Commission which was according to his hearts desire the Tears came over his cheeks crying alack for the loss of the King my good Master that he should not have seen before his death Scotland recovered again which he esteemed lost seeing you are thereby also frustrate of a good reward which this your service merited Now I have not such interest as I formerly had to advance you but if you will take such part as I have you shall be very welcome I answered that as I had been with him in his prosperity I would not desert him in his adversity Now there was no more appearance of concord betwixt the Queen Regent and the Congregation in Scotland For the King of France was raising Men to send thither The Congregation again sought help from England which they obtained the rather because the English Ambassadour resident in France had advertised his Mistress how that the Queen of Scotland and her Husband had taken the Style of England and Ireland and also had ingraven the Arms thereof upon their Silver Plate The Queen Regent and Monsieur Dosel with his French men inclose themselves within Leeth which they did fortifie to receive the French supply which was daily expected At length those who were besieged made a sally caused the Congregation to fly and took their Artillery till an Army from England came under the conduct of the Duke of Norfolk At which the Queen Regent being indisposed by the Sea Air at Leeth retired her self to the Castle of Edinburgh Where she took sickness and dyed during the time that Leeth was besieged both by Scotland and England regreting that she had occasioned to her self and the Kingdom so much unnecessary trouble by following the advice of her French friends During the Siege of Leeth all Scotch men who were in France were detested and divers of them upon suspicion made Prisoners Which obliged me to repair from the Constable's House to the Court to require License from the Queen my Soveraign to visit other Countries whereby I might be rendered more able afterward to do her Majesty agreeable service Which she granted and presenting me to the King her Husband I had a kiss of his hand and so took my leave The Constable my good Master recommended me to the Elector Palatine advising me to remain at his Court to learn the Dutch Tongue I was courteously received by the said Prince Elector and obtained such favour at his hands that he obliged me to attend at his Court as one of his Servants So soon as he heard of the death of King Francis the Second King of France who dyed at Orleance I was sent to condole for the said King's death as the custom of Princes is and rejoice with the new young King Charles the Ninth also to comfort our Queen and the Queen Mother The King's death made a great change the Queen Mother was glad at the death of King Francis her Son because she had no guiding of him he being wholly councelled by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother the Queen our Mistress being their Sister Daughter So that the Queen Mother was much satisfied to be freed of the Government of the House of Guise and for this cause she entertained a great grudge at our Queen In the mean time the King of Navarr and Prince of Conde who were imprisoned and should have been executed three days after the Scaffold being already prepared were by the Queen Mother set at liberty The Constable also having been charged to come to Court expected no better measure he therefore gave if out that he was sick being carried in a Horse-Litter and making little Journeys he drew out the time so long by the way that in the mean time the King dyed Whereof being informed he leapt on a Horse and came frankly to Court and like a Constable commanded the Men of War who were upon the Guards The Duke of Guise and his Brother were commanded out of the Town The Queen Mother was glad at the Constable's coming seeing she found her self by his authority and friendship with the King of Navarr the more in a capacity to drive the House of Guise from Court The Estates were convened at Orleance and for the time the King of Navarr fell to be Tutor and Governour to the young King and the Countrey But the Queen Mother knowing his faculty handled the matter so finely by the Constables help that the King of Navarr procured from the Three Estates that the Queen Mother should be Regent of the Realm To whom he rendered up his place being satisfied to be but her Lieutenant She having attained this great point caused the Estates to require that an accompt should be made to them by the Duke of Guise the Marshal de St. Andres and the Cardinal of their intermission with the King's Rents and affairs of the King and Countrey Whereupon they left the Court binding themselves together to defend themselves against the Queen Mother's malice For in effect she was a deadly Enemy to all of them who had either guided her Husband or her eldest Son I was all this time at Orleance where I might see this change and had great favour of the King of Navarr for the Elector Palatine's sake who was his great friend The Queen Mother also highly esteemed the said Prince Elector dispatching me with great thanks and a gift worth a Thousand Crowns Our Queen in the mean timâ— seeing her friends in disgrace and knowing her self not to be much liked she left the Court and was a sorrowful Widow when I took leave of her at a Gentleman's House four miles from Orleance So I returned to Dutchland with many instructions from the Queen Mother and King of Navarr For she appeared to be inclined to profess publickly the reformed Religion thinking it the meetest way to retain the Government and guiding of the King of Navarr that being the only Faction which appeared able to gain-stand the House of Guise who were banded with the Pope and King of Spain The said Queen Mother likewise entertained some resolutions of joining with the Protestant Princes in Dutchland and with the Queen of England Count Egmont Prince of Orange Count Horn and such as had in the Low Countries embraced the Reformed Religion or stood up for the liberty of their Countrey I being returned to Dutchland received news out of England from Mr. Killegrew my old friend that the Peace was concluded in Scotland at the Siege of Lieth that the French men were to be carried to France in the Queen of England's Ships That the Queen of Scotland was to lay aside the Arms of England and the Congregation to have the free Exercise of their Religion I leave all the proceedings in the Wars in Scotland to be declared by such as were present who will probably write that whole History I shall only touch such things as I my self was imployed in which I did see with my Eyes and hear with my
death of that gallant Warriour though I could not conjecture for the time what could move him By frequent conference with him I suspected that he would be an Enemy to the marriage of his Brother with our Queen but to get some further tryal thereof I requested my companion Monsieur Zuliger to drink himself merry with some of his Secretaries and then to cast in the purpose of the marriage of our Queen with Duke Charles whether or no it was desired or relished by the Emperour The said Secretary shew'd him plainly that he was against any such preferment to his Brother whereby he might become King both of Scotland and England by reason of an Essay that the Emperour Charles the Fifth had made once to divide his Dominions among the three Sons of Ferdinand his Brother failing Heirs of King Philip his Son who then had but one Son Don Carlo sickly and of a tender weak complexion whom he afterwards himself killed secretly in Prison suspecting him to be of the Reformed Religion and to keep intelligence with the Princes of Flanders who professed the same And Maximilian hoped to succeed to the whole failing Heirs of the said King Philip as having married the said Philip's Sister and having by her many Children of his own whom he rather desired to be preferred then his own Brother For in case the Arch-duke Charles had been made King of Scotland and England he thought thereby he would have the fitter occasion of usurping the Low Countrys upon the pretext of some old right Having understood this I would wait no longer but pressed daily for my dispatch that I might return to my Lord Elector And the Emperour again used great intreaties to oblige me to stay with him promising to advance me if I would enter into his service but finding no inclination in me to comply with his desire therein he at length willed me to stay with him but half a year But I humbly excused my self pretending that I behoved to be shortly in Scotland which moved him the more earnesty to desire me to stay with him which because I would not grant to do I found he was discontent One night late after Supper he parted in a Boat towards the Town of Lintz and sent his Secretary unto me excusing himself that he did not meet with me before parting seeing an urgent occasion called for his speedy departure and seeing I was to return to Scotland he had written a Letter to the Queen in my favour which the Secretary delivered unto me I told the Secretary that I had not yet seen Italy and that I was purposed first to visit Rome Venice Florence and the most remarkable Cities there e're I returned to Scotland upon which account at first I refused the said Letter but he answered there was no danger how long it was undelivered seeing there was no thing therein contained but what concerned my self The Town of Ausbrugh being the nearest Port of Germany to Venice I agreed with Monsieur Euliger to return toward my Lord Elector and thence I took my Journey toward Venice and Rome And came back through all the fairest Cities of Italy and through Switzerland to Heidlberg where the Prince Elector kept his Court. I have above declared how that the Duke of Guise was slain by Poltrot at the Siege of Orleance It was after the battel of Drues in the which both the chieftains were taken The Prince of Conde for those of the Religion and the Constable for the King The Queen Mother incontinently made the Peace far against the mind of Madam de Guise who earnestly requested her not to make the Peace so suddenly left it should be thought that the Duke of Guise had only had hand in the Wars But nevertheless the Queen Mother went forward with the Peace changing the Prince of Conde for the Constable making them both good instruments of the agreement The Peace being made the Queen Mother began to think upon a Wife for her Son King Charles For that effect she sent unto the Prince Palatine a Secretary called Monsieur Wyllot shewing unto him that the King her Son was very desirous to marry Maximilian's Eldest Daughter intreating him as a trusty friend to propose the matter as of his own head as a steadable Alliance conducing for the weal of the Empire and to send her the picture of the Princess which she thought fit to be done upon some considerations before she would proceed more publickly Which affair he went about most diligently and he was pleased to send me with the answer and picture with a congratulation of the late made Peace At my coming to the Court of France which was at Paris for the time the Constable would needs be my convoy to the young King and Queen Mother who had a misliking of the said Constable for the time because he had brought in the Admiral to Paris against her will who was accused to have promised reward unto the foresaid Poltrot to kill the Duke of Guise The Admiral again desired to come before the Privy Council to purge himself offering to undergo his tryal But the Queen Mother desired not these animosities among the great Men to be removed but rather wished that their hatred might continue and their contentions increase as having laid her Plot to secure her own greatness by the means of their strife as was after manifestly seen For during their divisions the Duke of Guise King of Navarr Prince of Conde the Constable the Marshal de St. Andre with the most notable great Men of France were all slain and because the said Admiral escaped during the Wars the Peace was made for the third time and under the covert of marriage of the young King of Navarr who was afterward King of France the said Admiral was barbarously murdered with all that remained of the worthiest Noblemen and Captains of France But to return to the purpose the Constable and Admiral were at Court at that time against the Queen Mother's will where the Admiral was declared innocent of the Duke of Guise his slaughter And at that time the Constable determined to abide at Court and to maintain himself in his Office of great Master by the authority of his great Office of the Constablry assisted by the force of his friends For he sufficiently understood the Queen Mother's Italian tricks therefore to win credit he presented me to the young King and sate down upon a Stool by him and the Queen his Mother and held his Bonnet upon his Head taking upon him the full authority of his great Office to the Queen Mother's great discontent whereat she was so impatient that she turned away her face when I was declaring my Commission after the delivery of my Letters of Credence to the King and her which the King was very glad to hear being thereby put in hope that the marriage would take effect He was so desirous to see the picture of that young Princess that he cut the
the Convention ibid. Retires discontented to the Castles of Edinburgh and Sterling p. 155. His unworthy Carriage with many other particulars ibid. Seizeth on Gaury's Lands and divideth them among several others upon condition they would assist him in the ruin of the said Gaury p. 156. Confers with the Earl of Hunsdon on the Borders and Plots with him secretly p. 158. Grants all that is desired at the Conference with the Earl of Hunsdon to procure Queen Elizabeth's friendship p. 161. Is not courted by the Danish Ambassadors p. 163. Whereupon he becomes their Enemy ibid. Is in disfavour at Court p. 166. Imprisoned in St. Andrews Castle ibid. Sends his Brother to the Master of Gray promising a reward to procure his liberty p. 166. Which he soon did ibid. Is ordered to retire to his House ibid. Obtains liberty to return to Court p. 168. Flies p. 169. Comes again to Court p. 200. Is shortly after kill'd by James Douglas ibid. Stuart Sir William is Captain of Dumbartoun p. 129. Sussex Earl is sent from England to Berwick p. 104. Enters the Merse with his Forces and takes the Castle of Hume and 〈◊〉 p. 106. Is sent to Scotland upon the Birth of Prince Henry from Queen Elizabeth p. 203. T TAggot a Scientifical Man who prognosticated the year of his own Death by Palmestry p. 13. And dies at Geneva accordingly p. 14. Throgmorton Sir Nicholas Ambassador from England to France complains to the King and Council of the Queen of Scotland's new Usurped Style and Arms p. 23. But without success ibid. Acquaints Queen Elizabeth with it p. 29. Is sent Ambassador to Scotland to disswade Queen Mary from the Marriage with Darnly p. 56. Owns when return'd the promises he had made to those who would stop those proceedings without fear of Queen or Council p. 60. And comes off well ibid. Is incensed that he was an instrument to deceive the Banished Lords therefore adviseth them to beg their Queens Pardon and penn's a perswasive Letter to her Majesty of Scotland p. 60 61 62 and 63. A man of a deep reach and great prudence studying the Union of both Kingdoms p. 98. Reconcileth the Duke and the Regent ibid. Tulke Monsieur see Broderode U VIllamonte a French Gentleman sent to Mary Queen of Scotland to shew no favour to the Protestant Banished Lords p. 63. A De vice of Cardinal Lorrains larely return'd from the Council of Trent ibid. W WAchop Patriarch of Ireland p. 9. Went several times to Rome by Post tho blind ibid. Walsingham Sir Francis is sent to Scotland p. 147. His Character ibid. Is conveyed by the Author to St. Johnstoun ibid. Refuseth to discourse with any person about his Embassy but his Majesty p. 148. Is much troubled at the Earl of Arran's Court favour ibid. Returns to England and dies ibid. William Bishop of Ely and Dr. Wotton sent Commissioners for Queen Mary in the Treaty of Peace at Cambray between France and Spain p. 22. Wood John Secretary to Murray the Regent of Scotland p. 95. Is desired to press forward the Accusation of the Queen of Scotland p. 96. Produceth the Accusation of Queen Mary upon the desire of Cecil who delivered it upon conditions p. 96 and 97. Which was snatcht from him by the bishop of Orkny who gave it in to the Council p. 97. Procures all the Letters sent from the Duke of Norfolk to his Master which might tend to his ruin p. 99. Is well rewarded for his pains ibid. Worcester Earl is sent Ambassador from England to congratulate both their Majesties of Scotland p. 182. Norminstoun kill'd at the seisure of the Lords at Sterling p. 114. Witches taken in Lauthian who depose against the Earl Bothwel p. 194. They discourse with the Devil his form and shape described and are burnt ibid. Wotton Mr. sent by Queen Elizabeth to King James as Ambassador p 158. His parts and qualifications p. 159. His carriage in France when very young p. 159 160 and 161. Brothers Son to Dr. Wotton Ambassador from England to Spain p. 161. Fifty years old when he came into Scotland ibid. Becomes one of his Majesties Favourites tho he did more prejudice to his Majesty as to his affairs then any Englishman that arrived there before him ibid. Is sent thither to use all his wiles to disturb the two Kings namely of Denmark and Scotland and their Countries p. 161 and 162. Visits the Danish Ambassadors making large profers to lend them Gold and Silver p. 162. But secretly incenseth them with the Kings mean Opinion of their Master ibid. Acquaints them that King James designed to affront them with delays p. 163. Notwithstanding his double dealing with the King he gains his Majesties Ear p. 164. Makes a complaint to the King of the killing of Sir Francis Russel on the Borders p. 166. Which occasioned the Earl of Arran's Imprisonment ibid. Obtains with the assistance of his Scotch friends the chief management of King James's Affairs p. 167. His designs against the King defeated ibid. Flies to England without taking leave of his Majesty p. 168. Perswades the Noblemen of that Nation who were banished into England to return to their Native Country ibid. His dangerous and circumventing Practices p. 171. Wotton Doctor Ambassador from Mary the Queen of England who was Resident there when she was married to Philip King of Spain p. 159. Y YOung Peter King James's Almoner sent Ambassadour to Denmark p. 167. His Commission ibid. Returns with a friendly Answer p. 171. Being very well contented mith all Transactions there and as well rewarded p. 176. Is sent again to Denmark with the Laird of Barnbarrow in Commission ibid. Returns his Commission being lookt upon by the King of Denmark as insufficient 177. Sent a third time with an Embassy to the Danish King and the Dukes of Mecklenburgh and Brunswick upon the birth of Prince Henry p. 203. Returns with the reward of three fair Chains ibid. Yungland Laird the Author's Brother undertakes the Embassie to the King and Princess of Navarre 177. Is well treated and rewarded ibid. A Scholar and Linguist p. 178. A N Alphabetical Interpretation OF ALL THE Scotish WORDS and PHRASES Contained in this HISTORY A Aback to hold or keep back Accession Condescention Alwise although Anent about concerning as thereanent concerning the same Assize a Suit or Trial. Ay still or ever B Banded joyned together combining Best as the next best way or course Bond of Alliance a League or Truce Brangled Turmoiled Involv'd in Trouble Burroughs Burghers or Burgesses By-gones all that is past C Caution or Cautioner Bail or Surety Clan a Tribe or Family Compear Appear Comported Patiently bore Patiently Compts Accompts Conform Agreeable or Suitable to Conquer Credit to gain Credit Convoyance Conveyance Counselable one that is or will be Advised D Decourted discharged from the Court. Demission laying down or transferring to another Devilry Devilishness or Devilish Tricks Devotious addicted to very favourable to Ditty Doom or Damage Down-casting pulling down or demolishing Houses Dunting the stunning of Hammers c. E Effectuate effected or done Emit send forth Evangel the Gospel Evite Avoid F Factioners People of a Faction Fashion as done for the fashion that is done as usual and customary Forefault to find guilty in the absence of a person Forth-setting Advancement Promotion Fraudful Fraudulent Deceitful G Gain-stand Withstand H Hand-writ hand-writing Home-going returning home Hostlaries Inns. I Indwellers Inhabitants Insestments Inheritance Estate or Tenure Ingeny Ingenuity or Wit Justice Eyrs Iustice Itinerant L Leave-taking bidding farewel Leesings Lyes or Lying Tricks Liberate free at liberty Logh a watry sloughy place Longsom Tedious M Manyest the major part the most Miscontent Discontent Misconstructed Mis-interpreted Misgave miscarried Missives Letters Mostly for the most part Moyen Means or Course N Noticed Manifested O Octavians Eight Lords appointed to govern Scotland Onwaiter an Attendant Oultmost last or utmost Outgate a Way or Means Out-taking freeing from Prison P Practised dealt or laboured with to be brought over to a Party Perilled Endangered Perturbed disturbed Prejudged Forejudged Procedure Proceedings To Process to Sue Proponed Proposed R Refuse as he caused refuse i. e. he made them deny it Regrated regretted inwardly lamented or grieved for Righteous Heir True Heir S Salutary wholesom healthful healing Skittering skittish sinical silly Signatures written Instruments to be signed Steadable firm that will stand one in stead available Stormsted driven by Tempest into a Port or Harbour To Suit to beg or request T Time-coming for the future or time to come Timously in good or due time Tolerance Toleration Permission V Vengeable Revengeful Volt as a merry volt a merry pleasant countenance Unfriends Enemies Unwonable not to be won or courted to side with a Party Uptaking composing or taking up a business or difference W Ward or Warding Imprisonment Wel of Affairs the Good or Promotion of business While by-gone a long or considerable time since or past Whingar a Scottish Sword commonly called Whinyard Wrongously injuriously or wrongfully A Catalogue of some Books Printed for and to be Sold by Robert Boulter at the Turk's-Head in Corn-hill 1683. Folio BIshop Reynolds's Works Calderwood's History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland from 1560 to 1625. Rushworth's Collections First Vol. His Second Volume Pharmacopoea Londinensis Sturmy's Magazine Curia Politiae Rea's Flora. Quarto Durham on the Revelations Baxter's Saints Rest. Owen of Justification Origen contra Marchionet Charles the Eighth A Play Lesley Historia Scotorum Man of Sin Lightfoot on Lucan Dr. Charleton's Anatom Lectures Flavel's Husbandry Boys's Sermons Pryun's Power of Parliaments Burnet's Thesaurus Behin's Remains Manley of Usury Brown against Quakers Seamans Calendar Mariners Calendar Seamans Practise Norwood's Trigonometria Large Octavo Pool's Nullity Wilson's Scriptures Durham of Scandal Dr. Trapham's Treatise of Jamaica Cloud of Witnesses Rutherford's Examen Sclater of Grace Bayfield De Capitis Danvers of Baptism Flavel's Two Treatises His Preparation for Sufferings Small Octavo Wars of Hungary History of Jewels Moral Gallantry Flavel's Saint Indeed Token for Mourners Roma Restituta Curious Distillatory History of Japan and Siam Looking-Glass for Children Hugh's Disputations Religio Stoici Petton on the Covenant Queens Wells Moreland of Interest Miltoni Logica Grey of Faith Sydenham's Works Rushworth's Solomons Remembrance Gale's Idea Binning's Miscellanies Kirkwood's Grammatica Norwood's Epitomy Gellibrand's Epitomy FINIS
Heresies and that it was fit that timously he should prevent the spreading thereof seeing the same would contribute much for his advantage while he might enrich himself by their Estates the names of whom they gave up in a sheet of Paper Which the King put in his Pocket thinking it a very profitable Proposition and therefore with all diligence to be executed The Laird of Grange had been lately made Treasurer and was in great favour with the King He had not yet discovered himself to be a Favourer of the Evangel but the King esteemed him true and desirous to advance his profit and very secret therefore he thought fit to make him privy to this profitable Overture He shewed unto him the written Roll of the Noblemen and Barons names who were given up to be burnt for Heresie telling him what great advantage he would make thereby Whereat the Laird of Grange began to smile and the King to enquire whereat he did laugh The Treasurer desired liberty from his Majesty to tell him the truth Whereat the King drew out his Sword saying merrily to him I shall slay thee if thou speak against my profit Then he put up his Sword commanding him to shew him what reasons he could alledge against the Prelats Proposition The Treasurer declared what troubles his Majesty had been tossed in during his Minority for the Government first between the Queen his Mother and the Lords then betwixt divers Factions of the Lords How that he had been couped from hand to hand sometimes kept against his will as Captive sometimes besieged sometimes brought to battle against his will by the Duglasses to fight against the Earl of Lenox and his best Friends who were slain coming to relieve him the Prelates being Partners for their ambition sometimes with one Faction sometimes with another And how that they could never agree among themselves nor let his Majesty take rest until the Duke of Albany was chosen Governour and brought out of France who had enough to do also For he would have fain done pleasure to France and raised a great many Scotchmen to enter into England who were making Wars in France but he got a rebuke when he when he was at the Border for they would march no further Alledging that the King was but young and Sister Son to King Henry That they saw no reason to enter into War with England to endanger their King and Country to serve France being the King his Father had to no purpose lost his life in their quarrel having entered into England with an Army against his good Brother whereby the whole Country was endangered After that this Duke retired himself your Majesty took the Government in your own hands at the Age of 13 years Yet they clapped again about you and kept you two years as captive And now you are but lately come to your liberty and your Country is not yet so well setled as were needful Albeit your Majesty hath done very much in so short space as to settle the Highland Islands and the Borders It were a dangerous thing if your Nobility should get intelligence that such greedy Fetches should be put in your head under pretext of Heresie to spoil them of their Lives Lands and Goods Wherein you may endanger your own Estate at the instance of these whose Estates are in peril who would hazard you and yours to save their own The Prelates I mean who fear that your Majesty at the example of the King of England of Denmark and several Princes of the Empire will make the like reformation among them Therefore they have no will of your familiarity with the King of England nor that your Estate should be so setled that your Majesty might put order to the abuses of the Kirk Did not one of your Predecessors called S. David give the most part of the Patrimony of the Crown to the Kirk erecting the same into Bishopricks and rich Abbacies Whereby your Majesty is presently so poor and the Prelates so rich so prodigal so proud that they will suffer nothing to be done without them And are also so sworn to the Pope of Rome when they get their Benefices confirmed that they ought not to be credited in any thing that toucheth the Popes Profit or Preferment The Venetians the wisest people in Europe will not suffer any Prelate albeit he be a born man of the Town to abide or stand in their Council-house when they are at Council because they know them to be so strictly sworn to the Pope Then he declared the gross abuses of the Roman Kirk and the ungodly lives of the Scots Prelates which the King and whole Country might see Therefore saith he if your Majesty would be well and be rich you may justly take home again to the profit of the Crown all vacan Benefices by little and little as they may fall by decease of every Prelate He told his Majesty anent his promise to the Ambassador of England there would come great trouble and Wars if it were not kept For King Henry VIII was a couragious Prince and high conceited and appeared to have for the Time an upright meaning his occasions pressing him thereto Having so great turns in hand and so many enemies without succession saving the foresaid Daughter Being corpulent and fat there was small hopes of his having any heirs That therefore it was his interest to be in a good understanding with him being his eldest Sisters Son nearest of blood and ablest to maintain and unite the whole Isle of Britain As for the retaining King James I. in England that was a far different case it was not the like time he was not the Kings Sisters Son nor his apparent heir And what hard success the King his Father had for making War against the King of England his good Brother was too manifestly felt by the whole Subjects And little better to be looked for in case a new unnecessary War be made for your Majesties staying away from the intended Meeting at York The King took such delight in this language that he determined to follow the advice given therein And at his first meeting with the Prelates who had then very great rule in the Country he could not contain himself any longer when they came hoping to see their Plots put in execution After many sore reproofs that they should have advised him to use such cruelty upon so many Noble men and Barons to the peril of his own Estate Wherefore said he gave my Predecessors so many Lands and Rents to the Kirk Was it to maintain Haulks Dogs and Whores to a number of idle Priests The King of England burns the King of Denmark beheads you I shall stick you with this Whingar And therewith he drew out his Dagger and they fled from his presence in great fear The King resolved fully to keep his promise with his Uncle the King of England thinking it both his honour and advancement so to do The Prelates of
him to be poisoned having learned that Art in Italy called an Italian Possit The Cardinal David Beaton was with his Majesty in the time of his death and caused to be written the Form of a Testament at his own pleasure being dictated by himself which upon that reason was afterward annulled The King of England could not forget this injury and displeasure done him of the Kings breaking of his promise He was much troubled at his death his Wars were rather to have moved the Estates of Scotland to know that his favour and friendship had been better for them than his feud He was still in hope to have gained him with consent and advice of the best of his Subjects to have joined in a Bond Offensive and Defensive For he had received information of the Kings worthy qualities and rare natural endowments and entertained a marvellous great love and liking of him Thinking he could not have left the Kingdom in a better hand than to his own Sisters Son nearest in bloud unto him and meetest of any to build up a fair Monarchy to be first begun in a manner in his own person In respect that for his time which he looked would be but short his Nephew would have been but his Coadjutor and Lieutenant under him and after him possess the whole under one Religion one Law and one Head And thought that thereby France should never afterward have the occasion of stirring up the one Country against the other and that the Pope should be secluded from gathering up such sums of Silver from his Subjects for Confirmation of Benefices or for Bulls or Dispensations For his wrath and vengeance against the Pope was exceeding great who had made him many promises and had broken them all fearing as said is to offend the Emperour who was so great and mighty a Prince Therefore the King of England seeing he had now altogether lost the hopes of the Scots alliance and concurrence he compelled the Gentlemen of England to exchange their Lands with the Lands of Abbies Cloisters and other Temple Lands giving them more than their own that so the said Lands should never return to the Kirk without a manifest Rebellion or a dangerous subversion of the whole state of the Kingdom And to be revenged upon the said Cardinal David Beaton who he thought had disappointed him of all the hope he had of Scotland he dealt with Sir George Douglass and the Earl of Angus who were but lately returned out of England where they had resided during the time of their banishment till the death of King James V. These two Brothers appearing to be of the Reformed Religion persuaded Norman Lesly Master of Rothes the young Laird of Grange and John Lesly of Parkhill who had been persecuted by the said Cardinal for Religion after he had taken their Preacher Mr. George Wishard and burnt him at St. Andrews These I say were easily stirred up to slay him whom they were persuaded to be an Enemy to the true Religion to the welfare of the Country and to themselves in particular This proud Cardinal was slain then in his Castle at S. Andrews and so ended all his practices having obtained nothing but vain travel for his pretences and sudden death Having been the occasion of the death of a worthy King who was inclined to Justice and gave no credit to his Officers in their two special points to reward and punish For whoever did him good service he would see them rewarded yea albeit they chanced to be absent and as to punishing of Evil Doers so soon as he had heard the complaint he leapt upon his Horse and did ride to the parties himself with a few company ere they could be aware of him and he would see sharp execution So that he was deservedly both loved and feared He was very couragious well favoured and shapen of a middle stature very able of body But evil company fell about him entering out of Child-hood into furious Youth enticing him to Harlotry striving who should spie out for him the fairest Maidens and likewise at length mens Wives with them he abused his body to the offence of God and divers good Subjects For which he was not left unpunished for he had but two young Sons and they died both within eleven hours so that at his decease he had but one Daughter called Mary born when he was upon his Death-bed King Henry VIII of England having onely one Son called Edward he and the Estates of both Countries desiring still this whole Isle of Britain to be united in one Monarchy made a contract of marriage between the said two which was afterward broken upon our part her Majesty being transported unto France by the West Seas Whereupon ensued great War between the two Kingdoms which was afterwards agreed upon this condition that Edward should marry Elizabeth eldest Daughter to Henry II. of France and Francis his Son should marry our Queen My Lord Hamilton was advanced to the Government of the Country by the Laird of Grange Treasurer Mr. Henry Balnears and others that were of the Reformed Religion whenas he appeared to be a true Gospeller But he had been afterward soon altered by the Abbot of Pasly his Bastard-brother and became a great Persecuter of Gods Word and had been by the persuasions of the said Abbot and Cardinal easily drawn to break the said Contract of Marriage made between King Edward and our Queen After that the young Queen came to France there was great disputing whether the Marriage with the Dauphine should take effect or not For at that time there were two Factions in the French Court first the Brethren to the House of Guise as the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorrain brothers to our Queen Dowager and uncles to our young Queen Mary pressed earnestly to set forward the said Marriage with France the old Constable Duke of Montmorancy was of opinion that it was meetest to give her in marriage to some Duke or Prince in France and to send them both home to Scotland to keep that Country in good obedience Because when Princes are absent and far from their own ruling their Countries by Lieutenants most commonly the Subjects of such Countries use to rebel which if Scotland should do it would be hard and costly to get them reduced And thereby in stead of making France the better of the Marriage with the Dauphin it might make it to be in a far worse case The House of Guise again desiring to have their Sisters Daughter Queen of France to augment their reputation and credit alledged it would be both honourable and profitable to the Crown of France to have this addition And that there were Revenues in abundance to maintain Garrisons within the Kingdom to hold the Subjects under obedience building Citadels and having the whole strength in their hands Herein they prevailed she being married unto the Dauphine John de Monluck Bishop of Valence was sent Ambassador from France
her heart and mind in that affair to be directed by the Almighty God But this herein her Majesty considereth that to seek out such a Husband as is sought for by your friends in the Emperours Linage will certainly procure at last some misunderstanding and give apparent occasion of dissolving the Concord that is now betwixt the two Nations and an interruption of such a course as otherwise might be taken to further and advance such a Title as your Highness hath to succeed to her Majesty to the Crown of England if she should depart without issue of her Body Then he useth some unfit perswasions and menaces threat'ning that some in England were going about with practices to set forward their pretended right to her Majesties prejudice which she by her discreet behaviour and conformity to his Mistresses pleasure might prevent by moving her thereby not only to proceed in the inquisition after your Majesties right and with her power to further the same but also to hinder that which appears to be to the contrary And now if your Majesty would know what kind of marriage would best content her and her Realm such a one as would breed no jealousie nor trouble betwixt your Majesties and your Countries as did the the marriage with the French King But rather it is to be wished that there might be found out some Nobleman of great birth in England who might be agreeable to you with whom her Majesty would more readily and more easily declare that she inclines that failing of Children of her own Body you might succeed to her Crown otherwise I do plainly tell you that my Soveraign can promise nothing in that matter tending to your satisfaction These were Mr. Randolph's first instructions and propositions unto the Queen concerning her marriage with the Arch-duke Charles But he had a secret Commission to my Lord of Murray and Secretary Lidingtoun to propose my Lord Robert Dudley and he desired me also to set forward his marriage with the Queen as meetest of all other By this kind of procedure it was apparent that the Queen of England did not relish this proposal of marriage of the Arch-duke Charles to our Queen She gave a farther and more clear demonstration thereof a little after by sending the Earl of Sussex to the Emperour's Court as well to congratulate his Coronation as indirectly to draw on the marriage of the Arch-duke Charles with her self And she was put in hope that it would take effect Yet this design was not so secretly managed but our Queen was thereof advertised by some of her friends in England And from hence arose inward griefs and grudges between the two Queens which within a little time bursted forth occasion thereof being given by the Queen of England For in a familiar Letter to our Queen she appeared therein to give her as formerly a friendly advice which our Queen thought but double dealing remembring as well her late disswading answer from the marriage of the Arch-duke Charles as her late practises in the Emperours Court The Queen of England's Letter was written at the desire of some of the House of Hamiltoun For after that Mr. Randolph had spoken as is above mentioned against the marriage of the Queen with the Arch-duke Charles and had alledged that some Noblemen in England would be fitter matches for her he proceeded so far with my Lord of Murray and Secretary Lidingtoun as to say What would you think of my Lord Robert Dudly for your Queen But finding small account to be made of him he advertised the Queen his Mistress thereof Whereupon liberty was granted to Matthew Earl of Lennox who dwelt then in England to go to Scotland as desirous to see the Queen and take course in some of his own affairs Now his Eldest Son my Lord Darnly was a lusty young Prince and apparently was one of the two that the Queen of England had told me she had in her head to offer unto our Queen as born within the Realm of England But to return unto the Letter written by the Queen of England unto our Queen she would appear therein to be very careful for the Queen her Sisters quiet Estate and Government desiring her to take heed that in shewing pleasure to the Earl of Lennox she did not displease the House of Hamiltoun seeing thereby trouble and strife might arise in her Country Sundry other such purposes she had which at some time would not have been taken in ill part but now all advices given by the Queen of England were misconstructed partly because of her being instrumental in hindring the marriage with Prince Charles and partly because David Rixio lately admitted to be her French Secretary was not very skilful in inditing French Letters which she did write over again with her own hand The answer then that our Queen did write unto the said Letter declared some suspicions and anger to have been taken and these she manifested in some harsh expressions which were constructed by the Queen of England as a violation of their former familiarity and Sisterly correspondence which had been ever kept up since the Queens return out of France Whereupon ensued so great a coldness that they left of for a considerable time from writing each to other as they had formerly done weekly by Post. So that the Queen resolved to send me to England to renew their outward friendship for in their hearts from that time forth there was nothing but jealousies and suspicions The Queen my Mistress thought that if their discord continued it would cut off all correspondence between her and her friends in England and that Queen had no inclination for War but by all means possible desired to shun trouble or any occasion of expences the King of Spain and she being already entered into controversie For he judged her a foinenter of the troubles in Flanders and the Low Countries and not without reason For she thought her self abandoned by the King of Spain at the late Peace made at Cambray and her chief Councellers thought it convenient for the interest of England that Factions should be nourished in France Flanders Scotland and Spain At my home-coming to Scotland I found the Queen's Majesty at St Johnstoun in the Year of God 1564 the fifth day of May. I was very favourably received by the Queens Majesty and presented unto her Letters from the Emperour Maximilian the Elector Palatine the Duke of Lorrain and Cardinal of Lorrain and Duke of Aumale all in my favours After that I had at length informed her that I found Maximilian was against the marriage of his Brother Charles she likewise understanding the Queen of Englands part therein as is above specified she altogether laid aside any further thoughts of the marriage with the Arch-duke Charles And whereas she had once resolved to have sent me to Germany she takes another resolution intending that I should be sent to England Though I was not yet resolved in setling my self
they behoved to secure her and when that time came that she should be known to abandon and detest the Earl Bothwel it would be then time to reason upon the matter Grange was yet so angry that had it not been for the Letter he had instantly left them and for the next best he used all possible diligence to make her and them both quit of the said Earl causing to make ready two Ships to follow after him who had fled to the Castle of Dumbar and from thence to Sheatland In the mean time her Majesty sent a Letter to the Laird of Grange lamenting her hard usage and shewing him that promises had been broken to her Whereunto he answered that he had already reproached the Lords for the same who shewed unto him a Letter sent by her unto the Earl of Bothwel promising among many other fair and comfortable words never to abandon or forget him which had stopped his mouth marvelling that her Majesty considered not that the said Earl could never be her Lawful Husband being so lately before married with another whom he had deserted without any just ground although he had not been so hated for the murther of the King her Husband And therefore he requested her Majesty to put him clean out of mind seeing otherwise she could never get the love or respect of her Subjects nor have that obedience payed her which otherwise she might expect It contained many other loving and humble admonitions which made her bitterly to weep For she could not do that so hastily which process of time might have accomplished Now the Laird of Grange his two Ships being in readiness he made sail toward Orkney and no man was so frank to accompany him as the Laird of Tullibardin and Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkny but the Earl was fled from Orkny to Sheatland whither also they followed him and came in sight of Bothwel's Ship which moved the Laird of Grange to cause the Skipper to hoise up all the Sails which they were loath to do because they knew the shallow water thereabout but Grange fearing to miss him compelled the Marriners so that for too great haste the Ship wherein Grange was did break upon a Bed of Sand without loss of a man but Bothwel had leasure in the mean time to save himself in a little Boat leaving his Ship behind him which Grange took and therein the Laird of Fallow Iohn Hepburn of Bautoun Dalgleesh and divers others of the Earl's Servants Himself fled to Denmark where he was taken and kept in wrait Prison wherein he became mad and dyed miserably But Grange came back again with Bothwel's Ship and Servants who were the first who gave information of the manner of the murther which the Lords thought fit to let the King of France understand and of their diligence according to the promise made by them My Lord of Murray had obtained liberty to pass unto France shortly after the murther of the King for he did foresee the great trouble like to ensue The rest of the Lords enterprisers after they had secured the Queen in Lochleven began to consult how to get her Majesty counselled to demit the Government to the Prince her Son and for that effect they dealt first with my Brother Sir Robert because he was sometimes allowed access to her Majesty And after that he had refused flatly to meddle in that matter they were minded to send the Lord Lindsay first to use fair perswasions and in case he could not speed that way they were resolved to enter in harder tearms The Earls of Athol Mar and Secretary Lidingtoun and the Laird of Grange who loved her Majesty advised my Brother to tell her the verity and how that any thing she did in Prison could not prejudge her being once again at liberty He answered he would give no such advice as coming from himself but he should tell it as the opinion of those he knew to be her true friends But she refused utterly to follow that advice till she heard that the Lord Lindsay was at the new House at the shore coming in and in a very boasting humour And then she yielded to the necessity of the time and told my Brother that she would not strive with them seeing it could do her no harm when she was at liberty So at my Lord Lindsay's coming she subscribed the signature of Renunciation and Demission of the Government to the Prince and certain Lords named in the said signature to be Regents to the Prince and Country her Majesty desiring my Lord Murray who was absent in France to be the first Regent This being past the Lords concluded to Crown the Prince and sent Letters to France to the Earl of Murray to come home In the mean time there were a number of Lords convened at Hamiltoun as my Lord Hamiltoun my Lord Pasby Iohn Hamiltoun Bishop of St. Andrews my Lord Fleeming Boid and divers others to whom the Lords who were to Crown the Prince would have sent me Commissioner Which Commission at the first I refused but afterwards I accepted thereof at the advice of Secretary Lidingtoun the Laird of Grange and other secret favourers of the Queen who judged it very fit that the whole Country should bejoined together in quietness fearing that in case Civil Wars entred among them it might endanger her Majesties life For it was judged that those who were at Hamiltoun appeared to lean to the Queen At my coming to Hamiltoun I told them my Commission in the name of the other Lords how that the King being murthered all neighbour Nations cryed out upon the whole Kingdom but especially the King of France and the Queen of England sollicited them to inquire after and punish the murtherers How that they had found that it was the Earl of Bothwel and some of them who had assisted him who were punished And what was past since thereupon was known to the whole Country That the Queens Majesty had demitted over the Government to the Prince her Son whom they were minded to Crown shortly whereof they thought fit to warn all the Nobility as being resolved to prejudge no Nobleman of his Rights Titles or Prerogatives requesting them who were there Convened to come to Sterling and be present at the said Coronation for retaining their own priviledges the peace and quiet of the whole Country Some of the younger Lords answered and said that they would not believe that the Queens Majesty had demitted the Government and if she had done it it would be found for to save her life But the Bishop who had more experience then they reproved them and said that those Noblemen had dealt very reasonably and discreetly with them so he drew the rest aside to advise and then returned and gave me this answer We are beholden to the Noblemen who have sent you with that friendly and discreet Commission and following their desire we are ready to concur with them if they give us sufficient security
Councellors the most part of them his Enviers and secret Enemies praying the Duke not to conceive such an Evil Opinion of him but requesting him to draw the Regent apart and enter with him upon those Terms which afterward the Regent would shew him and he should amplifie and set it out the best he could The Duke asked if the Regent would keep secret and being thereof assured by Lidingtoun the next day he took occasion to enter into discourse with the Regent about their first Friendship and Familiarity contracted at Lieth during the Siege and helping to put the Frenchmen out of Scotland Then after that the Regent had promised Secrecy and assured him that their first Friendship should stand till the end of his Life the Duke began to declare how that he would be a Faithful Subject to the Queen his Mistress so long as she lived but that she was too careless what might come after her about the well and quiet of her Country tho it was the Interest of the Kingdom of England more to notice the same by determining the Succession to prevent Troubles that might otherwise ensue That tho they had divers times essayed to do something therein at every Parliament but that their Queen had thereat evidenced a great discontent and hindred the same shewing thereby that she cared not what Blood was shed after her for the Right and Title of the Crown of England which consists only in the Persons of the Queen and King of Scotland her Son which had been put out of doubt e're then if matters had not fallen out so unhappily at home and yet he and other Noblemen of England as Fathers of the Country were minded to be careful thereof watching their opportunity But that they wondred what could move him to come there and accuse his Queen for albeit she had done or suffered harm to be done to the King her Husband yet there was respect to be had to the Prince her Son upon whom he and many in England had fixed their Eyes as Mr. Melvil who had been late Ambassadour there could testifie He therefore wished that the Queen should not be accused nor dishonoured for the King her Sons cause and for respect to the Right they both had to succeed to the Crown of England And further the Duke said I am sent to hear your Accusation but neither will I nor the Queen my Mistress give out any Sentence upon your Accusation And that you may understand the verity of this Point more clearly you shall do well the next time that I require you before the Councel to give in your Accusation in Writing to demand again my Mistress's Seal and Hand-Writing before you show your folly that in case you Accuse she shall immediately Convict and give out her Sentence according to your Probation otherwise that you will not open your Pack Which if her Majestie shall refuse to grant unto you which undoubtedly she will do then assure your self that my Information is true and take occasion hereupon to stay from further accusation The Regent took very well with this Advice of the Dukes and kept it secret from all his Company save Secretary Lidingtoun and me to whom that same Night he imparted it shewing us his inclination to follow the same in which Resolution we confirmed him At the next meeting with the Council when the Duke demanded the Accusation to be given in the Regent asked for his Security the Queen of Englands Seal and Hand-Writing as was before advised of which the rest of his Faction gave Lidingtoun the full blame because it drew on a delay until the Post was sent to the Court and returned the Queens answer Being come it was told that she was a true Princess her Word and Promise would be abundantly sufficient The Secretary Cicil and Mr. John Wood Secretary to the Regent thought strange of this manner of procedure therefore it was advised to desire the Lords on both sides to go from York toward the Court that the matter might thereto be treated where the Queen was able to give more ready Answers and Replies In the mean time the Regent finding the Information the Duke of Norfolk gave him concerning the Queen of Englands Answer to be true he entred further into Communication with him and in presence of Lidingtoun it was agreed betwixt them as followeth That he in no wayes should accuse the Queen That the Duke should obtain to him the Queens Favour with a confirmation of the Regency The Duke and He were to be as sworn Brothers of one Religion shooting continually at one mark with the mutual intelligence of one anothers minds the one to Rule Scotland the other to Rule England to the Glory of God and well of both the Countries and their Princes so that Posterity should report them the happiest two Instruments that ever were bred in Brittain The Duke was then the greatest Subject in Europe not being a free Prince For he ruled the Queen and all those who were most familiar with her He also ruled the Councel and ruled two Factions in England both Protestants and Papists with the City of London and whole Commons The Great Men who were Papists were all his near Kinsmen whom he entertained with great Wisdom and Discretion the Protestants had such proof of his Godly Life and Conversation that they loved him intirely The Regent being arrived at the Court of England which was for the time at Hampton-Court he was daily pressed to give in his accusation especially by those who were about him when all thought strange that he was so slow in doing thereof until they were advertised by one of the Lords of the Queens Faction of all that had past betwixt the Regent and the Duke of Norfolk For the Duke by a secret hand had advertised our Queen and she again shewed it to one of her most Familiars who advertised the Earl of Mortoun thereof He took this very ill that the Regent had done this without acquainting him or any of his Society of his design But e're he or any of his Company would seem to understand any thing of the matter they laid their heads together and caused Mr. John Wood to inform Secretary Cicill of all that had past desiring him to press forward the Accusation wherein of himself he was abundantly earnest They again left nothing undone for their part to effectuate the same putting him in hope that the Queen would give him her Hand-Writing and Seal that she should convict the Queen in case he accused her Others of the finest of them persuaded him that she would never give her hand-writing or Seal for that end putting him to a strait to see what he would do in case he obtained his desire Mr. John Wood said That it was fit to carry in all the Writs to the Councel and he would keep the Accusation in his bosom and would not deliver it till first the thing demanded of the Queen was granted The
of that same Judgment yet they could not find in their heart to joyn with him albeit he sought their friendship offering to hold up the Queens Authority for they thought his course unsure for the King and setling of the Estate he being too much addicted to England After that this Ambassador had been with the Regent in Stirling and was come back again to Edinbrugh he told the rest of his Commission to them of the Castle to whom he used himself but like an Ambassador as he was directed He said that he found them more reasonable then the Regents Party Then he went to Dalkieth to meet with the Earl of Mortoun and thereafter returned to Edinbrugh to wait all fit occasions and informations how to proceed conform to the tenor of his instructions He had Commandment to stay in Scotland for a time to see if he could obtain as much Credit as to serve their turn who sent him And because I was of his greatest acquaintance he came with me to my house in Halhil and stayed a few dayes there to refresh his Spirits and after that I convoyed him back again to Edinbrugh he shewed me some Articles of his instructions one of the which was Item If the Captain of the Castle will condescend that all the differences now in question among the Scots be referred to be decided before us and our Councel as the rest of the Kings Lords have granted already we shall be his good friend maintain him in his Office and give him an honourable Pension But he plainly refused to comply with this saying he would prejudge his Prince and Country so that this and his other former refusals cost him his life afterwards About this time my Lord Regent sent a Letter to me with all diligence to come to him At my coming he made a heavy moan for the civil troubles that were kindled in the Country by the Craft and Malice of some in England and some in Scotland taking the colour of this or that authority and yet were only moved with their own particularities to the hurt both of King Queen and Country desiring me that I would go unto the Castle of Edinbrugh and shew them as of my own head and not as from him that I understood he perceived albeit too late how that we were all led upon the Ice and that it was the Interest of all true Scotsmen to agree that the State may be setled And says he you may desire them to seek to treat with me thereabout which you may assure them they will obtain if they will seek the same And offer your self to be the instrument to brâ—ng on a good agreement between them and me which shall by Gods Grace take good effect upon your return with their reasonable offers and answer Whereupon I went to Edinbrugh and found them all inclined to peace and quietness with little need of persuasions thereto for they were near a point before with my Lord of Lennox and some former Conference had been betwixt my Brother and Captain Cunningham thereabouts At my return to the Regent he was very glad saying he knew that these honest Gentlemen were ever willing to cease from civil discord seeing the Queen was Captive to whom their owning her authority could do no good but evil but that they had been by crafty practises cast against their wills upon a contrary course Then he inquired upon what conditions the Captain and his friends would agree I said that the Laird of Grange would not sell his Duty to His Prince and Country for advantage but would serve the King and his Country to settle the Estate so long as the Queen was detained in England and if God pleased to grant her liberty they doubted not but she and her Son should agree betwixt themselves to which all honest and good Subjects would consent They for their parts desired no Mans Land nor Goods but only Liberty peaceably to enjoy their own Livings Only Grange desired that the Regent would cause to pay certain Debts contracted for repairing of the Castle and Artillery which conditions the Regent promised to fulfil and to be an assured friend to Grange and those in the Castle And without any other Ceremonies he called the Laird of Tillibardin and after he declared unto him how far we had proceeded he put his hand in mine and did swear the Peace in presence of the said Tillibardin who had also been a good Instrument in the said agreement together with Mr. Clement Little afterwards Provost of Edinbrugh No man was privy thereto but my Lady Mar and Captain James Cuningham After this the Regent went to Edinbrugh to Convene the Lords of Councel to shew them the Calamities that the Civil-Wars produced and to let them see how necessary an agreement would be to the whole Country In the mean time until the appointed Councel-day he went to Dalkieth where he was nobly treated by the Lord of Mortoun shortly after which he took a vehement sickness which caused him to ride suddenly to Stirling where he dyed regrated by many Some of his friends and the vulgar suspected he had gotten wrong at his Banquet The Earl of Mortoun after the decease of the Earl of Marr was made Regent England helping it with all their might so soon as he was chosen he sent for me declaring how that against his mind and inclinations the Lords had burthened him with that troublesome Office whereof seeing he behoved to accept he could wish that he might stand the Country and Common-wealth in some stead First he would desire the help of all good and honest men to draw on Peace and Concord to the quieting the State praying me as one for whom he had ever entertained special favour to travail with my friends of the Castle for that effect and to persuade them to go forward with him as they were minded to do with the Earl of Marr assuring me that none of the former Regents had at any time been more willing then he was presently to put an end to the civil troubles nor that I should remember less the partialities past and that the Regent should not revenge the Earl of Mortoun's quarrels But whoever would serve the King and be his friend he would embrace them upon what faction soever they had formerly been And he was willing to give whatever conditions the Earl of Marr had offered that I should have the Priory of Pittenweem for my pains the Laird of Grange the Bishoprick of St. Andrews and Castle of Blackness and every one within the Castle should be restored to their Lands and Possessions as before It was very hard to bring on this agreement with the Earl of Mortoun for the evil opinion which was conceived of him and the hurtful marks they supposed by proofs and appearances that he would shoot at being by nature covetous and too great with England and ever Jealous that the King would be his ruine concerning which a Lady who was his
esteemed so wise should have had seeing he might have obtained his intent without the help of England having all Scotland at his Devotion saving that few number without the Castle who would likewise have agreed upon any reasonable condition Thus the Castle of Edinbrugh was straitly besieged with an English Army under the Conduct of the Marshal of Berwick assisted by all Scotland These within seeing they could not be received upon any composition debated so long as they had victuals and water For their Draw-well dryed by the drouthy Summer and they had no other water but what they fetched letting men with Cords down o're the Walls and Rock of the Castle to a Well on the west side which was afterward poysoned whereby so many as escaped the Shot dyed and the rest fell deadly sick Yet the Laird of Grange undertook with Eight persons to keep the Castle untaken by force of the which number were the Lord Hume my two Brothers Sir Robert and Sir Andrew the Laird of Pittadrow and his Brother Patrick This resolution being taken the Laird of Chesh and Matthew Colvil his Brother were sent to the Castle under the pretext of making offers of agreement but their design was to get intelligence of the State of the House and to seduce the Soldiers who were yet alive which they did so that some fled out over the Walls and others were shut forth For the Captain thought the house in a better condition both for Victuals and otherwise when they were forth The Marshal of Berwick seeing no appearance to succeed entred into contention with the Ambassador alledging that the Queen his Mistress would be dishonoured and said he would wait no longer whereupon they without entred on a new Communing and sent up again the Laird of Cleesh to offer them good conditions to come forth with their Armour and Bag and Baggage which was agreed to and that they should be restored to their Lands and because for the time they were in other mens possession it was referred to themselves whether they would go to England with the Marshal of Berwick or remain in Scotland among their friends until the promise made them of restoring them to their Lands might be fulfilled The Englishmen desired that the Castle should be put in their hands but Grange sent secretly to Captain Hume and Captain Crauford desiring them to come and ly within the Bulwark betwixt the House and the English men and to those he delivered the Castle and his person to the Marshal to go with him to England until all promises might be kept to him and the rest by the Queen of Englands means In this manner they came forth after that George Duglas natural Brother to the Regent had received the House they had all their Swords and Weapons about them and were three dayes at liberty My Brother Sir Robert lay with me at his own Lodging the Laird of Grange and the Secretary Lidingtoun remained yet with the Marshal of Berwick at his Lodging for their greater security because that the people of the Town of Edinbrugh were greatly their Enemies For except a few that tarried within the Town during the Civil Troubles between the Parties that lay in Edinbrugh and Lieth the most part of the richest Men and Merchants left the Town and went to Lieth to take part with the Regent therefore their houses were spoiled upon which account they did bear great hatred to those in the Castle But at the end of three dayes they were all laid hands upon and taken as Prisoners For some of their most malitious enemies put it easily in the Regents head and the Ambassadors that it was well done to move the Queen of England to cause to deliver the whole Prisoners to the Regent to be disposed upon at his pleasure alledging they had no surety but a naked promise which they needed not to keep and because these of the Castle confided wholy on the Marshals promise the Ambassador was advised to prevent the Marshals Writing so that er'e he did write to the Queen thereabout her Letter came to him to deliver up the Prisoners who had been in the Castle to the Regent And he durst not disobey her Command the same being so peremptory tho he obeyed it with much regret and great reluctancy by reason of his promise and returned malecontent to Berwick And they in the Castle were Committed to strait ward and thereafter new Letters were purchased by the Regent from the Queen that he might execute them which she willingly permitted for she would gladly have been quit of my Lord Hume and Grange as being two true Scotsmen unwonable to England to do any thing prejudicial to their King or Country and of the Secretary Lidingtoun but he dyed at Lieth after the old Roman fashion as was said to prevent his coming to the Shambles with the rest As for the Lord Hume the Regent durst not meddle with him he standing in awe of Alexander Hume of Manderstoun Coildinknows and the Good man of North Berwick and the rest of that name who boasted with very proud Language He dyed shortly after being warded in the Castle of Edinbrugh Mr. Killegrew the English Ambassador desired no other reward for his labour but the preservation of my Brother Sir Robert's life for he was obliged formerly to him and me The Composition was kept to all the rest of the mean Gentlemen The Priour of Coldingham and Laird of Drylaw were afterwards set at liberty Sundry of the Captains of Berwick went up to the Castle by the breach beat down in the fore Wall by the Canons that they might say that they had won the Maiden Castle But this was after that the house was delivered over to the Regents Brother yet he would not suffer them to enter there with any number On this manner both England and the Regent were revenged upon that worth Champion whom they had sometimes in great estimation who had done such notable service in France being Captain of an hundred light Horsemen that he was extolled by the Duke of Vendome Prince of Conde and Duke of Aumale Governors and Colonels then in Picardy that I heard Henry the 2d point unto him and say yonder is one of the most Valiant Men of our Age. Also the King used him so familiarly that he chose him commonly upon his side in all pastimes he went to and because he shot far with a great Shaft at the Butts the King would have him to shoot two Arrows one for his pleasure The great Constable of France would never speak to him uncovered and that King gave him an honourable Pension whereof he never sought payment England had proof of his Valour frequently against them upon the Borders where he gave them divers ruffles In a single Combate he vanquished the Earl of Rivers's Brother between the two Armies of Scotland and England He afterward Debated manfully the liberty of his Country against the French men when they intended to
to be brought again to be Master of the Court which was accomplished upon a night at midnight When he came to the Gates of the Castle of Sterling they were opened unto him by the two Abbots and a Faction that they had drawn in there with them Albeit the Master of Mar and Earl of Aguile made what resistance they could where the Master 's eldest Son dyed in the throng yet the enterprisers prevailed and brought in again the Earl of Mortoun and put out the Earl of Arguile the Master of Mar Drumwhasel and such others as they misliked and so made a new change at Court Where the Earl of Mortoun handled the matter so discreetly and moderately as he could that the alteration should not appear to be over sharp or violent The new chosen Council scattered incontinently some of them retiring home and some joined with the Earl of Mortoun hoping never to see a turn again About this time came out of France my Lord of Aubonie who was afterward made Duke of Lennox who was Brother's Son to the Earl of Lennox and obtained afterward great credit and favour James Stuart of Oghiltrie of whom I formerly made mention assisted him through process of time to perswade the King's Majesty to desire to ride out of Sterling and make a progress among the rest of his Subjects which the Earl of Mortoun could not resist supposing that it lay in his power to frame the Court at his pleasure For by his great wealth he was resolved to gain so many as he judged necessary and so by the multitude of his friends to bear out the business however the Court was ruled after he had obtained a discharge and alliance of his intromission For though during the time that he was Regent he was always strongest about the King but my Lord Aubony and James Stewart were most in favour who by their continual rounding in the King's Ear against the Earl of Mortoun ingendered at last a greater dislike in the King of him then he had before And as James Stuart was the stirrer up of the other so afterward when he found the time convenient he took occasion to accuse the said Earl before the Council of the late King's murther Whereupon the Earl of Mortoun was made Prisoner and sent first to the Castle of Edinbrugh and afterward to the Castle of Dumbartoun which was thought strange in respect of his many friends that were in Court for the time who were then found to be but friends to his fortune For he was loved by none and envied and hated by many so that they all looked through their fingers to see his fall England was also angry at him for the time because of his slowness to answer their turns which they had hoped for at his hands having put the King and Country in his power Yet they made some offer to assist him which occasioned to hasten his ruin For they sent down Seventeen Companies to the Borders boasting to send a greater number and to declare open War in case the Earl of Mortoun was not set at liberty and the Lord Aubony put out of Scotland Mr. Randolph was sent in with this Ambassage His Majesty again having these two young Counsellors about him who knew of no perils raised a Taxation to pay Soldiers and caused to make a Proclamation for every Man to be in readiness upon a call which moved the English to retire and leave off endeavouring any more his assistance encouraging thereby such as were deadly Enemies to the Earl of Mortoun to ride to Dumbartoun with a thousand raised and hired Men together with their own friends to bring the Earl of Mortoun back again to Edinbrugh to undergo an Assize Some of the Earl's friends convened to take him out of their hands but found not themselves strong enough They might have done it had it not been the Forces which had been newly levied occasioned by the threat'nings which England had made Being brought to Edinbrugh he found few friends to appear or act for him His Gold and Silver was transported long before by his Natural Son James Douglas and one of his Servants called John Mac-Morran It was first carried in Barrels and afterward hid in some secret parts part whereof was given to be kept by some who were lookt upon as his friends who made ill accompt of it again so that the most part thereof lighted in bad hands and himself was so destitute of mony that when he went through the Street to the Tolbooth to undergo his Assize he was compelled to borrow Twenty shillings to distribute to the Poor who asked Alms of him for God's sake The Assize condemned him to death as being Airt and Pairt in the King's murther and as being of Councel with the Earl of Bothwel who brought him out of banishment when he was absent for the slaughter of David Rixio He granted that he was made privy thereto but had no hand in devising thereof And as concerning the young King he owned that he purposed to send him to England for his weal that he might the rather obtain his Right to the Crown of England being within the Country and brought up among them He dyed resolutely and had ended more perfectly if he had declared and confessed his Worldly practises and fetches to nourish the Civil Troubles partly at the devotion of England and partly for his own particular profit during the Government of the first three Regents which occasioned great blood-sheding that commonly cries to Heaven for vengeance During the King's young years the partialities were so great and the whole Country so disturbed by the two several parties who alledged to fight and strive for the King and the Queen being then Captive in England and the King yet very young that many perceived them to be but factious ambitious avaritious greedy worldly wretched persons Both parties were craftily stirred up and kept in trouble by one only Faction in England who had that Queens Ear intending the wrack as well of our King as Queen to advance some of their friends to inherit the Crown of England which occasioned a great out-cry against our foolish contentions After that the Earl of Mortoun the last of the four Regents was deposed the King's Majesty being young took the Government into his own hands my Lord of Aubony being made Lord Dalkieth and afterward Duke of Lennox was chief about his Majesty and James Stuart formerly mentioned who afterward took unto himself the style and then the Earldom of Arran thinking that he had done great Service and deserved well for accusing and wracking the Earl of Mortoun he married the Earl of March his Relict The Duke was of nature upright just and gentle but wanted experience in the state of the Country At the first he was wholly guided by the said James Stuart and his Wife who both began to envy him and therefore they endeavoured how they might cast him off that they might attain to the
hold the Justice Air of West Lauthian at Edinbrugh with my Lord Neubottle Mr. David Macgill and Mr. John Sharp There came to my Bed timely in a morning a Gentleman alledging that I had formerly done him courtesies which till now he was never able to recompence that he would make me the instrument of saving the Kings Majesty my Master out of the hands of those who were upon an enterprize to take and keep him I said I could hardly trust that but I feared that the Duke of Lennox might be in hazard who was gone to Glascow to hold Justice Airs because of the hatred which I knew was born him especially for the maintaining the two Bishops of St. Andrews and Glascow He answered They will lay hands first on the Kings Majesty and then the Duke and the Earl of Arran dare no more be seen their insolency and misbehaviour being the cause of all the present disorders for there is an enterprize to present a supplication against him to his Majesty After he had told me this news he desired me to conceal his name though to tell the matter to his Majesty He said this turn would be done in ten dayes and as I started up to put on my Cloaths he slipt to the door with a short farewel Because the Duke was at Dalkieth I did ride thither and shewed him the whole matter advising him to ride himself to His Majesty with this Advertisement for his own security but he chose rather to direct a Gentleman with all possible diligence to His Majesty willing me also to write unto the Earl of Gaurie for the Gentleman had not named him to me with the rest of the enterprizers either out of forgetfulness or else because he was but lately won to that purpose by the Laird of Drumwhasel who had assured him that the Duke of Lennox had determined to slay him at the first meeting persuading the Earl upon this ground to joyn with the rest of the Noblemen who were determined to reform the Estate Unto the which invented Advertisement he too easily gave Credit and so joyned with the rest of the Nobility who were minded to present the forenamed supplication to the King at his coming to Dumfarmling It is certain that the Duke of Lennox was led by evil Councel and wrong Informations whereby he was moved to meddle in such hurtful and dangerous courses that the rest of the Nobility became zealous of his intentions and feared their Estates As for the Earl of Arran they detested his Proceedings and esteemed him the worst and most insolent instrument that could be found out to wrack King Kirk and Country The Duke had been tolerable had he hapned upon as honest Councellors as he was well inclined of himself but he wanted experience and was no ways versed in the State of the Country nor brought up in our Religion which by time he might have been brought to have imbraced But the Earl of Arran was a scorner of Religion presumptuous ambitious covetous careless of the Commonwealth a dispiser of the Nobility and of all honest men so that every man was expecting a suddain Change which should have been made in Dumfarling in presenting the above specified supplication But what moved the Lords to surprise His Majesty within the House of Huntingtoun I know not If it was not to imbark the Earl of Gaury whose House it was more deeply in their bond or that they fearing their enterprise to be discovered made the greater hast and stayed His Majesty in that place which was afterward called the Road of Ruthven After that the Duke of Lennox was advertised of this enterprise he sent for the Earl of Arran who was peaceably passing his time in Kinweel He took in hand to ride and save the King boasting that he would chase all the Lords into Mouse-holes but he was chased and saved himself in the House of Ruthven where they had shortly made an end of him had not the Earl of Gaurie interceeded for his life whose destiny it was to keep him alive to be his own wrack afterwards The Duke of Lennox being advertised that His Majesty was in their hands retired himself to Dumbartoun and His Majesty was conveyed to Stirling and there retained The King of France and the Queen of England being informed that the King was taken and kept in Custody sent each of them an Ambassador to this Country to comfort his Majesty to see what the matter meant and to offer him their assistance in case he required the same and declared that he had been taken and kept against his will But after great thanks given unto the said Ambassadors the King willed them to declare unto their Princes that he was very well satisfied with the Lords who were about him and that they were all his own Subjects willing to obey him but that they had conceived some hard apprehensions of the Duke of Lennox and some others who had been about him before Albeit his heart was full of sorrow and displeasure as he told himself afterward and even then likewise to Mr. Cairy Cousin to the Queen of England who whispered in His Majesties Ear requesting him to tell the plain verity which he should keep secret from Mr. Bows his Companion and also from the Lords and shall only shew his inward mind privily to his Mistress the Queen yet it neither appeared by the success to have been kept secret nor did that Queen make any further instance for his liberty The Lords in the mean time thought meet to hold a Councel to resolve what course to take wherein it was determined that their enterprise was good service to his Majesty the Kirk and Common-wealth which His Majesty granted also to be true whereupon an Act of Councel was formed At that same time the general Assembly of the Kirk was held at Edinbrugh to the which his Majesty was moved to send two Commissioners to testify that he had allowed for good service the said Lords enterprise desiring likewise the Kirk to find it good for their parts and to ordain the Ministers and Commissioners of every Shire to publish the same to their Parishioners and to get the principal Gentlemens Subscriptions to maintain the same Notwithstanding of all this His Majesty took the matter further to heart then any man would have believed He lamented his mishandling to sundry Noblemen and others and at length acquainted some of them that he intended to relieve himself through time out of their hands who held him as Captive He desired such as he trusted in to assist him with their counsel and help The Lords again who were joined together for the Reformation of the State being rid of the Duke of Lennox who had past through England to France where he shortly after dyed of a sickness contracted through displeasure And being also rid of the Earl of Arran whom they kept Captive in the custody of the Earl of Gaury they retired themselves from the Court to
a new faction upon to trouble the King and his Estate And whereas the said Davison had promised before to shew himself a kind Scotsman I perceived him clean altered and a perfect practiser against the quiet of this State whereof I advertised His Majesty After his return England appeared not to have such a fear as it had formerly had at the Earl of Arran For there was a meeting drawn on at the Borders betwixt the Earl of Hunsdon and the Earl of Arran Who had long and privy conference together to keep a great friendship betwixt the two Princes and Countries with a secret Plot That the Earl of Arran should keep the King unmarried for three years under this pretext That there was a young Maid of the blood in England who about that time would be ready for marriage whereupon the Queen would declare His Majesty Second Person This was a deceitful Traffique and kept secret from every Body the design thereof being to hinder the King to deal for any other honourable and profitable Match The Earl of Arran thinking himself setled being now in friendship with the Queen of Englond as he supposed moved His Majesty to send thither the Master of Gray who was entred in great favour and familiarity with His Majesty by some secret dealing and intelligence he had with the Queen his Mother in England by means of some of her friends in France For being there at his Travels and but lately returned he brought some Letters directed from Her Majesty to the King her Son and conveyed the answers back again by an interest he had in England with some who favoured Her Majesty He was a great dealer also between Her Majesty and some Catholicks in England He was a proper Gentleman of a Noble Spirit and fair Speech and so well esteemed by His Majesty that Arran thought fit to absent him from Court by this Ambassage Nevertheless he employed him also in the Course begun betwixt him and the Earl of Hunsdean And yet when he was at the Court of England so well esteemed and treated as was reported by such as were sent back it was alledged by some of the Master of Gray's friends that the Earl of Arran began to envy him and misrepresent him unto His Majesty as if he had discovered unto the Queen of England a great part of the Queen of Scotlands purposes and proceedings However the said Master returned again well rewarded and commended for his behaviour qualities and discretion unto the King's Majesty to the great increase of his Credit with the King Not long after his return he was informed what misreports had been made of him in his absence Which he recompensed the best he could with Court Charity at convenient times so that by little and little he began to Eclipse Arran The Master of Gray also forewarned His Majesty of a notable Person who was upon the way sent unto His Majesty by the Queen of England to do him honour and to bear him company to entertain a stricter friendship between that Queen and Him then any had ever been intended before And that the said Ambassadour called Mr. Wotton would not trouble His Majesty with Business or Country Affairs but would bear him company in his Pastimes of Hunting Hauking and Horse-riding and entertain him with friendly and merry Discourses as one come lately from Italy and Spain expert in Languages and Customs of Countries and a great lover of His Majesty's Title and Right to the Crown of England So that His Majesty was ingaged to love him before he did see him and caused with diligence to write to me to come and entertain the said Ambassadour At my return to Court I was the better taken with that Arran was under some Cloud The Master of Gray was then my great friend For His Majesty had told him that I had ever resisted the Earl of Arran's furious proceedings His Majesty desired me as I would do him acceptable Service to bear good company to the said Ambassadour declaring unto me all his properties and qualifications above specified willing me also to Banquet him at my house But after I had conversed certain days with him I remembred I had formerly seen him in France with Doctor Wotton who was there Ambassadour Resident for Queen Mary of England the time that she was married with King Philip of Spain During which time there were great suspicions and jealousies betwixt France and England For tho there was hot War between France and Spain yet the Peace continued still with the Queen of England who was lately married by the King of Spain She appeared still to keep the Peace with France though in the mean time she sent over to Flanders both Men and Mony to the help of the King her Husband The old Constable of France my Master who for the time had the whole management of the Country Affairs under King Henry the Second reproached the English Ambassadour for that the Queen his Mistress was doing her endeavour to break the Peace The Ambassadour excused his Mistress alledging That if any of his Country-men served in the Wars under the King of Spain that they would be found but Soldiers of Fortune ready to serve any Man for Mony She denied that she knew of their passing into Flanders or that she disbursed any Mony for the Wars Albeâ—t that there was ground enough ministred unto her by reciving and retaining in France all her Rebels and Fugitives giving them Pensions and Intertainment and stirring them up to enterprises against her Life and Estate This the Constable flatly denyed only he said That out of a general good will which was born to English-men in time of Peace they were suffered to live in the Country which bears the name of France because there should be Freedom and Franchise to every Christian. The Ambassadour being wise and subtil perceiving this answer to be but a shift and that Wars would inevitably follow these kind of suspicions he intended by some subtilty to Circumvent the Constable and for that effect had sent to England for his Brother's Son being One and Twenty years of Age as well to employ him as to teach him the French and Italian Languages This youth being arrived in France with an Irish Boy to be his Interpreter who could speak French both apparelled in mean array to be the less suspected to have any practice or policy in their minds Like a Forreign young Man he addressed himself to some of the King of France his Courtiers desiring Audience of His Majesty secretly as having a matter of great importance to propose The King again divers times directed him to deal first with the Constable At last when he came to the Constable he desired also of him that he might first declare unto the King his Errand which was of great importance although he knew that the King spoke with no Man in such matters until the Constable had first sounded him and then told his Opinion to
the King what answer were fittest to make At length he said he would declare the matter unto the Constable under promise of great secrecy causing the Constable by this niceness to suspect some practice When he gave him Audience he caused me to be present beside him At their meeting in the Constable's Cabinet his Irish Interpreter was put forth against his will as appeared But he was so instructed by the Ambassadour his Uncle to use such forreign and rude fashions Yet again e're he began to propose his Errand he desired secrecy The Constable being an old wise experimented Councellor put him a little aside and rounded in my Ear to know if ever I had seen this young Man before I answered That I had observed him the preceding day at long conference with one Mr. Sommer Secretary to the English Ambassadour Then the Constable thought that he should handle the matter well enough for he instantly conjectured that all this niceness proceeded from the Ambassadour to intrap him So calling the young Man again he desired him to shew what he had to say Mr. Wotton began to declare the great miscontentment that was in England not only for bringing in the proud Spaniard to Rule over them but also for the alteration of Religion made by Queen Mary moving many to Rebel and others to remove off the Country who nevertheless were all well received and treated by the King's Majesty of France Whereby he had gained the hearts of the third part of England so devoutly towards him that they would gladly put the Crown of England on his head getting liberty in Religion to be quit of the Spanish Tyranny and terrible Inquisition which was feared would also be established in England And for the first proof of their good will and gratitude a number of Lords and Knights who durst not write had sent him secretly with an Overture to put the strong Town of Calis into his hands with the whole Earldom of Oye At this the Constable made a start and said Know you not my friend that there is a sworn Peace betwixt your Queen and my Master The other replied again how that the Queen of England aided secretly whith Mony and Men the King of Spain her Husband in his Wars of Flanders against France Which the Constable alledged that she denied by her Ambassadour willing him however to tell out the rest of his Commission Then said he My Lord the means how you may get Calis is this First The most part of the Town is of the Reformed Religion and are Malecontents having refused to receive a Garison of Spaniards And they are friends to those who have sent me and keep correspondence with them only the Towns Ship keeps the Town keeping Watch and Ward being unskilful in handling their Arms. Therefore the King shall cause Monsieur Senarpon his Lieutenant in Normandy to lye in ambuscade at such a Wood within a mile and an half of the Town at an appointed day then a Ship well furnished with Armed Men shall lye at Anchor half a mile from the Town And some of them clothed like Marriners shall come on Land and have Swords and Pistols under their Cloaths and shall wait about two of the Afternoon at which time the Ports of the Town are opened to let Men in and out Part of those who attend the Ports will be at their Dinner when one or two will come before the rest to open the Gates Thus the Gates being easily seised upon let one of the Company shoot off a Culverin that the Ship may hear and shoot a Cannon to cause Monsieur de Senarpon with his Company advance In the mean time there shall be a mutiny raised in the Town by our friends and partners so that the Town shall be obtained without stroke After that the Constable had heard all this long discourse he said That it was a very probable design and he doubted not but it might be easily effectuated but in respect of the sworn Peace the King his Master would not nor should never have his consent to break it But that he was much ingaged to the Noblemen who did bear him so much good will and as for him who had taken so great pains the King should reward him willing me to remember to cause give mony to the young Gentleman So he gained nothing at the Constable's hand and never came again to seek his reward but was afterward manifestly known to be Brother's Son to Doctor Wotton Ambassadour as said is This is he now who was sent hither to bear His Majesty company as one who will not meddle with Practises but with Pastimes But when I forewarned His Majesty to beware of him and told how that he being little above Twenty years old was imployed to beguile the wise old Constable Now he was Fifty years and His Majesty but Twenty it was to be feared he would endeavour to beguile him Yet His Majesty would not believe me but believed the said Mr. Wotton to have a great kindness for him and so he became one of his most familiar Minions waiting upon him at all Field-pastimes and in appearance he despised all busie Councellors and medlers in matters of State as he was instructed by such as said he would please His Majesty best to appear such But he had more hurtful fetches in his head against His Majesty then any English-man that ever came in hither had at any time before You have heard before of a meeting that was drawn on at the Borders betwixt the Earl of Hunsdean and Arran where at their secret conference Arran was required by the craft of the Lord Burleigh and his faction in the English Council to stop the King from any marriage for three years upon many fair counterfeited promises One whereof was That he should be declared Second Person upon his marriage of the forenamed English Lady of the Blood At which Arran granted all that was desired he was so glad to procure the Queen of England's friendship About that time the Queen of England by her intelligence from Denmark was advertised of a great and magnifick Ambassage to be sent from Denmark to Scotland viz. Three Ambassadours with Sixscore Persons in Two gallant Ships Whether she suspected or had heard that it was to draw on a marriage I cannot tell But this far I learned that her Council judged it was to confirm at least a greater friendship betwixt the two Kings and their Countries which was one of the Causes that moved them to send this Mr. Wotton to Scotland to use all his wiles to disturb and hinder any greater Amity that might proceed from the said Commission and Negotiation between their two Kings and their Countries For England trusted nothing to the Earl of Arran's promise for they esteemed him as an inconstant Man as is already declared So soon as the Danish Ambassadours arrived by Ship in this Country His Majesty ordered me to entertain them and bear them company And
because they were three joined in Commission he willed me to choose any other two whom I thought meetest to bear them company with me I named unto His Majesty the Laird of Segie and William Shaw Master of Wark First At Dumfarmling they Congratulated His Majesty in the King their Master's Name with a long Discourse of the old Amity Bond and mutual Friendship between the two Kings and their Kingdoms And last of all they required the Isles of Orkny to be restored again to the Crown of Denmark alledging they were mortgaged to be redeemed again for the Sum of Fifty Thousand Florins Their coming and demand was diversly scanned some supposing Wars would ensue unless the said Isles were rendred others thought that their intention was to bring on a marriage with the King of Denmark's Daughter Now albeit His Majesty was determined to treat them well and honourably they were nevertheless mishandled rufled and delayed here the space of Months to their great charge and discontent for they lived upon their own expences and were not defrayed by His Majesty as all other Ambassadours of that Nation have been since When they were appointed to part out of Dumfarmling toward St. Andrews there to get their dispatch His Majesty ordered to tell them That he would send them Horses out of his own Stable to ride upon The day of their parting being come they sent away their Baggage and Officers before them and were booted themselves waiting upon His Majesty's Horses and because they came not in due time they went forward on foot The King was much dissatisfied when he understood how they were handled and caused his Horses to follow fast after them and overtake them When they came to St. Andrews divers appointed days of Council and Covention were broken unto them which were promised to be kept for their dispatch for obtaining whereof they were very earnest Then Men were appointed to deride them at their Lodgings and before their Windows when they lookt out to the street So that nothing was left undone which could enrage them or stir them up to choller Only Mr. Wotton the English Ambassadour visited them frequently and did well and favourably entertain them comforting them at all occasions appearing to be sorry that they were so abused He offered to lend them Gold and Silver largely for the great friendship that he knew to be between the Queen his Mistress and the King of Denmark For he was assured of good payment and thought to purchase credit at their hands by his apparent friendly dealing At length under great secrecy he said he would not conceal from them that he had heard the King speak disdainful language of their Country and Customs and also That some of his Gentlemen had heard the King speak evil of their King undervaluing him as being descended of a Race of Merchants And he further assured them That he and his Council were resolved to keep them long here without any dispatch to affront and weary them Then again the said Ambassadour and two of his Gentlemen informed his Majesty of these hard Speeches of the reproachful dealing they had met with from King and Council reflecting upon their Master He informed him also of the rude manners and drunkenness of those that were about His Majesty who had the like scornful language of the King of Denmark his Country and Ambassadours moving His Majesty to make the less of them Whereby they were stirred up to such a rage that I had much to do to keep them two or three several times from going to their Ships to have returned to their King without any answer and to have given him an accompt of the disdainful usage they had met with and the injury thereby done to him The Earl of Arran was also their great Enemy because they made no court to him but rather slighted some of their Company having known him in Sweden a Common Soldier So that he was as ready as the rest to mock and deride them albeit at that same time the Ring-leaders about the Court were Combined together with the English Ambassadour against him The principal of the three Ambassadours was a wise grave and ancient Councellor The second was furious in his Speeches The third cried out The King our Master is affronted we must be revenged I took the first apart requesting him to hear me patiently for he spoke good Dutch but mine was not so good Therefore I desired that he would more notice my meaning then my words and be more careful to cause his friendly Commission to take effect that he might return home with happy success then to withdraw abruptly to be called unhappy Instruments of discord at the pleasure of a few scornful Factioners who had laid their heads together to cause them part dissatisfied and to be as instrumental in doing evil as they were minded at their coming to do good I told him how that the Queens Majesty of England was a wise well inclined and politick Princess and that there were as many honest and good Men in England as in so much bounds in the whole World abeit there was in it divers Opinions and Factions shooting at sundry marks as is done in all other parts And because that their Queen would never marry to have Succession of her own Body they were all very desirous to know who after her should Reign over them The most part of the Country expects that it shall be our King and wisheth his welfare and prosperity as being righteous Heir to the Crown of England both by the Father and Mother's side But those who at present have the chief management of the Court shoot at other particular marks of their own minding to set forward some of themselves or of their friends to brook the Kingdom And for that cause they make all the opposition they can to our King because of their unmerciful dealing to his Mother for the which they fear some day to be punished when he comes to be King of England For all these respects they endeavour to keep him from marriage and from all forreign Friendship and Alliance This Ambassadour of England is a very ill Instrument both himself and his Gentlemen and hunting daily with His Majesty makes the worst reports they can The Ambassadour of Denmark answered to that marvelling that Mr. Wotton should make such report of them he offering them so great friendship and giving them daily intelligence how they were scorned and mocked both by the King and his Council to his great regret offering to lend them mony and to do all other pleasures to them that lay in his power I replied He knew well enough that he would get good payment and great thanks For the King of Denmark was esteemed a worthy Prince and his Ambassadours worthy to be honoured but the guiders of the Court of England desire not that our King should think or esteem so of them wishing him to have but few Friends and many Enemies Then
I assured him That the King's Majesty and all his Subjects except some who were corrupted by England were determined to entertain and increase a continual friendship with the King and Country of Denmark Praying their wisdoms-couragiously to resist and not feebly and foolishly to give place to the said crafty practices of their scornful enviers by retiring abruptly thereby suffering themselves to be made evil Instruments directly against their own Intention and Commission and they should shortly see good success to follow thereupon to their great contentment Promising unto them for my part That I should go instantly unto his Majesty and with all hazard that might be should discover unto him how both he and they were deceitfully abused by the double dealing of the English Ambassadour and such Courtiers as assisted him Upon this discourse and promise they went to councel all three together as their custom was And after long conference they gave me answer That their coming was for to do good Offices And albeit they had suffered sundry injuries they would be sorry to be made Instruments of discord so far against their Commission and Intention and therefore would yet stay upon hope of better handling and upon my promise albeit to that hour few or none had been kept to them After this I shewed unto His Majesty what great inconveniencies might ensue upon the long delaying and ill handling of the Danish Ambassadours And yet that I marvelled not that he made so little accompt of them in respect of the great care and fine practices that were used to make him undervalue them by the English Ambassadour and his Assistants who had His Majesty's Ear for the time At the first His Majesty was impatient to hear this language spoken of Persons he had so good liking of and said that he was informed That the King of Denmark was descended but of Merchants and that few made accompt of him or his Country but such as spoke the Dutch Tongue For this was put in his head to prevent any of my perswasions in their favour lest they should get place or credit I answered That neither could the King of France or Queen of England speak Dutch and yet they made great accompt of the King and Country of Denmark France having their Ambassadour lying there and paying yearly to the King of Denmark a great Sum of Gold to the value of Twenty Thousand Crowns His Majesty said The more shame was his I said Rather to the King of France who must buy his kindness Neither could the Queen of England said I speak Dutch yet she made much accompt of the King and Country of Denmark and durst not offend him nor none of his Ships both by reason of the straight passage at Elsoonure and also because he had great Ships to make himself amends in case she did him or his any wrong I said moreover That whereas it hath been reported to Your Majesty the Race of their Kings not to be of Noble and Royal Blood I shall shew Your Majesty that it is but manifest invention to cause you to despise them For this late King Frederick is descended of an Old and Royal stock to wit Christianus of Denmark the first of that name who had two Sons and one Daughter called Margaret married into Scotland to James the Third his Eldest Son John was King after him his second Son Frederick was King of Norway and Duke of Holstein Iohn had a Son called Christianus the Second also King of Denmark who married Charles the Fifth his Sister who did bear him two Daughters Whereof the Eldest was given in marriage to Frederick Elector Palatine the Second to the Duke of Millain and afterward being a Widow married the Duke of Lorrain Himself was taken and kept in Prison by his Subjects for some rigorous Execution upon his Barons and his Father's Brother Frederick was made King After this Frederick the Earl of Altenbourg was chosen by assistance of the Town of Lubeck but Christianus the Third Son to the said Frederick put him out and conquered the Kingdom Nevertheless this Christianus being a good Prince would not change their old Priviledges but caused himself to be chosen and likewise his Son Frederick in his time to Reign after him who is now present King and hath sent this honourable Ambassage to Your Majesty as to his good friend and kinsman descended of the Kingly Race of Denmark And whereas he requires again the Isles of Orkny it is for the discharge of his Oath because every King of Denmark at his Election is sworn to claim again the said Isles which he hath done for the fashion and for no other effect but to draw on a greater familiarity and friendship Or else he had not sent so honourable a Company but rather an Herauld of Arms if he had been earnestly bent either to get the said Isles or to quarrel about them After that His Majesty had heard this Discourse far different to his former Informations he was exceeding glad and said he would not for his head but that I had shewn the verity unto him and that same afternoon he sent for the said Ambassadours and acquainted them how near Allied he was to the King of Denmark He excused their long delay and promised instantly to see them dispatched himself and that within three or four days He called for Wine and did drink to them and sent them home very well content and satisfied to their Lodgings He commanded a Banket to be prepared for them which His Majesty's Controller and Officers were quietly forbidden to do alledging the scantness of Provisions Which the Laird of Segie and I perceiving we dealt with the Earl of March who prepared a great Banquet for them in His Majesty's Name to the great dissatisfaction of Mr. Wotton and his Partisans who durst not appear And though they would not suffer His Majesty to be present at the Banquet but to Dine in his own Chamber yet His Majesty being informed by me how matters went he rose from his own Dinner and went to the Banquet-house and drank to the King Queen and Ambassadours of Denmark and so contented them And he caused their dispatch to be in readiness conform to his promise But when I advertised His Majesty That there was no Present prepared for to reward them withal he was wonderfully troubled saying They who had the management of his affairs were resolved to affront him Now at this time was the Earl at Court not so much in favour as formerly During the which time there chanced a strange misrule to fall out at a day of meeting upon the Borders which was set between the two Wardens where Sir Francis Russel upon the English side was killed Whereupon the English Ambassadour took occasion to lay the blame upon the Earl of Arran alledging That the Laird of Fernthast who was Warden upon the Scots side had married the Earl of Arran's Brother's Daughter And that the said Earl had caused the
they had both Him and his Servants in their power they had used no rigour nor vengeance His Majesty remembred how frequently I had forewarned him of this and the like accidents that I said would follow upon the Earl of Arran's rash proceedings He acknowledged he had been a bad Instrument and declared that he should never have more Place or Credit about him He desired me to wait at Court and help to do all good Offices betwixt him and his Nobility And to tell them the truth who was to blame for their trouble as having occasioned the same seeing he had great prejudice and no advantage thereby it being far from his inclination to seek any Man's Life Lands or Goods but only the peace and quiet of the Country and the settling of the Subjects among themselves Which I could testifie for a truth the verity thereof consisting within my knowledge His Majesty told me also how he had shewn unto the Noblemen my honest and friendly advices toward them and that I opposed my self continually to the Earl of Arran's proceedings He desired me also to help to satisfie the Ministers who were seeking to be restored unto their former free Assemblies which he had forbidden them at the advice of the Earl of Arran The same being one of the occasions of all the following troubles which were chiefly grounded upon the dissatisfaction of the Ministers by whom the Country was influenced So that I tarried a while at Court till matters began to take some setling Divers of the Lords also were earnest with me to stay offering me great kindness saying That His Majesty had told them every Man's part and behaviour in relation to their Banishment and Persecution And that I was ever for a moderate Course desiring and pressing as His Majesty's interest an Act of Oblivion to be Past for all by-gones during his Minority The said Lords therefore caused me to propose some of their suits to His Majesty whom in nothing they would press beyond his own pleasure But the Council was of different opinions concerning the restoring of the Ministers to their former Priviledges and Freedoms where I was brought in to give my Opinion The greatest part thought fit to delay them for a time chiefly such as had remained about His Majesty and had said too much before to the contrary But they had yet some private designs hatching in their heads which could not be brought about if the Country were wholly in Peace Which they knew would be were the Ministers satisfied My Opinion was That His Majesty was not to be blamed that the Noblemen were banished or the Ministers Priviledges taken from them seeing all these insolencies were committed by evil Instruments who ruled over His Majesty's good mind to satisfie their own Ambition Who now being fled and absent I knew no reason why the Ministers should not be restored to their former Priviledges as well as the Noblemen to their Lands and Honours the one being no less contributive to the setling of the Kingdom as the other Seeing if this were omitted the blame would still lye upon His Majesty and the Country would be still in trouble The Secretary Maitland was against this Opinion for he had formerly spoken too much on the contrary But the rest of the Noblemen and the Council thought my Opinion best But yet at that time it was not followed nor granted at that Parliament Yet shortly after it was found His Majesty's interest and conducing for fully Establishing Peace in the Country that the Ministers should be restored to all their former Priviledges It is above-mentioned That the Mr. Almoner was sent to Denmark Shortly after Colonel Stuart took occasion to go thither about his own affairs for he had a Pension of the King of Denmark He obtained also some writing whereby he was Commissioned to speak of the King's marriage with the King of Denmark's Eldest Daughter And they both returned with so good and friendly answers that there was little more mention made of the restitution of the Isles of Orkny The King of Denmark was also put in hope by them that His Majesty would send the next Summer an honourable Ambassage to Denmark to deal further in these matters I have shewed already the dangerous practices of the English Ambassadour Mr. Wotton and a part of their effects but the principal is yet behind The Council of England having concluded to take the Life from the Queens Majesty his Highnesses Mother after she had been many years kept Captive in England thought first to get the King her Son in their hands and to put him in hope that he should obtain the Crown of England the rather that he was within their Country And in the mean time to be sure that he should not be able to revenge his Mother's death but might be as a pledge among them in case his Country-men or his Forreign and French friends would pretend to menace them or to make War for his Liberty or in revenge of her death For in that case they might threaten to cut him off if for his Cause they should be troubled And however it were through time it was suspected that they intended to take his life also after that they had laid their Plots how to make him odious to the People by false counterfeit Letters and alledged practices as they had craftily and deceitfully alledged upon his Mother against the State But finding this their design of carrying him to England discovered by my Brother's intelligence the said Ambassadour fled as said is And for the next best thought fit to see His Majesty put in the hands of the most part of the Nobility who were banished for the time and during their banishment had been sheltered in England who they thought by fitted Instruments might be stirred up to take his Life at least to keep him in perpetual Prison in revenge of the injury had been done them But herein they were disappointed For they used themselves so moderately and discreetly that they sought nothing but their own native Country and Lands and that they might have access to serve and obey their Prince without any further vengeance or rigour against their particular Enemies As their actions and proceedings have sufficiently declared since to the great increase of their favour with His Majesty and estimation of the whole Country It hath been rarely or never seen in any Country that there have been so great alterations with so little bloodshed as hath been in Scotland in this Kings time Now those who were Enemies to our Queen and King's Title to the Crown of England seeing some of their fetches to fail them entred in deliberation what way to proceed to take the Queen's life The Council of England a great part of the Nobility and States fell down upon their knees humbly requesting Her Majesty to have compassion upon their unsure Estate albeit she should slight her own Alledging That her life was in hazard by the practices of the
Ears which may serve for little Parenthesises to Historiographers who had not the occasion of being so well therewith acquainted Our Queen then Dowager of France retired her self by little and little further and further from the Court of France that it might not appear that she was any way compelled thereto as of a truth she was by the Queen Mother's rigorous dealing who alledged that she had been despised by her Daughter-in-law during the short Reign of King Francis the Second her Husband at the resignation of the House of Guise Monsieur de Martignes Monsieur Dosel Labrosse the Bishop of Amience and such other French-men as were lately carried out of Scotland in the English Ships resorted to our Queen and declared unto her the whole progress of affairs and the state of the Kingdom These as well as the rest of her friends advised her to return to Scotland encouraging her with the hopes of succeeding to the Crown of England rather then to endure the Queen Mother's disdain in France Desiring her as most conducing for her interest to serve the time to accommodate her self discreetly and gently to her own Subjects to be most familiar with my Lord James Prior of St. Andrews her natural Brother and with the Earl of Argile who had married Lady Jane Stuart her natural Sister and to use the Secretary Lidingtoun and the Laird of Grange most tenderly in all their affairs and in summ to repose most upon those of the Reformed Religion Thus those who were a little before cruelly persecuted are now to be esteemed for chiefest and truest friends Thus can God by his Divine Providence ranverse the finest practises and pretences of mighty Rulers and Potentates and turn all to the best to such as serve him with a sincere heart As on the other hand God abhorreth such Subjects as hypocritically under pretext of Religion take occasion to rebel against their native Princes for ambition greediness or any other Worldly respect The Prior of St. Andrews being advertised of the Queen his Soveraign's deliberation to return to Scotland and to use his and his friends advice He goeth himself to France requesting her Majesty to return to her own promising to serve her faithfully to the outmost of his power And returns again to Scotland to prepare the hearts of her Subjects against her home-coming After this her Majesty went to Janvile the Duke of Guise his dwelling place about the marches of Lorrain and at length went to visit the Duke of Lorrain at Nancy where I chanced to come shortly after in company of the Duke Casimir second Son to the Elector Palâ—â—ine But the Queen was already parted from the Court of Lorrain toward Janvile whither I took occasion to go to tender to her Majesty the offer of my most humble and dutiful service And the said Duke Casimir understanding that I was to ride thither did write a very kind Letter to her Majesty comforting her the best he could offering his service in case any in France should wrong or injure her and that he would bring to her aid upon her Letter Ten Thousand Men. Her Majesty was much refreshed with this friendly offer and she was pleased to give me thanks for the demonstrations I had given of being intirely devoted to her interest shewing me she had been made acquainted therewith while I was at the Court of France She desired me earnestly when I resolved to retire out of Germany to come home and serve her Majesty with very friendly and favourable offers So I returned back to the Duke Casimir who was about contracting a Marriage with the Duke of Lorrain's eldest Sister Which took not effect because the old Dutchess her Mother who was King Christierns Daughter of Denmark begotten upon the Emperour Charles his Sister who also lost the Kingdom of Denmark pretending to make it Hereditable whereas it was Elective The said King Christiernus was kept in Prison till his death This Dutchess his Daughter alledged that the Kingdom of Norway appertained unto her as Heir unto her Father and that the said Kingdom was Hereditary unto her Father albeit Denmark was not and intended then to marry her eldest Daughter unto Frederick King of Denmark and to give over with her said Daughter the Kingdom of Norway But the said Dutchess offered unto Duke Casimir her second Daughter which he refused and dealt with his Father to send me unto England to propose Marriage for him unto the Queen of England But I refused to undertake that Commission having ground to conjecture that she would never marry upon the reflection I made upon that story one of the Gentlemen of her Chamber had told me seeing she knowing her self unable for succession I supposed she would never render her self subject to any Man The said Duke was very much displeased at me because I refused About this time the Cardinal of Lorrain being at Trent took occasion to visit the old Emperour Ferdinand at Isbrack his dwelling place not far from Trent And there the said Cardinal proposed two marriages first the King of France Charles the Ninth to the eldest Daughter of Maximilian Son to Ferdinand lately chosen King of the Romans and co-adjutor to the Empire Then he proposed the Queen of Scotland Dowager of France to Charles Arch-duke of Austria brother to the said Maximilian The Queen was by this time returned to Scotland and apparently had been advertised by the said Cardinal that he had proposed the said marriage and it seems she had relished the Overture Her Majesty returning was gladly welcomed by the whole Subjects For at first following the counsel of her friends she behaved her self humanely to them all committing the chief handling of her affairs unto her Brother the Prior of St. Andrews whom afterward she made Earl of Murray and to the Secretary Lidingtoun as meetest both to hold the Countrey at her devotion and also to beget a strict friendship betwen her Majesty and the Queen of England For my Lord Murray had great credit with my Lord Robert Dudly who was afterward made Earl of Leicester And the Secretary Lidingtoun had great credit with the Secretary Cecil So that these four made a strict and sisterly friendship between the two Queens and their Countries So that there appeared outwardly no more difference but that the Queen of England was the Eldest Sister and the Queen of Scotland the Younger whom the Queen of England promised to declare second person according to her good behaviour So that Letters and correspondence past weekly betwixt them and at first there appeared nothing more desired by either of them then that they might see one another by a meeting at a convenient place whereby they might also declare their hearty and loving minds each to other For our Queen was so nettled with the hard usage she had met with from the Queen Mother of France who had likewise hardly used all her friends of the House of Guise that she was the more
earnest to make friendship with her and with such whom she knew that Queen liked worst The two Queens this way keeping on their outward friendship for a while with the plain and honest meaning of our Queen as I afterward did perfectly know There came a Letter to me out of Scotland from the Secretary Lidingtoun at the Queens command desiring me to make my self acquainted with the Arch-duke Charles of Austria youngest Brother to Maximilian then King of the Romans and Emperour in effect for the Emperour Ferdinand his Father had nothing but the Name by reason of his Age. I was desired to inform my self concerning his Religion his Rents and his Qualities his Age and Stature and desired to send home word and therewith to send his Picture if it could be done It was thought I might obtain the occasion thereof by means of the Elector Palatine my Master for the time greatest in favour with the Emperour Maximilian Now my Lord Elector being at an Imperial Convention holden at Ausbrugh had of his own head inquired of Maximilian what the Cardinal of Lorrain's business had been with his Father Ferdinand when he came to see him from Trent For the good Elector was afraid it had been about some matters of Religion For Ferdinand was a devout Catholick and Maximilian appeared to be a zealous Protestant For he was but lately chosen King of the Romans at Francford not without difficulty Being himself one of the Seven Electors as King of Bohemia he was to sue six Electors for their Votes To wit the Elector Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Duke of Brandenburgh three Protestant Princes and three Bishops Mentz Triers and Collein Catholicks Both these Factions were put in hope that being Emperour he would declare himself of their principles In the mean time he used secret preachings to please the Protestants but he went openly to the Mass whereby the Bishops thought themselves assured of him But the good Elector Palatine believed firmly that after his Fathers death he would declare himself a plain Protestant Thus he won both parties to make him Emperour He told the Elector Palatine at the Convention in Ausbrugh that the Cardinal of Lorrain had proposed two marriages to the Emperour his Father The one was Charles young King of France to his own Eldest Daughter the other was the Queen of Scotland Dowager of France to his Brother the Arch-Duke Charles The Elector inquired how he relished these two marriages he answered he could not but like well of them seeing he was not to expect a better match to his Daughter then the King of France nor to his Brother then the Queen of Scotland who the Cardinal also alledged had right to the Crown of England The Elector said that since he was pleased with the Overture of marrying his Brother to the Queen of Scotland that he had a Scottish Gentleman with him who could be a good instrument to bring forward the said marriage Whereupon Maximilian desired to speak with me and because for the time I was in the Countrey of Hess he desired him to send me to him upon my return Which the Elector did and sent with me one of his Councel called Monsieur Zuleger joining us in one Commission When we had given accompt of our said Commission my companion told the Emperour that I had a particular with his Majesty and so retired himself leaving me alone in the Chamber Where I presented a Letter to him written with the Elector's own hand in Dutch signifying that I was the Scotsman whom he promised to send unto him After he had read the writing he did shew me the part wherein the Elector assured him that I would shew him the truth of all such things as I knew which he would ask of me saying You are much obliged to the Elector Palatine for he hath given me a very good Character of you I pray you says he tell me how long you have been in his company I said more then three years he inquired why I did not answer in Dutch I answered because I had the French more familiar and knew that no Language could come wrong to his Majesty For he could very promptly speak good Latiné Italian Spanish Sclavonian and French Then he inquired again in French how I came to the Elector Palatine I told him that being brought up at the Court of France with the Constable there had fallen out some variance between France and Scotland partly occasioned from difference in Religion and partly from other particulars whence proceeded a general dislike at the Court of all Scots-men at that time in France some being upon suspicion imprisoned others lookt down upon The consideration whereof hast'ned my prosecuting a former intention I had deliberated upon of visiting other Countries That being minded to begin at Dutchland the Constable of France had by his Letter addressed me to the Elector Palatine He inquired how long I had remained with the Constable I answered nine years He said I was happy who had been so long in company with two of the wisest Men in Europe and was pleased to say that he was glad of the occasion of being acquainted with me He began more particularly to shew unto me the cause why he desired to speak with me inquiring concerning the Estate of Scotland of the late troubles with France of the agreement new made what great Men had the greatest interest and all the Noblemens Names who had assisted both parties He proceeded to inquire further what help England had made unto Scotland during the troubles with France if they were bandied together if their friendship continued and of the Queen's title to England if the Nobility of Scotland would concur to advance her to the Crown of England if they would think it the interest of Scotland to have the two Kingdoms joined in one seeing it was to be supposed that the Queen or Prince would certainly chuse to dwell in the best Country and thereby would be further from them These and several other things he inquired and I answered as I thought most pertinent When he had heard my returns he was pleased to say it was not the least good office that my Lord Elector had done him in sending me to him and gave me thanks that I had been at the pains to come If Charles my Brother says he were so happy as to obtain your Queen in marriage no Man shall have more credit with him then you He desired me to abide with him some time that he might discourse with me at more length So I tarried with him twenty days with very favourable entertainment and discoursing with me several times he put me in hope that his Brother Charles would be shortly at home And gave me an accompt of such news as came to him from all Countries It was he who first told me of the death of the Duke of Guise killed by Poltrot at the Siege of Orleance He appeared to he very glad at the
Commission to the Queen of England to wit an answer to her demanded Alliance offensive and defensive with the Protestant Princes of Germany which formerly had been but obscurely answered unto her Ambassadour Sir Henry Knolls at the Dyet Imperial holden at Francfort in the year 1562. Excusing himself and the rest of the Princes his confederates who had but lately chosen Maximilian to be King of the Romans and Co-adjutor to the Emperour his Father seeing he had promised unto them to declare himself openly a Protestant so soon as he durst after the decease of his old Father Ferdinand and in the mean time had their promise to keep correspondence with him and to make no League with any forreign Prince without his consent and knowledge And that if they had done otherwise he might perchance have taken occasion thereupon to lay the blame upon them in case he did not as he had promised For they began to fear and doubt of his upright meaning in reference to Religion and yet thought not fit upon their part to give him any ground to lay the blame upon them but in case he kept not his promise after the decease of Ferdinand they should then presently make such Alliance with her as she had required which they durst not for the time discover unto her Ambassadour requesting her Majesty to keep this secret to her self She appeared satisfied with this excuse promising to discover it to none of her Council but she lamented that the Princes of Germany were so slow and tedious in all their deliberations Whereupon I began to praise them for their Truth Constancy Religion Ardour and quick execution after they had concluded any weighty matter But I set out most specially the Elector Palatine's humanity his treating of strangers upholding of Universities and how he was the mouth of his confederates to deal with all other neighbour Princes She answered that I had reason to speak so concerning him for he had written very much in my favour regretting that the inclinations I had to serve my native Queen had obliged me to leave him though he would gladly have retained me with him a longer space I told her Majesty what a great trouble it was to me to resolve to leave the service of so worthy a Prince that no consideration could have engaged me thereunto other then that duty I owed to my Soveraign who had commanded me to attend her affairs That for the better remembrance of him I desired to carry home with me his picture and the pictures of all his Son and Daughters So soon as she heard me mention the pictures she inquired if I had the picture of the Duke Casimir desiring to see it And when I alledged I had left the pictures in London she being then at Hampton Court and that I was ready to go forward on my Journey she said I should not part till she had seen all the pictures So the next day I delivered them all to her Majesty and she desired to keep them all night and she called upon my Lord Robert Dudly to be judge of Duke Casimir's picture and appointed me to meet her the next morning in her Garden where she caused to deliver them all unto me giving me thanks for the sight of them I again offered unto her Majesty 〈◊〉 the pictures so she would permit me to retain the Electors and his Ladys but she would have none of them I had also sure information that first and last she despised the said Duke Casimir Therefore I did write back from London to his Father and him in Cypher disswading them to meddle any more in that marriage And received great thanks afterward from the said young Duke who immediately married the Elector of Saxony's Eldest Daughter Albeit this may appear something from the purpose of the Queen our Sovereign yet it brings me home to her Majesty with some proposals of marriage to her self For the Queen of England entertained me very familiarly shewing me the Sisterly love that was betwixt her and the Queen our Soveraign how careful she was of her well-fare how desirous to see her well setled in her own Country with her Subjects and also well married That she was resolved to propose two persons for fit Husbands unto her whereby their amity might best stand and increase hoping that she would not marry without her advice promising upon her faith to write to me so soon as I was arrived at Scotland with her own hand that I might be a good instrument to move the Queen my Mistress to accept either the one or the other Now though she forgot to write unto me about it yet she sent instructions to Mr. Randolph to propose my Lord Robert Dudley as a very meet Husband for our Queen I supposed that my Lord Robert afterward Earl of Leicester had disswaded her from imploying me in that matter seeing Mr. Randolph was there already her Majesties Agent Now the Queen my Mistress to keep promise and correspondence with the Queen of England had sent and advertised her of the proposal made to her of a marriage with the Arch-duke Charles requiring her friendly advice and consent therein The Queen of England answered her by her Agent Mr. Thomas Randolph as followeth for after a little Preface he declares and gives in by writing this to be the Queen his Mistress's mind The Queen my Soveraign said he hath not only deeply advised about that proposal of marriage with your Majesty but hath also thought it necessary by me to shew you what she thinketh both meet and unmeet to be considered and seemingly to her by way of friendship to declare as a dear Sister who intends your Majesties honour and as a loving Friend who is careful of your well-fare Three special things her Majesty thinks fit to be considered in marriage First The mutual contentment betwixt both parties in respect of their private personages so that their love each towards one another may continue as well before God as Man Secondly That the person may be such as your Majesty being a Queen of a great Realm and multitude of People may be sure of an advantageous Alliance such as cannot be prejudicial to your Countries interest Thirdly She thinks fit that the choise be such that the amity which is now so strict betwixt the Queens Majesty and your Highness not only for your own persons but with both your Realms may be continued and not dissolved nor diminished Then he declares at length how that he doubts not but that her Majesty who was once already married will know how considerately to ponder the match that it may be meet for her self and her Subjects but as to what belonged unto the Queen his Soveraign it merited to be well considered It is true that the seeking out of a Husband to your Majesty is honourable and expedient a thing that her Majesty rellisheth much in your Highness albeit hitherto she hath not found such disposition in her self remitting
to dine with her Dame of Honour my Lady Strafford an honourable and godly Lady who had been at Geneva banished during the Reign of Queen Mary that I might be always near her that she might confer with me I had formerly been acquainted with my Lady Strafford as she passed through France I had good intelligence from her and my Lady Throgmorton At divers meetings we had divers purposes The Queen my Mistress had instructed me to leave matters of gravity sometimes and cast in merry purposes lest otherwise I should be wearied she being well informed of that Queens natural temper Therefore in declaring my observations of the customs of Dutchland Poland and Italy the Buskins of the Women was not forgot and what Countrey Weed I thought best becoming Gentlewomen The Queen said she had Cloths of every sort which every day thereafter so long as I was there she changed One day she had the English Weed another the French and another the Italian and so forth She asked me which of them became her best I answered in my judgment the Italian dress which answer I found pleased her well for she delighted to shew her golden coloured hair wearing a Caul and Bonnet as they do in Italy Her hair was more reddish then yellow curled in appearance naturally She desired to know of me what colour of hair was reputed best and whether my Queens hair or hers was best and which of them two was fairest I answered the fairness of them both was not their worst faults But she was earnest with me to declare which of them I judged fairest I said she was the fairest Queen in England and mine the fairest Queen in Scotland Yet she appeared earnest I answered they were both the fairest Ladies in their Countries that her Majesty was whiter but my Queen was very lovely She inquired which of them was of highest stature I said my Queen Then saith she she is too high for I my self am neither too high nor too low Then she asked what kind of exercises she used I answered that when I received my dispatch the Queen was lately come from the High-land hunting That when her more serious affairs permitted she was taken up with reading of Histories That sometimes she recreated her self in playing upon the Lute and Virginals She asked if she played well I said reasonably for a Queen That same day after Dinner my Lord of Hunsdean drew me up to a quiet Gallery that I might hear some Musick but he said that he durst not avow it where I might hear the Queen play upon the Virginals After I had hearkned a while I took by the Tapistry that hung before the door of the Chamber and seeing her back was toward the door I entered within the Chamber and stood a pretty space hearing her play excellently well but she left off immediately so soon as she turned her about and saw me She appeared to be surprized to see me and came forward seeming to strike me with her hand alledging she used not to play before Men but when she was solitary to shun melancholly She asked how I came there I answered as I was walking with my Lord of Hunsdean as we past by the Chamber door I heard such melody as ravished me whereby I was drawn in e're I knew how excusing my fault of homeliness as being brought up in the Court of France where such freedom was allowed declaring my self willing to endure what kind of punishment her Majesty should be pleased to inflict upon me for so great an offence Then she sate down low upon a Cushion and I upon my knees by her but with her own hand she gave me a Cushion to lay under my knee which at first I refused but she compelled me to take it She then called for my Lady Strafford out of the next Chamber for the Queen was alone She inquired whether my Queen or she played best In that I found my self obliged to give her the praise She said my French was good and asked if I could speak Italian which she spoke reasonably well I told her Majesty I had no time to learn the Language perfectly not having been above two Months in Italy Then she spake to me in Dutch which was not good and would know what kind of Books I most delighted in whether Theology History or Love matters I said I liked well of all the sorts Here I took occasion to press earnestly my dispatch she said I was weary sooner of her company then she was of mine I told her Majesty that though I had no reason of being weary I knew my Mistress her affairs called me home yet I was stayed two days longer till I might see her Dance as I was afterward informed Which being over she inquired of me whether she or my Queen Danced best I answered the Queen Danced not so high and disposedly as she did Then again she wished that she might see the Queen at some convenient place of meeting I offered to convey her secretly to Scotland by Post clothed like a Page that under this disguise she might see the Queen as James the Fifth had gone in disguise to France with his own Ambassadour to see the Duke of Vendom's Sister who should have been his Wife Telling her that her Chamber might be kept in her absence as though she were sick that none needed to be privy thereto except my Lady Strafford and one of the Grooms of her Chamber She appeared to like that kind of Language only answered it with a sigh saying alas if I might do it thus She used all the means she could to oblige me to perswade the Queen of the great love she did bear unto her and that she was fully minded to put away all jealousies and suspicions and in times-coming to entertain a stricter friendship then formerly She promised that my dispatch should be delivered to me very shortly at London by Secretary Cicil For now she was at Hampton Court where she gave me my answer by mouth her self and her Secretary by writing The next day my Lord of Leicester desired me to go down the River in his Barge with him to London He had in his company Sir Henry Sidney Deputy of Ireland By the way my Lord entered familiarly into discourse with me alledging that he was well acquainted with my Lord of Murry Lidingtoun and my Brother Sir Robert and that he was by report so well acquainted with me that he durst upon the Character he had heard of me desire to know what the Queen my Mistress thought of him and the marriage that Mr. Randolph had proposed Whereunto I answered very coldly as I had been by my Queen commanded Then he began to purge himself of so proud a pretence as to marry so great a Queen declaring he did not esteem himself worthy to wipe her Shoes declaring that the invention of that proposition of marriage proceeded from Mr. Cicil his secret Enemy For if I says he should
have appeared desirous of that marriage I should have offended both the Queens and lost their favour He intreated me to excuse him at her Majesties hands and to beg in his Name that she would not impute that matter to him but to the malice of his Enemies Being landed at London our Dinner was prepared by the Earl of Pembroke who being great Master yet humbled himself so far as to serve the said Table as Master of the Houshold himself He was a devout friend to my Queens Title of succeeding to the Crown of England After Dinner I took leave of the French Ambassadour and the Spanish having received divers advertisements from them My Lord of Leicester beside what he had spoke to me did write to my Lord of Murray to excuse him at the Queens hands The day appointed I received my dispatch from Secretary Cicil together with a Letter of Credit and a more ample Declaration of the Queens mind touching the same answers she had made me her self He gave me also a Letter to Secretary Lidingtoun For as is abovesaid Secretary Cicil and Leicester my Lord of Murray and Secretary Lidingtoun ruled both Queens and as yet kept good correspondence together When I took my leave Secretary Cicil conveyed me through the Close to the outer Gate of the Palace where he himself put a fair Chain about my Neck My Lady Lennox and Sir Nicholas Throgmorten sent many good advices to the Queen to be followed according as occasion offered My Lady Lennox sent also Tokens to the Queen a Ring with a fair Diamond she sent an Emerauld to my Lord her Husband who was yet in Scotland a Diamond to my Lord of Murray a Watch set with Diamonds and Rubies to the Secretary Lidingtoun a Ring with a Ruby to my Brother Sir Robert For she was still in good hope that her Son my Lord Darnly would come better speed concerning the marriage of our Queen then the Earl of Leicester She was a very wise and discreet Matron and had many favourers in England for the time At my return I found the Queens Majesty still at Edinbrugh To whom I declared at large my manner of proceeding with the Queen of England and gave her Majesty her answers to the special heads of my instructions in writing Her Majesty answered to the first that whereas the Queen thought the time very long since she received either word or writ from her whereby she might understand of her good estate and had sent me thither to visit her in her behalf that she thought the time as long albeit she had conceived some displeasure concerning the angry Letter Which was the greater in respect it appeared that she disdained the offer of the best good she had to give to wit the Man whom she esteemed as her Brother And whereas she had sent me to visit her she was more satisfied with my coming then she would have been with any other being formerly of her acquaintance with whom she could the more familiarly declare her inward mind to the Queen my Mistress seeing she could not meet with her self so soon as she desired As I might declare how familiarly she had conferred with me acquainting me with all her inward griefs and desires and how well she was satisfied and how willing to continue all good offices of amity and that she would for that effect send shortly down to the Border Commissioners who were named by her self to meet with my Lord of Murray and Lidingtoun As for the Parliament it was yet in doubt whether it held or not If it held the Queen should get no hurt in her Right neither directly nor indirectly but she should be forewarned in due time Then I shewed her Majesty at length of all other purposes that fell out occasionally betwixt that Queen and me together with the opinions and advertisements of divers of her friends in England as well Catholicks as Protestants I gave her at the desire of the Spanish Ambassadour the intimation of his Kings good will toward her Her Majesty was very glad that matters were brought again to this pass between her and the Queen of England having thereby occasion of getting intelligence from a great number of Noblemen and others her friends in England For she was also afraid that the blame of the discord would have been laid upon her if it had continued After that her Majesty had at great length understood all my management and proceedings in England she inquired whether I thought that Queen meant truly toward her inwardly in her heart as she appeared to do outwardly in her speech I answered freely that in my judgment there was neither plain dealing nor upright meaning but great dissimulation emulation and fear lest her Princely qualities should over soon chace her from the Kingdom as having already hindered her marriage with the Arch-duke Charles of Austria It appeared likewise to me by her offering unto her with great appearing earnestness my Lord of Leicester whom I knew at that time she could not want Shortly after my Lord of Murray and Bedford met near Berwick to treat concerning the marriage with Leicester with slenderer offers and less effectual dealing then was expected But the said Earl of Leicester had written such discreet and wise Letters unto my Lord of Murray for his excuses that the Queen appeared to have so good liking to him as the Queen of England began to suspect that the said marriage might take effect Her apprehensions of this occasioned the Lord Darnly his getting more readily license to come to Scotland in hope that he being a handsome lusty youth should rather prevail being present then Leicester who was absent Which license was procured by the means of the Secretary Cicil not that he was minded that any of the marriages should take effect but with such shifts to hold the Queen unmarried so long as he could For he perswaded himself that my Lord Darnly durst not proceed in the marriage without consent of the Queen of England first obtained to the said marriage his Land lying in England and his Mother remaining there So that he thought it lay in the Queen his Mistress her own hand to let that marriage go forward or to stay the same at her pleasure And in case my Lord Darnly should disobey the Queen of Englands command to return upon her call he intended to cause for fault him whereby he should lose all his Lands Rights and Titles that he had in England The Queens Majesty as I have said before after her returning out of France to Scotland behaved her self so Princely honourably and discreetly that her reputation spread it self in all Countries She was determined and of her self inclined to continue so unto the end of her life desiring to entertain none in her company but such as were of the best conversation abhorring all vice and vicious persons In this her resolution she desired me to assist her by affording her my good counsel what way was
being by this time almost wholly of the Reformed Religion took a dislike of the King because of this he having formerly professed the Reformed Religion in England Hence were occasioned rumours that there was some design on foot for planting again in Scotland the Roman Catholick Religion there being ground of suspicion that Rixio was a Pensioner of the Popes And at this same time the Pope sent Eight Thousand Crowns in Gold to be delivered to our Queen which augmented these suspicions But the Ship wherein the said Gold was did Ship-wrack upon the Coast of England within the Earl of Northumberland's bounds who alledged the whole to appertain to him by just Law which he caused his Advocate to read unto me when I was directed to him for the demanding restitution of the said Sum in the old Norman Language Which neither he nor I understood well it was so corrupt But all my intreaties were ineffectual he altogether refusing to give any part thereof to the Queen albeit he was himself a Catholick and otherwise professed secretly to be her friend After that the Queens Majesty had married my Lord Darnly she did him great honour her self and desired every one who expected her favour to do the like and to wait upon him So that for a little time he was well accompanied and such as sought favour by him sped best in their Suits But because he had married without advice of the Queen of England my Lady Lennox his Mother was committed to the Tower of London where she was kept for a long time All this time I attended still upon the Queen but with less familiarity then formerly And seeing my service for the time no more needful humbly begged liberty of the Queen to return to France and other places where I had spent the greatest part of my life But this her Majesty absolutely refused to grant expressing some desire to know what could move me to desert her service I said the time was full of suspicions and that I was confident I could do her more service abroad then at home as matters had fallen out She answered that she knew I could do her more service at home then any Servant she had if I pleased but that I had left off using my wonted freedom with her in giving her my opinion of her proceedings I told her Majesty I was somewhat apprehensive that my opinions would be unpleasant to her but she affirmed the contrary telling me that I had Enemies who used their endeavours to imprint a bad Character of me in the King as if I had been a favourer of the Earl of Murray which she had put out of the King's head as being better acquainted with my nature and conditions Saying that she knew well that I had a liking to the Earl of Murray but not to his actings of taking up Arms against her That she was assured that I loved her ten times better then him She said moreover that if any did endeavour to misrepresent her as much to me that she wisht I should give them no more credit against her then she had done or should do against me She advised me to wait upon the King who was but young and give him my best counsel as I had formerly done to her which might help him to shun many inconveniencies And she gave me her hand that she would take all in good part whatever I did speak as proceeding from a loving and faithful Servant Desiring me also to befriend Rixio who was hated without a cause The King also told me who they were who had spoken to him in my prejudice And said they were known to be such common lyars as their tongue was no slander By these and such like means the Queens Majesty obliged me more and more to be careful to be serviceable to her And I judged my self ingaged as the greatest demonstration I could give of my being faithful to her to give her my opinion what use she might make for her own advantage of the harsh usage the Earl of Murray and his associates had received in England How uncourteously that Queen had used them before the French and Spanish Ambassadours she having broken all her fair promises unto them First I told her Majesty that ever since her return to her own Countrey she had been endeavouring to get her Nobility and whole Subjects intirely affected to take part with her in all actions whatsoever and chiefly against England in case she might have occasion of imploying them Though she could never hitherto obtain her desire because of the secret bond and promise was made among them when the English Army was at the Siege of Lieth helping to put the Frenchmen out of Scotland Now said I Madam the occasion is offered whereby your Majesty may bring your desired intention to pass if you could find in your heart either to pardon the Earl of Murray and his associates or at least to prolong the Parliament wherein they are to be forfaulted untill your Majesty may duly advise and see whether it will be more your interest to forfault them or give them ground of hope of obtaining your pardon according to their carriage for the future To this she answered now when they could do no better they sought her but when she sought their concurrence such as Subjects owe to their native Prince they would not hear her no more would she now notice their Suits I said whensoever they were to make their Suits it should not be by me but this I propose of my self to your Majesty who can choose the best and leave the worst in all accidents Seeing it is no little matter to gain the whole hearts of all your Subjects and also of a good number in England who favour them and their Religion who would admire such Princely vertues When they should see so pregnant a proof of your Majesties being able to Master your own passions and affections all will then conclude that you were most worthy to reign over Kingdoms finding you so ready to forgive and so loath to use vengeance especially against Subjects already vanquished and not worthy of your wrath If your Majesty consider seriously clemency at such a time will be found most convenient and that part of Justice called Equity more profitable then rigour For extremity frequently brings on desperate enterprises At this her Majesty entred into choller saying I defie them what can they do or what dare they do Madam says I with your Majesties pardon my proposition is in obedience to your own Commandment to shew you my opinion at all times for the weal of your affairs Then she said she thanked me granting that it was a good advice and necessary to be done if she could in so far command her self But that yet she could not find in her heart to have to do with any of them upon divers considerations intreating me nevertheless to continue giving her my advice at all occasions For albeit she did not follow
conference If any be afraid of your Majesty thinking that you have an ill opinion of them the assurance by a trusty Minister of your good will whom they may credit will quickly put them out of doubt and make them favourable enough They who are constantly yours are easily retained at your devotion Those who heretofore have born any favour and by the late occurrences are any way brangled will be brought home again when they shall see your Majesty now when it is fallen in your hands to use rigour or mercy as you please rather incline to the most plausible part in shewing your magnanimity when you have brought your Subjects to submission and gentleness as the good Pastour to reduce his Sheep that were gone astray home again to the fold Those who are yet neutrals by the same means and true information of your interest by Law may all be won to your side This done when the matter comes in question your friends will earnestly press your interest at this Parliament and you will without controversie bear it away This device in so far as concerns your reconciliation with your Subjects is not a fetch for their favour but is thought expedient for your service by many who have no favour for them and are different from them in Religion For it will bring the Queen of England greatly to favour you when she shall see such an Union in your own Kingdom of the Head and whole Members together She will not know how to disturb your Majesties estate especially when the Reconciliation takes effect in the hearts of the Subjects in England who will think themselves in an happy condition if they should come under the Government of so benign a Princess who can so readily forgive great offences For albeit it must be acknowledged that my Lord of Murray hath by his inconsiderate carriage given your Majesty great ground of offence yet it is hard to perswade the Protestants that your quarrel against him hath any other foundation then that he differs from you in Religion Upon this ground they find themselves engaged to espouse his quarrel If then they perceived your Majesty graciously inclined to take him again unto favour and forgive what is by-past the Protestants in England would doubtless declare themselves more affectionate to your interest when they shall see more of their own Religion so clemently handled And that your Majesty may have experience that it is your advancement your friends would by this means procure and not the advantage of those with whom your Majesty is offended a middle way may be followed as is frequently used in such like cases where not only the multitude is spared but the chief authors are preserved It may please your Majesty to cause a Letter to be pen'd in good terms and form and publish the same by Proclamation declaring the just cause of your anger against all of them and that yet for declaring your own good nature above their deservings you are content to remit the whole except such principles as you please to reserve and except by name from the general Pardon And that with whom you will not take such severe order as you might in Law till you have further tryal and experience of their Penitence The persons so to be nominated and excepted shall depart out of England to what Countrey pleaseth your Majesty there to remain during your pleasure In this mean time if your Majesty find that this benign usage of yours shall produce such fruit as is here spoken your Majesty may further extend your favour as you find convenient and profitable for your self For your Majesty hath still the crimes lying above their heads In the mean time all who favour them in England will plead in their cause with your Majesty so far as their power extends as if they were Agents for your Majesty They will in no ways if they can eschew it be again in the Queen of Englands debt neither by obtaining of any favour at your hand by her intervention nor yet for any support in the time of their banishment But rather it may please your Majesty that their charges be allowed them of their own Lands By following this advice which in no ways can be prejudicial to your Majesty but will much conduce for your interest you may recover the greatest part of the Bishops of England many of the greatest Nobility and Gentlemen who are yet Neutral Their Names were declared to her Majesty in Cypher by whose means he alledged her Majesty should obtain so great an interest in England that albeit that Queen would appear against her she needed not to care For in sending but one thousand Men of her own out of four parts of England a sufficient number should join with them by whose forces without any strangers her Majesty should obtain the thing which is wrongfully refused and retained When her Majesty had seriously pondered this discourse it had great influence upon her to move her to follow the desire thereof as well for the good opinion she had of him who sent it as being of her own nature more inclined to mercy then rigour she being also wise and being convinced that it tended to the advancement of her affairs in England She was therefore fully resolved to have followed the advice thereof and to prolong the Parliament which had been called to forfault the Lords who had fled Rixio appeared also to have been gained for counselling her hereto My Lord Murray had sued to him very earnestly and more humbly then could have been believed with the present of a fair Diamond inclosed within a Letter full of repentance and fair promises from that time forth to be his Friend and Protector Which the said Rixio granted to do with the better will that he perceived the King to bear him little good will and to frown upon him Following this advice and advertisement given by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton the Queens Majesty sent my Brother Sir Robert Melvil to remain her Ambassadour in Ordinary at the Court of England to be ready at all occasions in case any thing were treated at the Parliament concerning the Succession and to pursue the Design laid down by Sir Nicholas and her other friends in England In this mean time there was a French Gentleman sent home here called Monsieur d' Villamonte with a Commission to treat with the Queen that in no wayes she should shew any favour to the protestant banished Lords Because that all Catholick Princes were bandied to root them out of all Europe Which was a device of the Cardinal of Lorrain lately returned from the Councel of Trent He had caused the King of France to write earnestly to that effect Which unhappy Message occasioned divers tragical accidents For the Queen was loath to offend her friends in France of the house of Guise albeit she would have done little at that time by her own pleasure to satisfie the King of France who was but young and
and himself was found dead lying a little distance from the House under a Tree He desired me to go up and see him how that there was not a hurt nor a mark on all his Body But when I went up to see him he had been taken into a Chamber and kept by one Alexander Durham but I could not get a sight of him The bruit began to rise that the Queen would marry the Earl of Bothwel who had six months before married the Earl of Huntly's Sister and that for this design he was resolved to part with his own Lady Whereat every good Subject who loved the Queens honour and the Prince's safety had sore hearts thinking thereby her Majesty would be dishonoured and the Prince in danger to be cut off by him who had slain his Father But few or none durst speak in the contrary yet my Lord Herreis a worthy Nobleman came to Edinbrugh well accompanied and told her Majesty what reports were going through the Country of the Earl of Bothwel's murthering the King and how that she was to marry him requesting her Majesty most humbly upon his knees to remember her honour and dignity and the safety of the Prince which all would be in danger if she married the said Earl with many other great perswasions to shew the utter wrack and inconveniencies would be thereby occasioned Her Majesty appeared to wonder how these reports could go abroad seeing as she said there was no such thing in her mind He beg'd her Majesties pardon and prayed her to take his honest meaning in a good part And immediately took his farewell fearing the Earl of Bothwel should get notice thereof He had fifty Horse with him for the time and caused each of them to buy a new Spear at Edinbrugh and so rode home I was resolved to have said as much to her Majesty but in the mean time there came a Letter to me from one Thomas Bishop a Scottishman who had been long in England and was a great perswader of many in England to favour her Majesties Title He used oft to write unto my Brother and me informations and advertisements At this time in his Letter to me he used even the like Language that my Lord Herreis had spoken but more freely because he was absent in another Country He adjured me to shew the said Letter unto her Majesty declaring how it was bruited in England that her Majesty was to marry the Earl of Bothwel who was the murtherer of her Husband who at present had a Wife of his own a Man full of all Vice which reports he could not believe by reason that he judged her Majesty to be of far greater knowledge then to commit such a gross oversight so prejudicial every way to her interest and the noble mark he knew she shot at Seeing if the married him she would lose the favour of God her own reputation and the hearts of all England Ireland and Scotland with many other disswasions and examples of History which would be tedious to rehearse I had been some days absent but upon receipt hereof I went to Court to shew this Letter to her Majesty protesting that she would take it in good part After that her Majesty had read the said Letter she gave it me again without any more speech but called upon the Secretary Lidingtoun and told him that I had shewed her a strange Letter desiring him also to read it He asked what it could be She answered a device of his own tending to the wrack of the Earl of Bothwel He took me by the hand and drew me aside to see the said Letter which when he had read he asked what had been in my mind for says he so soon as the Earl Bothwel gets notice hereof as I fear he will very shortly he will cause you to be killed I said it was a sore matter to see that good Princess run to utter wrack and no body to be so far concerned in her as to forwarn her of her danger He said I had done more honestly then wisely and therefore I pray you says he retire diligently before the Earl of Bothwel comes up from his Dinner Her Majesty told him at her first meeting having first ingaged him to promise to do me no harm Notwithstanding whereof I was inquired after but was slown and could not be found till his fury was slaked For I was advertised there was nothing but slaughter in case I had been gotten Whereat her Majesty was much dissatisfied telling him that he would cause her be left of all her Servants whereupon he renewed his ingagements that I should receive no harm whereof I being advertised I went again unto her Majesty shewing her that she had never so much injured me as by thinking that I had invented the said Letter assuring her that it came from the said Thomas Bishop and that albeit it had not come from him I thought it my duty to have freely told her Majesty my opinion in all reverence and humility which was contained in the said Letter but I found she had no mind to enter upon this subject Shortly after her Majesty went to Sterling and in her back-coming betwixt Lithgow and Edinbrugh the Earl of Bothwel rancountered her with a great Company and took her Majesties Horse by the Bridle his men took the Earl of Huntly the Secretary Lidingtoun and me and carried us Captives to Dumbar All the rest were permitted to go free There the Earl of Bothwel boasted he would marry the Queen who would or who would not yea whether she would her self or not Captain Blachater who had taken me alledged that it was with the Queens own consent The next day in Dumbar I obtained permission to go home Afterward the Court came to Edinbrugh and there a number of Noblemen were drawn together in a Chamber within the Palace where they all subscribed a paper declaring that they judged it was much the Queens interest to marry Bothwel he having many friends in Louthian and upon the Borders which would cause good order to be kept And then the Queen could not but marry him seeing he had ravished her and lain with her against her will I cannot tell how nor by what Law he parted with his own Wife Sister to the Earl of Huntly A little before this the Earl of Murray had desired liberty to go to France the Secretary Lidingtoun had been long in suspicion absent from Court and was brought in again by my Brother Sir Robert's perswasion for the great credit and handling he had with many Noblemen in England favourers of her Majesties Title albeit that he had as great credit himself yet he would not follow the custom of ambitious Courtiers who would ingross all to themselves unwilling to suffer a Companion He knew also that he was suspected because the Earl Bothwel was not his friend Thus Lidingtoun was again brought in but not long after the Earl of Bothwel thought to have slain him in
your travel For first they will never meet together and next there will never be any thing else but dissembling and secret hatred for a while and at length Captivity and utter wrack to our Queen from England My Brother answered he liked not to hear of such devilish news nor yet would he in any sort credit them as being false ungodly and unlawful for Christians to meddle with Bassintoun answered good Mr. Melvil entertain not that harsh opinion of me I am a Christian of your own Religion and fear God and purposeth never to cast my self on any of the unlawful Arts that you mean but so far as Melancthon who was a godly Theologue hath declared lawful and written concerning the natural Sciences which are lawful and daily read in divers Christian Universities in the which as in all other Arts God gives to some less and to others clearer knowledge by the which knowledge I have attained to understand that at length the Kingdom of England shall of right fall to the Crown of Scotland and that at this instant there are some born who shall brook Lands and Heritages in England But alas it will cost many their Lives and many bloody Battels will be fought e're things be settled or take effect and by my knowledge says he the Spaniards will be helpers and will take a part to themselves for their labour which they will be loath to leave again After that the Queens Majesty had demitted the Government when she was Captive in Lockleven in such manner as is rehearsed my Lord of Murray being the first of the Regents of whom I have said something already I intend now to follow forth and shew a part of his proceedings and to begin where I left at her Majesties retreat to England After the Battel of Langside the Regent went through the Country and took up the Escheats and Houses of those who had assisted at the said Battel and caused to cast down divers of their houses distributing their Lands to his Servants and dependers The Council of England being crafty and in special the Secretary Cicil they knew what kind of Men had most credit about him for the time and thereupon took occasion to deal with the least honest most ambitious and covetous of that number and Society who had joined and banded themselves together to assist each other whereby to advance themselves and to disgrace all such true and honest men as had assisted and helped him in all his former troubles This sort of Men were soon perswaded and corrupted to move the Regent to pass unto England and accuse their native Queen before the Queen and Council of England to the great dishonour of their Country and Prince For the Queen of England who had no just cause to retain our Queen who had fled to England in hope of getting shelter and the assistance which had been so oft promised her both before and after her Captivity in Lockleven was very desirous to have some colour and pretext whereby she might make answer to the Ambassadours of sundry Princes who reproached her for her unkindly and unprincely proceedings therein Because the most part of those who had the Regent's Ear were gained to this opinion and the number few who were of a contrary mind he went forward to England accompanied with the Earl of Mortoun the Lord Lindsay the Laird of Lockleven the Bishop of Orkny the Abbot of Dumfarmling Mr. James Macgil Mr. Henry Balnears Mr. George Buchanan the Laird of Pittarrow George Duglas Bishop of Murray Mr. John Wood the Regent's Secretary a great Ring-leader Mr. Nicholas Elphinstoun Secretary Lidingtoun Alexander Hay Alexander Hume of North-Berwick the Laird of Cleesh with divers other Barons and Gentlemen who went there to see the fashion some to wait upon the Regent and Lords and some who could not get the Regent disswaded from this extream folly at home went with him to England to see if by any assistance of such as were friends there to the Union of the Isle and to the Title of Scotland he might be stayed from that accusation For those who were the Queens Lords who came there to defend the Queens part had no credit nor familiarity with the chief faction in England concerning the Title nor durst open their minds but to such as by long acquaintance they were well assured of their honesty and secrecy The names of the Queens Lords were the Lord Herreis the Lord Boid the Lord Fleeming the Lord Livingstoun the Bishop of Ross and some others with my Brother Sir Robert who attended to do all the good he could The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and several other Councellors were sent down to York to hear the Regent's Accusation and to be as Judges between the King and Queen's Lords The first day of meeting the Duke of Norfolk required that the Regent should make Homage in the King's Name to the Crown of England thinking he had some ground to demand the same seeing the said Regent there to plead his Cause before the Councel of England Whereat the Regent grew red and knew not what to answer but Secretary Lidingtoun took up the Speech and said That in restoring again to Scotland the Lands of Huntingtuon Cumberland and Northumberland with such other Lands as Scotland did of old possess in England that Homage should gladly be made for the said Lands but as to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland it was freer than England had been lately when it payed St. Peter ' s Penny to the Poor It appeared still that the Duke drave off time with us as having no inclination to enter upon the terrors of Accusation What was in his head appeared afterward but he was long in a suspence with whom to deal For he thought as he afterward said he neither did see honest men nor wise men At last he resolved to enter in Conference with Secretary Lidingtoun to whom he said That before that time he had ever esteem'd him a Wise man until that now he came before Strangers to accuse the Queen his Mistress as if England were Iudge over the Princes of Scotland How could we find in our hearts to dishonour our Kings Mother or how could we answer afterward for what we were doing seeing it tended to hazard the King her Sons Right to England intending to bring his Mothers honesty in question It had been rather the Duty of you his Subjects sayes he to cover her Imperfections if she had any remitting unto God and Time to punish and put Order thereto who is the Only Iudge over Princes Lidingtoun as he might well do purged himself and declared he came there to endeavour to stop the said Accusation which the Laird of Grange and divers others had endeavoured to do in vain before the Regent's coming out of Scotland And that now he would be glad of any help to hinder that shameful deliberation of the Regents pushed thereto by a company of greedy rash and careless
instrumental in perswading the Laird of Grange to be upon a contrary Faction I would not be that instrument neither would I desert the King's interest though he should cause all the rest of my Lands to be taken from me Seeing that Grange could not be moved to join with the Queens Faction according to the desire of the Court of England for the rest of that Kingdom was sorry to see this kind of dealing the English Ambassadour perswaded the Regent to irritate and incense him by all manuer of slights done to himself and his dependers In the mean time my Lord Duke the Earls of Arguile and Huntly addressed themselves unto him making their moan That they being Noblemen of the Country of considerable Interest were refused to be admitted in the Society of the rest who sought their ruine under pretext of the King's Authority by the Regent the Earl of Mortoun and others not their friends requesting him to be their Protector and to assist them during the King's minority Telling him how that they at first would gladly have joined with the King's Lords for maintaining the King's Authority but could not get place nor be admitted Thus Grange finding himself neglected with the King's Lords and sought after by the Queens he was compelled to declare with that side at length having with him the Lord Hume male-content Also Secretary Lidingtoun and Sir James Balfour spurring him on to take that course he was resolved to take that side for his next refuge he having been among the rest summoned to be forfaulted Now the two furious Factions being in this manner framed their hatred and rage grew greater and greater For Mr. Randolph knew the animosities which were among the Nobility and the nature of every one in particular by his frequent coming and his long residence in Scotland And among the Ladies he had a Mother and a Mistress to whom he caused his Queen frequently to send Commendations and Tokens He also used his craft with the Ministers offering Gold to such of them as he thought could be prevailed with to accept of his offer but such as were honest refused his gifts He gave largely to all such as he knew were able to serve him in his design of kindling this fire and his endeavours were so successful that the two parties were not only stirred up to fight and shed one anothers blood but would revile each other with injurious and blasphemous words and at length fell to the down-casting of each others Houses to which England gave no small assistance having sent in a number of Men of War to throw down Hamiltoun This was occasioned by some probability that appeared of a Reconciliation of the two Factions by the endeavours of some of the most prudent Ministers who did all they could to prevent the ensuing troubles And they foresaw that this prejudice was done to the Hamiltouns to inrage them so as there might be no hope of agreement when they should see themselves so far injured Now as Nero stood upon a high part of Rome to see the Town burning which he had caused to be set on fire so Mr. Randolph delighted to see such a fire by his craft kindled in Scotland which was in all probability like to burn it up And in his Letters to some of the Court of England he gloried that he had kindled a fire in Scotland which could not be easily extinguished Which when it came to the knowledge of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton he wrote to my Brother Sir Robert and me advertising us how we were handled expressing his detestation both at Secretary Cicil directer and Mr. Randolph as executer All the honest Men in England were sorry at it of which number there are as many within that Country as in any other so much bounds in Europe My Brother and I did shew the Letters we had received from Sir Nicholas to the Laird of Grange and so many within the Castle as we knew to be secret which they easily believed as being Men of great understanding who had noticed Mr. Randolph's proceedings Whereupon there were some secret meetings drawn on between my Lord Hume and my Lord Ruthven as near kinsmen The Lord Ruthven was in greatest favour with the Regent for the time being also Treasurer he was desired to come and speak with my Lord Hume during the hottest of the Civil Wars At which time Secretary Lidingtoun and my Brother Sir Robert came into communing with the Lord Ruthven after that he and the Lord Hume had spoken a space together and did shew him how the Regent was used by England and how this Kingdom was abused by the tricks of a few for advancing their selfish ends and also how that the Earl of Mortoun had desired secretly to come at midnight accompanied with Mr. Archibald Douglas to the Castle of Edinbrugh and had entertained long conference with them desiring their assistance and he should chace the Earl of Lennox back to England if they would accept and acknowledge him for Regent in his stead which they of the Castle would not grant looking upon the Earl of Lennox as a true Scots-man And they declared that their denying to assist him at first was his being sent for and brought in by them That therefore they feared at the first that he would have been too much at the devotion of the Court of England as being an English-man and having yet his Lady Children and Lands in that Country and moreover that he should be so led by the Earl of Mortoun and their factious Enemies that he would seek their utter ruine both because that Captain Crauford who had accused the Secretary was for the time Servant to the Earl of Lennox and alledged that he had a Commission from the said Earl to give in the said Accusation And that which gave matter enough to my Lord Hume was the bringing in of the Earl of Lennox by the Earl of Sussex and the taking of his two Houses of Hoome and Falcastle all at one time which he supposed not to have been done without the Earl of Lennox his knowledge and consent But since they understood that the Earl of Lennox and the whole Country was abused by England Mr. Randolph the Agent and the Earl of Mortoun they were resolved both to agree themselves and to cause all Scotland agree with the Regent if he would grant them reasonable conditions My Lord Ruthven was very glad of this offer and said he hoped to bring them a good answer from the Regent and the rather because the Earl of Mortoun was absent being malecontent for denying to him the grant of the Bishoprick of St. Andrews which the King's house and the Regent's might ill spare So he returned with this offer to the Regent who much rellisht it and after twice or thrice passing betwixt the Regent with the Lord Ruthven had concluded a Peace quietly in their minds none being as yet made privy thereto But as Ambassadours are great Spies and
commonly suspitious Mr. Randolph who lay at Lieth having his own Jealousies of an intention of accommodation knew the only way to stop it was to bring again the Earl of Mortoun who he knew would violently oppose it and use the utmost of his endeavours to render that Design ineffectual He therefore dealt earnestly with the Regent to give the said Bishoprick of St. Andrews to the Earl of Mortoun alledging to her That the Queen his Mistress had written to him for that effect and that she would recompence it to him with greater advantage That he would cause her hand-writing to come to him thereabout and that she would be much dissatisfied if he refused that her desire When the Regent had upon Mr. Randolph's desire granted this he incontinently advertised the Earl of Mortoun thereof who immediately came to Court and smelling the foresaid design of agreement he used all the contrary practices he could to hinder it For as he had fished that Benefice in troubled Waters he hoped by such means to fish much more And finding that I was much inclined to draw forward the accommodation one of his Devices was to cause the Councel to Vote and direct the Earl of Buchan to take me Prisoner out of my own house But I was at a Marriage in Fordel where the said Earl came with whom I went willingly tho I had as many Friends there as offered to chace him back again without his Errand but I would not prejudge my just Cause For the Earl of Buchan was of a gentle and discreet Nature and assured me they had nothing to lay to my charge but to see if I could be a good Instrument of Concord He desired me when I was in Lieth to send up to the Castle of Edinbrugh and alledg that my Life was in hazard in case they would not render up the Castle to the Regent I answered It was a Childish thing in them to propose such a thing to me seeing they could not but know that my Friends in the Castle were angrier at me than they were because I did not take part with them However the Laird of Grange was dissatisfied when he heard that I was taken For he knew how far I was injur'd seeing I had several times perswaded him to take part with the Regent and how far I had reasoned against the Secretary and Sir James Balfour in their proceedings with the Queens Faction For seeing she was Captive so that neither could she help them nor they her it would but occasion her to be the stronglier guarded and kept more straitly in England For hearing that there was a Faction risen up in her Name it would cause them to suppose that she was in hope of sudden liberty by some Practices with the Subjects of England Sir William Balfour alledged That her Majesty had Friends in France and other Parts who would be more encouraged to do for her if they understood that a number of the Nobility did own her Authority I said That her only Friends were in England and France that those who were in England durst not as yet appear seeing there would be a special Eye held over them and her French friends would do her no good the Queen Mother who had the chief Rule of that Country being her great Enemy and the House of Guise neither able to help her nor yet were they her sure friends as I shall shew more at length anon I was declaring that the Laird of Grange was angry at my taking I being so frank for the Regent and he so willing to join with him That same night he sent down a Woman from the Castle to Lieth with a Ticket to me That he was resolved to come that same night at mid-night and relieve me out of their hands that he had sent that Woman to know how I was kept and where I was lodged The Regent's Camp lay between Lieth and Edinbrugh and many of the Noblemen and Barons lodged in Lieth for every one had not Pavilions to lodge in the Camp The Laird of Grange had appointed a Boat to lye at Grantoun and had resolved to come sailing up to Lieth Harbour as if it had been a Boat come from Fiffe and thought without stroke to come to my Lodging and take me out of my Keepers hands and go up the water again to a part where he had Horsemen in readiness to carry me up to the Castle with him But I would upon no accompt condescend thereto assuring him That I was in no danger and that my Lord Bughan had promised when I pleased to let me slip away which I would not do but desired daily to come to a Tryal Many of the Lords marvelled wherefore I was taken seeing they knew That since the Regent's entry to Scotland I had ever assisted him The Regent himself was much therewith dissatisfied so that after inquiry it was found that few of the Councellors knew of my taking The Earl of Mar a true Nobleman said That the Earl of Buchan for embracing such a Commission was madder than the former Earl his Father who was known not to be very wise But the Earl of Mortoun sent me word That nothing should ail me more then his own heart For the fashion they desired me to find Caution that I should serve the King's Majesty and his Regent and so I was dismissed and never brought before the Council Of a truth I could see no reason to set up two Factions to destroy the Country seeing I knew That though the one party professed to be for the Queen it was so far from conducing to her advantage that I knew it had a quite contrary effect so long as she was Captive nor yet could I see any out-gate for those who professed her Authority and who were compelled thereto for their own defence For whereas they would gladly have assisted the King's Lords if they would have accepted of them finding themselves refused necessity drew them to defend themselves under the name of some Authority not true love to the Queen And therefore I thought them the less to be relyed upon The rest of my reasons why the Queen could expect no help out of France from her own friends nor yet from the Queen Mother were these The Queen Mother had not been well used so long as our Queen's Husband Francis the Second lived The Council and States of France desired not the Union of this Isle For a proof hereof after that my Brother Sir Robert when he returned the first time of his Ambassage out of England brought the hand-writings of twenty five principal Earls and Lords in England to set the Crown of England upon the Queen of Scotland's head For the Captains in the particular Shires were already named and by those Lords set down in that Paper who were to be in readiness to march forward whenever they should be charged only they waited the Queens opportunity and advertisement when to stir Upon this intelligence the Queen
upon him to save him from his particular Enemies For they all had ingaged to him e're they went from Edinbrugh not to kill one man else he would not have left them Wormistoun was also killed against the Regent's will who cryed continually to save him who had done what he could for his preservation The Regent dyed not suddenly but some days after and made a very godly end They who had lost this fair enterprise for want of Granges conduct had enough to do to save themselves and had been all taken had not those in Stirling wanted horses to pursue after them For those who had taken the horses did ride forward with all possible speed leaving their Masters in danger to do for themselves When they were returned back to Edinbrugh they were very unwelcome guests to the Laird of Grange who greatly lamented the Regent's slaughter He said openly If he knew who had done that foul deed or had directed it to be done his own hand should have revenged it And whereas before he used to be meek and gentle he could not now command himself but bursted out in harsh language calling them disorderly Beasts For he knew the Regent was inclined to Peace and was only ignorantly driven on by the Earl of Mortoun and Mr. Randolph's practises to hold the said Parliament to the hinderance of concord and agreement therefore his intention was to bring all the Kings Lords to the Castle of Edenbrugh and to have made an agreement betwixt them and the other faction before they had parted But God in his providence would not permit this for further punishment of our wickedness For the Parliaments held forward and each one of them forefaulted others the Kings Lords came and lay at Lieth and the Queens within the Town and Castle of Edenbrugh Mr. Randolph would have had Mortoun made Regent instead of Lennox but the Lords liked better of the Earl of Marr and chose him For a little time there was hot skirmishing betwixt Lieth and Edinbrugh and extream hatred betwixt the two Factions and great cruelties exercised where they could be Masters of one another And frequently the Marshal of Berwick came to Lieth to assist Mr. Randolph privately tho publickly to find fault with him for his proceedings which my Lord of Marrs friends perceived and himself at last whereupon he began to grow colder in the quarrel and withdrew himself to Stirling advising with his friends what was meetest to be done Alledging that he could see nothing but the wrack of the Country under pretext of owning the King and Queens Authority while neither Kings nor Queens was in any of their minds but only put on by their own partialities of ambition greediness and vengeance England kindling up both the Parties and then laughing them all to scorn After this Conference Captain James Cunningham servant to my Lord of Marr a discreet Gentleman desired a secret meeting with my Brother Sir Robert In the mean time the most part of the Kings Lords went to Stirling where the Regent was living My Lord of Mortoun went to Dalkieth my Lord Lindsay lay in Lieth When the Wars grew colder and notice thereof taken by the Court of England a new Ambassador was hasted to Scotland to wit Mr. Henry Killegrew an old acquaintance of mine For Mr. Randolph was returned home because he had not such Credit with the Earl of Marr as to do service to these he served and had lost the favour of both the Factions For his double dealing was discovered he having no Credit but with the Earl of Mortoun This new Ambassador being Arrived at Lieth upon his way toward Stirling where the Regent remained for the time he sent up to the Castle of Edenbrugh to see if I was there For they had told him in Lieth that I was newly come from Fiffe He desired that I would come and speak with him which I did and convoyed him unto Cramond reasoning together all the way upon such matters as he said he had in Commission chiefly how he might be a good instrument to agree the differences that were between the two Parties albeit I knew there was nothing less in his mind at least in his Commission He said He had the Queen his Mistress commands to deal with both Parties forConcord but that he was most concerned in these of the Castle albeit that outwardly he behooved first to go to the Regent being in civility engaged to give him the prerogative yet in effect he said my friends in the Castle were these to them he was chiefly directed that they should be preferred both by his first salutation by me to them and by two familiar Letters the one from my Lord of Leicester to the Laird of Grange and the other from Secretary Cicil to Secretary Lidingtoun desiring me to intreat them to follow the good counsel given therein by the said Lords who loved them intirely for their vertue and old acquaintance Hewi led me to tell them that after he had declared his Commission to the Regent he would come back again to them and at length declare his Commission to them from Her Majesty It appeared to me that he had intelligence how that Mr. Randolph's double dealing had been discovered therefore he seemed to find fault with him in many things though in general he excused him as far as he could until I adjured him upon the long and great familiarity that had been betwixt us to deal plainlier with me I told him he might serve his Mistress truly enough without casting me and my friends upon a wrong side which might be afterwards our ruin who deserved better at his hands then to put us in such dangers as if we were untoward dishonest or uncounsellable as Mr. Randolph had done forgetting the fraternity of Religion so well grounded among us during his banishment in France for Religion There he was compelled to confess to me that his Commission and his mind went not one way and that he was imployed against his will tho as a Servant he durst not disobey his Princess he said he would give me his loving counsel and warning very freely He said that the Council of England neither built their course here upon the late Regent nor yet upon this but intirely upon the Earl of Mortoun as well of their own Plot laid down long since as by the Information of Mr. Randolph who hath confirmed them in that Opinion so that they will not alter for no contrary persuasion Willing my friends and me to joyn our course and band with the Earl of Mortoun or else to expect no friendship from the Court of England but hurt and ruin so far as they might For albeit he was not Regent they knew that he had a great Faction in the Country which they were resolved what they could to encrease so that whoever was Regent he should get little or nothing done without his consent In this I thought he dealt plainly my friends of the Castle were
Whore had shewn him the answers of the Oracles Yet the Laird of Grange who was ever willing to see Concord in the Country was easily persuaded the Lord Hume and Lidingtoun made some resistance at the first but were also at length content So that after I had past twice or thrice between them they appeared to be agreed in their hearts and the Laird of Grange said he would cause all the rest of the Queens faction to agree with the Regent but he refused to take the Bishoprick of St. Andrews and Castle of Blackness desiring nothing but his own Lands When I returned to the Regent with this answer conform to his desire he was marvellously glad but when I declared that the Laird of Grange would be a good instrument to cause all the rest of the Queens faction agree also with him he answered that was not meet And when I reasoned against him and shewed him how that I had spoken in his name that he was resolved to have agreed all Scotland and that Grange had no quarrel of his own but to help a number of Noble-men who required his Protection during the Kings Minority and had requested the Regent once to agree with them altogether for Granges honour and afterwards he and all these of the Castle should band with him and lay aside all other bands The Regent answered and said James I will be plain with you it is not my Interest to agree with them all for then their faction will be as strong as ever it was thereby they may some day circumvent me if they please therefore it is my game to divide them And moreover there have been great troubles in this Country this while by-gone and during them great wrongs and extortions committed for the which some fashion of punishment must be made and I would rather that the Crimes should be laid upon the Hamiltouns the Earl of Huntly and their Adherents then upon your Friends and by their wrack I will get more profit then by that of those in the Castle that have neither so great Lands to escheat to us as the reward of our labours Therefore shew Grange and your friends that either they must agree without the Hamiltouns and the Earls of Huntly and Arguile or the said Lords will agree without him and these of the Castle To this I answered That I understood him his Speeches being very plain with this I went again to the Castle and rehearsed our whole reasoning Grange said it was neither godly or just dealing to lay the blame upon those who were richest for their Lands and Goods and not upon them who were guiltiest seeing these Noblemen had been ever willing to agree after that the Queen was kept in England but could not be admitted And yet if now they would abandon him and agree without him and those in his company he had deserved better at their hands yet he had rather that they should leave and deceive him then that he should do it unto them When I had given this return to Mortoun and that he perceived that Grange stood stiff upon his honesty and reputation he appeared to like him the better and seemed as if he had been resolved to go forward with these of the Castle He sent up Carmichael at my desire to hear out of their own mouths so far as I had spoken in their name they of the Castle likewise sent Pittadrow to the Regent to hear out of his own mouth so far about the agreement as I had said to them in his name This I did for my discharge whatsoever might come afterwards The Regent asked at what time the Castle of Edinbrugh should be delivered to him I said within half a year What security said he shall I have for it I said I should be a Pledg if he would accept me Then he enquired wherefore I sought so long delay I answered in the first place till all Articles and Promises might be performed and likewise because though the Laird of Grange was ever esteemed an honest man yet by wrong Reports and Practices the Ministers have been stirred up to cry out and preach against him therefore to inable him to serve for the future it would be some satisfaction to his mind to let the world see that as well after the agreement as before he should be esteemed alike honest and worthy to keep the house and then at the time appointed the Regent should be intreated to receive the Castle out of his hands He appeared to be very well content with this manner of dealing and gave me great thanks for his travel I had made desiring me to go home and he in the mean time would convene the rest of the Noble-men of his side and acquaint them with his Proceedings and take their advice and consent to this good work which he doubted not to procure and thereafter he said he would send for me again and put the form of the agreement in Writing But he took immediately another course and sent a fit man to the Hamiltouns the Earls of Huntly Arguile and their dependers and offered an accommodation to them if they would be satisfied to make an agreement by themselves not including Grange and those in the Castle which condition they accepted of without making therein any Ceremonies whereof they by their Letters instantly from Pearth advertised the Laird of Grange lamenting that the straits they were redacted to had compelled them to accept that agreement which the Regent had offered them praying him not to take it in evil part seeing they had no house nor strength to retire themselves to They gave him many thanks for the help and assistance he had made them which they said they would never forget so long as God would lend them their lives This was the recompence this good Gentleman obtained for the great help he had given the Lords the hazard he had run upon their account and the Charges he had been at in aiding them not imagining that the Regent would be so malitious as to cast him off and not except of his friendship which he incontinently offered after the rest were agreed but from that time forth the Regent would hear none of his offers persuading the rest of his Faction that these of the Castle were so proud and wilful that they refused to serve the King or acknowledge him as Regent And this was Published and Preached and yet the contrary was true For they would have taken any reasonable appointment What rage was in the Regents mind for greediness of their Lands and Goods or what should have induced him to bring an Army from England to besiege the Castle of Edinbrugh I know not it being to the dishonour of his Prince and Country seeing a little before the Castle was offered to the Earl of Rothess to be instantly delivered unto his hands to be kept to the Regents behoof which was refused So that apparently he had some other fetch in his head then a man
erect the Land into a Province He had lately refused the demands of Mr. Randolph and Mr. Killegrew as is before mentioned and had reproached both the said Ambassadors of false and deceitful dealing Last of all he had refused to put the Castle into the hands of English men and therefore because he was true to his Prince and Country it cost him his life For they boasted plainly to bring down that Gyants pride who as they alledged presumed to be another Wallace Albeit contrariwise he was humble gentle and meek like a Lamb in the House but like a Lyon in the Fields He was a lusty strong and well proportioned personage hardy and of a magnanimous Courage secret and prudent in all his enterprises so that never one that he made or devised misgave where he was present himself When he was Victorious he was very merciful and naturally liberal an enemy to greediness and ambition and a friend to all men in adversity He fell frequently in trouble in protecting innocent men from such as would oppress them so that these his worthy qualifications were also partly causes and means of his wrack For they promoted him so in the opinion of many that some loved him for his Religion Uprightness and Manliness others again depended upon him for his good fortune and apparent promotion whereby divers of them hoped to be advanced and rewarded supposing that Offices and Honours could not fail to fall to him All which he wanted through his own default for he had fled foom Avarice and abhorred Ambition and refused sundry great Offices even to be Regent which were in his offer as well as other great Benefices and Pensions Thus wanting place and subsistance to reward he was soon abandoned by his greedy and ambitious dependers for when they saw him at a strait they drew to others whom they perceived to aim at more profitable marks On the other hand he was as much envied by those who were of a vile and unworthy nature of whom many have made Tragical ends for their too great Avarice and Ambition as shortly after did the Earl of Mortoun This gallant Gentleman perished for being too little ambitious and greedy But so soon as the King's Majesty came to perfect age and had understood how matters had gone during his minority he caused to restore the Heirs of the said Laird of Grange whom he said was wracked contrary to the appointment made with the Marshal of Berwick and also ordered his bones to be taken up and buried honourably in the ancient Burial place of his Predecessors in Kinghorn After his death the Marshal of Berwick took so heavy displeasure finding himself so far affronted because of the breach of his promise and that the appointment which he had made with the Castle of Edinbrugh was not kept that he would tarry no longer in his Office at Berwick seeing he judged he had lost his credit and reputation for he was a plain Man of War and loved Grange so dearly that at his request he spared to cast down the Houses of Seatoun and Nidrie when he came in to cast down the House of Hamiltoun Likewise all the Officers of Berwick lamented the loss of so worthy a Captain The Regent triumphed for a while because of the great assistance that England made to him which they had never done to any of the former Regents but rather stirred up factions and parties against them to keep the Country in discord The causes that moved them so to assist him were That they believed the old jealousies betwixt the Stuarts and Douglasses should by him be brought to an end the young King being in his hands to be disposed of at pleasure the Queen his Mother being already Captive in their hands which two only could join Scotland and England in one Monarchy Therefore above all others the guiders of the Court of England for the time wished them out of the way as well for the great Offices done by them both to King and Queen as for the desire they had to destroy that Race and Line to place some of their own friends to succeed to the Crown of England So thinking that the Regent's mark in Scotland and theirs in England was conformable they established and fortified him in his Regiment though God in his goodness suffered not their practises to take effect For the Regent wanting Heirs of his own body and having no Competitors to stay him from doing any thing that he pleased when he thought the time meet he delayed matters and in the mean time bent his whole study how to gather riches and how to suck out substance both from England and Scotland moving England thereby too late to repent that they had not preserved the Laird of Grange to be an awe over the Regent as he kept the King to be an aw over them And as he was crafty so he was fearful and slow of nature and thought the Earl of Angus his Brother's Son yet too young and not capable to comprehend his hidden intention and therefore he was long of resolving In the mean time serving his own turn with England as they did with all the World when they were like to have any trouble among themselves or with their Neighbours then he compelled them to send him mony which they were necessitated to do though sore against their heart with a hidden despight and secret hatred at his slowness on the one part and covetousness on the other This Regent held the Country in an established Estate under great obedience better then for many years before or since For there was not another Earl of Mortoun to stir up the factious Subjects as he used to do against the rest of the Regents which made him so proud and disdainful that he despised the rest of the Nobility And using no Mans counsel but his own he became ungrateful to all his old Friends and Servants And being under pretext of Justice used to commit divers wrongs and extortions he caused to begin a Process against the Laird of Fentry because many years before a Thief had made his escape out of his hands and against the Laird of Seafield for a piece of Land and against Mr. James Thorntoun for his Benefice Thus as he had lost the favour of England so did he by such ways the hearts of all Scotland but only of George Auflech and Alexander Gerdan As for the Laird of Carmichael he lamented to me grievously of his ingratitude toward him and was minded to leave him untill I gave him counsel to help himself by the hurtful experience of the Laird of Grange and Walter Melvil my Brother who was one of the Gentlemen of the Earl of Murray's Chamber which two lost his favour so soon as he became Regent And likewise I told him that very way I lost him my self for we had been long familiar with him and had assisted him in all his troubles but when he was Regent we would with our wonted
Majesty to his liberty albeit not without some peril with honour at the first and with the universal contentment of all his Subjects so soon as they understood his honest meaning and gracious deliberation as well by Promise as by Proclamation as is already specified For my part I forget not at all occasions to remember his Majesty I refused the Office of Secretary when offered by his Majesty in reward of my service because it was promised that no man should want his Offices Benefits Lands or Escheats I opposed my self in full Council against the Earl of Arran because he had formed a Proclamation against the Lords of the Road of Ruthven contrary to His Majesty's former Proclamation of Grace and Oblivion For which he leapt out of the house in a great rage at me and for despight he made a List of the Names of so many as should be upon the Privy Council and left out my name Likewise he named so many of his dependers as should serve in every Office which his Majesty was resolved not to acquiesce to without my advice Yet he prevailed with His Majesty to subscribe the same assisted by the foresaid Lords who took plain part with him So I was shut out of door and had no more place to do good His Majesty graciously excused the matter and said That the Lords had no will of two Brothers being upon the Council But when he should get a Wife I should be her Councellour and chief about her So that if they were glad to be quit of me I was as glad to be free of them and not to be partakers with them in advices tending directly to indanger the Prince and the Country Yet his Majesty assured me That he would go to Edinbrugh according to the advice I had given in my forementioned Letter and Convene the Nobility Barons and others whom I had named in order to the settling of the Country And in the mean time he told me That the Earl of Arran thought fit to send to England the Bishop of St. Andrews alledging That he was passing to the Spaw for recovery of his health Who passing through England might have Commission to deal with that Queen in his Majesties affairs And in case he found her willing to discourse friendly and freely he should then shew her that his Majesty would send me thither to satisfie her more sufficiently in such things as she would require And to that effect the said Bishop should send back word by a Gentleman Captain Robert Melvil who went thither expresly to be sent back with the said answer I was commanded to write in the Bishop's favour but he was too well known in England For Mr. Bowes who remained long in this Country had informed them sufficiently of the said Bishop's qualities who was disdained in England and dishonoured his Country by borrowing of Gold and pretious Furniture from the Bishop of London and divers others which was never restored nor payed for His Majesty nevertheless would have me to grant to go to England and to be in readyness He desired me to make my own Instructions alledging That I knew what was meetest for him to require at that time I would not take upon me to make my own Instructions but I promised to pen the Speech that I would think most proper to recite to her Majesty in case I went thither and which I would judge to be the fittest language that any sent thither could speak for the time After his Majesty had perused the same he much relished it and declared it was fully conform to his own intentions It was in these words MADAM ALbeit that your Majesty be as sufficiently certified of the King my Sovereign's conformable mind to satisfie your Majesty as well by Sir Francis Walsingham your Secretary as by the Bishop of St. Andrews his Ambassadour granting the one his whole desires by mouth and declaring by the other how strictly he hath observed and performed the same in effect more to satisfie your motherly mind by shewing the tokens of a thankful and obedient Son then for any great advantage he perceives you thereby seek for your self So that it is his Majesty's intention chiefly seeing he hath taken the Rudder into his own hand to discover to you ay the longer the more the perfect fruits of his hearty affection For now having attained unto some years of knowledge and dear bought experience by that which hath been oft beat in his Ears he is not ignorant how that your Majesties favour and assistance will be more contributive for his advantage and advancement then can be any or that he can obtain from all the other Princes in Europe Your Majesty being to him so dear a Mother and so near a Neighbour both your Subjects appearing to be but one People Especially since your prudent Government began the effects whereof hath not only been found by your own but by your neighbours The same having extended it self to the advantage of other Kingdoms especially overshadowing this whole Island to your Majesties everlasting honour For never in any Princes days hath been seen so much rest so great riches and felicity in England which likewise might have been in Scotland if the particularities of some of the Subjects had suffered them to have followed your Sage Charitable and Loving admonitions As the consideration thereof is the reason which induced his Majesty whom the matter most toucheth to direct me to your Majesty after ripe deliberation and upon the sure ground of the good information of such as are best inclined and have greatest experience to seek the assistance which he hath so oft seen sent unto him help and wholsom advice where he hath so oft found it and salutary Plaisters to be laid unto the Sores that yet daily breed and arise in his Realm as remains of the Canker and disorder ingendred during his Minority Seeing then the thing that he craves is your accustomed Kindness and Counsel which because the strength of your constancy will compel you to continue towards him he is the more humbly to suit the same as most seemly for his neerness of Kin Age and Estate to do Perswading himself that such friendly Offices might be used between you as may tend to both your contentments and weal of your Kingdoms which for lack of sure intelligence of others minds by secret and mutual conference of devotious and discreet instruments might otherwise turn to the contrary The King my Master knows that a mighty Man cannot stand upon one side he grants that he hath now greater need of your help then you of his in many things But he thinks himself as able and is as willing to deserve favour at your hand as any who can contend with him for the same or would presume to sound the Bell of Succession in your Ears For his part he requires no instant Declaration thereof but will continually crave by his behaviour all such preferment as an humble Son ought
the Laird of Barnbarrow and the said Mr. Peter to be again employed in that matter with uncertain and irresolute Instructions to propose marriage and with divers fair allegiances concerning His Majesty's sufficient Right to the. Isles of Orkny which the King of Denmark was minded to sue for more sharply but for the hope he was put in of the apparent marriage of the King's Majesty with his Eldest Daughter These Ambassadours were not well imbarked when Monsieur Dubartus arrived here to visit the King's Majesty who he heard had him in great esteem for his rare Poesie set out in the French Tongue He would not say that he had a secret Commission to propose the Princess of Navarre as a fit marriage for His Majesty but that the King of Navarre's Secretary willed him seeing he was to come this way as on his own head to propose the said marriage Monsieur Dubartus's Qualities were so good and his Credit so great with his Majesty that it appeared if the Ambassadours had not already made Sail that their Voyage should have been stayed for that Season The Chancellour assured Monsieur Dubartus as he shewed me that the marriage of Denmark should not take effect For our Ambassadours had indeed such strait Instructions and so slender a Commission that it was enough to have caused the King of Denmark to start and to quarrel with our King were it not that they dealt above their Commission Which kept that King in some Temper albeit they returned without fruit full of displeasure thinking themselves scorned as they were indeed In the mean time that they were in Denmark Monsieur Dubartus being in Falkland with His Majesty came to my house to perswade me to take a Commission in hand which he said His Majesty would lay to my charge which was to be sent unto the King of Navarre and to be acquainted with Madam the Princess his Sister And because His Majesty knew that I would be loath to go he named also my Lord Tungland my Brother who undertook the journey and became well acquainted with the said Princess and was well treated and rewarded by the King her Brother now King of France and brought with him the Picture of the Princess with a good report of her rare qualities The Laird of Barnbarrow and Mr. Peter Young being returned back from Denmark declared that the King of Denmark thought nothing of their Commission judging it but fruitless dealing and delaying of time and fair language without any power to conclude I am uncertain whether he got intelligence of His Majesties sending my Brother to the King of Navarre But the marrying of his Eldest Daughter with the Duke of Brunswick gave some appearance that he had got some notice thereof from the Court of England who were abundantly well informed of all our proceedings After this Colonel Stuart desirous to see the marriage with the King of Denmark's Daughter take effect went thither upon his own expences divers times And seeing the Eldest Daughter already married he excused the King's Majesty and laid the blame upon those who had the handling of his affairs So that the King of Denmark promised yet to give his second Daughter unto the King upon conditions that Ambassadours should be sent there the next year before the first day of May. In the mean time the King of Denmark took sickness and departed this life leaving the same Commission with his Council and such as were appointed for Regents of the Realm Now the King being suited in marriage by many great Princes and his Ambassadours being come back both out of Denmark and Navarre with the Pictures of the young Princesses His Majesty determined first to ask counsel of God by earnest Prayer to direct him where it would be meetest for the weal of himself and his Country So that after fifteen days advisement and devout Prayer as said is he called his Council together in his Cabinet and told them how he had been advising about that matter of so great concernment to himself and his Country the space of fifteen days and that he was now resolute to marry in Denmark The Council appeared all to relish his resolution requiring meet Instruments to be imployed to compleat the marriage and to make the Contract Then His Majesty said That he had already chosen me in his mind for one desiring the Council to choose another which they did to wit The Lord of Atry Uncle to the Earl of Marshal We two being written for and come to Court found not such earnestness with the Council as with the King Which my Lord of Atry perceiving he drew home again excusing himself upon his Age and sickliness His Majesty used many perswasions and reasons to induce me to undertake the Voyage declaring how he had many times sent for me to be employed in Ambassages and could never tell why I went not I answered That His Majesty would have done me that honour many times above my deserving which he would not have done if he had known my insufficiency for such matters of so great import as I did my self His Majesty said That this business concerning his marriage was the greatest matter that ever he had to do and that he would take no refusal I said That my Lord Tuangland my Brother was far meeter then my self being a good Scholar who could perfectly speak the High Dutch the Latine and the Flemming Languages with the French Tongue But His Majesty would still repose upon me in that Errand but at my desire was satisfie that my Brother should be put in Commission with me Then His Majesty said Albeit the Council will form your Instructions yet you shall receive mine out of my own mouth First If the King of Denmark had been alive he would not have stood to have given a great Portion with his Daughter wherein it is probable the Regent and his Council will be as sparing as they can I doubt not therefore but you will endeavour to draw from them as much as can be had but at length stand not upon mony to conclude the marriage Secondly Know what friendship and assistance they will make me when it may please God to place me by Right in the Kingdom of England by decease of this Queen in case any Country man or other would wrongously pretend to usurp and debarr me from the same Thirdly Concerning the Isles of Orkny you may chuse any Man of Law that you please for that head must be answered and debated by Form of Law Alwise if the marriage take effect that purpose would not be over precisely handled It may be that my Council will give you straiter Conditions but this Instruction of mine you shall follow let them say what they please I told His Majesty That I would chuse to take with me for a Lawyer Mr. John Skeen His Majesty said he judged there were many better Lawyers I said he was best acquainted with the German Customs and could make them long
the Queen's Lords are Routed p. 91. The King's Lords send for the Earl of Lennox to make him Regent in the room of Murray p. 104. They hold a Parliament at Sterling and the Queen 's at Edinburgh p. 113. Lords all written and unwritten for arrive at St. Andrew's to attend the Convention intended there by the King p. 136. Design to have the King in custody ibid. Lords met at Edinburgh pass a Vote unanimously being preoccupied by the Earl of Arran p. 153. Those Lords who designed the attempt on Sterling fly to England p. 157. Are forefaulted p. 158. They return and come to the Borders with Assistance p. 168. 3000 of the banished Lords enter Sterling fall on their knees and beg his Majesty's pardon p. 169. Which is granted ibid. The Lords gain great credit by their moderate behaviour p. 170. Lorrain Cardinal designs to promote Queen Mary to the Crown of England by alledging Queen Elizabeth to be Illegitimate p. 23. Causeth all Queen Mary's Silver Vessels to be engraven with the Arms of England ibid. After the conclusion of Peace is sent Ambassadour to Spain to take that King's Oath and to swear for his Master 's observing the same ibid. Proposeth two Matches to the Emperour of Germany p. 33. M MAcclean and others chief of the Highlands is subtilly brought to Court by the Chancellour p. 192. Are imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle accused of foul murther but get off ibid. Maitland Secretary is confin'd to his house with others p. 166. Opposeth the Author in Council p. 171. Mar Earl keeps the young Prince and will not deliver him to Bothwel p. 80. Is made Regent in the room of Lennox p. 111. Goes to Edinburgh to Convene the Lords in order to an Accommodation p. 118. In the mean time goes to Dalkieth and shortly after dies at Sterling ibid. Margil David one of the Duke of Lennox his Councellors p. 128. Marshal of Berwick besiegeth Edinburgh assisted by an English Army and all Scotland p. 120. Contends with the Ambassadour p. 121. Is forced to deliver up the Prisoners in Edinburgh Castle to the Regent being commanded by the Queen of England to do it ibid. Which he doth with much regret and returns to Berwick discontented ibid. The Laird of Cleesh having before offered them good Conditions to quit the Castle ibid. Takes the death of the Laird of Grange very much to heart by reason of the breach of his promise and thereupon quits his Employment of Marshal whose loss is much lamented being a worthy Captain ibid. Marshal Earl and others lodge within the Castle with his Majesty of Scotland p. 136. He and others retire to their Houses p. 137. Desires to supply the place of the Lord Atry as Ambassadour to Denmark p. 178. Which is granted ibid. But his Commission is so slender that he sends the Lord Dingual for a License to return or a power to conclude the Match with Denmark ibid. Which he receives and is presently dispatcht for Scotland by the Regent and Council and the Queen sent home with him well attended p. 180. But are driven by Tempest upon the Coast of Norway the winds being raised by the Witches of Denmark and the reason why ibid. Is not well thought of by the King upon the account of his Embasby to Denmark occasioned by the Chancellour's misrepresentation of him to his Majesty p. 182. Martland is made Chancellour in Scotland p. 175. Threatned to be kill'd p. 179. Hears of his Majesties discontent at the Queens delay of coming from Denmark and adviseth him to sail thither in person to fetch her home p. 181. Who goes with him privately ibid. Being at Denmark he deviseth many Reformations to be made at his Majesties return p. 182. Causeth the Lord Hume Earl Bothwel and divers others to be imprisoned for their disobedience during the absence of the King ibid. Misrepresents Sir Robert Melvil and envies him though a great friend to his promotion ibid. Emulation between the Council and him who design to turn him out p. 183. But prevents it being discovered ibid. Great hatred between him and the Duke of Lennox p. 198. He retires to his own House and is accused of several Crimes ibid. Procures again his Majesties favour and is re-introduced at Court p. 200. And at length reconciled to the Queen ibid. Mary Queen of Scotland the only Child left of King James the 5th p. 7. Born when he lay on his death-bed p. 7. After her Arrival in France great disputes arise about her Marriage between the two Factions in France but is at last wedded to the Dauphin p. 8. Proves a sorrowful Widdow after the death of her Husband p. 30. By degrees leaves the Court upon dislike ibid. Occasion'd by the Queen-Mother's rigorous dealing with her p. 31. Is advised to return to Scotland and behave her self moderately ibid. At length arrives in her own Country p. 32. Seems to approve of the Match proposed by Cardinal Lorrain between her and the Arch-Duke of Austria ibid. Advertiseth the Queen of England of this proposal desiring her advice p. 40. Which she Answers by Mr. Randolph ibid. and p. 41. Lays aside the thoughts of that Match p. 43. And the Reasons why ibid. Behaves her self very discreetly and gains great reputation in all Countries p. 53. Her Character p. 54. Is much taken with the Lord Darnly p. 56. Determines to marry him tho opposed by several Lords ibid. And is married to him accordingly p. 57. Is kept Prisoner by Douglas and his Party upon the murther of Rixio p. 65. Causeth the King to advise them to withdraw the Guards they had upon her ibid. So they went all to their home but the Queen King and some in their Retinue went at midnight to Dunbar p. 66. Subscribes Remissions for the Lord Murray and his Dependers lamenting the young King's folly ibid. Goes to Sterling to Ly In her time approaching p. 67. She mislikes the King who grows melancholick thereupon ibid. She is much troubled at that foul fact committed in her presence by killing her Servant Rixio to the endangering of her self and the Child in her Womb p. 74. Keeps her Chamber some time after the murther of her Husband Darnly p. 78. She wonders at the reports of her marriage with Bothwel but denies it ibid. Is forced to marry him the Nobility approving it and he having first Ravished her p. 80. Is married by Adam Bothwel after the Reformed Religion ibid. Resigns her self to the Lord of Grange and conveyed to Edinburgh p. 83. where she is respected by the Nobles but reviled by the vulgar ibid. Writes a Letter wherein she calls Bothwel her dear heart promising never to forsake him p. 84. Which being brought to the Lords by the Treachery of one of her Keepers they sent her to be secured in Lockleven ibid. Upon the Lord Lindsay's coming she subscribed to the Demission of the Government to the Prince and certain Lords named as Regents p. 85. Is conveyed from Lockleven
p. 198. Is threatned with death by the Captain of the Guards p. 199. But the Queen stood his Friend ibid. Sends his Servant to acquaint the King with Bothwel's Conspiracy against him in Falkland for which he is derided p. 202. Sir Robert is sent Ambassadour to England from King James p. 204. Mortoun Earl is challenged to fight by Lord Herreis upon the account of the King's death p. 100. Appoints 4 men to kill Grange at the entrance of the Regent's Lodgings without the Regent's privity p. 101. Has a great Faction in the Country though disappointed of the Regency p. 116. But is made Regent after the decease of the Earl of Mar by the assistance of England p. 118. Promiseth to the Agreement with the Lords of the Castle of Edinburgh but steers another course p. 120. Anticipates the Marshal of Berwick and gets an Answer from the Queen of England to have the Prisoners taken at Edinburgh Castle and a Commission for their Execution before he could send p. 121. Triumphs a while being with great Assistance from England p. 123. His whole study is to gain riches from England and Scotland p. 123. Of which England too late repented ibid. Holds the Country in a more setled Estate then it had been in for many years p. 124. Grows proud despiseth the Nobility commits several wrongs and prosecutes several Lords ibid. exposeth the Earl of Orkny to great hardship p. 126. Yields easily to his deposition from the Regency retiring to Lockleven ibid. But by his designs gets in again to be Master of the Court ibid. Is Accused by James Stuart of the late King's Murther p. 127. Is condemned at the Assize for it 128. And dies resolutely ibid. Murray Earl takes part with Bothwel p. 201. And is kill'd at his own House Murray Lord and Bedford meet at Berwick about the marriage of Queen Mary with Leicester p. 53. With slenderer offers then expected from him ibid. Murray being one of the banished Lords is sent for from Newcastle and re-entertain'd by the Queen p. 65. Retires from Court p. 78. Obtains leave to go to France before the Queen married Bothwel p. 80. Is appointed by the Queen first Regent of the young Prince p. 85. Whereupon he is sent for from France by the Lords ibid. Accepts the Regency of the Prince after a Refusal p. 87. Enters at first sight upon such injurious Reproaches of her Majesty as were like to break her heart ibid. Takes the Forts and Castles into his hands p. 90. Clears the Borders of Thieves and holds Iustice in Evre ibid. Goes to England accompanied with many Lords to accuse Queen Mary p. 93. Is privately dissuaded from it by the Duke of Norfolk p. 94 and 95. 'T is agreed that he shall by no means proceed in that Accusation p. 95. Breaks his word with the Duke and comes from the Council-House with Tears in his Eyes p. 97. Is despised by the Queen of England for his intention to Accuse her detested by the Duke reproached by his Friends living at Kingston penyless and unregarded p. 97. Is reconciled to the Duke p. 98. Has 2000 l. of the Queen for which the Duke becomes surety and afterward paid it 99. Takes leave of the Queen but discovers again all that ever past between the Duke and himself p. 99. Promising to send the Queen those Letters he should receive in Scotland from him ibid. Sends for Secretary Lidingtoun as being of Council with the Duke of Norfolk resolving to accuse him and writes for him to come to make a dispatch for England p. 100. Being come is Accused before the Privy Council of the late King's Murder and Imprisoned ib. Is misled though well inclined by vain pretences to his own and the ruine of others p. 102. Gives ear to flatterers ibid. Dissembles with Grange and Lidingtoun ibid. His Character p. 103. Is shot by Hamiltoun and dies the same night ibid. N NOrfolk Duke sent with an Army out of England to help the Congregationists p. 29. He and several other Councellors sent down to York to hear the Regent's Accusation of his Queen and be Iudges thereof p. 94. Privately dissuades the Regent from Accusing the Queen for the King her Son's sake p. 95. Is the greatest Subject in Europe not being a free-born Prince p. 96. Ruling the Queen and all ibid. His purposes discovered to the Queen whereby the Regent lost the Duke's favour yet speaks boldly to her Majesty p. 98. Is prevailed with to enter into friendship again with the Regent upon promise of his future secresie ibid. Acquaints the Regent with his resolution to marry the Queen of Scots and that he had a Daughter fitter for the King then any other p. 98 and 99. Becomes Security for 2000 l. which Murray the Regent of Scotland received from the Queen of England which he after paid p. 99. Is sent for by the Queen to come to Court being again deceived by the Regent then in Scotland applies himself to Secretary Cecil who told him there was no danger so that he rode with his Train only ibid. Is seized by the Treachery of Cecil and after a tedious Captivity dies of the Reformed Religion p. 100. Normand Lesly gains great honour in the Wars between Henry the Second of France and the Emperour p. 17. O OChiltrie Lord and divers others in revenge of the death of the Earl of Murray takes part with Earl Bothwel p. 201. Adviseth him to Seize on his Majesty in his Palace at Falkland ibid. Octavians in Scotland who and why so called p. 191. Octavio Duke Son-in-law to the Emperour Charles the Fifth is left to the Pope's discretion and why p. 11. P PArliament Proclaimed at Lithgow for the restitution of the banished Lords p. 170. Parma Duke Governour of Flanders wins the hearts of his Soldiers and Enemies by his prudent behaviour p. 166. Is suspected by the Spanish King to have a design on Flanders which caused him to deny the Spaniard Victuals Ships and landing in his Territories ibid. Paul the Fourth Pope breaks off the five years Truce between the French King and the Emperour p. 19. Peace concluded between Scotland and England and upon what Terms p. 30. Pool Cardinal appointed to be Mediator between the Two Princes p. 16. Prelates of Scotland endeavour to win King James by large proffers and perswasions to their Opinion p. 4. They exasperate his Majesty against the Treasurer by their insinuations p. 5. But he gets well off ibid. Prior of St. Andrews the Lord James Natural Son to James the Fifth King of Scotland p. 25. Afterwards Earl of Murray p. 32. Prior of Pittenweem a great debaucher of Women and Maidens p. 5. Protestants grown very numerous in Scotland p. 24. Q QUeen Mother of France is glad at the death of Francis the Second her Son he being wholly ruled by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinal his Brother p. 29. Whereupon she dischargeth the King of Navarre and Prince of Conde who had