and things necessary to matters of money immediatly dispatched so so much as could be gathered together with a great many young Noblemen of the Kingdom to remain Hostages for the rest who after the English Writers were David son to the Earl of Athol Alexander Earl of Crawford the Lord Gordon John de Lyndesay Patrick Son and Heir to Sir John Lyon David de Ogleby Sir William de Ruthen Miles Graham David Mowbray and William Oliphant These were honorably received entertained and kept The Kings Father in Law the Earl of Somerset the Cardinal his Brother accompanied their Niece to the Borders and there taking their leave returned back The King with the rest of their Train received with many Troops of Nobles and Gentlemen who swarmed from all parts of the Kingdom to give him a dutiful welcome into his Native soyl and themselves the contentment of beholding one they had so long desired and expected with loud acclamations and applauses of the Commons as he held his Progress on the Passion Week in Lent came to Edinburgh During his abode there he assembled many of the Estates listened to their Petitions prepared for the approaching Parliament which had been summoned before his coming The Solemnities of Easter finished the King came with his Queen to Perth and from thence in the beginning of the moneth of May to Scone where the year 1424. by Mordock the Governour Duke of Albany and Earl of Fife to whom that charge by custom of the Kingdom did appertain and Henry Bishop of S. Andrews the 27 year of his Age there was a joynt Coronation of himself and his Queen being according to the Computation of the old Scottish History the hundreth and one King of Scotland At which time Sigismond son to Charles the fourth An. Dom. 1424. was Emperour of the West John the seventh the son of Andronicus of the East Amurath the second Great Turk Alphonsus the fifth King of Spain Charles the seventh King of France Henry the sixth King of England and with Martin the fifth many claimed the Chair of St. Peter The ends in calling the Parliament were the Coronation of the King to make the People see a Princes authority was come where they had but lately a Governours the establishing a Peace amongst the Subjects and taking away all Factions the exacting a Subsidie for the relief of the Hostages in England To this last the Nobles held strong hand by reason many of their Sons were engaged Here a a general tax was condescended upon through the whole Realm as twelve pennies of the pound to be paid of all Lands as well Spiritual as Temporal and four pennies of every Cow Ox Horse for the space of two years together When the Commons had taken it grievously that the Subsidie granted by the states of the Kingdom in Parliament was exacted mostly of them after the first Collection the King pitying their poverty remitted what was unpayed and until the Marriage of his Daughter thereafter never exacted any Subsidie of his Subjects For he would gently strain milk and not wring blood from the breast of his Countrey rendring the disposure thereof chaste sincere and pure for expences necessary and profitable not for profusions which neither afford contentment nor reputation for money is both the nerves which give motion and veins which entertain life in a State Amongst others whom the King honoured Alexander second Son to Duke Mordock was dubbed Knight The Parliament dissolving the King came from Perth to Edinburgh where having assembled all the present Officers and such who had born Authority in the State during the time of Duke Robert and Duke Mordock especially those whose charge concerned the Rents of the Crown he understood by their accounts that the most part of all the Rents Revenues and Lands pertaining to the Crown were wasted alienated and put away or then by the Governors bestowed on their freinds and followers the Customs of Towns and Burroughs only excepted This a little incensed his indignation yet did he smother and put a fair countenance on his passion seeming to slight what he most car'd for occasion thereafter no sooner served when he began to countenance and give way to Promoters and Informers necessary though dangerous Instruments of State which many good Princes have been content to maintain and such who were not bad never denied to hear but using them no longer then they were necessary for their ends to rip up secret and hidden crimes wrongs suffered or committed during the time of his detension in England He received the complaints of the Church-men Countrey Gentlemen Merchants against all those who had either wronged them or the State and would have the causes of all Accusers to be heard and examined Here many to obtain the favour of the Prince accused others Upon pregnant accusations Walter Stuart one of the Sons of Duke Mordock was Arrested and sent to the Bass to be close kept so was Malcolm Fleming of Cammernauld and Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock committed to Ward in Dalkieth Not long after the Nobility interceding Malcolm and Thomas goods being restored which they had taken wrongfully and Fines laid upon them for their Offence promising to satisfie all whom they had wrong'd were pardoned all faults and then set at Liberty The King by listening to Promoters came to the knowledge of many great insolencies committed by sundry of his Nobles which as it bred a hatred in him so fear in them and both appeared to study a Novation They for their own safety He to vindicate Justice and his Authority The Duke had highly resented the committing of his Son as had his Father in Law the Earl of Lennox The Male-contents being many if they could have swayed in one body as they came to be of one mind threatned no small matter The King from the intelligence of close Meetings secret Leagues some Plots of his Nobles began to forecast an apparent storm in the State and danger to his own Person whereupon being both couragious and wise he proclaimeth again a Parliament at Perth where the three Estates being assembled in his throne of Majesty he spoke in this manner I have learned from my tender years that Royalty consisteth not so much in a Chair of State as in such actions which do well become a prince What mine have been since my coming Home and Government among you I take first God and then your selves for witnesses If all of them be not agreeable to you all and if any rigorous dealing be used against some Let him who is touched lay aside his particular and look to the setling of Justice in the State and publick Good of the whole Kingdom and he shall find his sufferings tolerable perhaps necessary and according to the time deserved I have endeavoured to take away all Discords abolish Factions Suppress Oppression as no Forein Power hath attempted ought against you hitherto so that ye should not endeavour ought against another nor any thing against
had not yet heard the names of any but most the Army by reason of the Nobility many of which who liked not the present form of Government were irritated against him Were the Conspiracy a Rebellion and in general by them all they were ready in Arms to maintain their Factions and if upon suspicion the King should attach any being secretly joyned in a League He could hardly have medled with their persons without a Civil War which in regard of his Engagement with England he endeavoured to spare perplexed pensive sad he cometh to Perth stayeth in the Covent of the Dominicans named the Black-friers a place not far from the Town Wall endeavouring so secretly as was possible to find out the Conspiracy But his close practising was not unknown to the Conspirators as that there was more peril to resolve than execute a Treason a distance of time between the Plot and execution discovering and overthrowing the enterprise Hereupon they determine to hazard on the mischief before tryal or remedy could be thought upon The Conspirators were Robert Graham Uncle and Tutor to Miles Graham Robert Stuart Nephew to Walter Earl of Athol and one of the Kings sworn Domesticks But he who gave motion to all was the Earl of Athol himself the Kings Fathers Brother whose quarrel was no less then a pretended title and claim to the Crown which he formed and alledged thus His Brother David and he were procreated by King Robert the Second on his first Wife Eupheme Ross daughter to the Earl of Ross and therefore ought and should have been preferred to the succession of the Crown before King John named Robert and all the Race of Elizabeth Moor who was but his second wife and next them but Heirs to King Robert the second They were the eldest sons of King Robert after he was King John and Robert being born when he was but in a private State and Earl of Strathern for it would appear that as a Son born after his Father hath lost his Kingdom is not esteemed for the Son of a King so neither he that is born before the Father be a King These reasons he thought sufficient the King taken away to set him in the room of State But considered not how sacred the name of a King is to the Scots Nation how a Crown once worn quite taketh away what defects soever and that it was not easie to divest a King in present possession of a Crown who had his right from his Father and Grandfather with the Authority of a Parliament approving his Descent and secluding all other less came it in his thought that those children are Legitimate and lawful which cannot be thrust back and rejected without troubling the common Peace of the Country and opening Gates to Forreign Invasions Domestical disturbances and all disorders with an unsetled course of Succession the common Errour making the Right or Law Athol animated by the Oracle of a Sooth-sayer of his Highland Country who had assured him he should be crowned in a Solemn Assembly before his Death never gave over his hopes of obtaining the Crown and being inferiour and weak in power and faction to the other Brothers to compass his designs he betaketh himself to treacherous devices It was not in his power to ruine so many at once for mischief required there should be distance between so many bloody Acts therefore he layeth his course for the taking away of his kindred one by another at leasure he soweth jealousies entertaineth discords maintaineth factions amongst them by his counsel David Duke of Rothesay the Kings eldest Brother was famished in the Tower of Falkland neither had James then a child escaped his treachery if far off in England he had not been preserved He perswaded the Earl of Fife that making out of the way the King his Brother he should put the Crown on his own head He trafficked the return of King James and he being come he plotted the overthrow of Duke Mordock by fit Instrument for such a business proving the Crimes laid against him in the Attaindor he himself sat Judge against him and his Children Thus stirring one of the Kinsmen against another he so enfeebled the Race of Elizabeth Moor that of a numerous off-spring there only remained James and his Son a childe not yet six years of Age upon whose Sepulchers building his designs with a small alteration of the State he thought it an easie step to the Crown Robert Graham had been long imprisoned at last released but being a man implacable once offended and cruel whom neither business could oblige nor dangers make wise an enemy to Peace Factious and Ambitious alike by many wicked Plots afterwards and Crimes against the Laws of the Country driven to an Out-lawry and to live as banished he had ever a male-talent against the King since the adjudging of the Earldom of Strathern from his Nephew Miles Robert Stuart was very familiar with the King and his access to his Chamber and Person advanced the Enterprise being a riotous young man gaping after great matters neither respecting Faith nor Fame and daring attempt any thing for the accomplishing of his own foolish hopes and his Grandfathers aims and ambition These having associated unto them the most audacious whom either fear of punishment for their misdeeds or hopes of preferment by a change of the Government would plunge into any enterprise in the moneth of February so secretly as was possible assembled together where the Earl spake to this sense unto them These engagements which every one of you have to another and which I have to every one of you founded on the strongest grounds of consanguinity friendship interest of committed and received wrongs move me freely here to reveal my secret drifts and discover the depths of my hidden purposes and counsels The strange Tragedies which in the State and Government have been enacted since the coming of this English man to the Crown are to none of you unknown Mordock with his children hath been beheaded the Earl of Lenox his Father in Law had that same end the Nobility repine at the Government of their King the King is in jealousie of his Nobles the Commons are in way of rebellion These all have been the effects of my far-mining Policies And hitherto they have fallen forth as fortunately as they were ingeniously Plotted For what more ingenious and cunning Stratagem could be projected to decline the rank growth of these Usurpers then to take them away by handles made of their own Timber And if there was any wrong in such proceedings in small matters wrong must be done that justice and equity may be performed in great My fear was and yet is that the taking down of the Scaffold of Mordock should be the putting up of ours Crowns suffer no corrivals the world knows and he himself is conscious to it that the right and title of the Crown by descent of blood from Robert the second my Father was in the
by the encouragement of John Son of Philip the French King some were still making Incursions and an unsuccessful attempt on Berwick By this time John of France was Prisoner to Edward whom the Scots courted as full of Honour and Victory for the delivery of their own who by the Mediation of the Pope for a great sum of Money was redeemed and set free after eleven years Captivity and at his Return punished some of those who had deserted him at Durham and endeavoured to remove the succession of the Crown from Robert Stuart to whom he was some years after reconciled The last five years of his reign were spent in appeasing domestick fewds and are notable for a great inundation and plague but things quieting in the year 1363. he retired into a Monastery and declared in case of his decease Edward or his Son for their King This whether it was caused by some former Oath or from weariness of War or design of quiet to Both Nations which being universally disliked by the Estates it was like to breed a dissention which his wisdome closed up All was now quiet but the Highlanders whom he appeased by their mutual discords when Fate in the 47. year of his Age and 39 of his Reign came to Eternal Rest in the Castle of Edinburgh in the year 1370. By this King and his competitour Baliol who went out in the snuff we may in part measure the interests advantages of Princes the one by the asistance of a Potent Neighbour did unexpected things yet failed in Conduct and Managment the other wanting neither spirit nor vigilancy became a Captive and ineffectual Prince which may give us occasion to observe That tho Travel do best inrich the mind with variety of observation yet it is not so successful in Princes for their Minds not being exempted from humane weakness may draw in tinctures prejudices not consisting with the humors of them they are to govern and by knowing abroad grow strangers at home neglecting to study the humor of the People they are set over the disquisition of which is certainly the greatest Mistery and Chain of Government The People being an unruly Beast easily led impossible to be forc'd and the Magick that so powerfully forces them no other than a peircing discerning flattering or eluding their Humour This was Davids Fundamental fault which like Error in the first concoction multiplied it self through the rest of his Reign he was bred a Stranger knew not the disposition of his people met with troublesome Times and a Formidable Enemy and therefore he may very well be charged with three oversights First after three not unfortunate incursions into England then imployed by France not to rest there with his proportion of glory and prey But secondly By the allurement of the French King and that upon a score of Friendship whereas Friendships of Princes and Private Men are different the one being particular the other diffusive and concerning Millions besides that Princes are to consider the interest of their States not their private inclinations And for the third To make an invasion when he left so high discontents in a turbulent people behind besides those of his own that by force obligation or interest were devoted to a victorious Enemy and assured of his own Country was very imprudential both in going to find out an Enemy whose force he knew not and leaving behind him Subjects whose malice and force he understood not But no more to disturb his ashes Had he had another Country another Enemy another Education and other Circumstances of Time he might have been as glorious as any of his Predecessors it is the more probable though the Change of Time does often heighten and aggravate the Vices of Princes there is nothing either Cruel or Vitious recorded of him So that even in the severest sense we may dismiss him with this Character That he was rather unhappy than sloathful in his Government This mans eyes being for ever closed the Nobility appointed a meeting for the accepting of ROBERT STUART For their King as he was formerly designed who appeased the dissention of the Earl Dowglass by marrying his Daughter to the Earl's Son His first two years were spent in making incursions upon the English the Kings wife dying in the next year he marries Elizabeth Moor his own Concubine the better to legitimate the children he had by her and them he honoured with Titles and declared his Successors two years after an attempt is made on Berwick but in vain and Talbots Expedition frustrated but a Truce for three years was concluded which being expired little quarrels awoke again and occasioned the Duke of Lancaster to be sent thither with a great Army and Navy though not with the same fortune at Sea as at Land which occasioned the return of the Duke who was pursued by some small depredations of William Dowglass though his Son of the same name and some others during the Treaty made an inroad as far as Newcastle Robert having assistance from France is forced to retire especially upon the news of Richards Grand-child and Successor to Edward the third marching with a great Army fac'd the Scots with an unbloody bravery The Scots designing to besiege Roxburgh but quarrelling with the French it came to nothing which occasioned so much dissention that it arrived at this pass That the French should pay for their plunder and be dismist their General remaining as hostage for their satisfaction whilst William Dowglass who had married the Kings Daughter makes an Expedition into Ireland plunders Kerlingford and knowing his Father to be imployed against the English hasten to his assistance The attempt was in affront of Richard then strugling with Domestick difficulties But they of Scotland being unable to live without War and Rapine they were resolved to make a business of it and because the King and his eldest Son were infirm came to choose privately the second for their Leader but this being discovered by the English they altered their Resolution and resolved to divide themselves one by the way of Berwick the other of Carlisle the former Party led by Dowglass gave a defeat to the Lord Percy with the loss of his Life the other not having the like Success who impatiently fighting before the coming up of the Bishop of Durham's Forces lost his own and indangered the others This happened in the year 1388. at Otterburn in Northumberland The King being spent with age makes Robert his second Son his Vice-Roy his eldest being unactive who to affront Percey that seemed to lessen the loss led in an Army but after facing returned with some little depredation Soon after a Peace was mediated between the French and English in which Robert without consent of a Parliament would not be comprised But his doubts were all resolved by death in the year 1390. when he had lived 74. years and reigned 19. being followed to the grave with such acts of Barbarism as have heen
most eminent in all mischiefs hating mortally others and hated of all good men Angus Duff of Strath-Navern and Angus Murray these the King out of Policy of State let out and set at liberty of purpose that they might be thrust forward in a greater danger Returning to their wild countries Duff nothing respecting the Kings clemency accompanied with many Thieves and Robbers driveth a great prey of cattle and other spoils from the Confines of Murray and Caithness which to recover Angus Murray that he might attempt something worthy of his life and liberty followeth with a great power of like Souldiers having now Authority to justifie his revenge on a guilty enemy he overtaketh Duff near unto Strath-Navern There strongly is it fought neither of the parties being inferiour to other in number cruelty or despair This conflict continued so fierce and eager that of both sides there remained scarce twelve persons alive and those so wounded that Justice had not whom to pursue An overthrow delightful and commodious for the peace and quiet of all the honest and vertuous Subjects of these Countries These many executions nothing appalled one Mac-Donald born in Ross a Thief flesht in all murthers mischievous without mercy equally greedy of blood and spoil who by Robberies had acquired great riches Amongst other cruelties he is said to have naild horse-shoes to the soles of a Widow because in her grief she had sworn in hast to report his wickedness to the King Being brought to Perth by men of his own qualities with twelve of his Associates the King caused them in like manner to be shod as they had served the woman and when three days for a spectacle to the people they had been hurried along the Town his companions were Gibbeted and he made shorter by the head Gross enormities cut away factions repressed the King maketh a Progress throughout all the parts of his Realm doing Justice upon all sorts of Male-factors neither did Pardons granted by the late Governour avail it being alledged that they expired by his death and though small faults might have been passed by such remissions yet horrible and crying crimes were not within the compass of such Authority Whilest he thus continues in the administration of Justice the favourable eye of Providence looketh upon him and in the year 1430. in the moneth of October Queen Jane is delivered of two Sons at Holy-Rood-House Alexander and James the one deceased in his infancy the other succeeded to his Father and was King To heighten the joy of his people and diffuse it universally many prisoners are set at liberty amongst which were Archibald Earl of Dowglass Sir Gilbert Kennedy the Kings Sisters Sons the Earl had been kept in Lochleavin the other in Sterling They had been committed rather upon suspicion of the times than men having spoken too freely against the present Government Alexander Earl of Ross was also set at liberty And that the King intended a real and sincere reconciliation the Earl of Dowglass was made Parent to his Children at the Font at this solemnity fifty Knights were Dubbed the first of which was William Dowglass son to the Earl who after succeeded to his Father in the Earldom of Dowglass A sweet calm diffusing it self through every corner of the Realm the King imagining the rest of his Reign to be but the enjoyment of a Crown sets his thoughts wholly to the works of Peace Many unreasonable Customs which were become to the vulgar Laws had many years continued in his Kingdom these he will either have abolished or amended To this effect he selecteth persons commended for wisdom gravity and uprightness of life through his Realm to pry into all abuses hear and determine of all sorts of quarrels and suits if any were brought unto them whereof the ordinary Judges either for fear dared not or power of stronger could not or for hatred or favour would not give any perfect Judgment To them he gave full Authority to make inquisition of the breach of poenal Statutes some hereby were punished by Fines others in their Lives he took away the deceit which had been occasioned by variety of measures for this end certain Iron measures were appointed to be made unto which the rest should be conform and like before his Reign not only in every Town and Shire but in every Mannor and House different measures were currant which abuse he abolished by Parliament The roughness of the times and perpetual wars and troubles of his Ancestors had near taken away the Arts and Handycrafts and turned the Sciences contemptible especially since the Reign of Alexander the third The Commons by the manifold changes and miseries of the Age affecting Barbarity the Nobles making Arms their whole study and care to the further advancement of the Commonwealth and that his Subjects might have occasion to avoid sloth and idleness the King from the Neighbour Continent and from England drew unto him the best Artizans and Manufactors whom either large priviledges or moneys could entice and oblige Of which such a fair number came and were so graciously received that they forgot their Native Countreys and here made their perpetual abode And what till this day Scotland enjoyeth of them owe all their beginning to these Times Schools of learning were founded to which great Liberties and Priviledges were granted the King well knowing that what ever is excellent in any Estate from them had beginning and seed and that there is no better means to sweeten and tame the wild nature of Men then to busie their spirits with peaceful and sedentary Exercises rude and untrained minds being inclinable of themselves to tumult and sedition To make a necessity of learning he made an Act that none of the Nobility should succeed to their Ancestors Heritage except they had some taste of the Civil Law or practice of the Country-Customs but this after was by them abolished Many famous men in all Sciences from the Noblest Universities of Christendom came hither as to the Sanctuary of the Muses where often the King himself in person graced their Lessons and when great matters did not withdraw him was Umpire to their harmless Conflicts Being himself religious he advanced Men learned and of good life to eminent places in the Church and that the best deservers might be discerned he distinguished the learned in degrees Making a Law that none should enjoy the room of a Canon in any Cathedral Church unless he were Batchelour in Divinity or at the least of the Canon Law Though he challenged King David and named him a grievous Saint to the Crown for dilapidating so much Rent in extraordinary Donations to the Church yet with great cost and magnificence he founded the Convent of Charters in Perth and bestowed fair Revennues upon it The excellent skill which he had in Musick and delight in Poesie made him affect Quiristers and he was the first that erected in his own Chappels and the Cathedral Churches of Scotland Organs being
Daulphin of France to return to their native soyl and leave him To this he answered He was a Prisoner had no possession of his Realm that he was neither sworn to his Subjects nor they by any Oath of Allegiance bound to him and though he were bound to them and they to follow his commandment he would foresee whether it were to him honourable and to his Realm honest to leave their old Friend of France in his extreem necessity without aid or comfort With this answer though the King was not content when James went out of his presence he is Recorded to have said Happy shall they be which shall be Subjects to a King endued with such wisdom of so tender years of age His severity in Justice was traduced by some under terms of cruelty but considering the disorders of his Country by the fierce nature of the People over whom he ruled who by often Rebellions did not only exasperate him to some severity but even constrain him to keep them in awe his rigour was rather an effect of necessity than of his natural disposition No Prince did more reverently entertain Peace at Home amongst his Subjects nor more willingly conclude the same amongst Strangers There is no Prince more cruel than he who by a facility and evil measured pity suffers Robberies Rapes Murders and all sorts of oppression and abuses to overturn his Country by which a whole State is interessed when the strictest Justice toucheth but some particular persons By him abuses were reformed defects repaired sedition and discord was put from the Nobles equity and industry restored to the Country every man had a certainty of enjoying his own and security Into all men was either infused a will to do well or a necessity of so doing imposed upon them vertuous actions being honoured crimes punished The mean man did respect the great not fear him the great man did precede the mean not contemn him favour was mastered by equity ambition by vertue for the excellent Prince by doing well himself had taught his Subjects so to do He was one of the worthiest of all the Kings of Scotland till his time of the former Kings it might have been said The Nation made them Kings but this King made that People a Nation He left behind him one Son and six Daughters King James the Second Margaret wife to Lewis the eleventh King of France Elizabeth Dutchess of Bretaigne Jane first of Anguss and then Countess of Huntley Elenora married to Sigismond Archduke of Austria Mary wife to the Lord of Camphire and Annabella he was buried in the Charter-house of Perth which he had founded where the Doublet in which he was slain was kept almost to our time as a Relict and with execrations seen of the People every man thinking himself interested in his wrong The rumour of his Murther blazed abroad it is incredible what weeping and sorrow was through all the Country for even by them to whom his Government was not pleasant he was deplored and the Act thought execrable The Nobles of their own accord and motion from all parts of the Kingdom assembled and came to Edenburgh and ere they consulted together as if they had all one mind directed troups of armed men through all the quarters of the Kingdom to apprehend the Murtherers and produce them to Justice Such diligence was used grief and anger working in their minds that within the space of fourty days all the Conspiratours were taken and put to shameful deaths The common sort as Christopher Clawn or Cahown and others that were of the Council in the Conspiracy having had art or part in the Plot were hanged on Gibbets The chief Actors that the Commonwealth might publickly receive satisfaction were made spectacles of Justice by exquisite torments the punishment of Athol was continued three days on the first he was stript naked to his shirt and by a Crane fixed in a Cart often hoisted aloft disjoynted and hanging shown to the People and thus dragged along the great street of the Town on the second day he was mounted on a Pillar in the Market-place he was crowned with a Diadem of burning Iron with a Plachart bearing The King of all Traytors thus was his Oracle accomplished on the third he was laid naked along upon a Scaffold his Belly was ript up his heart and bowels taken out and thrown in a fire flickering before his eyes Lastly his head was cut off and fixed in the most eminent place of the Town his body sent in quarters to the most populous Cities of the Kingdom to remain a Trophie of Justice His Nephew Robert Stuart was not altogether so rigorously handled for that he did but consent to others wickedness being only hang'd and quarter'd But for that it was notorious Robert Graham had embrewed his hands in the Kings bloud a Gallows being raised in a Cart he had his right hand nailed to it and as he was dragged along the Street Executioners with burning Pincers tearing the most fleshy parts off his Carcass being nip'd torn and flay'd his heart and entrails were thrown in a fire his head exalted and his Quarters sent amongst the Towns to satisfie the wrath and sorrow of the injured people being asked during his torture how he dared put hand in his Prince he made answer that having Heaven and Hell at his choice he dared leap out of Heaven and all the contentments thereof in the flaming bottoms of Hell an answer worthy such a Traytor Aeneas Sylvius then Legate in Scotland for Pope Eugenius the fourth after Pope himself having seen this sudden and terrible Revenge being a witness of the Execution said he could not tell whether he should give them greater commendations that revenged the Kings death or brand them with sharper condemnation that distain'd themselves with so hainous a Parricide IAMES King of Scotes Anō 1436 THE HISTORY OF THE Reign of James the second KING of SCOTLAND SCarce were the tears dryed for the loss of the Father when the three Estates of the Kingdom meet and at Holy-rood-House set the Crown upon the head of the Son then a Child in the sixth year of his age The Government of the Realm is trusted to Sir Alexander Levingstoun of Calendar the custody of the Kings person with the Castle of Edinburgh are given to the Chancellor Sir William Creightoun Men for that they had been ever faithful to the Father without apparent vices of no capacity to succeed nor entertaining aspiring thoughts for a Diadem held worthy of these charges and dignities Good men may secure themselves from Crimes but not from Envy and Calumnies for men great in trust in publick affairs are ever assaulted by the ambition of those who apprehend they are less in Employment then they conceive they are in merit Archembald Earl of Dowglass grudging mightily that the State had bestowed those honours upon men far inferiour to him as though by this the many merits of his Ancestours had been forgotten
of the Nobility opposed it as to his coming into Scotland to accept the Government he alone would go to France charge him with it be his Convoy hither and maintain his Title This he was thought to have done for that despairing to reach and obtain this Dignity himself out of emulation he laid a design that never any other of the Nobles of the Kingdom should reach it affecting rather to give a Stranger the place than a Competitor bringing in the French to equal the ballance as principal himself only as accessory nothing doubting of a chief place in State as well for his forwardness in this election as for the necessity of his Service which the French could not well want and should never be lacking He feared also if the Faction of the Dowglasses prevail'd the greatness of the Earl of Anguss would be an umbrage to his and lessen impair it Their Lands Fortunes lying near to other as that the Queen by her power in England would cross his fairest projects The King of England had sent a Letter to the Lords of Scotland as he had done to the French King for that same effect remonstrating how dangerous it was for the State of Scotland and young King if they should make choice of the Duke of Albany Notwithstanding of all which through ambition malice envy of others discords amongst themselves they made choice of this Gentleman a stranger by his education and birth ignorant of the nature and manners of the Scots whose Father was banished for Treason against his Brother and dyed unrestored One altogether devoted to the French King and an enemy to the English not caring to keep the Country of Scotland in Wars and Troubles so he might defend the French Nation by making the Scots fight their battels After many private Letters from his Friends in Scotland especially from the Chamberlain inviting him to come home and accept his new dignity the Duke at last is required by the State and Lyon King of Arms is directed to him to acquaint him with their proceedings and make him forward on his way He to endear his coming and make himself the more desired of the People excusing his stay for a while which he laid upon the Treaty of Peace which was then to be agreed upon between England and France by the marriage of Lovys the French King with Mary the youngest Sister of Henry King of England which required his presence sendeth home the King of Arms with Letters from the French King with Sir Anthony Darcea le Siour de la Beautie This manpropounded certain conditions which the Duke required What should be the form of his Government his Guards what Castles should be delivered to him for his Garrisons the restoring his patrimony and Fathers dignities to him Which particularities being condescended unto the Castle of Dumbar was instantly delivered to la Beautie to be kept for a French Garrison at the Dukes coming and Sir Patrick Hamilton Brother to the Earl of Arran James Oguilbuy Abbot of Arbroth with the King of Arms were sent back again to France After their Arrival the Duke of Albany furnished with all necessaries by the French King with eight well rigged Ships took the Seas and in the month of May arrived on the West coasts of Scotland from whence with a great retinue of the Nobles and Barons of the Country by easie journeys the Queen meeting him he came to the Town of Edenburgh In the Parliament which had been prorogued for his coming the Duke accepted the Government and gave his Oath of fidelity to the King and Country and the three Estates gave their Oath of obedience to him and both swore in the Administration of Justice neither should be deficient to others Here is he restored to all his Fathers inheritance Titles and honours Being declared Duke of Albany Earl of March and Governour of the Kingdom till the King 's full maturity Many Laws are made for the weal of the Kingdom and to gratifie his Linnage James the natural Son of James the fourth is created Earl of Murray At the presence of this new Governour the face of the State turned more beautiful and the Court more Royal oppression is restrained justice sincerely executed the Court is frequented with good and virtuous men Malefactors and naughty persons banish themselves He maketh a progress to all the notable Towns of the Kingdom seeing crimes punished and faults amended Being a Stranger and not throughly acquainted with the municipal Statutes and particular practices of the Country in matters great and of importance he proceedeth by the instructions and informations of some choice men of the Nation it self Especially since he was not infinite to listen to the advice of every one he gave himself to hearken and follow the opinion and counsel of John Hepburn Prior of St. Andrews whose judgment in his greatest difficulties he receives as an Oracle This man being of a subtle mind malitious crafty rich and endued with some Courtly eloquence by a counterfeit Pretence of knowledge of the affairs of the Kingdom and State neither in some things did he err at first being very familiar with the Duke and in a little time after by bribing secretly some of his choice Servants turned his only Privado and almost possessed alone his judgment and ear He informed him of the strength and Riches of the Country of the nature of the people manner of their Laws revealed to him many secrets of the Government He gave him a Catalogue of the whole deadly fewds and divisions amongst the Noblemen and Gentry opening unto him which were inveterate and had long continued and which were fresh upon what accidents they had their beginnings How in prosecuting Revenge in them they cared not how innocent any man was if he were of the Name and Alliance but rather thought the more innocent any was the more it testified their spight which they desired to manifest by taking him away He shewed him what factions were in the Kingdom who sway'd them and were the heads He told him the Scots were a violent fierce people mutinously proud and knew not how to obey without the Sword were drawn that they were never absolutely governed by their own Kings themselves far less would they be ruled by him who was but a Governour and half a Stranger King James the First they had killed they had made a League against King James the Second in open Battel they had overthrown King James the Third and the last King was by best judgments thought to have been secretly taken away here calling to mind the proclaiming of the Arch-bishop Andrew Formans Bull he omitted nothing could derogate to the Chamberlains reputation and honour and an evil opinion of him in the Governour He instructed him how the great Houses of Scotland were so joined and linkt together by kindred Alliances Bonds of service or Homage that no Gentleman of any quality although a Malefactor and a guilty person could
be presented to justice without some stir commotion tumult of the Grandees and their factious friends Amidst so many strong parties and confederate male-contents the Governour by the power of the Scots themselves and his own Kindred Friends and Followers were not powerful enough safely to administer justice for which cause the King of France should be implored to send hither competent forces to quell the insolencies and shake the pride of the factious Nobles The heads of the factions which had a principal sway in the Kingdom at that time would either be cut off or kept under but with such cunning and dexterity that it should not be perceived nor found out that many were aimed at and interessed when some few did suffer and fall That for the present there were three heads to be looked unto as feared and like to bring Novations in the State being men able to change the present Government The Earl of Anguss a man in the prime of his youth of high flying thoughts by his Alliance with the King of England and that estimation the people conceived of him by the demerits of his Ancestors and the singular love the Subjects bare him carryed a mind above the fortune of a private man and seemed not born to live a subjects life each action of his bearing in it majesty and magnificence he had power to hurt if he would hurt The Lord Chamberlain a man unpolisht stubbornly stout hazardous mighty in riches and power and consequently proud of a working mind and vehement Spirit whom time and experience had hardned by great exploits and most dangerous actions who had the malice to be a Spectator of the discomfiture of his Prince and Countrymen at Flowden was likely to attend the opportunity of traverses and changes The third was the Arch-Bishop Andrew Forman once Secretary to the Pope who though he was not of any Noble Stem nor descent of blood nor for his Followers Friends and Adherents much to be taken notice of or feared yet considering him as his Legateship pluralty of benefices many pensions from Princes had guilded him over and balancing him by his present treasure he could make a weak party strong and add weight to what side soever he inclined He was therefore with piercing eyes to be lookt into and all his actions and ways to be observed The Governour gave not great attention to what the Prior had instructed against the Arch-Bishop having before had some inkling of the rancor gnudge and enmity between them And he was conscious the Arch-Bishops riches were above envy he having been ever more solicitous magnificently to spend what he had acquired than hoord up Neither did he bestow so much upon any of his Countrymen as he did upon the French the Friends and Servants of the Governour He knew he was also so circumspect as not to adhere to any of the factions of the time in a neutrality indifferently and friendly entertaining all his Compatriots Nor was he much moved at his information concerning the Earl of Anguss finding him a man peaceable courteous to all and affable and though of aspiring thoughts carryed often away with his private delights and Courtly pleasures But what the Prior informed against the Lord Chamberlain he deeply ingraved in his memory and ever after his countenance bewrayed certain flaws of ill concealed discontent Neither did he thereafter shew him wonted favours which the Chamberlain observing and guessing at the change of the Governnors mind towards him by more than ordinary evidences and signs He having been the only man who wrought his advancement and coming to Scotland his deserts new either forgot or ungratefully remembred full of grief and disdain retired from the Court to his own Castles where when he had rested a while half astonished to see his hopes so frustrate he taketh new resolutions and determinations to play the Governour double or quite Hereafter he leaveth no means untryed to become entire with the Queen and her Husband and by observance and frequent meeting with them he wrought himself not only to be imbraced as their Friend but their Counsellor and one in whom they had great confidence He many times with them deplored the Publick Calamity when his own particular only stung him accusing himself of his too much forwardness in calling home a man born an Exile whose Father died banish'd for his ambition and had essayed to take the Crown from his Eldest Brother Sith this man was the nearest of blood to succeed who could not perceive his last work would be the making away the innocent Child his Pupil to ascend the Royal Throne himself in the height of Malice accomplishing what his Father out of a desire to Rule did Project By his tender years the King could not prevent his danger his Mother might anticipate it that new necessities requir'd new remedies only one Postern gate remained yet open which was that the Queen would transport her Son to England When this Plot was whisper'd to the Governour who wanted not his Emissaries among the Queens Attendants it was no sooner reveal'd than believ'd and no sooner believ'd when being a man who used celerity in all his Actions with as many men as hast could suffer him to gather forthwith marched from Edenburgh to Sterlin there unawares he surprized the Castle and in it the Queen with her two Sons A Council being assembled the King with his Brother Alexander are sequestred from their Mother and trusted to the custody of four Lords who by turns interchangeably should attend the two Princes and have a care of their education That no violence should be offer'd them certain Gentlemen of the French and Scots are appointed still to wait on nd guard them from this suspition the seeds of enmity began to be sown between the Queen and the Governour which neither time nor wisdom thereafter could take away and root out Amidst this storm of Court the Lord Chamberlain brought to a new traverse of his thoughts with his Brother Mr. William Hume fly towards England the Queen with her Husband and Sir George Dowglass his Brother with an unexpected suddenness hast to Tantallon and from thence to Berwick from which they had a convoy to the Nunnery of Colstream Here they attended advertisement from the King of England what course to follow and know his pleasure He recommended them to the Protection and care of the Lord Dacres and assigned the Castle of Harbottle in Northumberland for his Sisters residence during her abode in these Northern parts and the troubles of Scotland The Governour not a little perplexed at the flight and escape of those Conspiratours sendeth Embassadors to the Court of England to clear himself to the King of what might be surmised against him concerning these new strangers come to his Country He had done nothing which should have offended the Queen made her afraid or to entertain or harbour a sinister thought of his proceedings Neither did he intend any thing against these
a man of such a violent and inveterate ambition as would sacrifice any thing to make it fuel to it self Soon after March and Dowglass were reconciled In the year 1411. Donald the Islander Lord of the Budae enters Ross as his pretended inheritance with ten thousand men and easily reduced it and flushed by this goes to Murray which being strengthless he easily mastered and pass'd spoiling into Bogy and approached Aberdeen To stop this torrent Alexander Earl of Mar followed by most of the Nobility met him at Harley a Village beyond Tey where they joyned in so bloody a Battle and lost so many noble and considerable Persons that though Night parted them neither could pretend to the Victory To this year doth the Vniversity of Saint Andrews owe its rise The next ten years nothing was done between the Scotch and English Henry the V. succeeding his Father and being wholly intent for France there was little to do between the two Nations unless some small incursions In the year 1419. Auxiliaries were sent into France 1419 and employed in Turain but they making merry in the Easter-Holidays the Duke of Clarence being informed thereof marches with a party to them but notwithstanding finding a stout repulse was himself with many of his Souldiers slain Whilst this happens in France in the year 1420. Robert the Governour dies and Mordack his Son a Sot was put in his place which he was so fit for that he could not govern his three Sons which was the cause of the Fathers and their ruines This Domestick Change called home the Forces employed in France but things being setled others went in their places Henry of England hearing of the death of Clarence made John Duke of BEDFORD his Vice-Roy himself intending to follow and carry JAMES of Scotland along with him the better either to win or suspend the hearts of the Scots but it was in vain for they said they would not obey a man that had not his own liberty Much action past afterwards between them and the English but we hasten to close with the Author MORDACK as it hath been said being Governour having neglected all Discipline at home suffered his Sons to come to that petulancy that they were not only offensive to all the people but withal disobedient to their Father who having a brave Faulcon which his Son WALTER had often begged but in vain he snatch'd it out of his Fathers hand and wrung off her neck which his Father being angry at Well says he Since I cannot govern thee I will bring one shall govern us both And from that day he ceased not to further the Redemption of the KING which was after ordered at an Assembly at Perth and an honourable Embassy sent into England With which this Author begins his History and we conclude this petty Labour The succeeding part which is to continue where he leaves is expected to be worthily performed by Mr. Saunderson and the precedent by the ingenious and learned Mr. Christopher Irwin But because we have made a part of promise to say somewhat of the Anchor who hath left himself the memory of an ingenious man by the things we have of his and for that it is but too common ingratitude to leave us better acquainted with the thoughts of men than with their persons and qualities many excellent Spirits leaving only their Spiritual parts behind them and little of their Corporal but their names we shall set down in brief what we understand concerning him WILLIAM DRUMMOND was the Son of Sir JOHN DRUMMOND and was born in the year 1585. and was brought up in Edenburgh where having past through his course of Philosophy he took the Degree of Master of Arts and in the year 1606. went into FRANCE to study the Laws as a way to raise him to preferment at Court But his wit being of a greater delicacy could not engage on the toyls and difficulties of that study as being wholly inclined to ease and retirement and a prosecution of the easier and softer entertainment of the Muses In this humour for he was especially addicted to POETRY having for that purpose sufficiently mastered the GREEK LATINE FRENCH SPANISH and ITALIAN Tongues as may appear by all his things of that nature lived retiredly with his Brother-in-Law till he was five and forty years of age at which time he unexpectedly married MARGARETE LOGANE a younger Daughter of the House of RESTELRIG He was not more retired in his Person then careless of his Fame all his Poems being Printed in loose sheets and only addressed to his Friends Yet though he retreated from all the World yet he was still found out for all the Learned and men of Quality gave him his due respect As for his own Countrey-men the Earl of STERLIN LEOCHEM and Doctor JOHNSON Besides though he were little in ENGLAND yet DANIEL DRAYTON and JOHNSON visit him by their Letters and testifyed their esteem of him All that we have of him is this Book and his Poems of which when they are to be published you will have better information In this manner he continued a harmless and a virtuous life till in the year 1649. he was summoned to pay his great debt to Nature having left a little before his death a quantity of books to the Library of Edenburgh Having premised thus much to satisfie the Reader as worthy to be foreknown though I have had little encouragement for my pains I shall cease being ingenious in another mans book and attend the restitution of that without which my self cannot subsist From my Chamber Jan. 24. 1680. IAMES I. KING OF Scotes Anō 1424 R Gaywood Fecit THE HISTORY OF THE Reign of James the first KING of SCOTLAND THE Nobles of Scotland being wearied with the form of their present Government for tho they had a King they enjoyed not the happiness of his sway by his restraint afar off under the power of a Stranger some of them were possessed with hopes by the change of the Head to find a change in the Body of the State and a flow of their ebbing Fortunes the Church-men and the Gentry having ever continued loyal and well-affected to the Lawful Heir of the Crown the Commons men delighting in Novations and ordinarily preferring uncertainties things unseen and to come to what for the time they did hold and enjoy the Governor of the Kingdom also himself irritated by the misdemeanour of his Children and forecasting the danger he might be plunged into if the States should purchase the recovery of their King he not complying to their Design all unanimously and together determine without longer prolongings to work the delivery of their Native Prince JAMES forth of England where he had been detained eighteen years as a Prisoner They who were chosen and got Commission to negotiate his Liberty were Archembald Earl of Dowglass Son to Archembald Duke of Turrain William Hay Constable of the Realm Alexander Irwin of Drumm Knight Henry Lightoun Bishop of
Among many healthful admonitions by way of counsel he told him that the greatness of a Subject consisted in due obedience to his Prince whom he should acknowledge to be his Lord and Master That by obedience he would vindicate the Name and Families of the Dowglasses not only from blame of Treason but from all suspition of Novations that he would endeavour to execute justice more strictly than he had done in times past not protect Oppressors against Laws and Equity but suppress all insolencies of Thieves and Robbers because cruelties and wrongs never stood secure before either God or man That the estates of ancient Houses were often maintained more by reputation of things done than any other foundation which a little disobedience to a Prince might shake if not altogether ruine That it was fatal to all Princes in their under-age and the beginnings of their Reigns to have troubles and seditions and be tormented by some of their Subjects who studied novelties but when these Princes came to perfect years they knew well to chastise those who troubled the Government in their youth That he would hereafter rather content himself with mediocrity than expose himself as a mark to envy That he would make a proof of his power not in excess and riot or pride of his ancient honours but in bounty and religious charity toward his Country-men That he wished as his House had long continued it might by following what he had spoken unto him ever flourish The Earl of a good inclination if flatterers and wicked company had been removed took in good part his advertisements and counsel thinking he spake as he thought and perhaps so he did for he had not yet put on his double Visage and promised to repair what offences by youth negligence rashness or other indiscretion had escaped him thus with his Brother David the Chancellour accompanied him to Edenburgh He had not long there stayed when the frequent meetings many secret conferences of the Governour and Chancellour at their several houses which often held the greatest part of the night who were not wont to be so kind to others bred a great jealousie and suspicion in some of the Earls friends that some lurking mischief was a plotting to entrap him That small trust should be had in a reconciled enemy and his many courtesies and too exceeding favours were to be suspected Hereupon some freely counsel the Earl to return home and to leave off private meetings with them Others intreat him not to enter the Castle of Edenburgh at all or if he should to dismiss his brother David to keep themselves scattered that that they might not be inclosed in one Net as upon his Death-bed their Father had instructed and admonished them For if any violent course were intended against them men would not dare to put in act against one of them which they would against both David presaging some strange accident to follow this sudden kindness of the Rulers was meditating an escape The Earl took this counsel in an evil part saying Great Families never wanted turbulent friends to whom common confusions served ordinarily for steps to enlarge their States when Peace sendeth the most part of them home to live private men And they cared not what blame were laid upon their Chiefs so it stood with their own commodity that the pretence of his departure would be worse than the departure it self and that he would be obnoxious to worse surmises and more miserable mistakings going away than if he had never appeared That he preferred the approved trust of the Chancellour whose Guest he had been to all the objections of dangers they could imagine which suspicions he requested them to suppress for to suspect causlesly instead of imagining wrong returned a real injury and being known would be a means to breed new jars and break their begun Friendship Thus blind-folded by Destinie and accompanied with some of his dearest friends amongst whom was Sir Malcolm Flaming of Cammernald in solemn pomp with his Brother he entred Edenburgh Castle the Twenty fourth of November the remainder who were thrust back with sad countenances and distrusting hearts scattered themselves in the Town The Governour that the envy might be divided and shared and all seem to be done by an universal consent with a ceremonious welcom and such as hate and emulation could suffer to be tempered together did meet him and guide him to the King at whose Table he was set to dine which favours turned the heart of the young Earl so soft and relenting that he wished he had sooner come to Court and challeng'd himself of his mistrustful thoughts but more his suspicious friends whose presence he could have desired to be witness against themselves The counsel given him at Creighton Castle by obsequiousness he resolveth to thank the Kings benign aspect and courtesies of the Rulers had advanced him to the highest degree of honour Amidst of these entertainments behold the instability of Fortune near the end of the Banquet the head of a Bull a sign of present Death in these times is set down before him At which sudden Spectacle he leapt from the Table in horror and all agast but this doth little avail him he hath no power for he is ceased upon by armed Men who rushing out of a cruel tyring House led him to the utter Court of the Castle not regarding the plaints cryes tears of the young King who pitifully mourned to see him manacled with cords There with his Brother David Sir Malcolm Flaming his constant friend and compartner of all his Fortunes he had his head and ambitious thoughts cut off With this great blow of State the Parliament brake up leaving grief terrour astonishment in the hearts of all the people who ever hated the Actors of this Tragedy William Earl of Dowglass and David his Brother taken away the Baron of Abercorn their Uncle succeeded to the Earldom by reason of his stature and corpulency named James the Gross a man free of any vice or Heroical Vertue whose years were not many after his fortune to be Earl He was Father to seven Sons the eldest of which by a Dispensation from the Pope he married to Beatrice the only Sister of his Brothers Son William named The fair Maid of Galloway not so much in respect of her Beauty as her Fortunes the Lands not tailed in Galloway Annandale Balveny and Ormond falling from the Heirs male to be her Portion This Marriage was much blamed and cryed out upon by the Earl of Angus Sir John Dowglass of Dalkeith and other Gentlemen of that Name not as they gave out for the propinquity of blood being between Cousin Germans but that so fair and easie a purchase was taken out of their arms They had always followed the King and procured prohibitions of the Marriage but these with spur-haste advanced the celebration of it and upon a Friday which the common People prognosticate to be ominous and to have some sad event
to their private use are forfeited taken and committed to sundry Prisons in December Four thousand four hundred forty seven at which time they were brought to Edenburgh 1447 Alexander the Governour James Dundas and Robert Bruce after Fines laid upon them were remitted back to Dumbarton there to be kept Prisoners during the Kings pleasure Alexander the Governours Son a young man of great expectation with Robert Levingston Treasurer and David Levingston not so much by any crime proved against them as by the Divine Justice in punishing the severity of the Governour for the execution of the Earl of Dowglass in the Castle of Edenburgh had their heads cut off the people much deploring their misfortune By this blow the Earl of Dowglass though he was more terribly avenged than if he had proved his power against the old Man having thus as it were killed him twice Though by this strict Justice he pretended the Publick weal his end was to govern all by his absolute Authority and make the world see what credit he had to help or harm when he pleased admire his pompous attendance his haughty carrying of all business and his power in State The Chancellor having perfected his Embassie Mary daughter to Arnold Duke of Guilders born of the Duke of Burgundies Sister a Lady young beautiful and of a masculine constitution arriveth in Scotland and with great solemnity accompanied with many strangers and the Nobility of the Kingdom is married to the King in the Abbey Church of Holy-rood-house As these Nuptial Rites were finished the Peace between Scotland and England expired and the Borders of both Kingdoms break and mutually invade others Amidst much robbery spoil and havock upon either side the Earl of Salisbury Lievtenant and Warden upon the West depopulateth the bordering Villages and burneth the Town of Dumfreis the Earl of Northumberland spoiling the East burneth the Town of Dumbar John Dowglass Lord of Balvenny invadeth the English bounds and burneth the Town of Anwich the ravaging and depredations in a short time turning equal the two Kingdoms agree upon a suspension of Arms and place and day to treat about a general Peace at the last by an Assembly of the States One thousand four hundred forty nine A Truce is condescended unto for seven years At this time Alexander Seatoun Lord Gordon is created Earl of Huntley and George Leslie Baron Earl of Rothes This Truce was not long kept by any of the Nations but as it had been drawn and plaistered up for the fashion they conspire equally to break it New incursions are made slight skirmishes began to wound either side and banish Peace just arms were constrained at last to be opposed to injurious oppressions The Scots having made desolate some parts of Cumberland an Army under the leading of the Earl of Northumberland is raised commanded by Magnus Red-beard whom the Scots by reason of the length of his beard named Magnus with a red Main A man trained from his youth in the Wars of France who is said to have required no more for his Service to the Crown of England than what he might by his own valour conquer of Scotland The English march from the West Borders pass the River of Soloway and Annand and encamp near the River of Sark The Earl of Dowglass declareth his Brother George Earl of Ormond Lieutenant for the King against them who with the power of the South and West loseth no time to encounter the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Piercy his Son Magnus Red-beard Sir John Pennington Sir Robert Harrington led the English Battalions The Earl of Ormond Lord Maxwell Lairds of Johnston and Craiggy Wallace the Scottish Here occasion and place serving it is valiantly fought the fortune of the day long doubtful till Magnus whose experience and direction in War in those days was deemed unparalleld his courage here turning into temerity was beaten from his horse and slain After his fall many turning their backs the Earl of Northumberland himself with great danger escaped more in the chase were lost than in the Battel such who essayed to pass the River by the confusion and the weight of their Arms were plunged in the water others who could not find the Fords being taken and brought to the Castle of Lochmaben amongst which were Sir John Pennington Sir Robert Harrington the Lord Piercy who by saving his Father engaged himself Few renowned amongst the Scots were here lost except Craiggy Wallace a principal actor who governing himself by honour and courage died of his wounds there received not many days thereafter The English to repair their loss raised an Army but by the daily supplies raised for France and their projected Civil Wars the Duke of York Earls of March Warwick and Salisbury beginning to toss the State it was kept at home for their own use and a truce was agreed upon and concluded with Scotland for the space of three years One thousand four hundred and fifty This Victory obtained chiefly by the valour of the Dowglasses advanced highly their credit with the young King and the Court sounded with nothing more than their praises But great fortunes are as hard to bear as to acquire and ordinarily prosperity carryeth us into insolencies without pondring the consequence of our actions William Colvill Knight upon a private quarrel having slain James Auchinleck a follower of the Earl of Dowglass the Earl avenged his death not only with the slaughter of William but with the throwing down of his House and spoil of all his Lands which turned cold the affections of many about the Court towards him and made him terrible to all of a contrary Faction to his After whether tyred with his working thoughts or to shun more hatred and envy or to try what time would produce amidst the inward grudges and rancours of Court or that he held his own Country too narrow Lists for his glory he leaveth the Kingdom substituting one of his Brothers Procurator for his affairs and in his absence to govern his estate accompanied with his Brother Mr. James a Man learned and brought up in Sorbon Divinity Expectant of the Bishoprick of Dunkel James Hamilton of Cadyow the Lords Grahame Seatoun Oliphant Saltoun and many Gentlemen he arriveth in Flanders cometh to France passeth the Alps and it being the year of Jubilee stayeth at Rome where he was honourably received and welcomed Envy never leaveth great Actors he had not been long absent from his Prince when many are suborned to give up complaints against the oppressions riots wrongs of his Kindred Servants and Vassals The faults of his Governing the King are pryed into every oversight and escape aggravated to the height The King at first was loth to lend an ear to misreports and calumnies of a man lately so well deserving and dearly of him beloved but overcome by importunity and urged by the numbers of Complainers he gave way that his Brother and Procurators should make answer for wrongs suffered by
and with her who would be partaker of all his misfortunes returned to Denmark from Denmark by Germany he came to King Lovys in France who interposed his requests to King James for his regress and restoring but the Letters in his favour producing no effects Charles Duke of Burgundy making War against his Rebel Subjects he was graciously received by him and entertained as his Ally his Lady remained at Antwerp where she bore him two children James and Gracile Lady Margaret the 10 of July 1469. or after others 1470. maketh her entry into Edenburgh 1469. and scarce having attained the sixteenth year of her age is married to King James in the Abby Church of Holy-rood house and in the month of November following by a Convention of the three Estates was Crowned Queen The King inexorable in the behalf of the Earl of Arran and breathing his total Ruine sendeth Letters to Antwerp filled with promises and threatnings to move his Sister to return to Scotland These at the first prevailed nothing with this Lady to make her forsake the husband of her youth many Letters and from several friends and well-wishers in several fashions and stiles coming to her at last she was brought to believe her presence would mollifie the mind of her enemies and work her husband a re-establishment of his former favours with the King her Brother and restore him to all his Possessions and Dignities Upon which hopes she comes to Scotland But these hopes proved all false for instead of having access to her brother she is kept at Kilmarnock the chief House of the Boyds as in a free Prison and her Husband is summoned within threescore days to adhere to his Wife under pain of Divorce the unfortunate Earl for fear of his head not appearing his Marriage is declared Null his Wife is divorced from him and is constrained to marry James Lord Hamilton to whom also the Earldom of Arran was given for Dowry Not long after her two children to Earl Thomas James and Gracile are brought to Scotland who in the proceeding of time proved little more fortunate than their Father for James was slain by Hugh Montgomery of Eglington and Gracile though first married to the Earl of Cassiles and after to the Lord Forbess was barren Some have recorded that the Earl Thomas after this violent bereaving him of his Wife died of displeasure at Antwerp and had a Tomb raised over him with an honourable Inscription by Charles Duke of Burgundy others who hate the Boyds tell he died not at Antwerp but at Florence and that he was killed by a Merchant of Florence out of jealousie of having abused his Wife Queen Margaret the third year after her Marriage in the Month of March brought forth a Son who was named James and Christern King of Denmark to congratulate the happy delivery of his daughter and of expectation of a continued succession to the Crown of Scotland of his Race released all his right title claim which he or his successors might have to the Isles of Orkney and Scythland The King calleth after a Parliament at Edenburgh wherein though the Reformation of abuses as wearing of Silk and other foraign triffles the building of Ships and the enacting Laws for the present time were pretended a liberal Subsidy was the greatest aim His Exchequer being empty and many of his best friends turning necessitous and needy John Lord of the Isles was attainted for his own and his Fathers misdemeanour the King raiseth Forces to pursue him the Earl of Crawford being made Admiral the Earl of Athol the Kings Uncle Lieutenant of the Regiments by Land such means in a short time was used by the Earl of Athol that the Lord of the Isles submitted himself to the Kings clemency and in a convention of the States at Edenburgh he resigned all the right he had to the Earldom of Ross the lands of Knapden and Kintyre which the King annexed to the Crown Patrick Graham Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews having at Rome understood the fall of the Boyds returneth to his own Country where first amongst his friends and the most peaceable sort of the Clergy he divulgateth the Bull of the Pope for his Supremacy over the other Churchmen of the Kingdom and his power of their tryal and promoting to benefices and after caused proclaim it at all publick places The laudable Elections anciently used about the Places and Offices of Churchmen by the corruption of the times being taken away and that Power altogether assumed by the King The Courtiers who were accustomed to sell Benefices and the Churchmen who were wont to buy them reject the Bull and set themselves against him by their traffick he is discharged to take the Place or Ornaments of an Arch-Bishop or carry any other Cross or Cap than what the former Bishops used to have But here they set not up their rest William Schevez a man in those times admired for his skill in Astrology and promoted to be Arch-Dean of Saint Andrews seconded by John Lock the Rector of that University a better Grammarian than Christian Excommunicates this Arch-Bishop for his presumption and that he sought to bear Rule over his brethren Bishops When this censure had passed upon him he is degraded and shut up in Prison William Schevez is after promoted to his place and Consecrated upon the Passion Sunday in Lent at Holy-rood house the King being present he likewise received the Title and Faculty of Legate and is confirmed Primate of the Realm notwithstanding the impediments objected to Patrick Graham by the Church-men concerning that same dignity and preheminency So various and deceitful are the ways of Men. The King being slow to action and more inclined to a solitary form of Life than to travel and business his brothers being Princes of unquiet and restless Spirits to whom publick imployments were recreations 1469. and withal being ambitious prodigal desirous of Rule and to be Governours of the people themselves and Kings in fact however their elder brother was in title they set themselves altogether to study novations and bring the King in contempt with his Subjects and divert their minds and love towards him To this effect they had drawn by their towardness and familiarity many of the young Nobles and Gentlemen to follow them The King was obnoxious to some publick Scandals for by his too great frugality care to encrease his Treasure and study of Purchasing by Taxations sale of Church Benefices and too exact taking up of Fines supervaluation of Wards he had gotten the name of Covetous and was no small distast amongst the Commons Edward King of England that the Scots by the instigation of the French should not trouble his new and scarce settled government imploying all his counsels and diligence to divide them amongst themselves wrought not a little on the unquiet Spirits of these young men The Duke of Albany having been taken upon the Seas by the English was honourably entertained by him
remain'd lay hold upon this Overture and beginning from their particulars they make the cause to be general They spread Rumours abroad that the King was become terrible and not to be trusted notwithstanding all his Protestations and Outward demeanour that he yet meditated Revenge and had begun to invade and shake the ancient Priviledges of the Humes more out of spight and discontent against them for having assisted and follow'd the Lords of the Reformation of the State than any intention of the increasing the Rents of his new erected Chappel That ere long he would be avenged upon all whom he either knew were accessary or suspected to have been upon the Plot of Lawder Bridge or his Committing in the Castle of Edenburgh That it was sometime better to commit a fault unpardonable than venture under the Pardon That the King had taken a Resolution to live upon the Peoples contributions and give his own Revenues to particular Men. The faults of his Counsellours are highly exaggerated They are base Persons and he himself given to dissimulation misdevotion and revenge as occasion served he would remember old wrongs It was good to obey a King but not to lay the head upon a Block to him if a Man could save himself After long smother of discontent and hatred of the Nobility and People Rankor breaking daily forth into Seditions and alterations The Lord Hume and Haylles being the Ring-Leaders many Noblemen and Gentlemen under fained pretences especially the courses of swift Horses keep frequent meetings Where they renew their Covenant agreed upon at Lawder Church the necessity of the times and the danger of the Commonwealth requiring it and gave their Oaths that at what time soever the King should challenge them directly or indirectly or wrong them in their Rights Possessions Places Persons They should abide together as if they were all one Body marry each others quarrels and the wrongs done to any one of them should be done to them all When the King understood the Confederacy of the Lords to anticipate the danger he made choice of a Guard for the preservation of his Person and Servants Of which he made John Ramsay of Balmayne a Man whom he had preserved at Lawder and advanced to be Master of his Houshold at Court Captain giving him a Warrant not to suffer any Man in Arms approach the Court by some miles This in stead of cooling exasperated the Choler of the Male-contents and stirr'd them to assemble with numerous Retinues all in Arms. The King scarce believing the Minds of so many were corrupted and persuading himself the Authority of a King would supply the want of some Power summon'd certain of them upon fourty days to answer according to Law Of those some rent his Summons and beat shamefully his Heraulds and Messengers for discharging their Offices Others appeared but with numbers of their Adherents Friends Allies and Vassals And here he found that the faults of great Delinquents are not without great danger taken notice of and reprehended he used some Stratagems to surprise the Heads and Chiefs of their Faction But unadvisedly giving trust to the promises of those who lent their ears but not their hearts to his words his Designs were discovered before they produced any effects his secrets all laid open to his great hatred and disadvantage the Discoverers taking themselves to the factious Rebels and cherishing unkind thoughts in all whom they saw distasted with his Government Perceiving himself betrayed and his intentions divulged he remained in great doubt to whom he should give credit The nature and manner of all things changed by the League of the Confederates he thought it high time to remove a little further from that Torrent which might have overwhelmed him and made them Masters of his Person To temporize and win time caused furnish the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterling with provision of Victual Ammunition and Garrisons to defend them from the dangers of War he resolved to make his abode beyond the River of Forth and to leave the South Parts of the Kingdom After which deliberation he entred a Ship of Sir Andrew Wood a famous Navigator and stout Commander at Sea which pretended to make sail for the low-Countries and was lying at Anchor in the Forth These who saw him aboard spread a rumour that he was flying to Flanders The Lords of the Insurrection making use of this false report seized on his carriage in the Passages towards the North rifled his Coffers spoiled his Servants of their stuff and baggage And then after certainty that he was but Landed in Fyfe and from that was in Progress to the Northern parts preparing and directing his good Subjects to be in readiness to attend him at his return they surprized the Castle of Dumbar The monys found in his Coffers wage Soldiers against him and the Harness and Weapons of his Magazines arm them Having gathered some companies together tumultuously they overrun the Countries upon the South of the Forth rifling and plundering all men who went not with them or whom they suspected not to favour their desperate and seditious ends In his progress the King held Justice Courts at Aberdeen and Inneress where William Lord Creighton not long before impeacht with the Duke of Albany submitted himself to his Clemency and was received in favour and pardoned after which grace he shortly left this World Whilst the King in the North the Lords in the South are making their Preparations When they were assembled at Lithgow they find themselves many in number and strong in Power the success of their proceedings being above their hopes there only wanted a man eminently in esteem with the People and noble of Birth to give lustre to their Actions shadow their Rebellion and be the titular and painted head of their Arms. When they had long deliberated upon this great Man they assented all that there was none to be Parrallel'd to the Prince of Rothsay the Kings own Son So strongly Providence befools all human Wisdom and fore-sight his Keepers being corrupted by Gifts Pensions and promises of divers Rewards he is delivered into their hands and by Threats That they would otherwise give up the Kingdom to the King of England he is constrained to go with them To heighten the hatred against the King and the closlier to deceive the People for the love of Subjects is such towards their natural Kings that except they be first deceived by some pretences and notable sophism they will not arise altogether in Arms and Rebel they make Proclamations and by their Deputies by way of Remonstrances spread abroad Seditious Papers in what a Sea of blood would these men launch into that all true Subjects should come in defence of the Prince and take Arms because his Fathers jealousies and superstitious fears were risen to that height that nothing but his Sons Death or Imprisonment could temperate them That he was raising an Army to take his Son out of their hands that he might
the danger of the example had power to divert the minds of men from such a cruel Design This was really to seeth the Kid in the Mothers milk and to make an innocent youth obnoxious to the most hainous Crime that could be committed Whatever courtains could be spread to overshadow and cover this mischief the horrour of this Fact possest this Prince to his last hour and God out of his Justice executed the revenge of his cruelty upon the Nobles Commons and the Prince himself at the field of Flowden where some of the chief Actors of this Paricide were in their own persons others in the persons of their Successors sacrificed to the Ghost of this King Iames. IIII. king of Scotts Anō 1488. THE HISTORY Of the LIFE and Reign of James the Fourth KING of SCOTLAND THe Lords who had chosen rather to be reputed famous Rebels than contemn'd Subjects by their boldness of enterprizing skill of managing the Publick affairs and continued purchases swelling to that greatness of Power that they found none to counterpoise few to oppose to their Designs to make their Rebellion lawful and show the World they intended not the Subversion of their Country but of their opinionative King nor that they did dislike Soveraignity so they might have a Prince who would be ruled by their directions take the name and leave to them the Majesty and Authority of his place after the killing of the Father call a Parliament for the installing of the Son in the Royal Throne few of the three Estates here meeting except themselves and the Commissioners of Burroughs in the Month of June the year One thousand four hundred eighty eight at Edenburgh the Prince is Crowned then having not attained the sixteenth year of his age Though these men had assumed the Government yet in divers parts of the Country they had but doubtful obedience nor was their Authority universally acknowledged the flames of dissention seeming yet neither to be extinguished nor altogether smothered with the Life of the late King On the Sea Sir Andrew Wood who had attended the event of the last Battle maintained resolutely the Quarrel of his dead Master Five tall Ships sent by the King of England to his Confederates aid but which came too late pretending a revenge upon his disloyal Subjects pillaged the Maritime Towns and forraged the adjacent parts of the Country shut up the mouth of the River of Forth and interrupted the Commerce of Merchants To repel which violence the Ships gathered by the Lords struggled in vain being every way inferiour and weak to suppress their incursions and Algarards On the Land the Forces of those who had stood out for the late King had rather been by the last conflict scatter'd than throughly broken and brought under The ablest and most convenient Companies which were gathered to his Assistance having never assembled and joyned in one body the Fight being inconsideratly precipitated and the Dye thrown before they could descend from the far Mountains and cross the Ford-less Rivers And of those who were in the Fray not many being taken Prisoners fewer killed falling under the weight of friendly Arms. The prime Men of those who had chosen rather justly to follow the King than profitably his Rebels finding themselves for their loyalty and that good will which they had carryed to their Soveraign persecuted and proscrib'd in their Fortunes and Persons inflamed with indignation and shame resolved to oppose Wisdom to Fortune Courage to Strength and hazard some one day more for the repairing the losses of former the Pillage begun upon the Seas by the English animating them And being desirous to make as many fellows of their danger as they could they send Letters throughout all the quarters of the Kingdom to their Friends Familiars and Confederates encouraging them to ply the business generously opposing their valour and courage to the strength and power of the abusers of the Prince By publick Writings they cast aspersions on the present Government After that Battel of Sterlin and since the Coronation of the King they had not fallen in the power of a Monarch but under an Oligarchy the most depraved from all Governments the name and Title of a King a young man scarce sixteen years of Age enjoyed but he Govern'd not but was by the Killers of his Father misgoverned who under false pretences intended the ruin of the State What reproach and shame would it be not only with all men now living but also with Posterity to suffer these who had hazarded what they had dearest for the honour and preservation of their Prince to be branded with the name of Traytors be banished and followed to death Whilst the Transgressors and abusers of all Laws Divine and Humane sit Judges over them as revengers of general Wrongs usurping the Titles of Deliverers of the Country and Restorers of the Commonwealth amongst whose Paws the present King could not be assured and safe They being the men who to justifie their injustice and make their Fact meritorious brought him in Arms not knowing whether against his King and Father most wofully taken away besides the abusing of his Name and Authority in every civil matter The late King had lost the day and himself by his own Errors not by their Power and Designs Now they should oppose to their proceedings and though they might be esteemed inferiour in number to them yet if they met together they might be found equal to them in worth and courage being puft up by the last misfortune and only putting their confidence in that they mastered their Designs Much being projected and designed for their meeting in Arms in the North Alexander Lord Forbess a Man born neither to rest himself nor suffer others in Aberdeen and other Towns on the point of a Launce displayed the Shirt of the slaughtered King purpled with his blood inviting the Country as by an Herald to the revenge of his Murther In the West the Earl of Lenox a man eminent by his Birth and Fortunes hath the same resolution the Earl of Marshal Lords Gordon and Lyle with their Confederates in other parts of the Kingdom where their power or eloquence could prevail move all their Engins to advance the enterprize and put every thing in readiness The Lords of the insurrection having the young King in their hands to countenance their proceedings joyning discretion to their good success determine except upon necessity not to spill more civil blood and to disperse the Clouds of that appearing Storm they encourage Sir Andrew Wood now received in favour and brought not only to be an enemy but to be their friend and fellow-helper having obtained from them the Barony of Largow disposed to him hereditarily of which before he had only a Lease of the late King for his first Service with his Ships to clear the Forth and scour the Seas of the English And they Launch out to his assistance the Vessels and Boats of the Havens near adjacent
Princes testifying the same by the Letters which contained That Edward the eldest Son of Edward the Fourth who succeeded his Father in the Crown by the Name of Edward the Fifth was Murthered by Richard Duke of Gloucester their unnatural Uncle but Richard the younger Son his Brother by the Man who was employed to execute that Tragedy making report to the Tyrant that he had performed his command for both Brethren was saved and with speed and secrecy convoyed to Tourney there conceal'd and brought up by his Fathers Sister Margarite Dutches of Burgundy That King James should acknowledge this for Truth and friendly assist this young Man who was that very Richard Duke of York to recover his Inheritance now most unjustly Usurped and Possessed by Henry Tuder Earl of Richmond That the right of Kings extended not only to the safe preservation of their own but also to the Aid of all such Allies as change of time and State have often hurled down from Crowns to undergo an exercise of sufference in both fortunes and Kings should repossess Kings wrongfully put from their own As his Predecessors to whose royal vertues he was heir had repossessed Henry the Sixth King of England spoyled of his Kingdom and distressed by which Charity obliging all vertuous Princes unto him he should find ever as his own Maximilian of Bohemia Charles of France and Margarite Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy King James graciously receiving this young man told him That whatsoever he were he should not repent him of putting himself into his hands and from that time forth though many gave Informations against him as a counterfeit entertained him every way as a Prince embraced his quarrel and seiling both his own eyes and the eyes of the World he gave consent that this Duke should take to Wife Lady Katherine Gordoun daughter to the Earl of Huntley which some thought he did to increase the Factions of Perkins in England stir the discontented Subjects against King Henry and to encourage his own Subjects to side on his quarrel Not long after in person with this Duke of York in his Company who assured him of powerful Assistance he entred with an Army into Northumberland but not one Man coming to side with them the King turned his enterprize into a Road and after he had spoiled the Country returned to Scotland It is said that Perkin acting the part of a Prince handsomely where he saw the Scots pillaging and wasting of the Country came to the King and in a deplorable manner requested him to spare his afflicted people that no Crown was so dear to his Mind as that he desired to purchase it with the blood and ruine of his People whereunto King James answered He was ridiculously careful of an interest another man possessed and which perhaps was none of his The King of England who delighted more to draw treasure from his People than to hazard the spilling of their Blood to revenge the predatory war of the Scots and find out Perkin requireth a subsidy of his Subjects and though few believed he would follow so far a flying Hart he was Levying a puissant Army No sooner this Subsidy began to be collected amongst the Cornish-men when they began to grudge and murmur and afterwards rebelled which when it was understood of the King he retained the Forces raised for his own service and use In the mean time dispatching the Earl of Surrey to the North to attend the Scots incursions whilst the Cornish-men are in their March towards London King James again entred the Frontiers of England with an Army and besieged the Castle of Norham in person But understanding the Earl of Surrey was advancing with greater Forces loaden with spoil he returned back again the Earl of Surrey finding no Enemy sat down before the Castle of Aytoun which he took and soon after returned into England the cold season of the year with the unseasonableness of the weather driving away time invited a Treaty of Peace on both sides Amidst these turmoyls and unprofitable Incursions of the two Kingdoms Ferdinando and Isabella of Spain sent one Peter Hialas to treat a Marriage between Katherine one of their Daughters and Arthur Prince of Wales This Allyance being agreed upon and almost brought to perfection King Henry desirous of quietness and to have an end of all Debates especially these with Scotland communicateth his intentions to Hialas a man wise and learned and whom he thought able to be employed in such a Service for it stood not with his Reputation to sue unto his enemy for Peace But Hialas a stranger unto both as having direction from his Master for the Peace of Christian and Neighbour Princes might take upon him this Reconciliation Hialas accepteth the Embassage and coming to King James after he hid brought him to hearken to more safe and quiet Counsels wrote unto King Henry That he hoped that Peace might easily be concluded if he should find some wise and temperate Councellour of his own that might treat of the Conditions Whereupon the King directeth the Bishop of Duresm Richard Fox who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to confer with Hialas and they both to treat with some Commissioners deputed from King James The Commissioners of both sides meet at Jedbrough and dispute many Articles and conditions of Peace Restitution of the spoils taken by the Scottish or dammages for the same is desired but that was passed as a matter impossible to be performed An enterview in person at Newcastle is desired of both Kings which being referred to King James his own arbitrement he is reported to have answered that he meant to treat a Peace and not go a begging for it The breaking of the Peace for Perkin Warbeck is highly aggravated by the Bishop and he demanded to be deliver'd to the King of England That a Prince should not easily believe with the common people that Perkin was a Fiction and such an one that if a Poet had projected the Figure it could not have been done more to admiration than the House of York by the old Dutchess of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth having first raised Lambert Simnel and at last this Perkin to personate Kings and seduce the People His Birth Education not resident in any one place proved him a Pageant King that he was a reproach to all Kings and a person not protected by the Law of Nations The Bishop of Glasgow answered for his Master That the love and Amity grounded upon a Common cause and universal Conclusion amongst Kings to defend one another was the main Foundation upon which King James had adventured to assist Edward Duke of York that he was no competent Judge of his Title he had received him as a Suppliant protected him as a Person fled for refuge espoused him with his Kinswoman and aided him with Arms upon the belief that he was a Prince that the People of Ireland Wales and many in England acknowledged him no less
welcomed again to the Court. The Disorders of the Kingdom called a Parliament in which many acts were made to restrain and keep under bold and wicked men and preserve the peace of the Kingdom In this Parliament it was Ordained the Kings Brother Alexander being deceased that the Governour should be reputed second Person of the Realm and next heir to the Crown Notwithstanding of the claim made by Alexander Stuart the elder brother of the Governour who was begotten on a Daughter of the Earl of Orkenay to whom the Duke of Albany their Father had been lawfully joined in marriage before his coming to France and thus before the marrying of the Earl of Bulloignes daughter the Mother of John the Governour upon which ground Alexander had great reason to make his claim and protestation as heir to his Father Notwithstanding of his challenge and bravado Alexander being more fit for a Cowl than a Crown in open Parliament gave over all Title he had to the Crown in his brothers favour Whereupon to deprive him ever hereafter of lawfull Succession they turned him Priest being made Bishop of Murray and Abbot of Skoon A truce being sincerely kept with England tumults within the Country appeased particular deadly fewds and jarres of private persons either curbed or smothered up the Governour giveth himself some weeks to his Courtly recreations at Faulk-land with what pastime soever he be delighted or beguile the hours all the day long in the night he is often haunted by his old familiar the Prior of St. Andrews whom ambition spight malice never suffered to take any rest This man put in the Governors head and made him believe that his endeavours and pains heretofore would prove but vain in settling the Government and that the peace of the Kingdom should never be lasting firm and permanent if so dangerous a Subject as the Lord Chamberlain remained alive whom neither rewards could soften nor honours and preferment oblige and make constant How many times had he been pardoned How often and without a cause had he returned again to his former Conspiracies Should the Governour of his own free-will or of necessity be moved to return to France what would not the boldness of this man attempt in his absence which his authority and presence could never curb and keep within compass the life of this man would be the death and total ruine of the Peace of the concord and harmony of the State bring forth nothing but dangerous and wicked effects the violence of ambition having pulled him from his own judgment Should he be challenged and put to a tryal of his Peers He could not shun the blow of Justice the cry of his oppression and wrongs having reached heaven A member so often in vain cured and still gangrened should be cut off The Governour whose Brains the Prior had now embrued with jealousies thought it no great matter upon the informations he had received to put the Chamberlain to a Tryal for if he proved not guilty it would be but to leave him in that state and case he was found in and calumnies though they do not born yet black Being come to Edenburgh he appointed a convention of the Nobility all which time he earnestly trafficked with the Friends of the Lord Chamberlain that he should not be absent the matters to be determined in Council concerning him nearly and he had need of his advice and council The Court and City being full of whisperings and expectation of some sudden change many dissuadeth the Chamberlain from appearing if he appeared that he would leave his Brother Master William a man equal in judgment and courage to himself behind He trained into false hopes by the blandishments of the Governour towards his friends and inveigled by presumption with his Brother and Sir Andrew called by the Country Lord David Car of Farnehast cometh to Court where they were with many ceremonies welcomed by the Governour with more than ordinary favours entertained and shortly after all three imprisoned produced in judgment to answer to such things as should be objected against them according to the Laws of the Kingdom and submitted to the Sentence of a Jury No new crime was laid to their charge James Earl of Murray the natural Son of the late King accused the Chamberlain of the death of his Father who by many witnesses was proved alive and seen to come from the Battel of Flowden This by pregnant evidences not being proved he was indicted of divers other points of Treason and his private faults are found out and laid against him they renew the memory of the late stirs of State and these disorders of which he was either the Author or accessary to them He had favoured and maintained the Factions Thefts and Robberies of wicked Malefactors on the Borders he had not honourably nor honestly carryed himself at the Battel of Flowden performing neither the duty of a Soldier nor Commander He had suffered the English to repair and of new fortifie the Castle of Norham which without either trouble to himself or danger to his Friends he might have hindred Of every of which points and particularities he not clearly justifying himself the Judges prepared and directed by the Governor whom they record to have given information of a hainous crime committed by the Chamberlain and his brother for the odiousness of it not to be revealed to the people pronounce him and his Brother guilty and condemn them to have their Heads cut off The day following the sentence was put in execution and their heads fixt on the most eminent part of the Town of Edenburgh David Car of Farnhast either by the Jury being declared not guilty as some have recorded or by the Corrupting of his Keepers as others or by the permission of the Governor escap'd this danger which brought the People to believe the Chamberlain was by his means entrapped To sink whom he put himself in hazard of drowning This Calamity of the family of the Humes being so ancient potent and couragious bred terrour and astonishmenr in many of the other Noblemen of the Kingdom and estranged their Hearts form the Governour his ears began to be after attentive to every rumour and his eyes pryed into each accident at last as if he were wearied with wrestling with the many disorders and cumbersome Factions of the Country he sought how by some fair way he might for a while return to France Embassadours being sent from King Francis to Scotland to renew the ancient League between the two Nations when the Nobles assembled to make choice of the man on whom they should transfer the honour of the accomplishment of so solemn an action and pass to France the Governour carryed the matter so by means of the French that it was conferred on himself but with this condition to entertain them with hopes of his Return that he should not stay above six Months out of the Country Having obtained this privileged absence of them his
Hume accepted that charge prosecute them where they might be apprehended till after much misery and night-wandring at home they were constrained with Alexander Drummond of Carnock who had been partaker of their misfortunes by his consanguinity with the Earls Mother who was Daughter to the Lord Drummond to fly into England where they were charitably received and honourably entertained by King Henry the Eight Now are the Offices and Lands of the Dowglasses disposed upon the Archbishop of Glasgow Gavin Dumbar is made Chancellor Robert Bartoun who was in especial favour with the King Treasurer great Customer General of the Artillery and Mines and other Charges are given unto others The King of England intended a War against the Emperor Charles the Fifth sendeth Embassadors to Scotland for a certain time to treat a Peace and if it were possible to reconcile the Dowglasses with the King Five years truce was resolved upon but for the Dowglasses the King would hearken to no offers only Alexander Drummond by the intercession of Robert Bartoun and the Embassadors had liberty to return home When the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Murray who had full power to conclude a Truce had met the other Commissioners upon the Borders the Factious great men and rank Ryders there put all in such a confusion by urging difficulties that they parted without agreeing unto any Articles or certain Conclusions which the King took in so evil a part that divining from what head this interruption sprung he committed sundry Noblemen to the Castle of Edenburgh till they gave Hostages and secured the Borders from invasion or being invaded In the month of June following with a great power he visited these bounds executing Justice upon all Oppressours Thieves and Out-Laws In Ewsdale eight and fourty notorious Riders are hung on growing Trees the most famous of which was John Arm-strong others he brought with him to Edenburgh for more publick Execution and Example as William Cockburn of Henderland Adam Scot of Tushelaw named King of Thieves The year 1530. the King instituted the Colledge of Justice before it was ambulatory removing from place to place by Circuits Suits of Law were peremptorily decided by Bayliffs Sheriffs and other Judges when any great and notable cause offered it self it was adjudged Soveraignly by the Kings Council which gave free audience to all the Subjects The power and priviledges of this Colledge was immediately confirmed by Pope Clement the Seventh In this Court are fifteen Judges ordinary eight of them being Spiritual Persons of the which the most antient is President and seven Temporal men The Chancellor of the Realm when he is present is above the President There are also four Councellors extraordinary removeable at the Princes pleasure This Institution is after that Order of Justice which is administred in Paris first instituted by Philip the Fourth the French King the year 1286. The King about this time storeth his Arsenals with all sort of Arms the Castles of Edenburgh Sterlin Dumbartoun and Blackness are repaired and furnisht with Ordnance and Ammunition Whilst no certain Truce is concluded between the Realms of England and Scotland the Earl of Angus worketh in this interim so with the King of England that Sir Edward Darcey is sent to the Borders who when his solicitation for restoring the Earl at the Scottish Court had taken no effect yea had been scorned after he had staied at Berwick with the Garrisoned Soldiers and some selected companies out of Northumberland and Westmerland maketh a Road into Scotland Coldingham Dunglas and adjacent Villages they burn ravage the Countrey towards Dunce Some Scottish Ships and Vessels were also at this time taken by Sea When a reason was sought of this Invasion in a Cessation of Arms and calm of Truce They require the Dowglasses may be restored to their ancient Inheritances and whatsoever had been with-held from them and that Cannabie a poor Abbacy be rendred to the English as appertaining of old to the Crown of England The Earl of Murray being declared Lieutenant maketh head against them but the English daily increasing in number and his Companies not being sufficient to make good against so many and large Incursions the power of Scotland is divided into four Quarters every one of which for the durance of fourty days by turns taketh the defence of the Countrey The English finding by this intercourse of new Soldiers the War to be prolonged would have gladly accepted of Peace but they disdained to sue for it to the Scots it was thought expedient that the French a Friend then to both should be a Mediatour to reconcile them wherupon after an Ambassador had come from France Commissioners first meet at Newcastle and after at London James Colvil of Easter Weyms Adam Otterburn of Redhall William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen the Abbot of Kinloss These conclude a Peace To continue between the two Realms during the two Princes lives and one year after the decease of him who should first depart this life About this time the secrets of the Ecclesiastical Doctrine and Authority beginning to be laid open to the view of the World the politick Government of Kingdomes began to suffer in the alteration and discovery The Lady Katherine Daughter to Ferdinando and Isabella King and Queen of Spain and Sister to the Mother of Charles the Fifth Emperor had been Married to Arthur Prince of Wales Eldest Son to Henry the Seventh King of England he dying by the dispensation of Pope Julius the Second her Father in Law gave her again in Marriage to Henry his other Son the Brother of Arthur This Queen though fruitful of Children and often a Mother brought none forth that long enjoyed life and came to any perfection of growth except one only Daughter Mary Her Husband either out of spleen against the Emperor Charles or desire of Male Children or other Causes known to himself pretended great scruples in his Conscience would make himself and the World believe that his Marriage was not lawful After deliberation with his Church-men whom he constrained to be of his mind he kept not longer company with his Queen his Church-men used all their eloquence to make the Queen accept of a Divorce which she altogether refused and had her recourse to the Pope who recals the cause to himself At Rome whilst in the consistory the case is made difficult and the matter prolonged King Henry impatient of delays and amorous divorceth from his own Queen and Marrieth Anne Bullen 1533. Then the Pope with his whole Cardinals gave out their Sentence That it was not lawful for him by his own authority to separate himself from his Wife that his Marriage with Katharine was most lawful not to be questioned and that under pain of Excommunication he should adhere unto her King Henry well experienced in the great Affairs of the World considering how the threatnings and thunders of the Bishops of Rome even in these ancient and innocent times when they were