the family of the Stewarts and is now in the Person of King Charles the Second His Majesties Title is Dei Gratia of Scotland England France and Ireland King defender of the Faith whom God long preserve in the Throne of his Ancestors upon the Death of a King there is no Inter-Regnum the next Heir is presently King the Coronation being only a solemn Instalment in that which was his right before before their Coronation they hold only convention of Estates but no Parliaments before they are Crowned A Convention of Estates is made up of the same Members that constitute a Parliament but can make no Laws only they can lay impositions on the Subjects They do not sit in State they have been most used before the Kings were Crowned the Lord Chancellor is president in the Convention of Estates as well as in Parliaments When a King is Crowned he swears the Oath appointed to be taken at the Coronation which before the Reformation was no other than that set down in the Roman Pontificial sworn by Kings for there is no provision made about it in our Law but at the Reformation it was enacted That all Kings at the time of their Coronation should make their faithful promise by Oath to govern according to Law and maintain the Protestant Religion c. which Oath is to be found in that Act of the first Parlia Jac. 6. C. 8. Anno 1567. Prerogatives of the Crown The Prerogatives of the Crown are great as Power of Peace and War the Power of raising and arming the Subjects the Power of the Mint the nomination of all Officers both of State and of War and of Justice except some Sheriffs that are such by Inheritance the Power of calling adjourning Prorogation is not in our Law and dissolving of Parliaments the giving the Votes of Parliament the Authority of Laws the executing of the Law and the pardoning of offences are wholly and only in the Crown Church Government But to these since His Majesties Happy Restauration great additions hath been made In the Reign of King James the sixth the Power of general Assemblies was raised very high by Law which occasioned the sad disaster in the Church and laid a foundation to all the late troubles of the State notwithstanding the Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Affairs was alwaies in the Crown since the Reformation yet it was pretended as contrary to Law for the King to introduce any thing into the Church without the consent of the general Assembly It was therefore enacted in Parliament Act 1. 2. Parl. held by the Duke of Lauderdale That the external Government and polity of the Church was wholly in the King's Power and that his Order sent to the Privy Council and published by them about all Ecclesiastical Matters Meetings and Persons were to be obeyed by his Subjects any Law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding So that in all matters that relate to the Church-Government the King's Power is absolute Militia The second point is concerning the Militia By the Antient Laws of Scotland all the Kings Subjects were to assist him in Wars upon which a great Enlargement of the King's Prerogative was grafted at last by two Acts of Parliament The Kingdom of Scotland offering to the King to Raise and Arm twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and to furnish them with forty daies Provision to march into any of His Majesties Dominions of Scotland England or Ireland for suppressing any Forein Invasions Intestine Trouble or Insurrection or for any other Service wherein His Majesties Honour Authority or Greatness may be concerned And these Forces by another Act are to give due Obedience to all such Directions as they shall receive from His Majesties Privy Council Trade A third point is The ordering and disposing of Trade with Forein Nations and the laying of Restraâ—nts and Impositions upon Forein Imported Commodities which is declared a Prerogative of the Crown With these Sacred Prerogatives is the Crown of Scotland invested not inferiour to any Crown in Europe for its Dignity and Power The King only and the King alone by His Royal Prerogative hath Power without Act of Parliament to declare War to make Peace make Leagues and Treaties with any Forein States give Commissions for levying Men and Arms by Sea or â—â— Land yea for pressing Men 〈…〉 The King only and the King alone disposes of all Magazines Ammunitions Castles Fortresses Ports Havens and publick Moneys The King appoints the Metal Weight purity and value of Money and by his Proclamation any Forein Coin may be lawful The King by His Royal Prerogative of His meer will and pleasure may convoke adjourn remove and dissolve Parliaments may to any Act passed in Parliament refuse to give without rendring any reason His Royal Assent without which a Bill is a meer Chimera May at His pleasure encrease the number of the Members of Parliament as daily experience testifieth by creating more Barons and bestowing priviledges upon other Towns to send Burgesses to Parliament Yea may call to Parliament by Writ whom His Majesty thinketh fit and may refuse to send His Writ to others that have sate in other Parliaments His Majesty alone hath the Choice and Nomination of all Magistrates Counsellours and Officers of State of all Bishops and other High Dignities of the Church the bestowing of all Honours both of the higher and lower Nobility of Scotland It is in the power of the King alone to chuse and name all Commanders and other Officers at Sea or Land The power of determining Rewards for Services and Punishments for Misdemeanours The King by His Letters Patent may erect new Counties Bishopricks Universities Cities Burroughs Hospitals Schools Fairs Markets Courts of Justice and Free Warants c. The King by His Prerogative hath power to enfranchise an Alien whereby he is enabled to purchase Houses or Lands and to bear some Offices Hath power to grant Letters of Mart or Reprisal No Proclamation can be made but by the King The King only can give Patents in case of Losses by Fire to receive the Charitable Benevolences of the people without which no man may ask it publickly The King by His Prerogative is Vltimus Haeres Regni and is the Receptacle of all Estates when no Heir appears For this cause all Estates for want of Heirs or by forfeiture fall to the King All Spiritual Benefices for want of Presentation by the Bishop are lapsed at last to the King all Mony Gold Silver Plate found and the owners not known belongs to the King so all Wayfs Strays Wrecks not granted by him or any former Kings all wast Ground or Land recovered from the Sea all â—ands of Aliens before Naturalization and all things whereof the property is not known all Gold and Silver Mines in whose Ground soever they are found The King's Power in the Church In the Church the Kings Prerogative is great he only hath the Patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen whom he
Oats as also Butter and Cheese There are likewise wild Ducks wild Geese c. and many sorts of Sea Foul for Raiment there is no want of very fine Wooll for the Country People are cloath'd with freezes fit to defend them in their work from the cold There is likewise plenty of Hemp and Flax as for linnen Cloath it is inferiour to none for its goodness For Building it wants not Stone Slate Alabaster Marble Morter nor Lime For firing Sea Coal or Pit Coal almost every where at reasonable rates and where this is wanting in some places Wood and in others Turfs or Peats Moreover Scotland produceth a great quantity of Tin Lead Copper Allom Salt Hops with several silver Mines it is counted to be richer under ground then above by reason of the Mines which when tryed yield much in their quantities of Ore Coyns As to the Coyns note that 13½ d. sterl makes a Mark or 13 Shil 4 d. Scotish 20 d. sterl is 20 Shil or a Scotish l. and 20 Shil sterl is 18 Scotish Marks Measures and Weights The Measures for length is the Ell and is about 4 per cent greater than the English Ell. The liquid Measures are such as are in England but of a double continent a Pint being almost two English Quarts and a Scotish Quart one English Gallon and so answerable Their dry Measures are likewise of a bigger continent than these in England Buildings The Churches are of solid Stone most of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches demolished and by what remains of some may be judged to have been very ample and magnificent The first Reformers being more zealous than prudent in rasing from the very foundation most of the renowned Abbies and Churches Houses in Cities are built with Stone and in many places covered with Slate The Houses of the Nobility and Gentry are well furnished being all built with Stone not much valuing Tile or Brick CHAP. II. Of the Laws of Scotland The Names of Kings the Kings Power and Prerogatives how long the Crown hath been in the Family of the Stewarts what a convention of Estates is THE Law of Scotland is made up of the Municipal and Civil Laws The Municipal consists either of Acts of Parliament or of the Custom and Practices of the Colledge of Justice which are held of no less force than Acts of Parliament and when neither of these contradicts the Civil Law is of force The Lawyers being generally great Civilians for they go to Leiden Poictiers or Bourges to study the Civil Law in which some are learned to a high degree Registers The Law of Scotland is easy and regular by reason of Registers which are so full that Titles are much more easily learned where those Registers are than can be done without them by this means Men are not cheated in buying or conveying Estates which may appear from these following instances 1. No man can have a right to any Estate but by his being seised of it which is done by the delivery of Earth and Stone upon which an instrument is formed called a Sasine and this must be register'd within 60 days otherwise it is of no force by which means all secret conveyances are cut off for if no Sasine be past upon them or if these be not put in the Registers which every one may search the conveyance is of no force 2. All Bonds have a clause in them for inserting them in the publick Registers and they being Register'd without any further action by a Charge of six days the Debtor must make payment otherwaies Writs called Letters of Horning Caption and Poynding are given out by the first of which the party is under outlawery and Rebellion and forfeits to the King his Personal Estate and if he continues a year under it the liferent of his real Estate in which the Creditor is to be prefer'd for his interest the rest goes into the Exchequer By the Letters of Caption the party is seized on and put in Prison nor is his House a place of security but may be searched for him by the Letters of poynding the Debtors Goods may be distrained wherever they can be found A third instance is that any Creditor may serve a Writ on his Debtor called Letters of Inhibition by which he can make no disposition of his goods or Estate till the party be satisfied and is null and to no effect that he doth after if these Letters be returned Register'd within 21 days after they are served otherwaies they have no force thus this ancient Kingdom is govern'd by the Civil Law as in many other things might be instanced by which they securely enjoy what they have or may purchase The Kingdom of Scotland hath been govern'd by Kings in as long a Succession as any Nation in the World as by this ensuing Catalogue of the Kings may appear each of them lineally succeeding others since Fergusius the first King in the year from the Creation of the World 3641. Fergusius Feritharis Mainus Dornadilla Nothatus Rutherus Reutha Thereus Josina Finnanus Durstus Evenus 1. Gillus nothus Evenus 2. Ederus Evenus 3. Metellanus Caratacus Corbredus Dardanus Corbredus 2. Galdus Cog. Luctacus Mogaldus Conarus Ethodius 1. Satrael Donaldus 1. Ethodius 2. Athirco Nathalocus Findochus Donaldus 2. Donaldus 3. Crathlinthus Fincormachus Romachus Angusianus Fethelmachus Eugenius 1. Fergusius 2. Eugenius 2. Dongardus Constantinus 1. Congallus 1. Goranus Eugenius 3. Congallus 2. Kinnatollus Aidanus Kennethus Eugenius 4. Ferchardus 1. Donaldus 4. Ferchardus 2. Malduinus Eugenius 5. Eugenius 6. Amberkelethus Eugenius 7. Mordacus Etfinus Eugenius 8. Fergusius 3. Salvathius Aihajus Congallus Dongallas Alpinus Kennethus 2. Donaldus 5. Constantinus 2. Ethus Gregorius Donaldus 6. Constantinus 3. Milcolumbus 1. Indulfus Duffus Culenus Kennethus 3. Constantinus 4. Cog. Calvus Grimus Milcolumbus 2. Donaldus Milcolumbus 3. Donaldus Banus Duncanus Edgarus Alexander 1. Cog. Acer David 1. Milcolumbus 4. Guilielmus Alexander 2. Alexander 3. Joannes Balliolus Robertus Brussius David 2. Edw. Balliolus Robertus 2. Robertus 3. Jacobus 1. Jacobus 2. Jacobus 3. Jacobus 4. Jacobus 5. Henricus Stuartus cum Maria Stuarta JACOBUS 6. Carolus 1. Carolus 2. In all 109. The King is an absolute and unaccountable Monarch and as the Law calls him a free Prince of a Sovereign Power having as great Liberties and Prerogatives by the Laws of this Realm and priviledge of his Crown and Diadem as any other King or Potentate whatsoever so that is deliver'd as a maxim in the heads of our Law That o all jurisdiction stands and consists in the Kings Person by reason of his Royal Authority and Crown and is competent to no Subject but flows and proceeds from the King having supream jurisdiction and is given and committed by him to his Subjects as he pleases which clearly demonstrates his Royal Prerogative The Crown descends by Inheritance the Heir female not being excluded and to this day the undoubted Right to it has been above three hundred years in
hath not first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent He is the nursing Father of the Church the King hath Power to call a National Synod and by his Commissioners to make constitutions relating to the Government and polity of the Church This National Synod was stiled the General Assembly which according to its Constitution and Authority setled in King James the sixths minority was made up of two Ministers Commissioners from every Presbytery and one lay Elder a Commissioner from every Royal Burrough one from every University one fâ—om the King These had the Supream Authority about aâ—l Church-matters How much trouble this Assembly General bred King James the sixth and the pretentions the Church made afterward the sad desolations of the Church of Scotland in these times do sufficiently bear witness A shadow of this still remains for the Supream Ecclesiastical Court is declared to be a National Synod made of Bishops and Deans and two Ministers from every Presbytery one of whom is of the Bishops nomination and a Commissioner from every University yet nothing is to be proposed but by the King or his Commissioner nor can any thing that they do be of force till it be ratified by the King but of this Synod their is no need being the King's Supremacy is so large it is evident that the King is over all Persons as well in Ecclesiasticks as Civil Supream From the King of Scotland there is no appeal in Ecclesiastical Affairs to the Bishop of Rome as it is in other principal Kingdoms of Europe There is no appeal in civil Affairs as in other Dominions of Christendom nor in either Ecclesiastical or Civâ—l to the Peopâ—e who in themselves oâ— by their Representatives in Parliament were ever subordinate to the King The King being the only Soveraign and Supream Head is furnish'd with plenary Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction to render Justice to every Member within his Dominions He may be properly call'd as all great Princes Gods Vice gerent being so much Majesty and Power is represented by him whereby the People have so much the higher esteem and more reverend awfulness of him for if that fails nothing can be expected but confusion impiety and calamity The Ancient Christians out of an high respect to their Christian Kings and Emperors used to attribute the Titles of God though imperfectly and analogically in them yet essentially and perfectly only in God and the good Christians of these times out of their excess of respect were wont to swear by the Majesty of the Emperour as Joseph once by the life of Pharoah some writers of that Age seem to justifie it as being done only to beget a respect in these times in the hearts of the People for their Kings The King is not subject to Death because he is a Corporation in himself that liveth for ever All Inter-Regna being unknown in Scotland the same moment that one King dies the next Heir is King fully and absolutely without any Coronation Ceremony or Act to be done The King is every where in all His Courts of Justice in all His Palaces therefore it is that all His Subjects stand bare in the Presence-Chamber wheresoever the Chair of State is placed though the King be many miles distant from thence By his Prerogative of pardoning whom the Law hath condemned the King is in a manner invested with Omnipotency by raising men from Death to Life Can create to the highest Dignity and annihilate the same at pleasure All punishments proceed from him in his Courts of Justice and it is not lawful for any Subject to revenge himself In consideration of these and other transcendent Excellencies no King in Christendom nor other Potentate receives from Hâ—s Subjects more Reverence Honour and Respect than the King of Scotland All His people at their first Addresses kneel to him all persons not the Prince nor the Heir apparent excepted stand bare in the presence of the King and in the Presence-Chamber though in the King's absence The King 's only Testimony of any thing done in his presence is of as high a nature and credit as any Record and in all Writs sent forth for dispatch he useth no other Witness but himself viz. Teste meipso CHAP. III. Of Succession and the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland THE King of Scotland hath Right to the Crown by Inheritance and the Laws and Customs of the Kiâ—gdom upon the Death of the King the next of kindred though born out of the Dominions of Scotland or born of Parents not Subjects of Scotland is immediately King before any Proclamation Coronation publication or consent of Peers or people The Crown descends from Father to Son and his Heirs for want of Sons to the Eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughters to the Brother and his Heirs and for want of a Brother to the Sister and her Heirs The Salique Law or Custom of France hath here no more force than it had anciently among the Jews or in Spain and other Hereditary Kingdoms The Salique Law is of force only among the French Turks and Barbarians and hath been so of a long time At the Death of the King die not only the Offices of the Court but all Commissions granted to Judges In the King's Infancy a fit person of the Nobility is made choice of in Parliament who by nature or alliance hath most interest in the preservation of the Life and Authority of the Infant In Scotland the King being absent by His Majesties Commission the Lord High Commissioner to whom the King commits the grand and weighty Affairs of the Kingdom doth by Instructions from His Majesty regulate the Affairs and redresses the Grievances of the Kingdom Of the present King of Scotland The King now Reigning is Charles the Second of that name his name of Baptism Charles in the German Tongue signifies one of a masculine strength or virtue Surname His surname is Stuart which first by Office was given to Walter Father to Robert King of Scotland from whom our present King is descended he was grand Senescal or High Steward or Stuart of Scotland as bearing such an Office by a long and vulgar errour it hath so prevailed that it was accounted the surname of the Kings of Scotland and of many Families descended from them The Genealogy The King now Reigning is Son to King Charles the Martyr and the Princess Henrietta Maria Daughter of King Henry the Great of France from which two Royal Stocks he hath in his veins all the Royal 〈◊〉 of â—â—rope concentred he is descenâ—â—â—â—â—neally lawfully from Scotish Kings for almost 2000 years the King now Reigning the 109th so that for Royal Extraction and long line of just descent His Majesty now Reigning excels all the Monarchs of all the Christian if not of the whole world Birth He was born the 29th of May 1630. at the
round And a Dukes Coronet only Leaves without Pearls They are more especially distinguisht by their Robes of Parliament by their several Guards on their Mantles or short Cloaks about their shoulders A Baron hath but two Guards a Viscount two and a half an Earl three a Marquess three and a half and a Duke four Precedence Touching the Places or Precedences among the Nobility of Scotland it is to be observed that Dukes amongst the Nobility have the first place then Marquesses Dukes Eldest Sons Earls Marquesses Eldest Sons Dukes Younger Sons Viscounts Earls Eldest Sons Marquesses Younger Sons Barons Viscounts Eldest Sons Earls Younger Sons Barons Eldest Sons Viscounts Younger Sons Barons Younger Sons The Princes of the Blood viz. the Sons Grandsons Brothers Uncles or Nephews of the King and no further having the Precedency of all the Nobility Yea the natural or illegitimate Sons of the King after they are acknowledged by the King take Precedency of all the Nobles under those of the Blood Royal. Moreover observe that all Nobles of the same degree take place according to the seniority of their Creation all Dukes Eldest Sons have the title of Earls and the Eldest Son of an Earl hath the title of the Earls Barony and sometimes of the Viscountry according to the Patent Of His Majesties Privy Council in the Kingdom of Scotland The Privy Council is chiefly imployed about publick Affairs and are Judges of Riots and any disturbance given to the Peace of the Kingdom Antiently the Lords oâ— the Session were the King's Council and so are stiled Lords of Counciâ— and Session The Power of the Privy Council hath been most raised since King James got the Crown of England that by reason of the King 's necessary absence from Scotland the King hath lodged much of His Power with His Privy Council Lawyers do plead the Causes of Riots before them and when sentence is to be given every Privy Councillor gives his Vote and the major Vote carries it Lords and others of His Majesties present Privy Council of SCOTLAND His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany c. John Duke of Rothes Lord Chancellor Alexander Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate John Duke of Athol Lord Privy Seal John Duke of Lauderdale Presid of the Council William Marquess of Douglass James Marquess of Montross Alexander Earl of Murray Secretary of State Archbald E. of Argile John E. of Errol George E. of Marischal Charles E. of Marr. E. of Linlithgow E. of Pearth Patrick E. of Strathmore Robert E. of Roxburgh E. of Queensbury E. of Ancram James E. of Airly E. of Balcarras William E. of Dondonald E. of Kintore E. of Broadalbine Archbald Lord Lorn John Lord Livingstone John Lord Bishop of Edinburgh James Lord Elphinstone John Lord Rosse Sir Charles Maitland of Haâ—tone Treasurer Deputy Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick L. Clerk Register Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh L. Advocate Richard Maitland Esq L. Justice Clerk Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Sessions Sir George Gordon of Haddo Sir George Mackenzy of Tarbot John Drummond of Londy Lieutenant General Dalziel Sir George Kinnard of Rossy Sir John Wachop of Nidry Of the Supreme Court of Judicature The Supreme Court of Judicature about the Property of the Subject is called the Colledge of Justice or the Session which was antiently an ambulatory Court but was settled as it is now by King James the â—ifth Anno Christi 1532. to consist of fourteen who are called Senatours of the Colledge of Justice or Lords of Council and Session and a President to whom are added the Lord Chancellor and four Lords of the Nobility or as they usually call them Lords Extraordinary The Extraordinary Lords have no Salary and are not obliged to Attendance but when they come they have a Vote This Court sits from the first of June till the last of July and from the first of November till Christmas-Eve and from the first of January till the last of February But now by Act of Parliament the Summer Sessions are taken away and in stead thereof are henceforth to be kept in March They sit from Nine of the Clock in the Morning till Twelve all the daies of the week except Sunday and Monday There is an Outer-house and an Inner In the Outer-house there is a Bench where one of the Senators sits a week and all of them except the President have their Turns in it who hears all Causes originally and where the case is clear he gives sentence But if it be difficult or if either party desires it he reports it to the rest of the Senators who either send out their Answer by him or if it be very intricate and the parties or either of them desire it do appoint it to be heard before themselves This is a Court of great dispatch But besides the Judge upon the Bench there is a side Bar to which one of the Judges comes out by turns weekly as in the former and receives and answers all Petitions and Bills The Inner-house where all the rest of the Senators sit is a Court of great State and Order The Senators sit in a semicircle in Robes under them sit their Clerks who write all the most material heads of all that is pleaded at the Bar where the pleadings are long and very learned When the the Senatours have after all the parties are removed considered their arguments they give their sentence and the major part carries it Their final sentence determines all business in their Court there lying no Appeal from them only the Parliament as the Supreme Court may review and repeal their sentence their decisive sentence are called Decreets from the Latine Decreta Senators of the present Colledge of Justice The Lords Extraordinary The Lord Chancellor The Duke of Athol The D. of Lauderdale The Earl of Murray The Earl of Argile The Lords Ordinary not Noblemen Sir James Dalrumpell Lord President of the Session Charles Maitland of Hatton Sir George Mackenzy of Rosehaugh Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick Sir James Foulis of Collington Sir John Lockart of Castlehill Sir Robert Nairn of Strathurd Sir James Foulis of Redford Sir David Nevoy of Nevoy Sir David Balfour of Torret Sir David Falconer of Newton Sir John Gordon of Pitmedden Sir Roger Hogg of Harcus Sir Andrew Birny of Saline Sir George Gorden of Haddo Of the Justice Court The next Supreme Court is the Justice Court where all Criminals are tryed It consists of a Lord Justice General and of a Lord Justice Clerk who is his Assistant The Earl of Argile had this Office by Inheritance but King Charles the First agreed with the said Earl and gave him the hereditary Justiciariship of of the High lands for which he laid down his pretensions to the other The Lord Justice General is not obliged to serve in person but may do it by Deputies and he commonly named two This Order was changed Anno 1669. and by Act of Parliament four Judges were appointed to sit
Campo-bello or Campbell Turgot Prior of Durham and B. of St. Andrews wrote the Lives of King Malcolm Canmoir and of his Queen Margaret Liber Sconae a Chronicle written by the Monks of Scoone Liber Pasletensis The Black Book of Paislay a Chronicle written by the Monks of Paislay Liber Pluscartensis a Chronicle written by the Monks of Pluscardy One Blind Henry wrote the History of Sir William Wallace in Scottish Meeter John Barbour Archdeacon of Aberdeen did write the Life of King Robert Bruce in Scottish Meeter John Major Provost of St. Salvator's Colledge in St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation William Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth or Boyes Principal of the King's Colledge of Aberdeen wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the First continued till the Reign of King James the Sixth by John Ferrerius a Piemontoise a Monk of Pluscardy John Balenden Archdeacon of Murray did translate Boyes History into English George Buchanan Praeceptor to King James the Sixth wrote the History of the Nation till the year 1572. Robert Johnstone wrote a Continuation of the Scottish History from the year 1572. till the year 1624. in Latine Folio John Leslie Bishop of Ross wrote the History of the Nation till the year 138 Raphael Holinshed wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the Sixth continued by Francis Thin Will. Cambden wrote a Description of the Kingdom John Dempster wrote an Introduction to the Scottish History David Chalmer wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Saints David Hume of Godscroft did write the History of the Earls of Douglass and Angus William Drummond of Hawthornden did write the Lives of the Five King James's William Sanderson wrote the Lives of Queen Mary King James the Sixth and King Charles the First John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews did write the History of the Church of Scotland from the first Plantation of the Christian Faith therein till the Death of King James the Sixth The Office of the Chancellor of State conferred upon him by that glorious Martyr King Charles the First he discharged to the satisfaction of his Royal Master and the advantage of the Church He was a person of rare Ornaments and in all things compleatly qualified for his Imployment yet he did not escape the hard measure which other Loyal Subjects tasted of for by the Covenanters he was forced to retire into England where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth He ended his daies in a good old Age and was honourably Interred in Westminster Abby Anno 1639. after he had governed the See twenty four years George Wishart Dr. of Divinity and Bishop of Edinburgh did write the Actions of James Marquess of Montross Robert Gordon of Stralogh did write the Theatrum Scotiae being a description of the whole Kingdom with the Maps of every particular Country Printed by Janson Bleaw at Amsterdam a very excellent work The mercenary Printer did him a double injury first in printing with his Book Buchanan's Seditious Pamphlet De Jure Regni apud Scotos it being sufficiently known that the Author was of no such principle but alwaies Loyal Then in dedicating that work to the Usurper O. Cromwell whereas the Author sent over to the Printer a Dedication of his Book to His most Sacred Majesty at that time Prince of Wales and the Copy of that Dedication written with his own hand is yet in the Custody of his Son the Reverend James Gordon Parson of Rothimay This much was necessary to be said in vindication of that worthy Gentleman who was one of the most Learned persons of the Age he lived in If any think that this Treatise hath not swelled to that bulk that might be expected from an undertaking of this nature having so large a Subject to treat of let this suffice for an Answer that the several calamities that have happened in this Antient Kingdom may justly serve for an Apology when it is to be considered that after the Death of Alexander the Third of that Name King of Scotland and all his Sons which in one years space died of a pestilent Fever which was never before known in this Kingdom his Daughter being Queen of Norway died in the same year who left behind her a Daughter whom after the Death of the King and his Sons the Estates sent for to this effect Two Ambassadors were dispatcht to Norway to take care of the safe conveyance of this Young Lady the only hope the Kingdom relyed on It was not long after these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing News that this Lady was dead likewise Consider what fears and sorrows at the hearing of these News did perplex the Subjects of this Kingdom So many deaths falling out in the Royal Family did presage great calamities to ensue For as the Loss of so worthy a King was great so their Fears was no less because of the uncertainty of the Succession Many Competitors six they were in number claiming the Inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship It must needs be supposed that they did divide the Realm and so beget a Civil War yet these who were trusted with the management of Affairs during the Inter Reign did by their Mediation work them to a Compromise and to remit the decision of the Controversie to King Edward the First of England a Prince of long Experience and much respected in that time For this purpose divers Gentlemen were sent to King Edward who at that time was in France to inform him of the inconveniencies that were feared to fall out in the Kingdom of Scotland and the course they had taken to prevent the same intreating his help for quieting the State King Edward glad to have an hand in the making of a King in Scotland dimitted them with many kind expressions of his kindness to the Kingdom assigning a Dyet for the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed at which Dyet the King was present at this meeting there was no decision all the Competitors except two to wit John Baliol and Robert Bruce were ordered to cease from their claim Of Baliol and Bruce an Oath was taken that they should abide and stand by the Sentence the King should pronounce The like Oath was taken by the Prelates Nobles and other Commissioners who swore to accept of him for their King that would be tryed to have the best Right and for the greater assurance all their Seals were appended to the Compromise Five years and some more were spent before the Controversie was brought to an end At last K. Edw. returned to Berwick and calling the Twenty Four to whom the important Affairs were committed they were shut up in the Church there to debate the Matter none being permitted to have access unto them he himself now and then went in to know how their proceedings went and perceiving the greater part