refreshment having eat much of his own Flesh and many of his Members miserably perished in the extremity of Hunger a great evidence indeed of God's anger against his Lustful youth but no less evidence of a cruel and barbarous heart in the merciless and inhuman Uncle This Cruelty is for a time concealed from the good King at last Time revealeth it not without some indignation of the Author The Duke is questioned but by a cowardly if not traiterous Jury pack'd by himself acquitted the poor distressed King praying to Heaven for a Vengeance upon them and all their Posterity who were guilty of that horrid Murther the Duke to gloss all the better draggeth some to Prison Flagitious men indeed but altogether innocent of this Crime condemneth and executeth them as Murtherers of the Prince palliating one wickedness with another as many other wicked men have done The good King solicitous for his onely Son now remaining resolveth for his greater safety to send him over to France to be educated in the Court of Charles the Sixth the French King and commendeth him to the safe conduct and oversight of Lord Henry Sinclare Earl of Orkney he setteth Sail from the Basse and passing by Flamborrowe-head a Storm ariseth and forceth the Ship into Harbour the Prince afflicted with Sea-sickness goeth on Shore is apprehended by the English and sent Prisoner to King Henry of England who notwithstanding of the Mournful Letters of the afflicted King his Father sent up of purpose some weeks before to prevent the obstruction of his Journey and contrary to the Advice of the most of his Council pleading for his Liberty detaineth him Prisoner This hard measure is in great measure recompenced by the liberal Education he gave him whereby he became the most Learned Prince of his time the sad news of his Imprisonment brought to his still afflicted Father for the loss of his eldest Son as he sat at Supper cut him to the Heart and oppressed with Grief he falleth down dead his Company about him in vain seeking to recover Life in him they carry him to his Chamber where his Spirits revive a little but abstaining from all manner of nourishment after three days abstinence he departeth this Life opprest with two cruel tyrants Hunger and Grief in the 16th Year of his Reign April the First 1406 A Prince of a very proper and proportionable Person a Good man and a Meek not furnished indeed with Austerity and such like qualities as might have rendered him more fit than in truth he was to Govern a People so unlike himself in Conditions THE LIFE OF JAMESI KIng Robert departed this Life his Son James Prisoner in England is Proclaimed King of Scotland and his Uncle Robert Duke of Albany continued by Act of Parliament in his Government at this time a sweet calm of Peace continued between the two Kingdoms above twelve years together a great blessing to both Nations In the mean while a black Cloud appeareth in the North of Scotland Donald Lord of the Isles pretending the recovery of his Lands in Ross which the Governor kept from him by a a trick of Law Invadeth Ross from thence marcheth into Murray from thence into Buchan and so to Aberdeen doing much Mischief all along as he went To stop this Current Alexander Earl of Marre and others of the Nobility advance against him with such Forces as could be raised on the sudden both Armies Encounter at Harlaw a fierce Battel continueth for many hours with such slaughter on both sides that at Night the darkness whereof was the first commander of Cessation each Army thought it self overcome no man appearing next day morning to claim the glory of the Victory onely the poor Village Harlaw where the Battel was is famous from it to this day This Rebellion over the Dauphine of France sendeth an Ambassadour to Scotland to demand Assistance against the English according to their ancient League then warring in France declaring with a sad Narrative that himself was disinherited and the English King Henry the 5th Married to his Sister the Lady Catharine declared Regent of France in present and Heir apparent to the Crown with whom likewise the Duke of Burgundy had joyned his whole Force this pitiful Letter soon quickened the Scottish Nobility dreading the effects of King Henry his Greatness an Army of 7000 resolute and stout men are sent immediately over into France under the Conduct of John Earl of Buchan Archibald Earl of Wigton Son to Archibald Earl Dowglas with whom were divers Persons of Quality all safely arrive and are immediately sent by the Dauphine towards Turon the Duke of Clarence Brother to the English King well high surpriseth them in their way they take the Alarm nigh Bergie and on Easter-Eve they give Battel to the English fought with great valour and various fortune on both sides at last the Duke of Clarence is dismounted his whole Army routed 2000 slain on the spot amongst whom were the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Kime the Lords Gray and Ross Many Prisoners likewise taken whereof divers Persons of Quality as the Earls of Huntington and Somerset and others The Earl of Salisbury a man of singular vertue and valour endeavoureth to repay this loss but could effect nothing save the recovery of the dead Body of the Duke of Clarence which he afterwards sent over into England After this Victory the Dauphine createth Buchan Constable of France one of the highest Preferments in that Kingdom In the same Year 1420 Robert Duke of Albany departed this Life and his Son Mordake established in his place Buchan returneth from France and is immediately recalled he arriveth at Rochett accompanied with Archibald Earl of Dowglas and Five thousand Auxiliary Foot the Dauphine much cheared up at their arrival receiveth them with ample Gratulation John Duke of Bedford is sent over from England much about the same time with 4000 Horse and 10000 Foot and soon after King Henry himself arriveth and with him James King of Scotland of purpose by his presence to withdraw the Scots from the Dauphine or at least to render them the more suspected to him but he is disappointed in both the Scots unanimously declaring that they could not render whilst a Prisoner the Obedience otherwise due to him Soon after both the French and English King depart this Life Henry the Sixth of England about Eights Months old is Proclaimed King of England and France John Duke of Bedford appointed Regent of France The Dauphine at the same time Proclaimed by his Adherents King of France by the Name of Charles the 7th The Regent advanceth against him with a powerful Army the Duke of Alenson encountereth him Charles himself is with general consent and unanimous request of all his Friends desired to withdraw and not to hazard his Person the miscarriage whereof was an apparent ruine of them all and giveth him Battel not far from Vornoil The Fight continued very fierce for some hours at
Subscribed the King and Queen promising the Restipulation of their Protection which was accordingly done Murray only refuses to Subscribe the Bond and gets leave to go into France having first set some on work again to Embroyl the State and to Blow up the Coals of Rebellion the chief of them were the Earls of Arguile Morton Marre Athol Glencarne and the Lords Lindsey and Boyd but Arguile Repents him of the Confederacy returns to his Obedience and discovers the whole Design to the Queen The others adjoyning to themselves the Lord Hume and others of the South on the sudden they raise an Army of Two Thousand Horse and closely Besieged the Castle of Borthwick wherein the King and Queen lay who next day happily Escaped the Queen putting her self under the disguise of mans habit came to Dunbar where they Secured themselves in the Castle and thither resorted divers of the Loyal Nobility Gentry and Commonalty for the Safety of the Queen who resolves to Advance with her Forces towards Leith to disturb her Enemies then ranting at Edenburgh They hearing of the Queens measures forthwith March and nigh Musselburgh came in sight of the Queens Forces The Armies lying in View of each other and ready to joyn in Battel the French Ambassadour interposeth himself and endeavours a Pacification assuring the Lords of the Queens Gracious Inclinations to them and that she was ready to Pardon and Pass an Act of Oblivion for all that was past They Insolently Replyed That they came not to Crave her Favour Nor said Glencarn to Ask Pardon but rather to give it The French Ambassador seeing no hopes of an Accommodation retires to Edenburgh the Queens Army begins to Divide and grow Mutinous the Queen sends a Messenger to the Conspirators desiring them to send William Kircady the Laird of Grange to whom she purposed to make some Overtures of Peace and in the mean while no Acts of Hostility were to be offer'd Kircady is sent and the Cessation Agreed to Bothwell returns to Dunbar and the Queen offers to come into the Adverse Army assurance being given her That her Army should March off and Return without Molestation to their several Homes or respective Habitations They Accord to this and the deserted Queen very debasingly Attir'd comes into the Rebels Quarter where she was entertained with such Scorn and Contempt with such Vile and Opprobrious Language from the Soldiers as is neither Tolerable not Fit to be mentioned One Banner they had Contrived with the Picture of the Dead King and the Infant King James by him with this Inscription Judge and Revenge my Cause O Lord This they carried upon Two Spears before her wherever she went until at last her Spirits over-burdened with Grief sank under it and she dyed away and being revived and refreshed they renewed their Insolencies towards her and in Triumph carried her into Edenburgh all bespattered with Gore and Reproach and her Face so bedaubed with Dust and her own Tears which she had plentifully shed that she was indeed a most rueful and deplorable Spectacle to behold and all who had any sparks of Loyalty or Sense of Duty in them are much Afflicted at the Sight that Night she was sent to Craigmillars Lodgings who was then Provost of the Town the next day she is Conveyed by Ruthen and Lindsey to Lochlevix Castle a Place Encompassed with waters on every side for nigh well a Mile Bothwell during the time of the Queens Discourse with Kircady makes his Escape first into Orkney and from thence into Scotland The Conspirators send to the Imprisoned Queen and require her to Resign the Crown in Favour of her Son and to name Guardians for him during his Minority the distressed Queen is forced to yield to all that they had Confidence to Demand She was through Fear and Flattery induced to a Resignation of the Crown under her Hand subscribing the Writ with Tears flowing from her Eyes the Tuition of her Young Son is Committed to James Earl of Murray John Duke of Castle-Roy to the Earls of Lennox Arguile Athol Morton Glencarn and Marre James Earl of Murray is by this time returned from his Retirement in France and by these Lords he is Chosen Vice-Roy and the Young King now Two Years of Age is Crowned at Sterlin Murray is Confirmed in his Government as Vice-Roy in a Parliament Assembled August 25. and the first Essay of his Power is against Bothwell who now lay lurking with some few Ships about Orkney Kircady is sent against him who upon Intelligence fled into Denmark and there miserably ended his Days but with his last Breath Cleared the Queen of all Consent Privity or Knowledge of the King's Death as did also Hephorn Paris Daglish and other Servants of Bothwell that were put to Death by Murray for the Murder who upon the Gallows charged it upon Murray and Morton as the Conspirators with Bothwell Some Ambassadors arrive in Scotland from England and France and desire Admittance to the Queen but are peremptorily denyed it by the Vice-Roy the hard Usage of the Queen and the Insolence of that Ill Woman the Mother of the Vice-Roy was such that many even of her Enemies who knew the Truth of it were bowed into a Compassion towards her and began to contrive some Expedient for her Liberty which the Queen her self not long after by her own Wisdom and Prudence brought to pass Guarded and Watched she was by the Vice-Roy's nearest Allies and trustiest Servants his Mother and Three Brothers which were of another Father had the Charge of her in a Place impregnable and out of which an Escape had been impossible considering the breadth of the Lake that encompassed it had not God turned the hearts of some of her Enemies towards her such was her Deportment in that grievous Restraint and her Meek and Chearful entertainment of all Affronts put upon her by the Vice-Roy's Mother That one of the Sons Half-Brother to the Vice-Roy endued with some Principles of Ingenuity and in whom were some Remains of Loyalty out of a sense of Duty towards the Queen begs her Pardon for all past and her Favour for the future promising his Service in order to her Freedom A Boat is forthwith prepared and with a few that were made privy to the Honest Design the Queen escapeth April 5. 1568. the Guard in vain endeavour to pursue after her all other Boats about the Castle being by the Contrivers of the Escape made unserviceable the Queen safely Arrives on the Shore where Lord Seaton with some few Horse were ready to receive her the first Night she is Lodged privately at Nudrie in West-Lothian and from thence the next day she goes to Hamilton where a considerable Number of the Nobility and Gentry meets her in Arms and a great many of her Enemies Revolt from the Vice-Roy and return to their Obedience The Vice-Roy forth with Advanceth with an Army against her and in a Battel at Landside near Glascow the Queens Forces are
the thread of his Life in a Fit of a burning Feaver which notwithstanding cutteth not off the current of their Malice which unhappily found a more advantageous passage by the imprudent Deportment of William the young Earl his Son a Youth not exceeding fourteen Years of Age who living in a Princely garb creating Knights Counsellors and other Officers and always guarded with a Guard of Two Thousand Horse is suspected and feared of all and as an addition to his Envy as well as Greatness he sendeth to France and craveth the Title of his Grand-father which was forthwith granted to him and is immediately declared Duke of Tyron and which added more to all Mens fear and jealousie the Queen and the Lord James Stuart her Husband and his Brother William are suspected to be Engaged in Dowglas his Faction The Vice-Roy glad to snatch any opportunity against the Queen whom now he Suspected to be none of his Friend secureth her Person and not contented to secure her Husband and his Brother in a strong Prison he layeth them both fast in Iron Fetters where they remained until they found sufficient Sureties for the Peace engaging withal that they should not bear any publick Office without consent of the Vice-Roy The Vice-Roy now not a little puft up ruleth all things at pleasure contemning the Chancellor and all other Officers of State the Chancellor not able to bear this Insolence withdraweth from Court then at Sterlin and retireth himself to the Castle of Edenburgh the Government whereof he had Confirmed to him at their last Agreement who meditating with himself what might be done to give Check to the Vice-Roy resolveth to surprize the Person of the King who he knew used to follow his sport in Hunting with a small Retinue to which end he marcheth out in the Night and lodgeth himself and a Band of his most trusty Friends amongst Thickets in a Wood whither the King came next day morning in course the Chancellor forthwith Surprizeth him beseeching his Majesty to be of good Chear and to rest assured that no other thing save his Highness Service and Safety was intended by him telling him that it was now high time for him to take the Government upon himself in order whereunto he came to Rescue him out of the hands of the Vice-Roy in which he lived not much on this side Slavery and withal with great shews of Respect and Duty he tendereth to his Highness a Guard of Four Thousand Horse The King seemeth not much displeased putteth on a chearful Counrenance and guarded with those Four Thousand Horse he cometh along with the Chancellor to the City of Edenburgh where he was received with extraordinary Acclamations of Joy The Vice-Roy no less confounded at this Surprisal than was the Chancellor at the Queen 's lately mentioned is extremely perplexed In Council after many Self-debates he resolveth at last not daring to trust himself to the Earl Dowglas upon all hazards to hast to Edenburgh with a small Retinue to try whether by stooping so low the Storm might pass over him to Edenburgh he repaireth and by mediation of the Bishops of Aberdeen and Murray Men Learned Pious and Prudent a Personal Conference is obtained with the Chancellor The Vice-Roy with a sad Countenance deploreth their unhappy Divisions declaimeth against them as Dangerous to the Publick and Destructive to their own private Interests he imploreth an happy Union between them without which they must both Perish promising on his part an Oblivion of all things past and all fair Respect in time to come The Chancellor well knowing that Destruction to both must needs be the Issue of the Divisions between them chearfully hearkneth to the proposition of Peace they presently accord and an Union is now the second time concluded between them and notwithstanding Distress enough to the People and Danger more than enough to the young King flowing from their divided Government these two cunning Catchers accord to continue still in their respective Trusts and places in Government upon this agreement a Parliament is called at Edenburgh for the better setling of the miserable distracted Conditon of the Kingdom To this Parliament Dowglas is Invited and by the advice of the Vice-Roy and Chancellor his inveterate Enemies now contriving his Ruine publick Letters are sent him Sealed by the King and divers of the prime Nobility inviting him with many Arguments of Love and Respect to assist in Parliament and in the publick Administration assuring him not only of Safety but tendering to him what Place he should desire in the management of publick Affairs The Earl moved by the publick Faith thus ingaged and by the specious Promises so Solemnly made repaireth to Edenburgh without Fear or Jealousie The Chancellor meeteth him before he came within ten Miles of the City and inviteth him to his Castle at Chrichton where he Entertaineth him magnificently in all his Discourse so highly commending the Noble Family of the Dowglasses their worthy Acts and high Deserts both of King and Country and so fully declaring the great hopes himself conceived of the young Earl himself that the Wiser of Dowglas his Retainers began to suspect some Mischief to lurk under the covert of those specious Words which they knew were no less unusual in him than unbeseeming his Place and Authority They dissuade their Lord with all Earnestness from his Journey towards the City intreating his return to his own House as he loved himself and if he must needs go they adjure him by all the love he bear to his Family and by all that reverence and obedience he owed to the Commands of his Wise Father who charged him on his Death-bed never to trust his whole Family under the hazard of one Blow that he would not carry along with him his dear and only Brother but all in vain his Destiny drives him no faster than he is willing to run to his own Ruine he entereth the City and is by the Chancellor attended to the Castle whither the Vice-Roy likewise repaireth and entertaineth him with all Civility yea and to Honour him the more he is admitted to the King 's own Table and feasted with no small Solemnity But behold amidst all their Chear and great Mirth a Band of Armed Men enters the Dining Chamber and a Bull 's Head is clap'd on the Table a certain Token in those days of an appointed and approaching Death the Earl is too late stricken with Fear and endeavouring to rise the Armed Men lay hold on him drag him down Stairs and without Doors immediately cut off his Head his Brother David and Malcombe Fleming his dearest Friend are at the same time and in the same manner Cut off The young King no less amazed than abused and stricken with immediate Sorrow weepeth as a Child though now grown well upward towards the years of a Man the Chancellor perceiving him Chides him very sharply for his unseasonable Tears as he was pleased to call them for the Death
Family of the Guise Widdow of the late Duke of Longoville in Marriage to King James the Marriage is agreed to the Year following she arriveth in Scotland and the Marriage solemnized at St. Andrews 1538. This Year exemplary Justice was done upon divers Persons of Quality conspiring the Death of the King some the Year following were Burnt some Banished for embracing the Protestant Doctrine Preached in Germany by Luther and others James Hammilton the Bastard accused of High-Treason is sentenced to Death his Head and Quarters affixed to publick places in Edenburgh the King soon after thought in his Dream that Hammilton cut off first his right and then his left Arm threatning withal to appear again to take his own Life the King awaking is very much troubled with thoughts of this Dream and revolving with himself what might be the meaning of it a Messenger comes to him with the sad News of the Death of both his Sons at the same time the one at Sterlin the other at St. Andrews King Henry of England sendeth the second time to invite King James to a Conference at York the Scotch Clergy still oppose it and the Conference again refused King Henry in great Indignation against his Nephew for refusal of Conference with him resolveth to talk with him in harder Terms and to that end he raiseth an Army and sendeth it into Scotland and under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk The Scottish Ambassadors in vain intreating a Cessation King James prepares a considerable Army for defence the English enter into Scotland and after some mischief done at the approach of the Scotch Army they retreat the Lord Gordon marcheth before the main body with Ten thousand Men doing much hurt and annoyance to the Rear of the English Army King James with all earnestness presseth an Engagement with the English the Nobility peremptorily oppose him in it the King enraged upbraideth them with Cowardise unworthy to be owned as Sons of their Noble Ancestors vowing that though they should all desert him himself and his own Family alone should give the Enemy Battel The Lord Maxwell to pacify the King tendereth his Service to lead into Cumberland Ten thousand Men thereby to divert the Enemy The King accepteth his Service but being enraged against the whole Nobility he resolves that none of them should have the Honour of any thing done in that Expedition and for the cause giveth a Dormant Commission to Oliver Sinclare Brother to the Lord Roslin Having entred Cumberland and now in view of Five hundred English Horse Sinclare produceth his Commission it is read at the head of the Army Maxwell is thereby inraged the whole Army falleth in Mutiny and in such a confusion that they become a Prey to the Five hundred English Horse divers of the Nobility and the new General Sinclare are sent Prisoners to the Tower of London this dishonourable Disaster which hapned at Solway strikes the Valorous King with such grief and sorrow that he never after joyed but soon after departed this Life having first made Peace with King Henry at whose request he recalled Archibald Earl of Angus Thus dyed King James the Fifth a Prince of singular Endowments most patient of Cold Hunger and Travel sometimes setting on Horseback Twenty Four hours when the necessity of his affairs required it a great Justitiary and a person of singular Foresight and Wisdom THE LIFE OF QUEEN MARY QUeen Mary was the only Child James the Fifth her Father left to Inherit the Crown born to him not above eight days before his death James Hammilton Earl of Aran is therefore chosen Vice-Roy to whom King Henry of England sent his Ambassador Sir Radolph Sadler to procure Peace between the two Kingdoms and to demand Mary in Marriage to his Son by the influence of the late Prisoners in England especially the Exiled Dowglasses whom King Henry had wrought much to his Service by his Royal Favours whose Counsels were now very prevalent in the management of publick affairs both were assented the Contract of Marriage Signed and Pledges promised for better performance of all Conditions agreed upon notwithstanding of the Opposition of the Queen and Cardinal who fearing the Subversion of Popery still established in that Kingdom by this agreement endeavour what they can to cross all Tumults are stirred against the English Ambassador and daily Affronts put upon his Attendants in the Streets the Ambassador complaineth and demandeth the Pledges promised for confirmation of the Agreement lately made exemplary Justice is executed upon the chief movers in the Tumults in answer to this Complaint but the Cardinal by the influence of his power had so obstructed the matter of his demand that not one of the Nobility would yield up himself voluntarily a Pledge to the English and to such a business none could be compelled King Henry hereby provoked seiseth all the Scottish Ships in the English Havens and Harbours and proclaimeth War against the Scots in the mean while the Queen Mother sendeth to France to entreat the French King to send home Matthew Earl of Lennox to strengthen her against the English Faction otherwise Religion and the French League were like to come to nothing Lennox is sent home and forthwith levieth Four Thousand men and with this strong guard cometh to the Queen the Vice-Roy inferior in Power sends Commissions to treat for Peace by agreement the young Queen is committed to the Education of Four Indifferent Noble Men ingaged in neither Faction viz. the Lords Graham Areskin Lindsay and Leviston and accordingly they take charge of her at Sterlin where all the Nobility do Homage to her The Vice-Roy joyneth himself wholly to the Cardinal which Conjunction so inrageth Lennox that immediately he flyeth to Arms raiseth an Army marcheth to Leith and provoketh the Cardinal to Fight the Cardinal keeps himself close in Edenburgh Castle Lennox through want of Provisions is forced to withdraw and to put himself in a posture of Defence in and about Glascow King Henry hearing of these Stirs sends into Scotland to demand the custody of the young Queen until she came to years fit for Marriage The French Faction now prevailing his Demands are refused An Army is therefore forthwith sent into Scotland under the Conduct of the Earl of Hereford and a great Navy of Two hundred Sail under the Command of Viscount Lisle as Admiral The English enter the City of Edenburgh without resistance first they Pillage and then they Fire it and divers other Towns and Villages about it the like fate befel the Town of Leith and forthwith they return to England laden with Spoil The Queen Mother writeth to the French King and layeth all these mischiefs at Lennox his door as the only enemy of their Peace and Union by reason of his private Feud against the Vice-Roy for the death of his Father At her Request Lennox is recalled to France but finding the French King provoked against him he still keeps to his posture of Defence
The Vice-Roy marcheth against him and after some small bickerings Lennox retireth into England and is honourably entertained by King Henry to whom he tenders his Service in opposition to the French Faction then prevailing in Scotland of which his Majesty so well accepted that he gave to him in Marriage his Neice the Lady Margaret Dowglas Daughter to Margaret his own Sister and Wife to James the Fourth by her second Husband the Earl of Angus Lennox and his Friends most of them have their Estates confiscate The English re-enter Scotland Fire Jeeburgh and Kelso waste most of the Countrey thereabout and leaving a Garrison at Coldingham they return home with their Booty The Vice-Roy in the depth of Winter layeth Siege to Coldingham and all on the sudden retireth to Dunbar leaving his Army in which he durst not confide at the Siege by this unexpected desertion the Army falls into Confusion by the wisdom and valour of the Earl of Angus the Cannon and all other things belonging to the Army are safely brought off and carried to Dunbar Next Spring Thomas Duke of Norfolk is sent down with an Army to joyn with that on the Borders with a design to reduce all on this side forth to the Obedience of the English The Vice-Roy by the incouragement of Angus marcheth toward the Borders and at Ancram obtaineth a Victory over the English which Disaster much inraging the English King the Vice-Roy sends to France to crave assistance Three thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse are granted and sent under the Command of Sir James Montgomery by whose assistance the Vice-Roy marcheth in a Plundering Expedition within the English Borders and soon after Disbandeth his Army next Winter Montgommery returneth to France And now some Stirs begin by such as endeavoured some Mutations and Reformation of Religion George Wisheart having fallen away from Popery and embracing the Reformation begun in Germany is apprehended and at a Council of Bishops and some others held at St. Andrews is Condemned as guilty of Heresie The Cardinal sendeth to the Vice-Roy to desire the Law to be executed against him who wisheth the Cardinal not to be too hasty but to forbear a little which distasted the Cardinal not a little at whose command forthwith Execution is done upon him at Saint Andrews the Cardinal beholding the Tragedy from his Windows not without some Pomp which Wisheart perceiving said to the Governour of the Castle standing by him He who now insulteth over me shall in few days be tumbled over the same Window with more disgrace than now he setteth with state At the uttering of which words he is strangled to death and his Body burnt to ashes This fact of the Cardinal and the manner of his proceeding without the Authority of the Vice-Roy gave distast to many at last his Death is contrived and perpetrated by Norman Lisle Son to the Earl of Rothuse whose discontent arose from the refusal of a private grant which the Cardinal conceived not fit to be yielded to him Lisle calls some sixteen Consorts together to whom he discovered his intent craving their concurrence all was agreed unto the time and manner is appointed for execution over Night they come privately to St. Andrews and lodge severally in divers Inns to render themselves the less suspected next Day morning by break of day two of the Conspirators come to the Castle and being known Men the Porter openeth to them they enter and the rest follow streight the Porter is laid fast and all the Cardinal's Servants secured threatning them with Death if once they whispered which done they repair to the Cardinal his Chamber they knock the Cardinal admiring what this should mean that Strangers and none of his Servants should at such a season come to his Chamber-door refuseth to open Norman Lisle well known to him and a man much favoured by him protested they minded him no hurt at all but that they had a matter of great Importance to Communicate to him the dispatch of which required that their unseasonable coming to his Chamber the Cardinal trusting their Protestations openeth his Door they enter fall forthwith upon him and barbarously Murther him By this time News are carried into the City of the Surprisal of the Castle The Cardinal his Friends and Retainers immediately Arm beset the Castle threatning the death of all within if the Cardinal were not preserved alive the Murtherers told them it was too late and therewith cast his dead Body barbarously cut over the same Window from whence he beheld the Tragedy of the late mentioned Martyr George Wisheart which added not a little to the high Opinion the People had of Wisheart remembring the last words he spake concerning the Cardinal This Impious Murther highly provok'd the Court the Vice-Roy Summoneth the Murtherers to appear before him they refuse and are declared Traitors but they having seised the Cardinal his Treasure and having in their power the Vice-Roy his Son who then remained with the Cardinal and confiding in the strength of the Castle stand upon their guard The Vice-Roy layeth Siege to the Castle and after some four Months Siege in vain he withdraws his Force and returneth to Edenburgh to be present at Parliament then ready to Assemble and now behold the Judgment of God upon those Barbarous Murtherers they being formerly Men in all outward deportment not only Civil but Religious and reputed Men of tender Consciences give themselves now over to all manner of wickedness Murthers profane Swearing drinking to Excess and Whoring were things of course with them their wickedness came to this height The Vice-Roy too slow in avenging so much Wickedness layeth again Siege to the Castle assisted with some French Forces after much Battery they are content to deliver themselves to the French Admiral Monsieur Strozius upon Quarter for Life they are set on the French Shoar and disperse themselves all of them living ever after in great Misery are in their several turns pursued by the wrath of God to violent and untimely Ends. About this time the Duke of Sommerset now after the Death of King Henry the Lord Protector of England Invadeth Scotland with a powerful Army the Vice-Roy all on the sudden rolleth together Thirty thousand Horse and Foot to whom the English Protector sendeth a very fair Letter requiring their young Queen may be assured in Marriage to the young King of England according to former Agreement and for their better Security he demands the said Princess may be Educated not in any Foreign Country but at home until she come to such years as might inable her to make her own Choice Further desiring that in the interim there might be Peace between the two Nations and no treaty of Marriage admitted with any other Prince All which being granted the Protector promiseth not only to withdraw his Army but likewise to make reasonable satisfaction for all the hurt he had done to all which Proposals the Scottish Vice-Roy returns no Answer
Arch-Bishop scarce escaping to Faulkland where the Queen Regents Army lay but the Queen understanding their approach sendeth from Faulkland where her self lay and requireth Hammilton Duke of Casteaulroy the Commander in chief to send Commission to Treat Three of the most Popular Nobility are sent yet could not prevail for any terms of Peace all that would be granted was the agreement to a Truce for eight Days Provided that the Queens Army remove into Louthian Whilst another Treaty may be had at St. Andrews which accordingly her Army did and immediately Hammilton and James Stuart advance to St. Johnston lay Siege to the Town which in few days yielded to them They proceed to Scone which they consume with Fire and from thence to Sterlin where all the Religious houses are pillaged and laid level to the ground then advancing to Lithquo the like is done there then entring Edenburgh they find business enough there to stay them for some days to demolish Religious houses to purge the Churches from Images and beautiful Sculptures and to establish Zealous Preachers of the Reformation in them The Queen having retreated to Dunbar returned towards Edenburgh when the Armies were ready to engage by the Negotiation of the Duke of Casteaulroy and the Earl of Morton a Cessation of Arms was at last agreed on from July the 24th to January the 10th next following In the mean time there was an universal toleration of Religion and no Man compelled to the use of any Rites or Ceremonies therein there was no Garrison to be placed at Edenburgh the Priests were peaceably to enjoy the Tithes of the Church for that Year no more Religious Houses were to be demolished or alienated the Pallace-Royal at Holyrude House with all there belonging to the Crown were to be restored to the Regent This Truce was firmly enough observed on both sides But about this time Henry the Second of France being forewarn'd of the Danger of that Day was strangely killed in a Tilt by the Earl of Montgomerry the now French King and the Queen of Scots advertised of the design of James Stuart Prior of St. Andrews to aspire to the Crown writ Letters to him adjuring him not only by common Duty but likewise by the special Favours received to return to his Obedience by deserting the Faction in which he had engaged himself whereunto James Stuart returned his Protestations of all due respects to the King and Queen but withal peremptorily declaring to adhere to those of the Congregation in despite of all Opposition This Answer is highly resented and a Garison of French is forthwith sent into Leith the Earl of Aran Son to Hammilton privately withdraweth from the French Court and comes into Scotland where he joyns with those of the Congregation with whom he likewise persuades his Father the Duke forthwith to joyn and they immediately attempt the Besiege of Leith which the French reinforce with Two Thousand Men sent over under Monsieur de la Broche with whom came the Bishop of Ameans and three Doctors of Sorbon to dispute if Occasion offered the Points of Religion then in controversie De la Broche in capacity of an Ambassador designed a Conference with the Lords of the Congregation which they refused requiring the return of the French into France and the dismantling of Leith otherwise no Treaty could be admitted The Queen Regent sendeth Forman the King at Arms to them adjuring them to return to their former Obedience to their King and Queen and to the known Laws of the Land assuring them that if they will promise to Disband their Army then at Edenburgh her Forces at Leith who had never been sent over but that their repeated Insurrections necessitated their Majesties to do it should soon be returned notwithstanding the great Contempt offered to the French Ambassadors to whom they would not so much as vouchsafe a Conference Protesting withal that nothing should be wanting in her to condescend to any thing not inconsistent with Piety towards God and Loyalty towards their Majesties In fine She requires the Duke his Son and all others of the Nobility and Gentry forthwith to withdraw from all such as were resolved still to disturb the Peace under the pain of High Treason The Lords receiving this Message are enraged and in answered thereunto return her a Suspension from her Government and in the King and Queens Name require her to forbear all exercise of Power under the pretence of any Title of Regent assuring her that against all Hazards they resolved to regain the Town of Leith out of the hands of the French and therefore out of the respect they had to her as their Queens Mother they requested her to withdraw out of the Town during the time of the Siege the like request they sent to the French Ambassadors and all their Souldiers out of the respect they bare to the French the day following they send their Commands requiring all Scotch Men then in Leith to forsake the Town then the Besiege or rather Blocking up of the Town began some Skirmishes there were in which the Besiegers had still the worst of it and in all Attempts were repulsed with loss and what added to their Calamity they begin to be jealous one of another the common Souldiers began to Mutiny for want of Pay whereupon they intended to mint their Plate but wanted Tools to do it in their streights they address to the English to whom John Cockhurne is dispatched to Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir James Crofts Governors of Barwick and the places adjacent to supply their present necessity with relief some Money is granted but Cockburne in his return is surprised by the Earl of Bothwell and sent Prisoner to the Queen The Besieged frequently make their Sallies out of the Town to the great prejudice of the Besiegers in so much that at last they are forced to retire to Sterlin where a Council was called to consider what was to be done in this Exigency John Knox Preached before the Council and persuading to a further action and a constant prosecution of the work begun be assures them of Success The result of the Meeting was to send a Message to Queen Elizabeth and crave her Assistance William Mettelane is dispatched and finds Friendly entertainment in the English Court He solicites her Majesty's aid in the common cause of Religion and Liberty Many of the Queen's Council dislike the Proposal and declare That help in this cause of Subjects against Sovereign Authority would be a President of most pernicious and dangerous consequence others of her Council think and speak more favourably of it At length the Queen's Zeal for Religion and Enmity against the French prevail with her and hopes of Assistance is given at Barwick Commissioners meet to sign Articles of Agreement which was That in case any Foreigner should Invade either Kingdoms mutual assistance is promised the Queen to pay the English Auxiliaries in Scotland and the Scottish Auxiliaries in England and
the English Arms and Title of the Queen of England and Ireland during the Life of Queen Elizabeth Secondly That the Queen of England or her Heirs of her Body if such should happen should not do any thing to the prejudice of the Queen of Scotlands Title to the Crown of England Thirdly That a mutual Care may be had to preserve the Peace and Union of both Kingdoms These things happily concluded there was a fair prospect of a flourishing State had not the heart-burnings and emulations of the Religioso's of Scotland fermented and by the restless Tongues of their Preachers discomposed all their Settlement they who swell the least punctilio's that are disgustful to them into Enormous Crimes did not whisper but cry aloud that the Queens designs were all to reinduce Idolatry and Superstition the Earl of Arran contriving withal to get the Queens Person into his Power and Disposal the safety of her Person being the only rub in his way to the Crown But the Queen having timely Notice of all these Projects appointed a good Guard to Attend her Person which was maliciously intercepted by Adversaries as a Foundation preparatory to a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government The Winter following the Queen knowing what influence her Base-Brother James had in the Affections of the People and Popular Ministers whose grand Patron he was and not Ignorant of his own Ambition is soon moved to Create him Earl of Marr and soon after Earl of Murray which highly displeased the Earl of Huntley the greatest Peer in the North conceiving himself and his Jurisdiction thereby prejudiced and proved the grounds of a great and lasting feud between them Moreover Anne Keith the Earl Martials Daughter is given him in Marriage his Greatness is not only Envied by the Gourdons but also by the Hamiltons who look upon him as a dangerous Competitor to the Crown mutual contrivances there are to Ruin each other the Hamiltons as it was suggested Conspiring the Death of Murray by the Wisdom of the Queen their Feuds are kept from breaking out into open Hostility only in the North a Skirmish hapned between Huntley and Murray in which Huntley himself was taken Prisoner and immediately dyed not so much with the Wounds in his Body as in his Mind his two Sons John and Adan are likewise taken Prisoners and carryed to Aberdeen John is there beheaded whose untimely death was much bewailed by the Queen Adam being very young is pardoned the Eldest Son George flies to Hamilton his Father in Law for Sanctuary who begs his Pardon of the Queen but by the prevailing Power of Murray who then over-ruled all young Huntley must be delivered up and is sent Prisoner to Dunbar from thence he is called to Edenburgh and there Condemned for Treason and returned a Prisoner to Dunbar In May following the Queen is Crowned in great State at Edenburgh and about Michaelmas after by the Queens favour and approbation Matthew Stuart Duke of Lennox after 22. Years absence returns to Scotland and hath his whole Estate restored to him to the great content of the Queen the next Spring his Son Henry the Lord Darnly also arrives a man of a very comely and proper Person and behaves himself in the Court with such Civility and Prudence that the Queen with small Arguments was induced to cast her Affections upon him and to accept him for her Husband in order whereunto he is first Created Duke of Rothesay and Earl of Ross and at last in despight of all the opposition that Murray could make by the instigation of Queen Elizabeth against it who to prevent the Marriage sent Sir Nicholas Throgmorten to Require Lennox and Darnly to return to England upon pain of Confiscation of their Estates the Marriage is Solemnized at Edenburgh July 28. with consent of most of the Nobility and by the publick Herauld Henry and Mary are Proclaimed King and Queen of Scotland this Marriage uniteth Hamilton and Murray who with Arguile Glencarne Rothes and others Combine against the present Proceeding and upon the Summons to return to their former Obedience they all refuse and are Proclaimed Traitors the King and Queen advance to Glascow with an Army of 4000 men and upwards the Rebels stay at Paisley not wholly Unanimous in their Counsels Hamilton's Advice tending to no less than the destruction of the King and Queen ever inculcating in the Ears of his Complices ' That howsoever private Feuds might be otherwise compromised yet the Enmity of Kings could not any other way be extinguished but by their Death the rest of the Nobility knowing this to be an Hellish Design of his own out of the Ruin of the Queen to raise himself to the Throne of Scotland divide from Hamilton and retire towards Dumfreis and from thence they Fly into England About this time some Discontents unhappily arise between the King and the Queen and by the occasion of the ambitious and malitious surmises of ill disposed men the King is Enraged 〈…〉 Seigneur David a French man the Secretaâ—â— as an Instrument of Mischief between him and the Queen their Wicked Design to make the Breach greater between them not being discerned by the King he as being naturally too flexible and credulous is wrought upon to joyn with them in the Destruction of the Secretary On the Night appointed for that horrid work of darkness the King took with him the Earls of Morton Linsay and Ruthen besides five or six more Armed Men himself first entring the Queens Chamber and Ruthen following him he finds the Secretary set at Supper with the Queen and spying them he arose and the Queen offering to interpose he clasps fast hold about her wast who not knowing the Design cryes out but the King forcing David from his hold pacified her assuring her That there was no hurt intended her only the destruction of one Villain that was about her whom he runs through with his Sword and then they all drag his wounded Body into an outward Room and striving who should give him most wounds they cut his Body all to pieces The City of Edenburgh hearing of a Tumult at Court but altogether Ignorant what the matter might be put themselves suddenly into Arms and forthwith march to Holy-rood-house the Kings Pallace and the Guard being full of Armed men the King calleth to them out of a Window that there was no danger attending them himself and the Queen being in health and safety he thanked them for their Care and Readiness and advised them for the present to return home peaceably to their Houses The Day following the Noble men who lately fled into England appear according to a late Summons they had received to Answer what should be objected against them no Judge Accuser nor Witness appearing against them they there protest their readiness judicially to Answer all things chargeable upon them every one returns in Peace to his own Lodging The Queen Accompanied with the King retireth to Dunbar and admitteth Murray and Arguile
Queen Maries own he Communicates it to Queen Elizabeth and her Council who immediately issue out Warrants for the apprehending of the Conspirators amongst the first of these was Babington taken and being examined touching his intercourse with Queen Mary confessed that he had treated on that unhappy subject with her which falsehood he supposed indeed to be truth being imposed upon by the Forgery of her Secretaries After Examinatition and Conviction they are all Condemned and Executed as Traytors Upon this discovery Queen Mary is still more closely imprisoned in Fotheringham Castle and the Guards set upon her are doubled her Secretaries taken from her and imprisoned and Queen Elizabeth herself by Letter gave her notice that she had given Commission to her Council of State to hear her in Judgment upon the Fact with which she was accused the same day Thomas Bromeley Knight Lord Chancellor and William Lord Burleigh Lord Treasurer of England came to her and declared what Power they had given them in their Commission and desired her that she would calmly hear her Accusation and what were the Facts wherewith she was Charged otherwise they both could and would proceed against her for Contempt to which she made Answer That she was no Subject and that she would choose rather to Dye a thousand times than by such an Acknowledgment bring a Prejudice upon her Royal Majesty The Commissioners do still insist upon the Tenor of their Commission She demanded by what Law Civil or Canon they would proceed against her they said By the Law of England Which you have made said she on purpose to Trap and Ensnare me to which I am not subject nor bound to submit Hatton the Queens Vice-Chamberlain pressed her still to Plead for her self and to remove the supposed Guilt assuring her nothing could be matter of greater Joy to Queen Elizabeth than that she should Clear her Self of that Horrid Conspiracy whereof she stood Accused Queen Mary proposes an Appeal to a Parliament promising to Answer there to the whole Charge knowing as she said that their Commission was only designed as a Net to Catch her in and Entrap her Innocence Then said the Treasurer we will proceed to the Contempt if you do replyed the Queen Examine your own Consciences and provide for your Honours so God render to you and your Children as you shall proceed against me in this Judgement The next Morning she sent for one of the Commissioners to know if her Protestation against their Power or Authority to Try her she being no Subject but a Free and Absolute Prince were Recorded if it were she could then Justifie her self without any Prejudice to Royal Dignity or the Crown of Scotland in particular hereupon the Commissioners all do Assemble but Shrewsbury and Warwick who were Sick in the Chamber of Presence where was the Seat-Royal under a Cloth of State to represent the Majesty of Queen E. zabeth and upon the one side of it a Chair of Crimson Velvet for Queen Mary after a Speech made by Bromley the Lord Chancellor her Charge is Read wherein she is Accused of Conspiring the Death of Queen Elizabeth the Destruction of the Realm and the Subversion of the Establish'd Religion This done the Queens Lawyers do most furiously Charge her with all imaginable Aggravations of the Crime but of all that they produced against her to Convince her of the Crimes charged upon her nothing stuck upon her or pinched her save the Letter to Babington whereunto her hand was set Babington upon his Examination acknowledged his Correspondence with her and that he had received that Letter from her Man and Curle her Secretaries did Depose That she dictated it unto them and with her own Hand had Subscribed it To what Babington had Deposed she Protested in the Presence of the great God that she never received any Letter from nor writ any Letter to the said Babington neither ever was she made privy to or knew of any written to or from him As to the Deposition of the Secretaries if any such Deposition be made by them it is said she in the Presence of God a most Traiterous and Wicked Calumny in them who being my Secreraries are therefore of all men the most perfidious in the World I desire my Secretaries who are now Witnesses against me may be brought into my Presence where I am Confident that they dare not Adhere to any such Deposition pretended to be made by them Her Secretaries who in the Judgment of most unbiass'd men were corrupted with Money were never produced nor brought into her Presence Emanuensium qui pretio Corrupti videbantur testimonio oppressa est Camb. p. 493. yet under the weight of their Testimonies was this Illustrious Princess crush'd a pieces upon their Testimonies did the Commissioners proceed to give Sentence against her and accordingly after long Debates and Consultations Sentence was pronounced which was immediately carried to Queen Elizabeth and presented to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster for publication of it where the Sentence of Death was Confirmed and Beal after some demurr upon it was sent by Queen Elizabeth to Acquaint the Condemned Queen with the Mournful Sentence of her Death and to tell her That the Estates of the Realm met in Parliament had Approved and Confirmed it and demanded speedy Execution of the Sentence for Justice Security and Necessity which sad News she received with more than a Masculine Courage or Greatness of Mind Praising God for all his Dispensations towards her and Acknowledging his Favours she desired a Priest to Administer the Sacrament unto her and in all things to Assist her for a due Preparation and Christian Dispose to Dye The Cloth of State in her Chamber is beaten down by her Guard and all Marks of Royalty are taken from her but the Execution of the Sentence is for a time delayed by Queen Elizabeth In the mean time the Condemned Queen writes to Queen Elizabeth Requesting Three Things of her First That she being Dead her Body might be Transported into France to be Buried there nigh the Ashes of her dear Mother Secondly That she might not suffer clancularly but in the presence of her Servants And Lastly That they might all peaceably Enjoy those small Legacies which her Poor and Exiled Condition was capable of Bequeathing them Neither was King James all this time remiss in his Endeavours to procure his Mothers Deliverance both by Persuasions and Communications if any way it might be Effected to whom the French King joyned Endeavours urging it with Reasons of greatest Moment That it was a Business so detestable that it was without Example to put an Anointed Sovereign into the hands of the Common Hangman that it was an Example of Dangerous Consequence thus to Prostitute Sovereignty to the Wills of Rebels That the Condemned Queen was not only her nearest Kinswoman but her Guest invited by her with Promise of Protection and in Assurance of it had taken Shelter under her