to the servilest of his Work which they being not able to endure Macduff Earl of Fife Posts to England where he found Malcolm the late Kings Son at King Edwards Court whom he invited home to revenge his Fathers Death and possess the Crown which was his own by right Malcolm suspecting Treachery pretended several excuses to try Macduffs sincerity but when he found him Cordial he declared his Willingness Whereupon getting assistance of Men from King Edward he entred Scotland Macbeth hearing of his arrival went about to oppose him but Macduff surprizing him in his Castle of Dunfinnan killed him with his own hand the seventeenth year of his Reign 86. Malcolm Surnamed Kanmor Son to Duncan the first succeeded A. D. 1057. He was a worthy Prince and in Compensation of their Service and Loyalty in his Restauration created many Earls Lords Barons and Baronets commanding that their Lands should be called after their Names He made also his Thanes Earls many new Surnames began at this time as Calder Lochbart Gordoun Seytown Lander Kennethe Meldrome Schau Liberton Livermond Cargill Strachan Ratray Dundass Meazeis Mertine Cockbourn Lesly Abercromby At this time also William Duke of Normandy conquered England which was the occasion that these Surnames being expelled their Country came to Scotland viz. Ramsay Vans Lindsay Lownal Towres Preston Bissat Foules Wandlaw Maxwell from France came the Names of Frazer Sintcare Boswel Montray Montgomry Boyes Campbel Beaton At this time Walter Son to Fleance came to Scotland who shortly after was created high Steward of the Kingdom King Malcolm was killed at the siege of Anwick by one Robert Moubray who came from the Castle upon a light horse holding in his hand a Lance with the Keys of the Castle upon the point of it King Malcolm looking stedfastly to the Lance the other run him through the Eye with it escaping to the next Wood Whereupon King William changed this Moubrey's Name to Percy King Malcolm dyed the thirty sixth year of his Reign and was buried in Dunfermling 87. Donald the seventh Sirnamed Bane being Malcolm Kanmores Brother usurped the Crown A. D. 1093. But within a year he was expelled by Duncan base Son to the foresaid Malcolm 88. Duncan the second usurped the Crown but did not enjoy it long being killed by Macpendar Earl of Mearnes at Taich by procurement of Donald the seventh who after was Crowned King He gave the North and West Isles to the King of Norway for his assistance to recover the Crown He was taken Captive by Edgar his Successor and put in Prison where after some years he dyed miserably 89. Edgar Malcolm Kanmores Son succeeded A. D. 1098. He was the first anointed King Governing with great Wisdom and Sobriety He dyed the nineteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Dumfermling 90. To him succeeded Alexander the first Sirnamed Fierce A. D. 1107. Soon after his coming to the Throne certain Traitors were by his Chamberlains means let in to his Chamber intending to have killed him in Bed but he being surprised at their noise got out of Bed and caught a Sword in his hand wherewith he killed the Chamberlain and six of the other Traitors the rest hasted away but being pursued and some of them overtaken Confessed that divers of the Nobles were in the Conspiracy them the King pursued killing some and taking others He dyed in Peace the seventeenth year of his Reign and was buried in Dumfermling 91. To him succeeded his Brother David the first A. D. 1124. He possessed Northumberland and Cumberland Huntington and Westmorland He married Maud Daughter to the Earl of Northumberland who dyed in the flower of her Age for which the King took such Grief that he resolved never to Marry again but gave himself wholly to works of Charity He purged his Court from all Vices so that his whole Family were given to Vertuous Exercises no Rioting nor Drunkeness nor Lascivious or wanton Songs were suffered This Victorious and Religious King dyed in Carlyle the twenty ninth year of his Reign and was buried at Dumfermling where King James the first visiting his Tomb called him a Sore Saint to the Crown 92. Malcolm the fourth Sirnamed the Maiden next Heir after King David began his Reign A. D. 1153. A just and mild Prince in the beginning of his Reign there was a great Famine in Scotland whereof many dyed Sumerled Thane of Argyle taking advantage of the present Calamity raised a Rebellion purposing to make himself King but he was soon crush't his Friends killed and himself forced to fly to Ireland soon after being invited to London by King Henry of England under pretence of confirming him in his Title to Northumberland Cumberland and Westmorland he carried him with him into France where he had Wars for that time he no sooner was returned home then he made War with England to the great loss of both Kingdoms He dyed at Jedburgh the twelfth year of his Reign 93. To him succeeded William his Brother Sirnamed the Lyon A. D. 1165. He demanded Northumberland which by Right belonged to his Crown to be re-delivered to him which the King of England being taken up with Wars in France durst not altogether refuse but condescended to let him have such parts of it as his Grand-father possest but soon after he was by a Stratagem taken Prisoner at Alunick and sent to France where the King of England was whence not long after he was Ransomed with a sum of Money being returned home he expelled all the Murrays out of Murray-Land for that they were Seditious and Tumultuous in his absence About this time the Pope sent to King William a Sword with the Sheath and Hilts all of Gold set about with precious Stones with a Hat or Diadem giving him the Title of the Defender of the Church After this he retired to Bertha where he stayed not long when by a sudden Inundation of two Rivers Tay and Almond the Towns Walls were beat down the Castle demolished the young Prince and his Nurse with several others drowned the King himself narrowly escaping He founded and built the City of Perth granting to it several great and ample Priviledges He dyed the forty ninth year of his Reign and was buried in Aberbrothick 94. His Son Alexander the second succeeded to him A. D. 1214. Having pacified all Rebellions at home he led his Army into England where having made Peace with King John he married his Sister Afterward he went into France and renewed the old League with this Addition that neither of them should receive or protect the Enemies of the others Kingdom nor Marry with any Stranger without making one another privy thereto In the mean time his Queen dyed without any Succession within a year after he married Mary Daughter to Ingelram Earl of Coucy in France who bare to him Alexander the third in his time came Cardinal Egadius into Britain to beg Money for the Holy War of which he got a great deal but
snatched it out of his Fathers hand and wrung off her Neck for which his Father being angry Well says he Since I cannot Govern thee I will bring one shall Govern us both And from that day he ceased not to further the Redemption of the King he Governed four years 102. But the Nobles weary under this form of Government the Governour being also irritated by the Misdemeanor of his Children all Unanimously determine without longer delays to work the deliverance of their Native Prince James fourth of England which at length was effected Anno. Dom. 1424. Having Ransomed him for the sum of forty hundred thousand Marks He married Jane Daughter to the Duke of Somerset Son to John of Gaunt who bare to him two Sons Alexander who dyed shortly after and James the second who succeeded to him The King having passed the Solemnities of Hasterat Edenburgh He with his Queen came to Perth and from thence to Scone where he was Crowned in the twenty seventh year of his Age after he held a Parliament at Perth where the Tax was laid on to pay the sum promised to England for his Ransome from thence he went back to Edenburgh where he called such as were Concerned with the Crown Rents together he understood by their Accounts that the most and best part of the Crown Lands were alienated and wasted by the late Governour and his Sons whereat he was exceedingly incensed yet that time he smothered and put a fair Countenance upon his Passion But soon after pregnant Accusations were brought in against some of the Nobility especially the Governours Friends upon which some of them were made Prisoners which occasioned much discontent and Jealousie on both sides yet the King securing the Body of this Estate on his side resolved to go on and having Arrested the Governour with two of his Sons and several others his Friends they were all committed to several Prisons Whereupon James the Governours youngest Son in a desperate rage accompanied with a number of Out-laws came to Dumbarton and set on Fire and killed John Stewart the Kings Uncle with thirty others This Insolency of the Son quite diverted the Kings Clemency from his Father and Brethren Whereupon he calleth a Parliament at Sterling where the Governour with his two Sons and his Father-in-Law the Duke of Lenox were Arraigned and Condemned and soon after Executed this highly perplexed some other Lords and Gentlemen who were Prisoners at the same time fearing that they should also meet with the same measures yet the King like a wise Physitian being not willing to take away more Blood than he thought would take away the Disease of the Body in a short time set them all at Liberty The Wars continuing between France and England the French sent an Ambassador to renew the ancient League with Scotland But his main business was to carry on a match between Lewis the Daulphine tho' then very young and Margaret Daughter to King James this match the English neglected but afterward most earnestly sued for it The South parts of the Kingdom being brought under Obedience the King resolved to have the North follow their Example for which end he went thither himself in Person to keep his Courts When he came there he found things in a strange Condition all going by strength of hand the stronger overthrowing the weaker The King not knowing well how to go about the taming of these rude Villains seemed to give small Faith to what he heard of them allowing such of them as seemed to come and see him a great deal of seeming Favour till at length he got forty of their Chiefs all at once within the Castle of Innerness whom he presently surprized making them close Prisoners Within a few days after the King was convinced of this wickedness Alexander Macrory and John Macherter were hanged John Campbel for murthering John of the Isles was beheaded The Earl of Ross being taken in this Trap was brought by the King to Perth where he was accused of Oppression and other things yet the King pardoned him and freely dismist him taking his Oath of Fidelity But as soon as he went home he gathered together a Rabble of Out-laws who came towards Innerness burnt both Town and Castle to the Ground Whereupon the King himself went with his Forces against him at whose approach all the Rebels fled Alexander thus abandoned of his Forces fled to the Isles but finding that he was way-laid on all hands and had no way left him to escape he came disguised to Edenburgh Whereupon Yesterday the King being at Church he came wrapped in a mourning Garment and fell down at his Feet beging his Life which at the Queens request was granted but to keep him from any more mischief the Earl of August was appointed to take him into Custody within Tanutallon Castle Donald Balloth Cousin-german to the Earle of Ross raised a great number of outlaws and invaded Lochaber and in a Bloody Battel overthrew the Earles of Marr and Caithness at Innerlochy the news coming to the King he came with a great Army to Dunstaffage which when the Clans heard of they tendred their Submission to the King promising to break Balloth and his party which the King accepted of Balloth fled to Ireland where he was taken and his head chopt off and sent to King James Notwithstanding of the many Acts of Justice that were done upon these disorderly outlaws yet nothing frighted one Macdonald who was Famous for all sorts of Villanies among other Cruelties he is said to have nailed Horseshoes to the Soles of a Widdow because that she swore to delate him to the King being taken with twelve of his associates and brought to Perth the King caused them to be shooed in the same manner as he had served the woman draging him about for a Spectacle to the people for three days then all of them were put to death In this year A. D. 1430. the first of June was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun at three of the clock in the afternoon the day turning black for the space of half an hour as though it had been night which was afterward called by the common people The black Hour The King having setled the Country begins to look to his own affairs and having advisedly perused all evidences and Charters belonging to the Crown he recalls all such Lands as had been either alienated from it or wrongfully usurped about this time there came Ambassadors from the King of Denmark requiring of King James a Yearly Tribute due to him as King of Norway for the western Isles the Ambassador was honourably entertained and the old League renewed with Denmark soon after the French Kings Ambassadors came to have Margaret already betrothed to Lewis the Dauphin delivered to them and conveyed to France where they found the Lord Scroop earnestly dealing with the King that he must bestow his daughter upon King Henry the sixth of England promising that if he would agree thereto
Noble and Wise Prince in the thirteenth year of his Reign He was buried in the Charter-house of Perth which he himself had founded 103. The three Estates of the Kingdom set the Crown upon the Head of James the second at Holy-rood-house while yet a Child in the sixth year of his Age A. D. 1437. The Government is intrusted to Alexander Levingston of Calander and the Custody of the Kings Person to Sir William Crichtoun Whereupon Archibald Earl of Douglass grudging that these Honours had been conferred upon Men far below himself retired home and gave Orders that none of his Vassals should acknowledge the present Government also he used all means to weaken the hands of the Chancellor and Governour sowing by his Instruments the Seeds of Division between them which accordingly answered Expectation they begin to cross and Counter-act one another which made them at length that neither of them was obeyed the Country having usurped a Licencious Liberty doing what he thought best The Queen seeing things thus mis-managed betwixt them and finding that the Chancellor was mostly to blame she at last resolves to change the Game of State To effect her design she came to Edenburgh and with fair Speeches prevailed with the Chancellor to let her enter the Castle and delight her self some days in the Company of her Son after some days staying where having fixed every thing for her purpose she puts the King into a Trunck as if he had been some Fardel of her Apparel and conveys him by water to Sterling presently after Proclamations are made against the Chancellor and he Commanded to render the Castle which he refusing to do he is presently besieged But the two Rulers being better advised considering that Douglass waited to see them undo one another come to an agreement Much about this time the Queen Dowager married James Stewart's Son to the Lord of Lorn the Governour fearing what might follow upon the Novation committed them both to the Castle of Sterling then the Queen began to repent her of her former Courtesies to the Governour resolving once more to Face about which the Chancellor observing lays hold upon the Opportunity and strikes in with her presently they contrived how to take the Prince out of the Governours hands which they after effected thus the King being one Morning hunting in the Park the Governour being at Perth the Chancellor coming to him by the Queens assistance prevails with him to go to Edenburgh and take the Government upon himself which when the Governour hears of he very calmly came to Edenburgh where the Chancellor and he becometh Friends The great Confusions that were in the Country did necessitate the the calling of a Parliament where many grievous Complaints were brought against several Oppressors and among the rest William Earl of Douglass Son to Archibald was represented as the Source whence the Miseries of the Country sprang The Parliament resolve to proceed against him by way of Rigour but the Governor and the Chancellor advise them rather to write a fair Letter to him and invite him by fair means to come in and submit which was accordingly done and wrought so effectually upon him that he resolves presently to obey hoping thereby to get himself set up He upon his arrival was together with his Brother David and Sir Malcolm Flyming of Cummerald with great Ceremony conducted by the Governour to the Castle of Edenburgh where the King was at this Table he was set to Dine this so elevated his Heart that he Blessed himself with the Expectation of other Favours But amidst these Entertainments behold the Instability of Fortune near the end of the Banquet the Head of a Bull which was the sign of present Death in those days is set down before him At which sudden Spectacle he leapt from the Table all agast but he is presently seized upon by armed Men who led him to the outer Court of the Castle and notwithstanding the Tears and Crys of the young King that they might spare his Life he together with his Brother and Flyming had their Heads cut off This Act left Grief and Terror in the Hearts of the People who ever after hated the Actors of the Tragedy The Kings Nonage being now near expired he takes the Government upon himself and finding the two Rulers being so long settled in the Government not to be Ambitious and Head-strong he resolves to entertain another Faction more powerful than they So setting his thoughts upon William Earl of Douglass Son to the Baron of Abercon him he received into Favour This sudden change of Court moved the two Rulers to withdraw after which they were both removed from their Offices and at last summoned before the King to answer such things as they should be Legally accused of They finding that there was a design upon them did not appear Whereupon they were both forfeited This produced great Confusion in the State all being divided into Factions and Parties Whereupon followed much Effusion of Blood especially between the Layndsays and the Ogletives Douglass to keep himself high did much abett these Broils making his own use of them yet not long after the Chancellor notwithstanding Douglass's power and Policy is restored to his Fortune and Dignity The King being setled upon the Throne married Mary Daughter to the Duke of Gnilders soon after the Peace with England expired and the Borders of both Kingdoms break and mutually invade each other which issued in a Truce for seven yeers But this Truce stood not long both Nations being equally inclined to break it Whereupon after several Incursions on both sides at last they came to a Battel The Scots were Commanded by the Earl of Ormond the English by the Earl of Northumberland Magnus Red-beard a man trained from his Youth in the Wars of France who is said to have required no more for his Service to the Crown of England then that by his own Valour he must Conquer of Scotland Here it is valiantly fought for a long time with doubtful Victory till at length Magnus being killed it inclined to the Scots the loss of the English was great many brave Men being killed and taken Prisoners upon their side but the Scots lost few of any Note except Cragy Wallace This Battel brought on a Truce for three years This Victory no sooner was obtained and thereby Peace abroad but presently they fall out at home this Douglass being always the first mover of strife But now finding himself over-powered by Adversaries both at Court and in the Country he leaveth the Kingdom and goeth to Rome he was not long gone but by the means of his Enemies he is cited to appear before the Council upon several days together with his Brother and Vassals to answer such things as should be objected against them and upon not appearing are all denounced Rebels the Earl of Douglass hearing of this unexpected News at Rome takes a Journey and comes to the Borders of Scotland whence he sent
convened his Nobles intending to determine the right of Inheritances which some had unlawfully kept in these unsettled times this begat a Conspiracy which being detected a meeting was held at Perth there by their own Papers many were Convicted and Executed but some Pardoned In the mean time a Legat came from Rome armed with all the Thunderbolts of that See to threaten the Scots into a Peace with England but missing of his Errand the Scots followed him with an Army and marched as far as Stainmore Edward in revenge raiseth a most powerfull Army Robert therefore considering that his force would not be in case to resist so great a Power caused all the cattel to be carryed unto the Avious retreats of the Hills that they might not be serviceable to the Enemy whereupon the English for want of Victuals were forced to retire Bruce pursues them as far as Yorke there he obtained a great Victory About this time the family of the Hamiltons took their rise one of them killing an English Gentleman fled to Robert for Protection who gave him lands which retain the name to this day Bruce now having subdued his enemies begins to compose himself to the cares of Peace and by Act of Parliament settles the Crown upon his Son though a Child and in case of his decease to Robert Stewart his Grand-child by his Daughter soon after Thomas Randolph and James Dowglas were sent with a flying party of horse into England from whence they returned without any considerable action saving only that Dowglas with two hundred horse beat up the English quarters cutting two ropes of the Kings Tent with his Sword and made a good retreat Bruce finding himself wasted with Age retyred to the Abby of Kilross leaving these three Counsels behind him First not to let one man Solely command the Ebudae Secondly never to put all their strength at one Hazard with the English Thirdly never to make long Truces with them Thus he dyed leaving Charge with the Valiant Dowglas to go to Jerusalem whither himself designed an Expedition which the Dowglas performing he afterward Joyned with the Christian Princes against the Turks and Saracens where he obtained several great Victories He purposing to return home was driven by a Tempest upon the Coast of Spain where he joyned with the King of Aragon against the Saracens and obtained great Victories at last he was killed by an Ambushment that was laid for him of purpose thus ended the Noble and Valiant Dowglas one of the most renowned warriours that lived in his days It is said that he was thirteen times Victorious against the Turkes and Sarazens and fiftie seven times against the English In the preceeding age there was a Gate in Dansick called the Dowglas port in memory of this Dowglas King Robert dyed at Cardross the twenty fourth year of his Reign and was buried in Dumfermling 98 To him Succeeded his Son David Bruce A. D. 1330. Being seven years of age Thomas Randal who was continued Governour kept the country in entire peace and prosperity which King Edward hearing of hired a Monk to kill Randal by poyson the Monk giving out that he had great skill in curing the Stone where with the Government was sore troubled came to be in favour with him which gave him opportunity to perpetrate his Villany how ever the Poyson did not take effect at first but the Monk returned home and told King Edward that he had done his business who immediately raising a great Army came to the border of which the Governour being advertised presently marched against him himself not being able to ride nor go was carryed in a litter when King Edward heard that the Governour was there in person he sent an Herald under pretence of seeking peace whom the Governour received with a very austere countenance when Edward was by the Herald certified of the truth of his being alive he returned home and burnt the Monk alive The Governour returning home dyed at Musselbrough after his death the Earle of March and the Earle of Marr were chosen Governours in which they were scarce warm when news was brought that Edward Balliol was seen in the Fryth with a formidable Fleet his Army consisted of both English and Scotch the Earle of Stafford with divers other English men of note were with him the Governours raised two great Armies to oppose the Balliol he came near the water of Hone where he pitched his Tents the Earle of Marr also encamped within view of him but he slighting the smallness of their number took little care of himself the Balliol in the night time passed the water of Erne having intelligence of the Ford by a stake set up for that purpose and entering the Earle of Marrs Camp killed him in his Bed with many other Noble men and Gentlemen namely the Earle of Carrick Sir William Hay Constable of Scotland Alexander Frazier also Robert Keith Lord Marshal Balliol past immediately and beseiged Perth and soon overcame it The Earle of March being encamped at Ochterarder and hearing of the Earle of Marrs death and the taking the Town of Perth marched thither and beseiged it but after he had filled the Ditches and put himself in a case to make an assault he most shamefully left it thereupon 99. Balliol usurped the Crown at Scone A. D. 1332. coming from thence to Perth they that adhered to David Bruce beseiged him and his party upon the other hand his adherents wasted and destroyed the beseigers country Perth being well fortified was by the King committed to the Earle of Fiffe as Governour of it but the Sons of them who were killed with the Earle of Marr at Duplin beseiged and took it committing the Governour to the Castle of Killdrummie Andrew Murry of Tullibardin was Executed for fastning the stake in the Ford of the River Erne whereby Balliol and the Englishmen were directed the Night wherein they Surprised the Earle of Marre Therefore John Kandal Earle of Murry and the Earle of Galloway gathered a great Army and came against Balliol and quite routed him killing many of his Nobles and taking many Prisoners the Kingdom being thus divided the one part for Balliol the other for Bruce the King of England thinking it a fit time for him to make a full Conquest of Scotland raised a great Army and beseiged Berwick mean while Archibald Dowglass raised an Army and entring the Borders Burnt all before him to divert the King of England from the Seige King Edward advertised of this sent a Messenger to Sir Alexander Setonn who was Governour telling him that if he did not presently render he would hang his two Sons whom he had in his hands which he refusing to do the two Young Gentlemen were presently hanged then the Governour came with an Army to Northumberland where a most Bloody battel was fought on Halidown-hill and the Governour himself with many Nobles killed thereupon Berwick was rendered and Edward Balliol Established King who sought by
all means to have gotten Robert Stewart in his hands for he knew that next to King David his Title was best to the Crown Soon after King Edward prepared an Army both by Sea and Land to enter into Scotland but the most part of his Ships Perished in Forth The King returning with Balliol into England left Cumin Earle of Athol Governour who seized upon all the Lands pertaining to Robert Stewart and his Friends but Robert Stewart took the Castle of Dunne and killed all the Englishmen therein at this time the Earle of Murray came from France who together with Robert reduced much of the Country to the obedience of King David chasing the Governour and his Followers to the Mountains but the English entred with a great Army and though a great part of their Army was routed took Perth but their Fleet being harrast at Sea were forced to retreat and the rather in design of a French War but some of the Nobles still standing out the English landed in Murray and reduced all and leaving Balliol returned home the next year the English beseiged Dunbar and sent in two Parties under Talbot and Monford who were both routed yet the seige continued at last they were forced to raise the seige also having received great loss by the Valour of Robert Stewart Murray in the mean time dying Stewart was created Viceroy till Davids returne who having the first year gained some Victories did the next year take Perth Sterling and the Castle of Edenburgh the Scots gaining all their ground except Berwick In the year 1336. David resolves upon an expedition into England though much disswaded by his council Making John Randolph General himself going disguised Soon after a peace for two years was treated of which David would not accept without the consent of France whereupon marching as far as the County of Durham had his Army quite routed and himself taken Prisoner his Kingdom also in a manner Depopulated with the Plague by this time John of France was also made Prisoner in England the Scots after eleven years Captivity ransomed their King who at his returne punished some of those who had deserted him at Durham and endeavoured to remove the Succession of the Crown from Robert Stewart to whom he was some years after reconciled he spent the last five years of his Reign in composing Domestick feuds Queen Jane daughter to Edward the second of England dying he Marryed Margaret Logy Daughter to Sir John Logy then he purposed to have past to Jerusalem having provided all necessarys for his Voyage but he fell sick of a Feavour in the Castle of Edinburgh whereof he dyed in the fortyth year of his Reign without Succession and was buried in Holyrood-house 100. Robert Stewart the first King of that Name succeeded his mothers Brother A. D. 1378. A Valiant and worthy Prince he Married Eupham Daughter to the Earl of Ross who bare to him David Earl of Strathern Walter Earl of Athol Alexander Earl of Marr with several Daughters After her Death he marries Elizabeth Moor his own Concubine the better to Legitimate Children he had by her he honoured them with Titles and declared them his Successors two years after an Attempt is made upon Berwick and Sir John Lilbourn and 〈…〉 grave Captains of it taken 〈…〉 After this the Earl of Douglass came with twenty thousand Men to the Fair of Pennire within England spoiling all the Goods there but carried away the Pestilence with him whereof many dyed To revenge this the English came with a great Army over Solway destroying all before them mean while the Scots gathered together about five hundred Men. and lay in Ambush till the English returned back then with a sudden noise and Clamour as they passed by they set upon them forcing them back till many were drowned in Solway Not long after Edward King of England dyed whereupon the Duke of Lancaster came into Scotland intreating to have a Peace for three years which Peace being expired My Lord of Galloway laid siege to the Castle of Lochmaban and made himself Master of it defeating a strong party of English who were coming from Carlyle to it's relief King Richard fearing of it sent the Baron of Gray-stock with a Body of Men to fortifie Roxburgh who being within a mile of it he was taken by the Earl of March and carried to Dunbar the same year the strengths of Teviotdale were by the Earl of Douglas recovered out of the English hands soon after which he dyed His Son James succeeding to him went by the Kings Order with an Army into England whence he was presently after Counter-manded home where he found the Admiral of France with two hundred and forty Ships well Man'd come to their Assistance with them they passed into England and took the Castles of Warkford and Corwal And laying siege to Roxburgh and Carlyle the Scots and French could not agree in whose Names the strengths should be kept if they were won which brought the business to nothing Whereupon King Richard in revenge enters Scotland with a great Army and marching through the Mers and Louthian did much hurt But the Earls of Fife Douglas and Galloway followed him into England and secretly passing the Water of Solway came to Cokermouth where in three days time they spoiled the whole Country about and returned safely with great Booty In the year 1388. The King past again into England with an Army at which time the Irish taking their advantage entered Galloway destroying all before them Whereupon William the Lord of Galloways Son pursued them to Ireland and burnt the Town of Carlingfoord and finding sixty Ships in several Harbors loaded fifteen of them with the spoil of the Town and burnt the rest Returning home he spoiled the Isles of Man The next year the King of England sent an Army into Scotland which did much hurt in the Mers revenging this affront King Robert sent two Armies into England the one under the Command of the Earl of Fife entred Cumberland the other led by the Earls of Douglass and March entred Northumberland the two Armies met within two miles of Newcastle The Earl of Douglass chose out ten thousand Men to besiege Newcastle wherein was the Earl of Northumberland with his two Sons Henry Hotspur and Ralph Henry Challenged the Earl of Douglass to fight with him which Douglass accepted off so being mounted upon two starely Horses they assaulted one another desperately at last Douglass beat Peircy out of his Saddle but he was presently rescued and brought into the Town Immediately Douglass assaulted the Town but it was so well defended by the English that he was forced to retire and encamp at Otterburn whither Henry Peircy immediately followed there they fought a bloody Battel until the darkness of the Night parted them but when the Moon began to appear they joyned again with more Fierceness than before Victory inclining sometime to one side and sometimes to another till at last Patrick
Hepburn came with fresh Men to the Scots Whereupon the English retreated leaving eighteen hundred of their Men dead in the place and a hundred and forty taken Prisoners among which were the two Peircies above mentioned But the Valiant Earl of Douglass dyed in this Battel being thrice run through the Body and Mortally wounded in his Head which was a greater loss and Grief to his Nation then the gain of this Victory could ballance The next year a Parliament was called at Perth wherein Robert Earl of Fife the Kings second Son was elected Governor the King himself by reason of his great Age not being able to Govern He was a Valiant Victorious and fortunate Prince in all his Wars for his Governours and Captains returned always with Victory He was very constant and a great Iustitiar hearing patiently the Complaints of the Poor causing all wrongs to be redressed He dyed peaceably in the Castle of Dun-Donald the seventy fifth year of his Age and the nineteenth year of his Reign The same year John his eldest Son was called to succeed who thinking that Name ominous to Kings and there wanted not Examples as of him of England and him of France and thinking something of the Felicity of the two former Roberts was Crowned by the Name of 101. Robert the third A. D. 1390. He was more remarkable for his Peaceableness and Modesty then for any other Vertue the first seven years of his Reign were past in Peace by reason of his Truce with England but not without some fierce Fiends among his Subjects especially the Clankays and Clanchattes the King seeing the Difficulty of reducing them made this Proposition to them that three hundred of each side should try it by Dint of Sword before the King the Conquered to be pardoned and the Conqueror advanced this being agreed to a place was appointed upon the North-side of Perth but when the Clans presented themselves there was one of one side missing whom then his party could not supply A Trades-man steps out and for half a French Crown and promise of Maintenance during his Life filled up the Company The first was furious but none behaved himself more furiously then the other Mercenary Champion who was the greatest cause of the Victory for of his side their remained ten grievously wounded the other party had but one left who not being wounded yet being unable to sustain the stroak of the other threw himself in the Tay and escaped with his Life By this means the fiercest of the two Clans being cut off the remainder being Headless were quiet Two years after the King in Parliament made his two Sons Dukes which was the first time that Title was known in Scotland Next year Richard the second of England being forced to resign Henry the fourth succeeded in the beginning of his Reign tho' the Truce was not expired yet the Seeds of War began to bud upon this occasion George Earl of March betrothed his eldest Daughter to David the Kings eldest Son Archibald Earl of Douglass incensed at this got a Vote of Parliament to revoke this Marriage and giving a greater sum of Money got a Marriage confirmed in Parliament betwixt David and Mary his Daughter The Earl of March nettled at this demands Redress but not being heard he leaves the Court and with his Family and Friends goes into England to the Lord Percy who with his Assistance did much hurt to the Lands of the Douglasses the Scots declare the Earl of March an Enemy and sends to demand him of the English which they refusing several Incursions happened upon both sides till at length Piercy was defeated by the Douglass's at Lynton-bridge At this time David Earl of Cravford and the Lord Welles in England ingaged to run certain Courses on Horse-back with sharp Spears for Life and Death upon London-bridge which they performed most gallantly The People Perceiving the Earl of Cravford to sit so stifly cryed the Scotch man was lock'd in his Saddle he hearing this leapt out of the Saddle upon the Ground and presently mounted again to the great wonder of the Beholders The second time they run without any hurt but the third time the Lord Welles was beat out of his Saddle and sorely hurt with the fall By this time the Queen dying her Son David who for his Extravagancies was by her means kept under restraint broke out into his former disorders and committed all kind of Rapine and wickedness complaint being brought to his Father he committed him to his brother Robert this Design was to root out all that Off-Spring the business was so ordered as that the young man was shut up in Faulkland Castle to be starved which yet was for a while delayed one Woman thrusting in some Oaten Cakes at a Chink and another giving him Milk out of her Breasts through a Trunk but both these being discovered the Youth being forced to tear his own Flesh dyed of a multiplyed Death which Murder being whispered to the King he was so abused by the false Representations of his Brother that Grief and Imprecations was all the relief that he had left him and being now retired sickly to Boot Castle and unable to punish him The King therefore Solicitous to preserve James his youngest Son is resolved to send him to Charles the sixth of France And having taking shipping at the Bassas he passed by the Promontory of Flambrough and whether he was forced by a Tempest or that he was Sea-sick he was forced to Land there he was taken by the English and detained Prisoner notwithstanding the eight years Truce and tho' it came to be debated at the Councel Table yet his Detention was carried in the Affirmative But the News so struck his aged Father that he had almost presently dyed but being carried to his Chamber with voluntary abstinence and Sorrow He dyed within three days the sixteenth year of his Reign and was buried in Pasley Upon this the Parliament confirm Robert for Governour about four years after Donald of the Isles enters Ross as his pretended Inheritance with ten thousand Men which he easily subdued thence he went to Murray and Mastered it also and so went on to Aberdeen to stop this Torrent Alexander Earl of Marr followed by most of the Nobility met him at Harlaw where they joyned in so bloody a Battel and lost so many noble and considerable Persons that tho' Night parted them neither could pretend to the Victory to this year the University of S. Andrews owes it's Rise The English being taken up with a War with France nothing considerable was acted between them and the Scots for ten years after at which time Robert the Governour dyes and Murdoch his Son a very unfit Person was put in his place who suffered his Sons to come to that petulancy that they were not only offensive to the People but with all disobedient to their Father who having a brave Faulcon which his Son Walter had often begged but in vain he
that the Town and Castle of Berwick should be delivered into the hands of the Scots with all the Lands lying between Tweed and the Redcross in in Richmondshire the French Ambassadors also proffered great and tempting things withal puting the King in mind how true they have been to him for so many years since the first making of the League The King and his Council after mature deliberation declare they will not break the Ancient League with France whereupon the English Ambassadors turned from Prayers to Threatnings and being denied friendship denounced War But the King no wise moved hereat presently prepared his Ships and with a company of able and skilful Mariners set his Daughter to Sea and having escaped the English Fleet that waited for her safely arrived at the Rochel A. D. 1430. The English to revenge this supposed afront invades Scotland both by Sea and Land against their forces commanded by Henry Piercy of Northumberland went James Dowglass Earle of Angus with several Gentlemen their numbers were much about one the lists of their meeting was Popperden Adam Hepburn of Hales and Alexander Elphinston led the Vanguard of the Scots Sir Richard Piercy and Sir John Ogle of the English Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehouse and Henry Clidsdale kept the Rears no sooner came they within distance of Joyning but the sounds of Drums and Trumpets was out noised by the shouts of the Assailants Guns being about this time invented were here first practised between the Scots and English in an open field then the fight with equal order had been long maintained on both sides now the Scots then the English yielding ground many of the Commanders at length began to fall most of the English then was the Piercy at once constrained to be both Commander and Souldier but all would not do at last Victory declared her self altogether for the Scots two hundred Gentlemen and Common Souldiers of the Scots were slain here Of the English dyed Sir Henry Cliddsdale Sir John Ogle Sir Richard Piercy with fifteen hundred Gentlemen and Common Souldiers and four hundred taken prisoners of which forty were Knights King James resolving to prosecute this War raised an army and cometh to Roxburgh beseigeth the Castle defended by Sir Ralph Gray But when he came so near his designe that they within were driven to terms to Surrender The Queen in great hast cometh to the Camp representing to her Husband a Conspiracy which if not suddenly prevented would indanger his person and Crown this put the King in great astonishment not knowing what to do at last after many doubtful resolutions and conflicts in his thoughts raiseth the seige disbandeth the Army and accompanied with some chosen bands of his most assured friends Perplexed Pensive and Sad returned to Perth staied in the Convent of the Dominicans indeavouring so secretly as was possible to find out the Conspiracy but his close practising was not unknown to the Conspirators which made them hasten the mischief before tryal or remedy could be thought upon The Conspirators were Robert Graham Robert Stewart Nephew to Waller Earle of Athole and one of the Kings sworn Domesticks but he who gave motion to all was the Earle of Athole he himself the Kings Fatthers Brother this quarrel was no less then a pretended Title to the Crown and being animated by the Oracle of a Southsayer who assured him that he would be Crowned in a solemn Assembly before his death never doubted of success These having associated unto them the most audacious whom hope of preferment might intice Thus Graham and Stewart which were accomplices guided with resolution and guarded with the darkness of the Night came to the Black-fryers of Perth and having the way made open to them entred the Gallery before the Kings chamber door where they attended some of their Confederates who should have stole away the bar by which means they might enter the chamber but before their coming the occasion was put in their hands for Walter Streater one of the Kings Cup bearers came forth of the Chamber and finding armed men rushing rudely to force their entry with a loud voice gave the alarum of Treason while they were working his death a Maid of Honour got to the Door and essayed to shut it but the bar which should have made it fast was gone she thrust in her Arm in the place of it but that easily broken the conspirators rush into the Chamber and slaying all such of the waiters as made defence they at last stroke down the King whom while the Queen by interposing her body sought to save she received two wounds and he with twenty eight most toward the heart was left dead The report of this Murther being spread abroad wrought incredible Sorrow and Grief in the Hearts of his Subjects of all sorts the Nobles of their own accord and motion Assembled to Edenburgh and directed Troops of Armed men through all the quarters of the Kingdom to aprehend the Murtherers such diligence was used that within forty days all were taken and put to Ignominious Deaths the common sort of the Conspirators were hanged upon Gibbits the punishment of Athol was continued for three days the first day he was Stript naked to his shirt and by a Crane fixed in a Cart often hoisted aloft and thus dragged along the great street of the Town on the second day he was mounted upon a Pillar in the Market-place and crowned with a Diadem of burning Iron with this Inscription the King of all Traytors thus was his Oracle accomplished the third day he was laid naked upon a Scaffold his belly ript his Heart and Bowels taken out and thrown in a Fire before his eyes lastly his Head was cut of and fixed in the most Eminent place of the Town his Body sent in quarters to the most populous Cities of the Kingdom to remain a Trophy of Justice His Nephew was not altogether so vigorously handled being only hanged and quartered But it being notorious that Graham had imbrewed his hands in the Kings Blood a Gallows being raised in a Cave he had his Right hand nailed to it and as he was dragged along the Streets Executioners with burning Pincers tearing the most Fleshy part of his Carcass being thus torn and flayed his Heart and Intrals were thrown into a Fire his Head set up and his Quarters sent among the Towns to satisfie the wrath and sorrow of the injured People Being asked during his Torture how he durst embrew his hand in his Princes blood he made answer that having Heaven and Hell before him he dared leap from Heaven into Hell an answer worthy for such a Villain Dueas Sylvius then Legat in Scoltand from the Pope having seen this sudden and Terrible revenge being a Witness of the Execution Said he could not tell whether he should give them greater Commendations that revenged the Kings Death or brand them with a sharper Condemnation that distained themselves with so Hainous a parricide Thus dyed this