was made a Privy Councillor in 1662. and in 1666. being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarl first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the enemy soon to flight He enjoyes a Pension from His Majesty of 4000 l. per annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland are three French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Bohemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the Late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. sterling a year There was two Daughters of Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine who being unmarried are deceased The last is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia Born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659. wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters she is said to be one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Having this particular Account of all the nearest in Blood to the Crown of Scotland being the Issue of King James the Sixth and King Charles the First it will not be amiss to relate these that are descended of the Daughter of King James the Second since whom till the Queen of Bohemia no collateral branch sprung from the Royal Family of whom any Issue remains James Lord Hamilton was married to the Daughter of King James the Second and had Issue first James created Earl of Arran whose Son was the Duke of Chastelherault from whom by Two Sons are descended the Families of Hamilton and Abercorn and by Two Daughters the Families of Huntley and Lauderdale And by an Act of Parliament signed by all the Three Estates the Original whereof is yet extant in the Reign of Queen Mary The Duke of Chastelheraults Family is declared next the Queen and her Issue the Rightful Heir of the Crown The Sister of King James the Third bare likewise to the Lord Hamilton a Daughter married to the Earl of Lennox from whom descended the Family of Lennox There is no otther branch of the Royal Family since it was in the Line of the Stewarts except the Earl of Cassils his Family whose Ancestor the Lord Kennedy married King James the firsts Sister from which Marriage that Family is descended And so much of the Royal Family CHAP. V. Of the Chief Officers of State of the Court of Justice The Manner of Elections of the Members in Parliament and Riding of Parlialiament Of the Privy Council Of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer THE Government of the Kingdom being wholly in the Crown the King administers it by his officers of State and Privy Council The Officers of State are Eight The first is the Lord Chancellour who is Keeper of the Great Seal and President in all Courts where-ever he is This Office was in the Person of John Duke of Rothes lately deceased The Second Officer is the Lord High Treasurer who governs the Revenue and presides in the Exchequer This Office is now in Commission The Third Officer is the Lord Privy Seal who is at present John Duke of Athol These Three take place of all the Nobility The Fourth Officer is the Lord Secretary who keeps the Signet and is a Lord by his Office and takes place of all of his Rank The Office of Secretary is executed by the Right Honourable Alexander Earl of Murray The Fifth Officer is the Lord Clerk of Registers who has the charge of all the publick Records Rolls and Registers and Names of all the Clerks of Parliament and Session and the Keepers of Publick Registers This Office is executed by Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick The Sixth Officer is the King's Advocate who is also called the Lord Advocate He is commonly a Judge except in cases in which the King is concerned and in these he pleads in the King's Name The present Lord Advocate is Sir George Mackenzie of Rose-haugh The Seventh Officer is the Lord Treasurer Deputy who is Assistant to the Lord High Treasurer and is a check upon him and presides in the Exchequer in his absence This Office is executed by Charles Maitland of Hatton The Eighth Officer is the Lord Justice Clerk who assists the Lord Justice General in Criminal Causes The present Justice Clerk is Rich. Maitland Esq All these have the Title of Lord and the Precedency of all under Noble men and their Eldest Sons Of the Courts of Justice The Chief and Supream Court of Justice is the High Court of Parliament which is made up of Three Estates The first is the Ecclesiastical that of Old consisted of Bishops and Miter'd Abbots but since the Reformation consists only of Arch-Bishops and Bishops The second Estate is the Nobility who were antiently divided into the greater Barons and the lesser for every man that holds Lands of the Crown with a priviledge of holding a Court much like the Lord of a Mannour in England is called a Baron and all were obliged to appear personally in Parliament Proxies never being allowed by the Law of Scotland and give the King Counsel This proved a very hard burden to the small Barons upon which they desired to be excused from their Attendance in Parliament And this was granted them as a favour in King James's the first Reign And though by that Act they might have sent two or three or more to represent them from every Shire yet they made no use of that for above 150 years But King James the Sixth to ballance the Nobility got them restored to that Right so that ever since there are two sent from every Shire who are Commissioners of the Shires The third Estate is the Burroughs every one of which chuseth one Commissioner or Burgess only the City of Edinburgh as the Metropolis chuseth two Elections of Members of Parliament The Parliament is summoned by Proclamation made at the Head Burrough of every Shire forty daies before they meet upon which the Shires and Burroughs meet about their Elections Every one that holdeth Lands of the Crown that in the Rolls of the Taxation the Antient Name of Subsidies and Assessments are valued at forty shillings Scottish Money of Taxation to the King which will be in real value about ten pounds sterling a year is an Electour or may be Elected so he be rightly vested in the Land or according to the Scottish terms infeoft and seized and be not at the King's Horn that is under an Outlawry The Electours subscribe the Commissions they give and so their Commissioner is returned and if there be Cross Elections the Parliament is only Judge In the Burroughs the Common Council of the Town makes the Election The Manner of the Riding of the Parliament When the day comes in which
the first Sessions of each Parliament is to be held the Regalia The Crown Scepter and Sword of State which are kept in the Castle of Edinburgh are brought down in State to the King's Palace the Coach in which they are being well guarded by a File of Musqueteers every one who pass the Coach being uncovered and are carried by three of the Antientest Earls that are upon the place bare-headed before the King or his Commissioner In the Great Court before the King's Palace all the Members in Parliament do mount on horse-back with foot-cloaths The Burgesses Ride first being allowed one Lackey apiece two Trumpeters in their Coats bare-headed two Pursevants in their Coats bare-headed usher the way the Commissioners from Shires Two and Two The Officers of State not Noble men are next in order The Lords and Barons of Parliament the Bishops the Viscounts the Earls and the two Archbishops all of them Two and Two Next are four Trumpeters in their Coats bare-headed Two and Two and Two four Pursevants in their Coats bare-headed Two and Two six Heralds in theâ—r Coats bare-headed Two and Two the Gentleman Usher bare headed Lyon King at Arms with his Coat and Robes and Foot-Mantle and his Battoon in his hand bare-headed the Sword of State the Scepter and the Crown carried by three of the Antientest of the Nobility on each side the Honours three Mace bearers bare-headed a Noble man bare-headed with a Purse and in it the Lord High Commissioner his Commissâ—on Then last of all the Lord High Commissioner with the Dukes and Marquesses on his Right and Left hand When the King is present the Master of the Horse Rides easie but a lâ—ttle aside It is ordered there be no shooting under the highest pains and penalties that day neither displaying of Ensigns nor beating of Drums during the whole Cavalcade The Officers of State not being Noble men Ride in their Gowns The whole Members Ride covered except those that carry the Honours The highest degree and the most Honourable of that Degree Ride last Every Duke hath eight Lackeys every Marquess six every Earl four every Viscount three every Lord three every Commissioner for Shires two every Commissioner for Burroughs one every Noble man to have a Gentleman to hold up his Train They may have their Pages also The Two Archbishops to have each of them eight Lackeys every other Bishop three and if they please they may have a Gentleman to hold up their Trains The Noble mens Lackeys have over their Liveries short Velvet Coats with their Badges Crests and Motto's done in Plate or embroidered on their back and breast The great Officers of State Ride up from the Abby the King's Palace about half an hour before the Cavalcade in their Robes attended with their friends on horseback waiting in the Parliament-house When the Commissioner enters the House the Lord Chancellor takes his own Purse and ushers him from the Bar to the Throne When the King is present the Lord Chanceâ—lor receives His Majesty at the door of the Parliament-house and ushers him up to the Throne The whole Members of Parliament wait on the High Commissioner in the Great Hall the Noblemen in their Robes They return in the same order back to the Palace only the Constable and Mareschal Ride on the Commissioners Right and Left hand with Caps of Permission The Lord Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal stay behind until all march away and then return in the same State to the Palace as they Ride to the Parliament house When the King Rides in Person the Lord Chancellor Rides bearing the Great Seal but this is not done before a Commissioner When the King is present the Marquesses and Dukes Ride after the Earls but if His Majesties Commissioner be present they follow him at some distance or on his Right and Left hand After the King or his Commissioner is received by the Lord Chancellor he is seated in a Throne six steps high with a State over it And in the first step under him in a Bench sits the Lord Chancellor with other Officers of State on both hands of him In the next step under these sit the Lords of Sessions or Judges On the Right hand of the Throne is the Bishops Bench that rises up in two rows of Benches On the highest the two Archbishops sit and on the lower sit the Bishops according to the Dignity of their Sees On the Left hand of the Throne there is another great Bench of three steps and rows of Benches on which sits the Nobility according to their Precedency In the middle of the four there are two Tables on the one whereof the Regalia are laid and in two great Chairs by them sit the Constable and the Mareschal at the other Table sits the Lord Clerk of Registers with his Deputy Clerks who are the Clerks of the Parliament There are also Forms placed on the Floor these on the Right side are for the Commissioners of the Shires and these on the Left for the Commissioners of the Burroughs When all are placed the Parliament is fenced as the phrase is in the King's Name Then the King speaks to them if he be present in his Robes with the Crown on his head all standing up bare headed But when a Commissioner represents him he is in an ordinary Sute and stands and speaks also bare-headed nor is the Commissioner covered when there is pleading at the Bar but continues bare-headed as all the Members are and tells them the reason for which they are called together which is enlarged by the Lord Chancellor The next thing to be done is the Chusing of the Lords of the Articles which is a matter of great importance who are eight of every State who have been chosen different waies Sometimes the Bishops did Chuse the Eight Lords and sometimes the Nobility the Eight Bishops At other times the Nobility did Chuse their own Eight and the Bishops their Eight But now it is setled by an Act of Parliament that the King or His Commissioner names Eight of the Bishops the Lords Chuse Eight for themselves and these Sixteen do Chuse Eight Commissioners for the Shires and Eight for the Burroughs These Thirty two are the Committee of Parliament to prepare matters When a Bill is drawn by them it is brought into the Parliament Antiently all these Bills were brought in the last day of the Parliament on which the Members Ride in the same State as they do the first and the Bills being Read they were put to the Votes of the Parliament and then were approved or not being approved were presented to the King who by touching them with the Scepter gives his assent to them which is done by his Commissioner in his absence if he refuse to touch them they are of no force Matters have been fully and freely debated in Parliament Sitting all in one House every one answers distinctly to his Name and gives his Vote which is in these terms I approve
the family of the Stewarts and is now in the Person of King Charles the Second His Majesties Title is Dei Gratia of Scotland England France and Ireland King defender of the Faith whom God long preserve in the Throne of his Ancestors upon the Death of a King there is no Inter-Regnum the next Heir is presently King the Coronation being only a solemn Instalment in that which was his right before before their Coronation they hold only convention of Estates but no Parliaments before they are Crowned A Convention of Estates is made up of the same Members that constitute a Parliament but can make no Laws only they can lay impositions on the Subjects They do not sit in State they have been most used before the Kings were Crowned the Lord Chancellor is president in the Convention of Estates as well as in Parliaments When a King is Crowned he swears the Oath appointed to be taken at the Coronation which before the Reformation was no other than that set down in the Roman Pontificial sworn by Kings for there is no provision made about it in our Law but at the Reformation it was enacted That all Kings at the time of their Coronation should make their faithful promise by Oath to govern according to Law and maintain the Protestant Religion c. which Oath is to be found in that Act of the first Parlia Jac. 6. C. 8. Anno 1567. Prerogatives of the Crown The Prerogatives of the Crown are great as Power of Peace and War the Power of raising and arming the Subjects the Power of the Mint the nomination of all Officers both of State and of War and of Justice except some Sheriffs that are such by Inheritance the Power of calling adjourning Prorogation is not in our Law and dissolving of Parliaments the giving the Votes of Parliament the Authority of Laws the executing of the Law and the pardoning of offences are wholly and only in the Crown Church Government But to these since His Majesties Happy Restauration great additions hath been made In the Reign of King James the sixth the Power of general Assemblies was raised very high by Law which occasioned the sad disaster in the Church and laid a foundation to all the late troubles of the State notwithstanding the Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Affairs was alwaies in the Crown since the Reformation yet it was pretended as contrary to Law for the King to introduce any thing into the Church without the consent of the general Assembly It was therefore enacted in Parliament Act 1. 2. Parl. held by the Duke of Lauderdale That the external Government and polity of the Church was wholly in the King's Power and that his Order sent to the Privy Council and published by them about all Ecclesiastical Matters Meetings and Persons were to be obeyed by his Subjects any Law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding So that in all matters that relate to the Church-Government the King's Power is absolute Militia The second point is concerning the Militia By the Antient Laws of Scotland all the Kings Subjects were to assist him in Wars upon which a great Enlargement of the King's Prerogative was grafted at last by two Acts of Parliament The Kingdom of Scotland offering to the King to Raise and Arm twenty thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and to furnish them with forty daies Provision to march into any of His Majesties Dominions of Scotland England or Ireland for suppressing any Forein Invasions Intestine Trouble or Insurrection or for any other Service wherein His Majesties Honour Authority or Greatness may be concerned And these Forces by another Act are to give due Obedience to all such Directions as they shall receive from His Majesties Privy Council Trade A third point is The ordering and disposing of Trade with Forein Nations and the laying of Restraâ—nts and Impositions upon Forein Imported Commodities which is declared a Prerogative of the Crown With these Sacred Prerogatives is the Crown of Scotland invested not inferiour to any Crown in Europe for its Dignity and Power The King only and the King alone by His Royal Prerogative hath Power without Act of Parliament to declare War to make Peace make Leagues and Treaties with any Forein States give Commissions for levying Men and Arms by Sea or â—â— Land yea for pressing Men 〈…〉 The King only and the King alone disposes of all Magazines Ammunitions Castles Fortresses Ports Havens and publick Moneys The King appoints the Metal Weight purity and value of Money and by his Proclamation any Forein Coin may be lawful The King by His Royal Prerogative of His meer will and pleasure may convoke adjourn remove and dissolve Parliaments may to any Act passed in Parliament refuse to give without rendring any reason His Royal Assent without which a Bill is a meer Chimera May at His pleasure encrease the number of the Members of Parliament as daily experience testifieth by creating more Barons and bestowing priviledges upon other Towns to send Burgesses to Parliament Yea may call to Parliament by Writ whom His Majesty thinketh fit and may refuse to send His Writ to others that have sate in other Parliaments His Majesty alone hath the Choice and Nomination of all Magistrates Counsellours and Officers of State of all Bishops and other High Dignities of the Church the bestowing of all Honours both of the higher and lower Nobility of Scotland It is in the power of the King alone to chuse and name all Commanders and other Officers at Sea or Land The power of determining Rewards for Services and Punishments for Misdemeanours The King by His Letters Patent may erect new Counties Bishopricks Universities Cities Burroughs Hospitals Schools Fairs Markets Courts of Justice and Free Warants c. The King by His Prerogative hath power to enfranchise an Alien whereby he is enabled to purchase Houses or Lands and to bear some Offices Hath power to grant Letters of Mart or Reprisal No Proclamation can be made but by the King The King only can give Patents in case of Losses by Fire to receive the Charitable Benevolences of the people without which no man may ask it publickly The King by His Prerogative is Vltimus Haeres Regni and is the Receptacle of all Estates when no Heir appears For this cause all Estates for want of Heirs or by forfeiture fall to the King All Spiritual Benefices for want of Presentation by the Bishop are lapsed at last to the King all Mony Gold Silver Plate found and the owners not known belongs to the King so all Wayfs Strays Wrecks not granted by him or any former Kings all wast Ground or Land recovered from the Sea all â—ands of Aliens before Naturalization and all things whereof the property is not known all Gold and Silver Mines in whose Ground soever they are found The King's Power in the Church In the Church the Kings Prerogative is great he only hath the Patronage of all Bishopricks none can be chosen whom he
hath not first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent He is the nursing Father of the Church the King hath Power to call a National Synod and by his Commissioners to make constitutions relating to the Government and polity of the Church This National Synod was stiled the General Assembly which according to its Constitution and Authority setled in King James the sixths minority was made up of two Ministers Commissioners from every Presbytery and one lay Elder a Commissioner from every Royal Burrough one from every University one fâ—om the King These had the Supream Authority about aâ—l Church-matters How much trouble this Assembly General bred King James the sixth and the pretentions the Church made afterward the sad desolations of the Church of Scotland in these times do sufficiently bear witness A shadow of this still remains for the Supream Ecclesiastical Court is declared to be a National Synod made of Bishops and Deans and two Ministers from every Presbytery one of whom is of the Bishops nomination and a Commissioner from every University yet nothing is to be proposed but by the King or his Commissioner nor can any thing that they do be of force till it be ratified by the King but of this Synod their is no need being the King's Supremacy is so large it is evident that the King is over all Persons as well in Ecclesiasticks as Civil Supream From the King of Scotland there is no appeal in Ecclesiastical Affairs to the Bishop of Rome as it is in other principal Kingdoms of Europe There is no appeal in civil Affairs as in other Dominions of Christendom nor in either Ecclesiastical or Civâ—l to the Peopâ—e who in themselves oâ— by their Representatives in Parliament were ever subordinate to the King The King being the only Soveraign and Supream Head is furnish'd with plenary Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction to render Justice to every Member within his Dominions He may be properly call'd as all great Princes Gods Vice gerent being so much Majesty and Power is represented by him whereby the People have so much the higher esteem and more reverend awfulness of him for if that fails nothing can be expected but confusion impiety and calamity The Ancient Christians out of an high respect to their Christian Kings and Emperors used to attribute the Titles of God though imperfectly and analogically in them yet essentially and perfectly only in God and the good Christians of these times out of their excess of respect were wont to swear by the Majesty of the Emperour as Joseph once by the life of Pharoah some writers of that Age seem to justifie it as being done only to beget a respect in these times in the hearts of the People for their Kings The King is not subject to Death because he is a Corporation in himself that liveth for ever All Inter-Regna being unknown in Scotland the same moment that one King dies the next Heir is King fully and absolutely without any Coronation Ceremony or Act to be done The King is every where in all His Courts of Justice in all His Palaces therefore it is that all His Subjects stand bare in the Presence-Chamber wheresoever the Chair of State is placed though the King be many miles distant from thence By his Prerogative of pardoning whom the Law hath condemned the King is in a manner invested with Omnipotency by raising men from Death to Life Can create to the highest Dignity and annihilate the same at pleasure All punishments proceed from him in his Courts of Justice and it is not lawful for any Subject to revenge himself In consideration of these and other transcendent Excellencies no King in Christendom nor other Potentate receives from Hâ—s Subjects more Reverence Honour and Respect than the King of Scotland All His people at their first Addresses kneel to him all persons not the Prince nor the Heir apparent excepted stand bare in the presence of the King and in the Presence-Chamber though in the King's absence The King 's only Testimony of any thing done in his presence is of as high a nature and credit as any Record and in all Writs sent forth for dispatch he useth no other Witness but himself viz. Teste meipso CHAP. III. Of Succession and the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland THE King of Scotland hath Right to the Crown by Inheritance and the Laws and Customs of the Kiâ—gdom upon the Death of the King the next of kindred though born out of the Dominions of Scotland or born of Parents not Subjects of Scotland is immediately King before any Proclamation Coronation publication or consent of Peers or people The Crown descends from Father to Son and his Heirs for want of Sons to the Eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughters to the Brother and his Heirs and for want of a Brother to the Sister and her Heirs The Salique Law or Custom of France hath here no more force than it had anciently among the Jews or in Spain and other Hereditary Kingdoms The Salique Law is of force only among the French Turks and Barbarians and hath been so of a long time At the Death of the King die not only the Offices of the Court but all Commissions granted to Judges In the King's Infancy a fit person of the Nobility is made choice of in Parliament who by nature or alliance hath most interest in the preservation of the Life and Authority of the Infant In Scotland the King being absent by His Majesties Commission the Lord High Commissioner to whom the King commits the grand and weighty Affairs of the Kingdom doth by Instructions from His Majesty regulate the Affairs and redresses the Grievances of the Kingdom Of the present King of Scotland The King now Reigning is Charles the Second of that name his name of Baptism Charles in the German Tongue signifies one of a masculine strength or virtue Surname His surname is Stuart which first by Office was given to Walter Father to Robert King of Scotland from whom our present King is descended he was grand Senescal or High Steward or Stuart of Scotland as bearing such an Office by a long and vulgar errour it hath so prevailed that it was accounted the surname of the Kings of Scotland and of many Families descended from them The Genealogy The King now Reigning is Son to King Charles the Martyr and the Princess Henrietta Maria Daughter of King Henry the Great of France from which two Royal Stocks he hath in his veins all the Royal 〈◊〉 of â—â—rope concentred he is descenâ—â—â—â—â—neally lawfully from Scotish Kings for almost 2000 years the King now Reigning the 109th so that for Royal Extraction and long line of just descent His Majesty now Reigning excels all the Monarchs of all the Christian if not of the whole world Birth He was born the 29th of May 1630. at the
unpunish'd in case of Treason against the King who cannot be said to have any will and so cannot offend who during his Idiocy or Lunacy shall kill or go about to kill the King he shall be punish'd as a Traytor yet being non compos mentis the Law holds he cannot commit Felony or petty Treason nor other sorts of High Treason Moreover for the precious regard of the Person of the King no Physick ought to be administred to the King but what his Physicians prepare with their own hands and not by the hands of an Apothecary and to use no Chyrurgions but such as are sworn the King's Chyrurgâ—ons All His Subjects by Oath of Allegiance are obliged and bound to defend His Person in his natural as well as political capacity with His own life and limbs He is Pater Patriae dulce decorum est pro Patria mori To lose life or limb in defending the King from Conspiracies Rebellions or Invasions or the Execution of His Laws should seem a pleasant thing to every Loyal hearted Subject The King's Revenue anciently consisted most in Crown-Lands which could not be alienated but by Act of Parliament and in the Wards and Marriages of the Vassals of the Crown But most of these have been of late years given away and most of the Tenures of Lands are changed although there has been no general Law for taking away the Wards The Revenue is now raised out of the Customs and Excise The last is given this King for life but the former is in the Crown for ever The rest is raised out of what remains of the Crown-Lands and the Wards The King of Scotland beareth for his Soveraign Ensigns Armorial as followeth a double Tressure counterflowered de Lys Or and a Lion Rampant Gules Of the Present Queen of Scotland England c. Donna Catherina Infanta of Portugal being Queen Consort of Scotland England c. and the Second Person in the Kingdoms was Daughter of Don Juan the fourth of that Name King of Portugal and of Donna Lucia Daughter of Don Guzman El bueno a Spaniard Duke of Medina Sidonia who was Lineally descended from Ferdinando de la Cerde and his Consort Blanche To whom Lewis King of France her Father relinquisht his Right and Title to Spain descended to him by his Mother Blanche Eldest Daughter and Heir of Alphonso the Spanish King The Queen was born the fourteenth of Novemb. 1638. at Villa Vicosa in Portugal she was baptized Catherina signifying in Greek pure her Father being then Duke of Briganza though right Heir of the Crown of Portugal the most potent Subject in Europe for a third part of Portugal was holden of him then in Vassallage The Queen is only Sister at present of Don Alphonso the sixth of that Name and twenty third King of Portugal â—orn 1643. Hath another Brother more called Don Pedro born 1648. who is now Regent of the Kingdom of Portugal Having been most carefully and piously educated by her Mother and at the Age of twenty two desired in Marriage by King Charles the Second the Marriage not long after concluded by the Negotiation of Don Francisco de Melo Con. de Ponte Marquis de Saude and then Extraordinary Ambassadour of the King of Portugal and solemnized at Lisbon she embarkt for England upon the twenty third of April 1662. and was safely by the Earl of Sandwich conducted by a squadron of Ships to Portsmouth where the King first met her and was Re-married by the then Bishop of London who afterwards was Archbishop of Canterbury On the 23d of August 1662. Her Majesty coming by Water from Hampton Court was with great pomp and magnificence first received by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London at Chelsey and thence conducted by Water to Whitehall The Portion she brought with her was eight hundred millions of Reas or two millions of Crusadoes being about three hundred thousand pounds sterling together with that important place of Tangier upon the the Goast of Africk and the Isle of Bombaim near Goa in the East-Indies with a priviledge that any Subjects of the King of Great Britain c. may Trade freely in the East and West-Indies Plantations belonging to the Portugues The Queen's Joynture by the Articles of Marriage is thirty thousand pound sterling per annum and the King out of his great affection toward her hath as an Addition settled upon her 10000 l. per annum more The Queen's Arms as Daughter to the King of Portugal is Argent Five Scutcheons Azure cross-wise each Scutcheon charged with Five Plates or Besants Argent saltier-wise with a Point sable the Border gules charged with Six Castles Or. Queen Catherine is a Personage of rare perfections of eminent Piety and Modesty and extraordinary Religious and Charitable CHAP. IV. Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood And first of the Duke of Albany and York THE First Prince of the Blood is the most Illustrious Prince James Duke of Albany and York Second Son to King Charles the Martyr and only Brother to the present King our Sovereign He was Born Octob. 14. 1633. the 24th of the same month was Baptized and afterward committed to the Government of the then Countess of Dorset There was no Ceremony used in England when he was created D. of York which was the 27. of July 1643. the iniquity of these times not admitting thereof Scotland not being so happy as to have him or any of the Royal Family at that time among them After the Surrender of Oxford His Royal Highness was in 1646. conveyed to London by the prevailing disloyal Part of the Two Houses of Parliament and committed with his Brother Glocester and Sister Elizabeth to the care of the Earl of Northumberland In the year 1648. Aged about Fifteen was by Collonel Bampfield conveyed in a disguise or habit of a Girl beyond Sea first to his Sister the Princess Royal of Orange in Holland and afterwards to the Queen his Mother then at Paris where he was carefully educated in the Religion of the Church of England and in all Exercises meet for such a Prince About the Age of Twenty in France he went into the Campagne and served with much Gallantry under the great Commander the then Protestant Mareschal de Turene for the French King against the Spanish Forces in Flanders Notwithstanding which upon a Treaty between the French King and Cromwell the Usurper in 1655. being obliged with all his Retinue to leave the French Dominions and invited into Flanders by Don Juan of Austria he there served under him against the French King then leagued with the English Rebels against Spain where his Magnanimity and Dexterity in Martial Affairs though unsuccessful were very eminent In the year 1660. came over with the King into England and being Lord High Admiral in the year 1665. in the War against the United States of the Netherlands commanded in Person the whole Royal Navy on the Sea between England and Holland where
with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp Engagement he obtained a signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Dutch Ships in that Fight He married Anne the Eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England which Lady is deceased by whom he had a numerous Issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary now Princess of Orange Born April 30. 1662. whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchess of Buckingham and Ormond His Royal Highnesses other Daughter is the Lady Anne Born in Feb. 1664. whose Godfather was Gilbert then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth This present Dutchess hath had several Children but are all dead Her Royal Highness is Daughter to the Duke of Modena in Italy The Titles of His Royal Highness are Duke of Albany and York Earl of Vlster Lord High Admiral of Scotland c. Of the Prince of Orange Next to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassaw Prince of Orange only Issue of the deceased Princess Royal Mary Eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641. to William of Nassaw Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was Born Nine daies after his Father's Death on the 14th day of November 1650. had for his Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delph Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then Wife to the Heer Van Hemvliet At Eight years of Age was sent to the University of Leyden His yearly Revenue is about 60000 l. sterling besides Military Advantages He is a valorous Prince and a great example of Valour and Courage besides a great lover of Souldiers Of the Princess Henrietra The next Heir after the fore named to the Crown of Scotland is the Princess Henrietta her Issue who we Born the 16th day of June 1664. at Exeter during the heat of the Late Rebellion After the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646. to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkeith she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the Age of sixteen was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Aujou till the death of the Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livers Tournois besides his Appanage Her Portion was 40000 l. sterl her Joynture to be the saâ—e with the Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess had one Daughter who is now married to the King of Spain Of the Prince Elector Palatine There being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of Scotland are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose Eldest Son was Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsegrave from the High Dutch Psaltzgraff Palatii comes was Born the 22d of Decemb. 1617. at Heydelberg and afterwards at the Age of three or four years conveyed thence into the Countries of Wittenberg and Brandenburg then into Holland and at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the Age of Eighteen years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel at Vlotta in Westphalia In the year 1637. passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke of Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by the quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes where after twenty three weeks Imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of Great Britain set at Liberty In the year 1643. he came again into England and with the King 's secret Consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilest the Rebels possest the greatest part of His Majesties Revenues made his Address to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murther of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinate according to the famous Treaty of Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his Right to the upper Palatinate and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of Time when the King of Great Britain had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all others at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest Advantages there In the year 1650. he espoused the Lady Charlotte at Cassele Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen he had one Son named Charles who is now present Prince Palatine of the Rhine a hopeful and magnanimous Prince He had likewise one Daughter named Charlotte This being all the Issue he left behind him Of Prince Rupert Next to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatine is Prince Rupert Born at Prague the 17th of December 1619. not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatine Family was for almost thirty years dispossest of all their possessions in Germany At Thirteen years of Age he marcht with the then Prince of Orange to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the Age of Eighteen he Commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in the Battel of Vlotta 1638. being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a Prisoner above three years In 1642. returning into England made General of the Horse to the King 's Fights and Defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester Routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-Hill took Cirencester raised the Siege of Newark recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham-house fought the Battel at Marston-Moor was created Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male-line of the Cliffords 1643. Finally The King's Forces at Land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterwards made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after several disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652. where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperour's Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of His Majesty now Reigning after which returning into England
or not approve only these who are not satisfied one way or another say Non liquet which is a great ease to those who are conscientious and a common refuge to the cunning Politician The major Vote carries it No Dissents or Protests are allowed in publick Acts these are accounted Treasonable but in private Acts that relate to mens Properties and Rights any one may protest for his Interest After all business is ended the King or his Commissioner makes a Speech to the Parliament Assembled after which they are Dissolved Sometimes the King His Majesty makes use of a Convention of Estates which can make no Laws only by this Meeting Impositions are laid upon the Subjects they do not Sit in State and have been most in use before the Kings were Crowned Whatever Acts are passed in Parliament or Convention of Estates are to be proclaimed soon after the Dissolution at the publick Market-Cross of Edinburgh by the Lyon King at Arms with a great deal of State and Ceremony after which they are obligatory on the Subjects And it is Enacted that none of the Lieges shall presume to impugn the Dignity and Authority of the Three Estates or any of them in time coming under the pain of Treason the Authority of the Parliament being the Supreme Court it is not impertinent to give a List of the Nobility of the Kingdom of Scotland with their Precedency which is as follows with their Surnames A List of the Nobility of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND Dukes His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany The Duke of Hamilton his Surname Hamilton The Duke of Surnames Buccleuch Scot. Lauderdale Maitland Lenox Lenox Rothes Lesley Marquesses and their Surnames The Marquess of Surnames Huntley Gordone Douglas Douglas Montross Grahame Athol Murray The Earls of Earls Surnames Argile Campbell Crawford Lindsey Errol Hay Marishall Keith Southerland Southerland Marr Ereskine Airth Grahame Morton Douglass Buchan Ereskine Glencairn Cunninghame Eglington Montgomery Cassiles Kennedy Murray Stewart Caithness Sinclare Nithisdale Maxwell Wintoune Seatoune Linlithgow Livingstone Home Home Pearth Drummond Dumfermling Seatoune Wigtoun Fleming Strathmore Lyon Abercorn Hamilton Roxborough Ker Kelly Ereskine Haddington Hamilton Galloway Stewart Seaforth Mac-kenzy Louthian Ker Kinnoule Hay Loudoun Campbell Dumfreis Creighton Queensbury Douglass Sterling Alexander Elgine Bruce Southesk Carnaigy Traquair Stewart Ancram Ker Weimes Weimes Dalhousy Ramsey Airly Ogilvy Callender Levingstone Carnwath Dalziel Finlator Ogilvy Leven Lesley Annandale Johnstone Dysert Murray Panmuire Mauld Tweddâ—le Hay Northesk Carnaigy Kincardin Bruce Forfar Douglass Balcarres Lindsey Middleton Middleton Aboyne Gordone Tarras Scot Newburgh Livingstone Kilmarnock Boyd Dundonald Cochraine Dumbarton Douglass Kintore Keith Broad Albyne Campbell The Viscounts of Viscounts Surnames Faulkland Carey Dumbarr Constable Stormont Murray Kenmure Gordone Arbuthnet Arbuthnet Frendaret Creightone Kingstone Seatoune Oxenford Macgill Kilsyth Livingstone Irwing Campbell Dumblane Osborne Preston Grahame Newhaven Sheene The Lords of Lords Surnames Forbes Forbes Saltone Frazier Gray Gray Ochiltry Stewart Cathcart Cathcart Sinclare Sinclare Mordington Douglass Semple Semple Elphingstone Elphingstone Oliphant Oliphant Lovat Frazier Borthwick Borthwick Rosse Rosse Torphighen Sandilands Spyne Lindsey Lindoris Lesley Balmerinoch Elphingstone Blantyre Stewart Cardrosse Ereskine Burghly Balfour Maderty Drummond Cranstone Cranstone Melvil Melvil Neaper Neaper Cameron Fairfax Cramond Richardson Rae Macky Forrester Bailzy Petsligo Kirkudbright Mac-cleland Frazier Frazier Bargany Hamilton Bamf Ogilvy Elibank Murray Dunkeld Galloway Halcarton Falconer Belhaven Hamilton Abercromby Sandilands Carmichael Carmichael Rollo Rollo Colvil Colvil Duffus Southerland Ruthven Ruthven Mac-Donald Mackdonald Rutherford Rutherford Balanden Balanden Newark Lesley Burntisland Weimes Name Nobiles quasi viri noscibiles or notabiles In all Christian Monar chies men that have been notable for courage wisdom wealth and have been judged fit and worthy to enjoy certain priviledges titles dignities honours c. above the common people have been placed in an higher Orb and have been as a shreen between the King and the inferiour Subjects to defend the one from Insolencies and the other from Tyranny to interpose by their Counsel Courage and Grandure where common persons dare not ought not be so hardy to support the King and defend the King and Kingdom with their Lives and Fortunes The Nobility of Scotland is called the Peerage of Scotland because they are all pares Regni that is nobilitate pares though gradu impares Degrees The Degrees of the Nobility are only five viz. Duke Marquess Earl Viscount and Baron These are all Peers but the four first are for State Priviledge and Precedence above and before these who are Barons only Duke A Duke in Latine Dux à ducendo Noblemen being antiently either Generals and Leaders of Armies in time of War or Wardens of Marches and Governours of Provinces in time of Peace afterwards made so so for term of life A Duke is created by Patent cincture of Sword imposition of a Cap and Coronet of Gold on his head and a Verge of Gold put into his hand Marquess Marchio a Marquess was first so called from the Government of Marches and Frontier Countries A Marquess is created by a cincture of a Sword imposition of a Cap of Honour with a â—oronet and delivery of a Charter or Patent Earls Earls antiently called Comites because they were wont comitari Regem to wait upon the King for Counsel and Advice An Earl is created by the cincture of a Sword A Mantle of State put upon him by the King himself A Cap and a Coronet put upon his head and a Charter in his hand Viscount Vice-Comes quasi vice Comitis gubernaturus Comitatem a Viscount is so made by Patent Barons The word Baron was used for Vir in the Laws of the Longobards and of the Normans as at this day in the Spanish it is used for the same so that a Baron is vir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by excellency or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vir notabilis principalis Barons are sometimes made by Writ when they are called to sit in Parliament but most usually by Parliament All the forementioned Degrees have the title of Lord All Honours in Scotland are given by the King who is the sole Fountain of Honour None of these Honours bestowed on a Family by the King can be lost but by want of Issue or else by some heinous Crime of Treason and then that Family cannot be restored to their Blood but by the King The several Degrees of the Nobility are differenced and distinguished one from another by their Titles and Ensigns of Honour A Duke hath the Title of Grace and being written unto may be stiled Most High Potent anâ— Noble Prince A Marquess Most Noble and Potent Lord an Earl Most Noble and Potent Lord a Viscount Right Noble and Potent Lord and a Baron Right Noble Lord. Their Coronets are all different A Baron hath six Pearls upon the Circle A Viscount hath his Circle of Pearls without number An Earls Coronet hath the Pearls raised The Marquess a Pearl and Strawberry leaf
who is Judge of the Spiritual Court within his Diocess Unto this Court are referred matters of Testaments Bastardy Divorce Tithes Perjury c. and many civil Affairs This Court sits at the same time with the Session and it may likewise sit in the vacancy of Session but then the Judges thereof or party pursuing must have a dispensation to decide such a case from one or two of the Lords of Session who are by course upon Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the time of the vacancy obliged to attend for granting of Dispensations and several other such business without which the Decreet of the Commissaries is not valid in Law The same might have likewise been said of the Sheriff Courts Commissaries of Scotland Commissaries of Edinburgh Sir David Falconer Henry Foulis James Deans Jâ—hn Wishart John Lindsey Official of St. Andrews Sir William Fleeming Official of Glasgow John Stewart Commissary of Dunkeld John Scougall Commissary of Aberdeen Alexander Mackenzie Commissary of Murray George Paterson Com. of Ross James Strachan Com. of Brichen James Innes Official of Cathnes Will. Scrougy Com. of Argile The Officials of Dumblane Galloway Orkney Isles Of a Session There are 4 Ecclesiastical Courts in Scotland For the clearer Method let us begin with the Lowest Court which is in every Parish This Court is called The Session it consists of the chief and most grave men of the Parish who are called Elders and Deacons In this small Court whereof the Minister is President all Fornicators Adulterers Blasphemers Swearers Prophaners of the Lord's Day c. are convented and put to publick confessions of their sins and professions of their Repentance according to the degree or hainousness of them For Fornication they make publick confessâ—on in the Church several Lords Daies in the last of which they receive Absolution For Adultery they make their professâ—on of Repentance for half a year every Lord's Day and for six Lords Daies they stand in Sackcloth at the Church Door half an hour before Morning-prayers and then in the end receive Absolution And for other faults they do Pennance according to their several degrees The Office of a Deacon and Elder The Deacon's Office is to collect the money for the use of the Poor to delate Delinquents and such like that of the Elder is to be careful of the Fabrick of the Church to assist in the censuring scandalous persons and to wait on the Minister at the Celebration of the Lords Supper c. This Court sitteth once a week Of a Presbytery The next Court is called the Presbytery consisting of twelve or twenty Ministers more or less This sits once in two or three weeks the Moderator or President thereof is chosen by the Bishop In this Court are discussed Appeals from Sessions and other difficult cases Here are convented all those who refuse to submit to Church-Discipline and all such as apostatize to Popery and Quakerism who if they remain obstinate are prosecuted with the Censures of the Church Here also all such as enter into holy Orders are examined and an account taken of their Learning and other Qualifications in a course of many several Tryals as making Homilies Sermons and common places which hold two or three months and then they are returned to the Bishop well qualified who upon that proceeds to Ordain them Presbyteries of Scotland The Presbyteries of Dunce Chirnside Kelso Ersiltoun Jedburgh Melross Dumbar Haddingtone Dalkeith Edinburgh Peebles Linlithgow Perth Dunkeld Auchterardor Striveling Dumblane Dumfreis Penpont Lochmabane Midlebie Wigton Kirkudbright Strannaver Aire Irwing Pasly Dumbarton Glasgow Hamilton Lanerick Biggar Dunnune Kinloch Innerary Kilmoir Skye St. Andrews Kirkaldy Couper Dumfermling Meigle Dundee Arbroath Thirso Forfair Bâ—ichen Mernis Aberdeen Kincarden Alford Gareoch Deir Turreff Fordyce Kirkwall Colmkill Ellon Strathbogy Abernethie Elgine Forress Aberlower â—hanrie Tayne Dingwell Dornoch Week Scalloway The Number of Parishes in Scotland is uncertain they may be reckoned to be above a thousand Of a Synod A third Court whereof the Bishop is President is the Provincial Assembly or Synod In this Court are discussed all Appeals from Presbyteries and all other difficult cases For hence are issued Warrants for visiting of Churches Here also the lives of scandalous Ministers are tryed who if found guilty of crimes laid to their charge are either deposed suspended or excommunicated The Sentence of Excommunication cannot be pronounced against an obstinate person but after a long process of near a years continuance and many Citations and much pains to bring the scandalous person against whom only it is denounced to a due sense of his sins and a willingness to submit to the Censures of the Church and then it must be ratified and confirmed by the Bishop The Provincial Synod meets twice in the year in April and in October Of the General Assembly The Highest Ecclesiastical Court is the General Assembly which as its constitution and authority was settled in King James's minority was made up of two Ministers Commissioners from every Presbytery and one Lay Elder a Commissioner from every Royal Burrough one from every University and one from the King These had the Supreme Authority about all Church-matters While this Court was thus constituted there was nothing but Divisions among these Commissioners it was impossible that any happy conclusions could be expected when so little respect was given to the Civil Magistrates Commissioner as does appear by all their meetings In a word it was from the General Assembly thus subsisting that so much trouble in the Church was in King James the sixth's daâ—es kindled and in King Charles the first 's burnt our Churches almost into Ashes when all manner of good Order and Discipline was become a burden they desiring to invent new Methods by which issued nothing but confusion and desolation By what you find in this Relation of the Bishops according to their Successions how lamentable a thing is it to understand how some of these Pious and Learned men were thrust out of their Bishopricks others plundered others imprisoned and others dying in other Kingdoms among strangers This was a forerunner of greater miseries for afterward into what a sad Chaos did the State fall The long peace and plenty which we enjoyed under the Government of the best of Kings made us wanton our prosperity puâ—t us up with pride we were enemies to our own welfare weary of our present State too much desirous of Revolutions and greedy of Novelties Our private discontents begat jealousies and animosities which since they could be no longer smothered must needs burst out into a flame We were afraid of we knew not what nothing but the preservation of Religion must be the pretext and the Cloak to cover the knavery which was afterwards acted The great out-cry in the Pulpit was Remove these Prelates who intend to bring us under the slavery of Rome but it is so well a known maxim Nullus Episcopus nullus Rex that I am sorry it was by this
Campo-bello or Campbell Turgot Prior of Durham and B. of St. Andrews wrote the Lives of King Malcolm Canmoir and of his Queen Margaret Liber Sconae a Chronicle written by the Monks of Scoone Liber Pasletensis The Black Book of Paislay a Chronicle written by the Monks of Paislay Liber Pluscartensis a Chronicle written by the Monks of Pluscardy One Blind Henry wrote the History of Sir William Wallace in Scottish Meeter John Barbour Archdeacon of Aberdeen did write the Life of King Robert Bruce in Scottish Meeter John Major Provost of St. Salvator's Colledge in St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation William Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth or Boyes Principal of the King's Colledge of Aberdeen wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the First continued till the Reign of King James the Sixth by John Ferrerius a Piemontoise a Monk of Pluscardy John Balenden Archdeacon of Murray did translate Boyes History into English George Buchanan Praeceptor to King James the Sixth wrote the History of the Nation till the year 1572. Robert Johnstone wrote a Continuation of the Scottish History from the year 1572. till the year 1624. in Latine Folio John Leslie Bishop of Ross wrote the History of the Nation till the year 138 Raphael Holinshed wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the Sixth continued by Francis Thin Will. Cambden wrote a Description of the Kingdom John Dempster wrote an Introduction to the Scottish History David Chalmer wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Saints David Hume of Godscroft did write the History of the Earls of Douglass and Angus William Drummond of Hawthornden did write the Lives of the Five King James's William Sanderson wrote the Lives of Queen Mary King James the Sixth and King Charles the First John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews did write the History of the Church of Scotland from the first Plantation of the Christian Faith therein till the Death of King James the Sixth The Office of the Chancellor of State conferred upon him by that glorious Martyr King Charles the First he discharged to the satisfaction of his Royal Master and the advantage of the Church He was a person of rare Ornaments and in all things compleatly qualified for his Imployment yet he did not escape the hard measure which other Loyal Subjects tasted of for by the Covenanters he was forced to retire into England where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth He ended his daies in a good old Age and was honourably Interred in Westminster Abby Anno 1639. after he had governed the See twenty four years George Wishart Dr. of Divinity and Bishop of Edinburgh did write the Actions of James Marquess of Montross Robert Gordon of Stralogh did write the Theatrum Scotiae being a description of the whole Kingdom with the Maps of every particular Country Printed by Janson Bleaw at Amsterdam a very excellent work The mercenary Printer did him a double injury first in printing with his Book Buchanan's Seditious Pamphlet De Jure Regni apud Scotos it being sufficiently known that the Author was of no such principle but alwaies Loyal Then in dedicating that work to the Usurper O. Cromwell whereas the Author sent over to the Printer a Dedication of his Book to His most Sacred Majesty at that time Prince of Wales and the Copy of that Dedication written with his own hand is yet in the Custody of his Son the Reverend James Gordon Parson of Rothimay This much was necessary to be said in vindication of that worthy Gentleman who was one of the most Learned persons of the Age he lived in If any think that this Treatise hath not swelled to that bulk that might be expected from an undertaking of this nature having so large a Subject to treat of let this suffice for an Answer that the several calamities that have happened in this Antient Kingdom may justly serve for an Apology when it is to be considered that after the Death of Alexander the Third of that Name King of Scotland and all his Sons which in one years space died of a pestilent Fever which was never before known in this Kingdom his Daughter being Queen of Norway died in the same year who left behind her a Daughter whom after the Death of the King and his Sons the Estates sent for to this effect Two Ambassadors were dispatcht to Norway to take care of the safe conveyance of this Young Lady the only hope the Kingdom relyed on It was not long after these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing News that this Lady was dead likewise Consider what fears and sorrows at the hearing of these News did perplex the Subjects of this Kingdom So many deaths falling out in the Royal Family did presage great calamities to ensue For as the Loss of so worthy a King was great so their Fears was no less because of the uncertainty of the Succession Many Competitors six they were in number claiming the Inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship It must needs be supposed that they did divide the Realm and so beget a Civil War yet these who were trusted with the management of Affairs during the Inter Reign did by their Mediation work them to a Compromise and to remit the decision of the Controversie to King Edward the First of England a Prince of long Experience and much respected in that time For this purpose divers Gentlemen were sent to King Edward who at that time was in France to inform him of the inconveniencies that were feared to fall out in the Kingdom of Scotland and the course they had taken to prevent the same intreating his help for quieting the State King Edward glad to have an hand in the making of a King in Scotland dimitted them with many kind expressions of his kindness to the Kingdom assigning a Dyet for the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed at which Dyet the King was present at this meeting there was no decision all the Competitors except two to wit John Baliol and Robert Bruce were ordered to cease from their claim Of Baliol and Bruce an Oath was taken that they should abide and stand by the Sentence the King should pronounce The like Oath was taken by the Prelates Nobles and other Commissioners who swore to accept of him for their King that would be tryed to have the best Right and for the greater assurance all their Seals were appended to the Compromise Five years and some more were spent before the Controversie was brought to an end At last K. Edw. returned to Berwick and calling the Twenty Four to whom the important Affairs were committed they were shut up in the Church there to debate the Matter none being permitted to have access unto them he himself now and then went in to know how their proceedings went and perceiving the greater part
inclined to Bruce his Right he dealt with him promising to invest him in the Kingdom so as he would hold the same Crown of England Bruce answered that he was not so desirous of Rule as he would therefore prejudice the Liberties of the Kingdom being it was sufficiently known that Scotland from the first Foundation of the State had been a Free and Independent Kingdom and not subject to any other power whatsoever The like offer he made to the other who being more greedy of a Kingdom than careful of his Honour did yield thereunto Afterwards Baliol assisted with the Nobility did meditate upon a Revenge of King Edward's proceedings with him in that Juncture of Time by forcing Baliol to swear subjection to him at which the Nobility were so much displeased About this Time King Edward sent to crave a supply of men to be sent him by virtue of the Late Allegiance sworn by Baliol which was utterly rejected as unjust he having then War with France Upon this defection of Baliol King Edward entered into Scotland with a mighty Army and prevailed Baliol being overthrown King Edward his Course for Extirpating the Scots And now did the State seem to be wholly ruined for Edward intending to make sure his Title led away captive all that had the least ability to stir and to extinguish if it had been possible the very memory of the Nation He abolished all the Antient Laws of Scotland traduced the Ecclesiastical Rites to the Forms of England destroyed the Antient Monuments erected either by the Romans or their own Progenitors buâ—nt all the Registers with that famous Library of Restennoth wherein besides many other Volumes were reserved the Books which King Fergus the Second brought with him from Rome removed the Marble Chair in which as the Vulgar believed the Fate of the Kingdom did consist In fine left nothing which might incite generous spirits to remember their former Fortunes or encourage them in any sort to virtue worthiness which makes any account of the Kingdom as to its Registers the less voluminous This is not a place to declare how the English afterward at Banockbâ—rn were wholly defeated without leaving any to carry the News thereof into England but this would be too great a digression The next thing to be considered is What that Monster of Rebellion Cromwell I mean thought fit as a very valuable pledge to send to the Tower of London viz. all the publick Registers Records and Rolls of the Kingdom which lay there till His Majesties happy Restauration after which by the King's Orders they were sent down by Sea to be laid up in the Castle of Edinburgh but the Ship that was loaden with them was cast away near the Holy Island so they were all irrecoverably lost and sunk Dempster in his Apparatus to the Scottish History promised a great many things to the World which he never performed Some have thought that he only amused the People by the undertaking he mentions in that Book Others believed that he knew a great many Manuscripts beyond Sea which were carried thither by Monks and Friers at the Reformation In most Religious Houses there was a Chronicle written of the Times some in Rithme English and Latine some in Prose but there cannot be much made out of them they being full of Legends and Stories There are besides very considerable Manuscripts in Scotland that relate to private Families and give an account of several publick Transactions as the Histories of the Families of the Drummonds Gordons and Duglass's c. But they all come far short of what might have been expected from these Registers that have been lost and destroyed Therefore we must rely upon the Credit of our Antient Historians being there are no means left to correct them by FINIS