he as I said before after his overthrow fled into Ireland and from that time forward exercised Pyracy upon the Coasts of Scotland but now judging that a great Part of the Military Men being slain in Battel he might either get a rich Booty from those who would shun the hazard of Fighting or else an easie Victory from them who would stand to it gathered a great Band of Roysters together and arriving at the Firth or Bay of the River Clyde there made a Descent and Fortune at first favouring his Design he penetrated as far as Renfreu But there whilst he was more intent on Plunder than on the Safety of his Men he was surprized by a far less Number than his own and lost all his Soldiers he himself being saved and brought alive to the King for further Scorn and Punishment though some say That both he and his Son too were slain in the Battel These things were acted about the Year of Christ 1165. The Kingdom being thus quieted from all Tumults an Assembly of all the Estates was Indicted at Scone where many things were Decreed for the Confirmation of the State of the Kingdom and amongst the rest the whole Assembly unanimously made it their Request to the King That he would think of Marriage in regard he was now fit for it as being above Twenty Two years of Age and by that means he might beget Children to succeed him They told him It was a publick Debt due to the Kingdom as well as a private One to his Family and that he ought to mind not only the present time but to have a prospect to the Tranquillity of future Ages too His Answer was That ever since he had been capable to Order and Direct his own Life he had Solemnly Vowed to God to live a Continent and a Batchelor's Life which Vow said he I think was the more acceptable to God both because he gave me the strength to perform it and also because he hath prepared Heirs already to succeed me so that I am not compelled to break my Vow neither by any Weakness of my own Spirit nor by any other publick Necessity Thus dismissing the Parliament having Peace abroad he applied his Mind to the Arts of his Forefathers i. e. Building of Churches and Donations on Monks wherein he would have exceeded his Ancestors if God had given him a longer Life For he died not long after on the Fifth of the Ides of December in the Twenty Fifth Year of his Age and a little more than the Twelfth Year of his Reign and in the Year of our Redemption 1165. William The Ninety Third King HIS Brother William Succeeded him who entred upon the Kingdom Fifteen Days after Malcolm's Death He would Transact no Publick or Private Business of any weight till he had craved of Henry of England the Restitution of Northumberland Henry commanded him to come to London to do him Homage for the Counties of Cumberland and Huntingdon according to custom which he did not unwillingly yet desisted not from pressing to have Northumberland restored Henry gave him an Ambiguous Answer saying That in regard Northumberland was taken away from Malcolm and given to him by the States of the Kingdom he could not part from it without their Consent but he should come to the next Parliament and there expect Iustice to be done William though he expected no Good from the Parliament yet to cut off all occasions of Calumny from his Adversary resolved to wait in England for the Convening and Opening of it and in the mean time he accompanied Henry though against his Will to the War in France There he profited nothing by his daily Solicitations and foreseeing that the King would not speedily return into England with much ado he obtained a Convoy and returned into Scotland After his Return the first thing he did was to repress the Insolencies of Thieves and Robbers by punishing and clearing the Country of the Offenders Then he erected Castles and placed Garisons in convenient Places to prevent suddain Invasions At last he sent Ambassadors into England to demand Northumberland denouncing War in case of Refusal Henry being intangled in the French War yielded up to him that Part of Northumberland which William's great Grandfather held William took It but on this Condition That he would not remit his Right in or Claim to the rest The English King took this very heinously and being sorry he had parted with any of Northumberland before the Controversie was decided he made Incursions into the Scots Borders and thus sowed the Seeds of a new War and by this means he hoped to have taken away also the other Lands which he would have brought into dispute When Right was claimed by the Wardens of the Marches according to Custom the English complained That their Borders were molested by Scotish Robbers so that the Ambassadors were sent away without obtaining the thing they came for yea almost without an Answer The Scots to obtain that by Force which they could not do by fair means levied an Army and entred upon and wasted the bordering Lands of the English with Fire and Sword This being about Harvest the English in the absence of their King were content only to stand upon the Defensive what they could but then levied no Army yet the Winter following some Action passed and many Incursions were made The next Summer William listed a great Army and marched into the Enemies Country the English having few or no Forces ready to withstand them send Ambassadors to their Camp proffering a great Sum of Money for a Truce which if they could obtain they gave Hopes that all things would be accorded to Content William being a plain-Hearted Man and willing to preserve Peace if obtainable upon reasonable Conditions before a War though a just one gave Credit to their Fallacious Promises The English spent all the time of the Cessation in Preparations for War but in the mean time they plied the Scots with Ambassadors who made large Promises though their true Errand was to discover their Enemies Camp and finding the Scots on Confidence of the Truce re-miss and negligent and the greatest Part of their Army scattered to get in Forage they returned and gave their Army notice that now was a fair opportunity for Action which they urged them not to omit whereupon placing the greatest Part of their Army in Ambush about Four Hundred nimble Horsemen in the Third Watch a few hours before Sun-rising marched directly to Alnwick where the Scots Camp was pitcht there finding all things in greater Security than they expected they set upon the King who was riding up and down with Sixty Horse only as if there had been a setled Peace and before they could well be discerned whether they were Friends or Enemies for they disguised themselves with Scots Arms and Ensigns that they might pass for Scots They took him Prisoner in the Nineth Year of
Foreigners to aid them and that in such a conjuncture of Time when the French Themselves designed also to Land a vast Army in England whereupon he gathered a very puissant Army together consisting as the English Writers say of 60000 Foot and 8000 Horse with this Force he resolved so to tame the Scots that they should not in many Years after be able to Levy any considerable Army Besides he Rigged out a great Navy which were to bring Provisions into the Forth For he knew That part of Scotland wherein he was to make his Descent had been harassed for many Years by continual Wars And if any Provisions were left in it that the Inhabitants would convey them away into the neighbouring or other remote Places Add hereto he was secure of the French for he knew that they would not put to Sea in a Stormy Winter With those Forces he entred Scotland sparing no Place neither Sacred nor Profane no nor any Age nor Degrees of Men if they were capable to bear Arms. In the mean time Monsieur Vien being more mindful of his Kings Commands to him at his parting from him than of the present posture of Affairs in Scotland was earnest with Douglas to come to a Battel He still answered him That the Scots forbore to engage not out of any Alienation of Mind from the French but being Conscious of their own Weakness and thereupon he took him up into an high Place from whence he might safely take a view of the Enemy He then perceiving the long Train of the English in their March quickly turned to be of his Opinion Whereupon they both concluded That in the present circumstances the best and only Way for them to incommode the Enemy was to gather together what Force they could and so to invade England Thereupon they entred far from the Kings Army into Cumberland and made a great Havock therein and in the neighbouring Counties The English Winter being now at hand and the Country of Lothian being spoiled by the War for they durst not gâ—â—ar from their Ships lest Provisions should fail them consulted about their Return Some were of Opinion that it was best to follow after the Scots in the Rear and in their Return to compel them to Fight whether they would or no. But those who knew the Ways better through which they were to march replyed on the contrary That there would be great difficulty in passing over such Marshes and Mountains and sometimes narrow Places wherein there was also so much want of all things that a very few Men and those nimble ones too could carry Provisions enough with them thô but for a few days to finish the March and besides if they should overcome those Difficulties yet the next Country which was to receive them was not over-fruitful of itself and also it had been wasted by the War Again if they should wade through all those Inconveniencies yet they had to do with a nimble and shifting Enemy whom it would be more difficult to find and to bring to a Battel than to overcome and if they could find him out yet he would not be compelled to Fight but in his own Places of Advantage That Edward the Third his Grandfather had Experience hereof to the great Damage of his Own and little Inconvenience of the Scots Army Upon Hearing of this as also casting in their Minds what Miseries they might suffer in an Enemies Country in a cold Winter and in the mean time leave their Wives Children and what else was dear to them desolate at home they changed their Minds and marched back directly the same way that they came Thus both Armies had a free Time of plundering in their Enemies Country and each of them returned home again without seeing any Enemy The Scots well knowing That the English could not attempt another Expedition till the next Summer resolved to attack Roxburgh a Neighbour Town and the Garison there which was greatly annoyous to the Country thereabout When they were â—ome thither a dissension arose betwixt the Scots and the French about the Town even before it was taken The French alleging That seeing by a large Experience in Wars at home they were more skilled in the Methods of taking Towns than the Scots and moreover that they had spent a great deal of Mony in the War They therefore thought it but just That if the Town were carried it should be Theirs and remain under the Jurisdiction of France On the contrary the Scots urged That it was very unjust That Auxiliaries should reap the Reward and Benefit of the whole War and for what Expences they had been at it had been spent rather on Themselves than the Scots it being in order to distract and divide the Forces of England and so to avert Part of the War from France and if the Friendly Offices on Both sides were put in the Ballance the Scots might upon juster grounds demand the Charge of the whole War of the French than the French could challenge any Reward for their Assistance especially such a Reward as no History in the Memory of Man doth relate either to have been demanded or given by Allys one to or amongst another Yea The Unjustness of their Demand appeared by This That the Scots might have sate still in Peace without being prejudiced by the English and so might have been Spectators only of the Wars betwixt Two potent Kings but the French could not have Obtained the same Quiet unless they would have yielded up a good Part of their Country Neither could they see of what use that Town would be to the French if they had it save only to be as a Bridle that so the Arbitrement of War or Peace might be at their dispose and if That were their intent it were more for the Profit yea and for the Credit too of the Kings of Scotland to be without the Town than on a Trivial occasion to give up Themselves to a voluntary Servitude But if by so unequal a Postulation they thought to excuse their Return home which they sometime before attempted there was no need at all of such a Blind for as they freely came so they had Liberty always at their pleasure freely to depart neither was it adviseable in the Scots to stay Them in regard they might easily foresee their Service would be but small if they were detained against their Wills Hereupon They retreated from Roxburgh without attaquing it and whereas there had grievous Complaints been made betwixt Both Parties before so if matters should still continue at that Pass open Enmity did seem likely to arise The Original of the Dissension arose from the different Custom and Carriage of either Nation in managing of a War For the Scots and English Soldiers pay honestly for what they take at their Quarters and carry it amongst their Countrymen as moderately and soberly in War as in Peace But the French otherwise where-ever they march All 's their
plunder seeing the Town fortifi'd and the Royalists ready for the Encounter return'd the nearest Way they could to their Own-homes and the Rebels with their Vassals and a Company of Foot retreat to Hawick never thinking that the Enemy would in the least attempt any thing against them there and their Hopes were increas'd by the Winter-season which was sharper than ordinary by reason of a great Quantity of Snow lately fallen which cover'd all the Ground But Ruven intended to make use of the Opportunity and in the third Watch drew out his Party and march'd so speedily towards Hawick that he was in a Mile of it before the Enemy took the Alarum They at Hawick were so amaz'd that there was no room for Counsel left but Foot and Horse were immediately drawn out and following the Current of the next River endeavour'd to retreat to a Place of more Safety But the Swiftness of their Pursuers prevented them the Horse knew the Country and made a shift to escape but the Foot were left for a Prey they possest themselves of a small Wood on a Rock near the River there they were surrounded by the Horse and not adventuring to stay till the Foot came up they all surrendred themselves at Mercy But seeing that other Dangers were to be prevented and they could not be carried up and down in so sharp a Winter having past their Words to return at an appointed Day and leaving some Hostages to that purpose they were sent home without their Arms When they were discharged Kircade made sleeveless Pretences to elude their Promises and so hinder'd them from returning at the time appointed The rest of the Winter and the following Spring was wholly spent in light Skirmishes wherein Few fell but more of the Rebels than Royalists For the Rebels when they saw an Advantage would draw out on the Hills near the City and before they had scarce begun a skirmish would retire sometimes again in to the City In the interim frequent Embassies came from England to reconcile the Factions but without effect For the Queen of England tho she most favour'd the King's Party yet she was willing so to make Peace as to ingage both Parties to her but the French were wholly inclin'd to the Queen's Cause and therefore by large Promises hindred Peace and advis'd to continue the War Some Mony they sent at present not enough to do the Business but only to feed Hope and a great Part of what was sent was still nibbled away by those that brought it In the mean time light Skirmishes past for some Months betwixt the Parties but not at all contributing to the main Chance Neither were other Parts of the Kingdom free from Plunderings and Firings Adam Gordon gather'd a Party and entring Angus besieg'd Douglas's House of Glembervy and finding that himself was absent they miserably Burnt and Destroy'd all that he left behind which struck such a Fear into those of Dundee that they call'd in the Garisons from the adjoining Parts of Fife to their Assistance they were Enemies to the Gordonians as having been highly Faithful continually to the King's Cause About this time Blackness was betray'd by the Governor thereof to the Hamiltons 'T is a Castle that hinders commerce betwixt Leith and Sterlin The Regent broke down all the Mills about Edinburgh he also garison'd all the Noble Men's Houses about it and stopt all Passages into the City many Prisoners were taken on both sides Archibald Douglas one of Morton's familiar Friends was apprehended on Suspicion which was increas'd upon him by the Baseness of his former Life and also by some Letters found about him yea even after he was taken entercourse of Letters past betwixt him and the Enemy which evidenc'd that he had assisted the Rebels by Advice and Action too as having transmitted to them both Mony and Arms. THE END An ALPHABETICAL TABLE of the Principal Matters contained in the foregoing HISTORY NB. FOR the Reader 's Ease and Conveniency in the speedy finding out of the Quotations in the following Table as also in the Catalogue of the Scotish Kings preceding this History he is desired to take notice That whereas a new Alphabet and Folio doth begin at the later Part of this History viz. at Book 13. and so continues to the End all the Quotations marked between Parentheses's do belong to the Folio's and Pages of the said later Part only The rest do all belong to the former Part. A Page ABercorn-Castle 22 Aberdeen 19 Famous for Salmon-Fishing ibid. Aberdone ibid. Aberbrothock or Abrinca ibid. Abernethy wherein was the old Palace of the Picts Kings 16 18 Abria or Abyr a Country or Shire the Etymology thereof 19 Abridic or Erisbach-Isle 25 Abthane an old Name of Magistracy and Dignity amongst the Scots See Thane 187 206 Achaius King of Scotland 164 He makes a defensive War against the Irish ibid. The First of the Scotish Kings that ever made a League with France 165 Achnar-Isle 26 Acho King of Norwey lands in Air with a great Fleet 241 Is overthrown and dies of Grief ibid. Achmode-Isles See Aebudae Adams Isle 30 Adamannus 161 Adam Huntly taken Prisoner by the Earl of Murray 170 Ado Viennensis quoted and corrected 87 Adrian passes out of France into Britain 112 His Wall ibid. Adrian the Pope's Legate in England 433 Advatici Who 10 Aebudae Islands 22 Their Number ibid. Aelius Pertinax in Britain 117 Aelius Spartianus quoted 118 Aemodae Isles the same with Aebudae Aeneia 18 170 Air 14 Aestions spake the British Language 50 They inhabited Prussia 77 Aetius the Britains crave Aid of him 93 Afulla Isle 31 Agnes Keith Daughter of the Earl of Merch married to James Earl of Murray 161 Agathyrsi painted their Bodies 53 Aidan King of Scots invested in that Dignity by Columb 155 Ailmer Edward of England's General overthrows Bruce 12 61 Air County 20 Alan of Lorn keeps his Brother Prisoner 407 408 He is imprisoned himself ibid. Albanact Son of Brute from him the Scots called Albani 42 Albinick the Scots so called 11 Albium or Albion Isle retains the Name of Britanny 1 More Islands than one anciently so called ibid. It s Etymology 11 12 Album or White the Name of Height as well as of Colour whence many Words are derived as Albingaunum Albula Albici Albini c. 11 Alcluyth 92 Alexander I. King of Scots 221 222 Why Sirnamed Acer ibid. His Iustice to a poor Woman 222 He is relieved by Hermites ibid. Alexander II. 237 Enters England and takes Carlile ibid. He and his Queen visit Henry of England 239 His Queen dies at London 239 He marries a French Lady ibid. Alexander III. 240 The Nobles combine against him 241 He hath an Interview with Henry of England 240 Is made Knight by him and espouses Margarite his Daughter ibid. Assists the King of England 243 He and his Queen present at the Coronation of King Edward I. He marries Joleta a French Lady 244 He forbids
II. Son of Stephen King of England seeks occasion for a War against Scotland 224 Malcolm of Scotland acknowledges himself his Feudatary ibid. Henry IV. of England 326 His Death 333 Succeeded by Henry V. ibid. Henry V. takes James I. King of Scots with him into France 336 Henry VI. undervalues the Nobility and advances Vpstarts 392 A Conspiracy against him by the Nobles of England ibid. He is taken by the Duke of York and brought to London 396 He flies into Scotland 397 Ioins Battel with Edward IV. and is overcome 398 Returns privately to England and is taken ib. Henry VII succeeds Richard III. who was slain in Battel 429 He denounces War against France 16 Desires to make a perpetual League with the Scots 430 Marries his Daughter Margarite to James IV. 14 War denounced against him by James as he was besieging Tournay 20 His Magnanimous and Kingly Answer to the Heraulds ibid. He eases the Commonalty of some old Burdens 71 Henry VIII desires the exiled Douglasses may be restored 60 By the French Embassador he desires a Peace with the Scots ibid. He sends Controversal Books of Divinity to James V. 62 Complains the Scots had violated the Law of Nations wars upon them takes Leith and burns Edinburgh 82 83 His Forces are worsted 89 His General persuades the Scots to Peace 102 Gives the Scots a great Overthrow 104 Henry of France sends some German Foot into Scotland 106 He displaces the Regent by Subtilty 113 Henry Percy invades Scotland 306 His Horse affrightned with rattling Instruments 307 His Duel with James Douglas 317 Henry Percy the younger overthrows the Scots at Homeldon 327 Conspires against his own King 329 Henry Stuart comes out of England into Scotland 171 Made Duke of Rothsay and Earl of Ross by the Queen of Scots 174 At which many of the Nobles are disgusted 175 He marries the Queen ibid. Strangely disrespected at the Baptism of his own Son 186 He withdraws from Court ibid. Is poisoned but overcomes it by the strength of his Youth 186 187 A Design to destroy him 187 188 Is actually murdered 190 Heraulds slain against the Law of Arms 230 Hergustus King of the Picts 127 131 Hepburn John insinuates himself into the new Regent 32 Heris hanged by James Douglas 384 Hâ—rmodra Isle 30 Herodian quoted 76 Heruli who 89 Hethland Isles see Schetland High Isle 25 Hirta Isle 30 Historians their flattering Dispositions 46 Hoia Promontory 21 Hollanders Fleet spoiled by Alexander Earl of Marr 349 Holland Horse sent for over into England 275 Holmes i. e. Plains full of Grass 35 Holy Isle or Lindisfarm 398 Honnega Isle 37 Horestia 18 Parted between two Brothers 170 Horses Isle or Naich 28 Hugh Kennedy his couragious Answer 51 Huilin Isle 30 Hulmena 31 Humber River 13 Humble Isle or Ishol 25 Hume Castle surprized by the Scots 107 Hungus the Pict fights prosperously against Athelstan 165 He prays to God and is encouraged by a Vision ibid. He offers Tithes to St. Andrew ibid. His Death 166 Hunting Laws made by King Dornadilla 89 And by King Ethodius 116 Huntly overthrown by James Earl of Murray taken and pardoned 235 237 Hypoconistical i. e. Diminutive 6 I JAmes I. Son of Robert III. sailing for France is taken by the English 330 Where he is educated and married 331 338 His Return to Scotland upon a Ransom 398 Crowned King ibid. Renews a League with France 340 352 Punishes the Captains of Thieves 341 343 Twins born to him 344 He rectifies Weights and Measures ibid. Reforms the Ecclesiastical Estate and erects publick Schools 345 Invites Tradesmen from beyond the Seas 347 Perfidiousness imputed to him answered 353 354 Is cruelly murdered 356 His Character 356 357 James II. King of Scots 359 Carried out of the Castle of Edinburgh in a Chest by his Mother 361 Taken again by the Chancellour and brought to Edinburgh 365 Enters on the Government 371 Marries Mary Daughter to the Duke of Guelderland 380 He kils William Douglas 386 Marches to assist the English Nobles 391 392 Deceived by a counterfeit Embassador from Rome suborned by the English 393 Takes Roxburgh Town ibid. His casual Death in his Camp 394 His Queen encourages the Souldiers and takes Roxburgh Castle ibid. His Character 395 James III. begins his Reign at seven Years old 396 Six Regents of the Kingdom in his Minority 407 His Mother's Death ibid. In his Time a Truce made with England for five Years 407 Marries Margarite the King of Denmark's Daughter 413 415 His Death foretold 420 He degenerates into Tyranny ibid. Addicts himself to Evil Counsellours 231 The Nobles arm against him 432 Is slain by them in Fight 433 His Character 434 James IV. 1 Chosen General by the Nobles against his Father 432 His first Parliament which justifies taking Arms against his Father 5 His Clemency and sorrowful Resentment for his Father's Death 6 He leads an Army into England 11 Marries Margarite Henry VII of Enggland's Daughter 14 Builds a vast Ship and is profâ—se in other Buildings ibid. Resolves to go to Jerusalem but prevented 15 Sends Forman into England to pick a Quarrel 16 Denounces War against England 20 Resolute in his Opinion 22 Fights with the English at Flodden where he is overthrown and slain 24 25 Doubtful Reports concerning his Death 26 Some Aspersions cast upon him indeavoured to be wiped off 27 His Character 27 28 James V. 28 Enters upon the Government 46 He and his Mother in the Power of the Douglasses 47 He frees himself from them 53 He is an Enemy to their Faction 50 Inclinable to a French Alliance 65 Three Maries offered to him 62 Treats with the Emperour about a Match 61 Visits the Orcades 62 And other Isles of Scotland ibid. Receives Controversal Books of Divinity from Henry of England 63 Agrees to an Interview with Henry which is disappointed 64 Sails to France and marries Magdalen Daughter to their King Francis who soon dies 65 He accuses his Nobility as Dastards 70 He marries Mary of the House of Guise 66 67 His presaging Dream 69 He dies with Grief for the Loss of his Army 71 His Character 71 72 James VI. his Birth 183 His Mother endeavours to get him under the Power of Bothwel 205 Enters on the Government 214 215 James Abernethy a skilful Physician 186 James Earl of Arran Son to James returning from France sides with the Reformers 135 Goes to his Sister Mary the Queen 151 Hardly persuaded to allow the admission of the Mass in the Queen's Chappel 159 Made Earl of Marr and afterwards of Murray 161 James Balfure Governour of Edinburgh Castle for the Queen 206 207 He raises Insurrections 226 James Culen taken and executed for his Crimes 279 James the first Earl of Douglas 308 James Douglas joins with Bruce 263 He marches with great Forces into England 275 James sirnamed Crassus the Douglasses being dead succeeds to the Right of the Earldom 370 He dies ibid. James Douglas marries Eufemia Daughter to Robert
II. 306 His Duel with Henry Percy 316 Is slain fighting valiantly 318 His three last dying Requests ibid. James Douglas made Earl when William Douglas his Father was slain 386 He accuses the King and Nobles of Perfidiousness ibid. Proclaimed a publick Enemy 387 Marries Beatrix his Brother's Widow 388 Persuaded to a Reconciliation with the King which he refuses ibid. Being forsaken by his Friends he applies to England for Aid 389 And to Donald the Islander 390 Forsaken by his Wife ibid. James Douglas Earl of Morton and Alexander Hume take the Coronation-Oath for King James VI. in his Minority 214 He provides for the Common-wealth at his private Charge 215 Commands the King's Army against the Queen 220 Goes into England with the Regent 224 Sent Embassador into England 261 His Cheerfulness to encounter the Enemy 278 Taken Prisoner and then takes him Prisoner whose Captive he was before 282 James Haliburton taken Prisoner 281 James Hamilton Earl of Arran Admiral of a Navy under James IV. 16 He plunders Knockfergus in Ireland ibid. At last sails for France 17 Is chosen Regent 75 Opposes Archibald Douglas after his Return from France 39 Highly disgusted by King James V. 65 Compelled to change his Opinion concerning the Controverted Points of Religion 79 80 His shameful Flight Vanity and Inconstancy 84 86 Remiss in the Case of George Wiseheart 111 Corrupted by Avarice 112 Put from his Regency and made Duke of Chastle-herault 113 114 James Hamilton returns from France 229 Endeavours to engage Queen Elizabeth of England to make him Regent ibid. But without Success 232 He submits to the Regent 234 James Hamilton Son of the Archbishop of St. Andrews's Sister treacherously shoots Murray and kils him 245 246 James Hamilton a Bastard Brother to the Earl of Arran chosen Iudg against the Lutherans 68 He is tried condemned and executed 69 James Hepburn Earl of Bothwel committed to Prison 163 164 But escapes 167 Banished 66 A Rival to the Earl of Lennox 80 Called out of France by the Queen 171 172 Endeavours to supplant Murray 163 Divorced from his former Wife 198 Procures a Schedule from the Nobility about his Marriage with the Queen 196 Surprizes and marries the Queen 199 Outlawed 173 Accused of the King's Murder 194 His Mock-Trial 173 193 195 Wounded by an High-way Pad 184 Designs to destroy Murray 192 His Challenge answered 209 He flies 210 And dies distracted in Denmark 215 James Kennedy Archbishop an Adversary to the Douglasses 373 Retires from a corrupt Court 376 Disallows the Faction of the Queen-Mother 399 His Oration that Women ought not to govern 401 c. His Praise Death and Character 409 410 James Kennedy builds a vast Ship 420 James Levingston put to Death by the Douglassian Faction 375 376 Lindsy's Obstinacy in following his Enemies 319 James Macgil sent with others Embassador into England 224 261 James Macintosh unjustly put to Death 160 James the Son of Murdo burns Dumbarton 339 James Earl of Murray appointed Vicegerent 60 Settles the Borders 57 Sent into France 63 James Earl of Murray refuses to associate with the Queen and Bothwel 204 But chuses rather to leave the Land 205 He returns from Travel and is made Regent 213 His resolute Speech 217 He meets the Queen of England's Embassadors at York 224 Waylayed by his Enemies in his Iourny ibid. Goes to London 226 Where he manages the Accusation against the Queen 227 Whence honourably dismiss'd and his Transactions there approved in Scotland 233 He is deserted by his Friends 243 Too câ—â—eless of himself 245 Killed by one of the Hamiltons 246 His laudable Character 246 247 James Murray offers to encounter Bothwel hand to hand 209 James Sandiland Embassador from Scotland to France 150 James Sandiland sent against the Thieves 59 Carries Propositions from the Reformers to the Queen Regent 125 James Stuart marries Joan the Widow of James I. 364 Is banished 375 James Stuart the Queen's Brother puts the English to a Retreat 108 Hath threatning Letters sent him by the Queen 130 An Actor in reforming Religion 131 Made Earl of Marr and Murray 161 Iceni and Icium 10 Icolumbkil 26 Idleness the Source of Mischief 345 Idlers Isle or of the Otiosi 25 Ierna i. e. Ireland 69 Jews imitated by the Romanists 381 Issurt or Issert Isle 30 Igerne vitiated by Uter yet he afterwards marries her 149 Ignis Fatuus what 264 Ila Isle see Yla Ilan na Covihaslop 26 Images demolished at Perth 128 Immersi Isle 26 Impostors notorious ones 393 6 7 c. 58 Indigenae who 42 50 Indulfus King of Scots 181 Casually slain by the Danes 182 Indulgence over-much to Children punished 337 Informers though sometimes allowed yet dangerous Instruments in a State 148 Inhumanity to Prisoners 297 Innerlochy 20 Innerness 20 Interregnum in Scotland after Alexander the IIId's Death 245 Inundation of the River Tay at Perth 236 And great Ones in Lothian 305 John Annins writes the Original of the Brittons in Verse 42 Johannes Scotus sent for by Charles the Great 165 Johns or Jeans Isle 26 John Baliol his Genealogy 246 247 248 More solicitous for a Kingdom than a Good Name 250 Made King and surrenders himself and Kingdom to the King of England ibid. He confesses his Fault for so doing 251 Disgusts Edward of England 252 Overthrown by Edward made Prisoner and released 251 252 253 John King of England meditates a War against Scotland 235 Makes divers Leagues with the Scots 236 Enters Scotland 237 The Pope's Beneficiary ibid. Poisoned by a Monk 238 John Son of Alexander Brother to James III. Duke of Albany declared Regent when in France 31 He arrives in Scotland 32 Gets the Queen Mother into his Power 34 Goes into France appointing Governours in his Absence 37 Returns to Scotland 39 Raises an Army against England but makes a Truce 40 41 Goes again into France whence he returns with a great Navy 41 42 Marches into England and assaults Werk-Castle 45 Goes the third time into France and his Power is vacated in his Absence 46 John Erskin sent Embassador into France 63 Of the Queen's Faction 105 Made Governour of Edinburgh Castle 115 Sent Embassador into France 121 John Brother to King James III. put to death 421 John Erskin favours the Reformation 126 Afraid of the Queen Regent 128 Beats the Rebels out of Sterlin 282 Chosen Regent 283 Straitens Edinburgh 286 John Armstrong Captain of Thieves executed 57 John Earl of Athol marries Beatrix Douglas 301 He his Wife taken Prisoners by Donald 408 John Earl of Buchan aids the French King's Son 334 Made Lord High Constable of France 335 Slain there by the English 336 John Cumins marches into England and wasts Northumberland 253 His Treachery against Robert Bruce 2â—0 Which cost him his Life ibid. John Earl of Carick base Son to Robert II. 307 John Cockburn of Ormiston wounded and taken by Bothwel 140 John Cuningham imployed in surprizing Dumbarton-Castle 263 John Earl Douglas's Brother made Baron of
Balvany 377 Proclaimed a publick Enemy 387 John Damiot a Conjurer foretels Rize's Death 182 John Forbâ—s condemned and beheaded 6â— John Fordon Author of the History called Scoto-Chronicon 146 John Fleming the Queen's Governour of Dumbritton Castle when it was surprized 263 He escapes but his Wife is well treated by the Regent 265 John Fleming of Bogal taken there ibid. John Herris undeservedly put to Death by the Douglasses 384 John Hepburn powerful and factious 31 His Feud with the Hume's 32 33 He insinuates himself into John the Regent 31 Accuses Douglas Hume and Forman 3â— John Gordon â—arl of Huntly taken by Murray and put to Death 170 John Hamilton Archbishop of St. Andrews 103 A deâ—oâ—st Man 111 John Hamilton troubled in Conscience for the King's Murder discovers his Complices 267 John Kennedy made one of the King's Guardians or Tutors 407 John Knox preaches to reclaim those that kill'd Cardâ—nal Beton 100 His Sermon to the People of Perth for the Reformation 128 〈◊〉 which they destroy Popish Shrines ibid. His encouraging Sermon to the Reformers at Sâ—erlin 141 Hiâ— Sermon at King James VI. his Inauguratiâ—n â—14 John II. lays the Foundation of Tyranny in Portugal 434 John Lesly prâ—vy to the Conspiracy against James Earl of Murray 167 169 John Mac-Arthur Captain of Toâ—ies executed 341 John Melvil put to Death 11â— John Earl of Marr Brother to James III. put to Death by opening a Vein till he expired 421 John Murderaâ—h taken 116 John Monluâ— Bishop of Valence in Scotland 14â— John Maxwel of Herris revolts from the Reformers 176 177 The Queen puts little Trust in him 222 Made Prisoner by the Regent but released without publick Authority 253 John Earl of Marr a Commander in the King's Army 220 John Randolph sent into France 287 Made Regent 294 Taken Prisoner by the English 295 Slain in Fight 322 John Scot his wonderful Abstinence from Food â—8 John Duns Scotus where bâ—rn 306 John Ramsy preserved by the King 425 Proves an Evil Counsellour to James III. 431 John Stuart Earl of Lennox revolts from the Regent 35 But is again received into Favour ibid. He endeavours to take the King from the Douglasses and is slain 50 John Stuart Earl of Athol sent against John Murderach 116 A Proâ—urer of the Match between Henry and Mary Queen of Scotland 192 He loses hâ—s Opportunity 206 John Vien Admiral of the French Navy in Scotland 311 John Windram secretly favours the Cause of True Religion 65 Joan Douglas and her Husband their miserable Ends 66 67 Joan the Wife of James I. her manly Fact 360 Put in Prison with her Husband 364 Her Death 395 Joseph Scaliger amends a Place in Seneca 76 Josâ—â—a King of Scots 101 A Lover of Chirurgery 102 Ireland's ancient Inhabitants called Scots 73 Irish break in on Galway in Scotland 177 And are overthrown by King Gregory ibid. Irish Scots make Peace with the Romans 130 131 Irish Air temperate 2 51 Colonies of Gauls sent into Ireland 51 Description of Ireland out of Solinus 85 Irwin River 14 Island in Shape like a Man 26 Islands encompassing Scotland their Order and threefold Division 22 Islanders parsimonious 33 Healthful and long-liv'd 37 Prone to rebel 207 Islanders Western their Manner of Living at Home and Abroad 23 c. Isa or Ishol Isle 29 30 Issidorus i. e. Issoir a City in France Judgments and Tryals of Nobles how anciently managed in Scotland 340 Jule-tide or Christmass as 't is called licentiously observed 151 Julian Romer taken 110 Agricola's Exploits in Britain 109 110 Recalled from thence 111 Junius Brutus 271 Julius Caesar the first Roman that entred Britain with an Army 84 Julius Frontinus in Britain 86 109 Jura Isle 25 Justice can do more than Terrour of Arms 180 189 The most popular thing 348 Juverna Ireland so called 69 K KArrera Isle 25 Katharine Medices after her Son's Death undertakes the Government 151 Keames Castle 25 Kebercurning 22 Kedwalla King of the Brittons 159 Keligire Island 30 Kellasa Isle ibid. Kelvin River 16 Ken River 14 Kenneth I. King of Scots 158 Kenneth II. 167 Compared with Fergus II. persuades the Nobility to war with the Picts and overcomes them in Battel 169 He may be called the third Founder of the Scotish Kingdom 170 Kenneth III. 187 Circumvents his Nobles by a Wile 188 Causes Malcolm to be poisoned 193 Troubled in Conscience for it 195 Makes new Laws concerning the Succession of the Kingdom 193 194 Worsted at first by the Danes yet afterwards overthrows them 190 191 Slain by Fenella 196 Kenneth King of the Picts 167 Kentigern 145 Keniburgh Islands the Great and the Small 27 Kernici who 22 Kernicovalli ibid. Kingly Government what 268 It s Origin ibid. Kings their Distress moves Pity 213 Kings in Scotland not to do any publick Affairs without advising with their Nobles or Estates of the Realm 102 230 251 They used to ride the Circuits themselves for the Administration of Iustice before Itinerary Iudges were appointed 103 123 Their Wives anciently not called Queens 402 Not in their Power alone to make Peace or War in Scotland 322 They are inferiour to the Laws 269 How their publick Revenue if spent may be encreased 114 A Law for their successive inheriting the Crown confirmed 194 195 Kings if young their Favours slippery 416 Subjects apt to degenerate into their Manners 111 King desiring to be revenged on his Nobles endeavours to set them one against another 431 Kings-Cross or Re-cross in Stanmore what 238 Kinnatel King of Scots 155 Kinross 170 Its Sheriffwick 18 Kinloss Abby 184 Kinthern see Cantire Kirkwal the chief Town in the Island Pomonae or Mainland 35 Kirta Isle 30 Knapdale 17 Kyle 14 L L'Abross a French General would have all the Nobility of Scotland destroyed 148 Laia River see Avonlagan Lambs Isle 30 Lamlach Isle 24 Lamot the French King's Embassador in Scotland 20 He moves the Scots to war against England ibid. c. Lamyrian or Lamormoor Mountains 13 Lanarch or Lanerick 14 Lancaster Duke Embassador in Scotland 309 Afterwards invades it 310 Langside Fight 220 Laodice Queen her Cruelty to her own Children 231 Largesses immoderate occasion Want 203 Lauderdale so called of the Town Lauder 13 Laurence Twine persuades Baliol to go for Scotland 284 Law about Succession to the Kingdom of Scotland 97 New Ones made 194 Confirmed 200 Whether profitable to the Publick or not 196 197 Law too severe to confiscate the whole Estates of Condemned Persons without any Allowance to their innocent Wife and Children 113 Laws against Theft 282 Laws about Hunting their Authors see Hunting Laws Laws in Scotland few besides Decrees of the Estates 59 Laxa Isle 30 Lead White and Black found in Pomona 35 Legat a counterfeit Roman one 387 Leith River 13 Leland quoted 61 Lenity over-much brings Contempt 381 385 392 Lennox or Levin so called from the River Levin 140 Lent observed on a politick Account only 170 Leon Strozy Admiral of the French Gallies in Scotland
the Scotish Nobility 426 Made between French and English 111 Between the Reformers and the Court 149 Peachti 53 Pentland Firth 35 53 Pentland Hills 13 53 People of the Commonalty their Heat soon over 207 Percy Henry taken Prisoner and ransomed 320 Percy the Elder conspires against the King of England 329 Overthrown and flies to Scotland 332 Betrayed by his Friend ibid. His Posterity restored to their Dignity 334 Perth 18 A great part of it destroyed by Water 236 Its Walls demolished 287 Taken by Edward of England 295 Retaken by the Scots 298 Pestilence in Scotland 227 303 305 381 Peter Cerealis in Britain 86 109 Peter Maufet a Robber executed 32 Peter Hiale the King of Spain's Embassador in England 11 His Errand to solicite a Match between Katharine of Spain and Henry's Son ibid. He mediates a Peace between Scots and English 12 Petronius Turpilianus in Britain 85 Peter Warbeck a notable Impostor 6 Set up by the Dutchess of Burgundy to vex Henry 7 Sails out of England into Scotland ibid. Marries Katherine the Earl of Huntly's Daughter 9 Engages James IV. against Henry 9 Dismiss'd out of Scotland 12 Taken and hanged in England 13 Pheodor-oy 37 Phylarchae who 101 Physicians why so much esteemed in Scotland 101 102 Picts whether derived from the Saxons 33 Whence so called 53 Foretold by the Oracle that the Scots should extirpate them 95 132 Repent joining with the Romans against the Scots 131 132 Their Origin from Germany 55 95 Overcome the Scots 167 Overcome by the Scots 168 169 Their Kingdom abolished in Scotland 169 Solicite Aid from Osbreth and Ella 172 Beaten quite out of Britain 173 Pliny a Place in him corrected 12 Pluscartin Book i. e. a Book or Chronicle of Scotland written by the Religious of Pluscarty an Abby in Murrayland 344 Pollack Fish where found 17 Polygamy a Law made for it by Evenus 107 Pomona the greatest Isle of the Orcades 35 Pope of Rome his Emissaries in Britain 157 The Right of the Kingdom of England conferred upon him by King John 237 His Embassadors excommunicate the Scots 272 David II. King of Scots anointed by his Permission 282 His Legat denied entrance into Scotland 243 Porcaria Isle 26 Port or Na Port Isle 25 Portugal why so called 47 Possessions confounded by often Wars 271 Praenestin Lots what 43 Priests or Clergy Isle 31 Priests corrupted by Luxury reformed by Constantine 174 Richer than the Nobility 243 Gain by the Losses of the Nobility 25 29 Not subject to Kings 245 Impostors 58 Priests so ignorant as to think the New Testament was written by Martin Luther 9 Priests One the Author of a Sedition 309 Another treacherous 374 Betrays Queen Joan 375 Another forges a Will 73 Preys retaken and restored to their Owners 106 Prince of Scotland the King 's Eldest Son so called 194 Princes not Slaves to their Words 130 Priviledg of the Scots not to be summoned to appear out of their own Country 241 Prodigies on divers occasions 184 204 191 Process ridiculous against the King's Murderers 193 Proclamation about the same ibid. Proclamation or Schedule of James II. drawn in contempt about the Streets 386 Prosperity dangerous 179 Prudania 2 Prytania ibid. Prophecies of Witches how fulfilled 357 Ptolemy hath Deucaledon for Duncaledon 56 Punishments too exquisite enrage Spectators 358 Punishment of old to Prisoners not returning on their Parole 319 Pygmee Isle 30 Q QUadrantary Faith what 126 Quindecemvirate in Scotland 59 Queens their Marriage to be ordered by the Estates of the Realm and why 269 Anciently Kings Wives not allowed to be so called 402 403 Queen Mother of James III. sues for the Regency with her Reasons 400 The Scots not willing to be governed by her ibid. Queen Dowager sails into France 112 Where she labours to out the Regent of his Government 113 Hath the Regency conferred upon her 115 The First Female Regent in Scotland ibid. Levies new Taxes 117 But because of an Insurrection desists from collecting them 118 Refuses the Propositions sent her by the Reformed 127 Prepares Forces against them 129 Makes a Temporary Agreement with them 130 Which she endeavours to elude ibid. Makes another Truce with them 134 Repartees betwixt Her and the Reformed 136 137 138 Her Death and Character 146 147 Queen of Scots not â—o use the English Arms during Queen Elizabeth's Life 159 Queen of Scots one of their Deaths 430 Queen's Party divide from the King 's 255 They send Embassadors to France and England for Aid 254 Queen Elizabeth rejects them 254 Question debated Whether a Chief Magigistrate may be compelled by force to do his Duty 159 c. R RAarsa Isle 28 Rachlinda Isle 25 Ralph Evers his vain Boast 87 Ralph Rokesby betrays Percy his Friend 332 Ralph Sadler Embassador from England about the Marriage of Mary with King Henry's Son 75 He hears the Scots Differences and endeavours to compose them 224 Ramsay Isle 25 Ranalds-oy 35 Ranalsa a Southern Isle 36 Randolf Thomas invades England 270 Made Regent 282 Executes a Murderer though he had the Pope's Pardon 282 His Law against Thievery ibid. He punishes the Cheat of a Country-man 283 Poisoned by a Monk ibid. Ratra River hath no Salmons in it 19 20 Rebels after Murray the Regent was dead had several Meetings 247 They send Embassadors to the Queen of England to desire a Truce but in vain 253 254 They solicite the French and Spaniards for Aid 260 Assault Leith 281 Surprize Sterlin but beaten out again 281 282 Attempt Jedburgh but repulsed and routed 285 286 Recognition what 15 Red or Ridhead Promontory 19 Redshanks who 106 Reformation the best Method thereof for Princes to begin at home 188 Reformed Religion the Nobles swear to maintain it in behalf of James VI. whilst a Child 214 Reformed Congregation in Scotland the first so called 124 Reformers abrogate the Queen Regent's Power 139 They meet with Difficulties in their Work 140 Are assisted by the English 141 142 Their last Letter to the Regent 144 Regent slain at Sterlin 282 Religion Language Names of Places c. shew the Sameness of a People 56 Religion the Nobles arm for it in Scotland 129 The Vindicators of it make a Truce with the Regent 134 Abrogate her Power 139 Desire Aid from England 140 Which they receive 142 Reign the Desire of it occasions much Mischief in the World 231 232 Renfrew 14 See Baronia Repartees between Scotish and English Armies 277 Rerigonian Bay 14 Reringa Isle 27 Reutha King of Scots 101 Revenge the importune Desire of it dangerous 124 131 132 Reuther King of Scots 99 Called Reuda by Bede 100 Rhingrave sent with Aid by the French King into Scotland 106 Rian Lake or Loch 14 Richard of England very angry with the Scots for bringing in foreign Aid 311 He invades Scotland with a great Army ibid. His Expedition to the Holy War 234 Richard II. of England enforced to resign the Kingdom to Henry IV. 325 One in Scotland pretends himself
to eat ibid. Ships of great Bigness built by James IV. 14 Siapins-oy an Isle 36 Sicambri who 79 Sigrama Isles Great and Small 30 Silva or Yew Isle 25 Silures who 61 109 Simon Breccus 171 Similitudes for Illustration 187 188 Similitude of Events do assimilate Mens Manners 213 Sinclare's Valour against the English 270 Siuna Isle 25 Skenny or Skerry Isles 37 Skirmish between English and French in Scotland 145 Sky Isle 28 Skyanna Isle ibid. Slata Isle 25 Slavery worse than Banishment 132 Slegana Isle 30 Soa Isle 27 30 Soabreâ—il Isle 28 Sodora Town 24 Solan or Sea Geese ibid. Solanum the Herb Nightshade soporiferous 209 Solinus quoted about Britain 87 Solvathius King of Scots 164 Solwey River 13 Sorbonists sent into Scotland 136 Spain hath several Names 41 Spaniards a Colony of them come into Ireland 94 Inhabited the West Part of Britain 51 Subject to the Injuries of Foreigners 94 Spey River 20 Spring that carries down shapeless Fish 29 Stacbad Isle 26 Stafa Isle 27 Stanmore whence so called 217 The Cross there ibid. Stags fright the English 276 Stephano-Dunum or Dunstaffnage 20 Stephen Bull overthrown by Andrew Wood 3 4 Stephen Earl of Bologn seizes on the Kingdom of England 224 Notwithstanding he had taken an Oath to Queen Maud ibid. Sterlin County 15 Sterlin Mony 173 Stinsiar River 14 Strathnavern 21 140 Strath-bogy 140 Strat and Strathern 17 140 Stratagems in War 154 179 Stromoy Isle 35 Stronza Isle 36 Stuart the Name of an Office 217 Stuarts their Original ibid. Who was the Rise of their Family ibid. Stuart Regent 298 Succession to the Crown of Scotland an old Law made for it 97 The Administration of the Government to whom to be committed when the King is a Minor 230 231 Suffrages incroached upon 179 Suilkir Isle 32 Sumereld Thane of Argyle in hopes of the Kingdom but is overthrown and slain 228 231 Suin Isle 25 Suna Isle 36 Sussex the Earl of it commands an English Army in Scotland 255 Sutherland 21 Swain gets the Kingdom of England 71 He comes into Scotland 200 He distributes three Kingdoms to his three Sons 208 He comes again into Scotland ibid. He is overthrown 209 T TAichy i. e. Menteith 17 Talbot overthrown by Keith 297 Again overthrown 308 Thames River 13 Thane who 187 Thanat Isle 88 Tanasta Isle 26 Taodunum i. e. Dundee 18 Taransa Isle 30 Tarscheir Isle 26 Tarvedrum Promontory 21 Tay the greatest River in Scotland 18 Temple of Terminus 15 119 Terris Isle 27 Teviotdale 13 Texa Isle 26 Textors Isle ibid. Theodosius his memorable Speech 268 Thereus King of Scots flies to the Brittons 101 Thiana Isle 25 Thomas Eliot his Opinion refuted 4 Thomas Becket promotes Ecclesiastical Ambition in England 243 Thomas Boyd marries the Eldest Sister of James III. 412 He is sent Embassador into Norwey 413 Declared a publick Enemy 415 Assists the Burgundians ibid. His Wife divorced from him and married to James Hamilton ibid. He dies at Antwerp 416 Thomas Car wasts England 247 Thomas Duchty or Doughty an Impostor 58 Thomas Howard Admiral of the English Navy 24 General at Flodden Fight 24 Afterwards fals into Disgrace 27 Sent into Scotland and takes Jedburgh 41 42 Treats of a Marriage with the Queen of Scots 224 Meditates a Civil War against the Queen of England 226 239 The Conspiracy detected 242 Thomas Petcarn sent Embassador to Queen Elizabeth 255 Thomas Randolph designed the King's Tutor 269 Marches with an Army into England 275 Thomas Randolph the English Embassador in Scotland demands the English Exiles 248 Thomas Earl of Sussex the English General in Scotland inclinable to the Queen's Faction 256 Thomas Wolsy a Cardinal self-ended and ambitious 44 Thornton Patric put to death for Murder 391 Tintallon Castle besieged by the King 55 Surrendred to him 56 Tine River 14 Titles of Honour 203 Tithes for Ecclesiasticks 140 Tiren or Tirriss Isle 27 Toncetus an unjust Iudg slain 154 Toray Isle 30 Trajan's remarkable Speech 268 Trajectus Passage or Na Port Isle 25 Trayl Archbishop his Commendation 328 His Death ibid. Triaracha Isle 25 Trebellius Maximus in Britain 86 Tree Isle 25 Tributes or Impositions part of them nibbled away by the Collectors who are usually malapert 339 Imposed but remitted 355 The Cause of War and their Exactors slain 10 11 Designed but not paid 117 Trimarchia 77 Trojans Greeks by Descent 45 Many pretend themselves derived from Them 46 Trons Isle 37 Tronta Isle 28 Truce betwixt Scots and English 309 380 Betwixt the French English and Scots 310 311 Between Scots and English for seven Years 430 Truces violated 325 332 378 392 Truce between the Queen Regent and the Reformers 133 And on what Terms ibid. Twedale 13 Twede River ibid. Tueman Isles 30 37 Turff Isle 27 Turdetani who 38 Twine Laurence his Story 284 He stirs up Baliol to invade Scotland ibid. Twentieth Part taxed in Scotland 339 Tyana Isle 25 Tyranny its Root cut by Finnanus and how 102 Tyrants Avarice bring the richer Sort to their Ends 107 V VAlay Isle 30 Valerius Asiaticus his bold Speech 271 Valla and Vallis Isle 36 Vannota King Arthur's Wife not true to him 153 Vallia 60 Varro Plato c. too inquisitive about Words 3 Vatersa Isle 29 Vectius Bolanus in Britain 86 Vecturiones who 18 Vemendra Isle 37 Venta Belgarum 10 Vera Isle see Wyer-oy Vervedrum Promontory 21 Vestra Isle see Wester-oy Vexa Isle 30 Via Isle 37 Viccoil Isle 31 Victorinus sent into Britain from Rome 131 Vidam in France who 150 Vidogara See Loch-Ryan 14 Vien a French General iâ— Scotland 311 Vigils or Watches necessary in Camps and Armies 285 308 Vikeran Isle or Na-whoker 25 Virid or Green Isles viz. Charn More and Charn Beg the greater and the less 27 Vitellius a Saxon Commander slain by the Scots 157 Vituline or Gawin Isle 25 Uist or Yyists Isle 29 30 37 Ulva Isle 27 Voadicea Commandress of the Brittons See Boadicea 85 Vonnedra Isle 37 Vortigern of a Monk made King of England 143 Afterwards deposed 145 Sends to Hengist the Saxon 144 Overthrows the Scots and is slain 144 145 Vortimer King of the Brittons renews a League with the Scots and Picts 145 Ure River 114 Ure Isle 37 Uridick Isle 25 Usabrast Isle 26 Uter succeeds his Brother in Britain 148 His Story and flagitious Fact 149 Utility sometimes preferred before Honesty in Princes Courts 331 Uxellum in Caesar perhaps for Ocellum 70 Uust see Uyist Island W W A Letter hard to be pronounced but by such as Germanize 6 60 61 Waes Isle 36 Wales how anciently divided 13 60 Wall a memorable one built by the Romans 138 By Adrian 8 16 By Severus 8 Wallace or Wallis his Story 253 Made Regent and takes many Places from the English in Scotland 254 Overthrows Cressingham the English General 255 Edward of England afraid to fight him 255 256 Envied by the Scots Nobles 256 Hath a Conference in the Field with Bruce ibid. Dismisses his Army
prevented and how * On the North-west of Spain in the Cantabrian Ocean Henry of England wars against France Andrew Forman sent into England by Iames to pick a Quarrel And from thence into France Hamilton sent with a Fleet to France but turns to Knockfergus in Ireland Hamilton at last arrives in France * Little Britain lying in the Chanel on the Northwest of France Robert Car severe against Moss-Troopers He is slain †Standing on a Rock above the Firth of Forth * In Northumberland The Murderers of Robert Carr escape not unpunished The Story of Andrew Breton A sharp Fight between the English Admiral and Breton where Breton was slain K. Iames complains to Henry of Breton's Death Alexander Hume marches with a Party into England But is worsted in his Retreat K. Iames resolves a War against England The pretended Causes of the War K. Henry's Answer to King Iames's Herald A strange Apparition of an old Man forbidding K. Iames to proceed in his War with England * A place near Cowper in Fife Yet he proceeds and enters England below Ouler in Northumberland The English challenge him to give them Battel The French Embassador presses Iames on to a Battel * In Northumberland K. Iames resolved to fight Which Earl Douglas disswaded him from in an Oration Repartees between the King and Douglas concerning a present Fight Earl Douglass in discontent retires * Or Floddonhill lying between the Town of Ouler and the River of Tweed †In Northumberland on the North side of the River Blico three miles above Stannington-Bridg ‖ Or Milfeild Flodden Fight and the Manner of it described Various Reports concerning K. Iames's Death Howard Earl of Surrey General against the Scots at Flodden falls afterwards into Disgrace The Character of K. Iames the Fourth Scots Nobility all anciently had Skill in Chirurgery Iames the 5 th of about 2 years old proclaimed King The Ambition of Alexander Hume * Q. Margaret the first Female Regent in Scotland She loses her Regency by her Marriage Three Competitors for the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews Douglas Hepburn and Forman * Lying within two Miles of Aymouth in the Merss near the Scotish Sea The Nobility divided about choosing a Regent in the room of Q. Margaret * Iohn Duke of Albany then in France chosen Regent †A little Town in Cuningham standing on the Firth of Clyd Iohn Duke of Albany the new Regent arrives in Scotland Peter Muffat a noted Robber punished * Hepburn insinuates himself into the new Regent Douglas Hume and Forman accused by Hepburn as the Three â—eads of the then Factions * Hume * Hume in discontent applies himself to the Queen and Douglas * Hume's Design disappointed Three Governors over the young King the Queen and Douglas being displaced * Hume the Queen and Douglas fly into England But upon Reconciliation with the Regent return home again (a) Alexander Hume raises an Insurrection But submits and is made Prisoner He escapes and creates further Disturbances But is quelled with his Party Both the Hume's come to Court Are imprison'd Tryed and Executed (c) Chiefly by the Instigation of Iohn Hepburn (d) Andrew Car escapes out of Prison The Regent desires leave to pass over into France * He appoints seven Deputies to govern in his absence (f) Q. Margaret returns to Scotland * Or Inse-Garvy a fortify'd Rock lying in the middle of the Forth or Scotish Sea (g) A Town in the Merss a mile west of Duns (h) Wederburn in the Merss (i) Darcy slain by David Hunt (k) Discord between Douglas Earl of Angus and Andrew Car. (l) Archibald Douglas surrenders up his Government (m) The Western Nobles conspire to apprehend the Earl of Angus (n) But he defends himself by force and worsts them (o) The Regent after 5 Years absence returns from France * In Mid-Lothian (p) The Regent raise an Army against England (q) But the Nobility oppose his Design Whereupon he claps up a Truce with the English and râ—treats The Regent a second time goes into France A Skirmish between the French and English Fleeâ—â— The Earl of Surry with an Army ravages over part of Scotland Iedburgh taken by the English A strange Fright among the Horses of the English Army The English Army retreats The Regent arrives in Scotland from France a second time Q. Margaret with her Brother Henry the 8 th of England persuade the Scots to break with the French with their Arguments to inforce it But the French Faction in Scotland oppose in with their Reasons Cardinal Woolsy a self-ended and ambitious Statesman * The Regent again marches with an Army into England †Besieges Werke-Castle is repulsed and retreats ‖ Werke-Castle described * In the 〈◊〉 near 〈◊〉 Castle * The Regent undertakes his third Voyage into France ‖ In his absence the young King enters upon the Government * And vacates the Regents Power †Margarite's Husband returns from France through England into Scotland ‖ He with his Partisans seize on the young King and manage the Government * Three Moderators of the Kingdom Douglas Stuart and Cambel †But Douglas soon ouâ—â— the other Two At which the Nobility is much discontented and endeavour to take the King by Force out of his Hands * Walter Scot overthrown by the Douglasses in his Endeavours to free the King ‖ Iohn Stuaâ—t Earl of Lennox with the King's Privity renews the Design of redeeming the King from the Douglasses * A Mile above the Bridg near Linlithgo ‖ Lennox fights with the Douglassians and Hamiltonians is worsted and slain Great Severity used by the Douglasses against Lennox's Party * The couragious Answer of Hugh Kennedy in behalf of Gilbert Earl of Cassils The bold Attempt of an Under-Groom to destroy Iames Hamilton in Revenge of his Master's the Earl of Lennox his Death The Groom apprehended and tortured yet dies very resolutely Patrick Hamilton nobly descended put to Death upon the account of Religion * The strange Death of Alexander Cambel the self-condemned Persecutor of Patrick Hamilton * The King frees himself from the Douglasses * Or Falcoland about the middle of Fife The Douglasses forbidden by Proclamation to intermeddle in the Government New Officers at Court ‖ August 26. * In East-Lothian opposite to the Bass-Isle †In Sterlingshire not far from Toâ— wood ‖ The Douglasses arm in desperation * In Lothian †About four Miles South of Dalkeith ‖ November 21. * A Town lying in the Firth or Forth in East-Lothian four Miles South of Dunbar †Tantallon-Castle besieged by the King ‖ In the Author it is Tantallon but I judg it to be a Mistake of the Transcriber for Duâ—bar * The Siege of Tantallon raised †Within two Miles of Eymouth in the Moss ‖ The Douglasses forced to fly into England * Embassadors from England to piece up an Accommodation between King Iames and the Douglasses †In Twidale ‖ Iames Earl of Murray
and the Earl of Northumberland meet to settle Matters betwixt the Borderers * April 15. †In Teviotdale Iohn Armstrong with many of his Followers hanged ‖ The strange and seemingly miraculous Fast of one Iohn Scot for many weeks together with his Story Thomas Doughty a great Cheat. Fifteen Judges with Salary appointed to decide Controversal Matters in Scotland But quickly disused * The English make War upon Scotland †Upon the River Esk. ‖ The French Ambassador mediates a Peace between the English and Scotish Kings * Iames transacts with the French King and afterwards with the Emperour about a Match †Which the Hamiltons labour to hinder ‖ The chief City of Normandy * Three Maries offered by Charles the Emperor to King Iames out of which to chuse a Consort †King Iames visits the Orcades and other Isles of Scotland ‖ Lutherans severely dealt with * Mary of Bourbon offered by Francis as a Wife to Iames. †Henry of England sends Controversal Books of Divinity to Iames by his Ambassadors ‖ Ambassadors sent by Henry to Iames desiring an Interview which was agreed to Tho afterwards disappointed upon several pretences * Henry takes the disappointment of the Interview in great disdain King Iames sails over into France And marries Magdalene that King's Daughter Who died sooâ— after Mourning-garments when and upon what occasion first used in Scotland Ambassadors sent over into France to fetch Mary of the House of Guise Earl of Bothwel banished Iohn Forbes condemn'd for Treason 'T was thought unjustly The Lady Ioan Douglas c. accused for conspiring to poison the King For which she suffers Death being burnt alive * Mary of the House of Guise arrives in Scotland and is married to K. Iames. †In the East-corner of Fife ‖ Troubles in Scotland about Religion * George Buchanan the Author of this History imprisoned for the same cause but makes his Escape †Queen Mary brings forth a Son and the next year another * Ambassadors from England to desire an Interview at York Which the Faction of the Ecclesiasticks prevent ‖ Iames Hamilton set up for a Judge against Lutherans But prevented from executing his Commission Imprisoned Tried Condemned and put to Death King Iames presaging Dream * His two Sons depart this Life Henry of England being affronted about the Interview prepares War against Iames And sends an Army against him commanded by Howard his General The Nobility of Scotland refuse to fight against England which moves Iames's Passion against them * Standing upon the Tweed 14 Miles above Berwick K. Iames sends an Army into England Which is defeated The overthrow of his Army breaks his Heart K. Iames the 5 th his Character Cardinal Beton suborns a false Will of King Iames therein nominating himself with three Assessors to he Vice-gerenâ—s of the Kingdom Hamilton opposes the Cardinal Scotish Prisoners and Exile released and dismissed at London and the Reason why * The Cardinal's Cheat discovered and thereupon Iames Hamilton Earl of Arran chosen Regent †Sir Ralph Sadler sent Ambassador to Scotland to treat about a Match for the young Queen with King Henry's Son But is affronted by the Cardinal and his Faction upon colourable pretences The Decree of the Council of Constance forbids Faith to be kept with Hereticks as the Reformed are by them called †Kennedy Earl of Cassills his just Resolution to return like another Regulus into England to redeem his Hostages highly praised and rewarded by Henry of England ‖ Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox sent for out of France into Scotland to ballance the Hamiltons * Kirk-Liston lying on the North-side of the River Annand that divides Middle and West-Lothian An Agreement made between Hamilton and Lennox The Regent recants his Opinions as to the Reform'd Religion Lennox was promised to marry the Queen but afterwards illuded by her and the Cardinal Upon which he retires and rises up in Arms and from Glascow marches to Leith But was forc'd to capitulate with the Regent at present Henry of England makes War upon Scotland Burns Edinburgh c. and retreats Lennox labours to justify himself to the French King against the Calumnies of the Queen and Cardinal * Or Grampius Glasgow Castle taken from Lennox by the Regent Lennox and Cuningham worsted by Hamilton Lennox flyes into England where he marries Margaret Douglas The English enter Scotland with an Army and garison Coldingham The Regent raises an Army but retreats shamefully The vain boast of Evers and Laiton two English Cavaleers The Regent by the advice of Angus raises a party to oppose the English In Teviotdale * The English being overconfident are worsted principally by thâ— Valour of Norman Lesley and Walter Scot. * The Family of the Frasers almost like to be quite extinguish'd †The French assists the Scots with some small Force * Hadington a Town in East Lothian twelve Miles South of Edinburgh The Scots march'd into England with an Army But again retreat Lutherans cruelly punish'd The ignorant Priests thoughâ— the Book of the New Testament was written by Martin Luther * Or Ruthven ‖ Kinfans is two Miles East of Perth on the North of Tay. The History of Wiseheart's Persecution by Cardinal â—eton and his Ecclesiasticks ‖ The Cardinal desires a criminal Judg against George Wiseheart But David Hamilton of Preston a Village in East Lothian persuades the Regent noâ— to grant one †The Regent not satisfied to proceed against George Whereupon the Cardinal proceeds against him by his own Authority Wiseheart's pious and Christian Leportment before his Death Wiseheart's Prophecy at his death concerning the Cardinal's Fall The Martyrdom of George Wiseheart The foul Character of Cardinal Beton Norman Lesly with a few Partisans surprises the Castle of S. Andrews and kills Cardinal Beton accord-to Wistheart's Prophecy before-mentioned Those that slew the Cardinal â— thosummoned yet refuse to appear * November 5. The Murderers of the Cardinal not reclaimed by the preaching of Iohn Knox. The English invade Scotland †A small River in Ewsdale The Regent marches against the English ‖ Or Lang-hope lying near the Conduence of the Rivers Esk and Ewes in Ewsdale * St. Ebbs Head on the Mouth of the Forth in Merss St. Andrews Castle taken by the Regent with the Assistance of the French The English enter Scotland and repulse the Regent's Forces †Two Miles East of Musselborough in East-Lothian The English send Letters to the Scots persuasory to Peace Which being rejected by the Regent He gives them Baâ—â—el But receives a great Overthrow †Brockty standing on a Rock on the Aâ—gus-side of Tay 2 Miles below Dundee The English retreat out of Scotland The English again enter Scotland And overtrow a Party of Scots commanded by Iames Douglas 〈◊〉 of Franceâ—ends â—ends Aid to the Scots The Queen of Scotland sails into France Hume and Fascastle garison'd by the English are surprized by the Scots ‖ Standing on the Firth of
immediately after Congallus but there are More who insert Kinnatellus betwixt Them Aidanus The Forty Ninth King AIdanus being Nominated King by Kinnatellus and confirmed by the People received the Royal Habiliments from Columba For the Authority of that Man was so great in those days that neither Prince nor People would undertake any thing without his Advice And at that time after he had in a long Speech persuaded the King to rule Equitably over the People and the People to be Loyal to their King he earnestly pressed them Both to persist in the pure Worship of God for then Both of them would prosper but if they forsook it they must expect Destruction as the reward of their Offences Having perform'd this Service he returned into his own Country The first Expedition of Aidanus was against the Robbers who infested Galway coming thither he put their Commanders to Death and Fear restrain'd the rest but a greater Storm encountred him at at his Return For after he had had three Conventions of the Estates in Galway Abria or Loch-abyr and Caithness and thought all things were settled there there was a Tumult arose amongst them in Hunting that much Blood was spilt and the Kings Officers who came to punish the Offenders were repulsed and beaten The Authors for fear of Punishment fled into Lothian to Brudeus King of the Picts when Ambassadors were sent to him to deliver them up according to the League betwixt them they were refused whereupon a feirce War commenced betwixt the Scots and Picts but it was quickly ended by the means of Columba who was according to his Merit highly esteemed by both Nations In the mean time England was again divided into Seven Kingdoms and the Brittons were driven into the Peninsula of Wales but the Saxons not contented with such large Dominions stirred up a new War betwixt the Scots and Picts The Author and Kindler thereof was Ethelfrid King of Northumberland a Covetous Man and who was weary of Peace out of the desire he had to enlarge his Dominions He persuaded the Picts but with difficulty Brudeus hardly consenting thereto That they should drive away Preys out of the Scots Territories and so give an occasion to a War Aidanus understanding the Treachery of the Saxons that he might also strengthen himself with Foreign Aid renewed the ancient League with Malgo the Britton He sent his Son Grifinus and his Sisters Son Brendinus King of Eubonia now called Man a Military Man with Forces who joyning with the Brittons entred Northumberland and after Three days march came to the Enemy but the English refused to engage them because they expected new Succors which were reported to be neer at hand for indeed Ceulinus King of the East Saxons a very Warlike Man was coming to them with great Forces the Scots and Brittons fell upon him in his March and wholly destroyed the Front of his Army which was a long way before the rest together with his Son Cutha but they were afraid to engage the rest lest they should be circumvented by Ethelfrid who was not far distant The two Kings of the Saxons being joined together again renewed the Fight with much Slaughter on both sides wherein the Scots and Brittons were put to flight There were slain of the Scots Nobles Grifinus and Brendinus in the opposite Army Ethelfrid lost one of his Eyes and Brudeus was carried wounded out of the Field to the great Astonishment of his Party The next Summer after Ethelfrid uniting his Forces with the Picts marched into Gallway supposing he should find all things there in great Consternation by reason of their ill Success the last Year But Aidanus coming with his Forces thither sooner than his Enemies thought set upon the straggling Plunderers and drave them with great trepidation to their Camp Thus having chastized their Temerity supposing now they would be more quiet the Night after he passed by their Camp and joyned himself with the Brittons Both Armies having thus united their forces pitch'd their Tents in a narrow Valley of Annandale and their Enemies as now Cock-sure of their Destruction beset the passages entring into it But they having fortify'd their Camp as if they intended there to abide in the Night when the Tide was out marched thro' the Ford which was known to them amidst the quavering Sands into Cumberland and afterward into Northumberland making great Havock whithersoever they came The Enemie followed them at their Heels and when they came in fight of one another both Armies prepare themselves for the Fight The Scots and Britains added Four Commanders to those they had before who were noble Persons of great experience in Warlike affairs that so the rash-Headed Common Soldiers might be commanded by a greater Number of Captains of the Brittons there were added Constantine and Mencrinus of the Scots Calenus and Murdacus By their Conduct and Incouragement the Soldiers fell upon the Enemy with so great Violence that he was presently broken and put to flight There goes a Report that Columb being then in the Isle Icolumbkil told his Companions of this Victory the very same hour in which it was obtained Of the Saxon Nobles there were slain in this fight Cialinus and Vitellius both great Warriors and highly descended about Eleven years after this Victory the Saxons and Picts infested the adjacent Country whereupon a Day was appointed wherein the Brittons and Scots should meet and with their united Forces set upon the Saxons Aidanus tho' very old came to the place at the appointed time and staid for the Brittons but in vain for they came not yet he drove Preys out of his Enemies Country Ethelfrid having now gotten a fair Opportunity to act something in set upon the dispersed Scots and made a great slaughter amongst them Aidanus having lost many of his Men fled for his Life yet the Victory was not unbloody to the Saxons for they lost Ethelfrid's Brother and some of those Squadrons that followed him were almost wholly cut off Aidanus having received this overthrow and being also informed of the death of Columb that Holy Man whom he so highly honoured foreseeing to what Cruelty the Remainder of the Christians were likely to be exposed being worn out with Age and Grief did not long survive he Reigned 34 years and died in the Year of our Lord 604. In his Reign it was That a certain Monk Named Austin came into Britain being sent by Gregory Pope of Rome who by his Ambition in Preaching a New Religion mightily disturbed the Old for he did not so much Preach the Christian Religion as the Ceremonies of the Roman Church Yea the Brittons before his coming were Converted to and taught the Principles of the Christian Religion by the Disciples of Iohn the Evangelist and were instituted in the same by the Monks who were Learned and Pious in that Age. As for Austin He laboured to reduce all things to the
Angus There he landed his Men and attempted to take in some Places but being disappointed he fell a plundering Having pitched his Tents at Balbridum i. e. the Village of St. Bride word was brought him by his Spies that the Scots Forces were scarce two miles distant from him whereupon both Generals according to the Exigence of the time exhorted their Men to fight and the next day they were all ready at their Arms almost at one time The third day they fought with so great eagerness and fury as either new Hope or old Hatred could occasion and suggest At last the Scots prevailed and Camus endeavouring to secure the Remainders of his Army by flying to the Mountains towards Murray before he had gone two miles was overtaken by the Pursuers and he and all his Men cut off There are Monuments extant of this Victory in an Obeliske and a Neighbouring Village which as yet retains the Memorable Name of Camus Another Band of them were cut off not far from the Town of Breichin where also another Obeliske was erected The Remainder being few in Number under the Covert of the night made to their Ships These last were tossed up and down several days in the raging Sea by cross Winds at length coming to the inhospitable Shore of Buchan they rode there so long at Anchor till they were necessitated for want to send about 500 of their Men ashore to get some Relief out of the Neighbouring Country Mernanus the Thane of the place stopp'd them from returning to their Ships and compelled them to retire to a steep Hill where being assisted by the Conveniency of the place they defended themselves with Stones and slew many of the Scots who rashly attempted them At last the Scots encouraged one another and in several Parties in great Numbers got up the Hill and put every Man of the Danes to the Sword There also as well as at Bambreid when the Wind blows up the Sand there are Bones discovered of a greater Magnitude than can well suit with the Stature of the Men of our Times Yet Sueno was not discouraged no not with this Overthrow also but sent his Son Canutus with new Levies into Scotland He landed his Souldiers in Buchan and so preyed upon the Country Malcolm though he had yet hardly recovered his Loss sustained in former Battels yet made head against him and being not willing to hazard all by fighting a pitched Battel he thought it best to weary the Enemy with light Skirmishes and to keep him from plundering for by this means he hoped in a short time to reduce him to great want of Provisions as being in an Enemies Country almost quite wasted and desolated by the Miseries of War before He followed this Counsel for some days but at last when the Scots had got a full understanding of their Enemies Strength they less diffided their Own and both Armies being equally pressed with Want did unanimously crave a Signal to the Battel pretending unless it were given they would fall to it even without the Consent of their Generals Hereupon Malcolm set the Battel in array which was fought with such desperate Rage and Fury that neither Party came off in Triumph And though the Victory did nominally rest on the Scots side yet a great part of their Nobility being slain and the rest wearied and discouraged in their Spirits returned to their Camp giving the Danes liberty to retreat without any pursuit The next day when both Parties mustered their Men they found so great a Slaughter to have been made that they willingly admitted some Priests to be Intercessors of Peace between them Whereupon Peace was made on these Conditions That the Danes should leave Murray and Buchan and depart and that as long as Malcolm and Sueno lived neither of them should wage War with one another any more nor help one anothers Enemies That the Field in which the Battel was fought should be set apart and Consecrated for the Burial of the Dead Upon this the Danes withdrew and Malcolm took Order for the Interment of the slain A while after he called an Assembly of Estates at Scone and that he might reward those who had deserved well of their Country he divided all the King's Lands between them On the other side the Nobility granted to the King That when any of them died their Children should be under the Wardship and Tutelage of the King till they arrived at the Age of 21 Years and that the King should receive all their Revenue except what was expended for the Education of the Ward And besides that he should have the Power to give them in Marriage Or otherwise to dispose of them when they were grown up and should also receive their Dowry I judge this Custom came rather from the English and Danes because it yet continues throughout all England and in part of Normandy too Afterwards the King bent his Thoughts to repair the Damages sustained by the War he re-edified many Temples and Sacred Places demolished by the Enemy he built New Castles or else repaired the Old in every Town Having thus restored Peace to the Kingdom by his great Valour he endeavoured further to adorn it with good Institutions and wholsom Laws and in order thereunto be erected New Names for Magistrates I believe such as he borrowed from his Neighbours which served rather for vain Ambition than for any real Use. For in former times there was no Name superior in Honour to that of a Knight except that of Thane i. e. Governor or Sheriff of a Province or Country which Custom as I hear is yet observed amongst the Danes But now a days Princes keep no Mean in instituting New Names or Titles of Honour though there be no use at all of those Names but the bare Sound Thus Malcolm having finished his Toilsom Wars Reigned some Years in great Splendor and Glory But in the Progress of his Age he sullied the Beauty of his former Life with the blot of Covetousness That Vice being incident to Old Men partly grew up in him with his Age and partly arose from that Want which his immoderate Largesses had driven him to So that those Lands which he had unadvisedly distributed amongst the Nobility he did as unjustly and wickedly labour to resume by which means he put some of them to Death and reduced others to great Penury Hereupon the present sense of suffering though sometimes just drowned the Memory of all former Courtesies so that the Injury reaching to a few but the Fear to many the Friends and Kindred of those which were slain and impoverished bent all their Thoughts to revenge Them and to secure Themselves And at last bâ—â—bing the King 's Domesticks at Glammes in Angus they were admitted at Night into the King's Bed-Chamber and slew him When they had committed the Fact those bribed Domesticks together with the Parricides took Horse which they had ready
Henry was buried he stept into the Throne and the Two First Years reigned peaceably enough Whereupon growing insolent he began to neglect his Agreement made with the English and also to deal harsly with strangers After he had compelled all the English partly by Fear partly by fair Promises to take an Oath of Allegiance to him he sent Embassadors to David King of Scots to put him in mind to take the same Oath for the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland and Huntingdon which he held of him David returned Answer That he together with Stephen himself and the other Nobles of England had not long since bound themselves by an Oath to obey Maud their Lawful Queen And that he ought not nor would acknowledge any other King as long as she was alive When this Answer was brought to Stephen presently a War began The English entred upon the adjacent Scots the Scots doing as much for them The next Year an Army of Scots under the Conduct of the Earls of Merch of Menteith and of Argus entred England and met the English at the Town of Allerton whose General was the Earl of Glocester A sharp Battel was there fought with equal slaughter on both sides as long as the Army stood to it at last the English being overthrown many perished in the flight and many of the Nobility were taken Prisoners amongst whom was the Earl of Glocester himself Stephen being much concerned at this Overthrow lest the Friends and Kindred of the Captive Nobles might be alienated from him refused no Conditions of Peace The Terms were These That the English Prisoners should be released without Ransom That Stephen should quit all the Claim which as chief Lord he pretended to have over Cumberland But Stephen observed those Conditions no better than he did the Oath formerly taken to Maud his Kinswoman For before the Armies were quite Disbanded and the Prisoners Released he privately surprized some Castles in Northumberland and by driving away Bootys from the Scots Countrys renewed the War The Scots gathering a sudden Army together out of the Neighbour Countrys and despising the English whom they had overthrown in Battel the self same Year did rashly run on to the Conflict at the River Tees where they paid for their Folly in undervaluing the Enemy by receiving a great Overthrow and were also enforced to quit Northumberland David to retrieve this Loss and Ignominy gathered as great an Army as ever he could together and came to Roxburgh Thither Turstan or as William of Newberry calls him Trustinus was sent by the English to Treat concerning a Pacification and there being some hope of Agreement a Truce was made for Three Months upon Condition That Northumberland should be presently restored to the Scots But this Promise which was made by Stephen only to have the Army Disbanded was not performed so that David drove away a great Booty out of that Part of Northumberland which obeyed Stephen and Stephen gathering a great Force together pierced as far as Roxborough But understanding That the Nobility were averse and complained That they were intangled in an Unjust and Unnecessary War without performing any Memorable Exploit he retired into the heart of his Kingdom And the next Year fearing some intestine Sedition he sent his Wife Maud to David her Uncle to treat of Peace Upon her Mediation it was accorded That David from Newcastle where he commonly aboad and Stephen from Durham should send Arbitrators for composing of Matters to the Town of Chester in the street scituate in the Midway equally distant from Both Places David sent the Arch-Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgoe Stephen the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York Both Parties were the more inclineable to Peace because Stephen feared War from abroad and Seditions at home and the Scots complained That they were forced to bear the shock of a War made in the behalf of another whereas Maud for whose sake it was commenced did nothing at all in it The Peace was made on These Conditions That Cumberland as by Ancient Right should be possessed by David and that Northumberland unto the River Tees as William of Newberry the Englishman writes and Huntingtonshire should be enjoyed by Henry Davids Son upon the account of his Mothers Inheritance and That he should do Homage to Stephen for the same When things were thus composed David retired into Cumberland and Stephen into Kent This Peace was made in the Year of our Lord 1139. In which Year Maud being returned into England sent her Son Henry afterward King of England to Carlisle to David his Great Uncle that he might be instructed in Feats of Arms and also be made Knight by him who without doubt was the excellentest Warrior in his time which Matter in those days was performed with a great deal of Ceremony At that time there was so great a Disturbance in England by reason of Domestique Discords That no Part of it was free from a Civil War but That which David the King of Scots held And that he alone might not plead Exemption from the publick Calamity within Three Years after his Son the only Heir in hope of so much Power and Felicity dyed in the flower of his Age leaving Three Sons and as many Daughters behind him He left so great a Love behind for him both from the Scots and English that besides the publick Loss every one lamented his own private Misfortune also at his death For so great a Sincerity and Moderation of Mind shined forth in him even in that Age wherein Youth is accustomed to wantonize That every body expected most rare and singular Fruits from his Disposition when it was ripened by Age. His Fathers Grief was also further increased by reason of the tender Age of his Nephew and the Ambition and restless Disposition of Stephen and if he dyed he was troubled at the Fierceness of Henry's Spirit then in the fervor of his Youth who being the Son of Maud was to succeed in the Kingdom When the Thoughts of so many foreseen Mischiefs did assault his diseased and feeble Mind insomuch that all Men imagined he would have sunk under them yet he bore up so stoutly that he invited some of the Prime Nobility who were solicitous for him lest he should be too much afflicted as well they might to Supper and there he entertained them with a Discourse rather like a Comforter than a Mourner He told them That no new thing had hapned to him or to his Son That he had long since Learned from the Sermons of Learned and Holy Men That the World was Governed by the Providence of Almighty God whom it was a foolish and impious thing to endeavour to resist That he was not ignorant his Son was born on no other Terms but that he must also dye and so pay that Debt to Nature which he owed even at his very Birth And when Men were always ready to pay that Debt 't was
the following year did more fully appear when he cokes'd Malcolm out of Northumberland which was his Brother William's Patrimony For he sent for him to London That according to the Examples of his Ancestors he in a publick Assembly might acknowledge himself his Feudatary for the Lands which he held in England He under Covert of the Publick Faith came speedily thither but without doing any thing of That for which his Journey was pretended he was inforced against his Will with that little Retinue which he had to accompany Henry into Henry's Design herein was partly that the Scots might not attempt any thing against him in his absence and partly to alienate the Mind of Lewis King of France from him Thus Malcolm was compelled for fear of a greater Mischief to go against his old Friend and was not suffered to come back to his own Country till King Henry having made no great Earnings of the French War returned home also Then Malcolm obtained leave to return to Scotland where in a Convention of the Nobility he declared to them the Adventure of his Travels but he found a great Part of them very much incensed that he had joyned with a certain Enemy against an Old and Trusty Friend and did not foresee the Artifices by which Henry had gulled him The King on the other side alleged That he was haled unwillingly into France by a King in whose Power he was and to whom he dared to deny nothing at that time and therefore he did not despair but the French would be satisfied and appeased when they understood he was hurried thither by Force and carried none of his Country Forces along with him This Harangue with much ado quieted the Sedition for the present which was almost ready to break out But Henry who had Spies every where knew That the Tumult was rather suspended than that the Minds of Men were reconciled to him and therefore he Summoned Malcolm to come to a Convention at York There he was accused of a pretended Crime That the English had been worsted in France principally by his means and therefore it was referred to the Assembly Whether he ought not to lose all the Countries which he held in England Though he answered all the objected Crimes and fully cleared himself yet he found all their Ears shut against him as being prepossessed by the Fears or Favour of their King so that a Decree was made in Favour of Henry Neither was he contented with this Injury but he also suborned some Persons fit for his purpose to bruit it abroad That Malcolm had freely and of his own accord quitted his Interest in those Countries At which his Subjects the Scots were so incensed that at his Return home they besieged him in Perth and had almost taken him But by the Intervention of some great Men their Anger was somewhat abated when he had informed the Nobility how unjustly and fraudulently Henry had despoiled him of his Ancient Patrimony Whereupon they unanimously agreed upon a War that so he might recover by just Arms what was unlawfully taken from him by Force Thus a War was Decreed Denounc'd and Waged not without great Inconveniencies to both Nations At last both Kings came to a Conference not far from Carlisle and after much dispute Pro and Con Henry took away Northumberland from Malcolm leaving him Cumberland and Huntington-shire Henry had no other Pretence for his Ambitious Avarice but This That he could not suffer so great a Diminution to be made of his Kingdom But seeing no respect to Justice and Right no Pacts Covenants no nor the Religion of an Oath could hinder the unsatiable Avarice of Henry Malcolm being a Man of a low Spirit and too desirous of Peace upon any Conditions whatever accepted of his Terms sore against the Minds of the Scots Nobility who denied That the King could alienate any part of his Dominions without the General Consent of the Estates After this the King began to be despised by his Subjects as not having Fortitude or Prudence enough to weild the Scepter neither did any thing bridle their fierce Minds from Rising in Arms but a greater Fear from Henry who they knew did aim at the Conquest of the whole Island being encouraged thereunto by the Simplicity of Malcolm and by his Hopes of Foreign Aid This General Disaffection to the King did much lessen the Reverence of his Government A Rebellion was first begun by Angus or rather Aeneas of Galway a Potent Man but yet more encouraged by the Kings Sloth than his own Power Gilchrist was sent against him who overthrew him in Three Fights and compelled him to take Sanctuary in the Monastery of White-horn out of which it was not counted Lawful to pull him by Force and therefore after a long Siege being driven to the want of all Necessaries he was forced to Capitulate He was to lose part of his Estate for his Punishment and his Son was to be given as an Hostage for his good Behaviour for the future But he being of a lofty Spirit and not able to endure this abatement of his former Greatness turn'd Monk shaved himself and shut himself up in a Monastery near Edinburgh to avoid the shame and scorn of Men. Neither was there Peace in other Parts of the Realm for the Murray-Men being always given to Mutinying rose in Arms under Gildo or rather Gildominick their Captain and did not only spoil the circumjacent Counties but when Heralds of Arms were sent from the King they most barbarously slew them Gilchrist was sent out against them also with a greater Army but with unlike Success For the Valour of an Adversary which is wont to be a Terrour to other Rebels drove those wicked Persons conscious of their own Demerits to Desperation and therefore endeavouring to sell their Lives as dear as they could they routed the opposite Army and became Conquerors Malcolm upon this overthrow recruited his old Army and marched into Murray and met the Murray-Men at the Mouth of the River Spey who though they knew that the Kings Forces were encreased and Theirs diminished in the late Fight yet being encouraged by the Opportunity of the Place and their newly obtained Victory they resolved to Adventure a Battel The Fight was carried on with great Resolution and no less Slaughter For the Moravians gave not back till the Kings Forces being wearied had new Releif from Reserves sent them Then the Moravians were broken and there was no more Fighting but Killing The Fury of the Soldiers spared no Age nor Rank of Men. In this Fight the old Moravians were almost all slain which Punishment though Cruel seemed not to be undeserved and the Greatness of the Revenge was allayed and made excuseable by the Savage Cruelty of that perfidious People against others Hereupon new Coâ—onies were sent into the Lands of the slain Neither did Sumerled in this hurly burly think it fit to sit still
laid all waste to the very Gates of Carlisle The City it self he took by Force and Fortified it The next year Lewis the Son of Philip King of France was sent for by those who favoured the Ecclesiastical Faction to London that so he upon the Proscription of Iohn might possess the Kingdom and so was King Alexander of Scotland too who came to aid his Old Friend But Iohn being forsaken by his Subjects and assaulted also by Foreign Arms upon the Payment of a great Sum of Money at present and the Promise of a perpetual Pension and moreover transferring the Right of the Kingdom of England to the Pope so that the Kings of England for the future were to be His Feudataries was received into Favour So that he obtained Letters from Rome by Cardinal Galo a Man of known Avarice wherein the Scots and French were with great Threats forbid to meddle with a People which were Tributaries to the Holy See Upon this sudden Change of things Lewis returned into France and Alexander into Scotland but his return home was not so quiet as his entrance into England was For the English pressing upon the Rear of his retiring Army took many of the Stragglers Prisoners And besides Iohn had broken down all the Bridges on the Trent and had fastned sharp Pikes or Palisadoes in all its Fords removing away all Ships and Boats so that it seemed to be so great an Impediment unto him that he could not avoid it but must certainly be destroyed In the mean time Iohn was poysoned by an English Monk at Newark a Town seated on the Trent and being carried in a Litter died in two days That Casualty opened the way for Alâ—xander's March. Then blaming and punishing his Men for their former Carelessness he marched on more circumspectly but not without the great Damage of those through whose Countrys he passed For whatsoever could be driven away or carried he took with him and so returned home with a great Booty Galo the Popes Legat when he had setled Henry the Son of Iohn in the Throne mulct the Nobles of England in a great Sum of Money and then received them into Favour And to give them some Recompence for their Loss by the like Calamity of their Enemies he Excommunicates Lewis of France and Alexander of Scotland in hopes to obtain some Prey from them also The Scots were Interdicted all Divine Offices for he imagined that his Thundring Curses would prevail more amongst the simple Vulgar than with the Kings But at last Peace was made between the Two Kings the Scots were to restore Carlisle and the English Berwick and the Ancient Bounds at Kings-Cross were to be observed by them Both. Alexander and his Subjects were released from their Censures by the English Bishops who were Authorized thereunto Hereupon Galo was much enraged That so great a Prey should be taken out of his Hands so that he turned his Anger on the Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Scotland as his own Peculiar with whom Kings had nothing to do He summoned them to appear at Alnwick Whither when they came the more fearful appeased his Wrath with Money the more resolute were Cited to Rome But they having also received many Letters from some of the English Bishops and Abbats directed to the Pope concerning the sordid Spirit of the Ambassador or Legat made grievous Complaints against him calling him the Firebrand of all mischief because he studied not the Publick Good but his own Avarice and did chaffer for and sell Peace and War amongst Princes at his own pleasure Galo not being able to acquit himself of the Crimes laid to his charge was Fined by the Pope in the Loss of the Money he had got which was to be divided amongst his Accusers Hereupon they returned home loaden with large Promises but with empty Purses A few years after Henry of England being now grown Ripe both in Years and Judgment came to York there he agreed with Alexander in the presence of Pandulphus the Popes Legat to take Henry's Sister to Wife by whom yet because of her untimely Death he had no Children From that time there was Peace between Both Kings as long as they lived There he also solemnly Promised and Swore before the same Pandulphus That he would bestow the Two Sisters of Alexander in Honourable Marriages according to their Dignity as his Father had promised before But one of them returned home unmarried one only being bestowed in Marriage The next Year viz. 1220 the Cardinal of St. Giles came into England to fish for Money for the Holy War and accordingly having scraped together a great Sum in both Kingdoms which by his Impostures he had gulled Persons 〈◊〉 credulous of he Luxuriously spent it in his Journy so that he came empty to Rome falsely alleging That he was robbed by Thieves in the way Another Legat presently succeeded him but Men having been twice cheated by Roman Fraud by a Publick Decree forbad him to set his foot on Land Alexander was busied to suppress Vices at home which sprung up by the Licentiousness of War and he travelled over the whole Kingdom with his Queen to do Justice whilest Gilespy a Rossian spoiled Ross and the Neighbour Counties for passing over the River Ness he took and burnt the Town of Enverness He cruelly slew all those that refused to obey him Iohn Cumin Earl of Buchan was sent against him who took him and his two Sons as they were shifting up and down and changing their Quarters to secure themselves and cut off their Heads and so sent them to the King About this time the Caithnesians entred by night into the Bedchamber of Adam their Bishop and there killed a Monk who was his usual Companion for he had been before Abbat of Mulross and one of his Bedchamber as for the Bishop himself they grievously wounded him and dragging him into the Kitchen there they burnt him and the House he was in The Cause of their great Cruelty was as 't is reported because the Bishop was more severe than in former times in exacting his Tithes The Offenders were diligently sought out and most severely punished The Earl of Caithnes though he were not present at the Fact yet was somewhat suspected but afterward being brought privately to the King in the Christmas Holy-days which the Scots call Saturnalia he humbly begg'd Pardon of the King and obtained it About this time Alane of Galway the powerfullest Man in Scotland departed this Life He left Three Daughters behind him of whom I shall speak hereafter Thomas his Bastard Son despising their Age and Sex sets up for himself as Lord of the Family and not contented herewith he gathers 10000 Men together kills all that oppose him and drives Booties far and near from all the Neighbouring-Countries At last the King sent an Army against him who slew 5000 of the
was Poysoned as it is thought by his Wife an English Woman The Suspicion thereof was encreased on her because tho' she were Wooed by many Nobles yet she Married Iohn Russel her Gallant a Young English Spark She was accused of Witchcraft too and cast into Prison but she bought out her Liberty Russel and his Wife obtained Letters from the Pope permitting them to commence an Action of the Case against their Adversaries for the Wrong done them before the Popes Legate But it was to no purpose because the Scots urged an Ancient Privilege exempting them from going out of the Kingdom when they were to plead their Causes When the King was of Age upon the humble Petition of the Cumins's he Pardoned them as if all their offences had been expiated by the Death of Walter He was induced so to do as some say by reason of the Greatness of their Family and also because he feared Foreign Wars when Matters were so unsetled at home But that War began not so soon as Men thought it would In the Year of Christ 1263. in the Calends of August Acho King of Norwey with a Fleet of 160 Sail came to Air a Maritime Town of Coil where he Landed 20000 Men. The Cause of the War as he pretended was that some Islands which were promised to his Ancestors by Mackbeth were not yet put into his Hands viz. Bote Aran and both the Cumbras's which were never reckoned amongst the Aebudae But it was enough for him who sought a pretence for a War that they were called Islands Acho took two of the greatest of them and reduced their Castles before he could meet with any Opposition being lifted up by this success he makes a descent into Cuningham the next Continent over against Bote in that part of it which they call the Largs There he met with Two Misfortunes almost at one and the same First he was overcome in Fight by Alexander Stuart the Great Grandfather of him who first of that Name was King of Scotland and being almost taken by the Multitude of his Enemies he hardly escaped in great Fear to his Ships The other was That his Ships being tossed in a mighty Tempest hardly carried him with a few of his followers who escaped into the Orcades There were slain in that Battel Sixteen Thousand of the Norwegians and Five Thousand of the Scots some Writers say that King Alexander himself was in this Fight Yet they also make Honourable mention of the Name of this Alexander Stuart Acho died of Grief for the Loss of his Army and of his Kinsman too a Valiant Youth whose Name is not mentioned by Writers His Son Magnus who was lately come to him perceiving Things in a desperater Posture than he ever thought they would be brought to especially having no hopes of Recruit from home before the Spring and also finding the Minds of the Islanders alienated from him and that he was forsaken of the Scots too in Confidence of whose Aid his Father had undertaken that War these things considered he easily inclined to Terms of Peace The Spirit of the young Man was quailed both by the unlucky Fight and also by his Fear of the Islanders For Alexander had then recovered by sending about some Ships the Isle of Man situate almost in the midst between Scotland and Ireland upon these Conditions That the King thereof should send in Ten Gallies to the Scots as oft as there was occasion and that the Scots should defend him from a Foreign Enemy When Magnus saw That the rest of the Islands inclined to follow the Example of the Manks-Men he sent Ambassadors to treat of Peace which Alexander refused to make unless the Aebudae were restored at last by the diligence of the Commissioners it was agreed that the Scots should have the Aebudae for which at present they were to pay 1000 Marks of Silver and 100 Marks an Year And moreover That Margarite Alexanders Daughter being then but Four years old should Marry Hangonan the Son of Magnus assoon as she was fit for Marriage About this time the King of England being infested with Civil War had Five Thousand Scots sent him for his Assistance under the Command of Râ—bert Bruce and Alexander Cumins whom the English Writers call Iohn the greatest part of them were slain in Fight and Cumins with the Englâ—sh King himself and his Son and a great part of the English Nobility of the Kings Party were taken Prisoners Moreover the Scots King was much troubled at the Arrogance of the Priests and Monks in his Kingdom who being enriched by former Kings began to grow wanton in a continued Peace Yea they endeavoured to be equal if not superior to the Nobility whom they excelled in Wealth The young Nobility repining at it and taking it in great disdain used them coursly whereupon complaints were made by them to the King who imagining either that their Wrongs were not so great as they represented them or else that they suffered them deservedly neglected their pretended Grievances whereupon they Excommunicated All but the King and in great Wrath determined to go to Rome But the King remembring what great Commotions Thomas Becket the prime promoter of Ecclesiastical Ambition had lately made in England called them back from their Journy and caused the Nobility to satisfie not only their Avarice but even their Arrogance too And indeed they were the more inclinable to an Accord with the King because he had lately undertaken the Patronage of the Ecclesiastical Orders against the Avarice of the Romanists For a little before Ottobon the Popes Legate was come into England to appease the Civil Discords but not being able to effect the thing he came for he omitted the publick Care and studied his own private Gain and Lucre he Indicted an Ecclesiastical Assembly of the English Procters from Scotland being also called thereunto in the mean time he endeavoured to exact Four Marks of Silver from every Parish in Scotland and Six from all Cathedrals for the Expence of Procurations This Contribution or Tax was scarce refused when News was brought That another Legate was arrived in England intending also for Scotland on pretence to gather up Money for the Holy War and besides that procurable by Indulgences and other Lime-Twigs to catch Money he endeavoured to wrest from all Bishops Abbats and Parish Priests as judging them to be immediately under Papal Jurisdiction the Tenth part of their yearly Revenues that so Edward and Edmond Sons to the King of England might go more Nobly and Numerously attended to the War in Syria The Scots judged this Tax to be very grievous and unjust especially because the English seemed to be so forward to have it granted as if Scotland were not sui Iuris or an absolute Kingdom but Dependent on England Moreover they were afraid lest the Legat should riotously mispend the Money designed for the War as was done some Years
Daughters The Eldest Named Margarite Married Alan of Galway a Man very powerful amongst the Scots The Second was matched to Robert Bruce Sirnamed the Noble of High English Descent and of a large Estate The Third was Married to Henry Hastings an Englishman also whose Posterity do deservedly enjoy the Earldom of Huntington at this day But to let him pass because he never put in for the Kingdom I shall confine my Discourse to the Stock Cause and Ancestry of Baliol and Bruce only Whilst William was King of Scotland Fergus Prince of Galway left Two Sons Gilbert and Ethred William to prevent the Seeds of Discord betwixt the Two Brothers divided their Fathers Inheritance equally betwixt them Gilbert the Eldest took this highly amiss and thereupon conceived an Hatred against his Brother as his Rival and against the King too for his unequal Distribution Thereupon when the King was Prisoner in England being then freed from fear of the Law he discovered his long-concealed Hatred against them both As for his Brother he took him unawares pulled out his Eyes cut out his Tongue and so not content with a single Death he put him to grievous and excessive Tortures before he dyed and he himself joyned with the English and preyed upon his Neighbors and Country-men as if they had been in an Enemies Country for he wasted all with Fire and Sword And except Rolland the Son of Ethred had gathered a Band of Countrymen who remained firm to the King together to resist his Attempts he had either wasted the neighbour Countries or drawn them all over to his Party This Rolland was a forward young Man of great Abilities both of Body and Mind he not only abated the Fury of his Uncle but many times fought valiantly and sometimes successfully with the English as he met them whilst he repressed their Plunderings or as he himself spoiled their Lands At last when the King was restored Gilbert by the Mediation of his Friends got a Pardon upon promise of a sum of Money for the Wrongs he had done and giving Pledges to that purpose But Gilbert dying a few days after those who were accustomed to Blood and Prey under him and who had given up themselves into the Protection of the King of England either out of the Inconstancy of their Dispositions or for fear of Punishment being stirr'd on by Gripes from an accusing Conscience for what they had formerly done took up Arms again under the Command of Gilpatrick Henry Kennedy and Samuel who before had been the Assistors and Companions to Gilbert in his Wickedness Rolland was sent with an Army against them and after a great Fight he slew their chief Leaders and a great Part of the common Soldiers They who escaped fled to one Gilcolumb a Captain of the Freebooters and Robbers who had made a great spoil in Lothian and much endamaged the Nobles and Richer sort of whom also he killed some Thence marching into Galway he undertook Gilbert's Cause when all others looked upon it as desperate He not only claimed his Lands as his Own but carried himself as the Lord of all Galway At last Rolland fought with him in the Calends of October about Three Months after Gilbert's Forces were defeated and slew him with the greatest part of his Army with very little loss of his own side amongst the slain there was found his own Brother a stout young Man The English being troubled at the overthrow of these Men who had put themselves under their Protection the Year before march'd with an Army to Carlisle thither also came Rolland being Reconciled to the King of England by the Mediation of William where he refuted the Calumnies of his Enemies and shewed That he had done nothing Maliciously or Causelesly against his own and the Publicks Enemy upon which he was honourably dismissed by the King William also returned home and calling to Mind the Constancy of his Father Ethred and how many Noble Exploits he had performed for the Good of the Publick he gave him all Galway And besides he bestowed Carrick on the Son of Gilbert though his Father had not deserved so well of him William of Newberry the English Writer Records these things as done Anno 1183. Rolland took to Wife the Sister of William Morvill who was Lord High Constable in Scotland who dying without Issue Rolland enjoyed that Office as Hereditary to him and his Family He had a Son called Alan who for his Assistance afforded to Iohn King of England in his Irish War was rewarded by him with large Possessions on which accompt by the permission of William of Scotland he was a Feudatary to the English King and swore Fealty to him This Alan took to Wife Margarite the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntington By her he had Three Daughters the Eldest Dornadilla he Married to Iohn Baliol who was King of Scotland for some years But Robert Bruce Married Isabella Davids Second Daughter he came to be Earl of Carrick upon this Occasion Martha Countess of Carrick being Marriageable and the only Heiress of her Father who died in the Holy War as she was a Hunting cast her Eye on Robert Bruce the Beautifullest Young Man of all her Train whereupon she Courteously invited him and in a manner compelled him into her Castle which was near at Hand Being come thither his Age Beauty Kindred and Manners easily procuring mutual Love they were quickly Married in a private way When the King was informed thereof he was much offended with them Both because the Right of bestowing the Lady in Marriage lay in him yet by the Mediation of Friends he was afterwards Reconciled to them Out of this Marriage Robert Bruce was Born who afterwards was King of Scotland Thus having enlarged my self in this Prologue I come now to the Matter in Hand and to the Competitors of the Kingdom They were Dornadilla the Grand-child of David of Huntingdon by his Eldest Daughter and Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick Grand-son of the said David by his youngest Daughter Dornadilla's Pretensions were grounded on the Custom of the Country whereby he or she that was nearer in Degree had a better Right Robert Bruce insisted on the Sex that in a like degree of Propinquity Males ought to be preferred before Females so that he denied it to be just that as long as a Grand-son was alive a Grand-daughter should inherit her Ancestors Estate And though sometimes the contrary may be practised in the Inheritances of private Men yet the matter is far otherwise in those Estates which are called Feuds and in the Succession of Kingdoms And of this there was urged a late Example in the Controversie concerning the Dutchess of Burgundy which the Earl of Nevers who Married the Grand-child of the last Duke by his Eldest Son Claimed yet the Inheritance was adjudged to the Son of the Duke's younger Brother so that Robert contended That he was nearer in Degree as
the English and accepted by the Scots being now secure of the Kingdom came to Edward who was at New-Castle upon Tine and according to his Promise Swore Fealty to him so did the Nobles also who were of his Train as not daring to contradict Two Kings especially they being so far from home As soon as the rest of the Nobility heard of it they were grievously offended but being conscious of their want of Power they dissembled their Anger for the present But soon after an Occasion was offered them to shew it Mackduff Earl of Fife who in the Time of the Interregnum was One of the six Governors of the Land was slain by the Abernethians which was then a rich and potent Family in Scotland and the Earls Brother being accused by them and brought to his Answer before the Assembly of the States the King gave Sentence in Favour of the Abernethians So that Mackduff was dispossessed of the Land which was in Controversie betwixt them whereupon he conceived a double Displeasure against the King One on the Account of his own Wrong and Another because he had not severely punished the Murderers of his Brother So that he appealed to the King of England and desired that Baliol might answer the Matter before Him Hereupon the Cause was removed to London and as Baliol was casually sitting by Edward in the Parliament House and when he was called would have answered by a Proctor it was denied him so that he was enforced to arise from his Seat and to plead his Cause from a lower Place He bore the Affront silently for the present not daring to do otherwise but as soon as ever he was dispatched from thence such Flames of Anger burnt in his Breast that his Thoughts were wholly taken up how to reconcile his own Subjects and how to offend Edward As he was thus musing it happened commodiously for him That a new Discord arose betwixt the French and English which presently after broke out into a War Whereupon Embassadors were sent to the Assembly of Estates in Scotland from Both Kings The French's Errand was to renew the Old League with their New King And the English was upon the Account of their late Oath to Edward to receive Aid from them in the War he had undertaken Both Embassys were referred to the Council of the Estates where the Nobles prone to Rebellion were of Opinion That the Request of the French was Just of the English Unjust For the League made by universal Consent with the French more than 500 Years before had been kept Sacred and Inviolable to that very Day in regard of the Justness and Utility thereof but this late Subjection and surrendring themselves to the English was extorted from the King against his Will and thô as they proceeded to allege he had been willing yet it did oblige neither King nor Kingdom it being made by the King alone without the Consent of the Estates whereas the King might not act any Thing relating to the Publick state of the Kingdom without much less against the Advice of the States So a Decree was made that Embassadors should be sent into France to renew the Ancient League and that a Wife should be desired for Edward Baliol Son to Iohn out of the Kings Royal stem Another Embassy was also sent into England to signify that the King of Scots did revoke the Reddition of the Kingdom and Himself which he had forceably and unjustly made and renouncing his Friendship both for that Cause and also for the many and innumerable other Wrongs which he had done to Him and His he was resolved to assert his Ancient Liberty No man of any Eminencie would carry this Message to Edward because he was of a fierce Nature and was rendred more so by reason of the Indulgence of Fortune which made him even almost to forget himself At last a certain Monk or as some say the Abbat of Aberbrothoc carried Letters of that Import to him who was grievously affronted for his Pains and had much ado to escape home being protected more by his undervalued Tenuity than the Reverence of his Embassadorship In the mean time Edward had made a Truce with the French for some Months hoping That before they were ended he might subdue the Scots taking them unprovided and therefore he sent his Fleet designed for France against Scotland commanding them to stop all Provisions from being carried into Berwick wherein he heard there was a very strong Garison The Scots fought with this Fleet in the Mouth of the River they destroyed and took 18 of their Ships and put the rest to flight Edward out of Fierceness of Mind by this Loss was highly enraged to Revenge He Summons Baliol once and again to appear And he himself Levies a great Army and comes to New-Castle upon Tine There also he gave forth an Edict for Iohn to appear Legally to purge himself from the Crimes objected against him But neither He nor any for him appearing ar the day appointed he added Policy to Force and sent for Bruce and promises him the Kingdom if he would do his endeavour faithfully to Depose and drive out Baliol. To do which said he you need be at little Labour or Cost only write Letters to your Friends that either they would desert the Kings Party or not be hearty or forward if it came to a Battel He by great Marches came to Berwick but not being able to carry it by reason of the strength of the Garison he pretended to raise his Siege and caused a Rumour to be spread abroad by some Scots of Bruce his Party that he despaired of Taking it and that Baliol was coming with a great Army to raise the Siege and was now near at hand whereupon all the Chief Men of the Garison made haste out to receive him Honourably in promiscuous Multitudes Horse and Foot together so that Edward sent in some Horse amongst them some they trod down and killed others they divided from their Company and seizing on the nearest Gate they entred the Town Edward followed with his Foot and made a miserable Slaughter of all sorts of People Above 7000 of the Scots are reported to have been there slain amongst Them were the Flower of the Lothian and Fife Nobility Though I love not to interrupt the continued Series of my History as having resolved against it at first with any unnecessary Digression yet I cannot forbear to expose that unbridled Liberty of Evil speaking which Richard Grafton who lately compiled the History of England assumes to himself that so they who read what I here write may judge what Credit is to be given to him For he says that Hector Boetius writes in his 14th Book and ad Chapter That so much Blood was split there that Rivers of it running through the City might have driven a Water-Mill for two days To which I say First That Boetius never
Changes happening in so long a War had confounded the Right of Mens Possessions he commanded every one to produce and shew By what Title he held his Estate This Matter was equally grievous to the Old Possessors as well as the New Valiant Men thought they enjoyed That by a good Right which they had taken from their Enemies and they took it much amiss That what they had got as the Price of their Military Toil yea of their Blood too should be rent from them in Times of Peace As for the old Owners of Estates seeing there was no one House almost but had suffered in the War They had lost their Deeds by which they held their Lands as well as their other Goods Whereupon they all entred upon a Project valiant in appearance but bold and temerarious in the event For when the King in the Parliament commanded them to produce their Titles every one drew his Sword and cried out We carry our Titles in our Right Hands The King being amazed at this sudden and surprising Spectacle though he took the Matter very heinously yet he stifled his Indignation for the present until a fit Time of Revenge And it was not long before an Occasion was offered him to shew it Divers of the Nobles being conscious to themselves of the Audacity of their late Attempt and fearing to be punished for it conspire together to betray the Kingdom to the English The Fact was discovered to the King and that so plainly that the Letters declaring the Manner Time and Place were intercepted and their Crime made evident Whereupon they were all taken and brought to the King without any Tumult at all raised at their Apprehension And because it was much feared That William Souls Governor of Berwick would deliver up both Town and Castle to the English before the Conspiracy was publickly divulged he made a Journy thither as it were by she by A Convention was made at Perth to try the Prisoners where the Letters were produced and every ones Seal known being convicted of High-Treason by their own Confession they were put to Death The Chief were David Brechin and William Lord Souls of the Nobility also Gilbert Mayler Richard Brown and Iohn Logie besides there were many others of all Orders accused but there being only Suspicion against them they were dismissed The Death of David Brechin only did diversly affect Mens minds for besides that he was the Son of the Kings Sister he was accounted the Prime young man of his Age for all Arts both of Peace and War He had given given evident Proofs of his Valour in Syria in the Holy War He being summoned in by the Popular Conspirators never gave his Consent to the Treason only his Crime was That being made acquainted with so foul a Machination he did not Discover it The Body of Roger Mowbray who dyed before Conviction was Condemned to all kind of Ignominy but the King remitted that Punishment and caused it to be buried Some some few Months before this Process was had the Popes Legates who at the request of the English came to compose the Dissensions betwixt the Kingdoms not being able to do any thing therein lest they might seem to have done nothing for the English in their Legation Excommunicated the Scots and forbad them the Use of Publick Divine Service the Popes Thunderbolts being terrible in Those days Bruce to shew how little he valued the Popes Curses in an unjust Cause gathered an Army and invaded England following the Legate at his Departure almost at his very heels There he made a foul havock with Fire and Sword and came as far as the Cross at Stanmore The English not to suffer so great Ignominy to pass unrevenged levied so numerous an Army that they promised themselves an easy Victory even without Blood Robert thought it dangerous to run the Hazard of All in a Battel against the mighty Army of so great a King but rather he resolved to help out the matter with Policy rather than by Force He drave all the Cattle into the Mountains whither Armies could not but with great Difficulty ascend and all other things of use for an Army he caused either to be reposited in Fortify'd Places or to be wholly spoiled The English who came thither in hopes of a speedy Battel and had not Provisions for a long March when they perceived what Devastation was made in their own Country were inflamed with Anger Hatred and Desire of Revenge and resolved to pierce into the middst of Scotland and to ferret the King out of his boroughs yea and force him to a Fight tho' against his Will For the Greatness of his Forces did encourage him to hope that either he should blot out his former Ignominy by an Eminent Victory or else should recompense his Loss lately received by an enlarged Depopulation With this Resolution he came in all hast to Edinburgh he spared Churches only in his March but the further he was to go the more scarcity he was like to find So that in five days time he was forced to retreat At his return he spoiled all things both Sacred and Prophane He burnt the Monasteries of Driburgh and Mulross and killed those old Monks whom either Weakness or Confidence in their Old Age had caused to stay there As soon as Bruce was informed that Edward was returned for want of Provision and that Diseases did rage in his Army so that he had lost more Men than if he had been overcome in Battel he almost trod upon his Heels with an Army noted more for the Goodness than the Number of Soldiers and came as far as York making grievous havock as he went He had almost taken the King Himself by an unexpected Assault at the Monastery of Biland where Edward in a tumultuary Battel was put to Flight all his Household-stuff Money Bag and Baggage being taken To blot out the Ignominy of this Infamous Flight Andrew Berkley Earl of Carlisle was a while after accused as if he had been bribed to betray the English and so he lost his Life in Punishment for the Cowardize of another Man The next Year a double Embassy was sent One to the Pope to reconcile him to the Scots from whom he had been alienated by the Calumnies of the English and Another to renew the Ancient League with the French They Both easily obtained what they desired For when the Pope understood That the Controversy arose by the Injury and Default of Edward the First who affirmed That the King of Scots ought to obey as a Feudatary the King of England and That the English had nothing to defend their Claim by but old Fables and late Injuries and besides That in Prosperity being Summoned by the Pope they always avoided an equal Decision of Things tho in their Adversity they were always humble suiters to him for his Aid and on the other side the Scots always were willing
to have their Cause heard and never shunned the Determination of an Equal Judge nor the Arbitration of any Good men and moreover when they produced many Grants and Summons of Former Popes which made for them and against their Enemies the Scots were always present at the day and the English tho' they had Notice given never came Hereupon the Pope was easily reconciled to the Scots and the French as easily induced to renew the Ancient League only one Article was added to the old Conditions That if any Controversy did hereafter arise amongst the Scots concerning him who was to succeed in the Kingdom the same should be decided by the Council of the States and the French if there were need were to assist Him by his Authority and with his Arms who by Lawful Suffrages was by them declared King Our Writers cast the Rise of the Hamiltons now a powerful Family in Scotland upon these Times There was a certain Nobleman in the Court of England who spake Honourably of the Fortune and Valour of Bruce whereupon one of the Spencers Bed-Chamber Man to the King either thinking That his Speech was Reproachful to the English or else to curry Favour with the looser sort of the Nobility drew forth his Faucheon and making at him gave him a slight wound in the Body The Man being of a great Spirit was more concerned at the Contumely than at the Damage and being hindered by the coming in of many to part the Fray from taking present Revenge the day after finding his Enemy in a sit Posture in the same place he run him thorough And fearing the Punishment of the Law and the great Power of the Spencers at Court he fled presently into Scotland to King Robert by whom he was courteously received and some Lands near the River Clyde were bestowed upon him His Posterity not long after were admitted to the Degree of Noblemen and the Opulent Family of the Hamiltons was Sirnamed from him and also the Name of Hamilton was imposed on the Lands which the King gave him Not long after Edward had great Combustions at home insomuch that he put many of the Nobles to Death and advanced the Spencers the Authors of all Evil Counsel higher than his own Kindred could bear so that he was apprehended by his Son and by his Wife who had received a small Force from beyond the Seas and kept close Prisoner and not long after he was slain by a course sort of Death an hot Iron was thrust into his Fundament through a Pipe of Horn by which his Bowels were burnt up and yet no Sign of so terrible a Fact appeared on the outside of his Body His Wife and Son were thought Privy to the Parricide either because his Keepers would never have dared to commit such a Deed so openly unless they had had Great Authors or else because they were never called in Question for so Immane a Butchery These Disturbances in England which were followed by the Kings Death Bruce also growing old and weak in Body were the Occasions that Peace for some Years did intercede between the Two Neighbour Nations For Bruce being freed from the Fear of the English and being also called upon by his Age converted his Thoughts to settle his Domestick Affairs And first he made hast to confirm the Kingdom which was not yet quite recovered nor fully setled from the Commotions of former Times to his only Son yet but a Child by the Consent and Decree of the Estates And if he died without Issue then he appointed Robert Stuart his Nephew by his Daughter to be his Successor He caused the Nobles to take an Oath for the Performance of this Decree But afterwards fearing That after his Death Baliol would begin his old Dispute about the Kingdom especially seeing his Heirs because of their Minority might be liable to be injured by others he sent Iames Douglas to Iohn Baliol being in France with large Gifts and Promises That he would cease his Claim to the Kingdom This he did not so much to acquire a new Right because according to the Scotish Custom The King is made by the Decree of the Estates who have the Supream Power in their Hands but that he might cut off all Occasion from Wicked Men to Calumniate his Posterity and also that he might Eradicate the very Seeds of Sedition Douglas found Baliol far more placable than he or others thought he would be for he was now surrounded with the Miseries of Extream Old Age. He ingenuously Confessed That his Peccant Exorbitance was justly restrained and that he was deservedly driven out of the Kingdom as unworthy to Reign And therefore he was very willing That his Kinsman Robert should enjoy the Crown by whose high Valour singular Felicity and great Pains-taking 't was Vindicated into its Ancient Splendour In one thing he rejoyced That they by whom he was deceived did not enjoy the Reward of their Perfidiousness When Robert had setled these Matters according to his own desire the same Year which was 1327. our Writers say That Ambassadors were sent into Scotland by Edward the Third for a Pacification in which Matter they seemed to act Treacherously and instead of Peace they carried home War but what the particular Fraud was is not expressed and the English say That the War was openly denounced by Robert but they describe not the Cause of it surely it must needs be some great and mighty One or else a valetudinary old Man when Peace was scarce setled at home and who might have been sated with his former Victories rather than with War would not so soon have been provoked to reassume his Arms. This is certain That the King by reason of his Age could not manage the War himself in Person so that Thomas Randolfe and Iamâ—s Douglas the Valiantest and Wisest of all that Age were sent by him into England with Twenty Thousand brave nimble Horse but no Foot at all The Reason was That they might fly up and down swiftly and not abide in one place nor be forced to Fight the English unless they themselves pleased For they knew that the English would make Head against them in their first Expedition with a far more numerous Army Neither were they deceived in their Opinions for the King of England besides his Domestick Forces had procured great Assistance of Horse from Belgium but in regard they and the English fell out at York some English Writers say That they returned home again But Frossard a French Writer of the same Age says That they accompanied the English during the whole Expedition and that not only for Honours sake but also for Fear of Sedition they had the next Place to the Kings Regiment always assigned to them in the Camp The King having made a Conjunction of all his Forces which were clearly above Sixty Thousand Men marched against the Scots who had already passed over the Tine Now there were
unwilling to expose them to needless danger At this very time a Truce was made and Hopes of Peace between France and England by the Mediation of the Pope and the Neighbouring Princes on This Condition That the Allies of Both might be comprehended by Name viz The Portugals of the English side the Scots and Spanish Castilians of the French's King Robert against the Advice of his Counsel gave his single Assent thereunto but upon no solid ground for he was able to make neither Peace nor War but by the Publick Advice of the Estates neither could he promise any firm Truce without their Decree in the Case Neither could the Nobility conceal any longer that hidden Grief and Disgust which they had conceived against the French who had only done them this Courtesie the backward way that when they were to do Service against an Enemy they would strike the Weapons out of their Hands and so take away the Fruit of a former Victory and also the Hopes of a New At last after much dispute and quarrelling the French Ambassador gained this Point but with much ado That the Scots should send Ambassadors into France about the Matter that so the Hopes of a Peace so near at hand might not be hindred by their Obstinacy Robert the King lived not long after but departed this Life in his Castle called Dundonald in the Year of Christ 1390 the 13th of the Calends of May. He lived 74 Years and Reigned 19 Years and 24 Days This King managed Wars by his Deputies and usually with good Success he was present in few Battels himself which some impute to his Age others to his Cowardize but all say That he was a very Good Man and in the Arts of Peace easily comparable with the best of Kings He administred Justice diligently and impartially to all he severely punished Robberies In his Actions he was Constant in his Words Faithful He undertook the Kingdom in troublesome times yet he setled things at home appeased Discords and governed with great Equity and Justice and he got such Conquests over his Enemy that he reduced all the Castles they had but Three After his Death Tumults arose where they were least expected Alexander Earl of Buchan the youngest of the Kings Sons by Elizabeth More fell into a deadly fewd with the Bishop of Murray upon a light Occasion and when he could not come at him to kill him he wrecked his fury upon the Church of Elgin which was then one of the fairest in all Scotland and burnt it down to the Ground The same Year William Douglas Earl of Nithisdale who as I said before for his Valour was made the Kings Son in Law was slain at Dantzick on the Vistula by some Ruffians who were sent to perpetrate the Murder by Clifford of England For Douglas when Matters were quieted at home that he might not lye lazie and idle intended for the Holy War and in Borussia he gave such Proof of his Valour That he was made Admiral of the whole Fleet which was a Great and Magnificent One and withal well accommodated But a Quarrel arising between him and Clifford grounded upon Old Emulations because he gruded him that Honour he sent him a Challenge to Fight with him Hand to Hand But the Challenger perceiving into what an Hazardous Adventure he had run himself by that Challenge before the set time came caused him to be slain by hired Assassins The Tenth BOOK Robert III. The Hundred and First King ROBERT the Second was Succeeded by his Eldest Son Iohn in the Ides of August and Year of our Lord 1390. He was called Iohn till that time but then by the Decree of the Estates his Name was changed into Robert whether it were for the Misfortunes and Calamities of Two Kings called Iohns one of France the other of England Or for the Eminent Virtues and Felicity of Two Roberts both in Peace and War who lately Reigned in Scotland as Authors are silent in so I will not determine The Excellency of this Robert was That he rather wanted Vice than was Illustrious for any Virtue so that the Name of King was in him but the management of all publick Affairs rested on Robert his Brother In the Beginning of his Reign there was Peace abroad by reason of the Three Years Truce made with the English which a while after was enlarged for Four Years more But at home a Sedition was begun by Duncan or Dunach Stuart He was the Son of Alexander Earl of Buchan the Kings Brother and was every jot as feirce as his Father who upon the Death of his Grandfather imagining now that he had a fit opportunity for Rapine and Pillage got a Band of Roisters about him and descending into Angus spoiled all as if it had been an Enemies Country Walter Ogilby and Walter Lichton his Brother endeavouring to oppose him were slain with Sixty of their Followers They being lifted up with this Success did afflict the Country more grievously than ever but hearing of the approach of the Earl of Crawford whom the King had sent to restrain their Insolence the nimblest of them fled speedily to their lurking Holes of those who made not so much hast some were slain some taken and afterwards put to Death Thus the Wickedness of these Unquiet and Turbulent Men being hindred from breaking in upon the Plain and Champion Countries they fell out most grievously amongst Themselves at their own homes And especially Two Families of them did exercise great Rage and Cruelty one upon another They refused to end their Fewds by course of Law or to refer them to indifferent Arbitrators So that the King sent Two Earls to suppress them Thomas Earl of Dunbar and Iames Lindsay his Father being Dead now Earl of Crawford These Commanders considering they were to engage against a feirce and resolute People who valued not their Lives nor the Pleasure thereof so that they were not likely to subdue them by force without great Slaughter of their own Men they therefore resolved to try what they could do by Policy And thereupon they accosted the Clans of both Families a part and represented to them what danger would accru to Both by their mutual Slaughters one of another and if one Family should extirpate the other yet that was not likely to be effected without the Great Damage even of the Conquering Side and if either Party should prevail yet the Contest would not end so For then they were to engage the King's Forces tho' they were weakned before by their mutual Conflicts of whose Anger against them Both they might be justly sensible because he had sent them with Forces to destroy them Both even before they had severely and irrecoverably engaged against one another But in regard they were more desirous of their Preservation than their Ruin if they would hearken to them they would shew them a Way How they might be reconciled with
the King 's good Liking and that on no dishonourable Terms neither no nor unrevenged one upon another To this Motion they seemed inclinable so that the Condition was proposed That 300 of each side should Try it out in Fight before the King Armed only with their Swords They that were Conquered should have an Amnesty for all past Offences and the Conquerors should be Honoured with the King's Favour and the Nobles too Both sides were well pleased with the Terms so that a day was fixed for the Combate and at the time appointed the Heads of the Families with their Parties came to Court and part of a Field on the North side of the Town of Perth which was severed from the rest by a deep Trench was appointed for the place of Combate and Galleries built round for Spectators Hereupon an huge Multitude was Assembled together and sate ready to see the Dispute but the Fight was delayed awhile because one of the 300 of the One Party had hid himself for Fear and their Fellows were not willing to engage without having just an equal number with their Adversaries neither was any one found to supply the Place of him who was absent And of the other Party not a Man would be drawn out or exempted from the Fight lest he might seem less valued and not so couragious as the rest After a little pause an ordinary Tradesman comes forth and offers to supply the Place of him that was absent Provided That if his Side Conquered they would pay him halfe a Gold Dollar of France and also provide for him afterward as long as he lived Thus the Number being again equalled the Fight began and it was carried on with such great Contention both of Body and Mind as old Grudges inflamed by new Losses could raise up in Men of such fierce Dispositions as were accustomed to Blood and Cruelty especially seeing Honour and Estate was propounded to the Conqueror Death and Ignominy to the Conquered The Spectators were possessed with as much Horror as the Combatants were with Fury as detesting to behold the ugly and deformed Mutilations and Butcheries of one anothers Bodies the Detruncation of their Limbs and in a word the Rage of Wild Beasts under the shape of Men. But all took notice that none carried himself more valiantly than that Mercenary and Supposititious Hireling to whose Valour a great Part of the Victory was to be ascribed Of that Side that he was of there were Ten left alive besides himself but all of them grievously wounded Of the contrary Faction there remained only One who was not wounded at all but seeing there was so much odds that he alone must encounter with so many he cast himself into the River Tay which was near at hand and in regard his Adversaries were not able to follow him by reason of their Wounds he escaped to the other Side By this means the forwardest of Both Parties being slain the promiscuous Multitude being left without Leaders left off their Trade of Seditioning for many Years after and betook themselves to their Husbandry again This Fight or Combat happened in the Year 1396. About Two Years after in an Assembly of the States at Perth the King made David his Son being 18 Years before old of Rothes and Robert his Brother Earl of Menteith and Fife Dukes of Albany This vain Title of Honour then was first Celebrated in Scotland a great increase to Ambition but none at all to Virtue neither did it afterwards thrive with any who enjoyed it The King would have bestowed the same Title of Honour upon the Earl of Douglas also but he being a grave and solid Person absolutely refused that nominal Shadow of empty Honour and if any Man told thim that he should be a Duke he rebuked him sharply for it Some say That the Name of Governour which was given by his Father to Robert the Kings Brother was this Year confirmed by the King as also That the Family of the Lindsys had the Earldom of Crawford added to their former Honours But they do not fully clear Whether the Name of the First Earl of that Family were Thomas or David The next Year after Richard the Second King of England was enforced to resign the Crown and Henry the Fourth succeeded him In the Beginning of his Reign before the Truce was quite ended new Seeds of War with the Scots were sown George Dunbar Earl of Merch had betrothed his Daughter Elizabeth to David the King's Son and had already paid a good part of her Dowry Archibald Earl of Douglas storming That so powerful a Man and his Corrival should be preferred before him alleging That the Consent of the Estates was not obtained in the Case which no Man ever remembred but was asked in any of the King's Marriages before offered his Daughter Mary with a larger Dowry and by means of Robert the King's Brother who could do All at Court He brought it about that the Condition was accepted and the Marriage was Consummated by the Decree of the Estates George was much affected at this Injury as well as Reproach and made great complaint to the King but seeing what was once done could not be undone he desired at least the repayment of the Dowry This his just Demand being denied and perceiving that he was not like to obtain any Right in regard the Minds and Ears of all the Court were prepossessed by his Rival he departed upon very angry yea threatening Terms and so giving up the Castle of Dunbar to Robert Maitland his Sisters Son he went for England Robert presently yielded up the Castle to an Herald sent by the King to demand it and Douglas was admitted into it with a Garison so that when George returned home he was denied entrance Hereupon he took his Wife Children and some intimate Friends and returned into England Being there as he was a Man powerful at home and famous abroad he joyned Counsels with Percy a mortal Enemy to the name of the Douglas's and in regard he was well beloved by the bordering Scots of which many were either his Tenants Allies or otherwise obliged to him he made an Inroad into the whole Province of Merch and drove great Preys from the Country especially from the Lands of the Douglasses The King of Scots first proclaimed George a Publick Enemy and confiscated all his Estate next he sent an Herald to England to Demand That he might be given up as a Fugitive according to the League made betwixt them and also to complain of the violation of the Truce Henry of England gave a peremptory Answer to his Demands That he had given the Publick Faith to George for his Protection and that he would not break his Royal Word as if a private Pact with a Runagate were more Religiously to be observed than That which had been publickly confirmed by Embassadors and Heralds for the Days of the Truce made with Richard were not yet expired In
Military Matters was upheld by Douglas the Ecclesiastical Authority and Resemblance such as it was of Ancient Discipline by Trayle and the Dignity of the Court by the Queen as did soon appear by what happened after her death For David the Kings Son was a Young man of a fierce Disposition and enclined to Wantonness and Lust. The Indulgence of his Father encreased those Vices for tho' he had not Authority enough to maintain the Reverence due from him to his Father yet by the diligent Monitions of Those who were appointed to be his Tutors in his Youth but much more by the Counsel and Advice of his Mother his Youthful Heats were somewhat blunted and restrained but when she was dead he as new freed from this Curb returned to his own Manners and Lustful Courses for laying aside all shame and fear he took away other Mens Wives by Force yea and Virgins too tho' well descended and Those that he could not persuade by fair means he ravished by Compulsion and if any one endeavoured to stop him in his libidinous ways he was sure to come off not without Punishment Many Complaints were brought to his Father about These his Exorbitancies so that he wrote to his Brother the Governour to keep him with him and to oversee his Conversation until his Lustful Spirit did abate And till he gave some hopes of his Amendment of Life The Governour had now an Opportunity put into his hands to effect that he most desired which was â—o destroy his Brothers Issue so that he met David three Miles from St. Andrews and carried him into the Castle thereof which he kept in the nature of a Garison after the Arch-Bishops death After a while he took him out from thence and carried him to his own Castle of Falcoland and there shut him up close Prisoner intending to starve him But that miserable death which his Uncles Cruelty had designed him to was prorogued and staved off for a few days by the Compassion of Two of the Female Sex one was a Maid and Virgin whose Father was Governour of the Castle and Garison She gave him Oate Cakes made so thin that they would be folded up together as 't is usual in Scotland so to make them and as often as she went into the Garden near the Prison she put them under a Linen Vail or Hood which she did as it were carelesly cast over her Head to keep her from the Sun and thrust them into the Prison to him thro' a small Crany rather than a Window The other was a Country Nurse who Milked her Breast and by a little Canale conveighed it into his Mouth By this mean fare which served rather to encrease than kill his hunger his wretched Life and Punishment was protracted and lengthned out for a little while till at length by the vigilance of the Guards they were discovered and put to Death The Father mightily abhoring the Perfidiousness of his own Daughter whilst he endeavoured to manifest his Faithfulness to an unfaithful Regent The Young man being thus left destitute of all human Support having by Force of Hunger gnawed and torn his own Flesh died at length more than a single kind of Death His End was concealed from his Father thô it were commonly known abroad because no Man durst to be the Messenger of such sad Tidings to him But to return to the Affairs of England as far as they are intermixed with Ours When Percy and a great Number besides of the Nobility had conspired to make War upon their own King he agrees with Douglas whom he still held Prisoner since the Battel of Homeldon That if he would improve his Interest by assisting him against the King as strenuously and as faithfully as he had before done against him he would set him at Liberty without ransom which Douglas frankly promised him to do as being willing to omit no Opportunity of service against the English King Hereupon he gathered some of his Friends and Tenants about him and prepared himself for the Fight wherein he behaved himself as stoutly as he promised to Percy so that without regard to the Common Soldiers his Mind and Eye was wholly intent upon the King only and in regard there were several Commanders cloathed in Royal attire which was done on purpose by the English either to deceive the Enemy if they should press hard upon him or else that the Soldiers in more places than one might find him a present witness of their Courageousness or Cowardize Douglas took notice of One of these who had Gallant Armour and rushed in upon him with all his might and so unhorsed him But he being relieved by those who were next he did the same to a Second and a Third who were all attired as Kings thus Edward Hall the English Writer affirms as well as Ours so that he was not taken up so much with the Apprehension of his own danger as with a wonderment from whence so many Kings should start up at once At length after a terrible and bloody Fight Fortune turned about and the King won the day Douglas was sore wounded and found amongst the Prisoners and whereas many urged to put him to death the King saved him and did not only commend his Faithfulness to his Friend but also rewarded him for his Valour and when his Wounds were cured after he had staid some Months with him upon the Payment of a great sum of Money he was released In the mean time the Scotish King heard of the death of David his Eldest Son by the unnatural Cruelty of his Uncle The Author was sufficiently pointed at by private whisperings tho' no man dared publickly to accuse so potent a man Whereupon the King sends for his Brother and makes an Expostulation with him concerning the matter He had prepared his Tale before-hand and charges others with the Guilt of the Young Mans death as for him and his they were ready forsooth whenever the King pleased to plead and assert their Innocency in a due course of Law as for the Murderers some of them he had taken already and the others he would diligently look out Thus the matter being brought to Examination in the Law The Author of the wickedness Summons a Council sets up an Accuser and he who was impleaded as Guilty was by them acquitted as Innocent of the Murder The King imprecated a most dreadful punishment from the God of Heaven above to be poured down on him and his Posterity who had committed that horrid Wickedness And thus being overpressed with Grief and bodily Weakness he returned to Bote whence he came The Suspicion was encreased in him That his Brother had committed the Parricide tho' he was too powerful to be brought by him to Justice and Punishment for the same But he like a strong dissembler brings the supposititious Authors of the wickedness out of Prison and put them to Cruel deaths 't is true they were
a Friendly Patriot for he not only forgave the Earl the many grievous Injuries he had done him but further commended his Suit and spake in his Favour to the King for he foresaw as it after hapned That by this Accession the Kings Party would be strengthen'd and his Enemies weaken'd daily for the future in regard many were likely to follow the Example of this Great Man And besides the King thinking that his former Fierceness was tam'd and that he was really penitent for what he had done was not hard to be intreated but gave him his Pardon restor'd him to his former Estate and Honour only advis'd him for the future to keep within the Bounds of his Duty And indeed Craford being thus ingag'd by the Lenity and Facileness of the King did afterwards endeavour to perform him all the Service he possibly could he followed him with his Forces in his March to the furthest Parts of the Kingdom and having setled Things there for the present he entertained him nobly at his House in his return and when he march'd to make a full end of the Civil War he promis'd him all the Force he could make and indeed the whole course of his Life was so chang'd that laying down his former Savageness he liv'd courteously and in Complaisance with the Neighbouring Nobility so that his Death which followed soon after brought the greater Grief to the King and to all the People The King thus weakning Douglas's Party by degrees his remaining Hopes were from England if possibly he might obtain Aid from thence Hereupon he sent Hamilton to London who brought him back Word that the King of England would undertake a War against Scotland on no other Terms but that Douglas must submit himself and all his Concerns to that King and acknowledge himself a Subject of England So that his Hopes thence were cut off and on the Other side the King of Scotland prest hard upon him by his Edicts Proscriptions and Arms yea by all the Miseries which accompany Rebellious Insurrections So that Hamilton advis'd the Earl not to suffer the King to nim away his Forces by piece-meal and by catching a Part to weaken and in time overthrow the Whole he should rather march out with his Army trust Fortune put it to a Battel there to dye Valiantly or conquer Honourably This Resolution said he is worthy of the name of the Douglassâ—s and the only Way to end the present Miseries Being alarum'd with this Speech he gather'd as great an Army as he could of his Friends and Dependants and marched out to raise the Siege of the Castle of Abercorn for the King after he had demolish'd many Castles of the Douglasses had at last besieged That It was a very strong Hold seâ—tuate almost in the Mid-way between Sterlin and Edinburgh When Douglas came so near that he saw and was seen by the Enemy his Friends advis'd him to push at all and either to make himself renown'd by some Eminent Victory or by a Noble Death to free himself from Reproach and Misery but when all his Party were ready for the Onset he daunted all their Spirits by his own Delay for he retreated with his Army again into his Camp and determin'd to draw and eke out the War at length His Commanders dislik'd his Design and Hamilton not enduring his Cowardize and despairing of the Success of his Arms that very Night revolted to the Kings Party Upon this his Defection the King gave him his Pardon but not putting any great Confidence in him because of his Subtilty he sent him Prisoner to Rosseline a Castle belonging to the Earl of the Orcades but afterwards by the Mediation of his Friends he was releas'd and receiv'd into Favour and that unbloody Victory ascribed to him as the main Occasion thereof The rest of the Douglassians follow'd Hamilton's Example and slipt away from him every one whither he thought most convenient for himself so that at length the Castle after much Loss on both sides was taken the Garison put to the Sword and after 't was half demolished it was left as a Monument of the Victory Douglas being thus deserted by almost all his Friends with a few of his Familiars fled into England from thence not long after he made an Inrode with a smal Party into Annandale which was then possest by the Kings Garisons but being worsted in a Skirmish He and his Brother Iohn escap'd Archibald Earl of Murray was slain George was much wounded and taken Prisoner and after his Wounds were cur'd was brought to the King and put to Death In an Assembly of the Estates held at Edinburgh in the Nones of Iune in the Year 1455. Iames Iohn and Beatrix all Douglasses were again proscrib'd The Publick Acts do make Beatrix their Mother which seems not very probable to me unless perhaps they might be called her Sons by Adoption Earl Iames having thus lost his Brothers being deserted by his Friends and distrusting the English that he might leave no Stone unturn'd apply'd himself to Donald King of the Aebudae a man bad enough in his own Nature They met at Dunstafnage where he easily persuaded him to joyn with him in the War whereupon they committed great Outrages on the Kings Provinces near adjoyning without distinction either of Age or Sex there was nothing spar'd which could be violated by Fire or Sword the like Cruelty was us'd in Argyle and Arran and then being laden with Booty he return'd home and afterward having wasted Loch-Abyr and Murray he turn'd to Innerness he took the Castle pillag'd and burnt the Town Neither were the English quiet all this while but watching their Opportunity they made Incursions into Merch where they slew some men of Note who endeavoured to oppose their furious Ravaging and so returned home without Loss but full of Plunder from that opulent Country The next Year after Beatrix Wife to the former Earl of Douglas and also living for some years with Iames his Brother as his Wife came in to the King She laid all the Fault of her former Miscarriages upon Iames that she being a Woman and helpless was inforc'd to that Wicked Marriage but at the first Opportunity as soon as Iames was absent she was fled from that Servitude that now she laid her self and all her Concerns at the Kings Feet and whatever Order he should please to make concerning her or her Estate she would willingly obey it The King receiv'd her into his Protection gave her an Estate in Balvany and Married her to his Brother the Earl of Athole by the same Mother The Wife of Donald the Islander followed her Example she was the Daughter of Iames Levingston and was Married to Donald by her Grandfather the Regent by the persuasion also of the King that so He might a little soften the rugged disposition of the man and keep him firm to the Kings Party But then her Kinsman being restor'd to
the Favours and Graces they formerly had and her Husband having joyned himself to the Douglassian Faction she was every day more and more slighted and despis'd by him so that she implor'd the Kings Assistance against his barbarous Cruelty There was no need of her making such an Apology in regard the King himself had been the Author of the Match so that she was nobly treated and had a large Revenue setled upon her for her Life About the same time Patrick Thornton who had followed the Court a great while yet was secretly of Douglas's Faction slew Iohn Sanderland of Caldar a Young man of about 20. years of Age â—nd Alan Stuart of Noble Families Both and of eminent Faithfulness to the King having got a convenient Opportunity so to do at Dunbarton and soon after he himself was taken by the Clans of the Adverse Party and Executed for the same This Year was remarkable for the Death of many Noble Personages but especially of William Creighton He tho' born of an Equestrian Family yet by reason of his great Prudence Fortitude and his Singular Loyalty to the King even to the last day of his Life left a great Loss behind him to all Good men The next Year the English being incouraged by their Impunity for former Injuries made great spoil in Merch under the command of Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and Iames Douglas the Exile to hinder their devastations George Douglas Earl of Angus gathered a Party of his Countrymen together and made an Assault on the Plunderers and drave that Part of them which he assaulted in great Confusion back to their own Standards the English being mov'd at this Indignity marched on their Army before the rest had recover'd their Colours and the Scots were as ready to receive them The Fight was manag'd on both sides with greater Courage than Force a great while neither did any odds appear till the English who were scatter'd up and down the Country by the Noise and Temult perceiving that the Enemy was come for fear of losing the rich Booty they had gotten hasted directly home their departure gave an easier but yet not unbloody Victory to the Scots there being almost an equal number slain on Both Sides but many of the English taken in the pursuit The News of this Victory being brought to the King did something relieve his Mind which was opprest with Thoughtfulness between the Arms of his own Subjects and of the English afterwards Donald the Islander perceiving the ill success of his Affairs was inforc'd to send Agents to the King to intercede for a Peace They in an humble Oration commemorated the King's Clemency shew'd to Craford and the rest of his Partisans in the same Cause as for their own Crimes they laid them on the Fatality of the Times but for the future they made large Promises how Loyal and Obsequious Donald would be The King seem'd to be somewhat affected with their Speech yet gave them but a middle Answer neither quite pardoning Donald nor utterly excluding all hopes of his Pardon he told them That his many Crimes were very evident but he had discover'd no Specimen of a chang'd Mind in him if they would have the Penitence which they pretended in Words to be believ'd as really True and Hearty he should make Restitution for the Loss he had formerly caus'd and restore their Estates to such as he had outed of them and thus to cancel the Memory of his former Mischiefs by some Eminent and Loyal Service 'T is true said he no Virtue becomes a King more than Clemency but Care must be had lest the Reins of Government be not let loose by too much Lenity and so Evil Men rather made more insolent than Good Men excited to their Duty thereby that he would give Time to Donald and his Party to manifest by some Tokens that they repented of their Miscarriages and that they should always find him towards them such as their Actions and their Words did Declare them to be In the mean time they need not fear for Now it was put into their own Power whether they would every Man be Happy or Miserable for the future By this means intestine Discords were either compos'd or else laid asleep so that the King now bends all his Care against England whilst he was consulting concerning a War with them and concerning their frequent violations of Truces behold Embassadors came from the English Nobility to Desire Aid against Henry their King For Henry had slighted the Nobles and advanc'd Upstarts by whose Advice his Wife a Woman of a Manly Spirit and Courage Ruled the Roast And besides the King had incurr'd the Displeasure and Contempt of his Friends because things had not succeeded well in Aquiâ—ane and Normandy for they having lost so many Provinces and being now pent up within the Ancient Bounds of their own Island did mutter and grumble that the Kings Sluggishness and the Queens Pride were no longer to be endur'd The Heads of the Conspiracy were Richard Duke of York with the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick when the English Embassadors had discours'd much concerning the Justness of their Cause to begin a War and also concerning their own Power and the Cowardly Temper of their King they crav'd Aid against him as against a Common Enemy who was fearful in War fordid in Peace and who had nourish'd Civil Discords amongst the Scots and had assisted their Exiles withal they promis'd if they got the Victory to restore the Castles and Countries which were taken in former Wars from the Scots The King by Advice of his Council made Answer That he before knew the State of the English Affairs and that he was not ignorant of the Right or Demands of either side but that he would not intetpose Himself an Arbiter in another Mans Kingdom unless he were chosen by both Parties to that Office As to the War he had long since determin'd to revenge the Injuries of the former Times and â—f he could not otherwise obtain the Places he had lost on the Occasion of these Discords he would recover them by Force But if the Duke of York and his Party would promise to restore Them then he would assist him against Henry The Embassadors agreed to the Terms and so return'd home The King prepar'd his Forces and was about to enter England when behold an English Impostor sent by Henry met him he had been a long time at Rome and was well acquainted with the Speech and the Customs of the Italians his Habit and Train was all Outlandish and he had counterfeit Letters as from the Pope whereby he was easily believ'd by Men suspecting nothing but to be a Legate sent from him and to gain the greater Credit to his Impostures he had a Monk with him whose fained Sanctity made the Fraud less suspected they were brought to the King and in the Popes Name Commanded him to proceed no further
of about 7 Years Old who was the younger of the Twins and surviv'd his Brother enter'd upon the Government in the Town of Kelsoe Afterwards when the Nobles according to Custom had taken their Oaths of Allegiance to him 8 Days after he began his Reign he left his Army and retir'd home â—o the Castle of Edinburgh to be under the Tutelage of his Mother till an Assembly of the Estates were Celebrated to determin of the Grand Affairs of the Kingdom The Assembly was Indicted later than ordinary because Matters was not compos'd in England and yet quiet in Scotland So that the Nobility were of Opinion That War was first of all to be thought on that so they might revenge old Injuries and punish their Enemies by some notable Loss who did always lye at catch to take Advantage of the Distresses of Others Hereupon they marched into the Enemies Country without any resistance where they committed much spoil and demolished many Castles from whence the Enemy was wont to make suddain Incursions the Chief of which was Wâ—rk situate on the Banks of the River Tweed formerly very injurious to the Country of Merch. The Army ravaged over the Enemies Country as far as they could for the time of the Year and at the very beginning of Winter returned home This Year Henry King of England was Taken by the Duke of York and brought to London there a Form of Peace was concluded betwixt them for Henry durst not deny any thing That He as long as he lived should bear the Name and Ensigns or Badges of a King but the Power of Government should be in York under the Name of a Protector And when Henry Died Then the Name also of King was to be transferred to Edward and his Posterity Whilst these Things were acted at London News was brought That the Queen was marching up with a great Army to Redeem her Husband out of Prison York went out to Engage her with about 5000 Men with him leaving the Earl of Warwick and King Henry behind he marched as far as Yorkshire and lest He who in France had Defended himself against great Armies not with Walls but with Arms should now shun a Battel with a Woman He Fought against a far greater Number than his Own and in the Fight He his youngest Son and a great many Nobles were slain The Heads of the Commanders were set up as a Spectacle upon the Gates at York The Queen thus Victorious and marching on further to Deliver the King the Earl of Warwick met her bringing the King along with him as if he would Defend the Pact made concerning the Kingdom under his good Omen Both Armies met at St. Albans which is thought to be the Old Verulam where the Queen was again Victorious She slew the Commanders of the adverse Army released her Husband and marched directly up for London but considering that the Earl of Pembroke was sent by Her to gather Forces as was also York's Son by his Father and that these Two had had a Fight in their March wherein Edward the Son of her Enemy was Victorious and withal knowing what cruel Hatred the Londoners bore against Her She withdrew towards Northumberland because She looked on that Part of England as the Seminary or Source of Her Strength There She was also Overcome in a Bloody Fight more than 36000 valiant Men being reported to be slain and the Enemy pressing upon Her and giving Her no Time to recollect Her Forces She her Husband and Son fled into Scotland The Conqueror call'd himself Edward the Fourth King of England Henry desired Aid in his Distress and by means of Iames Kennedye Archbishop of St. Andrews who then surpassed all in Scotland in point of Authority and Opinion of his Prudence he was Entertain'd with a great deal of Honour and Respect so that he was erected to some Hope of recovering his former Dignity and to nourish that Hope by all the actual good Offices which he could he restored the Town of Berwick to the Scots which the English had held ever since the Days of Edward I. The Scots upon this Obligation did assist Henry's Faction in all things not only in piecing up the Relicks of his former Misfortunes but promising him more Aid in time to recover his Own And that the Friendship now begun might be the more firmly established the Two Queens Both of Them of French Descent began to Treat concerning a Marriage between Iames his Sister and Henry's Son whom they called Prince of Wales tho' neither of them as yet were above Seven Years old Philip of Burgundy Uncle to the Queen of Scots but a Mortal Enemy to the Queen of England endeavoured by all means possible to hinder this Marriage For he sent Grathusius a Nobleman his Embassador for that purpose For Philip was at such deadly odds with Renatus Grandfather to the Lady by the Mother's side that he sought all Occasions to hinder his Stock from increasing so that in Favour of him the Matter was at that time rather delayed than broke off But the Fortune of Henry kept off the Event which Philip of Burgundy feared For being something encouraged by the Kindness of the Scots towards him and also by some comfortable Letters sent from his Friends out of England he sent his Wife beyond Sea to Renatus her Father to procure what Aid she could from her Foreign Friends She prevailed so much in France that her Faction were to have a safe Place of Retreat there but her Adversaries were excluded and moreover she obtained 2000 Men as Monstrelet says under Warren their General but as Ours and the English Writers to whom I rather assent 500 Commanded by Peter Brice or as some call him Brace a Britton rather as Companions for her Journy than as any Auxiliary Aid With this small Band she returned into Scotland and thought fit to attempt something not doubting but at the Noise of Foreign Assistance her Countrymen would rise and joiâ— with her whereupon she made a Descent at Tinmouth but this small Company being dismayed at the report of a great Force coming against them without the performance of any thing remarkable returned to their Ships where also as if Fortune had crossed them on all hands they were encounter'd with a grievous Tempest which drove the greatest Part of them who followed the Queen to Scotland into Berwick buâ— some few of them were cast upon the Isle Lindisfarm where they were taken by the Enemy and slain But the Manly spirited Queen was nothing discouraged at this Misfortune but levied a great number of Scots to join with her own Soldiers and resolves to try her Fortune once again Whereupon she left her Son at Berwick and she and her Husband entred Northumberland where she made great Devastation by Fire and Sword in all the adjacent Parts At the report of this new Army some of the Nobles as the Duke of
them who were already in great Want and Necessity and thus whom the Sword had not consumed Famine and Poverty would These were the publick Complaints of all the Commons but the Cornish were more enraged than all the rest for they inhabiting a Country which is in great part barren are wont rather to gain than lose by Wars And therefore that warlike People having been accustomed rather to encrease their Estates by Military Spoils than to lessen them by paying Taxes and Rates first of all rose against the King's Officers and Collectors and slew them and then being conscious that they had engaged themselves in so bold an Attempt that there was no retreat nor hopes of Mercy the Multitude flocking in daily more and more to them with Arms in their hands they began their march towards London But 't is not my Business to prosecute the Story of this Insurrection it is enough for my purpose to tell you that the King was so busied this whole Year by the Cornish that the Army which he had designed against Scotland he was enforced to employ against them In the mean time Iames foreseeing That Henry would not let the Injuries of the former Year pass unrevenged and being also informed by his Intelligencers That he was raising great Forces against him He on the other side levied an Army to the intent That if the English invaded him first he might be in a posture to defend himself if not then he himself would make an inroad into his Enemies Country and there so waste and destroy the bordering Counties that the Soil poor enough of it self should not afford sufficient Necessaries even for the very Husbandman And hearing of the Cornish Insurrection he presently began his march and entered England with a great Army dividing his Forces into two parts one went towards Durham to ravage that Country and with the rest he besieged Norham a strong Castle scituated on a very high Hill by the River Tweed But neither here nor there was there any thing considerable done For Richard Fox Bishop of Durham a very prudent Person foreseeing that the Scots would not omit the Opportunity of attempting somewhat during the civil Broils in England had fortified some Castles with strong Garisons and had taken care that the Cattle and all other driveable and portable things should be conveyed unto places either safe by Nature or made so by the vicinity of Moors Rivers And moreover he sent for the Earl of Surry who had great Forces in Yorkshire to assist him and therefore the Scots only burnt the Country and not being able to take Norham which was stoutly defended by those within raised the Siege and without any considerable Action returned Home The English followed them not long after and demolished Aytown a small Castle seated almost in the very Borders and he returned out of their Enemies Country without any memorable performance also Amidst these Commotions both foreign and domestick Peter Hialas a Man of great Wisdom and as those Times were not unlearned arrived in England he was sent by Ferdinand and Isabel King and Queen of Spain The purport of his Embassy was That Katharine their Daughter might marry Arthur King Henry's Son and so a new Affinity and Friendship might be contracted betwixt them The English did willingly embrace the Affinity and therefore were desirous to finish the War with Scotland and because Henry thought it was below his Dignity to seek Peace at the Scots Hands he was willing to use him as a Mediator Peter willingly undertook the Business and came into Scotland there he plied Iames with several Arguments and at last made him inclinable to a Peace and then he wrote to Henry That he hoped a good Peace would be agreed without any great difficulty if he pleased to send down some Eminent Person of his Council to accord the Conditions Henry as one that had often tried the inconstancy of Fortune and that the Minds of his Subjects were grown fierce by these late Tumults as being rather irritated than wholly suppressed commanded Richard Fox who resided in his Castle at Norham to join Counsels with Hialas These Two had many Disputes about the Matter with the Embassadors of Scotland at Iedburgh and after many Conditions had been mutually proposed they could agree upon nothing The chiefest Impediment was The demand of Henry that Peter Warbeck should be given up to him for he judged it to be a very reasonable Proposition in regard he was but a Counterfeit and had been already the Occasion of so much Mischief Iames peremptorily refused so to do alledging That it was not honourable in him to surrender up a Man of the Royal Progeny who came to him as a Suppliant whom he had also made his Kinsman by Marriage against his Faith given to him to be made a Laughing-stock by his Enemies And thus the Conference broke off yet the hopes of an Agreement were not altogether cast off for a Truce was made for some months till Iames could dismiss Warbeck upon Honourable Terms according to his Promise For now by the Conference with the English and other evident Indications it plainly appeared that the Tale concerning Peter's State and Kindred was a mere Falsity and therefore the King sent for him and told him what singular good Will he had born him and how many Courtesies he had bestowed upon him of which he himself was the best Witness as first That he had undertaken a War against a Potent King for his sake and had now managed it a second Year to the great Inconvenience of his Enemy and the Prejudice of his own Subjects That he had refused an Honourable Peace which was freely offered him merely because he would not surrender him up to the English and thereby he had given great Offence both to his Subjects and his Enemy too so that now he neither could nor would any longer withstand their Desires And therefore whatever might ensue whether Peace or War he desired him to seek out some other and fitter Place for his Banishment for he was resolved to make Peace with the English and when it was once solemnly made to observe it as religiously and to remove from him whatsoever might be an Impediment or Disturbance thereto Neither ought he to complain That the Scots had forsaken him seeing the English had done so first in confidence of whose Assistance the Scots had begun the War And yet notwithstanding all these Circumstances he was resolved to accommodate him with Provisions and other Necessaries to put to Sea Warbeck was mightily troubled at his unexpected dismission yet he remitted nothing of his dissimulated height of Spirit but in a few days sailed over into Ireland with his Wife and Family From whence soon after he passed into England and there joined himself with the Reliques of the Cornish Rebels but after many Attempts being able to do no good he was taken and having confessed
in those parts the rest was taken away by the Country-men who were so ignorant of the price of it that they thought the Cinnamon therein to be but a low priz'd Bark and so sold it to make Fire with yet the whole Envy of the matter fell upon the Douglasses Upon this change of Affairs the Tories who had a long time refrain'd their Depredations for fear of Punishment came forth out of their lurking holes and grievously infested all the circumjacent Countries And though many Pranks were plaid by others up and down yet all the Murders and Robberies every where committed were charg'd upon the score of the Douglasses by those Courtiers who thought they humour'd the King by so doing that so they might make the name of that Family otherwise popular invidious to the vulgar And in the beginning of Winter the King march'd to Tantallon a Castle of the Douglasses by the Sea side to take it in that so no Refuge might be left for the Exiles and that he might take the place with less Labour and Cost he was supplied with Brass-Guns and Powder from Dunbar That Castle was distant from Dunbar six Miles and it was garison'd by the Souldiers of Iohn the Regent because it was part of his Patrimony he continued the Siege for some days wherein some of the Besiegers were slain others wounded and some blown up with Gun-Powder but none at all of the Besieged were lost so that he raised his Siege and retreated In his return David Falkner who was left behind with some Foot-Souldiers to carry back the Brass-Ordnance was set upon by Douglasses Horse who were sent out to snap up the Stragglers in the Rear and slain his Death did so inrage the young King who was incens'd enough before that he solemnly swore in his Passion that as long as he liv'd the Douglasses should never have the Sentence of their Banishment revoked And as soon as he came to Edinburgh to straiten them the more by the Advice of his Council he order'd that a party of Souldiers should be continually kept at Coldingham which was to be rather an active or flying than a numerous one to prevent the pillaging of the Country by them The charge of doing it was commended by the King to Bothwel one of the greatest Persons for Authority and Puissance in Lothian but he refused the Imployment either out of Fear of the Power of the Douglasses which not long since all the rest of Scotland was not able to cope with or else because he would not have the Disposition of the young King who was eager and over-violent of his own accord to be inur'd to such Cruelty as totally to destroy so noble a Family And whereas the King had no great Confidence in the Hamiltons as being Friends to his Enemies and he did also disgust them upon the account of the Slaughter of Iohn Stuart Earl of Lennox and besides there being none of the Nobility of the adjacent parts that had Power or Interest enough for that Service at last he resolved to send Calen Cambel with an Army against the Rebels a Person living in the furthest parts of the Kingdom but a prudent Man of approv'd Valour and upon the account of his Justice very popular The Douglassians when the Hamiltons and the rest of their Friends failed them were reduced to great straits so that they were compell'd by Calen and by George chief of the Humes to retire like Exiles into England In the Month of October two eminent Persons came Embassadors from the King of England about a Peace which tho earnestly desir'd by both Kings yet they could scarce find out the way to make it up For Henry being about to make War upon Charles the Emperor was willing to leave all safe behind his back and with the same labour to procure the Restitution of the Douglasses As for Iames he did much desire to have Tantallon Castle in his Power but his Mind was very averse to restore the Douglasses and for that Reason the Matter was canvassed to and fro for some Days and no Temper for Accommodation could be found out but at last they came to this That Tantallon Castle should be surrendred to Iames and a Truce be granted for five Years and their other Demands the King was to promise the granting of under his Signet The Castle was surrendred accordingly but the other Demands were not as punctually performed save only that Alexander Drummond had leave given him to return home for Brittain's sake For some Months before Iames Colvill and Robert Carncross upon suspicion of their favouring the Douglasses were removed from Court and their Offices bestowed on Robert Brittain who then was in high Favour at Court and had great Command there After this tho Matters were not quite settled abroad for the English had burnt Arn a Town in Teviotdale before their Embassadors return'd yet the rest of the Year was more quiet but the Insolence of the Banditti was not quite suppressed whereupon the King caus'd William Cockburn of Henderland and Adam Scot noted Robbers to be apprehended at Edinburgh and for a Terror to the rest he put them to Death The next Year in the Month of March the King sent Iames Earl of Murray whom he had made Deputy-Governour of the whole Kingdom to the Borders there to have a Meeting with the Earl of Northumberland in order to settle a Peace and to treat about mutual Satisfaction for Losses But a Contention arose betwixt them about expiating the Murder of Robert Car. The One pleaded that the Process ought to be form'd in Scotland according to the Law The Other would have it in England In the Interim each of them sent Messengers to their several Kings to know their Minds in the Case On the 17 th of the Calends of May there was held a Council of the Nobility where after a long Debate which lasted till Night 't was concluded That the Earl of Bothwel Robert Maxwel Walter Scot and Mark Carr should be committed Prisoners to Edinburgh Castle And that the Earls and chief Men of Merch and Teviotdale should be sent Prisoners to other Places it being supposed That they privately scatter'd abroad the Seeds of a War against England And in Iuly the King levied about 8000 Men and marched out against the Robbers and that with so much speed that he quickly pitch'd his Tents by the River Ewse Not far from thence lived one Iohn Armstrong chief of one Faction of the Thieves who had struck such a Fear to all the neighbouring Parts that even the English themselves for many Miles about bought their Peace by paying him a certain Tribute yea Maxwel was also afraid of his Power and therefore endeavoured his Destruction by all possible ways This Iohn was enticed by the King's Officers to make his Repair to the King which he did unarm'd with about fifty Horse in his Company but having forgot
also expose his Friends Kindred and Vassals whom he had engaged in the publick Cause and who had been almost worn out with toil and labour to Servitude and Torment under an impious and cruel Tyrant who as much as in him was had sold both Queen and Kingdom to the Enemy and who observed the Pacts and Promises he made to Men no more religiously than he did the Duties of Piety towards God for within a few Years he had changed his Religion Three times neither was it to be wonder'd at in him who looked upon Oaths and Promises not as Bonds obliging to Faithfulness but as lurking holes to hide Perfidiousness And therefore he moved earnestly That the King and those of his Council would consider whether in so great an Affair They would believe him all whose Ancestors had devoted themselves their Lives Honours and Fortunes for the increase of his Greatness and who indeed had been honoured and rewarded by him with many Benefits which yet were rather Testimonies of their good Acceptance than just Rewards and Compensations of their Labours or else a Man who would change his Friends and Foes at the blast of every Wind and who depended on the Arbitrement of Fortune alone Though many were not ignorant that his Allegations were true yet the French King was so influenc'd by the Guise's the Queen Dowager's Father and Unkle and who in all things endeavoured to promote her Concerns that his Heart and Ear were both shut against Lennox's Request insomuch that he would not permit Iohn Cambel a Man of approved Virtue sent by Lennox to have Audience or so much as to come into his Presence but kept him in the nature of a Prisoner and had Spies set upon him to watch him that so he might not write back any thing of the Designs agitated in the French Court yet notwithstanding this their Caution there were some who told him all When Lennox heard this by the Dispatches which were sent him his troubled Mind was variously hurried betwixt Anger and Shame he was ashamed to leave his Enterprize which he had begun unfinished and the rather because he thought that he was not able to satisfy the Love of his Friends and Kindred whom he had drawn with him into the same Danger but by the Sacrifice of his Life As for the rest his Anger was highly inflamed especially against the Queen-Dowager and the Cardinal by whose perfidious Contumely he was cast into these Straits but he was chiefly offended with the King of France complaining that he had brought him upon the Stage and now in the midst of his Acting had forsaken him and joined himself with his Enemies Whilst his Thoughts thus fluctuated not knowing where to fix News was brought him That all the Inhabitants on this side Mount Grantzbain who were able to bear Arms were commanded by Proclamation by such a Day to appear at Sterlin and to bring ten Days Provision along with them that they might be ready to march whithersoever the Regent should command them whither accordingly they came at the Day appointed and the Regent marched them to Glasgow There he besieged the Castle ten Days and battered it with his Brass-Guns but in vain yet at last a Truce was granted for a Day and the Guards tampered with so that the Castle was surrendered upon Quarter and Indemnity to the Garison-Souldiers yet notwithstanding all of them but One or Two were put to Death In the mean time Lennox being forsaken by the French King and also cut off from any hope of other Aid made trial by his Friends how the King of England stood affected towards him and finding it fair Weather there he resolv'd for England but before he went he had a great Mind to perform some notable Exploit against the Hamiltons and communicating his Design to William Cuningham Earl of Glencarn They two at a Day appointed with their Tenants and Adherents resolved to meet at Glasgow and from thence to make an inroad into the County of Clydsdale which almost all belonged to the Hamiltons When the Regent heard of this he resolved to be before-hand with them and so to seize upon Glasgow and thereby prevent the place of meeting but Cuningham with a great Party of his Men were entered the Town before and there expected the coming of Lennox but hearing of Hamilton's coming and of his Design he drew out his Men into the Fields adjoining and according to the number of those he had set them in array there were about 800 of them part of his own Clanship and part of the Citizens of Glasgow which favoured his Cause and thus with greater Courage than Force he joined Battel and fought so valiantly that he beat the first Rank of the Enemy back upon the second and took the Brass-pieces they had brought with them But whilst the Fight was hot about the Regent's Quarter and the Matter was in great Hazard there on a sudden Robert Boyd a valiant and brave Man came in with a small Party of Horse and thrust himself into the midst of the Fight where the hottest Service was He occasioned a greater Fear and Trepidation than so small a number need to have done for both Armies believed that great Assistance was come into the Hamiltons This Mistake quite changed the fortune of the Day whilst one thought the assistance was come into his Party the other to his Enemies There were slain in the Battel about 300 on both sides the greatest part was of the Cunningham's and amongst them two Sons of the Earl's gallant Men both Neither was the Victory unbloody to the Hamiltons for they lost considerable Persons on their side too But the greatest Mischief fell upon the Inhabitants of Glasgow for the Enemy not contented with the Blood of the Towns-men which they had killed nor with the Miseries of those who survived nor yet with the Plunder of their Houses they also took away the Valves and Shutters of their Gates and Windows and their Iron-Bars neither did they forbear any kind of Calamity but only the firing of their Houses which were so torn and deformed before The Event of this Battel wrought a great change in Mens Minds so that Lennox's Friends and Kinsmen refused to commit the Matter to the Hazard of a second Encounter not so much because their Enemies Force was increased and theirs lessened nor that because having lost so many valiant Men they could not speedily gather together a new supply from places so remote as that they were unwilling to give any new Provocation to Hamilton or by too much Obstinacy to offend him under whose Government they knew they must shortly come Lennox being thus deserted by the French and the greatest part of the Scots too made George Sterlin Governour of the Castle of Dunbarton and he himself with a few in his Company sailed for England against the advice of his best Friends who were willing he should have stayed some Months in
for his Fortune Wife Children Religion and Liberty Besides this Project said they concerns the very Vitals of the Scotish Empire and 't was a thing of greater Consequence than to be debated at this time and in this Age of our young Queen for if 't were granted it could be effected without any Sedition yet this new way of managing a War is both useless and also much feared and suspected by the most especially since out of the Tribute of the Scots Men none of the richest Mony enough could hardly arise to maintain a Guard of Mercenaries for the Defence of the Borders and therefore 't was to be feared that the Event of this Counsel would be to open the Door of the Borders to the Enemy not to shut it For if the English living in a richer Kingdom should erect a fuller Treasury for that use there was no doubt but they might maintain Forces double to ours with less Grievance to their own People and then they would break in not only upon the Borders but even into the very Body of the Kingdom The other part of their Oration I know not whether it be not better to suppress in Silence than to declare it amongst the Vulgar some Mutterings there were Who will collect this Mony What great part of it must necessarily be expended upon Distrainers and Treasurers as a Reward for their pains Who will undertake that it shall be spent for publick Uses and not on private Luxury 'T is true the Probity and Temperance of our noble Princess who now rules gives us great Hope yea Confidence that no such thing will be yet if we consider what hath been done by others abroad and by our selves at home we cannot contain or so govern our selves but must needs fear that what hath once been done may possibly be done again But to let these things pass which perhaps we have no cause to fear let us come to that wherein our Ancestors plac'd their greatest hope of Defence to maintain their Liberty against the Arms of an overpowring Enemy There was no King of Scotland ever judg'd wiser than Robert the first of that Name and all confess he was the most valiant He at his Death as he had often done in his Life out of a Prospect to the good of his Subjects gave this advice That the Scots should never make a perpetual Peace no nor One for any long time with the English For he out of the Wisdom of his own Nature and also by his long Experience and Exercise under both Conditions prosperous and adverse knew well enough that by Idleness and Sloth the Minds of Men would be broken with Delights and Blandishments of Pleasures and their Bodies also grow languid for when severe Discipline and Parsimony is extinct Luxury and Avarice do grow up as in a Soil untill'd accompany'd also with an Impatience of Labour and a Slothfulness occasioned by continu'd Ease averse from and hating a military Life by which Mischiefs the Strength of Body and Mind being enervated and weakned doth abandon Virtue which is exercised by Sufferings and that a short and unaccustomed Ease and Pleasure is over-ballanced by some notable Calamity to ensue Upon this Oration the Queen-Regent fearing an Insurrection if she had persisted in her opinion remitted the Tribute and acknowledg'd her Error 't is reported she was often heard to say that it was not Her self but no obscure Men of the Scots themselves who were the Authors and Architects of that Design By those Words some thought she meant Huntly a Man fierce of his own Disposition and newly released from Prison and as it seems more mindful of the Injury of his Imprisonment than of the respect shewed in his Deliverance And therefore when he saw that the Regent was intent upon this one thing to accustom the Scots to pay Tribute fearing that thereby her Power would increase and the Authority of the Nobility would be weakned and infring'd in regard she being a Foraigner sought to bring all things into the Power of her own Country-men it was thought he gave this Counsel to her which suited well with her Mind as to the raising of Mony which she was then about for otherwise the advice was plainly Destructive Hostile and Pernicious for he knew well enough that the Scots would not pay such great Taxes neither would they be as obedient Subjects as they had been before some thought that David Painter Bishop of Ross found out this way of Tax for he was a Man of a great Wit and learned besides he had receiv'd many Courtesies from the Hamiltons and was a Friend to their Family and Designs The next year which was 1557 whilst the Embassadors of Scotland were treating about Peace at Carlisle the King of France sent Letters to Scotland to desire the Regent to declare War against England according to the League The Cause was pretended to be because the Queen of England had assisted Philip of Spain her Husband who was ingag'd in a fierce War against France by sending him Aid into Belgium The English Embassadors return'd without confirming any settled Peace or War either whereupon the Regent call'd together the Nobility at the Monastry of Newbottle where She declar'd to them the many Incursions the English had made upon Scotish Ground what Preys they had taken and when Restitution was demanded none was made so that She desir'd the Scots to denounce War upon England both to revenge their own Wrongs and also by the same labour to assist the King of France yet she could not prevail with the Nobility to begin first and therefore by the advice as 't is thought of D'Osel she brought about the matter another way She commanded a Fort to be built at the Mouth of the River Aye against the sudden Incursions of the English wherein also she might safely lay up great Guns and other Necessaries for War as in a safe Magazine from whence she might fetch them upon occasion and so save labour of carrying them from the remoter parts of the Kingdom whereby much time would be spent and besides the troublesomeness of the Carriages opportunity of Action would be lost These Conveniencies were visible enough but she had another Reach in it she knew that the English would do their utmost to hinder the Work and not suffer a Garison to be erected under their Noses so near Berwick Thus the Seeds of War which she desired would be sown and the fault of taking up Arms cast upon the Enemy And the Event answered her Expectation For the Scots being provoked by the wrongs of the English whilst they were compell'd to defend their own Borders easily assented to the Regent's desire to make War upon England whereupon the Embassadors sent into England to make a Peace were call'd back a Proclamation was made and a Day appointed for a general Rendezvouz at Edinburgh when the Camp was form'd at Maxwel Heugh and the Council had not yet
decreed any thing concerning the manner of carrying on the War they who were forward to gratify the Regent and to oblige the French ran up and down plundering about Werk Castle scituate in the Borders of England D'Osel had brought some French Troops thither and some Ordnance as many as he thought were sufficient to take in the Castle and he carried them over the Tweed without staying for the Order of the Council which did highly incense the Scots Nobles against him for by his so doing he seem'd to aim at the Vindicating the whole Honour of such an Expedition to Himself rather than to his Master and also to make the Scots to be obnoxious to and under his Command who were wont to have the chief Command themselves Thus the Scots were mightily offended that they were so slighted by a private Man and a Stranger too so as to be led by the Nose by him without so much as asking their Opinions as was formerly wont to be done so that by doing things of his own Head without consulting the Nobles he had arrogated more to himself than ever any of their own Kings had done Hereupon the matter was deliberated in Council where it was unanimously agreed that they would not venture the strength of the Kingdom against an Enemy at the humour of every private Person especially seeing they were never wont to obey their own lawful Princes in that Case but after Matters had been open'd and seriously debated in Council before they were resolv'd upon and therefore Osel's Imperiousness in the Case was nothing else but an Essay to try how capable they were to bear the yoke of Slavery Whereupon they commanded Osel to draw back the Ordnance and if he refus'd he should be punish'd as a Traitor The Queen-Regent and Osel himself did highly resent this Affront The Regent thought that her Majesty was impair'd thereby and the other that his Master's Honour whose Embassador he was was concern'd but they being the weaker were forc'd to yield for the present and there seemed no remedy to occur but that the Queen of Scots who was now marriageable should marry the Dauphin as soon as conveniently it could be effected for then the Wife being in the Power of her Husband the Authority of the Council would be much lessened During that Winter there were various Excursions made and with different Success but One was most memorable at the foot of the Cheviot-hills where a fight was maintain'd a long while between the Duke of Norfolk and Andrew Carr the Victory was a long time doubtful but at last inclin'd to the English and Carr was taken Prisoner many brave Men being wounded on both sides Hereupon an Assembly was Indicted at Edinburgh to be held in October to hear the Letters sent from the French King In them after a prolix Enumeration of the ancient Leagues betwixt them and their mutual Obligations one to another he desir'd the Scots Parliament that a choice might be made of fit Persons out of all the Three Orders with ample Commission who in regard his Son the Dolphin about the end of December was entring upon the Year fit for Marriage according to the Law might be sent Embassadors to conclude the Marriage which was almost already made for the Queen of Scots had been transported over into France upon that hope and so the Two Nations which were anciently Confederate would now coalesce into one Body and the old Friendship betwixt both People would be connected by an indissoluble Bond. This if they would do he made them Magnificent Promises that whatever fruits of Benevolence they did hope for from Allies the same they might expect from him Tho all the Scots knew to what end this haste of the French King was directed and that there were shortly like to be Disputes between them concerning their Liberties yet they all came in great Obedience to the Indicted Parliament where without any much adoe eight Embassadors were chosen to go over into France to finish the Marriage Three of the Nobility Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils George Lesly Earl of Rothes to whom was added Iames Fleming Earl of Commerland chief of his Family Three of the Ecclesiastical Order Iames Beton Arch-bishop of Glasgow Robert Read Bishop of the Orcades and Iames Stuart Prior of the Monast'ry of St. Andrews and the Queen's Brother and Two of the Commons George Seaton because he was Governour of Edinburgh and Iohn Areskin Laird of Down or Din Governor of Montross of a Knights Family but comparable for Dignity to any Noble Man After they had set Sail and were yet on the Coast of Scotland they were toss'd with a very high Wind and being farther at Sea they met with such a grievous Tempest that Two of the Ships were Sunk not far from Boloign in France a Town of the Morini The Earl of Rothes and the Bishop of the Orcades were carry'd to Land in a Fisher-boat and were the only Two that escap'd of all the Passengers therein The rest of the Fleet having long combated with the Waves at length arriv'd in other lesser Ports of France where when all the Embassadors were again met they hasten'd to Court There they began the Treaty about the Marriage all yielded to it but the Guises were mighty forward to have it hasten'd both because they judg'd that Affinity would be a great accession of Authority to their Family as also because opportunity seem'd to favour their Design in regard Annas Duke of Momorancy who was esteem'd the wisest of all the French Nobility and who was most likely to oppose the Match was a Prisoner of War He indeed was not willing the matter should be so precipitated as for many other Causes in the Judgment of many very just and considerable so because the Power of the Guises which was suspected by the Wise and began to be intolerable to all might not grow to that height as to be unsafe for Kings themselves For of the five Brothers of the Guises the eldest was Captain General of all the Forces which serv'd in France The next was sent into Liguria to Succeed Charles Cosseus The third was transported over into Scotland with some Supplies to command the Army there The fourth had the Command of the Gallies at Marseilles And all Mony-matters pass'd under the Hands of Cardinal Charles so that neither Souldier nor Souz could wag in all the Territorys of the French King without their Approbation and Good liking some Men did commiserate the Fortune of the best of Kings and it brought into remembrance the Condition of those Times when by reason of Court-Factions the Kings of France have been shut up in Monast'ries as in places of a milder Banishment The Court for some time being transported with these nuptial Revels when they came to themselves call'd the Scots Embassadors into the Council where the Chancellor of France dealt with them to produce the Crown and the other
be thus betrayed and forsaken by those very Men that had put them upon the War every one of them betakes himself to take care for his own Safety their Hopes for the time to come being all blasted So that so many cross Accidents unexpectedly falling out at one and the same time quite and clean disturbed all their Plots and Machinations but the sudden Approach of the English Army was It which most surprized them and therefore to see if they could put a stop to it they make use of two Embassies into England the One to Thomas Earl of Sussex to desire a Truce till such time as they had laid open the State of their Affairs to the Queen of England The Other Embassador carried Letters to the Queen containing many things as well for their own Cause as against the King's Faction especially by making their Brags of greater Forces than they had in reality and vilifying Those of their Adversaries thereby covertly threatning the English with a War For Maitland had made them believe That that Queen a Woman naturally timorous would do any thing rather than be brought to a War at a time when both the French and Spaniard were for many Reasons at Emmity with her and her own Affairs at home were scarce setled The Rebels desired that by the English Queens Arbitrement all the Ordinances of the last Two Years should be called in although many amongst them had subscribed them and that all things being as it were acted de novo a new Ordinance should by a general Consent be made And that they might better set forth the Potency of their Faction their Letter had all the great Mens Names that were of their Party subscribed to It and also for the greater Ostentation of their Multitude they set to it the Names of Many as well of the adverse Faction as of those that were Neuters in Hopes that the English by Reason of the great Distance and their Ignorance of things done so far off and that their Letters to the Queen would be exposed to the View but of few Persons would hardly be able to detect their Fraud About that time an Accident happened as they thought very advantagious to their Affairs as hoping that it would both make the English less forward and also terrify the Scotch Populacie viz. the Arrival of a certain French-Man however of a mean Condition who as being Lansack's Menial Servant was for his Master's sake entertained at that Court This Man brought a great many Letters all of the same Purport from the French King not only to the Heads of the Queen's Faction but likewise to Many who had not declared themselves for either Faction in which great Thanks were given to every one of them for their having hitherto taken the Queen's Part the King desiring them constantly to persist in so doing and he would send them Aid even greater than they had desired of him as soon as ever he could do it with Conveniencie He also that brought the Letters adds as from himself That all things were now at quiet in France Iaspar Colligny and the other Rebels being reduced to such Terms as to promise to depart from France lest their Presence should be a Hindrance to the Publick Peace And that he doubted not but that the Souldiers which were to be sent to assist them would all be raised before his Return The Wiser sort although they knew that these things were mostly nothing but vain Reports yet permitted the common Sort to be deluded by them When therefore the Minds of many People became by these Means to be erected their Joy was lessened by the unsuccessful Return of their Embassadors For Sussex could not by any Conditions they could offer him be induced to think it to be for the English Interest either to maintain an Army only to idle their Time away in Truces or wholly to desist from the War And the Queen having after Perusal caused their Letter to be sealed up again and sent back to the King's Party in Scotland which was done that the Expectation of an Answer from her should cause Delay in Affairs and thereby their Fraud be easily found out And for that their Letter contained nothing but vain Boasting and that the English were not ignorant of any thing that had been transacted in Scotland their Embassadors grievously abashed with Reproaches were forced to return Therefore being disappointed of that Hope and affrightned by the so sudden drawing near of the English Army to their very Borders and those who were to have assisted them being gone to defend their own Homes having also small Confidence in the Citizens and knowing that their Enemies would come to Edinburgh on the first of May They therefore departed thence and went to Linlithgo holding that Place to be very commodious for the sending for those of their Party from the most distant Places of the Kingdom as also for the hindring the Journies of the others that were going to the Assembly and for bringing about of those other things which were lately discussed at their Consultations From this Place the Hamiltons with their Friends and Vassals made the whole Road leading to Edinburgh very unsafe for Passengers and knowing that Iohn Erskin Earl of Marr was to come that Way they placed themselves on the Neighbouring Hills to hinder his Journy but he knowing how the Way was beset passed the River about two Miles above and so April 29 in the Evening he came safe to Edinburgh After that Day the King's Party abode at Edinburgh and the Queen 's at Linlithgo mutually charging and criminating one another as the Causes and Rise of these Civil Combustions But those at Edinburgh informed their Contrariants That they were willing to come to an easy Agreement upon other Heads as that if they had done any Man wrong they would give him just Satisfaction as indifferent Arbitrators should award provided always That this King's Authority might be secured and that both Parties might join to revenge the Murder of the last King and of the Regent To this Proposal they at Linlithgo gave no satisfactory Answer but instead thereof made an Edict That all Subjects should obey the Queen's Commissioners and the three Earls of Arran Argyle and Huntly Indicted an Assembly to be held at Linlithgo August 3. Whereupon the other Party sent Robert Petcarn their Embassador to the Queen of England to treat with her about suppressing the Common Enemy and to shew how well-affected the Scots stood towards her he was to inform her That they would chuse such a Regent as she should please to recommend or approve Thus whilst each Party was crossing one another's Design the English enter Teviotdale and spoil the Towns and Villages belonging to the Families of the Cars and of the Scots who had violated the Peace by making Excursions into England and giving Harbour to such English Fugitives as fled to them for Shelter wasting and burning
Embassador into France 376 Croke the French Embassador dislikes the Queen's Marriage with Bothwel 199 He mediates a Peace 208 209 Crowling Isle 28 Cruelty an Example thereof 329 Culbrenin Isle 25 Culdees a kind of Monks 18 125 Worshippers of God 18 Culen King of Scots an incestuous Person 184 185 He is slain by a Strumpet 187 Cull 196 Culross whence so called 170 Cumbra Isles the greater and the lesser 25 Cumbri and Cumri 75 Cumins their Faction powerful 240 Cumins overthrows Gilespy 239 Cumins John overthrown by Bruce 264 Cumins William poisoned by his Wife 241 Cuningham 14 Cuningham's overcome by the Hamiltons 85 Cup of St. Magnus see Magnus Curia a Parish-Church 26 Curry a Merchaâ—t an Instrument in surprizing Edinburghâ—â—stle â—â—stle 299 Cutberectus 161 D DAal what it signifies in Old Scotish 100 Dalkeith 13 Dalreudini why the Scots so called 100 Danes enter England 71 Invade Scotland 174 Fight a bloody Battel with the English 178 Turn Christians ibid. Land in Scotland 182 Are overthrown ibid. Danish Fleet lands again in Scotland 190 Stupified by an inebriating Drink and overcome by the Scots 209 Swear never to return to invade Scotland any more 210 Dangers make Men sagacious 26 Dardanus King of Scots 108 His cruel Reign and violent Death ibid. David I. King of Scots 212 Profuse towards Monasteries 223 Maintains the Cause of Maud his Kinswoman against Stephen of England 224 Accuses him of Perjury ibid. Makes two Accords with Stephen 225 226 Henry Heir of England made Knight by him 226 Loses his hopeful Son yet comforts himself and his Nobles in a Christian Discourse thereupon 226 He erects new Bishopricks 223 His extraordinary Character for Piety and Virtue 227 David King William's Brother accompanies Richard of England to the Holy War 235 He is shipwrack'd and taken Prisoner yet at last returns ibid. David II. anointed King of Scotland 282 Sent into France when he was a Child 286 Returns to Scotland 300 Taken Prisoner in a Fight by the English 302 Ransomed 304 His Death and Character 305 306 David Cumins appointed Ruler over Scotland by the English 293 He and Douglas disagree 294 Forced to take an Oath to Bruce ibid. Makes large Promises to Edward of Enggland 295 Follows the good Success of the English ibid. Left by the English King as Regent of Scotland where his Army is overthrown and he himself slain 296 David the Son of Robert III imprisoned and starved to Death by his Vncle who was his Governour 328 329 David Beton the Cardinal 73 Chosen Regent by a pretended Will but the Fraud being discovered he is displaced and imprisoned 75 He endeavours to avert the imminent Ruin of Popery 76 He chouzes Lennox with vain Hopes of marrying the Queen 80 He grieves to be deprived of a rich Morsel which he had swallowed in his Hopes 81 He is sharply reproved by Montgomery 91 His Cruelty against Protestants 93 He espouses his Daughter to the Earl of Craford's Son 97 He is slain in his Castle with the manner thereof 98 His foul Character 99 David Douglas with his Brother William beheaded 370 David Hamilton defends the Cause of the Gospel 93 David Panater or Painter Bishop of Ross made an Abbat by the King of France 113 David Rize a Musician his Story 171 He persuades the Queen to cut off the Scotish Nobility 177 His Court-Preferments Familiarity with the Queen of Scots violent Death and Burial 179 to 183 David Spence slain 282 David Straiton or Straton burnt for a Lutheran 63 Death better than a miserable Life 12 d ee a River in England 13 Three of that Name in Scotland 14 70 Deidonum i. e. Dundee 18 Deiri Who 159 Delators or Informers appointed by Evenus 13 Denmark the King thereof bargains with the Embassador of Scotland to quit his Right to the Islands about Scotland 413 Derivative Words shew the Affinity of a Language 6â— Dessius General of the French Forces in Scotland 106 Called home by the King of France 110 Descants on the Law about Hereditary Succession of the Crown 205 Descants on over-severe Executions of Criminals 358 Deucaledonian Sea What 21 Diana's Oracle counterfeited by a Monk 44 45 Dicaledones rather to be read Duncaledones in Marcellinus 56 Dioclesian a supposed King of Syria 41 Dionethus gives himself forth to be King of the Brittons 136 Dion quoted concerning Britain 90 91 118 Dona River 20 Donachs or Duncans Bay 22 Donald I. King of Scots 117 He first received the Christian Religion ibid. Donald II. 122 Overthrown by Donald the Islander and dies ibid. Donald Brother of Malcolm III. yields up the Possession of the Islands to the King of Norwey 23 Donald III. 123 Reigns Tyrannically and is slain by Crathilinthus ibid. Donald IV. or Donebald sends Christian Doctors into England and interprets pious Sermons to the People himself 159 Donald V. Brother of Kenneth 172 Reigns licentiously and is put in Prison 173 Donald VI. Son of Constantine II. 178 Donald VII or Duncan 204 Donald Murderer of King Duffus taken and executed 185 Donald Bane calls himself King of the Aebudae 164 He is slain ibid. Donald VIII or Banus 220 He promises the Islands to Magnus King of Norwey ibid. Donald of Athol 154 Donald Baloc overthrows Alexander and Alan Stuarts 343 He is taken in Ireland and his Head is sent to the King 344 Donald Lord of the Aebudae rises in Arms 333 With the Earl of Ross and Douglas he figâ—â—s with the King's Forces ibid. He is left by his Wife 391 Sends Agents to make his Peace with the King 392 After the King's Death he plays Rex again 408 He takes the Earl of Athol Prisoner and burns St. Bride's Church ibid. He is shipwrack'd and fals distracted 409 Donald Monro commended 22 He travelled over the Islands of Scotland and described them 31 Dongal King of Scots 168 He is drowned ibid. Dongard King of Scots 144 Opposes the Pelagian Heresy 145 Dornadilla King of Scots 98 Dorstologus slain 166 Dorus flies for fear of Nathalocus 120 Dovallus kils King Nothatus 99 He himself is slain in Battel 100 Douglas River 14 Douglas Dale 140 Douglas made Duke of Turein 336 Douglas slain by the Moors 280 Douglas William takes Dundalk in Ireland 314 Douglas William pardoned 301 Douglas breaks in upon the English Army 278 Douglasses their Power intolerable 372 377 Their Power broken 53 Drinach Isle 25 Drix 60 Druides Who 56 Drumalbin 17 Drummilaw Sands 209 Drunkenness punished with Death 174 Druskins King of the Picts and all his Nobility slain 169 Drury intercedes for Peace between the Parties in Scotland 278 Duffa or Dow Isle 25 Duffus King of Scots 181 Witchcraft practised upon his Body 183 He is slain 184 Dukes when the Name first brought into Scotland 325 Duke of York overthrown and slain by the Queen of England 396 Dulcitius in Britain 89 Dunacus and Domnacus 68 Dunbar whence so called 13 14 Its Siege raised 297 Fortified by Alexander against the King but deserted by
him 421 Again possessed by him and delivered to the English 427 Retaken by the Scots 429 Dunbritton 17 The Castle surrendred to Robert Bruce 268 Twice surprized 371 Taken by the Queen 164 Retaken by the Regent by Surprize with the Manner how 260 It s Scituation and why so called 262 263 Duncan King of Scots 229 He is slain ibid. Duncan Earl of Marr Regent 284 Slain in Battel 285 Duncan Stuart rising in Arms is suppressed 323 Duncaledon rather than Deucaledon to be read in Ptolemy 56 Dunchonel Isle 25 Dundee 18 Dundeans Enemies to the Gordons 286 Dunedin by the ancient Scots now Edinburgh 171 Dungisby Head 22 See Betubium Duni pacis what 15 119 Dunkelden 18 Duno or Dunum Words so beginning or ending are the Names of Places 65 66 67 Dunoter 19 Dunsinnan Hill and Castle 212 Dunstafnage 20 Duodecemvirate in Scotland 253 Dur the Names of some Places derived therefrom 68 Durstus King of Scots 102 He invites the Nobility to a Supper and there treacherously kils them ibid. He is slain 103 Durstus made King of the Picts 132 Slain in Battel 137 E EAnfrid 159 Easdale Isle 25 Easter-Day a Dispute about it raised by Austin the Monk 157 Eboracum i. e. York whence derived 60 Ecclesiasticks their Power over Kings 237 Their Avarice 238 243 They are reformed by Constantine II. are superstitâ—ous 195 Eder preserved by his Nurse 104 Educated by Cadvallus 105 Created King of Scots 106 Edgar then in Scotland demanded by William the Norman 216 Returns to England 217 Made King of the Sâ—ots 221 Builds Coldingham Abby ibid. Edifice a strange one 15 Edinburgh or Edinum whence so called 171 Its several Names 175 How seated 276 A Convention held at one End when the Enemy had the Castle at the other ibid. Edinburghers would not admit the English Exiles nor Hamilton to enter their City 252 Edmund King of England his Story 215 He gives Cumberland and Westmoreland to Malcolm King of Scots 181 Edward I. King of England takes away all Scotish Monuments 119 Endeavours to bring Scotland under his Dominion 249 Enters Scotland with a great Army 264 265 Overcomes the Scots and forces them to swear â—ealty to him 259 Appoints Magistrates all over Scotland ibid. Desires Margarite of Norwey Heiress of Scotland a Wife for his Son but she dies before her Marriage 245 Edward II. succeeding his Father in the Kingdom of England 263 Besieges Berwick makes a Truce with the Scots and retreats 270 271 Worsted in Scotland 272 Is cast into Prison by his Wife and his Son and there put to a cruel Death 274 Edward III. King of England makes Peace with the Scots 300 Baliol takâ—â— into his Protection 288 Hâ—s Cruelty to Seton's Children 289 〈◊〉 Berwick 288 Hath three Kings his Prisoners at once 304 He overthrows the Scots 290 Takes Berwick 290 Enters Scotland once or twice but retreats again 293 296 His Death 308 Edward Duke of York cals himself King of England 396 Edward IV. of England makes Peace with the Scots 416 He dies 428 He laid the Foundation of Tyranny 434 Edward VI. of England an hopeful Prince his Death 114 Edward Bruce called to be King in Ireland 269 Assists his Brother Robert 265 Edward Baliol with a numerous Fleet in the Bay of Forth 284 He overcomes the Scots 285 Enters on the Kingdom 286 Swears Fealty to the King of England 288 His supposititious Son 7 Education at Court what 160 Egfrid King of Northumberland slain by the Picts 161 Edwyn of Northumberland 159 Eels taken in abundance 14 Egg Isle See Rum 28 Eglish or Church Isle 25 Eglisa or Eglish-oy Isle 36 Elbeouf Marquess of it stays with the Queen in Scotland 154 Elgin a Town 20 Eliot's Authority disallowed 4 Elizabeth Queen of England sends Aid to the Reformers of Religion in Scotland 141 144 Her grave Oration to the Embassador of the Queen of Scots 155 156 c. She in part adopts the Cause of the Queen of Scots 222 Her Letters to the Regent to defer the Convention of the Estates ibid. Her other Letters to him which break off the Course of his Victories 223 She is informed by the Regent that the Cause of their Queen's deposing was the Murder of her Husband 227 228 She sends Letters to the Nobles of Scotland to receive their Queen again 239 c. Their Answer to her Letters 241 Howard's Conspiracy against her detected 244 She demands the English Fugitives to be given up to her by the Scots 284 She is made Arbiter between the Parties in Scotland 260 Some of her Council would have King James sent into England 275 Which the Scots refuse to do 280 She favours the King's Cause most yet is politickly slow in her Aid 279 286 Ella an English King 172 Embassadors from France desire the Scots to make War upon England 119 Embassadors from France and England to Scotland 352 England divided by four Rivers 13 The King thereof the Pope's Feudatary 237 Its King makes Peace or Truce with the Scots 249 250 Enecus General of the Danes 200 Slain by the Scots 201 Enemies not to be undervalued 174 291 Their sudden Liberality to be suspected 43 English how said to rule over all Britain 180 Incommoded in their March in Scotland 276 Their Army worsted 270 Quit their Claim to any Part of Scotland 234 Regain a great Part of Scotland 303 Drawn into an Ambush 304 Their Army of 60000 Men 274 Driven out of all Scotland except Berwick 300 English Souldiers less rapacious than the French 313 Worsted in Scotland 391 Overthrown by the Scots at Sea 379 Ask Aid of the Scots against their own King 392 English their Horses frightned in Scotland 42 Make War on Scotland 59 Enter Scotland again 86 Are worsted 89 Again enter 100 And give the Regent a great Overthrow 104 Enter Scotland again 105 And prevail against James Douglas 106 English Fleet attempts the Orcades 123 English called Deliverers of Scotland 152 Send Aid to the Reformers in Scotland 143 Assist the Vindicators of King and Regent's Murderers against the Queen's Faction 253 c. 256 257 Their Queen Elizabeth designed to be destroyed and the King of Scots too 280 Enner what it signifies 106 Ennerlute or Ennerlochy a Mart-Town 20 Ennerness a Mart-Town 106 Eorsa Isle 27 Eoy Isle 29 Ericaean or Heath Isle 26 Erisbach Isle see Abridic Eriscaia or Erisay Isle 30 Erin Isle ibid. Erra Isle 26 Esk River 13 South and North 19 Thence the Country called Eskdale 13 Etfin King of Scots 163 Ethelfrid King of Northumberland 156 Routs the Scots 157 Marches into Galway ibid. Ethodius I. King of Scots makes Laws about Hunting 112 Overcomes the Islanders ibid. Slain by Night in his Bedchamber by his Harper ibid. Ethodius II. rules by his Deputies 119 Is slain ibid. Ethus King of Scots 171 Eu Island 31 Eubonia or Man Isle 24 Evenus I. King of Scots 103 Aids the Picts against the Brittons ibid. The first that required an Oath of
Allegiance of his Subjects ibid. First settles Itinerary Iudges in Scotland ibid. Evenus II. 105 Overthrows the Orkney Men 106 Evenus III. noted for Obscenity 107 He makes a Law for Polygamy ibid. Is slain ibid. Eugenius I. or Evenus King of Scots 127 Slain by the Romans 128 Evenus an Islander put to Death 174 Eugenius II. 138 His Character 144 In his time the Romans leave Britain ibid. Eugenius III. Brother of Congal King of Scots 154 Assists against the Saxons ibid. Eugenius IV. Brother of Aidanus 158 Brought up under Columb ibid. He harbours the fugitive Saxons ibid. Eugenius V. 161 Eugenius VI. ibid. Learned in Theology ibid. In his Time it rained Blood ibid. Eugenius VII causes the memorable Facts of Kings to be recorded 162 He is suspected for the Murder of his Queen but causlesly ibid. Eugenius VIII slain in an Assembly of the Nobles 163 Evonia Castle 20 Eusdale County so called from the River Ewes 13 140 Examples of Princes more influential on Subjects than their Laws 155 Exchequer Officers defend sometimes most unjust Laws 113 Exchequer Profits sometimes Disprofits 35 Excommunication unjustly pronounced affects not the Excommunicated 272 Exile more tolerable than Servitude 132 F FAbilla or Fable Isle 30 Fair or Fara Isle 36 Faith or Fidelity towards wicked Persons unsteadfast 105 107 Sacred among Souldiers 319 330 Not to be kept with Hereticks as Papists say 130 Falamgal Isle see Finlagan Falcons in the Isle of Muick 28 Famine breaks stout Spirits 140 Famine and Pestilence in Scotland 388 Fara Isle 29 Farrow-head 21 Faunus's Oracle 43 Fenella commands Kenneth to be slain 169 Feraia Isle 29 Ferchard I. King of Scots 158 Endeavours to introduce Tyranny ibid. Maliciously nourisheth Factions amongst his Nobles and is guilty of the Pelagian Heresy 159 He kils himself ibid. Ferchard II. wickedly kils his Wife and abuseth his Daughters 160 He is excommunicated reproved by Coleman and repouts at his Death ibid. Feredeth King of the Picts 166 Ferelay Island 30 Fergus I. King of Scots sent for out of Ireland 95 The Kingdom settled on him by Common Consent 96 Drowned at Carickfergus in Ireland 97 Came first into Albium when Alexander the Great took Babylon ibid. Fergus II. whilst a Child flies by Sea with his Parents into Scandia is recalled from thence and made King 133 134 He is slain in Fight 137 His Praise with a Comparison between him and Fergus I. ibid. He is deservedly called The second Founder of the Scotish Kingdom ibid. Fergus III. poisoned by his Wife for his Adulteries 163 She owns the Fact and kils her self 164 Fergus of Galway's Children disagree after his Death 246 Feritharis King of Scots 97 An old Law concerning Succession to the Crown made in his Time ibid. Ferlegus Son of Fergus conspires against his Vncle for which he is condemned 97 98 Fethelmach King of Scots 127 Fidler or Harper One kils King Ethodius I. 116 Another assists to destroy Fethelmach 127 Fifteen Iudges appointed in Scotland but soon disused 59 Fife County 18 So called from Fifus 170 Fights memorable between Scots and English 355 At Bannock 267 At Otterborn 317 318 319 Fish shapeless 29 A strange sort ibid. Fincormachus King of Scots 125 Findochus King of Scots 121 Overcomes Donald ibid. Is slain by means of his Brother Caransius 122 Finelaw or Finlaw Bishop Author of ill Counsels 339 Finlagan Isle 26 Finnanus King of Scots 102 Fiole Isle 25 Flada Isle 24 28 29 30 Flanders Artificers sent for from thence into Scotland 347 Flata Island 36 Flattery the Pest of great Families 363 380 Flavanae Isles 30 Fordun 19 Forestia ibid. Forth or Scotish Sea 13 Fortune an Example of its Inconstancy 375 Fotlar Isle 37 Francs Who 46 Francis I. King of France by the help of the King of England restored to liberty out of the Hands of the Spaniards 62 He sends the Earl of Lennox into Scotland 78 Is alienated from Lennox 83 Sends Montgomery into Scotland 91 Francis II. of France sends La'bross into Scotland 136 He is influenced by and is under the Power of the Guises 150 His Death ibid. Francis Duke of Guise Curator of the Kingdom of Scotland 114 Appointed General of the Popish Faction 153 174 Franciscans or begging Friars their Wealth 128 France its miserable State 151 It s King Francis promises to aid the Scots of the Queen's Faction 254 And the Scots Rebels 279 280 Vpon what Grounds he did it ibid. Frazer's Family almost extinct 89 Frederethuâ— slain 166 Friend betrays Friend 332 Their Injuries the most grievous 314 Our Father's Friends not to be neglected 101 Friendship with Princes far off sometimes safer than with Those nearer home 44 French Gauls Franâ—s their Original 46 They receive Characters of Letters from the Massilian Greeks 38 Their Communion with the Brittons 61 When French and Scots Alliance first began 165 They send Aid to the Scots 90 106 Their Souldiers very licentious 313 Their Army leaves Scotland 314 Their unjust Demand 312 What Good the Scots got by their Alliance 322 Their King distracted 334 They ask Aid of the Scots ibid. They renew their League with the Scots 240 251 273 French and Scots Souldiers mutiny 109 Their Auxiliaries in Scotland cannot forbear their wonted Plundering 314 They hinder an Alliance with England by Bribes as much as they can 43 44 Assault Werk Castle 45 Their Souldiers kill the Governour of Edinburgh with some of the Citizens 209 They design to surprize Hadington ibid. They are disgusted by the Scots 110 French and English in Scotland agree 111 French transported into their own Country 112 French King sends Auxiliaries to strengthen the Queen Regent 135 143 French Embassadors Demands from the Reformed 136 152 French their contumelious Pride against some of the Scots 143 144 Their Design to establish Tyranny ibid. French Embassador busy between the Queen and the Royalists 218 219 Vpon the Queen's Overthrow he sculks away 221 French to leave Scotland by Consent 149 French Ship sent with Provision and Ammunition into Scotland taken by the Royalists 279 French Tongue heretofore not much different from the British 58 Friars Mendicants Mercenaries to Parish-Priests and Curats 345 346 Their Opinions and why Manducants rather than Mendicants 129 Fuda Isle 29 G GA Letter commonly used by the French for V 60 61 Gaga Isle 25 Gald Gael Galle 62 Galdus the Sir-name of Corbred what it signifies 109 Galeatius Sforza slain by his Vncle 231 Gallovid in Old Scotish signifies a Gaul 14 Galo Cardinal the Pope's Legat in England 237 He excommunicates the Scots 238 A wicked and avaritious Man ibid. Galvinus Son of Lothus 151 Galway why so called 14 61 139 Garalinga Isle 29 Garaard King of the Picts 162 Garvae Isles three 25 Garvillan Isles 30 Gavin Isle 25 Gauls sent Colonies into Spain 48 Into Italy 49 Into Germany ibid. Into Britain 50 Into Ireland 51 Gathelus a Prince feigned by some to be the Founder of the Scots Nation 46 Gawin Dunbar
Her Faction garison Edinburgh from whence they sally out 〈◊〉 Morton â—â—â— Massacre designed in France by the Guâ—â—es 750 Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox marries Margarite Hamilton â— Sent for out of France into Scotland 78 Returns 171 Circumvented by the Cardinal 's Cunning about his marrying the Queen 80 Vpon which he rises in Arms but is forced to agree with the Regent 82 He justifies himself to the French King 83 Is worsted and flies into England where he is kindly received and marries Margarite Douglas 83 85 86 Created Regent 258 259 Takes Brechin from Huntly 260 Hurt by a Fall 261 Maximianus Commander of a Roman Legion in Britain 136 He overthrows the Scots and Picts 137 Mâ—xim grave in Policy 176 Another 208 Others 239 Maximus in Britain 127 He overcomes the Scots 128 Takes the chief Government upon him 129 Banishes all the Scots out of Britain ibid. Measures and Weights amended and rectified 334 Mechanical Engine of Brass a strange one 192 Mecla Isle 37 Meliss Graham deprived of Strathearn by the King 351 Men fight like wild Beasts one with another 324 Mendiâ—ant Friars called Manducant 129 Menteiâ—h 17 140 Mentheâ—'s Treachery against Robert Bruce 268 He is rewarded 269 Merch 13 Merchants forbid to traffick by Sea for a time 244 Merchants or Châ—nnards Isâ—e 26 Mercenary Souldiers change with Fortune 236 Fit to establish Tyranny 117 177 Merlin the Prophet or Impostor rather when he lived 147 A wicked Man 149 A Comparison between Gildas and him à dissimili ibid. Mern whence so called 170 Mernoch Isle 25 Mertaâ—k Isle 31 Metellan or Maitland King of Scots 107 Michael Weems helps the Royalists 277 Milesian Fables what 77 Minturnae 78 Modred Son of Lothus General of the Picts Forces 151 Competitor with Constantine 153 Slain ibid. Moesici who 89 Mogald King of Scots 112 Makes an unjust Law 113 He is slain ibid. Molas Isle 24 Mologhascar Isle 25 Mon Isle put falsly for Man 24 Monfort slain by Preston 297 Mongomery comes into Scotland 91 Monk poisons King John of England 238 Another poisons Thomas Randolph 283 Their Impudence in devising Fables 42 Their Luxury 143 Their Monasteries overthrown by Order of the Lords 152 Monster like an Hermaphrodite born in Scotland 4 5 Monk-Fishes never seen but they predict Mischief 175 Mordac King of Scots 162 Mordac Earl of Fife Son of Robert taken Prisoner 327 Returns to Scotland 333 Succeeds his Father in the Government 336 Takes Care to recal King James from England 337 Imprisoned 339 Executed 340 More Isle 25 More in old Gaulish signifies Mare the Sea 10 More marusa 7 10 77 Morini who 10 Morton's large Account of his Negotiation in England to the Regent 267 Mother cruel to her own Children 231 Mourning Garments when first used in Scotland 66 Muick Isle 28 Mull of Galway 14 Mull Isle 26 Mulmore Isle ibid. Mungo or St. Mungo see Kentigern Murderer discovered sometimes by touching the Murdered Body 184 Murdo and his Sons put to Death 348 Murray a fruitful Country 20 Its Inhabitants seditious 230 Murray made Regent 226 His Death 298 Musa Isle 37 Musadil Isle 25 Musicians or wandring Minstrels restrained 282 283 N NAick Isle 28 Nagunner Isle ibid. Names new by ambitious Men given to Places 170 171 Names of Towns new shew the Affinity of a Language 62 Naomph Isles 26 Naosg Isles 26 Narn 140 Nathalocus King of Scots 120 Murders the Nobility and consults Soâ—â—hsayers ibid. Nathalocus a Noble Man conspires against Athirco 119 Is himself slain 121 Navern Province so called from the River Navern 21 140 Nectamus King of Scots 126 Ness Town i. e. Innerness and River whose Water is always warm 20 Nightshade its Description and Properties 209 Ninian 145 Nithisdale from the River Nith 13 140 Nobility their Tyranny over the Commons restrained 182 Nobles how anciently tried in Scotland 340 Normans overcome the Saxons and Danes in Britain 71 Norman Lesly his Valour against the English 89 He surprizes St. Andrews and kils Cardinal Beton 98 Northumberland divided into two Kingdoms viz. the Deiri and the Bernici 159 Nostvade Isle 37 Nothatus King of Scots 98 First sets up Arbitrary Government ibid. He is slain 99 Noviogagus many Cities so called 68 Nuns Isle or Monades 27 O OCCA General of the Saxons overthrown by three Kings and wounded 151 152 Occidental or Western Isles 22 Ocel-Mountains 17 Olavus General of the Scandians 200 Old Castle Isle 31 Oracle feigned by a Monk 44 Oransa Isle 28 29 Oration of Archbishop Kennedy that the Administration of the chief Government is not to be committed to Queen-Mothers 401 c. Orcades Isles 33 Their Description ibid. Writers not agreed about their Number 35 Orca Promontory 21 Ordovices who 109 Original of Letters 38 Orkny the Bishop thereof marries the Queen to Bothwel 199 Orma Isle 37 Orvansa or Oversa Isle 26 Osbreth aids Picts against Scots 172 Overthrown at first but afterwards beats the Scots ibid. Osellius a French Man desirous of Glory 120 Differs with the Scots Nobles but afterwards yields to Them ibid. Osrim Isle 26 Oswald King of Northumberland promotes the Christian Religion 159 Otterborn Fight wherein the English are worsted 318 Oversa Isle 26 Ovia Isle ibid. Otiosi Isle 25 Oxon for Oxonford 8 P PABA Isle noted for Robbery or Piracy 28 29 Pabaia Isle 30 Palladius sent by Pope Celestine into Scotland first sets up Bishops there 145 Pandulphus the Pope's Legat 238 Papa Isles great and small 36 37 Parish Priests and Friars Mendicants the Cause of the Decay of Ecclesiastical Discipline 243 Parricide God suffers not to be unrevenged 184 185 Parsimony the Mother of Health 33 Parsonages Church-Preferments sold 419 Bestowing of them causes Strife 57 Pasly Book or the Black Book of Pasly what 134 Patrick Graham chosen Bishop of St. Andrews by his Canons in the room of Jameâ— Kennedy 411 Made Primate of Scotland by the Pope but obstructed by the Courtiers ibid. He labours to maintain Church-Priviledges 417 Is excommunicated and forced to resign his Bishoprick 418 419 And dies in Prison ibid. Patrick Grey one of those who slew King James III. 433 Patrick Grey committed to Custody 92 Patrick an holy Man sent into Scotland 145 Patrick Blackater flies from the Douglasses 47 He is treacherously slain by John Hume 48 Patrick Hamilton put to death for Religion by the Conspiracy of the Priests 53 Patrick Lindsy sides with the Reformers 132 Goes with the Regent into England 222 Ruven's Magnanimity 181 182 He kils David Rize ibid. He acquaints Murray with the Conspiracy against him 173 Paul Mefane or Meffen Preacher of the Gospel troubled for Religion 123 Harboured by the Inhabitants of Dundee 124 Paulus Orosius quoted 86 Corrected 87 Paul Termes sent with Aid from France to Scotland 110 Peace-downs see Duni Pacis Peace sometimes more dangerous than War 140 112 347 Peace confirmed with an intended Affinity betwixt Scots and English 422 But soon broken ibid. Mediated for by
to be Richard 332 Richard Duke of Gloucester marches with an Army against Scotland 426 Takes Berwick 427 Made Protector of England 428 Casts his Brother's two Sons into Prison and sets up himself King 428 Slain by Henry VII 429 Is very Tyrannical in his Government 434 Richard Duke of York brings King Edward Prisoner to London 396 Slain by the Queen ibid. Richard Colvil put to Death by Douglas 380 Richard Fox Bishop of Durham a very prudent Man mediates for Peace between the two Nations 12 13 An Instrument of James his Marriage with Margarite of England 14 Richard Grafton an English Writer blamed 252 Rins of Galway 14 Rinard Isle 26 Ridhead see Red Promontory Roadilla Monastery 31 Robbers punished 183 189 48 57 Robert Bruce his Genealogy 246 His magnanimous Answer to the King of England 250 Begins his Reign 261 Is overthrown and flies in disguise to save his Life ibid. His Wife imprisoned and his two Brothers put to Death by the English 261 262 He baffles Cumins ibid. Carried sick into his Army 264 Causes Edward of England to retreat ibid. Invades England takes Perth Edinburgh c. 265 Overthrows the English at Bannock near Sterlin 267 Robert the Son of Robert Bruce conspires with John Cumins against England 259 260 Is crowned King 261 Overcomes Edward II. in Battel 267 The Nobles conspire against him 271 Robert II. King of Scots 306 Marries Elizabeth More 307 The Dispute betwixt his Legitimate and his Natural Children occasions great Troubles 350 He invades England 311 His Death and Character 322 Robert III. before called John succeeds his Father 323 His Generals cause the Islanders to destroy one another 324 He makes the first Dukes in Scotland 325 He imprecates God's Iudgments on his Brother and the other Murderers of his Son David 330 He dies with Abstinence and Grief for the Captivity of his Son James in England 331 His Brother Robert made Regent after his Death 331 Robert Boyd kils James Stuart 374 Made Guardian to the King 409 Created Regent 412 Flies into England and dies there 414 Robert Boyd deserts the Reformed and revolts to the Queen 218 Robert Britain hath great Command at Court 56 Robert Cockerane of a Tradesman made a Courtier 420 Taken by Douglas and committed to Prison 424 425 Robert Cuningham of the Family of the Lennoxes opposes Bothwel 195 Robert Douglas desires that the Death of 〈◊〉 Brother Murray might be revenged 249 Robert Earl of Fife 315 Starves to Death David the King's Son 328 Robert Graham a great Enemy to King James 355 Conspires against him 357 Seizes him with his own Hands for which he is executed 358 Robert Maxwel 71 Coming to reconcile Differences is imprisoned by Hamilton 82 Robert the Son of Robert Maxwel taken Prisoner by the English 91 Robert Earl of the Orcades made one of the King's Guardians 407 Robert Petcarn sent Embassador into England 242 Queen Elizabeth's Answer to his Embassy 257 Robert Read sent Embassador into France 63 Poisoned there 122 Robert Semple kils Creighton 111 Bruce's Grand-son by his Daughter rises in Arms for Bruce 293 Made Regent 294 Taken by Baliol and swears Fealty to the King of England 286 Sought for to be slain 292 Roch Isle 26 Roffa for Raufchestria i. e. Rochester 8 Romachus King of Scots 125 Roman Generals in Britain 84 c. Roman Fraud 239 Roman Legates Pick-pockets 243 418 The Jews Apes 381 Romans their memorable Fact in Britain before their Departure 138 Rona Isle 32 Ronanus his Spade ibid. Rolland a Carpenter discovers a Treachery against Robert Bruce 268 Rolland's Valour he overcomes Gilcolumb 246 247 Rose white Badg of the York Faction 7 Ross and its Etymology 21 139 170 Rothsay Castle 25 Rotti Isle 37 Rous-oy 36 Round Isle 26 Roxburgh Town taken 393 Its Castle taken 394 Royalists overthrown in the North 283 Ruby a French Lawyer in Scotland his Character 147 Rudana Isle 27 Rum Isle 28 It abounds with Eggs of Sea-Fowl ibid. Ruven had the Mayoralty of Perth taken from him by the Cardinal 92 S SAcred or Cleirach Isle 31 Sacred Sanctuary 25 Saga Isles the Great and the Small 30 Saliar Verses not easy to be understood 44 Salii who 44 Salisbury Earl commands the English in Scotland 297 Taken Prisoner 300 Salmon Fishing Aberdene famous for it 19 Sanachies who 39 Sancterr Isle 37 Sanda Isle 25 Scandians who 200 Satrael King of Scots 117 Slain ibid. Saturnals old Feasts retained 239 Saxe or Rock Isle 26 Saxons kill the English Nobles by Treachery 70 Overcome by the Normans 71 Worsted by Picts Scots and Brittons 149 Cruel in Wars 146 Not faithful in Peace 148 Their Fight with three Kings 148 149 Scalpe Isle 28 30 Scarba Isle 25 Schan Castle 31 Schanny Isle 25 27 Schetland Isles 36 The Nature of their Inhabitants 37 The greatest of them called Pomona ibid. Sclata or Sleach Isle 25 Scoff sharp given to Bothwel by a Tradesman 194 Schools publick erected by James 345 Scorpions i. e. Cross-bows 311 Scotland how divided 13 Where narrowest 20 Had anciently learned Monks 169 Scots their fabulous Original 46 47 Scots and Picts unite against the Romans 134 Scots and Brittons overthrown by the Saxons 157 Scots Monks unjustly banished out of England 160 Scots and Brittons unite against Picts and Saxons 146 Scots Monks preach the Gospel in Germany 165 Scots have hard Terms of Peace imposed upon them by the English 173 Scots Bishops freed from the Iurisdiction of the English 234 411 Scots have an ancient Priviledg not to be cited to Rome 241 Scots excommunicated by their Ecclesiasticks 243 Excommunicated again but absolved 272 273 Scots join with the French against England 253 Scots receive a great Overthrow from Edward of England at Falkirk 256 Obtain a Truce from him ibid. Rise in Arms again and overthrow the English at Rosline 258 Scots make a League with the French 273 When their first Alliance with France began 165 Scots of Jerna and Scots of Albion 52 Scots overthrown by Maximus the Roman General and banished out of their Country 124 March into England but retreat again 91 Scots Nobles some rise against James IV. but are quelled 3 Scots Nobles anciently had Skill in Chirurgery 28 Scots complain of the French Breach of Faith by their Embassadors 60 Scots Prisoners released at London 74 Scotish Parliament demolishes all Monasteries 152 Scotish Crown ordered to be sent to the Dolphin of France 126 Scotish Kings anciently travelled over their Kingdoms themselves to administer Iustice 123 Scoto-Brigantes in Claudian to be read for Scuta-Brigantes 76 Scroop an English General in Scotland 256 Sea-Calves 29 Sea-Monks an ill boding Fish 175 Security dangerous in War 172 173 Seditions perillous 141 309 Secla or Seil Isle 25 Seneciones who 39 Seuna Isle 30 Severn River 13 Severus his Wall 8 148 His Expedition against the Brittons 117 118 Seuna or Suin Isle 25 30 Servanus 145 Shevi Isle 30 Sheep fair yet wild in Hirta Isle 30 Their Fat good
257 Courted by King Edward 258 Refused to swear Obedience to him 259 Betrayed to Edward by a false Friend 260 261 By whom he was drawn hanged and quartered ibid. Wallace slain in Fight by the English 379 Walowithia 60 Walsch or Welsch what it signifies in German 54 61 Walter Mills martyred for Religion 123 Walter Steward of all Scotland 21â— Walter the Son of Murdo imprisoned 338 Walter Earl of Athol conspires against the King and murders him 355 356 He is executed 357 358 Walter Scot endeavouring by Force to take the King from the Douglasses is overthrown 49 Made Prisoner 57 Restored to Liberty ibid. Ioins his Forces with the Regent's 89 Wardships their Origin and Nature 203 351 A Badg of Slavery 15 War Pretence of the Holy War cozâ—ns the Simple of their Mony 243 Warwick Earl overthrown by the Queen of England 397 Watersa Isle 29 Weathers Isle ibid. Werk Castle described 45 Weights corrected 344 Wester-oy or Wyer-oy 36 Whales Plenty of them about the Isle Lewis 32 Whales-oy Isle 37 Whey the Brittons Drink 23 White Battel what 271 Wife of Seton's Speech to her Husband encouraging him to part with 〈◊〉 Sons rather than the Town of Berwick 289 Witches discovered and punished 183 William King of Scots 231 Taken by the English 233 Accompanies Henry of England into France ibid. Released ibid. Sends his Brother David to the Holy War 235 William Creighton Chancellour 359 Deceived by the Queen and her Son the King taken from him 360 361 He guides the King after he had taken him in a Wood to his Party 365 Highly accused 361 Craves Aid of Douglas but in vain 362 Agrees with the Regent 363 Is received into Favour 374 His Death 391 William of Normandy repairs Newcastle 217 Conquers the Danes 71 Overthrown in Scotland 116 William Cecil a prudent Counsellour in England 146 Sent Embassador into Scotland ibid. William Creighton slain 111 William Creighton outlawed with his Crimes 428 William Douglas refuseth to swear Fealty to King Edward 253 He treats Alexander Ramsay inhumanly 301 Is slain 303 William Douglas Son of Archibald of Galway 314 The King marries his Daughter Aegidia to him though he were a Bastard ibid. Killed by Ruffians at Dantzic 322 William Douglas succeeds Archibald his Father 363 Corrupted by Flatterers profuse enticed by the Chancellour to Edinburgh and beheaded 370 William Douglas Son of James the Gross marries Beatrix his Vncle's Daughter 370 Submits to the King 371 By his Obsequiousness makes the King his Own and by that means revenges the Deaths of his Kinsmen 372 375 Goes to Rome 381 Accused in his Absence and his Solicitor overthrown in the Trials ibid. He pays Damages out of his Estate 381 382 Returns and is declared Regent 383 Comes to Court on safe Conduct 385 At last slain by the King 's own Hand 386 William Douglas desires leave to revenge the Death of his Brother the Earl of Murray 248 William Drury an English Knight secretly favours the Rebels 278 William Bishop of Dunblane sent into France to excuse the Queen's hasty Marriage in Scotland 199 200 William Graham the King's Guardian 407 William Hume beheaded 36 William Elphinston Bishop of Aberdene laments the State of Scotland 30 William Keith taken Prisoner by the English 122 William Kircade of Grange Admiral of the Navy against Bothwel 215 William Levingston goes into France with the Queen 107 William of Malmesbury a British Writer 8 William Maitland an ingenious young Man 161 Sent into England to desire Aid 224 Sent into England to complement Queen Elizabeth on Mary's Account 154 Persuades her to declare Mary her Heiresâ— 155 Which she refuses to do 157 He favours the Queen's Affairs 225 Is factious and perfidious ibid. Studies Innovations 226 He is taken and released 242 243 William Murray of Tiâ—bardin angry with the Regent 216 William Rogers an English Musician one of James the IIId's Evil Counsellours 420 William Sylly or Souls executed 271 William Sivez his Story 418 Arch-deacon and a great Astrologer ibid. Vndermines Patrick Graham and gets the Bishoprick 419 William Stuart Bishop of Aberdene sent Embassador into France 63 Womans Isle see Nuns Isle Women some of a manly Spirit 290 297 397 Women whether the supreme Government ought to be committed to them 401 X X Vsed by the Spaniards for double SS 60 Y YEw Isle 25 Yla Isle 26 Z ZEal or Yel Island 3â— Zeland or Schetland Isles ibid. Zerobia Queen of Palmira unsuccessful in her Government 405 Zeviot or Cheviot Hills or Mountains â—3 FINIS ERRATA In the first Twelve Books PAge 16. marg for Adrews read Andrews P. 23. l. 29. f. wear r. did wear P. 24. marg f. Arraâ— r. Arrâ—â— P. 31. l. 18. f. Nastick r. Na Aich P. 39 40 41 42. in the Title f. Book I. r. Book II. P. 75. marg f. â—â—lalabria's r. Calabria's P. 82. l. 47. f. hither r. hitherto P. 109. l. 41. f. Peâ—itius r. Petiliâ—â—â— P. 110. l. 10 〈◊〉 p. 111. l. 5. f. Agrippa r. Agricola P. 110. l. 42. f. Eighth r. Seventh P. 116. marg f. vnâ—â—â—ry r. 〈◊〉 P. 120. l. 45. and p. 183. l. 26. f. Wizard r. Witch P. 131. l. 43. f. Thus r. This. P. 160. l. 22. r. Redemptioâ— P. 168. marg f. Kennetius r. Kennethus P. 183. l. 17. f. Causes r. Cause P. 197. l. 22. f. vaiâ— r. in vaiâ— P. 21â— l. 23. f. Neice r. Grandchild l. 29. f. Nephew r. Grandson P. 227. l. 25. f. 1553 r. 1153. P. 228. l. 6. dele good P. 236. l. 20. f. 1643 r. 1214. P. 245. l. 2. f. Neice r. Grandchild l. 13. f. Neice r. Grandchild P. 248. l. 41. f. to the Marriage with his Queen r. Marriage of his Son with their Queen l. 15. f. Dutchess r. Dâ—tchy P. 272. l. 9. dele some P. 273. l. 1. after taken add Besides many of inferiour Rank John Britain Earl of Richmond was also taken P. 286. marg f. Ear. r. Earn l. 27. f. the Caledonians r. Dunkel P. 287. dele the last marginal Note viz And declare War against France P. 292. l. 21. after Wepont add or Oldbrigs P. 297. l. 16. f. 1â—37 r. 1337. P. 299. r. Alexander Ramsay P. 319. l. 19. f. Army r. Arms. P. 325. l. 11. r. 18 years old Earl of Rothes P. 329. l. 1â— and 27. f. 300. r. 30. ibid. l. 49. dele of P. 330. l. 30. r. Charles VI. P. 331. f. Youth's r. Child 's P. 332. marg f. Murray r. Garioch P. 339. l. 35. f. before r. after P. 342. l. 46. f. 〈◊〉 of Caitâ—nes r. the Clan-cattan Men. f. Cameron r. the Camerons P. 347. marg f. Trust r. Frâ—it P. 348. l. 44. f. 〈◊〉 r. Marr. P. 353. l. 12. f. quietly r. quickly P. 3â—5 f. his Nephew by his Son r. Grandson P. 357. l. 46. f. 〈◊〉 Nephew by his Son r. Grandson P. 360. l. 25. f. no r. now P. 370. l. 23. f. upon r. before P. 389. l. 43. f. 〈◊〉 r. dwindle P. 403. l. 41.
the Picts w Wherein Angusianus was slain But 〈◊〉 Murderd afterwards by two Picts inbornâ—d by 〈◊〉 * Maximus a Roman General in Britain z Roman◠〈◊〉 Picts 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 a 〈…〉 by Maximus and Eugenius slain b Maximus at first using his Victory moderately yet afterwards at the instigation of the Picts c He banisht the Scots out of all Britain upon pain of Death and give away their Lands a The Eâ—iled Scots endeavouring to recover their Country are worsted by their Enemies b And forced to make Peace with the Râ—mans b And forced to make Peace with the Râ—mans Which they obtain from Maximus on moderate Conditions d Victorinus sent from Rome to Govern Britain e Who incensed the Picts by his Tyrannick Government over them f The Picts repent of their Conjunction with the Romans to Root out the Scots and also of the Persecution of the Monks being of the same Reâ—â—gion with themselves g They send to recal Fergus a Scottish Exile from Scandia to take the Regal Government upon him h The Scots and Picts unite against the Romans then brought low by their own Civil Dissensions * A Parchment Chronicle of Scotish Affairs written by the Monks of the Abby of Pasley a Town and Abby situate not far from Glascom in the Baâ—ony of Renfrew called from its Cover The Black Book * Fergus prepares for War * The Brittons send for Aid to the Romans and receive one Legion * Who repulsed their Enemies and return * The Brittons receive another Auxiliary Legion of the Romans under Maximianus * Dionethus a Britton * Maximianus overcomes Fergus King of Scots 〈◊〉 King of Picts and Dionethus * The Two Fergus's compared * The Roman Legion leaves Britanny to maintain their Empire at home * Graham's Dike a The 〈…〉 by the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 of the Râ—mans b A Peace made betwixt the Scots and Picts of the one part and the Brittons on the other * Tithes for Ecclesiasticks * Peace sometimes more dangerous than War * Famine the forest of Evils c New occasions of Dissention between the Scots and Brittons d Whereupon the Brittons Arm. Tho dâ—ssuaded therefâ—om by Conanâ—s their Countrymâ—n f Who is 〈…〉 g A terrible Fight between the Scots and the Picts and the Brittons h Wherein the Brittons are overthrown i And have 〈◊〉 Conditions of Peace imposed on them k The Brittons make Constantine King who was soon after slâ—in by Vâ—rtigern * Luxury the usual Companion of Peace l Vortigern having slain Constantine's Heir makes himself King of the Brittons m He sends for Aid to Hengist the Saxon by whose help he repels the Scots Picts * The Character of King Eugenius * Dongard an opposer of the Pelagian Heresy n Pope Celestine sends Paâ—ladius and other Learned Monks into Scotland * Or St. Mungo o Palladius first institutes Bishops in Scotland which before was governed by Monks with less splendor but more Piety * Vortigern deposed and Vortimer made King of the Brittons who concludes a Peace with the Scotâ— Picts p Constantineâ— wicked Reign q And violent Death r Scots and Brittons unite against Picts and Saxons * Aurelius Ambrosius in Britain s Merlin and Gildaâ— When they lived with a Comparison between Them the Formerâ— counteâ— an Impostor the Laâ—er a 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 * Gildas his Prophecies not Genuine * Gildas his Death at Glastonbury in England * Informers found dangerous by Experience a Goranus persuades Lothus King of the Picts and Vter King of the Brittons to join with the Scots and break with the Saxons b By the joint Confederacy of those three Kings the Saxons are worked c The Story of Vter and of Arthur his Son Kings of the Brittons c Arthur takes London and York from the Saxons d The Licentious rather than Religious Observation of the Day of Christ's supposed Nativity called Iuletide The Scots Picts and Brittons overthrow the Saxons g And at last drive them out of a great part of Britain h Competitorship between Modredus and Constantine for the Kingdom after 〈◊〉 Death i Arthur's Character k The People by the Instigation of Donald of Athol Murder Toncetus and after that the King Goranus himself l A Prince's example hath a greater influence on his Subjectâ— than his Laws m Columbas's great Authority * War betwixt Scots and Picts * A Fight between the Saxons Scots and Brittons wherein the Brittâ—ns are overthrown a The Scots and Britons overthrow the Saxons * Columb's wonderful Narration of a Victory at a very great distance from him * Ethelfrid routs the Scots being shatter'd afore * Columb's Death b Austin the Monk comes into Britain rather to promote the Ceremonies and Domination of Pope Gregory than to Preach the true Doctrine of the Gospel * A dispute raised about the Observation of Easter-day c Eugenius harbors the fugitive Saxons d Ferchard endeavours to turn limited Monarchy into Tyranny for which he is imprisoned and there lays violent hands on himself e Northumberland divided into two Kingdoms i. e. the Deiri Inhabiting on this side Tine and the Bâ—rnici Inhabiting beyond Tine to Tweed f Apostacy justly punish'd g King Donald repeats and interprets Pious Sermons to his Subjects himself Ferchard's wicked Life and Repentance at his death * Scots Monks unjustly banished out of England * Maldvinus Strangled by his Wife for which Fact she is Burnt â—liâ—e a Egfrid King of Northumberland overthrown by the Scots and Picts b Two Kings very great Theologistâ— c Blood rained down from Heaven for 7 days c. d Amberkelethus slain e Eugenius like to suffer for the supposed Murther of his Queen f He first appoints the Acts of Kings to be Registred in Monasteries * A Town in the East part of Strachern near Fife g An Abby not far from Wigton in Galway * Donald a great Plunderer * Donaldus slain by Bugâ—nsus * Eugenius slain by his Nobles for his vitious Life h Fergus for his Adulteries slain by his Wife who to avoid punishment â—illâ— her Self * One Donald calls himself King of the Aebudae * Donald slain * War between the Scots and Irish. * Which is soon composed i Achaius the first of the Scots Kings that enters into a Friendship with France k Learned Men sent for out of Scotland by Charâ—es the Great as Iohannes Scotus c. * Who Preach the Doctrine of Christiâ—nity in Germany l A Battel between Athelstan of England and Hungus the Pict who was aided by the Scots l A Battel between Athelstan of England and Hungus the Pict who was aided by the Scots * Hungus his Visiâ—n upon his Prayeâ— to God * Athelstan overthrown and slain * 〈…〉 Andrew * Hungus's Death * Dongal drowned * Wars between the Scots and Picts * King Alpin overthrown in Battel by the Picts and slain * Kenneteus by a witty Invention engages his Nobles to make War upon the Picts * The
overthrowâ— Gilespâ— a Free-â—ooâ—er The 〈◊〉 of the â—aâ—thnessmen against their Bishop punished Saturnalia * Thomas the Natural Son of Alan of Galway overthrown * Alexander and his Queen Visit King Henry His Queen dies at London He marries to a French Lady Bizâ—â— offers to clear himself by a Duel He flys to Ireland Sumerled overthrown in Argyle The Cumins's 〈◊〉 the Roast in 〈◊〉 which disgusts the opposite Faction An Embassy to England An Interview between the Two Kings November 24. * Alexander of Scotland made Knight by the K. of England A Contract of Marriage between Him Henry's Daughter The Chancelâ—oâ— of Scotland 〈◊〉 * Work Castle standing 〈…〉 above 〈…〉 side A Sedition of the Nobles against Alexander An Ancient Privilege of the Scots not to be citeâ— to Râ—me August 1. * Acho King of Norwey lands with an Army in Scotland * A Town in Cuningham standing on the Clyde But is overthrown by Alexander Stuart And dies of Grief Isle of Man recovered by the Scots * Acho's Son makes Peace with Alexander * * * Ottobon the Popes Legâ—â—e Another Legate 〈◊〉 Rome * A Town in France * A Borough over against Leith in Lothian * March the 19th Alexanders Death and Commendable Character Idle Persons punished Edward of England desires Margarite of Norway Heiress of Scotland as a Wife for his Son which is yielded to But She dyes before their Marriage Contests for the Crown of Scotland * The Original of the Controversie between the Baliols and the Bruces in Scotland The Story of the Discords between Fergus of Galway his Children after his Decease Rolland's Valouâ— and Genealogy October 1. * Comâ— Stabuâ—â— Martha Countess of Carrick falls in Love with Robert Bruce The several Pretensions of the Competitors to the Crown Which difference could not be decided by the Scots But was referred to the Umpirage of Edward of England * The 〈◊〉 Case as pâ—opounded to Lawyers by K. Edward The Lawyers differ in their Opinions about it Edward decides for Baliol. * Baliol swears Fealty to Edward * At which many of the Scots Nobles are offended * An Interrognum in Scotland before Baliol was made King Young Mackduff complains to K. Edward against Baliol. Baliol disgusts Edward He sides with the French And withdraws his Subjection from England Whereupon Edward Warâ— against Scotland He sides with Bruce Overthrows the Scots and takes Berwick Grafton Censured by This Author * Edinburgh and Sterlin But is released by Mediation of the Pope A Duodeceâ—â— virat in Scotland Iohn Cumins marches into England The Story of Wallis Wallas or Wallace and his famous Exploits against the English He is made Regent The chief Town of Clydsdale And takes many Places from the English * Or Logan He overthrows Cressingham the English General at Sterlin Bridge September 15. He enters with an Army into England 1 November 1 February Edward returns from France to subdue Wallace But retreats from the North without Fighting The Scots Nobles envy Wallace for his Success * Or Wallace Edward gives the Scots a great overthrow at Falkirk A Conference betwixt Bruce and Wallace in the Field Iuly 22. Wallace dismisses the remainder of his Army The Scots by the mediation of the King of France obtain a Truce from Edward The Scots 〈◊〉 in Armâ— again And overthrow the English at Roslin in Mid-lothian Feb. 24. Edward in revenge enters into Scotland with a vast Army and subdues all the Country Wallace courted by King Edward to come over to his Party with his stout Answer in the Negative Three Miles Eâ—st of Elâ—in All the 〈◊〉 Sâ—eâ—r Alâ—eâ—â—ance to 〈…〉 Wallace Edward appoints Magistrates all over Scotland Edwards Severity Censâ—red He carries the Marble Stone into England on which the Scots Kingâ— uâ—ed to be Crowned Seeds of new Troubles in Scotland A formal Agreement between Cumins and Bruce Which Cumins discovers to K. Edward Bâ—uce like to suffer for Treason but is informed of his danger by a Wiâ—e and flies by Night into Scotland Bruce's Horses shod backward to secure his Flight Bruce kills Cumins for betraying him * Febr. 10. Wallis unworthily betrayed by his Friend is Hang'd and Quartered by Edward His Chaâ—actâ—r Lying upon the River Aâ—mon near Perth * Iuly the 2â— * Bruce overthrown and retires in a disguise to save his Life Bruce thought to be Dead starts out from his Retirement and takes some Castles * In the Braes of â—â—gus on the Head of the North-Water Esk. Cumins of Bâ—chan 〈◊〉 againâ—t Bruâ—e But dares not fight him Iames Douglas joyns with Bruce Bruce causes himself to be carried sick into his Army and overthrows Iohn Cumins * A Town in Garioch * Iune 30th Bruce conquers all Galway Edward enters Scotland against Bâ—uce but retreats again Bruce invades England He takes Perth Dumfreiz c. with Eâ—inburâ—h and the Isle of Man from the English Sterlin-Castle capitulates with Edward Bruce Edward of England enters Scotland with a vast Army Bruce his Policy in a Fight * Small Engins ordinarily round with sharp Iron Spikes standing out on each side of Them so that throw them which way soever you will upon the Ground one Spike or other turns upward and wounds or pierces the Horses Foot that treads upon it and thus makes him Lame and unfit for Service * Iuneâ—3 â—3 The English receive a great overthrow at Bannoâ—k near Sterling * Or Menteith * Or Calhound in the Country of Lennox The Treachery of Menteith who before betrayed Wallace against the King discovered Menthet Rewarded for his Valour in Bannock Fight Berwick takeâ— by Bruce The Kingdom confirmed to Bruce Bruce desired to accept the Crown of Ireland He drives the English out of Vlster Edward Bruce overthrown in Ireland by the English October 5. An English Army worsted in Scotland Bishop Sinclar's Valour against the English Edward besieges Berwick Randolfe invades England and overthrows the Arch-Bishop of York The Wâ—itâ— Battel 〈◊〉 Edward retreats upon a Truce with the Scots Robert calls for the Deeds of Mens Lands Whereupon he receives an Affront A Conspiracy against Bruce discovered and the Actoâ—â— put to deaâ—â— The Scots Excommunicated Bruce invades England Edward enterâ— Scotland but soon retreats In Teviotdale Bruce follows him and had almost taken him in a Skirmish * Not â—ar from Maltoâ— in Yorkshire Andâ—ew Bâ—râ—ly put to Death The Scots absolved by the Pope And make a League with the French The Rise of the Family of the Hamiltons with the Occasion thereof Edwâ—rd of England slain by a strange kind of Death not without the Pâ—ivity of his Relations Bruce settles the Succession in hiâ— Family And agrees with Baliol then in France who consents theâ—eto Bâ—uce's Army 〈…〉 Edward makes Head against them The Scots flying Army of Horse weary the Engâ—ish to follow them Stags suddenly rouzed affright the English * The English Army highly incommoded in their march Reparties between both Armies Douglas breaks in upon the
English Camp and does Execution The English Army Retreats Cruelty to Prisoners Iune 24. A Peace concluded between the Scots and English with the Conditions thereof Bâ—â—ce's last Will and Testament His Three Advices to his Successors wâ—th the Reasons upon which they were grounded 〈◊〉 Bruce's Vow to assist in the Holy War recommended to Douglas to perform Bruce would have his Heart buried at Ierusalem Douglas in his Voyage to Ierusalem assists the Spaniards against the Moors and was there slain Bruce his high Encomiâ—ms Iuly 9 th Randolf made Regent or Guardian November 24. * Situate near the Irish Sea He executes a Murderer though he had the Popes Pardon A notable Law made by the Regent to prevent Theiving The Collusive Cheat of a Country Man punished Stâ—ict Laws made by the Regent * In Tâ—vâ—otdaâ—â— A Monk Poysons Randolf with a slow-working-dose Edward marches for Scotland Edward punishes the Monk because his Poyson did not kill Randolf as soon as he said it would Edward retreats Iuly 20. Randolf's death and Character Duncan Earl of Marr made Guardian in Randolfs Place August 2. Iuly 31. Edward Baliol appears on the Scots Coast. * The Story of Twine or Tuenam Loresâ—n He stirs up Edward Baliol then in France to invade Scotland Edward Baliol Lands in Scotland * A Burgh on the North side of Firthâ—n â—n Fife over against Lâ—â—th in â—othâ—an August 〈◊〉 He overthrows Alexander Seaton In Strathernâ— And afterwards beats the Regent Himself making great slaughter of his men and himself being also slain Edward Baliol Declared King Aug. 25. K. David Bruce in his Minority to secure him sent to France Murray made Regent by K. David's Party A Castle standing on the North Bank of the River Ear in Strathern Built on the side of the River Don. Perth Walls demolished A County in the South of Scotland not far from Northumberland A Town in the head of Annandale near the source of the River Annan Baliol like to be surprized by Archibald Douglas Dec. 25. The Brucianâ— prevail against the Baliolans and Declare War against England The Brucian Nobles divide the Provinces they were to Govern And Declare War against Franâ—â— The King of England espouses Baliol's Cause and invaded Scotland His Pretensions for the War He claims Berwick The Scots Answer to the 〈◊〉 The English besieges Berwick * Apâ—iâ— 13. A Capitulation with the English about the surrender of Bâ—rwick Iuly the 30. Archibald Doâ—â—las made Regent by 〈◊〉 Party He makes inroads into England And comâ—â— near the Eâ—â—lish Army 〈◊〉 Berwiâ—â— Alexander Seatons Sons threatned to be put to Death unless he surrendred Berwick His Wife incourages him to part with his Children rather than the Town Alexanders Children put to Death by a Sâ—mmum jus as some think The Scots overthrown near Berwick Bâ—â—wick Surrendred to the English Edward pufft up with hiâ— Success refuses to hear foreign Ambassadors who were sent to mediate â— Peace Dissensions between the English in Scotland occasion a War * Now demolished The Nobles Bandy against Baliol. And Baliol against them Iohn Sterlin besieges the Castle at Loch-Leven * A Veteri poâ—â—e But the Governor beats him off and raises the Siege Edward enters Scotland again but retreatâ— and 〈…〉 with him to 〈…〉 General in Scotland Robert Stuart and Calen Cambel rise in Arms for Bruce and make Prosperous Beginnings Robert Stuart and Iohn Randolf made Regents in behalf of David Bruce In Teviotdale April 1. A Fewd between Douglas and Cumins Edward invades Scotland * 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 Provinces The Gueldrians Auxiliaries to the English overthrown by Randolfe Randolf taken Prisoner Cumin's large Promises to Edward Perth taken by Edward Edward 〈◊〉 to England Cumins left Regent by him in Scotland In Marr. * On the side of the River Don in Marr. Cumin's Army overthrown and himself slain Murray made Regent The English again enter Scotland Standing on a Rock in the Sea And upon their Retreat leave Edâ— Baâ—iol their General A strong Castle in Buchan Mâ—rray's prosperous Succeâ—sâ—s 〈◊〉 Cruelty Salisbury and Aruâ—del Command some English in Scotland Monfort slain by Preston A piece of Savage Inhumanity Talbot overthrown by Keâ—th Dunbar resâ—ved and the Siege raised Murray the Regent dyes Stuart made Regent His prosperous Beginnings He Saâ—lâ— over to David then in France At his return he Levies an Army Bullock turns to the Scots Perth taken by the Scots so is Sterlin And Edinburgh Castle by Stratagem Aâ—ex Ramsays House the School of War His Expedition into England He harasses Northumberland And takes Roxburgh * The Earl of Salisbury taken Prisoner by the Scots as some say * It is 3 Miles in Compass Three Governors of the Borders The English driven out of all Scotland except Berwick * Iuly 2. K. David returns to Scotland Edward enters Scotland with a great Army Embassadors from Scotland obtain a Pacification Iune 1. The Scots Nobles stock in to David A Town in Teviotdale Ramsay taken and starved to Death by Douglas Bullock put to Death Douglas pardoned David makes several Expeditions into England A Truce for two Years betwixt the Scots and English Calais besieged by the English See p. 4. Note i. David at the solicitation of the French enters England with an Army Where he receives a great overthrow and is taken Prisoner by Iohn Capland Upon which the English regain a great part of Scotland A strong Pass on the Sea shore in that Bourn which divides East-Lothian from the Meâ—â—s A Plague in Scotland Bloody Feude Douglas prevails against the English Iohn of France persuades the Scots to make no Peace with the English but by his Consent The English waste Lothian Norham burnt by the Scots The English drawn into an Ambush Berwick Town taken by the Scots but not the Castle Edward enters Scotland Baliol Surrenders the Kingdom to him Edward retreats upon which the Scots recover some of their Losses Edward overthrows â—ohn of France in Aquitaâ—n and hath two Kings his Prisoners at one time 〈◊〉 Bruce â—â—eased upon pâ—ying a great Ransom wherein the Pope assists the Sâ—â—ts David settles the Succession first on Alexander and then on Robert Stuart Great Inundations of Water endammage Lothian A Grievous Pestilence Eight Prudent Persons chosen out of all the Orders to prepare Matters for that High Court Davids unacceptable Propositions to the Scots Davids Policy to subvert the Islanders His Death and Character William's Son Marries Eufemia the Kings Daughter August 11. New Discordâ— betwixt the Scots and English Lilburn overthrown A Town in the Merss six Miles Northwest from Berwick Iohn Scotus born at Duns Percy enters Scotland They run from the Scots Sea to 〈◊〉 and divide 〈◊〉 from Lothian Percâ—'s Horse are affrighted with rattling Instruments and 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 Robert upon his Queens decease Marries Elizabeth More by whom he had Children before whom he prefers to great 〈◊〉 Edward the Third dies and his Grandchild Richard the Second succeeds him Ambassadors from Charles
The Parliament Graâ—ity neither Party fully but chuse Regents of which the Queens Friends are an equal Number with the rest A Truce with England for 1â— Years The Queen Mothers Death Intestine Commotions in Scotland By Alan of Loâ—n And Donald the Islander * Or Redshanks Donald takes the Earl of Athol Prisoner pillages and burns St. Brides Church He is Shipwrackâ—d and theâ—eupon falâ—s distrâ—cted Iames Kennedy his commendation The Boyds câ—eep into Favour at Court Alexander Boyd abuses Kennedy The Boyds carry the King to Edinburgh Whereupon the Kennedies depart from the Court Boyd's Sarcasm to Iohn Kennedy Kennedy's Death and Character * Patrick Graham Elected Bishop of St. Andrews in the room of Iames Kennedy and Confirmed by the Pope But the Boyds obstruct his Admission Scots Bishops freed from the Jurisdiction of the Arch-Bishop of York by the Popes Decree The Boyds strengthen their Faction and procure Pardon for their Misâ—aâ—iageâ— by Publick Instruments to which the King assents Robert Boyd made Regent Thomas Boyd Marries the Kings Eldest Sister The Greatness of the Boyds occasions their Ruin James by his Ambassadors desires Margarite Daughter of the King of Denmark for a Wife The King of Denmark resigns up the Orcades and Scheâ—land to the Scots as a Dowry Thomas Boyd sent Ambassador to bring the new Queen from Norwey The Boyds undermined in the absence of Thomas Robert Boyd flies into England Alexander Boyd Beheaded A Critical or Ambiguous Pardon Thomas Boyd declared a publick Enemy in his â—bsence Who thereupon retires into Burgundy King Iames Married to Margarite of Norwey * A Town on the River Irwyn in Cuningham Thomas Boyd's Wife divorced fâ—om him and Married to Iames Hamilton Boyd's Death Bishops anciently chosen by their Canons and Abbats by their Monks Bâ—t King Iames assumes the naming of 〈◊〉 to himseâ—â— Which Patrick Grahâ—m laboâ—rs to withstand But the Court-brokers â—ppose him The Story of William Sivez and his worming of Graham out of the Archbishopâ—ick of St. Andrews Patrick Graham Excommunicated and his Rents gathered into the Kings Exchequer Situate upon the Head of Monks-Moor Five Miles North of Falkland 〈…〉 of his Bâ—shoprick imprisoned till 〈◊〉 Death and hiâ— Adversary Sivez succeeds him A Town four Miles above Queens-Ferry in Fife Iohn the Islander rises in Arms but quickly submits himself Iames Kennedy built a vast Ship which is rifled by the English but upon a Peace made by Embassadors he receives satisfaction Embassadors to Charles of Burgundy who soon after was slain at Nants by the Switzers One Andrews an Astrologer and Physician foretels K. Iames's Death K. Iames degenerates into Tyranny Iohn the Kings Brotheâ— put to Death And Aâ—exander impriâ—oned But he makeâ— his Escape to Dunbar and then to France Dunbar Castle deserted and taken by the Scots Peace between the Scots and English wherein it was agreed That Cecily Edwards Daughter should Marry Iames's Young Son But the Peace is soon broken and an Army Marches into England * In Lauderdale Douglasses Oration to the Nobles in the Camp against the King's Evil Counsellors Cockran and the Rest of the Evil Counsellors dragg'd out by an Incensed Army to their Deaths Their Crimes Objected were Brass-Money Coyned Their Aliâ—nating the King's Heart from the Nobility with 〈◊〉 Incouraging of him in Magical Aâ—ts and Exciting him to Cruelty against his own Flesh and Blood The Scots Army disbanded An English Army under the Duke of Glocester and Alexander the Kings Brother enters Scotland The Sâ—ots Nobâ—â—â—ty raise an Army Yet mediate a Peace by their Agents Reparties between both Armies * Near Hadington in 〈◊〉 Lothian Alexander is reconciled to the King returns into his own Country and is made Regent Beâ—wick Castâ—e surrendered to the Engâ—ish The intended Marriage be Iames's Son and Edward's Daughter Null'd and the Dowry repaid Alexander disgusted condemned and flees to England Creighton condemned with the Reasons why Edward of England dies and his Brother Richard made first Protector and then King A Scuffle in Scotland On the North-side of Fife upon the Riveâ— Tay. A Truce between Richard of England and the Scots Richard of England 〈◊〉 and Henry the 7 th 〈◊〉 him Dunbar-Castle surrendred to the Scots A Truce between the English and Scots for 7 Years The Death of the Queen of Scots and of Alexander the King's Brother who left Two Sons behind them The King again addicts himself to Evil Counsellors Iohn Ramsy c. The King labours to cajole some of the Nobles by Honors He discovers his Design against the Nobles to Douglas Who dissuades him from such Cruelty The Nobles Arm against the King and chuse the Kings Son for their General A Temporary Agreement The Nobles insist on the Kings resigning of the Crown The King sends Embassadors for Foreign Aid A Battel between the King and the Nobles where the King is slain The Character of james III And of the Foreign Princes his Contemporaries Wood's Constancy to King Iames the 3 d. On the North-side of Forth 2 Miles below Sterlin Andrew Wood reconciled to K. Iames the 4 th He fights the English Fleet overthrows them Some of the Scots Nobility combine against the new King's Party But are overthrown * Off the Point of Fife The manner of the Fight between Andr. Wood and the English Admiral Wood's second Victory over the English A strange Monster K. Iames the 4 th his first Parliament ‖ A Castle lying 4 miles South off Fâ—râ—ar in Angus * The Commendation of Iames the 4 th His Clemency His sorrowful Resentment for his Fathers Death Peter Warbeck some call him Perkin comes into Scotland His Story * A Town in Flanders standing on the Bank of the Sâ—â—â—ld †A Gallo-Belgick People possessing 〈◊〉 Warbeck set up by Margaret Dutchess of Burgundy Warbeck's feigned Harangue of himself The Scots Council cajol'd by Warbeck K. Iames marries Katherine Gordon his Kinswoman to Warbeck and assists him with an Army against England K. Iames begins to smell out Warbeck's Cheat. Henry of England prepares an Army against Scotland An Insurrection in England prevents K. Henry's Design against Scotland at that time K. Iames invades England but to little purpose * In the Mers on the River Aye a mile above Aymouth An Embassador form Spain to England Who mediates a Peace between Scotland and England * The chief Town in Tividale standing on the West of the River Ied Warbeck dismist out of Scotland Taken and hanged in England A War like to arise on a small Occasion betwixt England Scotland but accommodated by Fox Bp. of Durham * Mulross in Tiviot-dale on a bare Promonâ—ory on Tweed side three Miles below its confluence with Gala. A Conference between King Iames and R. Fox Bp of Durham concerning the Marriage of King Henry's Daughter Margaret to Iames. Which took Effect A vast Ship built by King Iames. Wardship a Badg of Slavery Recognition what Wardship disused K. Iames's resolution 〈…〉 Ierusalem The execution of it
after them and in a short time they were brought to the King and punished according to Law Whereupon the Nobles were dismissed having received some Gifts and many large Promises from the King and the Commonalty also pray'd heartily for their King Matters being thus composed at home he faithfully observed the League made by some former Kings with the English But this great Tranquillity of all Britain was soon disturbed by the Danes who appeared with a great Fleet and Anchored near the Red-Promontory a Place in Aeneia or Angus They there staid some days in Consultation Whether they should Land there or direct their Course towards England as they intended at first Many of them were of Opinion That it was most adviseable to make for England an opulent Country where they might have both Provision enough for their Army and also some hopes of Auxiliaries and Recruits in regard that there many of the Danish stock were yet alive amongst them and many others stood obliged to them for old Courtesys and Friendships and that These upon the first notice of their Arrival would presently flock in to them as of old they used always to do But as for the Scots they were a fierce Nation and very hardy as Those use to be who are bred in Barren and Hungry Soiles That they never attempted them without some great and remarkable loss and in the present case if they overcame them it would hardly be worth their Labour But if they were overcome by them they must endure the utmost Extremity and Rigour Others were of a different Opinion alleging That if they made their Descent on the Coasts of England then they should be obliged to Fight Both Nations at once but if the Scots were First overcome the War against the English would be easy when they were bereft of Foâ—â—ign Aid and also terrified with the Loss of their Friends They further urged That it was not the part of Great and Magnanimous Spirits to be intent on Prey and Booty only they should rather call to mind the Blood of their Kindred and Ancestors who had been so often cruelly slain in Scotland And that now especially having a Great Army and being furnished also with things necessary for War they ought to take That Revenge which might punish the Savage Cruelty of the Scots according to their Deserts and might also carry the terror of the Danish Name to all the Neighbouring Nations After this Battel Peace seemed to have been settled for many Years when behold some troublesome matters at home did disturb this Calm As for the Commotion of the Islanders who in a Plundering way ranged over all Ross That was quickly suppressed some of the Robbers being slain in â—ight some taken in pursuit and after Executed But Crathilinthus the Son of Fenella or as some call her Finabella gave far greater disturbance He was then the chief of all Mern both in Descent and Wealth Crathilinthus his Grandfather by the Mothers side was made Governor by the King over that part of Angus which lies between the Two Rivers each of them having the Name of Eske where he gathered up the Kings Taxes and Revenues his Nephew coming with a great Train to visit him a sudden Quarrel arose amongst their Servants so that two of Crathilinthus's Friends were slain He complained thereof to his Grandfather who laid the blame of the Tumult upon his Nephews rude Retinue and Company and after a sharp Reproof he was dismissed by him but not without Contumelies from his Servants and Domesticks So that returning home he in great Wrath complained of the Affront to his Mother who was so far from endeavouring to allay his Rage and quiet the Mind of the incensed Youth by grave and wholesome Counsel that she importuned him to Revenge himself by force of Arms even upon her own Father and his Grandfather too Hereupon not long after Crathilinthus having gathered an armed Company together fit for his purpose comes by Night into Angus to his Grandfathers Castle He with some few Followers were admitted in without Suspicion and being once entred he gave the Word to the rest who lay in Ambush and let in them also so that he slew his Grandfather with his whole Family plundered the Castle depopulated the Country adjacent and as if he had done a Famous Exploit he returned pompously with a great Booty into Mern But the Angusians did not suffer this Injury to pass long Unrevenged For soon after gathering a great many of their Faction together they made great Havock in the District of Mern From that time forward Slaughters and Rapines were occasionally committed on both sides Kennethus hearing of it published a Proclamation That the Chief of either Faction should appear at Scone within Fifteen Days to answer What should be objected against them for he feared that if a greater number should resort to the Factions further Tumults might arise some few being terrified by this minatory Edict made their appearance accordingly but the greatest part of whom Crathilinthus was Chief being conscious of their own Demerits fled away as every one thought most convenient The King made diligent search after them the greatest part of them were taken in Loch-Abyr and some elsewhere Crathilinthus and the Cheif of the Faction were punished with Death others according to the Degree of their Crimes had lesser Punishments and those who were but a little Guilty had none at all inflicted on them This Moderation and Temperament procured to the King Fear from the bad but great Love from others and settled Peace in all his Kingdom till the Twenty first year of his Reign Insomuch That if he had persisted in that course of Life which he had begun he might well have been reckoned amongst the Best of Princes for he so performed all the Offices both of Peace and War that he got great Renown upon the account of his Equity Impartiality and Valour But the Excellency of his former Life was blurred by one Wicked Fact that he committed which seemed too more aggravated in him in regard it was incredible and unexpected to proceed from his Disposition who had before so severely punished Grand Offenders The Occasion of it was This The King being now grown somewhat ancient had a Son named Malcolm a Prince of great Ingenuity but in point of Age not yet mature to Govern so fierce a People if his Father should die Further the Custom of our Ancestors was then against it that he should Reign next after his Father For They were wont to choose not the next but the fittest of the deceased Kings Relations provided he were descended from Fergus the First King of the Scots Besides the Favour of the Nobility was another Obstacle which did incline to another Malcolm the Son of King Duffus the most Praise-Worthy Prince of all the Scotish Royal Race Moreover he was then Governor of Cumberland which County the Scots did hold as Feudataries of the Kings of
the Whole At first he Nobly treated Edward and Edmond the Sons of the Deceased Edmond when they were brought to him Afterwards being edged on by wicked Ambition he desirous to confirm the Kingdom to his Posterity by their Destruction sent them away privately to Valgar Governour of Swedland to be Murdered there Valgar understanding their Noble stock and considering also their Age and Innocence withal taking Compassion of their Condition and Fortune sent them to Hungary to King Salomon pretending to Canutus That he had put them death There they were Royally Educated and so much grateful Towardliness appeared in Edward that Salomon culled him out of all the Young Nobles to give him his Daughter Agatha to Wife By her he had Edgar Margaret and Christian. In the mean time Canutus dying Hardicanute succeeded him When he was slain Edward was recalled from Normandy whither he was before Banished together with his Brother Alured Earl Godwyn a powerful man of English Blood but who had Married the Daughter of Canutus was sent to fetch them home He being desirous to transfer the Kingdom into his own Family caused Alured to be Poysoned as for Edward he was preserved rather by Gods Providence than by any human Counsel and Reigned most devoutly in England But wanting Children his Chief care was to recal his Kinsman out of Hungary to undertake the Government alleging That when Edgar returned he would willingly surrender up All to him but His Modesty out-did the Kings Piety for he refused to accept of the Kingdom as long as he was alive At length upon Edwards death Harald Godwyns Son invaded the Throne yet he dealt kindly with Agatha the Hungarian and her Children But he being also overthrown by William the Norman Edgar to avoid Williams Cruelty resolved with his Mother and Sisters to return into Hungary but by a Tempest he was driven into Scotland There he was Courteously entertained by Malcolm who made him his Kinsman also by the Marriage of his Sister Margaret William then Reigning in England upon every light Occasion was very cruel against the Nobles either of English or Danish Extraction But understanding what was a doing in Scotland and fearing a Tempest might arise from thence he sent an Herald to demand Edgar denouncing War against Scotland unless he were surrendred up Malcolm looked upon it as a cruel and faithless Thing to deliver up his Suppliants Guest and Kinsman and one against whom his very Enemies could object no Crime to his Capital Enemy to be put to Death and therefore resolved to suffer any thing rather than so to do And thereupon he not only detained and harboured Edgar but also gave Admission to his Friends who in great Numbers were Banished from their own homes and gave them Lands to live upon whose Posteritys were there Propagated into many Rich and Opulent Families Upon this Occasion there followed a War betwixt the Scots and English wherein Sibert King of Northumberland favouring Edgar joyned his Forces with the Scots The Norman being puff'd up with the good Success of his Affairs made light of the Scotish War and thinking to end it in a short time he sent one Roger a Nobleman of his own Country with Forces into Northumberland But he being overcome and put to flight was at last Slain by his own Men. Then Richard Earl of Glocester was sent with a greater Army but he could do but little good neither for Patrick Dunbar wearied him out with light Skirmishes so that his Men could not straggle for to get in Prey at last William's Brother and Bishop of Bayon being made Earl of Kent came down with a much greater strength he made great spoil in Northumberland and slew some who thought to stop him from plundering but as he was returning with a great Booty Malcolm and Sibert set upon him slew and took many of his Army and recovered the Prey When his Army was recruited William's Son was sent down thither but he made no great Earnings of it neither only he pitched his Camp at the River Tine and he rather kept off than made or inferred the War In the mean time he repaired Newcastle which was almost decayed by reason of its Antiquity William being thus wearied with a War more tedious than profitable his Courage being somewhat cooled applied himself to thoughts of Peace which was made on these Conditions That in Stanmore i. e. a Stony Heath a Name imposed on it for that very Cause lying between Richmond-shire and Cumberland the Bounds of both Kingdoms should be fixed and in the Boundary a Cross of Stone should be Erected which should contain the Statues and Arms of the Kings of Both Sides That Cross as long as it stood was called Kings Cross That Malcolm should enjoy Cumberland upon the same Terms as his Ancestors had held it Edgar was also received into William's Favour and endowed with large Revenues and that he might prevent all occasion of suspition of his innovating things he never departed from the Court Voldiosus also the Son of Sibert was to have his Fathers Estate restored to him and besides he was admitted into Affinity with the King by Marrying a Neice of his born of his Daughter Intestine Tumults did succeed this External Peace for the Men of Galway and of the Aebudae did Ravage and commit Murders over all their Neighbouring Parts and the Murray-Men with those of Ross Caithness and their Allies made a Conspiracy and assuming their Neighbour Islanders to their Aid gave an Omen of a greater War Walter the Nephew of Bancho by his Son Fleanchus who was before received into Favour with the King was sent against the Galway-Men and Macduff against the other Rebels whilst the King himself was gathering greater Forces Walter slew the Head of that Faction and so quell'd the common Souldiers that the King at his Return made him Lord Steward of all Scotland for his Good Service This Magistrate was to gather in all the Kings Revenues also he had a Jurisdiction such as the Sheriffs of Counties have and he is the same with That which our Ancestors called a Thane But now a days the English Speech getting the better of our Country Language the Thanes of Counties are in many places called Stewards and he which was anciently called Abthane is now the Lord High Steward of Scotland Yet in some few places the Name of Thane doth yet remain From this Walter the Family of the Steuarts who have so long Reigned over Scotland took its Beginning But Macduff warring in another Province when he came to the Borders of Marr the Marrians promised him a Sum of Money if he would not enter into their Province and he fearing the Multitude of the Enemy did protract the time in Proposals and Terms of a pretended Peace till the King arrived with greater Forces When they came to the Village Monimuss they joined Camps and the King being troubled at the bruit
no great matter when God their Creditor called upon them for it That if only Wicked Men were subject to Death then a Man might justly grieve at the Decease of his Kindred but when we see Good Men also Dye all Christians said he ought to be throughly setled in this persuasion That no Evil can happen to the Good either alive or dead and therefore Why should we be so much troubled at a short Separation especially from our Kindred who have not so much left us as they are gone before us to our common Country Whither we also thô we should live never so long must yet at last follow As for my Son if he hath undertaken this Voyage before us that so he might visit and enjoy the Fellowship of my Parents and Brethren those precious Men before-hand if we are troubled at it let us take heed That we seem not rather to envy his Happiness than to Mourn for our own Loss As for you Worthy Lords as I am beholding to you for many Offices of Respect so both I and my Son for I shall undertake also for him are much obliged for your Loves to me and your Grateful and Pious Memory of him This Greatness of Mind in the King as it added much to his own Veneration so it increased the Sense of the loss of his Son in the Minds of all when they considered What a Prince they and their Children were deprived of And David that he might make use of the only way of Consolation which was left him caused his Nephews and his Sons Children to be brought to him and to be trained up in Court-discipline which was then most Pious In Fine he provided for their Security as far as Human Counsel could foresee He commended Malcolm the eldest of the Three to the Care of the whole Nobility and particularly of Mackduff Earl of Fife a very powerful and prudent Man and he caused him to carry him all over the Land that so he might be received as the undoubted Heir of the Kingdom William the next Son he made Earl of Northumberland and sent him presently to take Possession of that Country David the Third Son he made Earl of Huntington in England and of Garioch in Scotland He made the more haste to prefer them because being Sick of a mortal Disease he foresaw his Time could not be long in this World He dyed in the Year of Christ 1553. the Ninth of the Calends of Iune He was so well beloved That all Men thought they had lost rather a Father in him yea the best of Fathers than a King For thô his whole Life was so Devout as no History records the like yet some few Years before his Death he Devoted himself to the Preparation for his later End So that his Deportment then did much increase Mens Veneration for the former part of his Life For thô he equalled former Kings who were most Praise-worthy in the Art of War and excelled them in the Study of Peace Yet now leaving off contending with others for Superiority in Virtue He maintained a Combat with himself alone wherein he advanced so much That if the Highest and most Learned Wits should endeavour to give the Idea or Pattern of a Good King they could never comprehend in their Thoughts such an exemplary Prince as David shewed himself in his whole Life to be He Reigned 29 Years 2 Months and 3 Days Malcolm IV. The Ninety Second King HIS Nephew Malcolm succeeded him who thô yet Under-age gave great hopes of his future Ingenuity For he was so Educated by his Father and Grandfather that he seemed to resemble them asmuch in the Virtues of his Mind as in the Lineaments of his Body In the beginning of his Reign a great Plague raged all over Scotland whereby great Numbers of Men and Cattle also were destroyed At that time one Somerled was Thane of Argyle whose Fortune was above his Family and his Mind above his Fortune He conceiving some hopes to enjoy the Kingdom by reason of the King's Non-age and the present Calamity gathered a Band of his Confidents together and invaded the adjacent Countries Yea the Havock he made was spoken of far and neer and the fear of him spreading itself further many Bad Men coming in to him and some Good good being forced to joyn with him too in a short time he made up a vast Army Upon the report of this Tumult Donald also the Son of Malcolm Macbeth made another Bustle but being taken at Whithorn in Galway and sent to the King he was committed to the same Prison with his Father But soon after the King was reconciled to them and they were both released Gilchrist Earl of Angus was sent with an Army against Somerled who defeated and killed many of his Men and caused him with some few more to fly into Ireland This Victory thus unexpectedly and suddainly obtained produced Tranquillity at home but Envy abroad For Henry King of England an Ambitious Prince and desirous to inlarge his own Dominions resolved with himself to curb the growing Greatness and Power of Malcolm But he could not well make open War upon him out of Conscience of that Pact and Oath which he had sworn to him For when he received the Military Girdle as the Custom is from King Malcolm's Grandfather at Carlisle he promised and took his Oath on it as William of Newberry besides our own Writers say That he would never go about to deprive either David himself or any of his Posterity of any part of those Possessions which David then held in England He being somewhat bound up by this Oath That he might find out some colour for his Calumniations he resolved to try the Kings Patience in a lesser Matter When Iohn Bishop of Glascow was Dedicating Churches Shaving Priests and performing the other Parts of his Episcopal Office as then they were judged to be all over Cumberland Henry by Trustine Archbishop of York sent a new Bishop into that Country called the Bishop of Carlisle Iohn was so moved at the Injury that seeing no sufficient Safeguard neither in the King nor in the Law he left his Bishoprick and retired into the Monastery of Tours in France Whence he returned not untill the Pope at Malcolm his Request drew him unwillingly out of his Cell and made him return to his own Country Malcolm bore the wrong better than some hoped so that not thinking it a sufficient Cause for a War he went to Chester in the Street there to quiet Suspicions and to cut off occasions of Discord Being arrived there by the Fraud of Henry he was Circumvented and made to take an Oath of Fidelity to him whereas it was not the King himself but his Brothers who had Lands in England according to an old Agreement who were to take that Oath But this was Craftily and Maliciously devised by the English King to sow the Seed of Discord amongst Brethren which
of Silver as a Largess being moved thereunto either out of Remembrance of his former Bounty to him or on the Consideration of his present Want Neither were ever the Scots and English more Gracious than at that time as many judge There William fell very Sick and a Rumour of his Death being noised abroad caused new Combustions in Scotland Harald Earl of the Orcades and of Caithnes hated the Bishop of Caithnes because as he alledged he was the Obstacle that he could not obtain what he desired of the King and therefore he took him Prisoner cut out his Tongue and also put out his Eyes The King returning home overthrew Harald in several Skirmishes and destroyed most of his Forces Harald himself was taken in his Flight and brought back to the King who when his Eyes also were first put out by way of Retaliation was afterwards hanged his whole Male-Stock were Gelded the rest of his Kinn and Companions of his Wickedness were deeply Fined These things are thus related by Hector Boetius and common Report confirms them yea the Hill receiving its Name from Testicles gives credit to the Relation so that it seems truer than what others Write in this matter These things happened in the Year of our Salvation 1198. in which Year the King had a Son named Alexander Born to him and Richard of England dying his Brother Iohn succeeded him Whereupon the King of Scots went into England to take his Oath to him for the Lands which he held in England and in the beginning of Iohn's new Reign his Coming was not more acceptable than his Departure displeasing because he refused to follow Iohn in his Expedition into France against Philip his old Friend So that as soon as Iohn returned out of France he sought Occasion for a War with the Scots and began to build a Fort over against Berwick William having in vain complained of the Injurie by his Embassadors gathered a Company together and demolished what was built thereof Upon which Armies were Levied on both sides but when their Camps were near to one another Peace was made by the Intervention of the Nobles on these Terms That William's Two Daughters should be given in Matrimony to Iohn's Two Sons assoon as ever they were Marriageable A great Dowry was promised and Caution made That no Fort should be built and Hostages also were given in the case William at his return fell into an unexpected Danger The greatest Part of the Town of Berth was swept away in the Night by an Inundation of the River Tay Neither was the King's Palace exempted from the Calamity but his Son an Infant with his Nurse and 14 more were drowned the rest hardly escaping Many also of the Promiscuous Multitude lost their Lives The King perceiving that the Water had overwhelmed the greatest part of the Ground on which the City stood and that almost every House in the Town had suffered thereby caused a new City to be built a little below in a more commodious place on the same River and making some small variation of the Name called it Perth in Memory as some say of one Perth a Nobleman who gave the King the Land on which the City was built About the same time the King took Gothered Makul Captain of the Rebels in the North who was betrayed to him by his own Men. When he was Prisoner he constantly abstained from all Food to prevent as 't is thought a more heavy Punishment This was in a manner the last memorable Fact of William's which yet in regard of his unweildy Age was acted by his Captains For he Dyed soon after in the 74 th year of his Age and the 49 th year of his Reign A. D. 1643. Not long before his Death Leagues were renewed with Iohn King of England almost every Year for he being a Man desirous to enlarge his Dominions thô he had War with the French abroad with the Romanists at home and moreover was never on sure Terms of Peace with the Irish or Welsh yet did not break off his Inclination to invade Scotland which had then an old Man for their King and the next Heir to him a Child Frequent Conferences happened on this Occasion rather to try what might be obtained than in hopes of any good Issue at length the Matter broke out into open Suspicion And after many Leagues made between Them at last William was called to Newcastle upon Tine Whither he came but there falling into a dangerous Disease he returned without doing any thing In fine a little before his Death he was invited to Norham on the Tweed and when his Sickness would not permit him to go his Son was desired to come in his stead which yet by the Advice of the Council was refused the Leagues established in those Interviews I shall not particularly mention for they almost all contain the same things having in them nothing New save that in One of them it was Articled That the Scotish Kings should not Swear nor be Feudataries to the Kings of England Themselves for the English Lands they held but their Children only The Mention of these things is wholly omitted by the English Writers also I believe for this very Cause Alexander II. The Ninety Fourth King WIlliam was succeeded by Alexander his Son begot on Emergard who was Kinswoman to the King of England and Daughter to the Earl of Beaumont He was but Sixteen years of age when he began to Reign entring upon the Government in troublesom Times he composed and setled things more prudently than could be expected from one of his years First of all he Indicted a Publick Convention of the Estates and therein by a Decree he confirmed all the Acts of his Father that good and prudent Prince His first Expedition was into England not out of any private Ambition but to bridle the Tyranny of Iohn and it was then said that he was sent for in by the Ecclesiasticks of that Kingdom He left Norham upon certain Conditions when he had begun to besiege it and piercing further into the Kingdom he carried it very severely against all the Royalists Upon his Return home Iohn invaded Scotland quickly after He made a mighty Devastation in Dunbar Hadington and all the Neighbouring Parts of Lothian and to spread the War and Ruin further he determined to return another Way Alexander being very desirous to decide it by a Battel pitcht his Tents between the Pentland Hills and the River Eske which way as it was bruited he would return but Iohn to avoid fighting marched along by the Sea and burnt the Monastery of Coldingham he also took and burnt Berwick which was then but meanly fortified As he thus marched hastily back Alexander followed him as fast as he could and making great havock all over Northumberland came as far as Richmond But Iohn by speedy marches having retreated into the heart of England Alexander returned by Westmorland and
divided his Book into Chapters and besides what he affirms is no where found in his Writings but to leave this unlearned and shameless Relator I return to Edward who by reason of the abounding Multitude of his Army sent Part of it to besiege Dunbar and a few days after the Castle of Berwick despairing of any Relief was surrendred to him Afterwards he joined all his Forces together at Dunbar to fight the Scots Army who came to relieve it The Battel was fierce and the Victory inclining to the English the chief of the Nobility fled into the Castle but the Castle was soon taken either by the Perfidiousness of Richard Stuart the Governor or else because he had not Provisions for so great a Multitude as were shut up in so narrow a Compass Edward was very cruel to all the Prisoners Some cast the Blame of this Overthrow upon Robert Bruce the Elder in that his Friends giving back in the Battel it strook a Terrour into the rest But our Writers do constantly affirm That when Bruce demanded of Edward the Kingdom of Scotland according to his Promise as a Reward of his Pains that day That Edward should answer in French of which Language he was Master What have I nothing else to do but to win Kingdoms for you When Dunbar and some other Castles near the Borders of England were taken the surrender of Edinburgh and Sterlin followed soon after Then Edward passing over the Forth directed his March where Baliol then was When he was come as far as Montross without any to oppose him Baliol by the Persuasion of Iohn Cumins of Strabogy came to him and surrendred to him Himself and the Kingdom Baliol was sent into England by Sea and Edward returning to Berwick sent a strict and severe Summons to all the Scots Nobles to attend him there after they came he compelled them to Swear Fealty to him But William Douglas an eminent Man both on the account of his Family and also his own famous Exploits obstinately refusing to do it was cast into Prison where in a few years he died Thus Edward having succeeded in his Expedition according to his Mind left Iohn Warren Earl of Surry as Proxy behind him and Hugh Cressingham Lord Chief Justice or Treasurer and so returned to London There he committed Iohn Baliol to Prison in the 4th year of his Reign but a while after at the Entreaty of the Pope and his Promise that he would raise no Tumults in Scotland he was sent back into France his Son Edward being retained as an Hostage Edward having prepared all things for the French War which by reason of the Commotions in Scotland he had deferred now Sails thither with great Forces The Scots by reason of his Absence being erected to some hopes of their Liberty chose 12 Men to Govern the State By whose unanimous Consent Iohn Cumins Earl of Buchan was sent into England with a good Force and in regard the English who were scattered in Garisons over Scotland dared not to stir he spoiled Northumberland without controul and laid Siege to Carlisle but to no purpose Though this Expedition did somewhat encourage the before crest-fallen Scots and hindred the English from doing them further Mischief yet it contributed little or nothing to the Main Chance in regard that all the Places of Strength were possessed by the Enemies Garisons But when the Nobility had neither Strength nor Courage to undertake great Matters there presently started up one William Wallace a Man of an Ancient and Noble Family but one that had lived poorly and meanly as having little or no Estate yet this Man performed in this War not only beyond the Expectation but even the Belief of all the Common People For he was bold-spirited and strong-bodied and when he was but a Youth had slain a young English Nobleman who proudly domineered over him For this Fact he was fain to run away and to skulk up and down in several places for some years to save his Life and by this Course of Life his Body was hardned against Wind and Weather and his Mind also fortified to undergo greater hazards when time should serve At length growing weary of such an Erratick Life he resolved to attempt something though never so hazardous and therefore gathered a Band of Men together of like Fortune with himself and did not only assault single Persons but even greater Companies though with an inferior Number and accordingly he slew several Persons in divers Places He played his Pranks with as much Celerity as Boldness and never gave his Enemy opportunity to fight him so that in a short time his Fame was spread over Both Nations by which means many came in to him moved by the likeness of their Cause or with the like Love of their Country thus he made up a considerable Army And seeing the Nobles were sluggish in their Management of Affairs either out of Fear or Dulness this Wallace was proclaimed Regent by the Tumultuous Band that followed him and so he managed Things as a Lawful Magistrate and the Substitute of Baliol. He accepted of this Name not out of any Ambition or Desire to Rule but because it was cast upon him by the Love and Good Will of his Countrymen With this Army the first visible Exploit he performed was at Lanerick where he slew the Major General of that Precinct being an Englishman of good Descent Afterwards he took and demolished many Castles which were either slenderly Fortified or meanly Garisoned or else guarded negligently which petty Attempts so encouraged his Soldiers that they shunned no Service no not the most hazardous under his Conduct as having experienced That his Boldness was guided by Counsel and That Counsel seconded by good Success When the Report of these Things was spread abroad and perhaps somewhat enlarged beyond the Bounds of Truth out of Mens Respect and Favour to him All that wished well to their Country or were afraid of their own particular Conditions flocked in to him as judging it fit to take Opportunity by the Forelock so that in a short time he reduced all the Castles which the English held on the other side of the Forth though never so well fortified and for fear of him carefully Guarded He took and demolished the Castles of Dundee Forfar Brechin and Montross he seized on Dunoter unawares and Garisoned it he entred Aberdene which the Enemy for fear of his coming had plundered and burnt even whilst it was in Flames but a Rumour being scattered abroad concerning the coming of the English Army prevented his Taking the Castle for he determined to meet them at the Forth not being willing to hazard a Battel but in a Place he himself should choose Edward of England when he went into France as I said before put English Garisons into all the Strong Holds of Scotland and besides having many of the Scots faithful to him and unfaithful to their
but with Glory with Arms and other Furniture for War Neither did they only release their own Men who were made Prisoners either in Fight or upon Surrenders but also they raised great Sums by the Redemption of the English they had taken And out of the Spoils many recompensed and made up the Losses they had received in former Times yea and got great Estates too for the future For the English came with all their Precious Things about them not as to a War but as to an assured Victory The King having thus prosperously succeeded in the War spent the following Winter in settling the State of the Kingdom which was much weakened by so long a War and also in bestowing Rewards on the well-deserving The next Spring Berwick was taken from the English after they had enjoyed it 20 Years In the next place he Convened an Assembly of the Estates at Air a Town of Kyle There in a full Assembly by the Suffrages of all the Orders the Kingdom was confirmed to Bruce and afterwards because the King had but one only Daughter left by his former Wife The States remembring what publick Mischiefs had happened by the Dispute which in former times had been managed concerning the Right of Succession made a Decree That if the King left no Issue Male his Brother Edward should succeed him in the Kingdom and his Sons in order after him But if he also should decease without Issue Male then the Crown was to descend to Mary the Daughter of Robert and to her Posterity yet so that the Nobility were to provide her an Husband fit for her Royal Estate and for the Succession in the Kingdom For it was lookt upon as far more just That an Husband should be chosen for the young Lady than that she should chuse an Husband for her self and a King for the whole Land It was also Decreed That in the Minority of the King Thomas Randolfe or if he should miscarry Iames Douglas should be Tutors to the King and Governors of the Kingdom The Fame of Robert's noble Exploits both at home and abroad excited the Irish to send Ambassadors to him To put themselves and their Kingdom under his Protection And if his Domestick Affairs should not suffer him to accept of the Kingdom himself yet that he would permit his Brother Edward to do it that so a Nation allied to him might no longer suffer under the cruel insulting and intolerable Domination and Servitude of the English The Irish wrote also to the Pope to the same purpose and he by his Missives desired the English to forbear wronging and oppressing the Irish but in vain so that Edward Bruce went thither with a great Army and by universal consent was saluted King In the first year of his Arrival he drove the Englâ—sh out of all Vlster and reduced it to his Obedience yea he passed over all the rest of the â—sland with his Victorious Army The next year a new Army was sent over from England Robert perceiving that the War would grow hotter levied new Forces and made haste over to his Brother He suffered much in that Expedition by his want of Provision and when he was but about one days March from him he heard That he and all his Men were defeated the Third of the Nones of October The report is That Edward edged on by too much desire of Glory did precipitate the Fight lest his Brother should share with him in the Glory of the Victory The King of England being informed that the Flower of the Militia of Scotland did attend Bruce in a Foreign Country and thinking This a fit opportunity offered him to Revenge the Losses of former times sent a great Army under select Commanders into Scotland Douglas Governor of the Borders fought with them thrice in several places and slew almost all their Commanders and a great part of the Souldiers The English having sped ill with their Land Army came into the Forth with a Naval Force and infested all the Sea Coasts by their Excursions The Earl of Fife sent 500 Horse to restrain the Plunderers but they not daring to encounter so great a Multitude in their Retreat met with William Sinclare Bishop of the Caledonians accompanied with about 60 Horse who perceiving the Cause of their Retreat did most grievously reproach them for their Cowardize and cried out All you that wish well to Scotland follow me and thereupon catching up a Lance they all cheerfully followed him and he made so brisk an Assault on the scattered Plunderers that they fled hastily to their Ships and whilst they all endeavoured to get aboard one Ship overladen with Passengers was sunk and all that were in it drowned This Attempt of Sinclare's was so grateful to the King That ever after he called him His Bishop That Summer when all the English Counties bordering on the Scots lay desolate and unmanured by reason of want of Provision Diseases also abounding amongst all sorts of tame Animals and Cattle as also by frequent Invasions To remedy this Inconvenience Edward came to York but there he was not able to compleat an Army by reason of the Paucity of the Inhabitants so that the Londoners and the Parts adjoining were fain to supply him with Soldiers thô many of them had their Passes and Discharges from all Military Services before At length he made up an Army and marches to besiege Berwick he was scarce arrived there when Thomas Randolfe passed over the River Solway and marched another way into England where he wasted all with Fire and Sword no Man resisting him yea in some Places he could hardly meet with any Man at all For a Plague which Reigned the former year had made such a Devastation that the Face of things seemed very piteous even to their very Enemies When the Scots had marched above 100 Miles and had fired all especially about York the Archbishop thereof more foâ— the Indignity of the Thing than the Confidence in his Force took Arms. He gathered together an Army numerous enough but raw and undisciplined consisting of a promiscuous Company of Priests Artificers and Country-Labourers whom he led with more Boldness than Conduct against his Invaders but being overcome by them he lost many of his Men and He with some few saved themselves by Flight There was so great a Slaughter of Priests made there That the English for a long time after called that Battel The White Battel Edward hearing of this Overthrow lest his Conquering Enemy should make further and greater Attempts brake up his Siege and retreats to York the Scots having withdrawn themselves and from thence into the heart of his Kingdom The English were busied with Domestick Tumults so that a short Truce was made rather because both Kings were tired with the War than otherwise any whit desirous of a Pacification In this Calm Robert Indicts a Convention of all the Estates and Nobility And because the
made to him he now thought it seasonable to Declare Himself King That Advice was safer to him because the greatest part of the Slaughter had fallen upon the Families adjoyning to Perth For there were slain in the Battel besides the Regent Robert Keith with a great number of his Kindred and Tenants There fell Eighty of the Family of the Lindseys and amongst them Alexander the chief of the Sept. The Name of the Hays would have been quite extinguished in this Fight if William the Chief of the Family had not left his Wife big with Child behind him Moreover Thomas Randolfe Robert Bruce Murdo Earl of Monteath William Sinclare Bishop of the Caledonians and Duncan Macduff Earl of Fife made Prisoners by him and being thus in such a desperate Posture were enforced to take an Oath of Obedience to him Baliol The Eighty Ninth King HEreupon Baliol trusting to his present Fortune went to the Neighbouring Abby of Scone and there entred upon the Kingdom in the Year of our Lord 1332. the Eighth of the Calends of September By this Wound and Loss the Power of David Bruce was much weakened in Scotland yet his Friends not broken in their Spirits by this Calamity took care to secure him from the danger of War he not being yet fit to manage the Government and therefore they sent him and his Wife to his Fathers Friend Philip King of France to be there out of Harms way In the mean time they prepare themselves for all hazards being resolved to Dye Honourably or else to restore their Country to its former State And First of all they set up Andrew Murray an Eminent Person Son of the Sister of Robert Bruce as Regent in the place of Duncan then they sent Messengers into all parts of the Kingdom partly to confirm and fix their old Friends and partly to spur up the more Remiss to Thoughts of Revenging their wrongs The â—irst who took Arms as being excited by their Grief for the loss of their Parents and Kindred at Duplin were Robert Keith Iames and Simon Frazer who about the Autumnal Aequinox besieged Perth the Siege lasted longer than they expected yet in Three Months they took it Macduff Earl of Fife who held the Town for Baliol was sent Prisoner with his Wife and Children to Kildrum a Castle in Marr Andrew Murray of Tullibardin who discovered the Ford over the River Earn to the English was put to death The Black Bock of Pasley says That the Walls of the Town were demolished which seems more probable to me than that it should be made a Garison as others write especially in so great a want of Faithful Friends and Soldiers At the same time Baliol was at Annandale very busie in receiving the Homage of the Nobles who were so much surprized and astonished at the suddain Mutation of Things That even Alexander Bruce Lord of Carrick and Galway despairing of the Retrieve of his Kinsman David's Affairs came in to him After this prosperous Success he despised his Enemy and grew more negligent and regardless of him When the Regent heard thereof by his Spyes he sent Archibald Douglas Brother to Iames who was lost in Spain That if there were any Opportunity for Action he should lay hold upon it He took with him William Douglas Earl of Liddisdale Iohn Randolfe the Son of Thomas and Simon Frazer with a Thousand Horse and so came to Maufet where having sent out Scouts to see that the Coast was clear he marched in the Night and set upon Baliol as he was asleep and put his Army into so great a Fright and Consternation that Baliol himself half Naked was fain to get upon an Horse neither Bridled nor Sadled and so fled away many of his Intimate Friends were slain Alexander Bruce was taken Prisoner and obtained his Pardon by the means of his Kinsman Iohn Randolfe Henry Baliol got great Credit that day by his Valour amongst both Parties who in so confused a Flight defended some of his Men whom their persuers pressed upon he wounded many and killed some of his Enemies and at last was slain Fighting valiantly There fell also the Chief of the English Faction Iohn Mowbray Walter Cumins and Richard Kirke These Things were acted the Eighth of the Calends of Ianuary in the Year 1332. The Brucian Party were somewhat relieved by these Successes so that they came in great Numbers to Andrew Murray the Regent to consult about the main Chance They made no doubt but that Baliol fought the Kingdom not for himself but for the English by whom he was guided and influenced in every thing Wherefore they resolved to Declare the King of England their Enemy and accordingly they prepared all things necessary for the War with great Diligence as against a very powerful Enemy They made the Garison of Berwick very strong for they thought the English would Assault That first They made Alexander Seton a worthy Knight Governour of the Town and Patrick Dunbar of the Castle and the adjoyning Precincts William Douglas Earl of Liddisdale whose Valour and Prudence was highly commended in those Times was sent into Annandale to defend the Western Coasts Andrew Murray went to Roxburgh where Baliol kept himself Thus their several Governments being distributed at home Iohn Randolfe was sent into France to visit David and to make an Address to Philip of France informing him of the State of Scotland and desiring some Aid from him against the Common Enemy Murray at his coming to Roxburgh had a sharp encounter with Baliol at a Bridge without the City and whilst he pressed too eagerly after the English who were retreating over the Bridge into the Town he was intercepted from his Men and taken Prisoner whereby a Victory almost quite obtained slipt out of his hands At the same time in a contrary Province William Douglas of Liddisdale in a Fight with the English was wounded and made Prisoner whose Disaster so troubled his Men that they also were put to flight This Inconstancy and Variableness of Fortune divided Scotland again into Two Factions even as Love Hatred Hope Fear or each Man 's private Concern inclined him The King of England presuming That by reason of these Dissensions he had a fit opportunity to seize upon Scotland received Baliol into his Protection for he was too weak to support himself by his own Strength and took an Oath of Obedience from him yea nothing regarding his Right of Affinity with Bruce nor reverencing the Sanctity of Leagues nor the Religion of an Oath so that he might satisfie his immoderate Ambition he at once denounced and also made War on the Scots at that time destitute of a King and also at variance amongst themselves And to give a colourable Pretence of Justice to his War he sent Embassadors to demand Berwick which Town his Father and Grandfather had held many Years and he presently followed with an Army
that Feud for he had brought so Many of his Friends and Tenants along with him that he became formidable to all the rest and besides his Disposition which was various and mutable his vast Mind and the Noyse of the coming of the English with whom every one knew that Athol would join increased their Suspicions of him And indeed not long after Edward invaded Scotland with great Forces both by Sea and Land bringing Baliol along with him his Navy consisting of 160 Sail entred the Forth He himself marched by Land as far as Perth spoiling the Country as he went along and there waited for Cumins In the mean time Randolfe went to Iohn who challenged the Aebudae as his Own and not being able to draw him to his Party he was content in so troublesome a posture of Affairs to make a Truce with him for some months and thereafter returning to Robert the other Regent he found him dangerously sick So that it was as bad a time as could be for all the Burden to be cast upon his Own Shoulders and therefore he durst not Fight the English in a set Battel but divided his Force that so he might attack them by Parties And hearing that a strong Army of Gueldrians were coming through England to join the English in Scotland he waited for their coming on the Borders Where also Patrick Earl of Merch and William Douglas of Liddisdale met him together with Alexander Ramsay one of the most experienced Soldiers of that Age All these waited for the said Gueldrians in the Fields near Edinburgh Assoon as ever they came in sight one of another they fell to it immediately and after a sharp Conflict the Gueldrians were overcome and fled to the next Hill where there was an old ruinous Castle The next day having no Provision they surrendred themselves only upon Quarter for Life Randolfe out of respect to Philip Valois who was their singular good Friend as was then said did not only freely release them but accommodated them with Provisions for their March yea he himself undertook to be their Convoy in his march he was taken by an Ambush of the English Party and so brought to the King who was then besieging Perth with a powerful Army At the same time David Cumins who steered all his Counsels according to the Inclinations of Fortune being glad of the Distress of his Enemy comes to the King of England and promises him in a very short time to drive all the Brucians out of the Kingdom and the Truth is he was as active in performing his Promise For Perth being surrendred and the Walls thereof demolished the King prepared to return to England because Provision for his Army came but slowly in in regard That all the Scots upon notice of his coming were advised to drive their Cattle into the Mountains As for their other Provisions they should either convey them to some Fortified Places far remote or if they could not do so they should spoil them altogether Neither did his Fleet on which he most relied for Bread for his Army much relieve him For as soon as it arrived at the Forth and had destroyed a Monastery of Monks in the Isle Inch-colm as it rode at Anchor in the open Sea it was grievously turmoiled and suffered great Losses by a Tempestuous Storm so that part of the Ships could hardly get to Inch-Keith a desolate Island near adjoining Others were carried further by the Winds but as soon as they could recover themselves they imputed the Cause of the Tempest to the Anger of St. Columb because they had avaritiously and cruelly destroyed a Monastery of His and therefore whatever Prey or Plunder they had got they carried it thither as an Expiation for their Offence neither was any memorable Act performed by that Fleet the whole Year Though these Causes did much incline the King of England to return yet that which did most accelerate it was his Propension to the French War which was then most in his thoughts And therefore he marched back his Army and took Baliol with him as if the Scotish War had been almost at an end and left Cumins as Regent to perfect the Remainder thereof He to ingratiate himself to Both Kings and to avenge himself on his Enemy was extraordinary cruel in his Proceedings which Severity of his was the more resented because that lately he himself obtained his Pardon so easily when he was reduced to the lowest Ebb not many Months before There were scarce above Three of all the Scotish Nobility whom neither Promises could entice nor Dangers enforce to submit to the English Yoke and Those were Patrick Earl of Merch Andrew Murray and William Douglas These joined their Forces and march to Kilblane Forest against Cumins who was besieging Kildrummy Castle with him they had a sharp Fight Cumins was more in Number and a Few might easily be snapt by a great Many but the coming in of Iohn Craig Governor of the Castle with 300 Fresh Men decided the Controversy and gave an undisputed Victory to the Brucians All the Valiantest of Cumins his Army were slain either in the Fight or in the Pursuit Many were saved in a Neighbour Castle called Cameron belonging to Robert Meinze But seeing there were not Provisions for so great a Multitude pent up in so narrow a Room the next day it was surrendred and the Defendants upon their Submission confirmed by an Oath Pardoned There fell in this Fight besides the General himself Robert Brady and Walter Cumins Two of his intimate Friends Thomas his Brother being taken Prisoner was the next day put to death Upon this Victory in regard Randolfe was a Prisoner and Stuart was sick the Name and Power of Regent was confirmed on Andrew Murray by Military Suffrage For when Letters came from the King of France concerning a Truce the Nobles of the Brucian Party being forced to receive them did by unanimous Consent restore that former Honour to Murray which his Calamitous Misfortune had deprived him of He after the Truce for a few Months was ended laid Siege to the Castle of Lochindores which was held by the Wife of David Cumins She foreseeing what would happen had craved Aid of the English who shortly after landed some Forces in Murray and raised the Siege They also pierced as far as Elgin a Town situate by the River Lossy wasting all as they went with Fire and Sword As they were marching to Perth they burnt Aberdene and Garison'd the Castles in all Merss Dunoter Kinneff and Laureston They laid a Command on the six adjoining Monasteries to repair the Walls of Perth which were demolished and then committing the Affairs of Scotland to Edward Baliol who was returned thither they went back for England Upon the Departure of the English and the low Condition of the Scots Henry Beaumont thought it a fit Opportunity for him to stir to revenge the Death
of his Son in Law the Earl of Athole and therefore he killed all that he could take without any distinction who had been in the Fight of Kilblane in a very cruel manner Andrew Murray besieged him in Dâ—ngarg and enforced him to a Surrender and upon taking his Oath That he would return no more into Scotland in an Hostile manner he was dismissed Thus by one continued Course of Victory he took all the Strong Holds on the further side of the Forth besides the Castle of Cowper and the Town of Perth and casting out their Garisons he wholly demolished Them Afterwards he entred England where he got great Booty and somewhat relieved the Spirits of his Soldiers who had suffered much by reason of want in their own Country For in regard Scotland had been harassed that Year by the Injuries of War and wasted by the daily Incursions of both Parties the Fields lay untill'd and there was such a Famine that the English were enforced to desert the strong Castle of Cowper for want of Provisions And a Scotish Seaman who had been abused by them being employed to Transport the Garison-Soldiers by Night to Lothian Landed them upon a Bank of Sand which was bare when the Tide was out they thinking it had been the Continent went a little way and then met with Sea again which made them call again for the Vessel but in vain for they all perished there The next Year which was 1537. the English Besieged the Castle of Dunbar it was defended by Agnes the Wife of the Earl of Merch who was commonly Sirnamed the Black a Woman of a Manly Spirit The Besiegers were the Earls of Salisbury and Arundel the Siege lasted longer than any body thought it would so that Two divers Supplies were sent into Scotland to relieve Baliol the One led by Monfort the Other by Richard Talbot Lawrence Preston undertook Monfort and in a Fight slew him and routed his Army but he himself dyed soon after of the Wounds he there received which caused his Soldiers to wreck their Fury for the loss of their General on the Prisoners whom they inhumanly slew Talbot was taken Prisoner by William Keith and his Army routed yet the Siege of Dunbar continued still And the Sea being stopped by the English the Besieged were driven to so great a want of Victuals that without doubt it must have been surrendred if Alexander Ramsay by a seasonable thô bold Attempt had not relieved it He in the dead time of the Night slipp'd by the Watch which in Gallies of Genoa kept the Sea-Coast-side and came up to the Castle where he landed Forty choice Men and a great quantity of Provisions And then joyning part of the Garison with his own Men in the Covert of the Night he rushed in with such a noise on the English Guard that he made a great slaughter amongst them for they little expected a Sally from an Enemy whom they looked upon as almost Conquered and so the next Night he returned back as sâ—curely as he came Thus after Six Months the Siege of Dunbar was raised For Edward called back his Forces to the French War after they had wearied themselves and tryed all ways to become Masters of the Place Andrew Murray his Country being then almost freed from Foreign Soldiers attempted to reduce First Sterling then Edinburgh but was fain to depart from them Both without carrying them yet he subdued all Lothian and brought it under the King's Subjection In the mean time to give his wearied Mind a little Relaxation he went to see his Lands and Possessions beyond the Mountains where he fell Sick and Dyed he was Buried at Rosmark much Lamented and Desired by all Good Men. For in those Two Years and an halfe whilst he sate at Helme he performed such great Atchievements as might seem sufficient for the whole Life of One of the Greatest Captains in the World After him Stuart was made Regent till the return of David out of France he being yet but young did that Year get the better of the English in many light Skirmishes which were managed under the Conduct of William Douglas yet not without the great hazard and danger of Douglas himself who was often wounded He drove the English out of Teviotdale He took the Castle of Hermitage in Liddisdale and surprizing great store of Provision belonging to the Enemy at Mulross he fortified it too He had such a sharp and obstinate Encounter with Berclay That he himself with but Three in his Company hardly escaped and that by the benefit of the Night too He overthrew the Forces of Iohn Sterling in a bloody Onset yet He himself was a while after like to be taken by him but recovering himself after a fierce Encounter he put Sterling to flight slew Thirty of his Companions and took Forty of them Prisoners he so pressed upon William Abernethy by whom he had been worsted Five times in one Day That before Night he slew all his Men and brought him Prisoner along with him And he had as great Felicity in conquering Lawrence Vaux a stout Enemy At last he Sailed over to King David in France to acquaint him with the State of Scotish Affairs The next Year which was 1339. Stuart hoping to follow on his good Fortune Levied an Army and divided it into Four Parts and so attempts to reduce Perth but the English defended it so valiantly that he was wounded and beaten off After the Siege had lasted Three Months Douglas came to their Assistance when they almost despaired of Success he brought with him Five Pyratical Ships which he hired wherein there were some Soldiers and warlike Engines Part of the Soldiers were Landed but the rest were sent in their Ships to keep the Mouth of the River Tay. Douglas himself went to recover the Castle of Cowper which being deserted by the English was seized on by the Scots And William Bullock an English Priest who was Treasurer also made Governor Douglas agreed with him that he should have Lands in Scotland and so come over to his Party he was the more easily persuaded to it because he could expect no Aid from England and he had not much confidence in the Scots who were in Garison with him This Man was afterwards very faithful to the Scots and of great use to them The Siege of Perth had now lasted Four Months and would have continued much longer unless the Earl of Ross had drained the Water out of the Trench by Mines and subterraneous Passages so that by this means the Assailants came to the very Walls and threw the Defendants off their Works by the Darts sent principally from the Engins so that the English were forced to Surrender upon Terms To march out Bag and Baggage whither they pleased In a little time after Sterlin being Besieged was also Surrendren on the same Terms and Maurice Murray the Son
of Andrew was made Governor of the Castle Baliol was so terrified at this suddain Mutation of Affairs That he left Galway where he usually abode and went for England A while after the Castle of Edinburgh was taken not by Force but Stratagem Walter Curry a Merchant who then chanced to have a Ship laden with Provisions in the Bay or Firth of the River Tay at Dundee was sent for by William Douglas into the Forth There He and Bullock agreed That Curry should fain himself to be an Englâ—shman and should carry Two Bottles of his best Wine and some other Presents to the Governor of the Castle desiring his Leave to sell the rest of his Provision in the Garison and withal to inform him That if He or the Garison stood in any need of his Service he would Gratifie them as far as ever he was able Hereupon the Governor commanded him to bring some Hogsheads of Wine and a certain Number of Biskets and promised him Free Admittance whenever he came He for Fear of the Scots forsooth who often made Incursions into the neighbouring Parts promises happy be lucky to come betimes the next Morning That Night Douglas with Twelve Select Men accompanying him clad themselves in Mariners attire under which their Armour was hid and so carried Provisions into the Castle as for his Soldiers he laid them in Ambush commanding them to wait for the Signal to be given Douglas and Simon Frazer went before and commanded the rest to follow Them at a moderate distance When they were let by the Porter into the Fort which was made of Beames before the Gate of the Castle they observed That the Keys of the Doors hung on his Arms him therefore they killed and so opened the Castle-Gate and then as they had before agreed they gave the Signal to their Fellows by blowing an Horn the Noise whereof was a Sign to the One That the Castle was entred by their Friends To the Other That it was surprized by their Enemies Both Parties made all the haste they could the Scots cast down their Burdens in the very Passage of the Gate lest the Doors might be shut so they kept out from their Fellows who could march but slowly up on so steep an Ascent Here there happened a sharp Dispute with Loss of Both sides at length the Garison-Soldiers had the worst who were all slain except the Governor and six more It was this self same Year or as some say the next That Ramsay the most Experienced Soldier of all the Scots made his Expedition into England Men had so great an Opinion of his Skil in Military Affairs That every Body was accounted but a Fresh-Water Soldier who had not been disciplin'd under Him And therefore all the young Fry came in to him as the only School where the Art of War was to be taught He having before made many prosperous Expeditions into his Enemies Country thô but with small Forces their Affairs being now at a Low-Ebb in Scotland took heart to attempt greater Matters so that gathering together an handsom Army of his Tenants and Friends he spoiled and harassed Northumberland and upon his Retreat the English drew fotrh all their Force from the Country and Garisons and so followed him with a very great Army What was to be done in this case Alexander could not avoid Fighting and yet he perceived That his Soldiers were somewhat Crest-fallen by reason of the Multitude of the Enemy In these Circumstances he sent away his Booty before and placed his Foot in Ambush and commanded his Horse to straggle abroad as if they were Flying and when they came to the Place of Ambush then to rally again at Sound of Trumpet The English imagining That the Horse had fled in good earnest pursued them as disorderly and when the Signal was given to come together again they in a moment turned back upon Them The Foot also skipping out of their Ambushes which struck such a Consternation and Terrour into the English That they fled back faster than before they had pursued Many of them were slain many taken and the Prey carried home safe Amongst the Prisoners there was the Governor of Roxburgh who had drawn out almost all his Garison to follow him so that Alexander knowing the Town to be empty assaulted and easily took It at the First Onset and when he had taken the Lower Part of the Castle the Remainders of the Garison-Soldiers sled up into a strong Tower therein but being vigorously assaulted and having no hopes of Relief They surrendred up Themselves Some say That the Earl of Salisbury was there taken and exchanged for Iohn Randolf But most Writers whom I am rather inclined to follow affirm That Salisbury was taken Prisoner in France and that by French Troops Randolf going into Annandale took his Castle which was seated by Loch-Maban from the English And the Three Governors of the Borders Alexander Ramsay of the East William Douglas of the Mid-Border and Randolf of the West drove the English beyond their old Bounds which they had in the Reign of Alexander the Third and left them no footing at all in Scotland but only Berwick Some say That Roxburgh was taken by Ramsay in the Night who set Ladders to the Walls when the Watch was asleep in the Year 1342. the 30 th Day of March and the Black Book of Pasley says so too The same Year on the 4 th of the Nones of Iuly David Bruce and His Wife arrived at Ennerbervy Nine Years after his Departure His Coming was the more acceptable because the Affairs of Scotland were then at such a low Ebb. For Edward having made a Truce for Three Years with Philip King of France at Tournay and so being freed of his French War determined to invade Scotland with all his Force He had then in his Army Forty Thousand Foot and Six Thousand Horse and he had also Equipp'd out a Gallant Navy of Ships to carry Provisions for his Foot Soldiers that there might be no Want that way They set Sail in the Month of November but were encountred by so fierce a Tempest that after a long Distress at Sea they were cast upon the Belgick and German Shores and so were of no use to him in the present War In the Interim Edward and his Land Forces staid about New-Castle upon Tine in great want of Victuals Thither Embassadors came to him from Scotland desiring a Pacification for Four Months which they obtained upon Condition That if David came not to them before the Calends of June all the Scots would become Subjects to Edward but David hearing of the Preparation of the English had set Sail before the coming of Embassadors to him Amongst those who flocked in to gratulate the King at his Return as Many did from all Parts of the Kingdom there came Alexander Ramsay also who being eminent both for the splendid Atchievements of
his Former Life and especially for his late and yet reaking Conquests was received with a great deal of Favour and had the Government of Roxburgh bestowed on him yea and the Sheriff-wick of all Teviotdale was also added to his Authority William Douglas took this mighty heinously that Ramsay was preferred before him in that Honour For seeing he had expelled the English from almost all Teviotdale he had sometimes presided over the Publick Assembly there thô without the Kings Command yet relying upon his Merits towards his Country the Nobleness of his Stock and the Power of his Family he hoped That no man would have been his Competitor for that Office Whereupon being wholly bent on Revenge he at present dissembled his Anger but in Three Months after he met with his Adversary holding an Assembly in the Church of Hawick and unawares assaulted and wounded him having also slain Three of his Followers who endeavoured to rescue him and so set him upon an Horse and carried him to the Castle of Hermitage where he starved him to Death About the same time William Bullock a Man of singular Loyalty to the King was put to the same kind of Death by David Berclay These Two Savage and Cruel Facts filled almost the whole Kingdom with Seditions and distracted it into several Parties These things did mightily exercise the King who was yet but Young and not accustomed to Men of Rough and Military Dispositions yet though he used great diligence to find out Douglas to bring him to Condign Punishment he by Means of his Friends of which he had procured Many by his Noble Exploits for the Liberty of his Country and especially of Robert Stuart the King's Son by his Sister obtained his Pardon And indeed the Magnificent yet True Report of his Famous Actions did much facilitate the Obtaining thereof together with the present Conjuncture of the Time wherein there being but an uncertain Peace abroad and Seditions at home Military Men were to be respected yea and honoured too Upon which Account he was not only pardoned but preferred also to the Government of Roxburgh and of Teviotdale too a Clemency which perhaps in the present Circumstances of Things might be useful but certainly of very ill Example for the Future David having thus settled Matters at Home the best he could denounces War against England the greatest Part of the Nobility dissuading him from that Expedition by reason of the great Scarcity of Provisions Yet he Listed an handsom Army and made Thomas Randolfe General thereof he himself accompanied him but in disguise that he might not be known to be the King This Army having wasted Northumberland for about Two Months time returned home with great Booty Within a few Days after he made another Inrode into the Enemies Country but then he did not disguise but openly professed Himself both King and General The English being inferior in Strength would not venture to give a set Battel whilst their King was absent in France but skirmished their Enemies with their Horse and so kept them from plundering much by a close March Five of the Chief Nobility whom David had lately raised to that Honour straggling too far from their Men were taken Prisoners their Followers being also killed or put to Flight So that David to spend no more time there in vain returned with his Army He made also a Third Expedition with what Force he could privately Levy that so he might fall upon his Enemy unawares But entring England in a stormy Autumn the small Brooks were so swollen with large Showres that they made all the Country unpassable and also hinder'd the Carriage of Provision so that Home he came again yet that he might not seem to have taken so much Pains to no purpose he demolished a few Castles Not long after Embassadors were sent to and fro in order to obtain a Truce for Two Years which the Scots consented to upon Condition That Philip King of France gave his Consent for That was one Article in the Treaty between the Scots and French That neither of them should make Truce or Peace with the English without the Other 's Consent For those Two Years Scotland was quiet About the Fourth Year after David's Return the French were overcome in a great Battel and Calais a Town of the Mâ—â—ini was besieged by them so that Philip pressed the Scots by his Ambassadors to Invade England and to so draw away some of their Force from Him Hereupon an Army was commanded to meet at Perth Thither they came in a great Abundance and there David Earl of Rosse waylaying Reginald Lord of the Aebudae his Old Enemy fell upon him in the Night and slew him with Seven Nobles in his Company This Murder did much weaken the Army for the Kindred and Tenants of both Parties yea the Neighbouring Inhabitants fearing a Civil War between Two such Potent Families returned to their own Homes And therefore William Douglas of Liddisdale earnestly persuaded the King to desist from his present Expedition and to compose Matters at Home His Counsel was refused and the King his Friendship to Philip overcoming his Love to his Country marches forward into England and destroyed all as he went by Fire and Sword And thus in Sixteen Days he came into the County of Durham where the English parly levied by Percy and partly sent back from the Siege of Calais made a great Body and shewed themselves to the Enemy in Battel-array sooner than ever the Scots could have imagined David who feared nothing less than the coming of the Enemy and therefore had sent abroad Douglas to forage the Neighbouring Country gave a Signal of Battel to his Souldiers Douglas fell unawares amongst his Enemies and having lost Five Hundred of his Men was put to slight and returned in great Fear to the Camp And the End of the Conflict was as unhappy as the Beginning For the Fight being sharply begun Randolfe's Men were routed at the first Onset and he himself slain The main Battel in which the King was was assaulted by Two Brigades of the English One that had conquered before and Another that was intire and had not yet charged who shattered it and cut it off quite They being resolved to die and therein almost all the Scotish Nobility were utterly lost and the King himself after his Arms were taken away was taken Prisoner by Iohn Copland but he struck out Two of his Teeth with his Fist though he himself was sorely wounded with two Arrows The Third Wing commanded by Robert Stuart and Patrick Dunber perceiving the Slaughter of their fellow-Souldiers withdrew themselves with little Loss The Nobility were so destroyed in this Fight that immediately after it Roxburgh Hermitage and many other Castles were surrender'd to the English And the Scots were enforced to quit their Claim to all the Lands they held in England and also to Merth Teviotdale Liddisdale and Lauderdale and the
Bounds and Borders of the English were inlarged to Cocâ—burns-Path as they call it and Soltra-Hill Baliol not contented to have recovered the Possessions of his Ancestors in Galway marched over Annandale and Liddisdale and all the Country lying near the Clyd and destroyed all by Fire and Sword He also by the Assistance of Percy of England made the like Havock in Lothian neither could there a sufficient Army be raised against them in Scotland for some Years As an Addition to this Misery there hapned also a grievous Plague which swept away almost the Third Part of the People And yet in such an afflicted State of Things Men did not abstain from Domestick Mischiefs David Berclay a Noble Knight who before had slain Bullock was at this time also present at the Murder of Iohn Douglas at Dalkeith William Douglas of Liddisdale who was taken Prisoner by the English at the Battel of Durham and was not yet released caused him to be slain by the Hands of his Tenants and after he himself was Released and returned into Scotland he did not long survive him For as he was a Hunting in the Wood of Attic he was killed by William Douglas the Son of Archibald newly returned from France in Revenge for his Murder of Alexander Ramsay Neither did the Clans of the Ancient Scots as impatient to be quiet abstain from injuring one another In the midst of these Calamities which pressed in on every side William Douglas gathered together a Band of his Vassals and Tenants and recovered Douglas the Patrimony of his Ancestors having driven the English out of it and afterwards upon this little Success Mens Minds being more inclined to him he reduced a great part of Teviotdale also In the mean time Iohn King of France Heir to his Father Philip both in his Kingdom and in his Wars fearing lest the Scots being broken by so many Misfortunes should quite succumb under so Puissant an Enemy sent Eugenius Garanter to them with Forty Gallant Cavaleers in his Train to desire of them To make no Peace with England without his Consent He brought with him Forty Thousand French Crowns to press Soldiers and besides by large Promises he wrought over the Nobility to his Side and Opinion They received the Money and divided it among themselves but levied no Soldiers only they carried on the War by light Incursions as they were wont to do Assoon as the English heard of this they almost wasted all Lothian which had been sorely harassed before To Revenge this wrong Patrick Dunbar and William Douglas gathered a good strength together as privately as they could and placed themselves in Ambush but sent out David Ramsay of Dalhouse a noted and Valiant Soldier with part of the Army to burn Norham a populous Town upon the Banks of Tweed When Ramsay had accomplished his design the English were trained on to the Ambush where some were surprized and slain at last being not able to resist so great a Multitude the English surrender themselves This success heartned the Scots and therefore the same Commanders uniting their Forces together Thomas Stuart Earl of Angus resolves to attack Berwick And to do it privately he hired Vessels Ladders and other Implements used in Scaling the Walls of Towns wherever he could procure them he acquaints Patrick with his coming he meets him at the Hour appointed and creeping to the Walls with as little noise as they could yet the Sentinels espied them whom after a sharp Conflict they repulsed and so became Masters of the Town but not without loss on their own side the Castle was still kept by the English which they assaulted but in vain When the King of England heard how Matters went in Scotland he gathered together a Puissant Army and in swift Marches hastned thither The Scots hearing of his coming and not being provided with Materials for a long Siege spoiled and burnt the City and so returned home Edward employed all kind of Workmen and Artificers to repair what the Flames had Consumed in the Interim he himself quartered at Roxburgh Thither Baliol comes and Surrenders up the Kingdom of Scotland to him desiring him earnestly not to forget the Injuries offered him by the Scots Edward as it were in Obsequiousness to his Desires invades Lothian by Land and Sea and makes a further Devastation of what was left after the former Ruin He determined in that Expedition so to quell all Scotland that they should never recover strength to Rebel again But his Purpose was disappointed by reason of a most grievous Tempest which so shattered and tore his Ships that carried his Provisions that very Few of them ever met in one Port so that he was enforced to return home for want of Provision only he vented his Spleen upon Edinburgh Hadington and other Towns of Lothian Edward and his Army being gone for England Douglas drove the English out of Galway Roger Kirk-Patrick out of Nithisdale and Iohn Stuart Son of the Regent out of Annandale so that those Three Countries were recovered by the Scots About the same time Iohn King of France was overthrown by the English in a great Battel in Poictou and he himself taken Prisoner Edward having Two Kings his Prisoners at once passed the Winter merrily amongst the Gratulations of his Friends so that the Scots thinking that his Mind being sated with Glory might be more inclined to Equity they sent Ambassadors to him to treat about the Release of their King Bruce that the Scots might have easie Access to him was sent to Berwick but in regard they could not agree about the Conditions he was carried back to London Not long after the Popes Legates were sent who took great Pains to make a Peace betwixt the English and French they also transacted the same for Scotland upon the Promise of the Payment of an Hundred as our Writers say or as Frossard of Five Hundred Thousand Marks of English Money to them Part of which was to be paid in Hand the rest by Parcels To make up that Sum the Pope gave the Tenths of all Benefices for Three Years in the mean time a Truce was made and many young Nobles given for Hostages who died almost all in England of the Plague Hereupon David returned the Eleventh Year after he was taken Prisoner The first thing he did was to punish those who had been the forwardest to fly in the Battel of Durham From Patrick Dunbar he took away a great part of his Lands he cut off all hope from Robert Stuart his Eldest Sisters Son of succeeding in the Kingdom and substituted Alexander Son of the Earl of Sutherland by his Youngest Sister and made the Nobles to swear Fealty to him This young Mans Father distributed large and fruitful Lands amongst the Nobles to engage them more firmly to his Son But Alexander dying soon after he was reconciled to Robert Stuart and in a full Assembly
of the Estates he was by a General Suffrage named Heir Presumptive of the Crown But this was done some Years after The King spent the next Five Years in appeasing the Discords at home in which time there happened Two great Calamities One reached but to a few by an Inundation of Water for the Heavens sent down so much Rain that Lothian seemed to be all a Float yea the force of the Water was such that it carried away Bridges Water-Mills Country Houses with their Owners and Cattle into the Sea it rooted up Trees and almost quite destroyed the Towns which stood near the Banks of Rivers This Misery was seconded by Another namely a grievous Pestilence which consumed many of all Ranks and Ages In the Year 1363. the state of things grew Calmer and then in the Assembly of the Estates the King propounded to the Lords of the Articles That the King of England or else his Son might be sent for into Scotland to undertake the Kingdom if he should chance to Die This he did either by his weariness of War or foreseeing That it would be for the Good of both Kingdoms or as others think because of his Oath which the English had made him to Swear but his Speech was so Unacceptable and Offensive to them all that before every ones Vote could be asked in order they all confusedly cried out upon it as an abominable Propose and it was almost come to That that they who had most freely spoken against it fearing his Displeasure were meditating a Revolt But he understanding their Fears abated his Anger and received them into Favour When he had quieted all things elsewhere yet the Highlanders continued still in Arms and did not only commit Outrages upon one another but also made Havock of the adjacent Countries The King tried all probable Means to bring them to a mutual Concord but being not able to do it his next Plot was To suborn some Crafty Fellows to foment and heighten their Dissensions that so when the feircest of them had destroyed one another the rest might become more Tractable and Pliant The King having performed these Exploits both at home and abroad departed this Life in the Castle of Edinburgh on the Seventh Day of Iune in the Forty Seventh Year of his Age about the Thirty Ninth of his Reign and of our Lord 1370. He was certainly a Man eminent in all kind of Virtue but especially in Justice and Clemency and though he had been exercised with Good and Bad Events alternately yet still his Fortune seemed rather to fail him than his Industry Robert II. The Hundredth King AFter David's Decease the Nobles met together at Linlithgo to Congratulate Robert at the beginning of his Reign who had before been designed King by his Uncle but here the Ambition of William Douglas had almost cast things into a Sedition and Uproar For he demanded the Kingdom as his Hereditary Right in regard he was descended from Baliol and the Cumins's But finding that his Suit was unacceptable to them all and especially to his most intimate Friends as the Two Brothers George and Iohn Dunbars of which one was Earl of Merch and the other of Murray as also to Robert Erskin Governor of the Three well-fortified Castles of Dunbarton Sterling and Edinburgh he desisted and promised to obey Robert as his Liege King and the King to oblige him in a more strict Bond of Friendship espoused his Daughter to Earl William's Son This year the Truce made for Fourteen years was broken by the English There was a great Fair usually kept the Third of the Ideâ— of August whether huge Numbers of both Nations even from very remote Places used to resort thither came the Inhabitants of Merch and it happened that one of Dunbar's Familiar Friends was slain there George according to the Law which was observed among the Borderers sent Heralds to demand the Murderers to be given up to him or else That they would Punish them Themselves but perceiving that Favour did outvy Equity he dissembles the Affront and against the next day appointed for the Fair he secretly prepared a Band of Men and setting upon the Town unexpectedly he slew all the Youngsters burnt the Houses and returned home with a great Booty The English to revenge this Injury did with like Cruelty ravage over all the Lands of Iohn Gordon a Noble Knight and not long after Gordon entred England and took away a great Prey of Men and Cattle but as he was returning home Iohn Lilburn met him with a far greater Force than he had A terrible Fight began betwixt them and Victory seemed a long time to flutter over both Parties with doubtful Wings but at last she inclined to the Scots The Commander of the English Forces was taken Prisoner with many of his Allies and Tenants Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland a Man of a great Spirit being then Lord Warden or Governour of the Eastern Marches or Borders took this Overthrow of his Countrymen in great Disdain and thereupon gathered together a Body of above 7000 Men and encamped at a Village called Duns remarkable for being the Birth Place of Iohn Scotus Sirnamed Subtilis rather than for any thing else There the Countrymen and Shepherds gathered themselves together having no other Arms but such Rattles and Gimcracks wherewith they frighten Stags and other Cattle which do pasture there up and down without any Keeper and so by night they placed themselves on some Risings of the Lamormore Hills which were near to the said Village of Duns The Form of the Gimcrack is This On the top of a long Spear or Pole they fasten some Staves or Hoops of Wood made crooked and bent into a Semicircle all over them they stretched a Skin after the same Form as the Lanterns which the Vulgar Parisians call Falots are made into these Lanterns or Concavities they put small Stones but very hard ones which when they are stirred and tumbled up and down make such a rattling noise as drives away the Beasts and Cattle from the Corn. With these Rattling Instruments they made a mighty Noise on the Hills hanging over Duns wherewith the English Horse were so affrighted that they broke the Headstalls they were tied with and ran up and down the Fields and so were taken by the Countrymen And in the whole Army there was such a Tumultuous Bustle that they cried out Arm Arm and thinking the Enemy had been at their Heels they passed that night without sleep But in the morning perceiving their mistake in regard they had lost many of their Baggage Horses as well as those for Service they retreated six Miles for that Place is so far distant from England on Foot leaving their Baggage behind them almost in the Posture of such as Fly away The same day that Percy retired back from Duns Thomas Musgrave Governor of Berwick had issued out of his Garison
with some Troops to join Percy Iohn Gordon had notice of his March and laid an Ambush for him into which he fell and imagining his Enemy to be more numerous than he was he sought to Fly but was taken with his Party in the pursuit and brought back again Moreover in the Western Borders Iohn Iohnston carried it so that he obtained both Honour and Booty too for he so exercised his Neighbouring Foes with small but frequent Incursions that he did them as much mischief as a great Army would have done Thus all things succeeded prosperously with Robert for the First Two Years of his Reign but in his Third Year Eufemia Daughter to Hugh Earl of Ross dyed The King had three Children by her Walter afterwards made Earl of Strathearn David Earl of Athol and Eufemia whom Robert Douglas Married as I said before Robert not so much for the Impatience of his Widow'd and unmarried Estate as for the Love of the Children which he had before begot on the Body of Elizabeth More took her to Wife This Woman was exceeding Beautiful the Daughter of Adam More an Illustrious Knight the King fell in Love with her when he was young and had Three Sons and Two Daughters by her and he bestowed her in Marriage on one Gifard a Nobleman in Lothian It happened that Eufemia the Queen and Elizabeth's Husband died about one and the same time Whereupon the King either induced by the old Familiarity he had with Her or else as many Writers report to Legitimate the Children she had born to him took their Mother to Wife and presently advanced her Sons to Riches and Honour Iohn the Eldest Son was made Earl of Carrick Robert of Mâ—nteith and Alexander of Buchan to which Badenock was adjoined Neither was he content with this Munificence but he prevailed upon the Assembly of Estates met at Scone to pass by the Children of Eufemia and to observe the Order of Age in making his Son King after him which Matter was in aftertimes almost the utter Ruin of that numerous Family During the next Two years there was neither assured Peace nor open War but light Incursions or rather Plunderings on both sides In the mean time Edward the Third died and Richard the Second his Grandchild by his Son Edward born at Bourdeaux succeeded him being Eleven years of Age at which time Ambassadors were sent by Charles the Fifth King of France into Scotland The Cause of their Embassy was To renew the ancient League with Robert and to desire him to invade England with an Army and so to take off the Stress of the War from France In the interim whilst they were treating with the Assembly Alexander Ramsay as the English Writers report out of Frossard being accompanied with Forty young Fellows in the middle of the Night when the Sentinel was asleep took the Castle of Berwick all that were in it being either killed or made Prisoners The Townsmen being amazed at this suddain surprize send for Percy who came and laid Siege to the Castle with Ten thousand Men When the News hereof was brought to the Assembly of the Estates at Scone Archibald Douglas being concerned for the danger his Kinsman was in took with him a flying Body of 500 Horse only and speeded thither but all Passages to the Besieged were intercluded and stopp'd so that he was forced to return again without any Action And the Castle after a valiant Defence for some days was at length taken by Storm and all put to the Sword except Alexander alone Thus the English but Our Writers say That the Castle was taken by the help of six Country People of Merch who not being able to keep it were fain to desert it Not long after the Assembly Iames the First Earl of Douglas gathered together an Army of Twenty thousand Men and entred England and coming unawares to a Town called Penrith on a Fair-Day he took plundered and burnt it and then marched his Army back again in safety laden with Spoil but withal he brought the Pestilence home with him which was greater than any before so that it raged over all Scotland for the space of Two years The English to cry Quits with the Scots passed over the Solway and entred Scotland Talbot a fierce General led them being 15000 Men with which Number he made a great Desolation far and near and as his Army was returning back laden with Spoil he pitch'd his Tents in a narrow Valley not far from the Borders of England about 500 Scots came upon them in those Streights being secure unprovided and generally without their Arms and at the first Assault they killed all who were in their way so that the Tumult and Fear diffusing it self they were wholly put to Flight many were slain upon the Place 250 taken Prisoners and a great Number in such a sudden Trepidation taking the River were drowned the rest left their Prey behind them and ran home the nearest way they could In the mean time the English carried on a fierce War both by Sea and Land against the French and besides part of their Forces were sent into Portugal so that it was resolved by their Parliament That Iohn Duke of Lancaster the King's Uncle should be sent Embassador into Scotland to Treat about a Peace that so they being engaged in so many Wars might have Quiet on that side at least which lay most exposed and open The Scots being made acquainted with his coming by an Herald appointed Iames Earl of Douglas and Iohn Dunbar Earl of Murray to Treat with him a Truce was made for Three Years But whilst they were Treating about a Peace there a most grievous Civil War broke out in England The First Author of it is said to be one Iohn Ball a Priest He perceiving that the Commonalty was grievously offended because Poll-Money of Four English Pence an Head was imposed on Them First of all obliquely and in private Confessions Discourses and Meetings inflamed the Minds of the Commons against the Nobility and perceiving that his Speech was well entertained then he discoursed it openly besides this New Occasion there was also another more Ancient one viz. That the Greatest Part of the Commons were made little better than Slaves to the Great Ones A great many Tradesmen and Day-Labourers came in to them and others also who in point of Estate or Credit had nothing to lose insomuch that they raised so great a Tumult and Combustion that the Main Chance seemed greatly to be hazarded and to lie at stake These things were known at the Meeting of the Embassadors yet Both of them dissembled the Matter till they had Treated and made a Pacification Then Douglas told Iohn of Lancaster That he knew from the beginning in what State the Affairs of England stood but they were so far from laying hold on the Opportunity either to make a War or to hinder a good Peace That they
offered him even then to stay securely in Scotland till the Tumults in England were appeased or if he would return that he should have 500 Scots Horse for his Convoy Lancaster gave them Great Thanks yet he hoped at present that he had no need to accept of either of the Conditions But as he was returning home the Governor of Berwick shut him out of the Town so that He upon the Publick Faith given returned into Scotland and there kept himself till the Sedition of the Commons was quelled in England When the Three Years Truce was ended in the Year 1384. Iune the 4th Archibald Douglas of Galway with the Assistance of Iames Earl of Douglas and George Earl of Mâ—rch laid Siege to the Castle of Loch-Maban situate near a Lake of the same Name and from whence daily Inroads were made upon the Neighbouring Country The Governor of the Castle being affected at this suddain Misfortune Articled with the Enemy That unless he were relieved in Eight Days he would surrender the Castle whereupon after the Scots had endured great trouble by reason of the Winter-Storms and continual Showres even from the 4th Day of February the Castle was surrendred according to Covenant on the Ninth Day They who lived near Roxburgh fearing lest that Castle might be also taken took care That one Grastock a Noble and Wealthy Person and much famed for his Warlike Skill should be made Governour thereof whereupon as he was sending in great Provisions thither and also all his own Houshold Goods imagining that they could no where be better kept from his Enemies use or secured for his own Dunbar being informed by his Spies of the Day of his March and the way he was to go laid his Ambushes in convenient Places and so suddainly assaulted a long confused Train made up of Soldiers Waggoners and a promiscuous Multitude and without any Fighting took the Prey and the Owner of it too and presently retreated back The English in revenge of their Losses and to prevent future Incursions by some memorable Exploits send Lancaster into Scotland with great Forces both by Sea and Land Lancaster himself came through Merch and Lothian as far as Edinburgh His Fleet was sent to waste the Maritime parts of Fife The Soldiers were desirous to burn down Edinburgh but he remembring that but a few Years before he had been liberally and bountifully entertained there when he was excluded by his own People forbad them so to do But his Fleet shewed not the same Civility for entring into the Isle of Inch-colm they robbed a Monastery of Monks and burnt it using the like Cruelty in all places where they landed till Nicholas and Thomas Erskins Alexander Lindsay and William Cuningham met them killed many took some and forced the rest to fly in such Fear to their Ships that besides the other Loss received by their hasty Flight they suffered Forty of their own Men who being upon one of the Ships Ropes after the Rope was cut to be Drowned before their Eyes Lancaster was scarce returned home before William Douglas trode almost on his Heels partly sacking partly demolishing all the Castles which the English held in Scotland after the Battel of Durham He reduced all Teviotdale except Roxburg to the Scots Obedience and restrained Robberies which the licentiousness of the Wars had multiplied and encouraged and he himself did not long outlive these Exploits but dyed of a Feavor in the Castle of Douglas His Son William Douglas succeeded him One every way worthy of so Great and Virtuous a Father In the mean time when an Annual Truce was made betwixt the French Engâ—ish and Scots near Bologne in Belgium and the French who were commanded to give the Scots notice thereof had neglected so to do the English Nobles who bordered upon Scotland thinking now they had a fit Opportunity to give their Enemy some notable and unexpected Overthrow and not leave them any time for Revenge They before the Truce was published gathered together Ten Thousand Horse and Six Thousand Archers and so entring Scotland under the Command of the Earls of Northumberland and Nottingham they made a vast Havock of the Country especially on the Lands of the Douglasses and Lindsays The Scots who upon the noise of a Truce had laid aside all thoughts of War were exceedingly offended both at their own Negligence and at the Perfidiousness of the Enemy and resolved upon Revenge assoon as they could In the Interim the noise of the English Invasion of Scotland did Alarm the French who were to give notice of the Truce and put them in mind of their slackness therein They endeavouring by a late Festination to make amends for their former Omission came to London even in the very height of the Invasion where they were Bountifully and Nobly Entertained and detained so long by Kind and Friendly Invitations till it was known that the English were returned out of the Enemies Country Then they were dismissed and came into Scotland where they declared their Message as they were commanded Whereupon almost all the Nobility especially Those who had felt the Loss sustained by the late Inroad did Murmure Storm and Cry out That this Mockery of the English was not to be endured The King did in vain endeavour to pacifie them for he was willing to observe the Truce but they so long debated on and delayed the Matter till their Friends had privately Levied almost 15000 Horse and then on an appointed Day Douglas Lindsay and Dunbar depart secretly from the Court and joyning their Countrymen invade England with a powerful Army They wasted Northumberland even unto Newcastle and returning thâ—ô the Lands of the Earl of Nottingham and the Mowbrays they spoiled all by Fire and Sword that they could not carry away Then and not before they returned home with a great Booty and many Prisoners and presently caused the Truce to be Proclaimed About the end of the Truce in the Year 1385. Monsieur Iohn de Vâ—â—nne Admiral of the French Navy was sent over by the King of France with about 2000 Auxiliaries of which an hundred were Curiassiers Armed Cap-a-pee and 200 which flung Darts out of Engines called Cross-bows in after Ages the rest were Foot of a promiscous kind They brought with them Money for Six Months Pay besides many Gifts and Presents and amongst the rest 400 Suits of compleat Armour to be divided between the most valiant Commanders Having first waited on the King he and Iames Douglas entred Northumberland and having demolished Three Castles they would have proceeded further but there was so much Rain fell that Autumn that they were forced to return Moreover they heard a Report that Richard the Second of England was coming against them which hastened their Retreat His Anger was more enflamed now against the Scots than ever because they had not only made a desolating War upon his Kingdom Themselves but had also sent for
the mean time Henry Percy the Younger called Hot-Spur and George Dunbar ceased not to infest the Neighbouring Lands of the Scots with their Incursions Which when they had often and successfully done their Boldness encreased with their Success so that gathering 2000 Men together they entred Lothian and made great havock about Hadington They besieged Hales-Castle but in vain When they came to Linton a Village scituate on the Tine a River of Lothian they were so disturbed at the sudden Coming of Douglas against them that they left their Prey and all their Baggage behind them and ran away in such Fear that they never stopp'd till they came to Berwick This was done about the beginning of February in the Year 1400. The same Year upon the return of the Herald War was denounced against England and then also Archibald Douglas Sirnamed the Austere a man inferiour to none of his Ancestors in all kind of Praise fell sick and died in a very bad time for his Country which had lately lost by sundry misfortunes so many brave Generals before His Son of the same Name succeeded him In the Ides of August the English King with great Forces entered Scotland When he came to Haddington he stayed there three days and then marched to Leith and staying there as many days he laid Siege to the Castle of Edinburgh The Governor led an Army against them but very slowly so that it easily appeared that he did not much care if the Castle of Edinburgh were taken by the English and in it David the Kings Son For by this time his wicked Ambition did begin to shew it self For he undervalued his Brother as an effeminate Person and sought the Destruction of his Children as much as he could that he might enjoy the Kingdom himself So that their Loss he counted his Gain But the King of England and his Army on the contrary did Exercise their Enmity very moderately as if by an Ostentation of War they had only sought for Peace for having made some sleight Onset on the Castle he raised the Siege and returned home without doing any considerable damage to the Places thro' which he marched insomuch that in his Marches both backward and forward he got the Praise and Commendation of a mild clement and moderate Enemy he was courteous to Those that surrendred themselves he offered no violence to consecrated Places yea he rewarded those bountifully who had formerly entertained his Father All which did more ingratiate Him and render the Governor more odious in regard he did not prosecute the War with any Eagerness as against an Enemy nor yet endeavour to make so easy and beneficent a King his Friend After Henry was returned for England George Dunbar did still trouble the Borders rather with frequent than great Inroads To suppress him there was more need of a diligent than numerous Force and therefore Douglas divided the Forces of each County into small Bands and appointed Commanders over them who by turns were to stop the Enemy or if they saw cause to Fight him The First lot sell upon Thomas Halyburton of Birlington who took a great Booty from the Enemy out of the Lands near to Bamburgh But Patrick Hepburne who wandred further abroad with a greater Band of men had not the like Success for trusting too much to the Numbers of his men and not being very wary in his Retreat with his Prey he was cut off by the English and with him all the flower of the Lothian Soldiery Archibald Douglas to revenge the slaughter of his Friend by the consent of the Governor gathered above Ten thousand men together abundance of the Nobles accompanied him in his March and amongst them Murdo the Governors Son when they came to Northumberland at New-Castle upon Tine they passed the River and spoiled the Country with Fire and Sword but there encountring with Henry Percy the Younger and George Dunbar in a pitch'd Battel they were overcome many of the Nobles were slain Douglas was taken Prisoner having lost one of his Eyes so were also Murdo Earl of Fife Thomas Earl of Murray and George Earl of Angus with many other Noble and Illustrious Persons And indeed the strength of Scotland was not so much weakned 〈◊〉 any one Fight for many years before as it was in This. It was fought at Homeldon a Town in Northumberland in the Noâ—es of May and Year of Christ 1401. Percy having obtained so notable a Victory resolved to subject all the Country which lay betwixt Northumberland and the Forth to the English Scepter and he thought it would be a work of no great difficulty so to do in regard most of the Nobility of those Countrys were either slain in the Fight or held Prisoners by him Thereupon beginning with Cocklaw a Castle in Teviotdale the Governor agreed That unless the Castle was relieved by the Scots in forty days he would surrender it up When these Conditions was brought to the King and then to the Governor some were of Opinion that the Castle should be surrendred in regard it was not of That Consequence as for the sake thereof to hazard the strength of the Kingdom a second time which had been so sorely shalâ—en and weakned in the late Fight This Dejection of spirit proceeded not so much from Fear of the Enemy as from the Perfidiousness of the Governor who gaped for the Kingdom He on the other side to avert all Suspicion from himself in high confident Words affirmed That this Cow-heartedness and Confession of Publick Fear would more encourage the Enemy than the loss of a Battel And if any one thought That the English would be contented with the taking in of One Castle they were very much mistaken for as Fire is more encreased by a light Aspersion of Water so the desire of the English upon Surrender of some Places would not be extinguished but rather inflamed to the Taking of more so that What was given up at First would be but a Step to a further Progress But says he if all of you refuse to march out for the relief of the Castle I my self will go alone for as long as I live and am in health I will never suffer such a Mark of Disgrace to be branded on the Scotish Name Upon this stout Speech of the Governors the rest either extinguishing or dissembling their Suspicion cryed out That they would follow Hâ—m But Fortune decided the Controversy and blew off that danger For Percy was called back to the Civil War in England and so the Siege was raised without Blows Whilst these things were acted abroad against the Enemie matters stood less prosperously at home For shortly after the Death of Archibald Douglas the Year before there immediately followed the Decease of the Queen Annabella and of Walter Trayle Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews insomuch that all mens minds did presage a great Mutation of Affairs For the splendour of
Somerset and Ralph Percy and many of Henry's old Friends besides who for fear of the Times had retired to King Edward came into Them but there was a far greater Confluence from the adjacent Parts of England of such Persons as had lived Rapacious Lives in hopes of some new Prey To appease this Commotion Edward makes great Military Preparation both by Land and Sea he commanded the Lord Mountague with a great part of the Nobility to march against the Enemy and he himself would follow with his whole Army Both Armies pitched their Tents not far from Hexham but the Common Soldiery who came in for Booty beginning to slip away Henry thought it best in such a desperate Case to put it to a Push and accordingly a Fight begun wherein he was overthrown his chief Friends were either slain or taken Prisoners and he himself made an hasty Retreat to Berwick of the Prisoners some had their Heads cut off presently and some a while after Edward having thus got the Day by the Generals of his Forces came himself to Durham that so he might prevent the Incursions of the Scots by the Terrour of his Neighbouring Army and also that by his Presence he might quell any Domestick Insurrections if any such should happen Whilst he was there he sent out part of his Army under several Commanders to take in the Places possessed by his Enemies of which having taken many by Storm or by Surrender at last he laid Siege to the Castle of Alnwick which was greater and better fortified than the rest and which was maintained by a Garison of French who defended the Castle very well in hopes of Relief from Scotland which was so near at hand But the Scots having lately had ill success in England an Army could not be so soon levyed as the present Exigent required for the raising of the Siege insomuch that whilst others were backward and delayed to give in their Opinion George Earl of Angus undertook with great Audacity the Matter which was so full of hazard He collected about 10000 Horse of his Friends Vassals and the Neighbouring Province of which he was Governor He came to the Castle and Horsed the French that were in Garison upon some empty Horses he had brought for that purpose and so brought them off safe even to a Man into Scotland whilst the English stood and looked on as amazed at the Boldness of his Miraculous Enterprize or thinking that Douglas had help near at hand or rather hoping to have the Castle given up without a Battel and so they would not put the Whole to an hazard by joining in Fight with that small though select Party Edward settled Guards at all convenient Places that so no Rebellious Troops might march to and again and then as if he had quieted the whole Kingdom he returned to London In the mean time Exiled Henry either on the Accompt of some Hope 's cast in by his Friends or else weary of his tedious Exile determines to shelter himself privately amongst his Friends in England But Fortunes Malice followed him to the last he was there known taken brought to London and committed Prisoner to the Tower And his Wife Margaret distrusting her present Affairs with her Son and a Few Followers left Scotland and Sailed over to her Father Renat into France To return then to the Affairs of Scotland The time for the Assembly which was Indicted to be held at Edinburgh was come where there was a Full Appearance but the Body of them was divided into Two Factions Part of the Nobles followed the Queen but the Major Part by far stuck to Iames Kennedy and George Douglas Earl of Angus the Heads of the contrary Faction The Queen lodged in the Castle the Bishop and the Earl lay in the Abby of Holy-Road-House at the furthest part of the Suburbs towards the East The Cause of the Dissension was That the Queen thought it equal and just for her to have the Tutelage or Guardianship of her Son the other Party judged it most fit that One should be chosen out of the whole Assembly for that careful Work The Queen alleged the Maternal Name her Interest and Propinquity the Adverse Party insisted on the old Law confirmed by perpetuated Custom In the Third day of the Assembly the Queen comes down from the Castle with her Followers and caused her self to be Decreed Tutrix of the King and Governess of the Kingdom by her own Faction and so returns into the Castle again When Kennedy heard of this he hastned with his Party into the Market-place and there in a long Speech he told the Multitude which was thick about him That he and his Associates did aim at nothing but the Publick Good and the Observation of their Ancient Laws but their Adversaries were â—â—d each one by his private advantage And That he would evidenâ—â—y make appear if he might have a Place Free to dispute the Poinâ— Having thus spoken he retired with his Followers to his Lodgiâ—â— but was not gone far from the Market-place before he heard That the other Party was coming down Armed from the Castle Douglas looked upon This as an intolerable Thing That Valiant Men should yield to the Threats of a Few and That their Retirement should be looked upon as a Flight and therefore was hardly kept in by Kennedy from assaulting the adjoining Gate of the City and Weaponless as he was to encounter Armed Men and unless the Three Bishops of Glasgo Galway and Dumblane upon Noise of the Uproar had come in his Indignation would not have been stopp'd till they had come to Blows But by the Mediation of those Bishops the Matter was so far composed That a Truce was agreed upon for one Month. Though the Chief of the Faction were thus quieted yet the Multitude could not be restrained from expressing their Wrath and Indignation in rough and cutting Language as that the Desire of the Queen was Dishonourable to the Kingdom and Undecent for Herself What said they is the Valour of the old Scots at so low an Ebb That amongst so many Thousand Men there is none worthy to Govern the Affairs of Scotland but a Woman must do it What was there no Man that could Rule over the Nation And That would live the greatest part of his Life in Arms What likelihood was there That those who had not been altogether Tractable to their King when weak should now yield Obedience to a Woman and that a Stranger too What had they undergone so much Labour and lost so much Blood these many years by Sea and Land That Men born and brought up in Arms should freely give up themselves to the Servitude of a Woman What if the English should invade them as they had often done at other times in revenge of their Losses with a great Army Who could in that case Give or Accept Terms of Peace or War These were the Discourses of the Commonalty
Courtiers cast into Pâ—ison condemn'd by the King 's privy domestick Council and put to Death by having a Vein Opened till he expired his last The Cause of his Death was given out amongst the Vulgar to be because he had conspir'd with Witches against the King's Life and to make the matter more plausible twelve of the Witches of the lowest condition were Try'd and Burnt The Death of Iohn did rather stifle than dissipate the Conspiracy which seem'd almost ready to break forth Alexander the next as in Blood so in Danger tho' he indeavour'd to avert all Suspicion from himself as much as he could yet the Kings Officers thought they should never be Secure as long as he was alive and therefore they presently clapt him up Prisoner in the Castle of Edinburgh where he was strictly kept by those who judg'd his Power would be their Destruction and seeing he could not appease the Kings Wrath by the Mediation of his Friends he began to think of making an Escape he had but one of his own Servants left tâ— wait upon him in his Chamber him and none else he acquainted with his Design who hired a Vessel for him to be ready fitted in the adjoining Road then he suborn'd Messengers to make frequent Errands to him from the Court who should tell him Stories before his Keepers for he was forbid to speak with any Body but in their presence that the King was now more reconcileable to him than formerly and that he would speedily be set at Liberty When the day appointed for his Escape approach'd he compos'd his Countenance to as much Mirth as in that calamitous Condition he was able to do and told his Keepers that now he believ'd the Messages sent him by the King that he was reconcil'd to him and that he hop'd he should not be held much longer in Durance hereupon he invited them to a noble Supper and himself drank freely with them till late at Night then they departed and being all full of Wine fell into the Sounder sleep being thus alone he made a Rope of the Linen-Blankets of his Bed long enough as he thought for the height of the Wall and First to make a Tryal he caus'd his Servant to slide down by it but perceiving by his Fall that 't was too short he lengthned it out as well as he could in those Circumstances and himself Slid down too and took up his Servant who had broke his Leg by his Fall upon his Shoulders and carry'd him about a Mile to the Vessel where they went aboard and having a Fair Wind failed to Dunbar there he fortify'd the Castle against any forcible Assault and with a smal Retinue passed over into France In his absence Andrew Stuart the Chancellor was sent with an Army to take in the Castle they besieg'd it closely some Months and 't was defended as bravely but at last the Garison for want of Necessaries were forced to get Vessels and in the Night to depart privately for England so that in the Morning the Empty Castle was taken by the Besiegers some men of Note of the Besiegers were slain there About these Times it was that the Kings both of England and Scotland being weary'd out with Domestick Troubles had each of them a desire to make Peace and an Embassy was appointed to compleat it which was kindly received and the Peace was not only agreed upon but an Affinity accorded to confirm it that Cecilia the Daughter of Edward should be Married to Iames his Son as soon as they were Both Marrigeable Part also of the Dowry was paid on this Condition That if when they came to Years the Marriage were not Consummated the Dowry should be paid back to the English and Hostages were given for performance of Conditions which were some Burgers of Towns But this Peace lasted not long for by reason of the old grudges remaining since the last Wars Incursions were made Preys driven and Villages burnt So that by reason of these mutual Injuries the matter broke forth into an open War And besides each King had other peculiar Provocations Douglas the Old Exile and Alexander the Kings Brother the new One excited Edward thereunto For Alexander as I said before going into France Married the Daughter of the Earl of Bulloign but not being able to procure Aid from Lewis the II. then King of France for the Recovery of his own he Sailed over into England hoping from thence to make some Attempt upon Scotland As for Iames of Scotland Lewis of Franâ—e edg'd him on to a War having sent Robert Ireland a Scots man and Dr. of the Sorbon with Two French Knights to him on that Errand Hereupon the Peace was violated and altho' the Scotish Affairs in regard some of the Country was wasted were in none of the best State and Condition yea an Army also was decreed to be sent against Scotland by the English under the Command of the Duke of Glocester yet the King and those which were about him did levy Forces tho' very unwillingly For the Upstarts such they lately were and very poor too whose Greatness was founded on the Calamities of others and who had been the Authors of such desperate Counsels to the King fear'd nothing more than the frequent Assembly of the Nobility when he came to Lauder a Town near the Borders of Merch and Teviotdale Countrys either wasted by the Enemy or else by Force necessitated to submit to him the King yet proceeded on in his wonted Course of Exactions from them he distrusted the Nobility and manag'd all by his Cabinet-Council The Nobles would indure the Indignity no longer and therefore in the third Watch they met in a Church in the Town where in a Full Assembly Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus is reported to have declar'd the Cause of their Meeting in this wise I think it not necessary Noble Peers to make a long Oration concerning the state of Scotish Affairs you your selves Partly remember it and Partly you see it with your Eyes the Chief of the Nobility are either banished or else compelled to suffer intolerable and to act nefarious things and you in whom the strength of the Kingdom doth reside are left without an Head as a Ship without a Steers-man subject to all the Storms and Tempests of Fortune Your Lands are burnt your Estates plunder'd the Husbandman either slain or else perceiving no other Remedy or relief hath submitted to the Enemy And the King if he were Himself a man of a generous Spirit and rare Prudence yet being carried away by poysonous Insinuations refers all things pertaâ—ning to the Good of the Common-wealth as to Peace War and the like not to an Assembly of the Nobles but to inferior Underlings these men do consult South-sayers and Wizards and so carry their Answers to the King whose mind is Sick and easily taken with such vain Superstitions and thus Decrees are made under the Influence of such
who for his many and notable Crimes was grievously hated by his own People as well as Richard was by His willingly gave ear to his Ambassadors for he hoped That if once he had Peace with England that he could revenge his Wrongs at home at leisure when England could not be a Refuge to his Opposers For these Reasons especially Both Kings sent some of their Confidents to the Borders where after many and long Disputes concerning Compensation for Losses seeing Peace could not be made by Reason of the Multitudes of Complainants and the Weakness of their Proofs they made a Truce for Three Years And because Matters could not then be adjusted for the Difficulties above-mentioned and also the Straitness of Time Arbiters were appointed on Both sides who together with the Commanders of the Borders should see all things done according to Equity One Condition in the Truce was set down very intricately about the Castle of Dunbar to be restor'd to the Scots for the English interpreted it that they might keep it and the Scots that they might reduce it by Force notwithstanding the Truce For when the Scots after the Expiration of the Sixâ—Months allotted sent Embassadors to Demand the Castle Richard by his Letters made them Promises of his Good Will but he delay'd the Reddition alleging sometimes This and sometimes Other things as an Obstacle in the way till his Death which follow'd not long after He was slain by his Countrymen and Henry the 7 th not yet fully setled in the Throne when â—ames laid Siege to the Castle in a very sharp Winter The Garison Soldiers seeing that they were not like to have Relief from England in regard of the present Distractions surrendred it up But Henry being troubled with many Cares that he might cut off the Occasion of Foreign Wars and extirpate the Seeds of old Hatred came to Newcastle upon Tine from thence he sent Embassadors to Scotland either to make a perpetual League or at least a long Truce with them for he being a Man of great Prudence and having experienc'd many Vicissitudes of things in his Life did judge it highly conducing to the Establishment of his Kingdom to make Peace with his Neighbors and especially with the Scots because that ordinarily those Two Kingdoms did lye at catch for Advantages against each other and did also nourish Rebels flying thither yea and entertain those which were exiled and maintain Sedition by giving their Authors hope of Refuge and Supply And as for Iames he desir'd nothing more than to be free from the fear of Strangers that so he might punish his own disobedient Subjects as he pleased And therefore he kindly receiv'd the Embassadors and told them that he desir'd nothing more than a Peace but his Opinion was that his Subjects would not yield to it that either there should be a perpetual Peace or any long Truce betwixt them partly because it was forbid by an Ancient Law lest when all Fear of an Enemy was removed their Minds might languish in Idleness and the Sinews of their Industry be remitted and partly because they could not so suddainly lay down that fierceness of Spirit which they had acquir'd by so long Use of Arms. But if they could be brought to This to yield to a Truce for 6 or 7 Years he would not have them refuse it But as for himself he was willing to maintain a firm and inviolate Peace with them as long as he liv'd and he would also take care that the Truce should be renewed before the Date of it was quite expired but he earnestly desired the Embassadors not to divulge abroad the Discourse which they had in secret with him lest his Nobilitie should be more backward to a Pacification if they saw him to be partial in the Case When this was told Henry who knew in what a tumultuous Case the Affairs of Scotland were and how convenient it was for that King to have a Peace imagining likewise that he spoke really and from his Heart he accepted of the Truce for 7 Years and so retir'd back to York In the mean time the Queen of Scots dyed a Woman of a singular Beauty and Probity too and by her good Graces she was thought sometimes to have moderated the unbridled Appetites and Efforts of her Husband Alexander also the King's Brother Dyed in France leaving Two Sons behind him Alexander by his First Wife the Daughter of the Earl of the Orcades and Iohn by his Second who was afterward the Regent King of Scotland for some Years Iames having thus setled Peace abroad and at home being freed from Two troublesome Interrupters of his Designs return'd to his own Nature he excluded almost all the Nobility and had none but Upstarts about him upon them he bestowed great Honors and Preferments the Care of all Publick Affairs and the Ways of getting Money were Both cast upon them whilst he himself did wholly immerge himâ—â—â—f in Voluptuousness The Chief of this Court Faction was Iohn Ramsy who was preserv'd at Laâ—der by the King's Request and then escap'd Punishment He was grown so insolently proud that not content with the Stewardship of the Houshold which is a Place of prime Honor amongst the Scots which the King had given him and many rich Lordships besides he obtained an Edict That none but he and his Retinue should wear a Sword or other weapon in those places where the King Lodg'd that so by this means they might strengthen themselves and their Retinue against the Nobility who kept their distinct and frequent Meetings by themselves and walk'd up and down guarded by reason of the Terror of their Arms. But that Edict made People to hate Ramsy more than fear him for now nothing but the Image of perfect Slavery was represented to their Eye In the mean time the King meditated nothing more than how to satisfy himself with the Blood of those Men who were believ'd to be the Authors of Rebellion against them And seeing he could not do it by open Force he thought to effect it by Subtilty and therefore he fain'd himself to be reconcil'd to This and to the Other Man and entertain'd them so courteously that 't was even below the Dignity of a Prince so to do Others who were eminent in Power he gave Honors and Largesses to He made David Lindsy Earl of Craford Duke of Montross endeavouring to win him by that means being so powerful a Man in his Country As for George Earl of Angus he had him frequently about him and as if he had been wholly receiv'd into his Favour he acquainted him with his private Designs yet none of his Rewards and Flatteries could persuade Men that he was sincere For They that knew his Disposition did not at all doubt that his Simulation of Benevolence and Respect tended to no other end but that he might either apprehend the Nobility One by One apart or else might set them together
Difficulty first of all the new King endeavoured to reconcile the Naval Forces to himself lest when he was absent in the further parts of the Kingdom to settle Matters there they should make some stir or at least should make an entrance for the English to penetrate far into the Land and so spoil the Mid-land Countries Whereupon when the old King's Death was now publickly divulged abroad the new One thought that Andrew Wood would now be more flexible and therefore he sent for him giving him the publick Faith for his Security When he was ashoar he told him what a great Dishonour Loss and publick Shame it was to the whole Nation that a few English Ships should in despite of them ride under their very Noses and thereupon he drew over Andrew to his Party and set him forth in good Equipage against the English Many did advise him that he would sail an equal number of Ships at least against the Enemy whose Vessels were more and bigger than his No says he I 'le have only my own Two And as soon as the Wind served he made directly toward the English who rode before Dunbar He fought them bravely took and brought them all into Leith and presented their Commanders to the King Andrew was liberally rewarded by the King and his skill in Sea-fight with the singular Valour of his Souldiers and Seamen was highly magnified And yet there were not wanting some of those sort of Creatures who do always admire the Atchievments of Kings whatsoever they be and if they be Great yet they view them in a multiplying Glass who foretold that this Victory did but presage a greater Mean while the adverse part of the Nobility sent Messages into all parts of the Kingdom to persuade the Countrey to rise and not to endure the present state of Things nor to suffer so many valiant Men to be illuded by such publick Parricides who had murdered one King and held Another in Bondage yea who accused the Defenders of the King's Life as Traitors whereas they who were indeed violaters of all divine and human Laws gave out themselves to be the only Assertors of the Rights of their Country and Maintainers of its Liberty Amongst whom the King himself was not a Freeman in regard he was enforced by them to take Arms against his Father and his King too and after he was impiously slain then to prosecute by a nefarious War those who were his Father's Friends and Defenders of his Life Many such Discourses they spread abroad amongst the Vulgar and to excite a greater Flame of Indignation and Hate Alexander Forbes Chief of a Noble Family carried the King's Shirt upon a Spear all over bloody and torn with the Marks of the Wounds he received through Aberdeen and all the chief Towns of the adjacent Country and as if it had been by a publick Proclamation he excited all Men by the Voice of an Herauld to rise in Arms to revenge so nefarious a Fact And Matthew Stewart Earl of Lennox a Man of great Wealth and Power and who by an honest kind of popularity was equally dear to high and low was as active in the Countries on this side the Forth for he raised up the Earls that were his Neighbours and with a good Force endeavoured to pass over the Bridge at Sterlin to join his Associates but that Bridg being possessed by the King's Forces he sought to pass over at a Ford not far from the Rise of the River at the Foot of Mount Grampias His Design was discovered to Iohn Drummond by Alexander Mac-alpin his Vassal who had joined himself to the Enemy by whom also Information was given that all things were secure and ill-guarded in the Enemies Camp that every one stragled up and down as they pleased that they had no Watch set in convenient places nor used any Military Discipline at all Hereupon Drummond with some Courtiers and a few Volunteers who purposely came in to assist him set upon them as they were asleep many were killed in their sleep the rest run headlong away without their Arms and so returned from whence they came many were taken Prisoners but by their Friends that knew them a great part of them were dismissed they only were severely dealt with who had either written or spoke more contumeliously than others The Joy for this Victory was encreased by the News of another at the same time wherein Andrew Wood had prevailed in a Sea-fight against Stephen Bull. For Edward King of England hearing that five of his Ships were taken by two of the Scots and those much lesser also than his was willing to blot out the Infamy of the Thing and yet could find out no just pretence for a War yet he called his ablest Sea-Commanders together he offered them what Ships and Warlike Furniture they pleased and so he persuaded them to revenge the Ignominy cast on the English Name promising them great Rewards if they could bring Wood to him alive or dead But when those that knew the Valour of the Man and his prosperous Successes made some delay in the Case Stephen Bull a Knight of known Courage undertook the Expedition and Opportunity seemed to favour his Design because he knew that Wood was shortly to return out of Flanders and he thought it would be a matter of no great difficulty to attaque him unawares in his Passage thereupon he chose out three Ships of the Royal Navy and equipped them well in all points and so stood for the Isle of May an Island uninhabited in the Bay of Forth choosing that place for the conveniency of it because in every side of the Island there is safe riding and Harbour for Ships and there the Sea also grows so narrow that no little Vessel could pass by without being discovered Whilst he rode there he continually kept some of his skilfullest Mariners abroad in Fisher-boats to watch and to discover to him his Enemies Ships he had not rode at Anchor there many days when lo Wood's Ships appeared with full Sail making towards him Bull knew them and presently weighed Anchor and as Victor already in his Mind he prepared himself for the Fight Wood staid no longer but till his Men had armed themselves and so made up to him Thus did these two valiant Commanders engage as if they had had the Courage of mighty Armies and they fought so obstinately till the Night parted the Fray the Victory inclining to neither side The next Morning each of them incouraged their Party and with renewed Strength went to it again they cast Iron Hooks called Grapling Irons into one anothers Ships and so fought hand to hand as if they had been at a Land Fight and that with so great eagerness that neither of them took notice of the falling back of the Tide till they came to the heaps of Sand at the mouth of the River Tay there the Water being shallower the great Ships of the English
as he lived and every Year he added one Link thereunto and tho this Practice might seem formidable to those that were the Causers of his Father's Death yet they had such Confidence either in the Gentleness of the King's Disposition or in their own Power that it occasioned no Insurrection at all Amidst this publick Jubilee and also the private Rejoycings of particular Persons about the seventh Year of the King's Reign Peter Warbeck came into Scotland But before I declare the Cause of his coming I must fetch things something further back Margaret the Sister of Edward the fourth King of England having married Charles Duke of Burgundy she endeavoured all the ways she could if not to overthrow yet at least to vex Henry the Seventh the Leader of the contrary Faction In order whereunto she raised up one Peter Warbeck as a Competitor for the Kingdom he was a Youth born of mean Parentage at Tornay a City of the Nervii but of such Beauty Ingenuity Stature of Body and Manliness of Countenance that he might easily be believed to have been descended of a Royal Stock And by reason of his Poverty he had travelled up and down in several Countries so that he was known but by very few of his own Relations and there he had learned several Languages and had hardened himself to all kind of bold and impudent Carriage when Margarite who was intent on all occasions to disturb the Peace of England had got this Youth she kept him a while privately by her till she had informed him with what Factions England laboured at that time what Friends and what Enemies she had there in a word she made him acquainted with the whole Genealogy of the Royal Progeny and what Happinesses or Misfortunes had attended each of them When things seemed thus to be somewhat ripe she was resolved to try Fortune and took private order that he should be sent in a decent Equipage first into Portugal then into Ireland there he had a great Concourse of People flock'd about him and was received with huge Applause as the Son of King Edward of England either because his own Disposition assisted also by Art was inclined to Dissimulation or because being there amongst wild Kerns he was soon likely to raise great Stirs and Tumults When a War brake forth suddenly betwixt the French and the English he was called for out of Ireland by Charles the Eighth and had great Promises made him so that coming to Paris he was there honourably received in the Garb and Equipage of a Prince and had a Guard appointed him yea the English Exiles who were numerous at that Court put him in a sure hope of the Kingdom But that Tumult being quieted upon Terms he departed privately out of the Court of France for fear lest he should have been delivered up and so retired to Flanders there he was highly caressed by Margaret as if it were the first time that ever she had seen him and was diligently shewed to all the Courtiers and several times in the hearing of many of them he was desired to relate the Story of all his Adventures Margarite as if this were the first time she had ever heard it did so accommodate her dissembled Affections in compliance with each part of his Discourse both when he related his Successes and also his Misfortunes that every body thought she believed what he had spoken to be certainly true After a day or two Peter was desired to go abroad in the habit of a Prince and had thirty Men to be his Guard wearing a white Rose which is the Badg of the York-Faction amongst the English and so was every where declared as the undoubted Heir of the Crown of England When these things were divulged first in Flanders afterward in England the Minds of Men were so stirred up that a great concourse of People flock'd in to him not only of those who lurked in Holes and Sanctuaries for fear of the Laws but even of some Noble-men whom their present State did not please or who desired Innovations But when a longer delay which Peter hoped would bring in more Force to him was likely to abate his present Strength if he were discovered to be a Counterfeit therefore he determined to try his Fortune in a Fight so that having gotten a pretty great Party together he landed some few of them in Kent to try the Affections of the Kentish-men but in vain All those who landed were taken so that he was forced to steer his course for Ireland and there also he met not with the entertainment he hoped for so that he sailed over into Scotland well knowing that Peace betwixt Scotland and England never used to continue very long He being admitted into the King's Presence made a lamentable complaint of the Ruin of the York-Family and what miserable Calamities he himself had suffered and therefore he earnestly besought him to vindicate Royal Blood from such contumely and shame The King bid him be of good chear and promised he should shortly find That he had not desired his help in his Distresses in vain A few days after a Council was called where Peter made a sad Story of his Misfortunes That he being born of a King the most Flourishing of his Time and that of the highest hopes too was left destitute by the untimely death of his Father and so was like to have fallen into the Tyrannical Hands of his Uncle Richard before he was sensible almost what Misery was That his Elder Brother was cruelly murdered by him but that he himself was stolen away by his Father's Friends so that now he durst not live no not a poor and precarious Life even in that Kingdom of which he was the lawful Heir That he had so miserably lived amongst Foreign Nations that he preferred the Condition of his deceased Brother before his own in regard he was snatch'd away from all further Calamity by a suddain and violent Death That he himself was reserved as the ridicule of Fortune and that his Sorrow had not that alleviation that he durst bewail his miserable State amongst Strangers to incline them to pity him for after he had begun openly to profess what he was Fortune had assaulted him with all her Darts and to his former Miseries had added a daily fear of Treachery for his crafty Enemy had sometimes tampered with those who entertained him to take away his Life and sometimes he had privily suborned his Subjects under the name of Friends to discover his secret Designs to corrupt his true Friends and to find out his secret ones and to calumniate his Stock and Pedigree by false Accusations amongst the Vulgar to reproach his Aunt Margaret and those English Nobles that owned him and yet notwithstanding that she being supported by a good Conscience against the revilings of Enemies and also out of compassion to her own Blood had supported him in his low Estate with her Assistance
But at last when he perceived that he could not have Aid enough from her to recover his Kingdom being a Widow and old too he had solicited Neighbour-Kings and Nations desiring them to respect the common Chances of Man's Life and not to suffer Royal Blood to be oppressed by Tyrannical Violence and so himself to pine away with Grief Fear and Misery and that he though so the present afflicted with great Evils yet was not so dejected in his Mind but that he hoped the time would come that being restored to his Kingdom by the Aid of his Friends of whom he had many both in England and Scotland he should be able to consider every particular Man's Service and reward him accordingly especially if the Scots would join their Forces with His and if ever he was restored to his Kingdom by their Arms they should soon understand that they had won a fast Friend and that at such a time too when the trial of true Friendship is wont to be made for he and his Posterity would be so gratefully mindful of the Obligation that they would ever acknowledg that the accession of his better Fortune was due to them alone Besides he added many things in praise of the King part of them true and part accommodated to their present Condition Having thus said he held his Peace but the King called him up to him and bid him Take Heart for he would refer his Demands to the Council whose Advice in Grand Affairs he must needs have yet however they did determine he promised him faithfully That he should not repent that he made His Court his Sanctuary Upon this Peter quitted the Assembly and the Matter being put to a debate the wiser sort who had most experience in State-Affairs thought it best to reject the whole Business either because they judg'd he was a Counterfeit or else that they foresaw there would be more Danger by the War than Advantage by the Victory tho' they were sure of it But the major part either through unskilfulness in Affairs or inconstancy of Spirit or else to gratify the King argued that Peter's Cause was most just and that they greatly pittied the Man they added also That now Matters were in some confusion in England and Mens Minds were yet fluctuating after the Civil War and therefore it was good to lay hold of this Opportunity and that which the English were wont to do to them they themselves ought to try for once to make use of the Enemies Distractions for their own Advantage yea they foretold a Victory preconceived in their Minds before they had put on their Armour especially if great Forces of the English came in to join them nay if they should not come in in such Numbers as they hoped yet one of these two things must necessarily follow That either they should conquer Henry and so settle this new King on his Throne who in recompence for so great a Benefit must needs grant them all that they desired Or if they could end the Matter without Blows yet Henry upon the quelling Domestick Tumults not being yet fully settled in his Throne would submit to what Conditions they pleased But if he refused so to do when War was once begun many advantages might offer themselves which now were unforeseen This was the Opinion of the major part and the King himself inclined to them and his Vote drew in the rest And after this he treated Peter more honourably than before gave him the Title of Duke of York and as such shewed him to the People And not contented herewith he gave him Katharine Gordon Daughter to the Earl of Huntly to Wife a Woman of as great Beauty as Nobility of Stock by this Affinity erecting him to hopes of thriving and bettering his Condition And therefore by Advice of his Council he levied an Army and marched for England first of all carrying it warily and having his Troops ready to engage if any suddain Assault should be made upon him But afterwards when he understood by his Spies that the Enemy had no Army in the Field he sent out Parties to Plunder and in a short time wasted almost all Northumberland and the Countries thereabout He staid some days in those Parts and not an English-Man stirred in behalf of Peter And it being told him that an Army was levying against him in the adjacent Counties he thought it dangerous to venture his Souldiers who were loaden with Booty against the new and fresh Forces of the English and therefore he resolved to return into Scotland and there to leave their Booty and as soon as the time of the Year would permit to undertake a new Expedition Neither did he fear that the English would follow him in his retreat for he knew that new-raised Souldiers would not be long kept together neither would they make after him if they could through a Country so lately harassed and desolated by the Wars especially having no Provisions prepared before-hand And besides Peter was afraid that in regard none of the English came in to him as he hoped that if he staid any longer in his Enemies Country his Cheat would be discovered so that he himself seemed to approve of the King's Resolution came cunningly to him and composing his Speech and Countenance so as might best move Compassion he humbly besought him That he would not make such Havock in a Kingdom that was his own by Right and that he would not so cruelly shed so much Blood of his Subjects for no Kingdom in the World was of so much worth to him as for its sake to have his Peoples Blood so largely spilt and his Country so wasted with Fire and Sword to procure it The King began now to smell out and understand whither this unseasonable Clemency did tend and therefore told him That he feared he would preserve that Kingdom in which not a Man did own him as a Subject much less as a King not for himself but for his Capital Enemy and so by common consent they returned Home and the Army was disbanded Henry being made acquainted with the Invasion and also the Retreat of the Scots appointed an Expedition against them the Year after and in the mean time levied a great Army and that he might not be idle in the Winter-time he summons a Parliament who approved of his Design to make War on Scotland and granted a small Subsidy upon the People for that end That Tax raised up a greater flame of War upon him at Home than that which he designed to quench Abroad For the Commonalty complained that their Youth and Souldiery were exhausted by so many Wars and Impressments which had been made within these few Years that their Estates were impaired and ran very low But the Nobles and Counsellors to the King were so far from being moved with these Calamities that they sought to create new Wars in a time of Peace that so they might impose new Taxes on
This way of raising Money by the King tho it outed no Man of his whole Estate yet was a greater Grievance to the Country than his Father's Covetousness had been for the Wrong redounded to very many and to the worthiest People most because under the two last Kings by reason of their Forreign and also of their Civil Wars the Memory of that Law was almost quite abolished and thereupon by reason of this new Project they were enforced either to redeem their Lands from the Officers of the King's Exchequer or else to relinquish part of them And yet the love of the Subjects towards their King was so great that tho they suffered great Inconvenience thereby his other Vertues gave him such a Reverence amongst them that their Indignation did not proceed to an actual Rising in Arms. But when the King set no bounds to his Expences neither were there some Flatterers a perpetual mischief to Courts wanting who covered this vitious Excess under the plausible Names of Splendour and Magnificence Hereupon he determined to undertake a Voyage into Syria that so he might put an end to his vast Expence which he could not continue without Ruin nor yet give over without Shame and so by his Absence to abridg it He made an honest Pretence for his Journey that it was to expiate the Fault he had committed in bearing Arms against his Father And indeed he had given some evidence of his Penitence whether true or pretended upon this account from the very beginning of his Reign as I said before and he would often speak of it in his common Discourse He had rigged a Navy for this Voyage and had nominated the chief of his Retinue and had acquainted his Neighbour-Kings by his Ambassadours of his Intent and many of his Followers as if they had obliged themselves by the same Vow suffered the Hairs of their Heads and Beards to grow at length and it was thought he would immediately have taken Ship if some Hinderances had not intervened even whilst he was most intent on his Journey For at that time there arose a vehement Suspicion of a War like to ensue betwixt France and England for Henry did not like the Successes of the French in Italy and besides he was solicited by Iulius the 2 d then Pope and by Ferdinand of Spain his Father-in-Law to join with them and with the Venetians Swiss and Maximilian too tho he did regulate his Councils ordinarily according to Events for it was likely that the Conjunctions of so many Nations against France would almost swallow it up The King of England being in the prime of his Age and elevated much in the sense of the Power of his Kingdoms and also being very willing to be in Action was desirous to enter into this Confederacy but wanted a fair Pretence to fall out with France But both of them knew one anothers Designs by their Spies and when France could not be persuaded to desist from warring against the Pope who was Henry's Friend at length an Herauld was sent into France to demand Normandy Aquitain and Anjou as the old Possessions of the English in France But in regard France was not moved by these Threats neither to intermit the War in Italy hereupon Henry denounced War against him and sent an Army into Biscay to join his Father-in-Law Ferdinand and he himself prepared for an Expedition into France Now Iames of Scotland tho he resolved to side with neither of them yet as more inclinable to the French he sent his Navy aforementioned as a Present to Ann Queen of France that so it might seem rather as a mark of his Friendship than any real Assistance for Military Action And moreover the Scots Clergy who were used to French Largesses were willing to shew themselves in behalf of Lewis of France and seeing they durst not openly do it they sought out occasions to alienate the King's Mind from the English In order hereto Andrew Forman then Bishop of Murray one of their Faction and a Friend to Lewis was sent into England to demand a vast Sum of Gold and Silver the greatest part thereof consisted in Womens Jewels and Ornaments which were reported to be given by Will by Arthur Henry the 8 ths Elder Brother to his Sister Margaret now married to Iames as I related before Henry as 't is probable looked upon this Demand only as a Pretence for a Quarrel and therefore he answered Iames very mildly That if any thing were due to him he would not only pay it but if he wanted a greater Sum or any other Assistance he would not fail to supply him When Iames received this Answer he resolved to assist Lewis in any other way but by no means to invade England and he sent over the same Forman into France to acquaint Lewis therewith Meanwhile because he had heard that great Naval Preparations were making on both sides he resolved to send the Fleet aforementioned to Ann immediately that so it might arrive there before the War did actually break forth he made Iames Hamilton Earl of Arran Admiral of it and caused him to set sail with the first Opportunity But Hamilton tho a Man good enough yet was more skilled in the Arts of Peace than War and therefore either out of fear of Danger or else out of his habitual backwardness left his Voyage for France and turned to Knockfergus a Town in Ireland scituate over against Galway in Scotland which place he pillaged and burnt and afterward as if he had been a mighty Conqueror he hoisted sail for Air in Scotland a Port-Town in Kyle When the King heard of his Return he was very outragious against him and could not forbear to express his menacing Reproaches against the Man and he was the more inraged against him because he had received a Letter from Queen Ann out of France which did endeavour to flatter him into a War against England and he had also other Letters from Andrew Forman which informed him That he was generally upbraided with the Promise of sending the Fleet which they now looked upon as vain in regard no such thing was done The King was willing to obviate this mischief as well as he could and therefore seeing Hamilton had broke off the Course he was commanded to run and had destroyed a Town that had never been an Enemy to the Scots and was then also in Alliance with them and so had made War upon his Friends without denouncing it beforehand therefore he cashiered him the Admiralship and caused him to be summoned to appear before him Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus was designed to succeed him in that Command and Andrew Wood was sent with him to take the Fleet into his Charge But Hamilton had notice by his Friends before their coming of the King's Displeasure against him and therefore presently hoised Sail resolving rather to commit himself to the wide Sea than to an enraged King he was
Ships were taken in a time of Peace and the Passengers slain They were answered That the killing of Pirats was no violation of Leagues neither was it a justifiable Cause for a War This Answer shewed the spight of one that was willing to excuse a plain Murder and seemed as if he had sought an occasion for a War Whereupon the English which inhabited the Borders by that which was acted above-board guessed at their King's Mind and being also accustomed to sow the Seeds of Dissention in the times of the firmest Peace and besides being much given to Innovation began to prey upon the adjacent Countries of the Scots At that time there was one Alexander Hume who had the sole command of all the Scots Borders which was wont to be distributed into three Mens Hands he was mightily beloved by Iames but his Disposition was more fierce than was expedient for the Good of those Times The King was intent upon War and very solicitous how to blot out the Ignominy received by those Incursions and Hume promised him That he and some of his Kindred and Vassals would in a little time make the English repent of the Loss and Damage they had done as being resolved to turn their Mirth into Sadness To make good his Word he gathered together about 3000 Horse entred England and spoiled the Neighbouring Villages before any Relief could come in but as he was returning his Men being accustomed to pillaging and then also laden with a great deal of Booty being impatient to stay there any longer divided their Spoil even in their Enemy's Country and went their ways severally Home Alexander with a few brought up the Rear to see that no assault might be made upon them in their Retreat but perceiving none to follow he was the more careless and so fell into an Ambush of 300 English who taking the opportunity set upon them and struck such a suddain Terror into them that they routed and put them to flight In this Conflict a great many of the Scots were slain and 200 taken Prisoners amongst whom was Alexander's Brother who was exchanged for the Lord Hern of Foord who had been kept Prisoner many Years in Scotland for the Murder of Robert Carr But all the Booty came safe into Scotland because they who drove it were marched on before This new Offence coming upon the King's Mind which was not easy before upon the account of what I formerly related made him unruly and headstrong and thereupon he called a Convention to consult concerning the War The wiser sort were against it but L'amot the Embassador of France earnestly pressed it by Entreaties and Promises And also frequent Letters from Andrew Forman urged the same thing yea the King himself inclined thereto so that many to gratify him fell in with his Opinion the rest being the minor part lest by a fruitless Opposition they might incur the King's Displeasure gave also their assent so that a War was voted to be made against England both by Land and Sea 't is doubtful whether the Counsel or the Event was the worst a set day was appointed for the Army to meet together An Herald was sent into France to Henry who was then besieging Tournay to denounce War upon him The Causes of it were rendred to be That Satisfaction for Losses had been required but not given That Iohn Hume the Murderer of Robert Carr did openly shew himself That Andrew Breton in violation of the Leagues betwixt the two Crowns had been pillaged and slain by the King 's own Command And though he did not mention any of those Wrongs yet he should never endure That the Territories of Lewis King of France his Ancient Ally nor of Charles Duke of Gelderland his Kinsman should be so miserably harrassed with all the Calamities of War and therefore unless he desisted therefrom he bid him Defiance Henry being young and having a flourishing and puissant Kingdom and besides a general Combination of almost all Europe against France alone these things kindled a desire in his Mind which was otherwise ambitious enough of Glory to continue his Arms and therefore he gave the Herald an Answer more fierce than suted with his youthful Age That he heard nothing from him but what he long before had expected from such a Violator of all Divine and Human Laws and therefore he should do as he thought fit for his part he was resolved not to be threatned out of his Procedure in a War wherein he had so well prospered hitherto and besides he did not value his Friendship as having already had sufficient proof of his Levity This Denunciation of War being brought into Scotland as the King was going to his Army at Linlithgo whilst he was at Vespers in the Church as the manner then was There entred an old Man the Hair of his Head being Red inclining to Yellow and hanging down on his Shoulders his Forehead sleek thro' baldness bare-headed in a long Coat of a russet Colour girt with a linen Girdle about his Loins in the rest of his Aspect he was very venerable He pressed thro' the Crowd to come to the King When he came to him he leaned upon the Chair on which the King sat with a kind of rustick simplicity and bespoke him thus O King said he I am sent to warn thee not to proceed in thy intended Design which Monition if thou neglect neither Thou nor thy Followers shall prosper I am also commanded to tell thee That thou shouldest not use the Familiarity Intimacy and Counsel of Women which if thou dost it will redound to thy Ignominy and Loss Having thus spoken he withdrew himself into the Crowd and when the King enquired for him after Prayers were ended he could not be found which Matter seemed more strange because none of those who stood next and observed him as being desirous to put many Questions to him were sensible how he disappeared Amongst them there was David Lindsy of Mont a Man of approved Worth and Honesty and a great Scholar too for in the whole course of his Life he abhorred Lying and if I had not received this Story from him as a certain Truth I had omitted it as a Romance of the Vulgar But the King notwithstanding went forward in his March and near Edinburgh mustered his Army and a while after entred England took the Castles of Norham Werk Etel Foord and some others near to the Borders of Scotland by Storm and demolished them and spoiled all the adjoining part of Northumberland mean while the King falls in Love with one of the Ladies he had taken Prisoner she was Hern's Wife of Foord and neglected his present business insomuch that Provision beginning to grow scarce in a not very plentiful Country and it being very difficult to fetch it from far the greatest part of his Army stole away and left their Colours very thin only the Nobles with a few of their
to march forward against the Enemy and so to slight the common Danger as well as to overlook their own Concerns at Home yet they were afraid the Scots would not be obedient to Command in an Enemies Country great heed therefore was to be taken lest by Emulation Envy or late Disgusts some notable Affront or shameful Loss might be received The Regent perceiving it in vain to oppose was fain to yield yet that he might not seem to have acted a Pageantry only with such vast Preparations in marching his Army as far as the Solway he suborned a fit Person who used to traffick into England to acquaint Dacres then Lord Warden of the English Marches that some good might be done if he did treat with Iohn the Regent He willingly hearkned to the Proposal because he was unprovided for Defence never imagining that the Scots would have made an Irruption into England on that side nor indeed scarce believing that they would have made any such Attempt at all Whereupon he sent an Herauld of Arms and had a Passport to come and go with safety into the Camp The next Day Thomas Dacres and Thomas Musgrave with about twenty more brave Cavaliers came to the Regent's Tent where they had private Discourse together all alone each having their Interpreters Dacres being taken unprovided was not averse from a Peace and the Regent not being able to effect any thing without the Consent of his Army clapt up a Truce and thus an hopeful Introduction to a Peace was made and so they parted Those of the Scots who were the greatest Hinderances of the Action to avert the blame from themselves spread abroad Reports that Dacres had bought a Peace from the Regent for a Sum of Money of which Part was in Hand paid the rest promised but never paid Thus they endeavoured to disparage the Conference amongst the Vulgar The Regent went again on the 25 th of October into France but promised to return before August the First next ensuing yet he kept not his Day because he was informed that the English had a Fleet to intercept his Passage however he sent 500 Foot in the Month of Iune both to incourage the Scots and also as an Earnest of his speedy return they never saw the Face of an Enemy in all their Voyage till they came near the Isle of May which is scituate in the Firth of Forth there they fell among the English Ships who lay in wait in those Straits to stop their Passage There they had a sharp Fight and the French boarded their Enemies Ships but with the loss of their Admiral When he was slain the Sea-men would not obey the Captains of the Foot and the Land-Souldiers being ignorant of Sea-Affairs could not command the Mariners so that after a great slaughter of the English they could scarce be forced back into their own Ships In the absence of the Regent Thomas Howard Earl of Surry was sent with ten thousand Men and a great many Voluntiers into Scotland His Advantage was that the Scots were at Discord amongst themselves their chief Magistrates were absent and they were under no certain Command so that he march'd over Merch and Teviotdale and took the Castles of both Shires to the great loss of the Nobles yea and of the Commons too who used upon sudden Invasions to secure themselves and their Goods in those Forts But Scotland did then labour with such intestine Discords that no Man thought his Neighbours Calamity did at all belong to him the English march'd up and down for several Months where they listed without any Opposition and when at length they retreated the adjacent Scots endeavoured in some sort to revenge themselves for their Losses received and thereupon daily Incursions were made by them into Northumberland and great Booties gained from thence so that Howard was sent against them a second time who took Iedburgh a Town unfortified as the Scots Custom is but it cost him some toil and loss of Men. Whilst these Things were acting in Teviotdale the Horses of the English Army were so terrified in the Night 't is not known upon what occasion that about 500 of them broke their Bridles running up and down the Camp and overturning all that were in the way some of the Soldiers they trampled down and trod upon and then ran out into the open Field as if they had been mad and so became a Prey to such of the Country Scots as could take them up Hereupon there was a great Consternation in the whole Camp all crying out Arm Arm neither could the Tumult be appeased till the next Morning Three days after the English without making any further Attempt disbanded their Army and returned Home The Duke of Albany knowing that all the Ports on the French Shore were way-laid by the English to intercept him in his Return being inferior in Strength resolv'd to piece it out by Stratagem whereupon he kept not his Navy together in any one Port but so dispersed them into several Harbours here one Ship there another that there was no appearance at all of any Warlike Preparation And besides he quartered his Soldiers in the Inland-Country that no Body could imagin he designed to ship them so that the Admiral of the English Fleet who waited to disturb his Passage till the 13 th of August was weary to rove up and down in the Sea any longer to no purpose and understanding by his Spies that there was neither Fleet nor Army on all the French Coasts he withdrew his Fleet as supposing Iohn would not wag till the next Spring The Duke of Albany being informed of the Departure of the English presently drew together his Navy of 50 Ships aboard of which were 3000 Foot and an 100 Curiasiers and so after the Autumnal Aequinox he set sail from France and by the 24 th of September made the Isle of Arran in Scotland which hapned to be the same day wherein the English burnt Iedburgh I shew'd before how miserable the State of Affairs in Scotland was the last Summer The Nobles were at variance one with another the English wasted all the Countries near them they were Masters of the Sea and thereby all hopes of Foreign Aid were cut off The Design of the Enemy herein was to take down the Pride of the Scot and by Sufferings to incline him to a Pacification neither were those Scots that were adverse to the French Faction less addicted thereto for they earnestly desired a perpetual Peace with England of which Faction the Queen was the Chief For when Hume was taken off Douglas pack'd away and the other Nobles were judg'd rather fit to follow than to lead in the Management of Matters all those that were not Favourers of the French Interest applyed themselves to the Queen She on the other side to gratify her Brother and also to draw the Power into her own Hands dissembled her private Ambition and exhorted
them saying that now was the time to free their young King who was almost of Age from the Bondage of a Stranger and also to deliver themselves from the same Yoke for the Queen now laboured to strengthen her Party against her Husband whom she long before began to disgust Besides the King of England sent frequent Letters stuft with large Promises to the Nobles of Scotland desiring them to promote his Sisters Designs He told them it was not his Fault that there was not a perpetual Amity between the two neighbouring Kingdoms and that he with others did much desire it at this time not for any private end of his own but to make it appear that he bore a respect to his Sister's Son whom he was resolved to support and gratify as much as ever he was able And if the Scots would be persuaded to break their League with France and to strike in with England they should quickly find his aim was not Ambition but Love and Concord only That Mary his only Daughter being married to Iames by that Affinity the Scots would not come over to the Government of the English but the English to That of the Scots That Enmities as great as theirs had intervened betwixt Nations heretofore which yet by Alliances mutual Commerce and interchangeable Kindnesses had been wholly abolish'd and extinct Moreover he reckon'd up the Advantages or Inconveniencies which might accrue to either Nation by this Union with each other rather than with the French as that they were one People born in the same Island brought up under the same Climate agreeable one to another in their Language Manners Laws Customs Countenance Colour and in the very Lineaments of their Bodies so that they seemed rather to be one Nation than two But as for the French they differed from them not only in Climate and Soil but also in the whole course of their Conversations Besides if France were an Enemy she could do no great damage to Scotland and if a Friend yet she could not be highly advantageous as for the Assistance of England That was near at Hand but French Aid was much more remote there was no Passage for it but by Sea and therefore it might be prevented by Enemies or else hindered by Storms They were therfore desired to consider how inconvenient it was for the management of Affairs and how unsafe for the Publick to hang the hopes of their and the Kingdoms Safety upon so unconstant and variable a thing as a blast of Wind. How much they might expect from absent Friends against present Dangers may be easily perceived by the Actions of the last Summer wherein the Scots not only felt but even saw with their Eyes how the English did baffle them being forsaken by their Friends and came upon them with all their Strength ready to devour them but the French Aid so long looked for was kept back by the English Navy in their own Harbours These were the Allegations for a Peace with England And not a few being convinced thereby inclined thereunto but Others argued to the contrary for there were Many in that Assembly whom the French had brib'd and some who had got great Estates out of the publick Losses for fear they should lose them did abhor the thoughts of Peace There were others who suspected the readiness and facility of the English in making such large Promises especially since matters in England were manag'd for the most part at the will and pleasure of Thomas Woolsey a Cardinal a Man wicked and ambitious who referr'd all his Designs to his own private Advantage and the inlargement of his Power and Authority and therefore he accommodated them to every turn of the Wheel of Fortune as men say All these did equally favour a League with France tho induced thereunto on different Grounds They alleged that the sudden Liberality of the English was not free and gratuitous but done out of Design and that This was not the first time that they had us'd such Arts to intrap the unwary Scots For Edward the First said they when he had sworn and obliged himself by all the Bonds of Law and Equity to decide the thing in Dispute and therefore was chosen Arbitrator by the Scots had most injuriously made himself King of Scotland and of late Edward the 4 th had betrothed his Daughter Cicely to the Son of Iames the 3 d but when the young Lady grew up to be marriageable and the day of Consummation thereof almost appointed he took the opportunity of a War which arose upon the account of our private Discords and so broke off the Match And that the English King aim'd at nothing else now but to cast the tempting bait of Rule before them that so he might make them really Slaves and when they were destitute of Foreign Aid might subdue them at his Pleasure and unawares with all his force Neither was that Position a true one wherein the contrary party did pride themselves That an Allyance near at hand was better than one farther off For causes of Dissension would never be wanting among those which were near which were oftentimes produc'd even by sudden chances and sometimes great Men would promote them upon every light occasion and then the Laws of Concord will be prescrib'd by him who hath the longest Sword That there was never such a firm and sacred Bond of Friendship between Neighbouring Kingdoms which upon occasions offer'd or fought for was not often violated neither could we hope that the English would more refrain now from violating such a League than they formerly did against so many Kings of their own Blood 't is true the Sanctity of Leagues and the Religion of an Oath for the faithful Performance of Pacts and Agreements are firm Bonds and Ingagements to good Men but amongst those which are bad they are but as so many Snares and Gins and give only opportunity to deceive and such an Opportunity is most visible in a Propinquity of Borders and Habitations in the Sameness of a Language and in a Similitude of Conversation But if all these things were otherwise yet proceeded they there are Two things to be regarded and provided for First that we reject not our old Friends even without an hearing who have so oft well deserv'd of us The other that we do not here spend our time in Quarrels and Disputes especially about a Business wherein nothing can be determin'd but in an Assembly of all the Estates of the Kingdom Thus stood the Inclinations of those of the French Faction and so they obtain'd that no Determination should be made till they receiv'd certain News of the French Supplies When the return of the Regent was made known it mightily rejoiced his Friends strengthned the wavering and kept back many who favour'd the League with England from complying with it He sent his Warlike Provisions up the River Clyde to Glasgoe and there muster'd his Army He also publish'd a Proclamation that
of fifteen Men who were to have a perpetual Power and even a Tyrannical Government for their Wills were their Laws In favour of the Pope they were very severe against the Lutherans and the Pope on the contrary to gratify a King so well deserving at his Hands gave him the Tithes of all Parsonages for the next Year following This Year the English perceived that the State of Affairs in Scotland grew every day more quiet than other but yet that they were destitute of foreign Aid because they themselves had joined with the French against Charles the Emperor Hereupon they sought out an occasion for a War In April they made an Expedition out of Berwick and spoiled Coldingham Douglas and many other neighbouring Towns and drove away great Booty They had no apparent Provocation neither did they denounce War before-hand How eager they were upon War appears by that King's Proclamation soon after publish'd wherein 't was said that the Garison of Berwick was provoked by some licentious and contumelious Words which the Scots had let fall But the Words mentioned in the Proclamation carry no Contumely in them at all But this Cause not seeming just enough for a War they demanded Canabie a small Village in the Borders with a poor Monastery in it as if it belonged to them which they never pretended to before and likewise that the Douglasses might be restor'd For the King of England perceiving that his Aid was absolutely necessary to the French King so that he could by no means want it and also knowing that he had him fast in a League wherein the Interest of Scotland was not considered hereupon he thought it no hard Matter to bring the Scots to what Conditions he pleased Moreover because the Emperor was alienated from him by the Peace with France and the Divorce with his Aunt and the Pope of Rome did raise up Wars amongst all Christian Princes he thought he should omit a great opportunity at home for innovating of things if he neglected That The King of Scots that he might not be unprovided against this Storm by a publick Proclamation made all over the Kingdom appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray to be his Vicegerent and because the Borderers of themselves were not able to cope with the English who had also a great number of Auxiliaries with them he divided the Kingdom into four Parts and commanded each of them to send out the ablest Men amongst them with their Clans and Provision for fourty Days These Forces thus succeeding one another by turns made great Havock in the Towns and Castles in those Parts so that the King of England was frustrated in his Expectation seeing the War was likely to be drawn out in length and other Concerns were also to be cared for by him and therefore he was willing to hearken to a Peace but would have it fought for at his Hands for he thought it was not for his Honour either to offer it or to seek it of himself And therefore it seem'd most convenient to transact the Matter by the King of France the common Friend to both Nations Whereupon the French King sent his Embassador Stephen D'Aix into Scotland to enquire by whose Default such a War was commenced between the two Neighbour-Kings The King of Scots clearly acquitted himself from being any Cause of the War he also made a Complaint to him how long his Ambassadors had been detained in France without Hearing And at the Ambassador's Departure he sent Letters by him to his Master desiring him to observe the ancient League which was renewed by Iohn the Regent at Roan he also sent David Beton into France to answer the Calumnies of the English and besides to treat concerning the keeping of the old League and to contract a new Affinity between France and Scotland He also sent Letters by him to the Parliament of Paris very bitter and full of Complaints concerning those matters which had been transacted and agreed between Francis their King and Iohn Regent of Scotland how that ancient Friendships Pacts and Agreements were slighted in behalf of Those who were once their common Enemies His Ambassador Beton was commanded if he saw that the things he had in Command did not succeed well in France to deliver those Letters to the Council of the Judges and presently to withdraw himself into Flanders with an Intent as it might be conjectured to make a League Agreement and Affinity with the Emperor In the mean time War was waged in Britain and Disputes were manag'd at New-castle concerning the Lawfulness thereof when the Embassadors sent from both Nations could not agree on terms of Peace Monsieur Guy Flower was sent over by the King of France to compose matters The Scotish King told him that he would gratify his Master as far as ever he was able and also he had some Communication with him as much as was seasonable at that time concerning the conjugal Affinity about which he had sent Embassadors before which were then in France Flory or Flower being thus the Umpire for Peace the Garisons were withdrawn on both sides from the Borders and a Truce was made which was afterwards followed with a Peace When the Peace was settled the King having for some Years last past transacted Business with the King of France and with the Emperor by his Embassadors about a matrimonial Contract now being freed from other cares his Thoughts were more intent that way than ever For besides the common causes which might incline him to some potent Alliance he was thoughtful how to perpetuate his Family by Issue of his Body he himself being the last Male that was left alive insomuch that his next Heirs had already conceived a firm hope in their Minds of the Kingdom which did not a little trouble Him who was otherwise suspicious enough of himself And indeed things did very much concur to raise them up to that hope as for instance their own domestick Power the Kings being a Batchelor his Venturousness in slighting all Danger so that he would not only stoutly undergo all Hazards but often court and invite Them for with a small party he would march against the fiercest Thieves and tho they were superior in number yet he would either prevent them by his Speed or else fright them by the Reverence of his Name and so force them to a Surrender he would sit Night and Day on Horse-back in this Employment and if he did take any Refreshment or Food 't was that which he lighted on by chance and but little of that neither These Circumstances made the Hamiltons almost confident of the Succession yet it seem'd to them a long way about to stay for either fortuitous or natural Dangers and therefore they studied to hasten his Death by Treachery A fair Opportunity was offer'd them to effect it by his Night-Walkings to his Misses having but one or two in his Company But all these things not answering
was not able to resist Offers of Mony by the Promises of large Subsidies whereupon they set before his Eyes the Greatness of the Danger the doubtful and uncertain Credit of an Enemies Promise that he might have a great Sum of Mony at home and more easily procurable First of all They promised to give him of their own 30000 Ducats of Gold year by year and all the rest of their Estates also should be at his Service besides enough to obviate future Emergencies if any hapned and as for those who rebelled against the Authority of the Pope and the King 's and so endeavoured to trouble the Peace of the Church by new and wicked Errors and thereby would subvert all Piety overthrow the Rights of Magistracy and cancel Laws of so long standing out of their Estates he might get above an hundred thousand Ducats more yearly into his Exchequer by way of Confiscation if he would permit them to nominate a Lord-Chief-Justice in the Case because they themselves could not by Law sit in Capital Causes to condemn any Man And that in the managing the Process against them there would be no danger nor any Delay in passing Sentence seeing so many thousand Men were not afraid to take the Books of the Old and New Testament into their Hands to discourse concerning the Power of the Pope to contemn the ancient Ceremonies of the Church and to detract from that Reverence and Observance which was due to Religious Persons consecrated to God's Service This they urged upon him with such Vehemency that he appointed them a Judg according to their own Hearts and that was Iames Hamilton base Brother to the Earl of Arran him they had oblig'd by great Gratuities before and besides he was resolv'd to conciliate the King's Favour who long since had been offended with him with the Perpetration of some atoning Fact though never so cruel About the same time there came into Scotland Iames Hamilton Sheriff of Linlithgoe and Cousin-German to the former Iames He after a long Banishment when he had commenced a Suit against Iames the Bastard and had obtained leave to return for a time to his own Country understanding in what Danger he and the rest of the Favourers of the Reformed Doctrine were in sent his Son in a Message to the King as he was about to pass over into Fife and having gotten him opportunely before he went aboard he filled his Head which was naturally suspicious with fearful Presages That this Commission granted to Hamilton would be a Capital Matter and pernicious to the whole Kingdom unless he did prevent this Sophistry by another Wile The King who was then hastning into Fife sent the young Man back to Edinburgh to the Court called the Exchequer-Court where he also commanded to assemble Iames Lermont Iames Kircaldy and Thomas Erskin of whom one was the Master of the Houshold the other Lord High Treasurer neither of them averse from the Reformed Religion the Third was highly of the Popish Faction and his Secretary These were all ordered to meet And the King commanded them to give the same Credit to the Messenger as they would do to himself if he were present and so took the Ring off his Finger and sent it them as a known Token between them They laid their Heads together and apprehended Iames just after he had dined and had fitted himself for his Journy and committed him Prisoner to the Castle But having Intelligence by their Spies at Court that the King was pacified and that he would be released besides the publick Danger they were afraid also for their particular selves lest a Man factious and potent being released after he had been provoked by so great an Affront and Ignominy should afterwards study a cruel and bitter Revenge against them Whereupon they speedily hastned to Court and inform'd the King of the Imminency of the Danger of the naughty Disposition Fierceness and Power of the Man all which they augmented to raise the greater suspicion upon him so that they persuaded the King not to suffer so crafty and withal so puissant a Person being also provoked by this late Disgrace to be set at Liberty without a legal Trial. Whereupon the King came to Edinburgh and from thence to Seton where he caused Iames to be brought to his Trial and in a Court legally constituted according to the Custom of the Country he was condemned and had his Head struck off his Body was cut up after his Execution and his Quarters hanged up in the publick Places of the City The Crimes objected against him in behalf of the King were That on a certain Day he had broke open the King's Bed-Chamber and had designed to kill him and that he had driven on secret Designs with the Douglasses who were declared publick Enemies Few were grieved for his Death because of the Wickedness of his former Life save only his own Kindred and the Sacerdotal Order who had placed all the Hopes of their Fortunes in a manner upon his Life only From that time forward the King increased in his Suspicions against the Nobility and besides he was exercised with sundry distracting Cares insomuch that his unquiet Mind was much troubled with Dreams in the Night There was One more remarkable than the rest which was much talked of That in his Sleep he saw Iames Hamilton running at him with his drawn Sword and that he first cut off his Right Arm then his Left and threatned him shortly to come and take away his Life and then disappeared when he awoke in a Fright and pondering many things about the Event of his Dream at last Word was brought him that both of his Sons departed this Life almost at one and the same moment of Time one at St. Andrews and the other at Sterlin In the mean while there was not a certain Peace nor yet an open War with the King of England who was alienated and offended afore insomuch that without any denunciation of a War Preys were driven from the Borders of Scotland Neither would the English when called upon to make Restitution give any favourable answer So that all Men saw That Henry was in an high Indignation because of the frustration of the Interview at York And Iames tho he knew that War was certainly at hand and therefore had made Levies for that purpose and had appointed his Brother the Earl of Murray to be General of all his Forces and had also made all necessary Preparation for a Defence yet he sent an Ambassador to the Enemy if 't were possible to compose Matters without Blows In the mean time George Gordon was sent to the Borders with a small Force to prevent the pillaging Incursions of the Enemy The English despised the paucity of the Gordonians and therefore hasten'd to burn Iedburgh But George Hume with 500 Horse interpos'd and charg'd them briskly and after a short Fight when they saw the
up was because some were willing to curry favour with him as the next Heir of the Crown Others foresaw so long before the Cruelty of the Cardinal in matters of Religion and therefore provided against it by lessening his Power Their Fear was increas'd upon this ground that there was found amongst the King's Papers after his Death a List wherein the Names of above 300 of the Nobility were contained as Criminals and amongst them He now chosen Regent was first to have been questioned Whereupon his Election was very grateful to the most because it seem'd the most probable Medium to ease the Grievances of many and to curb the Pride of the Priests Besides he himself did willingly read the Books that contained Controversies about Religion and the Quietness and Retirement of his former Life far remote from Court-Ambition made many hope that he would be sober and moderate in his Government Besides being out of the Magistracy he had not yet discovered any Unactiveness or Sluggishness of Mind In a Parliament which was held in May Sir Ralph Sadler came Embassador from England in order to a Marriage and setling a Peace Some of the Nobility he put in Mind of their Promise Others as Report goes he tempted with Mony The Queen Cardinal and the whole Faction of Priests were not only agâ—inst this Peace but by disturbing some Members and Counsellors and corrupting others they would not suffer it so much as to be put to the Vote so that by the general consent of almost the whole Parliament the Cardinal was confin'd to his Chamber till the Question was put when he was removed out of the way the Agreement was easily made as to the Queen's Marriage and other Articles and Hostages were promised to Henry to ratify the Agreement The Cardinal at the Instance of the Queen-Mother was kept in a loose kind of Custody by Seton who was persuaded for a certain Sum of Mony a while after to let him go When Peace seemed thus to be setled to the great Advantage of both Kingdoms after so great a fear of an imminent War every Body thought it would be a lasting One and therefore the Merchants who for some Years before had been hindred from trading went thick and threefold to Sea and laded very many Ships with the best Commodities they could procure for the time allotted them so to do Edinburgh sent out twelve Ships other Cities of that Circuit which is the richest part of Scotland rigg'd out Ships each according to their respective Abilities This Fleet in Confidence of the Peace with England some of them drew nearer the Shores than they needed to have done and when the Wind was calm there they lay at Anchor Others entred into the Ports open to the Injuries of the English if any Tumult of War should arise About the same time Iohn Hamilton Abbat of Pasley and David Painter returned out of France These Men now cast off the Vizard wherewith before they had disguised themselves for many Years and returned to their true Manners for as if they had been educated not in the School of Piety but of Profaneness they were the Ring-leaders at Court to all manner of Flagitiousness The Cardinal being restor'd to his Liberty unexpectedly being also of a proud Disposition which was aggravated by the affront he had receiv'd and by the Ignominy accruing on the Detection of his Fraud sought out all occasions whatsoever to disturb this Concord First of all he communicated the matter to the Queen Dowager and they Both took it in great Indignation That the Douglasses who for the many Benefits they had received from the English must needs be their fast Friends should immediately after so many Years Banishment be admitted into the Parliament-House to debate the weightiest Affairs of the Kingdom Besides they all jointly feared a Change of the Establish'd Religion the Consequent whereof must needs be a Breach of the League with France Hereupon the Cardinal by the consent of the Queen summon'd a Convocation of Priests and extorted from them a great Sum of Mony as fearing the universal Ruin of the whole Papal Church Part of this Mony was paid to some of the Nobles of the adverse Party and many large Promises were made them besides to persuade them not to give any Hostages to the English and as for those who were newly return'd from their Imprisonment and had left their Children or Kindred as Hostages for their Return he desired them not to prefer those otherwise dear Pledges before the Laws the publick Safety and their ancient Religion whose Preservation was turn'd upon this Hinge alone and that they would not run willingly into a perpetual Bondage Besides he caused the Ecclesiasticks to carry it proudly and disrespectfully towards the English Embassador insomuch that the very Rabble did reproach and abuse his Retinue and what he said or did was all taken in the worst Sense But the Embassador resolv'd to bear all Affronts and to tide it out till the day for delivering the Hostages did approach that so he might give no occasion of a Rupture on his part And when that Day was come he went to the Regent and complained of the Affronts which had been offered not so much to himself as to his King whom he represented and how that the Law of Nations was violated thereby and moreover he desired him to give Hostages according to the Tenor of the League newly made that so the Amity might be kept sacred and inviolate to the mutual Advantage of both Nations The Regent as to the Affronts offered excused himself and said he was sorry for them and that he would speedily search into the matter that so the Punishment of such petulant Offenders should be a suffient Testimony of the Love and Veneration he had for the English Nation But as to Hostages he answered that he could not obtain them with the good Will of the States neither was he able to compel them without publick consent For the Government which he bore was such that he received as much Law as he gave and therefore all his Measures were disturb'd by the great Sedition which he saw the Cardinal had raised that he was as it were carried down in the Stream of popular Fury and could scarce maintain his own Station and Dignity The new Hostages being thus deny'd there was another thing as weighty as That which fell under Debate and that was concerning the Nobles lately taken Prisoners of War who upon their Releasement had given Hostages and made solemn Asseverations That if there were not a Peace concluded as Henry desired upon just and fair Terms they would surrender themselves Prisoners again As for Them the Cardinal's Faction and the rest of the Ecclesiastical Order dealt with them partly by Reasons and partly by Examples not to prefer their Estates Kindred Children or any other thing which might be dear to them before the Love of their Country And moreover he threatned them
with Auxiliaries from France and that all Europe did conspire for the Defence of their ancient Rites and Religion and if they acted contrary they would betray theiâ— Country and thereby the Ruin of their ancient Families would be imminent and at hand They also desired them in so dangerous a time not to forsake their Country for if That were safe they might hope for more Kindred and Children but if That were overthrown then all was gone Moreover they discoursed much concerning the inexpiable Hatred betwixt the Nations and of the Cruelty of the King into whose Hands they were to come thus blending Truths and Falshoods together Moreover they alleged the Decree of the Council of Constance That all Pacts Contracts Promises and Oaths made with Hereticks ought to be rescinded and made void The greatest part of those who were concerned in this matter were willing to hearken to any colourable pretence for their Fault only there was One of them who for no pecuniary Consideration whatever could be persuaded no nor by any Threats deterred from keeping his Word and that was Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils he had left two of his Brothers Hostages in England and he openly profess'd that neither for Fear nor Favour he would redeem his own Life with the Loss of his Brothers but whatever came of it he would surrender himself back a Prisoner and so against the Will of many he undertook his Journy straight to London Henry very much commended the resolute Faithfulness of the Young-Man and to the intent that all might know he had an Esteem for Vertue he richly rewarded him and sent him back with his two Brothers into Scotland But Henry's Mind was not more pacified towards Gilbert than his Anger was implacable against the rest of the Scots and thereupon he laid an Embargo upon the Scots Ships in all English Ports and Harbours of which there were a great Number as I said before and so presently denounced War His Threatnings were great as against the Violators not only of Leagues but even of the Law of Nations And yet though Scotland stood in so dangerous a State the Memory of Alliances the common Love to their Country and the respect of the publick Safety were so far laid aside that the Brands of Sedition were kindled more fiercely than ever For the Faction of the Cardinal and of the Queen Dowager who were all for the French sent over Ambassadors thither to tell them That unless they sent in Assistance the Matter was upon the very Point That England and Scotland would make a Coalition into one Government and how such a Conjunction would concern France the Experience of former Ages had shewn But they made it their chief Request to the French that they would send back Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox into his own Country who did not only emulate the Family of the Hamiltons but was also their deadly Enemie being they had slain his Father at Linlithgoe This young Man was greatly beloved not only for his extraordinary Beauty and stately Garb in the very Flower of his Youth but chiefly upon the account of the memory of his Father who was so popular a Man and also because he was a single Man and the Extinction of such a noble Family now reduced to a few was in great Hazard besides he had many Clanships at home and had also Affinity with many other great Families Furthermore the former King had design'd him to be his next Heir and Successor if he himself died without Issue Male and he would have confirmed that his Intention by a Decree of the States who have the Sovereign Power to order such publick Affairs if his Life had been prolonged Yea there were some Flatterers which did elevate his generous Mind already rais'd up with the expectation of great things but not so well fortified against fraudulent Adulation to larger Hopes for besides the Supreme Rule for about twenty Years and the Domination over his old Enemies they promised him that he should marry the Queen Dowager and if the young Queen who had the Name only of Supreme Governess should miscarry then without doubt he would be the next King and not only so but also the lawful Heir of Iames Hamilton lately deceased seeing the Regent was a Bastard and was so far from any just expectation of the Kingdom that he could not lawfully claim the Inheritance of his own Family Besides they urged the Promises of the French King who gave hopes of great Assistance in due time When the plain-hearted and credulous young Man was thus persuaded he provided for his Voyage into Scotland Hamilton was not ignorant of any of these things and to the intent that he might gain an Accession of Strength to his own Party by the Advice of those Friends whom he most trusted he resolved to take away the young Queen from Linlithgo where she yet was under the Power of her Mother for if he once got Her then not only the Shadow of the Royal Name which is an attractive thing amongst the Vulgar would be of his Side but also he should have the Power to bestow her in Marriage and so make himself Arbiter of the Kingdom to transfer it whithersoever he pleased which if he could obtain then the King of England might be persuaded if need were to join with him This Design was much approved but as is usual in Civil Discords there are Spies on both sides who being informed thereof acquainted the Cardinal therewith He gathering together some of the Nobility whom he had corrupted with Mony came to Linlithgo and to the great Burden of the Inhabitants staid there some days as a Guard to the Queen In the mean time Lennox arrived out of France and was kindly received by the Regent each of them dissembling their Hate then he went to Linlithgo there he addressed the Cardinal and then went to his own House where in a Meeting of Friends he discours'd at large Why he came over at Whose Command by Whom sent for and upon What hopes That he was promised not only the chief Magistracy but also that the Heads of the Faction with the Queen Dowager's Consent had assured him that he should marry Her And that in order to the effecting thereof the King of France had encouraged him to expect Aid and Assistance from thence they all assented to his Speech and advised him not to be wanting to the Occasion which so freely had offer'd it self and thus with above four thousand Men he came to the Queen Hamilton who had levied and mustered his Men and with his Kinsmen about him was resolved to issue out of Edinburgh and break thorow to the Queen now perceiving that his Forces were too weak by the Advice of his Friends and out of his own Disposition also which was inclinable to Peace began to treat of an Accommodation whereupon some prudent Persons were chosen on both sides who met at the Town of
this Action there fell so great and sudden a Terror upon the Cause of the Reformed which did mightily disturb them for the present and also cut off all hopes of Success for the future For the Regent partly by Threats and partly by Promises had wrought off many who had given in their Names to the Reformers from the Faction of the Nobles and besides their Camp was full of Spies who discovered both their Words and Actions yea those which they thought were concern'd to be kept most secret to the Regent and when Balfure's Servant was taken carrying Letters to Leith the Suspicion lighted on a great many and the Fear diffus'd it self over the whole Body And moreover the Mercenary Souldiers mutinied because they had not their Pay down upon the Nail and if any one indeavoured to appease them he was grievously threatned by them But Men did less admire the Sedition of such Men who had neither Religion nor Honesty than they did the Imbecillity and Faintheartedness of the Duke of Castle-herault who was so amazed at the Fear of his Neighbours that his Terror discouraged the Minds of many Those who were most couragious endeavoured to apply Remedies to these Miseries and their first Consultation was to appease the Mercenaries And seeing the Nobles which remained could not make up a Sum sufficient to quiet and pay them some declining through Covetousness others pleading Inability at last they agreed to melt down all their Silver-Plate and when the Say-masters were ready to assist therein the Mints or Stamps I know not by whose Fraud were taken away The only ground of Hope was from England which was adjudg'd too slow At last they resolved to try the Fidelity of their private Friends and thereupon they sent Iohn Cockburn of Ormiston to Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Iames Croft two Knights of known Valour who at that time were Officers at Berwick to obtain of them a small Sum of Mony to serve their present Occasion This their Design though they kept it as private as they could was yet discovered to the Regent who commanded the Earl of Bothwel to waylay him in his Return He though in a few days before he had taken a solemn Oath that he would not prejudice the Cause of the Nobles in the least yea though he had given them hopes that he would join himself to their Party yet nevertheless lay in Ambush for Ormiston assaulted him unawares wounded and took him Prisoner and so became Master of all the Mony that he brought When the noise of this Exploit was brought to Edinburgh it alarm'd the Earl of Arran and Iames Stuart and almost all the Horse to draw out not so much for desire of Revenge as to free Ormiston if he were alive or at least to put a stop to their March that he might not be convey'd to the Regent But Bothwel having notice thereof by a Spy prevented their coming by his Flight The same Day the Governour of Dundee with the Towns-men thereof and a few Volunteers marched towards Leith and placed their Ordnance on an adjoining Hill The French who were informed by their Scouts that almost all the Enemies Horse were absent drew forth some Troops to cut off those few Foot whose Paucity they saw The Dundeans stood a while in hope of Relief but in regard those few Mercenaries which followed them turned their backs almost at the first Charge they also retired leaving their Guns behind them until at length a Noise was raised in the Rear that the French were gone another way towards the Gates of the City to seize them and so to keep them out upon this bruit there was such an universal Perturbation that every one shifted for himself the best he could and whilst each Man endeavour'd to save one the Weak were trodden under foot by the Strong so every body look'd to his own Particular and there was no Provision made in common for them all The Papists on this Emergency crept out of their lurking Holes and did openly reproach them Insomuch that they who ever pretended great Zeal for the Reformatition began partly to withdraw themselves secretly and partly they consulted how to desert the whole business On the 5 th Day of November when News were brought that the French were march'd out to intercept some Provisions coming towards Edinburgh besides the Disagreement of the Reformed amongst themselves the Mercenaries could scarce be got out of the Town to oppose them The Earl of Arran and Iames Stuart and their Friends went out first against them with whom there joined many worthy and valiant Persons They charged the French more fiercely than prudently so that they were near upon the point to have been shut out from Edinburgh and so to have paid for their Rashness For the Marishes on the one side and the adjacent Wall of an Orchard left them but a narrow space for their March and That also open to the French Musketeers so that they were trodden under foot partly by their own Men and partly by the Enemies Horse In this Trepidation they had been all certainly cut off unless the Commanders leaping from their Horses had put themselves into equal Danger with the rest some of the common Souldiers seeing this stopp'd for Shame amongst whom was Alexander Haliburton a Captain a stout young Man and very forward in the Cause of Religion he was grievously wounded taken Prisoner and soon after died of his Wounds After this Conflict in which there fell about twenty five many withdrew themselves and others were upon the point of Desperation but the Earl of Arran and Iames Stuart promised to continue their Endeavours if but a small Company of them would keep together when all in a manner refused so to do the next Consultation was to leave the City and as the Nobles had decreed in the second Watch they began their March and the Day after came to Sterlin There Iohn Knox made an excellent Sermon to them wherein he erected the Minds of many into an assur'd hope of a speedy Deliverance out of these Distresses Here it was agreed upon in a Convention that because the French were continualally strengthen'd and increas'd with new Supplies they also would strengthen their Party by foreign Aid and in order thereunto William Maitland was sent into England a young Man of great Prudence and Learning he was to inform the Queen what eminent Danger would accrue to England if the French were suffer'd to fortify Places and plant Garisons in Scotland in regard they sought the Destruction not of Religion only but of Laws and Liberties too and if the Scots were overcome by Force or Fraud yea if they were reduced to Servitude by unjust Conditions they would have an easier step to infringe the Power of the English The English after a long Debate of the Matter at length gave some hopes of Assistance Whereupon the Noblemen who were the Assertors of Liberty divided themselves into two
into one place The Earl of Martigues a stout and noble Young-Man landed from France in two Ships bringing with him about 1000 Foot and a few Horse he and his Souldiers presently went on Shore but the Ships were taken in the Night by the Scots About the same time the Marquess of Elbeuff Brother to the Regent who was bringing Aid of Men and Mony in eight Ships returned back into the Haven whence he set Sail partly for Fear because the Sea was full of English Ships and partly excusing himself for the Badness of the Weather Moreover a new Fleet of English was sent in to second the former who flew up and down the whole Chanel and held Keith-Island besieged stopping all manner of Provision from passing by Sea into Leith In the mean time the chief of the Assertors of Liberty who commanded in Fife went to Perth and after three Days Conference there with Huntly they won over all that Northern part of Scotland to their Party and Order was soon after given that they should all assemble and rendevouz at the end of March. About the same time all the chief Reformers had a Meeting at Linlithgo from thence they went to Hadington and on the first of April they joined the English there were in the English Army above 6000 Foot and 2000 Horse The next Night they pitched their Tents at Preston The same day the Regent to withdraw her self from the Danger now nearly approaching and to avoid the uncertain Hazard of War retired with some few of her Domesticks into the Castle of Edinburgh Iohn Erskin was Governour thereof a Man of approved Piety and Carefulness he had received the Command of it by a Decree of the publick Council as hath been before related but upon this Condition That he should render it up to none unless by the Command of the same Council The French saw that the Possession of this Castle was of huge Advantage to their Affairs and therefore they used great Endeavours to obtain it by Treachery The Governour though he were not ignorant of their Intentions towards him and had so fortified the Castle and made such other diligent Provision that 't was secure either from Force or Fraud yet was not willing to exclude the Regent at such a time but in receiving her into the Castle he took great care that both she and the Castle might be still under his Command The Nobles who were the Assertors of publick Liberty though before they had often found that her Mind was obstinately averse against the Cause which they had undertaken yet thought it adviseable not to pretermit the present Occasion as hoping that the Fear of the War approaching nearer to her and the Uncertainty of Aid from a remote Country might incline her Mind to peaceable Counsels Whereupon the chief of the Party had a Meeting at Dalkeith from whence they wrote to her to this purpose We have oft-times heretofore earnestly intreated you both by Letters and Messengers to send away the French Souldiers who do yet another Year grievously oppress the poor Country-People yea they raise up a just Fear in the Commonalty that they shall be reduced into miserable Bondage from which Fear we have many times requested you to free us but when our just Intreaties prevail'd nothing with you we were inforced to represent our deplorable Estate to the Queen of England as the nearest Princess to our Borders and to desire Aid of her to expel the Strangers who threatned to make us Slaves out of our Kingdom and that by Force of Arms if it could not otherwise be done and though she out of a sense of our Calamities hath undertaken our Cause yet that we might perform our Duty towards the Mother of our Queen and might prevent the Effusion of Christian Blood as much as is possible and might then have Recourse to Force of Arms when we have tried all other Ways to obtain Right without Success do as yet deem it a part of our Modesty again to pray you to command the French Souldiers with their Commanders and Officers to depart immediately out of the Land In order to the Accomplishment whereof the Queen of England will not only afford them a safe Passage through her Kingdom but will also assist with her Fleet to transport them If this Condition be rejected we call God and Man to Witness that we take up Arms not out of Hatred or any wicked Intent but inforc'd thereto by mere Necessity that so we may try the Extremity of Remedies that the Common-Wealth our Selves our Estates and Posterities might not be precipitated into utter Ruin And yet notwithstanding though we at present suffer very heavy Pressures and heavier ones are near at hand no Danger whatsoever shall ever inforce us to depart from our Duty towards our Queen or from the King her Husband in the least tittle wherein the Destruction of our ancient Liberty and the Ruin of our Selves and our Posterity is not concerned As for you most benign Princess we beseech you again that weighing the Equity of our Demands the Inconveniencies attending War and how necessary Peace is to this your Daughter's Kingdom so miserably harrassed you would afford a favourable Ear to our just Requests which if you shall do you will leave a grateful and pleasant Memory of your Moderation amongst all Nations and will also provide for the Security of the greatest part of Christians Farewel Dated at Dalkeith the 4 th of April in the Year 1560. The 6 th Day of April when the English drew near by the Sea-side about 1300 French march'd out of Leith and possessed a little rising Hill at the end of the Plain because they thought that the English would pitch their Tents there There was a sharp Fight for above five Hours for the recovering and keeping the Place with no small Loss on both sides at last the Scotch Horse with great Violence rush'd in amongst the thickest Band of the French and drove them back in great Astonishment into the Town and if the English Horse had come in sooner than they did as 't was agreed they had been all excluded from their Fellows and so cut off After this Onset there were Conferences managed between the Parties but in vain for the English did despise all Truce and ever and anon made some light Excursions yet not without Blood 't is not necessary to recount them On the 22 d of April Iohn Monluck Bishop of Vallence in Savoy was first carried into the English Camp then into the Castle of Edinburgh to the Regent where he had a Conference with her three Days and then returned to the Scotish Nobles the Terms of Concord could not then neither be agreed on because the Scots persisted peremptorily in their Demand that the foreign Souldiers should return home Hereupon the English because the distance between their Camp and the Town was too great for their Ordnance to do any Execution so that their
Batteries signified little or nothing removed their Camp on the other side Leith-River near the Town where they might more certainly annoy the Enemy and also have frequent Skirmishes with him Hand to Hand On the last day of April about two Hours before Sun-set a casual Fire seized upon part of the Town which being assisted by the Violence of the Winds burnt fiercely till the next Morning destroying many Houses and making a great Devastation yea it took part of the publick Granary and consum'd a great deal of Provisions In this hurly-burly the English were not wanting to the occasion for they turn'd their great Guns upon that part and plaid so hot upon the People that they durst not come to quench the Fire yea they enter'd the Trenches and in some places measur'd the height of the Walls so that if the French at the beginning of the Combustion fearing some Treachery had not run thick to the Walls and thereby prevented their loss in such a general Consternation that very day had put an end to the War On the 4 th of May the English set fire to the Water-Mills which were near the Town one of them they burnt down before day the other the next day after the French in vain indeavouring to quench the Flames On the 7 th of May the Besiegers set Ladders to the Walls to make an Assault but the Ladders were too short so that they were beaten off many wounded and 160 slain The three following days the French were imploy'd with great Labour and Hazard in repairing the Walls the English continually playing upon them where they saw the greatest Numbers The Papists were extreamly puft up with this Success so that now they promis'd to themselves that the English would depart the Siege would be rais'd and the War be finish'd But the English and Scots were nothing discourag'd by this Blow but exhorted one another to Constancy and the English promis'd to stay till they heard their Queen's pleasure from her Court. In the mean time Letters came from the Duke of Norfolk which did mightily incourage all their Spirits For he wrote to Grey the chief Commander wishing him to continue the Siege and that he should not want Souldiers as long as there was a Man able to bear Arms in his Province which was very large reaching from Trent to Tweed and if need were he himself would come in Person into the Camp and as a sure Pledge thereof he caus'd his own Tent to be erected in the Camp and in a few days sent in 2000 Auxiliaries so that the Memory of the former loss was quite worn out and with great alacrity they renew'd the War and from that day forward though the French made frequent Sallies yet hardly one of them was prosperous to their Party In the mean time the Queen of England sent William Cecil a learned and prudent Person who was then the chief Manager of Affairs in England and Nicholas Wotton Dean of York into Scotland to treat about a Peace they were commanded to confer Counsels with Randan and Monluck of the French Party concerning Conditions of Peace For the Kings of France thought it a thing below their Dignity to enter into an equal dispute with their own Subjects The fame of this Conference was the Cause that as if all Controversies had been already decided a Convention was Indicted to be held in Iuly In the mean time the Queen Dowager died in the Castle of Edinburgh Iune 11 worn out with Sickness and with Grief Her Death did variously affect the minds of Men for some of them who fought against Her did yet bewail her Death for she was indowed with a singular Wit and had also a Mind very propense to Equity she had quieted the fiercest Highlanders and the furthest Inhabitants of the Isles by her Wisdom and Valour some believ'd that she would never have had any War with the Scots if she had been left free to her own Disposition for She so accommodated her self to their Manners that she seem'd able to accomplish all things without Force but the Misery was Though the Name of Governess resided in Her neither did she want Virtues worthy of so great a Dignity yet she did as it were rule precariously because in all Matters of Moment she was to receive Answers like so many Oracles from France For the Guises who were then the powerfull'st in the French Court had design'd the Kingdom of Scotland as a Peculiar to their Family and accordingly they advis'd their Sister to be more severe in asserting the Papal Religion than either her own Disposition or those Times could well bear This she gave some evident hints of for she hath been heard to say that if Matters were left to her own Arbitrement she did not despair but to compose them upon no unequal Conditions Some others were of opinion that she alleged those things rather popularly than really as her Mind was and that not only with an intent to avert the fault or envy of Mal-administration from her Self but also that under a pretext of asking Advice she might spin out the time in delay whilst She sent for foreign Aid and so by yielding she might blunt the vehement edg of the Scots and in time suffer their angry mood to abate in regard she was of Opinion that the Scots Troops being Volunteers after one or two Disbandings could not again be easily got together because they were made up of Men who were not under Pay nor under any certain Command And the Inconstancy of the Queen in keeping her Promises was no obscure evidence of this her Dissimulation for She did not expect the end of a Truce which by Conditions she was oblig'd to do in renewing a War but if any specious Advantage were offer'd she would adventure to do it Arbitrarily of her own Head Others there were who cast the blame of all things which were avariciously or cruelly acted or which were attempted by Fraud or Calumny upon those who were her Counsellors in managing Affairs For when She undertook the Regency at the very First some French Counsellors were join'd to her Assistance as Osel Embassador of the King of France a Man quickly and vehemently passionate otherwise a good Man and well-skill'd in the Arts both of Peace and War he was one that directed his Counsel rather by the Rule of Equity than the Will and Pleasure of the Guises One Monsieur de Ruby was join'd to him as his Companion a Lawyer of Paris who was to dispute Matters of Law if any such did occur He in his publick Administration conform'd all things as much as he could to the Manners and Laws of France as if That alone were the right Way to govern a Commonwealth by which means he rais'd a suspicion of Innovation upon him and though others might share the Guilt of the same Crime with him yet he alone in a manner bore the blame and envy of it But these Two
committed no Offence which was remediless and uncurable Towards the end of the War there were three French Generals having distinct limits allotted them who manag'd Military Affairs in Scotland viz The Count Martigues of the House of Luxemburgh who was afterwards made Duke of D'Estames L'abros of a Noble or Equestrian Family highly experienc'd in Military Matters and a Third was the Bishop of Amiens accompanied with some Doctors of the Sorbon as if the Matter were to be determin'd by the Pen not the Sword All the Counsels of these Three did tend to open Tyranny Martigues his Advice was to destroy all the Country near to Leith by Fire and Sword that so the desolateness of the Country and the want of Necessaries might compel the Scots to raise the Siege But if that Counsel had took Effect many peaceable Persons poor besides and for the most part Papists too would have been destroy'd and the Besieged would have had no benefit neither for the Sea being open Provisions might easily have been brought by Ships from all the Maritim places of Scotland and England into the Leaguer of the Besiegers and the devastation of the Land and Soil would have redounded as much on the Papists as on the Embracers of the True Religion L'abros was of opinion That all the Nobility of Scotland were to be cut off without distinction and that a thousand French Curiassiers were to be garison'd on their Lands who were to keep under the common Sort as Vassals This his Design was discover'd by some Letters of his intercepted which were going for France and 't is scarce credible how the Hatred against the French begun upon other Causes was increas'd thereby As for the Bishop of Amiens he would have had all Those to be seiz'd on and put to Death without pleading in their own Defence whom he thought not so favourable to the Pope's Cause as he would have them yea all Those who were not so forward to assist the French Party as he expected and he mightily blam'd the French Souldiers for suffering those who were disaffected to their King to strut it openly up and down One he particularly aimed at viz. Mr. William Maitland a Noble and learned Man whom because the Sorbonists could not refute by their Reasons the Bishop design'd to take off by the Sword yea he upbraided the French Souldiers for permitting him to live and advis'd them to kill him which he having notice of took his opportunity to withdraw himself from the French and so escap'd into the Scots Camp The Seventeenth BOOK A Few days after the Death of the Regent a Truce was made for a short time to hear the Embassadors who were come to treat of Peace out of both Nations France and England Hereupon the Nobles assembled These could not effect any thing the greatest obstacle to an agreement was That the French who the Winter before had obtain'd great Booties out of the neighbouring Parts refus'd to depart unless they carry'd their Baggage and plunder along with them This was denied them Whereupon Irruptions were made more fierce than ever though not so prosperous to the French At length when both sides were weary of the War and the Inclinations to Peace could no longer be dissembled the Embassadors on both sides met again in a Conference The things which most inclin'd all to Peace were these The French had no hopes of any relief and their Provisions grew daily scant and were not likely to hold out long so that their Condition was almost wholly desperate And for the English they were wearied out with the long Siege and wanted Necessaries as well as the French so that They likewise desir'd an end of the War And the Scots too receiving no Pay could hardly be kept from running away So that they easily hearkned to a Capitulation Thus by the joint Consent of all Parties on the 8 th day of Iuly in the Year of our Lord 1559 Peace was Proclaim'd on these Conditions That the French should Sail away in 20 days with their Bag and Baggage and seeing they had not Ships enough to transport them all over at present they were to hire some from the English leaving Hostages till they were safely return'd That Leith should be render'd up to the Scots and the Walls thereof demolish'd That the Fortifications lately made by the French at Dunbar should be slighted That these Articles being perform'd the English should immediately reduce their Forces That Mary Queen of Scots by the consent of her Husband Francis should grant an Oblivion of all that the Scotish Nobility had done or attempted from the 10 th day of March 1559 till the 1 st of August 1560. And that a Law should be made to that purpose to be confirm'd in the next Parliament there which was appointed to be in August And Francis and Mary were to give their Consent to the holding that Assembly That 60 of the French should keep the Island of Keith and the Castle of Dunbar that so the Queen might not seem to be ejected out of the Possession of the whole Kingdom at once After this departure of the foreign Souldiers there was a great Tranquillity and Cessation from Arms till the Queen's Return The Assembly of the Estates were kept at Edinburgh wherein the greatest Debate was about promoting the Reform'd Religion The Statutes made were sent into France for the Queen to give her consent to and subscribe This was done rather to sound her Mind than out of any hope to obtain any thing from Her Embassadors also were dispatch'd for England to give them thanks for their Assistance so seasonably afforded Not long after Iames Sandeland Knight of Rhodes came unto the French Court a Man as yet free from the Discords of the Faction his business was to excuse things past and to pacify the the Grudges remaining since the former Wars and so to try all ways to establish Peace and Concord But his arrival hapned to be in very troublesome times for the whole Conduct of the French Affairs was then in the Hands of the Guises who when they perceiv'd that neither Threatnings nor Flatteries did prevail endeavour'd to oppress the contrary Faction by force of Arms and when they could lay no other plausible Crime against their Contrariants they accus'd them of High-Treason for betraying the Kingdom Hereupon the King of Navarr was condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment and his Brother the Prince of Conde sentenc'd to Death Annas Duke of Momorancy and the two Sons of his Sister Iasper and Francis Colignes and their Kinsman the Vidam of Charters were destin'd to the Slaughter and besides those above 7000 more were put into the black List of Criminals Moreover all means were us'd to terrify the People The City of Orleans was full of Foot-Souldiers Guards of Horse were posted all up and down the Country all the High-ways were beset by them Sentence was past by a few Men in the Court concerning
the Lives Fortunes and good Names of the honestest Men all the Steeples of Churches and Towers round about the Walls had their Windows shut up and their Gates and Doors fortified being design'd for Prisons Criminal Judges were call'd together out of the whole Kingdom The manner of Punishment was thus design'd That as soon as the Frost broke and the River Loir was navigable the King should go to Chinon in Poictou at the Mouth of the River Vien and then the Guises with a few of their Partizans at the Command of the Court-Cabal of which They were the chief should perform the Execution Mean while Sandeland came to Court not so much humbly to desire Pardon for what was past as to excuse his Country-Men laying all the blame of the Tumults upon the French The Guises receiv'd him very coursly blaming him that he being a Man dedicated to the Holy War had undertaken to manage the Commands of the Rebels upon the Account of that execrable Heresy which the Consent of all Nations had highly condemn'd in the Council of Trent yea many of them did admire not at the Folly but even Madness of the Scots that they being but a few and disagreeing amongst themselves and besides destitute of Mony and other Warlike Preparations should dare to provoke so potent a King who was now at quiet from any foreign Enemy Between these fretful Indignations and Threatnings the King fell suddenly Sick The Embassador was dismiss'd without any Answer but the Message of the Kings Death reach'd him at Paris in the Nones of December whence he made haste home hoping for better things for future The News of the King's Death being divulg'd did not so much erect the Minds of the Scots being in great Suspence by reason of their imminent Dangers as it fill'd all France with Faction and the Poison of domestick Discords Iames the Queen's Brother Scotland being now freed from the Domination of the French by the Death of Francis made what haste he could to the Queen who when her Husband was dead went to Lorrain to her Uncles either as a Recess to her Grief or else out of womanly Emulation that she might not be near her Mother-in-Law who by reason of the Slothfulness of Anthony Burbon King of Navar did by degrees derive the whole Administration of Affairs into her own Hands There Iames the Queen's Brother having setled things in Scotland for a Season found her and after much Discourse the Queen told him she had a mind to return to Scotland and fix'd a Day by which they might expect her her Uncles being also of the same Opinion For before Iames's Coming there had been great Consultation about the Matter some alleging the Difficulty of the Voyage especially the Queen of England being nothing favourable besides she was to go to a barbarous People and naturally seditious who were hardly kept in quiet by the Government of Men. Moreover she had fresh Examples before her Eyes of her Father and Mother whom when they could not or durst not openly oppress by sundry Artifices they drove them to Despair so that she would be in daily peril either of her Honour or of her Life amongst them On the other side they who were skill'd in the Affairs of Scotland did urge that the Seditions arising there were occasion'd oftner by default of the Princes than the People in that they endeavour'd to reduce that Kingdom to an Arbitrary and boundless Rule which time out of mind had been circumscrib'd and manag'd within due Bounds of Law and That such a Nation which was more warlike than opulent could never endure But all those Kings who never attempted to infringe the Liberties of the People were not only free from private Enemies and popular Tumults but also reigned much beloved of their Subjects famous Abroad and unconquered by their Enemies But the best and almost only Way at present to quiet things was to attempt no Alteration in the State of Religion as then establish'd These were the Debates as publickly bruited on both sides But there were other more prevailing Causes with her Uncles for they in the Troubles of France cherishing rather great than honest Hopes thought if the Queen were absent she would be more in their Power than if she staid in France and that Neighbour-Princes in hopes to carry her for a Wife would seek their Friendships and use them as Mediators In the mean time one or other of their Faction would preside over the Management of Affairs in Scotland Besides the Queen's Resolution swayed much in the Case who was determined to return into her own Country for her Husband was dead and her Mother-in-Law who manag'd Matters of State being something alienated from her she saw she should be cheap at that Court and tho she had been but a little used to Government yet a Woman young of a flourishing Age and a lofty Spirit too could not endure to truckle under another she had rather have any Fortune in a Kingdom than the richest without one neither could she hope that her Condition would be very honourable the Power of the Guises being weakned by the adverse Party at the first brush Besides the Persuasions and Promises of her Brother Iames serv'd much to weigh down the Ballance for he assur'd her she would find all Quiet at home especially seeing he was a Man to whose Faith she might safely commit her self being her natural Brother and who from his Youth had performed many noble and brave Exploits and so had got great Credit and Renown amongst all Men. Whilst the Queen was intent on these Matters Noal a Senator of Bourdeaux who was sent out of France came into Scotland a little after the end of the publick Convention and was put off till the next Assembly which in order to the setling publick Matters was Indicted to be held at Edinburgh May the 21 st yet the Nobles who met there at the time in great abundance did not sit because they were as yet uncertain of the Queen's Will and Pleasure In the mean time Iames Stuart returned from France and brought a Commission from the Queen giving them Liberty to sit and enact Laws for the Good of the Publick Then the French Embassador had Audience the Heads of his Embassy were That the ancient League with the French should be renewed and the new one with the English broke That Priests should be restor'd to their Estates and Dignities whence they had been ejected To which Answer was given As to the French League that they were not conscious to themselves that they had broken it in the least but that it had been many ways infring'd by the French themselves and especially of late in their opposing the publick Liberty and indeavouring to bring a miserable Yoke of Bondage upon a People which were their Allies and giving no occasion on their part As for the League with England they could not dissolve it without a brand of
and promised them to reduce all the Country beyond Dunkelden to the old Religion But they suspected the matter as having heard enough of the Disposition of the Man and fearing lest he should raise a new Storm to no purpose communicated the matter to Iames the Queen's Brother The rest of the Year was spent in Balls and Feastings and in sending away the French who out of Civility had attended the Queen and were then honourably dismiss'd only one of her Uncles the Marquess of Elbeuff staid behind Amidst these Matters William Maitland junior was sent Embassador into England to complement that Queen as the Custom is and to acquaint her how highly she stood affected towards her and how much she desired to maintain Peace and Concord with her He also carried to her Letters from the Nobility in which was mentioned a Friendly Commemoration of former Courtesies and Obligations but one thing they earnestly desired of her and That was that both publickly and privately she would shew her self friendly and courteous towards their Queen and that being provoked by good Offices she would not only persevere in her ancient Friendship but add daily stronger Obligations if possible hereunto As for their part it should be their earnest Study and Desire to pretermit no occasion of perpetuating the Peace betwixt the two Neighbour-Kingdoms That there was but One sure way to induce an Amnesty of all past Differences and to stop the Spring of them for ever if the Queen of England would declare by an Act of Parliament firmed by the Royal Assent That the Queen of Scots was Heiress to the Kingdom of England next after her Self and her Children if ever she had any After the Embassador had asserted the Equity of such a Statute and how beneficial it would be to all Britain by many Arguments he added in the close That she being her nearest Kinswoman ought to be more intent and diligent than others in having such an Act made and that the Queen did expect that Testimony of Good-will and the Respect from her To which the Queen of England answered in these Words I expected another kind of Embassy from your Queen I wonder she hath forgot how that before her Departure out of France after much urging she at last promised that the League made at Leith should be confirmed she having promised me faithfully it should be so as soon as ever she returned into her own Country I have been put off with Words long enough now 't is time if she have any respect to her Honour that her Deeds should answer her Words To which the Embassador answered That he was sent in this Embassy but a very few days after the Queen's Arrival before she had entred upon the Administration of any publick Affairs That she had been hitherto taken up in treating the Nobility many of whom she had never seen before who came from divers parts to perform their dutiful Salutations to her but she was chiefly imployed about setling the State of Religion which how difficult and troublesome a thing it is said he you your self are not ignorant Hence he proceeded your Majesty may easily understand that the Queen of Scots had no vacant time at all before my Departure neither had she as yet called fit Men to her Council to consult about various Affairs especially since the Nobility that liv'd in the furthest parts towards the North had not been yet to attend her before his Coming without whose advice Matters of such publick Moment could not nor ought not to be transacted Upon which the English Queen was something moved and said What need had your Queen to make any Consultation about doing that which she hath obliged her self to under her Hand and Seal He replied I can give no other Answer at present for I received nothing in command about it neither did our Queen expect that an account thereof would now be required of me and you may easily consider with your self what just causes of Delay she at present lies under After some Words had past betwixt them upon these matters the Queen returned to the main Point I observe said she what you most insist upon in behalf of your Queen and in seconding the Requests of the Nobles you put me in Mind that your Queen is descended from the Blood of the Kings of England and that I am bound to love her by a natural Obligation as being my near Kinswoman which I neither can or will deny I have also made it evident to the whole World that in all my Actions I never attempted any thing against the Weal and Tranquillity of her self and her Kingdom Those who are acquainted with my inward Thoughts and Inclinations are conscious that though I had just cause of Offence given by her using my Arms and claiming a Title to the Kingdom yet I could never be persuaded but that these Seeds of Hatred came from others not from her self However the case stands I hope she will not take away my Crown whilst I am alive nor hinder my Children if I have any to succeed me in the Kingdom But if any Casualty should happen to me before she shall never find that I have done any thing which may in the least prejudice the Right she pretends to have to the Kingdom of England what that Right is I never thought my self obliged to make a strict Disquisition into and I am of the same Mind still I leave it to those who are skilful in the Law to determine As for your Queen she may expect this confidently of me that if her Cause be just I shall not prejudice it in the least I call God to witness that next to my self I know none that I would prefer before her or if the matter come to a Dispute that can exclude her Thou knowest says she who are the Competitors By what Assistance or in hopes of what Force can such poor Creatures attempt such a mighty thing After some further Discourse the Conclusion was short That it was a matter of great Weight and Moment and that this was the first time she had entertained any serious Thoughts about it and therefore she had need of longer time to dispatch it A few days after she sent for the Embassador again and told him That she extreamly wondred Why the Nobles should demand such a thing of her upon the first Arrival of the Queen especially knowing that the Causes of former Offences were not yet taken away But what pray do they require That I having been so much wrong'd should before any Satisfaction receiv'd gratify her in so great a matter This Demand is not far from a Threat If they proceed on in this way let them know that I have Force at home and Friends abroad as well as They who will defend my just Right To which he answered That he had shewn clearly at first how that the Nobility had insisted on this hopeful Medium of Concord partly out of Duty
his Assistant in publick Business as to observe what his Actions were The Causes which made Maitland suspected were These amongst many others Before his Journy into England though he mightily endeavoured to conceal his Designs yet by his Words and Actions and further by his great Familiarity with the Men of the adverse Party but more clearly yet by Letters he sent to the Queen which were intercepted they could not be hid In those Letters he endeavoured to persuade the Queen that his Service might yet be useful to her using the Example of the Lion as 't is in the Fable who being taken in a Net was freed by such mean Animals as Rats And after he came to York there was scarce a Night wherein he did not meet with the chief Embassadors of the adverse Party compared Notes with them and acquainted them with the Designs of the Regent The Regent did not forbid those Meetings knowing he should do no Good thereby only then they would meet more secretly Though these were manifest Evidences of his Treachery yet casually there happen'd an undeniable Demonstration thereof Norfolk and He went abroad pretendedly to hunt where they had much Discourse concerning the whole Affair and came to this Agreement amongst themselves to spin out the matter if 't was possible and so to delay it that at last nothing might be done and yet the Cause not seem wholly deserted neither For by this means the Regent must depart without effecting what he came for or else some Commotion at home would inforce him so to do and then other Remedies might emerge in time For Norfolk was then designing a Civil War how to take off the One Queen and to marry the Other Maitland inform'd Iohn Lesly Bishop of Ross herewith one intimately acquainted with all the Queen's Affairs who accordingly inform'd his Mistress by Letter how the Duke would have her write to Court what Course to steer for the future and tho her Cause went but slowly on yet that Delay should not hinder her from expecting a good Issue thereof The Queen having read those Letters laid them by as loose Papers so that they came to be read by diverse others and from hand to hand were at last brought to the Regent who by them discovered the main of his Adversaries Design against him as for Maitland he had experimented his Perfidiousness many times before When the Embassadors before-mentioned came to the Queen at London She and her Council thought it best that the Regent himself should come up and so dispute the Controversy by word of Mouth Whereupon he dismiss'd part of his Retinue and with the rest went to London but there he met with the same Difficulty as he had done at York for he refus'd to enter upon the Accusation of the Queen and his Sister too unless if he prov'd her Guilty the Queen of England would take the Scots King's Party into her Protection if she would do That he would begin the Accusation immediately upon the same Terms as he had propounded to the Delegates at York Whilst these things were acting in London the Queen of Scots by means of Iames Balfure endeavoured to raise Commotions in Scotland and that she might more easily accomplish her Designs she wrote Letters to all the Exiles and to Bothwel's Friends to contribute all their Endeavours to infest the contrary Faction by Force of Arms And besides she created Lieutenants through all the Kingdom to whom she gave even Kingly Power And moreover she caus'd Rumours to be spread abroad That the Regent and his Companions were committed Prisoners to the Tower of London and foreseeing that Lie could not be long believed she devis'd another i. e. That the Regent had promis'd to subject Scotland to the Crown of England and That he was to give up the King as a Pledg thereof 'T is thought her Design herein was That whereas she had promis'd the same things by her Commissioners and the English look'd upon it as a Vanity in her seeing She had no power to perform it yet she was willing to possess the Minds of the Vulgar with an Untruth and so to raise up Envy against the Regent and if she could not avert the whole Reproach from her self yet at least she would have her Adversaries bear a Part with her therein When the Regent saw himself in these Straits he resolv'd to end the Matter as well as he could and so to return home Whereupon at the earnest Sollicitation of the English who desir'd to know the Causes of the Proceedings in Scotland without which they could determine nothing he also being desirous to satisfy the Queen of England at that time whom he could nor offend without great prejudice to his Cause and being willing also to return home to extinguish the Civil War then appearing in its first Rise neither of which he could well do unless the Queen of England was his Friend or at least not his Adversary induc'd by these Motives He first protested before the Council of England That 't was not willingly but by the importunity of his Enemies that he was compell'd to accuse his Queen and she his Sister's Son too of so horrid a Crime that he did not do it out of a wanton humour to accuse but out of necessity to clear himself for he was very unwilling to discover those things which he wish'd if possible might be cover'd in perpetual Oblivion and therefore if any Reflection were made on what he did the Envy ought deservedly to light upon Those who would not suffer him to be like Himself that is to obey his Prince chearfully when Good and to reprove Him or Her against his Will when she was Evil only he desire one Thing That the Queen's Proxies who had inforced him to that Dispute might be present to hear the Crimes objected that so if they were false they might disprove them before the Council and that he himself in many weighty Matters might also make use of their Testimonies The Queen's Commissioners refus'd this as putting little Confidence in their own Cause and insisted only on this one thing That the Queen who was by Force of Arms ejected might be restor'd Whereupon a Day was appointed for the Regent to shew Cause why the Revengers of the King's Murder had taken up Arms for he himself was then in France and had ejected the Queen from her Government and acted other things as till that time they had done When the Time came he declar'd the Order of all Things as they had been acted and the Testimonies of the Partisans of the King's Murder made before their Deaths and also the Statute of Parliament to which many of the Regent's Accusers had subscribed And when the Silver Cabinet was produc'd which the Queen had given her from her former Husband Francis and had bestow'd on Bothwel in which were Letters to Bothwel writ in French with the Queen 's own Hand and also a French
Poem not unelegantly compos'd by her and also the Manner of the King's Death and after his Death her Surprize and three Contracts of Marriage with him the One before the Parricide written with her own Hand wherein as by a Bill she promises to marry him as soon as ever she was freed from her former Husband The Other was before the Divorce from his former Wife writ by Huntly's Hand The Third was openly made a little before the Marriage When all this was produc'd seen and read before the Council The whole Fact was so plainly expos'd that now no Doubt could be made Who was the Author of it Though the Queen of England could not but believe these Discoveries yet she did fluctuate in her Mind on the one side there was Emulation Queens mutually hating one another there were also such great Crimes and such evident Proofs that the Queen thought her Kinswoman of Scotland deserv'd no Assistance to restore her And though her Mind did incline to that which was right yet 't was shaken and did hesitate upon the remembrance of her former State not without a Commiseration and besides the Majesty of Kingly Honour and a Feaâ— lest the Example of driving out Princes might creep into the Neighbour-Kingdoms wrought much upon her Besides she was afraid of France for the Peace with them was not very sure or firm and then especially the French Embassador did plead the Cause of the banish'd Queen daily The Spanish Embassador was desir'd also to interpose his Mediation but the foulness of the Crimes did so deter him that he refus'd to meddle therewith Whereupon the Queen of England that she might leave a Door for Repentance if Matters should succeed amiss in France and not cut off all occasion of gratifying them gave a middle Answer so tempering it that at present she said She saw no cause to the contrary but that all things had been acted according to Law and Justice in Scotland yet as if she deferr'd the compleat Decision till another time she desir'd that seeing intestine Tumults did recal the Regent he would leave here one of his Retinue in his Place to make Answer to those Crimes which might be objected against him in his Absence But the Regent who saw the Matter to be so put off that That Queen might take her Measures to give Sentence for her own Advantage and the Event of foreign Affairs left no Stone unturn'd that he might have the Cause fully determin'd now and therefore he desir'd as most just and equitable that if his Enemies who had long studied before-hand to accuse him had any thing to allege they would now produce it and not watch an Opportunity to calumniate him in his Absence seeing they refus'd to cope with him face to face he was not ignorant what Rumors his Enemies would cause to be spread amongst the People and what they had already said to some of the Council and to the French Embassador and therefore he earnestly desir'd of the Council to command them not to mutter privately but to declare openly what they had to say and that he would not make such haste home but that though it were much to his own Damage and the Publicks yet he would willingly purge himself there in presence Whereupon the Commissioners of the banish'd Queen were sent for and demanded If they had any thing to allege against the Regent or his Companions in reference to the King's Murder they should produce it Their Answer was They had nothing at present but they would accuse them when they were commanded by their Queen The Regent answer'd That he was always ready to give an account of all the Actions perform'd by him neither would he shun either Time or Place so to do yeâ— seeing the Queen began that Accusation of him he desir'd of his Accusers there present That if any of them had the least Objection against him they would then declare it for 't was much more noble and handsom to produce it before so illustrious an Assembly than in private Cabals to nibble at his Fame in his Absence They also refused This. Whereupon the whole Council cried out upon them and in a manner reproach'd them so that they were compell'd singly and severally to confess That they knew nothing of themselves why Murray or any of his should be accus'd of the King's Murder Then after a long Dispute pro and con the Council was dismiss'd and from that time there was never any more mention made of accusing the Regent or any of his Companions Whilst the Regent was thus necessarily detain'd in England on a publick Account the Queen's Faction turn'd every Stone both at Home and Abroad to make Disturbances but without effect Iames Hamilton who had been Regent some Years before seeing that Things went not according to his Mind at Home had gone long before into France there he had but a few Companions but lay privately with a Servant or Two to attend him free from the hurry of all Publick Business but when the Queen of Scots was escap'd out of Prison overcome in Battel and then fled for England The French knowing that Murray was call'd Home into his own Country and in his Passage through France not being able to work him over to their Party in regard they could not send Men or Mony to Scotland to raise Disturbance there by reason of their own Commotions at Home they therefore thought it most advisable to set up Hamilton in an emulating competition with him especially at that Time when the Regent with part of the Nobility were absent and out of the way He was therefore drawn out of his Privacy and accommodated with some few Pistols and larger Promises In his return thro' England his Friends persuaded him That in regard the Queen of Scots with her Faction favour'd him and the Queen of England was not averse from it he would deal with her to persuade Murray by her Authority to resign his Regency to him in regard that Office by the Law and Consent of almost all Nations and especially by the Custom of their own Country was due to him as the next in Blood and Heirship Neither said he was there any great need to make a laborious search into the Records of Ancient Times for This wherein they might easily find That Governors were always appointed to their Princes when under Age out of the next of Kin as when Iames the 3 d died in the absence of Iames the 1 st his Uncle Robert manag'd the Government and his Son Murdac succeeded Robert And of late Times Iohn Duke of Albany was made Governor to King Iames the 5 th whilst he was under Age Yea Hamilton himself had been Regent some few Years before Mary now Queen was of Age fit to Govern or Marry and how he was not excluded from that Office by any lawful Suffrages but unjustly by the Rebellious and that which increas'd the Indignity was That
would follow which in a great Multitude without a Governour is easily rais'd but not so easily laid The Third Opinion condemned both the Others The First for that now there ought less Account to be made of the Queen's Letters-Patent since if the Matter of Law were considered they were from their beginning of little or no force The Other for that a Prorogation would both draw much Danger along with it also a greater Delay than the present Condition of Affairs could well permit and therefore they would have all those to meet who at first had advised the King to enter upon the Government and had constantly adhered to him ever since These according to the sense of this Party were to take the best Care they could for the Publick-Weal and speedily appoint such a Regent who was both able and willing to provide for the Safety of King and Kingdom both But this Opinion was rejected also and so before any thing was concluded upon the Convention was broke up So many Meetings having been tried in vain the Rebels again return to the old Seminary of the English War thereby to draw the Populacy to their Faction and send out the same Captains of the Freebooters which were sent before who left nothing of Cruelty uncommitted even to the utmost extremity And in the mean time the Heads of their Faction bespatter the Queen of England with all manner of Reproaches And also they maliciously accuse the Scotish Nobles as Pensioners to the English commonly giving out in a way of Threatning That if their Adversaries did call in the English to their Aid they would have recourse to the French and Spanish Succours About this time Mr. Le Verac one of the King of France's Bed-Chamber-Men came from France to Dumbritton who with his large Promises somewhat raised up their Courages Hereupon the Hamiltons appointed a Meeting of their People to be held the 9 th of April at Linlithgo Where when the Queen's Faction was gathered together in great Numbers They began openly to treat of That which they had long before meditated in their private Cabals That if a War against the English could be made thereby private Injuries and Actions either about the King 's or Regent's Murder in that universal Disturbance of Affairs would either grow out of Remembrance or at least the Resentment of them much abate These Things having been transacted at Linlithgo by the Associates of the Conspiracy only who having not yet plainly unmasked their Intentions that they might have more Shew of Authority they determine to meet at Edinburgh on the 11 th of April and thereby besides the other Conveniencies which the Place would afford them draw the Citizens of whom they always made great account either way to their Party This seemed no hard Matter since they had already gained William Kircady the Governour both of the City and Castle to their Side But because they understood that Watch and Ward was kept there and that the Common People were more inclined to their Adversaries they thought fit to send to the Citizens first to know Whether or no it was their Pleasure they should meet there The Citizens Answer was That they would exclude no Person that was desirous of the Publick Peace and obedient to the King but that they would admit neither the English Exiles nor the Hamiltons into their City lest they should either highly displease the Queen of England in whose Kingdom they had great Traffick or seem to join in Counsel with those that were guilty of that horrid Murder nor likewise would they endure the Proposal of any New Edicts which might tend to the lessening of the Regal Authority or that their Souldiery should be forc'd as the Custom was to run to their Arms by sound of Drum Upon these Conditions how hard soever they seemed they notwithstanding came into the City in hopes by degrees to gain upon the unwary Multitude and by soothing them up with fair Speeches at last to bring them all to their beck but for all this they could not prevail with the Citizens to deliver up their Keys to them or to cease their usual Watch though Kircady Governour of the Castle and City join'd his utmost Endeavours with them that they should do so All that time they visited Maitland who if he did not dissemble deeply was troubled with the Gout every day and in such Numbers that his House was commonly named a School and he a Schoolmaster Athol the whilst incessantly passing from one Place to another that he might draw those of the contrary Faction to this Meeting at Edinburgh but they all with one accord refused to come before May 1. which was the Day generally agreed on by all unless they were satisfied of the necessity of coming before if any thing of moment had happen'd which would admit of no Delay they would have them acquaint the Earl of Morton with it who was at his House but four Miles off and he would tell the rest of it Athol at last appoints a Day on which some of either Faction should meet at Morton-Hall which is in Dalkeith but this Place did not please the Queen's Faction not that they dreaded any Treachery but out of a Conceit That it would be an undervaluing to their Authority if they should come to Morton rather than He come to Them Therefore after many Attempts and that nothing proceeded to their Satisfaction they were forc'd to break up the Meeting for seeing that being desirous to rid the City of their Adversaries they could not prevail with the Citizens to join with them in order to it they resolved to call in a greater Number of their Friends dwelling nearest that in spite of the Inhabitants they might get all Things into their own Power The Governour of the Castle facilitated This very much who set at Liberty those Persons whom he had in Custody and they were well nigh All the Heads of the Queen's Faction But a sudden Rumour That the English Army was come to Berwick startled all their Resolutions Alexander Hume and Iohn Maxwel lately let out of Prison without any Publick Authority betook themselves to their own Homes to look to their own Concerns And Hume had part of the Mony gathered for raising of Souldiers given him to fortify his own Castle Hume Thomas Carr and Walter Scot who by the Instigation chiefly of the Archbishop of St. Andrews had made Incursions into England foreseeing That from this beginning a War would be kindled between the Two Kingdoms being deserted by their Neighbours and doubtful of their own Strength send to the Heads of their Faction for Aid or if that could not be done that at least they would come as far as Lauder a neighbouring Town and from thence make a Shew of War Therefore when they could neither obtain their Request in This nor yet the least Portion of their common Stock for the Publick Advantage and being highly incensed to
Talk at all was to be made about it Before I declare the Event of this Piece of Service give me leave to tell you the Nature and Situation of the Castle of Dunbarton From the Confluence of the Rivers Clyde and Levin there is a plain Champaign of about a Mile extended to the Foot of the adjoining Mountains and in the very Angle where the two Rivers meet there stands a Rock with Two Cops or Heads The one Branch or Cop which is the highest respects the West and in the very Top of it there is a Watch-Tower from whence there is a large Prospect to all Parts thereabouts The other Cop is lower and looks towards the East between the two Cops that Side that turns towards the North and the Fields hath Stairs ascending obliquely by the Rock cut out by Mens Hands where hardly a single Man can go up at once For the Rock is very hard and scarce malleable by any Iron-Tool but if any Part of it be broken off by Force or falls down of it self it emits a Smell far and near like Sulphur In the upper Part of the Castle there is an huge Stony Rock of the Nature of a Load-stone but so closely cemented and fastned to the rest of the Rock that no Joint at all or Commissure doth appear Where the River Clyde runs by to the South the Rock naturally steep in other Parts is somewhat bending and stretching out its Arms on both Sides takes in some firm Land which is so inclosed partly by the Nature of the Place and partly by human Industry that in the overthwart or transverse Sides thereof it affords Place for many Houses and also in the River a Road for Ships very safe for the Inhabitants by playing Brass-Guns from thence but unsafe for an Enemy and small Boats therein may come up almost to the very Castle Gate The middle Part of the Rock by which you go up being full of Buildings makes as it were another Castle distinct and secluded from the higher one Besides the Natural Fortification of the Rock the two Rivers Levin to the West and Clyde to the South make a kind of Graff and Trench about it on the East Side when the Tide is in the Sea washes the very Foot of the Rock when 't is out that Place is not sandy as usually Shores are but muddy the fat Soil being dissolv'd into Dirt. This Strand is also intercepted and cut by many Torrents of Water which tumble down from the Mountain adjacent The other side turns towards a plain Field full of Grass The Castle hath three Fountains in it always running besides Springs of fresh Water in many other Places The ancient Britains as Bede says call'd the Place Alcuith but the Scots which were heretofore sever'd from the Britains by the River Levin because that Fort was built on the Borders of the Britains call'd it Dumbritton now Dunbarton There is a little Town hard by of the same Name upon the Bank of the River of Levin about a Mile distant from the meeting of the Rivers This Castle was accounted impregnable and in all foreign and civil Wars was of great Advantage to them that held it and as prejudicial to their Enemy At that time Iohn Flemming was Governor of it by Commission from the banish'd Queen he though he consented not to the King's Murder yet having not a Force sufficient to defend himself against the Royalists sided with the Parricides and for four Years last past had kept up the Garison at the Charge of the King of France whom he had persuaded That almost all the Scots had secretly confederated with the Queen of England yea he had made a Boast to him like a Bragadochio as he was That he did as it were hold the Fetters of Scotland in his own Hands and when ever the French had leisure from other Wars if they would but send him a little Assistance he would easily clap them on and bring all Scotland under their Power And the French King was as vain in feeding his senseless Humor for he sent him some Military Provisions by one Monsieur Verack whom he commanded to stay there and to give him an Account of all Scotish Affairs Besides the Insolencie of the Governor was increas'd by the Treachery of the Garison-Souldiers of Edinburgh-Castle who had lately revolted from the King and also he was somewhat animated by the Sickness of the Regent who was almost kill'd with a Fall from his Horse and had now the Gout also and moreover he was incouraged by the Truce which the Queen of England had obtained for them till the End of March These things made him and his Garison-Souldiers so secure and negligent that they went often to be merry into the Town and would lie there all Night as if they had been lull'd in the very Bosom of Peace Matters standing in this Posture and Preparation being made for the Expedition as much as the present Haste would permit Iohn Cuningham was sent before with some Horse to stop all Passengers that so the Enemy might have no Intelligence of their Coming Thomas Crawford followed after with the Foot they were appointed to meet together at Dumbeck an Hill about a Mile or two from the Castle about Midnight At that Place Crawford as he was commanded told the Souldiers What the Design was they were to go upon and How they were to effect it he shew'd them who was to lead them on and had promised to scale the Walls first and then he and those Commanders that would be noticed for their Valour were to follow The Souldiers were easily persuaded to follow their Leaders whereupon the Ladders were carried and other things to storm the Castle and the Foot a little before Day march'd on towards it The Horse were commanded to stay in the same Place to expect the Issue whether good or bad As they were approaching the Castle they met with two Rubs or Checks One was That the Bridg over the Brook that runs between the Fields was broken and Next A Fire appearing suddenly near it occasioned a Suspicion lest the Bridg was broken on Purpose to stop the Enemy and the Fire kindled by the Garison-Souldiers to discover and prevent the Enemies Approach But this Fear was soon dispell'd by their repairing the Bridg as well as they could in such haste and making it passable for the Foot and also the Scouts were sent out to the Place where the Fire was seen and they could find no Sign of any Fire at all so that the Fire was of a Meteorous Nature like those Fires which are bred in the Air and sometimes pitch on the Ground and presently vanish away but they had a greater Cause of Fear lest the Heaven which was all bespangled with Stars and the Approach of the Day should discover them to the Sentinels that watch'd above but behold on a sudden a thick Mist covered the Heavens yet so that it
against Donald * Or Râ—dshanks Mackbeth his Character Mâ—cduald is overthrown by Mackbeth and Bâ—nâ—ho Swain and his three Sons Swain King of Norwayâ—ands â—ands in Scotland * A Town standing on the Forth in Pertâ—shiâ—e * The Scâ—tâ— by an inebâ—â—ating Dâ—ink made of Night-shade stupifie the Danes * The Herb Night-shade its Description and Properties Danes overthrown * Druâ—iâ—aâ—-Sands 〈…〉 North-side of the 〈…〉 * A Burgh-Roâ—aâ— on the North 〈…〉 Another Fleet of the Danes overthrown by Bancho * Or Inch-Colm * The Danes swore neveâ— to invade Scotland any more * Mackbeth's Dream encouraging him to aspire to the Kingdom * He thereupon slâ—ys King Donald or Duncan as some call him and is declared King Donald's Children fly for their Lives Mackbeth severe against Thieves He makes Wholesom Laws But afterward degenerates causes Bancho to be treacherously slain * Lying Southwest 3 miles from Cowper in Angus Mackduff ill resents Mackbeth He flies into England And stirs up Duncan's Son against him * Malcolm by the assistance of Edward K. of England recovers the Kingdom from Mackbeth * See Note a p. 77. * Malcolm First brought in Foreign Titles of Honour into Scotland * Mackduff the first Earl in Scotland * Three Grand Privileges of the Mackduffâ— * Called Straâ— or Sâ—rath-Boâ—y Forty Miles North of Aberdeen * Mackbeth's Son slain by Malcolm * Or Icolumbâ—â—l an Isle 2 Miles from the South end of Mul. * Malcolm assaulted by private Conspiracies which he overcomes * The Story of Edmond K. of England and Canutus * William the Norman demands Edgar then in Scotland * Whom Malcolm refuses to Surrender * Whereupon a War 〈…〉 Roger Richard Odo and Robert Generals for William of England worâ—â—ed in Scotland Newcastle repaired A Peace concluded between the Scots and English * Or Re-Crosâ— on the North-side it had the Portâ—aicture of the Scots King and of the English King on the South * Home-bred Seditions against Maâ—colm queâ—l'd The Original of the Family of the Stuarts afterwards Kings of Scotland * Lying on the South-side of the River Danâ— in Marr * Malcolm's Vow to St. Andrew Alexander Carron preferred and Sirnamed Scrimger The Seditious quell'd The Piety of Malcolm's Queen c. * Or Mortlich * Malcolm erects new Bishopricks * Malcolm erects new Bishopricks * Sumptuary Laws made by Malcolm * Marâ—heta Mulierum What * Malcolm builds the Cathedrals of Durham and Dumferling * King William Rufus Wars against Malcolm * Malcolm and his Son Edward slain by the English * On the River Lian on the British Sea Weâ—t of Calice * Prodigies viz. The Inundation of the German-Sea and Men-killing Thunder-bolts * Donald promises the Islands to Magnus King of Norway * Donald flies * Duncan slain by the procurement of Donald * Edgar's Pious Reign He builds the Monastery of Coldingham * Lying within two Miles of Aymouth in Mersâ— near the Scotish Sea Alexanders Valour * He doth Justice to a Poor Woman * Lying on the East-side of the Carss or Plain of Gowry within two Miles of Dundee * Lying in the Braes or Risings of the Carss of Gowry five Miles above Dundee * Inch-Colm or St. Columb's Isle in the Firth of Forth in Fife near Aberdeen David's just Reign * He creates new Bishopricks He is censured for his Profuseness towards Monasteries * In Teviotdale Henry of England never Laughed after the Drowning of his Children * K. Henry setles the Succession on his Daughter Maud the Empress by causing the Nobility to Swear Fealty to her in his Life time * Stephen notwithstanding his Oath seizes on the Crown of England * His Pretensions for so doing The Bishops of England not True to Maud according to their Oaths David of Scotland maintains the Cause of Maud his Kinswoman He lays Perjury to Stephens's Charge North Allerton lying near the River Swale in the North-Riding of Yorkshire He Fights the English and Overthrows them An Agreement between David and Stephen not observed Which hath its Source near Black-Laws in Teesdale The Scots overthrown by Stephen Another Agreement between the Scots and Stephen King of England Henry Heir of England sent to David his Uncle to be made Knight by him * King David loses his hopeful Son and Heir * But â—ears his Affliction Piously and Patiently * May 24. Lying on the North-west of Aberdeneshire K. David's extraordinary Character for Piety and Virtue A great Pestilenâ—e 〈◊〉 Scotland Somerled rises in Arms but is overthrown Henry of England designs against Malcolm And makes him take a Feodatary Oath to him He carries Malcolm into France And at his return despoils him of his Ancient Patrimony in England * The Scots make War upon England Peace concluded between the English and Scots wherein Malcolm quits Northumberland A Rebellion in Galway quell'd The Murray-Men under Gildominick rise in Arms. But are suppressed * Sâ—merled stirs agaiâ—â— but is overthrown and slain The Estates persuade Malcolm to Marry His Negative Answer to their Request * December 9th * William solicits Henry of England for the restitution of Northumberland He accompanies Henry into France * Part of Nâ—rthumberland restored to the Scots * William enters England with an Army But is overthrown taken Prisoner by the English and sent to Henry then in France * August 1â—th February 1st * K. William Ransomed and takes an Oath to K. Henry * Not That Constance in Germany but That in Normandy now called Contances * Ianuary 〈…〉 Gilchrist King Williams General The Scots Bishops freed from the Jurisdiction of English Bishops Gilchrist Kills his Wife for Adultery and flys into England But is Forced to return into his own Country Donald Bane rises in Arms but is quelled Distressed Gilchrist Pardon'd and Restored * To the Holy War for Recovery of Ierusâ—lem from the Turks * The English quit their Claim to any part of 〈◊〉 * William sends David his Brother to accompany Richard to the Holy Land David returns from Sâ—â—ia * So doth Richard Lex Taâ—â—onâ—â— executed upon one Harald Earl of the Orcades * K. Iohn of England meditates a War against Scotland * But Matters are accommodated upon Terms between both Kingdoms * Berth destroyed and new Built Makul a Criminal abstains from all manner of Food * Several Leagues between Iohn of England and William of Scotland * A Maritime Town in Normandy 〈◊〉 France * Alexander enters England with an Army * Iohn enters Scotland Alexander takes Carlisle * King Iohn agrees with the Pope and becomes his Feudatary Cardinal Galo Avaâ—itiâ—â—â— * King Iohn Poysoned * Others say at 〈◊〉 Abby near Bostâ—n in Lincolnshire * The Scots Excommunicated * A Stone-Cross erected in Sâ—anmoâ—e in Cumberlâ—nd as a Boundary between the Two Kingdoms of England and Sâ—otland * Cardinal 〈◊〉 ill Character * Pandulphus the Popes Legat a Witness of the Peace between the Two Kings * Roman Fraud * Câ—min
the Fifth to Scotland to sâ—iâ— them up to War against England Berwick Castle surprised by Ramsay but regain'd by Percy Iames the First Earl of Douglas enters England with an Army * In Cumberland A Pestilence in Scotland Talbet overthrown in Scotland A Truce between the Scots and English for three Years Quatuor nummos Angâ—â—coâ— A Rising of the Commons in England at the Instigation of Iohn Baâ— a Priest Lancaster the English Embassador in Scotland denied entrance into Berwick Loch-Maban Castle taken by the Scots unbar surprizes the Governor of Roxburg Lancaster enters Scotland He favours the Edinburgers But is put to a Retreat Douglas prevails in Scotland he dyes and his Son William succeeds him A Truce made for a Year between French English and Scots which the French were to acquaint the Scots with The English enter Scotland before Notice is given them of a Truce made Some Scots Nobles also invade England before the Truce is Proclaimed Richard II. enter'd Scotland with an Army Whereupon the Scots enter England They both return home The French and Scots quarrel â—bout the Bears Skin before he was catcht French Soldiers more licentious than Scots or English which occasions a disgust betwixt them The French Army leaves Scotland but their General is retain'd to satisfy damages Nov. 1. Will. Douglas sails into Ireland And takes Dundalk * A Town on the North side of the Nith a Mile about Drumlanerick in Nithisdale * A Sea Town in the County of Louth and Province of Vlster in Ireland And returns from thence The Scots enter England 〈◊〉 Against the mind of Robert and his Son Aug. â— An English Spy in the Scots Army discovered The Scots Army divide themselves to attack England Douglas in Northumberland encountred by Percy A Duel between Earl Douglas and Earl Percy The Scots march to Otterborn A terrible Fight between the Scots and English under Percy and Douglas Hart slain And Douglas mortally Wounded His Three last dying Requests Ralfe Pâ—rcy 〈…〉 The English overthrown Lindsay takes Redman Prisoner and releases him on his Parol Courtesy to Prisoners The ancient punishment of Prisoners not returning upon their Parol The Bishop of Durham comes too late to Assist Percy The Bishops Forces terrified with the Sound of Horns and Retreat Lindsay's Kindness to Redman requited by him Ralfe Percy released on his Parol Henry Percy Ransomed Douglas buried at Mulross Both the Scots Armies lament Dougâ—aâ— Iuly 21. Robert Earl of Fife made Governor of Scotland Earl Marshal vaunts over the Scots Whereupon Robert enters England and returns with a great Booty A Peace between France and England Robert assents thereto on his own Head * Lying on the River Irwin Apr. 19. Roberts Death and Character Alexander Earl of Buchan burns Elgin Church William Douglas slain at Dantzick by the procurement of Clifford of England * Or Prussias A noted Maâ—t Town of great Trade on the Wesseâ— acknowledge the King of Poland for Protector August 1â— Robert the Third his Name changed from Iohn Duncan Stuart rises in Arms but is suppressed A notable Policy to divide the Islanders and make them Instruments to destroy one another which takes effect accordingly Dukes First made in Scotland E. Douglas refuses that Title Richard the Second of England resigns his Crown and Hen. the Fourth succeeds him Difference in Scotland occasioned by the Marriage of the King's Son Dunbar joyns with Percy and infests Scotland Standing upon Tine 3 Miles below Hadington The Death of Archibald Douglas August 13. Henry of England Enters Scotland Carries it Moderately And Retreats * A Castle over against Holy-Isle in Northumberland The Scots overthrown by Percy and Dunbar at Homeldon May. 7. Coâ—â—â—aw-Castle besieged by the English but they raise the Siege themselves Arch Bishop Traâ—â—e an observer of Ancient Discipline David after his Mothers decease le ts loose the reins to Licentiousness David most cruelly starved to Death by his Uncle Robert Scituate at the North bottom of Locâ—-Lomond near the Centre of Fife The Governor of Faâ—kâ—and's cruelty to his own Daughter Douglas joyne with Percy against the K. of England Having Performed valiantly in a fight he is taken Prisoner and after ransomed Robert accused for Davids Death Undergoes a partial Tryal and is Acquitted King Robert imprecates God's judgment on the Murderers of his Son Iames the K. Son for security sent into France but Landing in England is detained There Dispute 〈◊〉 King 〈…〉 concerning the Detention oâ— Diâ—mission oâ— Iames. Iames well Educated in England yet his Captivity breaks his Fathers Heart April 1. Robert's Death and Character Robert his Brother made Regent Percy overthrown and flies to Scotland Henry of England invades Scotland Dunbar returns to Scotland Percy betrayed by Rokesby his pretended Friend and put to Death A Supposititious Prince Standing on a Rock above the Firth of Forth near St. Ebâ—s Head in the Merss A County lying on 〈◊〉 River Stâ—aâ—-Bogy 40 〈…〉 Aâ—â—rdeen * In Murray A Cruel Fight between Donald and the Governour The Erection of St. Andrews University March 21. Henry the 4 th Dyes and Henry the 5 thâ—â—â—â—ceeds â—â—â—â—ceeds 〈◊〉 Percys Posterity restored to their Dignity Council of Constance send Ambassadors to Scotland so doth Peter Lune Anti-Pope The King of France distracted Divisions in France A County of France lying on the River Carus The French King craves Aid of the Scots which is sent him under the Command of the Earl of Buchan The Scots Auxiliaries Land in France Is overthrowâ— by them And slain Buchan made Lord High Constable of France September 3. Robert dies and his Son Murdo made Governor of Scotland Buchan returns to Scotland but is recalled to France Douglas made Duke of Turein Earl of Bedford sent by Henry into France who carries with him Iames I. King of Scotland A Chief Town of the County oâ— Bâ—â—e in France situated near the Matrona A Town in or near Normandy A Chief Town of the County oâ— Bâ—â—e in France situated near the Matrona A Town in or near Normandy A large Country about Orleanâ— on the 〈◊〉 The Scâ—ts overthrown in Fâ—ance 〈…〉 English and their Chief 〈…〉 Reflections on some English Writers Fond Indulgence to Children justly punished in a Father The Scots send for King Iames the First out of England Who returns upon a Ransom May 27. April 20. 〈…〉 Scotlâ—nd â—bout 〈…〉 The King remits one halfe of his Ransom-Tax Several Scots Nobles imprisoned Others 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Murdo brought to his Trial. The Ancient manner of Trying Nobles in Scotland Murdo c. found Guilty and Beheaded Embassadors from France to Scotland about Peace and a Marriage K. Iames the First his prosperous Beginnings Free 〈◊〉 punished by the King Alexander the Islander â—iseâ— in Armâ— But is suppressed * Easter And submits to the Kings Mercy Donald Bâ—lâ—ck makes an Insurrection But is quelled Tories fall out among themselves Mackdonald a Free-booter His Cruelty to a Woman Retaliated on himself and his Followers Donald's
Head sent to the K. from Ireland The King reforms Publick Manners He also rectifies Weights and Measures His Queen brings forth Twins Doâ—glaâ— and Kennedy released from Prison He reforms the Ecclesiasticaâ— Estate Which was Wofully degenerated and corrupted He Erects Publick Schools and is present himself at their Disputations Parish Priests and Begging Friers the Causes of the Decay of Ecclesiastical Discipline with the Manner how King Iames aims to prefer only Worthy Persons to Benefices and Church Preferments He invites Tradesmen out of Flanders Luxury and Prodigality the trust of Idleness Robert and Murdo affect the Throne Murdo and his Sons put to Death The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and his Exploits Exceptions taken against Iames. A Castle standing upon the Tâ—ne 3 Miles below Hadington The Dispute between Robert's Legitimate and Natural Children occasion great Troubles The Earl of Athol's Ambition A Town of Normandy in France Plots against Iames. Upon the Account of Wardships c. Embassadors from France and England to Scotland The Scots joyn with the French against England Iames Marries his Daugâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 oâ— France and sends her thither A Stately City on the Lâ—â—r The English Writers imputing Perfidiousness to Iames are blamed by this Author and their Reflections upon him Wiped off In Champaign in France A Fight between the Sâ—â—ts and Engâ—ish Iames enters England but retires upon notice of a Conspiracy formed against him by his own Kindred K. Iames Cruelly Assassinated His Death highly lamented with his Laudable Character Earl of 〈◊〉 and other of Iames's Murderers Tortured and Executed Descants upon such severe Executions Marchâ—7 â—7 Alexander Levingston made Regent William Creigton made Chancellor Douglas labours to imbroil things The Râ—gent and Chancellor disâ—gree The Queen by Policie get the Kings Person out of the Chancellors Power * Situate below â—anton Bridge on the Ti ne in 〈◊〉 Lothian The Chancellor highly accused And besieged in Edinburgh Castle The Chancellor craves Aid of Douglas But receives an affronting Answer from him Whereupon he agrees with the Regent And sâ—rrenâ—ers up Edinburgh Castle September 29. Lying on the River 〈◊〉 in Cuningham Iuly 9. Deadly â—ewds The 〈◊〉 of Archibaâ—d Dougâ—as With the Profuseness of his young Heir * Or Lâ—ther a great and ancient Family in Lothian The Queen with her Husband Iames Stuart and others committed to Prison August 2. August 31. But she is Releast again The Aebudians ravage the Continent A Two years Pestilence in Scotland The Râ—gent and Câ—â—â—cellor again Disagree The Chancellor surprâ—zes the Kings Person The Regent being out-Witted by the Chancellor inwardly frets And Meditates a Reconciliation with him His Condescending Haâ—angue to the Chancellor A New Knot of Amity between the Regent and the Chancellor The Miseries of the Commons Occasioned Principally by the Earl of Douglas Where he and his Brother David were slain William Douglas Marries Beatrix his Uncles Daughter The high 〈◊〉 oâ— Thieves Dunbarton Castle twice surprized King Iames being of Age enters on the Government Douglas throws himself at the Kings Feet acknowledges his Offences is Pardoned and Received into Favour The Regent and Chancellor lay down their Offices Douglas by his Power at Court summons them to Appear They excusing themselves are declared publick Enemies * Oâ— Forester In Mid-Lothian two 〈◊〉 West of Edinburgh A Town on the River 〈◊〉 West-Lothian A Castle standing on a Rock lying near the Firth of Forâ—h above Abercorn Creighton late Chancelor defends himself by force Douglas incensed against Creighton's Friends The Clans of the Lindsys and Ogilbys Fight Ian. 24. The Lindsys prevail Iuly 15. Creighton received into Favour and is made Chancellor again Deadly Fewds betwixt particular Persons and Families An Abby in Lennâ—x A Castle standing upon Tine near Hardington Douglas attempts the Levingstons of whom Iames is put to Death c. Creighton sent Embassador to France The Bishop of Glasco frightned by a Voice from Heaven for his wicked Life which does him to Death Iames Kennedy retires from a Corrupt Court Dunbar E. of Murray Dies and Archibald Douglas succeed◠〈◊〉 A Barony â—â—ing on the 〈◊〉 Spey The immoderate Power of the Douglas's eâ—poses them to Envy The Miserable Estate of the Commons under Douglas Mutual Incursions betwixt the Scots and English Or Saâ—s The English overthrown by the Scots A Truce between the Scots and English Iames Married to Mary of Gelderland Colvil put to Death by Douglas Douglas goes vain-gloriously in a year oâ— Iubilee to Rome In his absence his Enemies sue him and 〈◊〉 Damages for wrongâ— received Which are answered out of his Estate Douglas at his return from Rome received into Favour And made Regent Douglas gives Iames new occasion of Suspicion Douglas design against Creighton's Life 〈◊〉 deâ—ends himself 〈…〉 Douglas joyns with Craford and Ross. He provokes the King In the Case of Herris And Macklan Douglas on safe Conduct comes to Court Where the King Stabs him with his own Hand Mâ—rch 27. Whereupon the rest of the 〈◊〉 rise in Arms. The Douglasâ—â— proclaimed publick Enemies Iames Douglas Marries his Brothers Wife A Famine and Pestilence in Scotland Douglas persuaded to a Reconciliation with the King Which he refuses Craford forsakes Douglas and is pardoned by the King Douglas applys to England for Aid but in vain Hâ—milton 〈◊〉 Douglas * Standing upon Nâ—â—th-Esk in Mid-Lâ—thiâ—n 4 Miles above Daâ—keith Iune 5. Douglas joyns with the Enlish and then with Donald the Islander Douglas's Wife forsakes him and 〈◊〉 to the King Lying on the River Spâ—â— So doth Donald's Wiâ—e too In Mid-Lothian Thornton put to death for Murder The death of Will. Creightoâ— A Party of English worâ—â—ed in Scotland Donald the Islander submits to the King The English Nobles crave Aid of Iames against Henry their King He marches to their Assistance but is diverted by a Counteâ—feit Leâ—at from Rome Iames takes Roxborough Town And besieges the Castle Where he is casually slain The Queen shews Herself a virago immediately after her Husbands Death Roxburgh Castle Surrendred and Demolisht Iames II. his Character Iames III. begins his Reign about 7 years of Age. Henry of Enggland taken Prisoner by the Duke of York York overthrown by the Queen So is Warwick The Queen overthrown and flies witâ— her Husband into Scotland Berwick surrendred to the Scots by King Henry Henry's Queen sues for Foreign Aid * Or Renny Which having obtained 〈◊〉 enters Scotland and England again Holy-Isle seven miles South-East of Berwick on the Coast of Northumberland Henry's Army overthrown at Hexham Alnwick Castle besieged and Douglas's gallantry in bringing off the Garison Henry of England taken Prisoner and his Queen 〈◊〉 Disputes in the Assembly of Estates about the Regency Which the Queen claimâ— But Kennedy and Douglas oppose A Truce for a Month betwixt the Parties The Commonalty dislike the Queens Regency The Queens Plea for the Regency Kennedys Grave and Prolix Oration in Answer thereunto Queen of Palmira a City in Syria now called Faid
Forth in Fife The English Seamen landing in Scotland in two places are twice repulsed Hadington besieged by the Scots but relieved by the English A Mutiny between the French and Scots at Edinburgh The design of the French to surprize Hadington disappointed The French disgusted by the Scots for their Cruelty and Oppressions Dessius Commander of the French recalled from Scotland and Termes sent to succeed him Dessius takes the Island Keith from the English before his Departure Hadington deserted by the English An Agreement between the French and English The Regent's Government disrelished especially after the Martyrdom of George Wiseheart The Queen Dowager sails for France * A Monastery 4 Miles North of Irwin near the Irish Sea in Cuningham The Regent by Directions from France persuaded to resign his Government Which he doth afterwards upon Terms * In Renfrewshire †Or Chastle-herault ‖ Vien in Daulphiny in France having a Bridg over the Rhosne K. Edward the 6 th of England highly commended The Queen Dowager made Regent Huntly imprisoned ‖ Or Macintoshes But released upon Conditions The Queen Regent by the Advice of the French raises new Taxes * In Mid-Lothian But the Commons withstand it shewing their Reasons Upon which she desists Embassadors from France desiring the Scots to make War against England * On the North side of South-Esk near Dalkeith in East-Lothian †The Town of Eye-Mouth in the Merss * In Teviotdale on the South side of Tweed below Kelso Difference between D'Osel the French Embassador and the Scots Nobility D'Osel vails Bonnet to them The Scots under Andrew Carr overthrown by the Duke of Norfolk * In Lennoxshire Embassadors sent to France about the Marriage of the Dolphin with the Queen of Scots * A Royal Borough of Angus †Piemont and Millain ‖ D'Coss Earl of Brisac Some of the Scots Embassadors die in France and the rest return home The English Fleet attempts the Orcades but are driven off by Tempest Walter Mills martyred to the great regret of the Citizens of St. Andrews ‖ Or Methâ—eâ— Paul Meffen troubled upon the account of Religion St. Giles's Show the Tutelar of Edinburgh fouly spoiled Paul Meffen banished by the Papists but yet harbor'd by the Inhabitants of Dundee The first Congregation of the Reformed in Scotland * Or Cader in Mid-Lothian The just Proposals of the Reformers to the Queen-Regent Which the Priests by the Encouragement of the Queen-Regent oppose The Quadrantary or Triobolar Faith what The Scotish Crown order'd to be sent to the Daulphin of France who had married the Queen The Queen of Scots upon the Death of Mary of England assumes the Royal Arms of England The imperious Answers of the Queen-Regent to the Agents of the Reformed with their tart Reply Magistrates have power over Mens Bodies and Estates not their Consciences Iohn Knox preaches at Perth upon which the Commonalty destroy the Idols and Shrines for Popish Worship * Friars Mendicants call'd Friars Manducants The Regent disgusts the Carriages of the Reformed and prepares Force against them Cuningham Earl of Glencarn stands up stoutly for the Reformation A Temporary Agreement made between the Regent and the Reformed Which the Regent eludes what she can by undue Pretences * Perth Argyle and Iames Stuart join themselves with the Reform'd against the Regent because of her breach of Promise The Resolution of the Reformers * In Poictou in France The Queen marches against them and they prepare to defend themselves The Reformers under the command of Argyle and Stuart take Perth Cowper Linlithgo and Edinburgh and purge them from monuments of Idolatry A Truce between the Regent and the Reformers French Auxiliaries arrive to strengthen the Regent Which disgusts the Reformed * Or of St. Michael Embassadors from France Their Demands answer'd by the Reformed The Reformers expostulate with the Regent The Regents answers to their Demands The Rejoinder of the Reformed Nobility to the Regent's Answer They abrogate the Regent's Power * In East-Lothian The Reformers meet with great discouragements by the prevailing of the French and desire Aid from England Knox's encouraging Sermon England resolves to send Aid to the Reformers in Scotland * A Borough Royal in Fife * In Fife A Fleet of English appear to aid the Scots Reformers which terrifies the French The French lose the hearts even of the Scotish Papists themselves by their Insolencies and Plunderings French Aid arrives in Scotland to assist the Regent So doth an English Army to aid the Reformers The Reformers last Letter to the Regent Skirmishes between the English and the French Embassadors from England The Queen-Regent's death with her Character The Character of the French Embassadors in Scotland Three French Generals in Scotland with their respective Characters After the Regent's death Peace concluded between the Parties by which the French were to leave Scotland a point the Regent would never yield to in her Life-time though often press'd thereto Sandeland Embassador from Scotland to France * A Vidam in France is a Baron holding of a Bishop A Massacre design'd in France by the Guises December 5. The Death of Francis the French King The Queen of Scots resolves to return from France An Embassador from France with his Demands and the Answers of the Scotish Nobility thereunto The Scots Parliament demolishes all Monasteries * A Town built on the River South-Esk in Angus The Queen arrives in Scotland with various Descants thereupon Maitland sent Embassador into England Who persuades Queen Elizabeth by many Arguments to declare the Queen of Scots her Successor Which she absolutely refuses to do with her Reasons for it Courtiers unstable and selfish in their Affections to their Prince The Queen of Scots not to use the English Arms in Queen Elizabeth's time A Question stated whether a chief Magistrate might be compell'd to do his Duty with variouâ— Opinions thereupon The Queen designs to have a Guard for her Body alamode of France The Queen raises her Revenues out of Estates of Ecclesiasticks Iames the Queen's Brother made Earl of Marr afterwards of Murray Gordon an Enemy to Murray Iames Macintosh unjustly put to death by Gordon and his Wife Bothwel endeavours to supplant Murray A Design against the Regent discovered by a Mistake in delivering of Letters and the Conspirators imprisoned Dunbarton-Castle taken by the Queen Gordon's Plot to kill Murray prevented An Interview designed between the Queens of England and Scotland at York but disappointed * In Teâ—iotdale The Regent destined to ruin by the Popish Faction in Scotland and the Guises in France for adhering to the Reformation Gordon incited by the Pope's Letters undertakes to destroy Murray the Regent Bothwel escapes out of Prison ‖ Or Strathbogy Gordon's bold Attempt against the Queen her self Disappointed Gordon's design against Murray's Life Wonderfully 〈◊〉 * The Gordons taken Prisoners †The Regent gives solemn Thanks to Almighty God the sole Author of his unexpected Deliverance Iohn Gordon put to
Death * Bothwel outlawed †Ianuary 26. ‖ Lent observed on a Politick not Religious Account * Matthew Stuart Earl of Lennox returnâ— out of France after twenty two Years Exile †Henry Stuart his Son comes out of England and is in great Favour with the Queen ‖ The Story of David Rize * In Prâ—vence situated on the Mediterranean-Sea at the foot of the Alps which divides France from Italy near Villa-Franca †Rize his Politick Court to Henry Stuart Lord Darnly Bothwel avoids his Trial. Various Disputes concerning the Queen's marriage with Darnly * Viz. Reformed The Queen actually Marries Henry Lord Darnly Which disgusts many of the Nobility A Politic Maxim both Prudent and also Equitable * A Town standing on the West-side of Clyde 2 Miles above Bothwel-Bridg The Nobles that rose up in Arms are quelled Rize persuades the Queen to cut off some of the Scotish Nobility and to entertain Foreigners as a Guard to her Person The Queen after her hasty Marriage is assoon alienated from the King who at the instigation of Rize is plausibly dismist from Court * Or Pebils * A Castle on North-Esk two Miles above Dalkâ—ith in Mid-Lothian with the demesnes thereof The King being 〈…〉 made sensible of Rizes scandalous Familiarity with the Queen resolves to destroy him The Peremptoriness of Rize ‖ Or President Articles of Agreement betwixt the King and the Nobles for the destruction of Rize c. Rize haled from the Table as he was at Supper with the Queen and slain Damiot's warning to Rize to get him packing out of Scotland which he scornfully rejected Ruven's memorable Speech to the Queen on the occasion of Rize's Death The King takes Rize's Death upon himself †The banished Nobles offer themselves to their Trial. ‖ Rize's Body buried by the Queen's Order in the Sepulchres of the Kings of Scotland * A Proclamatiâ—â— against Rize's Murderers †The Queen delivered of King Iames the Sixth * The Queen disgusts her Husband and favours Bothwel †In Clackmannan-shire on the North side of the Forth below Sterlin ‖ Bothwel wounded by an High-way-Pad †In Liddisdale †A Castle in Mid-Lothian * The Queen falls sick yet continues to flight the Applications of her Husband to her * She meditates a Divorce Strange Disrespect to the King at the Baptism of his own Son Thereupon he withdraws from Court Is poisoned but overcomes 〈◊〉 by the Vigour of his Youth The Story of the Infernal Design to destroy Henry Stuart King of Scotland agitated and complotted with the Series of its Procedure The King strangled And then the House wherein he was blown up with Gunpowder ‖ The Bishop of St. Andrews shrewdly suspected about the King's Death The Assassiâ—â— do falsly impute the King's Murder to Murray and Morton The English inflamed against the Scots upon hearing the horrid Murder of their King Prodigies accompanying the King's death Bothwel designs to destroy Murray The Assassination of the Scots King odious to all Nations Bothwels Mock-Trial for the King's Murder before the Earl of Argyle A Proclamation published for a Blind to discover the King's Murderers The bold Speech of a Taylor The Queen solicitous to procure the Government of Edinburgh-Castle into her own Hands The Earl of Lennox first publickly accuses Bothwel of the King's Murder * April 15. Whereupon a Court is hastily summon'd By which Bothwel is acquitted tho but Conditionally Bothwel challenges his Accusers Bothwel procures a Schedule from some of the unwary Nobility incouraging his Marriage with the Queen Which some of them afterwards retract The Queen to be sâ—emingly surprized by Bothwel in order to her Marriage with him The Water of Almond divides Mid-lothian from West-lothian in Linlithgo-shire Bothwel actually surprizes the Queen And is divorc'd from his former Wife for Adultery Ecclesiasticks backward to publish the Bans or to celebrate the Marriage between the Queen and Bothwel Yet at last the Bishop of Orkney marries them The French Embassador refuses to come to the Wedding ☜ Even the Vulgar dislike the Queen's Marriage Politic Instructions to the Bishop of Dunblanâ— to excuse the Queen's hasty Marriage at the French Court. The Queen frames an Association for the Nobility to subscribe Which the Earl of Murray refus'd to do And therefore departs the Land A contrary Association entred into by several of the Nobility to preserve the young King The Queen escapes from the associated Nobles in Mans Apparel And arms against them A State Maxim irrefragably true Both Armies ready to ingage Monsieur Crock the French Embassador mediates for a Peace But not prevailing he withdraws himself Bothwel's daring Challenge answered But the Queen forbids the Duel The Queen's Army refuses to fight * In Fife Whereupon Bothwel flies and the Queen is taken Prisoner The Bishop of Dunblane chouzed in his Embassy to France Wondrous Discoveries concerning the King's Murder in Bothwels Cabinet of Letters The Queen pitied in her Distress The Hamiltons stir in her behalf Governours appoinetd for the young King by the Queen her self The Earl of Murray returns from Travel And is chosen Regent Iohn Knox preaches a Sermon at the Coronation of K. Iames the 6 th The Coronation-Oath taken by Proxies by reason of the King's Minority Bothwel flies to the Northern Isles and from thence to Denmark Where he is imprisoned and dies Distracted The Queen's Party of which the Hamiltons were the chief design Her Deliverance out of Durance * In Strath-â—arn The Regent remarkable Speech and Resoluâ—ioâ— An Embassador from France The Queen escapes out of Prison and gathers Forces against the Regent The French Embassador busy betwixt the Parties * Two Miles South of Glasgow A Fight between the Royalists and the Queen's Forces Wherein the Queen is overthrown and flies for England The French Embassador sculks away after the Fight In Clydsdalâ— Queen Elizabeth of England doth in part adopt the cause of the Scots Queen Whereupon the Regent with some others meet the Queen of England's Commissioners at York to debate Matters George Buchanan accompanies the Regent into England A Plot to cuâ— off the Regent in his Journy Disputes between the Commissioners of both Sides Upon their Disagreement Queen Elizabeth avokes the Cause to London Commissioners sent to London by the Regent Maitland not true to the Regent The Regent himself comes to London The Queen of Scots endeavours to raise Commotions in Scotland in the Regent's Absence The Regent manages his Accusation against the Queen and her Party To the convincement of the Queen of England and her Privy-Council 〈◊〉 acquitted from Guilt by the Queen of Scots's Commissioners themselves Iames Hamilton returns from France and labours to embroil things in Scotland hoping thereby to get the Regency from Mâ—rray The Queen of England tampered with by the Hamiltonians to make Hamiâ—ton Regent The Royalists answer their Reasons in a large discourse The Cruelty of Robert against his Brother's Children Laodice's Unnaturalness towards her own
all the Pageantry of his former Life he ended his days in an Halter The Seminary of War between England and Scotland being almost extinguished and a great likelihood of Peace appearing behold there arose a great Ebullition of Spirit upon a very light occasion which had almost broken out into a fierce War Some Scottish Youths went over to the Town of Norham which was near to the Castle as they were oft wont to do in Times of Peace there to recreate themselves in Sports and Pastimes and to junket together with their Neighbours as if they had been at Home for there was but a small River which divided them The Garison in the Castle out of the Rancour yet lodging in their Breasts since the former War and being also provoked by some passionate words accused those Scots as Spies and so from Words they came to Blows many were wounded on both sides and the Scots being fewer in number were forced to return Home with the loss of some of their Company This Business was often canvassed in the Meetings between the Lords of the Marches and at last Iames was very angry and sent an Herald to Henry to complain of Breach of Truce and how unconstant the English were in keeping Covenant and unless Satisfaction were given according to the just Laws which were made by general Consent about restitution betwixt the Borderers he commanded him to denounce War against him Henry had been exercised by the Violence of Fortune even from his Cradle and therefore was more inclined to Peace his Answer was That whatever was done of that kind was against his Will and without his Knowledg and if the Garison-Souldiers had offended in the Case by their Temerity he would take order That Examination should be made and that the Leagues being kept inviolate the Guilty should be punished But this was slowly done and Iames looked upon the Answer as dilatory that so Punishment might be deferred and the Sentiment thereof worn out with Time and therefore it rather provoked than satisfied Iames. But Richard Fox Bishop of Durham who was owner of the Castle being much troubled that an occasion of breaking the League should be administred by any of his Tenants to prevent it sent several Letters to Iames full of great submission modesty and civility which so inclined the Mind of Iames that he wrote him word back that he would willingly speak with him not only about the late Wrongs done but also about other Matters which might be advantagious to both Kingdoms Fox acquainted his King herewith and by his Consent he waited upon Iames at Mulross where he then was There Iames made a grievous Complaint of the Injury acted at Norham yet by the prudent and grave discourse of Fox he was so pacified that for Peace-sake of which he shewed himself very desirous he remitted the Offence Other things were acted privately betwixt them but it appeared afterward that the Sum of them was this That Iames did not only desire a Peace but both before and also now an Affinity with Henry and a stricter Bond of Union And if Henry would bestow his Daughter Margaret upon him in Marriage he hoped that the thing would be for the benefit of both Kingdoms and if Fox whose Authority he knew to be great at home would but do his Endeavour to accomplish the Affinity he did not doubt but it would be soon effected He freely promised his Endeavour and coming to the Court of England acquainted the King with the Proposition and thereupon gave hopes to the Scots Embassadors that a Peace would easily be accorded betwixt the two Kings Thus at length three Years after which was An. 1500 even about one and the same time Henry's Eldest Daughter was betrothed to Iames the IVth and also Katharine Daughter to Ferdinand of Spain to Henry's Eldest Son and their Marriages were celebrated with great Pomp the next Year after After the Marriage all things were quiet and the Court turned from the Study of Arms to Sports and Pastimes so that there was nothing but Masks Shews Feastings Dancings and Balls it was as a continued Jubilee and upon that account every day was as an Holy-day There were also Horse-Tiltings frequently made mostly according to the French Mode betwixt which as Tragical Acts there intervened the Challenges of Moss-Troopers one of another who were wont to live upon Spoil which Sport the King was well pleased to behold because he judged that the killing of them was a Gain to him When the noise of these Tourneaments came to Foreign Nations many Strangers and especially from France came daily over to shew their Prowess who were all liberally entertained by the King and as bountifully dâ—smissed Neither did he rest in these ludicrous Exercises but he laid out a great deal of Mony upon Building at Sterlin Falkland and sundry other places and especially in building of Monasteries but his Cost about Ships was greatest of all for he built three stately ones of a great Bulk and many also of a middle Rate one of his great ones was to admiration the biggest that ever any Man had seen sail on the Ocean it being also furnished with all manner of costly Accommodations our Writers have given a Description of it which I pass over and the Measure of it is kept in some places but the Greatness of it appeared by this That the News thereof stirred up Francis King of France and Henry the 8 th King of England each of them to build a Ship in imitation thereof and each endeavouring to out-vie the other when their Ships were finished and fitted with all necessaries for sailing and brought to Sea they were so big that they stood there like unmoveable Rocks unfit for any use These Works being very expensive did exhaust Iames his Treasure so that he was forced to devise some new ways to get Mony and amongst the rest he pitched upon one by the Perswasion as it was thought of William Elphinstone Bishop of Aberdeen which was very displeasing to all the Nobility Amongst the Tenures of Land in Scotland this is one kind by which the Owner holds what he buys or else is given him on these Terms That if he dye and leave his Son and Heir under Age The Wardship of him should belong to the King or to some other Superior Lord yea and all the Revenue is to be received by him till the Heir come to the age of 21 Years There is also another Badg of Slavery annexed to this Hold that if an Owner do sell above half his Estate without the consent of the chief Lord then he is to forfeit the whole to him This Law was introduced by Court-Parasites to advance the King's Exchequer but being looked upon as unjust had lain dormant a long time but the King being informed that Money might be got out of the Violators of it commanded it to be put in Execution that Process they call Recognition
without the consent of the States and afterwards in all her Mandates till that time the King and Queens Name were exprest now she chang'd the Order keeping both Names in but setting her own First At length the Queen to deprive her Husband of all opportunity to do Courtesies for any found fault with him that whilst he was busy in Hawking and Hunting many State-Matters were acted unseasonably or else were wholly omitted and therefore it would be better that She might subscribe her Name for them Both and by this means he might enjoy his Pleasure and yet no publick Business be retarded He was willing to gratify her in every thing and yielded to be dismist upon such frivolous Grounds that so being remote from the Council and Privity of publick Affairs the Obligation for all Boons might rebound to the Queen her self For she thought thus with her self that if her Husband's Favour could do no good Offices for any and his Anger were formidable to none he would by Degrees grow to be despis'd by all and to increase the Indignity David was substituted with an Iron Seal to impress the King's Name on Proclamations He thus fraudulently cheated out of publick Business lest he might also prove an Interrupter of their private Pleasures in a very sharp Winter was sent away to Pebly with a small retinue far beneath the Dignity of some private Persons for a Prey rather than Recreation At the same time there fell such a quantity of Snow that the Place not being very Plentiful and besides troubled with Thieves He that was always bred up at Court and used to a liberal Diet was in great hazard of wanting Necessaries unless the Bishop of the Orcades had casually come thither for he knowing the scarcity of the Place brought him some Wine and other Provisions for his use The Queen was not content to advance David and as 't were to shew him to the People from such an obscure Original on the account before mention'd but she advis'd another way how to cloath him with domestick Honour For whereas the Queen had for some Months before permitted more Company than was usual to sit with her at her Table that so in the Croud David's place might be less envy'd by this shew of Popularity she thought to gain the point that the unaccustomedness of the Sight would by the Multitude of Guests and daily Usage be somewhat alleviated and so Mens high Stomachs by degrees be inur'd to bear any thing At last it came to this That but he and one or two more fat at Meat with Her and that the straitness of the Room might take off something from the envy of the thing sometimes she would eat her Junkets in a small Parlor sometimes at David's own Lodgings But the Way she thus took to abate did but increase the Reflections for it maintained Suspicions and gave occasion to odd Discourses Mens Thoughts were now inclin'd to the worst and it serv'd to inflame them That in Housholdstuff in Apparel and in the Number of brave and stately Horses he exceeded even the King himself and it made the matter look the worse that all this Ornament did not credit his Face but rather his Face spoil'd all this Ornament But the Queen not being able to amend the Faults of Nature endeavour'd by heaping Wealth and Honour upon him to raise him up to the degree of the Nobles that she might cover the Meanness of his Birth and the Defects of his Body too with the Vail of his lofty Promotions But he was to be advanced by degrees lest he might seem to be but a poor Mercenary Senator The first Attempt was made on the account of a piece of Land near Edinburgh the Scots call it Malvil The Owner of the Land his Father-in-Law and others that were best able to persuade him were sent for and the Queen deals with the present Owner to part with his Possessions and she desir'd his Father-in-Law and Friends to persuade him to it But this Matter not succeeding the Queen took the Repulse as an Affront to her and which was worse David took it very heinously also These Things being noised abroad the Commonalty did bewail the sad State of Affairs and expected that things would grow worse if Men eminent for their Families Estates and Credits should be outed of their ancient Patrimonies to gratify the Lust of a beggarly Varlet yea many of the elder Sort call'd to mind and told others of that time when Cockburn wickedly slew the King's Brother and of a Stone-cutter was made Earl of Marr which rais'd up such a Fire of Civil War that could not be extinguish'd but by the Death of the King and almost the Destruction of the Kingdom These things were spoken openly but Men in private did mutter much more as it useth to be in Matters not very creditable Yet the King would never be persuaded to believe it unless he saw it with his own Eyes so that one time hearing that David was gone into the Queen's Bed-Chamber he came to a little Door of which he always carried the Key about him and found it bolted in the inside which it never us'd to be he knock'd no body answered whereupon conceiving great Wrath and Indignation in his Heart that Night he could not sleep From that time forward he consulted with some few of his Servants for he durst trust but a few many of them having been corrupted by the Queen and put upon him rather as Spies of his Actions than Attendants on his Person how to rid David out of the way they approved his Design but could not find out a probable Way to effect it that Consultation had been managed for some days when other of his Servants who were not of the Privacy suspected the matter and there being evident signs of it they acquainted the Queen therewith and told her They would bring her to the place where they were and they were as good as their Words they observ'd and watch'd the opportunity when others were shut out and the King had only his Confidents with him the Queen as if she were passing through his Chamber to her own surprized him with his Partisans whereupon she inveighed against him most bitterly and highly threatned his Domesticks telling them all their Plots were in vain she knew all their Minds and Actions and would remedy them well enough in time Matters being brought to this pass the King acquaints his Father with his sad Condition they both concluded That the only Remedy for the present Malady was to reconcile that part of the Nobility which were present and to recal those that were absent but great haste was required in the thing because the Day was near at hand wherein the Queen resolved to condemn the Nobles that were absent she having Indicted a Convention of the Estates for that purpose against the Wills of the French and English Embassadors who interceded in the Case For they knew that the
Accused had committed no such heinous Offence and besides they foresaw the Danger that would insue About the same time the Queen of England sent her a very large and obliging Letter full of prudent Advice in reference to the present Estate of Scotland endeavouring to incline her Kinswoman from a wrathful to a reconcilable Temper The Nobility knew that such Letters were come and they guess'd at What the Contents were and thereupon the Queen counterfeited a civiller Respect to them than ordinary and began to read them in the presence of many of them when she was in the middle David stood up and bid her Read no more she had read enough she should stop that Carriage of his seemed to them rather arrogant than new for they knew how imperiously he had carried it towards her heretofore yea and sometimes he would reprove her more sharply than her own Husband ever durst do At that time the Cause of the Banish'd was hotly disputed in the Parliament-House some to gratify the Queen would have the Punishment due to Traitors to be pass'd upon them others contended that they had done nothing worthy to be so severely treated In the mean time David went about to all of them one by one to feel their pulses what each ones Vote would be concerning the Exiles if he was chosen Speaker by the rest of the Convention he told them plainly the Queen was resolved to have them condemn'd and 't was in vain for any of them to contend against it and besides he would be sure to incur the Queen's Displeasure thereby His Design in this was partly to confound the weaker Spirits betwixt Hope and Fear and partly to exclude the more resolv'd out of the number of the Judges select or Lords of the Articles or at least that the major Part might be of such a Gizard as would please the Queen This audacious Improbity of so mean a Fellow was fear'd by some and hated by all Whereupon the King by his Father's Advice sent for Iames Douglas and Patrick Lindsy his Kinsmen one by the Father the other by the Mother's side they advise with Patrick Ruven an able Man both for Advice and Execution but he was so weakned with a lasting Disease that for some Months he could not rise out of his Bed however they were willing to trust him amongst some few others in a matter of so great Concernment both by reason of his great Prudence and also because his Children were Cousin-Germans to the King The King was told by them what a great Error he had committed before in suffering his Kinsmen and Friends to be driven from Court in favour of such a base Rascal as Rize yea he himself did in effect thrust them out from the Court with his own Hands and so had advanced such a contemptible Mushroom that now he himself was despised by him they had also much other Discourse concerning the State of the Publick The King was quickly brought to acknowledg his Fault and to promise to act nothing for the future without the Consent of the Nobility But those wise and experienc'd Counsellors thought it not safe to trust the verbal Promises of an Uxorious young Man as believing that he might in time be enticed by his Wife to deny this Capitulation to their certain Ruin and therefore they drew up the Heads of their Contract in Writing to which he willingly and forwardly subscribed The Heads were For the establishing Religion as 't was provided for at the Queen's Return to Scotland To reduce the Persons lately banished because their Country could not well want their Service To destroy David for as long as he was alive the King could not maintain his Dignity nor the Nobility be in Safety They all set their Hands to this Schedule wherein the King professing himself the Author of the Homicide they resolved presently to attempt the Fact both to prevent the Condemnation of the absent Nobles and also lest Delay might discover their Design And therefore when the Queen was at Supper in a narrow private Room the Earl of Argyle's Wife and David sitting with her as they were wont and there were but a few Attendants for the Room would not hold many Iames Douglas Earl of Morton with a great number of his Friends were walking in an outward Chamber their faithful Friends and Vassals were commanded to stay below in the Yard to quiet the Tumult if any should be The King comes out of his own Chamber which was below the Queen's and goes up to her by a narrow pair of Stairs which were open to none but himself Patrick Ruven follow'd him arm'd with but four or five Companions at most they entred into the Closet where they were at Supper and the Queen being something mov'd at that unusual Appearance of arm'd Men and also perceiving Ruven in an uncouth posture and lean by reason of his late Disease and yet in his Armour asked him What was the matter for the Spectators thought that his Feaver had disturb'd his Head and put him besides himself He commanded David to rise and come forth for the Place he sat in was not fit for him the Queen presently rose and sought to defend him by the interposal of her Body but the King took her in his Arms and bid her to be of good chear they would do her no hurt only the Death of that Villain was resolved on they haled David out into the next then into the outer Chamber there those that waited with Douglas made an end of him with many Wounds which was against the Mind of all those who conspired his Death for they resolved to hang him up publickly as knowing it would be a grateful Spectacle to all the People There went a constant Report that one Iohn Damiot a French Priest counted a Conjurer told David once or twice that now he had feather'd his Nest he should be gone and withdraw himself from the Envy of the Nobles who would be too hard for him And that he should answer The Scots were greater Threatners than Fighters he was also told a little before his Death that he should take heed of a Bastard to which he replied That as long as he lived no Bastard should have so much Power in Scotland as that he need fear it for he thought his Danger was predicted from Murray but the Prophecy was either fulfill'd or eluded by Douglas's giving him his first Blow who was the base-begotten Son to the Earl of Angus after he had began then every one rush'd in to strike him either to revenge their own particular Grief or the publick Concern Hereupon a Tumult arose all over the House and the Earls of Huntly Athol and Bothwel who were at Supper in another part of the Palace were rushing out but they were kept within their Chamber by those who guarded the Courts below and had no harm done them Ruven went out of that Privy-room into the Queen's Bed-Chamber where
the King's Tutor made Chancellour 54 Gawin Douglas called Archbishop of St. Andrews 29 Committed to Prison 164 Genrach Isle 26 Geoffry of Monmouth a Writer of British Affairs 8 Geldrians come to help the English against the Scots 295 Geloni painted their Bodies 53 Genistery or Broom Isle 25 George Buchanan imprisoned for Religion escapes out of his Chamber-Window whilst his Keepers were asleep 67 He is sent in Embassy with others into England 224 His ingenuous Speech concerning Himself 71 George Brother to the Earl of Douglas made Earl of Ormond 377 Commands the Forces against England 378 Extolled for his Victory over them 380 Declared a publick Enemy 387 Beheaded 390 George Douglas Earl of Angus 377 His memorable Fact 398 He is against the Queen Mother 399 His bold and unworthy Speech to the King 50 George Douglas the Regent's youngest Brother 217 Delivers the Queen out of Prison 218 George Dunbar Earl of Merch espouses his Daughter to David King Robert's Son 325 Which Marriage not taking effect he joins with Percy of England against the Scots 326 Proclaimed a publick Enemy ibid. Percy and he overthrow the Scots 307 Takes Douglas Prisoner in Fight 327 Ioins with Percy against the King of England is wounded and taken Prisoner 329 Being reconciled to the Regent returns into Scotland 332 George Gordon sent with an Army against England 70 The King's Hatred against him 71 Accused and imprisoned 115 Released 116 Studies to raise Commotions 154 Privy to the Conspiracy against Murray 168 Condemned for Treason 170 Restored by the Queen to his former Dignity 173 Chief of the Queen's Faction 209 George Lesly Earl of Rothes sent Embassador into France 121 There poisoned as 't was believed 122 George Ruven slain 282 George Wiseheart Preacher of the Gospel 93 Persecuted by Cardinal Beton against the Regent's Mind 94 Foretels the Death of Cardinal Beton 97 His pious and Christian Deportment before and at his Martyrdom 95 96 97 Gerlock Isle 28 Gerlock Bay See Loch-ger 17 Gersa or Gress-oy Isle 37 Gernich or Gaxnico 22 Germany whence so called 42 Germâ—nâ— their fabulous Original 45 Ingenious in relating the Origin of their Nation 38 39 German Navy lands on the Coast of Scotland 94 Gessoriaci i. e. People living about Calais 10 Getes painted their Bodies 53 Gethus King of the Picts 97 Slain 100 Getini and Getae whence 49 Geurasdil Isle 25 Gigaia or Gega Isle ibid. Gigamena Isle ibid. Giles Tutelary God of Edinburgh his Show affronted 124 Gilbert Kennedy slain by the Command of James Douglas 57 A Man of a great Spirit ibid. Kennedy's Constancy in keeping his Word â—77 Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils sent Embassador into France 121 He dies there not without the suspicion of Poison 127 Gilbert his Son chosen Iudg in Bothwelâ—s â—s Case but excuses himself 195 Gilchrist kils his Wife the King's Sister for her Adultery 234 King William's General 230 Banished but received again into Favour 234 Gilcolumb slain 164 Gildas quoted concerning Britain 93 He wrote 400 Years after Tacitus 38 Favoured by Aurelius Ambrosius 148 A good Man and died at Glastenbury in Somersetshire the Prophecies that go under his Name not genuine ibid. Gildominick and the Murray Men suppressed 230 Gilespy Cambel an Actor in the Reformation 129 Recalled by threatning Letters by the Queen Regent 130 Gilespy Earl of Argyle banished 175 His Levity 206 Privy to the Queen's Wickedness 216 General of her Army 220 Refuses to own himself a Subject to the King 234 The Regent receives him into Favour and he is in great Authority 235 251 Gillan Isle 30 Gillo Commander of the exiled Scots 129 Gillus the Bastard King of Scots 104 Flies into Ireland 105 Slain by Cadvallus 106 Glascow 14 The Bishop thereof frightned by a Voice from Heaven 376 Glass Isle 28 Glenluce 14 Glotta River i. e. Clyde 14 Glottiana see Clydsdale Goat Isle 25 God's Favour attends the Good 213 Gomâ—dra Isle 27 Goran King of Scots 148 Persuades the Kings of the Picts and Brittons to join with the Scots against the Saxons 148 He is treacherously slain by his Subjects 154 His Wife and Children fly into Ireland ibid. But are recalled by Congal II. 155 Gordons at Feud with the Forbes's 284 Gordon an Enemy to Murray 162 He labours to destroy him 164 166 His Design against him at one time wonderfully prevented 168 169 Gordon's bold Attempt against the Queen her self 167 Gorlois wickedly slain by Uter 149 Goropius reproved 10 Goths Who 33 Gothunni and Gothini who 49 Grafton censured 252 Graham or Grame 135 Appointed Tutor to Eugenius 137 Recals Christian Pastors into Scotland 140 Graham's Dike 138 Grampian Hills or Mountains 17 Gramry Isle 25 Granisa Isle 36 Gray hath the chief Command in Scotland against the French 146 Gregory King of Scots his famous Atchievements against the Picts Danes and Brittons 175 176 He takes several Cities in Ireland 177 Green Isle 25 28 Grevan River 14 Gria Isle 30 Griffin slain in Fight 156 Grime King of Scotland 198 Makes an Agreement with Malcolm ibid. Which he afterwards breaks is overthrown and made Prisoner 199 And dies 200 Groom in a Stable his bold Attempt on James Hamilton in revenge of his Master's Death 52 For which he is put to Death ibid. Gruinorta Isle 31 Guidi 15 92 Guises their Desire to hasten the Marriage of Mary with the Dolphin 221 Their over-great Power suspected 122 They design Scotland as a Peculiar for their Family 151 They seek to destroy James Earl of Murray as an Enemy to Popery 165 Gun Isle 27 Guns i. e. Great Ordnance of Iron when first began to be used in Scotland 394 H HAdington 13 Deserted by the English 111 Hago a Danish Admiral 181 Haie or Hea Isle 30 Hakerset Isle 29 Hamiltons the Original of their Family 273 Hamilton leaves the Party of the Douglasses 390 Hamiltonians willing to free the Queen out of Prison 216 Overthrown in Battel and some of them taken Prisoners 221 222 They meet at Edinburgh in behalf of Queen Mary 252 Hara Isle 37 Harald Earl of Caithness punished for his Cruelty 235 Haraya or Harray Isle 31 Harpers of old used to lie in the Bedchamber of the King and of the Nobles in Scotland 116 Harrick Isle 30 31 Havatere or Havere Isle 30 Havelschire Isle 29 Haura Isles the great and the less 31 Hay and his two Sons fight for their Country 191 Hath a Coat of Arms assigned to his Family 192 The Name almost extinguished 286 Heath Isle 21 Heath its Nature 23 Good to make Beds to lie on ibid. Hebrides Isles see Aebudae Hector Boetius blamed 13 Mistaken 76 Compared with Lud 80 Helena Mother of Constantine 124 Hellisay Isle 29 Helscher vetularum Isle ibid. Helricus a Danish Admiral 181 Hengist Captain of Pirates hath Lands given to him in Britain by Voâ—tigern 144 Henry I. of England never laughed after the drâ—wning of most of his Children 224 He settles the Succession on his Daughter Maud ibid. Henry