He therefore desired us to sit down and advise how he might best put remedy to things by-past and prevent such inconveniencies in time coming seeing he had determined hereafter to repose most upon our Council Our answer to His Majesty was That we had great reason to render His Majesty most humble thanks for the favourable opinion he entertained of us which we should endeavour to deserve and were very sorry for the displeasure His Majesty had taken praying His Majesty to take patience seeing that as he had always reposed upon God and not Man that the same God would mend his Estate as he had oft-times done before That our care should be presently how to receive the Queen honourably who was upon the Sea we daily looking for her landing and next how to treat and reward the Noblemen of Denmark Her Majesties Convey That being done and they returned back to their Country it would be best time to take order with the Affairs of the Kingdom conform to His Majesty's desire with the concurrence of so many of the Council as His Majesty had found most faithful and least factious But we did not think fit to take upon us the whole burthen in respect that hath been always the chief cause of the wrack of Scots Kings especially of all His Majesty's own troubles in laying the whole burthen of his Affairs upon any one or two who most commonly for greediness and ambition abuse good Princes and few or none dare controul them for fear of their great Authority and Credit The Chancellour being advertised of His Majesty's discontent and displeasure as said is made preparation to go off the Country and caused it come to His Majesty's Ears that he would Sail himself and bring home the Queen with him And that they were all but Triflers who were with her He forgot not to Anoint the hands of some who were most familiar with His Majesty to interpret this his design so favourably that it made the King forget all by-gones and by little and little he informed him so well of the said Voyage and the great charges he had bestowed upon a fair and swift sailing Ship that His Majesty was moved to take the Voyage himself and to sail in the same Ship with the Chancellour with great secrecy and short preparation making no Man privy thereto but such as the Chancellour pleased and such as formerly had all been upon his Faction He had also heard an incling of a word That His Majesty in the time of his high displeasure had said That he would lay the burthen of his Affairs upon my Brother and me whereat he had a great envy and despight and was the cause why His Majesty made me not privy to his Voyage He was very discontent when His Majesty had appointed my said Brother Robert to be left Vice-Chancellour and Convene the Council in His Majesty's absence to hold hand with the Duke of Lennox my Lord Hamiltoun Bothwel and other Noblemen with the Officers of the Crown and to Rule the Country in His Majesty's absence Three other Ships sailed with His Majesty wherein was the Justice Clerk Carmichal the Provost of Lincludin Sir William Kieth George Hume Iames Sandiland with all His Majesty's Ordinary Servants The weather was rough enough for it was in the beginning of Winter But the last day was so extream stormy that they were all in great hazard but His Majesty landed that same night at in Norway where the Queen was abiding the turning of the Wind and where he accomplished his marriage in person But he could not be perswaded to return to Scotland that Wiuter by reason of the raging Seas and storm he had sustained a little before The Queen and Council of Denmark being advertised that His Majesty was resolved to abide all that Winter sent and requested him to come to Denmark Whither he went by Land with the Queen his new bride and behaved himself honourably and liberally by the way and at the Court of Denmark where he tarried during his abode there But the Company who were with His Majesty put him to great trouble to agree their continual janglings strife pride and partialities The Earl of Marshal by reason that he was an ancient Earl and had been employed in this honourable Commission thought to have the first place next unto His Majesty so long as he was there The Chancellour by reason of his Office would needs have the preheminence There were also contentions betwixt him and the Justice Clark The Constable of Dundie and my Lord Dingwal could not agree about place George Hume did quietly shoot out William Kieth from his Office of Master of the Wardrobe At length they were all divided into two Factions The one for the Earl of Marshal the other for the Chancellour who was the stronger because the King took his part So that the Chancellour triumphed and being yet in Denmark devised many Reformations to be made and new Forms and Customs to be set forward at His Majesty's return As to have no Privy Council but the Exchequer and the Nobility to be debarred from it Sundry of the Lords of the Session to be put out who he judged had no dependence upon him and others his Creatures put in their room He caused a Proclamation to be pen'd which was sent home to be proclaim'd before His Majesty's return That none of the Nobility should come to Court not being sent for and then to bring with them six persons and no more Likewise every Baron to bring but four Likewise he resolved to cause Ward such as had been unruly and disobedient during His Majesty's absence as the Earl Bothwel the Lord Hume and divers Borderers and Highland Men. The next Spring His Majesty came home and Landed at Lieth well accompanied with the Admiral of Denmark and divers of the Council and many other Gentlemen All whom His Majesty treated honourably and after the Queens Coronation they were magnificently rewarded with more then twelve Golden Chains and many Medals of Gold with His Majesties Picture His Majesty at his landing was pleased to send to me to bear them company which I did until their parting to His Majesty's great contentment In the mean time the Earl of Worcester was sent Ambassadour from England to Welcome and Congratulate both their Majesties with some Presents unto the Queens Majesty Upon whom I was commanded by His Majesty to attend diligently all the time of his being here and at his parting he was presented with a Ring of seven great Diamonds He parted well satisfied and so did all his Company His Majesty was pleased at leasure to declare unto me his whole Voyage and proceedings during his absence He said that he wished that I had been sent alone Ambassadour to Denmark in place of the Earl of Marshal and the two who were joined with him he was so ill informed of the said Earl I answered That I understood that the Earl for his part had behaved himself
have appeared desirous of that marriage I should have offended both the Queens and lost their favour He intreated me to excuse him at her Majesties hands and to beg in his Name that she would not impute that matter to him but to the malice of his Enemies Being landed at London our Dinner was prepared by the Earl of Pembroke who being great Master yet humbled himself so far as to serve the said Table as Master of the Houshold himself He was a devout friend to my Queens Title of succeeding to the Crown of England After Dinner I took leave of the French Ambassadour and the Spanish having received divers advertisements from them My Lord of Leicester beside what he had spoke to me did write to my Lord of Murray to excuse him at the Queens hands The day appointed I received my dispatch from Secretary Cicil together with a Letter of Credit and a more ample Declaration of the Queens mind touching the same answers she had made me her self He gave me also a Letter to Secretary Lidingtoun For as is abovesaid Secretary Cicil and Leicester my Lord of Murray and Secretary Lidingtoun ruled both Queens and as yet kept good correspondence together When I took my leave Secretary Cicil conveyed me through the Close to the outer Gate of the Palace where he himself put a fair Chain about my Neck My Lady Lennox and Sir Nicholas Throgmorten sent many good advices to the Queen to be followed according as occasion offered My Lady Lennox sent also Tokens to the Queen a Ring with a fair Diamond she sent an Emerauld to my Lord her Husband who was yet in Scotland a Diamond to my Lord of Murray a Watch set with Diamonds and Rubies to the Secretary Lidingtoun a Ring with a Ruby to my Brother Sir Robert For she was still in good hope that her Son my Lord Darnly would come better speed concerning the marriage of our Queen then the Earl of Leicester She was a very wise and discreet Matron and had many favourers in England for the time At my return I found the Queens Majesty still at Edinbrugh To whom I declared at large my manner of proceeding with the Queen of England and gave her Majesty her answers to the special heads of my instructions in writing Her Majesty answered to the first that whereas the Queen thought the time very long since she received either word or writ from her whereby she might understand of her good estate and had sent me thither to visit her in her behalf that she thought the time as long albeit she had conceived some displeasure concerning the angry Letter Which was the greater in respect it appeared that she disdained the offer of the best good she had to give to wit the Man whom she esteemed as her Brother And whereas she had sent me to visit her she was more satisfied with my coming then she would have been with any other being formerly of her acquaintance with whom she could the more familiarly declare her inward mind to the Queen my Mistress seeing she could not meet with her self so soon as she desired As I might declare how familiarly she had conferred with me acquainting me with all her inward griefs and desires and how well she was satisfied and how willing to continue all good offices of amity and that she would for that effect send shortly down to the Border Commissioners who were named by her self to meet with my Lord of Murray and Lidingtoun As for the Parliament it was yet in doubt whether it held or not If it held the Queen should get no hurt in her Right neither directly nor indirectly but she should be forewarned in due time Then I shewed her Majesty at length of all other purposes that fell out occasionally betwixt that Queen and me together with the opinions and advertisements of divers of her friends in England as well Catholicks as Protestants I gave her at the desire of the Spanish Ambassadour the intimation of his Kings good will toward her Her Majesty was very glad that matters were brought again to this pass between her and the Queen of England having thereby occasion of getting intelligence from a great number of Noblemen and others her friends in England For she was also afraid that the blame of the discord would have been laid upon her if it had continued After that her Majesty had at great length understood all my management and proceedings in England she inquired whether I thought that Queen meant truly toward her inwardly in her heart as she appeared to do outwardly in her speech I answered freely that in my judgment there was neither plain dealing nor upright meaning but great dissimulation emulation and fear lest her Princely qualities should over soon chace her from the Kingdom as having already hindered her marriage with the Arch-duke Charles of Austria It appeared likewise to me by her offering unto her with great appearing earnestness my Lord of Leicester whom I knew at that time she could not want Shortly after my Lord of Murray and Bedford met near Berwick to treat concerning the marriage with Leicester with slenderer offers and less effectual dealing then was expected But the said Earl of Leicester had written such discreet and wise Letters unto my Lord of Murray for his excuses that the Queen appeared to have so good liking to him as the Queen of England began to suspect that the said marriage might take effect Her apprehensions of this occasioned the Lord Darnly his getting more readily license to come to Scotland in hope that he being a handsome lusty youth should rather prevail being present then Leicester who was absent Which license was procured by the means of the Secretary Cicil not that he was minded that any of the marriages should take effect but with such shifts to hold the Queen unmarried so long as he could For he perswaded himself that my Lord Darnly durst not proceed in the marriage without consent of the Queen of England first obtained to the said marriage his Land lying in England and his Mother remaining there So that he thought it lay in the Queen his Mistress her own hand to let that marriage go forward or to stay the same at her pleasure And in case my Lord Darnly should disobey the Queen of Englands command to return upon her call he intended to cause for fault him whereby he should lose all his Lands Rights and Titles that he had in England The Queens Majesty as I have said before after her returning out of France to Scotland behaved her self so Princely honourably and discreetly that her reputation spread it self in all Countries She was determined and of her self inclined to continue so unto the end of her life desiring to entertain none in her company but such as were of the best conversation abhorring all vice and vicious persons In this her resolution she desired me to assist her by affording her my good counsel what way was
they behoved to secure her and when that time came that she should be known to abandon and detest the Earl Bothwel it would be then time to reason upon the matter Grange was yet so angry that had it not been for the Letter he had instantly left them and for the next best he used all possible diligence to make her and them both quit of the said Earl causing to make ready two Ships to follow after him who had fled to the Castle of Dumbar and from thence to Sheatland In the mean time her Majesty sent a Letter to the Laird of Grange lamenting her hard usage and shewing him that promises had been broken to her Whereunto he answered that he had already reproached the Lords for the same who shewed unto him a Letter sent by her unto the Earl of Bothwel promising among many other fair and comfortable words never to abandon or forget him which had stopped his mouth marvelling that her Majesty considered not that the said Earl could never be her Lawful Husband being so lately before married with another whom he had deserted without any just ground although he had not been so hated for the murther of the King her Husband And therefore he requested her Majesty to put him clean out of mind seeing otherwise she could never get the love or respect of her Subjects nor have that obedience payed her which otherwise she might expect It contained many other loving and humble admonitions which made her bitterly to weep For she could not do that so hastily which process of time might have accomplished Now the Laird of Grange his two Ships being in readiness he made sail toward Orkney and no man was so frank to accompany him as the Laird of Tullibardin and Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkny but the Earl was fled from Orkny to Sheatland whither also they followed him and came in sight of Bothwel's Ship which moved the Laird of Grange to cause the Skipper to hoise up all the Sails which they were loath to do because they knew the shallow water thereabout but Grange fearing to miss him compelled the Marriners so that for too great haste the Ship wherein Grange was did break upon a Bed of Sand without loss of a man but Bothwel had leasure in the mean time to save himself in a little Boat leaving his Ship behind him which Grange took and therein the Laird of Fallow Iohn Hepburn of Bautoun Dalgleesh and divers others of the Earl's Servants Himself fled to Denmark where he was taken and kept in wrait Prison wherein he became mad and dyed miserably But Grange came back again with Bothwel's Ship and Servants who were the first who gave information of the manner of the murther which the Lords thought fit to let the King of France understand and of their diligence according to the promise made by them My Lord of Murray had obtained liberty to pass unto France shortly after the murther of the King for he did foresee the great trouble like to ensue The rest of the Lords enterprisers after they had secured the Queen in Lochleven began to consult how to get her Majesty counselled to demit the Government to the Prince her Son and for that effect they dealt first with my Brother Sir Robert because he was sometimes allowed access to her Majesty And after that he had refused flatly to meddle in that matter they were minded to send the Lord Lindsay first to use fair perswasions and in case he could not speed that way they were resolved to enter in harder tearms The Earls of Athol Mar and Secretary Lidingtoun and the Laird of Grange who loved her Majesty advised my Brother to tell her the verity and how that any thing she did in Prison could not prejudge her being once again at liberty He answered he would give no such advice as coming from himself but he should tell it as the opinion of those he knew to be her true friends But she refused utterly to follow that advice till she heard that the Lord Lindsay was at the new House at the shore coming in and in a very boasting humour And then she yielded to the necessity of the time and told my Brother that she would not strive with them seeing it could do her no harm when she was at liberty So at my Lord Lindsay's coming she subscribed the signature of Renunciation and Demission of the Government to the Prince and certain Lords named in the said signature to be Regents to the Prince and Country her Majesty desiring my Lord Murray who was absent in France to be the first Regent This being past the Lords concluded to Crown the Prince and sent Letters to France to the Earl of Murray to come home In the mean time there were a number of Lords convened at Hamiltoun as my Lord Hamiltoun my Lord Pasby Iohn Hamiltoun Bishop of St. Andrews my Lord Fleeming Boid and divers others to whom the Lords who were to Crown the Prince would have sent me Commissioner Which Commission at the first I refused but afterwards I accepted thereof at the advice of Secretary Lidingtoun the Laird of Grange and other secret favourers of the Queen who judged it very fit that the whole Country should bejoined together in quietness fearing that in case Civil Wars entred among them it might endanger her Majesties life For it was judged that those who were at Hamiltoun appeared to lean to the Queen At my coming to Hamiltoun I told them my Commission in the name of the other Lords how that the King being murthered all neighbour Nations cryed out upon the whole Kingdom but especially the King of France and the Queen of England sollicited them to inquire after and punish the murtherers How that they had found that it was the Earl of Bothwel and some of them who had assisted him who were punished And what was past since thereupon was known to the whole Country That the Queens Majesty had demitted over the Government to the Prince her Son whom they were minded to Crown shortly whereof they thought fit to warn all the Nobility as being resolved to prejudge no Nobleman of his Rights Titles or Prerogatives requesting them who were there Convened to come to Sterling and be present at the said Coronation for retaining their own priviledges the peace and quiet of the whole Country Some of the younger Lords answered and said that they would not believe that the Queens Majesty had demitted the Government and if she had done it it would be found for to save her life But the Bishop who had more experience then they reproved them and said that those Noblemen had dealt very reasonably and discreetly with them so he drew the rest aside to advise and then returned and gave me this answer We are beholden to the Noblemen who have sent you with that friendly and discreet Commission and following their desire we are ready to concur with them if they give us sufficient security
your travel For first they will never meet together and next there will never be any thing else but dissembling and secret hatred for a while and at length Captivity and utter wrack to our Queen from England My Brother answered he liked not to hear of such devilish news nor yet would he in any sort credit them as being false ungodly and unlawful for Christians to meddle with Bassintoun answered good Mr. Melvil entertain not that harsh opinion of me I am a Christian of your own Religion and fear God and purposeth never to cast my self on any of the unlawful Arts that you mean but so far as Melancthon who was a godly Theologue hath declared lawful and written concerning the natural Sciences which are lawful and daily read in divers Christian Universities in the which as in all other Arts God gives to some less and to others clearer knowledge by the which knowledge I have attained to understand that at length the Kingdom of England shall of right fall to the Crown of Scotland and that at this instant there are some born who shall brook Lands and Heritages in England But alas it will cost many their Lives and many bloody Battels will be fought e're things be settled or take effect and by my knowledge says he the Spaniards will be helpers and will take a part to themselves for their labour which they will be loath to leave again After that the Queens Majesty had demitted the Government when she was Captive in Lockleven in such manner as is rehearsed my Lord of Murray being the first of the Regents of whom I have said something already I intend now to follow forth and shew a part of his proceedings and to begin where I left at her Majesties retreat to England After the Battel of Langside the Regent went through the Country and took up the Escheats and Houses of those who had assisted at the said Battel and caused to cast down divers of their houses distributing their Lands to his Servants and dependers The Council of England being crafty and in special the Secretary Cicil they knew what kind of Men had most credit about him for the time and thereupon took occasion to deal with the least honest most ambitious and covetous of that number and Society who had joined and banded themselves together to assist each other whereby to advance themselves and to disgrace all such true and honest men as had assisted and helped him in all his former troubles This sort of Men were soon perswaded and corrupted to move the Regent to pass unto England and accuse their native Queen before the Queen and Council of England to the great dishonour of their Country and Prince For the Queen of England who had no just cause to retain our Queen who had fled to England in hope of getting shelter and the assistance which had been so oft promised her both before and after her Captivity in Lockleven was very desirous to have some colour and pretext whereby she might make answer to the Ambassadours of sundry Princes who reproached her for her unkindly and unprincely proceedings therein Because the most part of those who had the Regent's Ear were gained to this opinion and the number few who were of a contrary mind he went forward to England accompanied with the Earl of Mortoun the Lord Lindsay the Laird of Lockleven the Bishop of Orkny the Abbot of Dumfarmling Mr. James Macgil Mr. Henry Balnears Mr. George Buchanan the Laird of Pittarrow George Duglas Bishop of Murray Mr. John Wood the Regent's Secretary a great Ring-leader Mr. Nicholas Elphinstoun Secretary Lidingtoun Alexander Hay Alexander Hume of North-Berwick the Laird of Cleesh with divers other Barons and Gentlemen who went there to see the fashion some to wait upon the Regent and Lords and some who could not get the Regent disswaded from this extream folly at home went with him to England to see if by any assistance of such as were friends there to the Union of the Isle and to the Title of Scotland he might be stayed from that accusation For those who were the Queens Lords who came there to defend the Queens part had no credit nor familiarity with the chief faction in England concerning the Title nor durst open their minds but to such as by long acquaintance they were well assured of their honesty and secrecy The names of the Queens Lords were the Lord Herreis the Lord Boid the Lord Fleeming the Lord Livingstoun the Bishop of Ross and some others with my Brother Sir Robert who attended to do all the good he could The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and several other Councellors were sent down to York to hear the Regent's Accusation and to be as Judges between the King and Queen's Lords The first day of meeting the Duke of Norfolk required that the Regent should make Homage in the King's Name to the Crown of England thinking he had some ground to demand the same seeing the said Regent there to plead his Cause before the Councel of England Whereat the Regent grew red and knew not what to answer but Secretary Lidingtoun took up the Speech and said That in restoring again to Scotland the Lands of Huntingtuon Cumberland and Northumberland with such other Lands as Scotland did of old possess in England that Homage should gladly be made for the said Lands but as to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland it was freer than England had been lately when it payed St. Peter ' s Penny to the Poor It appeared still that the Duke drave off time with us as having no inclination to enter upon the terrors of Accusation What was in his head appeared afterward but he was long in a suspence with whom to deal For he thought as he afterward said he neither did see honest men nor wise men At last he resolved to enter in Conference with Secretary Lidingtoun to whom he said That before that time he had ever esteem'd him a Wise man until that now he came before Strangers to accuse the Queen his Mistress as if England were Iudge over the Princes of Scotland How could we find in our hearts to dishonour our Kings Mother or how could we answer afterward for what we were doing seeing it tended to hazard the King her Sons Right to England intending to bring his Mothers honesty in question It had been rather the Duty of you his Subjects sayes he to cover her Imperfections if she had any remitting unto God and Time to punish and put Order thereto who is the Only Iudge over Princes Lidingtoun as he might well do purged himself and declared he came there to endeavour to stop the said Accusation which the Laird of Grange and divers others had endeavoured to do in vain before the Regent's coming out of Scotland And that now he would be glad of any help to hinder that shameful deliberation of the Regents pushed thereto by a company of greedy rash and careless
instrumental in perswading the Laird of Grange to be upon a contrary Faction I would not be that instrument neither would I desert the King's interest though he should cause all the rest of my Lands to be taken from me Seeing that Grange could not be moved to join with the Queens Faction according to the desire of the Court of England for the rest of that Kingdom was sorry to see this kind of dealing the English Ambassadour perswaded the Regent to irritate and incense him by all manuer of slights done to himself and his dependers In the mean time my Lord Duke the Earls of Arguile and Huntly addressed themselves unto him making their moan That they being Noblemen of the Country of considerable Interest were refused to be admitted in the Society of the rest who sought their ruine under pretext of the King's Authority by the Regent the Earl of Mortoun and others not their friends requesting him to be their Protector and to assist them during the King's minority Telling him how that they at first would gladly have joined with the King's Lords for maintaining the King's Authority but could not get place nor be admitted Thus Grange finding himself neglected with the King's Lords and sought after by the Queens he was compelled to declare with that side at length having with him the Lord Hume male-content Also Secretary Lidingtoun and Sir James Balfour spurring him on to take that course he was resolved to take that side for his next refuge he having been among the rest summoned to be forfaulted Now the two furious Factions being in this manner framed their hatred and rage grew greater and greater For Mr. Randolph knew the animosities which were among the Nobility and the nature of every one in particular by his frequent coming and his long residence in Scotland And among the Ladies he had a Mother and a Mistress to whom he caused his Queen frequently to send Commendations and Tokens He also used his craft with the Ministers offering Gold to such of them as he thought could be prevailed with to accept of his offer but such as were honest refused his gifts He gave largely to all such as he knew were able to serve him in his design of kindling this fire and his endeavours were so successful that the two parties were not only stirred up to fight and shed one anothers blood but would revile each other with injurious and blasphemous words and at length fell to the down-casting of each others Houses to which England gave no small assistance having sent in a number of Men of War to throw down Hamiltoun This was occasioned by some probability that appeared of a Reconciliation of the two Factions by the endeavours of some of the most prudent Ministers who did all they could to prevent the ensuing troubles And they foresaw that this prejudice was done to the Hamiltouns to inrage them so as there might be no hope of agreement when they should see themselves so far injured Now as Nero stood upon a high part of Rome to see the Town burning which he had caused to be set on fire so Mr. Randolph delighted to see such a fire by his craft kindled in Scotland which was in all probability like to burn it up And in his Letters to some of the Court of England he gloried that he had kindled a fire in Scotland which could not be easily extinguished Which when it came to the knowledge of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton he wrote to my Brother Sir Robert and me advertising us how we were handled expressing his detestation both at Secretary Cicil directer and Mr. Randolph as executer All the honest Men in England were sorry at it of which number there are as many within that Country as in any other so much bounds in Europe My Brother and I did shew the Letters we had received from Sir Nicholas to the Laird of Grange and so many within the Castle as we knew to be secret which they easily believed as being Men of great understanding who had noticed Mr. Randolph's proceedings Whereupon there were some secret meetings drawn on between my Lord Hume and my Lord Ruthven as near kinsmen The Lord Ruthven was in greatest favour with the Regent for the time being also Treasurer he was desired to come and speak with my Lord Hume during the hottest of the Civil Wars At which time Secretary Lidingtoun and my Brother Sir Robert came into communing with the Lord Ruthven after that he and the Lord Hume had spoken a space together and did shew him how the Regent was used by England and how this Kingdom was abused by the tricks of a few for advancing their selfish ends and also how that the Earl of Mortoun had desired secretly to come at midnight accompanied with Mr. Archibald Douglas to the Castle of Edinbrugh and had entertained long conference with them desiring their assistance and he should chace the Earl of Lennox back to England if they would accept and acknowledge him for Regent in his stead which they of the Castle would not grant looking upon the Earl of Lennox as a true Scots-man And they declared that their denying to assist him at first was his being sent for and brought in by them That therefore they feared at the first that he would have been too much at the devotion of the Court of England as being an English-man and having yet his Lady Children and Lands in that Country and moreover that he should be so led by the Earl of Mortoun and their factious Enemies that he would seek their utter ruine both because that Captain Crauford who had accused the Secretary was for the time Servant to the Earl of Lennox and alledged that he had a Commission from the said Earl to give in the said Accusation And that which gave matter enough to my Lord Hume was the bringing in of the Earl of Lennox by the Earl of Sussex and the taking of his two Houses of Hoome and Falcastle all at one time which he supposed not to have been done without the Earl of Lennox his knowledge and consent But since they understood that the Earl of Lennox and the whole Country was abused by England Mr. Randolph the Agent and the Earl of Mortoun they were resolved both to agree themselves and to cause all Scotland agree with the Regent if he would grant them reasonable conditions My Lord Ruthven was very glad of this offer and said he hoped to bring them a good answer from the Regent and the rather because the Earl of Mortoun was absent being malecontent for denying to him the grant of the Bishoprick of St. Andrews which the King's house and the Regent's might ill spare So he returned with this offer to the Regent who much rellisht it and after twice or thrice passing betwixt the Regent with the Lord Ruthven had concluded a Peace quietly in their minds none being as yet made privy thereto But as Ambassadours are great Spies and
commonly suspitious Mr. Randolph who lay at Lieth having his own Jealousies of an intention of accommodation knew the only way to stop it was to bring again the Earl of Mortoun who he knew would violently oppose it and use the utmost of his endeavours to render that Design ineffectual He therefore dealt earnestly with the Regent to give the said Bishoprick of St. Andrews to the Earl of Mortoun alledging to her That the Queen his Mistress had written to him for that effect and that she would recompence it to him with greater advantage That he would cause her hand-writing to come to him thereabout and that she would be much dissatisfied if he refused that her desire When the Regent had upon Mr. Randolph's desire granted this he incontinently advertised the Earl of Mortoun thereof who immediately came to Court and smelling the foresaid design of agreement he used all the contrary practices he could to hinder it For as he had fished that Benefice in troubled Waters he hoped by such means to fish much more And finding that I was much inclined to draw forward the accommodation one of his Devices was to cause the Councel to Vote and direct the Earl of Buchan to take me Prisoner out of my own house But I was at a Marriage in Fordel where the said Earl came with whom I went willingly tho I had as many Friends there as offered to chace him back again without his Errand but I would not prejudge my just Cause For the Earl of Buchan was of a gentle and discreet Nature and assured me they had nothing to lay to my charge but to see if I could be a good Instrument of Concord He desired me when I was in Lieth to send up to the Castle of Edinbrugh and alledg that my Life was in hazard in case they would not render up the Castle to the Regent I answered It was a Childish thing in them to propose such a thing to me seeing they could not but know that my Friends in the Castle were angrier at me than they were because I did not take part with them However the Laird of Grange was dissatisfied when he heard that I was taken For he knew how far I was injur'd seeing I had several times perswaded him to take part with the Regent and how far I had reasoned against the Secretary and Sir James Balfour in their proceedings with the Queens Faction For seeing she was Captive so that neither could she help them nor they her it would but occasion her to be the stronglier guarded and kept more straitly in England For hearing that there was a Faction risen up in her Name it would cause them to suppose that she was in hope of sudden liberty by some Practices with the Subjects of England Sir William Balfour alledged That her Majesty had Friends in France and other Parts who would be more encouraged to do for her if they understood that a number of the Nobility did own her Authority I said That her only Friends were in England and France that those who were in England durst not as yet appear seeing there would be a special Eye held over them and her French friends would do her no good the Queen Mother who had the chief Rule of that Country being her great Enemy and the House of Guise neither able to help her nor yet were they her sure friends as I shall shew more at length anon I was declaring that the Laird of Grange was angry at my taking I being so frank for the Regent and he so willing to join with him That same night he sent down a Woman from the Castle to Lieth with a Ticket to me That he was resolved to come that same night at mid-night and relieve me out of their hands that he had sent that Woman to know how I was kept and where I was lodged The Regent's Camp lay between Lieth and Edinbrugh and many of the Noblemen and Barons lodged in Lieth for every one had not Pavilions to lodge in the Camp The Laird of Grange had appointed a Boat to lye at Grantoun and had resolved to come sailing up to Lieth Harbour as if it had been a Boat come from Fiffe and thought without stroke to come to my Lodging and take me out of my Keepers hands and go up the water again to a part where he had Horsemen in readiness to carry me up to the Castle with him But I would upon no accompt condescend thereto assuring him That I was in no danger and that my Lord Bughan had promised when I pleased to let me slip away which I would not do but desired daily to come to a Tryal Many of the Lords marvelled wherefore I was taken seeing they knew That since the Regent's entry to Scotland I had ever assisted him The Regent himself was much therewith dissatisfied so that after inquiry it was found that few of the Councellors knew of my taking The Earl of Mar a true Nobleman said That the Earl of Buchan for embracing such a Commission was madder than the former Earl his Father who was known not to be very wise But the Earl of Mortoun sent me word That nothing should ail me more then his own heart For the fashion they desired me to find Caution that I should serve the King's Majesty and his Regent and so I was dismissed and never brought before the Council Of a truth I could see no reason to set up two Factions to destroy the Country seeing I knew That though the one party professed to be for the Queen it was so far from conducing to her advantage that I knew it had a quite contrary effect so long as she was Captive nor yet could I see any out-gate for those who professed her Authority and who were compelled thereto for their own defence For whereas they would gladly have assisted the King's Lords if they would have accepted of them finding themselves refused necessity drew them to defend themselves under the name of some Authority not true love to the Queen And therefore I thought them the less to be relyed upon The rest of my reasons why the Queen could expect no help out of France from her own friends nor yet from the Queen Mother were these The Queen Mother had not been well used so long as our Queen's Husband Francis the Second lived The Council and States of France desired not the Union of this Isle For a proof hereof after that my Brother Sir Robert when he returned the first time of his Ambassage out of England brought the hand-writings of twenty five principal Earls and Lords in England to set the Crown of England upon the Queen of Scotland's head For the Captains in the particular Shires were already named and by those Lords set down in that Paper who were to be in readiness to march forward whenever they should be charged only they waited the Queens opportunity and advertisement when to stir Upon this intelligence the Queen
upon him to save him from his particular Enemies For they all had ingaged to him e're they went from Edinbrugh not to kill one man else he would not have left them Wormistoun was also killed against the Regent's will who cryed continually to save him who had done what he could for his preservation The Regent dyed not suddenly but some days after and made a very godly end They who had lost this fair enterprise for want of Granges conduct had enough to do to save themselves and had been all taken had not those in Stirling wanted horses to pursue after them For those who had taken the horses did ride forward with all possible speed leaving their Masters in danger to do for themselves When they were returned back to Edinbrugh they were very unwelcome guests to the Laird of Grange who greatly lamented the Regent's slaughter He said openly If he knew who had done that foul deed or had directed it to be done his own hand should have revenged it And whereas before he used to be meek and gentle he could not now command himself but bursted out in harsh language calling them disorderly Beasts For he knew the Regent was inclined to Peace and was only ignorantly driven on by the Earl of Mortoun and Mr. Randolph's practises to hold the said Parliament to the hinderance of concord and agreement therefore his intention was to bring all the Kings Lords to the Castle of Edenbrugh and to have made an agreement betwixt them and the other faction before they had parted But God in his providence would not permit this for further punishment of our wickedness For the Parliaments held forward and each one of them forefaulted others the Kings Lords came and lay at Lieth and the Queens within the Town and Castle of Edenbrugh Mr. Randolph would have had Mortoun made Regent instead of Lennox but the Lords liked better of the Earl of Marr and chose him For a little time there was hot skirmishing betwixt Lieth and Edinbrugh and extream hatred betwixt the two Factions and great cruelties exercised where they could be Masters of one another And frequently the Marshal of Berwick came to Lieth to assist Mr. Randolph privately tho publickly to find fault with him for his proceedings which my Lord of Marrs friends perceived and himself at last whereupon he began to grow colder in the quarrel and withdrew himself to Stirling advising with his friends what was meetest to be done Alledging that he could see nothing but the wrack of the Country under pretext of owning the King and Queens Authority while neither Kings nor Queens was in any of their minds but only put on by their own partialities of ambition greediness and vengeance England kindling up both the Parties and then laughing them all to scorn After this Conference Captain James Cunningham servant to my Lord of Marr a discreet Gentleman desired a secret meeting with my Brother Sir Robert In the mean time the most part of the Kings Lords went to Stirling where the Regent was living My Lord of Mortoun went to Dalkieth my Lord Lindsay lay in Lieth When the Wars grew colder and notice thereof taken by the Court of England a new Ambassador was hasted to Scotland to wit Mr. Henry Killegrew an old acquaintance of mine For Mr. Randolph was returned home because he had not such Credit with the Earl of Marr as to do service to these he served and had lost the favour of both the Factions For his double dealing was discovered he having no Credit but with the Earl of Mortoun This new Ambassador being Arrived at Lieth upon his way toward Stirling where the Regent remained for the time he sent up to the Castle of Edenbrugh to see if I was there For they had told him in Lieth that I was newly come from Fiffe He desired that I would come and speak with him which I did and convoyed him unto Cramond reasoning together all the way upon such matters as he said he had in Commission chiefly how he might be a good instrument to agree the differences that were between the two Parties albeit I knew there was nothing less in his mind at least in his Commission He said He had the Queen his Mistress commands to deal with both Parties forConcord but that he was most concerned in these of the Castle albeit that outwardly he behooved first to go to the Regent being in civility engaged to give him the prerogative yet in effect he said my friends in the Castle were these to them he was chiefly directed that they should be preferred both by his first salutation by me to them and by two familiar Letters the one from my Lord of Leicester to the Laird of Grange and the other from Secretary Cicil to Secretary Lidingtoun desiring me to intreat them to follow the good counsel given therein by the said Lords who loved them intirely for their vertue and old acquaintance Hewi led me to tell them that after he had declared his Commission to the Regent he would come back again to them and at length declare his Commission to them from Her Majesty It appeared to me that he had intelligence how that Mr. Randolph's double dealing had been discovered therefore he seemed to find fault with him in many things though in general he excused him as far as he could until I adjured him upon the long and great familiarity that had been betwixt us to deal plainlier with me I told him he might serve his Mistress truly enough without casting me and my friends upon a wrong side which might be afterwards our ruin who deserved better at his hands then to put us in such dangers as if we were untoward dishonest or uncounsellable as Mr. Randolph had done forgetting the fraternity of Religion so well grounded among us during his banishment in France for Religion There he was compelled to confess to me that his Commission and his mind went not one way and that he was imployed against his will tho as a Servant he durst not disobey his Princess he said he would give me his loving counsel and warning very freely He said that the Council of England neither built their course here upon the late Regent nor yet upon this but intirely upon the Earl of Mortoun as well of their own Plot laid down long since as by the Information of Mr. Randolph who hath confirmed them in that Opinion so that they will not alter for no contrary persuasion Willing my friends and me to joyn our course and band with the Earl of Mortoun or else to expect no friendship from the Court of England but hurt and ruin so far as they might For albeit he was not Regent they knew that he had a great Faction in the Country which they were resolved what they could to encrease so that whoever was Regent he should get little or nothing done without his consent In this I thought he dealt plainly my friends of the Castle were
diligence and another from the Earl of Arran intreating me to accompany him from Kinneal to the Court But I went to His Majesty strait whither also the said Earl came that same night For he had procured liberty to return again to Court and remain about His Majesty At my coming to Sterling I had intelligence from a very sure hand That the said Lords were already at the entry of the Borders assisted by my Lord Hamiltoun my Lord Maxwel my Lord Bothwel my Lord Hume and sundry others who had not formerly joined with them Also the Earl of Athol the Laird of Tillibardine Buccleugh Cesfoord Coudingknows Drumlanrick and others who were in greatest credit about His Majesty were to join with them at their in-coming Whereof I advertised His Majesty and Colonel Stuart who undertook to ride unto the Borders and overthrow them before they were wholly Convened together which might very probably have been effectuated if the design had not been craftily disappointed by such as were about His Majesty who appeared to set forward the Colonel's enterprise to please His Majesty and to conquer credit saying They would write to Coudinknows Buccleugh Cesfoord and such others to assist him Whom they knew to be upon the contrary Faction already so that the design of scattering them was rendered by that Craft ineffectual And because I perceived the crasty intention and that they feared I would therewith acquaint His Majesty they caused His Majesty to send me a forged Errand to Dunkel that they might the better bring their purpose to pass without any contradiction The pretext of my Commission was to cause the Earl of Athol to stay at home and not to join with the Lords who were to come shortly to Sterling And by the way I was to deliver a Letter to the Baylies of St. Johnstoun to be upon their Guards and not to suffer any of the King's Enemies to come within their Town The Bayliffs inquired of me what if the Earl of Athol and Master of Gray would desire to come within their Town I said They might let themselves enter with Ten in Company but no more They alledged That their Letter specified not that I told them That was committed to me by mouth the Conclusion of my Letter willing them to credit me When I came to Dunkel I knew that the Earl of Athol would not stay for me who had a Thousand Men in readiness to take the Town of St. Johnstoun and to come thence to Sterling with the Master of Gray who was yet with him But however I told him that the Collonel Stuart was gone with Forces to defeat the Lords at their entry into the Country before they might be joined together And that therefore he would do well to lye at home till he might understand the issue of the said enterprise If that took effect it would be folly to him to march forward and if it did not succeed he might do as his heart served him He thought this Counsel good desiring me to write unto His Majesty for a License to him and his to remain at home which I did In the mean time the Master of Gray was sent for to Court the Ports of the Town of Pearth being refused to his Men who were come out of Angus to assist him At his returning to Court he was as great with His Majesty as ever he was remaining with him within the Castle of Sterling Where there were two Factions who discovered themselves so soon as they saw the Malecontents and banished Lords draw near unto the Town of Sterling Whither they came to the number of Three Thousand and entred unto the Town without stop His Majesty inclined most to the Faction who brought in the said Lords who advised His Majesty to send some down to the Town to Commune and Compound matters Which was at length Agreed upon and Concluded That His Majesty should remain in their hands that no rigour should be used to those who were about him So that those who were mediators appeared to be good Instruments and stayers of Blood-shed For Arran was escaped and fled at their first entry But Colonel Stuart only with Ten or Twelve gave them such a charge in the midst of the narrow part of the Town that a little more help might have put them in great disorder For the most part of their South-land Men were busie spoiling Horse and Goods The Lords when they came into His Majesty's presence fell down upon their knees humbly begging pardon Adding That the hard handling by Arran and other partial Persons about His Majesty had compelled them upon plain necessity and for their last refuge to take the boldness to come in Arms for the surety of their Lives and Lands being ever humbly minded to serve His Majesty and obey him The King again like a Prince full of Courage and Magnanimity spoke unto them pertly and boastingly as though he had been Victorious over them calling them Traitours and their enterprise plain Treason Yet said he in respect of your necessity and in hope of your good behaviour in time-coming he should remit their faults And the rather because they had used no vengeance nor cruelty at their in-coming In the mean time His Majesty committed and recommended the keeping of the Earls of Montrose and Crauford unto my Lord Hamiltoun And the keeping of Colonel Stuart unto my Lord Maxwel These three were for a time in some danger because they had too violently espoused Arran's interest The rest of His Majesty's Servants were over-lookt Sir Robert my Brother and his Son were both courteously used This moderate behaviour of the Lords conquered daily more and more favour from His Majesty They pressing him in nothing but by humble Intercession of such as formerly had his Ear. A Parliament was proclaimed at Lithgow for their restitution whither His Majesty was convoyed to pass his time at Hunting thereby to Recreat his Spirits Many Noblemen and others were written for to come unto the said Parliament Among the rest the Earl of Athol to whom I had been sent and with whom I was at the Lords coming to Sterling Where I was waiting upon an answer from His Majesty of the Letter which the Earl of Athol had desired me to write as said is When I came to kiss His Majesty's hand I was gladly made welcome His Majesty alledging That I was Corbie's Messenger I answered That my absence with the Earl of Athol had saved all my own Horse and the Town of St. Iohnstoun untaken and had kept the said Earl from assisting with the rest So that if those who had remained at Sterling with him had kept the South as well as I had done the North their Horse had been safe as well as mine was His Majesty said That God had turned all to the best For he had been before made believe that he would be in danger of his life in case these Noblemen had ever any more power about him And yet though
for his greater security where there were divers new enterprises made whereof my Brother Sir Robert getting frequent advertisements sometimes to keep his Lodging such a night sometimes to be well accompanied such a night as being one who had done pleasures to many and was not hated nor would never have been in danger so that he could but save himself from the first fury of the attempters This hath been the hard estate of this good King occasioned by his laying the burthen of his Affairs upon a few hated and envied for their Ambition Covetousness and Partialities who so soon as they had attained so weighty a charge took only care how to make themselves soon rich most commonly by the wrack of others So blindly transported by ambition and greediness that they neglected both King and Common-Wealth satisfying the King with fair language though displeasing the Country with foul deeds caring only how to discredit and bear down so many honest men as they knew would discover their misbehaviour or who would oppose them in their pernicious designs which I may justly testifie for my part Not long after this a new enterprise was made to make a great alteration in Court by some Courtiers among themselves When as the Master of Glams was Treasurer Sir George Hume Master of the Wardrobe my Lord of Spinze Gentleman of the Chamber and young Logie also Sir John Maitland Lord Thirlstane Chancellour Sir Robert my Brother Treasurer depute had the principal handling of the Office by disbursing and receiving the Provost of Lincludin Collector and Seatoun of Parbroth Controller Sir Richard Cockburn of Clarkingtoun Secretary and I was one of the Privy Council and Gentleman of her Majesties Chamber my Lord Duke of Lennox my Lord Hume and my Lord of Mar were drawn upon this course to reform the abuses at Court as was alledged There was no good liking between the Master of Glams and my Lord of Spiny chiefly for the feud between the Houses of Crauford and Glams At that time my Lord Spiny was in great favour with his Majesty and sometime his Bed-fellow And upon that accompt he was envied And besides the foresaid feud he was accused to have been a dealer with the Earl of Bothwel and upon that was for a time decourted Young Logie was also thought to have had much dealing with the said Earl and was accused taken and warded for the same But he escaped out of a Window in Dalkieth by the help of a Danish Gentlewoman whom he afterward married There was great hatred betwixt my Lord Duke and the Chancellour For after the late enterprise in the Abby the Chancellour caused close up the passage with Stone and Lime that was betwixt their Lodgings whereby he gave the Duke to understand that he suspected him which was too rashly done by the said Chancellour For after that the new alteration was intended and called the enterprise made at Dalkieth my Lord Duke and my Lord Hume riding from Dalkieth to Edinburgh met the Chancellour well accompanied riding to Court where the said Lords made a mint to set upon him to slay him yet the matter was at that time taken up by Alexander Hoom of North-Berwick and my Brother Sir Robert who were in company with the Chancellour for the time But shortly after that the Chancellour left the Court retiring himself to his House and in his absence a great number of faults were charged upon him and among the rest how he had so long hindered the King's marriage whereby the Queens Majesty was made his great Enemy The Master of Glams also would fain have had my Brother out of his Office to brook the whole Office of Treasurer alone Therefore the Laird of Carmichall Captain of the Guard was easily perswaded to cause a number of the Guard who stood with Culverins at the Gates of the House of Dalkieth to boast to slay my said Brother divers times in his passing in and out of the same house supposing that my Brother should fear his Life and leave the Court as the Chancellour had done But my Brother made no accompt of their boasts for he knew the Duke was his friend and that he had but few enemies Therefore he frequented the Court more frequently then formerly but came always well accompanied for they could get nothing to lay to his charge but said to his Majesty that he was too lavish in his Office to be a Treasurer over easie in his Compositions and over gentle to such as were denounced to the horn The Queens Majesty according to her custom whenever she understands that his Majesty by wrong information is stirred up against any honest Servant or Subject she incontinently intercedes for them and useth great diligence to get sure knowledge of the verity that she may the boldlier speak in their savour Therefore so soon as her Majesty understood that they were dealing against Sir Robert my Brother it pleased her to speak far in his favour declaring how that at her first Landing in this Country his Majesty had presented him to her praising him as one who had been a true and faithful Servant to the Queen Regent his Grand-mother to the Queen his Mother and to himself willing her to look upon him as such and to follow his advice Also many of the Lords took my Brother's part in such sort as he still kept the Court and his Office When this alteration was made I was absent and at my coming again to Court his Majesty told me of the Chancellour's fearful retreat and that he was in no danger in his company I answered again that the Prince's presence should be a safeguard albeit it was not always so in Scotland It appeared that his Majesty was somewhat altered upon the Chancellour my Lord Spiny and my Brother For as the Master of Glams would have had his Office so others misliked him because he haunted the Chancellour's company and was lookt upon as his great friend who was generally hated So that his Majesty was moved to think and say that he was not meet for his Office I being present answered That it grieved me to the heart to hear and see so good a Prince always invironed with bad company causing him so oft without reason or offence to cast off his most faithful Servants and that it would be seen let men serve never so well if they were misrepresented by such as had his Ear it availed nothing To this His Majesty replied That he knew my Brother to be a true Servant but too gentle liberal and easie in his Compositions he declared that he would never alter upon him nor me so that he continued constant against the intentions of those who were about him Here it may be seen how necessary it is to have good friends about the Prince and how hurtful and dangerous it is for a Courtier when such as have the Prince's Ear are his Enemies For in that case whatsoever his good Service hath been he is in
hazard of being couped and wracked About this time the Earl of Arran who had been absent ever since the Road of Sterling came to Court and spoke with his Majesty and pretended to have obtained again his Office of Chancellour His Majesty had still some favour for him and would have been content of his company But others held him back and shortly after that he was surprised and slain by James Douglas of Park-head in revenge of the death of the Earl of Mortoun his Uncle Little diligence was made to revenge the same many thinking strange that he was permitted so long to live in respect of his arrogant and insolent behaviour when he had the Court at his will Now the Chancellour who was decourted at the alteration made in Dalkieth did what he could to procure his Majesties favour which at last he obtained and was again introduced But at first the Queen would not see him yet at length by the moyan of Sir Robert Ker of Cesfoord who had married his Brother's Daughter his peace was also made with her Majesty About this time there did arise great strife and disorders in the Country between the Earls of Huntly and Murray between the Earls of Caithness and Sunderland between my Lords Hamiltoun and Angus for divers of them had made suits and obtained Commissions with ample Priviledges over others Lands as well as over their own which ingendred many discords Whereof I advertised his Majesty that order might be taken therewith Whereupon the Council being Convened they ordered Letters to be directed in his Majesties name charging them all to desist from Hostility and to compear before the Privy-Council at prefixed days First the Earls of Murray and Huntly compeared there being a Gentleman of the name of Gordoun killed with a shot out of the house of Tarnua by the Earl of Murray Both the parties being come strong to Court were commanded to keep their Lodgings for preventing of trouble before their compearing When his Majesty was advised by the Chancellour what to do in reference to that matter then his Majesty proposed the same to the Council to wit three points either present Agreement to be made or Warding both the Earls or Caution to be taken of both then to send home the one and hold the other still at Court for a while His Majesty following forth this proposition declared first That the parties could not be agreed because of the hot blood of the Laird of Cluny Gordoun's Brother lately slain Concerning Warding he alledged That the Castle of Edinburgh had enough of Prisoners already that the Abby was not a fit Prison for Noblemen So that it would be fittest to take Caution of them both and to hold them sundry to send home the one and retain the other at Court for a season The Chancellour was of that opinion and sundry others who used to depend upon such who had the chief handling Then his Majesty commanded me to tell my Opinion which was different from this I advised present agreement supposing that the Earl of Huntly for his Majesties pleasure and in obedience to his command would not refuse to compound the matter by a present up-taking seeing he was come so great a journy with his Lady and whole Houshold to remain all Winter at Edinburgh At this the Chancellour took me up tantingly saying that the Earl of Huntly would tarry at Court all that day till to morrow and would part no sooner for he had promised to the said Earl that advantage over his Enemy albeit I knew the Earl's intention was to tarry all Winter at Court The Justice Clark was of my judgment but said that it appeared his Majesty with the Chancellour had already concluded to send Huntly home and keep the other at Court So soon as Huntly went home wanting his competitor he triumphed and took sundry advantages upon the Earl of Murray's Land giving the Earl just occasion of complaint and getting no redress he retired himself from the Court and became so malecontent that he took plain part with the Earl of Bothwel who was still upon his enterprises The Earl of Huntly being advertised that his Adversary was an Out-law with the Earl of Bothwel he returned again to Court to get yet some advantage upon him But in the mean time the Lord Ochiltrie endeavoured to agree them by consent of his Majesty He drew the Earl of Murray to Dunibirsil to be near hand that Conditions and Articles might be added and paired at the pleasure of their friends The Earl of Huntly being also made privy to his coming to Dunibirsil obtained incontinently a Commission appearing therein to do his Majesty acceptable Service to pursue by Fire and Sword the Earl of Bothwel and all his partakers Little knew his Majesty that under this general he was minded to assail the Earl of Murray at his own house to kill him as he did to the regret of many But the Lord Ochiltrie took such a despight that his friend was so slain under communing as he alledged that he took plain part with the Earl of Bothwel and so did divers others in revenge of his quarrel incouraging the said Earl to assail his Majesty within his Palace of Falkland having divers in Court familiar enough with his Majesty upon the said conspiracy with him whose Council his Majesty followed most So that they drew him into a Net to abide still in Falkland notwithstanding of the many sure advertisements that had been made unto him Such hath been his Majesty's hard fortune in many such straits The few number who were faithful to and careful of his Majesty counselled him after the first advertisement to pass the Coupar and Convene with all possible diligence the Barons of Fiffe for his defence But such as sought his wrack persuaded him to tarry and delay alledging that they had sure advertisement that the Earl of Lauthian would not come out of Lauthian till such a day which would have been two days longer and behind the day which he kept for he came to Falkland two days sooner This advice was given that his Majesty might be surprised before he could either enter within the Tower of Falkland or be provided with any forces to defend him And because they knew my Brother and me to be careful for him they advised his Majesty to send us home to our houses that same night that we understood the Earl of Bothwel would be there and had so told his Majesty but he believed his abusers better We gave his Majesty counsel to ride quietly to Bambrigh that there he might when he pleased take a Boat and go over to Angus where he would have leisure to Convene the Towns of Pearth and Dundie and the Country thereabouts But this advice was also overthrown by those who were upon the contrary part Thus we being commanded by his Majesty to ride home and to warn the Country in case he were besieged within the Tower we obeyed My Brother that
the Castle of Edinburgh p. 174. Desires a Commission to go Ambassador for England but is denied ibid. The Council of England conclude to take away the life of Mary Queen of Scotland Prisoner in England p. 171. Falsly alledging that She practiced against the State p. 172. Think fit to secure his Majesty in Scotland in the hands of the Banished Lords that so they might seek his life or keep him a perpetual Prisoner but herein prove defeated ibid. Fall down upon their knees with many of the Nobility Alledging that her life as well as their lives and fortunes was in hazard by reason of the practises of Queen Mary ibid. Received the Summons from Secretary Davison and give her warning to prepare for Death the Night before ibid. A Council Conven'd about the dissention of several Lords p. 200. De Crook Monsieur is sent Ambassador to the French King from Scotland with a Letter about the foulness of the Murther of their King p. 82. Receives an Answer from the Lords with a resolution to use all diligence to detect the Murtherers ibid. Crauford Captain Accuseth Secretary Lidington of the Murther of the late King of Scots p. 100. He being at that time Servant to the Earl of Lennox Alledging his Commission for so doing from the said Earl his Master p. 110. Crauford Lord is Committed to the Custody of the Lord Hamiltoun p. 170. Cunningham James Captain a discreet Man Servant to the Lord of Marr then Regent in Scotland p. 115. D DArnly Son to the Earl of Lennox a Handsom Beardless Lady-fac'd Man p. 48. Procures a License from the Queen of England to go to Scotland p. 53. His intention therein ibid. Proposeth a Marriage to Queen Mary who refuseth a Ring he presented to her p. 56. Which the Queen seems to disrelish ibid. Becomes acquainted with Rixio who was his great Friend to the Queen of Scots ibid. Finds the Queen cold in her favours after her confinement upon the murther of Rixio p. 66. Follows the Queen though slighted whithersoever she went p. 77. Goes to Glascow falls sick being suspected to have poison given him by a Servant of his own ibid. Is brought from thence to Edinburgh to recover his health p. 78. Dies and how ibid. Davison is sent Agent into Scotland and afterward made Secretary to Queen Elizabeth p. 157. Professeth himself a Scot ibid. Remains at Coupar till he had Audience which he had at Falkland ibid. But proves deceitful p. 158. Returns to England ibid. Receives the written Summons for the Execution of Queen Mary with a strict charge not to deliver it without her express Command p. 172. But being deceived by the Council of England delivers it ibid. For which he is Committed to the Tower by Queen Elizabeth for disobeying her orders upon that account p. 175. Dingual Lord is sent to King James for a License to return or a Commission to conclude the Match with Denmark p. 179. Finds his Majesty at Aberdeen the Chancellour and most part of the Council being absent p. 180. So that he obtained a full power to conclude the said Match ibid. Dosel Monsieur Lieutenant in Scotland for the French King p. 24. a passionate Man p. 25. Douglas Archibald is cleansed of the late King's murther in Scotland p. 174. Frequents the Court familiarly ibid. returns to England to remain Ambassadour there ibid. Hath great reputation with Mary Queen of Scotland yet injureth her Cause in England and is discharged of his Embassy upon the Arrival of Sir Robert Melvil in England ibid. Douglas George the Natural Son of the Lord Angus enters the King's Closet with the Lord Ruthven the Queen being present and with the King's Dagger struck him p. 64. And afterwards drew him into the outer Hall and kill'd him p. 65. Conveys the Queen to Lockleven as a Captive to the King's Lords p. 90. Hath the House of the Castle delivered to him p. 121. Douglas Sir George desires to have the Commission for Ambassadour to Spain p. 175. But is denied ibid. Douglas James the Natural Son of the Earl of Mortoun p. 127. Kills the Earl of Arran in Revenge of his Uncle's death the Earl of Mortoun 200. Drake Sir Francis by a stratagem of a Ship full of Powder with a burning Link fires the Spanish Navy and discomfits them p. 176. Drumhafel Laird Master of King James his Houshold when young p. 125. Draws the Earl of Arguile and Athol to Sterling p. 126. Is discharged out of Court ibid. Assures the Earl of Grange that the Duke of Lennox designed to kill him p. 131. though it prov'd false p. 133. Is imprison'd by the procurement of the Earl of Arran and his Lady p. 137. Du Bartas Monsieur famous for his French Poesie arrives in Scotland p. 176. Proposeth a marriage with the King of Scots and the Princess of Navarre ibid. Resides at Falkland with the King p. 177. Dundee Earl is sent one of the Ambassadours to Denmark about the King's marriage p. 179. Dudly Lord Robert afterward made Earl of Leicester is proposed by Mr. Randolph as a fit Match for Mary Queen of Scotland p. 40. E EAster Weems Laird goes with a Commission to England and France p. 203. Is a Pensioner to the French King ibid. Elizabeth Queen of England sends Instructions to Mr. Randolph her Ambassadour in Scotland to propose the Lord Robert Dudly as a fit Match for Mary Queen of Scotland p. 40. Disrelisheth the proposal of a Match between Queen Mary and Charles the Arch-Duke of Austria p. 41. Which appears by her sending the Earl of Sussex to the Emperor's Court to draw on the marriage of the Arch-Duke with her self ibid. This occasion'd grudges between the Two Queens of England and Scotland p. 42. She designs Darnly for Queen Mary's Husband ibid. Creates the Lord Robert Dudly Earl of Leicester and Baron of Denbigh p. 47. Is distemper'd with a Fever insomuch that her life is question'd p. 67. Disturbed at the Birth of the Prince Queen Mary's Son p. 69. Yet promiseth to be Gossip to him by proxy of Lords and Ladies p. 70. Upon her fair promises Queen Mary flies to England but she would not see her though she often desired it p. 92. Causeth her to be kept Prisoner till she lost her life after a tedious confinement ibid. Is Reproached by the Ambassadours of Foreign Princes for her unprincely dealing with Queen Mary p. 93. Having obtained her desires upon the Accusation of Queen Mary received great content having now matter sufficient to shew Foreign Ambassadours why she detained the Queen p. 97. Is glad of the Queen's dishonour yet sends privately to comfort her upon her false Accusation ibid. Her Answer to the Abbot of Dumfarmling upon his Propositions p. 106. Sends an Ambassadour to the King of Scots when confin'd offering him her Assistance p. 132. Sends a sharp Letter to King James p. 139. The Contents thereof p. 140. Receives intelligence of a Magnificent Embassy from Denmark to
p. 198. Is threatned with death by the Captain of the Guards p. 199. But the Queen stood his Friend ibid. Sends his Servant to acquaint the King with Bothwel's Conspiracy against him in Falkland for which he is derided p. 202. Sir Robert is sent Ambassadour to England from King James p. 204. Mortoun Earl is challenged to fight by Lord Herreis upon the account of the King's death p. 100. Appoints 4 men to kill Grange at the entrance of the Regent's Lodgings without the Regent's privity p. 101. Has a great Faction in the Country though disappointed of the Regency p. 116. But is made Regent after the decease of the Earl of Mar by the assistance of England p. 118. Promiseth to the Agreement with the Lords of the Castle of Edinburgh but steers another course p. 120. Anticipates the Marshal of Berwick and gets an Answer from the Queen of England to have the Prisoners taken at Edinburgh Castle and a Commission for their Execution before he could send p. 121. Triumphs a while being with great Assistance from England p. 123. His whole study is to gain riches from England and Scotland p. 123. Of which England too late repented ibid. Holds the Country in a more setled Estate then it had been in for many years p. 124. Grows proud despiseth the Nobility commits several wrongs and prosecutes several Lords ibid. exposeth the Earl of Orkny to great hardship p. 126. Yields easily to his deposition from the Regency retiring to Lockleven ibid. But by his designs gets in again to be Master of the Court ibid. Is Accused by James Stuart of the late King's Murther p. 127. Is condemned at the Assize for it 128. And dies resolutely ibid. Murray Earl takes part with Bothwel p. 201. And is kill'd at his own House Murray Lord and Bedford meet at Berwick about the marriage of Queen Mary with Leicester p. 53. With slenderer offers then expected from him ibid. Murray being one of the banished Lords is sent for from Newcastle and re-entertain'd by the Queen p. 65. Retires from Court p. 78. Obtains leave to go to France before the Queen married Bothwel p. 80. Is appointed by the Queen first Regent of the young Prince p. 85. Whereupon he is sent for from France by the Lords ibid. Accepts the Regency of the Prince after a Refusal p. 87. Enters at first sight upon such injurious Reproaches of her Majesty as were like to break her heart ibid. Takes the Forts and Castles into his hands p. 90. Clears the Borders of Thieves and holds Iustice in Evre ibid. Goes to England accompanied with many Lords to accuse Queen Mary p. 93. Is privately dissuaded from it by the Duke of Norfolk p. 94 and 95. 'T is agreed that he shall by no means proceed in that Accusation p. 95. Breaks his word with the Duke and comes from the Council-House with Tears in his Eyes p. 97. Is despised by the Queen of England for his intention to Accuse her detested by the Duke reproached by his Friends living at Kingston penyless and unregarded p. 97. Is reconciled to the Duke p. 98. Has 2000 l. of the Queen for which the Duke becomes surety and afterward paid it 99. Takes leave of the Queen but discovers again all that ever past between the Duke and himself p. 99. Promising to send the Queen those Letters he should receive in Scotland from him ibid. Sends for Secretary Lidingtoun as being of Council with the Duke of Norfolk resolving to accuse him and writes for him to come to make a dispatch for England p. 100. Being come is Accused before the Privy Council of the late King's Murder and Imprisoned ib. Is misled though well inclined by vain pretences to his own and the ruine of others p. 102. Gives ear to flatterers ibid. Dissembles with Grange and Lidingtoun ibid. His Character p. 103. Is shot by Hamiltoun and dies the same night ibid. N NOrfolk Duke sent with an Army out of England to help the Congregationists p. 29. He and several other Councellors sent down to York to hear the Regent's Accusation of his Queen and be Iudges thereof p. 94. Privately dissuades the Regent from Accusing the Queen for the King her Son's sake p. 95. Is the greatest Subject in Europe not being a free-born Prince p. 96. Ruling the Queen and all ibid. His purposes discovered to the Queen whereby the Regent lost the Duke's favour yet speaks boldly to her Majesty p. 98. Is prevailed with to enter into friendship again with the Regent upon promise of his future secresie ibid. Acquaints the Regent with his resolution to marry the Queen of Scots and that he had a Daughter fitter for the King then any other p. 98 and 99. Becomes Security for 2000 l. which Murray the Regent of Scotland received from the Queen of England which he after paid p. 99. Is sent for by the Queen to come to Court being again deceived by the Regent then in Scotland applies himself to Secretary Cecil who told him there was no danger so that he rode with his Train only ibid. Is seized by the Treachery of Cecil and after a tedious Captivity dies of the Reformed Religion p. 100. Normand Lesly gains great honour in the Wars between Henry the Second of France and the Emperour p. 17. O OChiltrie Lord and divers others in revenge of the death of the Earl of Murray takes part with Earl Bothwel p. 201. Adviseth him to Seize on his Majesty in his Palace at Falkland ibid. Octavians in Scotland who and why so called p. 191. Octavio Duke Son-in-law to the Emperour Charles the Fifth is left to the Pope's discretion and why p. 11. P PArliament Proclaimed at Lithgow for the restitution of the banished Lords p. 170. Parma Duke Governour of Flanders wins the hearts of his Soldiers and Enemies by his prudent behaviour p. 166. Is suspected by the Spanish King to have a design on Flanders which caused him to deny the Spaniard Victuals Ships and landing in his Territories ibid. Paul the Fourth Pope breaks off the five years Truce between the French King and the Emperour p. 19. Peace concluded between Scotland and England and upon what Terms p. 30. Pool Cardinal appointed to be Mediator between the Two Princes p. 16. Prelates of Scotland endeavour to win King James by large proffers and perswasions to their Opinion p. 4. They exasperate his Majesty against the Treasurer by their insinuations p. 5. But he gets well off ibid. Prior of St. Andrews the Lord James Natural Son to James the Fifth King of Scotland p. 25. Afterwards Earl of Murray p. 32. Prior of Pittenweem a great debaucher of Women and Maidens p. 5. Protestants grown very numerous in Scotland p. 24. Q QUeen Mother of France is glad at the death of Francis the Second her Son he being wholly ruled by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother p. 29. Whereupon she dischargeth the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde who had
Commission to the Queen of England to wit an answer to her demanded Alliance offensive and defensive with the Protestant Princes of Germany which formerly had been but obscurely answered unto her Ambassadour Sir Henry Knolls at the Dyet Imperial holden at Francfort in the year 1562. Excusing himself and the rest of the Princes his confederates who had but lately chosen Maximilian to be King of the Romans and Co-adjutor to the Emperour his Father seeing he had promised unto them to declare himself openly a Protestant so soon as he durst after the decease of his old Father Ferdinand and in the mean time had their promise to keep correspondence with him and to make no League with any forreign Prince without his consent and knowledge And that if they had done otherwise he might perchance have taken occasion thereupon to lay the blame upon them in case he did not as he had promised For they began to fear and doubt of his upright meaning in reference to Religion and yet thought not fit upon their part to give him any ground to lay the blame upon them but in case he kept not his promise after the decease of Ferdinand they should then presently make such Alliance with her as she had required which they durst not for the time discover unto her Ambassadour requesting her Majesty to keep this secret to her self She appeared satisfied with this excuse promising to discover it to none of her Council but she lamented that the Princes of Germany were so slow and tedious in all their deliberations Whereupon I began to praise them for their Truth Constancy Religion Ardour and quick execution after they had concluded any weighty matter But I set out most specially the Elector Palatine's humanity his treating of strangers upholding of Universities and how he was the mouth of his confederates to deal with all other neighbour Princes She answered that I had reason to speak so concerning him for he had written very much in my favour regretting that the inclinations I had to serve my native Queen had obliged me to leave him though he would gladly have retained me with him a longer space I told her Majesty what a great trouble it was to me to resolve to leave the service of so worthy a Prince that no consideration could have engaged me thereunto other then that duty I owed to my Soveraign who had commanded me to attend her affairs That for the better remembrance of him I desired to carry home with me his picture and the pictures of all his Son and Daughters So soon as she heard me mention the pictures she inquired if I had the picture of the Duke Casimir desiring to see it And when I alledged I had left the pictures in London she being then at Hampton Court and that I was ready to go forward on my Journey she said I should not part till she had seen all the pictures So the next day I delivered them all to her Majesty and she desired to keep them all night and she called upon my Lord Robert Dudly to be judge of Duke Casimir's picture and appointed me to meet her the next morning in her Garden where she caused to deliver them all unto me giving me thanks for the sight of them I again offered unto her Majesty 〈◊〉 the pictures so she would permit me to retain the Electors and his Ladys but she would have none of them I had also sure information that first and last she despised the said Duke Casimir Therefore I did write back from London to his Father and him in Cypher disswading them to meddle any more in that marriage And received great thanks afterward from the said young Duke who immediately married the Elector of Saxony's Eldest Daughter Albeit this may appear something from the purpose of the Queen our Sovereign yet it brings me home to her Majesty with some proposals of marriage to her self For the Queen of England entertained me very familiarly shewing me the Sisterly love that was betwixt her and the Queen our Soveraign how careful she was of her well-fare how desirous to see her well setled in her own Country with her Subjects and also well married That she was resolved to propose two persons for fit Husbands unto her whereby their amity might best stand and increase hoping that she would not marry without her advice promising upon her faith to write to me so soon as I was arrived at Scotland with her own hand that I might be a good instrument to move the Queen my Mistress to accept either the one or the other Now though she forgot to write unto me about it yet she sent instructions to Mr. Randolph to propose my Lord Robert Dudley as a very meet Husband for our Queen I supposed that my Lord Robert afterward Earl of Leicester had disswaded her from imploying me in that matter seeing Mr. Randolph was there already her Majesties Agent Now the Queen my Mistress to keep promise and correspondence with the Queen of England had sent and advertised her of the proposal made to her of a marriage with the Arch-duke Charles requiring her friendly advice and consent therein The Queen of England answered her by her Agent Mr. Thomas Randolph as followeth for after a little Preface he declares and gives in by writing this to be the Queen his Mistress's mind The Queen my Soveraign said he hath not only deeply advised about that proposal of marriage with your Majesty but hath also thought it necessary by me to shew you what she thinketh both meet and unmeet to be considered and seemingly to her by way of friendship to declare as a dear Sister who intends your Majesties honour and as a loving Friend who is careful of your well-fare Three special things her Majesty thinks fit to be considered in marriage First The mutual contentment betwixt both parties in respect of their private personages so that their love each towards one another may continue as well before God as Man Secondly That the person may be such as your Majesty being a Queen of a great Realm and multitude of People may be sure of an advantageous Alliance such as cannot be prejudicial to your Countries interest Thirdly She thinks fit that the choise be such that the amity which is now so strict betwixt the Queens Majesty and your Highness not only for your own persons but with both your Realms may be continued and not dissolved nor diminished Then he declares at length how that he doubts not but that her Majesty who was once already married will know how considerately to ponder the match that it may be meet for her self and her Subjects but as to what belonged unto the Queen his Soveraign it merited to be well considered It is true that the seeking out of a Husband to your Majesty is honourable and expedient a thing that her Majesty rellisheth much in your Highness albeit hitherto she hath not found such disposition in her self remitting
moved in the beginning of the last Parliament was the establishing of the Succession and that it 〈◊〉 probable that the Subjects would yet be earnest to be at a certainty in that point And if she omits so good an occasion of doing something for Us whereby the World may understand that she useth Us and esteems Us as her next Cousin and only Sister the World will think that her amity is not so great as We take it to be And such as envy our familiarity and would have it broken will hence take occasion to speak that our friendship is rather in words then deeds Mary R. Being arrived at London I lodged near the Court which was at Westminster My Host immediately gave advertisment of my coming and that same night her Majesty sent Mr. Hatton afterward Governour of the Isle of Wight in her name to welcome me and to shew me that the next morning she would give me Audience in her Garden at eight of the Clock She had been advertised by the Earl of Bedford Governour of Berwick that I was upon the way That same night I was visited by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton one of my old and dearest friends by long acquaintance First during his banishment in France in the Reign of Queen Mary and afterward while he was Ambassadour in France for this Queen where I was for the time Pensioner to King Henry the Second and Servant to the Constable This Sir Nicholas was my dear friend and had procured a Pension for me from his Mistress to help to entertain me on my Travels when I had willingly banished my self the Court of France so long as there were Civil Wars between France and Scotland He was a devout friend to the Queen my Mistress and to her Right and Title to the Succession to the Crown of England From him I had full information of affairs and friendly advice how to proceed with the Queen and every Courtier in particular For he was a special instrument of helping my Lord of Murray and Secretary Lidingtoun to pack up the first friendship betwixt the two Queens and betwixt the Earl of Murray and Lord Robert and between the two Secretaries Albeit he had no great kindness either for my Lord Robert or Secretary Cicil yet he knew that nothing could be done without them Among other counsels he gave me advice to use great familiarity with the Ambassadour of Spain in case I found the Queen his Mistress hard to be dealt with alledging that it would be a great Spur to move the Queen of England to give our Queen greater and more speedy contentment in her desire then yet she had done The next morning Mr. Hatton and Mr. Randolph late Agent for the Queen of England in Scotland came to my Lodging to convoy me to her Majesty who was as they said already in the Garden With them came a Servant of my Lord Robert's with a Horse and Footmantle of Velvet laced with Gold for me to ride upon Which Servant with the said Horse waited upon me all the time that I remained there I found her Majesty walking in an Alley And after I had kissed her hand and presented my Letter of Credence I told her Majesty in French the effect of my Commission as near to the foresaid Instructions as I could and sometimes being interrupted by her demands I answered as I judged most pertinent The reason why I spoke French was that being but lately come home I could not speak my own Language so promptly as was requisite Her first demand was concerning the Letter that the Queen had written to her with such despiteful Language that she thence conjectured all friendship and familiarity to have been given up Which had made her resolve never to write any more but another as despiteful which she took out of her pocket to give me to read she having had it ready written to shew it me She told me she had hitherto delayed to send it because she thought it too gentle till she had written another more vehement for answer to the Queens angry Bill For my part I appeared to find such hard interpretation to be made upon the Queen's loving and frank dealing very strange I told her Majesty that my Mistress could not call to mind what words they were which had given her such offence Whereupon she brought forth the Queens Letter giving it me to read Which when I had perused I said I could find therein no offensive word when I considered the familiarity had formerly been betwixt them Alledging that albeit her Majesty could speak as good French as any who had not been out of the Country that yet she was out of use of the French Court Language which was frank and short and had frequently two significations which familiar friends took always in the best part Intreating her Majesty to tear the angry Letter which she thought to have sent in answer And in revenge of the Queens I protested that I should never let her Majesty know that her true plain meaning had been so misconstructed Having tossed some words upon this matter she being desirous of an honest colour or pretext she appeared the more readyily satisfied in that point For the fear she had that friendship and correspondence should altogether break off our Queen being the first seeker to renew and continue the same by sending me thither thereby evidencing that she did not stand upon Ceremonies with her Eldest Sister in my presence then she did rent her angry Letter with promise of such friendly and frank dealing in times coming as all her good Sister's dealings and proceedings should be interpreted to the best Thus the old friendship being renewed she inquired if the Queen had sent any answer to the proposition of marriage made to her by Mr. Randolph I answered as I had been instructed That my Mistress thought little or nothing thereof but expected the meeting of some Commissioners upon the Borders with my Lord of Murray and the Secretary Lidingtoun to confer and treat upon all such matters of greatest importance as should be judged to concern the quiet of both the Countries and satisfaction of both their Majesties minds For seeing your Majesty cannot so soon find the opportunity of meeting betwixt your selves so much desired which in it self is not so expedient until all other jealousies be first removed and all former doubts cleared by your most trusty and familiar Councellors the Quen my Mistress as I have said is minded to send for her part my Lord of Murray and the Secretary Lidingtoun and expects that your Majesty will send my Lord of Bedford and my Lord Robert Dudley She answered It appeared that I made but small account of my Lord Robert seeing that I named the Earl of Bedford before him but said that e're long she would make him a far greater Earl and that I should see it done before my returning home For she esteemed him as her Brother and best friend whom she would
the time and one called Mr. Lignish greatest in favour with the Duke of Norfolk and a good number of Knights and Gentlemen of York-shire with the most part of the Captains of Berwick Her Majesty was sufficiently informed by my Brother's writing to her and me what kind of language and entertainment was most proper for the Earl and each of them When all the rest of the Ambassadours were come they repined to see the English-men more friendly and familiarly used then themselves For then we had more to do with England then with France And the French Earl who was sent was no Courtier but a simple Man And Monsieur de Morat the Duke of Savoy his Ambassadour being far of came after the Baptism During their abode at Sterling there was daily Banqueting Dancing and Triumph And at the principal Banquet there fell out a great grudge among the English-men for a Frenchman called Bastien devised a number of Men formed like Satyrs with long Tails and whips in their hands running before the meat which was brought through the great Hall upon a Machine or Engine marching as appeared alone with Musicians clothed like Maids singing and playing upon all sorts of Instruments But the Satyrs were not content only to make way or room but put their hands behind them to their Tails which they wagged with their hands in such sort as the English-men supposed it had been devised and done in derision of them weakly apprehending that which they should not have appeared to understand for Mr. Hattoun Mr. Lignish and the most part of the Gentlemen desired to Supp before the Queen and great Banquet that they might see the better the Order and Ceremonies of the Triumph But so soon as they perceived the Satyrs wagging their Tails they all sate down upon the bare floor behind the back of the Table that they might not see themselves derided as they thought Mr. Hatton said unto me if it were not in the Queens presence he would put a Dagger to the heart of that French knave Bastien who he alledged had done it out of despight that the Queen made more of them then of the Frenchmen I excused the matter the best I could but the noise was so great behind the Queen's back where her Majesty and my Lord of Bedford did sit that they heard and turned about their faces to enquire what the matter meant I informed them that it was occasioned by the Satyrs so that the Queen and my Lord of Bedford had both enough to do to get them appeased It fell out unhappily at such a time and the English Gentlemen committed a great over sight to notice it as done against them But my Lord of Bedford was discreet and interpreted all things to the best My Lord of Bedford was rewarded with a rich Chain of Diamonds worth two thousand Crowns Mr. Cary with a Chain of Pearl and a Ring with a fair Diamond Mr. Hattoun had a Chain with her Majesties Picture and a Ring Mr. Lignish and five other of Quality had each of them Chains I was commanded with many others to attend them towards the Road. They parted all very well content and satisfied with the Queens Majesty but lamented that they perceived the King so much slighted My Lord of Bedford desired me to request her Majesty to entertain him as she had done at the beginning for her own honour and the advancement of her affairs which I forgot not to do at all occasions After the Baptism and parting of the Ambassadours her Majesty desirous to put good order upon the Borders sent the Earl of Bothwel before who in the pursuit of Thieves was hurt Her Majesty past afterward to Jedbrugh her self where the Earls of Bothwel and Huntly enterprised the slaughter of the Earl of Murray but the Lord Hume came there with forces and prevented that enterprise Her Majesty returned by the Merse and desired to see Berwick afar off where she was honoured with many shots of Artillery and Sir John Foster Warden upon the English Border came and conferred with her Majesty for keeping of good order And the mean time while he was speaking with her Majesty on Horse-back his Courser did rise up with his formost Legs to take the Queens Horse by the Neck with his Teeth but his Feet hurt her Majesties Thigh very ill Incontinent the Warden lighted off his Horse and sate down upon his knees craving her Majesties pardon For then all England did much reverence her her Majesty made him to rise and said that she was not hurt yet it compelled her Majesty to tarry two days at the Castle of Hoome untill she recovered again The King followed her about whithersoever she rode but got no good countenance So that finding himself flighted he went to Glascow where he fell sick it being alledged that he had got poison from some of his Servants In the mean time the Earl of Bothwel ruled all at Court having brought home the banished Lords and packed up a quiet friendship with the Earl of Mortoun After her Majesties return to Edinbrugh she reconciled the Earls of Huntly Bothwel Arguile and others From that her Majesty went to Sterling to see the Prince and returned again to Edinbrugh whither the King was afterward brought and lodged in the Kirk-field as a place of good Air where he might best recover his health But many suspected that the Earl of Bothwel had some enterprise against him few durst advertise him because he told all again to some of his own Servants who were not all honest Yet Lord Robert Earl of Orkny told him that if he retired not hastily out of that place it would cost him his life which he told again to the Queen and my Lord Robert denied that ever he spoke it This advertisement moved the Earl of Bothwel to haste forward his enterprize he had before laid a train of Powder under the House where the King did lodge and in the night did blow up the said House with the Powder but it was spoken that the King was taken forth and brought down to a Stable where a Napkin was stopped in his mouth and he therewith suffocated Every body suspected the Earl of Bothwel and those who durst speak freely to others said plainly that it was he Whereupon he drew together a number of Lords of his dependers to be an Assize which cleansed and acquitted him some for fear some for favour and the greatest part in expectation of advantage This way being assailed he remained still the greatest favourite at Court My Lord of Murray was retired from the Court several days before Her Majesty kept her Chamber for a while I came to the door the next morning after the murther and the Earl of Bothwel said that her Majesty was sorrowful and quiet which occasioned him to come forth He said the strangest accident had fallen out which ever was heard of for Thunder had come out of the sky and had burnt the King's House
That it was certain what is reported of the Fairies and that Spirits may take a form and be seen though not felt The Earl of Bothwel as I said was entred to Ward within the Castle of Edinburgh his Majesty not willing to credit his Devilish Accusers but the Council thought fit that for a while he should pass his time in other Countries and so to be set free upon some Articles and Conditions But some of those who were appointed to deal with him endeavoured to make advantage of him to be his friends Others who were desirous to have the State troubled made him false advertisements as if his life had been in danger Which caused him resolve to save himself over the Castle Wall and retire himself to Caithness whence he was shortly after sent for by such as were malecontents and others who were desirous to fish in troubled waters alledging they had made him friends enough in Court and that there was a fair enterprise devised to take the King and kill the Chancellour Upon which information he was easily perswaded to come and make himself head of that enterprise He therefore not long after accompanied with James Douglas sometime Laird of Spott the Laird of Nidrie Mr. John Colvil and some others entred into the Kings Palace late about supper time by the passage of an old Stable not without secret intelligence of some about his Majesty So soon as they were all within the Close of the Palace they cryed Justice Justice a Bothwel a Bothwel and had been Masters of the whole were it not that James Douglas of Spot after that he had taken the Keys from the Porters entred within the Porters Lodge to relieve some of his Servants who were kept there in Prison and had been examined upon suspicion of the slaughter of his good Father the old Laird of Spott where he met with some resistance from the Porters the noise whereof did rise sooner then was the intention of the enterprisers Which allarmed his Majesty the Chancellour and others to shut and fortifie their Chamber-doors and to make resistance till some relief came from the Cannon-gate conducted by my Brother Sir Andrew Melvil of Garvock Master of his Majesty's Houshold who knew a secret passage through the Abby Church and entred by the same in Armour Whereof the Earl of Bothwel and his Company being advertised they stole quietly through the Galleries unto the part where they entred the Palace and fled without any great harm as God would have it In his out-going he chanced to meet with John Shaw Master Stabler to his Majesty whom he slew together with his Brother being in a rage that the enterprise had failed But divers of his Company were apprehended by my said Brother and by others who were all Executed the next day Their manner of proceeding was first the Laird of Spott with a Company took the Keys and made themselves Masters of the Gates of the Palace another Company was directed to the Chancellour who was sitting at his Supper and my Brother Sir Robert with him and they had been taken had it not been for the Laird of Spot's earnestness to relieve his Servants The bruit whereof caused the Chancellour to flee out of his Hall to his Chamber and shut the Door after him So that my said Brother got no entry but retired himself to another void house whither none pursued him neither was he in any fear for himself The Earl of Bothwel accompanied with Mr. John Colvil and others addressed themselves unto the Queens Chamber door where he supposed the King would be found But the door was defended well by Hary Lindsay of Kilfans Master of her Houshold In the mean time his Majesty was conveyed up to that Tower above the said Chamber after the door of her Majesties Chamber had been broken with Hammers in divers parts and that Mr. John Colvil had caused bring fire to burn it The door of the Chancellour's Chamber was manfully defended by himself He caused his men to shoot out of the Windows continually and through doors Where Robert Scot Brother to the Laird of Balweary was shot through the thigh The Chancellour took courage when he heard my Brothers voice and then the enterprisers fled as said is At their first entry within the Palace I was sitting at Supper with my Lord Duke of Lennox who incontinently took his Sword and pressed forth But he had no company and the place already was full of Enemies We were compelled to fortifie the Doors and Stairs with Tables Forms and Stools and be spectators of that strange hurly burly for the space of an hour beholding with Torch-light forth of the Duke's Gallery their reeling their rumbling with Halberts the clacking of their Culverins and Pistols the dunting of Mells and Hammers and their crying for Justice Now there was a passage betwixt the Chancellour's Chamber and my Lord Duke 's by a Stair and during this fray the Chancellour came up the said Stair and desired entry into my Lord Duke's Chamber My Lord Duke by my advice desired him to cause his men debate at the nether door so long as they might and offered to receive himself within the Chamber Which the Chancellour took in an evil part and suspected my Lord Duke And so returned back again to his own Chamber and debated the best he could as said is So soon as my Lord Duke saw a company of friends within the Close he went forth to pursue the Earl of Bothwel and his Company but the night was dark and they took them speedily to their horses and escaped They being retired we got entry to her Majesties Chamber whither the King was for the time come down Where His Majesty discoursed with me a good space concerning this terrible attempt and of his many hard misfortunes Where I left not to tell his Majesty some of the special Causes of the said enterprises and how that many of them might have been prevented by a prudent and careful Government as may be sufficiently marked and considered by the many admonitions and former advertisements made unto his Majesty before all the accidents that chanced unto him and also in this For two days before this enterprise my Brother Sir Robert and I had got intelligence that some such design was shortly to be put in execution by the Earl of Bothwel and his Complices against his Majesty and the guiders of Court Whereof His Majesty made no accompt though thereof advertised But was the next day going to hunting which coming to my Brother's Ears he rose out of his Bed in his Shirt only in his Night-Gown and came forth to the utter Close of the Abby and took his Majesty by the Bridle for he was already upon Horse-back using many perswasions to have stayed him though all in vain For we were in doubt whether the enterprise would be executed in the Fields or in the Palace After this attempt his Majesty went up to the Town of Edinburgh
by the shiver of a Spear engaging with the Earl of Montegomery at the Iustings of his Daughter's Marriage with the King of Spain p. 28. And dies Eight days after ibid. Henry Prince King James his first Son born at Sterling 202. Herreis Lord is Imprisoned in the Castle of Edinburgh p. 101. Hume George turns William Kieth out of his place of Master of the Wardrobe when King James was in Denmark p. 182. Being Knighted is made Master of the Wardrobe p. 198. Hume Lord takes part with the Hamiltouns and Queens Faction p. 106. With whom the Regent Mortoun durst not meddle standing in awe of his Party p. 122. Dies shortly after being a Prisoner in Edinburgh Castle ibid. Hunsdon Earl hath a Conference on the Borders with the Earl of Arran p. 158. Contrives a secret Plot ibid. Huntley Earl is Chief of the new Faction about his Majesty p. 175. Endeavours to turn out the Master of Gray and Martland the Chancellor ibid. Procures the Gift of the Benefice of Dumfarmling ibid. Great disorders occasioned by the Dissention between him and other Earls p. 200. Is sent home hereupon p. 201. Triumphs and takes advantage of the Earl of Murray's Lands giving him just cause of Complaint ibid. Kills the Earl of Murray ibid. I JAmes the Fifth of Scotland his resolute Speech to the Prelates p. 4. Gives the Ward and Marriage of Kelly in Angus to the Second Son of the Lord Grange ibid. Gives ear to the Clergy to put off the Convention with King Henry the 8th at York ibid. Is forced to raise an Army to defend his Country upon that account p. 6. Is much troubled at the Defeat of his Army and useth severe Language against the Prelates who fearing his displeasure poison him with an Italian Posset ibid. His Character p. 7. James Lord Prior of St. Andrews the Natural Son of James the Fifth p. 25. Hears of Queen Mary's Resolution to return to Scotland and goes to France to request it p. 31. Returns to Scotland to prepare them for her Reception ibid. James the Sixth King born p. 69. When of Age he causeth the Heirs of the Lord Grange to be restored p. 123. Orders his bones to be taken up and honourably buried at Killingborn ibid. Is brought up at Sterling by Alexander Areskine and the Layd Mar p. 125. Hath Four Masters their Character ibid. The Earl of Mortoun being deposed he takes the Government into his own hands p. 128. Is surprised by the Lords in the House of Huntingtoun p. 132. Is conveyed afterward to Sterling and there retained ibid. Laments his mishandling during that Captivity ibid. Invites by Letters some of the Nobility to a Convention p. 133. Goes from Falkland to St. Andrews some few days before the Convention to the Earl of March p. 135. Thinks himself there at liberty ibid. Lodgeth in an old Inn there ibid. Becomes Master of the Castle p. 136. And declares his moderate intentions toward all the Lords ibid. Orders 4 Lords to retire and retains the rest as his Council ibid. Causeth a Proclamation to be made according to his moderate intentions p. 137. Returns the Author thanks as the only instrument of procuring his liberty ibid. Is gently inclined to all the Nobility and Treated particularly by the Earl of Gaury ibid. Solicits the Author to prevail with the Lord Gaury that the Earl of Arran might come to Court and kifs his hand p. 138. Promising he should not stay there ibid. Sends a Letter in Answer to Queen Elizabeth's p. 140. The Contents thereof p. 140 141 and 142. His Majesty is taken again p. 142. Gives Secretary Walsingham Audience p. 147. Sends a Letter to Queen Elizabeth promising not to bring again the Earl of Arran into Court p. 148. Is taken at the Road of Ruthven p. 149. And retain'd Captive ibid. Takes little care to prevent inconveniences yet obtains his liberty ibid. Assures the Author that he would Convene a Council of Lords at Edinburgh p. 150. His Dream concerning the Earl of Gaury p. 156. Writes for Melvil the Author to come and advise him p. 157. As also to come and entertain Wotton being sent to him by the Queen of England p. 159. Whom he loved before he saw by reason of the advantageous Character which the Master of Gray gave him ibid. Orders the Author to entertain the Danish Ambassadours 162. And because they were three in Commission wisheth him to choose two more to accompany him which he did ibid. Gives them Audience at Dumfarmling and is much dissatisfied at their ill handling ibid. Grows impatient to hear the Author speak against Wotton p. 164. Acquaints the Author that he was informed the King of Denmark's Descent was from Merchants ibid. But after he was informed of the truth he sends for the said Ambassadors p. 165. Promiseth them a speedy dispatch to their satisfaction ibid. Orders a Banquet for them is hindred from being present at it but being informed how matters stood goes thither and drinks to the King Queen and Ambassadors of Denmark to their great content p. 166. causeth their dispatch to be ready according to promise ibid. Sends to the Earl of Arran for a great Gold Chain which he got from Sir James Balfour to present it to the Three Ambassadors which was done accordingly ibid. Sends to agree with the Banished Lords at their coming to Sterling p. 169. Where it was agreed his Majesty should be in their hands and no rigour used to those about him ibid. Calls them Traytors at first but after grants them a Pardon ibid. Acknowledgeth the Earl of Arran to have been a bad Minister of State and that he should never be readmitted to Court p. 170. Hears the news of his Mothers Execution which highly displeas'd him p. 173. Convenes a Parliament desiring the Assistance of his Subjects ibid. When he at first hears they were about the Conviction of his Mother he sent Two Ambassadors on her behalf ibid. Sends for the Author to prepare him to go Ambassador to England ibid. Goes to the Western Borders to reform some disorders between the Maxwels and Johnstouns p. 175. Resolves to wait an opportunity to revenge his Mothers Death rather then trouble the Peace of the Kingdom of England ibid. Is Courted in Marriage by many great Princes p. 177. Asks Council of God by Prayer Fifteen days and then resolves to Marry the King of Denmark's Daughter ibid. Makes choice of the Author to go Ambassador to Denmark ibid. Perswades him to undertake that Embassy p. 178. Consents that his Brother the Lord Yungland should be joyned in Commission with him and gives him Commission by word of mouth ibid. Is angry-with the Author p. 179. Is advised to send to Queen Elizabeth to desire her Consent to his Marriage with Denmark ibid. Her Answer thereunto ibid. Is incensed with his Council for Voting against that Marriage ibid. Deals privately with those at Edinburgh to threaten the Council and Chancellor menacing him with Death if
a Scaffold erected for their Execution ibid. Is made Regent by the Three Estates during the minority of Charles the Ninth p. 30. Seems inclinable to the Protestant Religion intending to joyn with the Protestant Princes ibid. Makes a Peace after the battle of Drues p. 36. Queen Regent of Scotland receives the Government from Hamiltoun p. 24. Issues out a severe Proclamation against Protestants ibid. Is disturbed at the discourse of the Prior of St. Andrew's and others and resolves to persecute the more p. 25. Sends to France about the disorders in her Country for help ibid. She during the Controversie with the Congregation retires with Monsieur Dosel and other French-men to Lieth which is fortified expecting French supplies p. 29. But being indisposed retires to the Castle of Edinburgh atd dies with regret that she followed the advice of her French friends ibid. Queen of Scotland married to King James from Denmark is Crowned p. 184. Shews Melvil no great countenance at first p. 194. But at length seems well satisfied with his Service ibid. Is offended with the Chancellour for delaying her Marriage with the King of Scots p. 198. Usually speaks in favour of those Officers that are misrepresented to the King p. 199. Is offended with the Chancellour but reconciled p. 200. Gives the English Danish and Dutch Ambassadours Audience p. 204. St. Quintin and several other Towns lost by the French to the Spaniard p. 22. R RAndolph Thomas Queen Elizabeth's Agent in Scotland p. 40. Denies the Queen of England made any promises to those who would oppose the Marriage of the Queen of Scots p. 60. Is sent with the Earl of Lennox Ambassadour unto Scotland to set him forward with his power p. 107. Is a double dealer and Sower of Sedition ibid. Glories that he had kindled such a fire in Scotland as would not easily be extinguished p. 109. Designs to have Mortoun Regent in the lieu of Lennox but failed p. 115. Returns home and why ibid. Is sent again Ambassadour to Scotland p. 127. Hears that the Author was designed to be sent Ambassador into England and opposeth it proposing other persons in that juncture of time p. 173. Rixio David a mean fellow who came to Scotland with the Ambassador of Savoy is made Secretary to the Queen of Scots p. 54. A Musician perswaded to sing with others the occasion of his promotion ibid. Is suspected to be Pensioner and Favourite to the Pope p. 55. Is kill'd in the Queens Presence to her great regret she being with Child by consent of the King p. 64. Russel Sir Francis Warden of the English Borders p. 166. Is kill'd at a meeting between the two Wardens ib. Ruxbie sent to sift what he could get out of Mary Queen of Scots as to her right to the Crown of England p. 68. Which he is to send to Mr. Secretary Cecil p. 68. Addresseth himself to the Scots Queen ibid. Writes to Cecil in her prejudice p. 69. Is promised a reward but his intrigues are discovered and he secured ibid. S SEatoun Comptroller to King James of Scotland p. 198. Segie Lord made one of the Kings Council p. 138. Chosen to accompany Melvil in the entertainment of the Danish Ambassador p. 162. Senarpon Monsieur Lieutenant in Normandy for the French King p. 160. Shaw William Master of Wark is chosen to accompany Melvil in his entertainment of the Danish Ambassadors with the Lord of Segie p. 162. Skeen a Lawyer chosen to go to Denmark with the Author p. 178. Sinclare Oliver promised by the Clergy to be made Lieutenant of the Army against England if King Henry the 8th should War against Scotland p. 4. Is proclaimed Lieutenant over the whole Army yet the Lords disdaining so mean a person would not fight under him but suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners p. 6. Simson Amy a Midwife and Witch p. 194 Is burnt with others p. 195. Smith is made Secretary to Queen Elizabeth p. 157. Sommer Secretary to the English Ambassador in France p. 160. Spanish Navy is rumour'd to be bound for England Scotland and Ireland p. 175. Is three years preparing ibid. The Commanders knew nothing of the Design but what they understood by the opening of their instructions at every Landing place p. 175 and 176. A violent storm of Wind dissipates the whole Navy and many of their Vessels suffer'd Shipwrack ibid. Spiny Lord and the Master of Glams at variance p. 198. Spiny is in great favour with his Majesty ibid. For which he is envied and accused as a dealer with Bothwel for which he is displaced and imprisoned ibid. But escapes out of a Window in Dalkieth by the help of a Danish Gentlewoman whom he afterward married ibid. Is in disfavour with the King p. 199. Spinze Lord is Gentleman of the Chamber to King James p. 198. Stuart Colonel is sent to St. Andrews with Mr. John Colvil p. 133. Is made Captain of King James his Guards p. 137. Writes to the Author to repair to Court p. 156. Is one of the Kings Council p. 138. Rides to overthrow the Banished Lords at their entry upon the Borders p. 168. But his design is frustrated ibid. Is committed to the care of the Lord Maxwel being in danger for espousing too violently the Earl of Arran's Interest p. 170. Obtains leave to go to Denmark about his own Affairs being that Kings Pensioner p. 171. Has a Commission to treat about the Marriage of King James with the Eldest Daughter of the King of Denmark ibid. Goes to Denmark several times at his own charge to complete his Masters Marriage with the King of Denmark's Daughter p. 177. Stuart James Son to the Lord Oghiltrie a Favourite in Scotland p. 126. Perswades the King to a Progress p. 127. Accuses the Earl of Mortoun of the late Kings Murther ibid. Takes upon himself the Title of Earl of Arran p. 128. Marries the Earl of March his Relict ibid. Casts off his true friends p. 129. His Character p. 131. Is kept Prisoner by the Lords in the Custody of the Earl of Gaury p. 133. Obtains the favour of being confin'd to his own House at Kinneal p. 137. adviseth the King but is opposed by Gaury ibid. Gets access to Court and stays there contrary to promise ibid. Is reconciled to Colonel Stuart by the Authors means p. 139. He and Melvil the Author clash in Council p. 139. His insolent carriage p. 142. He and Gaury are reconciled by his Majesty ibid. He and his Wife ruling all perswades his Majesty to go to Sterling p. 143. He is Captain of the Castle and Provost of the Town ibid. Adviseth his Majesty to send the Author Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth intending thereby to ensnare him ibid. Desires a familiar Conference with Secretary Walsingham who refuseth it p. 148. At which being incensed he puts several Indignities upon him ibid. Endeavours to be made Chancellor and Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh p. 152. Useth his Craft to pervert the effect of