his evil demerits not for his own sake he did confess but for the Queens sake whom he honoured find respected as the Mother of his Prince and towards whom he should continue his Observance That the King of England needed not misdoubt he would attempt any thing should derogate from the honour of his Sister that complements of meer courtesie in France might be surmised sometimes by English Ladies to be solicitations and suits of Love For the War with which in case of his stay he threatned his nation he would use his best endeavours to set his in a posture of Defence When this answer was reported to King Henry he gathered a great Army to invade Scotland and essay if by their own dangers the Scots people could be moved to abandon and disclaim the Dukes authority Seven great Ships came to Inche-keeth and spoiled the adjacent Coasts all the Scots and French which did them inhabite London and other places of England were put ot their fines and commanded to go off the Country In compensation and for equal amends the French Kingseized all English mens goods in Bourdeaux imprisoned the persons and retained the money to be paid for the restitution of Tournay The Earl of Shrewsbury making incursions on the Borders burned the one half of Kelso and plundered the other At this time the Emperor Charles the fifth came to England and stirred King Henry to take arms against the French King and the French had sent Embassadours to Scotland intreating and conjuring the Scots by their old and new League to arise in arms and invade England The Governour assembled the three Estates at Edenburgh which together condescended to the raising of an Army to resist the incursions of the English and defend the Kingdom to encourage every man for fighting the Wards of those which should fall in this expedition were freely remitted and discharged by Act of Parliament and pensions designed to the Widdows and Daughters of those who dyed in this service This Empyrick balm could the French apply to cure the wounds of the Scottish Commonwealth The Earl of Shrewsbury advancing as was reported towards the west Borders an Army was far gathered and encamped on Rosline-moor which after according to the orders given marched to Annandale and forwards came to the Esk a River running in the Irish Seas neer Carlile the Governour delighted with the Seat and standing of the place caused dig Trenches and by the advice of certain French Gunners placed some Field Pieces and small Ordinance for defence of them and spread there his Pavilions The Citizens of Carlile terrified at the sudden approach of so powerful an Army offer many presents for the satety of their Towns which he rejected The English Army not minding to invade the Scots so long as they kept themselves on their own ground and advanced not the Governour endeavoured to make the Scots spoil the Country by incursions but he findeth them slack and unwilling to obey and follow him most part refusing to go upon English Ground amongst whom Alexander Lord Gordon was the chief and first man The Governour finding his command neglected and some Noble men dissenting from what he most intended cometh back to the place where they made their stand and desires a reason of their stay They told him they had determined to defend their own Country not invade England That it neither consisted with the weal of the Commonwealth nor as matters went at that time had they sufficient forces to make invasive War That the Governour did not instigate them to invade England for the love he carryed to Scotland but for a benefit to the French by invading they might make themselves a prey to their enemies they were Men and not Angels it was enough for them whilst their King was under age to defend his Kingdom from the violence of Foreigners Put the case they were in one battel victorious considering the slaughter and loss of their Nobles and Gentry in that purchase they might be overthrown in a second fight and then to what would the King and Country be reduced their last King might serve them for a pattern the Revenge of whose death should be delayed till he himself were of years to undertake it The Governour brought to an exigent said they should have propounded these difficulties before they took Arms and not on the place of Battel Temerity misbecame Noblemen in action but especially in matters of War in which a man cannot err twice At the convention of the three Estates when war was in deliberation they should have inquired for the causes of it he was not to bring them upon the danger of a war without their own consent The English had made many incursions upon their Country burning and ravaging who stand only upon defence stand upon no defence a better defence of their own Country could not be found than by invading the Country of their Enemies They should not be dejected for that accident at Flowden since it was not the fault of the Souldier but the Treason of their Chamberlain who had suffered for it That the glory of the Nation should raise their courages and inflame their bosoms with a desire of revenge The Kings honour and their piety towards the Ghosts of their Compatriots craved no less from them That if they would not invade England at least for their Reputation and Fame with the World they would pitch there a short time their Tents and try if the English would hazard to assail them That it would be an everlasting branding their honour if timorously in a suddenness they show their backs to their enemies and dared them not in the face by some daies stay The Queen though absent had thus persuaded the Noblemen and having understood the Governour to be turned now flexible she dispatched a Post to him requesting he would be pleased with a Truce for some Months and that he would commune with the Warden of the English Marches whom she should move to come to his Tent and treat with him The Governour finding he stood not well assured of some of his Army and knowing what a cumbersome task it was to withstand the the violence of their desires determined to follow their own current seemed well pleased to hearken to their opinion Hereupon the Lord Dacres Warden of the West Marches came unto the Governours Camp the eleventh of September and as some have recorded the Queen also where a Cessation of Arms was agreed unto for some daies in which time the Queen and the Governour should send Embassadours to treat for a Peace with King Henry and shortly after Embassadours were directed to the Court of England but returned without any good done King Henry demanding extraordinary and harmful conditions to the Realm of Scotland The year 1522. Andrew Forman Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews dyed and James Beatoun Arch-Bishop of Glasgow and Chancellour of the Kingdom came in his place of St. Andrews the ArchBishoprick of Glasgow was conferred upon
Hume accepted that charge prosecute them where they might be apprehended till after much misery and night-wandring at home they were constrained with Alexander Drummond of Carnock who had been partaker of their misfortunes by his consanguinity with the Earls Mother who was Daughter to the Lord Drummond to fly into England where they were charitably received and honourably entertained by King Henry the Eight Now are the Offices and Lands of the Dowglasses disposed upon the Archbishop of Glasgow Gavin Dumbar is made Chancellor Robert Bartoun who was in especial favour with the King Treasurer great Customer General of the Artillery and Mines and other Charges are given unto others The King of England intended a War against the Emperor Charles the Fifth sendeth Embassadors to Scotland for a certain time to treat a Peace and if it were possible to reconcile the Dowglasses with the King Five years truce was resolved upon but for the Dowglasses the King would hearken to no offers only Alexander Drummond by the intercession of Robert Bartoun and the Embassadors had liberty to return home When the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Murray who had full power to conclude a Truce had met the other Commissioners upon the Borders the Factious great men and rank Ryders there put all in such a confusion by urging difficulties that they parted without agreeing unto any Articles or certain Conclusions which the King took in so evil a part that divining from what head this interruption sprung he committed sundry Noblemen to the Castle of Edenburgh till they gave Hostages and secured the Borders from invasion or being invaded In the month of June following with a great power he visited these bounds executing Justice upon all Oppressours Thieves and Out-Laws In Ewsdale eight and fourty notorious Riders are hung on growing Trees the most famous of which was John Arm-strong others he brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick Execution and Example as William Cockburn of Henderland Adam Scot of Tushelaw named King of Thieves The year 1530. the King instituted the Colledge of Justice before it was ambulatory removing from place to place by Circuits Suits of Law were peremptorily decided by Bayliffs Sheriffs and other Judges when any great and notable cause offered it self it was adjudged Soveraignly by the Kings Council which gave free audience to all the Subjects The power and priviledges of this Colledge was immediately confirmed by Pope Clement the Seventh In this Court are fifteen Judges ordinary eight of them being Spiritual Persons of the which the most antient is President and seven Temporal men The Chancellor of the Realm when he is present is above the President There are also four Councellors extraordinary removeable at the Princes pleasure This Institution is after that Order of Justice which is administred in Paris first instituted by Philip the Fourth the French King the year 1286. The King about this time storeth his Arsenals with all sort of Arms the Castles of Edenburgh Sterlin Dumbartoun and Blackness are repaired and furnisht with Ordnance and Ammunition Whilst no certain Truce is concluded between the Realms of England and Scotland the Earl of Angus worketh in this interim so with the King of England that Sir Edward Darcey is sent to the Borders who when his solicitation for restoring the Earl at the Scottish Court had taken no effect yea had been scorned after he had staied at Berwick with the Garrisoned Soldiers and some selected companies out of Northumberland and Westmerland maketh a Road into Scotland Coldingham Dunglas and adjacent Villages they burn ravage the Countrey towards Dunce Some Scottish Ships and Vessels were also at this time taken by Sea When a reason was sought of this Invasion in a Cessation of Arms and calm of Truce They require the Dowglasses may be restored to their ancient Inheritances and whatsoever had been with-held from them and that Cannabie a poor Abbacy be rendred to the English as appertaining of old to the Crown of England The Earl of Murray being declared Lieutenant maketh head against them but the English daily increasing in number and his Companies not being sufficient to make good against so many and large Incursions the power of Scotland is divided into four Quarters every one of which for the durance of fourty days by turns taketh the defence of the Countrey The English finding by this intercourse of new Soldiers the War to be prolonged would have gladly accepted of Peace but they disdained to sue for it to the Scots it was thought expedient that the French a Friend then to both should be a Mediatour to reconcile them wherupon after an Ambassador had come from France Commissioners first meet at Newcastle and after at London James Colvil of Easter Weyms Adam Otterburn of Redhall William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen the Abbot of Kinloss These conclude a Peace To continue between the two Realms during the two Princes lives and one year after the decease of him who should first depart this life About this time the secrets of the Ecclesiastical Doctrine and Authority beginning to be laid open to the view of the World the politick Government of Kingdomes began to suffer in the alteration and discovery The Lady Katherine Daughter to Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queen of Spain and Sister to the Mother of Charles the Fifth Emperor had been Married to Arthur Prince of Wales Eldest Son to Henry the Seventh King of England he dying by the dispensation of Pope Julius the Second her Father in Law gave her again in Marriage to Henry his other Son the Brother of Arthur This Queen though fruitful of Children and often a Mother brought none forth that long enjoyed life and came to any perfection of growth except one only Daughter Mary Her Husband either out of spleen against the Emperor Charles or desire of Male Children or other Causes known to himself pretended great scruples in his Conscience would make himself and the World believe that his Marriage was not lawful After deliberation with his Church-men whom he constrained to be of his mind he kept not longer company with his Queen his Church-men used all their eloquence to make the Queen accept of a Divorce which she altogether refused and had her recourse to the Pope who recals the cause to himself At Rome whilst in the consistory the case is made difficult and the matter prolonged King Henry impatient of delays and amorous divorceth from his own Queen and Marrieth Anne Bullen 1533. Then the Pope with his whole Cardinals gave out their Sentence That it was not lawful for him by his own authority to separate himself from his Wife that his Marriage with Katharine was most lawful not to be questioned and that under pain of Excommunication he should adhere unto her King Henry well experienced in the great Affairs of the World considering how the threatnings and thunders of the Bishops of Rome even in these ancient and innocent times when they were
the reformed Religion and preferred the friendship of King Henry his Uncle to his Neither was he herein far Mistaken for some feared not to send him word that they had learned the Church-men had set him on work to extirpate his antient Nobility as if it were an easie matter to create as many out of the Gentry in whom being his own Creatures he might have greater confidence than any made by his Predecessours After this he turned so retired sullen and melancholy that every thing displeased him and he became even insupportable to himself not suffering his Domestick Servants to use their ordinary disport and recreations near him And as all day he projected and figured to himself new cares to perplex himself some of which might fall forth others could never come to pass So in the night time the objects of his dayly projects of working upon his fantasie limmed their dark shadows of displeasures which gave him terrible affright in his sleep Amongst many of which two are recorded as notable one in the History of the Church the other common both seem to have been forged by the Men of those times who thought fictions as powerful to breed an opinion in discontented minds as verities and they may challenge a place in the poetical part of History As he lay in the Pallace of Lithgow about the midst of the night he leaped out of his Bed called for Lights commandeth his Servants to search Thomas Scot his Justice Clark who he said stood by his Bed-side accompanied with hideous weights cursing the time that ever he had served him for by too great obedience to him he was by the justice of God condemned to everlasting torments Whilst they about him laboured to cure his wounded Imagination news came that Thomas Scot about the same hour of the Night was departed to the other World at Edenburgh and with no better Devotion than he was represented to the King After Sir James Hamiltoun had ended his part of this Tragicomedy of life he seemed to the King to have returned on the Stage and in a ghastly manner with a naked Sword in his hands he thought he parted both his arms from him advertising him he would come again shortly and be more fully revenged till which occasion he should suffer these wounds The next day after this vision which is recorded to have been the seventh of August word came that both his Sons were deceased and that almost in one hour James the Prince then one year old at St. Andrews Arthur one moneth old at Sterlin The King of England finding himself disappointed by his Nephew of their meeting and understanding it to have been occasioned by the Rhetorick and liberality of the Churchmen having many of the Nobility of Scotland of his faction whose innocency interpreted his Religion to be the reformed though indeed it was of his own stamp for he abolished the Pope but not Papacy by making prizes of Scottish Ships upon the Seas with his Fleet and incursions of his garrison'd Souldiers upon land beginneth the prologue of an unnecessary war King James to stop the English incursions placeth George Gordoun Earl of Huntley with his full power and authority at the Borders and directeth James Lermound of Darcey towards his Uncle to give sufficient reasons of his not meeting him at Newcastle withal to seek restitution of his Ships sith taken before any lawful War was proclaimed and to expostulate the hostility of the Borderers King Henry not only refuseth to render the Ships or give a reason for the breaking forth of the Garrisons on the Borders but delaying the answer of the Scottish Embassadour upon advantage of time sendeth Sir Robert Bowes seconded with the Earl of Anguss and Sir George Dowglass in hostile manner to invade Scotland These to the number of three thousand burn spoil small villages and ravage the Country near the debatable bounds The Earl of Huntley omitteth no occasion to resist them places garrisons in Kelso and Jedburgh assembling all the hardy Borderers and invadeth the English and Scottish forces at a Place named Hall-dan rig here it is soundly skirmished till the Lord Hume by the advancing of four hundred fresh Launces turned the fortune of the Day for the English were put to flight the Warden Sir Robert Bowes Captain of Norham Sir William Mowbray James Dowglass of Parkhead with the natural Son of the Earl of Anguss were taken Prisoners the Earl by the advantage of his horse escaping with others to the number of six hundred The Warden staied in Scotland till the Kings death This Road happened prosperously to the Scots the 24 of August 1541. being a Dise-mall St. Bartholomew to the English The War continuing till Midsumer King Henry sent the Earl of Norfolk whom he named the Rod of the Scots with great power towards Scotland with him the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Camberland Surrey Hereford Anguss Rutland and the Lords of the North parts of England with an Army of fourty thousand men as they were esteemed With them he directeth James Lermound of Darcey the Scottish Embassadour to keep an equal march till they came to Berwick and there to stay that he should not give advertisement to his Master of any of his proceedings the Earl of Huntley upon advantages of places resisting the adventuring Routs who essayed to cross the Tweed But King James hearing the old Duke of Norfork was their Leader raiseth from all the parts of his Kingdom Companies and assembling them upon Sawtery-edge mustered thirty thousand men They encamped on Falla-Moor the King having advertisement that the Duke would march towards Edenburgh Ten thousand strong the Lords Hume Seatoun Areskin to make up the Earl of Huntleys forces are sent towards the borders The King himself expecting the Artillery and other furniture of War staieth with the body of the Army in the Camp During this time it is reported the Lords plotted a Reformation of the Court according to the example practised at Lawder-Bridge especially against such who were named Pensioners of the Priests but because they could not agree among themselves about those who should stretch the ropes every one striving to save his kinsman or friend they escaped all the danger That this attempt being revealed to the King he dismist some of his favourites in great fear to Edenburgh So malitious is faction armed with power Thomas Duke of Norfolk by such in the Scottish Camp who favoured King Henry having understood the preparation and mind of King James to meet him in an open field well knowing that Fortune had that much of a woman to favour young men more than old and that honourable retreats are no waies inferiour to brave Charges retireth off the Scottish ground and keeps his Forces on their own Marches For the valour and resolution of this young Prince might perhaps spoil and divest him of his former purchased Lawrels and Palms to the applause of King Henry who some thought being weary of his service to
by the encouragement of John Son of Philip the French King some were still making Incursions and an unsuccessful attempt on Berwick By this time John of France was Prisoner to Edward whom the Scots courted as full of Honour and Victory for the delivery of their own who by the Mediation of the Pope for a great sum of Money was redeemed and set free after eleven years Captivity and at his Return punished some of those who had deserted him at Durham and endeavoured to remove the succession of the Crown from Robert Stuart to whom he was some years after reconciled The last five years of his reign were spent in appeasing domestick fewds and are notable for a great inundation and plague but things quieting in the year 1363. he retired into a Monastery and declared in case of his decease Edward or his Son for their King This whether it was caused by some former Oath or from weariness of War or design of quiet to Both Nations which being universally disliked by the Estates it was like to breed a dissention which his wisdome closed up All was now quiet but the Highlanders whom he appeased by their mutual discords when Fate in the 47. year of his Age and 39 of his Reign came to Eternal Rest in the Castle of Edinburgh in the year 1370. By this King and his competitour Baliol who went out in the snuff we may in part measure the interests advantages of Princes the one by the asistance of a Potent Neighbour did unexpected things yet failed in Conduct and Managment the other wanting neither spirit nor vigilancy became a Captive and ineffectual Prince which may give us occasion to observe That tho Travel do best inrich the mind with variety of observation yet it is not so successful in Princes for their Minds not being exempted from humane weakness may draw in tinctures prejudices not consisting with the humors of them they are to govern and by knowing abroad grow strangers at home neglecting to study the humor of the People they are set over the disquisition of which is certainly the greatest Mistery and Chain of Government The People being an unruly Beast easily led impossible to be forc'd and the Magick that so powerfully forces them no other than a peircing discerning flattering or eluding their Humour This was Davids Fundamental fault which like Error in the first concoction multiplied it self through the rest of his Reign he was bred a Stranger knew not the disposition of his people met with troublesome Times and a Formidable Enemy and therefore he may very well be charged with three oversights First after three not unfortunate incursions into England then imployed by France not to rest there with his proportion of glory and prey But secondly By the allurement of the French King and that upon a score of Friendship whereas Friendships of Princes and Private Men are different the one being particular the other diffusive and concerning Millions besides that Princes are to consider the interest of their States not their private inclinations And for the third To make an invasion when he left so high discontents in a turbulent people behind besides those of his own that by force obligation or interest were devoted to a victorious Enemy and assured of his own Country was very imprudential both in going to find out an Enemy whose force he knew not and leaving behind him Subjects whose malice and force he understood not But no more to disturb his ashes Had he had another Country another Enemy another Education and other Circumstances of Time he might have been as glorious as any of his Predecessors it is the more probable though the Change of Time does often heighten and aggravate the Vices of Princes there is nothing either Cruel or Vitious recorded of him So that even in the severest sense we may dismiss him with this Character That he was rather unhappy than sloathful in his Government This mans eyes being for ever closed the Nobility appointed a meeting for the accepting of ROBERT STUART For their King as he was formerly designed who appeased the dissention of the Earl Dowglass by marrying his Daughter to the Earl's Son His first two years were spent in making incursions upon the English the Kings wife dying in the next year he marries Elizabeth Moor his own Concubine the better to legitimate the children he had by her and them he honoured with Titles and declared his Successors two years after an attempt is made on Berwick but in vain and Talbots Expedition frustrated but a Truce for three years was concluded which being expired little quarrels awoke again and occasioned the Duke of Lancaster to be sent thither with a great Army and Navy though not with the same fortune at Sea as at Land which occasioned the return of the Duke who was pursued by some small depredations of William Dowglass though his Son of the same name and some others during the Treaty made an inroad as far as Newcastle Robert having assistance from France is forced to retire especially upon the news of Richards Grand-child and Successor to Edward the third marching with a great Army fac'd the Scots with an unbloody bravery The Scots designing to besiege Roxburgh but quarrelling with the French it came to nothing which occasioned so much dissention that it arrived at this pass That the French should pay for their plunder and be dismist their General remaining as hostage for their satisfaction whilst William Dowglass who had married the Kings Daughter makes an Expedition into Ireland plunders Kerlingford and knowing his Father to be imployed against the English hasten to his assistance The attempt was in affront of Richard then strugling with Domestick difficulties But they of Scotland being unable to live without War and Rapine they were resolved to make a business of it and because the King and his eldest Son were infirm came to choose privately the second for their Leader but this being discovered by the English they altered their Resolution and resolved to divide themselves one by the way of Berwick the other of Carlisle the former Party led by Dowglass gave a defeat to the Lord Percy with the loss of his Life the other not having the like Success who impatiently fighting before the coming up of the Bishop of Durham's Forces lost his own and indangered the others This happened in the year 1388. at Otterburn in Northumberland The King being spent with age makes Robert his second Son his Vice-Roy his eldest being unactive who to affront Percey that seemed to lessen the loss led in an Army but after facing returned with some little depredation Soon after a Peace was mediated between the French and English in which Robert without consent of a Parliament would not be comprised But his doubts were all resolved by death in the year 1390. when he had lived 74. years and reigned 19. being followed to the grave with such acts of Barbarism as have heen
Aberdeen Alexander Cornwall Arch-Dean of Lothian These coming to London were graciously received by the State and severally entertained by King James and so many friends as either his Alliance or Virtues had acquired After some few days stay desiring to have audience in Counsel they were admitted where Bishop Lightoun is said to have spoken to this effect The respect and reverence which the Nation of the Scots carryeth toward all Kings is all where known but most that love and loyalty which they have to the sacred Persons of their own native Princes for as Monarchy is the most ancient form of Government so have they ever esteemed it the best it being more easie to find one instructed and trained up in heroical virtues than to find many And how well soever Governours and Vice-Gerents rule the Commmon-wealth yet is that Government but as the light of the Moon or stars in absence of the Sun and but representations of shadows for real Bodies This hath moved the three estates of that Kingdom to direct us here unto you Our King these many years hath been kept from us upon just or unjust Grounds we will not argue that providence which hath appointed every thing to its own end hath done this for the best both to you and us and we are now to treat with you for his Delivery Beseeching you to remember that his Father of Sacred memory recommended him out of that general duty which one Prince oweth to another to your Kings Protection in hope of Sanctuary and in request of aid and comfort against secret and therefore the more dangerous Enemies And to confess the Truth hitherto he hath heen more assured amongst you than if he had remained in his own Countrey your favours being many ways extended towards him having in all liberal Sciences and vertues brought him up That his abode with you seemeth rather to have been a remaining in an Academy then in any Captivity and thus he had been lost if he had not been lost Besides tho we have the happiness to claim his Birth and Stem ye have the claim of his Succession and Education He being now matched with the Royal Blood of England in Marriage Thus his Liberty which we entreat for is a benefit to your selves and those Princes which shall claim the descent of his off-spring For if it should fall forth as what may not by the variable changes of Kingdomes come to pass that this Prince by Usurpers and Rebels were disgarnished of his own Crown they are your Swords which should brandish to set him on his Royal throne We expect that as ye have many ways rendred him yours ye will not refuse to engage Him yet more by his Liberty which he must acknowledge wholly and freely to receive from you and by benefits and love to overcome a King is more than by force of Arms. And since he was not your Prisoner by chance of War having never raised Arms against you but by way of Protection detained here and entertained so ye will respecting your ancient honour and Generosity send him freely back to his own yet if it be so that ye will have acknowledgment for what ye have bestowed on his education the distress of the present estate of his Subjects and Crown considered We will not stand upon trifles of Money for the Redemption of a Prince above all price The Lords of the Council were diverse ways inclined to this Embassie some thought it not fit to dismiss him For his remaining in England seemed the more to assure the kingdom of Scotland unto them having the King and his children in their custody what dared they not enterprise or not bring to pass Or if Scotland should plot any thing by way of Rebellion the King having his party within the Realm by the assistance of the English would keep under the other Factions and thus the Estate by both being made weak it would be a fair breach for a Conquest and the annexing that Kingdom to the Crown of England That he knew too much of the Estate and affairs of England to be sent away to a Nation ever their enemies That being at liberty and amongst his own he might resent the injury of his long restraint Others of the Council thought it best to dismiss him They had learned by experience that the keeping of the King of the Scots hindered no ways the Scots from assisting the French yea rather that it did exasperate their choler and make them in Revenge addict themselves wholly to the French the Governour no ways keeping to the English and siding the French upon whom to be revenged they could find no surer way than to set at liberty the King whose return of necessity must needs change the face of the State and trouble him As for the conquest of the Crown of Scotland it was not at that time of such moment for England they having the most part of France in their Subjection which was as much if not more as they could hold then it would prove a more harmless and sure purchase to make Scotland theirs by the Succession of Lady Jane of Somerset than by war the event whereof is ever doubtful and beyond any assurance of Man The Liberty of the King of Scots might prevent the encreasing strength of the Kings Enemies in France and secure the Peace and tranquillity of the Common-wealth at home King James being all English by education if he proved not of their Party yet he must prove neutral to both the Kingdoms Henry the sixth then King of England being of under-age was governed by his three Uncles of his Fathers side Humphrey Duke of Glocester who was made Protector of his Person and Realm John Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Excester But Henry Beaufoord Cardinal Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England a man eminent in Blood and Riches Uncle to the Lady Jane in effect governed all These gave way rather then approved that the King of Scots should be set at liberty and sent home And though they would have dismissed him freely in respect of the Dowry of his Queen which was not delivered having use of present moneys for the maintenance of the Wars in France and the more to cover the injustice of his Captivity they thought it expedient to set a Ransom upon him The Commissioners having met it was declared that for a sufficient sum of moneys their King might return and enjoy his own Liberty the one half to be paid in hand able Hostages remaining in England till the other half was fully discharged The Ransom agreed upon was four hundred thousand Marks but by the power of the Cardinal the third was discharged for which he was long after accused before the King by the Duke of Glocester The Governour and Estate of Scotland having known the sum laid upon them for the Liberty of the King though the hasty acquiring of it was grievous unto them preferring Glory
blood when they are first surprized neither are too strict circumstances of Law to be observed when a small delay may abolish all observing of order and Laws The Duke to raise his own reputation to the disadvantage of the King with all secrecy of his intentions had procured himself a vast Authority with the Nobles by a semblance of liberality wasting the Patrimony of the Crown as remitting Treasons restoring again Lands annexed to the Crown He had studied so to conciliate to him the minds of the Commons that the desire of a King did not much touch them using such moderation in his proceedings that his Government seemed unto many not only tolerable but desirable He had essayed to draw the Earl of Dowglass and had drawn the Earl of March to enter into a League with him and these Noblemen then in the Castle of St. Andrews divided the Nobility and made them break their Allegiance to the King Upon which attempt it seemeth that that Act of this Kings second Parliament was made That no Subjects should league themselves together The King esteemed all that Government of Robert and Mordock to be an usurpation of the Crown and feared the like thereafter His Son James had burnt Dumbartoun and treacherously killed the Kings Uncle which was not done without his knowledge if not his Counsel Though he relieved the King of his Captivity he suffered him to remain very long a Prisoner neither did he practise his deliverance till he perceived the whole States of the Kingdom resolved to call him Home and was compelled by the injuries of his own Children To exasperate new injuries by old rancours his Father Robert spurred by Ambition had famished to death the Kings Brother David in the Castle of Faulkland to escape whose Tyrranny the King yet a child was committed to the protection of stranger Princes What ever the particulars of their accusations have been it is above the possibility of any Governor or Man in eminent place and authority so to carry himself but a discontented Prince if he will set him to a tryal shall bring some one or other of his actions to whirl him within compass of Justice Thus the imprecation of Robert the third took effect upon the race of Robert the Governour for after the death of the Duke of Rothesay he is said to have cursed him most deadly praying as he had slain his Brothers Son and filled their house with blood so God would punish him his Stock and Posterity There is not any wickedness which beareth not its punishment and repentance at the last if we can have patience to attend the last act of those Tragedies played on this Theatre of the World By the Attaindor of the Duke the Earldoms of Fife Monteith and Lennox were devolved to the Crown The Castle of Inch-Merin in Loch-Lommond which had a while been kept good for James who fled into Ireland by John Montgomery and Humphrey Cunning was brought to the obedience of the King When the Lords and Gentlemen who were in Prisons attending the Kings pleasure understood what necessary justice had been executed upon the Duke and his Sons they were grievously perplexed yet the King like a wise Physitian would take no more blood then might take away the disease and all further causes of Faction For within twelve moneths thereafter he set them all at Liberty and received them in his wonted favour upon promise of their loyal demeanour and dutiful obedience in time to come But being thus freely discharged the conceit was taken that Mordocks head and his sons with Lennoxes was only the aim and that they were used but as a Countenance of State to dazle the eyes of the People The Wars continuing between the English and the French the one to keep what he was in possession of the other to reobtain what he had lost Charles the seventh a wise and Victorious Prince knowing the Friendship of Scotland to be of no small importance to any that should fight against the English the flower and strength of the Scottish Souldiers which had followed the French Wars being then blasted and spent sendeth John Stuart of Darnley Marshal of a Garison of Horsemen with the Earl of Dowglass as the French write then Marshal of France to Scotland to have a fresh supply of Men of Arms and Renauld of Charters Archbishop of Rheymes who there had Crowned his Master and as Chancellour of France to renew the ancient League between the French and Scots But the main business about which the Archbishop came was the trafficking of a Marriage between Lewis the Daulphine though then very young with Margaret Daughter to King James This Match the English had either neglected or contemn'd which afterwards they sued for the renewing of the old League and Amity betwixt the two Nations was easily condescended unto it being but a witness to the world of their mutual kindness The chief Articles of which were The War or Injury moved or done by the English men to one of the said Nations to be as Common-wrong to both If the English men make War on the French Nation then the Scots at the costs and charges of the French King shall minister to them succours Likewise if the Scots be molested by the English Wars the French Nation having their charges allowed shall be to them Aiders and Assisters That none of both Nations shall either contract or make peace with the Realm of England without the consent and agreement of the other The Marriage being found commodious for both Nations was likewise with great contentment agreed upon and concluded fresh recruits of Souldiers were levied and dispatched with the Embassador to France The South and Champion parts of Scotland brought under obedience and a peaceful Government the King will have the remotest Countries of his Kingdom even those blocked up and baricadoed by the snowy Clifts of Grantsben to acknowledge his Justice The wildness of the soyl had made the Inhabitants there more fierce than Fierceness it self and let them out to all unlawful Riots and Rapines To restrain their insolent humors and bring them within compass of Civility in the year 1426. he caused repair the Castle of Innerness which is situated in the uttermost borders of Murray and by their incursions which had been turned desolate hither some years after cometh he in person and keepeth open Court that being near the evil he might have the better means to provide for and consider it But he seemed to have arrived in some Territory of the Scythians having known and found things which none did nor dare relate unto him for he had learned that not many miles off there were men some of which had one thousand some two thousand Robbers at their call who were accustomed to drive preys from the more civil Neighbours and Borders pilling and spoiling polluting and ravishing without any difference of right or wrong holy or prophane but only following their ravenous and insolent humours On the quieter
for the faults of those who brought him to the Field against him he girded himself with a chain of Iron to which every third year of his Life thereafter he added some rings and weight Though this might have proved terrible to the Complices of the Crime yet either out of Conscience of his gentle disposition and mild nature and confidence in his generosity or of the trust they had in their own Power and Faction they bewrayed no signs of fear nor attempted ought against the common peace and tranquillity some Records bear that they forewarned him by the example of his Father not to take any violent course against them or which might irritate the people against him and every thing to embrace their counsels and that finding him repining and stubborn beyond mediocrity giving himself over to Sorrow and pensiveness they threatned him with a Coronation of one of his Brothers telling him it was in their power to make any of the Race of his Predecessors their King if he were head-strong and refractory to oppose to their wholsom directions and grave Counsels Amidst this grief of the King and overweaning of his supercilious Governours Andrew Forman Secretary to Alexander the Sixth Bishop of Rome arrived in Scotland with instructions for the Clergy and Letters from his Master to the King and the Nobles The King 's were full of ordinary consolations to asswage his Passions and reduce his mind to a more calm temper for the accident of his Fathers Death The most glorious victory a Prince could acquire was sometimes to overcome himself and triumph over his disordered passions In all perturbations to which we are subject we should endeavour to practise that precept No thing too much but chiefly in our passions of sorrow and wrath which not being restrained over-whelm the greatest and most generous Minds that by passion the fewest actions and by reason the most do prosper Though a King he must not imagine himself exempt from things casual to all mankind especially in Seditions and civil tumults from which no kingdom nor State hath been free There being no City which hath not sometimes wicked Citizens and always and ever an headstrong and mad multitude he should take what had befaln him from the hand of his Maker who chastiseth those he loveth What comes from heaven he should bear necessarily what proceedeth from Men couragiously there was no man so safe excellent and transcendent who by an insolent Nobility and ravaging Populacy might not be compell'd to perpetrate many things against his heart and intentions The will being both the beginning and subject of all sin and the consenting to and allowing the action being the only and main point to be considered and lookt into of which he was free the sin committed was not his nor could the punishment which by the Divine Justice might follow belong unto him Sith he had done nothing of himself but as a bound man had been carryed away by mutinous Subjects these that lead transgress not always they that follow To these men remorse and torture of conscience belong'd it was they should lament and mourn who under false pretences had abused the people maskt their ambition and Malice with a Reformation of errours in the State whose Rage could not be quench't but by the Bloud of their Soveraign It was these should bewail their injustice and cruelty the sin shame and judgment for so hainous a Fact followed these men He should not impute the wrongs and wickedness of others by which he had been a sufferer with his disastered Father to himself Revenge belonged to the Almighty to whose Tribunal he should submit his quarrel He should not decree the worst against his mutinous Subjects nor turn them desperate as if there were no place to Repent Great offences ordinarily were seldom punisht in a State that it was profitable for a Prince sometimes to put up voluntarily an injury the way to be invincible was never to contend and to stand out of danger was the benefit of Peace that he should apply soft Medicine where it was dangerous to use violent That following his Maker he should endeavour to draw good out of evil As he was for that disaster of his Father pittied by Men upon Earth so assuredly he would be pardon'd in Heaven If his Subjects returned to their crooked Byas and did revolt again he would make the danger his own use his Ecclesiastical Censures and Spiritual Power against them till they became obedient and submitted themselves to the sway of his Scepter In the Letters to the Nobles he exhorteth them to obedience Ambition was the cause of Sedition which had no limits and which was the bane and wrack of State and Kingdoms of which they should beware of Kingdoms subsisting upon the reputation of a Prince and that respect his Subjects carryed towards him He was the Eye and Sun of Justice the Prince weakned or taken away or his Authority contemned the Commonwealth would not only fall into a Decadence but suffer an Earthquake and perish Either after by Forrainers be invaded or by intestine dissentions rent asunder Confusions followed where obedience ceased and left Contempt deposed Kings as well as death and Kings are no longer Kings when their Subjects refuse to obey them That good people made good Kings which he requested them to endeavour to be as they would answer to God whose Lieutenants Princes were and by whose power they ruled After this time the Lord Evaindale being dead the Earl of Anguss was made Chancellour and the Lord Hume obtained the place of great Chamberlain of Scotland the Country enjoyed a great calm of Peace the grounds of Dissention seeming to be taken away The King in the strength and vigour of his Youth remembring that to live in Idleness was to live to be contemned by the World by change of Objects to expel his present sadness and to enable himself for Wars when they should burst forth gave himself to recreations by Games and with a decent Pomp entertained all Knightly exercises keeping an open and Magnificent Court When time and Exercise had enabled him and he thought he had attained to some perfection in Martial sports Tilting and Barriers proclaimed Rewards propounded and promised to the Victors Challenges are sent abroad unto Strangers either to be Umpires or Actors of Feats of Arms. Charles the Eight the French King having an Ambition to reannex the Dutchy of French Bretaign to the Crown of France either by Arms or the Marriage of Ann the apparent heir under the pretext and shadow of those painted Justings sendeth to Scotland some of the bravest Gentlemen of his Court desiring privily the assistance of King James against the English if it should fall forth that the King of England troubled his Designs Not long after well and honourably accompanied arriveth in Scotland a young man naming himself Richard Duke of York Son to Edward the Fourth true Inheritor of the Crown of England divers Neighbour
The cause which was given out to the rumours of the People of their coming was That the French King having no Male Children crav'd the advice and counsel of the King of Scotland his Confederate concerning the Marriage of his Eldest Daughter whether he should bestow her upon Francis of Valois the Daulphine and Duke of Augulesm or upon Charles King of Castile who had presented her with many tokens of affection and by his Embassadours earnestly sought her from her Brother But their great Errand was to divide the King from his Brother-in-law King Henry and make him assist Lovys these two Potentates intending a War against other Ann Daughter of Francis Duke of Bretaign after the death of her Sister Isabella remained sole heir of that Dutchy her Wardship falling to the French King Charles the Eighth He terrified so her Subjects guided her Kindred and the principal Persons about her that making void the pretended marriage of Maximilian King of the Romans which was by Proxie she was married unto him Notwithstanding he had the Daughter of Maximilian at his Court with great expectation of a Marriage to be celebrate with her After the death of King Charles Lovys the twelfth having married Jane the Sister of Charles and Daughter to Lovys the Eleventh by his many favours bestowed upon Pope Alexander the Sixth and his Son Cesar Borgia obtaineth a Brief of Divorce against her by the power of which her weakness for the bearing of Children the necessary upholders of a Crown by his Physitians being proved he had Married Ann of Bretaign for he would not lose so fair a Dowry for the blustering rumour of Male-contents which in a little time would grow stale and vanish Pope Alexander dead Julius the Second a turbulent unquiet but magnificent Prelate and a stout defender of Church-Patrimony suspicious of the Power of the French in Italy and that they would not rest content with the Kingdom of Naples and Dutchy of Milan but one day hazard for all fearing also they would because they might put him out of his Chair and substitute in his Room their Cardinal of Amboise or some other of their own began to study novations and means to send the French back to their own Country his ordinary discourse being that he would one day make Italy free from Barbarians He requireth King Lovys to give over the Protection of the Duke of Ferrara and of Annibal Bentivoglio whom he had thrust out of Bulloign The King refusing to forsake Confederates the Pope betaketh him to his spiritual Arms and threatneth with Excommunication the Duke and all who came to his aid and support especially the French they decline his Sentence and appeal to a true and lawful General Council with which they threaten him Henry the Eighth then in the fervour of his youth amidst a great Treasure left by his Father and by more than ordinary bands of love and friendship tyed to the Pope as having dispensed with the marrying of his Brothers Widow interposeth himself as an indifferent Mediatour and Intercessor for Peace between the two parties but in effect was the chief maintainer of the Quarrel effecting nothing because he would not Conditions being refused by King Henry he essayeth to draw the French arms from the Popes Territories by cutting them work nearer home and bringing a necessity upon them to defend their own Upon this determination he desireth King Lovys to restore and render to him his Dutchies Guyenne and Normandy with his ancient Inheritance of Anjow and Mayne and the other old Possessions of the English in France which wrongfully had been detained and kept from him and his Ancestours The War of Italy by these threatnings was not left of for the Pope coming to Bollogn with intention to Invade Ferrara is besieged with his Cardinals and he sendeth Declarations to the Christian Princes protesting the French not only thirsted after the Patrimony and Inheritance of St. Peter but even after Christian Blood Mean while he absolveth the Subjects of King Lovys from their Oath of Allegiance abandoneth his Kingdom to any can possess it at a Council at Lateran he dispatched a Bull wherein the Title of most Christian King is transferred upon Henry King of England who to his former Titles of France having now the approbation of the Pope and the Kingdom interdicted prepareth an expedition in person After which with five thousand barded Horses fourty thousand Foot coming in Picardy he encampeth before Therovenne a Town upon the Marches of Picardy Here the Emperour Maximilian resenting yet his old injury entreth into the King of England's Pay and weareth the Cross of St. George But so long as he stayed in the Army it was governed according to his counsel and direction King James before his meeting with Bernard Stewart and Bishop Forman was fully purposed to prove an indifferent beholder of this War but Bernard having corrupted the Courtiers and the Bishop the chief Church-man of the Kingdom after their long and earnest intercession he was drawn altogether to affect and adhere to the French To throw the apple of Dissention Bishop Forman is sent to King Henry to demand certain Jewels by their Fathers will or her Brothers Prince Arthurs appertaining to Queen Margarite his Sister King Henry mistrusting that Embassy offereth all and more than they demand from him Shortly after the English beginning to interrupt the traffick of the French by Sea King James will send his Ships lately well mann'd and equipped for Fight which not long before had been prepared as was given out to transport the King into Syria to his Cosin Queen Ann supposing this Gift would rather seem a Pledge of friendship and Alliance to the English than any Supply of War But James Earl of Arran having got the command of them instead of Sailing towards France arriveth in Ireland whether by tempest of Weather or that he would disturb the King's Proceedings in Assisting the French instigated and corrupted by King Henry it is uncertain and after he had spoil'd Knock-Fergus a Maritime Village returneth with them to the Town of Ayre The King taking in an evil part the Invasion of Ireland but more the lingring of the Earl for he had received Letters from Queen Ann and Bishop Forman regretting the long and vain expectation of his Ships giveth the Earl of Anguss and Sir Andrew Wood a Commission for both him and them The Earl of Arran by his Friends at Court understanding his Masters displeasure ere they could find him hoisted up Sails and committeth himself rather to the uncertain fortune of the Seas than the just Wrath of a King After great Tempest arriving in French Bretaign these Ships built at such extraordinary Charges Sayls and Cordage being taken from them rotted and consumed by weather in the Haven of Brest Now matters grew more exasperate between the Brother Kings Robert Car Warden of the Borders is killed by three English Hieron Lilburn Struthers Andrew Barton who upon an old quarrel begun
of the Nobility opposed it as to his coming into Scotland to accept the Government he alone would go to France charge him with it be his Convoy hither and maintain his Title This he was thought to have done for that despairing to reach and obtain this Dignity himself out of emulation he laid a design that never any other of the Nobles of the Kingdom should reach it affecting rather to give a Stranger the place than a Competitor bringing in the French to equal the ballance as principal himself only as accessory nothing doubting of a chief place in State as well for his forwardness in this election as for the necessity of his Service which the French could not well want and should never be lacking He feared also if the Faction of the Dowglasses prevail'd the greatness of the Earl of Anguss would be an umbrage to his and lessen impair it Their Lands Fortunes lying near to other as that the Queen by her power in England would cross his fairest projects The King of England had sent a Letter to the Lords of Scotland as he had done to the French King for that same effect remonstrating how dangerous it was for the State of Scotland and young King if they should make choice of the Duke of Albany Notwithstanding of all which through ambition malice envy of others discords amongst themselves they made choice of this Gentleman a stranger by his education and birth ignorant of the nature and manners of the Scots whose Father was banished for Treason against his Brother and dyed unrestored One altogether devoted to the French King and an enemy to the English not caring to keep the Country of Scotland in Wars and Troubles so he might defend the French Nation by making the Scots fight their battels After many private Letters from his Friends in Scotland especially from the Chamberlain inviting him to come home and accept his new dignity the Duke at last is required by the State and Lyon King of Arms is directed to him to acquaint him with their proceedings and make him forward on his way He to endear his coming and make himself the more desired of the People excusing his stay for a while which he laid upon the Treaty of Peace which was then to be agreed upon between England and France by the marriage of Lovys the French King with Mary the youngest Sister of Henry King of England which required his presence sendeth home the King of Arms with Letters from the French King with Sir Anthony Darcea le Siour de la Beautie This manpropounded certain conditions which the Duke required What should be the form of his Government his Guards what Castles should be delivered to him for his Garrisons the restoring his patrimony and Fathers dignities to him Which particularities being condescended unto the Castle of Dumbar was instantly delivered to la Beautie to be kept for a French Garrison at the Dukes coming and Sir Patrick Hamilton Brother to the Earl of Arran James Oguilbuy Abbot of Arbroth with the King of Arms were sent back again to France After their Arrival the Duke of Albany furnished with all necessaries by the French King with eight well rigged Ships took the Seas and in the month of May arrived on the West coasts of Scotland from whence with a great retinue of the Nobles and Barons of the Country by easie journeys the Queen meeting him he came to the Town of Edenburgh In the Parliament which had been prorogued for his coming the Duke accepted the Government and gave his Oath of fidelity to the King and Country and the three Estates gave their Oath of obedience to him and both swore in the Administration of Justice neither should be deficient to others Here is he restored to all his Fathers inheritance Titles and honours Being declared Duke of Albany Earl of March and Governour of the Kingdom till the King 's full maturity Many Laws are made for the weal of the Kingdom and to gratifie his Linnage James the natural Son of James the fourth is created Earl of Murray At the presence of this new Governour the face of the State turned more beautiful and the Court more Royal oppression is restrained justice sincerely executed the Court is frequented with good and virtuous men Malefactors and naughty persons banish themselves He maketh a progress to all the notable Towns of the Kingdom seeing crimes punished and faults amended Being a Stranger and not throughly acquainted with the municipal Statutes and particular practices of the Country in matters great and of importance he proceedeth by the instructions and informations of some choice men of the Nation it self Especially since he was not infinite to listen to the advice of every one he gave himself to hearken and follow the opinion and counsel of John Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews whose judgment in his greatest difficulties he receives as an Oracle This man being of a subtle mind malitious crafty rich and endued with some Courtly eloquence by a counterfeit Pretence of knowledge of the affairs of the Kingdom and State neither in some things did he err at first being very familiar with the Duke and in a little time after by bribing secretly some of his choice Servants turned his only Privado and almost possessed alone his judgment and ear He informed him of the strength and Riches of the Country of the nature of the people manner of their Laws revealed to him many secrets of the Government He gave him a Catalogue of the whole deadly fewds and divisions amongst the Noblemen and Gentry opening unto him which were inveterate and had long continued and which were fresh upon what accidents they had their beginnings How in prosecuting Revenge in them they cared not how innocent any man was if he were of the Name and Alliance but rather thought the more innocent any was the more it testified their spight which they desired to manifest by taking him away He shewed him what factions were in the Kingdom who sway'd them and were the heads He told him the Scots were a violent fierce people mutinously proud and knew not how to obey without the Sword were drawn that they were never absolutely governed by their own Kings themselves far less would they be ruled by him who was but a Governour and half a Stranger King James the First they had killed they had made a League against King James the Second in open Battel they had overthrown King James the Third and the last King was by best judgments thought to have been secretly taken away here calling to mind the proclaiming of the Arch-bishop Andrew Formans Bull he omitted nothing could derogate to the Chamberlains reputation and honour and an evil opinion of him in the Governour He instructed him how the great Houses of Scotland were so joined and linkt together by kindred Alliances Bonds of service or Homage that no Gentleman of any quality although a Malefactor and a guilty person could
his Brother and other their Friends some Church Benefices and many Leases of Tythes was reconciled unto them and with appearance of great friendship they mutually entertained and feasted each others at the Christ-Mass in the City of St. Andrews But small confidence could be long among reconciled Enemies Now went every thing as the Earl of Anguss could have wished he was not only entire and familiar with the Kings Person but with his Office some of his Enemies were dead others overthrown in open Field with the rest he was reconciled No Faction for power or riches was equal to his Nor remained there any Castle or Fortress not seised on by him and garrisoned with his Friends and Followers except the Castle of Sterlin a part of the Queens Dowry which being desolate by her Miseries and only haunted by some of her poorest and meanest Servants was neglected by the Earl which in him was a great Error the fitness of the place for a revolution and change of Court considered Many days the Earl had not seen his own dwelling Places nor thought upon his private Affairs being carried away by the storms of Court now he thinketh he may securely pass to Lothian whilst at Faulkland the King shall be safely entertained by his Brother Sir George Archembald his Uncle and James of the Parkhead Captain of the Guards having earnesty entreated their attendance on the King he crosseth the Forth with resolution soon to return His departing was not so concealed but the Archbishop of St. Andrews had knowledge of it and he inviteth Sir George to see him in his City of St. Andrews to receive the Leases of the Tithes promised all now perfected valid and according to Law sufficient Whilst Sir George is here detained Archembald the Treasurer by other Letters for matters of love is inticed to Dundee But nothing could make the Captain of the Guards leave his Charge The King amidst his solitary Walks in his Park of Faulkland considering of what a tedious Train he was relieved and how suddenly occasion might turn her bald scalp if presently he took not hold of her resolveth to accomplish by Stratagem what the Factions of his Nobles could not perform by force It is delightful to understand every particular circumstance in the progress of the actions of Princes Upon this resolution he directeth the Forrester of the Park to give advertisement to such Gentlemen about who kept Hounds the next morning to attend him for he would early have his Game He suppeth sooner than his custom was entertaining the Captain of the Guards with more than usual ceremonies and representations of the next mornings sport withall inviting him to go to his rest the Night being short about the Summer solstice The Waiters all shifted and the Court husht shutting his Chamber Door in the Apparel of one of his Grooms unperceiv'd he passed the Guard to the Stable where with two who attended him with spair Horses he posted to Sterlin where by the Queens intelligence he was expected in the Castle When the certainty of this escape was noised abroad many Noblemen repair to Sterlin some by Letters sent unto them others at the rumour of his evasion that in a little time he found him safe and far from any danger again to be surprized the Earls of Arguyl Atholl Glancarn Monteeth Huntley The Lords Graham Drummond Levingstoun Sainclaire Lindsay Evandale Ruthen Maxwell Simple the Earl of Eglintoun Rothess James Beatoun Archbishop of St. Andrews the Deviser of his escape The Earl of Angus full of miss-giving thoughts with many of his Friends was also on his way to Sterlin but Proclamation being made against him Discharging him from all Offices and publick Functions and being by an Herauld forbidden with his Friends and Followers to come near the Court by some Miles under pain of Treason either moved by inward terrours or love of the Peace of his Countrey turned back to Linlithgow where two days he attended News of the Kings pleasure which at last was declared That neither he nor none of his should presume by some miles to approach his Residence The more particular favours were That the Earl should confine himself beyond the River of Spay in the North whilst his Brother Sir George Dowglass should render himself Prisoner in the Castle of Edenburgh and there remain during the Kings pleasure When the Dowglasses had refused these offers they are cited to answer according to Law in a Parliament to be holden in September at Edenburgh before the day of appearing the Earl of Angus accompanied with an able Train of his Friends and Followers essayeth to enter the Town of Edenburgh and there attend the coming of the King but by the Lord of Maxwell and the Lord of Lochinvarre who in the Kings Name had invested the Town he is kept out and the King with an unexpected suddenness with two thousand men coming from Sterlin he removed The Earl not appearing at the appointed day is by Decree of Parliament attainted and forfeited with his Brother Sir George Dowglass Archembald Dowglass his Uncle Alexander Drummond of Carnock and others The points of which they were to be accused were The assembling of the Kings Lieges with intention to have assailed his Person The detaining of the King against his will and pleasure and contrary to the Articles agreed upon the space of two years and more all which time the King was in fear and danger of his life At this Parliament some write the King made a solemn Oath never to give a Remission to any of the Dowglasses there forfeited as the Lords did never to interceed nor request for any of them and in disgrace of the Earl of Angus Henry Stuart who had married the Queen his Wife was created Lord Meffan The Dowglasses having all favour denied them being openly declared Enemies to the King and Countrey commit all Hostility the last refuge of desperate men on their Enemies bounds Caust-land and Cranstoun are burned they ravage even to the Gates of Edenburgh the harmless people suffering for the faults of the great under shadow of their Followers all Robberies and Oppressions brake forth and by whomsoever committed are laid to their charge The King will not hear of them in any other terms than Oppressours and common Robbers In their defence they fortifie their Castle of Tantallon with the readiest Provision taken from the nearest adjacent bounds In October the King raiseth a great company of Soldiers with great Ordnance and other Engines of War brought from the Castle of Dumbar Tantallon is besieged but proveth impregnable and David Faulconer the General of the Ordnance at their removing is slain A Commission is sent to the Earl of Bothwell as the Kings Lieutenant to invade with Fire and Sword in all places the Dowglasses which he either out of human compassion or that he knew wise States-men should extenuate the faults of others rather than aggravate them refused to accept But the Earl of Arguyl and Lord
that attempt yet in the Expedition he and all his followers were cut to pieces Some few years after were spent in light skirmishes and incursions and Thomas Randolph obtained the battel called the White and quieted the English Robert this time of Repose conven'd the Nobles intending to determine the right of inheritances which many men had unjustly usurped in the times of Rapine and Licence This brooded a Conspiracy which being detected a meeting was appointed at Perth where by the Conviction of their own Papers many were executed some pardon'd but none drew more pity from the Beholders then David Brechin the Kings Sisters Son whose acquaintance not concurrence with the Plot was only Criminal From whence we may consider That to be a Traitor is not actually to engage in Treason but to conceal it is to foment it for if in private Friendships it is infidelity not to reveal a danger to a friend it holds stronger as to the Magistrate who is not only our Common Friend but our Parent and tutor since the seeds of all Treasons like them of Vegetables lurking quietly and arising fruitfully being cunningly manured do by the Co-operation of bad influences grow up into poysons and threaten destruction whereas the Sovereign Power enlivening and piercing all cherishes the more Noble things and only discovers the imperfection of the meaner In the mean time a Legate coming from Rome armed with all the Thunderbolts of that See whose force even that age had wit enough to discern to threaten them into a peace with England but missing of his Errand the Scots followed him with an Army and marcht as far as Stainmore The King of England in revenge raises an Army so potent and powerful that it might be supposed they came for absolute victory not uncertain hazard Robert therefore like a wise Captain considering that it was Stratagem not force that must preserve him safe from so great a storm caused all the Cattel to be carryed into the avious retreats of the Hills lest they might be serviceable to the Enemy who confident of their strength pierced Scotland and endeavoured to draw him and his Forces out of their Holes But having wasted all about sparing only Churches and wanting Victuals were forced to retire Bruce knowing this disorderly retreat pursues them as far as York and by a great defeat was Master of their Baggage and some Considerable Prisoners the great occasion of which was imputed to Sir Andrew Barcley Earl of Carlisle who was therefore degraded This begat two Embassyes one to the Papacy for a Reconciliation to it and the other to France for a Renovation of the old League both which were obtained with equal easiness with this addition to the latter That the King of France should be Vmpire in controversies concerning the Crown of Scotland About these times says excellent Buchanan the Family of the Hamiltons since so great in Scotland and pernicious to England took their rise one of them upon a Quarrel and murder of an English Gentleman flying to Robert for Protection who gave him lands which retain the name to this day the Spensers upon whose account this quarrel arose were soon after discomposed and ruined and Edward himself dethroned and as it is said murthered at Pontfract Castle by means of his wife and Edward his Son succeeded the III. of that name Bruce in the mean time composing himself to the cares of Peace by Act of Parliament settles the Inheritance of the Kingdom upon his Son though a Child and in case of his decease to Robert Stuart his Grand-child by his Daughter and for preventing any pretences of Baliol being then old and miserable in France a full release of all his Claim but the active young Edward filling them with the terrour of a new Bruce 1320. repaired the defects of his age and travels by substituting Thomas Randolph his Vice-Roy whom with James Dowglas he sent with a flying Army of Horse into England the better to elude the prevailing force they were to expect and it happened accordingly for after tedious Marches and hardships on both sides they parted without a stroke saving onely that Dowglas with two hundred Horse beat up the Quarters of the English Camp and cut as is said two Ropes of the Kings Tent and made a good Retreat this begat a Truce for three years and afterwards 1328 a dishonorable Concession on a Parliament at Southampton of all the Scotish priviledges and independencies of that Crown for which some after smarted with the Concession of some Counties and Rendition of Monuments the Scots paying thirty thousand Marks Bruce finding himself wasted by age and toil left the Tuition of the Nonage of his Son to Randolph and Dowglass retiring himself to the Abby of Kilross confirming the Settlement of the Kingdom upon his Son David then 8 years old and Stuart as he had done before leaving these three Counsels behind him Illustrious Spirits that have long moved in great Orbs being best measured when they are falling below their Horizon 1. Not to let any man solely command the Aebneae 2. Never to put all their Strength at one hazard with the English 3. Never to make long Truces with them The first being to be feared by their power at Sea The second for the Fertility Power and Numbers of the English The third to prevent the Enervation of a of a long Peace Thus he dyed leaving Charge with Dowglas to convey his heart to the Holy Land whither himself had designed an Expedition but Dowglass assisting them of Arragon against the Sarazens was there cut to pieces Thus ended the reign of Robert Bruce A Prince 1330. that mounting the Throne over the Carcasses of his neerest kindred encountring with the greatest difficulties and calamities of a country opprest by powerful and martial Enemies bravely struggled with the disadvantages and left behind him the Character of a great Captain and a prudent Prince and such an one as whose Reputation relies upon his single virtue unless you will say he had the assistance of the heads and hands of his Counsellors and Captains yet even in the chusing of One and the obeying the Other it must be confest he was a man excellently squared out for government and a man the most fit to arrest our conquests in that Nation Yet by the way we shall take up one Remark How much the fortune and reputation of any people depends upon the Conduct of their Supreme Governour and we cannot have better instance than by reflecting upon the preceeding History Edward I. worthily called Coeur de Lion brought them in their greatest power upon their knees His Son an effeminate and weak Prince enchanted with Flatteries and lost in Softness could not preserve an acquired Dominion but lost it with ignominy His son for a time which we must call his pupillage of War he did such wonders afterwards was unsuccessful and all this through the Opposition Courage and Conduct of one unfortunate
person And indeed upon survey of all Histories we shall find that the ability and excellency of the Prince hath been the most powerful ascendent of the Genius of a Nation and that the Governing mind of the World when ever it determines any to glorious actions raises up such Leaders as by their wisdom and example may lead them to the performance of its own secret determinations And again How infectious the example of a bad or weak Prince which like an unhappy contagion perverts and infects the manners of a people and so much the more easily seduces them by how much the mind of man is inclinable to understand better things and pursue the worse and most people are more easily emasculated into Vice than tutured into Virtue This Prince being gone to his long home DAVID BRUCE His Son succeeding 1331 his Coronation was deferred till permission could be had from Rome to make the business more solemn The first thing memorable in his reign was the suppression of a sort of Thieves by Randolph who if you will believe the Scotish Story was soon after poisened by a Monk yet bore it so as he eluded another invasion though he died soon after in the year 1331. the Government devolving to the Earl of Mar in which he was scarce warm when news was brought that Edward Baliol was seen in the Fryth with a Formidable Fleet And it was upon this occasion Lawrence Twine a Fugitive English-man that had planted himself in Scotland being for his lewd life excommunicated slew the Bishop of Final and used such inducements to Edward Son of John Baliol formerly King by the minority of the King the raging discontents of the People and Exiles the want of the Regents Randolf and Dowglass that he knowing Edward prepared great Forces against Scotland persuaded him to imbarque in the Enterprize and he made so good a Party that he landed at Kingkorn and defeated Alexander Seatoun who made some opposition and marching to Perth did by a secret passage over the River rout the Enemy slay the most considerable Commander and take the Town taking Prisoners also many of the best quality so that growing numerous by the accession of such as had a mind to share in his good and unexpected Fortune he in the year 1332. 1362. caused himself to be Crowned King at Scone by the name of EDWARD BALIOL But the party of the Bruces not resting here send him to Philip of France with his wife and choose Andrew Murray his Cousen Regent and making a party after three Moneths siege recovered Perth Baliol in the mean time was at Annandale receiving the voluntary submission of the Country among whom so high was the Reputation of his Acquests that Alexander Bruce L. of Carid and Galloway forsook his Kinsman and submitted to the Conquerour who by this means became so besotted with a contempt of the Enemy and so neglected Discipline which being known to the Vice-Roy he sent a party of Horse under Archibald Dowglass and others who beat up his quarters and routed them himself escaped half naked 1332. and his most considerable Friends slain The Nobility hereupon flocking to the Party of the Bruces they consult and resolve that Baliol acts but the King of England's Designs fortifie Berwick and the Borders and standing in this posture of Defence sent to K. Philip and David to give them account of things Nor were the English unwilling to take the Advantage of the Discord he therefore protects Baliol and under pretence of demanding Berwick which was denyed brings an Army against Scotland besieges Berwick by Land and Sea which to divert Archibald Dowglass newly appointed Vice-Roy makes an attempt upon the English but was routed with great loss in the year 1333. which occasioned the Rendition of the Town 1333. Edward hereupon withdrawing into England leaves the reducement of Scotland to the care of Baliol and Edward Talbot who gained it all except some few Strengths Baliol though disturbed with a controversie about the Lands of John Moubray surveys the Countrey fortifies the Castle of Rothsay narrowly pursues Robert Stuart after King who in a small bark escaped to the Garison of Dumbarton after laies siege to the Castle in the Lake Leven which he left to the Management of Sir John Sterlin others but Sterlin going to a Fair at Dunfermling the besieged let the Lake into his Trenches and raised the siege The English came in again with an Army swept all carryed Balliol home with them and left Cumin Earl of Athol Lievtenant of Scotland who wasted all the Lands of the Stuarts By this Robert Stuart unexpectedly breaks out and being followed by the Cambels takes the Castle of Botan and having access of many considerable persons is made Vice-Roy and forces Cumin to his party and dispersing the War called a Parliament at Perth where nothing could be done by reason of the dissention of Cumin and Dowglass But the English enter with a great Army and though their Auxiliary Guelders were routed take Perth but their Fleet being harrast at Sea were forced to retreat and the rather in design of a French War but some of the Nobles still standing out the English landing in Murray reduced all and leaving Baliol return Next year the English besieged Dumbar and sent in two Parties under Talbot and Monford 1337 which though they were both routed yet the siege continued but the English having received loss by the valour of Robert Stuart after six moneths stay being called into France raised their siege Murray in the mean time dying Stuart was created Vice-Roy till the Return of David and having the first year by the means of W. Dowglass gained some petty Victories 1339 did the next besiege Perth which after four Moneths stay was reduced and a little after Sterlin and by Stratagem the Castle of Edinburgh Alexander making a happy Expedition into Northumberland and taking Roxburgh and the Scots regaining all their ground except Berwick In the year 1342. David after 9. years stay returns and after quieting of some dissentions resolves an expedition into England though dissuaded by his Council by reason of want of Victuals making John Randolph General himself going incognito and for two Moneths together depopulated Northumberland but after declaring himself General made a second Expedition which met little opposition by reason of the diversion of the English strength in France a third to as little purpose A Peace for two years was treated of which David would not accept without the consent of Philip of France who having a great defeat given him by Edward excited him by all means to an invasion which his friendship perswaded him to though things at home were not in Order and having Marcht so far as the County of Durham had his Army routed and was there taken Prisoner The English limits being enlarged as far as Cockburn and all Scotland in a manner depopulated by the Plague and deadly fewds yet
the Publick-weal of the Kingdom for his private Considerations That after this trouble of State he might be more esteemed and sought after by the King as it is ordinarily practised among Princes and great men who affect only that which is necessary unto them To these the Earl answered That they had went too far forwards to think of any cowardly retreat and coming back again that the only vertue under a Tyrant was to die constantly that other vertues did fight but constancy alone triumphed That for himself he would never trust his life to the mercy of those who under colour of friendship and banqueting had first made away his two Kinsmen and after his own Brother for if they being Innocents were thus handled what might he expect who had been the occasion of such distraction in the State He that once had broken his faith except by a surety is unable again in Law to contract and enter in Bond with any who will be surety between a King and his Subjects That Treaties Agreements Covenants Bargains of a Prince with rebellious Subjects engage him no farther no longer than the Term-time or day which pleaseth him to accept observe and keep them as they turn or may turn to his utility and advantage that as in Nature there is no regress found from privation to an habit so neither in State men once disgraced do return to their former Honours That Princes mortally hated all Subjects who had either attempted to over-rule them by power or had cast any terrour upon them and howsoever by constraint they bear sail for a time in the end they were sure pay-masters That there was nothing more contrary to a good Agreement then to appear to be too earnest and busie to seek to obtain it he would sue for none That all his days he had loved sincerity constancy and fidelity and could not unsay and recant what he had promised and practised nor do against his heart His friends and his own standing was by their Swords which should either advance their enterprizes and turn them Victor or they would die Honourably like themselves and Men and not ignobly be murdered like Beasts This free and dangerous resolution of the Earl moved many who heard to provide for their own safety and resolve not to suffer long misery for other mens folly finding this war was not like to have any end and that danger and death would be the only reward of their Rebellion Amongst others the Earl of Crawford after great adversity when he could not move the Earl of Dowglass to submit himself to the Kings clemency with many tears and protestations of his sincerity love and counsel to him left him and some weeks after as the King was in Progress in Anguss in a sad penitential manner accompanied with his best friends coming in his way with much humility and sorrow He acknowledged his fault pleading rather for pity to his house which had so long flourished than to his person The King knowing his example would be no small occasion to weaken the power of the Earl of Dowglass and that of all the Rebels he was the greatest object of his Clemency was content to receive him but he would have it done by the mediation of James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews and the Lord Creightoun once his greatest Enemies which he refused not to embrace Thus freely remitted with those who accompanied him he returned to his own House of Phanheaven where within few moneths he died of a burning Ague The three Estates after assembled at Edenburgh where James Earl of Dowglass the Countess Beatrix whom he kept by way of a pretended Marriage Archembald Dowglass Earl of Murray George Earl of Ormond John Dowglass Lord of Balveny with others their adherents friends and followers are Attainted of High Treason and their Lands and Goods are Confiscate and discerned to be seized on to the Kings use The Earldom of Murray is given to James Creighton who had married the eldest Daughter of the Earl of Murray but he perceiving he could not possess it in peace turned it back again to the King At this time George Creightoun was created Earl of Caithness William Hay Constable Earl of Arrol Darly Halles Boyd Lyle and Lorn Lords of Parliament the King maketh a rode into Galloway reducing every strong hold and Castle of the Country to his Power Dowglass-dale he abandoned to the spoil of the Souldier Matters at home turning desperate the Earl of Dowglass being brought to that pass that he knew not what to wish or fear James Hamilton of Cadyow is sent to England to invite the ancient enemy of the kingdom to take a part of her spoil and help to trouble the King But the English had greater business amongst themselves than could permit them to Wed the Quarrels of the Earl After Sir James Hamilton was returned with an excuse and regret that some of the English Lords could not supply their confusion but only by their counsel he advised the Earl of Dowglass to trust to his own Power and Forces which were sufficient measuring their Courage and not counting their Heads to hold good against the King There was no human affairs where men were not necessitated to run some danger nor any business taken in hand with such a certainty which by unknown causes and even light ones might not run a hazard of some mishap That he should study to embrace and accept of what was most honourable and least dangerous it was better once to try the worst then ever to be in fear of it it was fit for him to commit something to fortune and wisdom could counsel nothing but to shun the greatest evil This lingring war would not only tire but over-come and vanquish them when one fair day of battel either by death or victory would crown their desires Others advised him not to hazard upon a Battel except upon seen and approved advantage and to time it out a while in this lingring War a Truce might be agreed upon which ere long might turn in a Peace in which every thing passed might be forgotten and pardoned That Wars were managed more by occasions and times than by arms That the King could not be now but tyred since he had learned that by essaying by arms to overcome them he had gained nothing but trained up his Subjects whom he called Rebels in all Warlike Discipline and had his Country spoiled and the Policy defaced Should they once enter in blood all hopes were gone of any conditions of peace At this time the King besieged the Castle of Abercorn to relieve the besieged hither marcheth with all his Forces the Earl of Dowglass being come within view of the Kings Army he observeth their march slow the countenance of his Souldiers altered much whispering and their spirits in a manner dejected Countrymen were to Fight against Countrymen friends against friends and all against their Prince Interpreting this rather to proceed from their weariedness than
Princes testifying the same by the Letters which contained That Edward the eldest Son of Edward the Fourth who succeeded his Father in the Crown by the Name of Edward the Fifth was Murthered by Richard Duke of Gloucester their unnatural Uncle but Richard the younger Son his Brother by the Man who was employed to execute that Tragedy making report to the Tyrant that he had performed his command for both Brethren was saved and with speed and secrecy convoyed to Tourney there conceal'd and brought up by his Fathers Sister Margarite Dutches of Burgundy That King James should acknowledge this for Truth and friendly assist this young Man who was that very Richard Duke of York to recover his Inheritance now most unjustly Usurped and Possessed by Henry Tuder Earl of Richmond That the right of Kings extended not only to the safe preservation of their own but also to the Aid of all such Allies as change of time and State have often hurled down from Crowns to undergo an exercise of sufference in both fortunes and Kings should repossess Kings wrongfully put from their own As his Predecessors to whose royal vertues he was heir had repossessed Henry the Sixth King of England spoyled of his Kingdom and distressed by which Charity obliging all vertuous Princes unto him he should find ever as his own Maximilian of Bohemia Charles of France and Margarite Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy King James graciously receiving this young man told him That whatsoever he were he should not repent him of putting himself into his hands and from that time forth though many gave Informations against him as a counterfeit entertained him every way as a Prince embraced his quarrel and seiling both his own eyes and the eyes of the World he gave consent that this Duke should take to Wife Lady Katherine Gordoun daughter to the Earl of Huntley which some thought he did to increase the Factions of Perkins in England stir the discontented Subjects against King Henry and to encourage his own Subjects to side on his quarrel Not long after in person with this Duke of York in his Company who assured him of powerful Assistance he entred with an Army into Northumberland but not one Man coming to side with them the King turned his enterprize into a Road and after he had spoiled the Country returned to Scotland It is said that Perkin acting the part of a Prince handsomely where he saw the Scots pillaging and wasting of the Country came to the King and in a deplorable manner requested him to spare his afflicted people that no Crown was so dear to his Mind as that he desired to purchase it with the blood and ruine of his People whereunto King James answered He was ridiculously careful of an interest another man possessed and which perhaps was none of his The King of England who delighted more to draw treasure from his People than to hazard the spilling of their Blood to revenge the predatory war of the Scots and find out Perkin requireth a subsidy of his Subjects and though few believed he would follow so far a flying Hart he was Levying a puissant Army No sooner this Subsidy began to be collected amongst the Cornish-men when they began to grudge and murmur and afterwards rebelled which when it was understood of the King he retained the Forces raised for his own service and use In the mean time dispatching the Earl of Surrey to the North to attend the Scots incursions whilst the Cornish-men are in their March towards London King James again entred the Frontiers of England with an Army and besieged the Castle of Norham in person But understanding the Earl of Surrey was advancing with greater Forces loaden with spoil he returned back again the Earl of Surrey finding no Enemy sat down before the Castle of Aytoun which he took and soon after returned into England the cold season of the year with the unseasonableness of the weather driving away time invited a Treaty of Peace on both sides Amidst these turmoyls and unprofitable Incursions of the two Kingdoms Ferdinando and Isabella of Spain sent one Peter Hialas to treat a Marriage between Katherine one of their Daughters and Arthur Prince of Wales This Allyance being agreed upon and almost brought to perfection King Henry desirous of quietness and to have an end of all Debates especially these with Scotland communicateth his intentions to Hialas a man wise and learned and whom he thought able to be employed in such a Service for it stood not with his Reputation to sue unto his enemy for Peace But Hialas a stranger unto both as having direction from his Master for the Peace of Christian and Neighbour Princes might take upon him this Reconciliation Hialas accepteth the Embassage and coming to King James after he hid brought him to hearken to more safe and quiet Counsels wrote unto King Henry That he hoped that Peace might easily be concluded if he should find some wise and temperate Councellour of his own that might treat of the Conditions Whereupon the King directeth the Bishop of Duresm Richard Fox who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to confer with Hialas and they both to treat with some Commissioners deputed from King James The Commissioners of both sides meet at Jedbrough and dispute many Articles and conditions of Peace Restitution of the spoils taken by the Scottish or dammages for the same is desired but that was passed as a matter impossible to be performed An enterview in person at Newcastle is desired of both Kings which being referred to King James his own arbitrement he is reported to have answered that he meant to treat a Peace and not go a begging for it The breaking of the Peace for Perkin Warbeck is highly aggravated by the Bishop and he demanded to be deliver'd to the King of England That a Prince should not easily believe with the common people that Perkin was a Fiction and such an one that if a Poet had projected the Figure it could not have been done more to admiration than the House of York by the old Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth having first raised Lambert Simnel and at last this Perkin to personate Kings and seduce the People His Birth Education not resident in any one place proved him a Pageant King that he was a reproach to all Kings and a person not protected by the Law of Nations The Bishop of Glasgow answered for his Master That the love and Amity grounded upon a Common cause and universal Conclusion amongst Kings to defend one another was the main Foundation upon which King James had adventured to assist Edward Duke of York that he was no competent Judge of his Title he had received him as a Suppliant protected him as a Person fled for refuge espoused him with his Kinswoman and aided him with Arms upon the belief that he was a Prince that the People of Ireland Wales and many in England acknowledged him no less
had lost one of her Eyes When he had answered these were but Dreams arising from the many thoughts and cares of the Day but it is no Dream saith she that ye have but one Son and him a weakling if otherways than well happen unto you what a lamentable day will that be when ye shall leave behind you to so tender and weak a Successor under the Government of a Woman for Inheritance a miserable and bloody War It is no dream that ye are to Fight a mighty People now turned insolent by their riches at home and power abroad that your Nobility are indigent ye know and may be brib'd to leave you in your greatest danger What a folly what a blindness is it to make this War yours and to quench the fire in your Neighbours House of France to kindle and burn up your own in Scotland ye have no such reason to assist the French as ye have to keep your promises to England and enjoy a Peace at home Though the English should make a Conquest of France will they take your Crown or disinherit their own Race this is even as the left hand would cut off the right Should the Letters of the Queen of France a woman twice married the first half in Adultery the last almost Incest whom he did never nor shall ever see prove more powerful with you than the cryes of your little Son and mine than the tears complaints curses of the Orphans and Widows which ye are to make If ye will go suffer me to accompany you it may be my Country-men prove more kind towards me than they will to you and for my sake yield unto a Peace I hear the Queen my Sister will be with the Army in her Husbands absence if we shall meet who knows what God by our means may bring to pass The King answered all her complaints with a speedy March which he made over the Tweed not staying till the whole Forces came to him which were arising and prepared The twenty two of August coming into England he encamped near the water of Twisel in Northumberland where at Twisel-haugh he made an Act That if any man were slain or hurt to death by the English during the time of his abode in England his Heirs should have his Ward Relief and Marriage Norham Wark Foord Eatel are taken and cast down Amidst this Hostility the Lady Foord a noble Captive was brought in a pitty-pleading manner with her daughter a Maid of excellent beauty to the Camp Not without the Earl of Surreys direction as many supposed for they have a vigorous Prince and his Son though natural by the gifts of Nature and Education above many lawful to try the Magick of their Eloquence and beauty upon The King delighting in their Company not only hearkneth to the discourse of the Mother but giveth way to her counsel which was if she should be dismissed to send him true and certain Intelligence of what the English would attempt taking her way to their Camp but in effect proved the winning of time to the Earl of Surrey and the losing of occasion to him Her few days stay bred in him a kind of carelesness sloath procrastination and delay a neglect and as it were a forgetfulness of his Army and business eighteen days tarrying in England in a Territory not very fertile had consum'd much Provision the Souldiers began to want necessaries a number in the Night by blind paths returned to their own Country In a short time only the Noblemen and their Vassals attended the King These request him not to spend more time on that barren Soyl but to turn their Forces against Berwick which Town was of more importance than all the Hamlets and poor Villages of Northumberland neither was it impregnable or difficil to be taken the Town and Castle being no ways provided and furnished to endure a Siege The Courtiers move the King to continue the Beleaguering of Berwick till their coming back which would be an easie Conquest Northumberland once forrag'd in absence of the bravest of the English then in France Whilst the Army languished and the King spent time at Foord the Earl of Surrey directeth a Herauld to his Camp requiring him either to leave off the Invasion of his Masters Country and turn back giving satisfaction for wrongs committed or that he would appoint a day and place wherein all differences might be ended by the Sword This Challenge being advised in Counsel most voices were that they should return home and not with so small number as remained endanger the State of the whole Kingdom enough being already atchieved for Fame and too much for their friendship with France why should a few Souldiers and these already tired out by forcing of Strengths throwing down Castles be hazarded against such multitudes of the English supplyed lately and encreased with fresh Auxiliaries Thomas Howard Admiral a Son of the Earl of Surrey having newly brought with him to New Castle out of the Army lying in France Five thousand Men and One thousand tall Sea men If they should return Home the English Army could not but disband and not conveniently this year be gathered again consisting of Men Levied from far and distant Places Again if they should be engaged to come to a Battle their own Country being fields to them well known would prove more commodious and secure to Fight upon than English ground besides the opportunity of furnishing and providing the Camp with all necessaries at less charges The French Embassadour and others of his Faction remonstrate to the King what a shameful retreat he would make if at the desire of the Enemy he returned and without the hazard of a Battle being so near unto him that by Fighting in England he kept his own Country unforraged and consum'd the Provision of his Enemy which at last would weaken his Forces That for contentment to both Armies Islay a Scottish Herauld should return with Rouge-Cross the English and condescend upon a day promising them the mean time tarrying and abode till the righteousness of the cause were decided in a Battle The set and appointed Day by the Heraulds in which the two Armies should have joyned being come and the English not appearing nor any from them The Nobility again resort to the King show how by the slight of the Enemy matters were prolonged from one day to another the English Forces daily encreasing whilst the Scottish were away and waxed fewer that slight should be opposed to slight the day designed by the Heraulds not being kept it would be no reproach to them to turn home without Battle or if retiring to Fight upon their own ground If this Counsel please him not but that he would there give them Battle The next was to study all advantages for Victory either by Stratagem or the odds and furtherance of the Place of Fight Where the Chiviot hills decline towards the plainer Fields arising behind them with high tops with best
her and the Infant her Son against all injuries to be offered them by Forrainers abroad of any of the Factious Nobility who would oppose themselves against her at home To which King Henry answered That with the Peaceable he would entertain Peace and with the Froward and Turbulent War If the Scots would live in Peace they should have it for his part but if they would rather Fight he was not to refuse them That her Husband had faln by his own indiscreet rashness and foolish kindness to France that he regretted his death as his Ally and should be willing to prohibite all hostility against the Country of Scotland during the minority of her Son for a remedy of present evils one years Truce and a day longer was yielded unto in which time he had leasure to prosecute his designs against France without fear of being disturbed or diverted by the Incursions and inroads of the Scots upon his Borders The Government of a Woman and a Child over a People ever in Motion mutinous and delighting in Changes could not long subsist firm nor continue after one fashion The first shake and disorders of the Kingdom arose and was occasioned by the ambition and avarice of the Church-men the Moth-worms of State being seconded by the Factious Nobles and Male-contents and it was the distribution of the Offices Places Benefices vacant by the deaths of those slain in the late Battel Andrew Forman Arch-Bishop of Burges Bishop of Murray and Legate to the Pope Julius Gavin Dowglass Bishop of Dunkel Uncle to the Earl of Anguss John Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews contend all three for the Arch-bishoprick of St. Andrews Gavin Dowglass was presented to it by the Queen Andrew Forman by the Pope John Hepburn was chosen by the Chapter his Canons and sundry of the Nobility favoured his Election they said also the place whilst it was vacant belonged unto him and his Party was so strong that none dared publish the Popes Bull in favour of Andrew Forman for many days Till Alexander Lord Hume then Chamberlain and Warden of the East Marshes won by many promises and the Abbacy of Coldingham engaged and presently given in hand to his younger Brother David in despight of the opposition or the Lord Haylles and the Faction of the Hepburns then seditious and powerful well backed by his Friends Vassals Adherents all in Arms caused publish and proclaim it at the Market cross of Edenburgh which action first incensed the Prior to Plot mischief against the Family of the Humes William Elphinstoun Bishop of Aberdeen by many of the Clergy and some of the Nobility had been desired to accept this Dignity but he refused it being now weary of earthly greatness and making for another World for at this time at Edenburgh he left this As ordinarily when one Faction is near extinguished the remnant subdivideth after these jars of the Church-men which were cherished by the Nobility the Nobles began to jar among themselves and grudge at others preferments Alexander Lord Gordon ruled and commanded the Countries Northward the River of Forth as Alexander Lord Hume Usurped almost a Royal Authority and commanded over the Countreys on South-side of the Forth the Earl of Anguss went about a fairer Conquest James Earl of Arran Lord Hamiltown being nearest in blood to the King could not but with indignation look upon the undeserved greatness of these Usurpers under the shadow of this Oligarchy turbulent evil disposed and men abhorring quietness ravaged the Country and did what they pleased Amidst these confusions the Queen in April brought forth the posthumous child in the Castle of Sterlin whom the Bishop of Cathness Abbot of Dumfermlin and the Arch-Dean of St. Andrews baptized and named Alexander After she was recovered and had required her wonted strength of Body she found the Authority of her place was turned weak and that she enjoyed nothing but the name of Governing the people delighting to live rather without rule and in all disorders than to be subject to the obedience of a Woman though a Queen After great deliberation and many essays in vain to curb their insolency and vindicate her Authority from their contempt as also to save her Son from the dangers of an insulting Nobility and settle her estate she resolved to Match with some Nobleman eminent in Power and worth who could and would Protect her and hers in greatest extremities Amongst the choice of the young Noblemen of Scotland for a long Succession of renowned Ancestors comeliness of Person noble conversation prudence in affairs of State being lovely courteous liberal wise none was comparable to the Earl of Angus him she determines to make Partner of her Royal Bed and Fortunes and as ordinarily in matters of love it falleth out by the impatience of delay without acquainting her Brother the King of England or the Nobles of the Kingdom with her design she afterwards marryeth him transferring if she could the whole weight of the Kingdom and the reins of the Government of the State into his hands having no more freedom in her own determinations No sooner was this revealed to the World when the Nobility and Gentry divided into two Factions one adhering to the Dowglass in whom kindred friendship long observance had bred hopes of benefit and preferment another of such whom envy of his greatness and advancement had made hungry of change The first would have the Government continued in the Queens person and her husband's because hereby the Realm should still have peace with England which at that time was the most necessary point to be respected The adverse Party of which the Lord Chamberlain was the Principal who was a man both in Power Parentage Riches equal if not beyond to many of the great Men of the Country importuned the Election of a new Governour and Protector of the young King The Queen losing by her marriage both the tutelage of her Son and the Government should not take to heart that another were chosen and put in her place Her marrying the Earl of Anguss had made him too great already to be a Subject the continuing of her in Authority would promote him to the greatness of a Prince Who should be Governour is upon both sides long and contentiously argued Many gave their voices for the Earl of Arran as being near in blood to the King and a man affecting peace more than others and every way sufficient for such a Charge The Chamberlain had determined of another and told it was a wrong to bar from so high an honour a man of the Masculine line in blood to the King and prefer one of the Femine John Duke of Albany Son to Alexander Duke of Albany the Brother of King James the Third before all others by all reason should be preferred to the Government Being demanded if he would the first to gave example to others set his hand to this Election he without pausing performed it with a protestation that though the rest
Dunkell his Uncle to offer them what honourable satisfaction they could require All that he propounded being rejected by implacable men and finding the only way to be freed of violence to be violent and that danger could not be avoyded but by a greater danger with an hundred hardy resolute men armed with long Spears and Pikes which the Citizens as he traversed the Streats out of Windows furnished him he invested a part of the Town and barricadoed some Lanes with Carts and other impediments which the time did affrad The adverse party trusting to their number and the supply of the Citizens who calling to mind the slaughter of their Deacon shew them small favour disdaining the Earl should thus muster on the Streats in great fury invade him Whilst the bickering continued and the Town is in a Tumult William Dowglass brother to the Earl of Anguss Sir David Hume of Wedderburn George Hume brother to the late Lord with many others by blood and Friendship tyed together enter by violence the East Gate of the Town the Citizens making small resistance force their passage through the throngs seek the Earls enemies find them scoure the streets of them The Master of Montgomery eldest Son to the Earl of Eglintoun Sir Patrick Hamiltoun Brother to the Earl of Arran with almost fourscore more are left dead upon the place The Earl himself findeth an escape and place of retreat through a Marsh upon the North side of the Town The Chancellour and his retinue took Sanctuary in the Dominican Fryers the tumult by the slaughter of some and flight of others appeased the Earl of Anguss now freed of danger licensed all who pleased without further pursuit peaceably to leave the Town of Edenburgh and return to their own Houses Some daies after the Humes well banded and backed with many Nobles and Gentlemen of their linage by the Earl of Anguss consent took the Lord Humes and his brothers heads from the place where they had been fixt and with the funeral Rites of those times interr'd them in the Black-Fryers The Earl of Anguss having angled the Peoples hearts by his Magnificence Wisdom Courage and Liberality his Faction began to bear greatest sway in the Kingdom For the continuance of which the King of England dealt most earnestly with the French King to keep the Duke of Albany still in France with him But the French had contrary designâ— And when the Duke understood the great discords of the Nobility of Scotland persons of Faction being advanced to places dangerous immunities being granted to the Commons France and England beginning to be tyred of their Peace and preparing for a new War to curb the Scottish Factions keep the Nation in quietness in it self by giving the Subjects other Work abroad whilst common danger should break off particular Discords Notwithstanding of the English Ships which lay in wait to take him after he had been about five years in France in November he arrived on the West Coasts of Scotland at a place named Garloch The Governour coming to Edenburgh set himself to amend the enormities committed in his absence the Magistrates of the Town are deposed because in the late uproar they had been evil seconds to the Lords of the West when they went to surprise the Earl of Anguss A Parliament is called to which many Noblemen and Gentlemen are cited to make appearance in February to be tryed and to answer for offences committed by them in the Governours absence The appointed time being come these who appeared not were Indicted and fled into England Amongst which and the chief were the Humes and Cockburns men Authors and accessory to the death of Sir Anthony Darcy The tyde now turning and mens affections changed the Earl of Anguss with his Brother Sir George Dowglass by the Intercession of the Queen are constrained to seek a Pardon which was obtained for them but with the condition that they should leave the Country and stay in France one whole year which they obeyed Others have Recorded they were surprized in the Night and in French Ships conveyed privately away Mr. Gavin Dowglass Bishop of Dunkell in the absence of his Nephew finding the Governour violent in the Chase of the Faction of the Dowglasses fled privately to the Court of England where he gave informations to King Henry against him He alone had taken to him the custody of the young King the sequel whereof he much feared he was an irreconcilable Enemy to the whole Family of the Dowglasses The principal cause of his coming to Scotland was to engage the Nation in a War against England that the English should not assist the Emperour against the French King and make his Nation slaves to France This Bishop shortly after dyed at London and was buried in the Savoy Church having been a man Noble Valiant Learned and an excellent Poet as his Works yet extant testifie The King of England upon such informations sent Clarencieux King of Arms to Scotland to require the Duke to avoid the Country according to the Articles agreed upon between the French King and him in their last Truce It belonged said Clarencieux to his Master to tender the life wellfare honour fortunes of his Nephew of none of which he could be assured so long as the Duke ruled and stayed in Scotland It was against all reason and unbeseeming the man should be sole Guardian to a King who was the next heir to the Crown how easily might he be tempted by opportunity to commit the like unnatural cruelty which some have done in the like case both in England and other parts of Europe if he loved his Nation and Prince as he gave out he required him to leave the Country which if he yield not unto but obstinately continued in a resolution to stay he denounced from his Master present war He farther complained That the Earl of Anguss who was King Henries Brother-in-Law was by him banisht and detained in France That during the banishment of the Earl which had been near a whole year the Duke had importuned his Sister the Queen with dishonest love The Governour answered Clarencieux That what the Kings of France and England agreed upon in their Treaties of Peace was to him uncertain but of this he was most certain That neither the King of England nor France had power to banisht him a Foreiner over whom their authority did not reach his native Country like over like having no jurisdiction As concerning the King of Scotland who was yet young in years he reverenced him as his Soveraign Lord and would keep and defend both him and his Kingdom according to his Conscience honour and bound duty that there were ever more men in the world who desired to be Kings than there were Kingdoms to be bestowed upon them of which number he was none having ever preferred a mean estate justly enjoyed before a Kingdom evil acquired For the Earl of Anguss he had used all Courtesies towards him notwithstanding of