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
kindled to such a flame that upon either side they assemble their friends in Arms The Ogleby calleth the Lord Huntley the Lindesay the Hamiltons to assist their Rights frequent meetings having been to calm matters and reconcile them and nothing agreed upon nor concluded they resolve at last to decide the cause by their Swords The Earl of Crawford then remaining at Dundee advertised of the present danger of his friends posted in all haste to Arbroth and cometh at the very chock of the skirmish and when hey were to enter the Fight Here intending by his wisdom to take up the quarrel and presuming upon the respect due to his place and person he rashly rusheth forwards before his Companies to demand a party of Alexander Ogleby with his Son But ere he could be known or was heard he is encountred by a common Souldier who thrust him in the mouth with a Spear and prostrate him dead upon the ground This sudden accident joyned the Parties who fought with great courage and resolution The Victory after much blood inclined to the Master of Crawford Alexander Ogleby sore wounded was taken and brought to the Castle of Finelvin where he died the Lord Huntley escaped by the swiftness of his Horse John Forbess of Pitsligow Alexander Barkley of Garteley Robert Maxwell of Tillen William Gordoun of Borrowfield Sir John Oliphant of Aberdaguy with others fell on the Oglebies side they fought the Twenty fourth of January One thousand four hundred fourty five 1445 Now by attending opportunities to encrease publick disorders turn the times dangerous and troublesome and confound the State the Earl of Dowglass kept himself in the absolute Government by umbragious ways he nourished discontentments in all parts of the Country amongst the Nobility Gentry Commons of the Realm Alexander Earl of Crawford put to death John Lynton of Dundee Robert Boyd of Duchal and Alexander Lyle slew James Stuart of Auchenmintee Patrick Hepburn of Hails surprised the Castle of Dumbar Archembald Dumbar as if he would but change places with him taketh the Castle of Hails where he was besieged by the Earl of Dowglass and with conditions of safety rendred it Sir William Creighton all this time kept the Castle of Edenburgh and when by intreaties nor power he could not be induced to render it to the King his Castle of Creighton is plundered a garison placed in it and the Castle of Edenburgh by the Earl of Dowglass is besieged and blocked up Nine months the Assailers lie about it but it proveth impregnable and without loss of many Subjects cannot be taken about the end of which time mens courages waxing colder conditions are offered and received which were that the Chancellor should be restored to grace place and whatsoever had been withheld from him by his enemies at Court an abolition and abrogation of all former discontentments should be granted the besieged should pass out bag and baggage free At a Parliament holden at Perth the Chancellor was purged by an Assise of his Peers of what was laid against him his lands and goods seized upon by the King or Dowglasses are decreed to be restored as well to his followers as himself he is established in his dignities and places of Honour notwithstanding of all Edicts Proclamations Confiscations before which were declared null all matters past put in oblivion as not done This considering the credit of the Earl of Dowglass was thought very strange but James Kennedy Bishop of Saint Andrews whose respect and Authority was great with the Churchmen perfected this Master-piece of State and the Earl of Dowglass knew though the Chancellor was unbound he had not yet escaped During these Garboyls in Scotland Margaret Sister to King James and wife to the Daulphin of France Lewis died at Chalones in Champagne a vertuous and worthy Lady beloved of all France but most of Charles the seventh her Father in Law who for her respect matched her three Sisters who remained at his Court honourably Helenora with Sigismond Arch-duke of Austria Elizabeth to the Duke of Bretaigne Mary with the Earl of Camphire She was buried in the great Church of Chalones but after when the Daulphine came to the King he caused transport and bury her in the Abbey Church of Loan in Poittow Many Elegies were published upon her death which are yet extant Sir James Stuart the Black Knight husband to the Queen at this time died also He had turned a voluntary exile to shun the dangers and envy of the Factions of the Country which he incurr'd by his free speeches against the misgovernment and miseries of the time and as he was bound towards Flanders by the Flemings was taken upon the Seas The Queen out-lived not long her Daughter and Husband she was buried the fifteenth of July in the Charter-house of Perth neer her first husband James the year One thousand four hundred forty six She brought forth to the black Knight of Lorn three sons John Earl of Athole James Earl of Buchan Andrew Bishop of Murray The Chancellor having recovered his honours and State to the disadvantage of the Earl of Dowglass though of good years and tyred with the troubles of a publick Life yet findeth not any desired rest A Marriage being designed for the King with Mary daughter of the Duke of Guilders by the instructions of Charles the seventh the French King but secretly by the procurement of the Earl of Dowglass the Chancellor as a Man grave great in place and experimented with the Bishop of Dunkel and Nicholas Otterburn is sent over the Seas in Embassie This troublesome and unprofitable honour abroad is laid upon him that he might be separate from the King and suspended from opposing to the private designs of the Earl at home This obstacle of his ambition removed which had neither moderation nor limits the Earl may exclude such Officers in State or Court who were not agreeable to him and substitute others of his Creation after his pleasure he hath now room and opportunity for his greatest designs His Kindred are without pausing preferred to Offices of State his Brothers to new honours Archembald is made Earl of Murray by the marriage of a Lady of the house of Dumbar who was Heir of the Lands and the Kings Ward George is created Earl of Ormond John made Lord of Balvenie and hath his Donation ratified in an Assembly of three Estates who were convented at Edenburgh for matters concerning the Marriage of the King but in effect that the Earl might pursue his old Enemies The Commissioners are chosen after his pleasure are prepared and instructed by him prelimitated and to combine power with craft he entreth in an offensive and defensive League with many Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen of the Kingdom All the wheels and vices of his Clock being right set Alexander Levingston late Governour Alexander his eldest Son Robert Levingston Treasurer David Levingston James Dundas Robert Bruce of Clackmannan Knights for Peculate and converting the Princes Treasure
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
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
his Brother and other their Friends some Church Benefices and many Leases of Tythes was reconciled unto them and with appearance of great friendship they mutually entertained and feasted each others at the Christ-Mass in the City of St. Andrews But small confidence could be long among reconciled Enemies Now went every thing as the Earl of Anguss could have wished he was not only entire and familiar with the Kings Person but with his Office some of his Enemies were dead others overthrown in open Field with the rest he was reconciled No Faction for power or riches was equal to his Nor remained there any Castle or Fortress not seised on by him and garrisoned with his Friends and Followers except the Castle of Sterlin a part of the Queens Dowry which being desolate by her Miseries and only haunted by some of her poorest and meanest Servants was neglected by the Earl which in him was a great Error the fitness of the place for a revolution and change of Court considered Many days the Earl had not seen his own dwelling Places nor thought upon his private Affairs being carried away by the storms of Court now he thinketh he may securely pass to Lothian whilst at Faulkland the King shall be safely entertained by his Brother Sir George Archembald his Uncle and James of the Parkhead Captain of the Guards having earnesty entreated their attendance on the King he crosseth the Forth with resolution soon to return His departing was not so concealed but the Archbishop of St. Andrews had knowledge of it and he inviteth Sir George to see him in his City of St. Andrews to receive the Leases of the Tithes promised all now perfected valid and according to Law sufficient Whilst Sir George is here detained Archembald the Treasurer by other Letters for matters of love is inticed to Dundee But nothing could make the Captain of the Guards leave his Charge The King amidst his solitary Walks in his Park of Faulkland considering of what a tedious Train he was relieved and how suddenly occasion might turn her bald scalp if presently he took not hold of her resolveth to accomplish by Stratagem what the Factions of his Nobles could not perform by force It is delightful to understand every particular circumstance in the progress of the actions of Princes Upon this resolution he directeth the Forrester of the Park to give advertisement to such Gentlemen about who kept Hounds the next morning to attend him for he would early have his Game He suppeth sooner than his custom was entertaining the Captain of the Guards with more than usual ceremonies and representations of the next mornings sport withall inviting him to go to his rest the Night being short about the Summer solstice The Waiters all shifted and the Court husht shutting his Chamber Door in the Apparel of one of his Grooms unperceiv'd he passed the Guard to the Stable where with two who attended him with spair Horses he posted to Sterlin where by the Queens intelligence he was expected in the Castle When the certainty of this escape was noised abroad many Noblemen repair to Sterlin some by Letters sent unto them others at the rumour of his evasion that in a little time he found him safe and far from any danger again to be surprized the Earls of Arguyl Atholl Glancarn Monteeth Huntley The Lords Graham Drummond Levingstoun Sainclaire Lindsay Evandale Ruthen Maxwell Simple the Earl of Eglintoun Rothess James Beatoun Archbishop of St. Andrews the Deviser of his escape The Earl of Angus full of miss-giving thoughts with many of his Friends was also on his way to Sterlin but Proclamation being made against him Discharging him from all Offices and publick Functions and being by an Herauld forbidden with his Friends and Followers to come near the Court by some Miles under pain of Treason either moved by inward terrours or love of the Peace of his Countrey turned back to Linlithgow where two days he attended News of the Kings pleasure which at last was declared That neither he nor none of his should presume by some miles to approach his Residence The more particular favours were That the Earl should confine himself beyond the River of Spay in the North whilst his Brother Sir George Dowglass should render himself Prisoner in the Castle of Edenburgh and there remain during the Kings pleasure When the Dowglasses had refused these offers they are cited to answer according to Law in a Parliament to be holden in September at Edenburgh before the day of appearing the Earl of Angus accompanied with an able Train of his Friends and Followers essayeth to enter the Town of Edenburgh and there attend the coming of the King but by the Lord of Maxwell and the Lord of Lochinvarre who in the Kings Name had invested the Town he is kept out and the King with an unexpected suddenness with two thousand men coming from Sterlin he removed The Earl not appearing at the appointed day is by Decree of Parliament attainted and forfeited with his Brother Sir George Dowglass Archembald Dowglass his Uncle Alexander Drummond of Carnock and others The points of which they were to be accused were The assembling of the Kings Lieges with intention to have assailed his Person The detaining of the King against his will and pleasure and contrary to the Articles agreed upon the space of two years and more all which time the King was in fear and danger of his life At this Parliament some write the King made a solemn Oath never to give a Remission to any of the Dowglasses there forfeited as the Lords did never to interceed nor request for any of them and in disgrace of the Earl of Angus Henry Stuart who had married the Queen his Wife was created Lord Meffan The Dowglasses having all favour denied them being openly declared Enemies to the King and Countrey commit all Hostility the last refuge of desperate men on their Enemies bounds Caust-land and Cranstoun are burned they ravage even to the Gates of Edenburgh the harmless people suffering for the faults of the great under shadow of their Followers all Robberies and Oppressions brake forth and by whomsoever committed are laid to their charge The King will not hear of them in any other terms than Oppressours and common Robbers In their defence they fortifie their Castle of Tantallon with the readiest Provision taken from the nearest adjacent bounds In October the King raiseth a great company of Soldiers with great Ordnance and other Engines of War brought from the Castle of Dumbar Tantallon is besieged but proveth impregnable and David Faulconer the General of the Ordnance at their removing is slain A Commission is sent to the Earl of Bothwell as the Kings Lieutenant to invade with Fire and Sword in all places the Dowglasses which he either out of human compassion or that he knew wise States-men should extenuate the faults of others rather than aggravate them refused to accept But the Earl of Arguyl and Lord
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
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
frequent in that place He is a Prince we find little said of as to his person and possibly best to be considered in the Negative We find many things done by his Captains not by him which notwithstanding we may rather attribute to the stirring and violent humour of that age than either his age want of Genius or love of quiet yet herein appears somewhat of his Character that meeting with turbulent times and a martial people he met not with any Insurrections and was a gainer and though he did it by other hands we must suppose that their Motions were directed by his Brain that communicated Motion and Spirits unto them since the Minds of Kings like the first Mover turn all about yet are not perceived to move and it was no humane wit said their hearts were unscrutable The same year his Eldest Son John was caled to succeed who thinking that name ominous to Kings there wanted not examples as of him of England and him of France and fancying somewhat of the felicity of those two former Roberts was crowned King by the name of ROBERT the III. This man being unactive the weight of the Government rested upon his Brother Robert The first seven years of his Reign past in a calm with England by reason of two Truces but not without some fierce fewds among his Subjects one whereof was very memorable between Thomas Dunbar Earl of Murray and and James Lindsay Earl of Crawford and was most high insomuch that seeing the difficulty of reducing them he resolved to make this proposition to them That 300. of each side should try it by dint of Sword before the King the Conquered to be pardoned and the Conquerour advanced This being agreed on a place was appointed on the Northside of St. Johnstons but when they came to joyn battel there was one of one side missing whom when his party could not supply and none would relinquish the other a Tradesman stept out and for half a French Crown and promise of maintenance for his life filled up the company The fight was furious but none behaved himself more furiously than the Mercenary Champion who they say was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side there remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the shock of the other threw himself into the Tey and escaped By this means the fiercest of two Clanns being cut off the remainder being headless were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes 1398 a title then first brought into Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of whose reign though the Truce was not ended the seeds of War began to bloom out and upon this occasion George Earl of March had betrothed Elizabeth his Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Dowglass not brooking this gets a vote of Parliament for revocation of this marriage and by the power of Robert the Kings Brother made a marriage between Mary his Daughter and David and giving a greater sum got it confirmed in Parliament The Earl of March nettled at this demands redress but being not heard leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Percy an utter Enemy of the Dowglasses wast 's March and especially depredating the lands of the Dowglasses The Scots declare the Earl of March an Enemy and send to demand him up of the English who deny to surrender him This made Hot-spur Percy and March make several incursions into Scotland till at last they were repulsed at Linton-Bridge by the Dowglasses 1400. This was about the year four hundred at which time War was denounced and the English entred with a great Army took Haddington and Lieth and laid siege to Edinburgh Castle David the Kings Son being within it which the new Governour ambitiously delaying to relieve the English satisfied with the terrour they brought retired again After which March did not cease his little incursions which to be revenged of Dowglass divided his Forces into two Squadrons the first to Halyburton who returned from Barmborough with some prey the second and greater to Patrick Hepburn who unwarily roving with his prey was set on by the English and with all the youth of Lothian put to the Sword To revenge this Dowglass gets together 10000. men and passing beyond Newcastle met with young Percy c. who at Homildon a little village in Northumberland in the year 1401. gave gave him and his Party such a considerable defeat as Scotland had not receiv'd the like for a long time This put Percy in hope to reduce all beyond the Fryth but the troubles at home withdrew him from that design By this Annibal the Queen dying David her Son who by her means had been restrained broke out into his natural disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and Luxury Complaint being brought to his Father he commits him to his Brother the Governour whose secret design being to root out the off-spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Falkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one woman thrusting in some thin Oaten Cakes at a chink and another giving him milk out of her paps through a Trunck But both these being discovered the youth being forced to tear his own members died of a multiplied death which murder being whispered to the King and the King inquiring after it was so abused by the false representations of his Brother that grief and imprecations was all the relief he had left him as being now retired sickly to Bote-Castle and unable to punish him The King being solicitous of James his younger Son is resolved by the example of the good usage of David to send him to Charles the Sixth of France and having taken Shipping at the Basse as he past by the Promontory of Flamborough whether forc'd by tempest or that he was Sea-sick he was forc'd to land taken by the English and detained notwithstanding the allegation of a Truce of eight years and his Fathers Letters And though it came to the Privy Council to be debated yet his detention was carried in the Affirmative This advantage he had by his Captivity that he was well and carefully educated but the News so struck his Father that he had almost presently died but being carried into his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and sorrow he shortned his life three days longer viz. to the first of April 1406. He was a man of a goodly and a comely personage one rather fit for the tranquillity of a private life than the agitations of Royalty and indeed such an one whose Reigns do little else but fill up Chronologies with the number of their years Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour a man of parts able enough for that employment but
and things necessary to matters of money immediatly dispatched so so much as could be gathered together with a great many young Noblemen of the Kingdom to remain Hostages for the rest who after the English Writers were David son to the Earl of Athol Alexander Earl of Crawford the Lord Gordon John de Lyndesay Patrick Son and Heir to Sir John Lyon David de Ogleby Sir William de Ruthen Miles Graham David Mowbray and William Oliphant These were honorably received entertained and kept The Kings Father in Law the Earl of Somerset the Cardinal his Brother accompanied their Niece to the Borders and there taking their leave returned back The King with the rest of their Train received with many Troops of Nobles and Gentlemen who swarmed from all parts of the Kingdom to give him a dutiful welcome into his Native soyl and themselves the contentment of beholding one they had so long desired and expected with loud acclamations and applauses of the Commons as he held his Progress on the Passion Week in Lent came to Edinburgh During his abode there he assembled many of the Estates listened to their Petitions prepared for the approaching Parliament which had been summoned before his coming The Solemnities of Easter finished the King came with his Queen to Perth and from thence in the beginning of the moneth of May to Scone where the year 1424. by Mordock the Governour Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife to whom that charge by custom of the Kingdom did appertain and Henry Bishop of S. Andrews the 27 year of his Age there was a joynt Coronation of himself and his Queen being according to the Computation of the old Scottish History the hundreth and one King of Scotland At which time Sigismond son to Charles the fourth An. Dom. 1424. was Emperour of the West John the seventh the son of Andronicus of the East Amurath the second Great Turk Alphonsus the fifth King of Spain Charles the seventh King of France Henry the sixth King of England and with Martin the fifth many claimed the Chair of St. Peter The ends in calling the Parliament were the Coronation of the King to make the People see a Princes authority was come where they had but lately a Governours the establishing a Peace amongst the Subjects and taking away all Factions the exacting a Subsidie for the relief of the Hostages in England To this last the Nobles held strong hand by reason many of their Sons were engaged Here a a general tax was condescended upon through the whole Realm as twelve pennies of the pound to be paid of all Lands as well Spiritual as Temporal and four pennies of every Cow Ox Horse for the space of two years together When the Commons had taken it grievously that the Subsidie granted by the states of the Kingdom in Parliament was exacted mostly of them after the first Collection the King pitying their poverty remitted what was unpayed and until the Marriage of his Daughter thereafter never exacted any Subsidie of his Subjects For he would gently strain milk and not wring blood from the breast of his Countrey rendring the disposure thereof chaste sincere and pure for expences necessary and profitable not for profusions which neither afford contentment nor reputation for money is both the nerves which give motion and veins which entertain life in a State Amongst others whom the King honoured Alexander second Son to Duke Mordock was dubbed Knight The Parliament dissolving the King came from Perth to Edinburgh where having assembled all the present Officers and such who had born Authority in the State during the time of Duke Robert and Duke Mordock especially those whose charge concerned the Rents of the Crown he understood by their accounts that the most part of all the Rents Revenues and Lands pertaining to the Crown were wasted alienated and put away or then by the Governors bestowed on their freinds and followers the Customs of Towns and Burroughs only excepted This a little incensed his indignation yet did he smother and put a fair countenance on his passion seeming to slight what he most car'd for occasion thereafter no sooner served when he began to countenance and give way to Promoters and Informers necessary though dangerous Instruments of State which many good Princes have been content to maintain and such who were not bad never denied to hear but using them no longer then they were necessary for their ends to rip up secret and hidden crimes wrongs suffered or committed during the time of his detension in England He received the complaints of the Church-men Countrey Gentlemen Merchants against all those who had either wronged them or the State and would have the causes of all Accusers to be heard and examined Here many to obtain the favour of the Prince accused others Upon pregnant accusations Walter Stuart one of the Sons of Duke Mordock was Arrested and sent to the Bass to be close kept so was Malcolm Fleming of Cammernauld and Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock committed to Ward in Dalkieth Not long after the Nobility interceding Malcolm and Thomas goods being restored which they had taken wrongfully and Fines laid upon them for their Offence promising to satisfie all whom they had wrong'd were pardoned all faults and then set at Liberty The King by listening to Promoters came to the knowledge of many great insolencies committed by sundry of his Nobles which as it bred a hatred in him so fear in them and both appeared to study a Novation They for their own safety He to vindicate Justice and his Authority The Duke had highly resented the committing of his Son as had his Father in Law the Earl of Lennox The Male-contents being many if they could have swayed in one body as they came to be of one mind threatned no small matter The King from the intelligence of close Meetings secret Leagues some Plots of his Nobles began to forecast an apparent storm in the State and danger to his own Person whereupon being both couragious and wise he proclaimeth again a Parliament at Perth where the three Estates being assembled in his throne of Majesty he spoke in this manner I have learned from my tender years that Royalty consisteth not so much in a Chair of State as in such actions which do well become a prince What mine have been since my coming Home and Government among you I take first God and then your selves for witnesses If all of them be not agreeable to you all and if any rigorous dealing be used against some Let him who is touched lay aside his particular and look to the setling of Justice in the State and publick Good of the whole Kingdom and he shall find his sufferings tolerable perhaps necessary and according to the time deserved I have endeavoured to take away all Discords abolish Factions Suppress Oppression as no Forein Power hath attempted ought against you hitherto so that ye should not endeavour ought against another nor any thing against
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
not much known before his Reign to the Nation Peace hath its own dangers no less than Wars yea often such estates as have encreased their Dominions and became mighty by Wars have found their ruin in a luxurious peace Men by a voluptuous life becoming less sensible of true honour The Court and by that example the Country was become too soft and delicate superfluous in all delights and pleasures Masques Banqueting gorgeous apparel revelling were not only licensed but studied and admired Nothing did please what was not strange and far brought Charity began to be restrained publique magnificence falling in private Riot What was wont to entertain whole Families and a train of goodly men was now spent in dressing of some little rooms and the womannish decking of the persons of some few Hermophradites To these the wise King had a while given way knowing that delicate soft times were more easie to be governed and a people given to mild arts and a sweet condition of life than rough and barbarous so they turned not altogether womanized and that it was an easie matter to bring them back again to their old posture At these abuses some of the severer sort of the Clergy began to carp yet could they not challenge the Prince who in the entertainment of his own person scarce exceeded the degree of any private Man yea was often under the Pomp and Majesty of a King But the blemish of all this excess was laid on the English who by the Queen their Country woman with new guises daily resorted hither and turned new-fangle the Court. The King not only listened to their plaints but called a Parliament to satisfie their humours Here Henry Wardlaw Bishop of S. Andrews highly aggravating the abuses and superfluities of Court and Country all disorders were pry'd into and Statutes made against them They abolished Riots of all sorts of Pearl many Rivers in Scotland affording them not only for use but for excess only women were permitted to wear a small Carkanet of them about their Necks costly Furs and Ermins were wholly forbidden together with the abuse of Gold and Silver lace Penalties were not only imposed upon the transgressours but on workmen which should make or sell them excessive expense in banqueting was restrained and dainties banished from the Tables of Epicures with Jeasters and Buffons In this year 1430. the first of June was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun at three of the clock afternoon the day turning black for the space of an half hour as though it had been Night therefore it was after called of the Commons The BLACK HOUR The last and greatest matter which busied the Kings thoughts was the encreasing of his Revenues and bringing back the Demesn of the Crown a work no less dangerous than deep and difficil and which at last procured him greatest hatred For till then smothered malice did never burst forth in open flames And though this diligence of the King concerned much the publick weal yet such as were interessed by rendring what they had long possessed though without all reason esteemed themselves highly wronged The Patrimony of the Crown had been wasted and given away by the two Governours to keep themselves popular and shun the envy of a factious Nobility Thus the King had neither in magnificence to maintain himself nor bestow upon his friends or strangers He had advisedly perused all evidences and charters belonging to the Crown hereupon he recalls all such Lands as had been either alienated from it or wrongfully usurped Together what was wont to be idly given away as forfeitures escheats and wards were restrained to the Crown and kept to the King himself There remained upon considerations of encreasing the Demesns of the Crown the Lands of the Earl of March whose Father had rebelled against the Kings Father Robert though faults be personal and not hereditary and the heirs of ancient houses hold little of their last possessours but of their Predecessours those the King seized on The Earl proved by good evidences and writings brought forth his Father had been pardoned for that fault by the Regents of the Kingdom he was answered again that it was not in the Regents power to pardon an offence against the State and that it was expresly provided by the Laws in crimes of Lese Majesty That children should undergo punishment for their Fathers transgressions to the end that being thus heirs to their Fathers rashness as they are to their Goods and Lands they should not at any time with vast ambition in the haughty Pride of their own Power plot or practise to shake and tear the Publick Peace of the Prince and Country Thus was the remission by the Parliament declared void and Earl George himself committed to the Castle at Edenbrough William Earl of Anguss Warden of the Middle March William Creightoun Chancellour Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailles immediately received the Castle of Dumbar the keeping of which was given to Sir Adam Hepburn The King not long after set Earl George at Liberty and to save him from the like dangers which were wont to befall his Predecessours to fly into England for every small cross and light displeasure at Court he bestowed on him as it were in exchange for these lands in the Marss the Earldom of Buchan in the North with a yearly pension to be paid out of the Earldom of March setting the Tay and the Forth betwixt him and his too kind friends of England Buchan had faln to the King by the decease of John who was Son to Robert the second and Earl of Buchan he was slain at Vernveill in France with the Marshal Duglass and left no lawful children after him to succeed The Earldom of Marre was incorporate also to the Demesn Royal by the decease of Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre who was natural Son to Alexander Stuart who was the Son of Robert the Second He was a Man of singular prowess and in his youth followed the Wars under Philip Duke of Burgundy he married Jane Daughter to the Earl of Holland and had greatly obliged his Country by transporting Stallions and Mares hither out of Hungary the Stood of which continued long after to his commendation and the commodity of the Kingdom The Earldom of Strathern was appropriated also to the Crown by the Decease of David Stuart Earl of Strathern Uncle to the King who having but one only Daughter who was married to Patrick Graham a younger brother of the Lord Grahams the Earldom being tailed to the Masculine Line was devolved again to the Crown Thus did King James succeed to three Brothers who were Sons to Robert the Second All good men with these proceedings of the King were well pleased for if Princes could keep their own and that which justly belongeth unto them they could not be urged to draw such extraordinary Subsidies from the blood sweat and tears of their people yet was this the Shelf on which this Prince perished for many who were accustomed
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
and his own services neglected They being ever accustomed in times of Peace to be nearest the Helm of the State and when any danger of war blazed sent abroad to encounter it In a confusion of those thoughts being diversly tossed he retireth to his own Castles and after great resolves proclaimeth that none of his Vassals or Tenants especially within Annandale and Dowglass-Dale parts remote from the more Civil Towns of the Kingdom should acknowledg thâ— present Government or obey any precepts licences or proclamations whereunto the Governours or Chancellours hands were set If any question of Law or contention arose amongst his Friends Vassals Tenants He knew none fitter to be their Judge sentence all their wrongs attone and take up their quarrels than himself To discover to the world the weakness of the two Rulers and how men never so well qualified small in means and silly of power were not for great places he giveth way for the increasing of evil overseeing many disorders of which he was the secret cause especially the insolencies of vagabonding and ravaging Borderers Men of purpose sent forth to spoil and rifle the more quiet parts of the Country and to cut work to these strengthless States-men as he named them Thus as overcome with sloth and pleasure he passed some moneths amidst Country contentments expecting what effect time would bring forth of the equal authority of those two Governours for to fit minds equal in authority to so even a temper that they should not have some motions of dissenting he thought impossible Neither did his conjecture fail him the event being the only judge of opinions for after this the Governour began to jarr with the Chancellour for ingrossing wholly to himself from his Partner the person of the King as an honour which could not altogether be separate from his place and which would give the greater authority to his proceedings urging the Chancellour in many other matters had usurped and taken upon him more than the Parliament granted The Chancellour was no better affected towards the Governour what the Governour commanded to be done he one way or other over-turned The buildings of the one was by the other demolish'd by common and continual brawlings thus living in turmoil neither of them was obeyed the Country usurped a licentious liberty every man doing what he thought best for his particular advantage and gain The remote Villages of the Kingdom are left a prey to the lawless multitude where their authority is scorned turn places of Robbery where admitted places of faction The Queen all this time after her ordinary custom remained in the Castle of Sterling The divisions partialities jealousies of the Rulers she taketh in an evil part knowing usually they had a dangerous consequence She had ever found the Governour sincere and loyal in his proceedings against his counsel and will her Son was kept from her by the Chancellour whom the great ones hated for possessing the King for drawing to Offices of best trust and benefit his own creatures displacing such he suspected to favour his partner in Rule and the Commons loved him not as managing every thing after his pleasure to their damage and loss Transported by divers motions she at last resolveth to change the Game of State and by a womanish conceit befool Masculine Policy To effectuate her purpose she came to Edenburgh and by many fair and passionate speeches obtained of the Chancellour to enter the Castle and delight her self some days with the company of her Son Then to countenance her Plot she giveth out a Pilgrimage intended by her to the white Kirk in Buchan There will she make offerings for the health of the King and perform her other vows The honest States-man who thought it disloyalty to distrust a Queen and a Mother whom years had made reverend and impiety to hinder such religious intentions giveth leave to her self with some Servants to remain in the Castle and to transport her houshold stuff and other necessaries after what manner she pleased In this time she persuadeth the King wantonly set and delighting to be obsequious to Her his Mother to be handsomly couched in a Trunk as if he had been some fardel of her apparel and conveyed by one of her trustiest Servants upon a Sumpter-horse to Leith from whence he was put forward by water to Sterling there received by the Governour and welcomed with great joy and laughter at the manner of their so quaintly deceiving the grave man By this advantage the Reins of Rule were now taken by the Governour The Queens trick is approved his own proceedings are strengthned and confirmed Proclamations are made against the Chancellour and he charged to render the Castle of Edenburgh to the King which he refused to do by a great Power raised by the Governour of the Countrey and the Queens and his own followers he is besieged and blocked up within the Castle The Chancellour ready to fall in the danger considering he had to do with too strong a party imploreth the assistance of the Earl of Dowglass but the Earl as a matter he had long expected and earnestly wished might fall forth refuseth to assist any of them saying It belonged not to the ancient Nobility to succour these Mushrooms whose ambition with no less could he satiate than the Government of the whole Realm This disdainful answer procured a meeting of the two Rulers which concluded in the rendring of the Castle to the Governour and a promise of true friendship between them that they might not prove a sport to the envious Nobility The Governour to shew the roundness of his intentions and his honesty continueth the Chancellour in his office and restoreth him to the keeping of the Castle of Edenburgh After this agreement the Earl of Dowglass left this world at Restalrigge the year One thousand four hundred thirty nine leaving behind him a Son born of the Earl of Crawfords daughter named William who succeeded to his Fathers Honours and Ambition Malcolm Flamin of Cammarnald and Allan Lawder upon this young Earls oath of Allegiance to the Crown of France obtain to him from the French King the Dutchy of Tourrain which his Father had enjoyed and given to Archibald his Grandfather slain at Vernueil This forein dignity with his titles at home made the young man very haughty and to forget moderation Discretion in youth seldom attending great fortunes He surpassed far the King in his followers and train being accustomed to have hundreds of Horse men attending him most of which were Robbers and men living upon unlawful spoils all under his Protection But however thus he seemed to set forth his greatness this seemed much to bewray a distrust and that he rather travelled amongst a people which hated him than amongst his friends and men lovingly disposed James Stuart Son to the Lord of Lorne about this time marryed the Queen Dowager not so much out of love of her Person as Dowry as of Ambition by her means intending
to reach the Government of the State and get into his custody the Person of the King And that it might rather seem the work of others out of conveniency than any appetite of his own he so insinuated himself with the Earl of Dowglass that the Earl essayed to lay the first ground-work of his aims The Governour who never wanted his own Spies near the Queen at the first inkling of this novation committed both him and his Brother William into the Castle of Sterlin The Queen whether she followed her Husband or was restrained uncertain staied with them and now began to repent her of the former courtesies done to the Governour wishing her Son had yet remained in the custody of the Chancellour who not so displeased at their imprisonment as he appeared in outward-show delighting in the errours of his Partner by Alexander Earl of Huntley trafficked and wrought their liberty Thus insinuating himself in the Queens favour he irritated her against the Governour whom yet outwardly he entertained with ceremonies of Friendship approving his Sagacity in preventing a storm in the State before it brake forth here the Governour found how that same Key which can open a Treasure can shut it up for after this the Queen prepared her Son for a change The Governour carefully ministring Justice at Perth the Chancellour one morning coming to the Park of Sterling where the King was hunting by the providence of his Mother more early raised for this sport she bewailed the present estate of his Court that he was thralled to the covetousness and pleasure of others living under the power of a man greedy of Rule that a King of France is declared to be of full years and Major the fourteenth of his age that a Prince should transfer his affection especially in tender years that by an escape he might enjoy a princely freedom better know himself and make his Rulers relish his Authority that three hours was sometimes of more importance than three days and one hour of more than all the three that he should take hold of the present occasion offered him Prepared with such informations he is no sooner accosted by the Chancellour when approving his motions he posted towards Edenburgh with him received all the way as he went with many companies of the Chancellours friends and attendants The Governour finding the face of the Court altered by a King young in years and judgment possessed by his Mother dissimulating his interest in a patient and calm manner cometh to Edenburgh there after long conference and mediation of friends in Saint Giles's Church he meeteth the Chancellour and by the Bishop of Murray's and Aberdeen's diligence an agreement is between them concluded which was That the King should remain in the custody of the Chancellour and the Governour should still enjoy his charge Amongst these divisions of the Rulers the Queen all this time handsomly kept some authority affecting and entertaining sometimes the one of them sometimes the other as by turns they governed the King and State The many and great disorders in the Country invited a Parliament the authority of Magistrates was despised no justice was administred in many places few could keep their Goods or be assured of their Lives but by taking themselves to the servitude of one Faction or other Troubles arose in the West by the slaughter of Sir Allan Stuart Lord Darnley killed by Sir Thomas Boyd and by the Revenge of his Death taken by Alexander Stewart of Bolmet his Brother upon the Boyd the Highland Islanders invade the Territories adjacent to them spoyl and burn the Lennox where John Calhowen of Luss is massacred These cruelties and insolencies against all justice and authority being avouched such to beware held fit to be remedied and courses laid down to obviate them but William Earl of Dowglass permitting wickedness and winking at mischief often approving them for lawful and good policy whilst he neither reformed them himself by his power nor suffered the Rulers to proceed against them by their authority purchased to himself the name and reputation of a lawless and strong oppressor The three Estates assembled complaints being given up against Oppressours most against him and his followers as the source from which the miseries of the Country sprang he appeareth not nor any to answer for him The Parliament determinateth to proceed by way of Rigour against him but to this the two Rulers oppose persuading them that fair speeches and entreaties was a safer and easier way to draw unto them a young Man mighty in riches and power arrogant by his many Followers and Vassals than to give out a Sentence against him before he were heard and by threatnings stir his turbulent and ambitious thoughts which instead of making him calm might turn his neutrality in a perfect Rebellion and his insolency in madness and despair Neither as the present estate of the Country stood could he without civil blood be commanded and brought in which by moderation might be effectuate that verity enjoyed not always that priviledge to be spoken in every place and time it was good to keep up in silence matters concerning him the speaking of which might produce any dangerous effecâ— Upon this Letters in their name are sent unto him remembring him of the splendor and glory of his Ancestors the place and dignity he possessed by them in Parliament that without his presence they neither would or could proceed in great matters If he apprehended any cause of let or stay by the offences and disorders committed by his Attendants and followers they would freely remit them as accidents following the injury of the times and his yet tender years his greatest fault being his giving way out of rashness and negligence to the faults of others That of himself they had conceived such singular hopes of great towardness and all venues if he would come and take a part with them giving in his complaints and grievances he should not only have full satisfaction but be honoured with what place or charge in the Government he liked best by honouring them with his Presence he should oblige not only his Country infinitely but particularly every one of them to stand for him to the utmost of their powers and wishes This Letter wrought powerfully upon the Mind of the Earl by nature and years desirous of glory and preferment and believing easily that which was plausible to his hopes His friends who now began to promise to themselves new Heavens think upon great matters and forecast to themselves by the change of their Lords Fortune a change of Offices in the State persuade him likewise to come to the Parliament and they divulged the certainty of his Progress The Chancellour when he understood he was upon his way rode forth of Edenburgh to meet him and by many obsequious complements and friendly blandishments allured and drew him to his Castle of Creighton which was in his way where some days he rested and was honourably entertained
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
the complainers after many citations his Brother not appearing is at last by force presented to the Council when he could not answer to such faults as were laid against the Earls Vassals and followers nor acquit them of violent oppressions he was only enjoyned to restore to the Complainers their loss and restore all damages Upon fair promises of Restitution the King bringeth him off the danger and obtaineth him liberty to return home There after long advisement with his other Brothers and some haughty Vassals they declare old Rapines and wrongs being joyned to new and resent with which they were charged the restitution was impossible and like spilt water which could not be recovered Not satisfied with this answer the Council cited the Earl of Dowglass upon some days to appear before them and all his Vassals and followers with his Brothers to answer according to Law to such Articles as should be given in against them The Earl was far off and they considered it consisted not with their weal to hazard their persons to the arbitriment of Judges many of which had been obnoxious to their affronts Thus for not appearing they are denounced Rebels and Warrants granted to invade and spoyl their Lands as publick enemies to Authority and the present Government This Decree is followed by open force and to facilitate the execution of it and to take up the Earl of Dowglasses Rents William Earl of Orkney cometh to Galloway Dowglass-dale Liddes-dale But he found Authority not seconded with power against lusty Rebels to produce weak effects for he returned disobeyed contemned and near spoiled and rifled by the Earls Tenants and Vassals The King to vindicate his Authority since he could not prevail by reason with competent Forces in person entreth the same Territories taketh all the strong Fortresses and Castles where he came demolisheth the Castle of Dowglass placeth a Garrison in Lochmabane giveth the custody of such places he spared with the whole Goods and Moveables appertaining to them to the Complainers and men interested in wrongs or blood by the Rebels The noise of this unexpected backblow being heard at Rome perplexed not a little the Earl of Dowglass Many of his train leave him that where lately he represented a Prince he seemed now scarce a private Gentleman he was assured he lived under a Soveraign who maugre all detractions would hear his own defences Upon which hopes he resolveth to return taketh him to his Journey and for his greater haste and safe progress he obtaineth a Pass through England come to the Borders of Scotland his Brother James is directed to the Court to understand the Kings mind towards him and if there were any possibility in this ebb of favours to have access to him The King ingeniously promiseth to accept him and performed it for all that hapned by the misdemeanor of his Friends in his absence requesting that he would but live peaceably according to the order of the State without hating that which his Prince loved or improving that which he approved and authorized and that as himself and his Brothers were ever the most able and readiest to repeal the wrongs of Strangers so they would endeavour to entertain unity and concord in the Country it self and purge their Lands of Thieves and Robbers if mischievous and wicked men were not punished there would be no surety nor safety for the good and vertuous Past wrongs are pardoned the Garrisons removed from his Castles and they are rendred unto him Then to put him in assurance of encreasing favours he is made Lieutenant General of the Kingdom a place great and requiring great action being only to be bestowed upon a Man active great in power and friends The Earl of Dowglass again afloat in the stream of his Soveraigns favours might have continued if his miseries had not been decreed from above soon after he falls in a new disgrace whether upon a promise of return or that he was sent for or that he would officiously give thanks for receiving courtesies when he was in his way homewards he passeth privately to the Court of England and without his Masters knowledge or leave hath many days serious conference with the Nobility of that Kingdom then many ways distressed by the Rebellion of Kent and the Factions of the great Men. The pretended cause of his journey was given out to be the repairing of his own and his Vassals losses sustained by the inrodes of the English the time of his travels abroad and the redressing of other disorders on the West borders but his Enemies suggested he intended to enter a League with some of the English to the disadvantage of his Master and trouble of his Country by changing the Form of Government or the Officers of State King James took his meeting with the English in an evil part but after great intercession and many requests of the Queen and Noblemen after he had submitted himself to his clemency and acknowledged his Errors received him In this mean time he is discharged of all publick employments his Offices of State are divided between the Earl of Orkney and the Lord Creightoun his reconciled Enemies Removed from publick employments he giveth himself to study private revenge and the whole secret Council turn distasteful unto him especially Orkney and Creightoun men perfectly abhorring his ambition and who greatly feared his dismeasured greatness Their suspected affronts and alledged wrongs towards him were increased daily by tales of Sycophants It was told the Earl that the Lord Creightoun in conference with the King had said it were expedient for the peace of the Country That the Earl of Dowglass with all his friends and followers were rooted out and their memory abolished but if that were left undone neither should the King rule in due Majesty nor the Subjects ever give him that obedience which they ought That wise Princes suffered houses to grow as men do Spider-webs not taking heed of them so long as they were small but when offensively encreased they swept them wholly away Irritated by these and many such like speeches after much contempt of the Chancellour on dawning as he was early coming from Edenburgh to his Castle of Creighton the Earl who wanted not his own intelligence amongst his followers Hatred being an evil Counsellour laid an ambush for him on the high way But the clearness of the morning discovering it by the swiftness of his horse he escapeth some of his company being wounded and one of the Assailers slain in the pursuit Two days after the Chancellor to repair his credit accompanied with a number of his friends and followers coming in great haste to Edenburgh had unawares surprized the Earl of Dowglas then attended but with a small number of his friends if he had not speedily shifted himself from the danger This contention now bursting forth into open Hostility divided into Factions the whole Kingdom The Earl of Dowglass maintaining his by the long continued grandeur of his House the
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
and wicked men begin at that which seemeth the least of evils or not an evil at all at the first your last aim is likely to be the robbing upon the Crown Consider my Lord ye are born under a Monarchy which admitteth no Soveraignty but it self and it is natural to Princes to hold it in highest esteem and in no case to suffer it to be shaken by their Subjects Take your Prince for your best protection and an innocent life renounce that Union and League with your Peers which excepted or commanded or approved or remitted by your Prince subsisteth not in Law nor in Reason being forbidden under great pains and let it not be heard any longer that ever such an unjust Confederation way and so wonted clemency shall be preferred before deserved Justice The Earl replyed The League being drawn up by the common consent of many Lords Barons and Gentlemen and subscribed it could not be cancell'd nor renounc'd but by their common consent nor was it profitable for the King nor to him other ways to have it done That being together they might condescend to the renouncing and cancelling of it But says the King you to shew good example to the rest shall first begin Neither living shall any Traytor in my presence disavow and disclaim my Authority in what is within my possibility of accomplishing The Earl requests him to remember he came to Court upon a publick assurance A publick assurance cannot so warrant any man but that he may fall by his own private misdemeanor answered the King withal considering a mean courage in a King to be an imputation and that he did neither wrong towards God nor his Fame in revenging himself upon the enemies of the State The place a strong Castle his present power all within being his Councellors and Servants the danger if he should escape the easiness of suppressing the Rebellion the head taken away The Earl continuing hot and stubborn in debating his points of the League wrath banishing other Doubts and Interests his Dagger performed what armed Justice scarce dared attempt The Kings blow the noise arising was seconded by a number of his Servants who rushing in the Room left him dead upon Shrewd-Eve the Twenty second of February One thousand four hundred fifty two About the last Scene of this Tragedy a pair of Spurs between two Platters an Emblem of speedy flight as a part of the Kings Banquet is directed to Sir James Hamilton of Cadyow This he communicated to the Lords and Gentlemen of the Union in which time the News of the Earls death is spread abroad The Leaguers finding themselves weak to carry so strong a place as the Castle in hot blood set on fire divers quarters of the Town of Sterlin make Proclamation against the King and his Council for violating the assurance granted the Earl Infamous Libels are spread every where and the safe Conduct of the King and his Council bound to a wooden Truncheon at a Horses-tail is trailed along the streets In the Market-place by the mouth of a Cryer to the sound of all their hunting-horns they declare the King and those that abode with him Faith-breakers perjured persons enemies to all goodness and good men James the next brother of the house of Dowglass a Church-man being proclaimed Earl in rage and madness committing all sort of Hostility they over-run the Lands and Possessions of those whom they suspected would side the King and not prove of their party John Lord of Dalkeith their Kinsman and of the name of Dowglass they besiege in his Castle of Dalkeith for that he hated their proceedings the Tenants and Vassals of the Earl of Anguss are plundered for the same cause The strength of the place raised the Siege of Dalkieth and the Earl of Anguss by their many wrongs and insolencies remained more constant to the King In this time the King writeth to all the good Towns in the Realm and Church-men giving reasons for the taking away of the Earl imputing the fault to the Earl himself exhorting the people to make no stir for the just execution of a Man born for the ruine of the Kingdom and who voluntarily had precipitated himself in his own mis-hap offering all his power to keep the Country in quietness according to that Authority in which God hath placed him This blow as particular Interests made the hearts of men incline and as passions were various was variously and in several manners taken Some without inquiring of circumstances after what fashion or occasion soever done allowing it thought the King had more clear and evident inducements for his deed then could fall within the Labyrinths of reasoning The Majesty of a Prince hardly falleth from an height to a midst but easily is precipitated from any midst to the lowest degree and station The King said they hath obviated this fall hath set afoot again and raised his Authority threatned with ruine he hath vindicated his liberty almost thrall'd hath assured the Lives Honours Estates of many Loyal Subjects which were endangered by not adhering to the League of the Earl and keeping their Oath of Allegiance to the King he if he please now with Honor and Reputation may hold his Parliaments bring to pass his designs for the conservation of his Authority and the peace of his Subjects Others blamed this Deed every where and in every circumstance laying perjury and murder against him and the breaking of the publick Faith and Assurance the common Band of humane Society the common defence of all and the ground of Justice To which it was answered that the Earl was not taken away for his past demerits and misdeservings but for what he had recently committed in the Kings own presence having spoken to him with an insupportable irreverence They which have safe conduct being obliged to shun all kind of offence towards him who gives it them any enormity being sufficient to annul the benefit of it More for the breach of Faith the Earl and his confederates were the more perjured and he the murtherer of himself they having violated that Natural Oath to their King which all Subjects owe to their Soveraigns by drawing up a League among his People to the breaking of the tyes of Soveraignty giving by this occasion and just cause to the King to reward them after their demerits Most said the killing of the Earl was evil but that it was a necessary evil That as Nature suffereth not two Suns so reason of State suffereth not that in one Kingdom there be Two Kings but that of necessity the one must overthrow the other and matters going thus he who giveth the first blow hath the advantage Thus did Men judge diversly after their proper Interests of the deeds of others The Torrent of these disorders encreasing Laws are neglected Towns Villages Houses the High-ways are every where afflicted with Rapine Fire and Fury and save needy boldness nothing is safe and secure in any place The changing Multitude
like Mad-men limning Pourtraicts with their own blood delight in their Proceedings and daily encrease the number of the Rebels In this Insurrection the King is reduced to many extremities and is said to have thought upon an escape by Sea to France if he had not been diverted by James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews who told him That to leave the Kingdom was to give all over to the insolency of his Rebels and for fear of burning to leap into the fire it self That besides the high and long continued Title of a King which the best part of his Subjects yet reverenced he had sufficient Friends and Warlike men who appearing in a Field with him would raise a just fear in the hearts of those who so hainously dared disobey him That God would be present to revenge wronged Majesty and turn their hopes in despair That the Common People were ever changing and a little time would make them flow to these from whom they did ebb and all would return again except such as were guilty of other offences or such whose poverty made them fear a beggerly Peace as their greatest punishment That his chiefest and principal City stood good for him which example the other Towns would undoubtedly follow that Rebellion was like Thunder the noise of which if observed duely was often more terrible than the blow and dissolved ordinarily in tears of Repentance and fair Weather that here the prudence of a Prince manifesteth it self when he cannot suppress and stop all the evils in his State to suffer and tolerate the least and with leasure and time abolish and extirpate the greater and make vertue of Rebellion The King by the Bishops Counsel and Assistance gathereth an Army but will not try the hazard of a Battel before those he had advertised and sent for should joyn with these already about him and his Forces from all the Quarters of the Kingdom be united In the North the Earl of Huntley had raised a goodly Company to come to his aid but the Earl of Crawford a Confederate of the Earl of Dowglass with a power of the men of Anguss and all who would follow him guided by some French Commanders essayed to cut off his passage and rencountreth him at Brechen the Battel is fought and the Victory inclined where the Kings Standard was displayed by the Earl of Huntley The equity of the cause laid aside the occasion of this Victory was ascribed to John Coloss of Bonnymoon who having one of the Wings of the Army to guide which consisted of Battel-axes great Swords and long Spears and the best invasive Weapons in the hottest of the Skirmish gave ground and left the middle Ward naked upon his side the reason of his revolt is reported that the night before the Battel when every man was resolving with his affairs of the World Bonnymoon requested the Earl of Crawford of whom he held his Lands-Ward and relief since the next day he was resolved either to be victorious or die in the Field to subscribe a Precept himself falling for entring his Son to his Lands This the Superiour refusing the Vassal out of a just indignation when he should have Charged retired and his Company with him Such thoughts possessed not the Earl of Huntlies minde he dealt not so sparingly with his friends in hope of their good service To the Forbesses Oglebies Leslies Grants Irwines he freely gave many of his own Lands which raised their courage to the height In requital of which the King after bestowed upon him the Lands of Badyeenoch and Lochaber In the conflict the Earl of Huntley lost two Brothers the Earl of Crawford and Sir John Lindsay his brother being left on the Field fled to his house of Phanheaven where he was heard to say He would be content to remain seven years in Hell to have in so timely a season done the King his Master that Service the Earl of Huntley had performed and carry that applause and thanks he was to receive from him This conflict happened upon the Ascension-day the Eighteenth day of May One thousand four hundred fifty two The King by the confluence and resort of many worthy Subjects unto him having time to breath and finding himself in a calm keepeth a Convention of the States at Edenburgh Ere the Earls of Dowglass Crawford Ormond Murray the Lord Balveney Sir James Hamilton and others are cited to answer according to Law They instead of appearing in the Night upon the doors of the Principal Churches and other places eminent fix many Placates and Libels signed with their hands which bear The Earl of Dowglass nor his Followers will never obey Command nor Charge in time coming nor answer citation for that the King is not a just Master but a Blood-sucker a Murtherer a Transgressor of Hospitality a Surpriser of the Innocent and such who deserved no harm at his hands Not long after the King levied an Army which by the approaching Winter did little Service and the Earl of Dowglass to save the Lands of Beatrice his Brothers Widow unseparated from the House sought by a Dispensation from the Pope to have her in Marriage alledging her untouched of his Brother which being refused him he kept her in place of his wife the effect of his Sorbon Divinity and found hereby more Bryars than Roses The Earl of Crawford placing two stricts of Seas betwixt him and the King spoileth the Lands of all those who forsook him at Brechen and Archembald Earl of Murray burneth the Pile of Srath-Boggy pertaining to the Earl of Huntley in revenge of which the Earl of Huntley burnt and herried all the Lands of the Earl of Murray beyond the Spey The King too in this madness of Mankind defaceth his own Country pulling down the Houses of his Rebel-Subjects and wasting Annan-dale This ravage and mutual overturning of all having continued almost two whole years the Faction of the Earl far inferiour to the Kings now weakned with such lasting Incursions sundry of the chief men and heads considering the least faults were the best that it was better to strike sail in time than make a full shipwrack of their Persons Honors and the well of the Kingdom and State counsel the Earl that Fervors growing colder since it could not be undone which was done he would not set greater work on foot but proceeding with conveniency submit himself friendly to the King who had as much goodness as generosity and sought and required nothing of his Subjects but obedience and having now proved how difficile it was to overcome them by Arms was perhaps as much tyred as they would pardon these faults which he could not otherwise amend Necessity in Affairs of Princes constraining them to yield to many things in Government against their first Conclusions and resolve to grant that which they could not well hinder That there were many hours in the day and the hearts of Princes were subject to change in them that he should not forsake
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
of Fortune the blame of her unlawful Wedlock laid upon the Earl consented to by her out of a certain fear of her life submitted her self to the Kings Clemency The King who denied not mercy to any that sought it of him that the less guilty amongst the seditious might withdraw themselves and the obstinate remain the less powerful and weak receiveth her and giveth her in Marriage to his Brother John Earl of Athol son to the Black Knight of Lorne designing for her Dowry the Lordship of Balveny By her example the Countess of Ross abhorring the fierceness and cruelties as she gave out of her barbarous Husband but rather out of policy to be an Agent for him flyeth to the King and hath Revenues allowed her for the maintenance of her Estate Not long after the Earl of Ross himself the misadventure of his Confederates having taught him now some wisdom having seen the Kings Clemency towards others equal to him in Treason and Rebellion by many humble supplications craved pardon and begged peace The King by his great prudence and the course of the affairs of his Kingdom knew that it was necessary sometimes to condescend to the imperfections and faults of some Subjects and having compassion apply and accomodate himself to that which though according to the strictness of equity was not due yet for the present occasion and reason of State was convenient answered he would neither altogether pardon him nor flatly reject him there being many signs of his wickedness few of his changed mind when honestly without fraud or guile he should crave a Pardon and give satisfaction to those whom by blood and pillage he had wronged and by some noble action deface the remembrance of his former crimes then should it be good time to receive him Notwithstanding this should not discourage him but he should know he had a desire to make him relish the effects of his bounty so he himself would find the means and subject In this interim he wished him to keep the common peace of the Country and not oppress any of his Neighbours About this time the University of Glasgow was founded by William Turnbul Bishop of that See William Hay Earl of Arrol George Creightoun Earl of Caithness William Lord Creightoun died One thousand four hundred fifty five and the Bishop of St. Andrews is made Chancellour The King partly having loosed partly cut in pieces that Gordian knot of the League of his Nobility began to reobtain again the ancient Authority of the Kings his Predecessours giving and imposing Laws to his Subjects according to reason and greatest conveniences Shortly progressing through the Quarters of the kingdom by the sound counsel and instructions of the Bishop of St. Andrews James Kennedy and William Saintclare Earl of Orknay used such clemency that in a short time he reclaimed all his turbulent subjects In the year One thousand four hundred fifty five he held a Parliament where he ratified what was resolved upon to be done for the peace and weal of his People establishing many profitable Laws for the posterity after this time Embassadors came from England and France unto him Henry the sixth King of England a soft facile Prince and more fit to obey than command having restored in blood and allowed the descent of Richard Plantagenet Duke of York the Duke under pretence and countenance of reforming the State and removing of bad Counsellors from the Court the umbrage of all Rebellions by one Jack Cade an Irish a bold man and who had a Spirit which did not correspond with his low condition who feigned himself to be a Cousin of his of the House of Mortimer and other his Instruments raised a Rebellion which began amongst the Kentish-men and was after continued by his Confederacy with the Duke of Norfolk Earls of Warwick Salisbury Devon and others and notwithstanding he had sworn fealty to King Henry at Blackheath again openly took arms gainst him at St. Albans where in pitched field Edmond Duke of Somerset his greatest Competitor and who had been preferred to his place in the Regency of France was killed the King wounded taken and committed to the Tower of London At a Parliament after the Duke is made Protector of the Kingdom at another Parliament he maketh claim for the Crown as in his own Right laying down thus his Title The Son of Ann Mortimer Daughter and Heir to Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir of Philip the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Son of King Edward the Third and elder Brother to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is to be preferred by very good right in Succession of the Crown before the Children of John of Gaunt the fourth Son of the said Edward the Third but Richard Plantagenet Duke of York is come of Philip the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Third Son to King Edward the Third then to be preferred to the Children of the fourth Son who was John of Gaunt and so to Henry the Fourth the Usurper his Son to Henry stiling himself Henry the Fifth his Son and Henry the Sixth now wrongfully calling himself King of England This Parliament chosen to the Duke of Yorks own mind at first various at last unanimously enacted that Henry during his life should retain the Name and Honour of a King but that the Duke of York should be continued Protector of the Country and be declared Heir apparent and Successor of the Crown after the death of Henry Margaret the Queen Daughter to Rheny King of Sicily more couragious than her Husband disclaimeth the Parliamentary Authority and this Agreement of her King with the Duke of York as a matter done to the prejudice of her Son and against the Laws of Nations which admit not of a forced Contract and done by a Prisoner The Crown of England hanging at this point the Queen to her defence imploring the aid and assistance of her best greatest Friends and Allies sendeth Embassadors to King James These remembring the duties one King oweth to another against Rebels and the Usurpers of their Crowns the correspondency and amity of King Henry with King James during his posterity expostulating the cruelty of the Rebels against Edmond the late Duke of Somerset Uncle to King James slain by them in defence of his Prince promise in their Kings Name Queens and their Sons with the approbation of the Noble-men of their Party to restore to the Kings of Scotland the Lands of Northumberland Cumberland and Bishoprick of Durham after the manner the Kings of Scotland in former times had held these Territories of the Kings of England so he would raise an Army and advance to their aid and supply The Duke of York sent hither also his Embassadors giving in many complaints against King Henry he had oppressed the people with taxations and all kinds of exactations he had preferred to places of State and Government new men by whose counsel and his Queen he governed
of James a Churchman proceeded rather from his own stubbornness than any male-talent the King had against him In all Nations it is observed that there are some Families fatal to the ruine of their Common-wealths and some persons fatal to the ruine of the Houses and Race of which they are descended Since in Kingdoms some have no compassion of their Prince nor the loss of his Honour a Prince should not much regret their loss nor the ruine of their persons and Estates His great clemency appeared in this That the heads taken away of that long Rebellion he followed no particular revenge upon their followers not only granting Pardons but forgetting the offences knowing it was better to heal and cure the faulty and sick members of a State than to abolish and cut them away and more valour for a Prince to overcome his own passions and just wrath than to vanquish and subdue his proudest enemies yet was not his clemency a soft weakness it being no less cruelty to forgive all than to spare none but an order and discretion in Justice temperate with severity towards some more than towards others according to their demerits He was very sensible of the afflictions of such as was distressed as witness the Countesses of Dowglass and Ross His life having set in the Orient of his Age and hopes he deserveth in the Records of Memory and Fame a place amongst the best but unfortunate Princes He had Issue of his Queen James who succeeded Alexander Duke of Albany John Earl of Mar Margaret Countess of Arran by the Boyd and after Lady Hamilton-Cecily He was buried with all Funeral-pomp within the Monastery of Holyrood-house at Edenburgh THE HISTORY OF THE Reign of James the Third KING of SCOTLAND THE Queen having tidings of the disaster of her Husband full of griefs and cares with her Son came to the Army at Roxburgh and the publick loss being revealed for till then it was whispered with more than a masculine Courage caused give new and desperate assaults to the Castle many Turrets being shaken some Gates broken parcels of walls beaten down the Mines ready in diverse quarters to Spring the Besieged ignorant of the Assailers misfortune and by the dissention of their Country-men from all hopes of relief treat upon a surrender conditions being obtained peaceably to depart with their lives and goods the Fortress is given up and shortly after that it should not be a Residence of oppression in following times is demolished and equall'd with the ground Iames III. king of Scots Ano. 1460 R. G. fecit The milder parts of the Kingdom reduced to order Some turbulent Chiefs of the Mountainers taking the occasion of the Non-age of the King and of Rumors of Dissentions amongst the Governours essay to trouble the Peace of their far and wild Countries Allan Lord of Lorn throweth his eldest Brother in close Prison with intention to rob him of his Life and Estate but he after is surprized by the Earl of Argile Donald of the Isles taketh the Castle of Innerness and placing there a Garrison proclaimeth himself King of the Isles compelling the neighbour Towns and simpler sort of people to pay him Taxes At the Rumor of this insolency all wicked Out-laws resort unto him by whose power he Invadeth the Castle of Blair in Athol out of which the Earl the Kings Uncle with his Lady once Countess of Dowglass flie and take Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Bride where the Church about them set on fire they were irreligiously taken and transported to the Island Ila Whilst the Governours were raising an Army and advancing such Forces as were in readiness against the Actors of these mischiefs they were ascertained that as these Savages were lanching forth of that Island in their Wherries and small Vessels made of boards and wicker by a violent tempest from Heaven the most part of them were dashed against the Rocks and drowned and those who had escaped were strucken with Pannick fears and deprived of their right judgments and understandings an ordinary accident to men blinded with Superstition and guilty of Murther and Sacriledge amidst which distractions the Earl of Athol with his Lady was safely returned to his own Castle MARGARET Queen of England after the second overthrow and taking of her Husband at Northampton with the Prince her Son and the new Duke of Somerset having fled to the Bishoprick of Durham whilst Richard Duke of York was establishing his Title and Right to the Crown at London raised in the North of Scots and English a strong Army which marched towards York the Duke of York leaving the King in the Custody of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick though he knew himself inferiour in power and number to his enemies by the pride of his former Victories and over-weening of his Souldiers valor with Edmund Earl of Rutland his younger Son the Earl of Salsbury and others rencountreth her at Wakefield-green and here by his own rashness with his Son young Rutland he is killed The Earl of Salisbury is taken and with other Prisoners beheaded at Pomfret Castle their Heads were fixed upon Poles about the Walls of the City of York that of the Dukes was mocked with a Paper Crown and exposed to the barbarous mirth of the beholders The Queen encouraged by this Victory desiring to disannul all Acts made lately in prejudice of her Husband marcheth couragiously towards London In which time Edward Earl of March Son to the late Duke of York overthrew the Earls of Pembrook and Ormond both of the Queens Faction at Mortimer-Cross in her way to London the Queen meeting the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Norfolk at St. Albans who carryed King Henry her Husband along with them overthrew them and recovered the person of her King It is observed that Victory always fled from where this King was present The Citizens of London at the approach of the Queens Army fearing Hostility shut their Gates against her and armed for resistance At this time Edward Earl of March having joyned his Victorious Army with the remainder of the Earl of Warwick's entred in triumph the City of London and with great applause and acclamations of the people was Proclaimed King Queen Margaret and her Faction retiring to the North wan so the hearts of that people that they gathered an Army able to stand for her defence consisting of Threescore thousand fighting men Edward Earl of March choosing rather to provoke than to expect his Enemies advanced towards them the place of their meeting was between Caxton and Tweton In this Fight the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Beaumont and Dacres Grey and Wells were slain and above Thirty six thousand English struck down the Dukes of Somerset and Excester flie to York to carry the News to the unfortunate King leaving the Victory to Edward who is again saluted King King Henry after this overthrow perceiving how desperate his hopes were in his own Country
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
and with her who would be partaker of all his misfortunes returned to Denmark from Denmark by Germany he came to King Lovys in France who interposed his requests to King James for his regress and restoring but the Letters in his favour producing no effects Charles Duke of Burgundy making War against his Rebel Subjects he was graciously received by him and entertained as his Ally his Lady remained at Antwerp where she bore him two children James and Gracile Lady Margaret the 10 of July 1469. or after others 1470. maketh her entry into Edenburgh 1469. and scarce having attained the sixteenth year of her age is married to King James in the Abby Church of Holy-rood house and in the month of November following by a Convention of the three Estates was Crowned Queen The King inexorable in the behalf of the Earl of Arran and breathing his total Ruine sendeth Letters to Antwerp filled with promises and threatnings to move his Sister to return to Scotland These at the first prevailed nothing with this Lady to make her forsake the husband of her youth many Letters and from several friends and well-wishers in several fashions and stiles coming to her at last she was brought to believe her presence would mollifie the mind of her enemies and work her husband a re-establishment of his former favours with the King her Brother and restore him to all his Possessions and Dignities Upon which hopes she comes to Scotland But these hopes proved all false for instead of having access to her brother she is kept at Kilmarnock the chief House of the Boyds as in a free Prison and her Husband is summoned within threescore days to adhere to his Wife under pain of Divorce the unfortunate Earl for fear of his head not appearing his Marriage is declared Null his Wife is divorced from him and is constrained to marry James Lord Hamilton to whom also the Earldom of Arran was given for Dowry Not long after her two children to Earl Thomas James and Gracile are brought to Scotland who in the proceeding of time proved little more fortunate than their Father for James was slain by Hugh Montgomery of Eglington and Gracile though first married to the Earl of Cassiles and after to the Lord Forbess was barren Some have recorded that the Earl Thomas after this violent bereaving him of his Wife died of displeasure at Antwerp and had a Tomb raised over him with an honourable Inscription by Charles Duke of Burgundy others who hate the Boyds tell he died not at Antwerp but at Florence and that he was killed by a Merchant of Florence out of jealousie of having abused his Wife Queen Margaret the third year after her Marriage in the Month of March brought forth a Son who was named James and Christern King of Denmark to congratulate the happy delivery of his daughter and of expectation of a continued succession to the Crown of Scotland of his Race released all his right title claim which he or his successors might have to the Isles of Orkney and Scythland The King calleth after a Parliament at Edenburgh wherein though the Reformation of abuses as wearing of Silk and other foraign triffles the building of Ships and the enacting Laws for the present time were pretended a liberal Subsidy was the greatest aim His Exchequer being empty and many of his best friends turning necessitous and needy John Lord of the Isles was attainted for his own and his Fathers misdemeanour the King raiseth Forces to pursue him the Earl of Crawford being made Admiral the Earl of Athol the Kings Uncle Lieutenant of the Regiments by Land such means in a short time was used by the Earl of Athol that the Lord of the Isles submitted himself to the Kings clemency and in a convention of the States at Edenburgh he resigned all the right he had to the Earldom of Ross the lands of Knapden and Kintyre which the King annexed to the Crown Patrick Graham Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews having at Rome understood the fall of the Boyds returneth to his own Country where first amongst his friends and the most peaceable sort of the Clergy he divulgateth the Bull of the Pope for his Supremacy over the other Churchmen of the Kingdom and his power of their tryal and promoting to benefices and after caused proclaim it at all publick places The laudable Elections anciently used about the Places and Offices of Churchmen by the corruption of the times being taken away and that Power altogether assumed by the King The Courtiers who were accustomed to sell Benefices and the Churchmen who were wont to buy them reject the Bull and set themselves against him by their traffick he is discharged to take the Place or Ornaments of an Arch-Bishop or carry any other Cross or Cap than what the former Bishops used to have But here they set not up their rest William Schevez a man in those times admired for his skill in Astrology and promoted to be Arch-Dean of Saint Andrews seconded by John Lock the Rector of that University a better Grammarian than Christian Excommunicates this Arch-Bishop for his presumption and that he sought to bear Rule over his brethren Bishops When this censure had passed upon him he is degraded and shut up in Prison William Schevez is after promoted to his place and Consecrated upon the Passion Sunday in Lent at Holy-rood house the King being present he likewise received the Title and Faculty of Legate and is confirmed Primate of the Realm notwithstanding the impediments objected to Patrick Graham by the Church-men concerning that same dignity and preheminency So various and deceitful are the ways of Men. The King being slow to action and more inclined to a solitary form of Life than to travel and business his brothers being Princes of unquiet and restless Spirits to whom publick imployments were recreations 1469. and withal being ambitious prodigal desirous of Rule and to be Governours of the people themselves and Kings in fact however their elder brother was in title they set themselves altogether to study novations and bring the King in contempt with his Subjects and divert their minds and love towards him To this effect they had drawn by their towardness and familiarity many of the young Nobles and Gentlemen to follow them The King was obnoxious to some publick Scandals for by his too great frugality care to encrease his Treasure and study of Purchasing by Taxations sale of Church Benefices and too exact taking up of Fines supervaluation of Wards he had gotten the name of Covetous and was no small distast amongst the Commons Edward King of England that the Scots by the instigation of the French should not trouble his new and scarce settled government imploying all his counsels and diligence to divide them amongst themselves wrought not a little on the unquiet Spirits of these young men The Duke of Albany having been taken upon the Seas by the English was honourably entertained by him
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
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
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
do with him as he had done with his own Brothers That Force was the only means to work his safety and keep the Plotters of this mischief within bounds they also should take Arms to reduce the Government to a better form for that the Kingdom was oppressed with insupportable grievances the King being altogether given to follow the advice projects and counsels of base men to amass and gather great sums of mony from his People upon which he studied to maintain his Court and State and give away his own When the Engine was prepared for the People and spread abroad they sent to the Earl of Dowglass then closely as a Monk shut up in the Abby of Lyndores to come out be of the Party and assist them with his Counsel and Friends promising if their attempt had happy Success to restore him again to his ancient Possessions and Heritage former Dignities and the Places of Honour of his Ancestors The Earl whom time and long experience had made wary and circumspect having a suspicion the Earl of Anguss who possessed the greatest part of his estate had been the chief motioner of this liberty and that rather to try what he would do than that he minded really to set him free refused to come out of his Cloister And by his Letters dissuaded them from their bold enterprize against their Prince wishing they would set his house and himself for a pattern and President of Rebellion He sent to all such of his Friends whom his disasters had left unruined to take arms for the King as the Dowglasses of Kayvers and others The King neither losing courage nor councel for the greatness of the danger of the Rebellion trusting much to his good fortune with such Forces as came with him from the North in Captain Woods Ships and other Boats and Vessels prepared to that end passeth the Forth near the Blackness an old Fortress and Sea-port in West Lothian not far from the Castle of Abercorn and that place where the forces of the Earl of Dowglass left him and the King his Father obtained so harmless a Victory Before the arrival of the King at this Place the Earls of Montross Glencarn Lords Maxwel and Ruthven with others advertised by Letters of the Rendevouz hand come to the place had encamped and were attending him And he mustered a sufficient Army to rencounter the Lords of the association who from all quarters were assembled having with them the Prince to add Authority to their quarrel The two Armies being in readiness to decide their indifferences by a Battle the Earl of Athol the Kings Uncle so travailed between the Lords of either Party and the King that a suspension of Arms was agreed upon and reconcilement and the Earl of Athol rendred himself a pledge for the accomplishing of the Kings part of the reconcilement to the Lord Haylles and was sent to be kept in the Castle of Dumbar This was not a small fault of this Prince the Confederates Forces were not at this time equal to his neither had they essayed to hinder the Landing of his Army being but in gathering the Castle of Blackness was for his defence and his Ships traversing up and down the Forth in case of necessity for succour That if he had hazarded a Battle he had been near to have recovered all that reputation he had before lost Now upon either side some common Souldiers are disbanded some Gentlemen licensed to return to their own dwelling places The King in a peaceable manner retireth to the Castle of Edenburgh The Earl of Athol was now removed from him and many of the other Lords who loved him returned to their houses the Counsel of Man not being able to resist the determinations of God The Lords suspecting still the King to be implacable in their behalf and unacceptable in his Castle keeping the Prince always with them entring upon new Meditations hold sundry meetings how to have his Person in their Power and make him a Prey to their Ambitious designs The Town of Edenburgh is pestered with Troups of Armed Men the Villages about replenished with Souldiers The King warned of his danger fortifies of new the Castle of Edenburgh for his defence and is brought to such a tameness that resolving to do that with love of every Man which he feared in end he should be constrained unto with the universal hatred of all and his own damage and danger out of a passive Fortitude sent Commissioners indifferent Noblemen to the Lords and his Son to understand their intentions and what they meant Why his Son was kept from him and continued the head of their Faction Why his Uncle was so closely imprison'd and himself as it were blocked up by their tumultuous meetings in Arms He was content they should have an abolition of all that was past that their punishments should not be infinitely extended and that they should think upon a general agreement after the best and fittest manner they could devise and set it down They finding their offences flew higher than hope of Pardon could ascend unto Their suspitions and the conscience of their crime committed breeding such a distrust out of an apprehension of fear answered that they found no true meaning Open War was to be preferred to a peace full of deceit danger and fears that being assured he would weave out his begun projects against them they could not think of any safety nor have assurance of their lives nor fortunes unless he freely resigned the Title of his Crown and Realm in favour of his Son and voluntarily depose himself leaving the Government of the People and Kingdom to the Lords of his Parliament divesting himself wholly of his Royal dignity Neither would they come to any submission or capitulation until he consented to this main point and granted it submissively King James notwithstanding of this answer after a clear prospect of the inconveniences and mischiefs which were growing and the many injuries indignities and affronts put upon him yet really affecting a Peace sought unto Henry King of England as also to the Pope and King of France to make an attonement between him and his Subjects The Kings accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manner not only by way of request and persuasion but also by way of Protestation and menace declaring that they thought it to be the common cause of all Kings if Subjects should be suffered to give Laws unto their Soveraign a Legitimate King though a Tyrant was not subordinate to the Authority of Subjects James was not a Tyrant his errours proceeding most part from youth and evil counsel That suppose the King had done them wrong it was not wisely done for a desire of revenge to endanger their particular Estates and the peace and standing of the whole Kingdom What State was there ever so pure but some corruption might creep into it That they should be very cautious how they shook the Frame of Monarchical Government too far
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
the danger of the example had power to divert the minds of men from such a cruel Design This was really to seeth the Kid in the Mothers milk and to make an innocent youth obnoxious to the most hainous Crime that could be committed Whatever courtains could be spread to overshadow and cover this mischief the horrour of this Fact possest this Prince to his last hour and God out of his Justice executed the revenge of his cruelty upon the Nobles Commons and the Prince himself at the field of Flowden where some of the chief Actors of this Paricide were in their own persons others in the persons of their Successors sacrificed to the Ghost of this King Iames. IIII. king of Scotts Anō 1488. THE HISTORY Of the LIFE and Reign of James the Fourth KING of SCOTLAND THe Lords who had chosen rather to be reputed famous Rebels than contemn'd Subjects by their boldness of enterprizing skill of managing the Publick affairs and continued purchases swelling to that greatness of Power that they found none to counterpoise few to oppose to their Designs to make their Rebellion lawful and show the World they intended not the Subversion of their Country but of their opinionative King nor that they did dislike Soveraignity so they might have a Prince who would be ruled by their directions take the name and leave to them the Majesty and Authority of his place after the killing of the Father call a Parliament for the installing of the Son in the Royal Throne few of the three Estates here meeting except themselves and the Commissioners of Burroughs in the Month of June the year One thousand four hundred eighty eight at Edenburgh the Prince is Crowned then having not attained the sixteenth year of his age Though these men had assumed the Government yet in divers parts of the Country they had but doubtful obedience nor was their Authority universally acknowledged the flames of dissention seeming yet neither to be extinguished nor altogether smothered with the Life of the late King On the Sea Sir Andrew Wood who had attended the event of the last Battle maintained resolutely the Quarrel of his dead Master Five tall Ships sent by the King of England to his Confederates aid but which came too late pretending a revenge upon his disloyal Subjects pillaged the Maritime Towns and forraged the adjacent parts of the Country shut up the mouth of the River of Forth and interrupted the Commerce of Merchants To repel which violence the Ships gathered by the Lords struggled in vain being every way inferiour and weak to suppress their incursions and Algarards On the Land the Forces of those who had stood out for the late King had rather been by the last conflict scatter'd than throughly broken and brought under The ablest and most convenient Companies which were gathered to his Assistance having never assembled and joyned in one body the Fight being inconsideratly precipitated and the Dye thrown before they could descend from the far Mountains and cross the Ford-less Rivers And of those who were in the Fray not many being taken Prisoners fewer killed falling under the weight of friendly Arms. The prime Men of those who had chosen rather justly to follow the King than profitably his Rebels finding themselves for their loyalty and that good will which they had carryed to their Soveraign persecuted and proscrib'd in their Fortunes and Persons inflamed with indignation and shame resolved to oppose Wisdom to Fortune Courage to Strength and hazard some one day more for the repairing the losses of former the Pillage begun upon the Seas by the English animating them And being desirous to make as many fellows of their danger as they could they send Letters throughout all the quarters of the Kingdom to their Friends Familiars and Confederates encouraging them to ply the business generously opposing their valour and courage to the strength and power of the abusers of the Prince By publick Writings they cast aspersions on the present Government After that Battel of Sterlin and since the Coronation of the King they had not fallen in the power of a Monarch but under an Oligarchy the most depraved from all Governments the name and Title of a King a young man scarce sixteen years of Age enjoyed but he Govern'd not but was by the Killers of his Father misgoverned who under false pretences intended the ruin of the State What reproach and shame would it be not only with all men now living but also with Posterity to suffer these who had hazarded what they had dearest for the honour and preservation of their Prince to be branded with the name of Traytors be banished and followed to death Whilst the Transgressors and abusers of all Laws Divine and Humane sit Judges over them as revengers of general Wrongs usurping the Titles of Deliverers of the Country and Restorers of the Commonwealth amongst whose Paws the present King could not be assured and safe They being the men who to justifie their injustice and make their Fact meritorious brought him in Arms not knowing whether against his King and Father most wofully taken away besides the abusing of his Name and Authority in every civil matter The late King had lost the day and himself by his own Errors not by their Power and Designs Now they should oppose to their proceedings and though they might be esteemed inferiour in number to them yet if they met together they might be found equal to them in worth and courage being puft up by the last misfortune and only putting their confidence in that they mastered their Designs Much being projected and designed for their meeting in Arms in the North Alexander Lord Forbess a Man born neither to rest himself nor suffer others in Aberdeen and other Towns on the point of a Launce displayed the Shirt of the slaughtered King purpled with his blood inviting the Country as by an Herald to the revenge of his Murther In the West the Earl of Lenox a man eminent by his Birth and Fortunes hath the same resolution the Earl of Marshal Lords Gordon and Lyle with their Confederates in other parts of the Kingdom where their power or eloquence could prevail move all their Engins to advance the enterprize and put every thing in readiness The Lords of the insurrection having the young King in their hands to countenance their proceedings joyning discretion to their good success determine except upon necessity not to spill more civil blood and to disperse the Clouds of that appearing Storm they encourage Sir Andrew Wood now received in favour and brought not only to be an enemy but to be their friend and fellow-helper having obtained from them the Barony of Largow disposed to him hereditarily of which before he had only a Lease of the late King for his first Service with his Ships to clear the Forth and scour the Seas of the English And they Launch out to his assistance the Vessels and Boats of the Havens near adjacent
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
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
than their King whether he was so or not sith for a Prince he had hitherto defended him he could not leave him upon the Relation of his most terrible enemy and the present Possessour of his Crown That no Prince was bound to render a Subject to another who had come to him for Sanctuary less a Prince who had recourse unto him for Aid and Supply and was now allayed with the ancient blood of the Countrey Much being said at last they conclude upon a truce for some months following After this treaty of Peace the Counterfeit Duke of York with his Lady and such Followers as would not leave him sailed over into Ireland This Truce happily concluded and continued by a trifling and untoward accident went near to have been given up and broken There were certain Scottish young men came into Norham Town and having little to do went sometimes forth and would stand looking upon the Castle Some of the Garrison of the Castle observing them and having not their minds purged of the late ill-humour of Hostility either suspected them or quarrel'd with them as spes whereupon they fell at ill words and from words to blows so that many were wounded of either side and the Scots being strangers in the Town had the worst Insomuch that some of them were slain and the rest made haste home The matter being complained on and often debated before the Wardens of the Marshes of both sides and no good order taken King James took it to himself and sent Marchmond Herauld to the King of England to make protestation That if reparation were not done according to the Conditions of the Truce his King did denounce War The King of England who had often tryed fortune and was enclined to Peace made answer That what had been done was utterly against his will and without his privity But if the Garrison Souldiers had been in fault he would see them punished and the Truce in all points to be preserved This answer pleased not King James Bishop Fox understanding his discontent being troubled that the occasion of breaking the Truce should grow from his men sent many humble and deprecatory Letters to the King of Scotland to appease him Whereupon King James mollified by the Bishops submiss and discreet Letters wrote back again unto him That though he were in part moved by his Letters yet he should not be fully satisfied except he spake with himself as well about the compounding of the present differences as about other matters that might concern the good of both Kingdoms The Bishop advising with his Master took his journey to Scotland the meeting was at the Abby of Melrose where the King then abode The King first roundly uttered unto the Bishop his offence received for the breach of the Truce by his Men at Norham Castle after speaking with him apart he told him That these temporary Truces and Peace were soon made and soon broken but that he desired a straiter Amity with the King of England discovering his Mind that if the King would give him in Marriage the Lady Margaret his eldest Daughter That indeed might be a knot indissolvable That he knew well what Place and Power the Bishop deservedly had with his Master therefore if he would take the business to heart and deal in it effectually he doubted not but it would well succeed The Bishop answered soberly That he thought himself rather happy than worthy to be an instrument in such a matter but would do his best endeavour Wherefore the Bishop of Durham returning from Scotland to his King at London and giving account what had passed and finding his King more than well disposed in it gave the King first advice to proceed to a conclusion of Peace and then go on with the Treaty of Marriage by degrees hereupon a Peace was concluded to continue for both the Kings lives and to the overliver of them one year after In this Peace there was an Article contained That no English-man should enter into Scotland nor no Scotch-man into England without Letters Commendatory from the King of either Nations During this Treaty of the Marriage it is reported that the King of England referred this matter to his Council and that some of the Table in freedom of Councellours the King being present had put the case That Issues Males and Females falling of the Race of his two Sons that then the Kingdom of England would fall to the King of Scotland which might prejudice the Monarchy of England Whereunto the King replyed That if any such event should be Scotland would be but an accession to England and not England to Scotland for that the greater would draw the less and that it was a safer Union for England than that of France Shortly after the espousals of James King of Scotland with Lady Margarite the King of Englands eldest Daughter followed which were done by Proxie and in all solemn manner The Assurance and contract was Published at Pauls Cross the Twenty Fifth of January at London in applause of which Hymns were publickly sung in the Churches and Bonfires with great Feasting and Banqueting set throughout all the City Julius the Second in the beginning of this Treaty did gratifie King James with a Sword and Diadem wrought with flowers of Gold which the Popes on Christmas even used to Consecrate a custom first brought in by Sixtus Quartus which were presented to him at Holy-Rood-House the Marriage was in August following consummate at Edenburgh King Henry bringing his Daughter as far as Colliveston on the way where his Mother the Countess of Richmond abode and then resigning her to the attendance of the Earl of Northumberland who with a great Train of Lords and Ladies of Honour brought her into Scotland to the King her Husband Solemn days were kept at Court for Banqueting Masks and Revelling Barriers and Tilting Proclaimed Challenges were given out in the Name of the Savage Knight who was the King himself Rewards designed to the Victors Old King Arthur with his Knight of the Round-Table were here brought upon the Lists The Fame of this Marriage hath drawn many Forreign Gentlemen to the Court. Amongst others came Monsieur Darcie naming himself Le Sieur de la Beautle who tryed Barriers with the Lord Hamilton after they had Tilted with grinding Spears Some of the Savage Knights Company who were robust High-land men he giving way unto them smarted really in these feigned Conflicts with Targets and Two-handed Swords to the Musick of their Bagpipes fighting as in a true Battel to the admiration of the English and French who had never seen men so ambitious of Wounds and prodigal of Blood in sport All were magnificently entertained by the King and with honourable Largesses and Rewards of their Valour licensed to return Home During the Treaty of this Marriage with England a Monster of new and strange shape was born in Scotland near the City of Glasgow the body of which under the waste or middle varied
Ordnance should be fortified the water of Till running deep and ford-less upon the right hand and but passable at the Bridge the first Companies of the Enemy being passed before they could be relieved and succoured by their followers the Bridge by the Artillery should be beaten down and the Enemy charged when they began to pass the Water The King impatient of Counsel answered though their number encreased to as many more as they were he with that remainder of his Army would Fight them That advantages were to be embraced according to the occasion of the Fight without tedious deliberation if any man was afraid he might if he pleased return Home A strange Resolution in a Prince who imagined every man in his Army to have the same strength courage boldness and resolution with himself This answer astonished the Mobility and since they could not persuade him to a fair retreat but that he will fight and that without the advantage of the Bridge being inferiour in number to the English for they were reckoned by the Scouts Six and twenty thousand they fortifie themselves according to the commodity of the Hill where they lay Encamped with a Resolution not to suffer the King to hazard his Person in the Battle If Victory should incline to them their Gains were but small and Glory less extending but over some few of the Nobility and a small parcel of the Body of the State of England a number of Yeomen and pressed Horsemen the flower of the Kingdom being in France But if they were overthrown their loss would prove uncomparable yea unspeakable a Martial young King either kill'd taken or put to flight wherefore they think it fitting not necessary the King be pleased with so many as either chance or election might separate with him to be a spectator of the Fortune of the Day To this the King replyed He neither wanted ability to discharge the part of a Souldier nor wisdom to Command as a General and to out-live so many valiant Country-man would be more terrible to him than Death it self When forced to give way for his personal presence in the Field they appoint some to be arrayed in like furniture of Arms and a like Guard as the King Shadows to personate him in sundry quarters of the Field that the Enemy should not set one man as their chief mark to invade from whose death the victory and conclusion of the War might depend and if the King should fall the Army should not lose courage nor be brought to believe he were lost so long as they saw a General with his Cognoscance and Guard present and near them to be a witness of their Valour and Atchievments as not long before at the Battle of Fornou in Italy had been practised by the French to their King Charles the eighth By this time the Earl of Surrey with the power of the North of England was come within three miles of the Place where the Scottish Army was encamped and perceiving he could not but with great disadvantage fight them he sendeth an Herauld requiring the King to come forth of his Strength to some indifferent ground where he would be ready to encounter him The King being forward to condescend to this request the Lords cryed out it was madness to accept of opportunity of fighting from his Enemies and to set all at a main chance according to their appointment it being their advantage to prolong time and trifle with him in whose Camp there was already scarcity of Victuals which ere long might put him to such a stand that he should not know well what to do Neither was it likely he could be furnished from the inner parts of the Country by reason of the cumbersom waies for carriage to pass after the falling of so great and continued rains and the softning of the Ground that by sitting still and committing nothing to Fortune he might have his enemy at his pleasure if they dared assail him at their perils be it He lacked nothing but patience to be Victorious The Scots keeping their Trenches the Earl essayeth to draw them out and the ninth of September removing his Camp marcheth towards the same Hill of Flowden where they lay encamped his Vanguard with the Cannon passed the Water of Till at Twysel Bridge the Reer-ward going over at Mylnford King James seeing them pass the water imagineth they meant to win a Hill between his Camp and them To prevent which setting fire to the Cabanes raised of boughs of Trees and Reeds he removeth to another Hill before the English could observe his Motion the smoak darkning the air between the two Armies Whilst the Scottish Army was removing the English advance to the Foot of Flowden Hill by which they have double advantage the Scottish Ordnance could not much annoy them they marching upwards and under the level thereof again by their Shot they might easily gall their enemies as they came downwards upon them The fatal hour of the Battle approaching the English draw up in good order six and twenty thousand men some write thirty in two Battails any of which was equal in number to the whole Scottish Army Thomas Lord Howard Admiral had the Vanguard of which Sir Edmond Howard his Brother led one of the Wings and Sir Marmaduke Constable the other The Lords Dacres and Clifford with Sir Edward Stanley kept the Rear the Earl of Surrey with Latymer Scroop Sir Stephen Bull kept the main Battail The Scots by their fewness of Number not being able to order many Battalions marshal themselves in four three of which should enter in Fight and the fourth attend for supply The King kept the middle or main Alexander Gordoun Earl of Huntley had the right wing of the Van the Earls of Crawford and Montross led the other and some have Recorded the Lord Hume The third Army was guided by Matthew Earl of Lennox and the Earl of Arguyl where was Mackenney and Mackclean with the fierceness of the High-landers Adam Hepburn Earl of Bothwell with his friends and the flower of the Gentry of Lothian kept off for suddain dispatches and chances of the Battle The Earl of Huntley making down the Hill where they encamped near the foot of Branx Town encountreth that Wing of the English Host which was led by Sir Edmond Howard which after a furious and long Fight he put to flight and so eagerly pursued the advantage that Sir Edmond had either been killed or taken if he had not been rescued by Bastard Hieron and the Lord Dacres the Battalion which the Earls Lennox and Arguyl led being Highland men encouraged with this first glance of Victory loosing their Ranks abandoning all order for ought that the French Ambassadour La Motte by signs threatnings clamours could do to them brake furiously upon the Enemy and Invade him in the Face of whom they are not only valiantly received but by Sir Edward Stanleys traversing the Hill enclosed cut down at their backs and prostrate The
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
of the Nobility opposed it as to his coming into Scotland to accept the Government he alone would go to France charge him with it be his Convoy hither and maintain his Title This he was thought to have done for that despairing to reach and obtain this Dignity himself out of emulation he laid a design that never any other of the Nobles of the Kingdom should reach it affecting rather to give a Stranger the place than a Competitor bringing in the French to equal the ballance as principal himself only as accessory nothing doubting of a chief place in State as well for his forwardness in this election as for the necessity of his Service which the French could not well want and should never be lacking He feared also if the Faction of the Dowglasses prevail'd the greatness of the Earl of Anguss would be an umbrage to his and lessen impair it Their Lands Fortunes lying near to other as that the Queen by her power in England would cross his fairest projects The King of England had sent a Letter to the Lords of Scotland as he had done to the French King for that same effect remonstrating how dangerous it was for the State of Scotland and young King if they should make choice of the Duke of Albany Notwithstanding of all which through ambition malice envy of others discords amongst themselves they made choice of this Gentleman a stranger by his education and birth ignorant of the nature and manners of the Scots whose Father was banished for Treason against his Brother and dyed unrestored One altogether devoted to the French King and an enemy to the English not caring to keep the Country of Scotland in Wars and Troubles so he might defend the French Nation by making the Scots fight their battels After many private Letters from his Friends in Scotland especially from the Chamberlain inviting him to come home and accept his new dignity the Duke at last is required by the State and Lyon King of Arms is directed to him to acquaint him with their proceedings and make him forward on his way He to endear his coming and make himself the more desired of the People excusing his stay for a while which he laid upon the Treaty of Peace which was then to be agreed upon between England and France by the marriage of Lovys the French King with Mary the youngest Sister of Henry King of England which required his presence sendeth home the King of Arms with Letters from the French King with Sir Anthony Darcea le Siour de la Beautie This manpropounded certain conditions which the Duke required What should be the form of his Government his Guards what Castles should be delivered to him for his Garrisons the restoring his patrimony and Fathers dignities to him Which particularities being condescended unto the Castle of Dumbar was instantly delivered to la Beautie to be kept for a French Garrison at the Dukes coming and Sir Patrick Hamilton Brother to the Earl of Arran James Oguilbuy Abbot of Arbroth with the King of Arms were sent back again to France After their Arrival the Duke of Albany furnished with all necessaries by the French King with eight well rigged Ships took the Seas and in the month of May arrived on the West coasts of Scotland from whence with a great retinue of the Nobles and Barons of the Country by easie journeys the Queen meeting him he came to the Town of Edenburgh In the Parliament which had been prorogued for his coming the Duke accepted the Government and gave his Oath of fidelity to the King and Country and the three Estates gave their Oath of obedience to him and both swore in the Administration of Justice neither should be deficient to others Here is he restored to all his Fathers inheritance Titles and honours Being declared Duke of Albany Earl of March and Governour of the Kingdom till the King 's full maturity Many Laws are made for the weal of the Kingdom and to gratifie his Linnage James the natural Son of James the fourth is created Earl of Murray At the presence of this new Governour the face of the State turned more beautiful and the Court more Royal oppression is restrained justice sincerely executed the Court is frequented with good and virtuous men Malefactors and naughty persons banish themselves He maketh a progress to all the notable Towns of the Kingdom seeing crimes punished and faults amended Being a Stranger and not throughly acquainted with the municipal Statutes and particular practices of the Country in matters great and of importance he proceedeth by the instructions and informations of some choice men of the Nation it self Especially since he was not infinite to listen to the advice of every one he gave himself to hearken and follow the opinion and counsel of John Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews whose judgment in his greatest difficulties he receives as an Oracle This man being of a subtle mind malitious crafty rich and endued with some Courtly eloquence by a counterfeit Pretence of knowledge of the affairs of the Kingdom and State neither in some things did he err at first being very familiar with the Duke and in a little time after by bribing secretly some of his choice Servants turned his only Privado and almost possessed alone his judgment and ear He informed him of the strength and Riches of the Country of the nature of the people manner of their Laws revealed to him many secrets of the Government He gave him a Catalogue of the whole deadly fewds and divisions amongst the Noblemen and Gentry opening unto him which were inveterate and had long continued and which were fresh upon what accidents they had their beginnings How in prosecuting Revenge in them they cared not how innocent any man was if he were of the Name and Alliance but rather thought the more innocent any was the more it testified their spight which they desired to manifest by taking him away He shewed him what factions were in the Kingdom who sway'd them and were the heads He told him the Scots were a violent fierce people mutinously proud and knew not how to obey without the Sword were drawn that they were never absolutely governed by their own Kings themselves far less would they be ruled by him who was but a Governour and half a Stranger King James the First they had killed they had made a League against King James the Second in open Battel they had overthrown King James the Third and the last King was by best judgments thought to have been secretly taken away here calling to mind the proclaiming of the Arch-bishop Andrew Formans Bull he omitted nothing could derogate to the Chamberlains reputation and honour and an evil opinion of him in the Governour He instructed him how the great Houses of Scotland were so joined and linkt together by kindred Alliances Bonds of service or Homage that no Gentleman of any quality although a Malefactor and a guilty person could
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
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
next care was to preserve the State from any alterations till his Return and to find the Government as he left it Hereupon to preserve the Person of the King he is conveyed from Sterlin to the Castle of Edenburgh and trusted to the custody of the Earl of Marshall the Lords Ruthen and Borthick two of which should be always resident with him and accompany and assist the Lord Areskin his constant and unremovable Guardian For the Government of the State he leaveth seven Deputies in his Place The Earl of Arran Anguss Huntley Arguile the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow to these is adjoined Sir Anthony Darcey le Sieur de la Beautie whom he had made Captain of Dumbar and promoted to be in the Lord Humes Place Warden of the East Marches keeping the days of Truce and Justice Courts This was the man to whom the entire Conduct of all the Governours affairs was intrusted and who should give him advertisment of what did pass in Scotland during his aboed in France That no discord should arise amongst men equal in places and authority the ordinary occasion of division several shires which they should govern to every one of them are allotted To Sir Anthony Darcey was destinated the Government of the Merss and Lothian to the other their shires were appointed as the convenience of their dwelling places Friends and Kindred did afford them Under pretexts and fair colours of honour and as to pass the time and be trained in French Civility also for the greater magnificency the Governour took in his company the Earl of Lennox the Lord Gordon Masters of Glencarn and Arran other young Lords who in effect were so many Hostages that no stir by their Parents Kindred Friends should be raised during his absence He likewise under dark Shadows and far sought pretences committed to such Castles as were garrisoned with French Soldiers as Dumbarton Dumbar Garvet certain Barons of the South and West Countries who wanted nothing but liberty not for any thing they had done but what they might do the Governour being out of the Kingdom Matters brought to such a pass as his best Politicians could devise accompanied with Master Gavin Dowglass Bishop of Dunkell and Master Patrick Panther Secretary to the late King men whom he feared to leave behind him and entertained though he knew they loved him not as his bosom friends in June at Dumbartoun he took Shipping Queen Margaret after she had remained a year in England understanding by Letters the Governour had taken the Seas and was on his way towards France honourably dismissed by her Brother came to Scotland At Berwick she was received by her Husband the Earl of Anguss but he was not accepted with the favours he was wont for that plague of too much love jealousie had infected her having gotten some inkling that he delighted in a free bed and during the time of her abode in England had entertained a Mistress in Dowglass-dale an injury beyond degree of Reconcilement after which she began to disdain him and seek how she might be divorced from him Though whilst the King was kept in the Castle of Edenburgh all access unto him was refused her when he was transported to the Castle of Craigmillar out of a suspition and rumour the Plague had infected Edenburgh by the courtesie of the Lord Areskin she had liberty to visit him But her frequent haunting him out of too much motherly kindness breeding a suspition in his Guardians that as had once before been practised by a Queen in Scotland She had an intention to have stoln him away and sent him to his Uncle restrained her longer access to him and procured his return back again to the Castle of Edenburgh Sir Anthony Darcey having by his vigilancy pains courage given many proofs of his worth in defence of the Borders and administration of Justice in those shires he governed The other Governours often disagreeing amongst themselves either out of Love of rest and to be vacant from business or out of malice to procure him greater hatred declare him absolute Deputy and they gave their promises to second him in way of Justice and here he found the difference between extreams and mediocrities Many disdained a Stranger should be in that place so many brave men of their Nation neglected A quarrel at that time either true and real or as others have recorded altogether forged and contriv'd to draw the Deputy in a Danger arising between the Stewards of the Laird of Langtoun and one of his Uncles who by the power and means of Sir David Hume of Wedderburn whose Sister was his wife had thrust out and ejected the young heir and them of their own Castle of Langtoun and kept it by force The Deputy accompanyed with certain Lords of the Borders and some French men his own Domesticks came to the Town of Dunce to hold a Justice Court concerning this Riot The Humes who thought nothing juster than revenge nor nobler than the effects of anger having sworn a requital of their Chiefs wrong and to pay the Governour home when occasion should be offered by the counsel and forwardness of Sir David Hume lay an ambush and lie in wait for the Deputy the Plot not failing they invade him at such a disadvantage that some of his Servants killed he was constrained to seek an escape by the swiftness of his Horse who in the chase either falling or sinking in a marish left his Master to the cruelty of his Pursuers who strook of his head and to feed their eyes with the spectacle of their rage set it to the disgrace of the French on the battlements of the Castle of Hume This end had Sir Anthony Darcey who deserved so well both of France and Scotland having been courteous valiant and noble in all his actions and a great Administrator of Justice who spared no travel and freely adventured upon any dangers to suppress malefactors and defend the weak and innocent The Governours That greater mischief should not follow the boldness of these men made choice of the Earl of Arran to resist their outrage and declare him Warden of the Marches and Supream Which election displeased the Earl of Anguss the Earl of Arran armed with power neglecting Anguss his interest immediately committed Sir George Dowglas his Brother to the Castle of Edenburgh and Mark Car in Garvet Castle out of a suspition they were accessory to the slaughter of Sir Anthony Darcey In a Parliament shortly following many of the Humes and Cockburns Fugitives for this slaughter and for that they had invited the English to their aid and spoil of the Country are declared Rebels The Parliament being dissolved the Earl of Arran with a sufficient number of Soldiers and some great Ordinance besieged the Castles of Hume and Langtoun and had hâ—em rendred to his mercy When the accident or Sir Anthony Darcey was noised at the Court of France King Francis is recorded to have said he never looked for
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
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
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
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
this effect sent him to Scotland A great number of the Lancastrians and North-Humbrians who upon hopes of spoil had followed him pretending want of Victuals and the rigorous season of the year with Arms and Baggage leave this Army Having done little harm to the Scots and suffered much hunger and cold at Berwick he prepareth a retreat towards London When King James understood the Duke had repassed the Tweed he encouraged his Army to follow him The Common Souldier was indifferent the Noblemen refuse to fight except upon Scottish ground The King urgeth them with the commodity and advantage of a Revenge of the old wrong of the Duke commanding an Army neither of the Gentry nor many Nobles of England but of Hirelings and pressed Artizans whose number would prove hurtful to themselves and turn them in a disordered confusion They had many days suffered famine and all necessities of War their vigour and courage was spent that the English fought far off and they at home There wanted not matter to answer but a man to deliver the King an answer generally they refuse to fight To defend the Person of their Prince the State and Countrey they would hazard their lives and if they had any thing more dear If the Enemy would stay on Scottish ground they would do their uttermost to make him retire or by main force expel him But to invade England and tempt an Army who not only was retired but returned to their own bounds they neither had so just a quarrel as they wisht nor were they sufficient at that time to pursue them Their provisions for War were spent the Winter approached Victuals consumed that despair often turned it self into true fortitude and men in good Order retiring would not be too near followed that even flying Enemies should have Bridges of Gold Now if they were to charge the Enemy they would not have the Kings presence a man young rash valorous upon whose life not only the glory of the Battel but the life of the Common-wealth depended his two Sons being lately departed For if the fortune of War brought a period to his life the Crown would remain at the mercy of the Victor that the Kings glory was not little that he had in so short a time with so small Forces and these suddenly gathered stopt the progress of so mighty an Army which was so long in gathering and boasted of such great matters yet which durst not advance one mile in Scottish ground Whether the English fly or retire they had suffered as much wrong as they had done and now to fight them and that perhaps with disadvantage was to put in hazard what was already acquired The Duke of Norfolk returning to London the King with his Army cometh to Edenburgh which immediately he disbanded but he forgot not the secret Plot against his Favourites nor the open refusal of his Nobles to fight on English ground as if the Earth were not all one piece and Matter and men the destinade inhabitants of it every where the Cardinal David Beatoun Oliver Saintclair Craggy Ross and others add fewel to these flames Falla-Moor Plot mightily instigating them The King avouched publickly That the Nobility neither loved his honour nor desired his continuance amongst them To cool these smoaking humors and breed in the King fairer hopes of his Nobles the Lord Maxwel offereth giving him ten thousand men to command if the State thought it expedient to invade England at Salloway affirming the State and fortune of those who assail to be better than theirs who are still put to their defence The English Forces being divided he doubted not to stay longer on English ground than the Duke had done on the Scottish and to effectuate something to the Kings content The King thanking him for his offer appointeth a Rendezvous to be at the West Marches No Proclamations are divulged for the Levies of men but close Letters sent The Cardinal and the Earl of Arran the one a Church-man of a mind above many Nobles the other a Nobleman of an humility under any Church-man to give false perspective to those proceedings by sound of Trumpets and beating of Drums raise men openly march toward Hadingtoun and the East-Borders Whilst the Earls of Cassiles Glencaris Lords Flammin Sommervail Areskin Barons Aytoun Langtoun Ormestoun Waughtoun and many others accompanied with the Kings domestick Servants ride to the West Borders The night before the Road the King himself came to Loch-Maban attending the event of the incursion Companies comming from all quarters of the Countreys about none knowing of another with the power of the Scottish Borderers pass the Water of Esk burn certain Hamlets of the Grahams on the very limits Sir Thomas Whartoun Warden of these Marches not a little troubled at such a frequent assembly of the Scottish Riders raising the power of the Countrey placeth them by a hill where he might take a view of their Forces in good order with him were Bastard Dacres and Jack Musgrave two valiant Captains The Scottish Lords beholding the English range themselves in a Battalion desire to know the Kings Lieutenant-General for now it was to Marshal their Companies and every man to take him to his Charge Presently Oliver Saintclair upon crossed Pikes is mounted the Kings Banner displayed and the Commission read in which he is designed Lieutenant and all commanded in the Kings name to obey and follow him It hath been reported by those who were acquainted with Oliver that the Commission was not read but that at his very sight such a tumult confused clamour and enter shouldering of Male contents arose their Ranks were broken the Military order turned into a confusion none so repining as the Lord Maxwel and the Borderers Who if he had patience to have heard the Commission as Oliver protested was Lieutenant and not he whose charge was only to present it The English who now were ready for the Fight observing this disorder take the advantage upon the occasion and brake forwards with a military shout whilst the others are in doubt whether to flee or stand and the Guidiats and Scullons are pesle mesle thronging with the foot Soldiers and they with the Horsemen Here is a general surprize most part willingly rendring themselves to the English without any shew of defence or the slaughter of any person of any side This overthrow proveth that neither arms nor the multitude and numbers of Souldiers without their love and hearts availeth any thing in a Field yea rather they are hurtful the more in number they be if their affection be alienated from their Commanders It is recorded that at this road which was named Solloway-Moss every English had three or four Scots for Prisoners and when their wanted men to take them the women of the neighbouring Hamelet and Boys had Prisoners the Earls of Cassiles and Glencarn the Lords Maxwel Flamin Sommervail Olivant Gray Robert Areskin Son to the Lord Areskin Oliver Saintclair The Lairds of Craggy
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
doth know in which it first shall dye And had ye then to venter to the hazard of a Combate the exemplary of virtue and the Muses Sanctuary The lives of twenty such as his who hath fallen in Honours Ballance would not counterpoise your one Ye are too good for these times in which as in a time of Plague men must once be sick and that deadly ere they can be assured of any safety Would I could persuade you in you in your sweet walks at home to take the prospect of Court Shipwracks forgive mine importunity your many courtesies in my behalf and the World which is a Witness of them force me to bear a part in all your Fortunes and ever whilst I remain my self to be To serve you W. DRUMMOND February 10. 1620. To the Right Honourable Earl of L. My Noble Lord OF that duty I owe to your Lordship and love to your honourable Father I have adventured to bear a part in his Obsequies a work I must confess profuse no Verses of mine nor any others having power to add any thing to his noble Memory being so strongly upholden by your Lordship and his other excellent Children that it is like to be contemporary with the World For whatsoever hath now failed of the honour I intended I beseech your Lordship to accept my serviceable and infallible love for all supplement If your Lordship esteem these among the Scutcheons Colours and other day-lasting Ornaments of the Funeral pomp I shall hold them sufficiently honoured and in what is within the compass of my power remain Your Lordships ever to Command W. DRUMMOND To the Right Honourable the Earl of Perth My Noble Lord IN this storm of the State I had resolved to set my affairs in order exposing all to the hazard of what might fall forth and fly to the shadow of your Lordship finding at this time that not to prove true Minima Parvitate sua tut a sunt for the humility of my fortune and my retired and harmless form of living could not save me from being imployed to serve here the ambition of the great Masters of the State as if I had no more to do with time I was appointed to spend it in attending the Committee of the Shire at my first initiation charged to be at that fatal service and horrible execution of Dunglass they directed me to ravage and plunder the more peaceable neighbours about this Trojan Horse laboured to give me a command over Horses All which imployments being contrary to my Education and Estate knowing that Pareil sier Pareil a nulla Puissance and that they were not my lawful Masters I shunned and performed no more than pleased me which acquired me no small Spight If the Parliament of England and matters since fallen forth had not a little cooled this fervency or frenzy I knew not where to have found sanctuary save with your Lordship nor knew I what thanks to gender your Lordship for your gracious protection and many courtesies offered me If I should sacrifice my Fortunes Liberty Life I would rather lose them for your Lordship than for any Democracy Your Lordships favours shall ever be remembred and sought to be deserved in what is within the compass of performing and power of Your Lordships Humble Servant W. DRUMMOND Hawthorn-Den Decem. 1. 1640. To the Learned and Worthy Gentle-woman Worthy M. I Should be too ambitious I will not say arrogant if I thought that honour which you give me in your delicate Verses to be due to the honoured and not rather to the honourer They reflect and turn back unto your self as to a more renowned wonder that praise by desert which ye bestow upon me of your meer courtesie Alas my Muses are of no such value to deserve the blazon of so pregnant and rare a wit Perhaps ye raised them to show the highness of your spirit which ever transcendeth mean measures or to make known how excellently ye can praise any thing that you please But howsoever praise being the reward of virtue and proceeding from so sound a judgment and one so praise-worthy I will think hereafter my Muses worthy praise because ye held them such or if they were such before that they were such because they were ordained to be praised and loved of you I can but admire your engine and thank your courtesie and wish that time and fortune may prove so gracious accomplishing my desires to make me know how to acquite you till which occasion as ever you have me Your most To his Worthy Friend S. G. K. SIR WHen out of curiosity this last week I had entred these large and spatious Galleries in which the Fair of St. German is kept and had viewed the diverse Merchandize and Wares of the many nations at that Mart above the rest I was much taken with the daintiness of the many Pourtraicts there to be seen The devices Posies Ideas Shapes Draughts of the Artificers were various nice and pleasant Scarce could the wandring thought light upon any Story Fable Gayety which was not here represented to the view If Cebes the Theban Philosopher made a Table hung in the Temple of Saturn the Argument of his rare Moralities and Jovius and Marini the Pourtraicts in their Galleries and Libraries the subject of some books I was brought to think I should not commit a great fault if I sent you for a token from this Mart a Scantling of this Ware which affordeth a like contentment to the Beholder and possessour The Pictures of the Roman Emperours appeared in one Plate those of the Bishops with the Triple Crowns in another with those of all the Kings and great Princes in Europe Lucretia was shewing her bleeding brest on this Table Flora her bewitching Twins on that not far from these Mars is surprized by the Lemnian and the Senate of the Gods are all laughing near by Jupiter is coming down in a Golden Showre in his Danaes lap One would have wished Argos his eyes to gaze on Hellen in the prime of her beauty as when the Phrygian Youth stole her away or Theseus in one place of the Table and see her distilling tears for the ruin of Troy in another The Agamemnon of Timantes at the sacrifice of Hermione was here to be seen And what did surpass that in Invention a Painter had hidden the imperfection of the work of his Work who having painted a Lady which had but one eye he had set her face so cunningly that her one side appearing only to the view left a desire in the Beholder to wish for the other which one could not but imagine beautiful at which she seemed to smile The Father of our Factions Meonides himself was here represented with closed eyes and a long beard of the colour of the Night to whom was the honour af Mantua adjoined his head wreathed with Baies his face was somewhat long his cheeks scarce with a small down discrying his Sex that they might be known after so
truely Noble S. R. K. Gentleman of the Kings Bed-Chamber SIR HOw ever fortune turn her Wheel I find you still your self and so ballasted with your own worth that ye may out-dare any Storm This is that Jewel which neither change of Court nor Climates can rob you of of what is yours ye have lost nothing By this Quadran I have ever measured your height neither here could the vapours of Court make me erre Long since I learned not to esteem of any golden Butter-flies there but as of Counters whose Places give them only worth Ye are born to act brave parts on this Theatre of the World as your Prince is wise so I am assured he is well read in Man and knows ye are not one to be lost What know ye to what end that Soveraign Wisdom who hath hitherto been so strong a Defence unto you hath removed you from your Countrey By this means ye may return more welcom more beloved and with greater honour than when you left her How oft hath plaintful means brought men to that happiness which in their prosperity they never could reach in their thoughts nor expect Now since your departure I verily think all our life to be but a Dream and that God hath placed our happiness elsewhere He is only miserable and wretched who holdeth himself such as that man only blessed who is content with a little Happiness consisting neither in honour nor riches but in an equality and moderation of Desires Forgive my free writing I have not had leisure to vail my thoughts your Brothers departing being so unexpected W. DRUMMOND To the Right Honourable the Earl of Perth My Noble Lord AFter a long inquiry about the Arms of your Lordships ancient House and the turning of sundry Books of Impresaes and Herauldry I found your UNDES famous and very honourable In our neighbour Countrey of England they are born but inversed upside down and diversified Torquato Tasso in his Rinaldo maketh mention of a Knight who had a Rock placed in the Waves with the Word Rompe ch' il percote And other hath the Seas waves with a Syren rising out of them the word Bella Maria which is the name of some Courtezan Antonio Perenotto Cardinal Gravella had for an Impresa the Sea a Ship in it the word Durate out of the first of the Aeneades Durate vosmet rebus servate secundis Tomaso de Marini Duca di terra nova had for his Impresa the Waves with a Sun over them the Word Nunquam siccabitur aestu The Prince of Orange used for his Impresa the Waves with an Halcyon in the midst of them the word Mediis tranquillus in undis which is rather an Emblem than Impresa because the figure is in the word By reason of your Lordships name and the long continuance in your House to none they appertain more rightly than to your Lordship Drum is in the old Celtique and Brittish Language an Height and Onde in all the Countreys almost of Europe a Wave which word is said to have been given in a Storm by Margaret Queen of Scotland to a Gentleman who accompanied her the first of your Lordships House But to make an Inquiry in Sirnames were now too long W. DRUMMOND To the truly Noble S. R. K. COntentments are never so really Contentments as when they come after some calamity Afflictions meet And mingling with our Joys make them more sweet After your late danger and long absence by your kindly returning to your Countrey and Recovery of lossed favours this hath doubled it self We erre often by deeming those things hurtful which are but changes for our greater Good Crosses serve for many uses and more than Magistracies decipher the Man Brave minds like lamps are discerned when they are canopied with the night of affliction and like Rubies give the fairest lustre when they are rubbed The sight of so many stately Towns and differing manners of Men the conquest of such friends abroad and trial of these at home the leaving of your Remembrance so honourable to after times have made you more happy in your distress than if like another Endymyon ye had sleeped away that swift course of days in the embracements of your Mistress the Court. Forgive my Comparison for if Courts be changing Moons why should not favourites be Endymions I write often unto you for that in way of friendship I had rather be charged for super-abundancy than defect from him who is no more his own than by respect and affection yours W. DRUMMOND To his much honoured Friend M. A. J. Physician to the KING IT is more praise-worthy in Noble and excellent things to know something though little than in mean and ignoble matters to have a perfect knowledge Amongst all those rare Ornaments of the mind of Man Poesie hath had a most eminent place and been in high esteem not only at one time and in one Climate but during all times and through those parts of the World where any ray of humanity and civility hath shined So that she hath not unworthily deserved the name of the Mistress of human life the height of Eloquence the quintessence of knowledge the loud Trumpet of Fame the Language of the Gods There is not any thing endureth longer Homers Troy hath outlived many Republicks and both the Roman and Grecian Monarchies she subsisteth by her self and after one demeanour and continuance her beauty appeareth to all ages In vain have some men of late Transformers of every thing consulted upon her Reformation and endeavoured to abstract her to Metaphysical Ideas and Scholastical Quiddities denuding her of her own habits and those Ornaments with which she hath amused the World some thousand years Poesie is not a thing that is yet in the finding and search or which may be otherwise found out being already condescended upon by all Nations and as it were established jure Gentium amongst Greeks Romans Italians French Spaniards Neither do I think that a good Piece of Poesie which Homer Virgil Ovid Petrarch Bartas Ronsard Boscan Garcilasso if they were alive and had that Language could not understand and reach the sence of the Writer Suppose these men could find out some other new Idea like Poesie it should be held as if Nature should bring forth some new Animal neither Man Horse Lyon Dog but which had some Members of all if they had been proportionably and by right Symmetry set together What is not like the Ancients and conform to those Rules which hath been agreed unto by all times may indeed be something like unto Poesie but it is no more Poesie than a Monster is a man Monsters breed admiration at the first but have ever some strange loathsomness in them at last I deny not but a Mulet is more profitable than some Horses yet is it neither Horse nor Ass and yet it is but a Mulet There is a Tale told of a poor miserable Fellow accused of Bestiality and he at his Arraignment confessed That
This Earl ambitious factious popular subtile vindicative prompt in the execution of his enterprizes liberal and far from the dor-muse humour of his Father began to think neither himself nor his kindred in safety if the deaths of his Brothers and Cousins wrought by the two Rulers remained unrevenged and therefore since openly without troubling the common peace of the Country he could not by secret and umbragious ways he laboureth to bring it to pass procuring a far off a disobedience to their Decrees and contempt of their Authority by men in a great distance from him in place blood friendship and familiarity who after any fashion grudged repined complained of the present form of Government or aggravated imaginary wrongs are supported and protected by him his houses turned places of Refuge to distressed Male-contents One John Gormack of Athol not without suspicion that he wrought by the motion and order of the Earl and understood his Cabal essayed with a great number of Out-laws to hinder the execution of a Malefactor and take him by main force from the Sheriff of Perth William Ruthen but he perished in the enterprize Patrick Gilbreath in the Castle of Dumbartoun for priority of command killeth Robert Simple and to save his person or justifie his homicide flyeth to the Earl of Dowglass by whom he is protected notwithstanding the many informations given in against him at Court and his citation to answer to Justice The King whose non-age was now near expired began to relish the sweetness of Government in his own person and became tyr'd of the long and awful tutelage of his jarring Rulers and the flower of his Youth seeming fram'd for great affairs promised the fruit of a wise and happy Reign finding it difficult to put men near daily unto him long experienced and greedy of Rule from high places except by the entertaining a stronger and more powerful faction He setteth his thoughts upon the Earl of Dowglass small favours to him would be a great umbrage to the ambition of his Tutors bring them within the compass of answering to what might be objected to them concerning their service in the State he would not sue to the Earl but as occasion served he gave many signs and open speeches that he had not altogether withdrawn his love and favour from the ancient House of the Dowglasses their passed faults being by them acknowledged and recompenced with fidelity and obedience in times coming The Earl of Dowglass whose towardness and liberality had acquired him many friends at Court upon assured advertisement of his Princes good-will towards him cometh to Sterling and is no sooner presented upon his knees before the King in the Church when with all demonstrations of benevolence he is received in grace pardoned and not many days after admitted to be of the Privy Council The King imparting to him his greatest affairs sheweth he will follow them by his advice and counsel honoureth him with the plausible name of Cousin and entertaineth such familiarity with him that all others give him the place The promotion and credit which the Earl of Dowglass in a short time acquired about the King his faction daily encreasing moved the two Rulers by their moderation seeking to avoid disgrace to leave the Court. After which they were both removed from their offices and their places and authority in Council with their whole friends and followers They are upbraided with disorders both in their private actions and the manner of their Government and at last are summoned to answer before the King to such things as they should be legally accused of the murmurs every where whispered amongst the people warned and certified them if they should appear and present themselves of some sad and Tragick Act. Whereupon with protestations of their Innocency declining the time appealing to the King in his majority and when he should be of full years from these Judges their mortal enemies than abusing absolute Power they suspend their appearing declaring with all their readiness in every thing to obey the King This availeth them nothing for at a Parliament holden in Sterlin Articles being forged and urged against them especially of Peculate as sale of Crown-Lands waste of the Kings Treasure the laying of their hands upon the Kings Jewels transporting Lands to themselves and their friends distributing Offices and places of the Crown and State which should have been by the Authority of the Council as Hunters divide a Prey between themselves Dispensing with Riots and taking the force and vigour from the Laws of the Kingdom thus as betraying the administration of the Realm into the hands of worthless and corrupted men they are denounced Rebels their persons and Estates proscrib'd Charge is given to Sir John Foster of Corstorphane and others the Dowglasses adherents to bring all their moveables to the use of the Exchequer demolish their Houses invade their Friends with fire and sword and all that sided them Thus the uncertain vicissitude of Humane accidents overturns often them who seem to be raised to the highest degree of honour The Castle of Barentoren is besieged taken thrown down with other houses upon the Governours and Chancellours Lands their Farms and small Villages are plundered and ransacked In revenge of which the Rulers waste the Earl of Dowglasses Territories the Villages of Straw-brock Abercorn Blackness are burnt with Corstorphane The ravage begun continueth with daily loss to both parties and the overthrow of the Common-wealth The Earl wondreth now having the Kings Authority to find his enemies so strong and hold so long out against him he suspecteth they have secret support by some not well affected towards him The most powerful and eminent of which he guesseth to be James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews and Cousin german to the King He knew him jealous for his sudden favours at Court and that he had whispered amongst his friends that he feared the ambition of the Earls unlimited heart was now exalted to such exorbitancy of height that becoming top-heavy it would fall by its own weight and turn up the Root The Earl will have this Prelate less powerful to assist the Rulers or do harm unto him To this effect he instigateth the Earl of Crawford his Allie and Alexander Ogleby of Innerwharely to invade the Bishops Lands and rifle his Vassals in Fife without order or declaration of wrongs done by him The Bishop after the burning and spoyling of sundry of his Farms being weak by power to resist their violence and repair his losses took him to his Spiritual Arms and excommunicated the Earl of Crawford Though he made small account of this verbal Thunder yet did not this injustice long escape the revenging hand of God who raiseth up ordinarily one oppressor to execute his justice against another Alexander Lyndesay Son to the Earl of Crawford pretended a title to the Baylerie of Arbroth out of which he was kept by Alexander Ogleby whose title was equal to his if not better This enmity