the thread of his Life in a Fit of a burning Feaver which notwithstanding cutteth not off the current of their Malice which unhappily found a more advantageous passage by the imprudent Deportment of William the young Earl his Son a Youth not exceeding fourteen Years of Age who living in a Princely garb creating Knights Counsellors and other Officers and always guarded with a Guard of Two Thousand Horse is suspected and feared of all and as an addition to his Envy as well as Greatness he sendeth to France and craveth the Title of his Grand-father which was forthwith granted to him and is immediately declared Duke of Tyron and which added more to all Mens fear and jealousie the Queen and the Lord James Stuart her Husband and his Brother William are suspected to be Engaged in Dowglas his Faction The Vice-Roy glad to snatch any opportunity against the Queen whom now he Suspected to be none of his Friend secureth her Person and not contented to secure her Husband and his Brother in a strong Prison he layeth them both fast in Iron Fetters where they remained until they found sufficient Sureties for the Peace engaging withal that they should not bear any publick Office without consent of the Vice-Roy The Vice-Roy now not a little puft up ruleth all things at pleasure contemning the Chancellor and all other Officers of State the Chancellor not able to bear this Insolence withdraweth from Court then at Sterlin and retireth himself to the Castle of Edenburgh the Government whereof he had Confirmed to him at their last Agreement who meditating with himself what might be done to give Check to the Vice-Roy resolveth to surprize the Person of the King who he knew used to follow his sport in Hunting with a small Retinue to which end he marcheth out in the Night and lodgeth himself and a Band of his most trusty Friends amongst Thickets in a Wood whither the King came next day morning in course the Chancellor forthwith Surprizeth him beseeching his Majesty to be of good Chear and to rest assured that no other thing save his Highness Service and Safety was intended by him telling him that it was now high time for him to take the Government upon himself in order whereunto he came to Rescue him out of the hands of the Vice-Roy in which he lived not much on this side Slavery and withal with great shews of Respect and Duty he tendereth to his Highness a Guard of Four Thousand Horse The King seemeth not much displeased putteth on a chearful Counrenance and guarded with those Four Thousand Horse he cometh along with the Chancellor to the City of Edenburgh where he was received with extraordinary Acclamations of Joy The Vice-Roy no less confounded at this Surprisal than was the Chancellor at the Queen 's lately mentioned is extremely perplexed In Council after many Self-debates he resolveth at last not daring to trust himself to the Earl Dowglas upon all hazards to hast to Edenburgh with a small Retinue to try whether by stooping so low the Storm might pass over him to Edenburgh he repaireth and by mediation of the Bishops of Aberdeen and Murray Men Learned Pious and Prudent a Personal Conference is obtained with the Chancellor The Vice-Roy with a sad Countenance deploreth their unhappy Divisions declaimeth against them as Dangerous to the Publick and Destructive to their own private Interests he imploreth an happy Union between them without which they must both Perish promising on his part an Oblivion of all things past and all fair Respect in time to come The Chancellor well knowing that Destruction to both must needs be the Issue of the Divisions between them chearfully hearkneth to the proposition of Peace they presently accord and an Union is now the second time concluded between them and notwithstanding Distress enough to the People and Danger more than enough to the young King flowing from their divided Government these two cunning Catchers accord to continue still in their respective Trusts and places in Government upon this agreement a Parliament is called at Edenburgh for the better setling of the miserable distracted Conditon of the Kingdom To this Parliament Dowglas is Invited and by the advice of the Vice-Roy and Chancellor his inveterate Enemies now contriving his Ruine publick Letters are sent him Sealed by the King and divers of the prime Nobility inviting him with many Arguments of Love and Respect to assist in Parliament and in the publick Administration assuring him not only of Safety but tendering to him what Place he should desire in the management of publick Affairs The Earl moved by the publick Faith thus ingaged and by the specious Promises so Solemnly made repaireth to Edenburgh without Fear or Jealousie The Chancellor meeteth him before he came within ten Miles of the City and inviteth him to his Castle at Chrichton where he Entertaineth him magnificently in all his Discourse so highly commending the Noble Family of the Dowglasses their worthy Acts and high Deserts both of King and Country and so fully declaring the great hopes himself conceived of the young Earl himself that the Wiser of Dowglas his Retainers began to suspect some Mischief to lurk under the covert of those specious Words which they knew were no less unusual in him than unbeseeming his Place and Authority They dissuade their Lord with all Earnestness from his Journey towards the City intreating his return to his own House as he loved himself and if he must needs go they adjure him by all the love he bear to his Family and by all that reverence and obedience he owed to the Commands of his Wise Father who charged him on his Death-bed never to trust his whole Family under the hazard of one Blow that he would not carry along with him his dear and only Brother but all in vain his Destiny drives him no faster than he is willing to run to his own Ruine he entereth the City and is by the Chancellor attended to the Castle whither the Vice-Roy likewise repaireth and entertaineth him with all Civility yea and to Honour him the more he is admitted to the King 's own Table and feasted with no small Solemnity But behold amidst all their Chear and great Mirth a Band of Armed Men enters the Dining Chamber and a Bull 's Head is clap'd on the Table a certain Token in those days of an appointed and approaching Death the Earl is too late stricken with Fear and endeavouring to rise the Armed Men lay hold on him drag him down Stairs and without Doors immediately cut off his Head his Brother David and Malcombe Fleming his dearest Friend are at the same time and in the same manner Cut off The young King no less amazed than abused and stricken with immediate Sorrow weepeth as a Child though now grown well upward towards the years of a Man the Chancellor perceiving him Chides him very sharply for his unseasonable Tears as he was pleased to call them for the Death
his Pardon with shew of great Humility which by the mediation of the Queen is soon obtained The King resolving notwithstanding to trust him no more in that height of Power in Government committeth the chief management of all Publick Affairs to the Earl of Orkney and to Chrichton the old Chancellor Dowglas reckoning this a Note of Disgrace rageth against the whole Court Vowing the Destruction of Chrichton which he well nigh made good by an Ambush laid for him as he pasled from Edenburgh to his House at Chrichton A Troop of Armed Men all on the sudden compass him round he forceth his Paslage and escapeth the Snare not without some dangerous Wounds his Wounds are Cured he returneth to Edenburgh Earl Dowglas fearing the King's displeasure withdraweth from the City still resolving Revenge for accomplishing whereof he entereth a League Offensive and Defensive with the Earls of Craford and Ross in the strength whereof he presumeth so much as to contemn all Opposition the King himself is Despised in his Eyes Harris and Mr. Lennan two Galloway Knights both of Antient Families are put to Death by him under pretence of Justice in despight of all the King could do or say Rumours are likewise every where cast out of his aspiring to the Crown At last his Majesty sendeth for him forthwith to repair to his Court at Sterlin the Earl refuseth pretending Danger from the Power of his Enemies then at Court Divers of the Nobles send their Letters of Assurance to him and move the King to Seal a Paper in the nature of a Pass which the Earl receiving cometh to Court confiding in the often experienced Clemency of the King his Majesty receiveth him Graciously and Inviteth him to Supper after Supper the King with some of his most Intimate Counsellors withdraw and with them the Earl into a Withdrawing-Room In the presence of those his Counsellors he Expostulateth with the Earl his strange Deportment towards him mentioning the bounty of the Crown to his Family and his own Extraordinary Grace to himself not only his Pardon more than once granted but singular Pledges of his Favour frequently Conferred and all most strangely abused Notwithstanding all which his Majesty once again tenders to him the assurance of his Favour and Grace in hope of amendment repairing nay rather requesting the Cancelling of that odious League with Craford and Ross so dangerous and dishonourable to his Majesty Dowglas answereth Dimisly enough to all save in the point of the League wherein he desires to be Excused The King presseth him with all Earnestness to persist no longer in it which the Earl peremptorily refusing the King is moved into an extraordinary Passion breaking out into these words If thou wilt not break it by God I will and then before his Counsellors were aware he thrusteth his Ponyard into his Heart This unhappy Accident casteth all into Consussion Dowglas his four Brothers then in Town raise a Dangerous Tumult and with much ado are appeased Immediately they fly into their own Countrey and break out into open Rebellion dragging the King's Pass and the Noble Mens Letter to the late Earl at their Horse Heels with words of Disgrace not fit to be mentioned They Pillage Burn and Slay all they suspected bare any Favour to the King The King calleth a Parliament at Edenburgh before which they are Summoned to appear all Contemptuously refusing are proclaimed Traitors with the Countess Dowager Wife to the late Earl and with her the Earl of Craford James the eldest Brother and now Earl to preserve the Wealth of his Family Marrieth his Brother's Wife craveth the Pope his Dispensation which being refused he allureth as many into his Faction as possibly he could far more siding with him than possibly could be expected insomuch that the whole Kingdom for two Years together became a very Stage of Murther and Rapine Famine and the Pestilence threatning Ruine to all Divers of Dowglas his Wiser Friends being touched with the Sense of these Calamities counsel him to cast himself upon the King's mercy he scorneth the Motion declaiming against them as Pusillaminous declaring rather to Dye than to Submit Earl Craford taketh another and wiser course choosing rather to Submit he casteth himself in his Majesty's way passing through Angus and like a Penitent indeed he comes Bare-footed into his Royal Presence and prostrateth himself before Him with Tears in his Eyes and the greatest expressions of Sorrow that could be made craving in a most Penitent Oration his Majesty's Pardon The King and all then and there present are touched with Compassion towards him his Pardon is forthwith granted the Earl sensible of his Grace tendereth his Service to his Majesty which being accepted he behaveth himself as a gallant Man and a good Subject to his Dying day Dowglas sendeth Hammilton to the English King to crave Assistance from him which could not be obtained unless Dowglas should declare himself a Subject to the Crown of England a Condition so unreasonable even in his Judgment though sufficiently Rebellious against his native Prince that he choosed rather to Perish than to Embrace it Hammilton therefore returning without hope of English Help persuadeth Dowglas to put all to the hazard of a Battel which accordingly was resolved on his Army marcheth and advanceth towards the King's then Besieging Abercorne Castle The two Armies in view one of another Dowglas proveth two slow his Army is thereby much discouraged which Hammilton perceiving withdraweth goeth over to the King craves his Pardon and obtaineth it Dowglas retreateth and deserted almost of all flyeth into England The Castle is taken by Storm and the Garrison put to the Sword the Ruines of that stately Castle remaining as a Monument of that Victory Dowglas soon after returneth into Anandale giveth Battel to some of the King's Forces there and receiveth the Foil his Brother Archilbald is Killed on the place his Brother George Wounded and taken Prisoner is sent to the King and Beheaded A Parliament is again called to Assemble at Edenburgh 1455 Dowglas and his Adherents are again declared Traitors and their Estates Confiscated Dowglas flyeth into the Hebrides and entereth into League with Donald Lord of the Isles They fall down into the main Countrey where they Pillage and consume all with Fire and Sword wheresoever they came laying wast divers Counties Beatrice Wife to both Earls of Dowglas and both Brethren casteth her self at the King's feet craveth his Pardon pretending that she was forced to the Marriage of her Lord's Brother by fear of present Destruction She declareth her self as willing to submit to the King's Justice as to accept of his Mercy whereof she acknowledgeth her self most unworthy she receiveth Pardon and is beyond all Mens expectation received into Favour yea and Donald Lord of the Isles sendeth his Orators to his Majesty to crave his Pardon all that could be obtained was a Command to to make Satisfaction to the People for the Mischief done by him which being
Inricheth many and admitteth others into his most Secret Counsels But all this cannot serve his turn their Guilt they thought was greater than could be forgiven this Gangreen'd in their thoughts every day so deadly an enemy is Guilt and Fear being always companions and come to that height that the King's Life and their Safety cannot consist his Ruine is therefore contrived and resolved on the want of a Popular Leader is a main Rub in their way The Prince himself is thought the fittest to countenance this horrid Design His Keepers are corrupted The young and unwary Prince seduced and to their Proposition he must yeild otherwise they deal plainly with him to tell him that he and the Regal Power both must be delivered into the Hands of King Henry of England Thus the young Prince is frighted from all Duty and Loyalty to his Dearest Father to countenance as Commander in chief a most Traiterous Combination of perverse and seditious Men An Army is forthwith raised in pursuance of their Design The King prepareth for Defence useth all honourable means for Peace and by mediation of the Earl of Athol his Uncle soliciteth for it the Rebels return an Answer telling him That unless he resign his Crown to his Son and depart the Kingdom there could be no Peace This Answer the King dispatcheth to his Ambasladors in France and England requiring them to request the Assistance of both King 's in this common cause wherein all Kings are concerned who accordingly send their Ambassadors to the Scots declaring their proceedings against their King to be Wicked and Pernicious and not to be endured by Christian Princes so much concerned in such a dangerous Example The Pope is likewise sent to to interpose his Ghostly and Paternal Power who accordingly sendeth to his Legate Adrian de Castello an Italian the great Restorer of the Latine Tongue then in England forthwith to apply himself to Compose the Scottish troubles but all in vain as being too late the Rebels Army presseth towards the King's Incamped by Blackness and to make all sure they Assail him as well by Fraud as Force Some of his Council about him are corrupted so are likewise some of his Commanders in Martial Affairs especially the Governor of Sterlin the Key of the Kingdom the corrupt Council about him with fair pretences perswade him to appear on the head of his Army and to forsake the Castle of Edenburgh where he resolved to secure himself until he heard the result of Foreign Counsels assuring him that Sterlin then in the Rere of his Army and in the hands of Faithful Men was a place of no less security for his Person than was Edenburgh Castle and of far greater advantage to receive Recruits and all other accommodations for his Army having the benefit of the Countrey behind him and his Navy not far from him This Counsel was so fair and promising that even such as were faithful to him perswade him to it and according to this advice the King repaireth to Sterlin the Governor Sey perceiving the Rebels Army pressing after the King 's Traiterously refuseth Entrance to him The poor King is now in a Pound and with his small Army is forced to Fight his Majesty behaveth himself very gallantly and routeth the Van of his Enemies but their Reserve regains all the King's Army is overthrown himself dismounted and wounded privately flyeth into a Mill hoping to get into his Navy but the fatal hour approacheth some of the Rebels discovering him pursue after him and impiously Murther him and all the faithful remnant of his Servants about him Thus died King James the Third a good and peaceable Man every way well disposed but plagued by the Ambition of restless and unquiet Spirits who Traiterously sought and wrought his Ruine The Battel over and no news of the King the Rebels supposing that he had gained his Navy send to Sir Andrew Wood chief Captain of the Ships Seton and Fleming being left Hostages in the Navy Sir Andrew appeareth before the Chief of them called the Prince his Council being demanded whether his Majesty was aboard the Navy and what those Boats were that passed to and fro before and after the Battel Stoutly replyed that his Majesty was not aboard for which he was the more sorrowful and as to the Boats they transported himself and other faithful Subjects to the King's assistance conformable to the duty of their Allegeance whom alone they were resolved to serve were he alive to be benefited by their service but now being Slain in Battel by some barbarous Rebels they resolved to avenge his Death to the last drop of their Blood having sufficiently declaimed against the wickedness of that horrid Rebellion and all engaged in it he is remitted safely to his Navy by reason of the Hostages given in pledge for him The Rebels retreat to Edenburgh where notice is given to them of the King's death the news whereof pierces the heart and soul of the young Prince now when too late sensible of his Error and sadly resenting his great unhappiness and above that his deadly sin in being accessary to the misfortune of his dearest Father causeth a stately Funeral to be solemnized for him at Kammiskeneth an Abby nigh Sterlin where his Corps were Interred and for himself he prepared an Iron Chain with which he begirt himself wearing it all the days of his Life about his middle close to his Skin in testimony of the deep sense he had of his sin adding yearly one Ring thereunto not so much to enlarge it as to remember the sad occasion of it THE LIFE OF JAMES IV. JAMES the Third thus unhappily fallen under the hands of merciless Men his Son James Succeedeth and entreth his Reign Anno 1488 who sorrowful enough if in such a case any sorrow can be enough for his Father's Fall which could not be recovered laboureth to compose all Differences and to reunite the two grand Factions in order to a peaceable Reign to which end having the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterlin Surrendered to him a Messenger is sent to Sir Andrew Wood Captain of the Ships to call him to attend his Majesty's pleasure the publick Faith being pledged for his safety the Captain repaireth to Court the King with inexpressible sorrow and immoderate grief regretting what was past and representing the present dangers of the State by the unhappy Divisions of the Kingdom he prevaileth with the Captain to submit to him and to take Commission from him to reduce five English Ships roving and robbing all along the Coast which with small loss and trouble he performed assisted only with two Ships the English Ships are brought from Dunbar where the Conflict was to Leith and their Captain presented to King James who munificently rewarded Sir Andrew for this gallant piece of Service In the mean while the Nobility who were Loyal to the late King send their Messengers to their Friends adjuring all such as had any sense of their present
Custody of James Hammilton Earl of Aran engaging the Earl under pain of Treason for his Security Hume glad of so favourable a Keeper perswades Hammilton to withdraw with him and to take upon himself the Supreme Government as being equal in Propinquity of Blood to the King though by a Sister with the Vice-Roy himself Hammilton hearkneth to him the Earl of Lennox Hammilton his Nephew joyneth with them after a few Stirs they return next Spring to Court are pardoned and reconciled The Vice-Roy retireth to Faulkland and after some Months returneth to Edenburgh and thither inviteth Hume and his Brother who contrary to the advice of all his Friends obeyeth A Convention of his Peers is called Hume and his Brother without objection of any Crime not formerly pardoned are Condemned and Beheaded at Edenburgh their Heads likewise set up in the two most publick places of the City The Vice-Roy next Winter passeth over into France leaving his Charge in the hands of Angus Aran and Arguile the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glascow to whom he adjoyned Darsie Governour of Dunbar a Frenchman assigning to each of them his Province soon after Darsie is killed by the Humes having as they conceived a chief influence in the Death of the late Earl this Murther much troubled the rest intrusted with the publick Affairs a Messenger is dispatched to the Vice-Roy to desire his return After five Years absence and much Confusion all the Kingdom over by the Feuds especially of Dowglas and Hammilton the Vice-Roy returneth October 28th 1521 Dowglas is Banished to France an Army is raised to divert the English then Warring in France and marcheth towards the Borders of England the Nobility refuse to March out of Scotland the Vice-Roy much perplexed sendeth to the Lord Dacres Governour of the English Borders and desireth a Conference with him Dacres the publick Faith being ingaged for his Safety cometh into the Scots Camp and after some Debate a Truce for some Years is concluded The Vice-Roy goeth again to France King Henry notwithstanding of the Lord Dacres his Truce sendeth an Army into Scotland under the Conduct of Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey after some waste done in Merse and Tividale the Earl retreats for revenge whereof the Scotch Borderers make Inroads into England which provoketh the Earl to return into Scotland to set on Fire the Town of Jedburgh which done he retreats the second time without sight of an Enemy The Queen Mother now returned from England endeavours a Peace between the two Nations King Henry with a design to break off the Ancient League between the Scots and the French tendereth a fair proposition of Marriage of his Daughter Mary to James the King of Scots Some heartily embrace his Motion pleading for a solemn League and Covenant with England declaring the great Benefits which should redound from such an Union to both Nations some again strangely oppose it pretending that the League with France of the benefits whereof they have had so long experience could neither in Policy nor Honesty be Violated as for a Covenant with England though it be possible that some good may come of it Yet knowing that as Covenants ratified by solemn Oaths with hands lifted up to God are amongst good Men the strongest of all Obligations so by some others they are only made use on as Snares to entrap and Engines to catch the Credulous to their destruction which done then are Covenants laid aside as Almanacks out of date Therefore said they Let us not be so fond as to relinquish our experienced God for that which is in Hope only and may possibly ay and probably too deceive us By this time the Vice-Roy landeth in the West with Three thousand Foot and an Hundred Curasiers at Glascow divers new levied Forces Rendezvouz with them the Vice-Roy cometh himself to Edenburgh calleth a Council of the Nobility commendeth their Fidelity and Stability to the French assureth them of the reciprocal affection and constancy of the French to them and their Nation and in fine with all earnestness he inciteth them to an Expedition against England This last motion takes not well the Nobility attending him only to the English Borders protest against an Invasion the Vice-Roy is forced to abate of his vigour against England yet the French must be sent to try their valour against Wark Castle where being soundly banged they return with hast enough to the Scotch quarters King Henry vigilant enough towards his affairs raiseth an Army of Forty Thousand Horse and Foot marcheth towards Scotland the Scots retreat to Lawder a bitter Winter comes on huge storms of Snow fall all action intercepted and both Armies Disbanded Next Spring the Vice-Roy passeth again over into France the Queen the Earls of Aran Lennox Crafurd and some others take the opportunity of his absence and accompany the young King not yet come to Age to Holyrude House where a Council of the Peers being called by their advice the King takes the Government upon him the Nobility swear Fealty to him and all Officers of State receive new Commissions from him The Earl of Angus hearing of this Mutation returneth from France Lennox and Arguile neglected in the publick Administration receive him with much joy in hope of some Mutation of Affairs to the Queen now estranged from him in her affection his return is no way pleasing much less to Hammilton who then ruled all his deadly enemy the Devil of Division begins now to Reign the Queen and Hammilton abide at Edenburgh Castle as a place of greatest Safety the Discontented Faction assembleth at Glasow advanceth towards Edenburgh the Castle unprovided of all things needful for a Siege yieldeth it self they within have liberty to march whither they please the King only reserved and committed to the tuition of Angus Arguile and Lennox who were by course to attend him every man his four Months Angus Monopolizeth all Power into his own hands this produceth Envy and Emulation Arguile withdraweth refusing to meddle Lennox continueth at Court but medleth not neither both shew their dislike of Angus his Usurpation A design is forthwith set on foot by the King 's own desire to Rescue him out of the hands of the Dowglasses The Scots a powerful Family in the South attempt it to that end they appear at Melrose with some Forces a bitter Conflict falls out between them and Dowglas the King himself and Lennox Spectators of the Fight Dowglas had the Day the chief and most of the Scots killed on the place July 20. 1526. Dowglas perceiving now plainly that Lennox was his enemy by his indifferency in this Conflict thought it high time to reconcile himself to the Hammiltons the Agreement is made Hammilton shares with him in the Government Lennox repaireth to Sterlin sends to divers of the Nobility consulteth with them touching the Rescue of the King all resolve and unanimously Assistance is promised accordingly against a day appointed before the day comes Lennox thought it
Family of the Guise Widdow of the late Duke of Longoville in Marriage to King James the Marriage is agreed to the Year following she arriveth in Scotland and the Marriage solemnized at St. Andrews 1538. This Year exemplary Justice was done upon divers Persons of Quality conspiring the Death of the King some the Year following were Burnt some Banished for embracing the Protestant Doctrine Preached in Germany by Luther and others James Hammilton the Bastard accused of High-Treason is sentenced to Death his Head and Quarters affixed to publick places in Edenburgh the King soon after thought in his Dream that Hammilton cut off first his right and then his left Arm threatning withal to appear again to take his own Life the King awaking is very much troubled with thoughts of this Dream and revolving with himself what might be the meaning of it a Messenger comes to him with the sad News of the Death of both his Sons at the same time the one at Sterlin the other at St. Andrews King Henry of England sendeth the second time to invite King James to a Conference at York the Scotch Clergy still oppose it and the Conference again refused King Henry in great Indignation against his Nephew for refusal of Conference with him resolveth to talk with him in harder Terms and to that end he raiseth an Army and sendeth it into Scotland and under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk The Scottish Ambassadors in vain intreating a Cessation King James prepares a considerable Army for defence the English enter into Scotland and after some mischief done at the approach of the Scotch Army they retreat the Lord Gordon marcheth before the main body with Ten thousand Men doing much hurt and annoyance to the Rear of the English Army King James with all earnestness presseth an Engagement with the English the Nobility peremptorily oppose him in it the King enraged upbraideth them with Cowardise unworthy to be owned as Sons of their Noble Ancestors vowing that though they should all desert him himself and his own Family alone should give the Enemy Battel The Lord Maxwell to pacify the King tendereth his Service to lead into Cumberland Ten thousand Men thereby to divert the Enemy The King accepteth his Service but being enraged against the whole Nobility he resolves that none of them should have the Honour of any thing done in that Expedition and for the cause giveth a Dormant Commission to Oliver Sinclare Brother to the Lord Roslin Having entred Cumberland and now in view of Five hundred English Horse Sinclare produceth his Commission it is read at the head of the Army Maxwell is thereby inraged the whole Army falleth in Mutiny and in such a confusion that they become a Prey to the Five hundred English Horse divers of the Nobility and the new General Sinclare are sent Prisoners to the Tower of London this dishonourable Disaster which hapned at Solway strikes the Valorous King with such grief and sorrow that he never after joyed but soon after departed this Life having first made Peace with King Henry at whose request he recalled Archibald Earl of Angus Thus dyed King James the Fifth a Prince of singular Endowments most patient of Cold Hunger and Travel sometimes setting on Horseback Twenty Four hours when the necessity of his affairs required it a great Justitiary and a person of singular Foresight and Wisdom THE LIFE OF QUEEN MARY QUeen Mary was the only Child James the Fifth her Father left to Inherit the Crown born to him not above eight days before his death James Hammilton Earl of Aran is therefore chosen Vice-Roy to whom King Henry of England sent his Ambassador Sir Radolph Sadler to procure Peace between the two Kingdoms and to demand Mary in Marriage to his Son by the influence of the late Prisoners in England especially the Exiled Dowglasses whom King Henry had wrought much to his Service by his Royal Favours whose Counsels were now very prevalent in the management of publick affairs both were assented the Contract of Marriage Signed and Pledges promised for better performance of all Conditions agreed upon notwithstanding of the Opposition of the Queen and Cardinal who fearing the Subversion of Popery still established in that Kingdom by this agreement endeavour what they can to cross all Tumults are stirred against the English Ambassador and daily Affronts put upon his Attendants in the Streets the Ambassador complaineth and demandeth the Pledges promised for confirmation of the Agreement lately made exemplary Justice is executed upon the chief movers in the Tumults in answer to this Complaint but the Cardinal by the influence of his power had so obstructed the matter of his demand that not one of the Nobility would yield up himself voluntarily a Pledge to the English and to such a business none could be compelled King Henry hereby provoked seiseth all the Scottish Ships in the English Havens and Harbours and proclaimeth War against the Scots in the mean while the Queen Mother sendeth to France to entreat the French King to send home Matthew Earl of Lennox to strengthen her against the English Faction otherwise Religion and the French League were like to come to nothing Lennox is sent home and forthwith levieth Four Thousand men and with this strong guard cometh to the Queen the Vice-Roy inferior in Power sends Commissions to treat for Peace by agreement the young Queen is committed to the Education of Four Indifferent Noble Men ingaged in neither Faction viz. the Lords Graham Areskin Lindsay and Leviston and accordingly they take charge of her at Sterlin where all the Nobility do Homage to her The Vice-Roy joyneth himself wholly to the Cardinal which Conjunction so inrageth Lennox that immediately he flyeth to Arms raiseth an Army marcheth to Leith and provoketh the Cardinal to Fight the Cardinal keeps himself close in Edenburgh Castle Lennox through want of Provisions is forced to withdraw and to put himself in a posture of Defence in and about Glascow King Henry hearing of these Stirs sends into Scotland to demand the custody of the young Queen until she came to years fit for Marriage The French Faction now prevailing his Demands are refused An Army is therefore forthwith sent into Scotland under the Conduct of the Earl of Hereford and a great Navy of Two hundred Sail under the Command of Viscount Lisle as Admiral The English enter the City of Edenburgh without resistance first they Pillage and then they Fire it and divers other Towns and Villages about it the like fate befel the Town of Leith and forthwith they return to England laden with Spoil The Queen Mother writeth to the French King and layeth all these mischiefs at Lennox his door as the only enemy of their Peace and Union by reason of his private Feud against the Vice-Roy for the death of his Father At her Request Lennox is recalled to France but finding the French King provoked against him he still keeps to his posture of Defence
whatever Spoils were taken from the Enemy to be converted to the Queen's use the Scots to receive and exercise the same Religion professed and used in the Church of England and to send Pledges into England to remain there as Hostages during the Marriage of the French King and the Scots Queen and one Year after All Sealed and Ratified at Barwick the 27th of February 1560. Six thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse Auxiliaries are sent down under the Command of the Lord Grey unto whom the Lords of the Congregation joyn their Army at Hadington and in this conjunction they march towards Leith lay Siege to it both by Sea and Land an English Navy lying then in the Road many bloody Skirmishes there were on both sides The French Bishop cometh into the Scots Camp and from thence he went to the Castle at Edenburgh to speak with the Queen Regent retired thither for her safety and protection and earnestly endeavours a Peace but all in vain the Scots not hearkning to any unless the French were all in the first place sent home which could not be yielded to at this time a great Fire happened in Lieth which put the Besieged into a great Consternation the English likewise fired the two Mills belonging to the Garrison and assault the Town by Storm but are repulsed with loss the French quickly repairing the Breaches the English made who at length begin to think the work tedious and full of trouble they send to Queen Elizabeth to know her pleasure the Duke of Norfolk encourageth them much by sending them new Supplies no less than Two thousand well appointed men Assuring them that neither Men nor Money should be wanting so long as it was in his power to supply them promising if need were his own presence in the mean time he sendeth his Tent and adviseth them to set it up in the view of the Town This gives Life to the business again the Siege is renewed and the Queen of England sends Sir William Cecil one of the Privy Counsellors and Secretary of State and Doctor Wootton Dean of York one also of the Council to treat with the French in order to a Peace a meeting is appointed in July following but in the interim the Queen Regent wasted with care and grief dyeth at Edenburgh Castle a Woman of singular wisdom and vertue honoured by most of the worst of her enemies and her Death much lamented by all after her death Commissioners are appointed and meet to treat of an Accommodation which had then been agreed upon but that the French insisted upon a freedom to carry home whatsoever Booty Bag or Paggage they had got whereof they had store by their Winters plundering of Fife which would not be granted by the Scots and therefore Acts of Hostility Sallies and Onsets are made with various fortune and success At last both Parties sufficiently weary and straitned in Provisions the Treaty is renewed and Articles agreed on viz. That neither the French King nor his Queen of Scotland should thenceforth use the Arms or Titles of England and all Letters Sealed with those Arms should be called in within six Months space that the French transport themselves with their Booties Bag and Baggage within twenty days and that the English supply them with such Ships as they should want they leaving Pledges with the English until the safe return of their Ships That Leith be delivered up to the Scots and Dismantled That the Forts built by the French at Dunbar be demolished That the English immediately after the performance of Articles do return into England That the French should still keep a Garrison at Inch-Keeth and Dunbar Castle That an Act of Oblivion first past by the Queen and the French King her Husband be afterwards Confirmed by their Authority in the ensuing Parliament to be held in August On these Terms Peace was Proclaimed Soon after the French King Francis dyeth the Queen heavily afflicted with grief for the death of her Husband and much perplexed by the turbulent condition of the state of France resolveth to return into Scotland and fearing the English Navy by reason of an Offence given to Queen Elizabeth by placing the English Arms in the Scots Coat she privately goes aboard a small Vessel which none would suspect to be Fraught with so rich a Cargo and safely arriveth in Scotland immediately before her arrival her base Brother James procured a Commission from her to hold a Parliament which was accordingly done The French Ambassador moveth That the French League may be renewed and that which the English lately made may be broke off and that the Revenues of Ecclesiastick Persons may be restored to them But the Scots Parliament now wholly constituted of such as pretend to the Reformation of Religion answered That the French League should be continued but that with the English could not be broken without the greatest Dishonour and Ingratitude in the world The Restauration of the Revenue of the Ecclesiasticks was wholly rejected and an Act passed for the demolishing all the Abbies and Priories in the Kingdom which was immediately put in execution The sorrowful Queen being arrived had no better remedy than Silence and Convenience and was forced to condescend That the state of Religion as it was lately renewed and established by the Lords of the Congregation should not by her nor her Authority suffer any Change or Alteration no Mass to be said publiquely any where except in her Majesty's Chappel which was all the indulgence the Lords would afford her The Ministers moved both by their own Zeal and the Instigation of the Earl of Arran Cry out and Thunder in their Pulpits against this Permission and Admonish the Lords of their Duty to reduce her to order a submission to and a susception of the Directory for publick Worshin The Nobility notwithstanding all these over-loud Clamours encroach not upon the Queen's privilege for which the Ministers turn the edge of their Tongues as sharp as Swords against them crying out of their Apostacy and lukewarmness in the Cause of God William Mettelane is sent Ambassadour to England to tender to Queen Elizabeth the great Respects of the Scottish Queen towards her and with this Message the Lords sent also their Letters to the Queen humbly thanking her for her late Seasonable Assistance and requesting her to continue her Princely Favour towards their Queen and a firmer establishment of Union between both Kingdoms as an Expedient thereunto they propound to her Majesty That she would be pleased to pass an Act of Parliament Declaring That in case her self should dye without Issue the Queen of Scots to be her rightful Heir and lawful Successor to her Crown This last motion highly displeased Queen Elizabeth saying That it was most unreasonable to require her to Sew her Winding-Sheet with her own hands and to expose it every day to her own view After much Debate it was at last agreed upon First That the Scots Queen should forbear
and Success sendeth down a Potent Army both by Sea and Land under the Command of the Duke of Lancaster they spoil all to the very Gates of Edenburgh they Enter the City and in their Fury resolve to set it on Fire but the Duke remembring that it had been a Sanctuary to himself in a late Danger Nobly preserveth it and returneth with his Army His Army returned Earl Dowglass immediately marcheth with an Army and regaineth all the Castles in the English Power Roxborrow only excepted for which he put very fair but that a Burning Feaver of which he Dyed prevented him In the mean while a Peace is Concluded in France between all the Three Kingdoms of France England and Scotland the French undertake to publish this Peace forthwith in Scotland but are Negligent in it until the News of a great havock done in Scotland after the Conclusion of the Peace by an Army of 10000 English Horsemen and 6000 Bowmen under the Earl of Northumberland and Notingham the Scots sensible of this Abuse refuse to hearken to Terms of Peace notwithstanding the earnest desire of their King to embrace them Dowglass Lindsey and Dunbar privately withdraw from Court raise an Army and flying rather than marching into England consume all with fire and sword even to the Gates of New-Castle return laden with Spoil and proclaim the Peace In the Year following the French Admiral Jean de Vienna landeth in Scotland with about some Two Thousand Auxiliary Foot and an Hundred Curasiers with Six Months Pay King Richard of England having Notice hereof and withal Intelligence of great Preparations making against him in France by Charles the Sixth the French King which soon evaporated into Smoak by the delays of the Duke of Bury suddenly raiseth an Army of Sixty Thousand Foot and Eight Thousand Horse some say One Hundred Thousand Foot and Ten Thousand Horse some Three Hundred Thousand of both and in great Fury marcheth into Scotland burneth and killeth all along Forty Miles without respect of Place or Person Edenburgh and Melrose both Consumed by Fire King Robert thinking it no way safe to give Battel to so great an Army sendeth an Army into Cumberland where they freely Wast and Spoil all King Richard not daring to march beyond the Scottish Frith as the Duke of Lancaster Advised him whom he therefore Suspected of a Traiterous Design against him nor to leave the Sea Coast having all his Stores of Provision from his Navy then attending him on the Frith and the Winter then drawing on resolveth rather to return home by the way of Berwick than with the hazard of all by reason of Cold and Hunger to Pursue the Scots in Cumberland which the Scots perceiving withdraw their Army at their own convenience and return no less laden with Spoil than the great Army of the English thus two Armies great enough are raised invade other Nations and return without sight one of another the People the common sufferers in such broils sustaining the loss King Robert knowing that the English could not return in the Winter Season sendeth his Army to reduce Roxborrough then in the hands of the English strongly Fortified and well Garrison'd the Siege being formed the French crave the Possession and Government of the Town when regained the Scots peremptorily refuse telling them plainly their Service deserved no such Reward as so strong a Garrison the Possession whereof should enable them to become at pleasure Arbitrators both of War and Peace the Siege breaketh up in discontent the Scots weary of the Insolence and grievous Plunderings of the French send them fairly home retaining the Commander in Chief until reasonable Satisfaction made for the wast done by his Souldiers King Richard of England now returned home and his great Army disbanded behold a Cloud appeareth which breaketh out into such a storm as in the end proved his Ruin Whilst all things are in confusion in England the Scottish Nobility unwilling to loose the opportunity cry out for a Vindictive Army to be raised to revenge King Richard's last years inhuman Cruelty the good King touched with a fellow-feeling of King Richard's Sufferings choosing rather to bear the wrong done than to wound the afflicted sheweth himself very averse to the Counsels of his Nobility which his Nobles perceiving resent it more than well beseeming them and privately contrive an Army without the knowledge of their King with which they march into England one part of their Army marcheth by the way of Carlile under the Conduct of two of the King 's Younger Sons the Earls of Fife and Straern the other by the way of Berwick under the Command of James Earl Dowglass The first Army spoileth the Countrey without opposition and returneth with Spoil enough bought at a cheap rate The second hath not the like fortune tho' it marched with such hast and secresie that the smoak it raised in the Conflagration of Towns and Villages was its first Discovery having spoiled the Bishoprick of Durham Earl Dowglass resolveth to Attempt New-Castle the Percies in those days the most Valiant Family England had draw their Forces thither for its Defence some light Skirmishing there was for three days together the two Commanders in Chief Dowglass and Piercy think it worthy of their Fame to try their single Valour in view of both Armies which accordingly they did with incredible Gallantry on both sides Percy is at last dismounted Dowglass who Thirsted not after Blood but Honour as a Noble Cavalier doth not offer one blow to his dismounted Enemy layeth only hold on his Spear Saying My Lord your Spear shall home with me as the Trophee of this Noble Encounter and with these words Retreateth to the Van of his Army Next day after Dowglass draweth off the Field and marcheth to Otturburn some Eight Miles from New-Castle where contrary to the Advice of his Council his Army being inferiour in number by one half to the English he stayeth some three days attending Earl Percy his rescue of his Spear Percy to regain his Honour resolveth to Fight him contrary to the Advice of all his Council too who presumed as they had reason that Dowglas so Discreet and Wary a Souldier would not hazard to give Battel to an Army so much exceeding his Number as two to one unless he had some considerable Forces laid in Ambush to insnare them The two Armies the one not above Five Thousand the other not under Ten Thousand joyn Battel in the Evening and with various and doubtful Success coutinued Fight almost the whole Night by the benefit of the Light they had from the Full Moon at last the Scots gave ground which by the Valour of two Heburnes both Patrick by Name was quickly regained Dowglass Chargeth so desperately with two Attendants only Hart and Glendimung that having evidenced incredible strength both of Spirit and Body he falleth under the burden of many wounds before his Forces were able to take him off his Body is rescued when it
oppressions not to be so stupid as to endure the Usurped Power of those Men who breaking through all the Laws of God and Man Murthered the last King detaining upon the matter this present King under the bondage of their own Wills which tyranny was so much the rather not to be endured because they arrogated to themselves to be called the Restorers and Preservers of the Scottish Liberties when indeed they exercised a most cruel and unsupportable Tyranny keeping their fellow Subjects in Slavery and abusing the King's Authority to the final destruction of all those who were faithful to his Father and to inflame the affections of the People the more Alexander Forbese chief of that Family carrieth on the point of a Spear through Aberdeen and all the cheif Towns and Cities in the North the King's Shirt torn in divers pieces and all bloody by the Wounds his Majesty received inviting all Men who had any sense of Humanity or Religion to avenge that horrid Murther the Earl of Lennox bestirring himself on this side Forth to the same purpose an Army in this Popular fury rolleth together as in a moment marcheth to Sterlin where finding the Bridge Fortified resolve to Foard over some Miles above where they that night Encamped without Order or Watch or any persons designed for the exercise of Military Discipline This looseness is bewrayed to the Enemy who advanceth Surpriseth all Killeth many and Imprisoneth more some of whom were afterwards put to death Thus was this tumultuary Army as suddenly ruined as raised This Tumult over King Henry of England inraged at the disaster of his five Ships and looking upon it as a publick dishonour propoundeth great Rewards to all such as would undertake to bring to him Wood the Scotch Captain dead or alive Sir Stephen Bull undertaketh the Service and with three choice Ships of the English Navy setteth Sail casts Anchor at the May where he attends Captain Wood then returning from Holland in few days Wood appeareth the Ships draw up and give Fire Fighting bitterly all that day next day morning the Conflict is renewed they Grapple and fasten by Iron Hooks their Ships one to another fighting with that eagerness that none of them perceiving the motion of the Tide all are carried over to the Mouth of Tay where the Water being shallow and the English Ships great and in danger of the Sands the English are forced to yield the Ships are brought to Dundee 10. August 1490. Sir Stephen Bull and other the most eminent Officers and Gentlemen are brought to King James by whom they were Nobly entertained after much commendation of their Valour he grants them their Liberty desiring them to return with their Ships with a tender of his Royal Respects to their Master King Henry King Henry much pleased returneth thanks to King James declaring the great Esteem and honourable Respect he bare to him for his Royal and extraordinary Munificence By this time a Parliament is called in Edenburgh where his Majesty endeavoured by all possible means a Composure of the grand Divisions of the Kingdom some Laws are enacted for preservation of the Peace and the late unhappy Battel nigh Sterlin where the King was Slain is so hudled up that the business of that Day should never after be remembred to the Prejudice of either Parties a very strange Close considering that this Convention was composed most of such as opposed the former King The moderation and discretion of the young King not yet arrived at the Fifteenth Year of his Age was such that a Concord is made up far above all means hope or expectation every man had a dutiful regard to so hopeful a Prince Being thus setled the reflections of his Grace appear daily more evidently towards his Fathers Friends two of his own Cousins Daughters to his Aunt Mary he bestows in Marriage to two Eminent Men amongst them the one Daughter to the Lord Boyd to the Lord Forbese the other Daughter to Earl Hamilton to Mathew Earl of Lennox And to Manifest the deep sense he had of his Father's Fall he begirt himself with an Iron Chain as I have mentioned before which galled the hearts of the Rebellious Faction his pretended Friends more than it did his own Flesh though it made impressions therein deep enough insomuch that Fear more than Love restrained them from breaking out against him About this time a strange Monster was born in Scotland a Male Child which from the Navel downward differed nothing from the common form of other Men but from the Navel upward there were two distinct Truncks of the Body with Head Arms and all other Members as to two several individual Persons the Faces were one towards another what the one did was by the advice and consent of the other and if either transgress'd this Rule Strife arose between them and peradventure Blows oftentimes Scratching Nipping and Pricking one another if they received a Punch or Blow below the Navel both were sensible but if above where their Members were distinct only he was sensible whose parts were touched This Monster King James carefully educated and caused them to be instituted in the knowledg of Letters wherein they marvellously profited especially in the knowledge of diverse Tongues they were most exquisite in Musick and both admired for the sweetness of their voices they lived some twenty eight years the one died before the other some three or four Months by the smell of the defunct body the survivor was much annoyed and daily languished until the hour of his death And about the same time too a Monstrous Cheat came into Scotland and much cherished by the King too Peter Werbeck who pretending himself to be Son to King Edward the Fourth of England happily escaped from the cruel Claws of his Uncle Richard had admittance to King James his presence who behaved himself with a behaviour so beseeming his condition and in a most elocuent Oration did so pathetically deliver himself touching the distress of his Family and his own marvellous preservation that the King and most of his Council though not without the reluctancy of some of the wiser took compassion of him and resenting his condition as the common interest of all Princes with incredible in consideration promise him assistance towards the regaining of his just Rights provoked the rather as was pretended to satisfie such as opposed Peter's design by the breach of Truce made by the English Ships whilst Scotland was gasping under the confusion of a Civil War indeed the late horrid Rebellion in which James the Third perished Peter is highly honoured and exposed to the People by the Title of the Duke of York a most vertuous and beautiful Lady Katherine Daughter to Earl Huntley one of the chief Peers of that Nation is given to him in Marriage an Army is likewise levied and marcheth into England passeth quietly through Northumberland no adverse Army appearing nay nor any one Man coming in to own Peter the pretended
overthrown her self for Safety is forced to fly into England to shelter her self under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth her nearest Cousin The Regent or Vice-Roy after his Victory packeth a Parliament wherein divers of the Queens Friends and Adherents are declared Traytors and their Estates Confiscate Himself Marcheth into divers Places of the Kingdom spoils and lays wast and demollisheth the Houses and Castles of such as continued in their Loyalty Queen Elizabeth hearing of the Scotch Queens Refuge into England Commanded her by a Condoling Letter to stay at the Lord Scroops House until she had further Order from her and in the interim writeth to the Vice-Roy of the danger of the Example in which all the Kings and Crowns of the World were concern'd and desiring some Commissioners might be sent to her to give her a full Account of all their Proceedings against their Queen The Vice-Roy having the French King his Enemy already durst not run the hazard of Offending the Queen of England too whereas now his Friend in whose displeasure he might plainly read his own Destruction he resolveth to gratifie the Queen of England and to send Commissioners to shew her the best Prospect of the Story but the Nobility ashamed of the thing refuse to be sent upon so Unworthy and Dishonourable a Message or to be Employed in a matter so detestable he resolves himself to undertake it which accordingly he did Accompanied with one or two of the Rebellious Nobility and George Buchanan a devoted Slave to the Vice-Roy whose heart did as much thirst after the Blood of the Queen as ever his Venomous Pen had Surfeited it self in the pollution of her Sacred Name which so wounded his gangered Conscience when it was too late That he Craved of God no longer time to Live than he might be able to Cure those Sores and Salve those Wounds which himself had made in the Fame and Reputation of that Good and Vertuous Queen The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Ralph Sadler Commissioners for the Queen of England give them a Meeting at York whither likewise repaired some Agents for the Exiled Queen who gave their Audience Protesting that they did not appear there before the English Commissioners as competent Judges to determine or give Sentence in the Affairs of their Soveraign Lady but rather as in the presence of Friends and Neighbours to convince them of the unparalle'ld Wrongs and Injuries done to the Person and Honour of their Queen through whose sides they had wounded all the Kings and Supream Magistrates in the World and to Crave the Assistance of the English Queen her nighest Kinswoman in the World either to persuade her Rebellious Subjects to receive her again as their Sovereign and restore her to all the Rights and Priviledges of her Crown or that failing to grant her so considerable Forces as might be able to reduce them to Order and Obedience which would be a Concession no less Honourable to the Queen of England than Profitable to the Queen of Scotland As a Counterpoize to this Protestation the English Commissioners do also Protest That they allowed not of that Protestation to the Prejudice of the Superiority that the Kings of England had always Claimed over the Kings of Scotland which now belonged to the Queen their Mistress in the Right of the Crown of England Then they proceeded to the Business the Commissioners for the Exiled Queen first laid open all the Grievances and Wrongs that were thrown upon her and under which she now laboured in a Languishing Exile The Commissioners for the Young King in whose Name the Commission ran recriminate and highly Charge the Queen no ways Accountable to them supposing or hoping the English Commissioners to have Power to pass Sentence against their Queen in case they could by any means make them believe her Guilty of those things they Charge her withal But being frustrate in these Hopes and hearing every Article of the Charge distinctly and fully Answered by their Queens Commissioners the Vice-Roy contends That nothing was done which in the like Cases had not been done by their Predecessors and their late proceedings being Confirmed by Act of Parliament they were now past recall and could not be Abrogated by any private person whatsoever whereby he imagined that he had prevented all Arguments that might be offered for a Peaceable Reception of the Queen to her Rights which were now alienated by Act of Parliament But the English Commissioners not satisfied with these things they urge That the true Causes of such rigorous Proceedings with their Queen might be produced the knowledge whereof was the end of their present Meeting The Vice-Roy having nothing else to offer desired that first the Queen of England would Engage for the Tuition of their Young King Letters are sent to Acquaint the Queen with this motion Her Majesty desires two Commissioners of the Vice-Roy's Faction to be sent to her to London to inform her more clearly in the whole matter Two Commissioners are accordingly sent Metellane and Mackgill but the Queen upon second Thoughts judgeth it necessary that the Regent himself be there who repairs to London where after much Debate before the Queen and the Council at last the Commissioners are dismissed and no more Determined at London than at York The Vice-Roy returns home and not long after the Lord Boyd brings Letters from both Queens to the Scots Parliament wherein the Queen of England makes a Threefold Overture in behalf of Queen Mary First That she might be restored to her former Government or this not Granted That in the second place she might be admitted to Reign in Title only in Conjunction with her Son and the Exercise of the Regal Power to rest still in the Vice-Roy until the Young King came to Seventeen Years of Age and if they would not do that in the third place She might have free Liberty to return safely into her own Countrey if it should seem good to her and to Live a Retir'd and Private Life having an Honourable Maintenance allowed her The former Two were peremptorily Denied and the Last had never been yielded to but that they were well assured that the Queen would never Accept of it The Queen of Scotland's Proposals were likewise Read desiring them to Appoint certain Judges to take her Marriage with Bothwell into Cognisance That if it did appear Unlawful that it might be accordingly adjudged and annulled The Letter is Debated but no Answer returned only this Concluded That the Queen of England be first Advertised with a Suggestion that this Motion tended only to make way for her Marriage to the Duke of Norfolk wherein her Majesty of England was indeed much concerned A Messenger is dispatched with the Parliaments Resolves concerning both Letters at his Arrival the Queen of England was Offended that they should send so mean and inconsiderable a Person to Treat with Her of so great and important Affairs as the Rights of Princes he