His Royal Highness IAMES DUKE of Alban◠and Yorke only Brother to his sacred Mayesty Lord High Com̄issioner of Scotlan◠Medulla Historiae Scoticae Being a Comprehensive HISTORY OF THE Lives and Reigns OF THE KINGS OF SCOTLAND FROM FERGVS the First to our Gracious Sovereign CHARLES the Second CONTAINING The most Remarkable Transactions and Observable Passages Ecclesiastical Civil and Military with other Observations proper for a Chronicle faithfully Collected out of Authors Ancient and Modern To which is added A brief Account of the Present State of Scotland the Names of the Nobility and Principal Ministers of Church and State the Laws Criminal A Description of that Engine with which Malefactors are Tortured called the BOOT LONDON Printed for Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall 1685. To the Most Noble JAMES Earl of Perth Lord Drummond and Stobhall c. Lord Justice General of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND One of the Extraordinary Lords of the SESSION and one of the Lords of His MAJESTIES Most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL in that KINGDOM THIS Compendious History of the KINGS of Scotland is Most Humbly Dedicated by Your Lordships Most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Servant W. A. TO THE READER I Shall not detain the Generous Reader with Flourishes upon the Grandeur and Glory of the Scotish Crown nor tell you that it may Vie Antiquity with the Ancientist Monarchy of the Vniverse that I leave to your Vmpirage when you have compared the following sheets with the Histories of other Nations Only thus far I will assure you that Scotland will be found to be a Country Pregnant of Wonderfull Changes and Revolutions a Theatre whereon Divine Providence has I Exhibited divers remarkable Instances of it's Peculiar Care over Crowned Heads and where all Treason and Disloyalty has been persued with utter ruine and Destruction It can show a Race of Kings Vnparallel'd for their Bravery and Gallantry in the Defence of their Country and Protection of their Allies and for their Heroicism in Assisting and redresing the Miserable and Opprest But I leave their own Acts as represented in the following Mirrour to make good my assertion and shall proceed to offer something in my own Vindication for I am liable to some Reprehension for Cramming so Large so Bulky a History into so small a Volum but if it be considered that all the Curious have neither the leisure to peruse nor the means to provide a larger I hope I shall need no farther Apology upon that point nor need I advocate much for differing much from many Authors as to the Origin of our Nation since I have followed the most Authentick and have only vary'd from those whose writings are vanished with Monckery and savour more of the Legend than true History Besides the plain bomespun manner wherein all these matters are deliver'd will disgust several who only delight in what is Flaunting and Trick'd up with all the Ornaments and Gawdiness of Rhetorick and Elocution but be it known I fitted my stile for the Capacities of Vulgar Readers such as becomes a History not a Panegyrick and what squars best with the Tongue of both Kingdoms wherein there was never yet any Chronicle publish'd of the Realm of Scotland so as that those who were unacquainted with the Latin were excluded from the knowledge of the Primitive state of so Illustrious a Kingdom After having fitted this account for the Common use by divesting it of a Pompous Dress and a too Stately Dignity of stile my Chief Care was to avoid Partiality by a stedy and Cauterous stearing between Buchanan and Bishop Lesley Seylla and Charybdis where vast Funds of Wit and Learning might easily have wrought the shipwrack of an unwary Pilot so that tho' a great part hereof is a translation of Eminent Authors yet I left my Originalls when I found 'em bias'd and avoiding their Extreams boul'd directly to the Block THE Introduction HIstory has been reckon'd one of the most Generous amusements of the greatest Personages and the loftier the Subject the more agreeable the Entertainment Now for the Advantages and Dignity of a Scotish Chronicle I will not so much insist upon it's Novelty and the wonderful Vicissitudes it contains as the Preheminency of that Crown over all Common-wealths Empires and Monarchies which by stating their several Claims and Pretences will sufficiently be made appear The Emperor Challenges the first Rank as succeeding to the Roman Emperors who are supposed to have been universal Monarchs the French King pretends also to it upon the Account of his being Stiled the most Christian King with other such Pretences The King of Spain also pleads it as his Right being the most Catholick King and King of manyest Kingdoms In this Debate of theirs we are not a little concerned our business therefore shall be to prove First that the King of Great Britain hath an unquestionable Right of Precedency to all the above named Princes Secondly that he hath it it as King of Scotland First he founds his Precedency to them all 1. Upon his being a absolute Monarch of the Isle of Great Britain which was first Christian 2. Upon his being one of the Quatuor nucti which were before all other Kings 3. That having Conquered France he hath Right to all it's Titles by which he carries it clear from the Spaniard or any other Competitor and Lastly that it was granted him even as King of England by the Popes themselves in the General Councils so that had they not relinquished his Papacy it is like his Holiness had not as yet questioned their Title to it II. His Majesty as King of Scotland may justly claim the Precedency from all those Princes it being by Lawyers declared the uncontroverted use of Precedency That amongst those of equal Dignity he who first attained to that Dignity is to be preferred This being a Rule among others Dignities we see no reason but that it should hold here This being granted I subsume that the King of Scotland being equal in Dignity with the Kings of England France and Spain attained to that Dignity before either of them for the first King of Scotland Reigned about three hundred and thirty years before the birth of Christ Whereas the English Historians Confess that they cannot reckon higher than eight hundred years after Christ Nor can either the French or Spaniard come up to the English for the French take the Origine from Hugh Capi who Usurped that Crown Anno. 987. And the Spaniards from Rudolphus King of the Romans Elected 1273. But here it is objected by some that the Kings of Scotland were Vassals to the Kings of England and did them Homage for the Crown of Scotland and so can Claim no Precedency amongst any free Princes far less amongst such as are of the first magnitude This some English Historians do with great Confidence aver but that their Ignorance or Malice or both may appear we are Content to refer the matter not only to the Respect the General Councils
sent to bring home the Queen he was no sooner gone then his Interest at Court began to fall for a Parliament being called the Lord Boyd and his Brother Sir Alexander are summoned to appear thereupon he distrusting this Case fled to England but his Brother was taken and Arraigned the Earl of Arran also though absent is declared a Rebel The Queen arriving with her fleet arriving in the Ferth My Lady Arran went aboard in disguise and informed her Husband of the calamity of his House perswaded him to do for himself whereupon he hoisted Sails and returned with his Lady to Denmark The King sendeth Letters full of promises and threatnings to move his sister to return to Scotland which when she did she was constrained to be divorced from her Husband and to Marry James Lord Hamilton not long after the Earl of Arran dyed in great misery at Antwerp Queen Margaret the third year after her Marriage brought forth a Son who was named James the King of Denmark to Congratulate the happy delivery of his Daughter released all his claims to the Isles of Orkney and Sherland but in the midst of this calm a cloud begins to overcast the Kings Splendor for his Brothers being Princes of unquiet and restless spirits they set themselves altogether to study Novelties and to bring him into contempt with his Subjects to this end they had drawn away many of the young Nobility and Gentry to follow them The King was Naturally Superstitious giving much head to divinations which gave also his Brothers occasion to vilifie him and incense his people against him yea the Earl of Marre became so Insolent that in the Kings own presence he began to raile against the Government of the state and Court which the King highly resenting caused to Imprison him where he fell in a high Fever whereof he dyed The Duke of Albany imputed the death of his Brother to the Court party but while he was keeping his Cabals in order to an Insurrection he was surprised and Imprisoned in the Castle of Edenburgh out of which he soon after made his escape to France thence he came to England and began to tamper with King Edward revealing to him the weakness of the Kingdom of Scotland and how easily it might be subdued the Nobility not respecting the King but much affecting a change in the Government which by his assistance might easily be effected he promised also to settle a corespondence with the Nobles of Scotland which he did then that they might get their design wrought gives way for the breaking loose of the Borders fierce incursions are made by the English upon Scotland and by the Scots upon the English and the discontented Nobility blame the King for all thereupon pretending the necessity of the times and the danger the Kingdom was in they entered into a Bond of association after which they enter the Kings bed chamber where they seized some of his Servants in his presence and put them to death as incendiaries in the state About this time the Duke of Gloucester set forward toward Scotland with two and twenty thousand men finding Berwick two strong for him he marches directly to Edenburgh there by publick writings at the Market places he gave out high demands all which King James being shut up in Edenburgh Castle answered with silence the disatisfied Lords having obtained what they chiefly aimed at wished the English at home again therefore they desire a peace with them which the Duke of Gloucester granted upon condition that all his demands were satisfied one of which was to reinstall the Duke of Albany which after much debate was granted and he with his Army returned home The Duke of Albany having recovered his Estate and Honours his first work was to restore the King to his Prerogatives reconciling him to his discontented Lords but he himself stood not long in his favour for by the advice of some of his Enemies about the King a Plot is resolved upon to bring the Duke within compass of Law which he being aware of fled to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester his grievancies in his absence he is convinced of many points of Treason whereupon he and the Lord Crightton his Associate are both forfeited which when he heard he presently caused to give up the Castle of Dunbar whereof he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately put a Garison in it Not long after the said King Edward dyed and his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester Succeeded The Duke of Albany obtains five hundred Horse from King Richard with which he came with the old Earl of Douglass to Lochmabban to surprise a Fair which was held there whereupon the Laird of Johnston who was warden dispatched Posts about for supply of men with which he Encountred the Duke here it is most Couragously fought on both sides but at last the English are quite routed the Duke hardly by swiftness of his Horse escaped but the Earl of Dowglass is taken and brought in Triumph to Edenburgh where the King adjudged him to perpetual confinement soon after followed a Truce with England for three years but before the time was expired Henry Earl of Richmond came with some Companies out of France of which that Famous warriour Bernard Stewart Lord Albany Brother to the Lord Darnly had the leading which by the resort of his Country men turned into an Army and Rencountred Richard at Bosworth where he was killed and Henry Proclaimed King of England King James taking advantage of this change besieged Dunbar which was soon surrendred upon Articles After this King Henry sent Embassadors to King James to agree if possible upon a lasting and firm Peace between the two Crowns at length after some difficulty they agree upon a Truce for seven years The King having settled a Peace with England betakes himself to the Exercise of Religion having founded a Colledge for divine Service in the Castle of Sterling he endeavoured to annex the Priory of Goldingham to it The Priors of this Convent having for many years been of the Name of Humealedged that they were wronged of their Right First they began to Petition but finding this uneffectual they began to associate with their Neighbours giving it out that the King was a meer Tyrant not to be trusted by which means many of the Hearts of the Subjects were alienated from the King The King understanding how things stood he made choice of a Guard to defend his Person resolving to live beyond the River Ferth of which when the Lords of the Insurrection were certified they surprize the Castle Dunbar and tumultuously over-run the Countries besouth the Ferth Thus coming to Lithgow they resolved to make the Duke of Rothesay the Kings own Son their Head whom having corrupted his Keepers with Bribes they constrained to go with them But the King loosing neither Courage nor Councel passeth the Ferth near Blackness with his Forces before his arrival at this place
to set forward as he was at his Devotion an Ancient man came in in a very strange and Majestick manner and of a comly and reverent aspect who having enquired for the King he intruded himself Prease passing through till he eame to him with a Clounish Simplicity leaning over the Canons Seat where the King Sat Sir said he I am sent hither to intreat you for this time to delay your expedition and to proceed no farther in your intended Journey For if you do you shall not prosper in your Enterprize nor any of your Followers I am further Charged to warn you if you be so Refractory as to go forward not to use the Acquaintance Company or Councel of Women as you tender your Honour Life and Estate Having delivered his Commission he withdrew himself among the croud but could never be seen again the Queen also did greatly shake his resolutions with her Tears and Prayers acquainting him with the Visions and affrightments of her sleep but he laughed at all these fancies thinking them to be only the contrivance of such as hated the French and loved the English faction so he gave present Orders to his Army to March over the Tweed not staying till his whole Forces came to him though they were upon their March yet for all his hast when once he had passed the River he trifled away his time so idly that many of his Souldiers wanting necessarie provision returned home which the Nobility seeing advised the King to returne also having spoiled that Country sufficiently already but he would hear no such advice though at last his Army was brought so low that he had none almost left but the Nobility and their Attendants The English Army Commanded by the Earl of Surrey consisting of twenty eight thousand men were come by this time within three miles of the place where the Scotish army was incamped which made them draw to their arms The Earl of Surreys Vanguard passed the water of Till at Twysel Bridge King James seeing them pass the water imagineth that they intended to gain a hill between his Camp and them To prevent which he removed to another Hill whilst the Scotish Army was removing the English advance to the foot of Flondon Hill The fatal hour of the two armies approaching one another the English draw up in good order in two Battels one of which was equal in number to the whole Scotish army the Scots by their fewness of number not being able to Order many Battalions Marshal themselves in four three of which to enter the Fight and the fourth to attend for supply the King commanded the middle or main Battel the Earl of Huntly the Right wing and the Earls of Cranford and Montross the left the third Battalion was commanded by the Earl of Lennox and the Earl of Argyle and the reserved by the Earl of Bothwel The Earl of Huntly making down the Hill where they incamped encountred a wing of the English Van led by Sir Edmund Howard which after a furious and long Fight he put to flight the Battalion led by the Earls of Lennox Argyle being High-Land Men incouraged with this glance of Victory loosing their Ranks brake furiously upon the Enemy invading them in the Face of them they were not only valiantly received but Hedged in on all hands and miserably destroyed The main Battel which the King led being joyned by the Earl of Bothwel fought it out couragiously Body against Body and Sword to Sword great numbers falling upon both sides till the darkness of the Night as it were by mutual Consent forced a Retreat neither of them knowing unto whom Victory pertained Many brave Scots did here fall esteemed to be above five thousand of the Noblest and worthiest Families of the Kingdom neither was the loss of the English less in number but most part of them being common Soldiers was thought little of About the dawning of the next Morning the Lord Dacres with his Troops taking a view of the Field and seeing the Brazen Ordnance of the Scots not carried off sendeth speedy Advertisement to the pensive Army inviting all to the setting up of Trophies What the Kings fate was is uncertain the English hold that he was killed in this Battel the Scots that many in like Arms with the like Guards were killed every one of which was taken for the King Among others Alexander Lord Elphingston one of his Favourites being not unlike the King in Face and Stature and representing him in his Armour in the Field with the Valiantest and most Couragious of the Army fought it out and Acting heroically his part as a King was killed heaps of dead Bodies invironing his In the search where the fight was the number Tallness and the Furniture of the dead Bodies being observed their Faces and Wounds viewed His Body as if it yet breathed Majesty was amidst the others selected thought to be his Master brought to Berwick and imbalmed That it was not the Kings Body his Iron Chain which he always wore and was not there found about him gave Testimony Others have recorded that the Fortune of the day inclining to the English four Tall men mounted upon lusty Horses wearing upon the tops of their Lances for Cognizance Streamers of Straw mounting the King upon a Sorrel Hackney conveyed him far from the place of fight and after that he was seen beyond the Tweed between Kelso and Dunce after which what became of him was uncertain Many think that he was killed in the Castle of Hume either by Intelligence between the English and the Humes or in hopes of great Fortunes which would follow Innovations and Confusions in the State To this is added that one Carbreth in the time of John Duke of Albanies Government vaunted that however the Governour wronged the Humes yet he was one of those who had abated the Insolency of King James and made him know that he was a Mortal all which increased the Suspicion of many The Governour not long after cut off the Heads of the Earl of Hume and his Brother without any known cause This noble Prince was lost the twenty fifth year of his Reign 106. The fatal overthrow of the King and Nobility filled the remnant of the State with great sorrow and perplexity the Heads and fairest parts which Majesty Authority and Wisdom had made eminent were cut off and nothing but some turbulent Church-men Orphan-Noblemen and timerous Citizens left to fill their Room In this maze of perplexity James the Prince is set upon the Throne A. D. 1514. And is committed to the Tutelage of his Mother together with the Government of the Realm But the Government of a Woman and a Child over a Head-strong People could not stand long firm A hot Contest arose among the Clergy for the Archbishop-Prick of S. Andrews three being put in at one time one by the Pope another by the Queen and a third by the Chapter the State was in as bad Case Alexander
Lord Gordon usurping almost a Royal Authority over the Countries benorth the Ferth as the Lord Hume also did upon the South-side The Queen seeing her Authority contemned privately Marries the Earl of Angus looking upon him as one who could Protect her and hers in Extremity but this Match instead of heightning weakened her Interest the Nobility dividing in two Factions the one pleading for the Earl of Douglass and the other opposing him thinking him too high already made choice of the Earl of Arran but a third party steps in of whom the Lord Chamberlain was Chief who carried the choice from both pitching upon John Duke of Albany When King Henry heard that this Gentleman was like to carry the Day he writes to Scotland remonstrating to them how dangerous this choice might prove to their State Yet notwithstanding of all that could be said they adhered to their choice and sent to France to call home the Duke of Albany who furnished with all necessaries by the French King with eight well Rigg'd Ships takes the Seas and in the Month of May arrived upon the West-coasts of Scotland from whence with a great retinue of the Nobles and Barons of the Country by easie Journies the Queen meeting him he came to the Town of Edenburgh where he is restored in Parliament to his Fathers inheritance At the Presence of this new Governour the Face of the State turned more beautiful Oppression is restrained Justice sincerely executed the Governour not willing to listen to every mans Advice gave himself to follow the Councel of John Hepburn Prior of S. Andrews this man being of a subtle mind Malicious and Crafty represented to him things as he pleased representing the Factiousness of the Nobility naming several whom he said the Kingdom could not bear Among others he gave out the Lord Chamberlain to be a man unpolish'd Stubbornly Stout mighty in Riches and Power of a working Mind and vehement Spirit that he spoke against the Chamberlain c. The Governour did presently lay hold on this and changed in his affection toward him which the Chamberlain perceiving could not but reflect upon the Governours ingratitude wherefore he resolved to Face about and striking in with the Queen and her Husband became very intimate with them he represented to them what hazard the Prince was in the Governour being a man of such an unsatiable Spirit that nothing but the Crown could set bounds to his Ambition Advising the Queen to think of a way to prevent it they concluded at last that their only safety would be that the Queen would transport her Son to England But as privately as the business was managed it came to the Governours ears who presently sent a Troop of Horse who surprized the Castle of Sterling and in it the Queen with her two Sons The Prince and his Brother are sequestred from their Mother and committed to the keeping of four Noblemen Whereupon the Queen her Husband and the Chamberlain with many others mis-trust-ing the Governour fly to England their sudden departure perplexed the Court exceedingly which moved the Governour to write to King Henry representing to him how little reason they had from him to depart the Kingdom earnestly declaring his respects to the Queen and that if she and all that were with her should please to return she should be very welcom they hoping that they were sincere at last were moved to yield to his desires but when once he had got them within the Country he resolved to be revenged upon them this bred new Confusions for some of the Lords being imprisoned their Friends break very loose the Country is daily pestered and impoverished by Incursions and Inroads till at last after great loss on both sides they come to an Agreement which was followed with the renewing of the Truce with England for some Months All things being thus seemingly calmed both at home and abroad the forementioned Prior of S. Andrews begins to perswade the Governour that all his indeavours to settle the Realm would prove vain so long as the Earl of Hume was alive whom neither rewards could soften nor Honours and preferments make constant upon this the Governour begins to contrive how to get the Earl secured wherefore he came to Edenburgh and called a Convention of the states having intreated the Earl of Humes Friends that he would not fail to be there the matters to be determined concerned him dearly The Earl of Hume with his brother David came to Edenburgh the Night before the Day appointed who were received by the Governour with great Ceremonies and with more than ordinary Favours entertained and shortly after both imprisoned and a day appointed for their Tryal The first thing laid to their Charge was the death of the late King whom several Witnesses proved to have been seen coming to the Castle of Hume from Flondon this not being proved by pregnant Evidences he was accused of several other points of Treason of which he not being able to clear himself to their satisfaction the Judges prepared and directed by the Governour pronounce him and his Brother guilty and Condemn them to have their Heads chopt off which Sentence was the next day put in Execution and their Heads fixt upon the most Conspicuous places of the City This Calamity of the Family of the Humes bred Terrour and Astonishment in many of the Noblemen of the Kingdom and greatly estranged their Hearts from the Governour Ambassadors being sent from France to renew the Ancient League between the two Countries The Governour was chosen by the Nobility of Scotland to pass into France for accomplishing this solemn Action He was no sooner gone but the Queen after she had stayed a year in England Honourably dismissed by her Brother came to Scotland Sir Anthony Darcy being by the Governour made Warden of the Mers and Lothian was slain by Sir David Hume of Wedderburn coming to Dunce to hold a Justice Court Whereupon the Earl of Arran was declared Supream Warden of the Marches who soundly revenged Darcies Death upon the Humes The Kingdom now began to be sensible of the offence of the Governour Factions increasing daily the Nobility and Gentry deciding their Rights by their Swords insomuch that the Earl of Arran who was Provost of Edenburgh having been with the Prince at Dalkeith upon his return had the Gates shut upon him the Citizens pretending that he intended to invade their Priviledges Whereupon followed a Tumult in the City which continued all Night where a Deacon of the Crafts was killed by one of the Hamiltons which did quite alienate the Citizens affection from the Earl of Arran and made them incline to the Earl of Angus this made the Earls of Arran and Angus begin to cross each other Whereupon followed much Confusion in the Country and much Blood-shed between the Douglasses and the Hamiltons at last having encountred one another with their followers at Edenburgh they fight most desperately in the Street till at length
like number from France these two Armies grievously infested the Country The next Year the Queen was at Six years of Age Transported by the West Seas into France escaping the English Fleet that watched for her about Calice and soon after Married to the Daulphine However the Reformation goes on notwithstanding the Queen-Mother who is now stiled Queen-Regent her opposition She was Assisted in her Designs by the French as the Reformers were also by the English but her Death put a stop to the Persecution which gave the Protestants opportunity of putting things in order relating to the Worship of God Great Preparations were making in France for invading of Scotland and root out the Reformed Religion This terrified the Reformers mightily but while they were in a Consternation not knowing what to do the King of France Dyed and their Queen remained a Widdow this was a great Deliverance to them for by his Death the intended Invasion came to nothing Soon after the Queen comes Home and sets up Mass in her Chappel which the Reformers opposed This bred much confusion in the State but the Queen finding that the Body of the People with most part of the Nobility were against her Way she became a little more calm condescending that some Maintenance might be settled upon the Ministers About this time the Earl of Huntly breaks out in a Rebellion in the North to oppose which the Queen went her self in Person and Routed him near Aberdeen his Sons and many of his Friends being Slain himself also Dying in the place without any Wound The Easter following Mass began to be very publick at Edinburgh which so incensed the Lords and others That they Imprisoned several Priests The Queen began to Storm at this but they told her That what they did was according to Law and they would Justify it in Parliament In July 1564. The Earl of Lenox with his Son Henry Stewart Lord Darly return from England and were very graciously received by the Queen who took such Affection to Darly that she Posts away Lethington to Queen Elizabeth shewing her That she meant to Marry him Queen Elizabeth pretending her disliking of such Contracts of Princes with Subjects labours to diswade her from it but under-hand promotes it for her own ends The Queen with some difficulty gets her intended Marriage ratified in Parliament which was afterward Proclaimed by name Henry and Mary King and Queen of Scotland and Solemnized the Twenty-Seventh of July 1565. This procures great Alterations in the State for several Lords and Gentlemen of the Reformation being Summoned to Appear before the King and Queen and upon Non-appearance were declared Rebels Whereupon the King and Queen presently take Armes the Lords with their Intention fled into England where they stayed a while under Queen Elizabeth's Protection who afterward dismissed them writing to the King and Queen in their Favours at length they came to an Agreement which yet continued not long For the King beginning to be jealous of the daily resort of French-men to Court and of their great Favor with the Queen caused one of them called Rizio who from a Musitian was advanced to be the Queen's Secretary for French to be seized in her Chamber and presently put to Death and finding that this Action brought him under the odium of the Papists he made a shew of turning Protestant calling home several of the Banished Lords and others But however from that day he began to be despised by the Queen and Bothwel is advanced The Nineteenth of June 1566. The Queen at Edinburg was Delivered of a Son to the great Joy of all the Kingdom he was Baptized at Sterlin December the Seventeenth and called James the Witnesses were the Earl of Bedford for Queen Elizabeth who in her Name presented a Font of pure Gold valued at Three Thousand Crowns the Count de Briance for the French King and an Ambassador for the Duke of Savoy The King finding himself daily slighted by the Queen repaired to his Father at Glasgow where by the way he was taken very Ill with a Pain in his Stomack when he came to Glasgow his Body breaks out in blewish Blisters which when the Physitians saw they knew him to have been Poisoned but with their Antidotes and his own vigorous Youth he Recovered Not long after the Queen Visited him at Glasgow and prevailed with him to come to Edinburg he Lodged in the Kirk-Field for his Health as was pretended But many suspected that the Earl of Bothwel had a Design upon him but few durst adventure to tell him of it Yet the Earl of Orkney told him That if he retired not hastily out of that Place it would cost him his Life this Advertisement moved the Earl of Bothwel to hasten forward his Enterprize laying a Train of Powder under the House where the King lay which in the Night time did Blow it up but it was said That the King was taken forth and brought Alive to a Stable where a Napkin was stopped in his Mouth and he therewith Suffocated Presently after Bothwel obtains a Divorce from the Pope to free him of his Wife and was Married to the Queen May the Fifteenth 1567. Whereupon the Lords take Armes the Queen and Bothwel being at Dumbar resolving to call him to an Account for what was past the Queen also and he sent to their Friends to come to their Defence the two Armies Faces each other at Seaton Then Bothwel steps out upon Horse-back between the Armies offering to Fight with any that durst Charge him with that foul Aspersion of Murdering the King James Murray offers the Combat but he is refused as not equal in Honour then his Brother the Laird of Tully-Bardine Accepts the Challenge him he refuseth because he was not a Noble-man then the Lord Lyndsay presents himself telling him That he was his Equal every way but the Queen recalled Bothwel and would not suffer them to Fight In fine the Queen finding the Confederates resolute and their Number exceeding her own she desires Bothwel to shift for himself for that she would put her self in their Hands which accordingly she did and was by them conveyed to Edinburgh and after to the Castle of Lochlevine The Queen of England sends her Ambassador to the Lords desiring That the Queen might have her full Liberty and that the Prince might be sent to England to be Educated At length Matters were wrought to that point that she must of necessity resign the Crown to her Son 108. This young Prince was Crowned at Sterline the Twenty-fourth of July Anno Dom. 1567. at thirteen Months and eight days old The Earls of Morteun and Hume taking the Coronation Oath for him Master Knox also Preached the Coronation Sermon The Earl of Murray is within a Month after created Regent he presently Summons a Parliament wherein divers are Executed as having Accession to the late Kings Murder which occasioned many Factions in the State and much hatred to the Regent In
purpose for soon after she signed a Warrant for a Mandate fitted for the Great Seal for her Execution which was performed upon Wednesday the 8th of February 1586. Queen Elizabeth immediately after Writes a Letter full of Apologies and fair promises to King James yet notwithstanding in great discontent he calls home his Ambassadours from the Court of England The States of Scotland urge him to a revenge The King of Spain also and the Pope promise him great assistance if he would undertake it but he thought fit to delay for a time which made England the more suspitious of his Designs Wherefore an Ambassadour was sent to him earnestly desiring him to take off his adherence from Forreign Friendship assuring him that his Mothers fate would be no prejudice to his right of Succession which was a powerful Argument with him The next Year the Kings Marriage with the King of Denmarks Daughter was agreed upon In the mean time the Popish Lords such as Huntly Cranford and Aâ—rol make a Rebellion in the North to suppress which the King himself went in Person at his coming the Rebels disperse the Headers of them submitted to the Kings Mercy and are commited close Prisoners and not long after Tryed and found Guilty but the Sentence was delayed to an indefinite time which at last turned to a Pardon The King hearing that his Marriage was consumated at Denmark by Proxie and the Queen at Sea was soon after surprised with the News that her Navy was beat into Norway by a Storm He presently resolves to go thither and meet Her which he does very privately leaving the Government of the Kingdom to his Council Within five dayes he arrives at Norway where he was solemnly Marryed the next Sunday From thence he went with his Queen to Visit the Queen Mother of Denmark where they staid till April following Then having sent for Shipping to return they Landed at Leith the 20 th day of May Anno Dom. 1590. and a little after the Queen was solemnly Crowned at Holy-Rood-House Though the King made severe Laws against Feuds yet were they not quite suppressed for by reason of a quarrel between the Earles of Huntly and Murray the North broke very loose as did the Kers also in the South but they were soon suppressed till Bothwel afterward being Imprisoned for consulting with Witches to take away the Kings Life and having escaped made an attempt upon the Kings Lodgings and was repulsed being suspected to have been with Murray the Earl of Huntly procures a Warrant to take him and coming to Dunnibirsle where Murray was firing the House Murray attempting to make his Escape was Barbarously Murdered Bothwel having so often been disappointed of his designes at last having got some of the Lords on his side he came in by the Postern-gate under disguise of attending my Lady Athole with another of his Companions armed to the very Bed-Chamber where he forced the King to grant him a Pardon which was the next day repealed in Council and Bothwel and his Associates forced to fly Anno Dom. 1593. The Queen was delivered of her first Born in Sterliâ—g where he was Christned in the Chappel Roval by the Name of Henry Frederick Two Years after Princess Elizabeth was born at Edenburgh The King resolving to bring the Church of Scotland to a Conformity in Government and Ceremonies did occasion much confusion for the Ministers strong opposed having also a great part of the Nobility on their side The Popish Lords and others unable to stand out any longer submitted to the Censure of the Church The next Year a Parliament is called wherein the King will have some of the Ministers sit as representing the Church being Church Affairs as well as Affairs of State are handled there Anno Dom. 1599. John Earl of Goury and his Brother Alexander attempt to kill the King at Perth but both of them dyed in the attempt and had all their Lands seized for the Kings use In commemoration of which the 5th of August is annually celebrated The 26 th of February 1600. Prince Charles was born at Domfermling which afterward was King of Great Britain c. The Jesuits having no hope of Toleration in Scotland all their Politicks having failed them they went the old way to work One Moubray at the Court of Spaiâ— undertook to kill King James but as he was upon his way to London he was discovered by an Italian who accused him of his intended Murther whereupon they were both taken and sent to Scotland Moubray was committed to the Castle where having found a way to break the Iron Grates of the Prison window thought to have let himself down by a Rope which proving too short he fell from the precipice and dashed out his braines upon a Rock Queen Elizabeths health beginning to decay by reason of her age and the great troubles she had undergone removes from London to Richmond where she daily became weaker and weaker The Lord Admiral Lord Keeper and Secretary Cecil came from the Council to know her pleasure concerning her Successor She answered My Throne is for a King none othâ—â— shall Succeed me Cecil asked her What King She said What other King than my Kinsman the King of Scots Then after some time not stirring she leasurely turned her head about and dyed the Seventyeth year of her Age the 24th of March 1602. Her eyes being shut the same day the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Assembled proclaimed her death and declared King James her Successor Presently Posting Letters to him acquainting him with the Queens Death and being a Body without a Head humbly desiring his Majesty to hasten to them how soon and in what manner he pleaseth The King having communicated these Letters to his Privy-Council returns them his acknowledgment of their dutifull Affection The King sets out for England ordering the Queen to follow Twenty days after the Princes Henry Charles and Princess Elizabeth at further Pleasure He was most magnificently Entertained all the way having a Gallant train of Scottish Noblemen and other Gentlemen to convey him to Berwick where he was most magnificently received by the English and accompanied with Shouts and Acclamations of Joy by all ranks in his Journey through England till he came to London His first Reception was in the Charter-House where he stayed four days having confered the Honour of Knighthood upon 80 Gentlemen On St. Jameses's day the King and Queen were Crowned at Westminster in the Fatal Marble Chair Secretary Elphingston was within a few years after accused by the King for Writing Letters to the Pope in his Name which he confessed and was thereupon committed but soon after pardoned The King was not allowed to enjoy the pleasure of his new Title with Peace for soon after followed the Treason of the Lord Cobham and Gray with Sir Walter Rawley and others for which some of the number being condemned to dye and brought to the very Block obtained a Pardon His Majesty took
befooled by perfidious men which brought a great reproach upon Them and their Posterity Though it be false that they Sold him yet it is a sad truth that His Majesty told them that the English would no longer stand to their Agreement than they thought it for their Interest His Majesty being now in the English's hands they at first carried themselves somewhat respectfully to him but they began soon after to appear like themselves having purged the House of Commons of all such as they thought would oppose them they began to keep His Majesty almost a close prisoner in the Isle of Wight The Scots hearing how the King was thus contrary to the promise and engagement abused by the English sent their Commissioners to London to put the Parliament in mind of the agreement at New-Castle but before they came the Game was altered the Parliament being purged by the Army the barbarous Juncto prove unexorable wherefore the Commissioners return home and acquainted the Nobility how matters stood Whereupon an Army is presently listed under the Duke of Hamilton with which he marches to England but is unfortunately overthrown at Preston most of the Souldiers being killed and himself taken prisoner and brought up to London where not long after he together with the Earl of Holland and Lord Capel were Executed on Tower-hill Within a few days his Majesty is brought from the Isle of Wight to Windsor during his abode there the Officers of the Army and the Members they left in the House proceeded to that height of Insolence as to bring the King to a Tryal Which when it was Voted and passed in the pretended House of Commons they proceeded to make an Act for the Tryal of his Sacred Majesty which they intituled An Act of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament for Erecting of an High Court of Justice for Trying and Judging Charles Stewart King of England This Terrible form of proceeding against his Majesty struck great terrour to the hearts of all sober and good men yea the Presbyterian Ministers who before were against him now declare themselves both in their Pulpits and by earnest Petitions to the Parliament to be zealous abhorrers of the Kings Death and every where make publick Protestations against the Tryal yet nevertheless the Juncto goes on And upon Fryday January the 19 th 1648. his Majesty was brought by a strong Guard of Horse from Windsor to St. James's and from thence to Westminster where he was Tryed and found Guilty contrary to the Laws of God and Man And upon January the 30 th about two a Clock in the Afternoon he submitted his Royal Neck to the Fatal stroak upon a Scaffold Erected between White-Hall Gate and the Gate leading to the Gallery to St. Jameses The 24 th year of his Reign he was Interr'd in St. Georges Chappel at Windsor His sacred Majesty that now Reigns being at this time in France with the Queen Mother is by Unanimous consent of all his Subjects in Scotland proclaimed at Edenburg Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of Scotland England France and Ireland c. and presently after they sent their Commissioners to treat with His Majesty who was then in the Isle of Jerzey After much debating on both sides at last Breda in Holland is agreed upon as a fit place for a solemn Treaty Here the Commissioners from the Church and State met the King and delivered the Propositions During the Treaty the above-mentioned Marquess of Montross was seized in Scotland and Executed which troubled his Majesty so much that it went nigh to break the Treaty but at length through the urgency of Affairs it was concluded And being brought to Edenburgh it was agreed that another Message should be sent to invite the King over to take Possession of the Crown which was his own by an unquestionable Title but the English Parliament replyed If they could hinder it it should not be so Wherefore they prepare an Army to invade Scotland under the command of their General Oliver Cromwell However the Scots no wise daunted at the Storms threatned from England resolved to adhere to his Majesty though upon their own terms The King arriving at the mouth of Spey in the North several Lords were sent to accompany him to Edenburgh but in the mean time Cromwell was advanced as far as Haddington against him Sir David Lâ—sly sent Sir John Brown with a Party of Horse which continued skirmishing for some while but produced no great Effect The next Rencounter was at Dumbar where the Scots had a Bloody Overthrow from Cromwel which did exceedingly strengthen his Interest in Scotland The first work that the Scots went about after this disaster was the Coronation of the King which was done at Scone with as great Solemnity as the state of Affairs could allow The Ceremony being over His Majesty removed to Sterling resolving to debate his right to Cromwell where people of all ranks flocked to him insomuch as in a short time he had an Army of 22000 Men but they dividing amongst themselves gave Cromwel opportunity to pass over forthwith defeating a part of the Kings Army at Innerkething possest himself of the whole Country His Majesty seeing after the defeat that Cromwel was like to Conquer all Scotland makes choyce of his most faithful Friends to venture with him into England where he might with more safety and advantage hazard three Kingdoms than in a Field wherefore with 16000 men he privately marched to England by the way of Carlyle and without any considerable opposition came to Lancashire where at Warrington Bridge some considerable Forces of the Parliament were ready to cut down the Bridg but the Scots were with them so suddenly that they prevented the breaking down of the Bridg forced their way over the Planks Hence his Majesty marched to Worcester in very good order Cromwel hearing of his motions sends Lambâ—rt with a select Party of Horse after him the Parliament also raised numerous Forces in most Countryes in England all which marched to Worcester against the King In the mean time Lambert gained a most Advantagious Pass at Hopâ—on by a desperate attempt having caused some of his Troopers to swim the River on Horseback carrying their Houlsters and Pistols in their hands to save them from wet whereby they put Major General Massey and his men to the retreat So that the Parliamentarians had a fair opportunity to make a Bridge over the River over which Cromwel passed and joyned the rest of the Army which put the King upon a necessity of Fighting the City being attacked on all sides Whereupon his Majesty marched out of the City with horse and foot against them Where followed a most desperate engagement insomuch that his Majesties Horse was twice shot under him every man resolving to dye in the Bed of Honour rather than to have their Prince and Country thus trod upon by the base Usurpers But the Enemy still advancing with
fresh supplies where there was need of them so over powered the Kings Forces that they were forced at last to give ground after twice Rallying to retreat to the City His Majesty seeing that all was lost was forced to Retreat to the City by the same Gate he came out at having left the Duke of Hamilton Sir John Douglass Sir Alexander Forbes with many other Valiant Gentlemen behind him His Majesty was exceedingly troubled for the loss of Duke Hamilton for that he did see him behave himself so Valiantly and Fighting so desperately even when he was incompassed with the Enemies Horse and Foot It being impossible for His Majesty to keep the City long the whole Nation almost being in Armes against him he resolves to retire Accordingly with some few Attendants he marched out at twelve a Clock at Night and thinking their Number might discover them ordered every Man to shift for himself Only with three or four in his Company he came to a place called Boscobel where he disrobed himself and for want of Scissers had his Hair cut off with a Knife and so with the company of one Careless who brought him Provision he betook himself to a Wood where he lodged in that Famous Royal-Oak The Soldiers hunting about for him and a Thousand Pounds promised to any that would take Him either Dead or Alive Soon after His Majesty rode from Bently to Bristol before Mistress Lane she having a Pass for her self and her Servants whence He returned and absconded a while in Sommersetshire Wiltshire and Hampshire and at last came to Briggemstone in Sussex where He took Shipping about the end of October 1651. and was Safely wafted over to a Creek in Normandie whence he went to Diep and there provided himself of such Necessaries as served him until He came to his Mother who was at the French Court. Cromwel hearing of Iretons Success in Ireland and of Lieutenant General Monks Success in Scotland makes a Motion That for the Security of the Common-Wealth as it was then called the Parliament should be turned out as a parcel of Drunkards Whore-Masters and Oppressors which was accordingly done and then a new Convention is called July 1653. where the Government is put upon Oliver's Shoulders by an Instrument delivered to him by their Speaker Mr. Rouse In this Year and the next were Five Bloody Engagements at Sea between the English and the Dutch the English for the most part having the Victory In the Year 1656. Cromwel calls another Parliament which he had so far secured for his Interest that they invite him to take the Imperial Crown of this Realm which he as a cunning Fox knowing that this step of his Advancement would hasten his Ruine with pretented modesty declined contenting himself with being Lord-Protector which he was made three Years before Then they Petitioned him to accept of Three-Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year for his Support to have a New House of Lords to name his own Successor All which with much ado he accepted of But when Fortune had set him so High that all the World that heard of it were Astonished Behold in the midst of his Triumph he is snatched away by Death upon September the Third 1658. He lay in State at White-Hall about six Weeks and then was in great Splendor Interred in Westminster Abby among the Princes of the Royal Blood His Son Richard was presently Installed in his Place wherein he had hardly time to look about when Fleetwood and Lambert with the rest of the Army thrust him out calling the Long-Parliament again this Revolution was followed by another for soon after several Gentlemen in Cheshire under the conduct of Sir George Booth rose for the Defence of their Priviledges but were defeated by Lambert he immediately after turned out the Long-Parliament and erected a Committee of Safety His Majesties Friends looked on with some Hope all this while seeing all these Metamorphosing of Government might tend to the opening a Door for His Majesties entring General Monk hearing in Scotland how matters went in England drew his Army towards the Borders Against him Lambert marched as far as New-Castle resolving to Fight him but his men had no heart to the Work which forced him to give way In the mean time the remainder of the Long-Parliament had again Convened with some difficulty and Dissolved the Committee of Safety inviting General Monk to march with his Army to London which he accordingly did and to requite their kindness gets them Dissolved In the Year 1660. Another Parliament was called at Westminster where by unanimous Consent His Majesty was invited Home and accordingly the Twenty-ninth of May following His Majesty accompanied with the Dukes of York and Glocester and attended with a Gallant Train of Lords and Gentlemen Arrived at Dover whence He was conducted through London in great State to White-Hall where by a Lineal Legal Succession He possesses the Imperial Crown of Scotland for almost Two Thousand Years So that for Royal Extraction and Long Line of Just Descent His Majesty may Reckon with any Monarch in the Christian World AN APPENDIX To the Present STATE of SCOTLAND SECT I. Of its Climate Dimension Division Air Soil Commodities SCotland is one of the Two Kingdomes that divides the great Island of Brittain being bounded on the East by the German Ocean on the North by the Dewcalledon Sea on the West by the Irish Sea And divides it self from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot Hills Clim Edinburgh is Scituated between the Degrees of Latitude 56 d. 2 minutes of Longitude 3 d. 0 min. from London West Longest Day 17 hours 27 min. Aberdeen 57 d. 10. min. of Latitude 2. d. 20. min. Longitude the most Northernly parts of Scotland is Dunsby-head whose Latitude is 58 d. 5 min. Dimensions It s Length is about 480. Miles its breadth is very disproportionable there being no place in it that is above 70. Miles distant from the Sea Division The Country is divided according to its Inhabitants into Highland and Low-land The Highlanders live in the North and West Parts or in some out Islands being a bold and hardy People much given to Warlike Exercises being alwayes in readiness when ever Commanded by their Cheif Their Weapons were commonly Bows and Arrows but not so much used now as formerly they are a People that can endure as much hardships of War as any People in the World The Lowlanders bordering upon the East and South are as civil as any other People their Language much like the English differing only in the Accent Air. The Air is very wholsome the cold in Winter towards the North is very sharp but there being great plenty of Firing the Inhabitants do not suffer by it The heat is less scorching in Summer than in some other parts of the Continent The Soil is pleasant and healthful abounding with Springs and Rivers towards the North it is Mountainous yet not wanting fruitful Valleys apt to