland Islanders whom he sent for Hostages to the Castles of Dumbartoun and Edenburgh And when by the skill of one Alexander Lyndsay his Pilate he had sounded the remotest Rocks of his Kingdom he was driven by storms to take Land at Saint Ninians near Whitehorn in Galloway This Voyage bred great fear in those Islanders and Savages and brought long Peace and quietness to those Countreys thereafter At his Return to Edenburgh for Disorders committed or surmised in his absence most part of the great men near the Borders are charged to enter their Persons in Ward during the Kings pleasure Walter Scot of Balclough is committed to the Castle of Edenburgh the Lord Hume to the Castle of Down Farnehast to Faulkland the Laird of Johnstoun and Mark Car to Dundee and others elsewhere He knew the common Riders never made incursions without either the command or tolerance of these Superiors The remote High-lands and Borders made peaceable by the incarcerations of the Chiefs of the Clannes and Families there commanding he may when occasion is offered in Person visit any neighbour Prince or State To second his former Embassadors in their suit in France he had sent the Earl of Murray William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen with others and King Francis in regard of the indisposition of his Daughter Magdalen had made an offer to them of his near Kins-woman The Kings mind having been long troubled with youthful thoughts by the many matches offered him and thinking marriages contracted and trusted to the eyes of others one way or other deficient resolveth to go in Person and Woe for himself Upon this resolution he imbarked at Leith concealing the intention of his Voyage many suppose he maketh for England to pacify his Uncle for many wished the same Whilst he is on the Ocean the Winds contrarying his Course a violent Tempest separating his Ships the Pilate asketh him to what Coast he should direct his Course To any thou best likest answered the King except towards England the Storm encreasing and sleep shutting up the Kings eyes these who accompanied him command the Pilate to turn sails again for Scotland and not struggle with the pittiless Element for matters which might be delayed and a little time could not turn worse so when the King awoke he found himself near his own Harbours upon the Forth and was so highly displeased with the Authors of his return that he never pardoned them the fault was laid on Sir James Hamiltoun and to stir him more against this man there wanted not who said His obedience to his Prince was dissembled that he accompanied his Master to no other end in his Voyage than to cross his intentions so far as was in his power The season thereafter being more fit for Navigation he ascendeth again his Ships at Kircaldy and with a prosperous wind the tenth day after arrived at Deep in Normandy The Earls of Arran Arguyl Rothes Arrol Lords Flemin Boyd attended him with many Barons and Knights the Earl of Murray young Lennox and Cassiles the Lord Areskin and Abbot of Arbroth expected him at Paris but he preventing the same of his coming with a small Train holdeth his way to Vandosm to see the Lady Mary of Burbon all which way one John Tennant personating the Lord of the Company he passed undescried But come to Vandosm whether the Lady had a Letter for the same from David Beatoun or that by matching the faces of one of those Strangers with a Pourtraict she had of King James in likeness as she said he was found out and challenged by the Lady of that fault which was easily confess'd and pardoned He found her very beautiful and eminent in all Princely excellencies but bethinking how he having choice of three Princesses all Daughters of Kings if he should fix his affection on this Lady at the first interview he should be obnoxious to the indignation of the other he returned as he came towards Roven where his Nobles attended him and having understood King Francis was to give the Emperour Battel in Provence quitting his Retinue he posted towards him The Daulphine meeteth him at the Chappel between Tarray and St. Sophorin in the Countrey of Lions King Francis receiveth him with as much honour as could be desired and convoyeth him to Paris the Peers of the Kingdom haste from all quarters hither to entertain this Strange Prince and the Court is changed into an Academy of Knightly exercise where King James proveth inferior to none in feats of Arms. Magdalen the Kings eldest Daughter is his Mistress a Lady fair young of a lovely countenance and comely behaviour above all others of the Kingdom The Lady Margaret her younger Sister who after was married to the Duke of Savoy is offered to him by reason of the tender and weak disposition of her Sister but Magdalen by the glaunces of her Princely Woer re-obtaining her health her body as it were following the Temperature of her Spirit or that it appeared to her self and
her Father so King James continuing in his first resolution the marriage is contracted between them an hundred thousand Crowns of the Sun being promised in Dowry besides thirty thousand Franks of yearly pension during the life of King James the Jointure assured to her by the King of Scotland was all the Lands possessed by any former Queen the Earldoms of Strathern and Fyfe with the Palace of Faulkland and other Lands of the best and most certain Revenue Thus Anno _____ in the Church of Nostre-Dame in Paris the King of Scotland married the Lady Magdalen in presence of her Father seven Cardinals the King of Navarr many great Dukes and Barons King Francis after the Solemnities of this Marriage having Piccardy and Piedmont then over-run by the Imperialists and King James fearing he might suffer wrong in his absence from the King of England with assurance of mutual Amity part from other in the end of April and from New-haven the Queen with her Husband the 29. of May arrives at the Port of Leith it is reported that after she put her foot on the Shore upon her Knees she kissed the Ground Praying for all happiness to the Countrey and People Never Queen in so short a time was more beloved of her Husband nor sooner made conquest of the hearts of her Subjects Nor was their greater hopes conceived of any Alliance than of this nor greater joy did ever arise for those hopes but as in the life of man there is ever remaining more of bitter than sweet so were these contentments but Shadows matched with the real Sorrow that the death of that young Lady brought forth For she lived not many weeks after her Arrival in Scotland when of a Feaver which she contracted in June she departed this life in July She was buried with the greatest mourning Scotland ever till that time was participant of in the Church of Holy-rood-House near King James the Second These last honours to the dead Queen and funeral pomp finished the King desirous of Succession hath yet his thoughts wandring in France Mary of Burbon Daughter to Charles Duke of Vandosm being frustrate of her Royal hopes had not only turned religious but was dead of displeasure Whilst he disported himself at the Court of France he had been acquainted with a Lady rich in all excellencies who next Magdalen had the power of his affections Mary of Lorrain Sister to Francis Daughter to Rhene Duke of Guize and Widdow of the Duke of Longueville Her he thinketh for her Stemm healthful complexion fertility for she had been a mother and other fortunes worthy of his love But to try her affection towards him he directeth David Beatoun his late paranymph and the Lord Maxwell to France Whilst they traffick this Marriage many false accusations as Plots laid against his Person are intended one after another at the Court amongst which two are remarkable for their notable calumny John eldest Son to the Lord Forbess a young Gentleman chief of his name hardy and valorous but evil brought up and therefore easily suspect to but capable of sin had for a Servant or Companion and ordinary sharer of his pleasures one named Strachan a man come of the dreg of the people and perfectly wicked This man after much familiarity and some secret service and attendance to satisfie his insatiable desire desired earnestly something from the Master of Forbess which he passionately refused to give him upon which carried away with rage and malice he not only renounced his friendship and service but betook himself to the Service of his Enemy the Earl of Huntley by whose advice he forgeth a malicious Plot to overthrow him To compass their design they accuse the Master of Forbese to have had once an intention and mind to kill the King that the Dowglasses might be restored to their wonted honours and ancient possessions By price and prayers witnesses are procured to prove this against him and convict him or at the least to leave him suspected and taxed with this Treason Though this crime was not sufficiently and clearly proved yet was the Master of Forbess indicted and convicted by an Assize for having conspired the Kings death for the which he was beheaded and quarter'd and his Quarters set aloft upon the Gates of Edenburgh This Gentlemans death proveth how dangerous the Society and company of the wicked is to any for ascending the fatal Scaffold he justified his innocency of what was laid to his Charge but confessed the guilt of the Laird of Drummes blood by the justice of God brought him to that end His Father the Lord Forbess was upon suspicion kept long after in the Castle of Edenburgh The King when he could not amend what was past testified he was grieved at the death of this Nobleman for he banished Strachan because he had so long concealed the Treason of Forbess silence in a matter importing no less than the life of a Prince being reckoned equal to the Treason he made his second Brother one of his Domesticks restoring him to the Estate which was forfeited This thunderclap was immediately followed by another for the quality of the Person and strangeness of the Crime deplorable but more for the horrour and terrour of the punishment Jane Dowglass Sister to Archembald Earl of Anguss the Widdow of John Lyon Lord Glammes with her Husband Archembald Campbell of Keepneeth her young Son the Lord Glammes and an old Priest were brought to Edenburgh committed and accused that they should have poysoned the King Their accuser was William Lyon a Kinsman of the late Lord Glammes This Treason had no probability of truth among such who knew the accused being persons who lived far from the Court in their solitary mansions seldom or never almost seeing the King Nevertheless their accusations were believed and strict command given to the Judges to dispatch their Process William Lyon aggravating the case represented to the King the ancient faults of the Family of the Dowglasses committed against his Predeoessors the particular wrongs of Earl Archembald now stirring the English against him and ravaging his Borders That he should believe he not being able to be restored to his first Estate by prayers and solicitations of Neighbour Princes nor by open force now set on work his last engines to come to his end though it were with the life of his Soveraign That in so secret and dangerous a Plot he could not use but his nearest Kindred a Woman and his own Sister might attempt such a mischief her sex and other qualities making her less suspect to have access to his Person Suppose clear proofs could not be found against her the whole race of the Dowglasses should be extirpate being a Linage only fertile in bringing forth Monsters of Rebellion That by sparing her life and suffering her to escape he should afford her time licence and power to execute what she but now perhaps had intended The King not knowing the mans particular hatred against
this Lady for some write He did inform against her in revenge that she refused to marry him giving her self to another suffered the Process to be concluded Some of the Judges would have referred her to the Kings clemency till a farther trial of the Witnesses might be had upon whose testimony the Process did depend it being a safer way in Judgment to absolve the guilty than condemn the innocent But the most part gave her over to the Assizers the better part of which being in voices fewer the greater who neither respecting conscience within them nor shame with the present age and posterity nor the Supream Justice of Heaven find this poor Lady guilty and she is condemned to be burnt alive Her sentence was executed the fifth day after the beheading of the Master of Forbess on the Castle hill of Edenburgh in sight of her Husband Who either out of Revenge or Fear after this tragical end of his Lady seeking to save himself by escape out of the Prison whilst he came over the Wall by the shortness of the Cable was dashed against the Rock and found dead Though the tender years of the Lord Glammes her Son proved his innocency he remained prisoner in the Castle till after the Kings death The old Priest when after torture nothing could be proved against him was set at liberty William Lyon the Author of his calumny was banished the Countrey which justified the Ladies integrity and verified that however Princes love to find out Treason they hate the Informers except upon clear grounds Upon the like suspitions Droomlenrigge and Hemps-Field ancient Barons having challenged others had leave to trie the verity by Combate the lists were designed by the King who was a Spectator and Umpire of their Valour at the Court of the Palace of Holy-rood-house They appeared upon the day armed from head to foot like ancient Palladines and after many enterchanged blows to the disadvantage of their Casks Corslets and Vantbraces when the one was become breathless by the weight of his arms and thunder of his blows and the other who was short sighted had broken his ponderous Sword the King by Heraulds caused separate them with disadvantage to neither of these Companions and the verity which was found was that they dared both fight in close Arms. The Abbot of Arbroth and the Lord Maxwell by many enterchanged Letters full of Princely love had assured the King and the Lady Mary of Lorrain and Articles being agreed upon to the great content of the French they were espoused by Proctors as is the custom amongst Princes with great triumph in the City of Paris in the presence of the French King and many Peers after which solemnity Monsieur d' Annabault Admiral of France accompanied her to New-haven in the beginning of the month of June 1538. where she embarked and with many French Ships when she had been tost on the Seas came to Fyffes-ness where at Cayrel she was attended by the Noblemen and the King who consumated the Marriage in the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews in July Nothing more linketh the affections of the Married than Children the first year the Queen answereth her Husbands hopes and in St. Andrews was delivered of a Son who was named James the Archbishop of St. Andrews and Earl of Arran being his God-Fathers and the Queen the Kings Mother his God-Mother 1539. in Febr. thereafter she was Crowned Queen or Scotland in the Abby Church of Holy-rood-house by the Abbot of Arbroth at which time Margaret the old Queen falling sick at Methven in few days departed and was buried in the Charter-house of St. Johnstoun near the Tomb of King James the First The King her Son with all the Nobility and Gentry being present at her Funerals which were celebrated in most solemn and pompous manner Not long after James Beatoun Archbishop a man of great age followed this Lady to the other World he had provided Successors to his Benefices and his Archbishops See to David Beatoun afterwards Cardinal whom the King accepted and admitted without contestation The Kingdom now began to be divided in Opinions of Religion they which held the helm of State labouring in vain to reconcile them the King was fore perplexed and uncertain what course to follow suppress them he could not to give way to them without shaking the strongest beams of the policy of his Kingdom seem'd unto him impossible his Privy Counsellors being more of his ancient Servants than Nobles or Church-men of which many were piping through these flecked clouds of ignorance as they favoured gave their Opinions some one way some another and a freedom of speech being given one of them as they were in his Chamber together spake to him to this purpose Sir Amongst the many blessings your Subjects enjoy under this your Government this is not the least that for the Weal of your Majesty and the publick good of the Kingdom the meanest of your Subjects may freely open his mind and declare his opinion unto you his Soveraign And if ever there was a time in which grave good and sound Counsel should be delivered to your Majesty it is this and the difficulties of the Common-wealth do now require it Nor ever in matters of advice and consultation can we embrace and follow what is most reasonable and what according to Laws Justice and Equity should be but what necessity driveth us unto and what is most convenient for the present time to be and what we may well and fairly accomplish and bring to pass The Estate of your Kingdom is troubled with diversity of Opinions concerning Religion It is to be wished that the one onely true Religion were in the hearts of all your Subjects since diversity of Opinions of Religion and Heresies are the very punishment of God Almighty upon men for their horrible vices and roaring sins And when men forsake his fear and true obedience God abandoneth them to their own opinions and fantasies in Religion out of which arise Partialities Factions Divisions Strife intestine Discords which burst forth into Civil War and in short time bring Kingdoms and Common-wealths to their last periods But matters arising to such a height and disorder as by all appearance they are like to advance in this Kingdom the number of the Sectaries daily increasing without dissembling my thoughts to your Majesty The preservation of the People being the supream and principal Law which God Almighty hath enjoyned to all Princes I hold it more expedient to give place to the exercise of both Religions than under pretence and shadow of them to suffer the common Peace of your Subjects to be torn in pieces What can wisdom Sir advise you to do with these Separatists Either they must be tolerated for a time or they must altogether be removed and that by death or banishment So soon as a Prince beginneth to spoil banish kill burn his people for matters abstract from sense and altogether spiritual he becometh as it were
the reformed Religion and preferred the friendship of King Henry his Uncle to his Neither was he herein far Mistaken for some feared not to send him word that they had learned the Church-men had set him on work to extirpate his antient Nobility as if it were an easie matter to create as many out of the Gentry in whom being his own Creatures he might have greater confidence than any made by his Predecessours After this he turned so retired sullen and melancholy that every thing displeased him and he became even insupportable to himself not suffering his Domestick Servants to use their ordinary disport and recreations near him And as all day he projected and figured to himself new cares to perplex himself some of which might fall forth others could never come to pass So in the night time the objects of his dayly projects of working upon his fantasie limmed their dark shadows of displeasures which gave him terrible affright in his sleep Amongst many of which two are recorded as notable one in the History of the Church the other common both seem to have been forged by the Men of those times who thought fictions as powerful to breed an opinion in discontented minds as verities and they may challenge a place in the poetical part of History As he lay in the Pallace of Lithgow about the midst of the night he leaped out of his Bed called for Lights commandeth his Servants to search Thomas Scot his Justice Clark who he said stood by his Bed-side accompanied with hideous weights cursing the time that ever he had served him for by too great obedience to him he was by the justice of God condemned to everlasting torments Whilst they about him laboured to cure his wounded Imagination news came that Thomas Scot about the same hour of the Night was departed to the other World at Edenburgh and with no better Devotion than he was represented to the King After Sir James Hamiltoun had ended his part of this Tragicomedy of life he seemed to the King to have returned on the Stage and in a ghastly manner with a naked Sword in his hands he thought he parted both his arms from him advertising him he would come again shortly and be more fully revenged till which occasion he should suffer these wounds The next day after this vision which is recorded to have been the seventh of August word came that both his Sons were deceased and that almost in one hour James the Prince then one year old at St. Andrews Arthur one moneth old at Sterlin The King of England finding himself disappointed by his Nephew of their meeting and understanding it to have been occasioned by the Rhetorick and liberality of the Churchmen having many of the Nobility of Scotland of his faction whose innocency interpreted his Religion to be the reformed though indeed it was of his own stamp for he abolished the Pope but not Papacy by making prizes of Scottish Ships upon the Seas with his Fleet and incursions of his garrison'd Souldiers upon land beginneth the prologue of an unnecessary war King James to stop the English incursions placeth George Gordoun Earl of Huntley with his full power and authority at the Borders and directeth James Lermound of Darcey towards his Uncle to give sufficient reasons of his not meeting him at Newcastle withal to seek restitution of his Ships sith taken before any lawful War was proclaimed and to expostulate the hostility of the Borderers King Henry not only refuseth to render the Ships or give a reason for the breaking forth of the Garrisons on the Borders but delaying the answer of the Scottish Embassadour upon advantage of time sendeth Sir Robert Bowes seconded with the Earl of Anguss and Sir George Dowglass in hostile manner to invade Scotland These to the number of three thousand burn spoil small villages and ravage the Country near the debatable bounds The Earl of Huntley omitteth no occasion to resist them places garrisons in Kelso and Jedburgh assembling all the hardy Borderers and invadeth the English and Scottish forces at a Place named Hall-dan rig here it is soundly skirmished till the Lord Hume by the advancing of four hundred fresh Launces turned the fortune of the Day for the English were put to flight the Warden Sir Robert Bowes Captain of Norham Sir William Mowbray James Dowglass of Parkhead with the natural Son of the Earl of Anguss were taken Prisoners the Earl by the advantage of his horse escaping with others to the number of six hundred The Warden staied in Scotland till the Kings death This Road happened prosperously to the Scots the 24 of August 1541. being a Dise-mall St. Bartholomew to the English The War continuing till Midsumer King Henry sent the Earl of Norfolk whom he named the Rod of the Scots with great power towards Scotland with him the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Camberland Surrey Hereford Anguss Rutland and the Lords of the North parts of England with an Army of fourty thousand men as they were esteemed With them he directeth James Lermound of Darcey the Scottish Embassadour to keep an equal march till they came to Berwick and there to stay that he should not give advertisement to his Master of any of his proceedings the Earl of Huntley upon advantages of places resisting the adventuring Routs who essayed to cross the Tweed But King James hearing the old Duke of Norfork was their Leader raiseth from all the parts of his Kingdom Companies and assembling them upon Sawtery-edge mustered thirty thousand men They encamped on Falla-Moor the King having advertisement that the Duke would march towards Edenburgh Ten thousand strong the Lords Hume Seatoun Areskin to make up the Earl of Huntleys forces are sent towards the borders The King himself expecting the Artillery and other furniture of War staieth with the body of the Army in the Camp During this time it is reported the Lords plotted a Reformation of the Court according to the example practised at Lawder-Bridge especially against such who were named Pensioners of the Priests but because they could not agree among themselves about those who should stretch the ropes every one striving to save his kinsman or friend they escaped all the danger That this attempt being revealed to the King he dismist some of his favourites in great fear to Edenburgh So malitious is faction armed with power Thomas Duke of Norfolk by such in the Scottish Camp who favoured King Henry having understood the preparation and mind of King James to meet him in an open field well knowing that Fortune had that much of a woman to favour young men more than old and that honourable retreats are no waies inferiour to brave Charges retireth off the Scottish ground and keeps his Forces on their own Marches For the valour and resolution of this young Prince might perhaps spoil and divest him of his former purchased Lawrels and Palms to the applause of King Henry who some thought being weary of his service to
and surpass the affection of their hearts So in this Nation the affection of their hearts is far above all they can express by words Daign then Sir from the highest of Majesty to look down on their lowness and embrace it accept the homage of their humble minds accept their grateful zeal and for deeds accept that great good will which they have ever carried to the high deserts of your Ancestors And shall ever to your own and your Royal Race whilst those rocks shall be overshadowed with buildings buildings inhabited by men and while men be induced either with Counsel or Courage or enjoy any piece of Reason Sense or Life An Apologetical Letter March 2. 1635. My Lord IN a time when men for reading of Papers concerning State are challenged it must be a great hazard to write them and a greater to send them from home and the most to send them to one so near the Helm as is your Lordship who the next day perhaps may put in the Princes hands what is sent him And then though what is set down may be free of great faults yet must it pass and be understood as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it But what Marius Geminus said to Julius Caesar may be said to King Charles Caesar qui apud te audent dicere magnitudinem tuam ignorant qui non audent humanitatem And writing to your Lordship I know to whom I write Thus the way of glory lying near the Gates of danger I have adventured this sheet of Paper of which I beseech your Lordship to be both Judge and Patron What a noise hath been raised in this Countrey by prosecuting a piece of writing supposed to be derogatory to the Honour of the Kings Majesty No times have been without such men Wise men keep their thoughts locked up in the Cabinets of their Breasts and suffer the faults of times patiently Fools rail cry out but amend nothing What ever advice hath been given for the putting of Libellers to the extremity of Law I would say with all humble respect to grave Statesmen that in a matter of a Calumny and reproach with Subjects a Prince can do nothing more fitting his own fame and reputation than to slight and contemn them as belonging nothing to him and that 't were better to neglect than be too curious in searching after the Authors So Theodosius Honorius Arcadius were wont to say If any man speak ill of the Emperour if he do it of lightness it is to be contemned if of madness to be pittied if of injury to be remitted And Alexander the Great used to say Regium est benefacere male audire or as Plutarch reporteth it Regium est a quibus male audias magis esse iis beneficum Nero otherwise a terrible Prince when that Pasquil was given out against him Quis neget Aencae magna de stirpe Neronem Sustulit hic Matrem sustulit ille Patrem Or as DION citeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nero Orestes Alcmaeon Matricidae He took no notice of it followed not the Writers with any punishment sought them not as ye find in Suetonius Et quosdam ad Judicem delatos ad Senatum affici graviore poena prohibuit Writings which we scorn and make none account or themselves vanish and turn into nought If we chafe and fret it would appear that we have been therein touched and vively see in them our own faults and misdemeanor taxed and laid open If these Papers for the Kings honour were not to be seen and read or if they did derogate to the fame of the Nobles why were they not suppressed and hidden But is this the way to suppress and hide them To imprison arraign banish execute the persons near whom they are found Or is it not rather to turn them a piece of the Story of the Time to make such a noise about them and by seeking to avoid the smoak to fall into the fire What we would most evite and shun to be the Authors to bring upon our own heads What gained Queen Elizabeth the twenty three of her Reign by cutting off the hands of Stubbes and Page on a Scaffold for writing that Book against her Marriage with the Duke of Anjou save that out of horror of that new and unpractised punishment the People acknowledged her to be the right and not uncertain Daughter of King Henry the Eight and she began to be feared where before she was beloved of her Subjects Whom a People fear they hate and whom they hate they wish taken away A Prince should be more violent in revenging other mens quarrels than his own That unfortunate Duke of Buckingham in the time of Richard the Third could make good use against the Succession of the Race of Edward the Fourth in his Speech to the Commons of London by remembring them of the strange proceedings of King Edward against a Merchant named Burdet who dwelling at the Sign of the Crown and having said to his Son that after his death he would make him Heritor of the Crown meaning his own House was for this Tale in four hours after quartered which blot is eternally fixed to that Prince In the Reign of King Richard the Third who had ever known that Pasquil against three of his Courtiers Louell Ratcliff and Catsby The Rat the Cat and Louel that Dog Rule all England under the Hog If his Tyranny had not been mightily extended against that poor Gentleman Collingburn the Maker of it Ye will say it is in a Princes power to suppress such Papers by Authority That is the only way to make all men seek them and being found highly prize them Tacitus telleth us of certain Verses of Fabricius Viento against Church-men and Senators which were condemned to be burnt as long as the reading and finding of them was dangerous they were much sought for and with danger read but being afterwards licentiate to be read and the liberty of having them obtained they were forgotten and no man cared for them No Prince how great soever can abolish Pens nor will Memorials of ages be extinguished by present power the posterity rendring to every one his due honour and blame It is true that great men should direct their great care to Fame and hold nothing more dear unto them and he who contemneth it neglecteth those actions by which it is acquired But it is pitty men should be more careful and studious of fame for times to come in which they are not than of honesty in the present times in which they live Sometimes it is great wisdom in a Prince not to reject and disdain them who freely tell him his duty and open to him his misdemeanours to the Common-wealth and the surmises and umbrages of his People and Council for the amending disorders and bettering the form of his Government As if a man should tell King Charles That there is none in all his Kingdoms here can reckon himself Lord of his own Goods
write them And these men have done what in them lay to make that Paper publick and have recorded in the Annals of this Kingdom to all ages what should have been smothered in the darkest pits of Oblivion They have often assembled the Kings Majesties Subjects to the great charges and vain attendance of many Noblemen and Barons to see their passions put forward They have busied the Prince to condemn others by power a Minister of their attempts and not purge himself to posterity for such a Paper should have been answered by a Pen not by an Ax. There is no Prince living no nor dead but Subjects have and do both write and speak of after their fantasies Augustus in a Letter to Tiberius Noli in hac re indagare minium indignari queniquam esse qui de me loquatur male satis est enim fi hoc habemus ne quis malefacere possit And Tiberius in the beginning of his Reign though after he killed Cremutius Codrus for words was wont to say in Civitate libera linguam quoque liberam esse debere Wise Princes have never troubled themselves much about talkers weak spirits cannot suffer the liberty of Judgments nor the indiscretion of Tongues To strive to restrain them is the work of busie Bodies who would fain have somewhat to do but know not what nor how to help Domitian to kill gnats with his Dagger having won points and conclusions heretofore in the State beyond their hopes they begin to foster great and shameful hopes beyond the reach of all obtaining A Prince should be such towards his Subjects as he should have God eternal towards him who full of mercy spareth peopled Cities and darteth his Thunders amongst the vast and wild Mountains To ARABELLA Countess of Lothian Madam AS those Ancients who when they had given over with credit any faculty wherein they excelled were wont to offer the Tools and Instruments of their Art to the Shrine of some Deity My Musical recreations giving place to more laborious serious my Lute these many days like my mind lying out of tune keeping no harmony in perfect discord I offer these airs and tabulature to your Ladiships harmonious Virtues and to whom could they more deservedly appertain than unto her whose goodness of nature and eminent known virtues of mind may justly intitle the only Grace and Muse of our Northern Climate Though the Gift be not much worth I hope your Ladiship will daign to accept it as if it were a greater and more precious from a Giver brought already in admiration of your Ladiships worth and who desireth nothing more than to remain Your Ladiships to Command W. DRUMMOND To ISABELLA Countess of Perth Madam YOur Courtesie hath prevented me it being mine to offer you thanks both for esteeming me worthy so honourable a Task and for measuring those lines according to affection and not their worth for if they had any it was all as the Moon hath her light borrowed from the Rays of your Ladiships own invention But this quality becometh well your sweet disposition and the generosity of that Noble Stem of which you have your Birth as doth the erecting of that notable Monument to your all-worthy Lord by the which ye have not only obliged all his Kindred now living but in ages to come the unborn posterity to render you immortal Thanks Your Desert and good opinion of me have by a gracious violence if I can be so happy as to do you service won me to remain your Ladiships Ever to Command W. DRUMMOND To the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of Perth My Noble Lord THough as Glaucus says to Diomed in Homer Like the Race of Leaves the Race of Man is That deserves no Question nor receives his being any other breath the Wind in Autumn strows the Earth with old Leaves then the Spring the Woods with new indews yet I have ever thought the knowledge of Kindred and the Genealogies of the ancient Families of a Countrey a matter so far from contempt that it deserveth highest praise Herein consisteth a part of the knowledge of a mans own self It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the worth of our Line In this is the memory of the dead preserved with the living being more firm and honourable than any Epitaph The living know that band which tieth them to others By this man is distinguished from the reasonless and the noble of Men from the baser sort For it often falleth out though we cannot tell how for the most part that generosity followeth good Birth and Parentage This moved me to essay this Table of your Lordships House which is not inferior to the best in this Isle and greatest It is but roughly I confess hewen nakedly limmed and after better informations to be amended In Pieces of this kind who doth according to such light as he receiveth is beyond reprehension Your Lordships humble Servant and Kinsman W. DRUMMOND To the Right Honourable J. Earl of T. My Lord THe Ocean though great Rivers with many Currents pay him Tribute disdains not to receive also the lesser loyal though ignoble Brooks which by one only Urn powre themselves into his bosom no more will your Lordship after the many congratulations of your Countrey of the State of your great Friends reject the applause of the Muses fair though contemned Mistress who by me offer this Posie of Flowers to your Lordship who is the flower of Nobleness in acknowledgment of your Lordships constant zeal towards them and their many obligations towards you congratulating your prosperous Fortunes which they wish to encrease and praying the heavens at last may turn so propitious to virtue and true worth that though they do not reward them upon Earth yet the World may see that they do not suffer them ever to lie oppressed They have fair hopes that the advancement of your Lordship is the advancement of them for the body preceding the shadow must follow Your Lordship being near the Helm of the State they expect a new Saturnian World Knowledge must flourish ignorance decay as Mists before the Sun Innocency live guarded oppression trampled and they shall no longer hereafter have occasion to wish ask or complain Your Lordships Servant W. DRUMMOND To the truely Noble S. R. C. Gentleman of the Kings Majesties Bed-Chamber SIR HOw joyful were all here who either love worth in others or are conscious of any part of it in themselves to hear the happy event of your late danger but yet the apprehension of what might have fallen forth if Providence had not otherwise disposed doth still with a pensive fear possess their minds It was too much hazarded in a point of Honour why should true Valour have answered fierce Barbarity Nobleness Arrogancy Religion Impiety Innocency Malice The disparagement being so vast Was it for knowing this when ye left us that ye graved with your Diamond in a Window Frail Glass thou bearest this name as well as I And none
amongst so many Taxes and Taillages so much pilling and polling So that substance is daily plucked and pilled from honest men to be lashed out amongst unthrifts that as Thucydides writes of the great Plague in his time at Athens Men seeing no hopes of safety spent all they had in one night So the uncertainty of enjoying and holding what they have for the present draws the thrifty and unthrifty to one end for no man being sure of Lands less of Moneys every man is turned in a desperate carelesness of his Estate As to tell him also about this Subject who is the subject of this Letter the People say Kings seeking Treason shall find Land and seeking Land shall find Treason The denial of a Princes desire was the destruction of an innocent Naboth the voice of the People should not be kept up from the Ears a Prince As to unfold to a King if Usury be not lawful at all for it is against Nature that Money should beget Money and not tolerate by the Mosaical Law and in Ezekiel cap. 18. v. 13. it is reckoned amongst the roaring sins such as are Adultery and bloudshed it being a sin in the persons of subjects it is a greater sin in the person of a Prince for any sin is greater in the person of a Prince than in the persons of subjects As sin was worse and greater in Angels than men Nothing is profitable to a Prince which is not joined with honour and the State of Kings unless it stand in pureness and fidelity it cannot subsist in power As to tell King Charles what a strange thing it is to swaer a man for the true value of his own Substance Since the valuing of Subjects Lands and Rents Rents were never less nor the Lands worse a secret scourge of God having followed it the Country scarce affording bread to the Labourers of it Remember Davids numbring the people In the times of King Henry the eight Regnante Cardin. Volseio this was held uncouth strange and terrible and no wonder if men scare and start at it now under a Prince of so meek a Spirit so innocently good who preferreth peace before war rest before business honesty before profit None of all his kingdom no not one being more holy more chaste nor a better man in whom reigneth shamefastness and modesty and patience taking all worldly crosses in good part never gaping for glory nor thirsting after riches but only studying the health of his soul peace of his Kingdoms and how to advance the holy Church and restore her to her first Rents and integrity But God knoweth what he hath predestinated and ordained for the Scourge of this Country against whose Ordinance prevaileth no counsel A Prince should be advertised that the hatred and distast of mens present estates and fortunes setteth them on work and maketh them exceeding earnest to seek novations for finding themselves plunged in the beggary of a miserable estate as many do believe it turneth not them base nor keepeth them under but raiseth in them a mad desire to change their fortune and this hath been the ensign of Malecontents to attempt and enterprize dangerous matters for it hath often been found that nothing hath sooner armed a people than poverty and poverty hath never so often been brought upon a Nation by the unfruitfulness of the Earth by disasters of Seas and other human accidents as by the Avarice of the Officers and Favourites of Princes who are brought foolishly to believe that by tearing of the skins of the flock they shall turne the Shepherd rich It is no property of a good Shepherd to shear often his flock and ever to milk them Nor is it of a Prince to gall and perpetually afflict a people by a terrible Exchequer Brutorum se Regem facit qui premit suos Now in such Theams it were not evil for a Prince to read Jan Marianai and George Buchanans piece de jure Regni apud Scotos for his own private and the publick good Princes have in their actions this disadvantage that in matters of wrong and injuries concerning their Subjects though they sometimes suffer by reason of their power being thought stronger they are ever esteemed to do the wrong which should move them to abstain from all violent courses and think really their Subjects losses are their own Ye will then say the case of Princes is pittiful if Writers of infamous Libels be not rigorously punished without all question the Law is just and necessary against them But in some cases good Princes never follow the rigour and extremity of punishment set down by their Laws no not against the naughtiest Subjects and especially when the case concerneth their own particulars There is much to be considered in the convoy of such Libels If they contain Truths there is small wrong in such papers as to call Mary Magdalen a Sinner Matthew a Publican Thomas a Misbeliever Paul a Persecutor Peter a Denyer of his Master and the rest fugitives from him and these are to be slighted and past over If they contain mixed truths and apparences they may be neglected If they admit no interpretation but true and flat railing then is a Princes patience to be tryed and the Libel to be scorned If they propound novelty and causes of sedition upon apparent grounds they are to be answered and by good reason to be overthrown If they be presented by way of Supplication for redressing of errors in the State it is a question whether they be Libels or not That Supplication of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester to King Henry the sixt of England against the Cardinal of Winchester Archbishop of York may have place amongst Libels for the King is taxed there of notable dotage As that by the counsel of the Cardinal he had set at Liberty the King of Scots suffered his Jewels and houshold-stuff to be sold granted the Cardinal a Charter of Pardon for taking up his Rents which were sufficient to have maintained the wars in France many years The setting of the Duke of Orleance at liberty against the Duke of Burgundy the great friend of the English and many other points Yet this being done by way of Supplication for redress of wrongs in the State he was not threatened for perhaps verity but remitted to the Council and what for fear and what for favor saith the English History the whole matter was winked at touching the Duke and nothing said against the Cardinal Miseria summa ubi de injuria conqueri pro delicto habetur These who set their Prince on work to follow and persue such an idle piece of Paper if they had fair Judges and powerful Enemies near the Court may themselves be brought within compass of that same punishment which they would have laid upon others as Pâ—rillus was brought to take an Essay of his own brazen Bull for no better are they which relate divulgate and are occasioners to have infamous Libels published than they which