England on such Terms That the Government of Cumberland was always looked upon as previous to the Throne of Scotland for it had been so observed for some Ages past The King perceiving That this Malcolm for the Reasons aforementioned would be an hindrance to his Design not daring to do it openly caused him privately to be made away by Poyson Thus died that excellent young Man much lamented and near to his greatest Hope some Signs of Poison appeared in his Body but no Man ever dreamt of suspecting the King Yea his Deportment was such as to avert all Suspicion for he Mourned and Wept for his Death and made an Honourable mention of his Name when occasion was administred to speak of it and caused him magnificently to be Interred no Ceremony being omitted which could be invented for the Honour of the Deceased But this superlative Diligence of the King to remove the Suspicion from himself gave a shrewd Jealousie to the more Sagacious Yet they forbore to speak out for the Reverence all bore to and had conceived of the Kings Sanctity But soon after the King himself scattred some Words abroad to try the Minds of Men How they would bear the abrogating of an old Law and the enacting a new concerning the Succession of their Kings viz. That according to the Custom of many Nations if a King died his Son should succeed him and if he were under Age then to have a Protector or Tutor assigned to him so the Kingly Name might rest in the Child but the Power of Government in the Tutors or Guardians till he came to Age. Though a great Part of the Nobles praised his Speech as being willing to Gratifie him yet the Suspicion concerning the Death of Malcolm prevailed upon the Major part and especially upon the Nobility and Those of the Royal Stock who were afraid of the King Mens Spirits being in this posture Ambassadors came from England to comfort the King upon the loss of his Kinsman and withal desiring That in substituting another Governor he would remember That Cumberland being the Bond of Concord betwixt the Two Nations he would set Such a Person over it who might be an indifferent Arbiter of Peace and that would maintain the ancient Alliance betwixt the Two Nations for the Good of them Both and if any new Suspicions or Jealousies should arise that he would labour to extinguish them The King judged this Embassy fit for his purpose so that having Convened the Nobility at Scone he made a grave Harangue to them against the ancient Custom of the Assemblies of Estates in this Point wherein he recited all the Seditions which had happened for that Cause and with how great Impiety some of the surviving Kindred had treated the Children of former Kings and what Wars Rapines Slaughters and Banishâânts had ensued thereupon On the other side he put them in Mind How much more Peaceable and less Turbulent the Parliamenââây Assemblies of other Countries were and what great Reverence was born to the Royal Blood when without convasing for Succession Children succeeded their Parents in the Throne Having thus spoken he referred the matter to that Great Council to determine something in this Case He acquainted them also with the Demands of the English Ambassador and to give a greater Manifestation of his Condescention and Civility whereas it was in the Kings Power alone to appoint a Governor of Cumberland he left it to them to nominate One supposing that by this his Moderation he might the more easily obtain his Desire concerning the Succession to the Crown For if he himself had Nominated his Son for a Governor he thought he should have prejudiced his other Request because as I said before the Government or Prefecture over Cumberland was looked upon as the Designation of the Person to be the next succeeding King of Scotland Constantine the Son of Culenus and Grimus the Son of Mogal Brother to King Duffus who were thought most likely to oppose both Requests were first asked their Opinions in the Case who partly for Fear of Danger and partly that they might not run cross to the Major part of the Nobility who had been prepossessed and influenc'd by the King gave their Vote That it was in the Kings Power to Correct and Amend Laws which were inconvenient to the Publick and also to appoint what Governor he pleased over Cumberland The rest though they knew that they had spoken contrary to their own Sense yet Consented to what they said And by this means Malcolm the Kings Son though not of Age but Immature for Government was declared Governor of Cumberland and also Prince of Scotland which Title signifies in Scotland as much as Daulphin doth in France and Caesar amongst the old Roman Emperors and the King of the Romans amongst the Modern Germans whereby the Successor to the preceding Magistrate is understood Other Laws were also made viz. That as the Kings Eldest Son should succeed his Father so if the Son died before the Father the Nephew should succeed the Grandfather That when the King was under Age a Tutor or Protector should be Chosen some Eminent Man for Interest and Power to Govern in the Kings Name and stead till he came to Fourteen Years of Age and then he had Liberty to choose Guardians for Himself And besides many other Things were Enacted concerning the Legitimate Succession of Heirs which ran in common to the whole Nobility as well as to the King The King having thus by indirect and evil Practises setled the Kingdom on his Posterity as he thought yet his Mind was not at rest For though he were very Courteous to all and highly Beneficial and Obliging to a great many and withal did so manage the Kingdom that no one Part of a good King was wanting in him yet his Mind being disquieted with the guilt of his Offence suffered him to enjoy no sincere or solid Mirth but in the Day he was vexed with the Thoughts of that foul Wickedness which did inject themselves and in the Night terrible Apparitions disturbed his Rest. At last a Voice was heard from Heaven either a true one as some think or else such an one as his disquieted Mind suggested as it commonly happens to Guilty Consciences speaking to him in his Sleep to this Sense Dost thou think That the Murder of Malcolm an Innocent Man secretly and most impiously Committed by thee is either unknown to me or That thou shalt go unpunished for the same Nay there are already Plots laid against thy Life which thou canst not avoid neither shalt thou leave a Firm and Stable Kingdom to thy Posterity as thou thinkest to do but a Tumultuous and Stormy one The King being terrified by this dreadful Apparition betimes in the Morning hastned to the Bishops and Monks to whom he declared the Confusion of his Mind and his Repentance for his Wickedness They instead of prescribing him a true Remedy according to the
to bear the Government of a Stranger he return'd back and provided a stately Fleet with great Cost yet no great Benefit because it was against Men who were very well provided both with Land and Sea-Forces At length he set upon their numerous Fleet returning from Dantzic which he took and pillaged and slew the Mariners and burnt the Ships so that he repaid the Enemy for the Loss he receiv'd from them many times over yea he so subdued the Fierceness of their Minds that they desired a Truce for an Hundred Years and obtain'd it He also caus'd a Breed of brave Mares to be brought from as far as Hungary into Scotland whose Race continu'd there for many Years after These Rich Earls Dying without Issue Buchan and Marr their Patrimonial ânheritances descended Rightfully to the King And moreover he alone injoy'd all the Possessions of the Three Brothers Sons to King Robert the 2d by his last Wife but not without the Grudges of the Nobility who had been accustomed to Largesses that he alone should enjoy all the Prey without sharing any Part of it amongst them Further they conceiv'd another and fresher Cause of Offence That the King had revok'd some Grants made by Robert and Murdo the last Regents as unjust Amongst those Grants There were Two noted ones George Dunbar who was Declared a Publick Enemy was afterwards recall'd by Robert and part of his Estate restor'd to him His Son George succeeded him therein to the Joy of many who were well pleas'd that so Ancient and Noble a Family which had so often deserv'd well of their Country were restor'd to their Ancient Dignity But the King who look'd narrowly and perhaps too pryingly into his Revenue was of Opinion that the Power to restore Incapacities to recal Exiles and to give back their Goods forfeited for Treason and so brought into the King's Exchequer was too great for One that was but a Guardian of another Man's Kingdom and chosen but as a Tutor only to Claim and Use especially since Largesses made in the Minority of Princes by the Old Laws of Scotland might be recalled if not confirm'd by their respective Kings when they came to be of Age. And therefore Iames that he might reduce the Merch-men into his Power without noise in regard they were a Martial People and Borderers upon England detains George with him and sends Letters to the Governour of the Castle of Dunbar Commanding him on receipt thereof he should immediately Surrender it up to William Douglas Earl of Angus and Alexander Hepborn of Hales whom he had sent to receive it Hereupon George complain'd that he was wrongfully dispossest of his Ancient Patrimony for anothers Fault and such a Fault too as was forgiven by him who then had the Supreme Power The King to pacifie him and to proclaim his Clemency amongst the Vulgar bestowed Buchan upon him This Fact of the King 's was variously spoken of as every ones Humour and Disposition led him And moreover there was also another Action which much hastned his End the Beginning whereof is to be fetcht a little higher I said before that King Robert the 2d had Three Sons by his Concubine he had also Two by his Wife Eufemia Walter Earl of Athole and David Earl of Stratherne yet when their Mother the Queen was Dead he Married the Concubine afore-spoken of that so he might by that Marriage Legitimate the Children he had by her and leave them Heirs to the Crown and accordingly at his Death he left the Kingdom to the Eldest of them To the 2d he gave great Wealth and the Regency also The 3d. was made Earl of several Counties In this Matter tho' his other Wif's Children thought themselves wrong'd yet being younger and not so powerful as they they smothered their Anger for the present And besides their Power was somewhat abated by the Death of the Earl of Strathern who left but only one Daughter behind him afterwards Marry'd to Patrick Graham a Noble young Man and one of a potent Family in that Age on whom he begat Meliss Graham His Parents liv'd not long after and the Child after a few Years being yet a Stripling was sent as an Hostage into England till the Money for the King's Ransom was paid But the Earl of Athole tho' every way too weak for the adverse Faction yet never gave over his Project to cut off his Kindred nor cast away his Hopes to recover the Kingdom and because he was inferior in open Force he craftily fomented their Divisions and Discords and invidiously made use of their Dangers to promote his own Ends so that by his Advice that large Family was reduc'd to a few For many were of Opinion that he gave the Counsel to take off David King Robert's Son and Iames had not escap'd him neither unless he had past a good part of his Life in England far from home for he gave Advice to the Earl of Fife that seeing his Brother was a Drone he Himself should seize on the Kingdom When the King lost all his Children and was obnoxious to his Brothers Will and not long after dyed of Grief himself There was only the Regent of the Kingdom with his Children that hindred his hopes in regard he was an active Man of great Wealth Power and Authority and moreover very Popular and full of Children These Considerations did somewhat retard his Counsels but when Robert Dyed of a Natural Death and his Son Iohn was slain in the Battel of Vernevil then he resum'd his former Project with greater earnestness and bent all his Mind and Endeavour how to free Iames and set him at variance with Murdo and his Children And seeing they could not all of them stand safe together which soever of them fell he foresaw that his Hope would be advanced one step higher to the Kingdom And when Iames was returned into his Country he turn'd every Stone to hasten Murdo's Destruction he suborn'd Men fit for the turn to forge Crimes against him and he himself sate Judge upon Him and his Sons And when they were cut off there was only Iames left and one little Son a Child not yet 6 Years old And if he were slain by the Conspiracy of the Nobles he did not doubt but himself who was then the only remaining Branch of the Royal Stock should be advanc'd to the Throne Athole was in these Thoughts Night and Day yet he conceal'd his Secret Purposes and made a great shew of Loyalty to the King in helping to rid his Allies out of the way for that was his only Contrivance that by the Offences of Others he might increase his own Power and diminish his Enemies In the mean time Meliss Graham who as I said before was given in Hostage to the English was depriv'd of Strathern because the King making a diligent Enquiry into his Revenue found that 't was given to his Grandfather by the Mothers-side upon condition That if
fought with and slew him and some of his Followers Douglas took the Fact so hainously that he made a Solemn Oath never to rest till he had expiated the Murder by Colvil's Death Neither were his Threatnings in vain for he Storm'd his Castle took and plunder'd it and killed all therein that were able to bear Arms. This Fact though 't was performed against Law and Custom yet some did excuse and in effect commend as proceeding from Indignation a Passion not unbeseeming a Generous Mind Thus as it commonly happens in degenerate Times Flattery the perpetual Companion of Greatness did clothe the highest Offences with Honest and Plausible Names Moreover Douglas was so lifted up with the Flatteries of Fortune which did now incline to his Destruction that he had a great Ambition to make an Ostentation of his Power even to Foreign Nations as if the splendor of so great a Family oââht not to be straitned within the narrow Theatre of one Island onââ so that he had a Mind to go to Rome he pretended Religion but the principal design of his Journy was Ambition the Church of Rome had adopted the old Rites of the Iewish for as the Iewish Church every Fiftieth year was to forgive all the Debts of what kind soever to their Country Men and to restore all Pledges Gratis and also to set their Hebrew Servants at Liberty So the Pope taking an Example therefrom as Gods Vicar on Earth did arrogate the Power of forgiving all Offences For whereas at other times he trucked out his Pardons by Peice-Meal every Fiftieth Year he open'd his full Garners thereof and pour'd out whole Bushels full of them publickly to all yet I will not say Gratis Douglas with a great Train of Nobles who were desirous partly to see Novelties and partly allur'd by hopes of Reward sail'd over into Flanders From thence he Travelled by Land to Paris and took with him his Brother appointed Bishop of Caledonia who afterwards seeing Douglas had no Children was by the Kings Permission put in hopes to be his Heir In France he was highly caressed partly upon the account of their Publick League with the Scots and partly in Memory of his Ancestors Demerits from that Crown hereupon all Rome was filled with the Expectation of his coming About Two Months after his departure from Scotland his Enemies and Rivals began to lift up their Heads they durst not for Fear complain of him when he was present but now they laid open all the Injuries they had received from him And when it was once noised abroad that the Access to the King was easie and that his Ear was open to all just Complaints The Troop of Complainants lamenting their Sufferings did daily increase so that all the ways to the Palace were almost stopt by them The King could not well either reject the Petitions of the Sufferers nor yet condemn the Earl in his absence without hearing of him so that he gave a middle Answer which satisfi'd their Importunity for the present viz. That he would Command the Earls Proctor or Attorney to appear that so in his own Presence a fair Tryal might be had Whereupon the Proctor was summon'd but did not appear so that the Kings Officers were sent out to bring him in by force when he was brought to Court some alledged that he ought to be immediately punisht for disobeying the Kings Command in regard that by too much Patience the Kings Authority would be despis'd and run low even amongst the meaner sort for under the pretence of Lenity the Audaciousness of the Bad would increase and the Impunity of Offendors would open the way for more Crimes The King was not mov'd by those Instigations but remain'd constant to his Resolution which was rather to satisfie his greatest Accusers by the Compensation of their Losses than to satiate their Vindicative Minds with the spilling of his Blood Hereupon he caus'd the Earls Proctor to be brought out of Prison and to plead in his Masters behalf telling him That if he had any thing to allege in Purgation of the Crimes objected he should freely declare it without any fear at all When he was cast in many Suits and the King Commanded him immediately to pay the Damages The Proctor answer'd He would defer the whole matter till the return of the Earl who was expected in a few Months This he spake as 't was thought by the advice of Ormond and Murray the Earl's Brothers When the King was inform'd of his Resolution he sent William Sinclare Earl of the Orcades who was then Chancellor first into Galway and then into Douglasdale he appointed Sequestrators to gather up the Rents of Douglas's Estate and so to pay the Damages adjudg'd by Law But in regard Sinclare had not Power enough to inforce his Order some eluded others Contumeliously abus'd him so that he return'd without effecting his Business The King being provokt by this Contempt of his Authority Commands all the Favourers of Douglas his Faction to be Summon'd to appear which they refusing to do were declared Publick Enemies an Army was Levy'd against them which marcht into Galway At their first coming the Commanders were driven into their Castles but a small Party of the Kings Forces pursuing after the rest through Craggy Places were repuls'd and not without Ignominy driven back to the King The King taking it in great Indignation that a few Vagabond Thieves should dare to make such Attempts resolv'd to redeem their slighting of him by attempting their Strongs Holds he took the Castle of Maban with no great difficulty but his Soldiers were so much toil'd and weary'd in the taking of Douglas Castle that therefore he wholly demolisht it As for the Vassals and Tenants who had submitted themselves and their Fortunes to him he Commanded them to pay their Rents to his Treasurers till Douglas's Estate had fully satisfi'd what was awarded against him by Law And when this was almost done he dismist his Army having obtain'd a good Report for his Lenity and Moderation even amongst his very Enemies When these Matters were related to the Earl at Rome his great Spirit was mightily mov'd yea his Esteem did then abate amongst his own Attendants so that a great Part of them deserted him and he enter'd upon his Journy homewards with but a few Followers He came through England and drawing near to the Borders of Scotland he sent his Brother Iames to feel the Kings Pulse how he stood affected towards him And when the King was appeasable he return'd home and was kindly receiv'd only he was admonisht to abandon and subdue all Robbers especially those of Annandale who had plaid many Cruel and Avaritious Pranks in his absence Douglas undertook to do so and confirm'd his Promise by an Oath Whereupon he was not only restor'd into his former Grace and Favour but also made Regent over all Scotland so that every one was injoin'd to obey his Commands But
the Efforts of the Enemy So that after they had lost a great many men they were worn out with Toils and Watchings and so broke up the Siege In the mean time the King levied an Army to relieve his distressed Friends but seeing he had not Strength enough to encounter the Douglasses he resolv'd to wait the coming in of Alexander Gordon to his assistance who had levy'd a good Force in the Northern Parts and was marching towards him but as he was coming thro Angus Craford with a considerable Body met and oppos'd him at Brechin where a sharp Battel was fought betwixt them when the King 's main Battel was giving ground as not able to indure the shock of the Angusians Iohn Colace who commanded the Left Wing forsook Craford having born him a Grudge and so left the main Body of the Army naked Hereupon those who were almost Conquerors being struck with terrour turn'd their Backs and sled away Thus Gordon unexpectedly got the Victory yet with much loss on his side his two Brothers and a great Number of his Friends and Followers being Slain of the Angusians also there fell several men of Note and amongst the rest the Earl's own Brother As for the Earl himself he turn'd his Wrath from the Enemy to those who had deserted him he storm'd their Castles and spoil'd their Lands with Fire and Sword and he had the better Opportunity so to do because that Gordon made a speedy Return into his own Country when he heard that the Earl of Murray was exercising all manner of Cruelty against his own Territories so that he was forced to march back with his Victorious Army where he not only revenged his Loss upon his Enemy but also quite expell'd him out of his Country of Murray These things were acted toward the End of the Spring In the interim the King by the advice chiefly of Iames Kennedy caus'd an Assembly of the Estates to meet at Edinburgh to which he Summon'd by an Herald the Earl of Douglas and the Nobles of his Party to come But he was so far from obeying him that the next Night he caus'd a Libel to be hung on the Church doors That he would not trust the King with his Life nor yield Obedience to him for the future any more who had sent for his Kinsman to Edinburgh and his Brothers to Sterlin under the Protection of the Publick Faith and there had perfidiously slain them without Hearing their Cause In this Assembly the Four Brothers of the late Earl which was slain Iames Archibald George and Iohn with Beatriâ the Earls late Wife and Alexander Earl of Craford were declar'd Publick Enemies to the Common-wealth Many persons were advanc'd to be Noble men and Rewards were assign'd them out of the Rebels Estates An Army was levy'd to pursue the Enemy which after some devastation of the Country driving of Bootys and burning Corn in the Granarys was again dismist in Winter because the Soldiers could not then keep the Field and an Expedition was appointed against the Spring In the mean time Iames Douglas left the wealth of his Family which was mightily increas'd by rich Matches should pass away to others took Beatrix the Relict of his Brother to Wife and treats with the Pope to confirm the Marriage But the King by his Letters interpos'd and hindred him from giving his Ratification to it This Year and the next following there was Bandying between the Parties Lands were pillag'd some Castles overthrown but they came not to decide the main Controversy in a Set Battel the greatest Part of the damage fell on the Countys of Annandale Foress and the Neighbouring Countys of the Douglasses After this Devastation of the Lands there follow'd a Famine and after the Famine a Pestilence yet the Wisest of Douglas's his Friends sought many times to persuade him to endeavour a Reconciliation with the King and so to lay himself and all his Concerns at his Feet whom his Ancestors had before found very merciful Especially since he had a King who was easily exorable in his own Nature and moreover might be made more reconcilable by the Mediation of his Friends and that he would not suffer so noble a Family as His was to be extirpated by his Obstinacy nor betray the Lives of so many brave Men who follow'd his Party neither yet bring them to that Point of Necessity that after having suffer'd so many Calamities they should be forc'd to make Terms for themselves Whilst he was in a good Condition he might make an easy Pacification but if once his Friends deserted him there would then be no Hope for him to obtain his Pardon The Man being in his Youthful Age and of a Fierce Disposition too made Answer That he would never submit himself to their Power who were restrain'd by no Bonds of Modesty nor by any divine or human Law who under fair Promises had inticed his Cosins and his Brother to come to them and then perfidiously and cruelly Slew them In a Word he would suffer the height of all Extremities before he would ever put himself into their hands This his Answer was either approv'd or dislik'd according to every Man's Humour Those who were Violent or who made a Gain of the publick Miseries commended the Greatness of his Courage but the Wiser sort persuaded him to take Opportunity by the Forelock lest after his Friends had forsaken him he might complain that he had neglected the Time for a Pacification when 't was not to be redeem'd which is usually the end of Headlong Counsels But the Earl of Craford being weary'd out with so long a War and withal considering with himself the very Unjustness of his Cause together with the common Mutations of human Life as also knowing that Pardon might easily be Obtain'd if he did preoccupy the Kings Favour but very difficultly if he stood it out and besides being forsaken by some of his Friends and suspecting the Fidelity of the rest put himself into such an Habit as might most move Pity and thus bare-headed bare-footed in most humble manner he came to the King as he was passing thro' Angus he ingeniously confest the offences of his former Life he cast himself and all his concerns upon the King's Mercy having first prefaced something concerning the Fidelity and good Services which his Ancestors had performed to their Kings he was conscious that his fault had deserv'd the Extremity of Punishment but whatsoever hereafter he had either of Life or Fortune it would be a Debt wholly due to the Kings Clemency Having spoken these and other words of the same import not without Fear all the Spectators were much moved and affected especially some of the Nobility of Angus and tho' they themselves had in former times followed the Kings Party yet they were unwilling that so eminent and ancient a Family should be destroy'd Iames Kennedy carry'd himself at the same time like a good Bishop and
to Liberty Hereupon a new Face of things presently appeared throughout the whole Kingdom and all Matters both Sacred and Profane were brought to Court to be huckster'd and sold as in a Publick Fair. But Patrick Graham was the only Man who endeavour'd to stop the precipitous Ruin of the Church when his Enemies sway'd all at home he staid at Rome some years but being there inform'd by his Friends in what State things were he trusting in his Alliance to the King being the Son of his Great Aunt resolv'd to return home but that he might make some Essay of the Minds of Men before he sent the Bull which he had obtain'd from the Pope for his Legantine Power and caus'd it to be Proclaim'd and Publish'd in the Month of September and the Year of our Lord 1472. which rais'd up much Envy against him For they that had bought Ecclesiastical Honours at Court were afraid to lose both their Prey and Money too and they who thought to make advantage by this Court Nundination were griev'd to be thus disappointed yea that Faction did no less Storm that had obtain'd Ecclesiastical Preferments from the King for Mercenary Gain that so they might sell them to others Their Fear was that this gainful Practice would be taken out of their Hands All these made a Conspiracy against Patrick and in his absence loaded him with Reproaches they came to Court and complain'd that their Ancient Laws as well as the Kings late Decrees were Violated and that the Romanists were carrying on many Matters very prejudicial to the Kingdom and unless the King did speedily oppose their Exorbitance they would quickly bring all things under their Power yea and make the King himself truckle under them To prevent this Danger there were some sent by Order of Council to Patrick before he had scarce set his Foot on Shoar to forbid him to execute any part of his Office until the King had heard the Complaints made against him and a Day was appointed him to appear the First of November at Edinburgh in order to an Hearing In the mean time when his Friends and Kinsfolk did assure him that the King would do what was Equitable in so just a Cause The adverse Faction hearing of it did so ingage the King and his Courtiers by the Promises of great Sums of Money that Patrick could never have a Fair Hearing afterwards When he was come to the Assembly he produc'd the Popes Bull and Grant wherein he was Constituted Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate of Scotland and the Popes Legate for Three Years to order Ecclesiastical Affairs The Inferiour sort of Priests were glad of the thing that an Office so necessary was put into the Hands of so Pious and Learn'd a Man but they did not dare to speak it out for Fear of some powerful Persons who had got the Ear of the King and his Counsellors His Adversaries made their Appeal to the Pope who alone could be judge in the Case which they did on purpose to create delay that so the Favour of the People towards Patrick might in time abate He himself was sent back by the King to his Church but forbid to wear the Ensigns and Habiliments of an Archbishop till the Cause was determin'd neither was he to perform any Office but what the former Bishops had done before him Whilst these things were acting William Sivez rose up a new Enemy against Patrick but the bitterest of all the rest and that upon a light Occasion He was a young Man of a prompt Wit and had lived some Years at Lovain under the Institution of Iohn Sperinc a Man well-skill'd in the Study of Physick and Astrology in both which Faculties he was very Famous and returning home he quickly insinuated himself into the Favour of the Courtiers partly upon the account of his other Accomplishments and partly because of his noted Skill in Astrology This Endowment won him great Respect from the Court which was then addicted to all sorts of Divinations even to a Madness so that this Sivez being of a Fluid Wit and in great favour at Court was soon made Arch-Deacon of St. Andrews But the Bishop would not admit him to that Office whereupon he communicated Counsel with Iohn Locc Rector of the Publick Schools there and a back Friend of Patricks and they Two plotted together to overthrow him The Rector having a Grant from the Pope whereby he was Privileg'd and Exempted from Patricks Jurisdiction pronounced the Sentence of Excommunication against him But he so slighted this Commination of one of an Inferiour Order to himself that though it were Twice or Thrice serv'd upon him yet he remitted nothing of the ordinary Course of his former Life whereupon his Enemies as is usual in such Cases wherein Ecclesiastical Censures are contemn'd implore the Assistance of the King and cause Patrick to be shut out of all Churches Officers of the Exchequer were sent to Inventory his Goods his Retinue was Commanded under an heavy Penalty to depart and a Guard was set upon him to observe that he did nothing contrary to the Edict The rest of the Bishops that they might not seem ungrateful towards so Benevolent a King levied a great Sum of Mony which they had violently extorted out of small Benefices and presented him with it The King being Master of such a Sum seem'd to deal more mildly with Patrick as if he took pity on him and accordingly he sent the Abbat of Holy-Rood and Sivez to him Whereupon the Bishop was reconcil'd to the King and also Sivez and the Bishop were made Friends but his Mony was gather'd up before and carried to the King Now Patrick seem'd to be freed out of all his Troubles and so he retir'd to his Mannor House of Monimul and prepar'd himself for the Execution of his Office both Publickly and Privately when behold the Roman Mony-Mongers were sent in upon him by his Adversaries and because he had not paid his Fees for the Popes Grant or Bull as they call it they also Excommunicated him The Man was reduced to extream Poverty for his Revenues both before and after his return were for the most part gather'd up by the Kings Collectors and brought into his Exchequer and what ever his Friends could make up was given to the King and his Courtiers And when the Kings Officers were again sent to take Possession of his Estate Guards were set upon him by the King his Houshold Servants were discharg'd and he was kept pris'ner in his Castle and thereby was depriv'd of the Advice of his Friends also William Sivez his Capital Enemy was First impos'd upon him by the King as his Coadjutor as they call him as if he had been besides himself The Pope also afterwards approving of the Man for that Service and also the aforesaid Sivez was made Inquisitor by the Power of the Adverse Faction to inquire into his Life and Conversation many trifling many
on the Trial hereupon the Names of the Judges or Jury were according to Custom which I have elsewhere mentioned impannell'd and none of them were excepted against by the adverse Party yet by all their Votes he was acquitted From thence they marched to the Castle of Langham from thence they drove out the English and as they resolved to attempt other Forts they were call'd back by a sudden Message For News were brought them that a French Fleet was seen not far from the Promontory of St. Ebb wherein were one and twenty Ships The Regent imagining what the matter was that they were come to besiege the Castle of St. Andrews as had been agreed between them march'd joyfully home there he discoursed Leon Strozy Admiral of the French Fleet and they both agreed to lay close Siege to the Castle which they did with so much Celerity that many of the Garison-Souldiers which were abroad could not come in and many Country-men which had no hand in the Conspiracy but occasionally came into the Castle about their private Affairs could not get out They planted their Brass Guns upon the Towers of two Churches which stood near on both sides the Castle which did so annoy the whole Court within the Castle-Walls that the Defenders could hardly stir in or out And afterwards they brought bigger pieces of Ordnance and play'd upon part of the Wall which stood between two Towers which was soon batter'd down because the later Buildings were not at all compacted with the former and so it fell down with a mighty Noise Hereupon they within who before trusted to their Fortifications and were ready to expose themselves to stop any Breach now began to be afraid and calling together a Council of War because they fear'd the Cruelty of the Regent in revenging the Death of his Kinsman such Sentiments making deep Impressions on infirm Minds they surrendred the Castle and themselves to Leon Strozy only upon Quarter for Life Leon hereupon sent in his Men to pillage the Castle wherein was found besides a great Quantity of Provisions of all sorts all the Cardinal's Mony and Houshold-stuff and all the Wealth of the Garison-Souldiers and of many others also who had laid up their Goods there as in a place of Refuge there also they found the Regent's Son who was before given in Hostage by his Father to the Cardinal and when he was slain was detain'd there The Castle was demolish'd by Advice and Order of the Council and a few days after Leon set Sail with his Prisoners for France These things fell out in August 1547. About the same time News was brought that the English had prepared great Forces both by Land and Sea to invade Scotland and to demand the Performance of the Treaty which was made four Years before with the Regent concerning the Marriage of the Queen of Scotland to the King of England's Son This sudden Report mightily affected the Regent who was faint-hearted enough of himself for he had then no foreign Aid neither did he much confide in his own forces For the Papal Faction were offended at his Levity and the Friends of exil'd Lennox having been cruelly intreated by him retained the Seeds of their old Hatred against him yet upon his Proclamation there came in great numbers to Edinburgh from thence they march'd to the Mouth of the River Esk which runs through Lothian and there waited for the coming of the English In the mean time the Scotish Horse rode up towards the Enemy in their March and challenged them to fight by this means creating some trouble to them in their Passage But the English General who knew that the Scots were better than his own Men at such tumultuary Skirmishes had given Command that none of his Troops should march out to encounter them At last upon the Importunity of Grey Commander of the Horse he was persuaded to send out some Troops of Horse well-armed and of Curiasiers which should suddenly rush in upon them unprepared for Resistance The Scots being grown fearless of the Enemy but now astonish'd at the sudden Onset brake their Ranks and fled for their Lives and about 800 of them were either slain or taken of the English also who prest too eagerly on the pursuit several were taken Prisoners amongst which were some eminent Horse-Commanders From that day forward there was no memorable Action performed by the Scotish Horse The English had their Camp at the Town of Preston a little more than a Mile from Them From thence they might behold the number of the Scotish Army from the high Ground and perceiving them to be more than they thought they advised what course to take and resolved to send Letters to the Scots that so if just and equal Conditions might be agreed on the matter might be compos'd rather by Treaty than by Force The Contents of the Letters were They earnestly desired the Scots to remember that both Armies profess'd the Christian Religion to whom unless they did renounce their Profession nothing ought to be more dear than Peace and Tranquillity and nothing more to be abhorr'd than unjust Arms and War that the cause of the present War was not Covetousness Hatred or Envy but a Desire of perpetual Peace which could no ways so firmly coalesce as by a Marriage which had been already promised by the publick Decree and Consent of all the Estates and ratified by a League and that on such Conditions as were more advantageous to the Scots than the English not to reduce them into an Estate of Servitude but to a joint Society of Life and Participation and Communion of all their Fortunes which Marriage would be so much the more beneficial to the Scots than English because the Weaker might expect Advantage from the Stronger as being possess'd with a greater Fear lest he might be wrong'd by him And at the present in casting up accounts of things you are first to consider the Case that it is very necessary your Queen should marry that necessity was inevitable and that it was a difficult thing to moderate it and that the sole Power of chusing her an Husband was left to the Estates If they would chuse a Family upon the account of Dignity and publick Advantage whom could they pitch upon better than a Neighbour King born in the same Island ally'd in Blood instituted in the same Laws educated in the same Manners and Language and superior not in Power alone but in all external Ornaments and Accessions of Dignity And besides this Marriage would bring with it a perpetual Concord and an Oblivion of all old Grudges But if they had Thoughts to bring in a Stranger amonst them to undertake the Kingdom that differ'd from them in Language Laws and Customs they should consider how many Inconveniences lodg'd in the Belly of that Design which they might easily foresee by the Examples of other Nations and 't were better so to do than to learn it
managed Designs to alter things The Pope was not wanting by his Exhortations and Promises to stir up their Minds already inraged but the Kings were not sufficiently agreed amongst themselves and their Forces were so exhausted that they rather desired a War than were able to make it Besides there was an Emulation betwixt them one could not well bear that the other should have so great an Accession as England if it were conquered to his Dominions Moreover some Disputes arose betwixt Them and their Subjects which diverted their Thoughts from foreign Affairs though the Novelty of a Woman's Reign and she a young Woman too without an Husband gave Encouragement thereto especially since those who were ill affected to her said she was born to Henry the 8 th in an unlawful Marriage and also the former Differences about the Kingdom and about Religion were rather stifled than extinguished yea the Sparks of Discontent did glow in Mens Minds which in a short time were likely to break forth into a great Flame In the mean time the English Papists had made many Attempts but in vain for they were soon quell'd and though their Designs never succeeded yet Foreigners still feeding them only with blooming Hopes not with real Supplies they still persisted in the same resolute Design wanting rather a Commander for their Numbers than Power or Courage to come together The Common People of that Sect had taken a View of all the Nobility and they found none fit enough to whom they might commit their Lives and Fortunes many of the most stirring had been consumed in the Civil Wars many had past over to the other Party some were so old that they were unfit for publick Business or else the Vigor of their Minds as well as the Strength of their Bodies was so debilitated that they desired Peace if it were but a tolerable one There was only one Man who for Courage and Power seemed fit to undertake so great a Business and that was Thomas Howard who though he was of himself inclinable to Quietness yet there were some Causes which moved him to study Innovations For his Father and Grand-father though they had been highly eminent both in War and Peace yet in the Storms of an unstable Court they had been so toss'd that their highest Glory was ballanc'd with as great Disgrace His Father was condemn'd for Treason and publickly beheaded and Two Queens his Kinswomen had been also put to Death He in those Difficulties was liberally brought up and so preserved his Family from being quite extinguish'd and blown up In his very Youth he gave a Specimen of great Prudence and in a few Years by the Death of his Wives and by new Marriages he grew so rich that next to the Queen he was the most potent of the English for Wealth and Prudence the rest of the Nobility yielded to him but as for his Skill in Military Matters he had yet given no Proof of his Valor but in the Controversies of Religion he carried himself so swimmingly and ambiguously that tho he favoured Popery in his Heart yet he was such a Fosterer of the contrary Party that Many of them made sure of him in their Thoughts as their Own Amids these things the Queen of Scots was overcome in Battel and fled to England whence she wrote Letters to that Queen concerning the cause of her coming she was bid by her to retire to the House of the Lord Scroop Warden of the Marches till she did consider of her Demands in Council Scroop's Wife was Howard's Sister and by her Means the Treaty of Marriage was secretly begun betwixt the Queen and Howard and the Opportunity seemed to be offered by God himself seeing Howard's third Wife was lately dead and he was then a Widower The Design was concealed as being intrusted but to a few yet 't was whisper'd abroad among the Common People For narrow Spirits cannot conceal great Hopes but Ioy gives them Vent and so they fly abroad The Matter was so far advanc'd That the Fire of a Civil War seemed ready to break out yea some were so confident of Success after they had considered the Strength of the Parties that they thought Howard might easily do what he pleased without using any Force Things were in this Posture when the Scots Nobles had a great Meeting at Perth to hear the Demands of both Queen's both of them having wrote to them The Queen of England's Letters proposed one of these Three Conditions The first was absolute That the Queen might be restored to her Throne and Dignity as formerly But if that could not be granted Then that she might reign jointly with her Son that so she might injoy Princely Honour in Letters and publick Acts in the mean time the Regency should be in the Hands of the present Regent till the King came to the Age of seventeen If neither of those could be obtained then the third Condition was if the Queen could be persuaded to accept of it That she should live privately at home being content with those Honours which saving the Authority and Majesty of the King might be granted to her This last Request was easily assented to if the Queen would accept it But the other Two were peremptorily refused For the better and more incorrupt Part of the Nobility were resolute in this That they neither could nor ought to determine any thing which did diminish the King's Authority especially being lawfully inthron'd but the two former Heads did take off from the King's Honour yea it exposed his Life too being a Pupil unless it could be thought that his Mother who was known to be cruel towards her Husband and was not well affected toward her Son neither being exasperated by her Banishment besides should be no more kind to him than she had been ever before Also the Letters from the exil'd Queen were read wherein she desired That some Judges might be appointed to consider of her Marriage with Bothwel and if 't was found contrary to Law that she might be divorced from him Those Letters did highly incense the King's Party because she wrote her self as Queen and commanded them as Subjects Yea some would not have had them answered at all because they indeavoured to abridg the King of his Power and to instate the Rule in the sole Power of an exil'd Queen but that Part of the Council which was for the Queen alleged that they wondered much why those who had formerly the last Year much desired that she would separate her Cause from Bothwel's now when it was freely offer'd to them should hinder it as eagerly or rather more as they had before earnestly desired it if a Word or two in the Letters did displease them that Fault might easily be amended yea some there were who undertook provided the Matter of the Divorce might be handled in the mean time to procure a Commission from her in what Expressions they themselves would have it On the contrary
subject to the Empire of any Men but all Men subject to the Dominion and Power of Them This Law prescribes to us in all our Actions 't is always before our Eyes and Minds whether we will or no it dwells in us Our Ancestors followed it in repressing the Violence of Tyrants by armed Force 'T is a Law not proper to the Scots only but common to all Nations and People in well-instituted Governments To pass by the famous Cities of Athens Sparta Rome Venice who never suffer'd this Right to be taken from them but with their Liberty it self Even in those Times wherein Oppression and Tyranny were most triumphant in the Roman Government if any good Man were chosen Emperour he counted it his Glory to confess himself inferiour to the whole Body of the People and to be subject to the Law For Trajan when he delivered a Sword to the Governour of a certain City according to Custom is reported to say Vse it either for me or against me as I deserve Yea Theodosius a good Emperour in bad Times would have it left recorded amongst his Sanctions and Laws as a Speech worthy of an Emperour yea greater than his Empire it self to confess That he was inferiour to the Laws Yea the most barbarous Nations such as were most remote from all Civility had a Sense and Knowledg hereof as the History of all Nations and common Observation shews But not to insist on obsolete Examples I will produce Two in our own Memory Of late Christiern of Denmark for his Cruelty was driven out of the Kingdom with all his Lineage a greater Punishment than ever our People exacted from any of their Kings for they never punish'd the Sins of the Fathers upon their Children As for him he was deservedly punish'd after a singular manner as the Monster of his Age for all kind of Wickedness But what did the Mother of the Emperour Charles the Fifth do as to deserve perpetual Imprisonment She was a Woman in her flourishing Age and her Husband died young even in the Prime of his Age it was reported She had a mind to marry again she was not accus'd for any Wickedness but for a certain allowable Intemperance as the severe Cato's of the Age speak and as the publick Manners now are of an honest Copulation approved by God's and Man's Law both If the Calamity of our Queen be compared with Christiern's of Denmark she is not less an Offender to say no more but she hath been more moderately proceeded against and punish'd But if she be compared with Ioan of Austria Charles his Mother what did that poor Lady do but desire as far as lawfully she might a Pleasure allowed by the Law and a Remedy necessary for her Age Yet being an innocent Woman she suffer'd that Punishment of which our Queen convict of the highest Wickedness doth now complain The Murder of her lawful Husband and her unlawful Marriage with a publick Parricide have now those same Deprecators who in killing the King did inflict the Punishment due to wicked Men on the Innocent But here they remember not what the Examples of their Ancestors do prompt them to do neither are they mindful of that eternal Law which our noble Progenitors even from the first beginnings of Kingdoms having followed have thereby restrain'd the Violence of Tyrants And in our present Case what have we done more than trod in the Steps of so many Kingdoms and free Nations and so bridled that Arbitrariness which claim'd a Power above Law And yet we have not done it with that Severity neither as our Ancestors have us'd in the like kind for they would never have suffer'd any one who had been found guilty of such a notorious Crime to escape the Punishment of the Law If we had imitated Them we had been free from fear of Danger and also from the Trouble of Calumniators and that may be easily known by the Postulations of our Adversaries How often have they criminated and arraigned us before our Neighbour-Princes What Nations do they not solicite and stir up against us What do they desire by this Importunity Is it only That the Controversy may be decided by Law and Equity We never refused That Condition and they would never accept of It though 't were often offer'd them What then do they desire Even This That we should arm Tyrants by Publick Authority who are manifestly guilty of the most notorious Wickedness who are stuff'd with the Spoils of their Subjects besmear'd with the Blood of Kings and aim at the Destruction of all good Men Shall we set them up over our Lives who are found Actors in the Parricide and shrewdly suspected to be the Designers of it without acquitting themselves in a Judiciary way And yet we have gratified their Request more than the Custom of our Country the Severity of the Law or the Distribution of equal Justice would allow There is nothing more frequently celebrated nor more diligently handled by the Writers of our History than our Punishment of evil Kings And amongst so many peccant Governours who ever felt the like Lenity of angry Subjects in inflicting Punishment as we have used in punishing our King's Mother though evidently guilty of a most atrocious Crime What Ruler standing convict of Murder had ever power given to substitute a Son or Kinsman in his or her place To whom in such Circumstances also was the Liberty ever granted to appoint what Guardians they pleas'd to the succeeding King And in the very Abjuration of the Kingdom Who can complain of any hard Usage A young Woman unable to undergo the Burden and toss'd by the Storms of unsettled Affairs sent Letters to the Nobility to free her from That Government which was as burdensom to her as it was honourable It was granted her She desir'd the Government might be transferr'd from her to her Son her Request was assented to She also desir'd to have the Naming of the Guardians who might manage the Government till her Son came to be of Age it was done as she desir'd And that the thing might have more Authority the whole Matter was referr'd to the Estates in Parliament who Voted That all was rightly done and in good order and they confirm'd it by an Act than which there cannot be a more sacred and a firmer Obligation But 't is alleged What was done in Prison is to be taken not as done willingly but forc'd by Durance for fear of Death and so many other things which Men are inforc'd to do for fear are wont as they ought to go for Nothing Indeed this Excuse of Fear as sometimes it is not without reason admitted by the Judges so it doth not always infer a just Cause for abolishing a publick Act once made in a Suit of Law if a Man strike a Fear into his Adversary for ones own Advantage and so the Plaintiff extorts more from the Defendant than he could ever obtain by the Equity of the Law
Dovalian Faction without the Suffrages of the People The Nobles hearing of it though they judged Nothatus worthy of the worst of Punishments yet did not approve so bad an Example and they took it in greater disdain because a Publick Convention was not consulted but the choice of the chief Magistrate devolved on the Pleasure and Arbitrement of one Man Besides that it was not to be thought an Obliging Act in him thus to advance the young Man to the chief Power who was as yet unfit to Rule For such as look'd narrowly into the matter would find That only the Name of King would be given to Reutherus but the whole Power would reside in Dovalus However it did not much concern the Publick whether Nothatus or Dovalus were King unless perhaps they did hope for a more Tolerable Life under Him who being a private Man durst adventure to Murder his King and so to deliver over the Scepter to another private Man than under one who was not so extream or Cruel in his Government until by the Permission of the People he was back'd with Power and with the Terrour of an Army The Kindred of Nothatus hearing such things to be bruited abroad insinuating themselves into the Societies of those who did Regret such Evil Carriages at last gain'd this Point That War should be denounced against Dovalus and that Ferchard Nothatus his Son in Law should be General of their Army Neither did Dovalus refuse to give Battel They fought twice in one and the same Day the Dovalians though Superior in number yet were beaten and put to flight more of them being Slain in the pursuit than in the Battel For besides Dovalus himself and the chief of his Faction there fell also Getus the King of the Picts with many of his Men. Reutherus the new King was taken Prisoner and pardoned out of respect to his tender Age to the Memory of his Father and to the Royal Blood which ran in his Veins Neither was the Victory Un-bloody even to the Conquerors themselves almost all the chief of the Clans being Slain with many common Souldiers also This Conflict of the Scots and Picts brought matters to that low ebb in Britain that they who survived fled into Desert and Mountainous Places and even into the Neighbour Islands lest they should become a prey to the Brittons who having now gotten that opportunity which they long thirsted after peirced into the Country as far as Bodotria now called Forth without any resistance Afterwards having made a little Settlement of Things there they went forward against the Caledonians and having scattered those who were there gathered together to oppose them they seized upon the Champion Countries of the Picts and placing Garisons there thinking the War to be at an end they return'd home with their Army In the mean time the remainders of the Scots and Picts which had retired to the Mountains Woods and other inaccessible Places did vex the Governors of Castles and Garisons by Robbing them of their Cattle upon which they themselves also did Live and being increased by the accession of greater Forces from the Islands they sometimes burnt Villages and fetcht in Preys further off so that the Ground was left without Tillage in many places The Brittons either being detained by home-bred Dissensions or not thinking it adviseable or safe to lead their Army into such difficult and almost inaccessible Places where they could meet their Enemies with no Forces more numerous than they had to oppose them did by their slow Actings increase the boldness of their Contrariants The Scots and Picts being thus miserably afflicted for Twelve years at length a new Fry of Lusty Warlike Youths grew up who in so great streights that they had undergone were enured to Hardship those sent Messengerâ all about and mutually exhorting one another they resolved to try their Fortunes Whereupon Reutherus sails out of Ireland into the Aebuaae and from thence into Albium and Landing his Forces at the Bay now called Lough Brien and there joyning with young Gethus the Son of old Gethus who was slain who was also his Wifes Brother they Consulted together concerning the Manage of the War The Issue of their Consult was That it was best to draw towards the Enemy unawares whilst he was unprepared assoon as they met the Service was so hot and the Fight so sharp that neither Army had reason to boast so that Both of them being wearied with Slaughter made Peace for some years Reuther or as Bede calls him Reuda returned to his ancient Seat of Argyle and the Scots were a long time after from him called Dalreudini for Daal in old Scotish signifieth a Part as some or a Meadow or Plain as others From whence he made a further Progress and in a short time enlarged his Dominions even to their Ancient Bounds After he had Reigned Twenty Six Years he died leaving a Son behind him named Thereus begot upon the Daughter of Gethus Reutha the Seventh King BEcause Thereus was yet scarce Ten Years old and so too young to undertake the Kingdom according to the Law long before made and observed concerning the Succession of Kings therefore his Uncle Reutha was declared King who being free from External Wars endeavoured to reduce the People who were grown almost wild by their former Sufferings and also insolent upon their late Victory though a bloody one into a milder Carriage and Deportment and accordingly he enacted many publick and profitable Laws of which not a few yet remain amongst the Ancient Scots Having Reigned Seventeen Years with so good a Decorum being reverenced and beloved of all either for want of Health to which he himself imputed it or else fearing the Ambitious Nature of his Kinsman Thereus he resigned up the Government the People being hardly brought to consent thereunto and at his Resignation there was a large Panegyrick made in his Praise Thereus the Eighth King THereus was substituted in his stead in the first Six Years of his Reign he so managed the Government that Reutha's Predictions concerning him seemed to be true But after That time was expired he ran headlong into all manner of Vice not by degrees but all at once insomuch that putting the Nobles to Death by False Indictments some lewd Fellows thereupon did without fear range over all the Kingdom using Rapines and Robberies at their pleasure The Phylarchae i. e. chief of the Clans bewailing the deplorable State of the Publick determined to proceed judicially against him which he having notice of fled to the Brittons where despairing of his return he ended his Days in great Contempt and Ignominy In the mean time Conanus a prudent and regular Person was elected Vice-Roy he restored and strengthened what the other had impaired and weakened he restrained Robberies and having composed Matters as well as he could he received News of the Death of Thereus whereupon in a Publick Assembly or Convention of the
a bloody Fight was begun betwixt them The Victory was a great while hovering and uncertain at last all the valiant Men of the Caledonians being slain the rest having their Courage cooled were forced to retreat to their Fastnesses After this Battel there was no doubt at all but that Agrippa would have subdued all Britain by the force of his conquering Arms if he had not been called home by Domitian not for the Honour of his Victories as was pretended but for his Destruction and Death After his departure Sedition arose in the Roman Camp and the Scots and Picts being glad of the occasion and somewhat encouraged thereby began to creep out of their lurking Places and perceiving that the Romans had not a General nor the same Camp-Discipline as before they sent Envoys up and down to try the Inclination not only of their own Country-men but of the Brittons also Thus in the first place being imboldned by some small successful Skirmishes they began to take heart and to assault Garisons and at last with a formed Army they resolved to venture the hazard of a pitched Field By this means The Romans were expelled out of their Territories and were forced with doubtful success to contend with the Britains for their ancient Province Galdus having obtained respite from War made his Progress all over the several Countries of the Land and resetled the old Owners in their Habitations which had been almost destroyed by the War As for the Places which were wholly void he sent his Soldiers to inhabit them And having restrained the frequent Robberies which were wont to be committed he composed the differences which began to arise betwixt Him and the Picts At length in great Glory and Endearment both with Friends and Foes he deceased in the 35th Year of his Reign Luctacus the Twenty Second King SO good a Father was succeeded by Luctacus as bad a Son who despising the Counsel of his Nobles gave up himself wholly to Drinking and Whoring No nearness of Alliance no Reverence of the Laws no respect of Nobility or of Conjugal Relation did restrain him from his vile lewdness with those Women which he had a Mind to Moreover He was inhumanly Cruel and also unsatiably Covetous The Soldiers and youthful Fry which is still more inclinable to the worse did easily degenerate into the Manners of their King So that at last when he had defiled all with Whoredom Rapines and Slaughters and no one Man durst oppose his exorbitant Power An Assembly of the States being called together and speaking freely concerning the State of the Kingdom he Commanded the Nobles as Seditious Persons to be led out to Execution but by the concourse of the intervening Multitude both He and also the loathed Ministers of his Lust and Lewdness were slain when he had scarce finished the Third Year of his Reign For the Honour had to his Father his Body was allowed to be Buried amongst the Sepulchres of his Ancestors but the Bodies of his Associats were cast out as unworthy of any Burial at all Mogaldus the Twenty Third King AFter him Mogaldus was elected King the Nephew of Galdus by his Daughter In the beginning of his Reign he equalled the best of Kings but growing older he was tainted with Vices and easily degenerated into the Manners of his Uncle When he first entred on the Government that he might with greater Facility cure the vitious Practices committed by the former King which did even contaminate the Publick Manners he made Peace with his Neighbors he restored the Ancient Ceremonies in Religion which had been carelesly neglected He banished all Pimps of Lust and Debauchery from Court and acted all things by the Advice of the Estates according to the Ancient Custom by which Deportment he procured to himself Love at home and Reverence abroad Having setled Matters at home he turned his Mind to Warlike Affairs and drove out the Romans from the Borders of his Kingdom and by his Auxiliaries assisted the Picts against the Injuries of the Romans Yea in some prosperous Battels he so weakned the Roman Power amongst the Britains that They also were erected to some hopes of recovering their Liberty and thereupon took up Arms in many places And their hopes were encreased because the Emperor Adrian had called back Severus a fierce and skilful Warrior out of Britanny into Syria to quell the Seditions of the Iews so that Adrian himself the Tumults more and more increasing was inforced to pass over from Gallia into Britain But he being a greater Lover of Peace than War desired rather to maintain the Bounds of his Empire than to enlarge them Whereupon when he came to York and found the Country beyond it to be harassed by the War he resolved to take a particular View of the Devastation and so marched his Army to the River Tine where being informed by the old Soldiers who had followed Agricola almost to the utmost Bounds of Britanny That there would be more Pains than Profit in Conquering the rest of the Island he built a Wall and Trench for the space of Eighty Miles between the Firths of the Rivers Tine and Esk and so excluded the Scots and Pâcts from their Provincials and having setled the State of the Province be returned back from whence he came Here I cannot but take notice that seeing there yet remain divers Marks of this Wall in many places it is a wonder to me that Bede did wholly omit to mention it especially since Aelius Spartianus hath taken notice of it in the Life of Adrian and also Herodian in the Life of Severus I cannot persuade my self That Bede could be so mistaken to think as many yet do That that Wall was not made by Adrian but by Severus This by the by Hereupon the Roman Province was quieted the Excursions of their Neighbors were prevented and Peace was observed between them for a great while The Britains did easily embrace it and the Scots and Picts had thereby opportunity to divide the Neighboring Lands as a Prey amongst themselves But that Peace besides the prejudice it did to the Body by weakening its Vigor through Sloth and Idleness did also enervate the Mind by the Baits of Pleasure which then began to tickle it For hereby Mogaldus till then Unconquered in War forgetting the Glory of his Ancestors ran headlong into all kind of Vice and besides other pernicious and foul Miscarriages prejudicial to the Publick he made a most unjust Law That the States of such as were condemned should be forfeited to his Exchequer no part thereof being allotted to their Wives or Children This Law is yet observed and pleaded for by the Officers of the King's Revenue who are willing to gratifie his Lust though they then did and yet do know that it is an unjust and inhuman Institution Mogaldus having thus made himself obnoxious and hateful to the Nobles and Commons too being unable to resist their Combinations
the Father in Law of King Fergusius I am most inclined to be of this last Opinion The Wall then being thus Razed the Scots and Picts did Rage with most inhuman Cruelties over the Brittons without distinction of Age or Sex For as Matters then stood the Brittons were weak and unaccustomed to War so that they sent a lamentable Embassy to Rome complaining of the unspeakable Calamities they endured and with great humility and earnestness supplicating for Aid farther alleging That if they were not moved at the Destruction of the Brittons and the loss of a Province lately so splendid an one yet it became the Romans to maintain their own Dignity lest their Names should grow contemptible amongst those Barbarous Nations Hereupon another Legion was again sent for their Relief who coming as Bede says in Autumn an unexpected Season of the Year made great Slaughter of their Enemies The Confederate Kings gathered what Force they could together to beat them back and being encouraged by their Success in former Times and also by the Friendship and Alliance of Dionethus a Britton they drew forth towards the Enemy This Dionethus was well descended in his own Country but always an Adviser of his Countrymen to shake off the Roman Yoke and then especially when so fair an Opportunity was offered and the whole Strength of the Empire was engaged in other Wars whereupon he was suspected by his own Men as an Affector of Novelty and was hated of the Romans but was a Friend to the Scots and Picts who understanding That the Design of the Romans was first to destroy Dionethus as an Enemy near at hand and in their very Bowels to obviate their purpose made great Marches towards them and joyning their Forces with Those of Dionethus's began a a sharp Encounter with the Romans who over-powered by Numbers both in Front and Reer were put to Flight When the Ranks of the Legionary Soldiers were thus broken and gave Ground the Confederate King being too eager in pursuit fell amongst the Reserves of the Romans and the rest of their Army who stood in good Order and were repulsed by them with great Slaughter So that if the Romans being conscious of the smalness of their Number had not forbore any farther pursuit they had doubtless received a mighty Overthrow that Day but because the loss of some Soldiers in but a small Army was most sensible therefore they were less joyous at the Victory Maximianus so our Writers call him who commanded the Roman Legion being dismayed at this Check retired into the midst of his Province And the Opposite Kings returned each to his own Dominion Hereupon Dionethus took the Supreme Authority upon him and being clothed in Purple after the manner of the Romans carries himself as King of the Brittons When the Romans understood that their Enemies were dispersed they gathered what Force they could together and encreased them with British Auxiliaries and so marched against Dionethus who infested the Provinces adjoyning to him for they thought to subdue him from whom their Danger was nearest before his Allies could come to his relief But the Three Kings united their Forces sooner than he imagined and joyning all their Forces together they encouraged their Soldiers as well as they could and without delay drew forth their Armies to the Onset The Roman General placed the Brittons in the Front and the Romans in the Reserves The Fight was fierce and the Front giving Ground Maximianus brought on his Legion and stopt the Brittons in their flight and then sending about some Troops to fall on the Rear some Brigades of Scots being incompassed by them drew themselves into a Ring where they bravely defended themselves till the greatest part of their Enemies Army falling upon them they were every Man slain Yet their loss gave Opportunity to the rest to escape There fell in that Fight Fergus King of the Scots and Durstus King of the Picts Dionethus being wounded was with great difficulty carried off to the Sea and in a Skiff returned home This Victory struck such a Terrour to all that it recalled the memory of Ancient Times in so much that many consulted whither to betake themselves for their Place of Exile Fergusius died when he had Reigned Sixteen Years a Man of an Heroick Spirit and who may deservedly be called The Second Founder of the Scotish Kingdom yea perhaps he may be said to exceed the former Fergusius in this That he came into a void Country and that by the Concession of the Picts neither had he the unconquered Forces of the Romans to deal with but with the Brittons who though somewhat yet not much Superiour to them in Accoutrements and Provisions for War were yet their Inferiours in enduring the Hardships of the Field But this later Fergusius when almost all were slain who were able to bear Arms being also brought up in a Foreign Country and after the 27th Year of his Banishment from his Own being sent for as an unknown King by those Subjects who were as unknown to him marched with a mixed Army packed up of several Nations against the Brittons who were sometimes also assisted by the Forces of the Romans so that if God had not manifestly favoured his Designs he might seem to have undertaken a very Temerarious Attempt and bordering upon Madness it self When he was slain he left three Sons behind him very young Eugenius Dongardus and Constantius Graham their Uncle by the Mother's side was by Universal Consent appointed Guardian over them and in the mean time till they came to be of Age he was to manage the Government as Regent He was a Person of that Virtuous Temper that even in the most Turbulent Times and amidst a most fierce Nation who were not always obedient no not to Kings of their own Nation yet there hapned no Home-bred Sedition in his time though he himself were a Foreigner Eugenius or Evenus II The Forty First King EVgenius or Evenus the Eldest Son of Fergusias had the Name of King but the Power was in the Hands of Graham he caused a Muster to be made of the Soldiers all over the Land and when he found that his Militia was weakned by former Fights beyond what he thought he saw that nothing then was to be done and so ceased from making any Levies But the Roman Legion having releived their Allies and as they were Commanded being about to return into the Continent spoiled all their Enemies Country within the Wall of Severus and slew the Inhabitants 't is true they restored the Lands to the Brittons but they kept the Prey for themselves So that the Remainders of the Scots and Picts who supervived their late loss were again shut up between the two Firthâ of the Sea Matters being reduced to this pass the Romans declared to the Brittons with how great and strong Armies they were beset who had conspired to destroy the Roman Name and Empire so that they were not
other Reserves into Service he drew on also the Squadrons left to guard the Baggage into the Fight They being intire routed the Brittons which stood against them so that the Victory began on that side whence the fear of a Total overthrow did proceed The rest of the Brittons following the Fortune of the other Brigade ran away too and flying into the Woods and Marishes near to the place where the Battel was fought as they were thus straggling dispersed and unarmed their Enemies Baggage-men and Attendants slew abundance of them There fell of the Brittons in this Fight 14000 of their Enemies 4000. After this Fight the Brittons having lost almost all their Infantry send Ambassadors to the Scots and Picts Commissioning them to refuse no Conditions of Peace whatsoever The Confederate Kings seeing they had All in their Power were somewhat inclined to Mercy and therefore Terms of Peace were offered which were hard indeed but not the severest which in such their afflicted State they might have propounded The Conditions were That the Brittons should not send for any Roman or other Forein Army to assist them That they should not admit them if they came of their own accord nor give them Liberty to march thrâ their Country That the Enemies of the Scots and Picts should be Theirs also vice versâ and That without their Permission they should not make Peace or War nor send Aid to any who desired it That the Limits of their Kingdom should be the River Humber That they should also make present Payment of a certain sum of Money by way of Mâlât to be divided amongst the Soldiers which also was to be paid yearly by them That they should give an hundred Hostages such as the Confederate Kings should approve of These Conditions were entertained by the Brittons grudingly by some but necessarily by all and the same necessity which procured it made them keep the Peace for some years The Brittons being left weak and forsaken of Foreigners that they might have an Head to resort to for publick Advice made Constantine their Countryman a Nobleman of high descent and of great repute whom they had sent for out of Gallick Britanny King He perceiving that the Forces of the Brittons were broken both abroad by Wars and at home by Fewds Robberies and Discords thought fit to attempt nothing by Arms but during the Ten years he reigned he maintained Peace with his Neighbours at last he was Slain by the Treachery of Vortigern a Potent and Ambitious man He left Three Sons behind him of which Two were under Age the Third and Eldest as unfit for Government was thrust into a Monastery yet he was made King principally by the Assistance of Vortigern who sought to obtain Wealth and Power to himself under the Envy of another mans Name The Fields which were now tilled in time of Peace after a most grievous Famine yielded such a plentiful Crop of Grain that the like was never heard of in Britain before And from hence those Vices did arise which usually accompany Peace as Luxury Cruelty Whoredom Drunkenness which are more pernicious than all the Mischiefs of War There was no Truth or Sincerity to be found and that not only amongst the Vulgar but even the Monks and the Professors of an Holier Life made a mock at Equity Faithfulness and constant Piety of Life of which Bede the Anglo-Saxon and Gildas the Britton do make an heavy Complaint In the mean time the Ambassadors who returned from Aetius brought word That no relief could be expected from him for the Brittons had sent Letters to Aetius some Clauses whereof as they are mentioned by Bede I shall here recite both because they are a succinct History of the Miseries of that Nation and also because they demonstrate How much many Writers are mistaken in their Memoirs The Words are these To Aetius the third time Consul the Complaints of the Brittons And a little after The Barbarians drive us to the Sea the Sea beats us back again upon the Barbarians between These two kinds of Deaths we are either Killed or Drowned Now Aetius was joyned in his Third Consulship with Symmachus in the 450th year after Christ. Neither could there any Aid be obtained from him who was then principally intent upon the observing the Motions of Attila The rest of the Brittons being driven to this desperate point only Vortigern was glad of the publick Calamity and in such a general hurly-burly he thought he might with greater Impunity perpetrate that Wickedness which he had long before designed in his mind which was to cause the King to be Slain by those Guards which he had appointed about him and afterwards to avert the suspition of so foul a Parricide from himself in a pretended Fit of Anger as if he were impatient of delay in Executing Revenge he caused the Guards also to be put to death without suffering them to plead for themselves Thus having obtained the Kingdom by the highest degree of Villany he managed it with as little Sanctity For suspecting the Faithfulness of the People towards him and not confiding in his own strength which was but small he engaged the Saxons to take his part who then exercised Pyracy at Sea and infested all the shores far and near He procured their Captain Hengist with a strong Band of Soldiers to come to him with three Galleys and he assigned Lands to him in Britain so that now he was to fight not as for a strange Country but as for his own Demeasne and Estate and therefore was likely to do it with greater Alacrity When this was noised abroad such large Numbers of Three Nations the Iutes the Saxons and the Angles are reported to have flocked out of Germany into Britain that they became formidable even to the Inhabitants of the Isle First of all about the year of our Lord 449. Vortigern being strengthned by those Auxiliaries joyned Battel with the Scots and Picts whom he Conquered and drove beyond the Wall of Adrian As touching Eugenius the King of the Scots there goes a double Report of him some say he was slain in fight beyond the River Humber others that he died a natural Death However he came by his end this is certain he governed the Scots with such Equity that he may deservedly be reckoned amongst the Best of their Kings For tho' he spent the first Part of his Life almost from his Childhood in War yet he so profited under the Discipline of his Grandfather and his Mind was so established thereby that neither Military Freedom as it usually doth did draw him to Vice neither did it make him more negligent in conforming his Manners to the Rule of Piety nor did his prosperous Success make him more arrogant And on the other side the Peace and Calm he enjoyed did not abate the sharpness of his Understanding nor break his Martial Spirit but he managed his Life with such an equal and
poised Temper that by the advantage of his natural Disposition he did equal or rather exceed those Princes who are instructed in the Liberal Arts and from thence come to the Helm of Government Dongardus The Forty Second King THE same Year that Eugenius died which was in the 452 Year of our Lord his Brother Dongardus was made King in his place He was of a Disposition like his Brother for as he was willing to embrace Peace upon good Conditions so when occasion required he was not afraid of War And therefore in reference both to Peace and War he not only prepared all things necessary to resist the Invasion of an Enemy but also he trained up the Youth and Soldiery of his Country in Pains and Parsimony That so they might be restrained from Vice and their minds not grow feeble and languid by long Quiet and too much Prosperity But the Seditions at home raised by the Brittons were the Cause that his Arms were not much famed abroad But being freed from that Encombrance he gave himself wholly up to the Reformation of Religion for the Reliques of the Pelagian Heresy did as yet trouble the Churches To confute them Pope Celestine sent Palladius over in the life of his Father Eugenius who instructed many that grew afterwards famous for Learning and Sanctity of Life and especially Patricius Servanus Ninianus Kentâgernus The same Palladius is reported to have appointed Bishops first in Scotland Whereas till then the Churches were govern'd only by Monks without Bishops with less Pomp and external Ceremony but with greater Integrity and Sanctimony of Life The Scots being thus intent about purging and settling Religiân and Divine Worship escaped free from that Tempest of War which did shatter almost the whole World In the Second year of the Reign of Eugenius Vortigern was deposed and his Son Vortimer chosen King of the Brittons He renewed the Ancient League with the Scots and Picts that so he might more easily break the Power of the Saxons which was also made Tripartite of Three Nations against the Romans in the Days of Carausius Dongardus did not long survive this League for he died after he had reigned Five Years Constantine I. The Forty Third King COnstantinos his youngest Brother succeeded him in the Government who in his private Condition lived temperately enough but as soon as he mounted the Throne he let loose the Reins to all Debauchery He was avaricious and cruel towards the Nobility but familiar with men of an inferiour Rank He gave himself wholly to the Constupration of Virgins and Mâtrons and to excessive Feastings having always Musicians and Stage-players about him and all other Ministers of Lasciviousness and Pleasures The Scotch Nobility being offended at these Miscarriages came often to him to put him in mind of his Duty He received their Admonitions very haughtily bidding them to look after their own Affairs saying That he had better Advice from others He also told them That they were much mistaken if they thought to Limit their King on pretence of Advising him And as he was thus arrogant towards his Subjects so he was as abject and submissive to his Enemies For he granted them Peace at first asking and forgave them the Injuries they had committed withal he demolished some Castles and deliver'd up others to them This Carriage of his did so far incense the Scots and Picts that the Scots were ready to Rebel and the Picts who before had secretly dealt with the Saxons set up for themselves and at last made a publick League with them But amongst the Scots there was one Dugal of Galway of great Authority amongst the Commons he for the present restrained the Multitude by an Insinuating Oration wherein he acknowledged That many of those things which they complained of were true and what they desired was just But yet if War should come as an accession to their other Miseries the Kingdom would be endangered yea hardly retrievable from Destruction especially seeing the Picts were alienated from them the Brittons since Vortimers Death but their uncertain Friends and the Saxons who were very strong and potent and who managed there Victories with great Cruelties and in whose Commerce their was no Faithfulness were always intent upon the Destruction of all their Neighbours Thus by the Prudence of the Ancienter the Tumult of the Common People was appeased but the King continuing to reign tho' with the Hatred and Contempt of all was at length slain by a Nobleman of the Aebudae for vitiating his Daughter by force in the Fifteenth year of his Reign This is the common Report concerning his Death but I rather incline to the Opinion of Iohannes Fordonus who says in his Scotochronicon that he reigned 22 years and at last died of a wasting Disease In his Reign Aurelius Ambrosius came into This Britain out of the Lesser beyond Sea he was the Son of Constantine who held the Kingdom some years before but he being Treacherously Slain and his Brother who reigned after his Father being also slain by Vortigern by like Treachery the Two other remaining Sons of Constantine were conveyed by their Fathers Friends into Gallick Bretagne I think this Original of Aurelius Ambrosius is truer than That which others deliver among whom is Bede for they say that he was the last of the Roman stock who reigned in Britanny These two Brothers when Vortimer was slain by the fraud of his Stepmother and Vortigern had made himself King without Authority or Power being now grown up and fit to Govern returned with the great Favour and Expectation of all men into the Island to recover their Fathers Kingdom and withal they brought no inconsiderable number of Britains out of Gaul along with them After their Arrival before they would alarm the strangers they subdued Vortigern in Wales and then sent Messengers to the Scots and Picts desiring their Allyance and craving their Conjunction in Arms against the Saxons the most bitter Enemies of the Christian Name Their Embassy was kindly received by the Scots and the League before made with Constantine was again renewed which from that day remained almost inviolate till the Kingdom of Britanny was oppressed by the Angles and the Kingdom of the Picts by the Scots But the Picts answered the British Ambassadors That they had already made a League with the Saxons and that they saw no Cause to break it but they were resolved to run all hazards with them for the future as partakers of their good or bad success Thus the whole Island was divided into Two Factions the Scots and Brittons waging continual War against the Picts and Saxons Congallus I. The Forty Fourth King COngallus succeeded Constantine the Son of Dongardus Constantine's Brother He was inclineable to Arms but durst not then attempt any thing in regard the People were effeminated and weakned by Sloth and Luxury during the Reign of his Uncle And tho' Many in compliance with his
which he had spoken and therefore he committed the whole affair to Goranus his Management he easily persuades Vter not only to make an Alliance but to contract an Affinity too with the Picts giving him Anna who was either his Sister or else his Daughter begotten in lawful Wedlock to Wife I am rather of their Opinion who think she was his Sister as judging that the Mistake arose from hence That Vter had another Natural Daughter called Anna by a Concubine After this League between these Three Kings many Victories were obtained over the Saxons so that the Name of Vter began to be great and formidable all over Britain After all the Commanders of the Saxons were slain and the Power of those that remain'd broken and so things made almost hopeless and desperate among them Vter might have been accounted one of the greatest Kings of his Age unless by one foul and impious Fact he had blurred all his other great Virtues There was one Gorlois a Noble Britton of great Valour and Power when Vter as yet was but a private Man he fell mightily in Love with his Wife named Igerne a very beautiful Woman but her Chastity being a long time a Guard against his Lust at last her Continency was conquered by Merlin an audaciously wicked Man and in this Adulterous course he begat a Son on her Named Arthur Vter his own Lawful Wife being Dead being now freed from Nuptial Bonds and made King and so as he thought free from Law too not being able to bear the absence of Igerne out of Love to her attempted a very Temerarious Project He framed an Accusation against Gorlois besieged his Castle took it slew him Married Igerne and owned Arthur for his own Son Educating him Nobly in hopes of the Kingdom And seeing the Infamy reflecting on him by reason of his Wife could not be concealed that he might somewhat extenuate it they broached a Tale not much unlike That which had been often Acted in Theatres about Iupiter and Alâmena viz. That Vter by the Art of Merlin was changed into the shape of Gorlois and so had his first Nights Lodging with Igerne and indeed this Merlin was a Man of that Kidney that he had rather be famous for a Wicked Deed than none at all Arthur thus begot by a stoln Copulation assoon as he grew up appeared so amiable in the Lineaments of his Body and in the Inclinations of his Mind that the Eyes of his Parents and of all his Subjects too were fixed upon him and he gave many Omens of his future Greatness that after his Fathers Death all designed him to be their King And his Father was so much pleased with this Humour of the People that he cherished it by all the Ars he could so that now it was the common Opinion That none but Arthur should be Heir to the Crown Vter died when he had Reigned 17 Years and presently Arthur was set up in his stead though Lothus King of the Picts did much oppose it grievously complaining that his Children for he had Two begotten on Arthur's Aunt who were now of years were deprived of their Kingdom and that a Bastard begotten in Adultery was preferred before them On the other side all the Brittons stood for Arthur and denied that he was to be counted Spurious because Vter Married his Mother at last though it were after his Birth and by that Marriage had treated him as his Legitimate Son and had always accounted him so to be But although they pretended this colour of Right yet that which stood Arthur in most stead was his great Ingenuity and those Specimens of his Virtue which he often shewed yea there was a tacite Impression as it were on the Minds of all Men presaging his future Greatness So that all ran in thick and threefold as we say to his Party in so much that Lothus being born down not only by that Pretence of Right which after that time was always observed in Britanny but by the Affections of the People running another way desisted from his Enterprize in demanding the Kingdom which he did so much the rather do because he was loth to trust his Children for whom That Kingdom was desired to the Brittons who had shewed themselves so averse to Them Besides the Intreaties of his Friends did prevail with him who all alledged That no Kingdom ought to be so dear to him as that for the sake thereof he should joyn in Affinity with Infidels to the overthrow of the Christian Religion who would no more Inviolably keep their League and Alliance with him than they had done before with the Brittons Moreover the Liberal and Promising Disposition of Arthur and the Greatness of his Mind even above his Age did much affect him Insomuch that the League made by former Kings betwixt the Scots Picts and Brittons was again renewed and thereupon so great a Familiarity ensued that Lothus promised to send Galvinus the youngest of his Two Sons unto the British Court as soon as he was old enough to endure Travel Arthur entred upon the Regal Government before he was full Eighteen Years of Age. But as his Courage was above his Age so Success was not wanting to his Daring Spirit for whereas his Father had divided the Kingdom by certain Boundaries with the Saxons and had made Peace with them on Conditions The fair Opportunity offered them by reason of the youthful Age of the King more prevailed with them to break the Peace than the Sanctity of the League to observe it Arthur that he might quench the Fire in the beginning gathered an Army together sooner than any Man could imagine and being assisted with Auxiliaries from the Scots and Picts he overthrew the Enemy in Two great Battels compelling them to pay Tribute and to receive Laws from him With the same eagerness and speed he took London the Metropolis of the Saxons Kingdom and having setled things there he marched his Army directly towards York But the report of Auxiliary Forces coming out of Germany and the approach of Winter compelled him to raise his Siege from thence But the next Summer after as soon as ever he came before York he had it immediately surrendred to him his unexpected Success the Year before had struck such a Terrour into the Minds of Men. He took up his Winter-Quarters there whither there resorted to him the prime Persons of the Neighbourhood and of his Subjects where they spent the later end of December in Mirth Jollity Drinking and the Vices which proceed therefrom so that the Representations of the old Heathenish Feasts dedicated to Saturn were here again revived but the Number of the Days they lasted were doubled and amongst the Wealthier sort trebled during which time they count it almost a Sin to treat of any serious Matter Gifts are sent mutually from and to one another Frequent Invitations and Feastings pass between Friends and Domestick Offenders are not punished Our Countrymen call this Feast
Dominion of the Bishop of Rome only and gave himself out to be the only Arch-Bishop of the Isle of Britain and withal introduced a Dispute neither Necessary nor Advantageous concerning the Day on which Easter was to be kept and did by this means mightily trouble the Churches Yea he so loaded the Christian Discipline which was then inclining toward Superstition with such new Ceremonies and feigned Miracles that he scarce left any Mark or Footstep of true Piety behind him Kennethus I. The Fiftieth King AFTER Aidanus Kennethus was Elected King he did nothing Memorable in his time He died the 4th or as some say the 12th Month after he began to Reign Eugenius IIII. The Fifty First King AFter him Eugenius the Son of Aidanus was made King In the year of our Lord 605. He was brought up as the Black Book of Pasley hath it piously and carefully under Columba being very well educated in human Learning yet in This he swerved from the Institution of his Master that he was more addicted to War than Peace For he exercised the Saxons and Picts with daily Incursions His Government was very severe and rough Those who were proud and contumacious sooner felt the point of his Sword than they received from him any Conditions of Peace but to those who asked Pardon for their offences and voluntarily surrendred themselves he was very merciful and easy to forgive and not at all insolent in his Victories This is what That Book reports concerning Eugenius But Boetius says on the contrary That he lived in great Peace which happened not so much from his Foreign Leagues as from the Discords of his Enemies who maintain'd Civil Wars amongst themselves For the English inhabiting the South Parts making Profession of Christianity whilst they endeavoured to revenge the injuries offered to them deprived Ethelfrid the Potent King of Northumberland both of his Life and Kingdom together Edvinus succeeded him and the kindred of Ethelfrid fled into Scotland amongst whom were Seaven of his Sons and one Daughter This was done in the Tenth year of the Reign of Eugenius He entertain'd these Saxons flying to him for Refuge tho' he knew them to be Enemies both to him and the whole Christian Name with great Courtesy and Humanity as long as he lived giving them Royal Reception and causing them to be carefully educated in the Christian Religion He died in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign and was much Lamented by all Men. Ferchardus I. The Fifty Second King HIS Son Ferchardus was substituted in his room in the Year of Christ 522. and in the 13th year of Heraclius the Emperour He being a Cunning and Politick Man endeavoured to change the Legitimate Government of the Land into Tyranny in order whereto he nourished Factions amongst the Nobility supposing by that means to effect what wickedly he designed with Impunity But the Nobles understanding his Malicious aim secretly made up the Breach amongst themselves and calling an Assembly of the Estates Summoned him to appear which he refusing to do they Stormed the Castle wherein he was and so drew him per force to Judgment Many and grievous Crimes were objected against him and particularly the Pelagian Heresy the Contempt of Baptism and other Sacred Rites When he was not able to purge himself from any One of them he was committed to Prison where That he might not live to be a publick Spectacle of disgrace he put an End to his own Life in the 14th Year of his Reign Donaldus IIII. The Fifty Third King HIS Brother Donaldus or Donevaldus mounted the Throne in his stead who calling to mind the Elogy of his Father and the Miserable end of his Brother made it his Business to maintain the true Worship of God and that not only at home but he sought by all Lawful means to propagate it abroad For when Edwin was dead he furnished the Kindred and Children of Ethelfrid who had remained Exiles in Scotland for many Years with Accommodations to return home he bestowed upon them Gifts he sent Forces to accompany them and gave them free Liberty to pass and repass as occasion required This Edwin afore spoken of was slain by Kedvalla as Bede calls him King of the Brittons and by Penda King of the Mercians One of which was his Enemy out of ancient hatred to the Nation The Other for his new embracing of Christianity but Both for the Emulation of his power The Victory is reported to have been most Cruel for whilst Penda endeavoured to root out the Christians and Kedvalla the Saxons their Fury was so great that it spared neither Age nor Sex After the death of Edwin Northumberland was divided into Two Kingdoms Osticus Cousin-German to Edwin was made King of the Deiri and Eanfrid as Bede calls him but our Writers name him Aâdefridus Ethelfrides Eldest Son King of the Bernici They renounced the Christian Religion in which they had been diligently educated one by the Scotish Monks the other by Paulinus the Bishop and revolted to their Ancient Superstition but were both shortly after outed out of their Kingdoms and their Lives too by Penda Oswald the Son of Ethelfrid succeeded them Both a studious Promoter of the Christian Religion He sent Ambassadors into Scotland to Donaldus to desire him to send him some Christian Doctors which he did Men of great Sanctity and Learning and who were accordingly received by him with great curtesy entertained magnificently and rewarded amply Neither did he think it below his Kingly Dignity to interpret the Sentences of their Sermons Preached to the People who did not so well understand the Scotish Language whom he gathered together for that purpose all which is clearly expressed by Bede Donaldus died in the 14th year of his Reign leaving the precious Memory of his Virtues behind him Ferchardus II. The LIV. King FERCHARDVS his Brother Ferchardus's Son succeeded him a most slagitious Person unsatiable in his desires of Wine and Wealth of inhuman Cruelty towards Men and of as great Impiety towards God When his Cruelty and Rapine had raged against those without he converted his Fury upon his Domesticks killing his Wife and Vitiating his Daughter for which hainous Wickedness he was Excommunicated out of the Society of Christians And as the Nobles were about to Assemble by way of Consultation about his Punishment Coleman that Holy Bishop stopped them for he openly told him That Divine Vengeance should speedily overtake him and the Event verified his Prediction for a few days after as he was a Hunting he was hurt by a Wolf and fell into a Feaver and not being able to abstain from his former Intemperance at last his Body was eaten up by the Lowsie Disease and then he cryed out That he was deservedly punished because he had not hearkned to the wholsom Advice of Coleman Thus at last seeing his Error and Coleman comforting him with hopes of Pardon in case he truly repented He
noted for a Wizard detected and discovered the whole Conspiracy For the Young Girl having blabbed out a few days before some words concerning the Sickness and Death of the King being apprehended and brought to the Rack to be tortured at sight thereof presently discovered what was designed against the Life of the King Whereupon some Soldiers were sent who found the Maids Mother and some other Gossips Roasting the Kings Picture made in Wax by a soft Fire Their design was that as the Wax did leisurely melt so the King being dissolved into a Sweat should pine away by degrees and when the Wax was quite consumed then his breath failing him he should presently die when this Picture of Wax was broken and the Witches punished in the same Month the King was freed from his Disease as some say These things I deliver as I receiv'd them from our Ancestors What to think of this sort of Witchcraft I leave to the Judgment of the Reader only minding him That this story is found amongst our Ancient Archives and Records Amidst these things the fear of the King beâng laid aside because they hoped he would shortly die many Robberies and Murders were committed every where Duffus having recovered his strength followed the Robbers thro' Murray Ross and Caithnes and slew many of them at occasional Onsets but he brought the Chief of them to Foress That so their Punishment might be the more conspicuous in that Town There Donaldus Governor of the Town and Castle Petitioned the King to pardon some of his Relations who were of the Plot but being denied he conceived great Indignation against the King as if he had been highly wronged whereupon he was wholly intent on Thoughts of Revenge for he judged That his deserts from the King were so great that whatever he asked of him he ought not to be denied And besides the Wife of Donald seeing some of her Kindred too were like to suffer did further inflame the already disaffected Heart of her Husband by bitter words Moreover exciting him to attempt the Kings Death affirming That seeing he was Governor of the Castle The Kings Life was in his Power and having that Power he might not only perpetrate the Fact but conceal it after it was committed Hereupon when the King tired with business was sounder asleep than ordinary and his Attendants being made Drunk by Donald were in a Dead-sleep also he sent in Assassins no man being aware and after they had Murdered the King they carried him out so cunningly a back way that not so much as a drop of Blood appeared and so he was buried two Miles from the Abby of Kinloss under a little Bridge in a blind place having Grassy-Turfs of Earth cast over him that there might be no sign of any Ground that was digg'd up This seems a more likely story to me than what others write that the course of the River was turned and so his Body was cast into a hole at Bottom but when the Waters were returned again to their own Chanel then his Grave such as it was was covered Also the Actors of that bloody Fact were sent away because there is an Opinion received from our Ancestors which as yet obtains amongst the Vulgar That blood will Issue from a dead Body many days after the party was murdered if the murderer be present as if the fact had been but newly committed The day after when the Report was spread abroad that the King was missing and that his Bed was besprinkled with blood Donald as if he had been surpriz'd at the atrocity of the Fact flys into the Kings Bed-Chamber and as if he had been mad with Anger and Revenge he slew the Officers appointed to attend him after that he presently made diligent inquiry every where if any discovery of the dead Body might be made The rest being amazed at the Fact and afraid too of their own selves returned every one to his own house Thus this Good King was wickedly slain in the Flower of his Age after he had Reigned 4 Years and 6 Months and as soon as they conveniently could the Estates Assembled to create a New King Culenus The Seventy Ninth King CVlenus the Son of Indulfus being made King by the Assembly of the Estates the next Thing there done was the questioning the Murder of King Duffus and they made the more haste to examine that Affair because of some Prodigies that had hapned of which one seemed properly to respect the very Fact An Hawk was slain truss'd by an Owl and his Throat cut by him The other Prodigy was also referred to the same thing in the interpretation of the Vulgar For six whole months after the Murder was committed extraordinary Fires appeared in the Element the Air was agitated with extraordinary Winds Yea the Heavens were so coloured and enveloped with Clouds that neither Sun nor Moon could be seen in Scotland all that time Hereupon all Men were intent to revenge the good Kings death and to that purpose Culenus went into Murray hoping to find some surer Discoveries of the Murder upon the place where it was committed Donald hearing of his coming and being conscious to himself of his Parricidal and Nofarious Cruelty of which also his over-curious and seemingly wild Inquisitiveness made in search after the Authors thereof rendred him more suspected procured a Ship at the mouth of the River Spey wherein with some others he embarked himself unknown even to his Wife and Children This he did out of fear lest the Truth should have been extorted from him by the Rack This his hasty flight his dejected Countenance as it was observed his few Attendants his trembling at his entrance into the Ship which was but casually riding there without any preparation for his Voyage did raise so great a suspicion upon him in the minds of all who were present that they forbore not to vent all manner of Contumelies against him calling him an Impious Sacrilegious Fellow and a Paricide and what other foul terms of reproach their inflamed anger could suggest They added also That though he had prevented the coming of the King yet he could never avoid the Vindictive Providence and Judgment of Almighty God In a word they followed him with all the Execrations which the highest Indignation did offer to provoked Minds even till the Ship was quite out of sight When Culenus heard of his hasty flight he speeded his march thither where he apprehended the Wife of Donaldus and his three Children and for fear of Torture compelled them to discover the whole Series of the Conspiracy as also how by whom and where the Body was buried and that she her self was not only privy to the Murder but also a fellow-actor in it and a persuader of her Husband thereunto When the People heard this for she was publickly Tried the Magistrates could hardly dissuade them from tearing her to pieces The day after Donaldus having been tossed some days
Angus There he landed his Men and attempted to take in some Places but being disappointed he fell a plundering Having pitched his Tents at Balbridum i. e. the Village of St. Bride word was brought him by his Spies that the Scots Forces were scarce two miles distant from him whereupon both Generals according to the Exigence of the time exhorted their Men to fight and the next day they were all ready at their Arms almost at one time The third day they fought with so great eagerness and fury as either new Hope or old Hatred could occasion and suggest At last the Scots prevailed and Camus endeavouring to secure the Remainders of his Army by flying to the Mountains towards Murray before he had gone two miles was overtaken by the Pursuers and he and all his Men cut off There are Monuments extant of this Victory in an Obeliske and a Neighbouring Village which as yet retains the Memorable Name of Camus Another Band of them were cut off not far from the Town of Breichin where also another Obeliske was erected The Remainder being few in Number under the Covert of the night made to their Ships These last were tossed up and down several days in the raging Sea by cross Winds at length coming to the inhospitable Shore of Buchan they rode there so long at Anchor till they were necessitated for want to send about 500 of their Men ashore to get some Relief out of the Neighbouring Country Mernanus the Thane of the place stopp'd them from returning to their Ships and compelled them to retire to a steep Hill where being assisted by the Conveniency of the place they defended themselves with Stones and slew many of the Scots who rashly attempted them At last the Scots encouraged one another and in several Parties in great Numbers got up the Hill and put every Man of the Danes to the Sword There also as well as at Bambreid when the Wind blows up the Sand there are Bones discovered of a greater Magnitude than can well suit with the Stature of the Men of our Times Yet Sueno was not discouraged no not with this Overthrow also but sent his Son Canutus with new Levies into Scotland He landed his Souldiers in Buchan and so preyed upon the Country Malcolm though he had yet hardly recovered his Loss sustained in former Battels yet made head against him and being not willing to hazard all by fighting a pitched Battel he thought it best to weary the Enemy with light Skirmishes and to keep him from plundering for by this means he hoped in a short time to reduce him to great want of Provisions as being in an Enemies Country almost quite wasted and desolated by the Miseries of War before He followed this Counsel for some days but at last when the Scots had got a full understanding of their Enemies Strength they less diffided their Own and both Armies being equally pressed with Want did unanimously crave a Signal to the Battel pretending unless it were given they would fall to it even without the Consent of their Generals Hereupon Malcolm set the Battel in array which was fought with such desperate Rage and Fury that neither Party came off in Triumph And though the Victory did nominally rest on the Scots side yet a great part of their Nobility being slain and the rest wearied and discouraged in their Spirits returned to their Camp giving the Danes liberty to retreat without any pursuit The next day when both Parties mustered their Men they found so great a Slaughter to have been made that they willingly admitted some Priests to be Intercessors of Peace between them Whereupon Peace was made on these Conditions That the Danes should leave Murray and Buchan and depart and that as long as Malcolm and Sueno lived neither of them should wage War with one another any more nor help one anothers Enemies That the Field in which the Battel was fought should be set apart and Consecrated for the Burial of the Dead Upon this the Danes withdrew and Malcolm took Order for the Interment of the slain A while after he called an Assembly of Estates at Scone and that he might reward those who had deserved well of their Country he divided all the King's Lands between them On the other side the Nobility granted to the King That when any of them died their Children should be under the Wardship and Tutelage of the King till they arrived at the Age of 21 Years and that the King should receive all their Revenue except what was expended for the Education of the Ward And besides that he should have the Power to give them in Marriage Or otherwise to dispose of them when they were grown up and should also receive their Dowry I judge this Custom came rather from the English and Danes because it yet continues throughout all England and in part of Normandy too Afterwards the King bent his Thoughts to repair the Damages sustained by the War he re-edified many Temples and Sacred Places demolished by the Enemy he built New Castles or else repaired the Old in every Town Having thus restored Peace to the Kingdom by his great Valour he endeavoured further to adorn it with good Institutions and wholsom Laws and in order thereunto be erected New Names for Magistrates I believe such as he borrowed from his Neighbours which served rather for vain Ambition than for any real Use. For in former times there was no Name superior in Honour to that of a Knight except that of Thane i. e. Governor or Sheriff of a Province or Country which Custom as I hear is yet observed amongst the Danes But now a days Princes keep no Mean in instituting New Names or Titles of Honour though there be no use at all of those Names but the bare Sound Thus Malcolm having finished his Toilsom Wars Reigned some Years in great Splendor and Glory But in the Progress of his Age he sullied the Beauty of his former Life with the blot of Covetousness That Vice being incident to Old Men partly grew up in him with his Age and partly arose from that Want which his immoderate Largesses had driven him to So that those Lands which he had unadvisedly distributed amongst the Nobility he did as unjustly and wickedly labour to resume by which means he put some of them to Death and reduced others to great Penury Hereupon the present sense of suffering though sometimes just drowned the Memory of all former Courtesies so that the Injury reaching to a few but the Fear to many the Friends and Kindred of those which were slain and impoverished bent all their Thoughts to revenge Them and to secure Themselves And at last bââbing the King 's Domesticks at Glammes in Angus they were admitted at Night into the King's Bed-Chamber and slew him When they had committed the Fact those bribed Domesticks together with the Parricides took Horse which they had ready
bridled and saddled for all Events and being not able to find the way in regard the Snow covered all the Track they were confounded and arrived at a Lake by the Town of Forfar where endeavouring to pass ovâr the Ice being not very firm they sunk with their Weight and were all drowned Their Bodies lay undiscovered for a season by reason the Ice closed again but when a Thaw came they were found and hung upon Gibbets in the High-ways there to rot for the Terrour of the Living and in Reproach to them after they were dead This is the common Report about Malcolm's End though some write that he was slain by an Ambush laid by the Kinred of Grimus and Constantinus the former Kings after a bloody Bâttel joyned and fought betwixt them Others say that he was killed by the Friends of a Noble Virgin whom he had forceably vitiated but all agree that he came to a violent Death Malcolm Reigned so justly above Thirty Years that unless Avarice had corrupted his Mind in 's Old Age he might well have been numbered amongst the Best of Princes The Year in which he died was a Prodigious One for in the Winter the Rivers did mightily overflow and in Spring there were great Inundations of the Sea And moreover a few Days after the Summer Solstice there were very pinching Frosts and mighty Snows by which means the Fruits of the Earth being spoiled a great Famine did ensue The Seventh BOOK I Have declared in the former Book how eagerly Kennethus and his Son Malcolm did strive to settle the Succession to the Crown in their Families That the Eldest Son might succeed the Father But what the Success thereof was will appear in the Sequel This is certain That that Publick Benefit which was promised to the whole Kingdom nor yet the private Advantage alleged to arise to our Kings thereby were not at all obtained by this New Law An Universal Good to All was pretended in thus settling the Succession that Seditions Murders and Treacheries might be prevented amongst Those of the Blood and also that Ambition with the other Mischiefs accompanying it might be rooted out from amongst the Nobles But on the contrary when I enquire into the Causes of Publick Grievances and compare the Old with the Modern it seems to me That all those Mischiefs which we would have avoided by this New Law are so far from being extinguished by the Antiquating of the Old that they rather receive a great Increase therefrom For not to speak of the Plots of their Kinred against Those who are actually in the Throne nor of a present King 's Evil Suspitions of those whom Nature and the Law would have accounted as most dear to him I say omitting these things which in the Series of our History will be further explained all the Miseries of former Ages may seem light and tolerable if compared with those Calamities which followed upon the Death of Alexander the Third Neither will I insist upon the Particulars following viz. that That Law doth enervate the Force of all Publick Councils without which no Lawful Government can subsist That it doth willingly and by consent create those Evils to our selves which others who have Interest in Publick Governments do chiefly if not only deprecate viz. To have Kings over whom other Governors must be appointed and so the People are to be universally committed into their Power who have no Power over themselves insomuch That those Persons who are hardly brought to Obey Wise Prudent and Experienced Kings are now required to yield Obedience as it were to the very shadow of a King by which means we willingly precipitate our selves into those Punishments which God threatens to Those who despise and contemn his Holy Majesty namely That Children Male or Female may Reign over us whom the Law of Nations and even Nature it self the Mother of all Laws hath subjected to the Rule of others As for the private Benefit That Kings aim at by this Law i. e. That they may perpetuate their Name and Stock how vain and fallacious that Pretence is the Examples of the Ancients yea even Nature it self might inform them if they had but considered by how many Laws and Rewards the Romans endeavoured to perennate the mighty Names of their Families of which yet no one Footstep remains at this Day no not in any part of the World which they had Conquered Which Disappointment doth deservedly attend those who fight against even Nature it self by endeavouring to cloath a fading frail Thing subject to Momentany Alterations and Blasts of Fortune with a sort of Perpetuity and to endow it with a kind of Eternity which they themselves neither are Partakers of nor can be yea they strive to effect it by those Mediums which are most cross to their purpose For what is less conducive to Perpetuity than Tyranny Yet this New Law makes a great Step thereto for a Tyrant is as it were the White or Mark exposed to the Hate of all Men insomuch that he cannot long subsist and when he falls all His fall with him It seems to me That God doth sometimes gently chastize and disappoint this endeavour of Foolish Men and sometimes he doth expose it even to Publick Scorn as if it were emulous of his own Power There can be no clearer or fitter Example of Gods Will and Pleasure than That which we have now under our Hands For Malcolm who so much laboured to confirm the Law which was almost forcibly Enacted by his Father by common Suffrage and Consent For the Kings Children to be substituted in the Room of their deceased Parents even He left no Male-Child behind him but he had Two Daughters One called Beatrix whom he Married to a Nobleman named Grimus the Thane of the Western Islands and the Chief of all other Thanes and therefore styled in that Age Abthane the Other named Doaca he Married to the Thane of Angus by whom he begot Mackbeth or Macbeda of whom in his Place Donaldus VII The Eighty Fourth King MALCOLM being slain as hath been related Donaldus his Nephew by his Daughter Beatrix succeeded him A Prince of great Courtesy and of more Indulgence to his own Kindred than became a King For he was of a mild and Inclineable Disposition and from his Youth gave forth Omens of his Popularity For in the most difficult times when he was made Governor of Cumberland by his Grandfather and could not câme to the King by reason of the Danish Troops which swarmed over the Country and stopped all Passages to Swear to the Laws yet he faithfully took part with the English until Canutus having had the rest of England surrendred to him made an Expedition against him and then he submitted himself to the Danes on the same Conditions under which he obeyed the English before This also was popular in him That he administred Justice with great Equity and every Year he visited the Provinces
Peace being thus restored he applied his mind to make Laws a thing almost wholly neglected by former Kings and indeed he Enacted many good and useful ones which now are either wholly unknown or else lie unobserved to the great damage of the Publick In a word he so managed the Government for ten years that if he had not obtained it by Violence he might have been accounted inferior to none of the former Kings But when he had so strengthned himself with the Aid and Favour of the Multitude that he feared no Force to disturb him the Murder of the King as 't is very probable hurried his Mind into dangerous Precipices so that he converted his Government got by Treachery into a Cruel Tyranny He vented the first Shock of his Inhumanity upon Bancho who was his Companion in the Kings Parricide Some ill Men had spread a kind of Prophecie abroad among the Vulgar That hereafter his Posterity should enjoy the Kingdom whereupon fearing lest he being a powerful and active Man and also of the Blood Royal should imitate the Example proposed by himself he courteously invited him and his Son to Supper but in his return he caused him to be slain as if a sudden Fray and Tumult had arisen His Son Fleanchus being not known in the dark escaped the Ambush and being informed by his Friends how his Father was treacherously slain by the King and that his Life was also sought after he fled secretly into Wales Upon that Murder so cruelly and perfidiously committed the Nobles were afraid of themselves insomuch that they all departed to their own homes and came but few of them and those very seldom to Court So that the Kings Cruelty being partly discovered by some and partly vehemently suspected by all mutual Fear and Hatred sprung up betwixt him and the Nobility Whereupon seeing the matter could no longer be concealed he broke forth into open Tyranny and the Rich and Powerful for light frivolous and many times but pretended Causes were put to Death Their Confiscated Goods helped to maintain a Band of Debauchees which he had about him under the name of a Guard And yet he thought that his Life was not sufficiently secured by them neither so that he resolved to build a Castle on the top of the Hill Dunsinnan where there was a large Prospect all over the Country which Work proceeding but slowly on by reason of the difficulty of Carriage of Materials thither he commanded in all the Thanes of the whole Kingdom and so dividing the Task amongst them They themselves were to oversee That the Labourers did their Duty At that time Mackduff was the Thane of Fife a very powerful Man in his Country He being loth to commit his Life unto the Kings hands went not himself but sent thither many Workmen and some of them his intimate Friends to press on the Work The King either out of a desire as was pretended to see how the Building proceeded or else to apprehend Mackduff as he himself feared came to view the Structure and by chance spying a Teem of Mackduff's Oxen not able to draw up their Load against a steep Hill he took thence a willing occasion to vent his Passion against the Thane saying That he knew well enough before his disobedient Temper and therefore was resolved to punish it and to make him an Example he threatened to lay the Yoke upon his own Neck instead of his Oxen. Maecduff hearing of it commended the Care of his Family to his Wife and without any delay fitted up a small Vessel as well as the streights of Time permitted and so passed over into Lothian and from thence into England The King hearing that he intended to fly made haste into Fife with a strong Band of Men to prevent him but he being departed before the King was presently admitted into his Castle where he poured out all his Fury upon the Thane's Wife and Children who were there present His Goods were confiscated He himsel was proclaimed Traitor and a grievous Punishment was threatened to any who dared to converse with or entertain him He exercised also great Cruelty against others if they were either Noble or Rich without distinction For now the Nobility was despised by him and he managed the Government by Domestick Counsels In the mean time Macduff arriving in England found Malcolm there Royally Treated by King Edward For Edward when the Danes Power was broken in England being recalled from Banishment did favour Malcolm who was brought to him by Sibert his Grandfather by the Mother side for many Reasons as either because his Father and Grandfather when Governors of Cumberland had always favoured the Concerns of his Ancestors as much as the Times would permit them to do or else because the Similitude of Events and the remembrance of Dangers did assimilate their Minds for each King had been unjustly banished by Tyrants Or Lastly because the Affliction of Kings doth conciliate and move the Minds even of the greatest strangers to pity and favour them Whereupon the Thane as soon as he had opportunity to speak with Malcolm in a long Discourse declared to him the Necessity of his unhappy Flight the Cruelty of Mackbeth against all ranks of Men with the universal Hatred of the People conceived against him so that he advised him in an accurate Harangue as he was a Son so to endeavour the Recovery of his Fathers Kingdom especially seeing he could not without incurring a great deal of Guilt leave the Murder of his Father to pass unrevenged nor neglect the Miseries of the People which God had committed to his Charge nor finally ought He to shut his Ears against the just Petitions of his Friends Besides he told him That King Edward was so Gracious a Prince That he would not be wanting to him his Friend and Suppliant That the People did also favour Him and hated the Tyrant In fine That Gods Favour would attend the Good against the Impious if he were not wanting to himself But Malcâlm who had often before been persuaded and solicited to return by Messengers secretly sent to him from Mackbeth That he might not be ensnared before he committed so great a Concern to Fortune resolved to try the Faithfulness of Mackduff and therefore he framed his Answer thus I know says he That all what thou hast said is true but I am afraid That you who invite Me to undertake the Regal Government do not throughly know my Disposition for those Vices which have already destroyed many Kings viz. Lust and Avarice do almost Reign even in me too and thô now my private Fortune doth hide and disguise them yet the Liberty of a Kingdom will let loose the Reins thereunto And therefore said he Pray have a care that you invite me not rather to my Ruin than to a Throne When Mackduff had replyed thereto That the Lust and Desire of many Concubines might be prevented by a lawful Marriage and
Henry was buried he stept into the Throne and the Two First Years reigned peaceably enough Whereupon growing insolent he began to neglect his Agreement made with the English and also to deal harsly with strangers After he had compelled all the English partly by Fear partly by fair Promises to take an Oath of Allegiance to him he sent Embassadors to David King of Scots to put him in mind to take the same Oath for the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland and Huntingdon which he held of him David returned Answer That he together with Stephen himself and the other Nobles of England had not long since bound themselves by an Oath to obey Maud their Lawful Queen And that he ought not nor would acknowledge any other King as long as she was alive When this Answer was brought to Stephen presently a War began The English entred upon the adjacent Scots the Scots doing as much for them The next Year an Army of Scots under the Conduct of the Earls of Merch of Menteith and of Argus entred England and met the English at the Town of Allerton whose General was the Earl of Glocester A sharp Battel was there fought with equal slaughter on both sides as long as the Army stood to it at last the English being overthrown many perished in the flight and many of the Nobility were taken Prisoners amongst whom was the Earl of Glocester himself Stephen being much concerned at this Overthrow lest the Friends and Kindred of the Captive Nobles might be alienated from him refused no Conditions of Peace The Terms were These That the English Prisoners should be released without Ransom That Stephen should quit all the Claim which as chief Lord he pretended to have over Cumberland But Stephen observed those Conditions no better than he did the Oath formerly taken to Maud his Kinswoman For before the Armies were quite Disbanded and the Prisoners Released he privately surprized some Castles in Northumberland and by driving away Bootys from the Scots Countrys renewed the War The Scots gathering a sudden Army together out of the Neighbour Countrys and despising the English whom they had overthrown in Battel the self same Year did rashly run on to the Conflict at the River Tees where they paid for their Folly in undervaluing the Enemy by receiving a great Overthrow and were also enforced to quit Northumberland David to retrieve this Loss and Ignominy gathered as great an Army as ever he could together and came to Roxburgh Thither Turstan or as William of Newberry calls him Trustinus was sent by the English to Treat concerning a Pacification and there being some hope of Agreement a Truce was made for Three Months upon Condition That Northumberland should be presently restored to the Scots But this Promise which was made by Stephen only to have the Army Disbanded was not performed so that David drove away a great Booty out of that Part of Northumberland which obeyed Stephen and Stephen gathering a great Force together pierced as far as Roxborough But understanding That the Nobility were averse and complained That they were intangled in an Unjust and Unnecessary War without performing any Memorable Exploit he retired into the heart of his Kingdom And the next Year fearing some intestine Sedition he sent his Wife Maud to David her Uncle to treat of Peace Upon her Mediation it was accorded That David from Newcastle where he commonly aboad and Stephen from Durham should send Arbitrators for composing of Matters to the Town of Chester in the street scituate in the Midway equally distant from Both Places David sent the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgoe Stephen the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York Both Parties were the more inclineable to Peace because Stephen feared War from abroad and Seditions at home and the Scots complained That they were forced to bear the shock of a War made in the behalf of another whereas Maud for whose sake it was commenced did nothing at all in it The Peace was made on These Conditions That Cumberland as by Ancient Right should be possessed by David and that Northumberland unto the River Tees as William of Newberry the Englishman writes and Huntingtonshire should be enjoyed by Henry Davids Son upon the account of his Mothers Inheritance and That he should do Homage to Stephen for the same When things were thus composed David retired into Cumberland and Stephen into Kent This Peace was made in the Year of our Lord 1139. In which Year Maud being returned into England sent her Son Henry afterward King of England to Carlisle to David his Great Uncle that he might be instructed in Feats of Arms and also be made Knight by him who without doubt was the excellentest Warrior in his time which Matter in those days was performed with a great deal of Ceremony At that time there was so great a Disturbance in England by reason of Domestique Discords That no Part of it was free from a Civil War but That which David the King of Scots held And that he alone might not plead Exemption from the publick Calamity within Three Years after his Son the only Heir in hope of so much Power and Felicity dyed in the flower of his Age leaving Three Sons and as many Daughters behind him He left so great a Love behind for him both from the Scots and English that besides the publick Loss every one lamented his own private Misfortune also at his death For so great a Sincerity and Moderation of Mind shined forth in him even in that Age wherein Youth is accustomed to wantonize That every body expected most rare and singular Fruits from his Disposition when it was ripened by Age. His Fathers Grief was also further increased by reason of the tender Age of his Nephew and the Ambition and restless Disposition of Stephen and if he dyed he was troubled at the Fierceness of Henry's Spirit then in the fervor of his Youth who being the Son of Maud was to succeed in the Kingdom When the Thoughts of so many foreseen Mischiefs did assault his diseased and feeble Mind insomuch that all Men imagined he would have sunk under them yet he bore up so stoutly that he invited some of the Prime Nobility who were solicitous for him lest he should be too much afflicted as well they might to Supper and there he entertained them with a Discourse rather like a Comforter than a Mourner He told them That no new thing had hapned to him or to his Son That he had long since Learned from the Sermons of Learned and Holy Men That the World was Governed by the Providence of Almighty God whom it was a foolish and impious thing to endeavour to resist That he was not ignorant his Son was born on no other Terms but that he must also dye and so pay that Debt to Nature which he owed even at his very Birth And when Men were always ready to pay that Debt 't was
no great matter when God their Creditor called upon them for it That if only Wicked Men were subject to Death then a Man might justly grieve at the Decease of his Kindred but when we see Good Men also Dye all Christians said he ought to be throughly setled in this persuasion That no Evil can happen to the Good either alive or dead and therefore Why should we be so much troubled at a short Separation especially from our Kindred who have not so much left us as they are gone before us to our common Country Whither we also thô we should live never so long must yet at last follow As for my Son if he hath undertaken this Voyage before us that so he might visit and enjoy the Fellowship of my Parents and Brethren those precious Men before-hand if we are troubled at it let us take heed That we seem not rather to envy his Happiness than to Mourn for our own Loss As for you Worthy Lords as I am beholding to you for many Offices of Respect so both I and my Son for I shall undertake also for him are much obliged for your Loves to me and your Grateful and Pious Memory of him This Greatness of Mind in the King as it added much to his own Veneration so it increased the Sense of the loss of his Son in the Minds of all when they considered What a Prince they and their Children were deprived of And David that he might make use of the only way of Consolation which was left him caused his Nephews and his Sons Children to be brought to him and to be trained up in Court-discipline which was then most Pious In Fine he provided for their Security as far as Human Counsel could foresee He commended Malcolm the eldest of the Three to the Care of the whole Nobility and particularly of Mackduff Earl of Fife a very powerful and prudent Man and he caused him to carry him all over the Land that so he might be received as the undoubted Heir of the Kingdom William the next Son he made Earl of Northumberland and sent him presently to take Possession of that Country David the Third Son he made Earl of Huntington in England and of Garioch in Scotland He made the more haste to prefer them because being Sick of a mortal Disease he foresaw his Time could not be long in this World He dyed in the Year of Christ 1553. the Ninth of the Calends of Iune He was so well beloved That all Men thought they had lost rather a Father in him yea the best of Fathers than a King For thô his whole Life was so Devout as no History records the like yet some few Years before his Death he Devoted himself to the Preparation for his later End So that his Deportment then did much increase Mens Veneration for the former part of his Life For thô he equalled former Kings who were most Praise-worthy in the Art of War and excelled them in the Study of Peace Yet now leaving off contending with others for Superiority in Virtue He maintained a Combat with himself alone wherein he advanced so much That if the Highest and most Learned Wits should endeavour to give the Idea or Pattern of a Good King they could never comprehend in their Thoughts such an exemplary Prince as David shewed himself in his whole Life to be He Reigned 29 Years 2 Months and 3 Days Malcolm IV. The Ninety Second King HIS Nephew Malcolm succeeded him who thô yet Under-age gave great hopes of his future Ingenuity For he was so Educated by his Father and Grandfather that he seemed to resemble them asmuch in the Virtues of his Mind as in the Lineaments of his Body In the beginning of his Reign a great Plague raged all over Scotland whereby great Numbers of Men and Cattle also were destroyed At that time one Somerled was Thane of Argyle whose Fortune was above his Family and his Mind above his Fortune He conceiving some hopes to enjoy the Kingdom by reason of the King's Non-age and the present Calamity gathered a Band of his Confidents together and invaded the adjacent Countries Yea the Havock he made was spoken of far and neer and the fear of him spreading itself further many Bad Men coming in to him and some Good good being forced to joyn with him too in a short time he made up a vast Army Upon the report of this Tumult Donald also the Son of Malcolm Macbeth made another Bustle but being taken at Whithorn in Galway and sent to the King he was committed to the same Prison with his Father But soon after the King was reconciled to them and they were both released Gilchrist Earl of Angus was sent with an Army against Somerled who defeated and killed many of his Men and caused him with some few more to fly into Ireland This Victory thus unexpectedly and suddainly obtained produced Tranquillity at home but Envy abroad For Henry King of England an Ambitious Prince and desirous to inlarge his own Dominions resolved with himself to curb the growing Greatness and Power of Malcolm But he could not well make open War upon him out of Conscience of that Pact and Oath which he had sworn to him For when he received the Military Girdle as the Custom is from King Malcolm's Grandfather at Carlisle he promised and took his Oath on it as William of Newberry besides our own Writers say That he would never go about to deprive either David himself or any of his Posterity of any part of those Possessions which David then held in England He being somewhat bound up by this Oath That he might find out some colour for his Calumniations he resolved to try the Kings Patience in a lesser Matter When Iohn Bishop of Glascow was Dedicating Churches Shaving Priests and performing the other Parts of his Episcopal Office as then they were judged to be all over Cumberland Henry by Trustine Archbishop of York sent a new Bishop into that Country called the Bishop of Carlisle Iohn was so moved at the Injury that seeing no sufficient Safeguard neither in the King nor in the Law he left his Bishoprick and retired into the Monastery of Tours in France Whence he returned not untill the Pope at Malcolm his Request drew him unwillingly out of his Cell and made him return to his own Country Malcolm bore the wrong better than some hoped so that not thinking it a sufficient Cause for a War he went to Chester in the Street there to quiet Suspicions and to cut off occasions of Discord Being arrived there by the Fraud of Henry he was Circumvented and made to take an Oath of Fidelity to him whereas it was not the King himself but his Brothers who had Lands in England according to an old Agreement who were to take that Oath But this was Craftily and Maliciously devised by the English King to sow the Seed of Discord amongst Brethren which
the following year did more fully appear when he cokes'd Malcolm out of Northumberland which was his Brother William's Patrimony For he sent for him to London That according to the Examples of his Ancestors he in a publick Assembly might acknowledge himself his Feudatary for the Lands which he held in England He under Covert of the Publick Faith came speedily thither but without doing any thing of That for which his Journey was pretended he was inforced against his Will with that little Retinue which he had to accompany Henry into Henry's Design herein was partly that the Scots might not attempt any thing against him in his absence and partly to alienate the Mind of Lewis King of France from him Thus Malcolm was compelled for fear of a greater Mischief to go against his old Friend and was not suffered to come back to his own Country till King Henry having made no great Earnings of the French War returned home also Then Malcolm obtained leave to return to Scotland where in a Convention of the Nobility he declared to them the Adventure of his Travels but he found a great Part of them very much incensed that he had joyned with a certain Enemy against an Old and Trusty Friend and did not foresee the Artifices by which Henry had gulled him The King on the other side alleged That he was haled unwillingly into France by a King in whose Power he was and to whom he dared to deny nothing at that time and therefore he did not despair but the French would be satisfied and appeased when they understood he was hurried thither by Force and carried none of his Country Forces along with him This Harangue with much ado quieted the Sedition for the present which was almost ready to break out But Henry who had Spies every where knew That the Tumult was rather suspended than that the Minds of Men were reconciled to him and therefore he Summoned Malcolm to come to a Convention at York There he was accused of a pretended Crime That the English had been worsted in France principally by his means and therefore it was referred to the Assembly Whether he ought not to lose all the Countries which he held in England Though he answered all the objected Crimes and fully cleared himself yet he found all their Ears shut against him as being prepossessed by the Fears or Favour of their King so that a Decree was made in Favour of Henry Neither was he contented with this Injury but he also suborned some Persons fit for his purpose to bruit it abroad That Malcolm had freely and of his own accord quitted his Interest in those Countries At which his Subjects the Scots were so incensed that at his Return home they besieged him in Perth and had almost taken him But by the Intervention of some great Men their Anger was somewhat abated when he had informed the Nobility how unjustly and fraudulently Henry had despoiled him of his Ancient Patrimony Whereupon they unanimously agreed upon a War that so he might recover by just Arms what was unlawfully taken from him by Force Thus a War was Decreed Denounc'd and Waged not without great Inconveniencies to both Nations At last both Kings came to a Conference not far from Carlisle and after much dispute Pro and Con Henry took away Northumberland from Malcolm leaving him Cumberland and Huntington-shire Henry had no other Pretence for his Ambitious Avarice but This That he could not suffer so great a Diminution to be made of his Kingdom But seeing no respect to Justice and Right no Pacts Covenants no nor the Religion of an Oath could hinder the unsatiable Avarice of Henry Malcolm being a Man of a low Spirit and too desirous of Peace upon any Conditions whatever accepted of his Terms sore against the Minds of the Scots Nobility who denied That the King could alienate any part of his Dominions without the General Consent of the Estates After this the King began to be despised by his Subjects as not having Fortitude or Prudence enough to weild the Scepter neither did any thing bridle their fierce Minds from Rising in Arms but a greater Fear from Henry who they knew did aim at the Conquest of the whole Island being encouraged thereunto by the Simplicity of Malcolm and by his Hopes of Foreign Aid This General Disaffection to the King did much lessen the Reverence of his Government A Rebellion was first begun by Angus or rather Aeneas of Galway a Potent Man but yet more encouraged by the Kings Sloth than his own Power Gilchrist was sent against him who overthrew him in Three Fights and compelled him to take Sanctuary in the Monastery of White-horn out of which it was not counted Lawful to pull him by Force and therefore after a long Siege being driven to the want of all Necessaries he was forced to Capitulate He was to lose part of his Estate for his Punishment and his Son was to be given as an Hostage for his good Behaviour for the future But he being of a lofty Spirit and not able to endure this abatement of his former Greatness turn'd Monk shaved himself and shut himself up in a Monastery near Edinburgh to avoid the shame and scorn of Men. Neither was there Peace in other Parts of the Realm for the Murray-Men being always given to Mutinying rose in Arms under Gildo or rather Gildominick their Captain and did not only spoil the circumjacent Counties but when Heralds of Arms were sent from the King they most barbarously slew them Gilchrist was sent out against them also with a greater Army but with unlike Success For the Valour of an Adversary which is wont to be a Terrour to other Rebels drove those wicked Persons conscious of their own Demerits to Desperation and therefore endeavouring to sell their Lives as dear as they could they routed the opposite Army and became Conquerors Malcolm upon this overthrow recruited his old Army and marched into Murray and met the Murray-Men at the Mouth of the River Spey who though they knew that the Kings Forces were encreased and Theirs diminished in the late Fight yet being encouraged by the Opportunity of the Place and their newly obtained Victory they resolved to Adventure a Battel The Fight was carried on with great Resolution and no less Slaughter For the Moravians gave not back till the Kings Forces being wearied had new Releif from Reserves sent them Then the Moravians were broken and there was no more Fighting but Killing The Fury of the Soldiers spared no Age nor Rank of Men. In this Fight the old Moravians were almost all slain which Punishment though Cruel seemed not to be undeserved and the Greatness of the Revenge was allayed and made excuseable by the Savage Cruelty of that perfidious People against others Hereupon new Coâonies were sent into the Lands of the slain Neither did Sumerled in this hurly burly think it fit to sit still
Rebels with their General The same year Alexander with his Wife went for England to allay the Tumults as much as he could raised against Henry and to reconcile him to the Nobility Whilest he was busie about this at York his Wife went with the Queen of England a Pilgrimage to Canterbury but at her return she fell sick died and was buried at London Not long after her Death the King being Childless Married Mary the Daughter of Ingelram Earl of Coucy in France in the year of Christ 1239 by whom he had Alexander who succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Two years after viz. in 1242 whilst the King was hastening to England to visit that King newly returned from France and refreshed himself a while at Hadington in Lothian with Horse-Races the Lodging or Inn of Patrick of Gallway Earl of Athol was set on Fire wherein he and two of his Servants were burnt the Fire speading it self a great way further It was not thought to have casually happened because of the Noted Fewds between Patrick and the Family of the Bizets And though William the Chief of that Family was at Forfar above 60 Miles from Hadington the same night that the Fire happened as the Queen could testify in his behalf yet because the adverse Party being the Kindred of Patrick pleaded That many of his Servants and Tenants were seen at Hadington at that time William was Summoned to appear He came to Edinburgh at the day prefixed but not daring to stand to his Tryal because of the Potency of his Adversaries which were the Cumins's he would have Tryed the matter in a Duel but That being not accepted he and some of his Sept banished themselves into Ireland where he left a Noble Family of his Name and House There was also another Seditious Tumult in Argyle Raised by Sumerled Son of the former Sumerled but he was soon suppressed by Patrick Dunbar and submitting to the Kings Mercy obtained Pardon for all his past Offences The King not long after fell sick and died in the 51 Year of his Age the 35 of his Reign and of our Lord 1249. Alexander the III. The Ninety Fifth King ALexander the Third His Son was Crowned King at Scone the same Year a Child not past Eight years Old The Power of all things was mostly in the Faction of the Cumins's For they turned the Publick Revenue to the Enrichment of themselves oppressed the Poor and by false Accusations cut off some of the Nobles who were averse to their humours and desires and dared to speak freely of the State of the Kingdom and being Condemned their Goods were Confiscated and brought into the Kings Exchequer from whence they who rather Commanded than Obeyed the King received them back again for their Private Emolument A Convention of the Estates being held the chief Matter in agitation was to pacify the King of England lest in such a troublesome time he should make any Attempt upon Them and to do it more easily an Affinity was proposed This Way seemed more commodious to the Anti-Cuminian Party to undermine their Power than openly to oppugn it Whereupon Embassadors were sent to England who were kindly received and munificently rewarded by that King who granted them all their Desires The next Year which was 1251 both Kings met at York the 8th of the Calends of Dâcember There on Christmas day this Alexander was made Knight by the King of England and the day after the Match was concluded betwixt him and Margarite Henrys Daughter A Peace was also renewed betwixt them which as long as Henry lived was inviolably observed And because Alexander was yet but a Child and under Age it was Decreed by the advice of his Friends That he should consult his Father-in-Law as a Guardian in all Matters of Weight Some of the Prime men being accused by Virtue of this Decree secretly withdrew themselves When the King returned home Robert Abbat of Dumferling Chancellor of the Kingdom was accused because he had Legitimated the Wife of Alane Durward who was but the Natural or Base-born Daughter of Alexander the Second That so if the King dyed without Issue she might come in as Heiress Upon this Fear the Chancellor as soon as ever he returned home surrendred up the Seal to the Nobles Gamâlin afterwards Bishop of St. Andrews succeeded him in his Office The Three next Years they who were the Kings Council did almost every one of them carry themselves as Kings whatever they catched was their own so that the poor Commonalty was left destitute and miserably oppressed The King of England being made acquainted therewith out of his paternal Affection to his Son in Law came to Werk-Castle scituate on the Borders of Scotland and sent for his Son in Law Alexander and his Nobles thither There by his Advice many advantageous Alterations were made especially of those Magistrates by whose Defaults Insurrections had been made at home And also many profitable Statutes were Enacted for the Future The King returned to Scotland with his Wife and having an English Guard to convey him home he resolved to dwel in the Castle of Edinburgh Walter Cumins Earl of Monteath kept the Castle who was disaffected because of the Change of the Publick State made by the King of England yet he was compelled to surrender it by Patrick Dunbar with the Assistance of the English Forces The greatest Part of the Nobility and of the Ecclesiasticks were offended in regard their Power was somewhat abridged by those New Statutes which they looked upon as a Yoke imposed upon them by the English and a Beginning of their Servitude Yea they proceeded to that height of Contumacy that being Summoned to give a Legal Account of their Management of Affairs in former times they made light of the Summons The same Persons who were the Principal Actors in disturbing things before were now the Chief Incouragers to Disobedience They were generally the Clans of the Cumins's Walter Earl of Monteath Alexander Earl of Buchan Iohn Earl of Athol William Earl of Marr and other Considerable Men of the same Faction They dared not to put their Cause on a Legal Tryal as being conscious to themselves of the many Wrongs done to the Poor and meaner Sort yea to the King himself and therefore they resolved to out-face Justice by their Impudent Audacity For being informed That the King was but lightly Guarded and lived securely at Kinross as in a time of Peace They immediately gathered a Band of their Vassals about them Seized him as he was asleep and carried him to Sterling and as if there were no Force in the Case but they had been rightfully Elected they discharged and expelled his Servants took New and managed all things at their own Will and Pleasure so that now the Terror and Consternation was turned upon the Former Counsellors But this Sedition was allay'd by the Death of Walter Cumins who
the English and accepted by the Scots being now secure of the Kingdom came to Edward who was at New-Castle upon Tine and according to his Promise Swore Fealty to him so did the Nobles also who were of his Train as not daring to contradict Two Kings especially they being so far from home As soon as the rest of the Nobility heard of it they were grievously offended but being conscious of their want of Power they dissembled their Anger for the present But soon after an Occasion was offered them to shew it Mackduff Earl of Fife who in the Time of the Interregnum was One of the six Governors of the Land was slain by the Abernethians which was then a rich and potent Family in Scotland and the Earls Brother being accused by them and brought to his Answer before the Assembly of the States the King gave Sentence in Favour of the Abernethians So that Mackduff was dispossessed of the Land which was in Controversie betwixt them whereupon he conceived a double Displeasure against the King One on the Account of his own Wrong and Another because he had not severely punished the Murderers of his Brother So that he appealed to the King of England and desired that Baliol might answer the Matter before Him Hereupon the Cause was removed to London and as Baliol was casually sitting by Edward in the Parliament House and when he was called would have answered by a Proctor it was denied him so that he was enforced to arise from his Seat and to plead his Cause from a lower Place He bore the Affront silently for the present not daring to do otherwise but as soon as ever he was dispatched from thence such Flames of Anger burnt in his Breast that his Thoughts were wholly taken up how to reconcile his own Subjects and how to offend Edward As he was thus musing it happened commodiously for him That a new Discord arose betwixt the French and English which presently after broke out into a War Whereupon Embassadors were sent to the Assembly of Estates in Scotland from Both Kings The French's Errand was to renew the Old League with their New King And the English was upon the Account of their late Oath to Edward to receive Aid from them in the War he had undertaken Both Embassys were referred to the Council of the Estates where the Nobles prone to Rebellion were of Opinion That the Request of the French was Just of the English Unjust For the League made by universal Consent with the French more than 500 Years before had been kept Sacred and Inviolable to that very Day in regard of the Justness and Utility thereof but this late Subjection and surrendring themselves to the English was extorted from the King against his Will and thô as they proceeded to allege he had been willing yet it did oblige neither King nor Kingdom it being made by the King alone without the Consent of the Estates whereas the King might not act any Thing relating to the Publick state of the Kingdom without much less against the Advice of the States So a Decree was made that Embassadors should be sent into France to renew the Ancient League and that a Wife should be desired for Edward Baliol Son to Iohn out of the Kings Royal stem Another Embassy was also sent into England to signify that the King of Scots did revoke the Reddition of the Kingdom and Himself which he had forceably and unjustly made and renouncing his Friendship both for that Cause and also for the many and innumerable other Wrongs which he had done to Him and His he was resolved to assert his Ancient Liberty No man of any Eminencie would carry this Message to Edward because he was of a fierce Nature and was rendred more so by reason of the Indulgence of Fortune which made him even almost to forget himself At last a certain Monk or as some say the Abbat of Aberbrothoc carried Letters of that Import to him who was grievously affronted for his Pains and had much ado to escape home being protected more by his undervalued Tenuity than the Reverence of his Embassadorship In the mean time Edward had made a Truce with the French for some Months hoping That before they were ended he might subdue the Scots taking them unprovided and therefore he sent his Fleet designed for France against Scotland commanding them to stop all Provisions from being carried into Berwick wherein he heard there was a very strong Garison The Scots fought with this Fleet in the Mouth of the River they destroyed and took 18 of their Ships and put the rest to flight Edward out of Fierceness of Mind by this Loss was highly enraged to Revenge He Summons Baliol once and again to appear And he himself Levies a great Army and comes to New-Castle upon Tine There also he gave forth an Edict for Iohn to appear Legally to purge himself from the Crimes objected against him But neither He nor any for him appearing ar the day appointed he added Policy to Force and sent for Bruce and promises him the Kingdom if he would do his endeavour faithfully to Depose and drive out Baliol. To do which said he you need be at little Labour or Cost only write Letters to your Friends that either they would desert the Kings Party or not be hearty or forward if it came to a Battel He by great Marches came to Berwick but not being able to carry it by reason of the strength of the Garison he pretended to raise his Siege and caused a Rumour to be spread abroad by some Scots of Bruce his Party that he despaired of Taking it and that Baliol was coming with a great Army to raise the Siege and was now near at hand whereupon all the Chief Men of the Garison made haste out to receive him Honourably in promiscuous Multitudes Horse and Foot together so that Edward sent in some Horse amongst them some they trod down and killed others they divided from their Company and seizing on the nearest Gate they entred the Town Edward followed with his Foot and made a miserable Slaughter of all sorts of People Above 7000 of the Scots are reported to have been there slain amongst Them were the Flower of the Lothian and Fife Nobility Though I love not to interrupt the continued Series of my History as having resolved against it at first with any unnecessary Digression yet I cannot forbear to expose that unbridled Liberty of Evil speaking which Richard Grafton who lately compiled the History of England assumes to himself that so they who read what I here write may judge what Credit is to be given to him For he says that Hector Boetius writes in his 14th Book and ad Chapter That so much Blood was split there that Rivers of it running through the City might have driven a Water-Mill for two days To which I say First That Boetius never
Country he banished and sent the Scots Nobility whom he most suspected into the heart of England till his return Amongst which was Iohn Cumins Lord or Petty King of Badenach and Alan Longan a Man fit both for Advice and Action and having setled Matters after this sort he was so far from fearing any Insurrection in Scotland that he carried all his Army over along with him But hearing of the many Exploits of Wallace he thought there was need of a greater Force to suppress him yet that the Expedition was not worthy of a King neither as being only against a Roving Thief for so the English called Wallace and therefore he writes to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and William Latimer That they should speedily Levy what Forces they could out of the Neighbouring Parts and join themselves with Cressingham who as yet remained in Scotland to subdue the Rebellious Scots Thomas Walsingham writes that the Earl of Warren was General in this Expedition But Wallace who was then besieging the Castle of Cowper in Fife left his Army which he had increased against the coming of the English should be idle the English being near at hand marched directly to Sterlin The River Forth no where almost fordable may be there passed over by a Bridge of Wood though it be increased by the Addition of other Rivers and by the coming in of the Tide too There Cressingham passed over with the greatest part of his Army but the Bridge either having its Beams loosned and disjointed on purpose by the Skill of the Architect as our Writers say it was that so it might not be able to bear any great Weight or else being overladen with the heavy burden of so many Horse Foot and Carriages as passed over was broken and so the March of the rest of the English was precluded and hindred The Scots set upon Those who were passed over before they could put themselves into a Posture and having slain their General drove the rest back into the River the Slaughter was so great that they were all either killed or drowned Wallace returned from this Fight to the besieging of Castles and in a short time he so changed the Scene of Affairs that he left none of the English in Scotland but such as were made Prisoners This Victory wherein none of any eminency among the Scots fell save Andrew Murray whose Son some years was Regent of Scotland was obtained in the Ides of September in the year of Christ 1297. Some say that Wallis was called off to this Fight not from the Siege of Cowper but of Dundee whither he also returned after the Fight so Iohn Major and some Books found in Monasteries do relate By means of these Combustions the Fields lay untilled insomuch that after that Overthrow a Famine ensued and a Pestilence after the Famine from whence a greater Fear was apprehended than from the War Wallis to prevent this Mischief as much as he could called together all those who were fit for Service to appear at a certain day with whom he marched into England thinking with himself that their Bodies being exercised with Labour would be more healthy and that Wintring in an Enemies Country Provisions might be spared at home and the Soldiers who were in much want might reap some Fruit of their Labours in a rich Country and flourishing by reason of its continued Peace When he was entred into England no Man dared to attack him so that he staid there from the Calends of November to the Calends of February and having refreshed and inriched his Soldiers with the Fruits and Spoils of the Enemy he returned home with great Renown This Expedition as it increased the Fame and Authority of Wallis amongst the Vulgar sort so it heightned the envy of Nobles against him mightily For his Praise seemed a tacite Exprobration to them who being Men of great Power and Wealth either out of Slothfulness durst noâ or out of Perfidiousness would not attempt what He that was a Mean Man and destitute of all the Advantages of Fortune had not only valiantly undertook but also successfully performed Moreover the King of England finding the Business to be greater than could well be managed by his Deputies made some settlement of things in France and returned home and gathering together a great Army but hastily levied for he brought not back his Veteran Soldiers from beyond Sea and for the most part raw and unexperienced Men he marches toward Scotland supposing he had only to do with a disorderly Band of Robbers But when he saw both Armies in Battel array about 500 Paces one from another in the Plains of Stanmore he admired the Discipline Order and Confidence of his Enemies So that thô he himself had much the greater Force yet he durst not put it to the hazard of a Battel against such a Veteran and Experienced a Captain and against Soldiers inured to all hardships but turned his Ensigns and marched slowly back Wallace also durst not follow him for fear of Ambushes but kept his Army within their Trenches Having thus got the Victory thô Bloodless over so puissant a King his Enemies were so much the more enraged against him and caused Rumours to be scattered up and down That Wallis did openly affect a Supream or Tyrannical Power at which the Nobles especially Bruce and the Cumin's of the Royal Stock did mightily disdain for they said thus within themselves That if they must be Slaves they had rather be so under a Great and Potent King than under an Vpstart whose Domination was like to be not only base but also dangerous And therefore they determined by all means to undermine the Authority of Wallis Edward was not ignorant of these Disgusts and therefore the next Summer he Levies a Great Army consisting partly of English partly of Scots who had remained Faithful to him and came to Falkirk which is a Village built in the very Tract of the Wall of Severus and is distant from Sterling little more than 6 Miles The Scots Army were not far from them of sufficient strength for they were 30000. if the Generals and Leaders had agreed amongst themselves Their Generals were Iohn Cumins Iohn Stuart and William Wallace the most flourishing Persons amongst the Scots the Two former for their high Descent and Opulency the Later for the glory of his former Exploits When the Three Armies were ready to fight a new Dispute arose besides their former Envy Who should lead the Van of the Army and when all Three stood upon their Terms the English decided the Controversie who with Banners displaid marched with a swift pace towards them Cumins and his Forces retreated without striking a stroke Stuart being beset before and behind was slain with all that followed him Wallace was sorely pressed upon in the Front and Bruce had fetched a compass about an Hill and fell on his Reat yet he was as little disturbed
to have their Cause heard and never shunned the Determination of an Equal Judge nor the Arbitration of any Good men and moreover when they produced many Grants and Summons of Former Popes which made for them and against their Enemies the Scots were always present at the day and the English tho' they had Notice given never came Hereupon the Pope was easily reconciled to the Scots and the French as easily induced to renew the Ancient League only one Article was added to the old Conditions That if any Controversy did hereafter arise amongst the Scots concerning him who was to succeed in the Kingdom the same should be decided by the Council of the States and the French if there were need were to assist Him by his Authority and with his Arms who by Lawful Suffrages was by them declared King Our Writers cast the Rise of the Hamiltons now a powerful Family in Scotland upon these Times There was a certain Nobleman in the Court of England who spake Honourably of the Fortune and Valour of Bruce whereupon one of the Spencers Bed-Chamber Man to the King either thinking That his Speech was Reproachful to the English or else to curry Favour with the looser sort of the Nobility drew forth his Faucheon and making at him gave him a slight wound in the Body The Man being of a great Spirit was more concerned at the Contumely than at the Damage and being hindered by the coming in of many to part the Fray from taking present Revenge the day after finding his Enemy in a sit Posture in the same place he run him thorough And fearing the Punishment of the Law and the great Power of the Spencers at Court he fled presently into Scotland to King Robert by whom he was courteously received and some Lands near the River Clyde were bestowed upon him His Posterity not long after were admitted to the Degree of Noblemen and the Opulent Family of the Hamiltons was Sirnamed from him and also the Name of Hamilton was imposed on the Lands which the King gave him Not long after Edward had great Combustions at home insomuch that he put many of the Nobles to Death and advanced the Spencers the Authors of all Evil Counsel higher than his own Kindred could bear so that he was apprehended by his Son and by his Wife who had received a small Force from beyond the Seas and kept close Prisoner and not long after he was slain by a course sort of Death an hot Iron was thrust into his Fundament through a Pipe of Horn by which his Bowels were burnt up and yet no Sign of so terrible a Fact appeared on the outside of his Body His Wife and Son were thought Privy to the Parricide either because his Keepers would never have dared to commit such a Deed so openly unless they had had Great Authors or else because they were never called in Question for so Immane a Butchery These Disturbances in England which were followed by the Kings Death Bruce also growing old and weak in Body were the Occasions that Peace for some Years did intercede between the Two Neighbour Nations For Bruce being freed from the Fear of the English and being also called upon by his Age converted his Thoughts to settle his Domestick Affairs And first he made hast to confirm the Kingdom which was not yet quite recovered nor fully setled from the Commotions of former Times to his only Son yet but a Child by the Consent and Decree of the Estates And if he died without Issue then he appointed Robert Stuart his Nephew by his Daughter to be his Successor He caused the Nobles to take an Oath for the Performance of this Decree But afterwards fearing That after his Death Baliol would begin his old Dispute about the Kingdom especially seeing his Heirs because of their Minority might be liable to be injured by others he sent Iames Douglas to Iohn Baliol being in France with large Gifts and Promises That he would cease his Claim to the Kingdom This he did not so much to acquire a new Right because according to the Scotish Custom The King is made by the Decree of the Estates who have the Supream Power in their Hands but that he might cut off all Occasion from Wicked Men to Calumniate his Posterity and also that he might Eradicate the very Seeds of Sedition Douglas found Baliol far more placable than he or others thought he would be for he was now surrounded with the Miseries of Extream Old Age. He ingenuously Confessed That his Peccant Exorbitance was justly restrained and that he was deservedly driven out of the Kingdom as unworthy to Reign And therefore he was very willing That his Kinsman Robert should enjoy the Crown by whose high Valour singular Felicity and great Pains-taking 't was Vindicated into its Ancient Splendour In one thing he rejoyced That they by whom he was deceived did not enjoy the Reward of their Perfidiousness When Robert had setled these Matters according to his own desire the same Year which was 1327. our Writers say That Ambassadors were sent into Scotland by Edward the Third for a Pacification in which Matter they seemed to act Treacherously and instead of Peace they carried home War but what the particular Fraud was is not expressed and the English say That the War was openly denounced by Robert but they describe not the Cause of it surely it must needs be some great and mighty One or else a valetudinary old Man when Peace was scarce setled at home and who might have been sated with his former Victories rather than with War would not so soon have been provoked to reassume his Arms. This is certain That the King by reason of his Age could not manage the War himself in Person so that Thomas Randolfe and Iamâs Douglas the Valiantest and Wisest of all that Age were sent by him into England with Twenty Thousand brave nimble Horse but no Foot at all The Reason was That they might fly up and down swiftly and not abide in one place nor be forced to Fight the English unless they themselves pleased For they knew that the English would make Head against them in their first Expedition with a far more numerous Army Neither were they deceived in their Opinions for the King of England besides his Domestick Forces had procured great Assistance of Horse from Belgium but in regard they and the English fell out at York some English Writers say That they returned home again But Frossard a French Writer of the same Age says That they accompanied the English during the whole Expedition and that not only for Honours sake but also for Fear of Sedition they had the next Place to the Kings Regiment always assigned to them in the Camp The King having made a Conjunction of all his Forces which were clearly above Sixty Thousand Men marched against the Scots who had already passed over the Tine Now there were
to settle Matters at home When the Marriage of his Son was magnificently celebrated he perceiving the end of his Life to be near at hand composed himself almost into the Habit of a private Man for some years before all the Grand Affairs of State had been managed by Thomas Randolph and Iames Douglas and lived in a small House at Cardross a place divided from Dumbritton by the River Levin and kept himself but in case of great Necessity from the Concourse of People Thither he called some of his Friends a little before his Death and made his Will He confirmed those to be his Heirs which were so declared by the Convention of Estates First David his Son being eight year old next Robert his Nephew by his Daughter he commended them to his Nobles and especially to Thomaâ Randolph his Sisters Son and Iames Douglas Afterward he settled his Houshold Affairs and exhorted them all to Concord amongst themselves and to observance of Allegiance to their King if they did so he would assure them to be unconquerable by a Foreign Power Moreover he is reported to have added Three Commands or if you will Counsels First That they should never make any one Man Lord of the Aebudae Islands Next That they should never fight the English with all their Force at one time and Thirdly That they should never make with them a Perpetual League In Explicating his First Advice he discoursed much concerning the Number Bigness and Power of the Islands and concerning the Multitude Fierceness and Hardiness of their Inhabitants They with Ships Such as they were yet not inconvenient for those Coasts coping with Men unskill'd in Marine Affairs might do a great deal of Mischief to others but receive little Damage themselves And therefore Governors were Yearly to be sent thither to administer Justice amongst them by Officers who should not be continued long in their Places neither His Second Advice concerning the English stood upon this Foot Because the English as inhabiting a better Country did exceed the Scots in Number of Men Money and all other Warlike Preparations and by reason of these Conveniencies they were more accustomed to their Ease and not so patient of Labour or Hardship On the other side the Scots were bred in an hardier Soil and were by reason of their Parsimony and continual Exercise of a more healthy Constitution of Body and by the very manner of their Education made more capable to endure all Military Toil and therefore That they were fitter for suddain and occasional Assaults so to weaken and weary out their Enemy by degrees than to venture all at once in a pitch'd Battel His Third Advice was grounded upon this Reason Because if the Scots should have a long Peace with the English having no other Enemy besides them to exercise their Arms upon they would grow Lazy Luxurious and so easily become Slothful Voluptuous Effeminate and Weak As for the English though they had Peace with the Scots yet France was near them which kept their Arms in ure If then those who are skilful in Warlike Affairs should cope with the Scots thus grown unskilful and sluggish they might promise to themselves an assured Victory Moreover he commended to Iames Douglas the Performance of the Vow which he had made which was to go over into Syria and to undertake the Cause of Christendom in the Holy War against the Common Enemy thereof And because he himself by reason of his Home-bred Seditions or else being broken with Age and Diseases could not perform the Vow himself he earnestly desired That Douglas would carry his Heart after he was deceased to Jerusalem that it might be buried there Douglas looked upon This as an Honourable Imployment and as an eminent Testimony of the Kings Favour towards him and therefore the next Year after the Kings Death with a good Brigade of Noble young Men he prepared for his Voyage But being upon the Coasts of Spain he heard That the King of Arragon managed a fierce War against the same Enemy with which he was to fight in Syria and thinking with himself that it mattered not in what Place he assisted in the Cause of Christianity he Landed his Men and joined himself with the Spaniard where after many prosperous Fights at last despising the Enemy as a weak and fugitive one he thought to attempt something against him with his own Men and so rushing unadvisedly on the Army of the Sarazens he was by them drawn into an Ambush wherein he and most part of his Men were slain His chief Friends that perished with him were William Sinclare and Robert Logan This happened the next year after the Kings Death which was 1330. To be short Robert Bruce was certainly a most Illustrious Person every way and he can hardly be parallelled for his Virtues and Valour even in the most Heroick Times for as he was very Valiant in War so he was most Just and Temperate in Peace and though his unhoped for Successes and after that Fortune was once satiated or rather wearied with his Miseries a continual course of perpetuated Victory did highly Ennoble him yet to me he seemed to have been more Glorious in his Adversities For What a strong Heart was That which was not broken no nor yet weakened by so many Miseries as brake in upon him all at once Whose Constancy would it not have tried to have his Wife a Prisoner and to have his Four Valiant Brothers cruelly put to Death And his Friends at the same time vexed with all kind of Calamities and they which escaped with their Lives were Exiled and lost all their Estates As for himself he was outed not only of a large Patrimony but of a Kingdom too by the powerfullest King of those Times and one who was most ready both for Advice and Action Though he were beset with all these Evils at one time yea and brought into the extreamest Want yet he never doubted of recovering the Kingdom Neither did he ever do or say any thing which was unbecoming a Royal Spirit He did not do as Cato the Younger and Marcus Brutus who laid violent Hands on themselves neither did he as Marius incensed by his Sufferings let loose the Reins of Hatred and Passion against his Enemies but when he had recovered his Ancient State and Kingdom he so carried it towards them who had put him to so much Hardship and Trouble That he seemed rather to Remember that he was now their King than that he had been sometimes their Enemy And even a little before his Death though a great Disease made an addition to the Trouble of his Old Age yet he was so much Himself as to confirm the Present State of the Kingdom yea and to consult the quiet of his Posterity So that when he died all Men bewailed him as being deprived not only of a Just King but of a Loving Father too He departed this Life the Seventh of
made to him he now thought it seasonable to Declare Himself King That Advice was safer to him because the greatest part of the Slaughter had fallen upon the Families adjoyning to Perth For there were slain in the Battel besides the Regent Robert Keith with a great number of his Kindred and Tenants There fell Eighty of the Family of the Lindseys and amongst them Alexander the chief of the Sept. The Name of the Hays would have been quite extinguished in this Fight if William the Chief of the Family had not left his Wife big with Child behind him Moreover Thomas Randolfe Robert Bruce Murdo Earl of Monteath William Sinclare Bishop of the Caledonians and Duncan Macduff Earl of Fife made Prisoners by him and being thus in such a desperate Posture were enforced to take an Oath of Obedience to him Baliol The Eighty Ninth King HEreupon Baliol trusting to his present Fortune went to the Neighbouring Abby of Scone and there entred upon the Kingdom in the Year of our Lord 1332. the Eighth of the Calends of September By this Wound and Loss the Power of David Bruce was much weakened in Scotland yet his Friends not broken in their Spirits by this Calamity took care to secure him from the danger of War he not being yet fit to manage the Government and therefore they sent him and his Wife to his Fathers Friend Philip King of France to be there out of Harms way In the mean time they prepare themselves for all hazards being resolved to Dye Honourably or else to restore their Country to its former State And First of all they set up Andrew Murray an Eminent Person Son of the Sister of Robert Bruce as Regent in the place of Duncan then they sent Messengers into all parts of the Kingdom partly to confirm and fix their old Friends and partly to spur up the more Remiss to Thoughts of Revenging their wrongs The âirst who took Arms as being excited by their Grief for the loss of their Parents and Kindred at Duplin were Robert Keith Iames and Simon Frazer who about the Autumnal Aequinox besieged Perth the Siege lasted longer than they expected yet in Three Months they took it Macduff Earl of Fife who held the Town for Baliol was sent Prisoner with his Wife and Children to Kildrum a Castle in Marr Andrew Murray of Tullibardin who discovered the Ford over the River Earn to the English was put to death The Black Bock of Pasley says That the Walls of the Town were demolished which seems more probable to me than that it should be made a Garison as others write especially in so great a want of Faithful Friends and Soldiers At the same time Baliol was at Annandale very busie in receiving the Homage of the Nobles who were so much surprized and astonished at the suddain Mutation of Things That even Alexander Bruce Lord of Carrick and Galway despairing of the Retrieve of his Kinsman David's Affairs came in to him After this prosperous Success he despised his Enemy and grew more negligent and regardless of him When the Regent heard thereof by his Spyes he sent Archibald Douglas Brother to Iames who was lost in Spain That if there were any Opportunity for Action he should lay hold upon it He took with him William Douglas Earl of Liddisdale Iohn Randolfe the Son of Thomas and Simon Frazer with a Thousand Horse and so came to Maufet where having sent out Scouts to see that the Coast was clear he marched in the Night and set upon Baliol as he was asleep and put his Army into so great a Fright and Consternation that Baliol himself half Naked was fain to get upon an Horse neither Bridled nor Sadled and so fled away many of his Intimate Friends were slain Alexander Bruce was taken Prisoner and obtained his Pardon by the means of his Kinsman Iohn Randolfe Henry Baliol got great Credit that day by his Valour amongst both Parties who in so confused a Flight defended some of his Men whom their persuers pressed upon he wounded many and killed some of his Enemies and at last was slain Fighting valiantly There fell also the Chief of the English Faction Iohn Mowbray Walter Cumins and Richard Kirke These Things were acted the Eighth of the Calends of Ianuary in the Year 1332. The Brucian Party were somewhat relieved by these Successes so that they came in great Numbers to Andrew Murray the Regent to consult about the main Chance They made no doubt but that Baliol fought the Kingdom not for himself but for the English by whom he was guided and influenced in every thing Wherefore they resolved to Declare the King of England their Enemy and accordingly they prepared all things necessary for the War with great Diligence as against a very powerful Enemy They made the Garison of Berwick very strong for they thought the English would Assault That first They made Alexander Seton a worthy Knight Governour of the Town and Patrick Dunbar of the Castle and the adjoyning Precincts William Douglas Earl of Liddisdale whose Valour and Prudence was highly commended in those Times was sent into Annandale to defend the Western Coasts Andrew Murray went to Roxburgh where Baliol kept himself Thus their several Governments being distributed at home Iohn Randolfe was sent into France to visit David and to make an Address to Philip of France informing him of the State of Scotland and desiring some Aid from him against the Common Enemy Murray at his coming to Roxburgh had a sharp encounter with Baliol at a Bridge without the City and whilst he pressed too eagerly after the English who were retreating over the Bridge into the Town he was intercepted from his Men and taken Prisoner whereby a Victory almost quite obtained slipt out of his hands At the same time in a contrary Province William Douglas of Liddisdale in a Fight with the English was wounded and made Prisoner whose Disaster so troubled his Men that they also were put to flight This Inconstancy and Variableness of Fortune divided Scotland again into Two Factions even as Love Hatred Hope Fear or each Man 's private Concern inclined him The King of England presuming That by reason of these Dissensions he had a fit opportunity to seize upon Scotland received Baliol into his Protection for he was too weak to support himself by his own Strength and took an Oath of Obedience from him yea nothing regarding his Right of Affinity with Bruce nor reverencing the Sanctity of Leagues nor the Religion of an Oath so that he might satisfie his immoderate Ambition he at once denounced and also made War on the Scots at that time destitute of a King and also at variance amongst themselves And to give a colourable Pretence of Justice to his War he sent Embassadors to demand Berwick which Town his Father and Grandfather had held many Years and he presently followed with an Army
his Former Life and especially for his late and yet reaking Conquests was received with a great deal of Favour and had the Government of Roxburgh bestowed on him yea and the Sheriff-wick of all Teviotdale was also added to his Authority William Douglas took this mighty heinously that Ramsay was preferred before him in that Honour For seeing he had expelled the English from almost all Teviotdale he had sometimes presided over the Publick Assembly there thô without the Kings Command yet relying upon his Merits towards his Country the Nobleness of his Stock and the Power of his Family he hoped That no man would have been his Competitor for that Office Whereupon being wholly bent on Revenge he at present dissembled his Anger but in Three Months after he met with his Adversary holding an Assembly in the Church of Hawick and unawares assaulted and wounded him having also slain Three of his Followers who endeavoured to rescue him and so set him upon an Horse and carried him to the Castle of Hermitage where he starved him to Death About the same time William Bullock a Man of singular Loyalty to the King was put to the same kind of Death by David Berclay These Two Savage and Cruel Facts filled almost the whole Kingdom with Seditions and distracted it into several Parties These things did mightily exercise the King who was yet but Young and not accustomed to Men of Rough and Military Dispositions yet though he used great diligence to find out Douglas to bring him to Condign Punishment he by Means of his Friends of which he had procured Many by his Noble Exploits for the Liberty of his Country and especially of Robert Stuart the King's Son by his Sister obtained his Pardon And indeed the Magnificent yet True Report of his Famous Actions did much facilitate the Obtaining thereof together with the present Conjuncture of the Time wherein there being but an uncertain Peace abroad and Seditions at home Military Men were to be respected yea and honoured too Upon which Account he was not only pardoned but preferred also to the Government of Roxburgh and of Teviotdale too a Clemency which perhaps in the present Circumstances of Things might be useful but certainly of very ill Example for the Future David having thus settled Matters at Home the best he could denounces War against England the greatest Part of the Nobility dissuading him from that Expedition by reason of the great Scarcity of Provisions Yet he Listed an handsom Army and made Thomas Randolfe General thereof he himself accompanied him but in disguise that he might not be known to be the King This Army having wasted Northumberland for about Two Months time returned home with great Booty Within a few Days after he made another Inrode into the Enemies Country but then he did not disguise but openly professed Himself both King and General The English being inferior in Strength would not venture to give a set Battel whilst their King was absent in France but skirmished their Enemies with their Horse and so kept them from plundering much by a close March Five of the Chief Nobility whom David had lately raised to that Honour straggling too far from their Men were taken Prisoners their Followers being also killed or put to Flight So that David to spend no more time there in vain returned with his Army He made also a Third Expedition with what Force he could privately Levy that so he might fall upon his Enemy unawares But entring England in a stormy Autumn the small Brooks were so swollen with large Showres that they made all the Country unpassable and also hinder'd the Carriage of Provision so that Home he came again yet that he might not seem to have taken so much Pains to no purpose he demolished a few Castles Not long after Embassadors were sent to and fro in order to obtain a Truce for Two Years which the Scots consented to upon Condition That Philip King of France gave his Consent for That was one Article in the Treaty between the Scots and French That neither of them should make Truce or Peace with the English without the Other 's Consent For those Two Years Scotland was quiet About the Fourth Year after David's Return the French were overcome in a great Battel and Calais a Town of the Mââini was besieged by them so that Philip pressed the Scots by his Ambassadors to Invade England and to so draw away some of their Force from Him Hereupon an Army was commanded to meet at Perth Thither they came in a great Abundance and there David Earl of Rosse waylaying Reginald Lord of the Aebudae his Old Enemy fell upon him in the Night and slew him with Seven Nobles in his Company This Murder did much weaken the Army for the Kindred and Tenants of both Parties yea the Neighbouring Inhabitants fearing a Civil War between Two such Potent Families returned to their own Homes And therefore William Douglas of Liddisdale earnestly persuaded the King to desist from his present Expedition and to compose Matters at Home His Counsel was refused and the King his Friendship to Philip overcoming his Love to his Country marches forward into England and destroyed all as he went by Fire and Sword And thus in Sixteen Days he came into the County of Durham where the English parly levied by Percy and partly sent back from the Siege of Calais made a great Body and shewed themselves to the Enemy in Battel-array sooner than ever the Scots could have imagined David who feared nothing less than the coming of the Enemy and therefore had sent abroad Douglas to forage the Neighbouring Country gave a Signal of Battel to his Souldiers Douglas fell unawares amongst his Enemies and having lost Five Hundred of his Men was put to slight and returned in great Fear to the Camp And the End of the Conflict was as unhappy as the Beginning For the Fight being sharply begun Randolfe's Men were routed at the first Onset and he himself slain The main Battel in which the King was was assaulted by Two Brigades of the English One that had conquered before and Another that was intire and had not yet charged who shattered it and cut it off quite They being resolved to die and therein almost all the Scotish Nobility were utterly lost and the King himself after his Arms were taken away was taken Prisoner by Iohn Copland but he struck out Two of his Teeth with his Fist though he himself was sorely wounded with two Arrows The Third Wing commanded by Robert Stuart and Patrick Dunber perceiving the Slaughter of their fellow-Souldiers withdrew themselves with little Loss The Nobility were so destroyed in this Fight that immediately after it Roxburgh Hermitage and many other Castles were surrender'd to the English And the Scots were enforced to quit their Claim to all the Lands they held in England and also to Merth Teviotdale Liddisdale and Lauderdale and the
Lewd Persons yet Innocent of that Particular Fact for which they suffered In the interim the King advised with his Friends how he might preserve Iames his Youngest Son for whose safety he was very solicitous and whom he had left in the custody of Walter Wardiloe Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews an honest man and faithful to him They gave their Opinion in the case that he could not be safe in any part of Scotland and that therefore it was best to send him over to Charles the IV. King of France the old Ally and only Friend of the Scotish Nation for he could be Educated no where more safely and honourably than there The fresh Example of David Bruce stuck yet in their Minds who in dubious and troublesome times at home had there for some years an Honourable retreat and Entertainment Hereupon a Vessel was prepared and he put on bord at the Basâ a Rock rather than an Island Henry Sinclare Earl of the Oreades was sent with him as his Guide or Rector whilst they were compassing the shore he Landed at the Promontory of Flamburgh either driven in by Tempest or else to refresh himself on shore from his Sââ-Vomit and Nauseation There he was detained by the English till they sent to their King who commanded that he should be brought up to Court So that neither the Law of the Truce which was made a little before for 8 years nor the supplicating Letters of his Father did prevail but he was kept as a Lawful Prisoner For his Father at his departure had sent Letters by him to the King of England if possibly he should be necessitated to land there wherein he made complaining and lamentable discourses both of his own and also of the common fortune of all Mankind But tho' the King of England were not ignorant of the Inconstancy of human affairs yet the old grudge against the Nation of the Scots more prevailed with him than either the respect of the Youth 's Innocent Age or the Tears of his grieved Father or the dignity of the Kingly Name or the Faith of the Pacification and Truce For having referred the matter to his Council how he should treat the Son of the King of Scots being arrived in his Dominions Those who had any regard to Equity and were weary of the present War inclined to the milder Opinion viz. That the Royal Youth who fled from the Cruelty of his own Countrymen and was now their Suppliant should be hospitably and Friendly Entertained That so a feirce Nation and unconquer'd by the War of so many Ages might be won and wrought over to a Reconciliation by Courtesie For this they thought was the most solid and firm victory not when Liberty was taken away by force but when Minds are united by the indissoluble bond of Amity Others were of contrary Opinion That he might be lawfully detained as a Prisoner either because many of the Scots Nobility had Personally assisted Percy in the Insurrection which he made against the King or because his Father had Entertained and Relieved Percy the Elder when he was Banished and Condemned as a Traitor in England This Opinion as commonly the worst things do prevailed thâ they that were present at the Consult knew well enough that those Scots who fought against the English King in Percy 's Insurrection were not sent by any Publick Commission from the King but came out of their private Affection to Douglas who was then also in Percy 's Power They might also have remembred what Henry himself had answered to the Scots a few Years before when they demanded George Dunbar to be given up yet notwithstanding they stuck to this last Opinion as commonly in the Courts of Princes a false preâence of Advantage doth weigh down Honest and Righteous Counsels Yet in one thing Henry dealt Nobly and Royally with his Captive That he caused him to be Educated in Learning and Good Discipline This Calamity of the Son was brought to his Fathers Ears whilst he was at Supper and did so overwhelm him with Grief that he was almost ready to give up the Ghost in the Hands of his Servants that attended him but being carried to his Bed-chamber he abstained from all Food and in 3 Days dyed for Hunger and Grief at Rothesay which is a Town in the Island Bote in the 16th Year of his Reign in the Calends of April and Year of Christ 1406. He was Buried at the Abby of Pasley This Robert for tallness of Stature and for the Beauty and Composition of his whole Body was inferior to none of his Contemporaries His Life was very harmless and there was no Virtuous Accomplishment fit for a private Man wanting in him so that it may be truly said of him That he was a better Man than a King After the King's death the Government of the Kingdom was setled upon Robert his Brother by the Decree of all the Estates who had many things in him worthy of that Office and Dignity if out of a blind Ambition to Rule he had not used unjust Courses to hasten to the Throne He was Valiant in War Prudent in Counsel Just in Judgment Liberal to the Nobles and Tender in Levying Taxes on the Commons The same Year Percy the Elder again entred into a Conspiracy against the King to revenge upon him the deaths of his Brother and Two Sons who had been slain but his Design was discovered many of his Accomplices taken and put to death and he himself for fear fled into Scotland that from thence he might pals over into Flanders and France to procure Auxiliaries to renew the War In the mean time Henry the King of Englands Son made great Incursions into Scotland both by Land and Sea when he was returned home with a great Booây the Castle of Iedburgh which the Enemy had kept from the Fight in Darham to that day was taken by the Commons of Teviotdale Pillaged and then by the Governors Order wholly demolished And George Earl of Merch who had done much damage to his Countrymen in behalfe of the English being not able to procure from them Aid to recover his Own nor an honest Maintenance amongst them neither pacified the Governor by his Friends and so returned home yet he lost part of his Patrimony viz. his Castles in the Loch-Maban and Annandale which were given to Douglas for the Losses he had sustained and thus all Offences were forgiven on both sides and he passed the rest of his Life in great Concord with his Neighbours and faithful Subjection to his King The next Year Percy after he had made a vain and fruitless Peregrination over France and Flanders returned into Scotland to his old Friend the Earl of Merch by whom he was courteously Entertained and Accommodated according to his Estate There he Transacted by private Messengers about returning into his own Country and amongst the rest he wrot to Ralph Rokesby his Ancient
Peace with England it was no hard matter to make up such a Number of Men being only Voluntiers Iohn Earl of Buchan the Governours Son was made General of the Forces and many eminent Persons followed him but Archibald Earl of Wigton the Son of Archibald the Second Earl of Douglas was far more eminent than all the rest When they came into France they were sent by the Dolphin so they call the Eldest Son of the King of France into Turein a Country very plentiful in all sorts of Provision and near to the Enemy For the Duke of Clarence Brother to the King of England was then in France instead of the King himself and made great Havock of the Country of Anjou whose Inhabitants remained in their Obedience to the French King And it was thought he would have come as far as the Town of Beujeu This was done Two Days before Easter whereupon the Scots thinking that the General would cease from any Military Action those few days of that Feast as the custom is and apply himself to Ecclesiastical Duties or as others say presuming upon an Eight Days Truce which was made carried themselves more securely than otherwise they were wont to do The Duke of Clarence was informed thereof either by Andrew Fregose an Italian or else by some Scots Foragers whom his Horse had taken Prisoners and having gotten a fair opportunity for Action as he thought he rose up presently from Dinner and with his Horse only marched toward the Enemy he himself besides his other Gallant Furniture and Armour had a Royal Diadam on his Head beset with many Jewels Some few French who were quartered nearest the Enemy in a Village called Little Beaujou being terrified with his sudden coming fled into the Tower of a Church adjoyning whilst he was assaulting of these the Alarum was given to the rest of the Army and presently in great dismay they all cryed out To your Arms. The Earl of Buchan whilst the rest were sitting themselves sent out 30 Archers to take possession of a Bridge which was the only Passage over a Neighbour River There a Skirmish begun and Hugh Kennedy who quartered in a Church hard by came in to them with One hundred Men who in so sudden a Fright were but half-armed This Party with their Arrows hindred the Horse from passing over whereupon Clarence with the forwardest of his Men leapt from his Horse and maintained the Combat on foot so that in a Lusty Charge they repelled the Scots who were some unarmed and some but half-armed from the Bridge and this opened the Passage for his Men. In the mean time whilst Clarence was mounting his Horse and his Men were passing the narrow Bridge a few at a time the Earl of Buchan was at hand with 200 Horse who being very earnest to shew themselves on Both sides a sharp Fight began with equal courage and hatred For the Scots were glad that they had gotten an Opportunity to give the first Proof of their Valour and so to refute the Reproaches of the French who were wont to upbraid them as Men given more to Eating and Drinking than Fighting The like Reproach do the same French use to cast upon the Britains The Spaniards on the French and the Africans on the Spaniards On the other side the English took it in great disdain That they should be attack'd by such an implacable Enemy not only at home but even beyond the Seas and so they fought stoutly but none more fiercely than Clarence himself He was known by his Armour Iohn Swinton ran at him and with his Lance grievously wounded him in the Face and the Count of Buchan also smote him with a Truncheon and struck him from his Horse when he was fallen the English ran away and were slain in the pursuit even until night This Battel was fought the day before Easter when the days are short in cold Countries a little after the Vernal Equinox There fell of the English in the Fight above 2000 amongst which were 26 of eminent Rank Many Prisoners were taken of good Accompt in their own Country and especially some of the Dukes Allies Few of the Scots or French were lost and those of no great Note neither This is the most common report concerning the Death of Clarence but the Pluscarty Book says that he was slain by Alexander Maccasland a Knight of Lennox who took off the aforesaid Diadem from his Head and sold it to Iohn Stuart of Derneley for 1000 Angels of Gold and he again pawned it to Robert Huston to whom he owed 5000 Angels This he says was the Vulgar Opinion The chief Praise of this Victory was ascribed to the Scots neither could their greatest Detractors deny it Whereupon Charles the Dolphin created the Earl of Buchan Lord High Constable which is the highest Office in France next the King The rest of the Commanders had also Honours bestowed on them according to their Rank and Valour Whilst these Things were acted in France in the year 1420 Robert Governor of Scotland died the same year in the Third of the Nones of September and Fifteen years after the Death of King Robert the Third His Son Murdo succeeded in his place a Man of a sluggish disposition and scarce fit to govern his private Family much less the Common-wealth So that either by his Slothfulness or else his too much Indulgence he so spoiled his Children for he had Three that in a short time he brought both them and himself into great Calamity and at last Destruction This change of Domestick Affairs caused the Earls of Buchan and Wigton with many of their Kindred to return from France But Matters being soon setled at Home the Dolphin recalled the Earl of Buchan who with his Son in Law Archibald Iames his Son and the Flower of the Scotish Soldiers sailed into France leaving his other Son the Earl of Wigton behind him who being grievously sick could not follow him They landed with 5000 Soldiers at Rochel and so came to the Dolphin at Poâctou where they were joyfully received and Douglas was made Duke of Turein When Henry of England heard of the Death of Clarence he substituted Iohn Earl of Bedford his other Brother in his place and sent him before into France with 4000 Horse and 10000 Foot He himself followed soon after and took with him Iames King of Scots in the Expedition thinking by that means either to insinuate himself with the Scots who fought against him in France or else to render them suspected to the French But he obtained neither of his Ends nor could he prevail with them at the desire of their own King so much as to return home and to be Newters and Spectators only of the War For addressing to all the Garisons held there by the Scots They made him one General Answer That they could not acknowledge him for their King who was under the Power of another Man
before had deserted Alexander fell out grievously amongst themselves and fought one another with so great eagerness That many of Caithnes were slain but the Cameronians almost all lost Also in the Aebudae where 't was thought Things would be quiet by reason of Alexander's Exile yet new Commotions were raised by Donald Balock Cosin-German to Alexander on pretence to revenge the wrong done to his Kinsman To quell this Insurrection Alexander and Alan both Stuarts One Earl of Caithnes the Other of Marr gathered some of their Countrymen together and went into Loch-Abyr to meet Donald for the Report was that he would make his descent there where they waited his Coming He perceiving that they kept no Order but were without Tents or Guard in the Fourth Watch landed his men without any Noise and so set upon them unexpectedly whilst they were half a sleep and made a great slaughter amongst them Alan with almost all his Brigade was lost there and Alexander with a Few saved his Life by Flight Donald was exalted with this Success and so wasted all Loch-Abyr with Fire and Sword no man daring to oppose him but at length hearing That the King was making towards him with a greater Force he trussed up his large bundles of Pillage sent them a Shipboard and returned into the Aebudae The King marched as far as Dunstafnage after him and there saw the ruin and fearful devastation which had been made whereupon he conceived great wrath in his Breast and was about to pass over into the Islands but the Chiefs of their Families came with their humble Supplications to him alleging That there was no general guilt in the Case because nothing had been acted by publick Advice but all the fault lay at Alexanders own door and of some indigent and lewd Persons besides that sided with him The King answered he would not admit of their Excuse unless they would apprehend the Authors of those wicked Pranks and deliver them up to him to be punished when they had promised to do their endeavour therein the King let some of them go to find out the Thieves the rest he kept in the nature of Hostages Those who were dismissed slew many of the Thieves and brought 300 of them Prisoners to the King Donald himself for fear of Punishment being fled away who caused them all to be hanged This punishment of the Robbers tho' for the present it made things a little more quiet in the Aebudae and the Neighbouring Parts yet the unquiet dispositions of some wicked and turbulent Persons would not suffer that Calm to be long-lived The King at the desire of his Nobles had released Two of the Augus's Duffus and Murdo Commanders of the Thieves These turned their Fury upon one another meeting in equal Numbers for each of them maintained about 1500 Partisans out of the Rapines of the People They fought so obstinately that there was scarce any one left on either side to be Messengers of the Slaughter made for 't is said that on the one side there were but Twelve on the other but Nine left alive so that the King who was equally Angry with Both had scarce any left of them to inflict Punishment upon And yet their Calamity did not restrain one Macdonald from his wonted Fierceness He was a noted Robber born in Ross whose wicked Disposition was excited by the Impunity of the Former Times so that he as we say play'd Rex along time among his Neighbours Amongst the rest they say he committed one Fact superlatively Cruel A Widow-woman being robbed by him grievously bemoaned her Case and ever and anon cryed out that she would complain to the King Wilt thou so says he Then to the intent thou mayst better compass thy Journy I my self will assist thee and so calling a Smith he caused him to nail Horse-shoes to the Soles of her Feet and not contented with that wrong he added also contumelious and jeering words telling her now that she was more fenced against the roughness of the ways and in a mockery he shewed her thus shod to those that passed by The Woman being of a fierce and stern disposition and rather enraged than terrified by his Reproaches as soon as she was able to go went to the King and declared to him the Matter of Fact The King had heard of the same before by others and he having then the Authors in Prison bid the Woman be of good chear for she should speedily see the same Punishment inflicted on the Inventors of it and hereupon he caused Mackdonald and Twelve of his Complices to be brought out of Prison and to have their Feet shod with Iron-Nails and so to be carried Three days about the City a Cryer going before and declaring the Cause of this new Punishment then the Captain was beheaded and his Twelve Associates hanged all their Bodies being set upon Gibbets in the High-ways These new Crimes which a Pardon once obtained had not prevented made the King more eager to find out Donald the Islander And therefore being informed that he lay concealed in a Noblemans House in Ireland he sent Messengers to him to give him up to Punishment the Nobleman fearing that if he should send him away alive thro' so long a Tract both by Land and Sea he might possibly make an escape and then his Maligners might allege that it was done by his Connivence caused him to be slain and sent his Head to the King by his own Messenger Open Robberies being thus diligently suppressed the King endeavoured to extirpate some hidden Crimes and evil Customs and to accomplish this Work he made choice of eminent Persons much commended for their Prudence and Sanctity giving them Power to Travel all over the Kingdom to hear Complaints and if their were any Offences complained of to them which ordinary Judges either for Fear durst not or for Favour and Affection would not intermeddle with then They themselves should hear the Case and determine it And moreover he added to them One who was to correct and rectify Weights and Measures a Thing very necessary seeing then not only every City but almost every House used a different kind of measure In a Parliament he made wholesome Laws to this purpose and caused Iron Measures to be set up in certain Places and sent out one to all Markets and Fairs who was to regulate all the Measures according to that Standard and a grievous Punishment was denounced on him who used any other Measure than That which was publickly thus Signed and Marked Whilst he was Transacting these things for the Publick Good in the year 1430. the Fourteenth day of October his Queen was brought a Bed of Twins and thereupon a publick Rejoycing was made and the King to add something to the Popular Mirth forgave former Offences to some Noblemen the Chief whereof were Archibald Douglas and Iohn Kennedy who because they had spoken too rashly
and unadvisedly concerning the State and Government of the Realm were made Prisoners Douglas in the Castle of Loch-Levin and Kennedy in the Castle of Sterlin And as a farther Testimony of his Reconciliation to Douglas he made him Godfather as we call him at the Baptizing of his Children which is wont to be accounted a matter of great Honour and a Testimony of intimate Friendship and moreover he made his Son one of the Knights which were created in Testification of the publick Joy on this occasion The other parts of his Kingdom being thus purged and amended he next bent himself to reform the Ecclesiastical State but the Priests could not be corrected by the Civil Magistrate for the Kings of Europe having been long engaged in mutual Wars the Ecclesiastâcal Order had by little and little withdrawn themselves from their Obedience and obeyed only the Pope of Rome and he indulged their Vices partly because he gained thereby and partly because he might make Kings more obnoxious to him by reason of the great power of the Clergy in their Kingdoms Whereupon he resolved to prevent their Tyranny the Best and Onely way he was able for seeing it was not in his power to amend what was past nor to Out unworthy Men of those Preferments which they once enjoyed he thought to provide the best he could for the Future which was to set up publick Schools for Learning and liberally to endow them because these would be Seminaries for all Orders of Men and whatsoever was eminent or noble in any Commonwealth issued out from them as from a Fountain Hereupon he drew Learned Men to him by Rewards yea himself would be sometimes present at their Disputations and when he had any Vacation from Civil Affairs he delighted to hear the Collations of the Learned thereby endeavouring to eradicate the False Opinion which many Nobles had imbibed viz. That Learning drew Men off from Action to Sloth and Idleness and did soften Military Spirits either breaking or at least weakening all their Vigorous Efforts so that the Study of Letters was only fit for Monks who were shut up as in a Prison and good for no other use But alas the Monks as they had degenerated from the Simplicity and Parsimony of their Ancestors so they had turned themselves wholly from the Culture of their Minds to the Care of their Bodies and Learning was as much neglected by the rest of the Priesthood also and especially for this Cause That Benefices were bestowed on the most slothful and worst Persons of Noblemens Families which were unfit for other Employments or else they were intercepted by the Fraud of the Romanists so that a Parsonage was nothing else but a Reward for some piece of Service and that ordinarily none of the Best And besides there was another Mischief which added much to the Corrupting of Ecclesiastical Discipline and That was the Orders of Begging-Friers These Friers at the beginning pretended greater Sanctity of Life and so easily imposed upon the People to hear Them rather than their Parish-Priests who were commonly gross-bodied and dull-witted Yea those Parish-Curates or Priests as they grew Rich did scorn to do their own Work themselves but would hire These Fryars for so they called Themselves for a small yearly Stipend to Preach a Few Sermons in the year to the People In the interim they withdrew into Cities and there chaunted out their idle Songs as it were after a Magical manner not knowing what they said and there was none of them that ever hardly looked towards his own Parish but when Tithes were to be gathered Yea and by degrees they withdrew themselves from this Office of Singing at certain hours in Cathedrals and Churches too which though it were but a light was yet a daily Service and hired poor Shavelings to supply their Places in Singing and Massifying and so by muttering and mumbling out a certain Task and Jargon of Psalms which was appointed every day they made a collusive kind of a Tragedy sometimes contending in alternate Verses and Responses otherwhiles making a Chorus between the Acts which at last closed with the Image or Representation of Christs Death And the Friers their Hirelings on the one side did not dare to offend their Masters on whom their Livelihood depended neither yet on the other could they bear their Insolence conjoined with so much Avarice so that they pitched upon a middle way that they might engage them to make easier Payment of their Pensions they oftentimes bitterly inveighed against their Lust and Avarice before the People who gave ear to their Doctrine and when they had raved enough in their Sermons to keep them in Fear and also to conciliate the minds of the Vulgar they took up and consulted for themselves also in time seeing they were also in Ecclesiastical Orders They told them that whatever Disorders were yet the Order of Priesthood was a Sacred thing and that the Temporal or Civil Magistrate had no Power to punish them they were only responsible to God and to the Pope who had almost equal Power with God and because their Avarice encreasing with their Luxury they thought they should not squeez Gain enough from the People therefore these Friers set up a new kind of Tyranny holding forth in their Sermons the Merit of Works Hence arose Purgatory and the Lustration of Souls which the Pope was pleased to detain there by the Sacrifices forsooth of the Mass by the sprinkling of Holy Water by Alms and Pensions given or offered by Indulgences Pilgrimages and Worshipping of Reliques The Friers being exercised in this kind of Bartering Trade and Chaffer in a little time claimed the Power to themselves both over the Living and the Dead too In this ill Condition Iames the First found Church-Affairs in Scotland and therefore he thought it the most Compendious Way to restore the Old Discipline if Good and Learned Men were admitted to Benefices And to Increase the Emulations of Young Scholars he told the Masters and Governors of Universities and Schools that because he himself was hindred by the Publick Affairs of State so that he could not consider every Students particular Merit they should therefore be very careful to Commend Learned and Virtuous Young Scholars to him that he might gratifie them with Church-Preferments who being thus advanced might not only be Useful to the People by their Doctrine and Example but also might assist the Meaner and Poorer sort of those that were designed for Church-men with their Substance and so far to Relieve their Tenuity that Good Wits might not be compelled for Want to break off their Studies and Course of Learning and betake themselves to Mechanical Sordid or Mercenary Trades and Employments And to the intent that good Men might with more diligence apply themselves to Learning and the Slothful might know that their only Way to Preferment was by Virtue he distinguish't Degrees of Studies that so he might know who
the English Writers especially Edward Hall and he that pilfers from him Grafton inveigh mightily against Iames as Ungrateful Perfidious and forgetful of Ancient Courtesys who being Nobly entertain'd among the English for so many Years honoured with a Royal Match and large Dowry and besides restor'd to Liberty from a long Imprisonment suffer'd all these Obligations to be post-pon'd and preferr'd the Alliance with France before That with England But the thing it self doth easily refute their Slanders For First their Detaining of him when he landed on their Coast being against their League and also the Law of Nations 't was a Wrong not a Courtesy Next as to their not killing him but putting him to a ransom for Money rather than imbrue their hands in the Blood not of an Enemy but of a Guest That was attributable not so much to their Love or Mercy toward Him as to their Covetous and avaritious Minds and grant there were any Courtesy in it yet what was it other but like that of Thieves who would seem to give the Life which they took not away and if he were ingag'd to the English on that account 't was a private not publick debt As for their bestowing Education upon him who was Innocent by reason of his Age a Suppliant by his Fortune and a King by Descent tho' most unrighteously detain'd it bears indeed some shew of Humanity which if they had neglected they might have been justly blamed and indeed it had been a commendable piece of Kindness if the Injury going before and the Covetousness following after had not marr'd it unless you will say that if you purposely wound a Man you may require him to give you thanks for his Cure and so you imagin a light Compensation for a great Loss is to be esteem'd as a Courtesy or because you have done some Part of your duty that therefore you should expect the Reward in full of a benefit bestowed on another For he that takes Care that his Captive should be Educated in Learning either for his own pleasure or that he may yield him a better Price thô some advantage accrue hereby to the Party educated yet the Master doth not aim at the Good of the Slave in his Institution but at his Own But says he the King honoured him with the Marriage of his Kinswoman and thus the Royal Young Man was as Royally bâstâwed But what if that Affinity were as honourable to the Father as the Son in Law He would else have Marry'd her to a private Man but now he made her a Queen and ingrafted her by Marriage into that Family on which the Famousest of the English Kings had often before bestowed their Children and from whom so many Former Kings had descended But he gave a very large Dowry with her To whom I pray was it given but to the English themselves who took it away before it was paid and made a shew of it in Words to the Husband but indeed kept it for their own use so that the Dowry was only spoken of not given and so spoken of That they would have the Young Man whom they also had otherwise grievously wrong'd much indebted to them that he carried his Wife away with him without a Dowry But they sent him home a Freeman say they Yes as a Pyrate doth Discharge his Captive when his Ransom is paid But how free I pray Even if we may believe the English Writers themselves under the inforc'd Obligation of an Oath always to obey the English King as his Lord and so to bring a Kingdom which he did yet injoy into a perpetual Servitude which if he had actually injoyed he could not alienate and yet he must mancipate it forsooth before he received it This is not to set one free but to turn him loose with a longer Chain and that not as a King but as a Steward only or Vicegerent of another man's Kingdom I forbear to urge that they compell'd a man in Captivity and as yet under the Power of another to make a Promise yea a promise of That which he could not perform neither could he compel those to perform it who had Power so to do This is that high piece of Liberality which they say Iames was unmindful of But let us suffer these unskilful Writers and forgetful of all Moderation and Modesty in their Stories to account Profits receiv'd as Courtesys given How great must we think That Liberty of falsifying or else Desire of evil Speaking to be which they use against the Daughter of the aforesaid King For whereas such men otherwise impudent enough had nothing to allege against her Manners they write that she was unacceptable to her Husband because of her stinking Breath Whereas Monstrelet a Contemporary Writer of those days doth affirm that she was very faithful and beautiful and he who wrote the Pluscartin Book who accompanied that Queen both at Sea and at her Death hath left it on Record that as long as she lived she was very dear to her Father and Mother in Law and to her Husband too as appeared by the Inscription and Epitaph in French Verses at Chalons by the River Matrona where she dyed which sound much to her Praise 't was then published and afterwards turned into the Scotish Lingue which some of our Country men have by them to this day But I will leave these Men who do so calumniate other mens Credits and neglect their Own that they care little what they say of others or what others think of them and return to the Matter When the King having been at Charge to rig out his Navy had try'd to exact a Tax from the People and the greatest Part plainly refused to pay a Penny a Few paid a small matter and that grudgingly too he commanded his Collectors to desist from levying the rest and to restore what they had already received And yet he did not hereby shun the clamours of the People for some malevolent Persons who were angry for some private loss did daily incite seditious Persons and Innovators against him At the same time the English began to prey upon Scotland both by Land and Sea under the Command of Percy Earl of Northumberland William Douglas Earl of Angus was sent to encounter him with near an Equal number of men for they were about 4000. on either side of the Scots there fell Alexander Iohnston of Lothian a Noble Person and of known Valour some Write that 200. others that only 40 were slain of both Armies and about 1500 English taken Prisoners Iames having been twice provoked by the English First by their Fleet which lay in wait to intercept his Daughter and Next by the late spoiling of his Country resolves to proclaim open War against them whereupon he listed as great an Army as he could and made a fierce assault on Roxburgh and in a short time he expected the Surrender thereof when behold the Queen came posting to him in as
flagrant Desires after him Insomuch that the Nobles as soon as they heard he was Murder'd came in of their own accord from their respective Countries and before a Tryal was appointed they voluntarily sent out into all Parts to apprehend the Murderers and bring them to Justice very many of them were taken The Principal of them were put to new and exquisite kinds of Death The rest were hang'd The Chief Heads in perpetrating the Wickedness were reckon'd to be Walter Earl of Athole Robert his Nephew by his Son and their Kinsman Robert Graham the Punishment of Walter because he was the Chief Author and Instigator of the whoâe Plot was divided into Three Days Suffering In the 1st he was put on a Cart wherein a Stork-like Swipe or Engine was erected and by Ropes let through Pullies was hoisted up on high and then the Ropes being suddainly loos'd he was let down again almost to the Ground with grievous pains by reason of the Luxation of the Joints of his Body Then he was set on a Pillory that all might see him and a Red-hot-Iron-Crown set on his Head with this Inscription that he should be called King of all Traitors They say the cause of this punishment was that Walter had been sometimes told by some Female Witches as Athole was always noted to have such That he should be Crown'd King in a mighty Concourse of People for by this means that Prophecy was either fulfill'd or eluded as indeed such kind of Predictions do commonly meet with no other Events The Day after he was bound upon a Hurdle and drawn at an Horse-Tail thro' the greatest Street in Edinburgh The 3d Day he was laid along upon a Plank in a conspicuous Place and his Bowels were cut out whilst he was alive cast into the Fire and burnt before his Face afterwards his Heart was pulled out and cast into the same Fire then his Head was cut off and expos'd to the view of all being set upon a Poll in the highest Place of the City His Body was divided into Four Quarters and sent to be hang'd up in the most noted Places of the best Cities of the Kingdom After him his Nephew was brought forth to suffer but because of his Age they would not put him to so much pain and besides he was not the Author but only an Accomplice in another Man 's wicked Design as having Obey'd his Grandfather therein so that he was only Hang'd and Quarter'd But Robert Graham who did the Deed with his own Hand was carried in a Cart thro' the City and his Right Hand was nail'd to a Gallows which was set up in the Cart and then came Executioners which did continually run Red-hot-Iron Spikes into his Thighs Shoulders and those Parts of his Body which were most remote from the Vitals and then he was Quarter'd as the former After this manner was the Death of Iames vindicated 't is true 't was a cruel one but 't was reveng'd by Punishments so Cruel that they seem'd to exceed the very bounds of Humanity for such extreme kinds of Punishment do not so much restrain the Minds of the Vulgar by the fear of Severity as they do make them wild to do or suffer any thing neither do they so much deter wicked Men from committing Offences by their Acerbity as they lessen their Terror by often beholding them especially if the Spirits of the Criminals be so hardened that they flinch not at their Punishment For among the unskilful Vulgar a stubborn Confidence is sometimes prais'd for a firm and stable Constancy Iames departed this Life on the Beginning of the Year 1437. the 12 th day of February when he had Reign'd 13 Years and in the 44 th year of his Age So great diligence was us'd in revenging his Death that within 40 Days all the Conspirators were taken and put to Death He left one Son the younger of the Twins halfe of whose Face was Red as if it had been Blood-shotten The Eleventh BOOK James II. The Hundred and Third King AFTER the Punishment of the Parricides Iames the only Son of the Deceased King as yet scarce arriv'd at the Seventh Year of his Age entred upon the Kingdom the Sixth of the Calends of April in the Abby of Holy-Rood-House at Edinburgh The King being as yet not fit for Government there was a dispute among the Nobles who should be Elected Vice King or Regent Archibald Earl of Douglas did exceed all the Scots at that time in Wealth and Power but Alexander Levingstone and William Creighton Both of them of worthy Families did bear away the Bell in point of Authority and Opinion of Prudence in the managing of many Affairs under the former King To them therefore the consent of the Nobles did most incline because they had some Suspicion of Douglas's Power which even a King could hardly bear Whereupon Alexander Levingston was made Regent and William Creighton Chancellor which Office he had born under the former King The Nobility was scarce gone from the Assembly but presently Factions arose For the Chancellor kept himself with the King in the Castle of Edinburgh and the Regent with the Queen at Sterlin and Douglas fretting that he was put by in the last Assembly not knowing which Faction he hated most was well pleas'd to see all things in Disorder so that rather by his Connivance than Consent the Men of Annandale who were always accustom'd to Theiveries and Rapin did infest all the Neighbouring Parts and drove Preys out of them as if it had been an Enemies Country When complaint hereof was made to the Governors they sent Letters to Douglas to suppress them knowing that the Annandians were under his Regulation and Power but these not prevailing they wrote others in a sharper Style to put him in Mind of his Duty but he was so far from punishing past Offences that through his neglect by impunity the growing Mischief was increast for he likewise gave forth a Command that none of them should obey the Kings Officers if they Summoned them into the Courts of Justice or perform'd any other Act of Magistracy in regard as he alleged That was a Priviledge granted to him they commonly call it a Regale or Royalty by former Kings and he that should go about to infringe it it should cost him his Life The Regent and the Chancellor did bewail this State of Things but they could not Rectifie it so that this Gangreen spread further and further till it had soon infected all those parts of Scotland which lay within the Forth The other Two Factions did also disagree amongst themselves insomuch that Proclamations were publickly made in Market Towns and Villages by Alexander that no Man should yield Obedience to the Chancellor and by the Chancellor that none should obey Alexander And if a Man addrest himself to either of them to complain of his wrongs at his return he was sure to be Evil intreated by
him or so to disarm him that for the future he might do them no more Mischief though said they his disarming was not very safe in regard such a Beast as he who had been accustomed to Blood and Rapin would never be at quiet so long as the Breath was in his Body This was Alexander's Discourse in Council to whom all did assent so that an Order was made that every one should go home and levy what Force they could to besiege the Castle of Edinburgh from which they were not to depart till they had taken it And that this might be done with greater Facility the Queen promised to send thither a great Quantity of Provision which she had in her Store-houses in Fife but Haste was to be used whiles their Counsels were yet private and the Enemy had no Warning to provide things fit and necessary for a Siege And in the interim they need not fear Douglas who they knew was a mortal Enemy to the Chancellor so that now seeing they had all the Power Treasure enough and withal the Authority of the Kings Name That being now taken from Him he could have no Hope but to fly to their Mercy Thus the Assembly being Dissolved all things were speedily provided for the Expedition and a close Siege laid to the Castle The Chancellor was acquainted well enough with their Designs but he placed the greatest Hope of his Safety and of maintaining his Dignity in Douglas his Concurrence with him Whereupon he sent humble Suppliants to him to acquaint him That he would always be at his Devotion if he would aid him in his present Extremity urging that he was deceiv'd if he thought that their Cruelty would rest in the Destruction of himself alone but that they would make his Overthrow as a step to destroy Douglas too Douglas answer'd his Message with more Freedom than Advantage viz. That both Alexander and William were equally guilty of Perfidiousness and Avarice and that their falling out was not for any point of Virtue or for the good of the Publick but for their own private Advantages Animosities and Feuds and that it was no great matter which of them had the better in the Dispute yea if they fell Both in the Contest the Publick would be a great Gainer thereby and that no good Man would desire to see an happier sight than two such Fencers to hack and hew one another This Answer being noised abroad in Both Armies for the Castle was already besieged was the Occasion That a Peace was sooner clapt up than any one thought it would There was a Truce made for Two days wherein Alexander and William had a Meeting where they discours'd one with another how dangerous it would be both for the Publick and their private Estates too if they should persist in their Hatred even to a Battel seeing Douglas did but watch the event of the Combate that he might come fresh and fall upon the Conqueror and so attract all the Power of the Kingdom to himself when either One of them was slain or Both weakn'd and broken and therefore the Hâpes of Both their Safeties were plac'd in their common and mutual Agreement so that the present Dangers easily reconciled those Two who were upon other accounts also otherwise prudent enough William according to Agreement gave up the Keys of the Castle to the King professing that both Himself and ât were at his Service and that he never entertain'd any other Thought than to be obedient to the Kings Will Hereupon he was received into Favour with the universal Assent of all that were present The King supped that night in the Castle thus surrendred to him and the next day the Government of the Castle was bestowed on William and the Regency on Alexander Thus after a deadly hatred between them it was hoped that for ever after the Foresight of their mutual Advantage and the Fear of their Common Enemy had tied a firm and indissoluble Knot of Friendship betwixt them After these Civil Broils between the Factions were composed besides Robberies and the Murders of some of the common sort which were committed in many places without punishment there were some remaining Feuds which broke out between some Noble Families The year after the Kings Death in the Third of the Calends of October Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock had treacherously slain Alan Stuart of Darnly in a Truce as he met him between Linlithgoe and Falkirk The next year after on the 7th of the Ides of Alan's Brother with his Party fought Thomas where many were slain on both sides their Numbers being almost equal and amongst the rest Thomas himself fell The Death of Archibald Douglas fell out opportunely at this time because in his Life time his Power was formidable to all He died of a Fever the next year after the Death of Iames the First His Son William succeeded him being the Sixth Earl of that Family he was then Fourteen years of Age a young Man of great hopes if his Education had been answerable to his Ingenuity But Flattery which is the perpetual Pest of great Families did corrupt his tender Age which grew a little more insolent by the premature liberty in entring on his Estate for such Men as were accustomed to Idleness and who made a Gain of the Folly and Indiscretion of the Rich did magnifie his Fathers Magnificence Power and almost more than Royal Retinue and by this means they easily persuaded a plain simple Disposition and unarmed against such Temptations to maintain a great Family and to ride abroad with a Train beyond the State of any other Nobleman so that he kept his old Vassals about him in their former Offices by his Respects to them and obtained also new Clans by his profuse Largesses he also made Knights and Senators and so distinguisht the Order and Degrees of his Attendants as to imitate the publick Conventions of the Kingdom in fine he omitted nothing which might equal the Majesty of the King himself Such Carriages were enough to create Suspicions of themselves but good Men were also much troubled for him upon another account that he would often go abroad with 2000 Horse in his Train amongst whom some were notorious Thieves and many of them worthy of Death for the Murders they had committed yet with these he would come to Court and even to the Kings Presence not only to shew his Power but even to strike Terrour to the Hearts of others This his Insolence was further heightned by his sending some Eminent Persons as his Ambassadors into France viz. Malcolm Fleming and Iohn Lauder who were to declare the Merits of his Ancestors from the Crown of France and to desire that the Title of Duke of Tours might be bestow'd upon him which he easily obtained for his Grandfather had that Honour conferr'd upon him by Charles the Seventh for his great Service performed in the Wars and his Father also had
enjoy'd it after him Being lifted up with this Accession of Honour he undervalued the Regent and the Chancellor too being as he alledged his Fathers Enemies neither did he much fear the King himself For these causes the Power of the Douglasses seem'd too excessive yet a further cause of Suspicion was added William Stuart had a large Patrimony in Lorne His Brother Iames after the Kings Death had Marry'd the Queen and had Children by her but disdaining and repining that he was admitted to no part of the publick Government to the end he might more easily obtain what he desired and revenge his concealed Grief he seemed not much averse from Douglas his Faction and it was thought that the Queen was not ignorant of his Design for she also took it amiss that the Regent had not rewarded her Services as she expected By reason of these Suspicions the Queen her Husband and her Husbands Brother were committed to Prison the Fourth of the Nones of August in the year of our Lord .... The Queen was shut up in a Chamber narrow enough of it self yet there she was diligently and watchfully guarded for the rest were laid in Irons in the Common Prison and they were not freed before in an Assembly of the Nobles held the day before the Calends of September the Queen had clear'd her self from being any way privy to these new Plots and Iames and his Brother had given in Sureties that they would act nothing against the Regent neither would they undertake any Office in the Government without his Consent In this Uncertainty of Affairs the Aebudians made a Descent upon the Continent and wasted all with Fire and Sword without distinction of Age or Sex so that their Avarice and Cruelty was not to be parallell'd by any Example Neither were they contented to Prey only upon the Sea-Coast but they also slew Iohn Colchon a Noble Person in Lennox having call'd him out from Inch-Merin in the Loch-Lomond to a Conference and given him their Faith for his Security This was done the 23d of September Many Foul Offences of this Nature were committed so that partly on the account of want of Tillage and partly of Unseasonable Weather Provision came to be very dear and moreover there was a Pestilence for Two years so dreadful and fierce that they who were visited with it died within the space of a day The Vulgar ascribed the cause of all these Calamities to the Regent for Matters succeeding prosperously with him he despised the Chancellor and the Nobles of that Faction and drew the Administration of all things into his own Power Complaints were made against him that he cast Noble and Eminent Persons into Prison upon light and ungrounded Suspicions and afterward most grievously punished them and that he gave Indemnity to those who were really guilty merely by his own Arbitrary Will and Pleasure and that he held Secret Correspondence with Doâglas The Chancellor could not bear these Things in silence neither was he able to prevent them by Force and therefore he supprest his Anger for the present and resolved to depart from the Court. And accordingly upon the First Opportunity he left the King and the Regent at Sterlin and with a great Train of Followers came to Edinburgh and there he fixt himself in that Strong Castle being intent and Vigilant in all Occasions of Change which might evene When this matter was noised abroad it rais'd up Envy on the Regent because of his Power and procur'd favour to the Chancellor because of his Retirement neither did William neglect his opportunity amongst their Feuds for he resolved by some bold Attempt to curb the Insolence of his Adversary and to remove the Undervalue he had set upon him And therefore having understood by his Spys that the King went every day a hunting and was but Slightly guarded watching the Season when Alexander was absent and having made sufficient Enquiry into the Conveniency of the Country the Fitness of the Time and the due Number of the Undertakers he chose out a Place not far from Sterlin where the Faithfullest of his Friends with what Force they could make should meet and wait for his Coming And he with a few Horse lodg'd himself in a Wood near the Castle of Sterlin before day and there waited for the Kings coming neither did Providence deceive him in this bold Attempt The King came forth into the Wood early in the Morning with a smal Train and those unarm'd too and so he fell amongst the arm'd Troops of the Chancellor they saluted him as King according to Custom and bid him to be of good Cheer and take Courage The Chancellor in a few Words as the Time would permit advis'd him to provide for himself and the Kingdom and to deliver himself out of Alexanders Prison that so he might live hereafter at Liberty and as a King and might not accustom himself to fulfil the Lusts and Dictates of Other men but might himself lay those Commands which were just and equal upon Others and so might free all his Subjects from their present Misery which they had been plung'd into by the Ambition and Lust of their Subordinate Governors and that so deeply that there could be no Remedy found for them unless the King himself would undertake the Government and This be might easily do without Peril or Pain for he himself had provided a good Body of Horse near at hand who would attend him to what fit Place soever he would go The King seem'd by his Countenance to approve of what he had said either that he really thought so or else that he dissembled his Fear Whereupon the Chancellor took his Horses Bridle in 's hand and led him to his own Men They which were with him being few and unarm'd not able to Encounter so many Men return'd back in great sadness Thus the King came to Edinburgh guarded with 4000 Horse well accoutred where he was received by the Commonalty with great demonstrations of Joy After the Regent heard of what was done his Mind was confounded betwixt Anger and Shame insomuch that he return'd to Sterlin to consider of what was most advisable in the case His great Spirit was mightily troubled to see himself so Childishly deluded by his own Negligence he suspected it was done by the Fraud and Connivance of his own Followers and thus he stood long wavering whom to trust and whom to fear Shame Anger and Suspicion bustling together in his mind At length he took a little heart and began to think with himself what Remedy to apply to his present Malady He knew that his own Strength was not sufficient against the Chancellor a Man politick in Counsel and strong in Force and besides he had the Favour of the People and the Authority of the Kings Name as Buttresses to support him as for the Queen he had so offended her by her close Imprisonment that she was hardly ever
give him a Legal Account of ãâã Administration of their former Offices His Design herein ãâ¦ã if they came to the Court he might either destroy them or ãâã bring them under by the power of his Faction but if they refused to come then to declare them publick Enemies and so having the Authority of the Kings Name as a pretence for his Power to despoil and out them of all their Estates Hereupon they were summoned to appear but return'd Answer by Letters That they had never any thing more prevalent and superior in their Thoughts than the Good of the King and Kingdom and that they had so managed their Offices that they desired nothing more than to give up a full Account provided it were before equal Judges but for the present they desir'd to be excus'd in regard they perceiv'd that the Minds of those who were to be their Judges were preposses'd in Favour and by the Largesses of their Enemies and besides all Passages were beset with Armed Men not that they shunn'd a Legal Hearing but only withdrew from the Violence of their Mortal Enemies at the present and reserv'd their Lives for better Times till the Commanders of Thieves being driven from the Kings Presence as they had often done in doubtful times before they might then justify and asseât their Innocency to the King and all Good Men. When this Answer was receiv'd an Assembly was Indicted to be held at Sterlin the Fourth day of November wherein Douglas so carry'd the Matter that they were declared Publick Enemies and their Goods Confiscate And then he sends out Iohn Froster of Gorstorphin his Confident with Forces to spoil their Country and bring their Goods into the Kings Exchequer He took in their Castles by Surrender part of them he demolisht and part he put new Garisons into and thus making a vast spoil without any resistance he carried off a great Booty The Douglassians had scarce retired before Creighton had gathered an Army of his Friends and Vassals sooner than Men thought and with them he ran over the Lands of the Foresters and of the Douglasses even as far as Corstorphin Sârabrock Abercorn and Blackness he burnt their Houses spoil'd their Corn and brought away as much Prey as he was able and amongst the rest a stately Breed of Mares and thus he did his Enemy much more Mischief than he receiv'd Douglas knowing that Creighton had done this by the assistance of Others rather than his own Force turns his Anger upon his Friends who he was inform'd had sent him Aid privately for few durst do it openly The Chief of them were Iames Kennedy Archbishop of St. Andrews George Earl of Angus Iohn Earl of Morton Both the later of Douglas's his own Family but One Born of the King's Aunt the Mother of Iames Kennedy the Other had Marry'd the King's Sister These Persons did always prefer the Publick Safety and their Duty for the Conservation thereof before the private Respect to their own Family But Kennedy exceeded the rest in Age Counsel and consequently in Authority and therefore his Wrath was principally incensed against him Whereupon the Earl of Craford and Alexander Ogilby gather'd a reasonable Army together and spoil'd his Lands in Fife and following the Prey rather than the Cause they plunder'd the Neighbor Farms also with a great devastation and then without any Opposition return'd into Angus laden with Spoil In this case Kennedy betook himself to his proper Church-Arms of Defence and in regard Craford avoided the Decision of these Disputes by Law he prosecuted him with Ecclesiastical Censures which when he despis'd according to his wonted Contumacy a little while after he was justly punish'd for his contempt of all Divine and Human Laws For the same Year wherein these things were acted the Colledge of the Benedictins at Aberbrothock in regard Monks might not intermeddle to judge in Civil Causes had made Alexander Lindsy Eldest Son of the Earl of Craford their Chief Judge in Civils or as they call him Sheriff or Bayliff He with his huge Train of Followers became burdensome to the Monast'ry and besides he carried himself as their Master rather than their Servant so that they dispossest him of his Offices and put Alexander Ogilby in his Place Lindsy lookt upon This as a Wrong to him in his Opinion so that each of them gather'd together what Force they could as if a War had been denounc'd between them when Both Armies stood in a readiness to Fight the Earl of Craford having notice of it made all the haste he could and rode in betwixt Them Both thinking that the sole Authority of his Name had been Armour of proof to him and whilst he was hindring his Son from ingaging and calling out Ogilby to a Conference a Soldier darted a Spear into his Mouth it was not known Who he was nor What he aim'd at and struck him down dead from his Horse His Death was as an Alarm to Both Armies and after a sharp Conflict many being wounded on Both sides the Victory fell to the Lindsys They say the Cause thereof was that whilst Both Armies stood with their Spears upright representing the fashion of a Wood a certain Man cry'd out Why do you bring those Goads with you as if you had to do with Oxen Pray cast them away and let us fight it out with our Swords hand to hand by true Valour as becomes Men Upon which Words they all cast away their Pikes on both sides except 100 Clydesdale Men whom Douglas had sent in to Aid the Lindsyst These held the Tops or Points of their Pikes in their Hands and drew the rest of them behind their Backs but when they came to Handy-blows then they held them out as a thick Fence before them and their Enemies being terrified with the sudden Spectacle had their Ranks broken thereby The Conquering side lost 100 the Conquer'd 500 and amongst them some Men of Note Alexander Ogilby was taken prisoner and Dyed a few Days after either of his Wounds or for Grief Gordon Earl of Huntly was put upon a Horse by a Friend of his own and so escap'd The Slaughter had been much greater if the Night had not cover'd the Flyers away for the Battel began a few hours before Night on the 9 th of the Calends of February The Lindsys manag'd their Victory with great Cruelty they pillaged and demolisht Houses and utterly spoil'd the Country The War was as hotly carried on between the Factions in other Parts Douglas had besieg'd William Creighton some Months in the Castle of Edinburgh and to make a more close Siege he remov'd the Assembly of the Estates which was summoned to be held on the Ides of Iuly and was already begun at Perth to Edinburgh when the Siege had lasted 9 Months both the Besiegers and the Besieged grew equally weary and so a Surrender was made on these Conditions That William should be
same Voice was heard louder than before which struck all there present into a Great horror Afterwards when it sounded again more terribly and frightfully than before The Bishop gave a great groan put out his Tongue and was found Dead in his Bed This so evident an Example of God's Vengeance as I shall not rashly credit so I have no mind to refute yet it being deliver'd by others and constantly affirmed to be true I thought good not to omit it At the same time Iames Kennedy One of a far different Life and Manners as referring all his Counsels to the Good of the Publick when neither by his Authority nor Counsel he could resist the daily new-springing Evils of his Country and seeing likewise That the Kings Power was not able to oppose the Conspiracies of Wicked men he left all his Estate for a Prey and shifted for himself Neither in these Domestick Miseries were Matters much quieter abroad When the Truce made with the English was expir'd the Scots made an Inrode into England and the English into Scotland and where-ever they went they wasted all with Fire and Sword in England Alâwick was taken and burnt by Iames Brother to the Earl of Douglas In Scotland the Earl of Salisbury did the like to Dunfreiz and the Earl of Northumberland to Dunbar great Booties of Men and Cattel were driven away on Both sides But the Commanders agreed amongst themselves that the Prisoners should be exchang'd for they were in a manner equal both for Number and Degree By these Incursions the Country was depopulated and yet the main chance of the War not concerned so that a Truce was again accorded for 7 Years In this state of Affairs Iames Dunbar Earl of Murray departed this Life he left two Daughters his Heiresses the Eldest of them was Marry'd by her Father before his Death to Iames Creighton The Younger after her Fathers decease marry'd Archibald Brother to the Earl of Douglas He against the Laws and the Custom of his Ancestors was called Earl of Murray so superlative was Douglas's Power then at Court neither was he contented with this Accession of Honour but that he might further propagate the Dignity of his Family he caus'd his Brother George to be made Earl of Ormond his Brother Iohn had many fair and fruitful Farms and Lands bestowed upon him and was also made Baron of Balvany against the mind of many of his Friends who had in Suspicion the Power of that Family too great before that it would be at last formidable even to the King himself yea they imagined that these immoderate Accessions Frolicks of Fortune would not be long-lived But his Enemies did as invidiously as they could inveigh against This unsatiable Ambition for who say they could safely live under the Exorbitant rule of such a Tyrant for whose Avarice nothing was enough and against whose Power there was no Safeguard who right or wrong invaded the Patrimony of the Nobles and expos'd the Countrymen to be a Prey to his Tenants and those who oppos'd his Lust he caus'd them by Thieves and Cut-Throats either to lose all they had or else to be put to death that he advanced Upstarâs to high Honours whom he grafted on the ruin of Noble Families so that all the Power of the Kingdom was now brought into one House besides many Knights and Barons there were five Opulent Earls of the Family insomuch that the King himself did but Reign precariously and men were like to suffer all Extremities under the Cruel Bondage of the Douglas's and he that utter'd the least word tending to Liberty must pay his Life for his Boldness These and other discourses of this kind some true others to create greater Envy stretcht beyond the Lines of Truth were spread abroad amongst the Vulgar which made Those who were of neither Faction to fit loose from the Care of the Publick and every one to mind his own private Concerns The wiser sort of his Enemies were glad to hear that a man of such Power against which there was no making Head should thus voluntarily run headlong to his own Destruction Neither did they presage amiss for his Mind was grown so proud and insolent by reason of his Great Successes that ãâ¦ã his Ears against the free Advices of his Friends yea many ãâã not with any safety dissemble and cover by their silence what they did dislike because he had Parasites which did not only lie at catch for Words but observ'd mens very Countenances As for his old Enemies many of them were hal'd to Judgment before him who was both their Adversary and Judge too so that some of them were outed of their Estates some depriv'd of their Lives and others to avoid his unrighteous and partial Judgment fled out of their Country The men also of Douglas's Faction lived in no Fear at all of the Law for no man durst implead them but letting the Reins loose to all Licentiousness they invaded and made havock of things Sacred as well as Profane Those which were obnoxious to them they slew and kill'd out of the way neither was there any End of their Wickedness sometimes when they had no sufficient Cause to do a man a Mischief they then did it unprovok'd and gratuitously as it were lest thro' disuse of offending any honest and tender Thoughts should arise in their Minds so as to allay their Brutish Cruelty Every one thought himself the noblest and bravest Fellow that could cast the greatest Contumely on the Commons When such great Miseries were diffus'd into so many Parts of the Kingdom Scotland had certainly sunk under the Burden unless England at the same time had been as much embarassed with civil Combustions which at last being somewhat allay'd the English violated their Truce and invaded Scotland When they had runover a great Circuit of Ground and pillaged many Villages They drove away a Vast Number of Cattle and return'd home neither was it long before the Scots cry'd quits with them for they also entred England with a good Force and did the Enemy more Damage than they receiv'd Thus the Minds of Both were irritated by these alternate Plunderings so that a mighty Desolation was made in the Territories of either Kingdom but the greatest share of the Calamity fell upon Câmberland which had been the Rise of the Injury and Wrong for that Province was so harassed by the War that it was almost quite destroy'd When this war related at London it occasion'd the English to levy a far greater Army against the Scots for thereby they thought easily to reduce the Country into their Power they being poor and also weakned by Civil Discords Hereupon an Army was rais'd of the Better sort of People and the Earl of Northumberland made their General in regard he knew the Country well and besides his Name and Power was great in those Parts To him they joyn'd one Main of a Knightly Family but who had
the Favours and Graces they formerly had and her Husband having joyned himself to the Douglassian Faction she was every day more and more slighted and despis'd by him so that she implor'd the Kings Assistance against his barbarous Cruelty There was no need of her making such an Apology in regard the King himself had been the Author of the Match so that she was nobly treated and had a large Revenue setled upon her for her Life About the same time Patrick Thornton who had followed the Court a great while yet was secretly of Douglas's Faction slew Iohn Sanderland of Caldar a Young man of about 20. years of Age ând Alan Stuart of Noble Families Both and of eminent Faithfulness to the King having got a convenient Opportunity so to do at Dunbarton and soon after he himself was taken by the Clans of the Adverse Party and Executed for the same This Year was remarkable for the Death of many Noble Personages but especially of William Creighton He tho' born of an Equestrian Family yet by reason of his great Prudence Fortitude and his Singular Loyalty to the King even to the last day of his Life left a great Loss behind him to all Good men The next Year the English being incouraged by their Impunity for former Injuries made great spoil in Merch under the command of Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and Iames Douglas the Exile to hinder their devastations George Douglas Earl of Angus gathered a Party of his Countrymen together and made an Assault on the Plunderers and drave that Part of them which he assaulted in great Confusion back to their own Standards the English being mov'd at this Indignity marched on their Army before the rest had recover'd their Colours and the Scots were as ready to receive them The Fight was manag'd on both sides with greater Courage than Force a great while neither did any odds appear till the English who were scatter'd up and down the Country by the Noise and Temult perceiving that the Enemy was come for fear of losing the rich Booty they had gotten hasted directly home their departure gave an easier but yet not unbloody Victory to the Scots there being almost an equal number slain on Both Sides but many of the English taken in the pursuit The News of this Victory being brought to the King did something relieve his Mind which was opprest with Thoughtfulness between the Arms of his own Subjects and of the English afterwards Donald the Islander perceiving the ill success of his Affairs was inforc'd to send Agents to the King to intercede for a Peace They in an humble Oration commemorated the King's Clemency shew'd to Craford and the rest of his Partisans in the same Cause as for their own Crimes they laid them on the Fatality of the Times but for the future they made large Promises how Loyal and Obsequious Donald would be The King seem'd to be somewhat affected with their Speech yet gave them but a middle Answer neither quite pardoning Donald nor utterly excluding all hopes of his Pardon he told them That his many Crimes were very evident but he had discover'd no Specimen of a chang'd Mind in him if they would have the Penitence which they pretended in Words to be believ'd as really True and Hearty he should make Restitution for the Loss he had formerly caus'd and restore their Estates to such as he had outed of them and thus to cancel the Memory of his former Mischiefs by some Eminent and Loyal Service 'T is true said he no Virtue becomes a King more than Clemency but Care must be had lest the Reins of Government be not let loose by too much Lenity and so Evil Men rather made more insolent than Good Men excited to their Duty thereby that he would give Time to Donald and his Party to manifest by some Tokens that they repented of their Miscarriages and that they should always find him towards them such as their Actions and their Words did Declare them to be In the mean time they need not fear for Now it was put into their own Power whether they would every Man be Happy or Miserable for the future By this means intestine Discords were either compos'd or else laid asleep so that the King now bends all his Care against England whilst he was consulting concerning a War with them and concerning their frequent violations of Truces behold Embassadors came from the English Nobility to Desire Aid against Henry their King For Henry had slighted the Nobles and advanc'd Upstarts by whose Advice his Wife a Woman of a Manly Spirit and Courage Ruled the Roast And besides the King had incurr'd the Displeasure and Contempt of his Friends because things had not succeeded well in Aquiâane and Normandy for they having lost so many Provinces and being now pent up within the Ancient Bounds of their own Island did mutter and grumble that the Kings Sluggishness and the Queens Pride were no longer to be endur'd The Heads of the Conspiracy were Richard Duke of York with the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick when the English Embassadors had discours'd much concerning the Justness of their Cause to begin a War and also concerning their own Power and the Cowardly Temper of their King they crav'd Aid against him as against a Common Enemy who was fearful in War fordid in Peace and who had nourish'd Civil Discords amongst the Scots and had assisted their Exiles withal they promis'd if they got the Victory to restore the Castles and Countries which were taken in former Wars from the Scots The King by Advice of his Council made Answer That he before knew the State of the English Affairs and that he was not ignorant of the Right or Demands of either side but that he would not intetpose Himself an Arbiter in another Mans Kingdom unless he were chosen by both Parties to that Office As to the War he had long since determin'd to revenge the Injuries of the former Times and âf he could not otherwise obtain the Places he had lost on the Occasion of these Discords he would recover them by Force But if the Duke of York and his Party would promise to restore Them then he would assist him against Henry The Embassadors agreed to the Terms and so return'd home The King prepar'd his Forces and was about to enter England when behold an English Impostor sent by Henry met him he had been a long time at Rome and was well acquainted with the Speech and the Customs of the Italians his Habit and Train was all Outlandish and he had counterfeit Letters as from the Pope whereby he was easily believ'd by Men suspecting nothing but to be a Legate sent from him and to gain the greater Credit to his Impostures he had a Monk with him whose fained Sanctity made the Fraud less suspected they were brought to the King and in the Popes Name Commanded him to proceed no further
of about 7 Years Old who was the younger of the Twins and surviv'd his Brother enter'd upon the Government in the Town of Kelsoe Afterwards when the Nobles according to Custom had taken their Oaths of Allegiance to him 8 Days after he began his Reign he left his Army and retir'd home âo the Castle of Edinburgh to be under the Tutelage of his Mother till an Assembly of the Estates were Celebrated to determin of the Grand Affairs of the Kingdom The Assembly was Indicted later than ordinary because Matters was not compos'd in England and yet quiet in Scotland So that the Nobility were of Opinion That War was first of all to be thought on that so they might revenge old Injuries and punish their Enemies by some notable Loss who did always lye at catch to take Advantage of the Distresses of Others Hereupon they marched into the Enemies Country without any resistance where they committed much spoil and demolished many Castles from whence the Enemy was wont to make suddain Incursions the Chief of which was Wârk situate on the Banks of the River Tweed formerly very injurious to the Country of Merch. The Army ravaged over the Enemies Country as far as they could for the time of the Year and at the very beginning of Winter returned home This Year Henry King of England was Taken by the Duke of York and brought to London there a Form of Peace was concluded betwixt them for Henry durst not deny any thing That He as long as he lived should bear the Name and Ensigns or Badges of a King but the Power of Government should be in York under the Name of a Protector And when Henry Died Then the Name also of King was to be transferred to Edward and his Posterity Whilst these Things were acted at London News was brought That the Queen was marching up with a great Army to Redeem her Husband out of Prison York went out to Engage her with about 5000 Men with him leaving the Earl of Warwick and King Henry behind he marched as far as Yorkshire and lest He who in France had Defended himself against great Armies not with Walls but with Arms should now shun a Battel with a Woman He Fought against a far greater Number than his Own and in the Fight He his youngest Son and a great many Nobles were slain The Heads of the Commanders were set up as a Spectacle upon the Gates at York The Queen thus Victorious and marching on further to Deliver the King the Earl of Warwick met her bringing the King along with him as if he would Defend the Pact made concerning the Kingdom under his good Omen Both Armies met at St. Albans which is thought to be the Old Verulam where the Queen was again Victorious She slew the Commanders of the adverse Army released her Husband and marched directly up for London but considering that the Earl of Pembroke was sent by Her to gather Forces as was also York's Son by his Father and that these Two had had a Fight in their March wherein Edward the Son of her Enemy was Victorious and withal knowing what cruel Hatred the Londoners bore against Her She withdrew towards Northumberland because She looked on that Part of England as the Seminary or Source of Her Strength There She was also Overcome in a Bloody Fight more than 36000 valiant Men being reported to be slain and the Enemy pressing upon Her and giving Her no Time to recollect Her Forces She her Husband and Son fled into Scotland The Conqueror call'd himself Edward the Fourth King of England Henry desired Aid in his Distress and by means of Iames Kennedye Archbishop of St. Andrews who then surpassed all in Scotland in point of Authority and Opinion of his Prudence he was Entertain'd with a great deal of Honour and Respect so that he was erected to some Hope of recovering his former Dignity and to nourish that Hope by all the actual good Offices which he could he restored the Town of Berwick to the Scots which the English had held ever since the Days of Edward I. The Scots upon this Obligation did assist Henry's Faction in all things not only in piecing up the Relicks of his former Misfortunes but promising him more Aid in time to recover his Own And that the Friendship now begun might be the more firmly established the Two Queens Both of Them of French Descent began to Treat concerning a Marriage between Iames his Sister and Henry's Son whom they called Prince of Wales tho' neither of them as yet were above Seven Years old Philip of Burgundy Uncle to the Queen of Scots but a Mortal Enemy to the Queen of England endeavoured by all means possible to hinder this Marriage For he sent Grathusius a Nobleman his Embassador for that purpose For Philip was at such deadly odds with Renatus Grandfather to the Lady by the Mother's side that he sought all Occasions to hinder his Stock from increasing so that in Favour of him the Matter was at that time rather delayed than broke off But the Fortune of Henry kept off the Event which Philip of Burgundy feared For being something encouraged by the Kindness of the Scots towards him and also by some comfortable Letters sent from his Friends out of England he sent his Wife beyond Sea to Renatus her Father to procure what Aid she could from her Foreign Friends She prevailed so much in France that her Faction were to have a safe Place of Retreat there but her Adversaries were excluded and moreover she obtained 2000 Men as Monstrelet says under Warren their General but as Ours and the English Writers to whom I rather assent 500 Commanded by Peter Brice or as some call him Brace a Britton rather as Companions for her Journy than as any Auxiliary Aid With this small Band she returned into Scotland and thought fit to attempt something not doubting but at the Noise of Foreign Assistance her Countrymen would rise and joiâ with her whereupon she made a Descent at Tinmouth but this small Company being dismayed at the report of a great Force coming against them without the performance of any thing remarkable returned to their Ships where also as if Fortune had crossed them on all hands they were encounter'd with a grievous Tempest which drove the greatest Part of them who followed the Queen to Scotland into Berwick buâ some few of them were cast upon the Isle Lindisfarm where they were taken by the Enemy and slain But the Manly spirited Queen was nothing discouraged at this Misfortune but levied a great number of Scots to join with her own Soldiers and resolves to try her Fortune once again Whereupon she left her Son at Berwick and she and her Husband entred Northumberland where she made great Devastation by Fire and Sword in all the adjacent Parts At the report of this new Army some of the Nobles as the Duke of
Triumphed over And so She herself and her Kingdom which was enlarged and increased by her Husband Odenatus was lost in a moment Neither may I pass over in silence what is principally to be regarded in the management of other Mens Affairs That the Chief Command is not to be intrusted to such sort of Persons who are not accountable for their Mal-Administration I do not at all distrust the Disposition Faithfulness nor Care of the Queen but if any thing be acted amiss as it often happens by the Fraud of others and Matters be carried otherwise than the Publick Good or the Dignity of Her Place doth Require What Mulct can we exact from the Kings Mother What Punishment can we require Who shall give an account for Miscarriages The Highest Matters will then be managed in the Meetings of Women in the Nursery or Dressing Room You must There either each Man in particular subscribe to Decrees or All in General Make them and She whom you scarce now restrain tho' She be without Arms and obnoxious to you by Laws and Customs when you have by your Authority put Power into Her hands you will certainly feel Her Womanish Wilfulness and Extravagance Neither do I speak this as if I did fear any such thing from our Queen who is the Choicest and Modestest of all Women but because I think it base and unseemly for us who have all things yet in our own Hands and Power to place the Hope of our Safety which we may owe to our Selves only in anothers Power especially since both Divine and Human Laws the Custom of our Ancestors yea and the Consent of all Nations throughout the whole World make for us 'T is true some Nations have endured Women to be their Chief Magistrates but they were not elected to that Dignity by their Judgment and Suffrage but were cast upon them by the Lot of their Birth and Nativity but never any People who had freedom of Vote when there was plenty of able Men to chuse did ever prefer Women before Them And therefore most Eminent Patriots I advise and earnestly intreat you That according to the Laws of our Country and the Customs of our Ancestors we chuse One or if you think fit More the Best out of the Noblest and Best who may undertake the Regency till the King arrive at that strength both of Body and Mind as to be able to manage the Government Himself And I pray God to Bless your Proceedings herein Kennedy spake thus with the Approbation of the undoubtedly major part of the Assembly and the rest perceiving that it was in vain to oppose passed over to their Opinion The Matter was thus composed That neither Party seemed to have the Better of the other Two of each Faction were chosen for the Guardianship for the King who were to manage all Publick Affairs with Fidelity to Collect and Expend the King's Revenue and to undertake the Charge of the Royal Family Of the Queens side William Graham and Robert Boyd then Chancellor Of the Other Robert Earl of the Orcades and Iohn Kennedy All on both sides the Chief of their Families To these were added the Two Bishops of Glasgo and Caledonia The Queen was allowed to be present at the King's Education but She was not to touch any part of the Publick Government As for the other Children which were Four viz. Alexander Duke of Albany and Iohn Earl of Mar and Two young Females She had the Charge of their Educations Herself Matters being thus composed at home Embassadors from England had their Audience who desired a Truce which was granted for Fifteen Years The next Year which was 1463. The King's Mother Died being not well spoken of in point of Chastity The same Year Alexander the King's Brother returning from his Grandfather by the Mothers-side out of France was taken Prisoner by the English but freed soon after in regard the Scots urged it as a Breach of the Truce and threatned a War thereupon Peace being obtained abroad it was not long before Intestine Commotions arose at home for when the Disputes and Controversies betwixt the Nobility concerning ordering the State of the Kingdom were bruited abroad and magnified by vulgar Rumors And Moreover the King's Minority together with the fresh Remembrance of the Licentiousness of the late Times were brought upon the Stage all these Temptations put together did easily let loose the Reins to Men who were turbulent enough in their own Nature Alan of Lorn a Seditious Person had a mind to enjoy the Estate of Iohn his Elder Brother and therefore kept him Prisoner intending there to detain him so long alive till the hatred of his cruel Practise did with time abate and so he yield to his Will and Pleasure when Calen Cambel Earl of Argyle heard of it he gather'd a Band of his Tenants together freed Iohn and cast Alan into Prison in his room resolving to carry him to Court that he might suffer Punishment for That as well as for his other noted Robberies but he prevented his Punishment by Death whether voluntary or fortuitous is not known In another part of the Country Donald the Islander as being a more powerful Person began to make a far greater Commotion for after the Kings Death as free from Fear and judging That turbulent state of things to be a fit Opportunity for him to injure his Inferiors and to increase his own power he came to Enverness with no great Train and was kindly invited into the Castle by the Governor thereof who had no Thoughts or so much as the least Fear of any Hostility from him when he was entred he turned out the Garison seized upon the Castle and gathering his Islanders about him proclaim'd himself King of the Islands He sent forth Edicts into the Neighbour Countries That the Inhabitants should pay Tribute to none but himself and that they should acknowledge no other Lord or Master denouncing a great Penalty to those that did otherwise The News hereof caus'd Debauch'd Persons to flock to him from all Parts so that having made up an Army great enough he entred Athole with such celerity that he took the Earl thereof who was the Kings Uncle and his Wife Prisoners before they suspected any such thing For the Earl hearing the sudden Tumult of a War distrusted the strength of his Castle of Blare and went into the Church of St. Brides near adjoining to defend himself there as in a Sanctuary by the Religion of the Place many also of his Vassals and Countrymen being surprized at the sudden danger carried and laid up their best Goods there That Church was venerated in those Parts with great Ceremony and it had remain'd inviolate to that very day by reason of the great Opinion of its Sanctity but the consideration of Gain was more prevalent with that Savage and Avaritious Person than any sense of Religion For he violently pull'd out the Earl and his
so lamented by all good Men as if in him they had lost a publick Father For in that Man besides the Virtues above mention'd there was an high degree of Frugality and Continence at home yet great Splendor and Magnificence abroad He exceeded all former Bishops yea and all those which have sat after him in that See to this very day in Liberality towards the Publick and yet notwithstanding his own Ecclesiastical Revenues were not very great for as yet the Scots had not arrived at that ill Custom of heaping up Steeples upon Steeples nor had learned to spend that worse upon Luxury which was before ill gotten by Avarice He left one Eminent Monument of his Munificence behind him and That was the Publick Schools at St. Andrews which he built with great Expence and endow'd with large Revenues but issuing out of Church Incoms he took order that a Magnificent Monument should be erected for himself therein which yet the Malignity of Men envy'd him for though he had deserv'd so well privately of most Men and publickly of all Men They alleg'd 't was a thing of too much vanity to bestow so much Cost upon a Structure of no Use. His Death made his Virtues more illustrious and increas'd Mens desire after him for when he who was a perpetual Censor and Corrector of Manners was once remov'd out of the way the publick Discipline began by degrees to grow weak and remiss and at last to be so corrupt as to bring almost all things with it self to ruin The Boyds made use of pretences in Law to increase the Domestick Power of their Family and to abate the Potency of their Enemies and first Patrick Graham seem'd most pat for their purpose he was the Brother of Iames Kennedy by the same Mother and was also Cousin by the Mothers-side to Robert Boyd He as the Manner was in those days was Elected Bishop by the Canons in the Room of his Brother Iames but was hinder'd by the Court-Faction from having the Kings leave to go to Rome so that he went privately to the Pope without any Train and so was easily admitted into his Brothers Place for besides the Nobleness of his Stock and the great Recommendation of his high Virtues he was also well Learned as for those times And therefore whilst he staid at Rome fearing the Power of the Adverse Faction The old Controversy concerning the Liberty of the Church of Scotland began to be revived For the Archbishop of York pretended That the Bishops of Scotland were under his Jurisdiction so that he endeavour'd to retain That Power in time of Peace which had been usurped in the Licentious Times of War But a Decree was made at Rome in Favour of the Scots and Graham was not only made Primate of Scotland but also was Constituted the Popes Legat there for Three years to inquire into the dangerous Manners and Conversations of Priests and to restore decayed Ecclesiastical Discipline to its pristine Integrity and State and yet this great Man though so illustrious for Indowments of Mind and Fortune and having also the superadded Authority of the Pope to back him durst not return home till the Power of the Boyds did somewhat decline at Court The Boyds perceiving That the Concourse of the Nobility to them was not so great as they hop'd to avert the Accusations of their Enemies and provide for their own Security for the future cause a publick Assembly or Parliament to be Indicted against the 13th Day of October There Robert Boyd the Elder fell down on his Knees before the King and his Counsellors of State complaining That his Service to the King in bringing him to Edinburgh was ill interpreted and traduc'd by the Malign Speeches of his Adversaries who gave out threatning Words That the Advisers to that Journy should one Day suffer Punishment for the same and therefore he humbly besought the King That if he had conceiv'd any ill will or disgust in his Mind against him for that Journy That he would openly declare it that so the Calumnies of his Detractors might be either prevented or allay'd The King having advis'd a littâe with the Lords of the Articles made answer That Robert was not the Adviser of him to that Journy but rather his Companion in it and therefore that he was more worthy of a Reward for his Courtesie than of Punishment for his Obsequiousness and Compliance therein and this he was willing to declare in a publick Decree of the Estates that so all invidious Discourse might be stopt and in the same Decree Provision should be made That that Matter should never be prejudicial to Robert nor his Companions Boyd desired that This Decree might be Registred amongst the Acts of the Assembly and that the same should be confirm'd also by Letters Patents under the Great Seal and accordingly the Decree was presently Registred amongst the Acts and the Letters Patents were deliver'd to him soon after viz. the 25th Day of the same Month. The same Day also the King by advice of his Council gave him other Letters Patents wherein he was Constituted Regent and had the Safety of the King his Brothers Sisters Towns Castles and all the Jurisdiction over his Subjects committed to him till he himself came to 21 Years of Age and he dealt so with the Nobles then present that they solemnly promis'd to be assistant to the Boyds in all their publick Actions and that they would be obnoxious to Punishment if they did not carefully and with Faithfulness perform what they now promis'd To this Stipulation or Promise the King also subscrib'd By this means when the King was their Friend Part of the Nobility in League with them and also the Administration of the whole Government put into their Hands they thought themselves sufficiently secur'd for a long time yea and to lay a Foundation also for the future Greatness of their Posterity they brought it about that Thomas Boyd the Son of Robert should Marry the King 's Eldest Sister That Marriage as it was opulent and seem'd a Prop and Establishment of their Power so it increas'd the Hatred of their Enemies and gave Occasion to variety of Discourse amongst the Vulgar For though by this means all passage to the King's Ear seem'd to be precluded and they alone made the sole Arbiters of his Words and Actions yet they did not flourish so much in Favour at Court as they were prosecuted with publick Hatred abroad which after Four Years Concealment did at last break out to the Destruction of their whole Family and the wiser sort of the adverse Party did not much dislike this their sudden Increase of Honour for they hoped as 't is usual That Arrogance would be the Companion thereof which would not indure a Superior and despise an Equal yea and trample upon an Inferior and when the Bounds of a Subjects Condition are exceeded it also awakens Kings who are impatient of Corrivals to
shall not conceal what I have heard some Good Men and not Ignorant of the History of those Times affirm They say That the Amnesty given to the Boyds was thus Worded in the Records That the King forgave them all the Prejudice and Rancour of Mind as they then Phras'd it which he might have conceiv'd against them which they who were willing to Gratifie the King did Interpret according to the Distinction then Celebrated amongst Divines concerning the Remission of the Fault and of the Punishment after this manner That though the King forgave them his Personal Resentment yet they were not exempted from the Punishment of the Law Thomas Boyd when he heard of the Calamity of his Family though some put him in hopes of Pardon in a time of publick Rejoycing yet durst not come ashore but being inform'd by his Wife who upon the first News of the approach of the Danish Fleet made immediately to him that there was no Hopes of Re-admission to the Kings Favour his Enemies having stopt all Passages thereunto sail'd back into Denmark whence he came and so Travelled through Germany into France where he in vain indeavour'd to obtain the Mediation of Lewis the Eleventh who then had turn'd the Legitimate Empire of the French into a Tyranny for his Reconciliation and thereupon he went to Charles of Burgundy where he carry'd himself Valiantly and did him much Faithful Service in the Wars for which he was well rewarded by him with Honours and Largesses There he lived a Private yet Honourable Life and his Wife bore him a Son called Iames and a Daughter called Grekin of which in their place The Marriage of Iames the Third and Queen Margarite was Celebrated with a great Concourse of the Nobility on the Tenth Day of Iuly in the Year of our Lord 1470. There was born out of that Marriage Three Years after on Saint Patricks Day in March Iames who Succeeded his Father in the Kingdom In the interim the King not yet satisfi'd with the Misery of the Boyds writes over into Flanders to recal his Sister home but knowing that she bore so great a Love to her Husband that she would hardly be induc'd to part from him he caus'd others to write to her giving her some Hopes that the Kings Anger might in time be appeas'd towards her Husband and that no doubt was to be made but that she her self might prevail much with her Brother for his Relief but that she must come to plead for him in Presence and not commit his Apology to others upon these Hopes she return'd and was no sooner arriv'd in Scotland but the King transacts with her about a Divorce and thereupon he affixt publick Libels and Citations attested by many Witnesses at Kilmarnock which was the Chief House of the Boyds before their Fall wherein Thomas was Commanded to appear in Sixty Days though all Men knew that though the publick Faith had been given him yet he would hardly have return'd he not appearing at the Day the former Marriage was pronounc'd Null and a Divorce made though the Husband were absent and unheard and so Mary the Kings Sister was compell'd against her Will to Marry Iames Hamilton a Man rais'd but a little before and much inferiour to her former Husband in Estate and Dignity yet she bore him a Son named Iames and a Daughter called Margarite The Children she had by her former Husband were also recall'd by the King And he himself lived not long after He died at Antwerp and having no Kinsmen there to claim his Estate Charles of Burgundy caus'd a Magnificent Monument to be erected for him with the Mony which he had munificently bestow'd upon him in the Church of ...... wherein an Honourable Epitaph was inscribed Thus the Family of the Boyds which then was the most flourishing one in all Scotland within a few Years grew up and was cut down to the great Document of Posterity What slippery things the Favours of young Kings are Their Ruin did not only amaze their Friends but it also kept off and damp'd their very Enemies so that none would adventure to Aspire to that Dignity from whence they were cast down partly upon the account of the Instability of Human Affairs and partly in Consideration of the Kings sudden Repentance for bestowing of his Graces and Favours and his continu'd Perseverance in his Hatred when once began This is certain that they which were erected to great Hopes of Preferment by this change of Publick Affairs found themselves much mistaken For the King who before that time had used himself to Domestick Ease and seldom appear'd in Publick being now also newly Married spent a great part of his Time in the Pleasures of his Palace he excluded the Nobility and was wholly govern'd by a few of his Servants for being of an eager and fervid Disposition he could not well bear the being contradicted in his Opinion so that he avoided the Liberty which Nobles would take in advising him and had only those about him who would not reprehend but rather approve of what he did that so by avoiding any occasion of Offence by their Flattery they might curry his Favour Amidst these Manners of the Court the Ecclesiastical State was not much better for though the Ministers of the Church had been given for many years to Luxury and Avarice yet there was still some shadow of ancient Gravity remaining so that some encouragement was given to Learning and Advantage to such as were good Proficients therein For the Bishops were chosen by the Colleges of Canons and the Abbats by their respective Sodalities but then the Parasite Courtiers persuaded the King for it was they only who had his Heart and Ear that it would be very gainful to him and those with whom he was to deal were not able to hinder his Design if he recalled and assumed the Designation of such Offices to himself and not suffer a Matter of so great Advantage to rest in the Hands of such a dronish Generation of People and unfit for any publick Business as Ecclesiasticks were The King was easily persuaded thereunto in regard they alleg'd That by this means besides other Advantages he might have Opportunity to curb the Contumacious to oblige Neuters and to reward the well deserving but said they in our present Circumstances Promotions and Honours are in the Hands of the Dregs of the Vulgar who are as Parsimonious in case of publick Necessities as they are profuse in their private Pleasures but it was fit that in such Cases all Men should depend upon the King alone that so he might have the sole Power of Punishing Pardoning and Rewarding By these and the like Flattering Arguments they persuaded the King to their Opinion for his Mind was not yet confirm'd by Ripeness of Years besides 't was weaken'd by ill Custom and not fortifi'd against the Temptations of Money-Matters And moreover he was naturally Prone
Courtiers cast into Pâison condemn'd by the King 's privy domestick Council and put to Death by having a Vein Opened till he expired his last The Cause of his Death was given out amongst the Vulgar to be because he had conspir'd with Witches against the King's Life and to make the matter more plausible twelve of the Witches of the lowest condition were Try'd and Burnt The Death of Iohn did rather stifle than dissipate the Conspiracy which seem'd almost ready to break forth Alexander the next as in Blood so in Danger tho' he indeavour'd to avert all Suspicion from himself as much as he could yet the Kings Officers thought they should never be Secure as long as he was alive and therefore they presently clapt him up Prisoner in the Castle of Edinburgh where he was strictly kept by those who judg'd his Power would be their Destruction and seeing he could not appease the Kings Wrath by the Mediation of his Friends he began to think of making an Escape he had but one of his own Servants left tâ wait upon him in his Chamber him and none else he acquainted with his Design who hired a Vessel for him to be ready fitted in the adjoining Road then he suborn'd Messengers to make frequent Errands to him from the Court who should tell him Stories before his Keepers for he was forbid to speak with any Body but in their presence that the King was now more reconcileable to him than formerly and that he would speedily be set at Liberty When the day appointed for his Escape approach'd he compos'd his Countenance to as much Mirth as in that calamitous Condition he was able to do and told his Keepers that now he believ'd the Messages sent him by the King that he was reconcil'd to him and that he hop'd he should not be held much longer in Durance hereupon he invited them to a noble Supper and himself drank freely with them till late at Night then they departed and being all full of Wine fell into the Sounder sleep being thus alone he made a Rope of the Linen-Blankets of his Bed long enough as he thought for the height of the Wall and First to make a Tryal he caus'd his Servant to slide down by it but perceiving by his Fall that 't was too short he lengthned it out as well as he could in those Circumstances and himself Slid down too and took up his Servant who had broke his Leg by his Fall upon his Shoulders and carry'd him about a Mile to the Vessel where they went aboard and having a Fair Wind failed to Dunbar there he fortify'd the Castle against any forcible Assault and with a smal Retinue passed over into France In his absence Andrew Stuart the Chancellor was sent with an Army to take in the Castle they besieg'd it closely some Months and 't was defended as bravely but at last the Garison for want of Necessaries were forced to get Vessels and in the Night to depart privately for England so that in the Morning the Empty Castle was taken by the Besiegers some men of Note of the Besiegers were slain there About these Times it was that the Kings both of England and Scotland being weary'd out with Domestick Troubles had each of them a desire to make Peace and an Embassy was appointed to compleat it which was kindly received and the Peace was not only agreed upon but an Affinity accorded to confirm it that Cecilia the Daughter of Edward should be Married to Iames his Son as soon as they were Both Marrigeable Part also of the Dowry was paid on this Condition That if when they came to Years the Marriage were not Consummated the Dowry should be paid back to the English and Hostages were given for performance of Conditions which were some Burgers of Towns But this Peace lasted not long for by reason of the old grudges remaining since the last Wars Incursions were made Preys driven and Villages burnt So that by reason of these mutual Injuries the matter broke forth into an open War And besides each King had other peculiar Provocations Douglas the Old Exile and Alexander the Kings Brother the new One excited Edward thereunto For Alexander as I said before going into France Married the Daughter of the Earl of Bulloign but not being able to procure Aid from Lewis the II. then King of France for the Recovery of his own he Sailed over into England hoping from thence to make some Attempt upon Scotland As for Iames of Scotland Lewis of Franâe edg'd him on to a War having sent Robert Ireland a Scots man and Dr. of the Sorbon with Two French Knights to him on that Errand Hereupon the Peace was violated and altho' the Scotish Affairs in regard some of the Country was wasted were in none of the best State and Condition yea an Army also was decreed to be sent against Scotland by the English under the Command of the Duke of Glocester yet the King and those which were about him did levy Forces tho' very unwillingly For the Upstarts such they lately were and very poor too whose Greatness was founded on the Calamities of others and who had been the Authors of such desperate Counsels to the King fear'd nothing more than the frequent Assembly of the Nobility when he came to Lauder a Town near the Borders of Merch and Teviotdale Countrys either wasted by the Enemy or else by Force necessitated to submit to him the King yet proceeded on in his wonted Course of Exactions from them he distrusted the Nobility and manag'd all by his Cabinet-Council The Nobles would indure the Indignity no longer and therefore in the third Watch they met in a Church in the Town where in a Full Assembly Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus is reported to have declar'd the Cause of their Meeting in this wise I think it not necessary Noble Peers to make a long Oration concerning the state of Scotish Affairs you your selves Partly remember it and Partly you see it with your Eyes the Chief of the Nobility are either banished or else compelled to suffer intolerable and to act nefarious things and you in whom the strength of the Kingdom doth reside are left without an Head as a Ship without a Steers-man subject to all the Storms and Tempests of Fortune Your Lands are burnt your Estates plunder'd the Husbandman either slain or else perceiving no other Remedy or relief hath submitted to the Enemy And the King if he were Himself a man of a generous Spirit and rare Prudence yet being carried away by poysonous Insinuations refers all things pertaâning to the Good of the Common-wealth as to Peace War and the like not to an Assembly of the Nobles but to inferior Underlings these men do consult South-sayers and Wizards and so carry their Answers to the King whose mind is Sick and easily taken with such vain Superstitions and thus Decrees are made under the Influence of such
as he lived and every Year he added one Link thereunto and tho this Practice might seem formidable to those that were the Causers of his Father's Death yet they had such Confidence either in the Gentleness of the King's Disposition or in their own Power that it occasioned no Insurrection at all Amidst this publick Jubilee and also the private Rejoycings of particular Persons about the seventh Year of the King's Reign Peter Warbeck came into Scotland But before I declare the Cause of his coming I must fetch things something further back Margaret the Sister of Edward the fourth King of England having married Charles Duke of Burgundy she endeavoured all the ways she could if not to overthrow yet at least to vex Henry the Seventh the Leader of the contrary Faction In order whereunto she raised up one Peter Warbeck as a Competitor for the Kingdom he was a Youth born of mean Parentage at Tornay a City of the Nervii but of such Beauty Ingenuity Stature of Body and Manliness of Countenance that he might easily be believed to have been descended of a Royal Stock And by reason of his Poverty he had travelled up and down in several Countries so that he was known but by very few of his own Relations and there he had learned several Languages and had hardened himself to all kind of bold and impudent Carriage when Margarite who was intent on all occasions to disturb the Peace of England had got this Youth she kept him a while privately by her till she had informed him with what Factions England laboured at that time what Friends and what Enemies she had there in a word she made him acquainted with the whole Genealogy of the Royal Progeny and what Happinesses or Misfortunes had attended each of them When things seemed thus to be somewhat ripe she was resolved to try Fortune and took private order that he should be sent in a decent Equipage first into Portugal then into Ireland there he had a great Concourse of People flock'd about him and was received with huge Applause as the Son of King Edward of England either because his own Disposition assisted also by Art was inclined to Dissimulation or because being there amongst wild Kerns he was soon likely to raise great Stirs and Tumults When a War brake forth suddenly betwixt the French and the English he was called for out of Ireland by Charles the Eighth and had great Promises made him so that coming to Paris he was there honourably received in the Garb and Equipage of a Prince and had a Guard appointed him yea the English Exiles who were numerous at that Court put him in a sure hope of the Kingdom But that Tumult being quieted upon Terms he departed privately out of the Court of France for fear lest he should have been delivered up and so retired to Flanders there he was highly caressed by Margaret as if it were the first time that ever she had seen him and was diligently shewed to all the Courtiers and several times in the hearing of many of them he was desired to relate the Story of all his Adventures Margarite as if this were the first time she had ever heard it did so accommodate her dissembled Affections in compliance with each part of his Discourse both when he related his Successes and also his Misfortunes that every body thought she believed what he had spoken to be certainly true After a day or two Peter was desired to go abroad in the habit of a Prince and had thirty Men to be his Guard wearing a white Rose which is the Badg of the York-Faction amongst the English and so was every where declared as the undoubted Heir of the Crown of England When these things were divulged first in Flanders afterward in England the Minds of Men were so stirred up that a great concourse of People flock'd in to him not only of those who lurked in Holes and Sanctuaries for fear of the Laws but even of some Noble-men whom their present State did not please or who desired Innovations But when a longer delay which Peter hoped would bring in more Force to him was likely to abate his present Strength if he were discovered to be a Counterfeit therefore he determined to try his Fortune in a Fight so that having gotten a pretty great Party together he landed some few of them in Kent to try the Affections of the Kentish-men but in vain All those who landed were taken so that he was forced to steer his course for Ireland and there also he met not with the entertainment he hoped for so that he sailed over into Scotland well knowing that Peace betwixt Scotland and England never used to continue very long He being admitted into the King's Presence made a lamentable complaint of the Ruin of the York-Family and what miserable Calamities he himself had suffered and therefore he earnestly besought him to vindicate Royal Blood from such contumely and shame The King bid him be of good chear and promised he should shortly find That he had not desired his help in his Distresses in vain A few days after a Council was called where Peter made a sad Story of his Misfortunes That he being born of a King the most Flourishing of his Time and that of the highest hopes too was left destitute by the untimely death of his Father and so was like to have fallen into the Tyrannical Hands of his Uncle Richard before he was sensible almost what Misery was That his Elder Brother was cruelly murdered by him but that he himself was stolen away by his Father's Friends so that now he durst not live no not a poor and precarious Life even in that Kingdom of which he was the lawful Heir That he had so miserably lived amongst Foreign Nations that he preferred the Condition of his deceased Brother before his own in regard he was snatch'd away from all further Calamity by a suddain and violent Death That he himself was reserved as the ridicule of Fortune and that his Sorrow had not that alleviation that he durst bewail his miserable State amongst Strangers to incline them to pity him for after he had begun openly to profess what he was Fortune had assaulted him with all her Darts and to his former Miseries had added a daily fear of Treachery for his crafty Enemy had sometimes tampered with those who entertained him to take away his Life and sometimes he had privily suborned his Subjects under the name of Friends to discover his secret Designs to corrupt his true Friends and to find out his secret ones and to calumniate his Stock and Pedigree by false Accusations amongst the Vulgar to reproach his Aunt Margaret and those English Nobles that owned him and yet notwithstanding that she being supported by a good Conscience against the revilings of Enemies and also out of compassion to her own Blood had supported him in his low Estate with her Assistance
This way of raising Money by the King tho it outed no Man of his whole Estate yet was a greater Grievance to the Country than his Father's Covetousness had been for the Wrong redounded to very many and to the worthiest People most because under the two last Kings by reason of their Forreign and also of their Civil Wars the Memory of that Law was almost quite abolished and thereupon by reason of this new Project they were enforced either to redeem their Lands from the Officers of the King's Exchequer or else to relinquish part of them And yet the love of the Subjects towards their King was so great that tho they suffered great Inconvenience thereby his other Vertues gave him such a Reverence amongst them that their Indignation did not proceed to an actual Rising in Arms. But when the King set no bounds to his Expences neither were there some Flatterers a perpetual mischief to Courts wanting who covered this vitious Excess under the plausible Names of Splendour and Magnificence Hereupon he determined to undertake a Voyage into Syria that so he might put an end to his vast Expence which he could not continue without Ruin nor yet give over without Shame and so by his Absence to abridg it He made an honest Pretence for his Journey that it was to expiate the Fault he had committed in bearing Arms against his Father And indeed he had given some evidence of his Penitence whether true or pretended upon this account from the very beginning of his Reign as I said before and he would often speak of it in his common Discourse He had rigged a Navy for this Voyage and had nominated the chief of his Retinue and had acquainted his Neighbour-Kings by his Ambassadours of his Intent and many of his Followers as if they had obliged themselves by the same Vow suffered the Hairs of their Heads and Beards to grow at length and it was thought he would immediately have taken Ship if some Hinderances had not intervened even whilst he was most intent on his Journey For at that time there arose a vehement Suspicion of a War like to ensue betwixt France and England for Henry did not like the Successes of the French in Italy and besides he was solicited by Iulius the 2 d then Pope and by Ferdinand of Spain his Father-in-Law to join with them and with the Venetians Swiss and Maximilian too tho he did regulate his Councils ordinarily according to Events for it was likely that the Conjunctions of so many Nations against France would almost swallow it up The King of England being in the prime of his Age and elevated much in the sense of the Power of his Kingdoms and also being very willing to be in Action was desirous to enter into this Confederacy but wanted a fair Pretence to fall out with France But both of them knew one anothers Designs by their Spies and when France could not be persuaded to desist from warring against the Pope who was Henry's Friend at length an Herauld was sent into France to demand Normandy Aquitain and Anjou as the old Possessions of the English in France But in regard France was not moved by these Threats neither to intermit the War in Italy hereupon Henry denounced War against him and sent an Army into Biscay to join his Father-in-Law Ferdinand and he himself prepared for an Expedition into France Now Iames of Scotland tho he resolved to side with neither of them yet as more inclinable to the French he sent his Navy aforementioned as a Present to Ann Queen of France that so it might seem rather as a mark of his Friendship than any real Assistance for Military Action And moreover the Scots Clergy who were used to French Largesses were willing to shew themselves in behalf of Lewis of France and seeing they durst not openly do it they sought out occasions to alienate the King's Mind from the English In order hereto Andrew Forman then Bishop of Murray one of their Faction and a Friend to Lewis was sent into England to demand a vast Sum of Gold and Silver the greatest part thereof consisted in Womens Jewels and Ornaments which were reported to be given by Will by Arthur Henry the 8 ths Elder Brother to his Sister Margaret now married to Iames as I related before Henry as 't is probable looked upon this Demand only as a Pretence for a Quarrel and therefore he answered Iames very mildly That if any thing were due to him he would not only pay it but if he wanted a greater Sum or any other Assistance he would not fail to supply him When Iames received this Answer he resolved to assist Lewis in any other way but by no means to invade England and he sent over the same Forman into France to acquaint Lewis therewith Meanwhile because he had heard that great Naval Preparations were making on both sides he resolved to send the Fleet aforementioned to Ann immediately that so it might arrive there before the War did actually break forth he made Iames Hamilton Earl of Arran Admiral of it and caused him to set sail with the first Opportunity But Hamilton tho a Man good enough yet was more skilled in the Arts of Peace than War and therefore either out of fear of Danger or else out of his habitual backwardness left his Voyage for France and turned to Knockfergus a Town in Ireland scituate over against Galway in Scotland which place he pillaged and burnt and afterward as if he had been a mighty Conqueror he hoisted sail for Air in Scotland a Port-Town in Kyle When the King heard of his Return he was very outragious against him and could not forbear to express his menacing Reproaches against the Man and he was the more inraged against him because he had received a Letter from Queen Ann out of France which did endeavour to flatter him into a War against England and he had also other Letters from Andrew Forman which informed him That he was generally upbraided with the Promise of sending the Fleet which they now looked upon as vain in regard no such thing was done The King was willing to obviate this mischief as well as he could and therefore seeing Hamilton had broke off the Course he was commanded to run and had destroyed a Town that had never been an Enemy to the Scots and was then also in Alliance with them and so had made War upon his Friends without denouncing it beforehand therefore he cashiered him the Admiralship and caused him to be summoned to appear before him Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus was designed to succeed him in that Command and Andrew Wood was sent with him to take the Fleet into his Charge But Hamilton had notice by his Friends before their coming of the King's Displeasure against him and therefore presently hoised Sail resolving rather to commit himself to the wide Sea than to an enraged King he was
or else were likely speedily to follow after It considering also his eminent Virtues yea his popular Vices did easily deceive vulgar Minds under a specious Resemblance and Affinity to Virtue For he was of a strong Body just Stature a Majestick Countenance of a quick Wit but by the default of the Times not cultivated by Learning He did greedily imbibe one ancient Custom of the Nation for he was skilful in curing of Wounds for in old Times that kind of Knowledg was common to all the Nobility as Men continually accustomed to Arms. The Access to his Presence was easy his Answers were mild he was just in Judgment and moderate in Punishment so that he seemed to be drawn to it against his Will He bore the malevolent Speeches of his Enemies and the Monitions of his Friends with a Greatness of Mind which arose in him from the Tranquillity of a good Conscience and the Confidence of his own Innocency insomuch that he was so far from being angry that he never returned them an harsh Word There were also some Vices which crept in among these Virtues by reason of his two great affectation of Popularity For by endeavouring to avoid the Name of a covetous Prince which his Father had incurred he laboured to insinuate himself into the Good will of the Vulgar by sumptuous Buildings by costly Pageants and immoderate Largesses so that his Exchequer was very low and his want of Money such that if he had lived longer the Merits of his former Reign would have been extinguished or at least out-ballanced by his Imposition of new Taxes so that his Death seemed to have hapned rather commodiously than immaturely to him IAMES the Vth the CVIth King WHen Iames the Fourth was slain he left his Wife Margaret and Two Sons behind him the Eldest of which was not yet full two Years old The Parliament assembled at Sterlin proclaimed him King according to the Custom of the Country on the 24 th day of February and then they addressed themselves to settle the publick Affairs in doing whereof they first perceived the greatness of their Loss For those of the Nobility who bore any thing of Authority and Wisdom before them being slain the major part of those who survived by reason of their youthful Age or incapacity of Mind were unfit to meddle with Matters of State especially in so troublesom a time and they who were left alive of the better sort who had any thing of Prudence in them by reason of their Ambitions and Covetousness abhorred all Counsels tending to Peace Alexander Hume Lord Warden of all the Marches had got a great Name and a large Estate in the King's Life-time but when he was dead he obtained an almost Regal Authority in the Countries bordering upon England He out of a wicked Ambition did not restrain Robbers that so he might more engage those bold and lewd Persons to him thinking thereby to make way for his greater Puissance but that Design was unhappy to him and in the end pernicious The Command of the Country on this side the Forth was committed to him the Parts beyond to Alexander Gordon to keep those Seditious Provinces within the Bounds of their Duty But the Name of Regent was in the Queen her self For the King had left in his Will which he made before he went to fight that if he miscarried as long as she remained a Widow she should have the Supream Power This was contrary to the Law of the Land and the first Example of any Woman who ever had the Supream Rule in Scotland yet the want of Men made it seem tolerable especially to them who were desirous of Peace and Quietness But her Office continued not long for before the end of the Spring she married Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus one of the prime young Men of Scotland for Lineage Beauty and Accomplishments in all good Arts and before the end of that Year the Seeds of Discord were sown They took their Rise from the Ecclesiastical Order for after the Nobles were slain in all publick Assemblies a great part were of that sort of Men and many of them did their own business amidst the publick Calamity and got such Estates that nothing did more hasten their Ruin than that inordinate Power which they afterwards as arrogantly used Alexander Stuart Archbishop of St. Andrews was slain at Flodden and there were Three which strove for that Preferment but upon different Interests Gawin Douglas upon the account of the Splendor of his Family and his own Personal Worth and Learning was nominated to the place by the Queen and accordingly took Possession of the Castle of St. Andrews Andrew Hepburn Abbat of St. Andrews before any Archbishop was nominated gathered up the Revenues of the place as a Sequestrator and he being a potent factious and subtile Man was chosen by his Monks to the Vacancy for he alleged that the Power of electing an Archbishop by ancient Custom was in Them so that he drove out the Officers of Gawin and placed a strong Garison in the Castle Andrew Forman had obtained great Favour in the Courts both of Rome and France by his former Services so that besides the Bishoprick of Murray in Scotland which he held from the beginning Lewis the 12 th of France gave him the Archbishoprick of Bourges And Pope Iulius had also dismissed him loaden with many rich Preferments for he bestowed on him the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews the two rich Abbies of Dumfermling and Aberbrothock and made him his Legate à Latere as they call him besides But so great was the Power of the Hepburns at that time that the Hume's being yet at Concord with them no Man could be found that durst proclaim the Popes Bull for the Election of Forman to that Dignity until at last Alexander Humes was induced by great Promises and besides other Gifts with the actual Donation of the Abby of Coldingham to David his younger Brother to undertake the Cause which seemed to be honest and just and especially because the Family of the Formans was in the Clanship or Protection of the Hume's so that he caused the Popes Bull to be published at Edinburgh And that was the Original of many Mischiefs which ensued for Hepburn being a Man of a lofty Spirit from that day forward studied day and night how to destroy the Family of the Hume's The Queen whilst she sat at Helm did this one thing Worthy to be remembred that she wrote to her Brother that he would not make War upon Scotland in respect to her and her young Children and that he would not infest the Dominions of his Cousin by his Foreign Arms which of its own accord was divided into so many Domestick Factions but that he would rather defend them against the Wrongs of others upon the account of his Age and the Affinity betwixt them Henry answered very Nobly and Prince-like That if the Scots desired
affected Alterations yet trusting to the Strength of the Place and the Authority of the Kingly Name tho it were but a sorry Defence in those Circumstances they thought themselves secure from Force The adverse Party had a great meeting of the Nobles where they chose Three of their own Party to be Guardians of King and Kingdom Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox and Calen Cambel Earl of Argyle they made great haste in their business First they passed the Forth and caused Iames Beton a prudent Man to join with them who perceiving the Strength of the Party durst not resist From thence they went to Sterlin and conferr'd all publick Offices and Employments on the Men of their own Faction only and from thence they came to Edinburgh which they entred without Force for it was not fortified at all They cast up a small Trench against the Castle and besiedg'd it The Defendants had made no Provision for a Siege and therefore soon surrendred up both It and Themselves All but the King were sent away so that now the whole weight of the Government lay upon the Shoulders of those Three Associates who agreed among themselves That they would manage it by turns each of them attending four Months apiece on the King But this Conjunction was not hearty neither did it last long Douglas attended the first four Months who brought the King into the Archbishop of St. Andrews House and made use of all the Bishop's Houshold stuff and other Accommodations as if they had been his own for he had a little before revolted from their Faction and to engage the King to him the more he suffer'd him to wallow in all kind of Pleasure and yet he obtain'd not his End neither in regard the King 's Domesticks were corrupted by the adverse Faction headed by the Queen and Hamilton The first Grudges at Court brake forth upon the account of distributing Ecclesiastical Preferments for the Douglasses drew all to themselves George Creighton was translated to the Bishoprick of Dunkelden The Abby of Holy Rood in the Suburbs which was left by him Douglas gave to his Brother William who had now for 5 years forcibly held That of Coldingham about six Miles from Berwick after the Murder of Robert Blacketer the former Abbat For Robert's Cousin-german had the Abby bestowed on him by the Pope with the Consent of Iohn the Regent He had also commenced a Suit against Iohn Hume an Intimate of the Earl of Angus's and Husband to his Sister's Daughter about the whole ancient Estate of the Blacketers And therefore Patrick being unable to cope with the Douglasses suffer'd his Estate to be made a Prey to his Enemies and reserv'd himself for better times amongst his Mother's Kindred far from those Counties which were obnoxious to the Faction of the Douglasses They on the other side though they did not much value Patrick yet having the Supreme Power in their Hands and being unwilling to incur the Blot of invading other Mens Rights by mere Force made use of Friends to proffer him some kind of Amends and Satisfaction he shewing himself inclinable to an Agreement even tho he remitted part of his Right had thereupon a Pass and the publick Faith given him by Douglas to come to Edinburgh which he did only with a small Retinue and unarm'd and not far from the Gates of the City he was set upon by Iohn Hume who lay in Ambush for that purpose and slain As soon as the Noise of the Fact was spread over the City many mounted their Horses and pursued the Murderers some Miles in order to their apprehension but understanding that George Douglas Brother to the Earl was in their Company and many more of Douglas's Faction with the Kindred of Hume not knowing with what intent they came out whether to catch or to defend the Murderers they desisted from their Pursuit whereupon strange Reports were divulged abroad concerning the Douglasses As for Calen Cambel he had already withdrawn himself from the Triumvirate and the Earl of Lennox though he followed the King yet in regard the Douglasses drew all Offices of publick Advantage to themselves he gave many Testimonies of his Dislike and that his Mind was quite alienated from them But they being confident of their Power slighted the Reports and ill-will of others mean while the King though he were us'd more indulgently than was fit that so his infirm Spirit might be the longer in Subjection to them yet notwithstanding by little and little grew weary of their Government being also alienated from them by his Domesticks who laid to their charge Actions some true some false and interpreted the doubtful in the worst sense whereupon he held secret Cabals with such as he could trust concerning vindicating himself into his Freedom and Liberty Neither was he afraid to open the Secrets of his Heart to Iohn Earl of Lennox one of his Nobles for besides his other Virtues of Mind and Body he was an honest and fine-spoken Man and excellently compos'd to conciliate and win upon Men by a natural Sweetness of Manners and Deportment Him he made privy to his Designs and whilst they were consulting concerning the Time Place and Manner of it's Accomplishment Douglas was making many Expeditions against the Banditty but with no great Success at length about the end of Iuly he resolv'd to carry the King into Teviotdale as supposing that his presence would be advantageous by striking a Terror into the Licentious Thus an Assembly being held at Iedburgh the King call'd together all the Heads of the chief Families round about and commanded them to apprehend those Criminals every one within his own Precinct of which he then gave them a List They willingly and industriously obey'd this Command so that the Heads of the Thieves were many of them put to Death and Others were spared in hopes of Amendment Thus whilst the Minds of all were very merry and jocund they who had a design to free the King from the Pupillage of the Douglasses thought that a good opportunity to effect it because one Walter Scot living not far from Iedburgh had great Clanships in the Counties thereabouts The manner of the accomplishing their Project was thus laid Walter was to invite the King to his House and there he was to remain with his own good liking till greater Forces came in at the Noise of the thing But their Design seem'd to be discovered either by Chance or upon some private Intimation Whereupon the King was carried back to Mulross Yet Walter was not discouraged but proceeded on strait in his Journy to the King when he was but a little way off frightful News were brought to the Douglasses that Walter was at hand well-arm'd and a great Troop of arm'd Men accompanying him So that there was no doubt to be made but he being a factious Man and withal good at his Weapon did intend some Mischief insomuch that
intent upon other Matters and Concerns were secure as to the King's Departure from them because they believed that now his Mind was fully reconciled to them by those Blandishments and immoderate Pleasures they had indulg'd him in And besides they thought if he had a mind to remove there was no Faction strong enough to oppose them neither was there any strong Garison whither to retire but only Sterlin Castle which was allotted to the Queen for her Habitation but then it was deserted for a time by the Queen's Officers when she hid her self for fear of the Douglasses and when the Tumult was a little appeased 't was somewhat fortified but rather for a Shew than for any real Defence The King having obtained some small Relaxation saw that this must be his only refuge and therefore he bargain'd with his Mother privately to exchange that Castle and the Land adjoyning for other Lands as convenient for her and providing all other Requisites as secretly as he could the Douglasses not being so intent as formerly in their Watch over him he retired by Night with a few in his Company from Falkland to Sterlin whither he soon sent for some of the Nobles to come to him and others hearing the News came in of their own accord so that now he seemed sufficiently secured against all Force There by the Advice of his Nobles he published a Proclamation that the Douglasses should abstain from all Administration of publick Affairs And moreover that none of their Kin by Blood or Marriage or of their Dependants should come within twelve Miles of the Court he that did otherwise was to lose his Life When the Edict was served upon the Douglasses as they were coming to Sterlin many were of opinion that they should go on in their Journey but the Earl and his Brother George thought it best to obey the Edict Thus they went back to Linlithgo resolving to stay there till they heard some more News from the Court. In the mean time the King with great Diligence sent Messengers even to the furthest parts of the Kingdom to call in all the Nobles who had a Priviledg of voting to an Assembly at Edinburgh to be celebrated Septemb. the 3 d. next ensuing In the Interim He at Sterlin and the Douglasses at Edinburgh gathered Forces about them but it was rather to defend themselves than offend one another At length Iuly the 2 d. the Douglasses departed out of the City and the King with his Forces and Banners display'd enter'd in but by the Mediation of Friends deprecating the King on their Behalf Conditions were offer'd to them which were That the Earl of Angus should be banished beyond the Spey That George his Brother and Archibald his Uncle should be kept in hold in the Castle of Edinburgh If they submitted to these Terms then there was hopes of the King's Mercy otherwise not These Terms being rejected by them they were commanded by an Herauld to attend the Parliament that was to be held at Edinburgh the 3 d. of Septemb. In the mean time their publick Offices were taken from them and Gawin Dunbar the King's Tutor was made Chancellor instead of the Earl He was a good and a learned Man but some thought him a little defective in Politicks and Robert Carncross was made Treasurer in the place of Archibald one more known for his Wealth than his Virtue The Douglasses being now driven to their last shifts endeavoured to seize upon Edinburgh which was void by the King's Departure and accordingly they sent Archibald thither with some Troops of Horse their Design was to keep out the King and so to dissolve the Parliament But on the 7 th of the Calends of September Robert Maxwell with his Vassals had by the King's Command prevented them and kept them from entring the City yea the Guards and Sentinels were mounted and disposed so carefully in all convenient places that things were kept there in great Tranquillity till the Parliament's time of Meeting Douglas being disappointed of this hope retired to his Castle of Tantallon about fourteen Miles distant from the City The same day that the King came out of Sterlin there fell such mighty Showers of Rain from the Heavens and the Brooks and Rivers did so overflow their Banks that the King's Retinue was scatter'd into many parties so that they came much harassed and late in the Night to Edinburgh They were so mightily batter'd with the Violence of the Storm that a very few Horse if they had charged them might have done them a great deal of Mischief In that Parliament the Earl of Angus George his Brother Archibald his Uncle and Alexander Drummond of Carnock their intimate Friend were out-lawed and their Goods confiscate This Edict or Clause was also added to their Condemnation that whosoever did harbor them in their Houses or give them any other Assistance should incur the same Punishment That which most of all moved the Court to condemn them was this because the King had affirmed upon Oath That as long as he was in the Power of the Douglasses he was afraid of his Life he also profess'd that his Fear was heightned and made a deeper Impression on him after George had given him such cutting Menaces before mention'd There was only one Man found in this Assembly by name Iohn Bannatine a Vassal of the Douglasses who was so bold as to make a publick Protestation against all that was acted against the Earl because as he alleged his Non-appearance at the day limitted was occasion'd by his just Fear A few days after William another Brother of the Earl's Abbat of the Monastery of Holy Rood died of Sickness trouble of Mind and Grief for the present Posture of Affairs Robert Carncross one meanly descended but well monyed bought that Preferment of the King who then wanted Mony eluding the Law against Simony by a new kind of Fraud The Law was that Ecclesiastical Preferments should not be sold but he laid a great Wager with the King that he would not bestow upon him the next Preferment of that kind that fell and by that means lost his Wager but got the Abbacy Thus the Douglasses seeing that all hope of Pardon was cut off betook themselves to open force and to the only Comfort they had left which was in Revenge for they used great Extremity and committed all sorts of Outrages upon the Lands of their Enemies they burnt Cousland and Cranston and every day skirted by the Gates of Edinburgh with their Horse so that the City was almost besieged and the Poor were made to suffer for the Offences of the great Ones During these Hurly Burlies on the 11th of the Calends of December A Ship called the Marina a brave Vessel in those days and richly laden by stress of Weather was forc'd upon the Shore of Enverwick part of the Lading was pillaged by Douglasses Horse who rang'd up and down
in those parts the rest was taken away by the Country-men who were so ignorant of the price of it that they thought the Cinnamon therein to be but a low priz'd Bark and so sold it to make Fire with yet the whole Envy of the matter fell upon the Douglasses Upon this change of Affairs the Tories who had a long time refrain'd their Depredations for fear of Punishment came forth out of their lurking holes and grievously infested all the circumjacent Countries And though many Pranks were plaid by others up and down yet all the Murders and Robberies every where committed were charg'd upon the score of the Douglasses by those Courtiers who thought they humour'd the King by so doing that so they might make the name of that Family otherwise popular invidious to the vulgar And in the beginning of Winter the King march'd to Tantallon a Castle of the Douglasses by the Sea side to take it in that so no Refuge might be left for the Exiles and that he might take the place with less Labour and Cost he was supplied with Brass-Guns and Powder from Dunbar That Castle was distant from Dunbar six Miles and it was garison'd by the Souldiers of Iohn the Regent because it was part of his Patrimony he continued the Siege for some days wherein some of the Besiegers were slain others wounded and some blown up with Gun-Powder but none at all of the Besieged were lost so that he raised his Siege and retreated In his return David Falkner who was left behind with some Foot-Souldiers to carry back the Brass-Ordnance was set upon by Douglasses Horse who were sent out to snap up the Stragglers in the Rear and slain his Death did so inrage the young King who was incens'd enough before that he solemnly swore in his Passion that as long as he liv'd the Douglasses should never have the Sentence of their Banishment revoked And as soon as he came to Edinburgh to straiten them the more by the Advice of his Council he order'd that a party of Souldiers should be continually kept at Coldingham which was to be rather an active or flying than a numerous one to prevent the pillaging of the Country by them The charge of doing it was commended by the King to Bothwel one of the greatest Persons for Authority and Puissance in Lothian but he refused the Imployment either out of Fear of the Power of the Douglasses which not long since all the rest of Scotland was not able to cope with or else because he would not have the Disposition of the young King who was eager and over-violent of his own accord to be inur'd to such Cruelty as totally to destroy so noble a Family And whereas the King had no great Confidence in the Hamiltons as being Friends to his Enemies and he did also disgust them upon the account of the Slaughter of Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox and besides there being none of the Nobility of the adjacent parts that had Power or Interest enough for that Service at last he resolved to send Calen Cambel with an Army against the Rebels a Person living in the furthest parts of the Kingdom but a prudent Man of approv'd Valour and upon the account of his Justice very popular The Douglassians when the Hamiltons and the rest of their Friends failed them were reduced to great straits so that they were compell'd by Calen and by George chief of the Humes to retire like Exiles into England In the Month of October two eminent Persons came Embassadors from the King of England about a Peace which tho earnestly desir'd by both Kings yet they could scarce find out the way to make it up For Henry being about to make War upon Charles the Emperor was willing to leave all safe behind his back and with the same labour to procure the Restitution of the Douglasses As for Iames he did much desire to have Tantallon Castle in his Power but his Mind was very averse to restore the Douglasses and for that Reason the Matter was canvassed to and fro for some Days and no Temper for Accommodation could be found out but at last they came to this That Tantallon Castle should be surrendred to Iames and a Truce be granted for five Years and their other Demands the King was to promise the granting of under his Signet The Castle was surrendred accordingly but the other Demands were not as punctually performed save only that Alexander Drummond had leave given him to return home for Brittain's sake For some Months before Iames Colvill and Robert Carncross upon suspicion of their favouring the Douglasses were removed from Court and their Offices bestowed on Robert Brittain who then was in high Favour at Court and had great Command there After this tho Matters were not quite settled abroad for the English had burnt Arn a Town in Teviotdale before their Embassadors return'd yet the rest of the Year was more quiet but the Insolence of the Banditti was not quite suppressed whereupon the King caus'd William Cockburn of Henderland and Adam Scot noted Robbers to be apprehended at Edinburgh and for a Terror to the rest he put them to Death The next Year in the Month of March the King sent Iames Earl of Murray whom he had made Deputy-Governour of the whole Kingdom to the Borders there to have a Meeting with the Earl of Northumberland in order to settle a Peace and to treat about mutual Satisfaction for Losses But a Contention arose betwixt them about expiating the Murder of Robert Car. The One pleaded that the Process ought to be form'd in Scotland according to the Law The Other would have it in England In the Interim each of them sent Messengers to their several Kings to know their Minds in the Case On the 17 th of the Calends of May there was held a Council of the Nobility where after a long Debate which lasted till Night 't was concluded That the Earl of Bothwel Robert Maxwel Walter Scot and Mark Carr should be committed Prisoners to Edinburgh Castle And that the Earls and chief Men of Merch and Teviotdale should be sent Prisoners to other Places it being supposed That they privately scatter'd abroad the Seeds of a War against England And in Iuly the King levied about 8000 Men and marched out against the Robbers and that with so much speed that he quickly pitch'd his Tents by the River Ewse Not far from thence lived one Iohn Armstrong chief of one Faction of the Thieves who had struck such a Fear to all the neighbouring Parts that even the English themselves for many Miles about bought their Peace by paying him a certain Tribute yea Maxwel was also afraid of his Power and therefore endeavoured his Destruction by all possible ways This Iohn was enticed by the King's Officers to make his Repair to the King which he did unarm'd with about fifty Horse in his Company but having forgot
was not able to resist Offers of Mony by the Promises of large Subsidies whereupon they set before his Eyes the Greatness of the Danger the doubtful and uncertain Credit of an Enemies Promise that he might have a great Sum of Mony at home and more easily procurable First of all They promised to give him of their own 30000 Ducats of Gold year by year and all the rest of their Estates also should be at his Service besides enough to obviate future Emergencies if any hapned and as for those who rebelled against the Authority of the Pope and the King 's and so endeavoured to trouble the Peace of the Church by new and wicked Errors and thereby would subvert all Piety overthrow the Rights of Magistracy and cancel Laws of so long standing out of their Estates he might get above an hundred thousand Ducats more yearly into his Exchequer by way of Confiscation if he would permit them to nominate a Lord-Chief-Justice in the Case because they themselves could not by Law sit in Capital Causes to condemn any Man And that in the managing the Process against them there would be no danger nor any Delay in passing Sentence seeing so many thousand Men were not afraid to take the Books of the Old and New Testament into their Hands to discourse concerning the Power of the Pope to contemn the ancient Ceremonies of the Church and to detract from that Reverence and Observance which was due to Religious Persons consecrated to God's Service This they urged upon him with such Vehemency that he appointed them a Judg according to their own Hearts and that was Iames Hamilton base Brother to the Earl of Arran him they had oblig'd by great Gratuities before and besides he was resolv'd to conciliate the King's Favour who long since had been offended with him with the Perpetration of some atoning Fact though never so cruel About the same time there came into Scotland Iames Hamilton Sheriff of Linlithgoe and Cousin-German to the former Iames He after a long Banishment when he had commenced a Suit against Iames the Bastard and had obtained leave to return for a time to his own Country understanding in what Danger he and the rest of the Favourers of the Reformed Doctrine were in sent his Son in a Message to the King as he was about to pass over into Fife and having gotten him opportunely before he went aboard he filled his Head which was naturally suspicious with fearful Presages That this Commission granted to Hamilton would be a Capital Matter and pernicious to the whole Kingdom unless he did prevent this Sophistry by another Wile The King who was then hastning into Fife sent the young Man back to Edinburgh to the Court called the Exchequer-Court where he also commanded to assemble Iames Lermont Iames Kircaldy and Thomas Erskin of whom one was the Master of the Houshold the other Lord High Treasurer neither of them averse from the Reformed Religion the Third was highly of the Popish Faction and his Secretary These were all ordered to meet And the King commanded them to give the same Credit to the Messenger as they would do to himself if he were present and so took the Ring off his Finger and sent it them as a known Token between them They laid their Heads together and apprehended Iames just after he had dined and had fitted himself for his Journy and committed him Prisoner to the Castle But having Intelligence by their Spies at Court that the King was pacified and that he would be released besides the publick Danger they were afraid also for their particular selves lest a Man factious and potent being released after he had been provoked by so great an Affront and Ignominy should afterwards study a cruel and bitter Revenge against them Whereupon they speedily hastned to Court and inform'd the King of the Imminency of the Danger of the naughty Disposition Fierceness and Power of the Man all which they augmented to raise the greater suspicion upon him so that they persuaded the King not to suffer so crafty and withal so puissant a Person being also provoked by this late Disgrace to be set at Liberty without a legal Trial. Whereupon the King came to Edinburgh and from thence to Seton where he caused Iames to be brought to his Trial and in a Court legally constituted according to the Custom of the Country he was condemned and had his Head struck off his Body was cut up after his Execution and his Quarters hanged up in the publick Places of the City The Crimes objected against him in behalf of the King were That on a certain Day he had broke open the King's Bed-Chamber and had designed to kill him and that he had driven on secret Designs with the Douglasses who were declared publick Enemies Few were grieved for his Death because of the Wickedness of his former Life save only his own Kindred and the Sacerdotal Order who had placed all the Hopes of their Fortunes in a manner upon his Life only From that time forward the King increased in his Suspicions against the Nobility and besides he was exercised with sundry distracting Cares insomuch that his unquiet Mind was much troubled with Dreams in the Night There was One more remarkable than the rest which was much talked of That in his Sleep he saw Iames Hamilton running at him with his drawn Sword and that he first cut off his Right Arm then his Left and threatned him shortly to come and take away his Life and then disappeared when he awoke in a Fright and pondering many things about the Event of his Dream at last Word was brought him that both of his Sons departed this Life almost at one and the same moment of Time one at St. Andrews and the other at Sterlin In the mean while there was not a certain Peace nor yet an open War with the King of England who was alienated and offended afore insomuch that without any denunciation of a War Preys were driven from the Borders of Scotland Neither would the English when called upon to make Restitution give any favourable answer So that all Men saw That Henry was in an high Indignation because of the frustration of the Interview at York And Iames tho he knew that War was certainly at hand and therefore had made Levies for that purpose and had appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray to be General of all his Forces and had also made all necessary Preparation for a Defence yet he sent an Ambassador to the Enemy if 't were possible to compose Matters without Blows In the mean time George Gordon was sent to the Borders with a small Force to prevent the pillaging Incursions of the Enemy The English despised the paucity of the Gordonians and therefore hasten'd to burn Iedburgh But George Hume with 500 Horse interpos'd and charg'd them briskly and after a short Fight when they saw the
with Auxiliaries from France and that all Europe did conspire for the Defence of their ancient Rites and Religion and if they acted contrary they would betray theiâ Country and thereby the Ruin of their ancient Families would be imminent and at hand They also desired them in so dangerous a time not to forsake their Country for if That were safe they might hope for more Kindred and Children but if That were overthrown then all was gone Moreover they discoursed much concerning the inexpiable Hatred betwixt the Nations and of the Cruelty of the King into whose Hands they were to come thus blending Truths and Falshoods together Moreover they alleged the Decree of the Council of Constance That all Pacts Contracts Promises and Oaths made with Hereticks ought to be rescinded and made void The greatest part of those who were concerned in this matter were willing to hearken to any colourable pretence for their Fault only there was One of them who for no pecuniary Consideration whatever could be persuaded no nor by any Threats deterred from keeping his Word and that was Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils he had left two of his Brothers Hostages in England and he openly profess'd that neither for Fear nor Favour he would redeem his own Life with the Loss of his Brothers but whatever came of it he would surrender himself back a Prisoner and so against the Will of many he undertook his Journy straight to London Henry very much commended the resolute Faithfulness of the Young-Man and to the intent that all might know he had an Esteem for Vertue he richly rewarded him and sent him back with his two Brothers into Scotland But Henry's Mind was not more pacified towards Gilbert than his Anger was implacable against the rest of the Scots and thereupon he laid an Embargo upon the Scots Ships in all English Ports and Harbours of which there were a great Number as I said before and so presently denounced War His Threatnings were great as against the Violators not only of Leagues but even of the Law of Nations And yet though Scotland stood in so dangerous a State the Memory of Alliances the common Love to their Country and the respect of the publick Safety were so far laid aside that the Brands of Sedition were kindled more fiercely than ever For the Faction of the Cardinal and of the Queen Dowager who were all for the French sent over Ambassadors thither to tell them That unless they sent in Assistance the Matter was upon the very Point That England and Scotland would make a Coalition into one Government and how such a Conjunction would concern France the Experience of former Ages had shewn But they made it their chief Request to the French that they would send back Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox into his own Country who did not only emulate the Family of the Hamiltons but was also their deadly Enemie being they had slain his Father at Linlithgoe This young Man was greatly beloved not only for his extraordinary Beauty and stately Garb in the very Flower of his Youth but chiefly upon the account of the memory of his Father who was so popular a Man and also because he was a single Man and the Extinction of such a noble Family now reduced to a few was in great Hazard besides he had many Clanships at home and had also Affinity with many other great Families Furthermore the former King had design'd him to be his next Heir and Successor if he himself died without Issue Male and he would have confirmed that his Intention by a Decree of the States who have the Sovereign Power to order such publick Affairs if his Life had been prolonged Yea there were some Flatterers which did elevate his generous Mind already rais'd up with the expectation of great things but not so well fortified against fraudulent Adulation to larger Hopes for besides the Supreme Rule for about twenty Years and the Domination over his old Enemies they promised him that he should marry the Queen Dowager and if the young Queen who had the Name only of Supreme Governess should miscarry then without doubt he would be the next King and not only so but also the lawful Heir of Iames Hamilton lately deceased seeing the Regent was a Bastard and was so far from any just expectation of the Kingdom that he could not lawfully claim the Inheritance of his own Family Besides they urged the Promises of the French King who gave hopes of great Assistance in due time When the plain-hearted and credulous young Man was thus persuaded he provided for his Voyage into Scotland Hamilton was not ignorant of any of these things and to the intent that he might gain an Accession of Strength to his own Party by the Advice of those Friends whom he most trusted he resolved to take away the young Queen from Linlithgo where she yet was under the Power of her Mother for if he once got Her then not only the Shadow of the Royal Name which is an attractive thing amongst the Vulgar would be of his Side but also he should have the Power to bestow her in Marriage and so make himself Arbiter of the Kingdom to transfer it whithersoever he pleased which if he could obtain then the King of England might be persuaded if need were to join with him This Design was much approved but as is usual in Civil Discords there are Spies on both sides who being informed thereof acquainted the Cardinal therewith He gathering together some of the Nobility whom he had corrupted with Mony came to Linlithgo and to the great Burden of the Inhabitants staid there some days as a Guard to the Queen In the mean time Lennox arrived out of France and was kindly received by the Regent each of them dissembling their Hate then he went to Linlithgo there he addressed the Cardinal and then went to his own House where in a Meeting of Friends he discours'd at large Why he came over at Whose Command by Whom sent for and upon What hopes That he was promised not only the chief Magistracy but also that the Heads of the Faction with the Queen Dowager's Consent had assured him that he should marry Her And that in order to the effecting thereof the King of France had encouraged him to expect Aid and Assistance from thence they all assented to his Speech and advised him not to be wanting to the Occasion which so freely had offer'd it self and thus with above four thousand Men he came to the Queen Hamilton who had levied and mustered his Men and with his Kinsmen about him was resolved to issue out of Edinburgh and break thorow to the Queen now perceiving that his Forces were too weak by the Advice of his Friends and out of his own Disposition also which was inclinable to Peace began to treat of an Accommodation whereupon some prudent Persons were chosen on both sides who met at the Town of
that impregnable Castle and so waited for a change of Affairs which they did not doubt but shortly would come to pass But he was resolved for England where he was honourably received by the King who besides his other Respects gave him Margaret Douglas in Marriage she was Sister to Iames last King of Scotland begot by the Earl of Angus upon the Sister of Henry King of England a Lady in the Flower of her Age of great Comeliness and Beauty In the mean time the Queen-Dowager received into her Protection That Scotish Faction which by the Departure of Lennox was left without an Head and which did obstinately refuse to come under the Power of Hamilton whose Levity they knew before and now feared his Cruelty for she was afraid that they might be inrag'd in such an hurry of Things and so desperately ingage in some new Commotion The Hamiltons were glad at the departure of so potent an Enemy but yet not satisfied with the Punishments already inflicted they used their Prosperity very intemperately For in the next Convention held at Linlithgo they condemned him and his Friends confiscated their Goods and banished them the Land A great Sum of Money was raised out of the Fines of those who redeemed their Estates out of the Exchequer but not without great Disgust and the high Offence of all good Men. In the midst of these Domestick Seditions The English entred Scotland and committed great Spoil and Desolation on Iedburgh Kelso and the Country thereabout from thence they went to Coldingham where they fortified the Church and the Tower as well as they could for the time by making Works and leaving a Garison and so departed And the Garison-Souldiers made great havock in all the adjacent parts partly out of a greediness for Plunder and partly that the Country thereabouts might not afford Provisions to the Enemy when they besieged them Hereupon they who ruled the Roast in Scotland the Queen-Dowager Cardinal and Regent by the advice of the Council sent forth a Proclamation That the Nobles and the most discreet and ablest of the Commons should come in armed with eight Days Provision to march whither the Regent led them In a short time about 8000 met together and in a very sharp Winter too who having battered the Tower of the Church of Coldingham with their great Guns stood in their Arms all that Day and Night to the great wearying of Horse and Man The Day after the Regent either out of Tenderness and Inability to indure Military Toil or fearing the Invasion of the Enemy for he was informed from Berwick a Neighbour-Town that the English were upon their March unknown to his Nobles and with but a few in Company mounted on Horse back and with full speed fled back to Dunbar They who endeavour to excuse the baseness of this Flight say that he was afraid lest his Army out of Hate preconceived on many former Accounts would have given him up to the English His Departure made a great Disturbance in the whole Army and the rather because the Cause of his Flight was unknown and therefore many thought that 't was the more considerable and that they had greater Reason to fear Hereupon some were obstinately resolved to run home the nearest way they could and leave their Guns behind them Others who would seem a little more provident and stout were for overcharging them that so they might break in pieces at a Discharge and become useless to the Enemy But Archibald Earl of Angus withstood them all telling them that they should not add so foul an Offence to their base Flight but not being able to retain them either by his Authority or Entreaty he burst out into these Words with a loud Voice so that many might hear him As for me said he I had rather chuse a noble Death than to enjoy my Life tho opulent and secure after the admission of so foul a Fact You my Friends and Fellow-Soldiers consider what you will do as for me I will bring back these Guns or else I will never return back hence alive my Honour and my Life shall go together This Speech affected some Few whose Honour was dearer to them than their Lives but the rest was so disheartened by the shameful Flight of the Regent that they broke their Ranks and went every one scatteringly home Douglas sent the Guns before and he with his Party followed in good Order in the Rear and tho he was prest upon by the English Horse whom the Tumult had excited yet he brought the Ordnance safe to Dunbar This Expedition rashly undertaken and as basely performed discouraged abundance of the Scots and raised up the English to an intolerable height as drawing the Cowardise of the Regent to Their Praise And therefore Ralph Evers and Brian Laiton two brave English Cavaleers overran all Merce Teviot and Lauderdale without any Resistance and made the Inhabitants of those Countries submit themselves and if any were refractory they wasted their Lands and made their Habitations desolate yea the undisturbed course of their Victories made them so resolute and insolent that they propounded the Bay of Forth to be the Boundary of their Conquest And with this hope they went to London and crav'd a Reward from Henry for their good Service Their Petition was referred to the Council and in debate thereof Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk who had made many Expeditions against the Scots and had done them much Mischief understanding that in that troublesom Posture of Affairs in Scotland it was no hard Matter to over-run naked and unguarded Countries and to compel the Commonalty when they had no other Refuge to take an Oath of Fealty to them and withal knowing the constancy of the Scots in maintaining their Country and their Resolution in recovering it when lost upon these Considerations 't is reported that he advised the King to give them all the Land which they could win by the Sword and also to allow them a small Force to defend it till the Scots therein were inured to the English Government This Gift they willingly receiv'd and the King as willingly gave upon which their vain boasting being as vainly requited they return'd joyfully to the Borders having obtain'd 3000 Souldiers in pay besides the Borderers who are wont to serve without any Military Stipend Their return mightily disturb'd all the Borderers because they had no hopes of any help from the Regent in regard he was influenc'd in all his Counsels by a Priest especially by the Cardinal Hereupon Archibald Earl of Angus being much affected with the Publick disgrace and also concerned upon the Account of his own private Losses for he had large and fruitful Possessions in Merch and Teviotdale sent to the Regent to prevent it The Regent deplor'd his own solitude and complain'd how he was deserted by the Nobility Douglas told him it was his own not the Nobilities fault for they were willing to spend their
the Cardinals For by this means the Cardinal did not doubt but if they Two fell out many of the Neighbouring parts would join themselves to each of them in regard of the Illustriousness of their Families and so the more of them fell on either side the fewer Enemies he should have left alive Thus the Mayoralty of Perth which for many Years had continued as Hereditary in the Family of the Ruvens was translated to Charters Laird of Kinfans with the great Indignation of the Citizens who took it much amiss that their ancient Freedom of voting in their Assemblies was taken away but the new Mayor was sent to compel them to Obedience by force if they resisted His Design was to assault the City in two places Grey who had taken the whole matter on himself attack'd it from the Bridg over the River Tay The other Party were to carry their Guns up the Stream and so to storm the open side of the Town but because the Tide hindred them they came not up in time Grey makes his Attempt from the Bridg from which Ruven had purposely withdrawn his Guards into the next Houses that so it might seem to the Enemy as if it were undefended and when he saw none in Arms to oppose him he boldly march'd up into the Body of the Town whereupon Ruven issued out of the adjoining Houses on a sudden and gave him a brisk charge which routed him and his whole party but in their Flight through narrow Passages the one hindred another for the last striving to gain the Mouth of the Passage gave a stop to the first and in this confusion many were trod under-foot and sixty fell by the Sword The Cardinal when he knew that Ruven had got the Victory was somewhat sorry for it yet glad withal that so many of his Enemies were destroyed for seeing he despaired ever to make them his Friends he counted it a Gain to him to see them mutually to destroy one another The Cardinal having thus past over as much of Angus as he thought convenient at that time brought the Regent after the Winter-Solstice to St. Andrews to indear his Mind more unto him if 't were possible for though he had his Son the Earl of Arran as a Pledg yet as often as he bent his Thoughts to the Consideration of the Fierceness of the Scotish Nobility to the Strength of the opposite Faction and to the Inconstancy of the Regent he was afraid that he might be persuaded by his Enemies and so wrought over to them with the same Levity as he had first joined himself with him There he entertained him with a small Retinue with Sports and Pastimes twenty days at Christmas he gave him many Gifts at present and promised him more for the future and after much Discourse together concerning the State of the Kingdom he came a little more secure to Edinburgh There a Convocation of Ecclesiasticks was held Ianuary the 12 th In that Assembly many things were canvass'd up and down concerning the retaining of the old Liberty of the Church and the Punishment of the enormous Crimes of some Priests but in the midst of their Debates before they could conclude of any thing News was brought to them that George Wiseheart a Preacher of the Gospel one very acceptable to the People was entertained at the House of a noble Person called Iohn Cockburn about seven Miles from the City Thither presently they sent a party of Horse to demand the Offendor but Cockburn alleged several things in excuse on purpose to create some Delayes that so he might have an opportunity to convey him away secretly of which the Cardinal being inform'd made haste thither with the Regent even in the dead time of the Night and beset all the Avenues of the House and yet their Promises Flatteries and Threats prevailed not at all till they sent for the Earl of Bothwel out of the next District he being the chief of all the Lothianers did easily obtain that George should be deliver'd up to Him but first he past his Word that no Harm or Damage should come to him The Priests having now gotten this Prey into their Hands carried him from Edinburgh to St. Andrews and there about a Month after they assembled a great Company of Ecclesiasticks of all sorts to determine concerning his Doctrine this was done to blind Men's Eyes with the pretence of a Judicatory and a legal Proceeding for all Men knew what they would determine concerning him before-hand By the consent of them all the Cardinal by his Letters desired the Regent to give out his Mandate for a civil Judg to sit upon the Offendor for he himself by the Pope's Canon Law could not sit upon the Life or Death of any Man that so he that was already judg'd an Heretick by the Priests might be also sentenc'd to Death by the Secular Power The Regent was not likely to have made any Scruple in granting his Request unless David Hamilton of Preston his Kinsman had interposed and kept him back who did both advise entreat threaten and sometimes chid him in order to stop the Process against George The Sum of his Discourse is reported to be this That he did very much wonder upon what account the Regent should give such a large Power to any Man against the Servants of God and who had no other Crime objected against them besides the preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and especially to such whose flagitious Lives and brutish Cruelty cared not what Torments they put an innocent Man to whose Integrity of Life his very Enemies were forc'd to confess even against their Will and for his Learning he himself knew it to be great that further he himself had been formerly a great Favourer of him and it 'T was by his Commendation that he was advanc'd to the Supream Magistracy and also that he had given forth Edicts to declare his assent to his Doctrine publickly and had undertook to defend it yea he had exhorted all in general and each Man in particular to read understand practice and exemplify it in their Hearts and Lives Consider therefore with your self said he what will Men think what will Men say of you consider the Mercies God Almighty hath bestowed upon you The King an active Man and your Enemy was taken away who walk'd in the very same steps you now tread They who brought him to ruin by their advice do now also indeavour to destroy you they have opposed you from the beginning with the Weight of all their Power and now they seek by Fraudulent Counsel to ensnare and undo you Call to mind Sir the Victory given you over your Subjects without Blood and over your Enemies too though having much greater Force than your self to your great renown and their deserv'd Ignominy Remember for whose sake you thus desert God and oppose your and his Friends Awake I beseech you and dispel that Mist which nefarious Persons have
Ensigns of the Kings and that the Queen's Husband should be created King of Scotland according to Custom To whom the Embassadors answer'd in short That they had receiv'd no Commands concerning those Matters The Chancellor reply'd That no more was desir'd of them at present than what was in their Power viz. That when these Matters came to be debated in the Parliament of Scotland that they would give their Suffrages in the Affirmative and give it under their Hands that they would so do That demand seem'd to be fuller of Peremptoriness than the former and therefore they thought it best to reject it with great vehemency and disgust Insomuch that their Answer was That their Embassy was limited by certain Instructions and Bounds which they neither could nor would transgress but if they had been left free from any restriction at all yet it was not the part of faithful Friends to require That of them which they could not grant without certain Infamy and Treachery tho there were no danger of Life in the Case That they were willing to gratify the French their old Allies as far as the just Laws of Amity requir'd and therefore they desir'd them to keep within the same Bounds of Modesty in making their Demands Thus the Embassadors were dismiss'd the Court and tho they hasten'd home assoon as they could yet before they went a Ship-board four of the chief of them Gilbert Kennedy George Lesly Robert Reed and Iames Fleming all very virtuous and true Patriots departed this Life as also did very many of their Retinue not without suspicion of Poison It was thought that Iames the Queen's Brother had also taken the same Dose for altho by reason of the Strength of his Constitution and his youthful Age he escap'd Death at that time yet he lay under a dangerous and constant weakness of Stomach as long as he liv'd That Summer Matters were at that dubious pass in Britain that there seem'd rather to be no Peace than a War For there were Skirmishes on both sides Preys driven and Villages burnt Incursions were mutually made and not without Blood Two of the Nobility of Scotland were carry'd away Prisoners by the English William Keith Son to the Earl of Merch and Patrick Grey chief of a Family so call'd amongst the Scots the rest of the Military damages fell upon mean Persons About the same time the English sent a Fleet under the Command of Sir Iohn Clare to infest the Coasts of Scotland they came to the Orcades intending there to Land and to burn Kirkwall a Bishops See the only Town in that Circuit When they had made a descent with a good part of their Force a fierce Tempest suddenly arose which carry'd their Ships from the Coast into the Main where after a long contest with the Winds and Waves they at length made Sail for England back again They which were put a Shore were every one Slain by the Islanders This year and the year before the Cause of Religion seem'd to lie Dormant for it being somewhat crush'd by the Death of George Wiseheart one Party accounted themselves well satisfy'd if they could worship God in their own Tongue in private Assemblies and dispute soberly concerning Matters of Divinity and the other Party after the Cardinal was slain shew'd themselves rather destitute of an Head than undesirous of Revenge For he who succeeded in his Place did rather covet the Mony than the Blood of his Enemies and was seldom Cruel but when it was to maintain his Licentiousness and to expend on his Pleasures In April Walter Mills a Priest none of the most learned was yet suspected by the Bishops because he left off to say Mass whereupon he was haled to their Court Though he was weak by Constitution of Body and Age extream Poor and also brought out from a nasty Prison and lay under such high Discouragements yet he answer'd so stoutly and prudently too that his very Enemies could not but acknowledg That such greatness and confidence of Spirit in such an enfeebled Carkase must needs have a support from on High The Citizens of St. Andrews were so much affected at the wrong done him that there was none found who would sit as Judg upon him and all the Tradesmen shut up their Shops that they might sell no Materials toward his Execution which was the Cause of his Reprieve for one day more than was intended At last one Alexander Somerval a Friend of the Archbishop's was found out a naughty Fellow who undertook to sit as Judg upon him for that Day This is certain the Commonalty took his Death so hainously that they heap'd up a great Pile of Stones in the Place where he was Burnt that so the Memory of his Death might not end with his Life The Priests took Order to have it thrown down for some Days but still as they dissipated it one Day it was rais'd up the next till at last the Papists convey'd the Stones away to build Houses with about the Town Iuly the 20 th was the day appointed by the Bishops for Paul Meffen an eminent Preacher of God's Word in those days to come to his Answer There was a great Assembly of the Nobles at the time so that the Matter seem'd to tend towards a Tumult whereupon the Process was deferr'd to another time several were condemn'd but it was of those which were Absent who that they might not be terrify'd with the severity of the Punishment were commanded to come in by the 1 st of September and pardon was promis'd them if they recanted The same 1 st of September was St. Giles day whom the Inhabitants of Edinburgh do venerate as their Tutelar God carousing to him in great Goblets and making high Entertainments for their Neighbours and Guests The Regent fearing lest in such a confus'd Rable some Tumult should arise was willing to be present her self at the Wake The Papists were very glad of her Coming and easily persuaded her to see the Show and Pageant wherein St. Giles was to be carried about the City but St. Giles alas did not appear for he was stol'n out of his Shrine by some body or other However that St. Giles might not want a Pageant nor the Citizens a Show upon such a Festival Day there was another young Gilesling forsooth set up in his room After the Regent had accompanied him thro the greatest part of the Town and saw no danger of any Insurrection she retired weary as she was into an Inn to repose her self But presently the City-Youths pluck'd down the Picture of Giles from the Shoulders of those who carried him threw him into the dirt and spoiled the Glory of the whole Pageantry The Priests and Friars running several ways for fear created a belief of a greater Tumult but when they had understood that there was more Fear than Danger in the thing and that the whole Matter was transacted without Blood they crept again out
Forman Principal Herauld King of Arms as they call him giving him these Commands in answer to them First of all you shall declare to them that I am mightily surpriz'd and look upon it as an unexpected thing that any other Man should claim any Power here besides my Son in Law and Daughter on whom all my Authority depends The former Actings of the Nobles and these their present Postulations or rather Commands do sufficiently declare that they acknowledg no Authority Superior to themselves That their Petition or rather their Threats though guilded over with smooth Words were not at all new to Her Next you shall require the Duke of Castle-herault to call to Mind what he promis'd to me by word of Mouth and to the King by Letters that he would not only be Loyal to the King but also would take effectual Care that his Son the Earl of Arran should not mix himself in these Tumults of his Country you shall ask him Whether his present Actings do correspond with those Promises To their Letters you shall Answer That for the sake of the publick Tranquillity I will do and so I promise whatsoever is not contrary to Piety towards God or Duty towards the King as for the destruction of Law and Liberty it never entred into her Heart much less to subdue the Kingdom by Force For whom said She should I conquer it seeing my Daughter doth now as lawful Heiress possess it As to the Fortification at Leith you shall ask Whether ever She attempted any thing therein before they in many Conventions and at length by a mutual Conspiracy had openly declar'd That they rejected the Government set over them by Law and without her Advice or Notice though She held the Place and Authothority of a chief Magistrate had broke the publick Peace at their Pleasure and had strengthned their Party by taking of Towns and had treated with old Enemies for establishing a League yea that now many of them kept English in their Houses so that to omit other Arguments What Reason have they to judg it lawful for themselves to keep up an Army at Edinburgh to invade those who are in Possession of the Government and yet it must not be lawful for me to have some Forces about me at Leith for my own Defence Their aim is principally This to compel Me by often shifting of Places to avoid their Fury as I have hitherto done Is there any mention in their Letters about Obedience to lawful Magistrates Do they discover any Way to renew Peace and Concord By what Indication do they manifest that they are willing that these Tumults should be appeased and all things reduced to their former State Let them colour and guild their Pretensions how they please with the shew of publick Good yet 't is plain that they mind nothing less for if that one thing were a Remora to Concord I have often shewed the Way that leads thereto They themselves are not ignorant that the French at the Command of their own King had long since quitted Scotland if their Actings had not occasion'd their longer Stay And therefore if now they will offer any honest Conditions which may afford a probable ground of hope that the Majesty of the Government may be preserved and that they will with Modesty obey their Superiours I shall refuse no Way of renewing Peace nor omit any thing relating to the Publick Good neither am I only thus affected towards them but the French King is of the same mind too who hath sent over an Illustrious Knight of the Order of St. Michael and another prime Ecclesiastical Person with Letters and Commands to that purpose whom yet they had so slighted as not to vouchsafe them an Answer no nor Audience neither And therefore you shall require the Duke the other Nobles and Country-men of all sorts presently to separate themselves otherwise they shall be proclaimed Traitors To this Letter the Nobles sent an Answer the day after which was October 23. to this purpose We plainly perceive by your Letters and Commands sent us by your Herauld how you persist in your Disaffection to God's true Worship to the Publick Good of the whole Country and to the Common Liberty of us all which that we may perserve according to our Duty we do in the Name of our King and Queen suspend and inhibit that publick Administration which you usurp under their Names as being fully persuaded that your Actingâ are quite contrary to their Inclinations and against the Publick Good of the Kingdom And as you do not esteem us a Senate and publick Council who are the lawful Inhabitants of this Kingdom and Country so we do not acknowledg you as Regent in supream Authority over us especially since your Government if you have any such entrusted to you by our Princes is for weighty and just Reasons abrogated by us and that in the Name of those Kings to whom we are born Counsellors especially in such Things as concern the Safety of the whole Common-wealth And though we are determined to undergo the utmost Hazard for the freeing of that Town wherein you have a Garison from foreign Mercenaries which you have hired against us yet for the Reverence and due Respect we bear you as the Mother of our Queen we earnestly intreat you to withdraw your self whilst Necessity compels us to reduce that Town by Force which we oft endeavour'd to gain by fair Means And withal we desire that within the space of twenty four hours you would withdraw likewise Those who challenge the Name of Embassadours to themselves and forbid them either to decide Controversies or to manage Civil and Martial Affairs and also that all Mercenary Souldiers in that Town would retire likewise for we would willingly spare their Lives and consult their Safety both by reason of that ancient Amity which hath interceded betwixt the Kings of Scotland and France and also by reason of the Marriage of their King with our Queen which doth equitably ingage us rather to encrease our Union than diminish it The same Day the Herauld also related that the Day before in a full Assembly of Nobles and Commons it was voted That all the Regent's Words Deeds and Designs tended only to Tyranny and therefore a Decree was made to abrogate her Authority to which all of them subscribed as most just Moreover they did inhibit the Trust her Son-in-Law and Daughter had committed to her they also forbad her to execute any Act of publick Government till a general Convention of the Estates which they determined to summon as soon as conveniently they could The 25 th day the Nobles sent an Herauld to Leith to warn all the Scots to depart out of the Town within the space of twenty four hours and to separate themselves from the Destroyers of publick Liberty After these Threats Horsemen made Excursions on both sides and the War began yet without any considerable Slaughter In the beginning of
the Most did it to gratify the Queen only Andrew Stuart of Ochiltry openly profest that he would never give his Consent to the admission of a Popish King As for Murray he was not averse from the Marriage for he was the first Adviser that the young Man should be call'd out of England but he foresaw what Tumults it would occasion if it were celebrated without the consent of the Queen of England besides he promis'd to procure her Consent that so all things might go on favourably Provision being made about Religion but perceiving that there would be no freedom of Debate in that Convention he chose rather to be absent than to declare his Opinion which might prove destructive to himself and no way advantagious to the Commonwealth Moreover there was a Question started and discours'd amongst the Vulgar Whether the Queen upon her Husbands death might not marry any other Man whom she pleas'd Some were of Opinion That a Queen might have the same freedom as Men even of the Commonalty have Others on the contrary affirming That the Case was different in reference to Heirs of Kingdoms where at once an Husband was to be taken to a Wife and a King to be given to the People and That it was far more Equitable that the People should provide an Husband for one young Queen than that a young Queen should chuse a King for all the People In the Month of Iuly came an Embassador from England who declar'd That his Mistress did much admire That seeing they were both equally allied to Her they should precipitate so great an Affair without acquainting her therewith and therefore She earnestly desir'd that they would stay a while and weigh the thing a little more seriously to the great Advantage probably of both Kingdoms This Embassy effected nothing Whereupon Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was sent by the Queen of England to tell Lennox and his Son that they had a Convoy from her to return at a set Day and that Day was now past and therefore she commanded them to return which if they did not they were to be banish'd and their Goods Confiscate They were not at all terrified with the Commination but persisted in their purpose In the mean time the Queen being sensible that it would seem a very incongruous Match if She who was lately the Wife of a Great King and besides the Heir of an Illustrious Kingdom should marry a private young Man who had no Title of Honour conferr'd upon him she made an Edict proclaiming Darnly Duke of Rothsea and Earl of Ross. Moreover the Predictions of wizardly Women in both Kingdoms did contribute much to hasten the Marriage who prophesy'd that if it were Consummate before the end of Iuly it foretold much future Advantage to them Both if not much Reproach and Ignominy Besides Rumors were spread abroad of the Death of the Queen of England and the Day mention'd before which she should die Which Prediction seem'd not so much to divine things as to declare a Conspiracy of her Subjects against her This also added much to the Queen's haste she knew her Uncles would be averse from the Marriage and if it were longer delay'd she fear'd they would cast in some Remora to disturb the Thing now almost finish'd For when the secret Decree and Resolution was made to carry on the Holy War thrô all Christendom and Guise was appointed General of the League to extirpate the Reform'd Religion hereupon he nourish'd high and ambitious Hopes and therefore determin'd by his Sisters Daughter so to trouble Britain with domestic Tumults that they should not be able to Aid their Friends beyond Sea And David who could then do most with the Queen urg'd That the Marriage would be highly advantagious to all Christendom because Henry Darnly and his Father were stiff Maintainers of the Popish Religion were very Gracious in both Kingdoms allied to great Families and had large Clanships under them This being long debated was at last carried For he knew That if the Marriage were made by the Consent of the Queen of England and the Nobility of Scotland that he should lose two great Points One that he should be no ways ingratiated as before and the Other that Religion would be secur'd But if the Queen adher'd to the Council of Trent then he promis'd Honours Ecclesiastical Dignities heaps of Mony and unrivall'd Power to himself So that turning every Stone He at last procur'd that the Marriage should be hasten'd The Scots not being much for it and the English very much against it Note That the Name of Henry is joined with Mary in the Title tho before their Marriage is accounted for at the Close of the Catalogue of the Scotish Kings prefixed before the Body of this History Mary and Henry Stuart the CVIIth Queen and King HEnry Stuart was marry'd to Mary Stuart Iuly 28 th and O Yes being made Proclamation thereof was publickly read with the applause of the Multitude God Save Henry and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and the day after they were proclaim'd in like Manner by an Herauld at Edinburgh This Matter did grievously offend the Nobility and the Commons also yea some fretted and openly storm'd That 't was a thing of the worst Example that ever was For To what purpose was it to call a Council about making a King and never to ask their Advice nor to comply with their Authority but to set up an Herauld instead of a Senate and a Proclamation for a Statute of Parliament or Order of Council so that it was not said they a Consultation but an Essay rather how the Scots would bear the yoke of Tyranny The absence of so many Nobles increas'd the Suspicion The chief Nobility were away Iames Duke of Castle-herault Gilespy Earl of Argyle Iames Earl of Murray Alexander Earl of Glencarn Andrew Earl of Rothes and many others of Rich and Noble Families Heraulds were sent to them to command them to come in which they not doing were banish'd and went most of them into Argyle and their Enemies were recall'd to Court The King and Queen having got as much Force together as they thought were sufficient to subdue the Rebels with 4000 Men came to Glasgow The Rebels kept themselves at Pasley where various Consultations were held according to the Disposition of the Parties The King and Queen sent an Herauld at Arms to have the Castle of Hamilton surrendred to them which not being done they prepare themselves for the Fight The contrary Faction was at variance one with another and divided into several Opinions The Hamiltons who had the greatest Power in those Parts were of Opinion That no firm Peace could be made till the King and Queen were Both taken out of the way as long as they were safe nothing could be expected but new Wars continual Plots and a counterfeit Peace worse than an open War private Men said they may forget Injuries offer'd them being weary of
prosecuting them yea sometimes they were recompens'd with great Advantages but the Wrath of Princes was not to be quench'd but by Death only But Murray and Glencarn who understood that their discourse was not founded on the Good of the Publick but their own private Advantage for upon the Queen's death they were the next Heirs to the Crown did equally abhor the Princes death and Hamiltons Government too which they had lately experienc'd to be Avaritious and Cruel so that They were for milder Counsels and in regard 't was a civil Dissension wherein as yet there was no blood shed the Dispute having been hitherto managed by Votes not Arms they thought it fit if possible to end it by an honest Agreement Hereunto they thought many in the King's Army would hearken as being desirous of Peace and would not be wanting to plead for Those that in Defence of their Liberties were inforc'd to take up Arms. As for the King and Queen They being yet young might not perhaps be so Provident and for their Parts they had not yet so far transgrest as to indanger the Common-wealth as for smaller Injuries which affected their Names and Reputations only 't was fitter they were cured by other Remedies than Death For they remembred 't was an old Caution transmitted from their Ancestors for Imitation That in the Lives and Manners of Princes their hidden Vices ought to be concealed their doubtful Ones taken in the best sense and their open Ones so far born with as they did not endanger the Ruin of the Publick This Opinion pleased the most and the rest of the Hamiltons acquiesced therein and resolved to be quiet only Iames chief of their Family with 16 Horse remained with the Nobility who being lessened by the recess of the Hamiltons were not able to give Battel to the Enemy nor yet to break through each to his own Clan and therefore they yielded to the Times and came that Night to Hamilton and the next Day to Edinburgh to consult how to manage the War But in regard the Castle which commanded the Town continually plaid upon them and their Friends could not come in so soon from remote Parts as was requisite and moreover the King and Queen were reported to be near them with their Forces by the great Persuasions and Promises of Iohn Maxwel of Herreis they directed their Course towards Dumfreiz The King and Queen returned back to Glascow and left the Earl of Lennox their Lieutenant in the Country towards the South-West they themselves went afterward to Sterlin and thence into the middle of Fife They made the greatest part of the Nobility take an Oath That if any Commotion arose from England they would faithfully oppose it the rest were punish'd some by Fine some by Banishment The Goods of those who fled into England wherever they could find them were seized upon and they appointed Commissions of Oyer and Terminer to be held in all Counties to enquire into the Remains of the Rebellion On the 9 th of October they drew forth their Army out of Edinburgh and march'd towards Dumfriez Maxwel who till that time had pretended to be highly of the Party which was against the King thinking it now a fit opportunity to cater for himself went forth to meet them as if he would have interceded for Pardon for the whole Party He dealt with them to have part of his Father-in-Laws Estate which he had a great mind to have bestow'd upon him they look'd upon him as an active subtil Man fit for Counsel and Business and granted his Request whereupon he return'd to the Rebels and told them he could do them no good and therefore they must all shift for themselves England was near at hand if they would retire thither after he had settled his Affairs at home he would follow them and live and die with the Party In the interim he got a thousand Pounds from Murray upon the account of Mony which he alleged he had expended in listing some Horse For being commanded to raise some few Troops of Horse he caused all his Domesticks to appear as if they had been Souldiers formally listed The Rebels were terrified at the coming of the King and Queen and at Maxwels revolt from them So that the King and Queen hereupon did what they pleas'd They drove away most of the Leaders of the Faction and the rest were intent on the Event of their Danger so that about the end of October they return'd to Edinburgh and all things were quiet in Scotland till the beginning of the next Spring A Convention of all the Estates of the Kingdom was Indicted to be held in March that so the Goods of those who were banish'd might be Confiscate their Names struck out of the Roll of the Nobility and their Armorial Ensignes torn in Pieces neither of which the Kings of Scotland can lawfully do without an Act of Parliament In the interim David perceiving the Court to be empty of Nobility and thinking it an opportunity to shew and declare the Excessiveness of his Power did suggest severe Counsel to the Queen daily pressing her to cut off some of the chief of the Faction if a few of them said he were executed the rest would be quiet and in regard he thought the Queen's Guard being Scots-men would not easily consent to the cruel Murder of the Nobility he was very intent to have them thrown out of their Places and to introduce Foreigners into their Rooms a Project that is wont to be the beginning of all Tyranny first Mention was made of sending for some Germans over for that Service because that Nation were highly faithful to their Princes But when David had considered seriously with himself he thought it more conducive to his Interest to have Italians first because being his Country-Men he presumed they would be more at his Devotion next that being Men of no Religion they would be fitter to make Disturbances so that he thought they might easily be induc'd to venture upon any Design Right or Wrong for being wicked and indigent Persons born and bred up under Tyrants us'd to War and being far from their own home they car'd not what became of Britain and therefore seem'd most Proper to attempt Innovations Hereupon Souldiers of Fortune were privately sent for out of Flanders and other Countries of the Continent but they were to come in by Piece-meal as 't were One by One and at several times too that the Design might not be discover'd It would be more dangerous said he to offend any one of those Ruffians than the Queen her Self But as David's Power and Authority with the Queen did daily increase so the King grew Cheaper with her every Day for as She had been rashly precipitate in making the Marriage so She as soon repented and gave manifest Tokens of her alienated Mind For as presently after the Marriage was celebrated she had publickly Proclaim'd him King by an Herauld
degrees gone home the Queen was private with Bothwel scarce any body besides at Drummond and Tillibardin a Noble-Man's House where she spent two days about the beginning of Ianuary and so return'd to Sterlin and pretended daily to go to Glasgow but expecting to hear every day of the King's Death to prevent the worst she resolved to have her Son in her own Power and that her Design might occasion no Suspicion they began to find fault That the House wherein he was kept was inconvenient That in such a moist and cold place he might be subject to Rheums but the true cause was far otherwise of his Removal for 't was very plain That the Place whither he was carried was far more obnoxious upon the foresaid Accounts in being scituate in a low Marish Soil having a Mountain betwixt it and the Sun-rising whereupon the Child being scarce seven Months old was brought in a very sharp Winter to Edinburgh when she there heard that the King was recovered as having overcome the Poison by the Vigour of his Youth and the Strength of his Natural Constitution she renew'd her Plot to destroy him acquainting also some of the Nobility therewith In the mean time News was brought her that the King design'd to fly to France or Spain and that he had spoke about it with the Master of an English Ship which was then in the Firth of Clyde hereupon some thought That an occasion was offered her to send for him and if he refused to come to kill him out of the way yea some offered to be Agents in the thing all of them advised That the Fact should be privately committed and That it should be hastned before he was perfectly recovered The Queen having already gotten her Son that she might also have her Husband in her Power though not as yet agreed in the Design how he should be dispatch'd resolv'd to go to Glasgow having as she thought sufficiently clear'd her self from his former Suspicions by many kind Letters she had lately sent him But her Words and Deeds did not agree for she took almost none with her in her Retinue but the Hamiltons and other Hereditary Enemies of the King In the mean time she intrusts Bothwel with doing What was contributory to the Design at Edinburgh for that Place seem'd most convenient to them both to commit and also to conceal so great a Wickedness for there being a great Assembly of the Nobles the Suspicion might be put off from one to the other and so divided between Many When the Queen had tried all the ways she could to dissemble her Hatred At last by many Chidings Complaints and Lamentations past betwixt them she could yet scarce make him believe that she was reconciled to him The King hardly yet recover'd from his Disease was brought in a Litter to Edinburgh to the Place design'd for his Murder which Bothwel in the Queen's Absence had undertook to provide and That was an House uninhabited for some Years before near the Walls of the City in a lonesome solitary place between the Ruins of two Churches where no Noise or Outcry could be heard thither he was thrust with a few Attendants only for the most of them being such as the Queen had put upon him rather as Spies than Servants were departed as foreknowing the Danger at hand and Those that remained could not get the Keys of the Door from the Harbingers that provided the Lodgings The Queen was most intent on this One thing to avert all Suspicion from her self and her Dissimulation had proceded so far That the King was fully persuaded there was a firm Reconcilement betwixt them So that he wrote Letters to his Father who staid behind sick at Glasgow giving him great Hopes and Assurance That the Queen was now sincerely His and commemorating her many good Offices towards him now he promised to himself That there would be a Change of all things for the better As he was writing these Letters the Queen came in on a sudden and reading them she gave him many Embraces and Kisses telling him that Sight mightily pleased her that now she saw there was no Cloud of Suspicion hovering over his Mind Things being thus well secured on that side her next care was to contrive as much as possible to cast the Guilt upon Another and therefore she sent for her Brother Murray who had lately obtained leave and was going to St. Andrews to visit his Wife who lay there as he heard dangerously sick For besides the Danger of Child-bearing she had Pustles that rose all over her Body with a violent Feaver the Cause of her detaining him she pretended to be that she might honourably dismiss the Duke of Savoy's Embassador who came too late to the Prince's Baptism though this seem'd a mean pretence to take him off from so just and necessary a Duty yet he obeyed In the Interim the Queen every day made her Visits to the King and reconciled him to Bothwel whom she by all means desired to be out of Gun-shot of any Suspicion She made him large Promises of her Affection for the time to come which over-officious Carriage though suspected by all yet no Man was so bold as to advise the King of his Danger in regard he was wont to tell the Queen whatever he heard to insinuate the more into her Favour only Robert the Queen's Brother mov'd either with the Horridness of the Fact or with Pity to the young Man took the Confidence to acquaint him of his Wives Plot against him but on this condition That he would keep it to himself and provide for his Safety the best he could The King notwithstanding reveal'd it to the Queen according to his custom whereupon Robert was call'd for and he stoutly deny'd it so that they gave one another the Lie and were laying their Hands on their Swords The Queen was glad to see That her Designs were likely to have so good a Conclusion and that so near at hand without her Trouble and therefore she calls for her other Brother Iames as if he were to decide the Controversy but the Truth was That he also might on that occasion be cut off there was no body present but Bothwel who was so far from keeping them from fighting that he would rather have kill'd him that had the worst of the Combate himself as plainly appeared when he said There was no reason Iames should be sent for in such haste to keep those from Duelling who whatsoever they pretended had no such Maw to it This stir being quieted the Queen and Bothwel were wholly intent how to perpetrate the Murder and how to do it with all imaginable Privacy too The Queen to dissemble both Love to her Husband and an Amnesty of old Offences causes her Bed to be brought from the Palace into a Chamber below the King 's where she lay after she had sat late up with him in Discourse for some Nights In the mean time she
the main head of the Consultation was How Bothwel might be acquitted of the King's Murder There was a Design before to try and acquit him for presently upon the King's Death Bothwel and some of his Complices came to the Marquess of Argyle who was the Hereditary Capital Judge in Criminal Causes First they pretended they were wholly ignorant of what was done and wondred at it as a new unheard of and incredible Thing then they proceeded to the Examination of it they summon in some poor Women out of the Neighbourhood but they stuck betwixt Hope and Fear being uncertain Whether they should speak or hold their Peace but tho they were very cautious in their Words yet uttering more than was expected they were sent away as having spoken nothing upon any certain ground and as for their Testimony it was easy enough to despise it Whereupon some of the King's Servants were sent for whom the Fire had not destroyed They being ask'd concerning the Ingress of the Assassinates reply'd That the Keys were not in their Power it being urg'd upon them again In whose then They answered The Queens Whereupon the further Examination was put off as they pretended but indeed was quite supprest for they were afraid if they went any further the Court-Secrets would have been all publickly known And yet to set a Gloss on the Matter a Proclamation was publish'd and a pecuniary Reward offer'd to the Discoverers of the King's Murder But Who dar'd be so bold as to impeach Bothwel seeing he was to be the Impleaded the Judge the Examiner and the Exactor of the punishment too Yet this fear which stopt the Mouths of divers single Persons could not bridle the Multitude For Libels were publish'd Pictures made and Night-haukings and Cries were uttered whereby the Parricides might easily understand That their whole Design was discover'd Who design'd the Wickedness and Who assisted in the Execution thereof And the Commonalty the more they were forbidden the more did their Grief make them speak Though the Conspirators seem'd to despise these things yet they were so inwardly prickt and grip'd that they could not dissemble their sorrow And therefore omitting the Examination about the King's Death they fell upon another Guest more severe and That was against the Authors of Libels or as they worded it the Calumniators of Bothwel and this was so severely prosecuted that no Pains nor Cost were spar'd therein all the Painters and Writing-Masters were call'd in that so they might discover the Pictures and Libels by those that drew or wrote them they further added a Clause suitable enough to the Edict which made it Capital not only to sell but even to read them when they were Sold. But they who endeavour'd to bridle the Discourse of the People by threatning Capital Punishment to them were not satisfi'd with the King's Death but retain'd their hatred against him though in his grave The Queen gave her Husband's Goods his Arms Horses Apparel and other Housholdstuff either to his Father's Enemies or to the Murderers themselves as if they had been forfeited into her Exchequer As these Matters were acted openly so many did as publickly inveigh against them So that one Taylor who was about to fit some of the King's Clothes for Bothwel's Body was so bold as to say Now he saw the old Country-Custom verifi'd That the Executioner had the Apparel of those that suffer'd by his Hand There was also another Care troubled them How they might get the Castle of Edinburgh into the Queen's Hands Iohn Earl of Marr was Governour of it upon Condition that he should render it to none but by Order of the Estates and though such a Convention was to be the Month after yet the Queen was so earnest that every small delay seem'd very tedious to Her And therefore she dealt with the Earl's Friends and Kindred for he himself lay then very sick at Sterlin to surrender the Castle to Her pretending This as the chief Cause That the Commons of Edinburgh were so tumultuous there being then a Commotion amongst them That she could not keep them within the Bounds of their Duty unless she had that Fort in her Hands and that thereupon as an Earnest of her great Affection to Iohn she would put her only Son the Heir of the Kingdom into his Hands to be educated by him which Office of Guardianship his Ancestors had discharg'd to their great Commendation as in so many other Princes of late Times in her Mother and Grandfathers Education Tho the Earl understood whither her Promises and Flatteries did tend yet he complied with her Request The Queen finding him more facile than she hoped essays next to be possest of the Castle as soon as it was convenient and yet to keep her Son too When he would not hearken to that she sets upon him by another Wile propounding to him to come to Linlithgo in the Mid-way between Edinburgh and Sterlin and there on an appointed Day to receive the Prince and to surrender the Castle But this Project being suspected of Fraud at last it was agreed That he should be deliver'd to Erskin at Sterlin and That he in the interim should give the chief of his Family in Hostage for the rendring of the Castle These things were some trouble to the Parricides but they were most of all troubled with the daily complaints of the Earl of Lennox He would not adventure to come to Court by reason of Bothwel's Power accompanied with the highest Luxury but he earnestly solicited the Queen by Letters That she would commit Bothwel to Prison who without doubt was the Author of the King's Murder till a Day might be appointed to bring him to his Trial. She though eluding his desire by many Stratagems yet seeing the Examination of so heinous a Fact could not be avoided design'd to have it carried on thus The Assembly of the Estates on the Ides of April was near at hand before that time she was willing to have the matter tried that so Bothwel being absolv'd by the Votes of the Judges might be further clear'd by the Suffrages of the whole Parliament This haste was the cause that nothing was carried on orderly or according to ancient Custom in that judiciary Process For the Accusers as is usual ought to have been Cited with their Kindred as Wife Father Mother Son either to appear Personally or by Proxy within 40 Days for that is the time limited by the Law Here the Father was only summon'd to appear April 13 th without summoning any of his Friends only his own Family which at that Time was in a low Estate and reduc'd but to a Few Whereas in the mean time Bothwel flew up and down the Town with a great many Troops at his heels The Earl of Lennox thought it best for him not to come into a City full of his Enemies where he had no Friends nor Vassals to secure him and besides if there were
Contempt of Me and the Force used to get me into his Power lest otherwise he might be frustrated in his Purpose In the mean time the whole Course of his Life was so order'd that it may be an Example how Men that undertake great Designs can craftily conceal their Purposes till they obtain their Ends. For I thought that his Sedulity and Diligence in his speedy Obedience to all my Commands proceeded from no other Fountain than his Loyal Desire to please me neither did I ever imagine that he had any higher Wish or Design neither did I think those more gracious Countenances which I sometimes shew towards my Nobles to ingage them more readily to obey my Commands would have exalted his Mind to promise to himself the Hope of a more extraordinary Courtesy from me yet he turning even fortuitous things to his own Advantage maintained Designs unknown to me and by his wonted Observance nourish'd his ancient Love as also by currying Favour with the Nobility he was privily ambitious of a new Favour and he was so sedulous therein that though I knew nothing of it yet when the Convention of the Estates was celebrated he obtain'd a Chart from all the Nobility subscrib'd with their Hands to make it more Authentick wherein they declared their Assent to the Marriage betwixt Me and Him and promis'd to expose their Lives and Fortunes to bring it to pass and to be Enemies to all those that should oppose it And more easily to obtain the Assent of the Nobles he persuaded each of them that all these things were manag'd by my Consent This Writing being once obtain'd next by degrees he most humbly sought for my Consent but my Answer not suiting with his Desire he began to propound such things to himself which are wont to occur in such great Undertakings as the outward Demonstrations of my Good Will the Ways by which my Friends or his Enemies might hinder his Design and lest any of those who had subscrib'd should withdraw their Assent and many other things which were cast in or came freely to hinder his Purpose At length he determined with himself to pursue the Favour of his present Fortune and to cast the whole Business with his Life and Hope on the hazard of one Moment so that being resolved to execute his Design to purpose after he had waited 4 days as I was returning from visiting my Dear Son he watch'd a convenient Place and Time and on the way seized me with a strong Party of Men and carried me speedily to Dunbar How I took the Fact especially from him of whom amongst all my Subjects I expected no such thing every one may easily judg There I upbraided him with my Favours towards him and how honourably I had always spoken before of his Manners and Behaviour and how ungratefully he had carried it towards me Other things I spake to free my self out of his Hands his Usage indeed was somewhat course but his Words were fair and smooth as that he would use me with all Honour and Observance and would do his utmost not to offend me in any thing but for carrying me against my Will into one of my own Castles for so bold an Attempt he crav'd my Pardon alleging he was forc'd by the Power of Love so to do forgetting the Reverence and Allegiance which as a Subject he ow'd to me He said further That he was compell'd to go thither for fear of his Life Then he began to rehearse to me the whole Course of his Life and lamented his Misfortune that those whom he had never offended were his bitter Enemies and whose Malice had devised all unjust ways to do him a Mischief what envious Reflections were made upon him for the King's Death and how unable he was to bear up against the hidden Conspiracy of those of his Enemies whom he knew not because they pretended Good-will towards him both in Speech and Behaviour neither was he able to prevent those Treacheries which he did know Their Malice against him was so great that at no Time or Place he could live a quiet Life unless he was assur'd of my unchangeable Favour towards him And to assure that he knew but one way and that was That I would vouchsafe to make him my Husband withal he solemnly swore that he did not seek Preheminence therein or the Top and Height of Dignity but this one Thing That he might be able to serve and obey me as hitherto he had done all the Days of his Life This his Oration he deck'd with that Eloquence as his Cause required But when he saw I could not be wrought upon neither by Prayers nor Promises at length he shewed me the Transactions of the Nobility and all the Estates and what they had promised under their Hands This being produced before me on a sudden and beyond my Expectation I leave it to the King Queen my Uncle and the rest of my Friends Whether it might not administer a just Cause of Amazement to me Whereupon when I saw my self in another Man's Power separate from those who were wont to give me Counsel yea when I saw those Persons on whose Faithfulness and Prudence I had cast my self whose Power must confirm my Authority that otherwise would be little or none at all I say when I saw such Men to have devoted themselves to gratify his Will and Desire and I left alone as his Prey I ponder'd many things in my Mind but could not find a Way how to extricate my self neither did he give me any long time to consider of the matter but did press his Purpose with great eagerness At last when I saw I had no hope to escape and that there was not a Man in the Kingdom that would stir for my Deliverance for I easily perceived by the Roll he shewed me and by the great Silence of the Time that All were drawn to his Party When my Anger was a little abated I applied my Mind to consider his Request Then I began to set before my Eyes his Services in former Times and the great Hopes I had he would constantly persist in the same for the future And again how hardly my Subjects would endure a foreign Prince who was unacquainted with their Laws That they would not suffer me to be a Widow long That a People prone to Tumults could not be kept within the Bounds of their Duty unless my Authority was upheld and exercis'd by a Man who was able to undergo the Toil of governing the Commonwealth and so to bridle the Insolence of the Rebellious that my Strength was weakned with the Weight of those things ever since I came into Scotland and almost broke to nothing insomuch that I could no longer bear the daily Tumults and Rebellions that arose Furthermore by reason of these Seditions I was forc'd to create Four or more Lieutenants in divers Parts of the Kingdom most of which under colour of the Authority granted by me caus'd my Subjects
which Party was strongest and so were inclin'd to side with the most Powerful Their Faction was thought to be the strongest who either consented to the Murder or when the thing was done in obsequiousness to the Queen subscrib'd to that sceleratious Fact The chief of them came in to Hamilton and being very strong would receive neither Letters nor Messengers from the contrary Party in order to a Settlement neither did they spare to reproach them with all kind of calumniating Language and they were so much the more inrag'd because the greatest part of the Nobles who respected rather the Blasts of Fortune than the Equity of the Cause did not come in to the Vindicators for they that were not against them they concluded were for them Moreover they esteem'd it a piece of Vain-Glory that the Vindicators should enter before them into the Metropolis of the Kingdom and from thence send for them who were the greater Number and more powerful The other Party though they had not imperiously commanded them but only humbly desir'd yet to prescinde any Shew of imputable Arrogance they prevail'd with the Ministers of the Churches to write jointly to them all and severally to each in particular That in so dangerous a time they should not be wanting to the Publick Peace but setting aside private Animosities they should consult What was most expedient for the Publick Good These Letters did no more Good with the contrary Faction than Those of the Nobles before they all making the same Excuses as if it had been so agreed purposely between them Afterwards the Queen's Faction met together in diverse Places and finding no means to accomplish their Designs they all slipp'd off and dispers'd several ways In the Interim the Vindicators of the publick Parricide dealt with the Queen whom they could not separate from the Concerns of the Murderers to resign up her Government upon pretence of Sickness or any other specious Allegation and to commit the Care of her Son and the Administration of Publick Affairs to which of the Nobles she pleas'd At last with much ado she appointed as Governours to the Child Iames Earl of Murray if upon his Return home he did not refuse the Charge Iames Duke of Castle-herault Matthew Earl of Lennox Gilespy Earl of Argyle Iohn Earl of Athol Iames Earl of Morton Alexander Earl of Glencarn and Iohn Earl of Marr. Moreover they sent Proxies to see the King plac'd in his Royal Throne and so to enter on the Government either at Sterlin or any other Place if they thought fit These things were acted Iuly the 25 th in the Year of our Lord 1567. A little before Iames Earl of Murray hearing how Matters went at home returned through France and was pretty nobly entertain'd at Court yet so that Hamilton whose Faction the Guises knew were more intimately affected towards them was far better receiv'd which was occasion'd chiefly by the Guises who were averse to all Murray's Designs After he was dismiss'd the Archbishop of Glasgow who called himself the Queen of Scots Embassador told the Court That Iames though absent yet was the Chief of the Faction and as in former times all things were acted by his Influence so now he was sent for as an Head to the Body of them Hereupon some were sent after to bring him back but he being forewarned by his Friends had set Sail from the Haven of Deip where he was before the King's Letters came and arriving in England was honourably entertain'd by all Orders of Men and so sent home There he was receiv'd with the high Gratulation and Joy of all the People especially of the Vindicators and they all earnestly desir'd him to undertake the Government whilst the King his Sister's Son was yet a Child for he alone was able to manage that great Trust with the least Envy because of his Propinquity in Blood his known Valour in many Dangers his great Popularity grounded on his Deserts and moreover the Queen desir'd it too He tho knowing what they had spoke was true yet desir'd a few Days of Deliberation before he gave in his Answer In the mean time he writes earnestly to the Heads of the other Faction and chiefly to Argyle as being his Kinsman and one whom by reason of ancient Acquaintance he was loth to offend he told him in what posture things were and what the Infant-King's Party did desire of him and therefore he intreated him by their Nearness of Blood by their ancient Friendship and by the common Safety of their Country that he would give him opportunity to speak with him that so by his Assistance himself and their Country might be deliver'd out of the present Difficulties He also wrote to the rest according to every ones Place and Interest and in general he desir'd of them all that seeing Matters were in such Confusion there was no likelihood of a Settlement without a chief Magistrate That they should all agree to meet together as soon as might be in a Place they should judg most convenient and so by common Consent to settle Matters At length being not able to obtain a Meeting from the One Faction nor any longer delay of a Convention from the Other with the unanimous Consent of all there present he was elected REGENT IAMES the VIth the CVIIIth King ON the 29 th of August after an excellent Sermon made by Iohn Knox Iames the Sixth of that Name began his Reign Iames Earl of Morton and Alexander Hume took the Oath for him that he would observe the Laws they also promised in his Name that he would observe that Doctrine and those Rites of Religion which were then publickly taught and practised and oppose the contrary A few days after Hamilton's Partisans murmured That a few Persons and those none of the powerfullest neither had without their Consent and contrary to their Expectation grasp'd all things into their own Hands When they had tried all the Nobility one by one they found few of their Opinion besides those who first came in to them for many were rather Spectators than Actors of what was done At length they wrote to the Royalists That Argyle was ready to give a Meeting to confer with the Earl of Murray These Letters being directed to the Earl of Murray without any other Title of Honour were by the Council's Advice rejected and the Messenger dismissed in effect without an Answer But Argyle knowing what had offended in superscribing his Letters and trusting to the Faithfulness of the Regent with a few of the chief of his Faction came to Edinburgh where having receiv'd Satisfaction That 't was not out of any slighting of those Nobles that were absent but mere Necessity so requiring that had caused them to make such haste in setling a chief Magistrate A few Days after he came to the publick Convention of the Estates The Nineteenth BOOK WHEN the King was set up and the Power of the Regent almost
tho some Astrologers not unacquainted with the Plots design'd against him did foretel he should not live beyond such a Day yet he persisted in his purpose often saying That he knew well enough he must die one time or other and that he could never part with his Life more nobly or creditably than by procuring the publick Tranquillity of his Native Country And therefore first he summon'd a Convention of the Estates at Glasgow whither the Lennox Men the Renfroans and the Men of Clydsdale were commanded to come and whilst he was busied there in the Administration of Justice and in the punishment of Offenders the Plot so long agitated for the Deliverance of the Queen took effect The manner of it was This. In the Castle that the Queen was kept in in Lough-Levin there was the Regent's Mother and his 3 Brother 's by another Father with abundance of other Women yet none were admitted to visit the Queen but such as were well known or else that came by the Regents Order Of these domestick Attendants the Queen made choice of George Douglas as fittest for her Purpose He was the Regent's youngest Brother a young Man ingenious enough and by reason of his Age apt to be impos'd upon by female Inticements He being something familiar with Her on pretence to attend her in such Sports as Courts at idle times refresh themselves withal undertook to corrupt some of the common Servants of the Castle by Gifts and Promises and She having intrusted him therein would not deny any thing to such a Person from whom she expected her Liberty George then having a promise of Indemnity from her for himself and his Partizans and being excited with the hopes of great Wealth and Power for the future not without the Consent of his Mother as was verily thought acted all that ever he could to bring the thing about And tho some Persons did smell the Design and acquainted the Regent therewith yet he put such a confidence in Those he had plac'd there that he chang'd none of the old Guard only George himself was commanded out of the Island whereupon he departed to the next Village on the edge of the Lough where having before corrupted the Officers of the Castle with Mony he had in a manner a freer Communication with the Queen by Letters than before whereupon there were not only those Scots admitted to a partnership in the Plot who were discontented at the present State of things but the French were associated too by Iames Hamilton who had been Regent some Years before and by Iames Beton Archbishop of Glasgow the Scots were to do the Work and the French to pay the Wages About the end of April an Embassador came from France and in the Name of his King desir'd leave to visit the Queen which if he did not obtain he pretended he would presently depart The Regent told him 't was not in his Power That the Queen was not made Prisoner by him neither could he determine any thing in the Case without advising with Those who had first committed Her and with Others who had afterward confirm'd by an Act of Parliament what was done Nevertheless he would gratify his Sister and the King his Ally in what he could and would call an Assembly of the Nobles the 20 th of the next Month in order to that End With that Answer the Embassador was somewhat pacified and the Regent went on in his Judicatories Whereupon the Queen having brib'd the Master of a Vessel Her other Companions being sent about sleeveless Errands was brought out of the Lough Her escape being told to those that were then at Dinner in the Castle they made a great stir but to little purpose for all the Boats were haled a Shore and their Loop-holes to put out their Oars were all stopt up so that no speedy Pursuit could be made There were Horsemen expecting the Queen on the other side the Lough who carried her to the several Houses of the Partizans in the Design and the Day after which was May the 3 d she came to Hamilton a Town 8 Miles distant from Glasgow when the thing was nois'd abroad many came in to Her some distrusting the King's Party which they look'd upon as not very strong Others in hope of Favour from the Queen and some in confidence of a Reward for their old Services in this Tumult discover'd their Minds and part of them having obtain'd Pardon for what was past expecting the Event of Fortune were but loose Adherents to the Regent The Defection of others was not so much wondred at but the revolt of Robert Boyd who till that very Day had obtain'd a great opinion for his Constancy afforded matter of Discourse He being brought up on the ruins of a Noble Family as I said before in the life of King Iames the 3 d parsimoniously and meanly under his Father a valiant Man and emulous of the ancient Frugality follow'd the same course of Life as the rest of his Kin did viz. by applying himself to richer Families to make way to repair his own lately flourishing but now decaying one to their ancient Estate and Dignity Whereupon his Father and He first apply'd themselves to the Hamiltons who were than uppermost And when their Regentship was laid down and the chief Magistracy settled in the Queen Dowager and Controversies about Religion began to arise he join'd himself to the Reformers to which his Father was most averse That Faction was accounted the most potent to That he adher'd till the Queen's coming out of France yea he grew very renown'd for his Constancy Fortitude and Prudence So that Gilespy Earl of Argyle was so taken with him that he did almost nothing without his Advice But when some of the Nobles had associated at Sterlin not for any Treasonable Project but only to defend the King he indeed subscrib'd the League too but with great Levity both himself and Argyle who was guided by his Counsel discover'd the whole Intrigue to the Queen From that time forward Boyd sided with the Queen in all her Designs against his old Friends being well reputed of on that side but by those he deserted he was accounted a Turn-coat and an inconstant Person When the Queen was committed to Prison Boyd apply'd himself to Murray the Regent and was so well respected by him for his industrious Ingenuity that he was admitted into his Cabinet-Council and tho several Opinions past upon him by others yet he was in high Favour with the Regent at Glasgow in his Juridical Processes but when he perceiv'd it was like to come to Blows he went off privately to the Queen and from thence sent a Letter to the Earl of Morton by his Son excusing his Departure and alleging he might probably do the Royalists as much Service there as if he had staid with them His revolt by reason of the good Opinion many had of his Conversation and Manners gave great occasion of
out Horse several ways to forbid the Execution The second Squadron of the Royalists stood so long till they saw the Enemy scattering and flying in a disorderly manner then they also brake their Ranks and pursued The Queen stood about a Mile from the Place to behold the Fight and after the Discomfiture fled with some Horsemen of her Party who had escap'd out of the Battel toward England the rest ran away as they could each to his own home There were but few slain in the Field but more fell in the Pursuit being wearied and wounded all along the High-ways and Fields The Number of the Slain was about 300 but there were more taken Prisoners Of the King's Forces there were not many wounded of the chief Commanders none but Alexander Hume and Andrew Stuart only one Man was slain the rest of the Army besides a few Horse-men who followed the Pursuit very far returned joyfully into the Town where after giving Thanks to Almighty God for prospering their just Cause against a double Number of their Enemies and for giving them in a manner an unbloody Victory mutually gratulating one another they went to Dinner This Battel was fought May the 13 th eleven Days after the Queen's Escape out of Prison The French Embassador expected the Event of the Fight and promis'd himself a sure Victory on the Queen's side but being thus disappointed of his Hope he put off his Vizard and without taking his Leave of the Regent to whom he pretended he was sent got a Party of Horse to guide him and with what Speed he could made for England In the way he was robb'd by Moss-Troopers but Iames Douglas Laird of Drumlanerick though he knew he was of the Enemies Party yet deferr'd so much to the Honour and Name of an Embassador that he caus'd his Goods to be restored to him The Regent spent the rest of the Day of Battel in taking a List of the Prisoners some he discharged gratis others upon Sureties the chief Commanders were retained especially of the Hamilton's Family and sent to Prison The Day after knowing how much that Sept was envied in the Neighbourhood he took only 500 Horse commanding the rest of the Army to abide in their Quarters and went into the Vale of Clydisdale where he found all Places naked and desolate the Inhabitants being run away as rather conscious to themselves what they had deserved than confiding in the Regents Clemency of which yet they had Experience before he took in the Castles of Hamilton and Draffin which were naked Places only in Hamilton-Castle some of the Houshold-Stuff of King Iames the 5 th was found The same Fear and Terror drove the Queen into England too either because she thought no Place in that Part of Scotland safe enough for her or else because she durst not trust Iohn Maxwel of Herreis When the Regent had setled all things as well as he could at present he summon'd an Assembly of the Estates to be held at Edinburgh in the Month of ..... The adverse Party plotted many Ways to hinder it Rumors were spread abroad of Aid from France neither were they altogether without Ground For some Troops were drawn down to the Sea-side under the Command of the Earl of Martigues a stout Man of the Luxemburgh's Family to be transported with all Speed into Scotland and they had been so unless the Civil Wars had on a sudden broke forth in France But that Assistance would not have been so prejudicial to the Regent as his Enemies thought for it would have alienated England from them and engaged It to him Moreover Argyle with 600 of his Clanship came to Glasgow there he had a Conference with the Hamiltonians and other Leaders of the Faction to hinder the Convention but finding no way to do it they went every Man severally home Huntly also had gathered together a thousand Foot against the Day of the Parliaments Sitting he came as far as Perth and there perceiving that the Fords of the River Tay were guarded by William Ruven and the Neighbouring Nobility who remained Loyal to the King he retired without doing any thing to Purpose About the same time there came also Letters from the Queen of England obtained by the Intercession of the adverse Party to the Regent to put off the Parliament she desired that Judgment might not be hastned concerning the Rebels till she were made acquainted with the whole Cause for she could not well bear the Injury and Affront which the Queen her Neighbour and near Kinswoman did pretend she had received from her Subjects Tho the Request was but small in it self yet if it should have been granted at the Instance of the Rebels they might have thought to have carried all either because such a Trifling and Delay seem'd to hearten them and weaken their Enemy especially seeing it might argue a Fear in the Royalists and also that they in the mean time resolv'd to Indict a Convention in the Name of the Queen But the Regent being sensible of what great Consequence it was to have the Parliament to sit yea though all the Force of the Enemy had combin'd against it resolved to keep his Day In that Parliament there was a great Debate Whether all those who had took Arms against the King and afterward had not obtained their Pardon should be condemn'd as Traitors and have their Goods confiscate But William Maitland who favoured the Rebels but covertly obtained that only a few of them should be condemn'd at present as a Terror to the rest and a Door of Clemency should be opened to others if they repented That Procedure did wonderfully incourage the Conspirators and increas'd their Obstinacy in regard they saw their Punishment was deferr'd and they were verily persuaded that the Queen of England being their Queen's Neighbour and Kinswoman nor the Guises who then were very powerful in the French Court nor the French King himself would suffer such an Encroachment to be made on the Royal Authority yea if they should be deserted by them yet they were not so weak of themselves as not to be able to maintain their Cause without foreign Aid as being superior in Number and Power so that nothing was wanting to the Victory but the empty Shadow of the Royal Name which was said they usurped by Force In the mean time the Regent minded only the publick Peace some of the Neighbouring Offenders he fined in small Sums and so took them into Favour the Earl of Rothes by his Friends Intercession was banish'd for three Years as for the rest he daily by Correspondents solicited them to repent and come in but perceiving That many of them were obstinate and inclined to Revenge he levied an Army and march'd into Annandale Niddisdale and lower Galway where he took some Castles and put Garisons into them others whose Owners were more refractary he demolish'd and in a short time he would have ran over the whole Country unless
his Assistant in publick Business as to observe what his Actions were The Causes which made Maitland suspected were These amongst many others Before his Journy into England though he mightily endeavoured to conceal his Designs yet by his Words and Actions and further by his great Familiarity with the Men of the adverse Party but more clearly yet by Letters he sent to the Queen which were intercepted they could not be hid In those Letters he endeavoured to persuade the Queen that his Service might yet be useful to her using the Example of the Lion as 't is in the Fable who being taken in a Net was freed by such mean Animals as Rats And after he came to York there was scarce a Night wherein he did not meet with the chief Embassadors of the adverse Party compared Notes with them and acquainted them with the Designs of the Regent The Regent did not forbid those Meetings knowing he should do no Good thereby only then they would meet more secretly Though these were manifest Evidences of his Treachery yet casually there happen'd an undeniable Demonstration thereof Norfolk and He went abroad pretendedly to hunt where they had much Discourse concerning the whole Affair and came to this Agreement amongst themselves to spin out the matter if 't was possible and so to delay it that at last nothing might be done and yet the Cause not seem wholly deserted neither For by this means the Regent must depart without effecting what he came for or else some Commotion at home would inforce him so to do and then other Remedies might emerge in time For Norfolk was then designing a Civil War how to take off the One Queen and to marry the Other Maitland inform'd Iohn Lesly Bishop of Ross herewith one intimately acquainted with all the Queen's Affairs who accordingly inform'd his Mistress by Letter how the Duke would have her write to Court what Course to steer for the future and tho her Cause went but slowly on yet that Delay should not hinder her from expecting a good Issue thereof The Queen having read those Letters laid them by as loose Papers so that they came to be read by diverse others and from hand to hand were at last brought to the Regent who by them discovered the main of his Adversaries Design against him as for Maitland he had experimented his Perfidiousness many times before When the Embassadors before-mentioned came to the Queen at London She and her Council thought it best that the Regent himself should come up and so dispute the Controversy by word of Mouth Whereupon he dismiss'd part of his Retinue and with the rest went to London but there he met with the same Difficulty as he had done at York for he refus'd to enter upon the Accusation of the Queen and his Sister too unless if he prov'd her Guilty the Queen of England would take the Scots King's Party into her Protection if she would do That he would begin the Accusation immediately upon the same Terms as he had propounded to the Delegates at York Whilst these things were acting in London the Queen of Scots by means of Iames Balfure endeavoured to raise Commotions in Scotland and that she might more easily accomplish her Designs she wrote Letters to all the Exiles and to Bothwel's Friends to contribute all their Endeavours to infest the contrary Faction by Force of Arms And besides she created Lieutenants through all the Kingdom to whom she gave even Kingly Power And moreover she caus'd Rumours to be spread abroad That the Regent and his Companions were committed Prisoners to the Tower of London and foreseeing that Lie could not be long believed she devis'd another i. e. That the Regent had promis'd to subject Scotland to the Crown of England and That he was to give up the King as a Pledg thereof 'T is thought her Design herein was That whereas she had promis'd the same things by her Commissioners and the English look'd upon it as a Vanity in her seeing She had no power to perform it yet she was willing to possess the Minds of the Vulgar with an Untruth and so to raise up Envy against the Regent and if she could not avert the whole Reproach from her self yet at least she would have her Adversaries bear a Part with her therein When the Regent saw himself in these Straits he resolv'd to end the Matter as well as he could and so to return home Whereupon at the earnest Sollicitation of the English who desir'd to know the Causes of the Proceedings in Scotland without which they could determine nothing he also being desirous to satisfy the Queen of England at that time whom he could nor offend without great prejudice to his Cause and being willing also to return home to extinguish the Civil War then appearing in its first Rise neither of which he could well do unless the Queen of England was his Friend or at least not his Adversary induc'd by these Motives He first protested before the Council of England That 't was not willingly but by the importunity of his Enemies that he was compell'd to accuse his Queen and she his Sister's Son too of so horrid a Crime that he did not do it out of a wanton humour to accuse but out of necessity to clear himself for he was very unwilling to discover those things which he wish'd if possible might be cover'd in perpetual Oblivion and therefore if any Reflection were made on what he did the Envy ought deservedly to light upon Those who would not suffer him to be like Himself that is to obey his Prince chearfully when Good and to reprove Him or Her against his Will when she was Evil only he desire one Thing That the Queen's Proxies who had inforced him to that Dispute might be present to hear the Crimes objected that so if they were false they might disprove them before the Council and that he himself in many weighty Matters might also make use of their Testimonies The Queen's Commissioners refus'd this as putting little Confidence in their own Cause and insisted only on this one thing That the Queen who was by Force of Arms ejected might be restor'd Whereupon a Day was appointed for the Regent to shew Cause why the Revengers of the King's Murder had taken up Arms for he himself was then in France and had ejected the Queen from her Government and acted other things as till that time they had done When the Time came he declar'd the Order of all Things as they had been acted and the Testimonies of the Partisans of the King's Murder made before their Deaths and also the Statute of Parliament to which many of the Regent's Accusers had subscribed And when the Silver Cabinet was produc'd which the Queen had given her from her former Husband Francis and had bestow'd on Bothwel in which were Letters to Bothwel writ in French with the Queen 's own Hand and also a French
it was done in Contempt of the Blood Royal and a Bastard set up in his Room but if the Honour were restor'd to him in a very short Time all Domestick Tumults would be quieted and the Queen even without Blood would recover her Crown and Dignity again Whereunto the King's Embassadors answer'd That Hamilton desir'd a Thing not only contrary to the Lavvs and Customs of their Ancestors but if the consideration of the Law vvere omitted yet 't was very unjust in it self for our Ancestors said they by reason of the Slaughters of their Princes by their Kindred for 1300 Years ago did vvholly change the Method of their Assemblies in making a King For as before in the Family of Fergus our first King after the King's Death it was not the next of Blood but he that was most fit was chosen King by Suffrage So Kenneth the 3 d that he might take away all Plots against Princes by those of their Blood and also might prevent the cruel and bloody Emulations of their Kindred amongst themselves made this Decree of Succession that now is for the next of Blood to inherit And Men by Experience finding that in so great an Inconstancy of Fortune 't was scarce possible but that sometimes the Right of Chief Magistracy should fall on a Child or else on one unable to govern therefore they decreed That he who preceded others in Power and Wisdom should undergo the Administration of the Government in the mean time and our Ancestors observing this Course for almost 600 Years have transmitted down a Kingdom safe to us Thus when Robert Bruce died there succeeded Regents chosen by most Voices Thomas Randolf Earl of Murray Donald Earl of Marr Andrew Murray Iohn Randolf Robert Stuart sometimes particular Persons sometimes more than one were chosen by our publick Conventions to that Office So when Iames the Second was a Child Alexander Levingston was appointed his Governour who was no way related to that King in Blood no nor a Noble Man neither but a Knight only more eminent for his Wisdom than his Family And if any say That was for want of some of the King's Line the Excuse will not hold for at that very time there was Iohn Kennedy chief of his Family his Nephew by the Sister of Iames the First a Man both wise and virtuous there were also his Uncles Iames Kennedy Archbishop of St. Andrews the eminentest Person for Virtue in the whole Kingdom and also his Brothers the Son of the King's Aunt Douglas Earl of Angus Archibald also Earl of Douglas was not excluded from the King's Line but in Power was almost equal to him to be sure he was superiour to all others yet none ever complain'd of the Injustice of our Assemblies in so doing And not long after Iames the Third had four Tutors or Guardians assign'd him not taken on the account of Alliance but chosen by Vote And of late Iohn Duke of Albany was sent for by the Nobility out of France to govern Scotland in the Minority of Iames the 4 th and when he came he was setled in the Regency by a publick Statute enacted in a Convention of the Estates which was not done on the account of Proximity in Blood for he had Alexander an elder Brother one perhaps inferiour to him yet far more virtuous than Iames Hamilton who for a season affected that Dignity But in the Absence of Iames the Fifth Robert his Uncle manag'd the Kingdom I pray by what Right Was he assum'd into that Office for Propinquity of Blood No Was he elected by the People No nor that neither How was he then created I 'le tell you how When King Robert the Third was neither in Body nor Mind fit to manage the Kingly Office he set up Robert his Brother in his stead and commended his Children to his Care David his eldest Son he starv'd to Death Iames the younger had been also slain unless he had saved his Life by Flight And being thus setled in the Possession of the Government his Brother dying for Grief he kept it without the Consent of the People in Parliament and deliver'd it down by Hand to his Son Mordacus How Robert the King that died last stood affected towards his Brother is very plain for as when he was a dying he abominated and curs'd him as the Executioner of his Children so certainly if he had been alive and in Health he would not have designed him Guardian to his Children We are so put in mind of that time wherein after the Death of Iames the Fifth he himself was made Regent as if any thing at all was legally acted since that time When Cardinal Beton endeavoured by Fraud to invade the chief Magistracy he crept into the vacant Office rather out of Peoples Hatred to Beton than Love to Him being got into it he ruled with great Cruelty and Avarice and not many years ago he sold that Magistracy which he got by Force and the Queen too then committed to his Care therein was manifested what Affection the People bare to him when they preferred the Government of a Woman-Stranger before that bitter Slavery they suffer'd under him You see then I suppose how this Request of Hamilton's is contrary to the Laws of our Country and the Institutions of our Ancestors yea so contrary that for want of Arguments to maintain it he bolsters it up only with Lies And if there were any Custom of this kind all Men see how unjust it is For what can be more unequal than to commit the innocent and weak Age of the Prince to his Care who either daily expects or wishes for the Death of his Pupil All whose Family hath born and doth bear great and lasting Enmity with the Family of the King that now reigns What Safeguard can there be here in Nearness of Blood against ancient Hatred griping Avarice and the precipitate Force of forestalled Tyranny Laodice Queen of the Cappadocians is reported to have slain her Sons as they came to Age thus buying out or as it were redeeming a small Stay in the Government with the innocent Blood of her own Children If a Mother destroy'd the Fruit of her own Womb only to reign a little longer What shall we think will old Enemies attempt or rather What will they not attempt being inflam'd to Cruelty by the Stings of Avarice against a Child who is the only Remora to their Hopes of the Kingdom And if this Example seem old obscure and far-fetch'd I will add some more Illustrious Ones nearer hand Who is ignorant of what was lately acted how that Galeacius Sforza was slain by his Uncle Lewis though he was of Age and married and the Son-in-Law too of a most powerful Prince Who doth not know the Calamities that followed upon that cruel Parricide The brave fertile Country of Italy was almost made a Wilderness thereby The Family of the Sforza's from whence so many valiant Men proceeded was extinguish'd
in Prison or to give in Hostages of their Kindred for their forth-coming This also was added to the Conditions That all of the same Party might come in if they pleas'd on the same Terms Argyle and Huntly refus'd to subscribe to those Articles either out of anger to Hamilton that he had given up himself to his Enemies Hands without asking their Advice or else because they thought to obtain for themselves more easie Terms of Peace in regard of their Power or else being incourag'd by frequent Letters from England they were easily inclin'd to That they had most mind to For whilst these things were acted in Scotland Letters came from the exiled Queen containing large Promises and willing them not to be terrifi'd with vain Threats for she should shortly be with them with a great Army Their Minds were ready to receive this News and so much the rather because the Queen was kept with a looser Guard than ordinary and there was daily talk of her Marriage with Howard When Hamilton was come to Edinburgh at the Day appointed he eluded his Promise by various Postulations and Pretences making many Delays as that the rest of his Party should come together and so be all comprehended at once in one Agreement And also that they might send to the Queen to know her Mind and to this end he desir'd to defer the Matter till the 10 th day of May. To this his plain Mockery they answer'd That 't was to no purpose for him to expect Argyle and Huntly for they had declar'd they would manage their Concerns apart As for the Queen 't was demanded if she did not approve the Capitulation what they would do Then Hamilton answer'd ingenuously enough but not so prudently for the time That he was compell'd to those Conditions by the Force and Terror of an Army and that if he were left free to himself he would not subscribe any thing thereof This their Baffle being openly discover'd The Regent committed Hamilton and Maxwel to Edinburgh Castle The rest of the Dispute was about Argyle and Huntly For Argyle whilst the Regent was in England came to Glasgow to consult about publick Affairs with about 1500 Men in his Company Thither also came many of the neighbour Countries of the same Faction where they differ'd in their Opinions and agreed in nothing but only to disturb the Publick Peace The Hamiltonians desir'd of Argyle That in regard the Inhabitants of Lennox were firm to the King's Cause he would vex them by driving away Preys from them that so he might draw them tho unwilling to his Party or else might so impoverish them that they might not much advantage their own Party When Argyle had communicated the thing to the Council of his Friends not one of them favour'd his Design For they remembred That for many Years the Lennoxians had been much addicted to Argyle and that there were many Alliances between them Moreover said they Why are the Argyle Men nearer to the Lennoxians than the Hamiltonians seeing they lie in the middle betwixt them Both why then should they put a Service so full of odium upon him Seeing it was their own Affair principally let them appear first in it and then Argyle would not be wanting He would be a Companion not a Leader in such a plundering Expedition When that Assembly had held some Days it was dissolv'd without doing any thing and Argyle return'd thrô Lennox which was his nearest way without doing them any hurt which Moderation of his did indear him even to the chief of the opposite Faction and made his Pardon more easily obtainable But Huntly had indeavour'd to break thrô Mern Angus and Strath-âarn in the Regents absence having plunder'd the Country and prey'd their Castle and ranging over the neighbour Places had appointed Crawford and Ogilby his Lieutenants about Dee Usurping also all the Power of a King That Carriage of his made his Reconciliation the more difficult These two Men seeing their Concerns were several had a Council assign'd to meet at St. Andrews Thither Argyle came first He was easily reconcil'd for that Year and the Former he had committed no hostile Act and besides he was the Regent's Kinsman and from his Childhood his great Acquaintance and familiar Friend So that all he requir'd of him was an Oath to be Faithful to the King for the future which if he were not besides the usual punishment of the Law he did not deprecate but that he was to be accounted the basest Person living the rest also were admitted into Favour upon the same Oath but on far different Conditions But Huntly's Case before his Arrival was long debated in Council For whereas in England the Marriage of the Exile Queen with Howard was carry'd on and their coming into Scotland was privately design'd their Faction there did by degrees take heart and incourage the Rebellious to Disobedience For if Matters were put into a Confusion they thought the new King would have an easier entrance to possess the Kingdom Wherefore when they knew That the Regent would not be persuaded to betray the King as being his Guardian and Uncle they endeavour'd by all means to abridg his Power For besides Those that openly took Arms against the King a great part of the Counsellors did not now as heretofore favour Huntly in secret but openly they pleaded for him might and main That he should be indemnified for what was past for that was the readiest and safest way to Agreement yea 't was more creditable for the State to heal civil Breaches without Violence and not to proceed to forfeiture of Goods or loss of Life and by this means Peace might be obtain'd at Home and Renown Abroad But if a military Course were taken they must fight with a Man who by reason of his ancient Power his great Alliance and by his many Clanships was very formidable and if he were overcome which yet was uncertain yet he might fly to the Highlands and Mountainous Deserts or to foreign Kings where out of a small spark of Disgust a mighty flame of War might in time be kindled On the other side 't was alleged That the War would not be so formidable as some imagin'd For his Father tho he had the Report of a very prudent Man even whilst his Force was intire was yet easily subdued and therefore this young Man whose Power was not yet establish'd and besides was discourag'd by the recent calamity of his Family was never able to bear up against all the Power of the Kingdom and the Majesty of the Kingly Name too and if he were overcome in fight or if distrusting his Forces he fled to the Mountains there were Those who by the same Largesses as he had firm'd them for his Service or by greater might be induc'd either to kill him or to betray him to the Regent For the Faith of Mercenaries is changed with Fortune they follow the Prosperous and forsake the
Afflicted As for foreign Kings They esteem'd Men according to their Power neither were they concern'd for anothers Misery but respected only their own Advantage But if any King of another Kidney should be so Courteous and Merciful as to entertain a Fugitive and a Beggar too yet now the Times were such as did cancel that fear For England alone of all Europe was the Country which enjoy'd a flourishing Peace and That favour'd the King's Cause but other neighbour Kingdoms were so busied with domestick Dissensions that they had no time to look Abroad And if they had leisure so to do yet there was some ground of Hope That Equity would prevail more with them than Mercy towards Exiles who were Rebels to their own Kings and Faithless to the Kings of other Nations As for the Indemnity which they say will declare our Clemency it will rather be an Argument of our Negligence in regard a just Combate being declin'd thrô Fear a War is imprudently nourish'd under a pretence of Peace and that an unjust pretence too which would incourage the crest-fallen Spirits of the Rebels and weaken the chearful endeavours of the King 's best Friends For how do you think will both Parties stand affected When the one side sees That all is lawful for them without present punishment and so they hope it will be for the future And the other sees perfidious Enemies to enjoy the Rewards of their wicked Crimes themselves robbed of all their Goods and vexed with all the Calamities of War and whereas they expected a Reward for their Faithfulness and Constancy instead thereof to be punish'd for their Love to their King and Country And therefore who can doubt but that if Matters hereafter come to Arms which of necessity they must do unless this Fire be now quenched before it break forth who I say can doubt but that Party will be strongest which thrives by its Wickedness and who may do all things with Impunity rather than the other who must suffer all injuries offer'd to them forcibly gratis And if those Inconveniencies did not attend this vain shew of Clemency yet neither the Regent nor the King himself could lawfully so Pardon as to give away the Goods of the Robbed to their Plunderers If they should do that They must lay down the Persons of Rulers and take upon them the habit of Spoilers too if such a Condition should be granted it were much more Cruel for People to be despoil'd of their Estates by Kings the Granters of Indemnity than by their very Enemies and Toryes themselves that robbed them Many things having been alternately canvas'd and alleged to this purpose on either side Those which were for his Indemnity were out-voted by a few Voices The Regent declar'd That for Peace-sake he was very willing to Pardon the private wrongs done to himself and the King but for the Injuries offer'd to particular Persons he neither could nor would Pardon them But if Huntly and those Friends of his who follow'd his Party could make some Terms of Agreement with those they had plunder'd he was very willing by the Consent of both Parties to appoint Arbitrators who might adjust the value of the Losses Peace as 't was thought being settled on these Conditions there was another Dispute arose seemingly small but manag'd with greater eagerness than before The Controversy was Whether Pardon were to be given to all of Huntly's Party promiscuously or Whether every Mans Cause and Desert should be consider'd apart Some were of Opinion that because they thought Huntly was dealt hardly with in being inforc'd to pay Dâmages to the Sufferers that it was equitable to indulge him here and not to press so severely as to disoblige his Followers also On the other side 't was alleged That the chief aim in such kind of Wars was to dissolve Factions and that could not be done easily any otherwise than if the judgment of Pardon or Punishment did reside in the Breast of the Prince alone All Men understand how unjust it is to impose an equal Fine on Those whose Offences are unequal and that the adjusting of the Punishment should be left to Huntly himself was by no means fit for he 't was probable would exact the lightest Mulct from the greatest Offenders and would lay almost the whole Burden upon such as were least Nocent in regard in imposing Punishment he would not weigh each Man's Merit but rather his Propensity to his Service and as any Man had been more fierce and cruel in the War so he would obtain from him an higher Place in his Favour On the other side the lightest Offenders would have the sorest Punishment and they which were less active in Wickedness should be fined for their Moderation and Favour towards the King These Reasons so prevail'd with the Council that they decreed to weigh every Man's Case apart and yet that they might seem to gratify Huntly in some thing his Domesticks were exempted he was to lay a Fine on them himself as he pleas'd But that which he most desir'd that the Regent should not come with an Army into the North-parts was absolutely refus'd him Things being thus settled with Huntly at St. Andrews the Regent with two Bands of Souldiers and a great Number of his Friends went first to Aberdeen then to Elgin at last to Inverness The Inhabitants near the Town were commanded to appear they obeyed the Summons some paid down their Mony imposed as a Fine on them others gave Sureties Huntly and the chief of his Septs and Clanships put in Hostages Thus having settled the Country towards the North being highly gratulated by all good Men through all his March he return'd to St. Iohnston's there an Assembly of the Nobility was Indicted by reason of Letters which Robert Boyd had brought out of England to the Regent at Elgin some of them were publick some were private the private ones were from some Courtiers in England containing a Relation of Howard's Conspiracy which was so strong and cunningly laid that they thought no Force or Policy could withstand it no not if all the remaining Power of Britain were united together Therein his Friends exhorted him not to mingle his own flourishing Fortune with the desperate Estate of others but to provide for himself and his Concerns yet unimpair'd apart The State of Affairs in England compels me here a little to digress because at that time the Good and Ill of both Kingdoms were so conjoin'd that the one cannot well be explained without the other The Scots a few Years before were delivered out of the Slavery of the French by the Assistance of the English and thereupon they observed and subscribed to the same Rites in Religion in common with the English that sudden Change of things seemed to promise an universal Quietness to all Britain free from all domestick Tumults But presently thereupon the Pope of Rome with the Kings of France and Spain threatned a War and privately
Hamilton was killed Huntly's Kinsman a Commander of Foot hid himself in a poor Woman's Pantry but was discovered and brought to Leith The Common People when they saw him made such a Shout that it plainly appeared they would not be satisfied but by his Death for in the former Civil Wars he had been a cruel and avaritious Plunderer He was infamous in his Military Imployment in France and when the Kings of Denmark and Sweden were at odds he promised to serve them Both and accordingly had Mony to raise Souldiers from either but couzen'd them Both. And he being thus taken at length as I said to the great Joy of all was led forth to his Execution After a few Days Rest the Townsmen recruited their Forces and then shewed themselves again in Arms after that there were light Skirmishes past betwixt the Parties almost every Day with various Events The King's Party were more valorous but the Rebels had Places more convenient for Ambushes and besides they had an high Castle from whence they might see all the Motions of their Enemies neither would they ordinarily venture an Onset any further than their Ordnance out of the Castle could command The Regent kept himself at Leith watching all their Sallies and stopping all Provisions by Sea for he could not do it by Land by reason of the Largeness of the City and Inconvenience of the adjacent Places in the surrounding whereof many Opportunities of Service were lost Whilst these things were acting about the City a French Ship was taken that brought Gun-Powder Iron Bullets small Brass-Guns and some Mony to the Rebels The Mony went to pay the Souldiers but the Bullets Powder and Part of the Guns being sent with little or no Guard to Sterlin against the Tide the Rebels having Intelligence thereof procured some Vessels from other Havens and surprized them but not being able to carry their Booty to the Castle they sunk it in the River About the same time another Ship was also taken in which there was little else but Letters and large Promises of Assistance speedily to be sent from France For during the Two whole last past Years wherein at times there was War in Scotland The Queen of England on behalf of the Royalists the King of France and the English Papists on behalf of the Rebels did send in some small Dribblets of Mony but loaded them with more Promises as rather studying that their side might not be conquer'd rather than conquer respectively Both of them were willing Matters should be brought to that Pinch of Necessity The Queen of England's Design was That the Scots being worn out by their Divisions might be willing to send their King into England and so seem to depend wholly on her The French did it That the Rebels might surrender Dunbarton and Edinburgh to him and by those Two commanding Garisons from both Seas he would keep the Scots always in fear of his Arms. But despairing of the Queen's Delivery and Dunbarton Castle being lost he mov'd but slowly in the Cause of the Rebels his Aim only was That the Kingdom being exhausted with domestick Sedition he might not undertake a new and unnecessary War for the sake of one Castle only it was enough he thought at present if it did not fall into the Enemies Hands The Scots were fully resolved not to give up their King to the English upon the account of old Controversies and also because the English Papists were so strong who plac'd all their Hopes in his Death For if he were taken out of the way the Queen of England would not only seem weaker seeing it was the Life of one King only that delayed their Hopes but also the Queen of Scots was the undoubted Heir of the whole Kingdom who by heâ Marriage might gratify whom she pleased with the Realm and so bear a great Figure in the Change of the State of Religion through all Europe And in the English Court there were some no mean Men who preferred the Hope of Novelty before ancient Courtesies yet if as long as the King of Scots was alive they should cut off Elizabeth many of those of the Queen's Privy-Council feared lest the known Wickedness of the Scots Queen might diminish her Authority and increase her Son's Power and so for fear of Tyranny endear him more to the English Whereupon the English Rebels were willing to destroy the Queen of England and King of Scots Both and not succeeding in doing it openly they resolved upon Poison Matters standing thus in Scotland Both Factions prepared themselves against the approaching Sitting of the Parliament The Rebels had only Three of the Lords voting with them of which Two were the Proctors or Commissioners to the Convention to be held in the Queen's Name The Third Alexander Hume was the only Man who had Right to vote And of the Ecclesiastical Order Two Bishops the One banish'd thither a few Months before by the Regent and the State of the City being chang'd not daring to depart without a Convoy he staid there against his Will The Other was a Bankrupt who having spent his Estate was driven thither by necessity By their Votes above 200 were condemned some of them being Children under Age. Moreover the malapert Souldiers as if they had already got the Victory divided other Mens Patrimonies among themselves and so put many quiet and innocent Persons and by that means more liable to Injuries into the Roll of the Confiscate The Regent went to Sterlin where he had a great Convention of the Nobles Therein about Thirty of the obstinatest of the Queen's Party were condemn'd the rest were put off in hopes of Pardon The Rebels thought this a fit Opportunity for them to attempt something in the absence of the Nobility and thereupon they drew all their Forces out of the City and to make a greater Show the Townsmen with them they set them in Battel-array that so as in former times by light Skirmishes they might draw the King's Forces out of Leith In the mean time while the Enemy were kept in play by them they resolved to send the rest privately to march about and when the Garison was drawn out to enter in at the opposite Gate and so burn the Town Patrick Lindsy was Governour of Leith a wise and valiant Person he drew forth his Forces having sufficiently provided against their Treachery and marched directly towards the Enemy they fought stoutly at first at last he gave the Rebels a round Salvo and so beat them back yet not without Loss to the Gates of the Town a great many Prisoners were brought off but the most part of them were Townsmen Alexander Hume was taken once but reliev'd again by his own side In the Evening as the King's Party were retreating joyous for the Victory Iames Haliburton a good Man and a skilful Souldier who commanded all the Foot being too far from his Body was taken by a Troop of
some Months succeeding Sallies were made but of no great Advantage to either side For the Prospect of the Castle being free and open to all Parts gave Opportunity to the Rebels that they would never come to handy-Blows nor yet fall into any Ambush for by a Signal given from an high Place in the Castle they were easily warn'd to retreat in time yet once when all the Horse and Foot issu'd out of the Town to intercept a few of the Royalists and they prest upon them who pretended hastily to fly away When they in the Castle saw the Colours of some Companies start up from a neighbour-Valley presently they sounded a Retreat to them Whereupon the Rebels before they came to the Place of Ambush retreated back in great Fear and their flight was so much the more confus'd because though they were advis'd of their Danger before-hand yet they did not know What or from Whence it was nor could they so much as suspect it Those few Horsemen which before counterfeited to fly away did so press upon their Rear that they caus'd the Foot to break their Ranks and every One ran to the City as fast as ever he could many were wounded and taken and amongst them some Captains and Cornets of Horse Whilst Matters were thus slowly carried on about the City in the Country towards the North there was a great Loss receiv'd upon this Occasion There were two Families of great Power in those Parts The Gordons and the Forbes's The Gordons liv'd in great Concord amongst themselves and by the King's Commission had for many Years presided over the neighbouring Counties and and so increas'd their ancient Power and Authority On the other side the Forbes's were always at Difference and continually weakned one another but neither of them had now for many Years made any Attempt upon the other there being rather a secret Emulation than an open Breach betwixt them In the Family of the Forbes's there was one Arthur a witty and an active Man and who from the beginning of the falling out had always been on the King's side he thought 't was then time for him to set up his own Name and his Families and also to advance the Power of the Party which he followed He first then endeavour'd to reconcile All of his own Family if he could effect that he fear'd not any Power that could be rais'd against him in those Parts when a Day was appointed for that purpose Adam Gordon Brother to the Earl of Huntly by all means endeavour'd to hinder it and therefore giving private Notice to his Friends and Vassals there came a great Number of them to the Place There were Two Troops of the Forbes's in sight but before they could join he set upon One of them and kill'd Arthur presently at his Fall the rest were scatter'd and put to flight some eminent Men were slain many were taken the rest some Days after dar'd not stir for Fear lest those they had taken Prisoners should suffer for it And their Fear was increas'd by the burning of Forbes's House with his Wife great with Child his Children and Servants in it Forbes's Elder Brother who was the Chief of the Sept after his House was taken and plunder'd hardly escapt and came to Court there tho they were somewhat straitned themselves yet there were 200 Foot granted to him and to the Nobles that follow'd his Party and withal Letters were written to the neighbour-Nobility to join with him When they were thus join'd with the rest of the Forbes's and some near Families they thought themselves secure enough from Force but they wanted a Chief Commander over them for the Heads of the Families were most young Men and there was scarce One more eminent than another amongst them So that they being unresolv'd in their Counsels Iohn Keith with 500 Horse went home to his own House which was not far distant Alexander Forbes and his Vassals with 200 Foot march'd to Aberdeen to drive Adam Gordon from thence and to refresh his Men after their March Adam receiving intelligence that his Enemy was advancing with but a small Party draws his Men out of the Town and to make a show of a greater Multitude compell'd the Townsmen to draw forth with them so that there was a sharp Conflict in the Field near the Town The King's Foot out of eagerness to fight followed the Gordonians too far and having no Reserves were repuls'd and put to flight principally by the Archers there were not many of them kill'd because the fight lasted till dark Night but several were taken and amongst them Alexander Forbes himself after he had stoutly defended himself against them a long time This Success in the North did mightily incourage the Rebels to attempt greater Matters Whereupon in a different Part of the Country they resolv'd to attaque Iedburgh a Town as the Country Custom was unfortifi'd but the Inhabitants were very Valiant and some Years before had stoutly resisted the Rebels Thomas Carr of Farnihest and Thomas Scot liv'd near the Town They besides their old Clans which were Numerous enough had associated to them the Three neighbour Countries Liddisdale Ewesdale and Eskdale Places always given to Robbery but then in regard of the Licentiousness of the Civil War they rang'd for Booty uncontrolably even a great way off And besides in Teviotdale it self there were some great Families noted for Robbing and Pillaging either being infected by their Neighbours or because they had been customably used to drive Preys out of their Enemies Country neither did They only come in but some of the neighbouring English in hopes of Booty join'd themselves with them and besides they sent for 120 Musqueteers from Edinburgh select Men out of all the Foot Companies The Iedburgians knew that They were aim'd at and therefore they sent in haste to the Regent to acquaint him with their Danger they only desir'd a few light harnassed Souldiers from him In the mean time they were not wanting to do their best They sent for Walter Carr of Sesford and levy'd a reasonable Number of Souldiers out of the Neighbourhood and fortifi'd their Town as the time would permit Both Parties were also inform'd at the same time that William Ruven was come as far as Driburgh with 120 Horse and Foot Part of which he had brought with him and Part he rais'd in the neighbour-County of Merch. But the Rebels being confident of their Number as being 3000 Men march'd to the Town early in the Morning to prevent the Coming in of their Relief Ruven suspected they would do so and therefore march'd speedily after them and made some Attempts upon their Rear And moreover Walter Carr join'd the Townsmen to his Souldiers and drew forth directly towards the Enemy They seeing This that they might not be enclos'd before and behind too presently retreated to Places of greater Advantage The Robbers or Tories who came in for Hopes of
Traffick by Sea ibid. He reduces the Train of his Nobles in Travelling ibid. His violent and untimely Death ibid. His Character ibid. Alexander Duke of Albany Brother of James III. taken by the English 407 But soon released ibid. Committed Prisoner to Edinburgh Castle 421 Whence he craftily made his Escape ibid. And coming to the King of England solicits him to take Arms 425 He is recalled by the Scots and hath the chief Government bestowed upon him 427 He restores his Brother James to the free Possession of the Kingdom ibid. He falls again into Disgrace and dies in France 430 Alexander the Son of Alexander of Albany ibid. Alexander Boyd abuses and wounds John Kennedy 410 His is tried for his Life 414 Beheaded ibid. Alexander Bruce surrenders himself to Baliol 287 Slain in a Fight with the English 290 Alexander Earl of Buchan base-born Son to Robert II. 307 Alexander Cambel a Dominican the Notoriety of his End 53 Alexander Cuningham slain with King James III. in his Army 433 Alexander Cuningham brings Aid to the Reformers 129 Being taken Prisoner he takes him Prisoner whose Captive he was before 282 Alexander Elphinston slain in Fight 26 Alexander Forbes marries Graecina Boyd 6 Alexander Forbes taken by Adam Gordon 284 Alexander Earl of Crawford deserts Douglas and submits to the King 388 Alexander Earl of Glencarn banished 175 A General in the King's Army 220 Alexander Gordon beats the Earl of Crawford 387 Alexander Hume marches into England 19 He brings his Squadron off safe from Flodden Field 25 His great Authority 28 Accused by Hepburn 33 Sides with the Queen 34 Goes for England is reconciled to the Regent and returns ibid. He raises an Insurrection 35 His Goods confiscate he is taken and beheaded 36 Alexander Hume as a Proxy takes the Coronation-Oath for James VI. yet a Child 214 He is General of the King's Army 220 Wounded 221 Revolts to the Queen's Party 243 His Castle taken and rifled by the English 256 He is chief in the Council of the Rebels 280 Taken Prisoner but by the coming in of his Friends released 281 Alexander Haliburton wounded and dies 141 Alexander Levingston made Supream Governour or Regent 357 He puts the Queen in Prison 364 Disagrees with Creighton the Chancellour 360 364 The King taken out of his Hands 365 Reconciled to the Chancellour 366 368 Lays down his Office 372 Is brought to his Trial and remanded to Prison 375 Alexander the Son of William Levingston taken Prisoner 265 Alexander the Islander gathers together a Band of Free-booters 341 But is forced to submit to the King 342 Alexander Lindsy overcomes Alexander Ogilby 273 274 Alexander Macrory Captain of Thieves executed 341 Alexander Earl of Marr the Son of Alexander 348 349 Alexander Ramsay a brave Souldier 299 His House the School of War ibid. He takes Roxburgh 300 Wounded and starved to Death by Douglas 301 Ramsay's chearful Forwardness in surprizing Dumbarton Castle 265 Alexander Seton sent to Berwick 287 Having no hopes of Relief he surrenders up the Town to the English 290 Alexander Stuart Arch-bishop of St. Andrews slain at Flodden-Fight 29 Stuart's Encounter with the King of Norway 242 Allectus a Roman slain 124 Alfrid King of Northumberland 161 Alnwick Castle taken 398 Alsa or Ailze Isle 24 Alpa for Alba 11 Alps whence so called ibid. Alpin King of Scots 166 Slain by the Picts ibid. Altissidorus i. e. Auxerre in France 68 Alured King of England makes Peace with the Scots 177 Amberkeleth King of Scots 162 Slain ibid. Ammianus Marcellinus quoted 88 89 Amiens the Bishop thereof in Scotland his Cruelty 148 St. Andrews 18 Its Vniversity when erected 333 Andreae Fanum and Fanum Reguli i. e. St. Andrews why so called 16 Andrews a great Astrologer 420 Andrew the Apostle Tutelary of Scotland 218 Andrew Briton or Breton his Story 18 Slain by Thomas Howard the English Admiral 19 Andrew Berclay beheaded for Treason 273 Andrew Car escapes out of Prison 36 He disagrees with Douglas 38 Andrew Car revenges his Father's Death 18 Andrew Car beaten by the Duke of Norfolk 120 Andrew Forman sent into England and France by James IV. 16 He hath a great many Church-Preferments 29 Sent again into England 26 He is accused by Hepburn 33 Mediates for Peace 35 Bruce's Sister's Son Regent 296 Taken by the English 288 Ransomed 294 His Faithfulness and Death 297 Andrew Earl of Rothes banished 175 Andrew Wood faithful to King James III. 1 Admiral of the Scots Navy 1 Reconciled to James IV. 2 Overcomes the English in one Sea-Fight ibid. And also in a second 4 Andrew Stuart Chancellour 413 His Freedom of Speech against a Popish King 173 He is wounded in Fight 222 Angus 18 Angus or Aeneas raised an Insurrection in Galway 230 Angusianus King of Scotland 126 Slain by the Picts ibid. Annandale so called from the River Annand 13 14 Anna Momorancy suspects the Power of the Guises in France not without Cause 121 Anselm the Norman Arch-bishop of Canterbury 219 Anti-Assemblies in Scotland two 276 280 Anthony Darcy slain by David Hume 38 Apparition to King Kenneth III. upon his Murder of Malcolm 195 Apparition to King James IV. dissuading him from a War with England 20 21 Apoceanitae Who 10 Apology of the Scots Nobles to the Queen of England 267 c. 272 c. Apostacy punished by God 159 Arran or Arren Island 24 Arborary or Tree Isle 25 Archibald Douglas created Regent 288 He is slain by the English 290 Archibald Earl of Douglas sirnamed the Austere his Feuds with Geo. Dunbar 325 He dies 326 Archibald his Son succeeds him who is taken Prisoner by the English 329 Released ibid. Made Duke of Turein by the Dolphin of France 336 Slain by the English there ibid. Archibald Douglas his great Power 359 His affronting Answer to the Chancellor 362 His Death 363 Archibald Douglas his Oration to the Nobles against the King's Evil Counsellors 423 With the Effects thereof 424 Archibald Douglas his Speech to King James IV. dissuading him to fight the English 22 At which the King is offended and Douglas retires in Discontent 23 He marries the Widow of James IV. 29 Accused by Hepburn 33 Takes Edinburgh but resigns up the Government thereof 38 Flies into England 34 Returns from France and England into Scotland 46 Opposed by his Wife 46 Chosen one of the Governours of King and Kingdom 47 Overthrows Lennox 50 Forbid to meddle with the Government 53 Outlawed and banished 56 Returns after fifteen Years Exile 75 Coming to compose Controversies he is detained by Hamilton 82 His memorable Speech and Fact 87 He persuades the Regent to break with the Cardinal and to side with the Nobles 88 He beats the English 89 Archbishop of St. Andrews with the Bishop of Aberdene imprisoned 46 Archbishop of St. Andrews executed as Accessory to the King and Regent's Murders 266 Ardan Rider or the High Isle of the Horseman 28 Ardiescar Isle 25 Aremorici or Armorici Who 7 8
Embassador into France 376 Croke the French Embassador dislikes the Queen's Marriage with Bothwel 199 He mediates a Peace 208 209 Crowling Isle 28 Cruelty an Example thereof 329 Culbrenin Isle 25 Culdees a kind of Monks 18 125 Worshippers of God 18 Culen King of Scots an incestuous Person 184 185 He is slain by a Strumpet 187 Cull 196 Culross whence so called 170 Cumbra Isles the greater and the lesser 25 Cumbri and Cumri 75 Cumins their Faction powerful 240 Cumins overthrows Gilespy 239 Cumins John overthrown by Bruce 264 Cumins William poisoned by his Wife 241 Cuningham 14 Cuningham's overcome by the Hamiltons 85 Cup of St. Magnus see Magnus Curia a Parish-Church 26 Curry a Merchaât an Instrument in surprizing Edinburghââstle ââstle 299 Cutberectus 161 D DAal what it signifies in Old Scotish 100 Dalkeith 13 Dalreudini why the Scots so called 100 Danes enter England 71 Invade Scotland 174 Fight a bloody Battel with the English 178 Turn Christians ibid. Land in Scotland 182 Are overthrown ibid. Danish Fleet lands again in Scotland 190 Stupified by an inebriating Drink and overcome by the Scots 209 Swear never to return to invade Scotland any more 210 Dangers make Men sagacious 26 Dardanus King of Scots 108 His cruel Reign and violent Death ibid. David I. King of Scots 212 Profuse towards Monasteries 223 Maintains the Cause of Maud his Kinswoman against Stephen of England 224 Accuses him of Perjury ibid. Makes two Accords with Stephen 225 226 Henry Heir of England made Knight by him 226 Loses his hopeful Son yet comforts himself and his Nobles in a Christian Discourse thereupon 226 He erects new Bishopricks 223 His extraordinary Character for Piety and Virtue 227 David King William's Brother accompanies Richard of England to the Holy War 235 He is shipwrack'd and taken Prisoner yet at last returns ibid. David II. anointed King of Scotland 282 Sent into France when he was a Child 286 Returns to Scotland 300 Taken Prisoner in a Fight by the English 302 Ransomed 304 His Death and Character 305 306 David Cumins appointed Ruler over Scotland by the English 293 He and Douglas disagree 294 Forced to take an Oath to Bruce ibid. Makes large Promises to Edward of Enggland 295 Follows the good Success of the English ibid. Left by the English King as Regent of Scotland where his Army is overthrown and he himself slain 296 David the Son of Robert III imprisoned and starved to Death by his Vncle who was his Governour 328 329 David Beton the Cardinal 73 Chosen Regent by a pretended Will but the Fraud being discovered he is displaced and imprisoned 75 He endeavours to avert the imminent Ruin of Popery 76 He chouzes Lennox with vain Hopes of marrying the Queen 80 He grieves to be deprived of a rich Morsel which he had swallowed in his Hopes 81 He is sharply reproved by Montgomery 91 His Cruelty against Protestants 93 He espouses his Daughter to the Earl of Craford's Son 97 He is slain in his Castle with the manner thereof 98 His foul Character 99 David Douglas with his Brother William beheaded 370 David Hamilton defends the Cause of the Gospel 93 David Panater or Painter Bishop of Ross made an Abbat by the King of France 113 David Rize a Musician his Story 171 He persuades the Queen to cut off the Scotish Nobility 177 His Court-Preferments Familiarity with the Queen of Scots violent Death and Burial 179 to 183 David Spence slain 282 David Straiton or Straton burnt for a Lutheran 63 Death better than a miserable Life 12 d ee a River in England 13 Three of that Name in Scotland 14 70 Deidonum i. e. Dundee 18 Deiri Who 159 Delators or Informers appointed by Evenus 13 Denmark the King thereof bargains with the Embassador of Scotland to quit his Right to the Islands about Scotland 413 Derivative Words shew the Affinity of a Language 6â Dessius General of the French Forces in Scotland 106 Called home by the King of France 110 Descants on the Law about Hereditary Succession of the Crown 205 Descants on over-severe Executions of Criminals 358 Deucaledonian Sea What 21 Diana's Oracle counterfeited by a Monk 44 45 Dicaledones rather to be read Duncaledones in Marcellinus 56 Dioclesian a supposed King of Syria 41 Dionethus gives himself forth to be King of the Brittons 136 Dion quoted concerning Britain 90 91 118 Dona River 20 Donachs or Duncans Bay 22 Donald I. King of Scots 117 He first received the Christian Religion ibid. Donald II. 122 Overthrown by Donald the Islander and dies ibid. Donald Brother of Malcolm III. yields up the Possession of the Islands to the King of Norwey 23 Donald III. 123 Reigns Tyrannically and is slain by Crathilinthus ibid. Donald IV. or Donebald sends Christian Doctors into England and interprets pious Sermons to the People himself 159 Donald V. Brother of Kenneth 172 Reigns licentiously and is put in Prison 173 Donald VI. Son of Constantine II. 178 Donald VII or Duncan 204 Donald Murderer of King Duffus taken and executed 185 Donald Bane calls himself King of the Aebudae 164 He is slain ibid. Donald VIII or Banus 220 He promises the Islands to Magnus King of Norwey ibid. Donald of Athol 154 Donald Baloc overthrows Alexander and Alan Stuarts 343 He is taken in Ireland and his Head is sent to the King 344 Donald Lord of the Aebudae rises in Arms 333 With the Earl of Ross and Douglas he figââs with the King's Forces ibid. He is left by his Wife 391 Sends Agents to make his Peace with the King 392 After the King's Death he plays Rex again 408 He takes the Earl of Athol Prisoner and burns St. Bride's Church ibid. He is shipwrack'd and fals distracted 409 Donald Monro commended 22 He travelled over the Islands of Scotland and described them 31 Dongal King of Scots 168 He is drowned ibid. Dongard King of Scots 144 Opposes the Pelagian Heresy 145 Dornadilla King of Scots 98 Dorstologus slain 166 Dorus flies for fear of Nathalocus 120 Dovallus kils King Nothatus 99 He himself is slain in Battel 100 Douglas River 14 Douglas Dale 140 Douglas made Duke of Turein 336 Douglas slain by the Moors 280 Douglas William takes Dundalk in Ireland 314 Douglas William pardoned 301 Douglas breaks in upon the English Army 278 Douglasses their Power intolerable 372 377 Their Power broken 53 Drinach Isle 25 Drix 60 Druides Who 56 Drumalbin 17 Drummilaw Sands 209 Drunkenness punished with Death 174 Druskins King of the Picts and all his Nobility slain 169 Drury intercedes for Peace between the Parties in Scotland 278 Duffa or Dow Isle 25 Duffus King of Scots 181 Witchcraft practised upon his Body 183 He is slain 184 Dukes when the Name first brought into Scotland 325 Duke of York overthrown and slain by the Queen of England 396 Dulcitius in Britain 89 Dunacus and Domnacus 68 Dunbar whence so called 13 14 Its Siege raised 297 Fortified by Alexander against the King but deserted by
him 421 Again possessed by him and delivered to the English 427 Retaken by the Scots 429 Dunbritton 17 The Castle surrendred to Robert Bruce 268 Twice surprized 371 Taken by the Queen 164 Retaken by the Regent by Surprize with the Manner how 260 It s Scituation and why so called 262 263 Duncan King of Scots 229 He is slain ibid. Duncan Earl of Marr Regent 284 Slain in Battel 285 Duncan Stuart rising in Arms is suppressed 323 Duncaledon rather than Deucaledon to be read in Ptolemy 56 Dunchonel Isle 25 Dundee 18 Dundeans Enemies to the Gordons 286 Dunedin by the ancient Scots now Edinburgh 171 Dungisby Head 22 See Betubium Duni pacis what 15 119 Dunkelden 18 Duno or Dunum Words so beginning or ending are the Names of Places 65 66 67 Dunoter 19 Dunsinnan Hill and Castle 212 Dunstafnage 20 Duodecemvirate in Scotland 253 Dur the Names of some Places derived therefrom 68 Durstus King of Scots 102 He invites the Nobility to a Supper and there treacherously kils them ibid. He is slain 103 Durstus made King of the Picts 132 Slain in Battel 137 E EAnfrid 159 Easdale Isle 25 Easter-Day a Dispute about it raised by Austin the Monk 157 Eboracum i. e. York whence derived 60 Ecclesiasticks their Power over Kings 237 Their Avarice 238 243 They are reformed by Constantine II. are superstitâous 195 Eder preserved by his Nurse 104 Educated by Cadvallus 105 Created King of Scots 106 Edgar then in Scotland demanded by William the Norman 216 Returns to England 217 Made King of the Sâots 221 Builds Coldingham Abby ibid. Edifice a strange one 15 Edinburgh or Edinum whence so called 171 Its several Names 175 How seated 276 A Convention held at one End when the Enemy had the Castle at the other ibid. Edinburghers would not admit the English Exiles nor Hamilton to enter their City 252 Edmund King of England his Story 215 He gives Cumberland and Westmoreland to Malcolm King of Scots 181 Edward I. King of England takes away all Scotish Monuments 119 Endeavours to bring Scotland under his Dominion 249 Enters Scotland with a great Army 264 265 Overcomes the Scots and forces them to swear âealty to him 259 Appoints Magistrates all over Scotland ibid. Desires Margarite of Norwey Heiress of Scotland a Wife for his Son but she dies before her Marriage 245 Edward II. succeeding his Father in the Kingdom of England 263 Besieges Berwick makes a Truce with the Scots and retreats 270 271 Worsted in Scotland 272 Is cast into Prison by his Wife and his Son and there put to a cruel Death 274 Edward III. King of England makes Peace with the Scots 300 Baliol takââ into his Protection 288 Hâs Cruelty to Seton's Children 289 ãâã Berwick 288 Hath three Kings his Prisoners at once 304 He overthrows the Scots 290 Takes Berwick 290 Enters Scotland once or twice but retreats again 293 296 His Death 308 Edward Duke of York cals himself King of England 396 Edward IV. of England makes Peace with the Scots 416 He dies 428 He laid the Foundation of Tyranny 434 Edward VI. of England an hopeful Prince his Death 114 Edward Bruce called to be King in Ireland 269 Assists his Brother Robert 265 Edward Baliol with a numerous Fleet in the Bay of Forth 284 He overcomes the Scots 285 Enters on the Kingdom 286 Swears Fealty to the King of England 288 His supposititious Son 7 Education at Court what 160 Egfrid King of Northumberland slain by the Picts 161 Edwyn of Northumberland 159 Eels taken in abundance 14 Egg Isle See Rum 28 Eglish or Church Isle 25 Eglisa or Eglish-oy Isle 36 Elbeouf Marquess of it stays with the Queen in Scotland 154 Elgin a Town 20 Eliot's Authority disallowed 4 Elizabeth Queen of England sends Aid to the Reformers of Religion in Scotland 141 144 Her grave Oration to the Embassador of the Queen of Scots 155 156 c. She in part adopts the Cause of the Queen of Scots 222 Her Letters to the Regent to defer the Convention of the Estates ibid. Her other Letters to him which break off the Course of his Victories 223 She is informed by the Regent that the Cause of their Queen's deposing was the Murder of her Husband 227 228 She sends Letters to the Nobles of Scotland to receive their Queen again 239 c. Their Answer to her Letters 241 Howard's Conspiracy against her detected 244 She demands the English Fugitives to be given up to her by the Scots 284 She is made Arbiter between the Parties in Scotland 260 Some of her Council would have King James sent into England 275 Which the Scots refuse to do 280 She favours the King's Cause most yet is politickly slow in her Aid 279 286 Ella an English King 172 Embassadors from France desire the Scots to make War upon England 119 Embassadors from France and England to Scotland 352 England divided by four Rivers 13 The King thereof the Pope's Feudatary 237 Its King makes Peace or Truce with the Scots 249 250 Enecus General of the Danes 200 Slain by the Scots 201 Enemies not to be undervalued 174 291 Their sudden Liberality to be suspected 43 English how said to rule over all Britain 180 Incommoded in their March in Scotland 276 Their Army worsted 270 Quit their Claim to any Part of Scotland 234 Regain a great Part of Scotland 303 Drawn into an Ambush 304 Their Army of 60000 Men 274 Driven out of all Scotland except Berwick 300 English Souldiers less rapacious than the French 313 Worsted in Scotland 391 Overthrown by the Scots at Sea 379 Ask Aid of the Scots against their own King 392 English their Horses frightned in Scotland 42 Make War on Scotland 59 Enter Scotland again 86 Are worsted 89 Again enter 100 And give the Regent a great Overthrow 104 Enter Scotland again 105 And prevail against James Douglas 106 English Fleet attempts the Orcades 123 English called Deliverers of Scotland 152 Send Aid to the Reformers in Scotland 143 Assist the Vindicators of King and Regent's Murderers against the Queen's Faction 253 c. 256 257 Their Queen Elizabeth designed to be destroyed and the King of Scots too 280 Enner what it signifies 106 Ennerlute or Ennerlochy a Mart-Town 20 Ennerness a Mart-Town 106 Eorsa Isle 27 Eoy Isle 29 Ericaean or Heath Isle 26 Erisbach Isle see Abridic Eriscaia or Erisay Isle 30 Erin Isle ibid. Erra Isle 26 Esk River 13 South and North 19 Thence the Country called Eskdale 13 Etfin King of Scots 163 Ethelfrid King of Northumberland 156 Routs the Scots 157 Marches into Galway ibid. Ethodius I. King of Scots makes Laws about Hunting 112 Overcomes the Islanders ibid. Slain by Night in his Bedchamber by his Harper ibid. Ethodius II. rules by his Deputies 119 Is slain ibid. Ethus King of Scots 171 Eu Island 31 Eubonia or Man Isle 24 Evenus I. King of Scots 103 Aids the Picts against the Brittons ibid. The first that required an Oath of
Allegiance of his Subjects ibid. First settles Itinerary Iudges in Scotland ibid. Evenus II. 105 Overthrows the Orkney Men 106 Evenus III. noted for Obscenity 107 He makes a Law for Polygamy ibid. Is slain ibid. Eugenius I. or Evenus King of Scots 127 Slain by the Romans 128 Evenus an Islander put to Death 174 Eugenius II. 138 His Character 144 In his time the Romans leave Britain ibid. Eugenius III. Brother of Congal King of Scots 154 Assists against the Saxons ibid. Eugenius IV. Brother of Aidanus 158 Brought up under Columb ibid. He harbours the fugitive Saxons ibid. Eugenius V. 161 Eugenius VI. ibid. Learned in Theology ibid. In his Time it rained Blood ibid. Eugenius VII causes the memorable Facts of Kings to be recorded 162 He is suspected for the Murder of his Queen but causlesly ibid. Eugenius VIII slain in an Assembly of the Nobles 163 Evonia Castle 20 Eusdale County so called from the River Ewes 13 140 Examples of Princes more influential on Subjects than their Laws 155 Exchequer Officers defend sometimes most unjust Laws 113 Exchequer Profits sometimes Disprofits 35 Excommunication unjustly pronounced affects not the Excommunicated 272 Exile more tolerable than Servitude 132 F FAbilla or Fable Isle 30 Fair or Fara Isle 36 Faith or Fidelity towards wicked Persons unsteadfast 105 107 Sacred among Souldiers 319 330 Not to be kept with Hereticks as Papists say 130 Falamgal Isle see Finlagan Falcons in the Isle of Muick 28 Famine breaks stout Spirits 140 Famine and Pestilence in Scotland 388 Fara Isle 29 Farrow-head 21 Faunus's Oracle 43 Fenella commands Kenneth to be slain 169 Feraia Isle 29 Ferchard I. King of Scots 158 Endeavours to introduce Tyranny ibid. Maliciously nourisheth Factions amongst his Nobles and is guilty of the Pelagian Heresy 159 He kils himself ibid. Ferchard II. wickedly kils his Wife and abuseth his Daughters 160 He is excommunicated reproved by Coleman and repouts at his Death ibid. Feredeth King of the Picts 166 Ferelay Island 30 Fergus I. King of Scots sent for out of Ireland 95 The Kingdom settled on him by Common Consent 96 Drowned at Carickfergus in Ireland 97 Came first into Albium when Alexander the Great took Babylon ibid. Fergus II. whilst a Child flies by Sea with his Parents into Scandia is recalled from thence and made King 133 134 He is slain in Fight 137 His Praise with a Comparison between him and Fergus I. ibid. He is deservedly called The second Founder of the Scotish Kingdom ibid. Fergus III. poisoned by his Wife for his Adulteries 163 She owns the Fact and kils her self 164 Fergus of Galway's Children disagree after his Death 246 Feritharis King of Scots 97 An old Law concerning Succession to the Crown made in his Time ibid. Ferlegus Son of Fergus conspires against his Vncle for which he is condemned 97 98 Fethelmach King of Scots 127 Fidler or Harper One kils King Ethodius I. 116 Another assists to destroy Fethelmach 127 Fifteen Iudges appointed in Scotland but soon disused 59 Fife County 18 So called from Fifus 170 Fights memorable between Scots and English 355 At Bannock 267 At Otterborn 317 318 319 Fish shapeless 29 A strange sort ibid. Fincormachus King of Scots 125 Findochus King of Scots 121 Overcomes Donald ibid. Is slain by means of his Brother Caransius 122 Finelaw or Finlaw Bishop Author of ill Counsels 339 Finlagan Isle 26 Finnanus King of Scots 102 Fiole Isle 25 Flada Isle 24 28 29 30 Flanders Artificers sent for from thence into Scotland 347 Flata Island 36 Flattery the Pest of great Families 363 380 Flavanae Isles 30 Fordun 19 Forestia ibid. Forth or Scotish Sea 13 Fortune an Example of its Inconstancy 375 Fotlar Isle 37 Francs Who 46 Francis I. King of France by the help of the King of England restored to liberty out of the Hands of the Spaniards 62 He sends the Earl of Lennox into Scotland 78 Is alienated from Lennox 83 Sends Montgomery into Scotland 91 Francis II. of France sends La'bross into Scotland 136 He is influenced by and is under the Power of the Guises 150 His Death ibid. Francis Duke of Guise Curator of the Kingdom of Scotland 114 Appointed General of the Popish Faction 153 174 Franciscans or begging Friars their Wealth 128 France its miserable State 151 It s King Francis promises to aid the Scots of the Queen's Faction 254 And the Scots Rebels 279 280 Vpon what Grounds he did it ibid. Frazer's Family almost extinct 89 Frederethuâ slain 166 Friend betrays Friend 332 Their Injuries the most grievous 314 Our Father's Friends not to be neglected 101 Friendship with Princes far off sometimes safer than with Those nearer home 44 French Gauls Franâs their Original 46 They receive Characters of Letters from the Massilian Greeks 38 Their Communion with the Brittons 61 When French and Scots Alliance first began 165 They send Aid to the Scots 90 106 Their Souldiers very licentious 313 Their Army leaves Scotland 314 Their unjust Demand 312 What Good the Scots got by their Alliance 322 Their King distracted 334 They ask Aid of the Scots ibid. They renew their League with the Scots 240 251 273 French and Scots Souldiers mutiny 109 Their Auxiliaries in Scotland cannot forbear their wonted Plundering 314 They hinder an Alliance with England by Bribes as much as they can 43 44 Assault Werk Castle 45 Their Souldiers kill the Governour of Edinburgh with some of the Citizens 209 They design to surprize Hadington ibid. They are disgusted by the Scots 110 French and English in Scotland agree 111 French transported into their own Country 112 French King sends Auxiliaries to strengthen the Queen Regent 135 143 French Embassadors Demands from the Reformed 136 152 French their contumelious Pride against some of the Scots 143 144 Their Design to establish Tyranny ibid. French Embassador busy between the Queen and the Royalists 218 219 Vpon the Queen's Overthrow he sculks away 221 French to leave Scotland by Consent 149 French Ship sent with Provision and Ammunition into Scotland taken by the Royalists 279 French Tongue heretofore not much different from the British 58 Friars Mendicants Mercenaries to Parish-Priests and Curats 345 346 Their Opinions and why Manducants rather than Mendicants 129 Fuda Isle 29 G GA Letter commonly used by the French for V 60 61 Gaga Isle 25 Gald Gael Galle 62 Galdus the Sir-name of Corbred what it signifies 109 Galeatius Sforza slain by his Vncle 231 Gallovid in Old Scotish signifies a Gaul 14 Galo Cardinal the Pope's Legat in England 237 He excommunicates the Scots 238 A wicked and avaritious Man ibid. Galvinus Son of Lothus 151 Galway why so called 14 61 139 Garalinga Isle 29 Garaard King of the Picts 162 Garvae Isles three 25 Garvillan Isles 30 Gavin Isle 25 Gauls sent Colonies into Spain 48 Into Italy 49 Into Germany ibid. Into Britain 50 Into Ireland 51 Gathelus a Prince feigned by some to be the Founder of the Scots Nation 46 Gawin Dunbar
Balvany 377 Proclaimed a publick Enemy 387 John Damiot a Conjurer foretels Rize's Death 182 John Forbâs condemned and beheaded 6â John Fordon Author of the History called Scoto-Chronicon 146 John Fleming the Queen's Governour of Dumbritton Castle when it was surprized 263 He escapes but his Wife is well treated by the Regent 265 John Fleming of Bogal taken there ibid. John Herris undeservedly put to Death by the Douglasses 384 John Hepburn powerful and factious 31 His Feud with the Hume's 32 33 He insinuates himself into John the Regent 31 Accuses Douglas Hume and Forman 3â John Gordon âarl of Huntly taken by Murray and put to Death 170 John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews 103 A deâoâst Man 111 John Hamilton troubled in Conscience for the King's Murder discovers his Complices 267 John Kennedy made one of the King's Guardians or Tutors 407 John Knox preaches to reclaim those that kill'd Cardânal Beton 100 His Sermon to the People of Perth for the Reformation 128 ãâã which they destroy Popish Shrines ibid. His encouraging Sermon to the Reformers at Sâerlin 141 Hiâ Sermon at King James VI. his Inauguratiân â14 John II. lays the Foundation of Tyranny in Portugal 434 John Lesly prâvy to the Conspiracy against James Earl of Murray 167 169 John Mac-Arthur Captain of Toâies executed 341 John Melvil put to Death 11â John Earl of Marr Brother to James III. put to Death by opening a Vein till he expired 421 John Murderaâh taken 116 John Monluâ Bishop of Valence in Scotland 14â John Maxwel of Herris revolts from the Reformers 176 177 The Queen puts little Trust in him 222 Made Prisoner by the Regent but released without publick Authority 253 John Earl of Marr a Commander in the King's Army 220 John Randolph sent into France 287 Made Regent 294 Taken Prisoner by the English 295 Slain in Fight 322 John Scot his wonderful Abstinence from Food â8 John Duns Scotus where bârn 306 John Ramsy preserved by the King 425 Proves an Evil Counsellour to James III. 431 John Stuart Earl of Lennox revolts from the Regent 35 But is again received into Favour ibid. He endeavours to take the King from the Douglasses and is slain 50 John Stuart Earl of Athol sent against John Murderach 116 A Proâurer of the Match between Henry and Mary Queen of Scotland 192 He loses hâs Opportunity 206 John Vien Admiral of the French Navy in Scotland 311 John Windram secretly favours the Cause of True Religion 65 Joan Douglas and her Husband their miserable Ends 66 67 Joan the Wife of James I. her manly Fact 360 Put in Prison with her Husband 364 Her Death 395 Joseph Scaliger amends a Place in Seneca 76 Josââa King of Scots 101 A Lover of Chirurgery 102 Ireland's ancient Inhabitants called Scots 73 Irish break in on Galway in Scotland 177 And are overthrown by King Gregory ibid. Irish Scots make Peace with the Romans 130 131 Irish Air temperate 2 51 Colonies of Gauls sent into Ireland 51 Description of Ireland out of Solinus 85 Irwin River 14 Island in Shape like a Man 26 Islands encompassing Scotland their Order and threefold Division 22 Islanders parsimonious 33 Healthful and long-liv'd 37 Prone to rebel 207 Islanders Western their Manner of Living at Home and Abroad 23 c. Isa or Ishol Isle 29 30 Issidorus i. e. Issoir a City in France Judgments and Tryals of Nobles how anciently managed in Scotland 340 Jule-tide or Christmass as 't is called licentiously observed 151 Julian Romer taken 110 Agricola's Exploits in Britain 109 110 Recalled from thence 111 Junius Brutus 271 Julius Caesar the first Roman that entred Britain with an Army 84 Julius Frontinus in Britain 86 109 Jura Isle 25 Justice can do more than Terrour of Arms 180 189 The most popular thing 348 Juverna Ireland so called 69 K KArrera Isle 25 Katharine Medices after her Son's Death undertakes the Government 151 Keames Castle 25 Kebercurning 22 Kedwalla King of the Brittons 159 Keligire Island 30 Kellasa Isle ibid. Kelvin River 16 Ken River 14 Kenneth I. King of Scots 158 Kenneth II. 167 Compared with Fergus II. persuades the Nobility to war with the Picts and overcomes them in Battel 169 He may be called the third Founder of the Scotish Kingdom 170 Kenneth III. 187 Circumvents his Nobles by a Wile 188 Causes Malcolm to be poisoned 193 Troubled in Conscience for it 195 Makes new Laws concerning the Succession of the Kingdom 193 194 Worsted at first by the Danes yet afterwards overthrows them 190 191 Slain by Fenella 196 Kenneth King of the Picts 167 Kentigern 145 Keniburgh Islands the Great and the Small 27 Kernici who 22 Kernicovalli ibid. Kingly Government what 268 It s Origin ibid. Kings their Distress moves Pity 213 Kings in Scotland not to do any publick Affairs without advising with their Nobles or Estates of the Realm 102 230 251 They used to ride the Circuits themselves for the Administration of Iustice before Itinerary Iudges were appointed 103 123 Their Wives anciently not called Queens 402 Not in their Power alone to make Peace or War in Scotland 322 They are inferiour to the Laws 269 How their publick Revenue if spent may be encreased 114 A Law for their successive inheriting the Crown confirmed 194 195 Kings if young their Favours slippery 416 Subjects apt to degenerate into their Manners 111 King desiring to be revenged on his Nobles endeavours to set them one against another 431 Kings-Cross or Re-cross in Stanmore what 238 Kinnatel King of Scots 155 Kinross 170 Its Sheriffwick 18 Kinloss Abby 184 Kinthern see Cantire Kirkwal the chief Town in the Island Pomonae or Mainland 35 Kirta Isle 30 Knapdale 17 Kyle 14 L L'Abross a French General would have all the Nobility of Scotland destroyed 148 Laia River see Avonlagan Lambs Isle 30 Lamlach Isle 24 Lamot the French King's Embassador in Scotland 20 He moves the Scots to war against England ibid. c. Lamyrian or Lamormoor Mountains 13 Lanarch or Lanerick 14 Lancaster Duke Embassador in Scotland 309 Afterwards invades it 310 Langside Fight 220 Laodice Queen her Cruelty to her own Children 231 Largesses immoderate occasion Want 203 Lauderdale so called of the Town Lauder 13 Laurence Twine persuades Baliol to go for Scotland 284 Law about Succession to the Kingdom of Scotland 97 New Ones made 194 Confirmed 200 Whether profitable to the Publick or not 196 197 Law too severe to confiscate the whole Estates of Condemned Persons without any Allowance to their innocent Wife and Children 113 Laws against Theft 282 Laws about Hunting their Authors see Hunting Laws Laws in Scotland few besides Decrees of the Estates 59 Laxa Isle 30 Lead White and Black found in Pomona 35 Legat a counterfeit Roman one 387 Leith River 13 Leland quoted 61 Lenity over-much brings Contempt 381 385 392 Lennox or Levin so called from the River Levin 140 Lent observed on a politick Account only 170 Leon Strozy Admiral of the French Gallies in Scotland
Head sent to the K. from Ireland The King reforms Publick Manners He also rectifies Weights and Measures His Queen brings forth Twins Doâglaâ and Kennedy released from Prison He reforms the Ecclesiasticaâ Estate Which was Wofully degenerated and corrupted He Erects Publick Schools and is present himself at their Disputations Parish Priests and Begging Friers the Causes of the Decay of Ecclesiastical Discipline with the Manner how King Iames aims to prefer only Worthy Persons to Benefices and Church Preferments He invites Tradesmen out of Flanders Luxury and Prodigality the trust of Idleness Robert and Murdo affect the Throne Murdo and his Sons put to Death The ãâã of ãâã and his Exploits Exceptions taken against Iames. A Castle standing upon the Tâne 3 Miles below Hadington The Dispute between Robert's Legitimate and Natural Children occasion great Troubles The Earl of Athol's Ambition A Town of Normandy in France Plots against Iames. Upon the Account of Wardships c. Embassadors from France and England to Scotland The Scots joyn with the French against England Iames Marries his Daugââââ ãâã to ãâã oâ France and sends her thither A Stately City on the Lââr The English Writers imputing Perfidiousness to Iames are blamed by this Author and their Reflections upon him Wiped off In Champaign in France A Fight between the Sââts and Engâish Iames enters England but retires upon notice of a Conspiracy formed against him by his own Kindred K. Iames Cruelly Assassinated His Death highly lamented with his Laudable Character Earl of ãâã and other of Iames's Murderers Tortured and Executed Descants upon such severe Executions Marchâ7 â7 Alexander Levingston made Regent William Creigton made Chancellor Douglas labours to imbroil things The Râgent and Chancellor disâgree The Queen by Policie get the Kings Person out of the Chancellors Power * Situate below âanton Bridge on the Ti ne in ãâã Lothian The Chancellor highly accused And besieged in Edinburgh Castle The Chancellor craves Aid of Douglas But receives an affronting Answer from him Whereupon he agrees with the Regent And sârrenâers up Edinburgh Castle September 29. Lying on the River ãâã in Cuningham Iuly 9. Deadly âewds The ãâã of Archibaâd Dougâas With the Profuseness of his young Heir * Or Lâther a great and ancient Family in Lothian The Queen with her Husband Iames Stuart and others committed to Prison August 2. August 31. But she is Releast again The Aebudians ravage the Continent A Two years Pestilence in Scotland The Râgent and Câââcellor again Disagree The Chancellor surprâzes the Kings Person The Regent being out-Witted by the Chancellor inwardly frets And Meditates a Reconciliation with him His Condescending Haâangue to the Chancellor A New Knot of Amity between the Regent and the Chancellor The Miseries of the Commons Occasioned Principally by the Earl of Douglas Where he and his Brother David were slain William Douglas Marries Beatrix his Uncles Daughter The high ãâã oâ Thieves Dunbarton Castle twice surprized King Iames being of Age enters on the Government Douglas throws himself at the Kings Feet acknowledges his Offences is Pardoned and Received into Favour The Regent and Chancellor lay down their Offices Douglas by his Power at Court summons them to Appear They excusing themselves are declared publick Enemies * Oâ Forester In Mid-Lothian two ãâã West of Edinburgh A Town on the River ãâã West-Lothian A Castle standing on a Rock lying near the Firth of Forâh above Abercorn Creighton late Chancelor defends himself by force Douglas incensed against Creighton's Friends The Clans of the Lindsys and Ogilbys Fight Ian. 24. The Lindsys prevail Iuly 15. Creighton received into Favour and is made Chancellor again Deadly Fewds betwixt particular Persons and Families An Abby in Lennâx A Castle standing upon Tine near Hardington Douglas attempts the Levingstons of whom Iames is put to Death c. Creighton sent Embassador to France The Bishop of Glasco frightned by a Voice from Heaven for his wicked Life which does him to Death Iames Kennedy retires from a Corrupt Court Dunbar E. of Murray Dies and Archibald Douglas succeedâ ãâã A Barony ââing on the ãâã Spey The immoderate Power of the Douglas's eâposes them to Envy The Miserable Estate of the Commons under Douglas Mutual Incursions betwixt the Scots and English Or Saâs The English overthrown by the Scots A Truce between the Scots and English Iames Married to Mary of Gelderland Colvil put to Death by Douglas Douglas goes vain-gloriously in a year oâ Iubilee to Rome In his absence his Enemies sue him and ãâã Damages for wrongâ received Which are answered out of his Estate Douglas at his return from Rome received into Favour And made Regent Douglas gives Iames new occasion of Suspicion Douglas design against Creighton's Life ãâã deâends himself ãâ¦ã Douglas joyns with Craford and Ross. He provokes the King In the Case of Herris And Macklan Douglas on safe Conduct comes to Court Where the King Stabs him with his own Hand Mârch 27. Whereupon the rest of the ãâã rise in Arms. The Douglasââ proclaimed publick Enemies Iames Douglas Marries his Brothers Wife A Famine and Pestilence in Scotland Douglas persuaded to a Reconciliation with the King Which he refuses Craford forsakes Douglas and is pardoned by the King Douglas applys to England for Aid but in vain Hâmilton ãâã Douglas * Standing upon Nââth-Esk in Mid-Lâthiân 4 Miles above Daâkeith Iune 5. Douglas joyns with the Enlish and then with Donald the Islander Douglas's Wife forsakes him and ãâã to the King Lying on the River Spââ So doth Donald's Wiâe too In Mid-Lothian Thornton put to death for Murder The death of Will. Creightoâ A Party of English worââed in Scotland Donald the Islander submits to the King The English Nobles crave Aid of Iames against Henry their King He marches to their Assistance but is diverted by a Counteâfeit Leâat from Rome Iames takes Roxborough Town And besieges the Castle Where he is casually slain The Queen shews Herself a virago immediately after her Husbands Death Roxburgh Castle Surrendred and Demolisht Iames II. his Character Iames III. begins his Reign about 7 years of Age. Henry of Enggland taken Prisoner by the Duke of York York overthrown by the Queen So is Warwick The Queen overthrown and flies witâ her Husband into Scotland Berwick surrendred to the Scots by King Henry Henry's Queen sues for Foreign Aid * Or Renny Which having obtained ãâã enters Scotland and England again Holy-Isle seven miles South-East of Berwick on the Coast of Northumberland Henry's Army overthrown at Hexham Alnwick Castle besieged and Douglas's gallantry in bringing off the Garison Henry of England taken Prisoner and his Queen ãâã Disputes in the Assembly of Estates about the Regency Which the Queen claimâ But Kennedy and Douglas oppose A Truce for a Month betwixt the Parties The Commonalty dislike the Queens Regency The Queens Plea for the Regency Kennedys Grave and Prolix Oration in Answer thereunto Queen of Palmira a City in Syria now called Faid
prevented and how * On the North-west of Spain in the Cantabrian Ocean Henry of England wars against France Andrew Forman sent into England by Iames to pick a Quarrel And from thence into France Hamilton sent with a Fleet to France but turns to Knockfergus in Ireland Hamilton at last arrives in France * Little Britain lying in the Chanel on the Northwest of France Robert Car severe against Moss-Troopers He is slain â Standing on a Rock above the Firth of Forth * In Northumberland The Murderers of Robert Carr escape not unpunished The Story of Andrew Breton A sharp Fight between the English Admiral and Breton where Breton was slain K. Iames complains to Henry of Breton's Death Alexander Hume marches with a Party into England But is worsted in his Retreat K. Iames resolves a War against England The pretended Causes of the War K. Henry's Answer to King Iames's Herald A strange Apparition of an old Man forbidding K. Iames to proceed in his War with England * A place near Cowper in Fife Yet he proceeds and enters England below Ouler in Northumberland The English challenge him to give them Battel The French Embassador presses Iames on to a Battel * In Northumberland K. Iames resolved to fight Which Earl Douglas disswaded him from in an Oration Repartees between the King and Douglas concerning a present Fight Earl Douglass in discontent retires * Or Floddonhill lying between the Town of Ouler and the River of Tweed â In Northumberland on the North side of the River Blico three miles above Stannington-Bridg â Or Milfeild Flodden Fight and the Manner of it described Various Reports concerning K. Iames's Death Howard Earl of Surrey General against the Scots at Flodden falls afterwards into Disgrace The Character of K. Iames the Fourth Scots Nobility all anciently had Skill in Chirurgery Iames the 5 th of about 2 years old proclaimed King The Ambition of Alexander Hume * Q. Margaret the first Female Regent in Scotland She loses her Regency by her Marriage Three Competitors for the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews Douglas Hepburn and Forman * Lying within two Miles of Aymouth in the Merss near the Scotish Sea The Nobility divided about choosing a Regent in the room of Q. Margaret * Iohn Duke of Albany then in France chosen Regent â A little Town in Cuningham standing on the Firth of Clyd Iohn Duke of Albany the new Regent arrives in Scotland Peter Muffat a noted Robber punished * Hepburn insinuates himself into the new Regent Douglas Hume and Forman accused by Hepburn as the Three âeads of the then Factions * Hume * Hume in discontent applies himself to the Queen and Douglas * Hume's Design disappointed Three Governors over the young King the Queen and Douglas being displaced * Hume the Queen and Douglas fly into England But upon Reconciliation with the Regent return home again (a) Alexander Hume raises an Insurrection But submits and is made Prisoner He escapes and creates further Disturbances But is quelled with his Party Both the Hume's come to Court Are imprison'd Tryed and Executed (c) Chiefly by the Instigation of Iohn Hepburn (d) Andrew Car escapes out of Prison The Regent desires leave to pass over into France * He appoints seven Deputies to govern in his absence (f) Q. Margaret returns to Scotland * Or Inse-Garvy a fortify'd Rock lying in the middle of the Forth or Scotish Sea (g) A Town in the Merss a mile west of Duns (h) Wederburn in the Merss (i) Darcy slain by David Hunt (k) Discord between Douglas Earl of Angus and Andrew Car. (l) Archibald Douglas surrenders up his Government (m) The Western Nobles conspire to apprehend the Earl of Angus (n) But he defends himself by force and worsts them (o) The Regent after 5 Years absence returns from France * In Mid-Lothian (p) The Regent raise an Army against England (q) But the Nobility oppose his Design Whereupon he claps up a Truce with the English and râtreats The Regent a second time goes into France A Skirmish between the French and English Fleeââ The Earl of Surry with an Army ravages over part of Scotland Iedburgh taken by the English A strange Fright among the Horses of the English Army The English Army retreats The Regent arrives in Scotland from France a second time Q. Margaret with her Brother Henry the 8 th of England persuade the Scots to break with the French with their Arguments to inforce it But the French Faction in Scotland oppose in with their Reasons Cardinal Woolsy a self-ended and ambitious Statesman * The Regent again marches with an Army into England â Besieges Werke-Castle is repulsed and retreats â Werke-Castle described * In the ãâã near ãâã Castle * The Regent undertakes his third Voyage into France â In his absence the young King enters upon the Government * And vacates the Regents Power â Margarite's Husband returns from France through England into Scotland â He with his Partisans seize on the young King and manage the Government * Three Moderators of the Kingdom Douglas Stuart and Cambel â But Douglas soon ouââ the other Two At which the Nobility is much discontented and endeavour to take the King by Force out of his Hands * Walter Scot overthrown by the Douglasses in his Endeavours to free the King â Iohn Stuaât Earl of Lennox with the King's Privity renews the Design of redeeming the King from the Douglasses * A Mile above the Bridg near Linlithgo â Lennox fights with the Douglassians and Hamiltonians is worsted and slain Great Severity used by the Douglasses against Lennox's Party * The couragious Answer of Hugh Kennedy in behalf of Gilbert Earl of Cassils The bold Attempt of an Under-Groom to destroy Iames Hamilton in Revenge of his Master's the Earl of Lennox his Death The Groom apprehended and tortured yet dies very resolutely Patrick Hamilton nobly descended put to Death upon the account of Religion * The strange Death of Alexander Cambel the self-condemned Persecutor of Patrick Hamilton * The King frees himself from the Douglasses * Or Falcoland about the middle of Fife The Douglasses forbidden by Proclamation to intermeddle in the Government New Officers at Court â August 26. * In East-Lothian opposite to the Bass-Isle â In Sterlingshire not far from Toâ wood â The Douglasses arm in desperation * In Lothian â About four Miles South of Dalkeith â November 21. * A Town lying in the Firth or Forth in East-Lothian four Miles South of Dunbar â Tantallon-Castle besieged by the King â In the Author it is Tantallon but I judg it to be a Mistake of the Transcriber for Duâbar * The Siege of Tantallon raised â Within two Miles of Eymouth in the Moss â The Douglasses forced to fly into England * Embassadors from England to piece up an Accommodation between King Iames and the Douglasses â In Twidale â Iames Earl of Murray
received and admitted to the Kings Table but in the midst of the Feast some Armed Men beset him being Weaponless and put a Bulls Head upon him which in those Times was a Messenger and Sign of Death When the young Man saw that he was troubled and sought to arise but the Armed Men laid hold on and carry'd him to a Court near the Castle where by the loss of his Head he paid for the Intemperance of his Youth David his Brother and Malcolm Fleming whom next to his Brother he trusted most of all were also put to Death with him 'T is said that the King who was now fully entring on his being of Age wept for his Death and that the Chancellor did greatly Rebuke him for his unseasonable Tears at the Destruction of an Enemy whereas the Publick Peace was never like to be settled as long as he was alive William dying thus without Children Iames Sirnamed Crassus or the Gross from his Disposition succeeded him in the Earldom for 't was a Male-Feo as Lawyers speak the rest of his Patrimony which was very great fell to his only Sister Beatrix a very beautiful Person in her Days This Iames the Gross though he were no bad Man yet was no less suspected by the King and hated by the Commons than the former Earl because though he did not maintain Robbers as the former Earl had done yet he was not very Zealous in subduing them but he was substracted from this Envy by his Death which happen'd Two Years after William the Eldest of his Seven Sons Succeeded him he being Emulous of the ancient Power of the Family that he might restore it unto its Pristine Splendor resolv'd to Marry his Uncles Daughter who was the Heiress of many Countries Many of his Kindred did not approve of the Match partly because 't was an unusual and by consequence an unlawful thing and partly because by the Accession of so much Wealth he would be envy'd by the People and also formidable to the King For a Rumor was spread abroad and that not without ground that the King himself would do his utmost to hinder the Match This made William to hasten the Consummation of the Marriage even in the time when Marriages were forbidden that he might prevent the Kings endeavours to the contrary Thus having obtained great Wealth he grew insolent and envy follow'd his Insolence in regard Troops of Robbers did swarm every where whose Captains were thought to be no Strangers to Douglas his Design Amongst them there was one George Gorm of Athole who pillag'd all the Country about him and set upon William Ruthven Sheriff of Perth because he was leading a Thief of Athole to the Gallows and fought with him as it were in a set Battel At last Gorm the Captain and 30 of his Followers were slain and the rest sled to the Mountains This Bustling Fight was in the year of Christ 1443. A few days after the Castle of Dunbarton impregnable by Force was twice taken in a little time Robert Semple was Commander of the Lower Castle and Patrick Galbreth of the Higher and their Government was so divided that each had a peculiar entrance into his own Part. These Two were not free from Factions amongst themselves For Patrick was thought secretly to favour the Douglasses whereupon Semple perceiving that his Part was but negligently guarded seiz'd upon him and commanded him to remove his Goods The day after Patrick entred with four Companions attending him without Arms to fetch out his Goods where first he light upon the Porter alone and then catching up Arms drave him and the rest out of the Upper Castle and thus sending for Aid out of the Neighbouring Town he beat them out of the Lower Castle also and so reduc'd the whole Fort into his own hands About that time there were very many Murders committed upon the inferior Sort which were partly perpetrated by the Douglassians and partly charg'd upon them by their Enemies The King was now of Age and manag'd the Government himself so that Douglas being unable to stand against the Envy of the Nobles and the Complaints of the Commons too resolves to become a New Man to satisfie the People and by all means possible to atone the Heart of the King which was alienated from him and in order thereunto he came with a great Train to Sterlin And when he had Intelligence by some Courtiers whom he had greas'd in the Fist and made his Own that the Kings Anger was appeas'd towards him then and not before he came into his Presence and threw down his Life and Fortune and all his Concerns at his Feet and to his Dispose he partly excused the Crimes of his former Life and paââly because That seemed the readier way to Reconciliation he ingenuously confest Them withal affirming that whatever Fortune he should have hereafter he would ascribe it solely to the Clemency of the King not to his Own Innocency but if the King were pleas'd to receive Satisfaction from him by his Services and Obsequiousness he would do his utmost endeavour for the future that no Man should be more Loyal and observant of his Duty than himself and that in restraining and punishing all those exorbitant Offences which his Enemies cast upon him none should be more sharp and severe than he in regard he was descended from that Family which was not raised by oppâââsing the Poor but by defending the Commons of Scotland by theââ Arms By this Oration of the Earls and the secret Commendation of the Courtiers the King was so chang'd that he forgave him all the Crimes of his former Life and received him into the Number of his Privadoes and communicated all his secret Designs to him And indeed the Earl in a very little time had so obliged the King to him by his Obsequious Carriage and had won so much on his Ministers by his Liberality yea had so ingratiated himself into all Men by his modest and courteous Condescension that the ordinary sort of People conceiv'd great Hope of his gentle and pliable Deportment but the Wiser were somewhat afraid whither so sudden a change of Manners would tend And especially Alexander Levingston and William Creighton imagining that all his Counsels would tend to their Destruction having laid down their publick Offices in the Government went away severally Alexander to his own Estate and William into the Castle of Edinburgh there to watch and observe where the Simulation of Douglas would terminate and end Neither did their preconceiv'd Opinion deceive such Wise Men as they were For Douglas having gotten the King alone and destitute of graver Counsel and who was somewhat unwary too by reason of the Greenness of his years thought now that he had a fit Opportunity to revenge the Deaths of his Kinsmen and so easily persuaded the King to send for William Creighton and Alexander Levingston with his two Sons Alexander and Iames to
in all their Clubs But when the Month was expired their Minds were a little calmer and the Truce ended there was another Convention where the Queen alleged This for her self in Justification of her Cause That seeing she had not entred upon the Government the Year before by Force or against the minds of the Nobility but was chosen to that Dignity by thâir Unanimous Consent she had but used her own Right and therefore she took it amiss to be degraded and no Crime at all imputed as to her Mal-Administration If said she as it is usual Degrees of Affinity be regarded in Pupillages there is none nearer than a Mother if the Safety of the King were Ey'd none could be more Faithful for if the King should die other men may have their various and distinct Hopes but she could hope for or expect nothing but Orbity Solitariness and Tears And if they had respect to the Good of the Publick she was a stranger and concerned in no Interest of Feuds or Friendships and That was especially to be eyed in such who sate at the Helm of Government That so their own Lives might not only be free from actual Vice but also that they might have as few Temptations and Incitements as may be to those Lusts which do disturb and hurry the Mind and pervert righteous Judgment Some had Assistance of Parents Kinsmen Allies by whose aid they might hope for an Excuse for their Offences or at least an easier Pardon Yea sometimes the Rulers were compelled to square and accommodate their Actions to such mens Wills and Humours As for Her self her Hope of Defence was in Innocency alone She had but one Son to eye and both their Benefits and Advantages were combined and twisted together And unless she had respect to these Things she would choose much rather to live a quiet and happy Life in Retirement with the good Liking of all than to uâdergo the Enmity of Evil men by punishing all their Crimes yea and sometimes to incur the Displeasure of the Good too Neither was it a New Thing for a Woman to desire the Regency of another's Kingdom sithence not only in Britain but even in the Greatest and most Puissant Kingdoms of the Continent Women have had the Supreme Power and their Reigns have been Such that their Subjects never repented of their Government When she had thus spoken Many assented to her Some to prepossess a Place in in her future Grace and Favour Others in Hopes that the Fruits of another's Envy would redound to their advantage Yea there were some who had an evil jealousy That if the Election should be made out of All they themselves might be passed by as less fit and therefore they rather desired that the Queen should be preferred over them all than that Others of the same Order with themselves or even of a Superiour one should be preferred before Them Nowithstanding the more uncorrupted Part of the Nobility did both by their Countenance and Speeches highly disgust the Queens Oration but that which did most Vehemently affect the whole Assembly was the Authority and the Speech of Iames Kennedy who as 't is reported spake in this manner IT is my chief Desire Noble Peers That they whose aims are at the Good of all in general might freely declare their minds without offence to any one particular Person But in our present Circumstances when things spoke for publick Advantage are distorted to the Reproach of those private persons who speak them it is a very difficult thing to observe such a Mean between disagreeing heats and different opinions as not to incur the offence of one of the Parties As for me I will so temper and moderate my Discourse That no man shall complain of me without first confessing his own Guilt Yet I shall use the Liberty of Speech received from our Ancestors so modestly that as on the One side I desire to prejudice no man so on the Other neither for Fear nor Favour will I pretermit any thing which is of use in the Debate before us I see That there are Two Opinions which do retard and impede our Concord The One is of Those who judge That in a matter relating to the Good of All an Election out of All is to be made and as we all meet to give our Suffrages in a business concerning the safety of the whole Kingdom so it is equal and fit that no man should be Excluded from the Hopes of that Honour who seeks after it by Honest and Virtuous Ways The Other is of such who count it a great Injury done to the Queen who is so noble a Princess and so choice a Woman if she be not preferred before all others in the Tutelage of her Son and the Administration of the Government of the Kingdom Of these Two Opinions I like the Former best and I will shew you my Reasons for it by and by In the mean time I so far approve the design of the Later That they think it below the Queen's Grandeur That any Single Person should Vye with her for this point of Honour lest her Authority which ought to be as it indeed is accounted Venerable should be lessned by coping with Inferiours And indeed I would be quickly of their mind if the Dispute lay here about the Honour of One and not the Safety of All. But seeing that this day we are to make a Determination about That which concerns the Lives Fortunes of all private men and the Safety of the whole Kingdom too it is fit that all Single Interests and Concerns should stoop and truckle under That And therefore I earnestly advise Those that are of this Opinion so to consult the Dignity of the Queen That in the interim they forget not the Reverence they owe to the Laws to the old Customs and to the Universal Good of their Country if they can shew by any Statute That it is Lawful and Publickly expedient That the Guardianship of the King and the Regency of the Kingdom ought to be in the Queens Hands I will pass over into their Opinion But if their Orations be pernicious to the Publick I hope the Queen first and next all Good men will pardon me if always saving the Majesty of the Queen as Sacred so far as by Law and the Custom of our Ancestors I may I do not conceal my Opinion or rather if I speak out That with Freedom which it were the greatest Impiety in me to conceal To begin then with the Laws There is a Law made 500 year ago by King Kenneth a Prince no less eminent for his Wisdom and Prudence than for his military Performances and it was assented and yielded to by All the Orders of the Kingdom and approved of even to this very day by the Constant Observance of so many Ages That when the King was in his Minority the Estates or Parliament of the Kingdom should Assemble and choose some one Man eminent for
Wisdom and Power to be his Guardian and to Govern the Kingdom whilst he was yet unable to weild the Scepter with his Own hands Tho' this Law be referred to Kenneth as the Author of it yet it seems to me That he did not so much Enact it first as thereby revive and confirm the Ancient Custom of the Scots by a New Sanction For Our Ancestors were so far from Committing the Supreme Power into the Hands of a Woman That if you look over all our Chronicles you shall not find so much as the Name of a Woman Regent recorded therein for why pray should they mention such a Name of which they thought they had no need at present hoped they should never have any for the Future For those Females which other Countrys call Queens we only call Wives or Consorts of our Kings neither do we entitle Them to any Higher Name for I judge our Wise Ancestors had This in their Eye That as often as they heard their Names mentioned with the Adjunct of Husband they might remember That they were obnoxious and Subject to men And therefore to this very day a Woman was never admitted to the Regency or the Administration of Publick Affairs The same Course hath been also constantly observed in lesser Magistracys both as to their Appointments and Executions For tho' many Honours and some Seigniorys amongst them have come by Inheritance to some Women by reason of their Great deserts from their Country and have also been allotted to them as Dowrys yet it was never known since the memory of man That any Woman did ever preside in any Publick Council or in any Court of Judicature or to have taken upon her any of those Offices which are appropriated to men Which Custom seeing our Ancestors tho' not bound by Law thereunto did constantly observe only by the Impulse of Nature if we their Posterity should cast the Common-wealth into an apparent Danger by opposing a Law received by the Votes of all and approved by so long an Usage Who will free us from the Brand I will not say of Tomerity but even of Madness it self Especially since we have been warned by Examples near at hand For the Saxons by reason of the Wickedness of one Woman viz. Ethelburga made a Law That after that time no Woman should be called Queen nor should fit in Publick next the King in any Seat of Honour I beseech you therefore consider seriously how much they degenerate from Their Prudence who against a Law so Ancient and as advantageous to Women as honourable to Men would put the Reins of Government into Their hands to whom our Ancestors never gave so much as a Royal Name and from whom our Neighbours after they had given it took it away Other Nations I grant have been of another Opinion with what Success I shall declare after I have first answered Those who dare not calumniate this Law openly but in the Carpet-Conventicles of Women do implead it as unjust But whosoever he be that finds Fault with it he seems to reprehend not some Sanction only approved by the suffrages of Men but even Nature it self i. e. That Primary Law imprinted in our hearts by God himself I say Nature it self whom our Law-maker had as a Guide and Directress of all his Counsels when he proposed and enacted this Law For Nature from the beginning hath not only distinguished Men from Women by the strength of Mind and Body but hath also appropriated distinct Offices and Virtues to each Sex the same indeed for Kind but far different in Degree For how is it less uncomely for a Woman to pronounce Judgment to levy Forces to Conduct an Army to give a Signal to the Battel than for a Man to teiz Wool to handle the Distaff to Spin or Card and to perform the other Services of the weaker Sex That which is Liberality Fortitude and Severity in Men is Profusion Madness and Cruelty in a Woman And again That which is Elegant Comely and Ornamental in a Woman is Mean Sordid and Effeminate in a Man They that endeavour to confound and mix these things which Nature of her own accord hath distinguished do they not seem to you not only to disturb but also to overthrow the State of the Kingdom which is founded upon so good Laws and Customs This they do when they would obtrude on us the Government of a Woman which our Ancestors did not so much as once Name For the Maker of that Law as I told you before doth not seem so much to induce a new Sanction in the Enacting thereof as only to commit to Writing the perpetual Usage of our Ancestors that it might be transmitted to Posterity and That which hath been always observed by the Guidance of Nature in the making a King to have consecrated the same Thing to be observed by Publick Authority in choosing a Guardian for a King under age They which go about to undermine and infringe this one Law what do they thereby but endeavour to overthrow all the other Laws Rites and Customs of our Ancestors I speak this that I may prevent all Calumây not that I think all Laws are immutable as if they were enacted to last for ever No Laws are of different Sorts and Kinds Those which are accommodated to the Vicissitude of Times are subject to the Inconstancy of Fortune and are wont to last so long as the Necessity doth which imposed them and Those which are obtruded on men by the Wills of Tyrants are commonly disannulled and abrogated with their Authors But as for that Instinct or Impress of Nature which is as it were a Living Law ordained by God and deeply imprinted and engraven in Mens hearts That the Consent of no Multitudes nor no mens Decrees can abolish For as an excellent Poet is reported to have said it was not born yesterday or to day but it grew up together with Dame Nature it self and lives and dies together with it And seeing the Law of which we now speak is of âhat sort and a Principal one too he doth not oppose the Dignity of the Queen who desires That she of her own accord would prescribe to her self those Bounds which Nature it self hath appointed her Sex requires Custom allows and the Laws made by the consent of almost all Nations do approve But they who would have her forget her Sex and Station do persuade her to break thro' all Bonds of Law and to disturb the Order of things appointed by God received by use and allowed in all Cities and Countrys well-governed And certainly whosoever slights that Order will be grievously punished not by Men only but by God himself who will revenge his own Law For if good Laws threaten a Man with Death who shall cloath himself with a Womans Apparel and a Woman if she wear the Habit of a Man what Punishment can be inflicted on them too great for their Offence who by a preposterous Flattery would overthrow
of their holes and gathered themselves together to consult about the main Chance where though they were quite out of hopes to recover their ancient Repute yet they dissembled Confidence as if their former Power had remained And to try how to retrieve their Affairs in so desperate a Case they sought to strike Fears into their Enemies and appointed a Convocation to be held at Edinburgh November 8. When the Day of their Convening came the Priests met in the Church of the Dominicans and there cited Paul Meffen by Name whom in a former Assembly they had commanded to appear he not appearing was banish'd and a grievous Punishment denounc'd on those who should receive him into their Houses or supply him with any Necessaries to support his Life But that Commination did not terrify the Inhabitants of Dundee from doing their Duty for they supplied him with Provision and harbor'd him from one House to another yea and they dealt with the Regent by some Men who were gracious at Court that his Banishment might be remitted but all the Priests mightily withstood it and besides they offered a great Sum of Mony to hinder it so that nothing could be done Whilst these things were acting some eminent Persons especially of Fife and Angus and some chief Burgers of several Towns travell'd over all the Shires of Scotland exhorting all the People to love the sincere preaching of the Word and not to suffer themselves and their Friends of the same Opinion in Religion with themselves to be oppress'd and destroy'd by a small and weak Faction alledging if their Enemies would transact the Matter by Law they should easily cast them but if they chose Force rather they were not inferior to them And they had Schedules or writing Tables ready for those who were pleased therewith to subscribe their Names These first assumed the Name of a Congregation which was made more famous afterwards by Those who joined themselves thereto These Assertors of the purer and Reform'd Religion foreseeing that Matters would soon come to some Extremity by joint Consent determin'd to send some Demands to the Queen which unless they were granted there was likely to be no Face of a Church neither could the Multitude be restrained from Insurrection They chose Sir Iames Sandeland of Calder a worthy Knight venerable both for his Age and for his well-spent Life to carry their Desires to the Regent who open'd to her the necessity of sending such a Message and requested in the Name of all who stood for the Reformation of Religion That all publick Prayers and the Administration of the Sacraments should be celebrated by Ministers in their Mother-Tongue that all People might understand them That the Election of Ministers according to the ancient Custom of the Church should be made by the People and That they who presided over that Election should enquire diligently into the Lives and Doctrines of all that were to be admitted and if by the negligence of former Times unlearned and flagitious Persons had crept into Ecclesiastical Dignities That they might be removed out of the Ministry and fit Persons substituted in their places The Priests were even mad and storm'd mightily that any Man durst to appear and own so impudent a Fact as they call'd it but when their Heat was a little allay'd they answer'd that they would refer the Matter to a publick Disputation and indeed what danger could there be in That when they themselves were to be Judges in their own Case On the other side the Sticklers for the Reformation alleged That the Matter ought not to be determined by the Wills of Men but by the plain Words of Holy Scripture The Priests propounded also other Terms of Agreement but such ridiculous ones that they are not worthy of an Answer as If the Reformers would keep up the Mass in its ancient Honour if they would acknowledg Purgatory after this Life if they would yield to pray to Saints and for the Dead that then they would also yield that they should pray in their Mother-Tongue and celebrate the Sacraments Baptism and the Lord's Supper in the same The Reformers pressed the Regent as before that in so just a Cause she would please to gratify them with an Answer agreeable to Equity and Reason The Regent favoured the Cause of the Priests and secretly promised them her Assistance as soon as opportunity was offered And she commanded the adverse Faction to use Prayer celebrate the Sacraments and perform other Religious Exercises in their Mother-Tongue but without Tumult only their Teachers were not to make any publick Sermons to the People at Edinburgh or Leith Though this Condition was carefully observ'd by them yet many Testimonies that her Affection was alienated from them did daily appear and the Papists at Edinburgh us'd almost the same Answers to the Demands which were brought in by the Nobility only this they added farther That as to the Point of electing Ministers in such kind of Questions they were to stand to the Canon-Law or to the Decrees of the Council of Trent Neither did they in that Assembly determine any thing in their own Matters only they commanded the Bishops to send secret Informers into all Parishes of their Diocesses who were to take the Names of all the Violators of the Papistical Laws and bring them in to them and though they plainly perceived that their Threats were little esteemed yet trusting to the publick Authority which was on their side and having Confidence in the Arms of France they insulted over their Inferiours as imperiously as ever they did before To mitigate their Minds in some sort and to deprecate their severe and bitter Sentence against the Preachers of the Gospel Iohn Erskin Lord of Down a Man learned good and courteous was sent to them he intreated them out of that Piety which we all owe to God and Charity towards Men that they would not think it much at least to tolerate People to pray to God in their Mother-Tongue when they were met together for that Service for That was according to Scripture-Command They were so far from granting his Request that they us'd him with more bitter and arrogant Words than formerly adding also more cruel Threatnings and Reproaches and lest they might seem to have acted nothing in that Assembly they caused some thread-bare Popish Laws to be printed and fastned upon the Doors of Churches which because they were commonly sold for a Groat the Common People called them the Quadrantary and sometimes the Triobolar Faith Moreover they who the Year before had perform'd the Embassy in France came into the Assembly and easily obtained That their Transactions should be ratified And after that the French Embassador was introduc'd who after he had made a long Oration concerning the ancient and long-continued good Will of the French Kings toward all the Scotish Nation did earnestly desire of them all both singly and jointly that they would set
the Crown which he by a new and monstrous Name call'd Matrimonial upon the Head of the Queen's Husband alleging that he would gain but an empty Name without any accession of Power or Profit he also us'd many other flattering Words not necessary here to be repeated which the more accurate they were in a trifling business by so much the more they were suspected as Coverts of concealed Fraud yet the Embassador partly by immoderate Promises and partly by earnest Intreaties and partly by the Favour of some who collogued with the future Power gain'd the Point that the Crown was ordered for the Daulphin and Gilespy Cambel Earl of Argyle and Iames the Queen's Brother were chosen to carry it to him These Persons perceiving that they were sent abroad to their own Ruin in regard the French Ambition hung as a Storm ready to fall upon all their Heads made no great haste to fit up their Equipage but deferred their Preparation from day to day until they had ponder'd all things and taken surer measures of what was likely to ensue especially since now a nearer and eminenter degree of Honour offered it self For Mary Queen of England being dead the Queen of Scots carried her self as her Heir and bore the Arms and Ensigns of England engraving the same on all her Housholdstuff and domestick Furniture and though France was at that time miserably distressed in asserting their Power and Dominion over Milain Naples and Flanders yet she added to the rest of her Miseries this Mock-Title of England The wiser sort of the French saw this well enough but they were forc'd to comply with the Guises who then could do all at Court for by this vain kind of Splendor they thought to add much to the French Name Besides the Regent having receiv'd the Decree concerning a Matrimonial Crown seem'd to have put on a new Disposition for she turn'd her ancient Affability which was acceptable to all into an Imperious Arrogance and instead of gentle Answers wherewith before she did addulce both Factions as That it was not long of her but of the Times that she could not promise so largely as she desir'd before that Decree was past now she thought her self cock-sure and therefore us'd another kind of Language and Deportment A Parliament was summoned to be held at Sterlin May 9. and whereas she had often said that now she was free from other Cares she would not suffer the Majesty of the Government to be debased but that she would indeavour to restore it to its ancient Veneration by some eminent Example These Words portended a Storm insuing and therefore many applied to her for her Favour and amongst the rest to make their Request more exorable upon the account of the Dignity of the Messengers Alexander Cuningham Earl of Glencarn and Hugh Cambel Sheriff of Air a worthy Knight were sent to her When they came she could not contain her self but must needs utter this Speech as a Witness of her Impiety Do you and your Ministers what you will or can yea though they preach never so sincerely yet they shall be banish'd the Land They replied in great Humility That she would call to mind what she often promised them She answer'd That the Promises of Princes were no further to be urged upon them for performance than it stood with their Conveniency Whereupon they rejoin'd That then they renounced all Allegiance and Subjection to her and advised her to consider what Inconvenience was likely to ensue hereupon she was unexpectedly struck with this Answer and said She would think upon it And when the fierceness of her Anger seemed somewhat to abate it was again kindled much more fiercely as by a new Firebrand when she heard that the Inhabitants of St. Iohnstons had publickly embraced the Reformed Religion whereupon she turned to Patrick Ruthen Mayor of the Town commanding him to suppress all those Tumults for innovating of Religion his Answer was That he had Power over their Bodies and Estates and those he would take care should do no hurt but that he had no Dominion over their Consciences At which Answer she was so inrag'd that she said she hoped none would think it strange if he were shortly made to repent his stubborn Audacity she also commanded Iames Haliburton Sheriff of Dundee to send Paul Meffen Prisoner to her but he was advised thereof by the Sheriff and so gave way to the Time and slipp'd out of the Town she wrote also to the Neighbour-Assemblies to keep the Easter following after the Popish Manner but when none obeyed her therein she was so inrag'd that she cited all the Ministers of the Churches of the whole Kingdom to Sterlin to appear there on the 10 th of May ensuing When that Matter came to be noised abroad the Evangelicks exhorted one another that they and their Ministers would also appear at the Meeting so that there was a great Multitude of those that were likely to be at that Assembly which though they came unarmed yet the Regent feared that things would not go well on her side whereupon she sent for Iohn Erskin of Down who happened to be in Town at that time and dealt with him to cause the unnecessary concourse of the People to withdraw which would not be very difficult for him to do because of the great Authority he had amongst them and in the mean time she promised she would act nothing against the Men of that Persuasion Many there were who being made acquainted with this Promise of the Regent changed their purpose of going thither and returned home yet nevertheless she on the day appointed for the Assembly call'd over the Names of These who were summon'd and such as did not answer to their Names she outlawed Erskin seeing what little Credit was to be given to her Promises and fearing to be seized on by Force had withdrawn himself and found the Nobles of Strathearn Angus and Merns yet in a Body though doubting of the Faith of the Queen They finding by his Discourse what they suspected before that the Queen's Rage was unappeaseable and that the Matter could no longer be dissembled prepared themselves against open Force Matters standing in this ticklish Posture Knox assembled the Multitude at Perth and made such an excellent Sermon to them that he set their Minds already moved all in a Flame After Sermon the greatest part of the Audience went home to Dinner but a few of the meaner sort such as were also inraged with Anger and Indignation staid behind in the Church Amongst them a poor Priest thinking to try how they stood affected prepared himself to say Mass and drew out a large Frame or rather Idol-case in which was contained the History of many Saints curiously ingraven A Young-Man standing by cried out That what he did was intolerable upon which the Priest gave him a Box on the Ear the Youth took up a Stone and thinking to hit the Priest the Blow
to take Arms against me For these Reasons when I saw That if I would support my Imperial State I must incline my Heart to Marriage and that my Subjects would not bear a foreign King And that amongst my Subjects there was none for Splendor of Family for Prudence and Valour and other Endowments of Body and Mind could exceed or so much as bear a comparison with him whom I have now married I prevail'd with my self to comply with the universal Decree of my Estates of which I spake before After my Constancy was batter'd by these Reasons partly by Force partly by Flattery he obtain'd a Promise from me to marry him which having done I could not obtain from him who fear'd lest my Mind should change to put off the Celebration of it that so I might have had time to communicate the Matter to the King and Queen of France and to my other Friends beyond Sea but as he audaciously began so that he might arrive at the top of his Desires he never gave over to solicite me by Arguments and earnest Entreaties until at last he compell'd Me not without Force to put an end to the Matter begun and that at such a Time and Way as seem'd to him most convenient to his Purpose And upon this head I cannot dissemble but must needs say that I was treated by him otherwise than I would or than I had deserv'd of him for he was more solicitous to satisfy them by whose Consent tho extorted from them at the beginning he judges himself to have accomplish'd his Desires he having deceiv'd Them as well as my self than to gratify Me by considering what was fit and creditable for me to do who had been always brought up in the Rites and Institutions of our Religion from which he nor no Man living shall ever divert Me. In this Point I confess tho I acknowledg my Error yet I much desire that the King the Queen his Mother my Uncle nor other Friends of mine would not expostulate with him or rub up old Sores For now Matters being so compleated that they cannot be undone I take all things in the best part and as he is indeed my Husband I resolve now to look upon him as one that hereafter I will Love and Reverence and they who profess themselves my Friends must needs carry the same Respects to him since now we are join'd in the indissoluble Bond of Matrimony Tho in some things he hath carried himself something negligently and almost rashly yet I impute it to his immoderate Love towards Me and do therefore intreat the King Queen my Uncle and other Friends to respect him as much as if all had been manag'd by their Advice even to this very Day and on the other side We promise in his behalf that he will gratify them in all things which they shall desire This was the Remedy provided against the bad Reports of the World abroad but against Domestick Tumults they provided after they had fixed those by Gifts at present and Promises for the future who were either Perpetrators or Partizans in the King's Murder To make a Combination of the greater part of the Nobility if that were done they might undervalue the rest or if they remain'd obstinate cut them off Whereupon they assembled many of the Nobility and propounded to them the Heads of the Capitulations they were to swear The sum was That they should maintain the Queen and Bothwel and all their Actings and on the other side They were to Favour and Countenance the Concerns of Those of the Confederates there present A great many were persuaded before and so subscribed the rest perceiving it was bad to conspire and as dangerous to refuse they subscribed too Murray was sent for that his Authority which was great for his Virtue might give some Countenance to the thing As he was on his Journy he was advis'd by his Friends to consult his own Safety and not to lie in Seton House where the Queen and the chief Conspirators were but rather to lodge in some Friends House in a Village hard by He answer'd That was not in his Power but come what would he would never assent to any flagitious Act the rest he left to God To the Courtiers who were appointed by the Queen to debate with him about subscribing the League He answer'd That he could not justly nor honestly make this League with the Queen whom in all things else t was his Duty to obey That he was reconcil'd to Bothwel by the Queens Mediation Whatever he had then promis'd he would observe to a tittle neither was it Equitable or Good for the Commonwealth that he should make another League or Combination with him or any other Man The Queen accosted him more kindly than ordinary for some Days and promis'd to tell him her Mind in all things yet she could not speak out for Shame and therefore try'd his Mind by her Friends They also perceiving his Constancy in that which was Right openly confest what 't was they desir'd And seeing they did no good by their underhand Ways at length Bothwel set upon him and after much Discourse told him That he did that Fact not willingly nor for himself alone His Countenance frown'd at that Word whereupon Bothwel having sometimes by serious Discourse sometimes by terms near to railing driven the nail as far as it would go at last endeavour'd to cast in Seeds of Discord and to urge him to a Quarrel He on the contrary answer'd moderately gave no just occasion for a Combate yet kept himself upright and did not depart in the least from his Resolution When Murray was versant in these straits for some Days he ask'd leave of the Queen that seeing there was no great need of him at Court he might have Liberty to retire to St. Andrews or into Murray for he was willing to go out of the Way That he might not be suspected to be the Author of the Tumults which he foresaw would arise When he could not obtain that nor yet remain at Court without great and apparent Danger He at last got leave to travel but upon Condition not to stay in England but to pass either through Flanders into Germany or whither else he pleas'd To go to Flanders was all one as to cast himself into Evident Danger and therefore with much adoe he obtain'd leave to pass thrô England into France and from thence whither he pleas'd himself The Queen being thus freed of a Free-hearted and popular Person endeavours to remove the other Obstacles to her Tyranny and Those were such as would not willingly subscribe to her Wickedness or were not like easily to acquiesce in her Designs But she had a special hatred against those who perceiving her to be no better affected towards her Son than towards her former Husband made an Association at Sterlin for no wicked Design but only to Defend the young Prince which his Mother desir'd to have
under the Power of his Father-in-Law As for him every Body knew that he would make away with the Child as soon as ever he had Opportunity so to do that so he might not Live to be a Revenger of his Fathers death nor to prevent his Children from the Crown The chief of that Combination were the Earls of Argyle Morton Marr Athol and Glencarn besides others of the same Order but inferior and next in Degree as Patrick Linsey and Robert Boyd with their Friends and Partners who had adjoin'd themselves to them But Argyle with the same Levity that he came in to them in a Day or Two discover'd their Designs to the Queen and Boyd was by large Promises wrought over to the contrary Party Next to these she suspected the Families of the Humes the Carrs and the Scots living by the Borders of England whose Power she sought by all means to lessen and for that there seem'd a just occasion to be offer'd For when Bothwel was preparing an Expedition into Liddisdale to make amends for the disgrace he had receiv'd there the Autumn before and also to get some Credit by his Arms to take off the envy of the King's Death all the chief of the Families in Teviotdale were commanded by the Queen to come in to the Castle of Edinburgh that there for some short time they might be secure as in free Custody upon pretence that they might not be led into an Expedition which did not seem likely to be successfully accomplish'd against their Wills and they also if at Liberty might disturb the design out of Envy and in their Absence she might inure the Clans to the Government of others and so by degrees wear off the Love of their old Patrons and Masters But they imagining that there was some deeper Project hid under that Command went home in the Night all except Andrew Carr who was commonly thought not ignorant of the Parricide and Walter Carr of Sesford a Man that by reason of his Innocent Life suspected nothing Hume being often summon'd by Bothwel to come to Court refus'd so to do as knowing the King's thoughts towards him yet notwithstanding the design for the Expedition proceeds and the Queen staid at Borthwick Castle about 8 Miles from Edinburgh In the mean time they who had united to defend the King being not ignorant of Bothwels intention towards him thought it necessary to proceed to Action not only for their own Security but also that by demanding Justice upon the Author of the King's Murder they might acquit the Scotish Name from the Infamy under which it lay amongst foreign Nations And therefore supposing the common People would follow their Motions they privately levy'd about 2000 Horse So that the Queen knew nothing of what was Acted till Hume came to Borthwick Castle vvith part of the Army and besieg'd Her and Bothwel together But the other Part of the Conspirators not coming in at the time appointed and he having not force enough to stop all Passages and was not so active neither as he might have been because the rest had neglected their Parts First Bothwel made his escape and after him the Queen in Mans apparel and went directly to Dunbar Athol was the occasion why his Associates came not in seasonably enough For he either amaz'd at the Greatness of the Undertaking or detain'd by his own sluggish Temper kept the rest at Sterlin until the Opportunity of the Service vvas lost yet that they might seem to have done something a great part of them were sent to besiege Edinburgh Iames Balfure vvas Governor of the Castle there put in by Bothwel as being a Partner in the Parricide and Author of or else Privy to all his Designs but when he saw he had no Pay for his Service and vvas not so vvell respected by the Tyrants as he expected for they had endeavour'd to take away the Command from him he drove out Those of the contrary Faction and brought the Castle under his sole Power he then promis'd the publick Vindicators of the Parricide That he would do them no hurt and was creating of Conditions how to deliver it up There were then in the Town the Principal of the Queen's Faction Iohn Hamilton the Arch-bishop of St. Andrews George Gordon Earl of Huntly and Iohn Lesly Bishop of Ross They understanding that their Enemies were receiv'd into the Town flew to the Town-house and there offer'd themselves Captains to the Multitude to drive them out but very few coming in to them they were driven back to the Castle they were received into it by Balfure and a few days after were sent away safe a by-way For Balfure having not yet fully agreed with the other Side would not then cut off all his Hopes of Pardon from those of his Party The Town easily came into the Combination for it had been burden'd a little before with new Taxes from the Queen and in the publick Necessity they expected no Moderation from her Party and were unanimously offended with her Tyranny yea as oft as they had Liberty to express their Sentiments they cursed the Court-Wickedness with most grievous Execrations Matters being thus slowly carried by the Faction of the Nobles at Borthwick the Queen and Bothwel by the neglect of the Guards escaped by Night and with a small Retinue came to Dunbar where they had a well-fortify'd Castle to secure themselves in Thereupon there followed so great a change of things that they who were lately in great Despair now by the flocking in of those to them who either were Partners in their Evils or else followed the Shadow of the Royal Name grew strong enough as they thought to cope with and subdue their Adversaries On the other side the Vindicators of Liberty were driven to great Straits for to their great Disappointment there were but a few came in to so renown'd an Undertaking the Heat of the Vulgar as is usual quickly abating and a great part of the Nobility being very averse or at least standing aloof off expecting the Issue of the others Danger besides though they were superior in Number yet they wanted Artillery to take in Castles Seeing then no Issue of their Counsels at present Necessity in a manner compelling them they thought to return without effecting any thing But the Queen decided their Doubts for she taking Courage from the Numbers she had resolv'd with them to march for Leith to try her Fortune neer at hand imagining also That at her Coming greater Concourse would have been made to her and That her Boldness would strike Terror into her Enemies Besides the Success of former times had so elated her Spirit That she thought now hardly any Man would stand to look her in the Face This her Confidence was much heighten'd by her Flatterers and especially by Edmond Hayes a Lawyer he told her That all things were pervious to her Valour That her Enemies wanted Force and were at their Wits end and at the