attempt on Berwick By this time Iohn of France was Prisoner to Edward whom the Scots courted as full of Honour and Victory for the delivery of their own who by the Mediation of the Pope for a great sum of Money was redeemed and set free after eleven years Captivity and at his Rerurn punished some of those who had deserted him at Durham and endeavoured to remove the succession of the Crown from Robert Stuart to whom he was some years after reconciled The last five years of his reign were spent in appeasing domestick fewds and are notable for a great inundation and plague but things quieting in the year 1363. he retired into a Monastery and declared in case of his decease Edward or his Son for their King This whether it was caused by some former Oath or from weariness of War or design of quiet to Both Nations which being universally disliked by the Estates it was like to breed a dissention which his wisdome closed up All was now quiet but the Highlanders whom he appeased by their mutual discords when Fate in the 47. year of his age the 39. of his Reign came to Eternal Rest 1370. in the Castle of Edinburgh in the year 1370. By this King and his competitor Baliol who went out in the snuff we may in part measure the interests and advantages of Princes the one by the assistance of a Potent Neighbour did unexpected things yet failed in Conduct and Management the other wanting neither spirit nor vigilancy became a Captive and ineffectuall Prince which may give us occasion to observe That though Travel do best inrich the mind with variety of observation yet it is not so successfull in Princes for their Minds not being exempted from humane weakness may draw in tinctures and prejudices not consisting with the humors of them they are to govern and by knowing abroad grow strangers at home neglecting to study the humor of the People they ore set over the disquisition of which is certainly the greatest Mystery and Chain of Government The People being an unruly Beast easily led impossible to be forc'd and the Magick that so powerfully forces them no other than a piercing discerning flattering or eluding their Humour This was Davids Fundamental fault which like Error in the first concoction multiplied it self through the rest of his Reign He was bred a Stranger knew not the disposition of his people met with troublesome Times and a Formidable Enemy and therefore he may very well be charged with three oversights First after three not unfortunate incursions into England then imployed by France not to rest there with his proportion of glory and prey But secondly By the allurement of the French King and that upon a score of Friendship whereas Friendships of Princes and Private Men are different the one being particular the other diffusive and concerning Millions besides that Princes are to consider the interest of their States not their private inclinations And for the third To make an invasion when he left so high discontents in a turbulent people behind besides those of his own that by force obligation or interest were devoted to a victorious Enemy and assured of his own Countrey was very imprudential both in going to find out an Enemy whose force he knew not and leaving behind him Subjects whose malice and force he understood not But no more to disturb his ashes Had he had another Countrey another Enemy another Education and other Circumstances of Time he might have been as glorious as any of his Predecessors it is the more probable though the Change of Time does often heighten and aggravate the Vices of Princes there is nothing either Cruel or Vicious recorded of him So that even in the severest sense we may dismiss him with this Character That he rather was unhappy than sloathful in his Government This mans eyes being for ever closed the Nobility appointed a meeting for the accepting of ROBERT STUART For their King as he was formerly designed who appeased the dissention of the Earl Dowglas by marrying his Daughter to the Earls Son His first two years were spent in making incursions upon the English the Kings wife dying in the next year he maries Elizabeth Moor his own Concubine the better to legitimate the children he had by her and them he honoured with Titles and declared his Successors two years after an attempt is made on Berwick but in vain and Talbots Expedition frustrated but a Truce for three years was concluded which being expired little quarrels awoke again and occasioned the Duke of Lancaster to be sent thither with a great Army and Navy though not with the same fortune at Sea as at Land which occasioned the return of the Duke who was pursued by some small depredations of William Dowglas though his Son of the same name and some others during a Treaty made an inroad as far as Newcastle Robert having assistance from France is forced to retire especially upon the news of Richards Grand-child and Successor to Edward the third marching with a great Army fac'd the Scots with an unbloody bravery The Scots designing to besiege Roxburgh but quarrelling with the French it came to nothing which occasioned so much dissention that it arrived at this pass That the French should pay for their plunder and be dismist their general remaining as hostage for their satisfaction whilst William Dowglas who had maried the Kings Daughter makes an expedition into Ireland plunders Kerlingford and knowing his Father to be imployed against the English hastens to his assistance The attempt was in affront of Richard then struggling with Domestick difficulties But they of Scotland being unable to live without War and Rapine they were resolved to make a business of it and because the King and his eldest Son were infirm came to choose privately the second for their Leader but this being discovered by the English they altered their Resolution and resolved to divide themselves one by the way of Berwick the other of Carlisle the former party led by Dowglas gave a defeat to the Lord Percy with the loss of his Life the other not having the like Success who impatiently fighting before the comming up of the Bishop of Durham's Forces lost his own and indangered the others This happened in the year 1388. at Otterbâ—rn in Northumberland The King being spent with age makes Robert his second Son his Vice-Roy his eldest being unactive who to affront Peircey that seemed to lessen the loss led in an Army but after facing returned with some little depredation Soon after a Peace was mediated between the French and English in which Robert without consent of a Parliament would not be comprized But his doubts were all resolved by death in the year 1390. when he had lived 74. years and reigned 19. being followed to the grave with such acts of Barbarisin as have been frequent in that place He is a Prince we find little said of as to his person and
possibly best to be considered in the Negative We find many things done by his Captains not by him which notwithstanding we may rather attribute to the stirring and violent humour of that age than either his age want of Genius or love of quiet yet herein appears somewhat of his Character that meeting with turbulent times and a martial people he met not with any Insurrections and was a gainer and though he did it by other hands we must suppose that their Motions were directed by his Brain that communicated Motion and Spirits unto them since the Minds of Kings like the first Mover turn all about yet are not perceived to move and it was no humane wit said their hearts were unscruitable The same year his Eldest Son Iohn was called to succeed who thinking that name ominous to Kings and there wanted not examples as of him of England and him of France and fancying somewhat of the felicity of the two former Roberts was crowned King by the name of ROBERT the III. This man being unactive the weight of the Government rested upon his Brother Robert The first seven years of his Reign past in a calm with England by reason of two Truces but not without some fierce fewds among his Subjects one whereof was very memorable between Thomas Dunbar Earl of Murray and Iames Lindsay Earl of Crawford and was most high insomuch that seeing the difficulty of reducing them he resolved to make this proposition to them That 300. of each side should try it by dint of Sword before the King the conquered to be pardoned and the Conquerour advanced This being agreed on a place was appointed on the Northside of St. Iohnstons but when they came to join battel there was one of one side missing whom when his party could not supply and none would relinguish the other a Tradesman stept out and for half a French Crown and promise of maintenance for his life filled up the company The fight was furious but none behaved himself more furiously than the Mercinary Champion who they say was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side there remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the shock of the other threw himself into the Tey and escaped By this means the fiercest of two Clanns being cut off the remainder being headless 1398. were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes a title then first brought into Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of whose reign though the Truce was not ended the seeds of War began to bloom out and upon this occasion George Earl of March had betroathed Elizabeth his Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Dowglas not brooking this gets a vote of Parliament for revocation of this mariage and by the power of Robert the Kings Brother made a mariage between Mary his Daughter and David and giving a greater sum got it confirmed in Parliament The Earl of March nettled at this demands redress but being not heard leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Peircey an utter Enemy of the Dowglasses wasts March and especially depradating the lands of the Dowglasses The Scots declare the Earl of March an enemy and send to demand him up of the English who deny to surrender him This made Hot-spur Peircey and March make several incursions into Scotland till at last they were repulsed at Linton-Bridge by the Dowglasses 1400. This was about the year four hundred at which time War was denounced and the English entered with a great Army took Haddington and Lieth and laid siege to Edenburgh Castle David the Kings Son being within it which the new Governour ambitiously delaying to relieve the English satisfyed with the terrour they brought retired again After which March did not cease his little incursions which to be revenged of Dowglas divided his forces into two Squadrons the first to Halyburton who returned from Barmborough with some prey the second and greater to Patrick Hepburn who unwarily roving with his prey was set on by the English and with all the youth of Lothian put to the Sword To revenge this Dowglas gets together 10000. men and passing beyond Newcastle met with young Peircey c. who at Homildon a little village in Northumberland in the year 1401 gave him and his Party such a considerable defeat as Scotland had not receiv'd the like for a long time This put Peircey in hopes to reduce all beyond the Fryth but the troubles at home withdrew him from that design By this Annabel the Queen dying David her Son who by her means had been restrained broke out into his natural disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and Luxury Complaint being brought to his Father he commits him to his Brother the Governor whose secret design being to root out the off-spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Falkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one woman thrusting in some thin Oaten Cakes at a chink another giving him milk out of her papps through a Trunck But both these being discovered the youth being forced to tear his own members dyed of a multiplied death which murder being whispered to the King and the King enquiring after it was so abused by the false representations of his Brother that grief and imprecations was all the Relief he had left him as being now retired sickly to Bote-Castle and unable to punish him The King being solicitous of Iames his younger Son is resolved by the example of the good usage of David to send him to Charls the sixt of France having taken Shipping at the Basse as he past by the Promontory of Flamborough whether forc'd by tempest or that he was Seasick he was forced to land taken by the English and detained notwithstanding the allegation of a Truce of eight years and his Fathers Letters And though it came to the Privy-Council to be debated yet his detention was carried in the Affirmative This advantage he had by his Captivity that he was well and carefully educated but the News so struck his Father that he had almost presently dyed but being carried into his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and sorrow he shortned his life three daies longer viz. to the first of April 1406. â—e was a man of a goodly and a comely personage one rather sit for the tranquillity of a private life than the agitations of Royalty and indeed such an one whose Reigns do little else but fill up Chronologies with the number of their years Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour a man of parts able enough for that employment but a man of such a violent and inveterate ambition as would sacrifise any thing to make it fuel to it self Soon
Conspiracy a Rebellion and in general by them all they were ready in Arms to maintain their factions and if upon suspition the King should attach any being secretly joyned in a league He could hardly have medled with their persons without a Civil War which in regard of his Engagement with England he endeavoured to spare perplexed pensive sad he cometh to Perth stayeth in the Covent of the Dominicans named the Black-Friers a place not far from the Town Wall endeavouring so secretly as was possible to finde out the Conspiracy But his close practising was not unknown to the Conspirators as that there was more peril to resolve then execute a Treason a distance of time between the Plot and execution discovering and overthrowing the enterprise Hereupon they determine to hazard on the mischief before tryal or remedy could be thought upon The Conspirators were Robert Graham Uncle and Tutor to Miles Graham Robert Stuart Nephew to Walter Earl of Athole and one of the Kings sworn Domesticks But he who gave motion to all was the Earl of Athole himself the Kings Fathers Brother whose quarrel was no less then a pretended title and claim to the Crown which he formed and alledged thus His Brother David and he were procreated by King Robert the second on his first wife Eupheme Ross daughter to the Earl of Ross and therefore ought and should have been preferred to the succession of the Crown before King Iohn named Robert and all the Race of Elizabeth Moor who was but his second wife and next them but Heirs to King Robert the second They were the eldest sons of King Robert after he was King Iohn and Robert being born when he was but in a private State and Earl of Strathern for it would appear that as a Son born after his Father hath lost his Kingdom is not esteemed for the Son of a King so neither he that is born before the Father be a King These reasons he thought sufficient the King taken away to set him in the room of State But considered not how sacred the name of King is to the Scots Nation how a Crown once worn quite taketh away what defects soever and that it was not easie to divest a King in present possession of a Crown who had his right from his Father and Grandfather with the Authority of a Parliament approving his Descent and secluding all other less came it in his thought that those children are legitimate and lawfull which cannot be thrust back and rejected without troubling the common Peace of the Country and opening Gates to Forreign Invasions Domestical disturbances and all disorders with an unsetled course of Succession the Common errour making the Right or Law Athole animated by the Oracle of a Sooth-sayer of his Highland Countrey who had assured him he should be crowned in a Solemn Assembly before his Death never gave over his hopes of obtaining the Crown and being inferiour and weak in power and faction to the other Brothers to compass his designs he betaketh himself to treacherous devices It was not in his power to ruine so many at once for mischief required there should be distance between so many bloody Acts therefore be layeth his course for the taking away of his kindred one by another at leasure he soweth jealousies entertaineth discords maintaineth factions amongst them by his counsell David Duke of Rothesay the Kings eldest Brother was famished in the Tower of Falkland neither had Iames then a child escaped his treachery if far off in England he had not been preserved He perswaded the Earl of Fiâ—e that making out of the way the King his brother he should put the Crown on his own head He trafficked the return of King Iames and he being come he plotted the overthrow of Duke Mordock by â—it instrument for such a business proving the Crimes laid against him in the Attaindor he himself sat Judge against him and his Children Thus stirring one of the Kinsemen against another he so enfeebled the Race of Elizabeth Moore that of a numerous off-spring there only remained Iames and his Son a childe not yet six years of Age upon whose Sepulchers building his designs with a small alteration of the State he thought it an easie step to the Crown Robert Graham had been long imprisoned at last released but being a man implacable once offended and cruel whom neither benefits could oblige nor dangers make wife and enemy to Peace Factious and Ambitious alike by many wicked Plots afterwards and Crimes against the Laws of the Country driven to an Out-lawry and to live as banished he had ever a male-talent against the King since the adjudging of the Earldom of Strathern from his Nephew Miles Robert Stuart was very familiar with the King and his access to his Chamber and Person advanced the Enterprise being a riotous young Man gaping after great matters neither respecting Faith nor Fame and daring attempt any thing for the accomplishing of his own foolish hopes and his Grandfathers ayms and ambition These having associated unto them the most audacious whom either fear of punishment for their misdeeds or hopes of preferment by a change of the Government would plunge into any enterprise in the Moneth of February so secretly as was possible assembled together where the Earl spake to this sense unto them These engagements which every one of you have to another and which I have to every one of you founded on the strongest grounds of consanguinity friendship interest of committed and received wrongs move me freely here to reveal my secret drifts and discover the depths of my hidden purposes and counsels The strange Tragedies which in the State and Government have been acted since the coming of this English man to the Crown are to none of you unknown Mordock with his children hath been beheaded the Earl of Lennox his Father in Law had that same end the Nobility repine at the Government of their King the King is in jealousie of his Nobles the Commons are in way of Rebellion These all have been the effects of my far-mining Policies And hitherto they have fallen forth as fortunately as they were ingeniously plotted For what more ingenious and cunning Stratagem could be projected to decline the rank growth of these Vsurpâ—rs then to take them away by handles made of their own Timber And if there was any wrong in such proceedings in small matters wrong must be done that justice and equity may be performed in great My fear was and yet is that the taking down of the Scaffold of Mordock should be the putting up of ours Crowns suffer no corrivals the world knows and he himself is conscious to it that the right and title of the Crown by descent of blood from Robert the second my Father was in the person of David my Brother and is justly claimed now by me and our Nephew As for an Act of Parliament confirming the right of that other Race and for oaths of Allegiance no
example the Countess of Ross abhorring the fierceness and cruelties as she gave out of her barbarous Husband but rather out of policy to be an Agent for him flyeth to the King and hath Revenues allowed her for the maintenance of her Estate Not long after the Earl of Ross himself the misadventure of his Confederates having taught him now some wisdom having seen the Kings clemency towards others equal to him to Treason and Rebellion by many humble supplications craved pardon and begged peace The King by his great prudence and the course of the affairs of his Kingdom knew that it was necessary sometimes to condiscend to the imperfections and faults of some Subjects and having compassion apply and accomodate himself to that which though according to the strictness of equity was not due yet for the present occasion and reason of State was convenient answered he would neither altogether pardon him nor 〈◊〉 eject him there being many signs of his wickendness few of his changed minde when honestly without fraud or guile he should erave a Pardon and give satisfaction to those whom by blood and pillage he had wronged and by some noble action deface the remembrance of his former crimes then should it be good time to receive him Notwithstanding this should not discourage him but he should know he had a desire to make him relish the effects of his bounty so he himself would finde the means and subject In this interim he wished him to keep the common peace of the Countrey and not oppress any of his Neighbours About this time the University of Glasgow waâ— founded by William Turnbul Bishop of that Sea William Hay Earl of Arole George Creighton Earl of Caithness William Lord Creighton died 1455. and the Bishop of St. Andrews is made Chancellor The King partly having loosed partly cut in pieces that Gordian knot of the League of his Nobility began to reobtain again the ancient Authority of the Kings his Predecessors giving and imposing Laws to his Subjects according to reason and greatest conveniencies Shortly progressing through the Quarters of the kingdom by the sound counsel and instructions of the Bishop of St. Andrews Iames Kennedy and William Saintclare Earl of Orknay used such clemency that in a short time he reclaimed all his turbâ—lent subjects In the year 1455. he held a Parliament where he ratifyed what was resolved upon to be done for the peace and weal of his People establishing many profitable Laws for the posterity after this time Ambassadors came from England and France unto him Henry the sixt King of England a soft facile Prince and more fit to obey then command having restored in blood and allowed the descent of Richard Plantagenet Duke of York the Duke under pretence and countenance of reforming the State and removing of bad Counsellors from the Court the umbrage of all Rebellions by one Iack Cade an Irish a bold man and who had a Spirit which did not correspond with his low condition who fâ—igned himself to be a Cousin of his of the House of Mortimer and other his Instruments raised a Rebellion which began amongst the Kentish men and was after continued by his confederacy with the Duke of Norfolk Earls of Warwick Salisbury Devon and others and notwithstanding he had sworn fealty to King Henry at Blackheath again openly took arms against him at St. Albans where in pitched field Edmond Duke of Somerset his greatest Competitor and who had been preferred to his place in the Regency of France was killed the King wounded taken and committed in the Tower of London At a Parliament after the Duke is made Protector of the kingdom at another Parliament he maketh claim for the Crown as in his own Right laying down thus his Title The Son of Anne Mortimer Daughter and Heir to Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir of Philip the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel Duke of Clarence the â—hird Son of King Edward the third and elder Brother to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster is to be preferred by very good right in Succession of the Crown before the Children of Iohn of Gaunt the fourth Son of the said Edward the third but Richard Plantaginet Duke of York is come of Philip the Daughter and sole Heir of Lionel third Son to King Edward the third then to be preferred to the Children of the fourth Son who was Iohn of Gaunt and so to Henry the fourth the Usurper his Son to Henry stiling himself Henry the fifth his Son and Henry the sixth now wrongfull calling himself King of England This Parliament chosen to the Duke of Yorks own minde at first various at last unanimously enacted that Henry during his life should retain the name and honour of a King but that the Duke of York should be continued Protector of the Countrey and be declared Heir Apparent and Successor of the Crown after the death of Henry Margarite the Queen Daughter to Rheny King of Sicily more couragious then her Husband disclaimeth the Parliamentary Authority and this Agreement of her King with the Duke of York as a matter done to the prejudice of her Son and against the Laws of Nations which admit not a forced Contract and done by a Prisoner The Crown of England hanging at this point the Queen to her defence imploring the aid and assistance of her best greatest Friends and Allies sendeth Embassadors to King Iames. These remembring the duties one King oweth to another against Rebels and the Usurpers of their Crowns the correspondency and amity of King Henry with King Iames during his prosperity expostulating the cruelty of the Rebels against Edmond the late Duke of Somerset Uncle to King Iames slain by them in defence of his Prince promise in their Kings Name Queens and their Sons with the approbation of the Noblemen of their Party to restore to the Kings of Scotland the lands of Northumberland Cumberland and Bishoprick of Durham after the manner the Kings of Scotland in former times had held these Territories of the Kings of England so he would raise an Army and advance to their aid and supply The Duke of York sent hither also his Ambassadors giving in many complaints against King Henry he had oppressed the people with taxations and all kinds of exactations he had preferred to places of State and Government new men by whose Counsel and his Queen he governed only he despised the old Nobility he had lost Normandy and Gascony as France had been lost by him England was likely to run the same danger They could not longer suffer his dull sluggishness and his Wifes exorbitant pride he was courageless in War and base in peace For the Duke of York if Justice did not warrant his claim except his Descent were undisputable and his Title without all exception he would not desire the possession nor succession of the Crown King Iames should remember it was King Henry who entertained the late Dissentions and Civil Discords of Scotland
Guilielmus Drummond de Havthornden Hos Gloria Reddit Honores R Gaywood fecit 1654 THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND From the year 1423. until the year 1542. CONTAINING The LIVES and REIGNS OF JAMES The I. the II. the III. the IV. the V. With several Memorials of State During the Reigns of Iames VI. Charls I. By WILLIAM DRUMMOND of Hauthornden LONDON Printed by Henry Hills for Rich. Tomlins and himself and are to be sold at their houses near Py-Corner THE PREFACE TO THE READER TO Speak in Commendation of History in general were so many waies superfluous that we shall rather leave it to the experience of sober and inquisitive minds than injure the High Elogiums given of both the greatest and wisest Antients and Moderns by a disadvantagious Repetition of them And for to say any thing concerning the Countrey which was the Scene of the actions here represented we conceive it needless and improper in regard we are immured by one Sea breath one air speak one Tongue and now closed together by an happy Coalition under one Government The proper work therefore is to offer what can be said of the History and the Author and so dismiss the Reader to the Entertainment of the Book it self For his manner of Writing though he treat of things that are rather many than great and trouble some than glorious yet he hath brought so much of the main together as it may be modestly said none of that Nation hath done before him And for his way of handling it he hath sufficiently made it appear how conversant he was with the Writings of Venerable Antiquity and how generously he hath emulated them by an happy imitation for the purity of his Language is much above that Dialect he writ in his Descriptions lively and full his Narrations clear and pertinent his Orations Eloquent and fit for the persons that spâ—ak for that since Livys time was never accounted Crime in an Historian and his Reflections solid and mature so that it cannot be eâ—spected that these leaves can be turned over without aâ— much pleasure as profit especially frequently meeting with so many Glories and Trophies of our Ancestours yet because either of these may a little abate in respect the beginning seemâ— a little abrupt and precipitious the Author possibly dying before â—e could prepare an Apparatus or Introduction we have taken the pains out of other Records of that Nation to draw a brief Representation of some passages necessary to be foreknown The direct Royal Line of Scotland failing in Alexander III. Son of the II. of that name who when he a few years before had lost both his wife and all his hopeful and numerous issue nothing remaining of it saving a Girl to his Daughter brought to Hungonan King of Norway The Nobility hereupon meet at Scone and put the Kingdom into the hands of six Persons Edward of England sends to demand the Daughter Grandchild in marriage as next Heir of the Crown This was agreed unto Embassadours sent for her but the death of the Lady frustrated all that Negotiation The death of this Margarite so was she called was the firebrand that set England on fire and had almost destroyed Scotland For two Competitors declared themselves both powerful and of great Estates in Scotland and strongly supported with Forein Confederacies for Iohn Baliol had engaged the English Interest and Robert Bruce the French But to be a little clearer we must look back The line thus failing they were forced to run back to the line of David Earl of Huntington Brother to King William this David by his Wife Maud Daughter to the Earl of Chester had three Daughters Margâ—â—â—t married to Allan of Galloway the second to Robert Bruce sirnamed the Noble the third to Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington who made no claim Now thus it stood Dornagil the wife of Baliol claim'd it as grandchild by the Eldest Daughter and Bruce as great Grandchild by the second saying It was not fit that Daughters should inherit when there were Sons to represent the Ancestor Baliol he was neerer as being in the second degree and the other but in the third The Controversie growing high and boysterous and the Power and Interests of both parties at home being equally formidable and dangerous they resolved to refer it to King Edward who comming to Berwick and calling Lawyers to his Assistance pretends all Equity but rais'd up eight other petty Competitors the better to weakon the claim of the other two and so handled the business whilst the Lawyers were slowly consulting that Bruce having refused to accept the Crown in Homage and Tribute from England he declared upon his acceptance of those conditions IOHN BALIOL to be King who was Crowned at Stone But soon after an appeal being made against him to King Edward by Macduff Earl of Fife and he refusing to riâ—e from the Seat where he sate to answer but being inforced by the King so to do became so aliened in his affections from the English that a new quarrel breaking out between the French and the English and both by their Embassadours Courting the Scottish Amity it was resolved to adhere to the French and renounce the Homage to England as obtained by Fraâ—d and Force Edward enraged at this having obtained a Truce for some few Moneths with the French assails Berwick by Sea but with some loss which enflames him the more summons Baliol who refuses proâ—ers it to Bruce takes Berwick by Stratagem enters Scotland masters the Countrey takes Edinburgh and Sterlin and forces Baliol to a surrender at Forfar and sends him Prisoner to London whither himself returns having made most of the Nobility do Homage and left the Earl of Surrey his Deputy Baliol soon after is sent into France leaving his Son Edward as Hostage for his fidelity Edward sets â—ail for France the Scots rise and make some little Incursions into the Borders But about this time Siâ— William Wallas arose who to his Honour did so Heroically deâ—end his Countrey in her weakest condition as made it easily appear if he had had as happy a fortune to advance as he had a miserable to relieve he might have been remembred for as great a man as ever was in any age for having upon a quarrel slain a young English Gentleman and enforced to lurk in the Hills for the safety of his life he became inured 〈◊〉 â—uch hardness that awaking his natural Courage he 〈◊〉 the Head of all the Male-contents and filled both the Kingdoms with his Reputation and Terror and behaving himself according to expectation glean'd up to a tumultuary Army and the Nobility being either sloathful or cowardly commanded as Baliols Vice-Roy Thus after some little skirmishes he reduced all beyond the Forth took Dundee Aberdeen and other places when there arrived rumour of an English Army which he was not willing to dispute with but upon his own Terms Edward that had fortified all the Considerable places and kept the
which he is thought the best who dâ—oth most transcend in Villany The King seemed to give smal faith to these relations entertaining kindly and feasting from all parts all such who daigâ—â—â—d to see him mostly those who were the Chiefs and 〈◊〉 of the Families in these bounds by whose 〈…〉 did guard came freely to Court an◠〈◊〉 guilty by fair promises and hopes of the Kings clâ—â—nency 〈◊〉 themselves Others though most reâ—ractory and unwilling at first that they might not seem out of the fashion of thâ—ir Companions and appear suspect resorted thither Thiâ—king these Offices might be interpreted to proceed of good will and obedience which were done of emulation Fourty of these Leaders and Chiefs meeting at once and being togetheâ— within the inclosure of the Castle Walls werâ— surprized and committed to close Prisons Some daies after two whose wickedness was throughly known Alexander Mack-Rore or Mackrarey and Iohn Mackearture were hanged Iames Cambell for the murther of Iohn of the Isles renownd amoâ—gst 〈◊〉 own was beheaded The rest upon hope of further Tryâ—â—â— were committed to Prisons of which for example and 〈◊〉 to others many were executed the remains in peaceful mâ—nner sent home the King having graciously exhorted them to a life according to the Law of God and Man Alexander of the Isles Earl of Ross being taken in this 〈◊〉 was brought by the King to Perth where he was accâ—sed of oppression and many barbarous cruelties were proved against him yet such was the Kings clemency he was only some few daies commitied and after lovely advice at the Council â—Table rather to obey his Prince than render himself Chiefâ—tain of Thievish Troops he was freely dismist but benefits oblige not ignoble Minds and mercy shown to a fierce and obstinate nature disgraceth the beauty of the clemency of a Prince for no sooner was he returned to his own Territories where interpreting imprisonment a dishonour aâ—d shâ—me to a Man of his Power and Qualâ—ties and telling a promise made bâ— one imprisoned by the Judgement of Lawyers themselves was nothâ—ng worth he gathered together a Rabble of Outlaws and Mountainers came towards the Town of Iâ—nerness which peaceable he entered and was courteously received having befor dispersed his men among the Fenns and Hills toward the West they so soon as Night had broughâ— the inhabitants to rest spoiled them and set their houses on fire And because the Castle was the place in which he had been surprized he besieged it with a thousand â—ewd fellows practised in dayly depredations and Robbeâ—ies At the noise of this Cruelty the Gentlemen of the Neighbouring Shires from all quarters assemble themselves for the defence of their Friends the King liâ—teth spâ—â—dy prâ—parâ—tions at the approach of which the Clans Whaâ—tâ—nes and Camerones with other Thieving Troups dispâ—rsed themselves and fled into their lurking holes Alexander abanâ—oned of their forces wiâ—h so many as he could keep togetheâ— flâ—d into Lockquhabarre from thence passed to the Islâ—s 〈◊〉 to go to Irâ—land but things answered not his expectation for by his Spie fining that he was way-laid and that numbers of people a prize being set upon his head in all places labourâ—d to surprize him when he had long continued desolate and a vagabond at last he began to intercede with his Friends at Court for Mercy to him from the King Sundry tempt the Kings Clemency but he will not promise nor assure them of any favâ—â—r before Alexander in person as Supplyant render himself and his estate to his disposure Thus finding no escape and destitute of all help he was imboldned to come pâ—ivately to Edinbrough there on Easter day wrapped in a mourning Garment and concealed in the dragg of the multitude the King being in the Church of the Holy-rood at divine Service he fell prostrate at his knees bâ—seeching him for grace which at the request of the Queen and other Assisters he obtained His life and private estate was granted him but that he should do no more harm and be reduced to a more modest behaviour William Dowglass earl of Anguss was appointed to take him in custody and that within the Castle of Tantallon his Mother Euphem Daughter to Walter Lesty sometime earl of Ross a Mannish implacable woman who had solicited and raised her Son to all that mischief was committed to the Isle to S. Colm Donald Balloch Cousin germain to Alexander Lord of the Isles a man of a hâ—ughty mind resenting the Kings proceeding against his cousin raised a great number of Out-laws and Robbers and invaded Lochquhaber omitting no cruelty which enraged Savages use to commit Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre and Alane Earl of Caithness with such numbers of People as they could in haste raise came to defend the Country against the incursions of these Highland men and rencountred them at Inverlochty where by an over-weening opinion of Victory which easily deceiveth young Souldiers Imagining they went to fight with untrained raw Theeves who would never abide their march and misregard of martial Discipline Allan was slain and Alexander Earl of Marre discomfited and Balloch insolent of his Victory with a great Booty returned to the Islâ—s The King at the Rumour of this disaster in all celerity with a great Army came to Dunstaffage intending from that to pass to the Isles which when the Clans and other chief men understood turning their defence into submission they came in haste to Dunstaffage humbly begg'd pardon laying the fault of the whole Rebellion on Balloch and some adventuring Thieves many of which Balloch had pressed to that mischief against their minds the King finding extream rigour at that time a cure unseasonable taking their oath of fidelity and that they should persue Bolloch and his followers accepted them in his favor only transporting some of the most factious along with him They in few days to seem worthy of the Kings mercy surprized a great number of them three hundred of which died all on Gibbets punishment had taken away a much greater number had he not considered that there is no man so miserable who is not a member of the State The King Lest hope of Impunity might cherish Rebellion resolves to finde Balloch and hearing he lurked in Ireland in the 〈◊〉 of one named Odo he sends to have him delivered Odo either out of fear of the Kings displeasure or hope of rewarâ—s seizeth on him and suspecting if he sent him alive he might by power or stratagem slight his Convoy chopped off his head and sent it to King Iames then remaining at Sterling The Clans Whattons and Camerons spairing the Magistraâ—es sword yet executing Justice by mutual slaughters one of an other had rendred the North very peaceable of that scum of Theeves some Chieftains were shut up in fast Prisons among which two most eminent in all mischiefs hating mortally others and hated of all good men Angus Duff of StrathN 〈…〉 and Angus Murrey these the King out of Policy of State let
by wars have found their ruin in a luxurious peace Men by a vâ—luptuous life becomming less sensible of tiue honour The Court and by that example the Countrey was become too soft and delicate superfluous in all delights and pleasures Masques Banqueting gorgeous appâ—rel revelliâ—g were not only licensed but studied and admired Nothing did please what was not strange and far brought Charity began to be restrained publique magnificence falling in private Riot What was wount to entertain whole families and a train of goâ—dly men was now spent in drâ—ssing of some little rooms and the womannish decking of the persons of some few Hermophrodites To these the wife King had while given way knowing that delicate soft times were more easie to be governed and a people given to mild arts and a sweet condition of life than rough and barbarous so they turned not altogether womanized and that it was an easie matter to bring them back again to their old posture At these abuses some of the feverer sort of the Clergy began to caip yet could they not challenge the Prince who in the entertainment ofr his own person scarce exceeded the degree of any private Man yea was often under the Pomp and Majesty of a King But the blemish of all this excess was laid on the English who by the Queen their Countrey woman with new guises dayly resorted hither and turned new-fangle the Court. The King not only listened to their plaints but called a Parliament to satisfy their humours Here Henry Wardlaw Bishop of S. Andrews highly aggravating the abuses and superfluities of Court and Countrey all disorders were pry'd intio and Staâ—uâ—es made against them They abolished râ—ots of all sorts of Pearl many Rivâ—rs in Scotland affording them not only for use but for excess only women were permitted to wear a sunall Carkanet of them about their Necks costly Furs nad Ermins were wholly forbidden together with abuse of Gold and Silver lace Penaltiâ—s were not only imposed upon the transgrâ—ssours but on workmen which should make of fell them excâ—ssive expense in banqueting was restrained and dainties banished from the Tables of Epicures with Jeasters and Buffones In this year 1430. the first of Iune was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun at 3 of the clock afternoon the day turning black for the space of an half hour as though it had been Night therefore it was after called or the Commons The BLACK HOUR The as and greatest matter which busied the Kings thoughts was the increasing of his Revenues and bringing back the Dâ—measn of the Crown a work no less dangerous than deep and diffiâ—il and which at last procured him greatest hatred For till then smothered malice did never burst forth in open flames And though this diligence of the king concerned much the publique weal yet such as were interessed by rendring what they had long possessed though without all reason esteemed themselves highly wronged The Patâ—imony of the Crown had been wasted and given away by the two Governours to keep themselves popular and â—hun the envy of a factious Nobility Thus the King had neither in magnificence to maintain himself nor bestow upon his friends or strangers He had advisedly perused all evidences nad charters belonging to the Crown hereupon he recalls all such Lands as had been either alienated from it or wrongfully usurped Together what was wont to beidly given away as forfeitures escheats and wards were restrained to the Crown and kept to the King himself There remained upon considerations of increasing the Demesns of the Crown the Lands of the Earl of March whose Father had rebelled against the Kings Father Robert though faults be personal and not hereditary and the heirs of ancient houses hold little of their last possessours but of their Predecessours those the King seased on The Earl proved by good evidences and writings brought forth his Father had been pardoned for that fault by the Regents of the Kingdom he was answered again that it was not in the Regents power to pardon an offence against the State and that it was expresly provided by the Laws in crimes of lese majesty that children should undergo punishment for their Fathers transgressions to the end that being thus heirs to their Fathers raâ—hness as they are to their Goods and Lands they should not at any time with vast ambition in the haughty Pride of their own power plot or practice to shake and tear the Publick Peace of the Prince nad Countrey Thus was the remission by the Parliament declared void and Earl George himself committed to the Castle at Edenbrough William Earl of Anguss Warden of the Middle March William Chreighâ—oun Chancellour Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailles immediately received the Castle of Dumber the keeping of which was given to Sir Adam Hepburn The King not long after set Earl George at Liberty and to save him from the like dangers which were wont to befall his Predecessours to fly into England for every small cross and light displeasure at Court he bestowed on him as it were in exchange for these lands in the Marss the Earldom of Bâ—chan in the North with a yearly pension to be paid out of the Earl-dome of March setting the Tay and the Forth betwixt him and his too kind friends of England Buchan had faln to the King by the decease of Iohn who was Son to Robert the second and Earl of Buchan He was slain at Vernueill in France with the Marshall Duglass and left no lawfull children after him to succeed The Earldome of Marre was incorporate also to the Demesn Royall by the decease of Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre who was natural Son to Alexander Stuart who was the Son of Robert the second He was Man of singular prowess and in his youth followed the warres under Philip Duke of Burgundy he married Iane Daughter to the Earl of Holland and had greatly oblieged his Countrey by transporting Stallions and Mares hither out of Hungary the Stood of which continued long after to his Commendation and the commodity of the Kingdome The Earldom of Strathern was appropriated also to the Crown by the Decease of David Stuart Earl of Strathern Unclâ— to the King who having but one onely Daughter who was married to Patrick Graham a younger Brother of the Lord Grahams the Earldom being â—ailed to the Masculine Line was divolved again to the Crown Thus did King Iames succeed to three Brothers who were Sons to Robert the second All Good men with these proceedings of the King were well pleased for iâ— Princes could keep their own and that which justly belâ—ngeth unto them they could not be urged to draw such extraordinary Subsidies from the blood sweat and tears of their people yet was this the Shelf on which this Prince perished for many who were accustomed to be Copartners of such off-fallings began to storm and repine at his actions but none was so implacable as Robert Graham Uncle and Tutor to Miles Graham the son of Eupheme
daughter to David Earl of Strathern For plotting mischief he began to rail speak in high terms associate himself with others of his own mind Notwithstanding that the King Anno 1428. in September had bestowed on â—is Nephew the Lands and Earldom of Monteeth in compensation of that of Strathern to which he pretended right it being an appenage of the Crown About this time Embassadors came into Scotland from Eriâ—us the King of Denmark requiring of King Iames the payment of a yearly Tribute which was due to him as King of Norway for the Western Isles according to the Covenant and Agreement made by Alexander the third King of Scotland and his Predecessor Magnus the son of Acho then King of Norway the Embassador was honorably received and Sir William Creighton Chancellor directed to go with him to Denmark who there renued the old League between the Realms setled questionable matters and confirmed a perfect amity and stedfast Peace Embassadors came also from Charles the French King not only to confirm the old Amity between Scotland and France but for a better assurance thereof to have Margaret eldest Daughter to King Iames already betrothed to Lewis the Daulphin who now was thirteen years of Age delivered to them and convoyed to France The English foreknowing this Alliance had before sent the Lord Scrope with other Associates to Him in Embassage to have the old League between the French and the Scots dissolved and to joyn the Kings Daughter in Marriage with Henry the sixth their King promising if the King would thereunto agree and joyn in League with them that the Town and Castle of Berwick should be delivered to the Power of the Scots with all the Lands lyand between Tweed and the Redcross which when William the Conquerour granted Cumberland to the Scots marched England and Scotland and is now a fragment of a Cross in Richmond-Shire neer the Spittle on Staâ—moore about which is nothing but a wilde desert Having Audience the Lord Scrope spake before the Counsell to this purpose I am directed hither by my Master and his Council about a Business which concerneth the Honour and profit of the two Kingdoms above any other which can be projected and it is the establishing of a perpetual Peace and Concord between them and happily when it shall please the higher Providence their uniting in one Body under one Prince one day How vain the attempting of this heretofore by Arms hath proved the world can but too well bear witness the many proofs of eithers valour against themselves having been but a lavish effusion of humane Blood the fairest way easiest means to make enmities cease and these ancient Quarrels was begun Sir in your person by the happy Marriage of the Daughter of Iohn Duke of Sommerset brother to King Henry the fourth and Son to the Duke of Lancaster and prosperously hath continued these years past Now that Peace may be lasting and the affections and minds of the two Nations soldered together our Request is that this Alliance may be again renewed by the Marriage of your eldest Daughter with our young King a most fitting and equal match And in seeking of her we crave but our own She is descended of our Royal Stem and if again she be ingrafted in that stock out of which she sprang it is but natural And you my Lords where can ye find a Match more Honorable for both Nations Where can ye finde a better and more profitable Friendship then ours Are we not a people in habiting one Island have we not both one Language are we not of like Habit and Fashion of like quality and condition of life guarded and separated from the other World by the great depths of the Ocean What evil Customs have come into your Country by your last Allyance with us Nay what Civility Policy and laudable Fashions to the confusion of Barbarity have not followed hereupon By this the Glory of both Realms will encrease either being sufficient not only to furnish necessaries but even all lawfull and moderate contentments of life to support others Besides that an assurance of Defence Strength and Power to invade ease in undergoing publick Charges will hereby follow We are not ignorant that your Lady is designed for France but how long alas will ye continue prodigal of your blood for the French What have ye advantaged your selves by your Alliance with France save that they engage your bodies in their Wars and by conferring upon you unprofitable titles of honour take from you what is truly real ye are reserved a Postern-gate by which they may enter England diverting our Forces and transporting the Stage of the War upon our Borders Learn to forget your French or iâ— ye be so enamoured with France Love her after our manner Come take a share be partakers of our Victories Are not our Forces being joyned sufficient to overcome nay bring in chains hither that King of Bruges and make our selves Masters of his Continent France never did so much good to Scotland in twenty years as Scotland hath had loss by England for the love and cause of France in one Are not your wounds at Vernueil and Cravant yet bleeding and all for the French It hath been your valour and not the French which heretofore empeached our conquest and progress in France were it not for your swords we had made ere now the loftiest tops of the Alps or Pyrenees bear our Trophies Ye say ye reverence and cannot break your old league and confederation with that Kingdom happy Leagues but wo to the keepers of them unhappy Scotland and too too honest and the more unhappy for that thy honesty is the great cause of thy mishaps How long shall that old league counted amongst the Fables of the Ancient â—alladines make you waste your lives goods fortunes and lose your better Friends The Genius of this Isle seemeth to cry unto us her Nurselings to stay our cruel hands no longer to be her desolation and the wrack one of another not to pass over and neglect these fair occasions of mutual Alliances which will not only effectuate Truces and Leagues amongst our selves but at last bring a perpetual Peace and Union for by interchange of Marriages being united this Isle shall continue stronger by entertaining Peace and Amity then by all these Giant walls Rampiers of Mountains and that huge ditch of Seas by which Nature hath environed and fortified her Now that ye may know how dearly we esteem your Friendship and Alliance whereas others go to take from you we will give you Roxburgh Berwick and all the lands between Tweed and Redcross If shadows prevail and prove stronger with you then essential reason and that ye disesteem our offer losing this good occasion we as Neighbours and Friends entreat you that ye do not uphold the French now in the Sun-set of their Fortunes and at their weakest that ye would not shoulder this falling Wall but that ye would live quiet within
party was forced to give place and yield to the will of the greater Thus the Faction of the Boyds prevailed After this the Kennedies full of indignation and breathing Revenge leave the Court cares grief and age about this time brought Iames Kennedie Bishop of St. Andrews to his Tomb which in great magnificence he had raised in a Church builded by himself in the City of St. Andrews where also he founded a Colledge of Philosophy and indued it with many Priviledges and sufficient Endowments to entertain Professors By the Death of this Prelate venerable for his Wisdom singular for his Justice and the tranquillity following his Government and magnificent in all his actions the Glory of the Court and Country suffered a great Eclipse For he taken away the Boyds laying Foundations for their power and greatness began to turn all to their own advantage The first mark of their envy was Patrick Graham the Brother of Bishop Iames Kennedie by the Mother who was Sister to ' King Iames the first after this man had been chosen Bishop of St. Andrews as the Custom then was by the Chapter appointed for that Election he was barred from his Place and violently repulsed by the Faction at Court To repair which indignity he made a journey to Rome where being a Man noble by birth above others for his Learning and many Virtues in a little time by Pope Sixtus the fourth he was re-established and confirmed in his Place During his abode at Rome the old Question concerning the liberty of the Church of Scotland began to be exagitated The Archbishop of York contested that he was Metropolitan of Scotland and that the twelve Bishops of that Kingdom were subject to his Jurisdiction Patrick Graham remonstrated how the Archbishop of York considering the usual Wars between the two Kingdoms was often unaccessable to the Church-men of Scotland especially in Causes of appellation The Pope after the hearing of both Parties erected the See ofs St. Andrews to the dignity of an Archbishops See and Patrick Graham not only was made Primate and Metropolitan of Scotland ordained to have the other Bishops under him but for the space of three years designed Legate for the Pope with full power to Correct and Restore the Ecclesiastical Discipline and examine the Manners and Conversation of the Clergy Notwithstanding these favors of the Bishop of Rome and the worth and excellencies of the man himself he dared not return home to his own Country before the declining of the Fortunes of the Boyds This Family seemed now in the Zenith and Vertical point of its greatness no imputation could be laid to the Boyds in the time of their Government except that they brought the young King by their private working without the consent and approbation of the other Regents to Edinburgh for the assuming the Government in his Minority In approbation of their innocency and to warrant them from this danger the King in a Parliament declareth publickly that the Boyds were not the Authors nor Projectors of that business but only the Assisters of him and his followers being not formal but instrumentary causes of his coming to the Helm of the State himself That they were so far from being obnoxious to any blame or reproach for this deed that they deserved immortal thanks and an honorable Guerdon in all time to come having obeyed him in that which was most just honest and expedient for the well of the Kingdom Upon this Declaration of the King the Lord Boyd required the present action might be registrated amongst the Acts of Parliament and he obtained what was desired but not with that success was hoped for In this Parliament the other Regents are rid of their charge the Lord Boyd being made only Governor of the Kingdom and the object of all mens respects having the whole power and authority to minister justice of all kinds to the Subjects during the Kings non-age and â—ill he had fully compleat one and twenty years the defence of the Kings Person of his brothers the keeping of the two Ladies his Sisters are trusted unto him He hath all the Towns Castles Fortresses Sea-ports Places of Importance at his Command These proceedings of the Parliament seemed to some very strange in advancing Men already great enough and bestowing upon them all offices of State and adding power to such who wanted only will to do mischief except that they knew well how to abase and pull them down again making their fall the more sudden Robert Lord Boyd having the Reins of Government in his hands and the custody of the Kings Sisters dazelld with the golden Sun of honour to lay more sure the foundation of his greatness joyneth in Marriage Thomas his eldest Son a youth of extraordinary endowments both of minde and body with Margaret the Kings eldest Sisteâ— Not long before designed by her Mother to have been given in Marriage to Edward Prince of Wales and he is created Earl of Arran The Father knowing how easily the conversation of young persons breedeth a liking had brought them up together which turning in a love and delight of others company concluded last in mariage This match though royal great and rich instead of supporting the Fortunes of the Boyds much weakened them turning them the objects of envy The Nobles repined at it and the common people lighter than the wind and more variable than the Rain-bow made it the subject of their foolish discourses Now said they the Boyds aspire to the Crown for the King with his Brothers removed it appertaineth to them a Kingdom being the Dowry often of a Wife of the blood Royal. The Kennedies and such who disliked the present Government take the occasion of the discontentment of the Nobility and the rumors of the people to shake the Kings minde towards the Governor and change the brawl of State To this end they give way to great and universal oppressions most of which were hatched and occasioned by themselves By these in a short time the Commons turn licentious and dissolute contemning all Government every man doing what seemed best in his own eyes and the Gentry divide in Factions Such who wont to live upon Rapine and Theft return to their wonted Trades honest men are spoiled of their goods the seditious and wicked are maintained and defended against all Laws and Justice by their Parties The State thus troubled and all order confounded by slie and crafty men who at first pretended great friendship and interest towards the Boyds the Kings affection towards them is assailed and resolutions tryed Many times having been plausibly listened unto at last pulling off their masks they lay imputations against them They remonstrate to him what great disparagement was between the King of Scotlands eldest Sister and the Son of the Lord Boyd that by this match he was robbed of one of the fairest jewels of his Crown the Boyds should not have appropriated that to themselves of wich they had only the keeping
Successour under the Government of a woman for inheritance a miserable and bloody war It is no dream that ye are to fight a mighty people now turned insolent by their riches at home and power abroad that your Nobilitie are indigent ye know and may be brib'd to leave you in your greatest danger What a folly what a blindness is it to make this war yours and to quench the fire in your Neighbours house of France to kindle and burn up your own in Scotland ye have no such reason to assist the French as ye have to keep your promises to England and enjoy a Peace at home Though the English should make a conquest of France will they take your Crown or disin herâ— their own râ—ce this is even as the left hand would cut off the right Should the Letters of the Queen of France a woman twice married the first half in Adultery the last almost Incest whom ye did never nor shall ever see prove more powerful with you than the cryes of your little Son and mine than the tears complaints curses of the Orphans and Widdows which ye are to make If ye will go suffer me to accompany you it may be my Countrey-men prove more kind towards me than they will to you and for my sake yield unto a Peace I hear the Queen my Sister will be with the Army in her husbands absence if we shall meet who knowes what God by our means may bring to pass The King answered all her complaints with a speedy march which he made over the Tweed not staying till the whole forces came to him which were arising and prepared The twenty two of August comming into England he encamped neer the water of Twisel in Northumberland where at Twisel-haugh he made an Act that if any man were slain or hurt to death by the English during the time of his aboade in England his heirs should have his Ward Relief and mariage Norham Wark Foord Eatel are taken and cast down Amidst this hostility the Lady Foord a noble Captive was brought in a pitty-pleading manner with her daughter a Maid of excellent beauty to the Camp Not without the Earl of Surreys direction as many supposed for they have a vigorous Prince and his Son though natural by the gifts of Nature and Education above many lawful to try the Magick of their eloquence and beauty upon The King delighting in their Company not only hearkeneth to the discourse of the Mother but giveth way to her counsel which was if she should be dismissed to send him true and certain intelligence of what the English would attempt taking her way to their Camp but in effect proved the winning of time to the Earl of Surrey and the losing of occasion to him Her few daies stay bred in him a kind of carlessnesse sloath procastination and delay a neglect and as it were a forgetfnlness of his Army and business eighten daiestarying in England in a Territory not very fertile had consum'd much provision the Souldiers began to want necessaries a number in the night by blind pathes returned to their own Countrey In a short time only the Noblemen and their Vassals attended the King These request him not to spend more time on that barren Soyl but to turn their Forces against Berwick which Town was of more importance than all the Hamleâ—s and poor Villages of Northumberland neither was it impregnable or difficâ—le to be taken the Town and Castle being no waies provided and furnished to endure a siege The Courtiours move the King to continue the beleaguering of Berwick till their comming back which would be an easie conquest Northumberland once forrag'd in absence of the bravest of the English then in France Whilest the Army languished and the King spent time a Foord the Earl of Surrey directeth an Herauld to his Camp requiring him either to leave off the invasion of his Masters Countrey and turn back giving satisfaction for wrongs committed or that he would appoint a day and place wherein all differences might be ended by the Sword This Challenge being advised in Counsel most voices were that they should return home and not with so small number as remaâ—ned endanger the State of the whole Kingdom enough being already aâ—chieved for fame and too much for their frienâ—hip with France why should a few Souldiers and these already tired out by forcing of Strengths throwing down Castles be hazarded against such multitudes of the English supplyed lately and encreased with fresh Auxiliaries Thomas Howard Admiral a Son of the Earl of Surrey having newly brought with him to New Castle out of the Army lying in France five thousand men and one thousand tall Sea men If they should return Home the English Army could not but disband and not conveniently this year be gathered again consisting of men levied from far and distant Places Again if they should be engaged to come to a Battail their own Countrey being fields to them well known would prove more commodious and secure to fight upon than English ground besides the opportunity of furnishing and providing the Camp with all necessaries at less charges The French Embassadour and others of his faction remonstrate to the King what a shameful retreit he would make if at the desire of the Enemy he returned and without the hazard of a Battel being so neer unto him that by fighting in England he kept his own Couvtrey unforraged and consum'd the Provision of his Enemy which at last would weaken his forces That for contentment to both Armies Islay a Scottish Herauld should return with Rouge-Cross the English and condescend upon a day promising them the mean time tarrying and aboad till the righteousness of the cause were decided in a Battel The set and appointed Day by the Heraulds in which the two Armies should have joined being come and the English not appearing nor any from them The Nobility again resort to the King show how by the â—light of the Enemy matters were prolonged from one day to another the English forces daily encreasing whilst the Scottish wear away and waxed fewer that â—light should be opposed to â—lights the day designed by the Heraulds not being kept it would be no reproach to them to turn home without battel or if retiring to fight upon their own ground If this counsel pleased him not but that he would there give them battel The next was to study all advantages for victory either by stratagem or the odds and furtherance of the Place of fight Where the Chiviot hills decline towards the plainer fields arising behind them with high tops with best Ordnance should be fortified the water of Till running deep and foord-less upon the right hand and but passable at the Bridge the first Companies of the enemy being passed before they could be relieved and succoured by their followers the Bridge by the Artilery should be beaten down and the enemy charged when they began to pass the Water The King impatient of
favored the Dowglasses and Humes to perswade them to a Return giving them fair promises of obtaining what they should demand Till at last he removed them to bow and yield to his desires The fugitive Gentlemen returnd but the Queen being with child and near the time of her delivery was necâ—ssitated to stay still till at Harbottle Castle she brought forth her daughter Margarite after Grand-mother to Iames King of Britain So soon as she was able to endure travel and be transported King Henry with an honourable retinue brought her to his Court where she was by him and his Sister Mary late Queen of France welcomed In May she made her progress through London to Baynards Castle and from thence to Greenwich The Contrivers of the exploit of transporting the King to England being within the Country and as it were secure the Governor whose head was filled with suspitions not thinking himself bound by promises will have them give a reckoning of their enterprize and flight into England Against some he hath clear proofs fair and manifest evidences aganist other bare surmises and naked suspitions for they had not left the Country nor had they been partakers of the Queens fortunes Here with an unexspected suddenness M. Gaven Dowglas Uncle to the Earl of Angus Bishop of Dunkel Mr. Patrick Panther Secretary to the late King were committed Mr Gaven in the Castle of St. Andrews Mr. Patrick in Garvet Castle The Lord Drummond grand-Father to the Earl of Angus having beaten a Lyon Herault who too imperiously had given a charge to answer such things should be objected against him was imprisoned in the Castle of Blackness Alexander Lord Hume being charged to answer for his actions and proceedings and not appearing was denounced Rebel his moveables seised on and brought to the Exchequer Stir'd up and irritated by this outrage he maketh Roads upon the neighbour bounds plundereth Dumbar which was the Governors chief resort and to revenge his wrongs setteth on work the Robbers on the borders To repress and bridle this ravaging the Governor in person with a thousand hardy Souldiers marcheth to the Borders directeth some companies to find out the Lord Hume but he either dismaid at the worth and fortune of the Governor or broken and bowing under the burthen of his won miseries commeth to the Governor and submitted his life and estate to his faith and clemency brought to Edinburgh he is trusted to the custody of Iames Earl of Arran the Husband of his Sister with threatnings under pain of High Treason that he should not part with him nor suffer him to escape The Lord Hume had not long staid in the Castle of Edinburgh when with glosses of probalityes of changes casual and such as might fall forth he moved the Earl of Arran to be of his Mind and brought him to conspire against the Governor and hazard to put himself in his place of State He himself was the only man who had brought in the Governor and he knew well how to put him out if the Earl would be of the Party and by his negligence nor reject a Supream honor thrown in his arms He is begun already not to be lov'd if he was not already hated by the subjects bâ— his imperious proceedings If the King of England could find some few Noblemen to make head against him he would constrain him to leave the Country The Earl of Arran was neerest heir to the King it was more reason he should be second in the Kingdom than Iohn who though descended of a brother yet a banisht man and a stranger to the Scots Nation with whom they had not so much as intercourse and famiâ—iarity of language After many such like imducements the Prisoner took away his Keeper with him to the South parts of the Country and both by Letters to their Familiar Kinred and acquaintance and private meetings with other Noblemen strove to make strong and increase their faction In the beginning of the Spring Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox the Sisters son of the Earl of Arran listed himself in the party of the conspiring Lords and with a number of his Friends and Followers invested the Castle of Galsgow which if they could have kept had been a great advancement to their intentions But the Governor gathering an Army of as many as hast would suffer him to assemble the Defenders not being strong enough to resist him recovered the Castle with small loss of his men After which in indignation he marched to throw down the Castle of Hamilton here victorious anger was conquer'd by pitty and compassion for the old Countess of Arran being at that time there resident who was daughter to King Iames the second Sister to King Iames the third mother to the Earl of Arran Grand-mother to the Earl of Lennox Aunt to the Governour a Lady venerable for years and virtues with tears of affection and sorrow falling down at the Governors feet and received by him with great commiseration in a merciful manner not only preserv'd the Castle but by the means of the Arch-bishop Andrew Forman entered into a Treaty for peace to her Son and the Earl of Lennox And in November the two Earls comming to Edenburgh by the means of this Arch-Bishop were reconciled with the Governor About this time his Mother being far from him to discharge the last duties of affection towards him Alexander Duke of Rothsay brother to the King a child to â—â—miration beautiful and Delightful dyed at Sterlin and was buryed in the Abby Church of Cambuskenneth The term of Peace between the two Kingdomes being almost expir'd and both having a desire to continue it the English sent their Commissioners to Coldingham to whom the Duke then resident at Dumbar sent Monsieur du Plains Embassador for the French King Sir William Scot of Balweary and Gaven Dumbar Arch-Dean of Saint Andrews These after some altercation concerning the Scottish Fugitives conclude a Peace between the Nations from the midst of Ianuary till the feast of Whitsuntide after The English comprehended in the Articles the Earl of Anguss the Lord Hume and the rest of the Queens strayed Faction with all their Kinsmen Clients and Followers The Lord Hume was received again into the Governours favor with condition that if he after break his promises and oaths his old faults should be remembred and joined to his new Master Gaâ—en Dowglasâ— and Mr. Partrick Panther were set a Liberty The Lord Drummond who had been 〈◊〉 was again restored the Eaâ—l of Angâ—ss with these who had followed him with many câ—remonies and great store of Friâ—ndship was welcomed again to the Court. The Disorders of the Kingdom called a Parlament in which many acts were made to restrain and keep under bold and wickedmen and preserve the peace of the Kingdom In this Parlament it was Ordained the Kings Brother Alexander being deceaâ—ed that the Governour should be reputâ—d second person of the Realm and next heir to the Crown Notwithstanding of the
he would vindicate the Name and Families of the Dowglasses not only from blame of Treason but from all suspition of Novations that he would endeavor to execute justice more strictly then he had done in times past not protect Oppressors against Laws and Equity but suppress all insolencies of Theeves and Robbers because cruelties and wrongs never stood secure before either God or man That the estates of ancient Houses were often maintained more by reputation of things done then any other foundation which a little disobedience to a Prince might shake if not altogether ruine That it was fatal to all Princes in their under-age and the beginnings of their Reigns to have troubles and seditions and be tormented by some of their Subjects who studied novelties but when these Princes came to perfect years they knew well to chastise those who troubled the Government in their youth That he would hereafter rather content himself with mediocrity then expose himself as a mark to envy That he would make a proof of his power not in excess and riot or pride of his ancient honours but in bounty and religious charity toward his Country-men That he wished as his House had long continued it might by following what he had spoken unto him ever flourish The Earl of a good inclination if Flatterers and wicked Company had been removed took in good part his advertisements and counsel thinking he spake as he thought and perhaps so he did for he had not yet put on his double Visage and promised to repair what offences by youth negligence rashness or other indiscretion had escaped him thus with his Brother David the Chancellor accompanied him to Edinburgh He had not long there stayed when the frequent meetings many secret conferences of the Governor and Chancellor at their several houses which often held the greatest part of the night who were not wont to be so kinde to others bred a great jealousie and suspition in some of the Earls friends that some lurking mischief was a plotting to entrap him That small trust should be had in a reconciled enemy and his many courtesies and too exceeding favours were to be suspected Hereupon some freely counsel the Earl to return home and to leave off private meetings with them Others intreat him not to enter the Castle of Edinburgh at all or if he should so dismiss his brother David to keep themselves scattered that they might not be inclosed in one Net as upon his Death-bed their Father had instructed and admonished them For if any violent course were intended against them men would not dare to put in act against one of them which they would against both David presaging some strange accident to follow this sudden kindness of the Rulers was meditating an escape The Earl took this counsel in an evil part saying Great Families never wanted turbulent friends to whom common confusions served ordinarily for steps to inlarge their States when Peace sendeth the most part of them home to live private men And they cared not what blame were laid upon their Chiefs so it stood with their own commodity that the pâ—etence of his departure would be worse then the departure it self and that he would be obnoxious to worse surmises and more miserable mistakings going away then if he had never appeared That he preferred the approved trust of the Chancellor whose Guest he had been to all the objections of dangers they could imagine which suspitions he requested them to suppress for to suspect causlâ—sly instead of imagined wrong returned a real injury and being knowen would be a means to breed new jars and breâ—k their begun Friendship Thus blind-folded by Destinie and accompanied with some of his dearest Friends amongst whom was Sir Malcolm Flamin of Cammernald in solemn pomp with his brother he entred Edinburgh Castle the 24. of November the remainder who were thrust back with sad countenances and distrusting hearts scattered themselves in the Town The Governor that the envy might be divided and â—bared and all seem to be done by an universal consent with a ceremonious welcom and such as hate and emulation could suffer to be tempered together did meet him and guide him to the king at whose Table he was set to dine which favors turned the heart of the young Earl so soft and relenting that he wished he had sooner come to Court and challeng'd himself of his mistrustful thoughts but more his suspitious friends whose presence he could have desired to be witness against themselves The counsel given him at â—reighton Castle by obsequiousness he resolveth to thank the kings benigne aspect and courtesies of the Rulers had advanced him to the highest degree of honour Amidst these entertainments behold the instability of Fortune near the end of the Banqueâ— the head of a Bull a sign of present Death in these times is set down before him At which sudden Spectacle he leapt from the Table in horror and all agâ—st but this doth little avail him he hath no power for he is ceased upon by armed Men who rushing out of a cruel tyring House led him to the utter Court of the Castle not regarding the plaints cryes tears of the young King who pittifully mourned to see him manacled with cords There with his brother David Sir Malcolm Flaming his constant friend and compartner of all his Fortunes he had his head and ambitious thoughts cut off With this great blow of State the Parliament brake up leaving grief terrour astonishment in the hearts of all the people who ever â—ated the Actors of this Tragedie William Earl of Dowglass and David his brother taken away the Baron of Abercorn their Uncle succeeded to the Earldom by reason of his stature and corpulency named Iames the Gross A man free of any Vice or heroical Vertue whose years weâ—e not many after his Fortune to be Earl He was Father to seven Sons the eldest of which by a Dispensation from the Pope he married to Beatrice the only Sister of his Brothers Son William named The Fair Maid of Galloway not so much in respect of her Beauty as her Fortunes the Lands not tailed in Galloway Annandale Balveny and Ormond falling from the Heirs male to be her Portion This Marriage was much blamed and cryed out upon by the Earl of Angus Sir Iohn Dowglass of Dalkeith and other Gentlemen of that Name not as they gave out for the propinquity of blood being between Cozen Germans but that so fair and easie a purchase was taken out of their arms They had always followed the king and procured prohibitions of the Marriage but these with spur-haste advanced the celebration of it and upon a Friday which the common People prognosticate to be ominous and to have some sad event This Earl ambitious factious popular subtile vindicative prompt in the execution of his enterprizes liberal and far from the dor-muse humour of his Father began to think neither himself nor his kindred in safety if the deaths of his
nothing agreed upon nor concluded they resolve at last to decide the cause by their swords The Earl of Crawâ—ord then remaining at Dundee advertized of the present danger of his friends posteth in all haste to Arbroth and cometh at the very chock of the skirmish and when they were to enter the fight Here intending by his wisdom to take up the Quarrel and presuming upon the respect due to his place and person he rashly rusheth forwards before his Companies to demand a parly of Alxander Ogleby with his Son but ere he could be known or was heard he is encountred by a common Souldier who thrust him in the mouth with a Spear and prostrate him dead upon the ground This sudden accident joyned the Parties who fought with great courage and resolution The Victory after much blood inclined to the Master of Crawford Alexanderâ—Ogleby sore wounded was taken and brought to the Castle of Finelvin where he died the Lord Huntley escaped by the swiftness of his Horse Iohn Forbess of Pitsligow Alexander Barkley of Garteley Robert Maxwell of Tillen William Gordoun of Borrowfield Sir Iohn Oliphant of Aberdaguy with others fell on the Oglebies side 1445. they fought the 24. of Ianuary 1445. Now by attending opportunities to increase publick disorders turn the times dangerous and troublesome and confound the State the Earl of Dowglass kept himself in the absolute Government by umbragious ways he nourished discontentments in all parts of the Country amongst the Nobility Gentry Commons of the Realm Alexander Earl of Crawford put to death Iohn Lynton of Dundee Robert Boyd of Duchal and Alexander Lyle â—lew Iames Stuart of Auchenmintee Patrick Hepburn of Haills surprised the Castle of Dumbar Archembald Dumbar as if he would but change places with him taketh the Castle of Haills where he was besieged by the Earl of Dowglass and with conditions of safety rendred it Sir William Creighton all this time kept the Castle of Edenburgh and when by intreaties nor power he could not be induced to render it to the King his Castle of Creighton is plundered a garrison placed in it and the Castle of Edinburgh by the Earl of Dowglass is besieged and blocked up Nine moneths the Assailers lie about it but it proveth impregnable and without loss of many Subjects cannot be taken about the end of which time mens courages waxing colder conditions are offered and received which were that the Chancellor should be restored to grace place and whatsoever hâ—d been withheld from him by his enemies at Court an abolition and abrogation of all former discontentments should be granted the besieged should pass out bag and baggage free At a Parliament holden at Perth the Chancellor was purged by an Assise of his Peers of what was laid against him his lands and goods seized upon by the King or Dowglasses are decreed to be restored as well to his followers as himself he is established in his dignities and places of honour notwithstanding of all Edicts Proclamation Confiscation before which were declared null all matters past put in oblivion as not done This considering the credit of the Earl of Dowglass was thought very strange but Iames Kennedie Bishop of St. Andrews whose respect and authority was great with the Church-men perfected this Master-piece of State and the Earl of Dowglass knew though the Chancellor was unbound he had not yet escaped During these Garboyls in Scotland Margaret Sister to King Iames and wife to the Daulphin of France Lewis died at Chalones in Champaigne a vertuous and worthy Lady beloved of all France but most of Charles the seventh her Father in Law who for her respect matched her three Sisters who remained at his Court honourably Hâ—lenora with Sigismond Arch-duke of Austria Elizabeth to the Duke of Bretaigne Mary with the Earl of Camphire She was buried in the great Church of Chalones but after when the Daulphine came to be King he caused transport and bury her in the Abbey Church of Laon in Poittow Many Elegies were published upon her death which are yet extant Sir Iames Stuart the Black Knight husband to the Queen at this time died also He had turned a voluntary exile to shun the dangers and envy of the Factions of the Country which he incurr'd by his free speeches against the misgovernment and miseries of the time and as he was bound â—owards Flanders by the Flemings was taken upon the Seas The Queen out-lived not long her Daughter and Husband â—he was buried the fifteenth of Iuly in the Charter-house of Perth near her first husband Iames the year 1446. She brought forth to the black Knight of Lorn three sons Iohn Eâ—rl of Athole Iames Earl of Buchane Andrew Bishop of Mâ—rray The Chancellor having recovered his honours and State to the disadvantage of the Earl of Dowglass though of good years and tyred with the troubles of publike life yet findeth not any desired rest A Marriage being designed for the King with Mary daughter of the Duke of Guilders by the instructions of Charls the seventh the French Kings but secretly by the procurement of the Earl of Dowglass the Chancellor as a Man grave great in plâ—ce and experimented with the Bishop of Dunkel and Nicholas Otterburn is sent over the Seas in Embassie This troublesom and unprofitable honor abroad is laid upon him that he might be separate from the King and suspended from opposing to the private designs of the Earl at home This obstacle of his ambition removed which had neither moderation nor limits the Earl may excluded such Officers in State or Court who were not agreeable to him and substitute others of his Creation after his pleasure he hath now room and opportunity for his greatest designs His kindred are without pausing preferred to Offices of State his brothers to new honours Archembald is made Earl of Murray by the Marriage of a Lady of the house of Dumbar who was Heir of the Lands and the Kings Ward George is created Earl of Ormond Iohn made Lord of Balvenie and hath his Donation ratified in an Assembly of three Estates who were convented at Edinburgh for matters concerning the Marriage of the King but in effect that the Earl might pursue his old enemies The Commissioners are chosen after his pleasure are prepared and instructed by him prelimitated and to combine power with craft he entreth in an offensive and defensive League with many Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen of the Kingdom All the wheels and vices of his Clock being right set Alexander Levingston late Governor Alexander his eldest son Robert Levingston Treasurer David Levingston Iames Dundes Robert Bruce of Clackmannan Knights for Peculate and converting the Princes Treasure to their private use are forfeited taken and committed to sundry Prisons in December 1447. at which time they were brought to Edinburgh Alexander the Governor Iames Dundas and Robert Bruce after Fines laid upon them were permitted back to Dumbarton there to be kept Prisoners during the Kings pleasure Alexander
Arnold Duke of Gilders and mother to King Iames the projected Marriage of her Daughter with Edward Prince of Wales by the miseries of King Henry and Queen Margarite her kinswoman proving desperate her son Alexander either as he went to the Low-Countries to see his Grand-father or returned from him being by the English taken upon the Seas limited in credence of governing her children by the insolency of a proud Nobility her Reputation branded after a long languishing with inward discontentments turned as it were recluse and began to bid farewel to this world Her melancholy growing incureable amidst her last Trances when her Son had come to visit her the is said to have spoken to him almost to this sense That Providence which brought me upon the Earth and set a Crown on my head doth now recal and remove me to a better Kingdom and my happiness is not in this a little that I leave this life without change of that estate in which I peaceably lived Death now sheweth me as in a mirrour the frailty of all worldly Pomp and glory which before by the marble colours of false greatness was overshadowed and covered from me My Griefs have been many few my Contentments The most eminent of which was the hopes I conceived of you and my other children And now may greatest regret is that I leave you before I could see my wishes accomplished towards you My onely care was to have you brought up in all vertue and goodness But Heaven shall bestow that charge to more prudent Governors Always take these motherly directions from me who can leave you no better Legacy Be earnest to observe these Commandments which are prescribed unto you by Religion for this supporteth the Scepters of Princes and a Religious King cannot but have obedient Subjects What an unreasonable thing is it that a King will have a People to acknowledge him for their Soveraign Prince upon Earth and will not acknowledge God for his supream Lord in Heaven A King who rebelleth against God all subordinate Creatures will rebel against him Love my children and laying aside the Port and Stateliness of a King receive them with the affection of a Brother Endeavor to make your Subjects obey you more out of Love then Fear or make your self beloved and feared both together seeing love alone of it self is often cause of contempt and fear alone begets hatred Remember ye Govern not the soft effeminate People of the South but a sierce Warlike Nation of the North which oftner use to be intreated then commanded by their Princes Be sparing to lay Subsidies on them which maketh many Male-contents and live upon your own suffering others to enjoy what is theirs Beware of Flatterers and exalting undeserving Persons above your ancient Nobility Suffer not your Prerogatives to come in Question but foreseeing the danger rather give way to all that with reason is demanded of you Moderate your Passions He shall never Govern a Kingdom who cannot govern himself and bring his Affections within the Circle of Reason It fears me Envy and Malice arm themselves against you which to overcome endeavor to be Martial in your self for a Prince that is not Martial in himself shall never be freed of Rebell on amongst his subjects a strong arm should hold the Ballance of Iustice When dissention ariseth be not a Loyterer and Sluggard but with all celerity suppress it in the infancy Rebellion is like fire in a City which should be quenched though with the pulling down of the neighbour Houses Others will instruct you in the art of Governing with greater curiosity and wisdom but not with the like love and affection I wish this Counsel be ingraven in your heart and conscience after my death for a perpetual testimony of my sincerity in your education And if by the unjust counsel of others ye be brought to practise ought contrary to these instructions Remember ye cannot shun inevitable dangers both to your State and Person But now I am warned from above to deliver this griefâ—full Body to the rest of a desired Grave After she had thus counselled and blessed her Son not living many days she was buried with all Solmnities and Funeral-Rites at Edinburgh in the Colledge of the Trinity which she her self had Founded in the year 1466. 1466. The King as he increased in years increasing in strength and ability for exercises either of recreation or valour by the Regents is given to a Brother of the Lord Boyd to be bred in Knightly Prowess a man singular for his Education abroad and demeanor at home The Kennedies were now aged and become tyred to give such assiduous attendance at Court as they were wont and the times required The Lord Boyd by the weakness of his Co-partners governed the State alone as Sir Alexander his Brother did the young King To whose Natural inclination he did so comply and conform himself that he had the whole trust of his affairs and the King had no thoughts but his So soon as the King began to know himself he turned impatient of being subject to the Laws of Minority that he himself should be restrained by that Authority which did derive from him to loath the Superintendency and Government of others and to affect an unseasonable Priviledge to be at his own disposal and the governing himself Many things are done without the advice of the Governors and occasion is sought to be disburdened of their Authority The Lord Boyd and his Brother in a little time increasing in greatness and having an intention to transfer the Power of the State and Glory of the Court to their Family fail not to finde opportunity to free the King from the severity and rigour of the Governors Schooling and to frame him an escape Whilst the King remained at Linlithgow the Lord Hayls Lord Sommervail Sir Andrew Carre of Cesford Sir Alexander Boyd agree upon a match of Hunting and will have the King Umpire of the Game Early the morning following the Gentlemen who were upon the Plot failed not in their Attendance The King being a mile off the Town and holding the way towards Edinburgh the Lord Kennedy whose quarter then was to attend and who had leasurely followed suspecting this Hunting to be a Game of State the King continuing his Progress laying his hands upon the Reins of his Bridle requested him to turn again to Linlithgow for that he perceived the time was not convenient for him to go further neither was heat a convenient match in absence of his best deserving followers Sir Alexander Boyd impatient that the King should have been thus stayed after injurious words stroke the Reverend Governour with a Hunting-staff upon the head and took the King along with him to Edinburgh At a frequent meeting of the States the Kennedies urged to have the King continue under Minority the Boyds to take the Government in his own Person after long contestations wisdom being overcome by boldness the Authority of the better
gentle disposition and mild nature and confidence in his generosity or of the trust they had in their own power and Faction they bewrayed no signs of fear nor attempted ought against the common peace and tranquility some records bear that they forewarned him by the example of his Father not to take any violent course against them or which might irritate the people against him and every thing to embrace their counsels and that finding him repining and stubborn beyond mediocrity giving himself over to Sorrow and pensiveness they thâ—eaâ—ned him with a Coronation of one of his Brothers telling him it was in their power to make any of the race of his 〈◊〉 their King if he were Head-strong and refractory to oppose to their wholsom directions and grave Counsâ—ls Amidst this Grief of the King and overweening of his supercilions Governours Andrew Forman Secretary to Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome arrived in Scotland with instrutions for the Clergy and Letters from his Master to the King and the Nobles The Kings were full of ordinary consolations to asswage his passions and reduce his mind to a more calm temper for the accident of his Fathers death The most glorious victory a Prince could acquire was sometimes to overcome himself and triumph over his disordered passions In all perturbations to which we are subject we should endeavour to practise that precept No thing too much but chiefly in our passions of sorrow and wrath which not being restrained overwhelm the greatest and most generous Minds that by passion the fewest actions and by reason the most do prosper Though a King he must not imagine himself exempt from things casual to all mankind especially in Seditions and civil tumults from which no kingdom nor State hath been free There being no City which hath not sometimes wicked Citezens and alwaies and ever an headstrong and mad multitude he should take what had befaln him from the hand of his Maker who chastiseth those he loveth What comes from heaven be should bear necessarily what proceedeth from Men couragiously there was no man so safe excellent and transcendent who by an insolent Nobility and ravaging Populacy might not be compell'd to perpetrate many things against his heart and intentions The will being both the beginning and subject of all sin and the consenting to and allowing the action being the only and main point to be considered and look into of which he was free the sin committed was not his nor could the punishment which by the divine Iustice might follow belong unto him Sith he had done nothing of himself but as a bound man had been carryed away by mutinous Subjects these that lead transgress not alwaies they that follow To these men remorse and torture of conscience belong'd it was they should lament and mourn who under false pretences had abused the people maskt their Ambition and malice with a reformation of errours in the State whose rage could not be quencht but by the bloud of ther Soveraign It was these should bewail their in justice and cruelty the sin shame and judgement for so hainous a fact followed these men He should not impute the wrongs and wickedness of others by which he had been a sufferer with his disastered Father to himself Revenge belonged to the Almighty to whose Tribunal he should submit his quarrel He should not decree the worst against his mutinous Subjects nor turn them desperate as if there were no place to repent Great offenccs ordinarily were seldom punisht in a State that it was proâ—itable for a Prince sometime to put up voluntarily an injury the way to be invincible was never to contend and to stand out of danger was the benefit of peace that he should apply soft Medicine where it was dangerous to use violent That following his Maker he should endeavour to draw Good out of evil As he was for that disaster of his Father pittyed by Men upon Earth so assuredly he would be pardoned in Heaven If his Subjects returned to their crooked Byas and did revolt again he would make the danger his own use his Ecclestastical censures and spiritual power against thâ—m till they became obedient and submitted themselves to the sway of his Scepter In the Letters to the Nobles he exhorted them to obedience Ambition was the cause of Sedition which had no limits and which was the bane and wrack of States Kingdoms of which they should beware of Kingdoms subsisting upon the reputation of a Prince and that respect his Subjects carryed towards him He was the Eye and Sun of Iustice the Prince weakned or taken away or his authority contemned the Common-wealth would not only fall into a Decadence but suffer an Earth-quake and perish Either after by Forrainers be invaded or by intestine dissentions rent asunder Confusions followed where obedience ceased and left Contempt deposed Kings as well as death and Kings are no longer Kings when their Subjects refuse to obey them That good people made good Kings which he requested them to endeavour to be as they would answer to God whose Lientenants Princes were and by whose power they ruled After this time the Lord Evaindale being dead the Earl of Anguss was made Chancelour and the Lord Hume obtained the place of great Chamberlain of Scotland the Countrey enjoyed a great calm of peace the grounds of dissention seeming to be taken away The King in the strength and vigour of his Youth remembring that to live in Idleness was to live to be contemned by the world by change of Objects to expell his present sadness and to enable himself for wars when they should burst forth gave himself to recreations by Games and with a decent Pomp entertained all Knightly exercies keeping an open and magnificent Court When time and Exercise had enabled him and he thought he had attained to some perfection in marital Sports Tilting and Barriers proclaimed Rewards propounded and promised to the Victors Challenges are sent abroad unto Strangers either to be Umpiers or Actors of Feats of Arms. Charles the eight the French King having an Ambition to reannex the Dutchy of French Bretaign to the Crown of France either by arms or the Marriage of Anne the apparent heir under the pretext and shadow of those painted Justings sendeth to Scotland some of the bravest Gentlemen of his Court desiring privily the assistance of King Iames against the English if it should fall forth that the King of England troubled his Designs Not long after well and honorably accompanied arriveth in Scotland a young man naming himself Richard Duke of York son to Edward the fourth true Inheritour of the Crown of England divers Neighbor Princes testifying the same by the Letters which contained That Edward the eldest son of Edward the fourth who succeeded his Father in the Crown by the Name of Edward the fifth was murthered by Richard Duke of Gloucester their unnatural Vncle but Richard the younger Son his Brother by the Man who was employed to
thighs and legs did appertain They had differing passions and diverse wills often chiding others for disorder in their behaviour and actions after much deliberation embracing that unto which they both consented By the Kings direction they were carefully brought up and instructed in Musick and Foreign Languages This Monster lived twenty and eight years and dyed when Iohn Duke of Albany Governed Claud Gruget maketh mention of the like Monster born in Paris before the marriage of Henry the fourth the French King with Margarite of Valois but the birth and death of it were neer together The King by his great Liberality unto Strangers abroad and his laviâ—h spending at home for religious Places were founded Castles repaired Ships builded three of an extraordinary greatness finding himself needy of Treasure to support the dayly expences at Court engaged to many and sunck deep in debt and that Subsidies he could not levy except by the Suffrages of his Parliament by whose power they were imposed and rated setteth the most learned Counsellors at Law and men experienced in foreign Policy to find out new means and waies to acquire and gather him monies by Laws already made and Ordained which was in effect to pole the people by executing the rigour of Justice the Fortunes of wise men arising often on the expences of Fools after the example of King Henry the seventh of England his Father-in law who taking the advantage of the breach of his penal Statues gave power to Sir Richard Empson and Edmond Dudley by Informers and Promoters to oppress and ruin the estates of many of his best Subjects whom King Henry the eight to satisfy his wronged people after his decease caused execute Old customes are by these men pryed into and forgotten absolet Statutes quickned Amongst the titles of possessing of Lands in Scotland there is one which in process of time of an ungodly custom grew strong and is kept for a Law being fetched by imitation from the Lawes of the neighbouring States That if the possessour of Lands dy and leave a Minor to succeed to him his Tutelage belongeth to the King and the profit of the Lands until the Minor be of the age of one and twenty years This is of those lands which are termed Wards The King causeth bring up his Wards but bestoweth no more of their Rents upon them than is useful to such of that age By another Law they have not any thing better than this which they call Recognition that if the evidences of any possessour of Ward-lands be not in all points formal and above exceptions of Law the lands the possessours put from them shall return to the Lord Superiour and like to this That if a Possessour of Ward Lands without the consent of the Superiour sell and put away the half or above the half of his land and Farm the whole land and Farm returneth to the Superiour or Lord Paramount They have lands held with clauses which they call irritant that if two terms of a few duty run unpaid into the third the Land falleth unto the Superiour When those lawes and other like them by reason of the Neighbourin cursions and troubles with England and the civil broyls at home had been long out of use amongst the Subjects and the execution of them as it were in a manner forgot these Projectors and new Tol-masters the king giving way to enrich his Exchequer awakned them Many of the Subjects by these inquirles were obnoxious to the king and smarted but most the most honest who were constrained either to buy their own lands and inheritance from the Exchequer or quit and freely give some portion of them to those Caterpillars of the State The King was so dearly beloved of his people that in the height of those Grievances which reached near the exorbitant avarice of his Father none refused or made difficultie to give all that the laws ordained The King seeing their willingness to perform and knowing their great disability thereunto out of his singular Grace and Goodness remitteth not onely the rigour but even the equity almost of his lawes insomuch that thereafter none of his Subjects were damnified in their persons or estates by his proceedings which gain'd him the hearts of all And to put away all suspitions and jealousies from their minds an Ordinary practice amongst Princes acts that fill Princes coffers ever being the ruin of their first Projectors of any wrong intended He suffered the Promoters and Projectors of this polling with others of the most active to be thrown into Prisons where some miserably ended their daies The year 1507. Iames Prince of Scotland and Isles was born at Holy-rood-House the 21. of Ianuary the Queen in her throwes of birth being brought neer the last agony of death the King overcome with affection and religious vows taketh a Pilgrimage for her recovery on foot to Saint Ninian in Galloway a place in those credulous times famous for the burial of St. Ninian the Apostle of the Britains and notorious by the many Processions and Visits of the neighbour Countreys of Ireland and England at his return he findeth his Queen recovered the child after dyed at Sterlin with the Bishop of Galloway who was appointed to attend him The year following the Queen brought forth another son named Arthur at Holy-rood-House but he died also in the Castle of Edenburgh and Henry the seventh his Grandfather accompanyed him to the other world King Iames to the Coronation of the young King his Brother-in-law sendeth Embassadours After the death of his two Sons and his Father-in-Law as if he had been warned from above to think upon his own mortality whether he had resolute intention so to do or that for reasons known to himself he would have it so appear he giveth out That out of remorse for bearing arms in the Field where his Father was slain he had a resolution to leave his kingdom and visit the holy Sepulchre Then to prepare his way Robert Blacka-Towre Abbot of Dumfermling is directed but the Abbot in his journey is arrested by death and the King findeth other hinderances to keep him at Home Amidst these deliberations his Queen is delivered in the Pallace of Linlithgow of her third Son in the Moneth of April 1512. who succeeded to the Crown and was named Iames. About this same time Bernard Stuart that famous Warrior under Charls the eight of France who commanded the French in Bosworth Field came to Scotland followed by Andrew Forman then Arch-Bishop of Burges and Bishop of Murray with Alexander Stuart the Kings natural son after promoted to be Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews The cause which was given out to the rumours of the people of their comming was That the French King having no male children crav'd the advice and counsel of the King of Scotland his Confederate concerning the marriage of his Eldest Daughter whether he should bestow her upon Francis of Valois the Daulphine and Duke of Augulesm or upon Charles King of
Castile who had presented her with many tokens of affection and by his Embassadours earnestly sought her from her Brother But their great errand was to divide the King from his Brother-in-law King Henry and make him assist Loâ—ys these two Potentates intending a war against other Anne Daughter of Francis Duke of Bretaign after the death of her Sister Isabella remained sole heir of that Dutchy her wardship falling to the French King Charles the eight He terrified so her Subjects guided her kinred and the principal persons about her that making void the pretended marriage of Maximilian king of the Romans which was by Proxie she was married unto him Notwithstanding he had the Daughter of Maximilian at his Court with great exspectation of a mariage to be celebrate with her After the death of King Charles Lovys the twelf having marryed Iane the Sister of Charles and Daughter to Lovys the eleventh by his many favours bestowed upon Pope Alexander the sixth and his Son Cesar Borgia obtaineth a Brief of Divorce against her by the power of which her weakness for the bearing of Children the necessary upholders of a Crown by his Physicians being proved he had married Anne of Bretaign for he would not loose so fair a Dowry for the blustering rumour of Malecontents which in a little time would grow stale and vanish Pope Alexander dead Iulius the second a turbulent unquiet but magnificent Prelate and a stout defender of Church-Patrimony suspitious of the power of the French in Italy and that they would not rest content with the kingdom of Naples and Dutchy of Milan but one day hazard for all fearing also they would because they might put him out of his Chair and substitute in his Room their Cardinal of Amboise or some other of their own began to study novations and means to send the French back to their own Countrey his ordinary discourse being that he would one day make Italy free from Barbarians He requireth King Lovys to give over the protection of the Duke of Ferrara and of Annibal Bentivoglio whom he had thrust out of Bulloign The King refusing to forsake Confederates the Pope betaketh him to his spiritual Arms and threatneth with Excommunication the Duke and all who came to his aid and support especially the French they decline his Sentence and appeal to a true and lawful General Council with which they threaten him Henry the eight then in the fervour of his youth amidst a great Treasure left by his Father and by more than ordinary bands of love and friendship tyed to the Pope as having dispensed with the marying his Brothers widdow interposeth himself as an Indifferent Mediator and Intercessor for Peace between the two parties but in effect was the chief maintainer of the Quarrel effecting nothing because he would not Conditions being refused by King Henry he essayeth draw the French arms from the Popes territories by cutting them work neerer home and bringing a necâ—ssity upon them to defend their own Upon this determination he desireth king Lovys to restore and render to him his Dutchies Guyenne and Normandy with his antient inheritance of Anjow and Mayne and the other old Possessions of the English in France which wrongfully had been detained and kept from him and his Ancestors The war of Italy by â—hese threatnings was not left of for the Pope conming to Bollogn with intention to invade Ferrara is besieged with his Cardinals and he sendeth Declarations to the Christian Princes protesting the French not only thirsted after the Patrimony and Inheritance of S. Peter but even after Christian blood Mean while he absolveth the Subjects of King Lovys from their oath of Allegiance abandoneth his kingdom to any can possess it at a Council at Lateran he dispatched a Bull wherein the title of most Christian King is transferred upon Henry king of England who to his former titles of France having now the approbation of the Pope and the kingdom interdicted prepareth an expedition in person After which with five thousand barded Horses Fourty thousand Foot comming in Picardie he encampeth before Therovenne a Town upon the Marches of Picardie Here the Emperour Maximiliam resenting yet his old injury entreth into the King of Englands pay and weareth the cross of Saint George But so long as he staied in the Army it was govâ—rned according to his counsel and direction King Iames before his meeting with Bernard Stuart and Bishop Forman was fully purposed to prove an indifferent beholder of this War but Bernard having corrupted the Courtiers and the Bishop the chief Church-man of the kingdom after their long and earnest intercession he was drawn altogether to affect and adhere to the French To throw the apple of Dissention Bishop Forman is sent to king Henry to demand certain Jewels by their Fathers Will or her Brothers Prince Arthurs appertaining to Queen Margarite his Sister King Henry mistrusting that Embassy offereth all and more than they demand from him Shortly after the English beginning to interrupt the traffick of the French by Sea king Iames will send his Ships lately well mann'd and equipp'd for fight which not long before had been prepared as was given out to transport the king into Syria to his Cosin Queen Ann supposing this Gift would rather seem a Pledge of friendship and alliance to the English than any Supply of Warre But Iames Earl of Arrain having got the command of them instead of falling towards France arriveth in Ireland whether by tempest of weather or that he would disturb the Kings proceedings in assisting the French instigated and corrupted by King Henry it is uncertain and after he had spoild Knock-Fergus a maritime village returneth with them to the Town of Ayre The King taking in an evil part the invasion of Ireland but more the lingring of the Earl for he had received Letters from Queen Anne and Bishop Forman regretting the long and vain expectation of his Ships giveth the Earl of Anguss and Sir Andrew Wood a Commission for both him and them The Earl of Arrain by his Friends at Court understanding his Masters displeasure ere they could find him hoiseth up Sails and committeth him self rather to the uncertain fortune of the Seas than the just wrath of a King After great Tempest arriving in French Bretaign these Ships built at such extraordinary Charges Sayls and Cordage being taken from them rotted and consumed by weather in the Haven of Erest Now matters grew more exasperate between the Brother Kings Robert Car Warden of the Borders is killed by three English Hieron Lilburn Struthers Andrew Barton who upon an old quarrel begun in the reign of King Iames the third had purchased Letters of Reprisal against the Portingals by Thomas Howard the English Admiral is slain and his Ships taken To this last Grievance when it was expostulated King Henry is said to have answered That truce amongst Princes was never broken for taking or killing of Pyrates Alexander Lord Hume Warden of the East
accompanied the Governour to France used such diligence at the Court that he was imployed to be the first Messenger to the Countrey of the great promises and many Ceremonies of the French at the confirmation of the League with their protestations for the preserving and maintaining the Liberties of the Kingdom of Scotland against all who would essay to impair them Not long after arrived the Earl of Lennox and an Herauld with Letters from Kiug Francis and the Governour amplifying and putting a larger gloss on the same But when by other Letters the Queen and Nobles had received certain intelligence that King Francis and the King of England had composed their Quarrels entred in a new band of Amity a defensive League being pâ—ssed between them Tournay rendred to the French promises upon either sidesolemnly made for a Match to be between the Daulphine of France eldest son to King Francis and the eldest daughter of Henry King of England when age should enable them for marriage and that in the large Treaty of Peace not one word was set down for the quietness and help of those who for the quarrel of France hast lost their King and endangered their whole Kingdom no care had of their welfare and prosperity they stormed not a little and thought their lives and travels evil imployed Then with as great hast as such a matter required they dispatched Letters back again to the Governor blotted with complaints and expostulations The year following to excuse his oversight the French King sent a Reason why he had not made mention of the Scotish nation in his league with England He had studied to give satisfaction to some of the Scotish Nobility obliquely touching the Duke of Albany whole minds he knew to be altogether averse from any peace or Truce with the English nation whose undaunted Spirits and great courages were only bent to revenge ther deaths of their King Kinsmen and Compatriots This evasion not giving satisfaction to the best advised of the Council the French King interposed his endeavours with King Henry to have a cessation of arms for as short a time as he could devise V V herupon Clarencieux and onela Fiot comming to Scotland the one from the king of England the other from the French King a Truce was concluded between the two Kingdoms for one year and a whole day The reason of this Truce was thought mostly to be for that the Kings of England and France the next Summer were to have an interview and with all Princely courtesies entertain each other The Kingdom began to be sensible of the absence of the Governour factions increasing the Commons suffering dayly outrages the Nobility and Gentry deciding their Rights by their Swords The Earl of Rothsay and the Lord Lindsay contending which should be Sheriff of Fyfe with tumultuary arms invade each other and hardly by the Deputies were restrain'd till the one was committed to the Castle of Dumbar and the other to the Castle of Dumbartoun Robert Blackadour Priour of Coldingham with fix of his Domestick Servants is killed by the Laird of Wedderburn The King out of a suspition that the plague was in Edenburgh being transported to the Castle of Dalkieth by the Convoy of the Earl of Arran who was then Provost of the Town it being the season when the Townsmen make election of their Magistrates for the year following when the Earl was returned and sought to enter the Town he found the Gates shut upon him by the Citizens who alleged he came to invade their liberties in the free choise of their Magistrates the tumulâ— continueth the most part of the night and the next morning early the people dividing infactions and skirmishing in the streets a Deacon of the Crafts is killed by the faction of the Hamiltons which alienated the minds of the Townsmen altogether from the Earl of Arran and made them enâ—line to the Earl of Angus some of whose friends and followers had rescued some of the Citizens and taken part with others which made many after conceave this discord was plotted by some noblemen enemies to the Earl of Arran amongst which the Earl of Angus was the chief After this tumult the Earls of Angus and Arran sought likewise â—o cross each other in their proceedings the one maintaining the enemies of the other who had a quarrel against the Earl of Arran the Earl of Angus befriended him as the Earl of Arran supported and sided those who had any discontent against the Earl of Angus A suit falling between the Earl of Angus and David Car Laird of Farnehast about the Ballywick of Jedbrough Forrest the Lands appertained to the Earl the title and power to sit Judge belonged to the Lairds of Farnhast Sir James Hamilton the natural Son of the Earl of Arran assisted the Laird of Farnhast and besides those who out of good will friendship kinred vassalage did follow him he gathered fourty Souldiers such as were found upon the Borders men living upon Spoil and rapine to be of his party The Laird of Cesfoord then Warden of the Marches who with his Counsel and Force sided the Earl of Angus at the Rumour of the approach of Sir Iames to Iedbrough encountreth him and his fourty Hirelings abandoning him in his greatest danger Cesfoord killing some of his followers brought to make use of his spurs towards the Castle of Hume where after a long chase he got Sanctuary The day following the Laird of Farnehast held a Court in the Town of Iedbrough as Baily to the Earl of Augus and the Earl himself kept his Court three miles distant in Ied-ward Forrest In the moneth of May after certain Noblemen assembled at Edenburgh to accommodate all quarrels and make an atonement between the Dowglasses and Hamiltons Many Lords of the West here meet attending the Earl of Arran the Earls of Lennox Eglintoun Cassiles the Lords Ross Simple the Bishop of Galloway Abbot of Pasley The provost of the Town of Edenburgh Archembald Dowglas of Kilspyndie Uncle or Couses Germain to the Earl of Angus yielded up his place to Robert Logan Laird of Restlerig The Lords of the West by the advice of Iames Beatoun Chancelour in whose House they often assembled laid a plot to surprize the Earl of Angus then attended but by some few of his Friends and as it were solitary They thought him to great and insolent a Subject to whose power never one of theirs alone was equal in all points and they had many things to chalenge him upon when the Governor should return The Earl of Angus forewarned of their intention imployed the Bishop of Dunkell his Uncle to offer them what honourable satisfaction they could require All that he propounded being rejected by implacable men and finding the only way to be freed of violence to be violence and that danger could not be avoyded but by a greater danger with an hundred hardy resolute men armed with long Spears and Pikes which the Citizens as he traversed the
where they were charitably received and honourably entertained by King Henry the eight Now are the Offices and Lands of the Dowglasses disposed upon the Arch-Bishop of Glasgow Gaven Dumbar is made Chancelour Robert Bartoun who was in especial favor with the King Treasurer great Customer General of the Artillery and Mines and other their Charges are given unto others The King of England intending a War against the Emperour Charles the fifth sendeth Embassadours to Scotland for a certain time to treat a peace and if it were possible to reconcile the Dowglasses with the King Five yerrs truce was resolved upon but for the Dowglasses the King would hearken to no offers onely Alexander Drummond by the intercession of Robert Bartoun and the Embassadours had liberty to return home When the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Murrey who had full power to conclude a Truce had met the other Commissioners upon the Borders the factious great men and ranck Ryders there put all in such a confusion by urging difficulties that they parted without agreeing unto any articles or certain conclusions which the King took in so evil a part that divining from what head this interruption sprung he committed sundry Noblemen to the Castle of Edenburgh till they gave hostages and secured the borders from invasion or being invaded In the Moneth of Iune following with a great power he visited these bounds executing Justice upon all Oppressours Theeves and Out-Laws In Ewsdale eight and fourty notorious Riders are hung on growing Trees the most famous of which was Iohn Arm-strong others be brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick execution and example as William Cockburn of Henderland Adam Scot of Tushelaw named King of Theeves The year 1530. the King instituted the College of Justice before it was ambulatory removing from place to place by Circuits Suits of Law were peremptorly decided by Baylies Sheriffs and other Judges when any great and notable cause offered it self it was adjudged Soveraignly by the Kings Council which gave free audience to all the Subjects The power and privileges of this College was immediately conâ—irmed by Pope Clement the seventh In this Court are fifteen Judges ordinary eight of them being spiritual persons of the which the most antient is President and seven Temporal men The Chancellour of the Realm when he is present is above the President There are also four Counsellours extraordinary removable at the Princes pleasure This institution is after that Order of Justice which is administred in Paris first instituted by Philip the fourth the French King the year 1286. The King about this time storeth his Arsenals with all sort of Arms the Castles of Edenburgh Sterlin Dumbartoun and Blackness are repaired and furnisht with Ordnance and Ammunition Whilst no certain Truce is concluded between the Realms of England and Scotland the Earl of Angus worketh in this interim so with the King of England that Sir Eâ—ward Darcey is sent to the Borders who when his solicitation for restoring the Earl at the Scothish Court had taken no effect yea had been scorned after he had staied at Berwick with the Garrisoned Souldiers and some selected companies out of Northumberland and Westmerland maketh a Road into Scotland Coldingham Dunglas and adjacent Villages they burn ravage the Countrey towards Dunce Some Scottish Ships and Vessels were also at this time taken by Sea When a reason was sought of this invasion in a cessation of Arms and calm of Truce They require the Dowglasses may be restored totheir antient inheritances and whatsoever had been withheld from them and that Cannabiem a poor Abbacy be rendred to the English as appertaining of old to the Crown of England The Earl of Murray being declared Lieutenant maketh head against them but the English dayly increasing in number and his companies not being suffcient to make good against so many and large in cursions the power of Scotland is divided into four Quarters every one of which for the durance of fourty daies by turns taketh the defence of the Countrey The English finding by this intercourse of new Souldiers the War to be prolonged would have gladly accepted of Peace but they disdained to sue for it to the Scots it was thought expedient that the French a Friend then to both should be a Mediatour to reconcile them whereupon after an Ambassador had come from France Commissioners first meet at Newcastle and after at London Iames Colvil of Easter Weyms Adam Otterburn of Redhall William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen the Abbot of Kinloss These conclude a Peace To continue between the two Realms during the two Princes lives and one year after the decease of him who should first depart this life About this time the secrets of the Ecclesiastical Doctrine and Authority beginning to be laid open to the view of the World the politick Government of Kingdomes began to suffer in the alteration and discovery The Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queen of Spain and Sister to the Mother of Charles the fifth Emperour had been married to Arthur Prince of Wales eldest Sonne to Henry the seventh King of England he dying by the dispensation of Pope Iulius the Second her Father in Law gave her again in Marriage to Henry his other Son the Brother of Arthur This Queen though fruitful of children and often a Mother brought none forth that long enjoyed life and came to any perfection of growth except one onely Daughter Mary Her Husband either out of spleen against the Emperrour Charles or desire of male children or other Causes known to himself pretended great scruples in his conscience would make himself and the world believe that his marriage was not lawfull After deliberation with his Churchmen whom he constrained to be of his mind he kept not longer company with his Queen his Churchmen used all their eloquence to make the Queen accept of a Divorce which she altogether refusâ—d and had recourse to the Pope who recals the cause to himself At Rome whilst in the conâ—istory the case is made difficult and the matter prolonged King Henry impatient of delâ—iâ—s and amorous divorceth from his own Queen and marrieth Anne Bullen 1533. Then the Pope with his whole Cardinals gave out their Sentence That it was not lawful for him by his own authority to seperate himself from his wife that his marriage with Katharine was most lawful not to be questioned and that under pain of Excommunication he should adhere unto her King Henry well experienced in the great affairs of the World considering how the threatnings and thunders of the Bishops of Rome even in these antient and innocent times when they were believed and reverenced in his Kingdom produced never great effects thought them to no purpose in a time when Doctrine was publisht to the World embraced and believed of numbers by which they were contemned and scorned upon this and other grounds he refuseth to obey and the Pope continneth his menacing This
for an Epitaph Ariosto who knew him onely by fame in the person of Zerbino whom he nameth Prince of Scotland glaunceth at his worth Zerbin di Bellezza e di Valore Sopra tutti i Signori eminente Di virtu essempio e di Bellezza raro In another place but Ronzard who with his Queen came to Scotland and was his Domestick Servant deseribeth him more to the life Ce Roy D' Escosse estoit en la fleur de ses ans Ses Cheveux non tondus commine fin or luisans Cordonnez et crespez flotans dessus sa face Et sur son col de laict luy donnoit bonne grace Son Port estoit royal son reguard vigoureux De vertus et de honner de guerre amoureux La douceur et la force illustroienâ—â— son visage Si que Venus et Mars en avoient fait partage So happie is a Prince when he cherisheth and is intertain'd by the rare spirits of his time that even when his Treasures Pompe State Followers Diadems and all externall Glory leave him the sweet incense of his Fame in the Temple of Honour persumeth his Altars A Prince's name is surer preserved and more deeply ingraven in Paper than in all the rusting Medalles blasted arches entombed Tombes which may serve to any as well as to him raised with such loss of time vaine labours of Artizans vast expence to be the sport of the Windes Raines Tempests Thunder Earthquakes or if they shunne all these of superstition faction and civil Broyles After this Prince had some years rested in a Tombe not only it but the most part of the Church was made equal â—o the ground by the Armies of his Uncle King Henry the eight whose malice left him not even when he was dead proing as horrible an Vncle as Nero was a son A while after he was transported to another Vault by the piety of his matchless Grand-child Iames King of Great Britain where he was embalmed again enshrined and his Coffin adorned with the Arms of the Kingdom cognoscances and a Crown With which Honours I leave him till some famous pen encouraged by the favours of his Royal Successours raise his Fame from the dust of obscure Papers to Eternity THE END MEMORIALLS OF STATE Considerations to the KING December 1632. THere is nothing more dangerous to a King than to suffer Majesty and that sacred respect which a Subject oweth him to be violated and his Fame and Reputation lessened by other mens boldness whose presumption may lead them forwards not onely to dally with his Person but with his Crown But his ears are so often guarded by these men that he never heareth verities till he hath granted what he cannot well amend and his wounds be incurable If a Prince hold any thing dear it should be the Right and Title of his Crown which concerneth not onely himself but his Posterity out of which a small Jewel taken away maketh it the less Radiant And to all Subjects that should be as Mount Sinai not to be approached In every case we should take greater heed to what in it is hurtful than to what is in it profitable for what profit and commoditie any thing carrieth with it easily presenteth it self unto us but any one point which may hurt us unless it be observed and carefully taken away may overthrow and bring to nought all that hath been rightly intended The restoring of the Earl of Monteeth in blood and allowing his descent and title to the Earldome of Strathern is thought to be disadvantageous to the King's Majesty and that a more dangerous blow could not be given to the Nobleman himself We may easily conjecture of things to come and imagine them by those of the like nature which have proceeded The Stage of the World is the same still though in times the Actors be changed and come about again For the Kings Majesty it would be considered if Henry the sixth King of England would if it had been in his power reclaimed the approbation restoring in bloud and allowing of the descent and title of Richard Duke of York who openly in Parlament thereafter made claim for the Crown as in his own â—ight laying down thus his title The son of Ann Mortimer who came of Philipe the Daughter and sole heir of Leonel Duke of Clarence third Son to King Edward the third is to be preferred by very good right in Succession of the Kingdom before the children of Iohn of Gaunt the fourth Son of the said Edward the third but Richard Duke of York is come of Philipe the Daughter and sole Heir of Leonel Duke of Clarence third Son to K. Edward the third then to be preferred before the children of the fourth Son who was Henry The like reason may be alleged in the Title of the Earl of Strathern The children of a first marriage by the common Law are to be preferred in the Succession before the children of the second marriage for the marrying of Elizabeth Moor did but legitimate and make her children to succeed after the children of the first marriage As for the authority of a Parliament it would be considered whether or not the Authority of a Parlament may confer and entail a Crown from the lawful Heir thereof to the next apparent heirs Or if an Oath given unto a King by mans Law should be performed when it tendeth to the suppression of Truth and Right which stand by the Law of God Then if one Parlament hath power to entail a Crown whither may not another Parliament upon the like conside rations restore the same to the righteoâ—s heirs But the Subject resigneth all his right to his King It would be considered whether a Subject may safely capitulate with his Prince that is to say give over and quit-claim all right and title which he hath to his Soveraigns Crown his Right being sufficient and if by his capitulation his heirs be bound and if it be honourable for a Prince to accept his conditions The trouble which Edward Baliol raised in Scotland is yet recent to the Readers of Histories Notwithstanding that his Father Iohn Baliol had resigned unto Robert King of Scotland all the right and title which he or any other of his had or thereafter might have to the Crown of Scotland concerning any interest or claim which might be avouched for any cause or consideration He anno 1355. gave to Edward the third King of England a full resignation of his pretended Right of the Crown of Scotland As before being assisted by the said King and the confederate Gentlemen of Scotland in a Parlament holden at Perth where he had been confirmed King of Scotland by the three Estates It would be considered if the Pope the Kings of Spain or France after some revolutions of years seeking to trouble the Estate and peace of this Isle should entertain and maintain one of the Heirs of the Earls of Strathern as Queen Elizabeth did Don Antonio the
Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Beaumont and Dacres Grey and Wells were slain and above Thirty six thousand English struck down The Dukes of Somerset and Excester flie to York to carry the News to the unfortunate King leaving the Victory to Edward who is again saluted King King Henry after this overthrow perceiving how desperate his hopes were in his own Countrey with his Queen his Son and the remainder of his dispersed friends secured himself by flight into Scotland Iames Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews to whose person the Authority of the State was then reduced received him with magnificence and honor and put him in hopes by the assistance of Scotland to restore his fortune King Henry as well to reserve some Refuge and Sanctuary for himself as to win the heart and insinuaâ—e himself in the favor of the people of Scotland caused render the Town of Berwick to them which the English had violently possessed since the days of Edw. 1. For which favor the Scottish Nobility vowed at all times to come to his supply and defend him to their uttermost and that the friendship begun might continue without all vacillation the Queens of Scotland and England both descended of the French Race began to treat of an Alliance promising Edward Prince of Wales should be marryed with the Lady Margaret the King of Scotlands Sister none of them then having attained the years of marriage The miseries of King Henry increasing suffered not these two Queens to stay long together Margaret with her Son Edward to implore the ayd of her friends maketh a Voyage towards France to her Father Rhene King of Sicily Naples and Ierusalem Duke of Anjou a Prince large of Titles short of Power These who had followed King Henry into Scotland whilest he is left onely intentive to devotion in the Cloyster of the Gray-Fryers at Edenburgh return back again to sollicite their friends in England for a second rencounter Upon the arrival of Queen Margaret in France the obtaineth of her cousin Lewis the eleventh that those who favored and assisted the Duke of York were prohibited Traffique and commanded to remove out of the Frenh Dominions and that Five hundred Soldiers should come to her ayd a number so small and so unworthy the name of an Army that it was but a competent retinue for so great a Princess with these she came to the coast of Scotland and from thence sailed to Tinmouth where being repulsed by the Inhabitants and forced again to put to Sea sâ—e was by a furious Tempest driven to Berwick Here leaving the Prince her Son Edward with the enâ—rease and supply of some Scots taking the King her husband with her she advanced into the Bishoprick of Duresm in her march through Northumberland her Army increased to a great number The Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Percy and divers of King Henrys well-wishers having resorted unto her King Edward finding King Henry by the fresh air of the North to have acquired new Spirits prepareth to oppose him and having sent down the Lord Mountague brother to the Earl of Warwick he himself with greater Forces shortly followed Mountague having through the Shires where he went and the Bishoprick of Duresm gathered a convenient Army marched directly against King Henry In the mean time Henry â—eaufort Duke of Somerset the Lords Hungerford Ross Moulines Sir Ralph Percy present themselves to hinder his further progress They are overthrown and King Henry with great difficulty escapeth to Berwick At the news of this overthrow King Edward being in his March towards Durham finding the presence of his Person or Army needless turned towards York and gave the Earl of Warwick command to take in all the Castles and Fortresses which as yet held good for King Henry in the North. Amongst the Garrisons placed in Northumberland by the Queen there was a Garrison of the French in the Castle of Anwick under the Command of Peter Bruce otherwise named le Seigneur de la Varoune Seneschal of Normandy which held long good against the English This Peter Bruce was in great account with Charles the seventh father to Lewis but sent over with Queen Margaret to make wrack upon apparent dangers having escaped Tempests at Sea he took the Castles of Bambrough and Dunstanbrough which he demolished After he essayed to keep the Castle of Anwick but the Earl of Warwick King Edward lying near to Durham there beleagured him Whether this man came from the Race of the Bruces of Scotland or no is uncertain for the vulgar Writers in this detract him naming him Bryce and a Bretone or that the Scots would give a proof of their friendship to the Queen of England and of their valour to the French whilst he is everywhere beset and near past hope of relief the Earl of Anguss then Warden of the Marshes raised a Power of twenty three thousand horseâ—men remarkable for their Valour These about the midst of the day coming near the Castle of Anwick and by their colours and arms being known a far to Captain Bruce he taketh a resolution to sally out and meet them the strongest of the Scottish Horsemen rrceiving them convoy them safely to their Borders some of the Besiegers would have fought in the pursuit but the English General gave him fair passage King Edward having taken all the Castles and Forts which in the North held out against him placing Garrisons in them returned to London as King Henry void both of counsel and courage came back to Edinburgh Here he had not long stayed when tired with the tediousness of his exile the prolonging of a wretched Life being more grievous to him then death it self and allured by false hopes of his Friends he resolveth to hazard upon a return to his own Kingdom his Grown lost all his Favorers and wel-wishers almost slaughtered he cometh into England then disguised and by night journeys shifting from place to place at last betrayed by some of his Servants he is found out It is recorded a Son of Sir Edward Talbots apprehended him as he sate at Dinner at Wadding Town-hall and like a Common Malefactor with his legs under the horse belly guarded him up towards London By the way the Earl of Warwick met him who led him Prisoner to the Tower Margaret his desolate Queen with her Son is driven once again to flie to their Father Rhene into France King Edward his Competitors all dead or suppressed finding a Cessation of Arms expedient and a breathing time from War to settle and make sure his new Government as to other his neighbour Princes for peace sendeth Embassadors to Scotland to treat for a Truce for some years The Earl of Argile Bishop of Glasgow Abbot of Holyrood-house Sir Alexander Boyd Sir William Cranstoun being chosen to this effect Commissioners come to York and the English Commissioners there attending them a Truce for fifteen years is agreed upon and solemnly by both Kings after confirmed Mary Queen of Scotland daughter to