exeeed That the time should be at the Feast of Saint Michael the Arch-Angel between the Harvest and the Winter which would hast the consummation of the Ceremonies and not suffer the Kings to prolong time but invite their return to their own chief and principal Cities When it was declared to the Lord Howard that the consent of the Nobles of the Kingdom obtained the enterview at the Feast of Michaelmas at Newcastle might be condescended unto he would neither accept of the place nor time His Master having already as matter he had never put in question made great preparations for this interview at York that he would think his offers slighted and an affront put upon him if any excuses were alledged to the contrary Thus with some bravadoes to the Council he departed The King to give satisfaction to his Uncle of his Councils proceedings with the Lord Howard sendeth after him Sir Adam Otterburn of Red-hall who layeth the fault of his not appearing upon the Lord Howard complaining That he menaced the Counsellors and would have forced their Votes that he was a Friend to Sir George Dowglass and other Rebels who convoyed him to Scotland and accompanied him back again It was against the credit and honour of free born Princes to be threatned what was friendly begun should friendly continue and end Princes should not be constrained especially in matters which were not of Debt but benevolence Amidst these importunities and solicitations King James with five well manned Ships taketh the Seas giving out a Voyage for France and the French record it was his first adventure to come to them but it is more likely this proceeded from Policy of State to try the affections and demeanour of the great ones of his Kingdom in his absence rather than any intended Voyage towards Forreigners For with this Fleet he arriveth at Orkenay there in some Forts placeth Garrisons sails about the Islands of Sky and Lewes surprizeth the chief of the Clannes of those Highland Islanders whom he sent for Hostages to the Castles of Dumbartoun and Edenburgh And when by the skill of one Alexander Lyndsay his Pilate he had sounded the remotest Rocks of his Kingdom he was driven by storms to take Land at Saint Ninians near Whitehorn in Galloway This Voyage bred great fear in those Islanders and Savages and brought long Peace and quietness to those Countreys thereafter At his Return to Edenburgh for Disorders committed or surmised in his absence most part of the great men near the Borders are charged to enter their Persons in Ward during the Kings pleasure Walter Scot of Balclough is committed to the Castle of Edenburgh the Lord Hume to the Castle of Down Farnehast to Faulkland the Laird of Johnstoun and Mark Car to Dundee and others elsewhere He knew the common Riders never made incursions without either the command or tolerance of these Superiors The remote High-lands and Borders made peaceable by the incarcerations of the Chiefs of the Clannes and Families there commanding he may when occasion is offered in Person visit any neighbour Prince or State To second his former Embassadors in their suit in France he had sent the Earl of Murray William Stuart Bishop of Aberdeen with others and King Francis in regard of the indisposition of his Daughter Magdalen had made an offer to them of his near Kins-woman The Kings mind having been long troubled with youthful thoughts by the many matches offered him and thinking marriages contracted and trusted to the eyes of others one way or other deficient resolveth to go in Person and Woe for himself Upon this resolution he imbarked at Leith concealing the intention of his Voyage many suppose he maketh for England to pacify his Uncle for many wished the same Whilst he is on the Ocean the Winds contrarying his Course a violent Tempest separating his Ships the Pilate asketh him to what Coast he should direct his Course To any thou best likest answered the King except towards England the Storm encreasing and sleep shutting up the Kings eyes these who accompanied him command the Pilate to turn sails again for Scotland and not struggle with the pittiless Element for matters which might be delayed and a little time could not turn worse so when the King awoke he found himself near his own Harbours upon the Forth and was so highly displeased with the Authors of his return that he never pardoned them the fault was laid on Sir James Hamiltoun and to stir him more against this man there wanted not who said His obedience to his Prince was dissembled that he accompanied his Master to no other end in his Voyage than to cross his intentions so far as was in his power The season thereafter being more fit for Navigation he ascendeth again his Ships at Kircaldy and with a prosperous wind the tenth day after arrived at Deep in Normandy The Earls of Arran Arguyl Rothes Arrol Lords Flemin Boyd attended him with many Barons and Knights the Earl of Murray young Lennox and Cassiles the Lord Areskin and Abbot of Arbroth expected him at Paris but he preventing the same of his coming with a small Train holdeth his way to Vandosm to see the Lady Mary of Burbon all which way one John Tennant personating the Lord of the Company he passed undescried But come to Vandosm whether the Lady had a Letter for the same from David Beatoun or that by matching the faces of one of those Strangers with a Pourtraict she had of King James in likeness as she said he was found out and challenged by the Lady of that fault which was easily confess'd and pardoned He found her very beautiful and eminent in all Princely excellencies but bethinking how he having choice of three Princesses all Daughters of Kings if he should fix his affection on this Lady at the first interview he should be obnoxious to the indignation of the other he returned as he came towards Roven where his Nobles attended him and having understood King Francis was to give the Emperour Battel in Provence quitting his Retinue he posted towards him The Daulphine meeteth him at the Chappel between Tarray and St. Sophorin in the Countrey of Lions King Francis receiveth him with as much honour as could be desired and convoyeth him to Paris the Peers of the Kingdom haste from all quarters hither to entertain this Strange Prince and the Court is changed into an Academy of Knightly exercise where King James proveth inferior to none in feats of Arms. Magdalen the Kings eldest Daughter is his Mistress a Lady fair young of a lovely countenance and comely behaviour above all others of the Kingdom The Lady Margaret her younger Sister who after was married to the Duke of Savoy is offered to him by reason of the tender and weak disposition of her Sister but Magdalen by the glaunces of her Princely Woer re-obtaining her health her body as it were following the Temperature of her Spirit or that it appeared to her self and
not much known before his Reign to the Nation Peace hath its own dangers no less than Wars yea often such estates as have encreased their Dominions and became mighty by Wars have found their ruin in a luxurious peace Men by a voluptuous life becoming less sensible of true honour The Court and by that example the Country was become too soft and delicate superfluous in all delights and pleasures Masques Banqueting gorgeous apparel revelling were not only licensed but studied and admired Nothing did please what was not strange and far brought Charity began to be restrained publique magnificence falling in private Riot What was wont to entertain whole Families and a train of goodly men was now spent in dressing of some little rooms and the womannish decking of the persons of some few Hermophradites To these the wise King had a while given way knowing that delicate soft times were more easie to be governed and a people given to mild arts and a sweet condition of life than rough and barbarous so they turned not altogether womanized and that it was an easie matter to bring them back again to their old posture At these abuses some of the severer sort of the Clergy began to carp yet could they not challenge the Prince who in the entertainment of his own person scarce exceeded the degree of any private Man yea was often under the Pomp and Majesty of a King But the blemish of all this excess was laid on the English who by the Queen their Country woman with new guises daily resorted hither and turned new-fangle the Court. The King not only listened to their plaints but called a Parliament to satisfie their humours Here Henry Wardlaw Bishop of S. Andrews highly aggravating the abuses and superfluities of Court and Country all disorders were pry'd into and Statutes made against them They abolished Riots of all sorts of Pearl many Rivers in Scotland affording them not only for use but for excess only women were permitted to wear a small Carkanet of them about their Necks costly Furs and Ermins were wholly forbidden together with the abuse of Gold and Silver lace Penalties were not only imposed upon the transgressours but on workmen which should make or sell them excessive expense in banqueting was restrained and dainties banished from the Tables of Epicures with Jeasters and Buffons In this year 1430. the first of June was a terrible Eclipse of the Sun at three of the clock afternoon the day turning black for the space of an half hour as though it had been Night therefore it was after called of the Commons The BLACK HOUR The last and greatest matter which busied the Kings thoughts was the encreasing of his Revenues and bringing back the Demesn of the Crown a work no less dangerous than deep and difficil and which at last procured him greatest hatred For till then smothered malice did never burst forth in open flames And though this diligence of the King concerned much the publick weal yet such as were interessed by rendring what they had long possessed though without all reason esteemed themselves highly wronged The Patrimony of the Crown had been wasted and given away by the two Governours to keep themselves popular and shun the envy of a factious Nobility Thus the King had neither in magnificence to maintain himself nor bestow upon his friends or strangers He had advisedly perused all evidences and charters belonging to the Crown hereupon he recalls all such Lands as had been either alienated from it or wrongfully usurped Together what was wont to be idly given away as forfeitures escheats and wards were restrained to the Crown and kept to the King himself There remained upon considerations of encreasing the Demesns of the Crown the Lands of the Earl of March whose Father had rebelled against the Kings Father Robert though faults be personal and not hereditary and the heirs of ancient houses hold little of their last possessours but of their Predecessours those the King seized on The Earl proved by good evidences and writings brought forth his Father had been pardoned for that fault by the Regents of the Kingdom he was answered again that it was not in the Regents power to pardon an offence against the State and that it was expresly provided by the Laws in crimes of Lese Majesty That children should undergo punishment for their Fathers transgressions to the end that being thus heirs to their Fathers rashness as they are to their Goods and Lands they should not at any time with vast ambition in the haughty Pride of their own Power plot or practise to shake and tear the Publick Peace of the Prince and Country Thus was the remission by the Parliament declared void and Earl George himself committed to the Castle at Edenbrough William Earl of Anguss Warden of the Middle March William Creightoun Chancellour Sir Adam Hepburn of Hailles immediately received the Castle of Dumbar the keeping of which was given to Sir Adam Hepburn The King not long after set Earl George at Liberty and to save him from the like dangers which were wont to befall his Predecessours to fly into England for every small cross and light displeasure at Court he bestowed on him as it were in exchange for these lands in the Marss the Earldom of Buchan in the North with a yearly pension to be paid out of the Earldom of March setting the Tay and the Forth betwixt him and his too kind friends of England Buchan had faln to the King by the decease of John who was Son to Robert the second and Earl of Buchan he was slain at Vernveill in France with the Marshal Duglass and left no lawful children after him to succeed The Earldom of Marre was incorporate also to the Demesn Royal by the decease of Alexander Stuart Earl of Marre who was natural Son to Alexander Stuart who was the Son of Robert the Second He was a Man of singular prowess and in his youth followed the Wars under Philip Duke of Burgundy he married Jane Daughter to the Earl of Holland and had greatly obliged his Country by transporting Stallions and Mares hither out of Hungary the Stood of which continued long after to his commendation and the commodity of the Kingdom The Earldom of Strathern was appropriated also to the Crown by the Decease of David Stuart Earl of Strathern Uncle to the King who having but one only Daughter who was married to Patrick Graham a younger brother of the Lord Grahams the Earldom being tailed to the Masculine Line was devolved again to the Crown Thus did King James succeed to three Brothers who were Sons to Robert the Second All good men with these proceedings of the King were well pleased for if Princes could keep their own and that which justly belongeth unto them they could not be urged to draw such extraordinary Subsidies from the blood sweat and tears of their people yet was this the Shelf on which this Prince perished for many who were accustomed
the Publick-weal of the Kingdom for his private Considerations That after this trouble of State he might be more esteemed and sought after by the King as it is ordinarily practised among Princes and great men who affect only that which is necessary unto them To these the Earl answered That they had went too far forwards to think of any cowardly retreat and coming back again that the only vertue under a Tyrant was to die constantly that other vertues did fight but constancy alone triumphed That for himself he would never trust his life to the mercy of those who under colour of friendship and banqueting had first made away his two Kinsmen and after his own Brother for if they being Innocents were thus handled what might he expect who had been the occasion of such distraction in the State He that once had broken his faith except by a surety is unable again in Law to contract and enter in Bond with any who will be surety between a King and his Subjects That Treaties Agreements Covenants Bargains of a Prince with rebellious Subjects engage him no farther no longer than the Term-time or day which pleaseth him to accept observe and keep them as they turn or may turn to his utility and advantage that as in Nature there is no regress found from privation to an habit so neither in State men once disgraced do return to their former Honours That Princes mortally hated all Subjects who had either attempted to over-rule them by power or had cast any terrour upon them and howsoever by constraint they bear sail for a time in the end they were sure pay-masters That there was nothing more contrary to a good Agreement then to appear to be too earnest and busie to seek to obtain it he would sue for none That all his days he had loved sincerity constancy and fidelity and could not unsay and recant what he had promised and practised nor do against his heart His friends and his own standing was by their Swords which should either advance their enterprizes and turn them Victor or they would die Honourably like themselves and Men and not ignobly be murdered like Beasts This free and dangerous resolution of the Earl moved many who heard to provide for their own safety and resolve not to suffer long misery for other mens folly finding this war was not like to have any end and that danger and death would be the only reward of their Rebellion Amongst others the Earl of Crawford after great adversity when he could not move the Earl of Dowglass to submit himself to the Kings clemency with many tears and protestations of his sincerity love and counsel to him left him and some weeks after as the King was in Progress in Anguss in a sad penitential manner accompanied with his best friends coming in his way with much humility and sorrow He acknowledged his fault pleading rather for pity to his house which had so long flourished than to his person The King knowing his example would be no small occasion to weaken the power of the Earl of Dowglass and that of all the Rebels he was the greatest object of his Clemency was content to receive him but he would have it done by the mediation of James Kennedy Bishop of St. Andrews and the Lord Creightoun once his greatest Enemies which he refused not to embrace Thus freely remitted with those who accompanied him he returned to his own House of Phanheaven where within few moneths he died of a burning Ague The three Estates after assembled at Edenburgh where James Earl of Dowglass the Countess Beatrix whom he kept by way of a pretended Marriage Archembald Dowglass Earl of Murray George Earl of Ormond John Dowglass Lord of Balveny with others their adherents friends and followers are Attainted of High Treason and their Lands and Goods are Confiscate and discerned to be seized on to the Kings use The Earldom of Murray is given to James Creighton who had married the eldest Daughter of the Earl of Murray but he perceiving he could not possess it in peace turned it back again to the King At this time George Creightoun was created Earl of Caithness William Hay Constable Earl of Arrol Darly Halles Boyd Lyle and Lorn Lords of Parliament the King maketh a rode into Galloway reducing every strong hold and Castle of the Country to his Power Dowglass-dale he abandoned to the spoil of the Souldier Matters at home turning desperate the Earl of Dowglass being brought to that pass that he knew not what to wish or fear James Hamilton of Cadyow is sent to England to invite the ancient enemy of the kingdom to take a part of her spoil and help to trouble the King But the English had greater business amongst themselves than could permit them to Wed the Quarrels of the Earl After Sir James Hamilton was returned with an excuse and regret that some of the English Lords could not supply their confusion but only by their counsel he advised the Earl of Dowglass to trust to his own Power and Forces which were sufficient measuring their Courage and not counting their Heads to hold good against the King There was no human affairs where men were not necessitated to run some danger nor any business taken in hand with such a certainty which by unknown causes and even light ones might not run a hazard of some mishap That he should study to embrace and accept of what was most honourable and least dangerous it was better once to try the worst then ever to be in fear of it it was fit for him to commit something to fortune and wisdom could counsel nothing but to shun the greatest evil This lingring war would not only tire but over-come and vanquish them when one fair day of battel either by death or victory would crown their desires Others advised him not to hazard upon a Battel except upon seen and approved advantage and to time it out a while in this lingring War a Truce might be agreed upon which ere long might turn in a Peace in which every thing passed might be forgotten and pardoned That Wars were managed more by occasions and times than by arms That the King could not be now but tyred since he had learned that by essaying by arms to overcome them he had gained nothing but trained up his Subjects whom he called Rebels in all Warlike Discipline and had his Country spoiled and the Policy defaced Should they once enter in blood all hopes were gone of any conditions of peace At this time the King besieged the Castle of Abercorn to relieve the besieged hither marcheth with all his Forces the Earl of Dowglass being come within view of the Kings Army he observeth their march slow the countenance of his Souldiers altered much whispering and their spirits in a manner dejected Countrymen were to Fight against Countrymen friends against friends and all against their Prince Interpreting this rather to proceed from their weariedness than
of James a Churchman proceeded rather from his own stubbornness than any male-talent the King had against him In all Nations it is observed that there are some Families fatal to the ruine of their Common-wealths and some persons fatal to the ruine of the Houses and Race of which they are descended Since in Kingdoms some have no compassion of their Prince nor the loss of his Honour a Prince should not much regret their loss nor the ruine of their persons and Estates His great clemency appeared in this That the heads taken away of that long Rebellion he followed no particular revenge upon their followers not only granting Pardons but forgetting the offences knowing it was better to heal and cure the faulty and sick members of a State than to abolish and cut them away and more valour for a Prince to overcome his own passions and just wrath than to vanquish and subdue his proudest enemies yet was not his clemency a soft weakness it being no less cruelty to forgive all than to spare none but an order and discretion in Justice temperate with severity towards some more than towards others according to their demerits He was very sensible of the afflictions of such as was distressed as witness the Countesses of Dowglass and Ross His life having set in the Orient of his Age and hopes he deserveth in the Records of Memory and Fame a place amongst the best but unfortunate Princes He had Issue of his Queen James who succeeded Alexander Duke of Albany John Earl of Mar Margaret Countess of Arran by the Boyd and after Lady Hamilton-Cecily He was buried with all Funeral-pomp within the Monastery of Holyrood-house at Edenburgh THE HISTORY OF THE Reign of James the Third KING of SCOTLAND THE Queen having tidings of the disaster of her Husband full of griefs and cares with her Son came to the Army at Roxburgh and the publick loss being revealed for till then it was whispered with more than a masculine Courage caused give new and desperate assaults to the Castle many Turrets being shaken some Gates broken parcels of walls beaten down the Mines ready in diverse quarters to Spring the Besieged ignorant of the Assailers misfortune and by the dissention of their Country-men from all hopes of relief treat upon a surrender conditions being obtained peaceably to depart with their lives and goods the Fortress is given up and shortly after that it should not be a Residence of oppression in following times is demolished and equall'd with the ground Iames III. king of Scots Ano. 1460 R. G. fecit The milder parts of the Kingdom reduced to order Some turbulent Chiefs of the Mountainers taking the occasion of the Non-age of the King and of Rumors of Dissentions amongst the Governours essay to trouble the Peace of their far and wild Countries Allan Lord of Lorn throweth his eldest Brother in close Prison with intention to rob him of his Life and Estate but he after is surprized by the Earl of Argile Donald of the Isles taketh the Castle of Innerness and placing there a Garrison proclaimeth himself King of the Isles compelling the neighbour Towns and simpler sort of people to pay him Taxes At the Rumor of this insolency all wicked Out-laws resort unto him by whose power he Invadeth the Castle of Blair in Athol out of which the Earl the Kings Uncle with his Lady once Countess of Dowglass flie and take Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Bride where the Church about them set on fire they were irreligiously taken and transported to the Island Ila Whilst the Governours were raising an Army and advancing such Forces as were in readiness against the Actors of these mischiefs they were ascertained that as these Savages were lanching forth of that Island in their Wherries and small Vessels made of boards and wicker by a violent tempest from Heaven the most part of them were dashed against the Rocks and drowned and those who had escaped were strucken with Pannick fears and deprived of their right judgments and understandings an ordinary accident to men blinded with Superstition and guilty of Murther and Sacriledge amidst which distractions the Earl of Athol with his Lady was safely returned to his own Castle MARGARET Queen of England after the second overthrow and taking of her Husband at Northampton with the Prince her Son and the new Duke of Somerset having fled to the Bishoprick of Durham whilst Richard Duke of York was establishing his Title and Right to the Crown at London raised in the North of Scots and English a strong Army which marched towards York the Duke of York leaving the King in the Custody of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick though he knew himself inferiour in power and number to his enemies by the pride of his former Victories and over-weening of his Souldiers valor with Edmund Earl of Rutland his younger Son the Earl of Salsbury and others rencountreth her at Wakefield-green and here by his own rashness with his Son young Rutland he is killed The Earl of Salisbury is taken and with other Prisoners beheaded at Pomfret Castle their Heads were fixed upon Poles about the Walls of the City of York that of the Dukes was mocked with a Paper Crown and exposed to the barbarous mirth of the beholders The Queen encouraged by this Victory desiring to disannul all Acts made lately in prejudice of her Husband marcheth couragiously towards London In which time Edward Earl of March Son to the late Duke of York overthrew the Earls of Pembrook and Ormond both of the Queens Faction at Mortimer-Cross in her way to London the Queen meeting the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Norfolk at St. Albans who carryed King Henry her Husband along with them overthrew them and recovered the person of her King It is observed that Victory always fled from where this King was present The Citizens of London at the approach of the Queens Army fearing Hostility shut their Gates against her and armed for resistance At this time Edward Earl of March having joyned his Victorious Army with the remainder of the Earl of Warwick's entred in triumph the City of London and with great applause and acclamations of the people was Proclaimed King Queen Margaret and her Faction retiring to the North wan so the hearts of that people that they gathered an Army able to stand for her defence consisting of Threescore thousand fighting men Edward Earl of March choosing rather to provoke than to expect his Enemies advanced towards them the place of their meeting was between Caxton and Tweton In this Fight the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Beaumont and Dacres Grey and Wells were slain and above Thirty six thousand English struck down the Dukes of Somerset and Excester flie to York to carry the News to the unfortunate King leaving the Victory to Edward who is again saluted King King Henry after this overthrow perceiving how desperate his hopes were in his own Country
of St. Andrews to his Tomb which in great magnificence he had raised in a Church builded by himself in the City of St. Andrews where also he Founded a Colledge of Philosophy and endowed it with many Priviledges and sufficient Endowments to entertain Professors By the death of this Prelate venerable for his Wisdom singular for his Justice and the tranquillity following his Government and magnificent in all his actions the glory of the Court and Country suffered a great Eclipse For he taken away the Boyds laying Foundations for their power and greatness began to turn all to their own advantage the first mark of their envy was Patrick Graham the Brother of Bishop James Kennedy by the Mother who was Sister to King James the First after this man had been chosen Bishop of St. Andrews as the Custom then was by the Chapter appointed for that Election he was barred from his Place and violently repulsed by the Faction at Court To repair which indignity he made a journey to Rome where being a Man noble by birth above others for his Learning and many Virtues in a little time by Pope Sixtus the Fourth he was re-established and confirmed in his Place During his abode at Rome the old Question concerning the liberty of the Church of Scotland began to be exagitated The Archbishop of York contested that he was Metropolitan of Scotland and that the Twelve Bishops of that Kingdom were subject to his Jurisdiction Patrick Graham remonstrated how the Archbishop of York considering the usual Wars between the two Kingdoms was often unacceptable to the Church-men of Scotland especially in Causes of appellation The Pope after the hearing of both Parties Erected the See of St. Andrews to the dignity of an Archbishops See and Patrick Graham not only was made Primate and Metropolitan of Scotland ordained to have the other Bishops under him but for the space of three years designed Legate for the Pope with full Power to Correct and Restore the Ecclesiastical Discipline and examine the Manners and Conversation of the Clergy Notwithstanding these favours of the Bishop of Rome and the worth and excellencies of the man himself he dared not return home to his own Country before the declining of the Fortunes of the Boyds This Family seemed now in the Zenith and Vertical point of its greatness no imputation could be laid to the Boyds in the time of their Government except that they brought the young King by their private working without the consent and approbation of the other Regents to Edenburgh for the assuming the Government in his Minority In approbation of their innocency and to warrant them from this danger the King in a Parliament declareth publickly that the Boyds were not the Authors and projectors of that business but only the Assisters of him and his followers being not formal but instrumentary causes of his coming to the Helm of the State himself That they were so far from being obnoxious to any blame or reproach for this deed that they deserved immortal thanks and an honourable Cuerdon in all time to come having obeyed him in that which was most just honest and expedient for the well of the Kingdom Upon this Declaration of the King the Lord Boyd required the present action might be registred amongst the Acts of Parliament and he obtained what was desired but not with that success was hoped for In this Parliament the other Regents are rid of their charge the Lord Boyd being made only Governor of the Kingdom and the object of all mens respects having the whole power and authority to minister justice of all kinds to the Subjects during the Kings non-age and till he had fully compleat one and twenty years the defence of the Kings Person of his Brothers the keeping of the two Ladies his Sisters are trusted unto him He hath all the Towns Castles Fortresses Sea-ports Places of Importance at his Command These proceedings of the Parliament seemed to some very strange in advancing Men already great enough and bestowing upon them all Offices of State and adding power to such who wanted only will to do mischief except that they knew well how to abase and pull them down again making their fall the more sudden Robert Lord Boyd having the Reins of Government in his hands and the custody of the Kings Sister dazelld with the Golden Sun of honour to lay more sure the foundation of his greatness joyneth in Marriage Thomas his eldest Son a youth of extraordinary endowments both of mind and body with Margaret the Kings eldest Sister Not long before designed by her Mother to have been given in Marriage to Edward Prince of Wales and he is created Earl of Arran The Father knowing how easily the conversation of young persons breedeth a liking had brought them up together which turning in a love and delight of others company concluded last in Marriage This match though royal great and rich instead of supporting the Fortunes of the Boyds much weakned them turning them the objects of envy The Nobles repined at it and the common people lighter than the wind and more variable than the Rain-bow made it the subject of their foolish discourses Now said they the Boyds aspire to the Crown for the King with his Brothers removed it appertaineth to them a Kingdom being the Dowry often of a Wife of the blood Royal. The Kennedies and such who disliked the present Government take the occasion of the discontentment of the Nobility and the Rumors of the people to shake the Kings mind towards the Governour and change the brawl of State To this end they give way to great and universal oppressions most of which were hatched and occasioned by themselves By these in a short time the Commons turn licentious and dissolute contemning all Government every man doing what seemed best in his own eyes and the Gentry divide in Factions Such who wont to live upon Rapine and Theft returned to their wonted Trades honest men are spoiled of their goods the seditious and wicked are maintained and defended against all Laws and Justice by their Parties The State thus troubled and all order confounded by slie and crafty men who at first pretended great friendship and interest towards the Boyds the Kings affection towards them is assailed and resolutions tryed Many times having been plausibly listened unto at last pulling off their masks they lay imputations against them They remonstrate to him what great disparagement was between the King of Scotlands eldest Sister and the Son of the Lord Boyd that by this match he was robbed of one of the fairest jewels of his Crown the Boyds should not have appropriated that to themselves of which they had only the keeping she should have been reserved for some Neighbour Prince by which Alliance the State of the Kingdom and the Person of the King might have been in great safety For if the King should chance to be infested by some insolent Nobility the name and power of
a neighbour Prince were sufficient to keep him safe on his Throne which by this match was endangered They suggested that the Boyds builded their estimation in the air of popular applause and endeavoured to endear themselves in the opinion of the multitude A Prince is not a Lord of that people that loveth another beter than him Should the Boyds be accused of peculate and robbing the King and the common Treasure the King might make a prey of their unlawful conquest and by their Attaindors reward the services of many of his necessitated friends it being acquired most part by spoils and the taxing of the Subjects unlawfully The height to which their riches was encreased should be feared the faults of all the disorders of the Commonwealth are laid upon the Boyds as the Authors of every breaking out and sedition that they might the more securely possess the places near the King At this time complaints from all parts of the Kingdom and by all sorts of persons incessantly being given unto him advance the intentions of their Enemies and the Kings mind naturally inclined to fears and superstition being long tossed and perplexed began to turn away from the Boyds and with their power in some degrees brought lower and lessened Preambles of Ruine but he would go leasurely to produce this effect and make one change bring forth another The King encreasing in years and youthful perturbations is counselled for the continuing of the Race and Succession and the keeping his Person without the common disorders of the world to think upon some match profitable for his Country and honourable for himself He is courted by many and courteth others the Duke of Burgundy had offered him his Daughter as to other Princes his friends and neighbours but his mind was not to have her married at all during his life-time Andrew Stwart Lord Evandale then Chancellour of the Kingdom with the Bishops of Glasgow and Orknay being sent Embassadours to Christern King of Denmark for an accommodation and taking up some business concerning the Isles of Orkenay and Schythland One thousand four hundred sixty eight the quarrel was taken away by a marriage to be celebrated between the King and Lady Margaret King Christerns daughter a Lady thought worthy of his bed in respect of the excellency of her beauty her royal descent and greatness of her birth All matters being agreed upon these Isles engaged for her Dowry there wanted only an honourable retinue and convoy to bring home the Lady To this Negotiation by the craft of some about the King and vanity of others who gloried to see their friend promoted to such great honour Thomas Earl of Arran as a man flourishing in fame and riches and able to maintain and discharge all magnificence is deputed as the fittest person Thus by the ambition and unattentiveness of his friends his worth was made the Scaffold of his Ruine the lamentable condition of men of high desert In the beginning of the Harvest accompanied with some young Noblemen and Gallants most of which were his select friends and well-wishers he ascendeth his ships Whilst as the King of Scotlands brother in law he is some months riotously entertained at the Danish Court the rigor of that Northern Climate by the congealing of the Ocean moored up his ships and barred all return till the following Spring In this absence of a man so near unto the King his Father and Uncle by age sickness and their private affairs not so frequently haunting the Court as they were accustomed the Kennedyes and they of the contrary Faction having shaken the Kings affection and broken these bands his pleasures idleness and vacancy from the publick affairs of the State by which the Boyds thought they had kept him sure move him now a little delighting in action to proceed to the consideration of such matters as might be objected against the Government of the Boyds But that this might not appear to be an act of Faction but the universal consent of the Kingdom apart a Parliament was summoned to be holden in November at Edenburgh Here Robert Lord Boyd with his brother Sir Alexander are summoned to answer in Judgment to such points as should be exhibited against them At the appointed day the Lord Boyd appeared but accompanied with such multitude of the common people and numbers of his friends vassals and followers all in arms with such ostentation and boasting that the King and Courtiers were well pleased to suffer them dissolve and scatter of their own free wills At this insolency and malepartness yet to our own time an usual custom in Scotland the King conceived such indignation that he raised a strong guard to attend justice and his commandments and laid secretly Forces to assist these if the Boyds should oppose his laws by convocation of the Lieges The Lord Boyd after private intelligence of the Minds of the Court to blow him up rather amazed than in choler at the change of his Masters mind fled into England his brother Sir Alexander arested by sickness and relying upon his own integrity more than he ought to have done considering the malice of his enemies was brought before the Parliament his brother and he were challenged that upon the tenth of July One thousand four hundred sixty six they laid hands upon the Kings Person and against his purpose brought him off the high way to the Castle of Calendar and that by their private power and consent contrary to the established order of the State and the other Regents advice they brought the King to Edenburgh when Sir Alexander sought to produce an act of Parliament for abolition of approbation of this deed as good service it was kept up and he being condemned had his Head cut off Their other accusations contained the topical faults of Favourites that they had enriched themselves out of the Kings Treasure monopolized things belonging to the Crown diminished the Revenues thereof removed worthy men from the Council placing such in their rooms as had dependency from them Thomas Earl of Arran employed in a Publick charge by the kingdom absent unheard is declared Rebel with his father and his moveables escheated to the King to his original faults was added that he dared marry the Kings Sister without consent of the States the King being of non-age At the noise of this thunder clap Robert Lord Boyd left this world at Anwick No sooner had the Spring rendred the Baltick Seas Navigable when the Danish Lady with her Fleet Anchored in the Forth The Earl of Arran who was the Paranymphe and her convoy in that general gladness by the persuasions of some of his friends was preparing to come on shore and to submit himself to the Kings clemency but his Lady who had afar discerned his danger coming abroad disguised and giving him particular information of the calamity of his house the weakness of his friends at Court and the many snares envy and malice had laid to surprise him he hoysted Sails
abolition for all was past and the Kings hand at it they doubted not to null and make it void All being done by a King constrained by a powerful Army and a close Prisoner which writing could not oblige any private man far less a King what he then bargained was upon constraint and yielded unto upon hopes of saving his life and an Act exacted by force The Duke of Albany finding by the Malice and detraction of a malignant Faction his Brothers countenance altered towards him and danger the requital of his late setting him at liberty the established reconciliation being shaken by suspicions and fancy of revenge obeying necessity fled to his Castle of Dumbar out of which he came to England to present to King Edward and the Duke of Gloucester the consideration of his grievances In his absence he is convinced of many points of Treason besides the being accessary to the taking of Berwick by the English As his dangerous and long intelligence with the King of England his sending of many Messengers at all occasions unto him That without any safe conduct or pass from his Brother and not so much as acquainting him he had left the Country come into England to devise Conspiracies against his King and native Kingdom The Lord Creighton as his friend associate and complice is forefeited with him against whom Informations were given That often and divers times under the pretence of hunting secretly with the Duke of Albany he rode into England and there meeting with Commissioners sent by King Edward he deliberated of matters concerning novations and of the altering the State That there he kept appointments with James Earl of Douglass the often quench'd fire-brand of his Country That in spight of the Kings Forces sent their to lie in Garrison he kept the Castle of Creighton The greatest discontent the King conceived against him was love to one of his Sisters and some feminine jealousies When the Duke understood the proceedings against himself and the Lord Creighton and that for their contumacy and not appearing to answer and give in their answer they were convict of Treason and their Lands to be seized upon He caused give up the Castle of Dumbar of which he was Lieutenant to King Edward who immediately placed by Sea a Garrison in it About this time Edward King of England left this World One thousand four hundred eighty three and his Brother Richard Duke of Gloucester did first take the name of Protector and Governour of the Kingdom of England and after his Brothers Sons put in the Tower and their Mother the Queen taking Sanctuary in the Month of June possest himself of the Crown The Duke of Albany finding that Richard by his change of Fortune had not changed his affection towards him imploreth his Aid in restoring him to his own and repairing not his wrongs alone but a wrong done in his sufferings to the King of England sith there was now an open breach of the Truce and Peace so solemnly by him set down and confirmed by his Brother If he could be furnished but with a few number of choice men of reputation and power to pass into Scotland and take a tryal of the Minds and good will of his Friends and Confederates he doubted not at his entring the Country to find numbers who by his presence would hazard upon the most desperate dangers Richard finding the man his Supplicant with whom he endeavoured once an entire friendship and whose advancement in Authority he had most studied condescendeth that five hundred men and Horses should be chosen upon the borders with others who were outlaws and necessitated sometime to make incursions and with James the old Earl of Douglass a man well known and renowned in the West-borders should make an in-road into Scotland The two and twentieth day of July the banished Champion having chosen a good number of their borderers put forward towards Loch-Maben to surprize a Fair spoil a publick Market seize upon all the Buyers and Sellers which here meet and Traffick every St. Magdalens Festival under pretence of Devotion and the liberty of Trading many English had hither resorted at the twelfth hour of the day when the Merchants and Country-people were in greatest security the Burse is Invaded and not Bloud but Wares sought after the Laird of Johnstoun who was Warden and Laird of Cockpool with many stout Borderers having Surveyed and Ridden through the places where the People were met to prevent and hinder all disorders and dangers at the noise of an Incursion of the English dispatch Posts to the adjacent bounds for supply and in the mean time rencounter the Plunderers of the Fair. Here is it Fought with greater courage than force and in a long continued Skirmish the danger of the loss stir'd up and incited the parties as much as Fame and Glory The day was near spent leaving the advantage to either side disputable when the supply of fresh men come to defend their Country and Friends turned the Fortune of the Fight and put the English borderers all to the rout The Duke of Albany by the swiftness of his Horse and the good attendance of his Servants winneth English ground but the Earl of Dowglass loaden and heavy with years and arms is taken by Robert Kirken-patrick who for that service got the lands of Kirk-michael and brought as in triumph to Edenburgh It is Recorded that when the Earl was come in the Kings presence he turn'd his back and refus'd to look him in the face considering the many outrages he had perpetrated against his Father and this late offence The King taken with the goodly personage gravity and great age of the man commiserating his long patience and cross fortune being in his young days designed to be a Church-man confin'd him as in a free Prison in the Abacy of Lyndores Besides he considered that when occasion served he might bring him out of this solitariness and in these turbulent times by his counsel and presence play more advantageously his game of State being a man of long experience in the affairs of the World and the most learned of all his Nobility He was now become tyred of the Earl of Anguss the remembrance of his first offence remaining deeply ingraven in his heart and to counterpoise his greatness this was the only weight The Duke of Albany found little better entertainment in England the Battel being lost some men taken and killed this being the first road upon Scotland under the Reign of Richard who had been formerly so fortunate in his own Person his Fame injur'd and reputation by this diminished the Duke began to be disliked and was not received with that kindness he was wont whereupon by the Assistance and Convoy of John Liddale he secretly retired to France After the Road of Lochmaben sundry incursions are made by the Scots upon the English borders and by the English upon the Scottish The Champian ground is scoured houses are burnt booties taken
do with him as he had done with his own Brothers That Force was the only means to work his safety and keep the Plotters of this mischief within bounds they also should take Arms to reduce the Government to a better form for that the Kingdom was oppressed with insupportable grievances the King being altogether given to follow the advice projects and counsels of base men to amass and gather great sums of mony from his People upon which he studied to maintain his Court and State and give away his own When the Engine was prepared for the People and spread abroad they sent to the Earl of Dowglass then closely as a Monk shut up in the Abby of Lyndores to come out be of the Party and assist them with his Counsel and Friends promising if their attempt had happy Success to restore him again to his ancient Possessions and Heritage former Dignities and the Places of Honour of his Ancestors The Earl whom time and long experience had made wary and circumspect having a suspicion the Earl of Anguss who possessed the greatest part of his estate had been the chief motioner of this liberty and that rather to try what he would do than that he minded really to set him free refused to come out of his Cloister And by his Letters dissuaded them from their bold enterprize against their Prince wishing they would set his house and himself for a pattern and President of Rebellion He sent to all such of his Friends whom his disasters had left unruined to take arms for the King as the Dowglasses of Kayvers and others The King neither losing courage nor councel for the greatness of the danger of the Rebellion trusting much to his good fortune with such Forces as came with him from the North in Captain Woods Ships and other Boats and Vessels prepared to that end passeth the Forth near the Blackness an old Fortress and Sea-port in West Lothian not far from the Castle of Abercorn and that place where the forces of the Earl of Dowglass left him and the King his Father obtained so harmless a Victory Before the arrival of the King at this Place the Earls of Montross Glencarn Lords Maxwel and Ruthven with others advertised by Letters of the Rendevouz hand come to the place had encamped and were attending him And he mustered a sufficient Army to rencounter the Lords of the association who from all quarters were assembled having with them the Prince to add Authority to their quarrel The two Armies being in readiness to decide their indifferences by a Battle the Earl of Athol the Kings Uncle so travailed between the Lords of either Party and the King that a suspension of Arms was agreed upon and reconcilement and the Earl of Athol rendred himself a pledge for the accomplishing of the Kings part of the reconcilement to the Lord Haylles and was sent to be kept in the Castle of Dumbar This was not a small fault of this Prince the Confederates Forces were not at this time equal to his neither had they essayed to hinder the Landing of his Army being but in gathering the Castle of Blackness was for his defence and his Ships traversing up and down the Forth in case of necessity for succour That if he had hazarded a Battle he had been near to have recovered all that reputation he had before lost Now upon either side some common Souldiers are disbanded some Gentlemen licensed to return to their own dwelling places The King in a peaceable manner retireth to the Castle of Edenburgh The Earl of Athol was now removed from him and many of the other Lords who loved him returned to their houses the Counsel of Man not being able to resist the determinations of God The Lords suspecting still the King to be implacable in their behalf and unacceptable in his Castle keeping the Prince always with them entring upon new Meditations hold sundry meetings how to have his Person in their Power and make him a Prey to their Ambitious designs The Town of Edenburgh is pestered with Troups of Armed Men the Villages about replenished with Souldiers The King warned of his danger fortifies of new the Castle of Edenburgh for his defence and is brought to such a tameness that resolving to do that with love of every Man which he feared in end he should be constrained unto with the universal hatred of all and his own damage and danger out of a passive Fortitude sent Commissioners indifferent Noblemen to the Lords and his Son to understand their intentions and what they meant Why his Son was kept from him and continued the head of their Faction Why his Uncle was so closely imprison'd and himself as it were blocked up by their tumultuous meetings in Arms He was content they should have an abolition of all that was past that their punishments should not be infinitely extended and that they should think upon a general agreement after the best and fittest manner they could devise and set it down They finding their offences flew higher than hope of Pardon could ascend unto Their suspitions and the conscience of their crime committed breeding such a distrust out of an apprehension of fear answered that they found no true meaning Open War was to be preferred to a peace full of deceit danger and fears that being assured he would weave out his begun projects against them they could not think of any safety nor have assurance of their lives nor fortunes unless he freely resigned the Title of his Crown and Realm in favour of his Son and voluntarily depose himself leaving the Government of the People and Kingdom to the Lords of his Parliament divesting himself wholly of his Royal dignity Neither would they come to any submission or capitulation until he consented to this main point and granted it submissively King James notwithstanding of this answer after a clear prospect of the inconveniences and mischiefs which were growing and the many injuries indignities and affronts put upon him yet really affecting a Peace sought unto Henry King of England as also to the Pope and King of France to make an attonement between him and his Subjects The Kings accordingly interposed their Mediation in a round and Princely manner not only by way of request and persuasion but also by way of Protestation and menace declaring that they thought it to be the common cause of all Kings if Subjects should be suffered to give Laws unto their Soveraign a Legitimate King though a Tyrant was not subordinate to the Authority of Subjects James was not a Tyrant his errours proceeding most part from youth and evil counsel That suppose the King had done them wrong it was not wisely done for a desire of revenge to endanger their particular Estates and the peace and standing of the whole Kingdom What State was there ever so pure but some corruption might creep into it That they should be very cautious how they shook the Frame of Monarchical Government too far
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
middle Ward which the King led with which now the Earl of Bothwel with the power of Lothian was joyned fought it out couragiously body against body and Sword to Sword Numbers upon either side falling till darkness and the black shadows of the Night forced as it were by consent of both a Retreat Neither of them understanding the fortune of the day and unto whom Victory appertained Many brave Scots did here fall esteemed to above Five thousand of the noblest and worthiest Families of the Kingdom who choosed rather to die than out-live their friends and Compatriots The King 's Natural Son Alexander Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews the Bishop of the Isles the Abbots of Inchjefray and Kill-winny the Earls of Crawford Mortoun Arguyl Lennox Arrel Cathness Bothwel Athol the Lords Elphinstoun Areskin Forbess Ross Lovet Saintclare Maxwell with his three Brothers Simple Borthwick Numbers of Gentlemen Balgowny Blacka-Towre Borchard Sir Alexander Seatoun Mackenny with Macklean George Master of Anguss and Sir William Dowglass of Glenbervy with some Two hundred Gentlemen of their name and Vassals were here slain The English left few less upon the place but most part of them being of the common sort of Souldiers and men of no great mark compared with so many Nobles killed and a King lost the number was not esteemed nor the loss thought any thing of The Companies of the Lord Hume had reserved themselves all the time of the Fight keeping their first Order and when by the Earl of Huntley he was required to relieve the Battalions where the King fought he is said to have answered That that man did well that day who stood and saved himself After the retreat his Followers gathered a great booty of the spoils of the slaughtered This Fight began September the Ninth about four of the clock after Noon and continued three hours the year One thousand five hundred and thirteen About the dawning of the next Morning the Lord Dacres with his Horse-Troops taking a view of the Field and seeing the brazen Ordnance of the Scots not transported with most part of the faln Bodies not rifled sendeth speedy advertisement to the Howards and the pensive Army inviting all to the setting up of Trophies Spoil and transporting of their great Ordnance to Berwick amongst which were seven Culverins of like size and making called the Seven Sisters Divers diversly report of the Fortune of the King We without affirming any thing for certain shall only set down what Fame hath published a false Witness often of Human Accidents and which many times by malignant brains is forged and by more malignant Ears received and believed The English hold that he was killed in this Battle the Scots that many in like Arms with the like Guards were killed every one of which was held for the King Amongst others Alexander Lord Elphinstoun his Favourite who had married Elizabeth Barley one of the Dames of Honour of Queen Margarite He was a man not unlike to the King in face and stature and representing him in Arms in the Field with the valiantest and most couragious of the Army fought it out and acting Heroically his part as a King was killed heaps of slaughtered bodies environing his In the search where the Fight was the number taleness furniture of the dead bodies being observed their Faces and Wounds viewed his body as if it breathed yet Majesty was amidst the others selected acknowledged for his Masters brought to Berwick and embalmed That it was not the body of the King the girdle of Iron which he ever wore and then was not found about him gave some though not certain testimony Some have Recorded that the fortune of the day inclining to the English four tall men mounted upon lusty Horses wearing upon the points of their Launces for cognoscances Streamers of Straw mounting the King on a Sorrel Hackney convoyed him far from the place of fight and that he was seen beyond the Tweed between Kelso and Dunce After which what became of him was uncertain Many hold he was killed in the Castle of Hume either by the intelligence between the English and the Lord Humes kindred or out of fear for they were at the slaughter of the Kings Father and the most violent in that Fight or of hopes of great fortunes which would follow innovations and the confusion of the State being men who liv'd best in a troubl'd Commonwealth and upon the Borders One Carr a follower of the Lord Humes that same night the Battle was fought thrust the Abbot of Kelso out of his Abbacy which he never durst attempt the King being alive Another David Carbreth in the time of John the Governour vaunted that however John wronged the Humes he was one of six who had abated the insolency of King James and brought him to know he was a Mortal To these is added that the Governour John not long hereafter cut of the Heads of the Lord Hume and his Brother without any known great cause The Common people ever more addicted to Superstition than Verity believed he was living and had passed over the Seas and according to his promise visited the Holy Sepulchre in Palestine There for his other offences and the bearing of Arms against his Father in Prayers and Pennance he spent the remainder of his tedious days That he would return again when he found opportunity and the necessity of Europe requir'd him This report was of as great truth as that which the Burgundians have of the Return of their Duke Charles after the Battle of Nancy most of them believing he escaped from the conflict He was lost the twenty and five year of his Reign the thirty and ninth of his Age the Ninth of September One thousand five hundred and thirteen This King was of a vigorous body his stature being neither too tall nor too low of a pleasant countenance of a pregnant wit but by the faults of the times in which he lived not polished with Letters He excelled in Horse-manship Fencing and Shooting By much watching slender diet and use he was enabled to endure all extremities of Weather Scarcity or want of rest with good health of body He was just in giving judgment in punishing Malefactors severe yet tractable and moderate With the peril of some few he restrained vices and rather shook the Sword than struck with it He knew there were some things though Princes might yet they ought not to do He was easie of access most courteous in speech and meek in answering every man He was so far from being overtaken with anger or other violent perturbations that he was never observed to have given an evil or disobliging word to any or that the colour of his face changed by any offence offered him or informations given him relying without passion upon his own magnanimity He was of a free and liberal disposition far from any ostentation As he understood well the Art of giving so to acquire and purchase he was not sufficient of
Traquare before the marrying of her and so by reason of that Precontract he could not be her lawful husband The Earl confesseth the Archbishop pronounceth the sentence of Divorcement but with this Reservation and Restraint That the Child come of the Queen and the Earl the time of their marriage by the ignorance of the Mother the Queen should not suffer any loss dammage or disadvantage The King of England resented highly this Divorcement endeavour'd by his Letters to hinder it for he thought some things tolerable in men which were incompetent and shameful in women and after never carried such respect to his Sister as he had done before Of these she made little reckoning for after the sentence given she married Henry Stuart Son to the Lord Evendale whom K. James to do honour to his Mother promoted to be Lord Meffan and General of his Artillery Whilst the King remained a shadow to the Earls Government amidst so many distractions discords and jars of the Grandees the Court turned solitary and unfrequented by any Noblemen save these of the Dowglasses own faction amongst which the Earl of Lennox shewed himself most indifferent For he for his own ends attending the Court in a short time so framed himself to the Kings humours that he delighted alone in his conversation and often had none of his inward thoughts and secret intentions from him Among others he many times importuned him to give him a sound advice how he might be delivered from the Earl of Anguss of whose bondage they had been long weary whose rule over him was now turned into tyranny his ambition having mounted to that height that he was not content to command the Kingdom but to thrall and keep under his Soveraign Lord the King himself that the effects of his Governing were the dispersing of his Nobles and banishing of his mother from him The Earl of Lennox who by his familiarity with the King was become suspicious of Anguss and had an intention to tumble out a man hated of his Prince establish himself in his place and rule the young King alone aggravating his and the Countries miseries told him after much intreaty The Lord of Balclough was the only person to be imployed in such a service a man of unlimited desires displeased strong in power mightily hated and who had inveterate hatred against the Earl of Anguss who wanted nothing but opportunity to execute his rancour If this conceived exploit had not a desired success then he himself would by main force either win his Prince or lose his life in the Enterprise The Laird of Balclough secretly advertised of the Kings intention giveth way to much oppression and many insolencies on the borders the redress of which re-acquired the presence of the Prince Complaints are given against them and the King to do justice companied with the Earls of Anguss Lennox Lords Hume Flamin Areskin Cesfoord Farnehast and others cometh to Jedbrough But when they had staied there some daies small redress was of wrongs no justice executed the chief men of the Borders not producing the Delinquents of their Names to answer according to law as was the ancient custom Thus as they came they were returning when at Melross as they hoverd at the passage of a Bridge over the Tweed certain companies of men in arms appeared on the descents of Hellidon Hill which being come within distance of discerning were known to be commanded by the Laird of Balclough and number'd a thousand all borderers and broken men The Earl of Anguss not a little mov'd at so sudden an apparition by an Herauld craveth to understand their intentions and how in such a hostile manner they dared come so near the Kings person withal charging them under pain of high Treason to retire The Laird of Balcloughs answer was he came to do the King service invite him to his house show him what forces he was able to raise upon the Borders when necessity should require his service and assistance That he would not obey a charge contrary to the Kings mind of which he was conscious and herewith he marched forwards Presently the Earl alighting on foot leaving the Earl of Lennox Lords Areskin Maxwell Sir George Dowglas Ninian Creightoun with the King as Spectators of the Game with the Lord Flammin and other his Friends marshall'd his Men for the Charge which was given with a great shout and clamor of these Borderers The Lord Hume Lairds of Farnehast and Cesfoord had taken their leave of the King who gladly dismist them but upon advertisement of the sudden fray being not far of they return in hast with an hundred Launces in good time for the Earl of Anguss and falling upon one of the Wings of Balcloughs troups force them to yield ground and some to turn their backs upon which suddenly followeth the Chase Cesfoord and Farnehast eagerly persewing Here at the descent of a little Hill by the blow of a Launce which a Domestick of Balcloughs threw from his Army the Laird of Cesfoord is slain and by his death the Chase left off to be follow'd and a long deadly fewd between the Scots and Cars was begun fourscore Borderers were kill'd in this bickering assisting Balclough himself was wounded with many of his friends the Earl of Anguss lost not a few besides the Laird of Cesfoord The Earl of Anguss after this road of Melross perceiving his enemies to increase and the affections of some of the Nobility turned from him composing the old difference between him and the Earl of Arran entered into condition of a strict friendship with him and was content he should be his partner and fellow governour in distribution of Casualities and ruling the Country When the King had considered how twice his intentions had been broken and unhappily without success he began to essay the third by the Earl of Lennox whom challenging of his promise he desired to gather an Army and joining his Forces with the Queens to restore him to his Liberty The Earl of Lennox before suspected after the League and friendship of the Earl of Anguss with the Earl of Arran became a declared enemy to Anguss withdrew himself from Court and some few Moneths being passed at Sterlin he maketh a Declaration to all the Lieges of his intentions inviting them to 〈◊〉 and side with his cause One thousand men came from the High-lands to him the Earl of Cassole and Master of Kilmayers come from the West with two thousand the Queen and Archbishop James Deutoun direct many of their Vassils from Fyffe to him Thus with three strong Briggades he marched towards Linlithgow The Earl of Anguss understanding these preparations to be against him imploreth the assistance of his best Friends to withstand them especially the Cars and Humes to whose valour he had lately been so far obliged He sendeth Letters to the Earl of Arran and the Gentlemen of the name of Hamiltoun regretting the estate of the Commonwealth requiring their speedy aid That in
the reformed Religion and preferred the friendship of King Henry his Uncle to his Neither was he herein far Mistaken for some feared not to send him word that they had learned the Church-men had set him on work to extirpate his antient Nobility as if it were an easie matter to create as many out of the Gentry in whom being his own Creatures he might have greater confidence than any made by his Predecessours After this he turned so retired sullen and melancholy that every thing displeased him and he became even insupportable to himself not suffering his Domestick Servants to use their ordinary disport and recreations near him And as all day he projected and figured to himself new cares to perplex himself some of which might fall forth others could never come to pass So in the night time the objects of his dayly projects of working upon his fantasie limmed their dark shadows of displeasures which gave him terrible affright in his sleep Amongst many of which two are recorded as notable one in the History of the Church the other common both seem to have been forged by the Men of those times who thought fictions as powerful to breed an opinion in discontented minds as verities and they may challenge a place in the poetical part of History As he lay in the Pallace of Lithgow about the midst of the night he leaped out of his Bed called for Lights commandeth his Servants to search Thomas Scot his Justice Clark who he said stood by his Bed-side accompanied with hideous weights cursing the time that ever he had served him for by too great obedience to him he was by the justice of God condemned to everlasting torments Whilst they about him laboured to cure his wounded Imagination news came that Thomas Scot about the same hour of the Night was departed to the other World at Edenburgh and with no better Devotion than he was represented to the King After Sir James Hamiltoun had ended his part of this Tragicomedy of life he seemed to the King to have returned on the Stage and in a ghastly manner with a naked Sword in his hands he thought he parted both his arms from him advertising him he would come again shortly and be more fully revenged till which occasion he should suffer these wounds The next day after this vision which is recorded to have been the seventh of August word came that both his Sons were deceased and that almost in one hour James the Prince then one year old at St. Andrews Arthur one moneth old at Sterlin The King of England finding himself disappointed by his Nephew of their meeting and understanding it to have been occasioned by the Rhetorick and liberality of the Churchmen having many of the Nobility of Scotland of his faction whose innocency interpreted his Religion to be the reformed though indeed it was of his own stamp for he abolished the Pope but not Papacy by making prizes of Scottish Ships upon the Seas with his Fleet and incursions of his garrison'd Souldiers upon land beginneth the prologue of an unnecessary war King James to stop the English incursions placeth George Gordoun Earl of Huntley with his full power and authority at the Borders and directeth James Lermound of Darcey towards his Uncle to give sufficient reasons of his not meeting him at Newcastle withal to seek restitution of his Ships sith taken before any lawful War was proclaimed and to expostulate the hostility of the Borderers King Henry not only refuseth to render the Ships or give a reason for the breaking forth of the Garrisons on the Borders but delaying the answer of the Scottish Embassadour upon advantage of time sendeth Sir Robert Bowes seconded with the Earl of Anguss and Sir George Dowglass in hostile manner to invade Scotland These to the number of three thousand burn spoil small villages and ravage the Country near the debatable bounds The Earl of Huntley omitteth no occasion to resist them places garrisons in Kelso and Jedburgh assembling all the hardy Borderers and invadeth the English and Scottish forces at a Place named Hall-dan rig here it is soundly skirmished till the Lord Hume by the advancing of four hundred fresh Launces turned the fortune of the Day for the English were put to flight the Warden Sir Robert Bowes Captain of Norham Sir William Mowbray James Dowglass of Parkhead with the natural Son of the Earl of Anguss were taken Prisoners the Earl by the advantage of his horse escaping with others to the number of six hundred The Warden staied in Scotland till the Kings death This Road happened prosperously to the Scots the 24 of August 1541. being a Dise-mall St. Bartholomew to the English The War continuing till Midsumer King Henry sent the Earl of Norfolk whom he named the Rod of the Scots with great power towards Scotland with him the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Camberland Surrey Hereford Anguss Rutland and the Lords of the North parts of England with an Army of fourty thousand men as they were esteemed With them he directeth James Lermound of Darcey the Scottish Embassadour to keep an equal march till they came to Berwick and there to stay that he should not give advertisement to his Master of any of his proceedings the Earl of Huntley upon advantages of places resisting the adventuring Routs who essayed to cross the Tweed But King James hearing the old Duke of Norfork was their Leader raiseth from all the parts of his Kingdom Companies and assembling them upon Sawtery-edge mustered thirty thousand men They encamped on Falla-Moor the King having advertisement that the Duke would march towards Edenburgh Ten thousand strong the Lords Hume Seatoun Areskin to make up the Earl of Huntleys forces are sent towards the borders The King himself expecting the Artillery and other furniture of War staieth with the body of the Army in the Camp During this time it is reported the Lords plotted a Reformation of the Court according to the example practised at Lawder-Bridge especially against such who were named Pensioners of the Priests but because they could not agree among themselves about those who should stretch the ropes every one striving to save his kinsman or friend they escaped all the danger That this attempt being revealed to the King he dismist some of his favourites in great fear to Edenburgh So malitious is faction armed with power Thomas Duke of Norfolk by such in the Scottish Camp who favoured King Henry having understood the preparation and mind of King James to meet him in an open field well knowing that Fortune had that much of a woman to favour young men more than old and that honourable retreats are no waies inferiour to brave Charges retireth off the Scottish ground and keeps his Forces on their own Marches For the valour and resolution of this young Prince might perhaps spoil and divest him of his former purchased Lawrels and Palms to the applause of King Henry who some thought being weary of his service to
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
ye do not uphold the French now in the Sun-set of their Fortunes and at their weakest that ye would not shoulder this falling wall but that ye would live quiet within your selves keeping your own in a Neutrality receiving both sides French and English in the way of Friendship neither side in the way of Faction The French Embassadour spoke to this purpose It seemeth strange to me that it should be questioned and fall within the Circle of deliberation whether old ever true and assured Friends or old never trusted and only Enemies should in an honourable suit be preferred whether ye should stand to a Nation which in your greatest calamities never abandoned you or embrace and be carried away with one which hath ever sought your overthrow The English sue for your alliance and friendship but it is to make you leave your old Confederates and turn the instruments of their ruine and at last bring the yoke of bondage upon your selves The French sue for your friendship and alliance both to support themselves and hold servitude from you were not your friendship with France their power policy and number had long ere these days over-turned your Realm or had France but shown her self an indifferent Arbitress of the blows between Scotland and England ye had scarce till now kept your Name less your Liberties can ye prove so ungrateful as not to supply them who supported you Can ye prove so unconstant after so many glorious wounds received in the defence of France as cowardly to turn your backs upon her in her greatest need defacing all the Traces of your former Fame and Glory with what countenances could ye look upon those Scots which at Vernueill and Cravant in the Bed of honour left their lives if unrevenged ye should adhere and joyn your selves to their Enemies and Killers Now though ye would forsake the French at this time intangled in many difficulties not regarding their well being nor be solicitous of their standing at least be careful of your own It cannot subsist with your well and safety to suffer a bordering Nation always at enmity with you to arise to that height and power by such an addition as is the Kingdom of France so soon as a State hath a Neighbour strong enough and able to subdue it it is no more to be esteemed a free Estate The English are already become so Potent that no less than united forces of neighbour Kingdoms will serve to stop the current of their fortune Neglect not the certain love of the French your often tryed and ancient friends for the uncertain friendship and within a little time forgotten Alliances of the English your late reconciled Enemies But it may be after mutual marriages have one day joyned your two Kingdoms in one they will seek no preheminency over your State nor make thrall your Kingdom but be knit up with you in a perfect union Do not small brooks lose their names when they commix their Streams with mighty Rivers and are not Rivers ingolfed when they mingle their waters with the Seas Ye enjoy now a kind of mixed Government my Lords not living under absolute Soveraignty your King proceedeth with you more by Prayers and Requests than by Precepts and Commandments and is rather your Head than Soveraign as ruling a Nation not conquered But when ye shall be joyned in a Body with that Kingdom which is absolutely Royal and purely Monarchical having long suffered the Laws of a Conquerour ye shall find a change and a terrible transformation The free managing of your own affairs shall be taken from you Laws Magistracies Honours shall depend on them the wealth of your Kingdom shall be transferred to theirs which to obey and prostrate your selves unto if ye be found stubborn ye shall suffer as a Nation Conquered be redacted in a Province have Deputies and Governours set over you Garrisons in your strongest holds and Castles and by a calm of Peace and Union receive more fearful blowes than ye could have suffered by any Tempest of War The miseries of a most lamentable Servitude What courtesie can ye expect at their hands who contrary to all divine and human Laws detained your King eighteen years prisoner and besides an exorbitant Ransom as if he had been taken in a lawful war did not without Hostages send him home We of France did never forsake you in your extremities and we expect ye will assist us with all your power They are in suit of your Daughter but it is long after she was assured unto us in claiming her we claim but our own this time past ye have only had the custody and education of her yet if they be so ambitious of your Alliance God hath blessed you with more than this But it is not that which they sue for it is to make you disclaim your Friends hate those which love you and love them which hate you and they are working upon you as a rude unpolisht people They offer to render you Berwick and Roxburgh these gifts of Enemies ought to be feared they know it is in their own power to re-obtain them when they please As for that point wherein they would have you indifferent spectators of the blowes and that it shall be profitable for you not to meddle with this War ye are too near engaged neither is there any thing can be more dammageable unto you for if ye be not of the party ye may assure your selves that your Country shall remain a Prey and reward to the Conquerour with content and applause of the vanquished who is not bound to succour those who refuse to assist and help him in his necessities Prove firm and constant to us your first Confederates combine your Forces with ours and by the assistance of that Supreme Providence who pittieth at last the oppressed we have fair certainties and true hopes to cut so much work abroad to the English that they shall do little or no harm to you at home The King and Nobles though it seemed more profitable for the present time to follow the English weighing their offers yet held it more advantageous and sure for coming times to follow the French for if the English should make conquest of France the Conquest of Scotland would scarce be one Months work to their power and for matter of Allyance God knows how little Princes regard it when occasion is offered to enlarge their power and Dominion Thereupon they declare they will not break the ancient League and Peace they have kept with France The English Embassadours denyed of their suit went from Prayers and Requests to threatnings and menacings and having friendship refused denounced War If the King gave his Daughter to the French that they if they could would hinder her passage by Sea having already a Fleet prepared to this effect and thus went away the English Embassadours The King was so far from being moved by these threatnings that immediately he made ready his Ships and knowing more
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
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
Duke word the golden Age could not be fram'd nor arms taken for the good of the Commonwealth nor the State alter'd without the sequestring of those from the King who misgovern'd him And these could not be remov'd by that power which was amongst themselves without great danger and trouble considering the Kings Faction and the Malignant Party If King Edward would agree to the raising of an Army in England in favour of the Duke of Albany and for restoring him to his Places and Inheritance out of which he was most unjustly ejected and other pretences of which they should afford the occasions which no way should do harm to the Kingdom of Scotland disorder'd already and laid waste more by the licence of a Tyrant in Peace than it could have been by War and at this time bestow upon them favours as they might one day hereafter challenge to receive the like the Nobility of Scotland should be ready with another Army not to fight but to seize upon the Kings Favourites and misgovernors of the State for which the English should have many thanks That this Enterprize could not but prove most successful the hatred of the Commons considered against such violent oppressions The King was fallen into so low esteem that assaulted by the English he would be constrain'd by the submission of his Crown to intreat for safety The King of England understanding this was to touch the finest string of State and Dominion for it is a matter of much consequence and main importance to defend the Subjects of another Prince for under this Mask and pretence of protecting the Liberties of a People of assistance and aid an Usurpation and oppression of all Liberty might be hidden and many have established and setled themselves in those Kingdoms which they came to relieve from Tyranny and the Oppression of their Rulers keeping by Force what was granted to them at first by way of trust and under the colour of helping usurped a Sovereignty agreeth easily to what was demanded and resolved upon The Lords of the Association to play more covertly their Game and mask their intentions the Commons ever suffering and paying for the faults and errors of the great ones give way for the breaking loose of the Borderers Fierce incursions by the English are made upon Scotland and by the Scots upon England some Villages on either side are burnt The secrecy to this business which was inviolably observed was of great importance which is the principal knot and tye of great affairs Rumours are spread that the Dukes of Gloucester and Albany with James late Earl of Dowglass and Alexander Jerdan and Patrick Halyburton men proscrib'd and upon whose heads a price was set were at Anwick with a powerful Army and in their march towards Kelso The King wakned out of his Trances by the Alarms of his Nobility and clamors of the People made Proclamations to all between sixty years and sixteen to meet him at Edenburgh and to be in readiness to oppose their old enemies of England now come upon the Borders After many delayes and much loytering an Army is assembled by the Nobility which consisted of Two and twenty thousand and five hundred and a number of Carts charged with small Ordinance New Incursions being blazed to have been made by the English the King amidst these Troops marched to Lawder The Army was encamped and all things Ordered the best way the occasion could suffer them little or nothing being left to Fortune if the English should Invade whom the Lords knew were not at all yet gathered and though gathered and in a Body and upon the Borders or nearer would never Invade them The King at this time is marvellously perplexed and become suspicious of the intentions of his Nobility in this Army in this confusion of thoughts fell upon two extreames In his demeanor and conversation too familiar and inward with his old Domestick Servants and Favourites which rendred them insolent believing the bare Name of King to be sufficient whilst weakness and simplicity had made him despised and them hated and too retired reserved and estranged from his Nobility which made them malicious This he did as his pensiveness conjectured that his Nobles should not attempt any thing to the prejudice of his royal Authority independant of any Council But what he most feared came to pass he resolved and dispatched all matters by his Cabinet Counsel where the Surveyor of his Buildings was better acquainted with the affairs of the State than the gravest of his Nobility This preposterous course of favour made the great men of the Kingdom to fall headlong upon their rash though long projected attempt After many private conferences in their Pavillions the Chiefs of the Insurrection as the Earls of Anguss Lennox Huntley the Lords Gray Lile and others about Midnight come together in the Church of Lawder with many Barons and Gentlemen Here every of them urging the necessity of the times and the dangers the Commonwealth was like to fall into requireth speedy resolutions and having before premeditated deliberated and concluded what to follow they draw up a League and confederation of mutual adherence in this order Forasmuch as the King suffereth himself to be governed by mean persons and men of no account to the contempt of the Nobility and his best Subjects and to the great loss of the Commons The Confederates considering the imminent dangers of the Kingdom shall endeavour to separate the Kings Majesty from these naughty upstarts who abuse his Name and Authority and despise of all good men and have a care that the Commonwealth receive no dammage And in this quarrel they shall all stand mutually every one to the defence of another The design agreed upon and the Confederacy sworn the Chiefs of them in Arms enter the Kings Pavillion where after they had challenged him of many misorders in his Government contrary to his Honour the Laws and good of his Kingdom they took Sir William Roger a man from a Musitian promoted to be a Knight James Homill Robert Cochran who of a Surveyor of his works was made Earl of Mar or as some mitigate that Title Intromittor and taker up of the Rents of that Earldom by whose device some Authors have alledged copper moneys had been coyned by which a dearth was brought amongst the Commons which as others have recorded was an unjust imputation for that copper money was coined in the Minority of the King in the time of the Government of the Boyds with others All these being convicted by the clamours of the Army were immediately hanged upon the Lidder John Ramsey a youth of eighteen years of age by the intreaties prayers embraces of the King was preserved Thus they the late objects of envy were turn'd and become the objects of pity and compassion The body of the Commons and the Gentry of the Kingdom by this notorious act at Lawder being engaged and being made partakers of the Quarrel of the discontented Noblemen
and for their own safety tyed to second and assist all their intentions and to advance their ends The King is conveyed to Edenburgh and shortly after he either enclosed himself in the Maiden Castle as his Lodging or which is more probable was there by the contrary Faction committed as his Prison the Earl of Athol and some other Lords being appointed to attend him During this time the general humours of the Kingdom being ripe for mischief Alexander Duke of Albany every thing falling right as it was plotted prevailed so with King Edward that the Duke of Gloucester the King of Englands brother with the Title of Lieutenant General for him set forwards toward Scotland The Army consisted of Two and twenty thousand and five hundred In his retinue went of the Nobility Henry Earl of Northumberland Thomas Lord Stanley with them was the Duke of Albany The Earl of Dowglass came not being reserved for an after-game The Duke of Albany having been before Commander of Berwick and a Man who was still in his absence beloved of that Garrison diverted the Duke of Gloucester from Anwick where he had incamped in June to assail the Town of Berwick By his intelligence they enter the Town without great opposition and it is given up to their discretion The Castle by the Lord Hails the Captain was made good against their assaults The Duke of Gloucester fore-seeing that this Siege would spend much time considering the uncertainty of events and being invited to march forward by the Lords of the association of Scotland committing the charge of assailing the Castle to the Lord Stanley Sir John Elrington and Sir William Parr with the body of the Army marched directly to Edenburgh The Country lay open to their Invasion no Army taking the Field to oppose them they came in Scotland the twentieth day of August One thousand four hundred eighty two 1482. The Army encamped at Restlerig the Duke himself entred the Town of Edenburgh which at the intreaty of the Duke of Albany who was his Harbinger he spar'd receiving such presents as the Citizens offered unto him His entry seeming rather a Triumph than Hostile Invasion The King being shut up from him and immured in the Castle the Duke by a publick writing at the Market Places gave out high Demands That King James should perform what he had Covenanted with his Brother King Edward That he should give satisfaction for the Damage done the English during the last Inroads of the Borders which if he refused to accomplish he as Lieutenant to his Brother was to exact of him and take satisfaction of his Country denouncing him open War and proclaiming him all Hostility King James forsaken of his People and wronged by his Lords laying aside his Passions and taking to him more moderate and discreet thoughts as a Man in Prison answered nothing to his Demands The Lords who by their Kings misfortune had reckon'd their felicity having obtain'd what they chiefly desir'd to obviate the common and last danger the thraldom of their Kingdom by these strangers whom they had drawn into the Country for the recovery of their liberties assemble themselves together at Hadington with some Companies not to Fight but to Supplicate They sent the Lord Darnley and the Elected Bishop of Murray to entreat a suspension of Arms and require a firm and lasting Peace for time to come The beginning of the War and taking of Arms was for the safety of this the neighbour Country of England miserably thral'd by a licentious Prince there was nothing more unworthy of a King or Republick than not to keep their promis'd Faith The English could have no colour for executing their indignation further upon this Country which already by the rapine of their own Men was impoverish'd and unmanur'd Only now to be recover'd by entertaining Peace with their Neighbours and amongst themselves They require that the Marriage contracted between the Prince of Rothesay and Lady Cicily King Edwards Daughter might be accomplish'd when it should please the King of England and the age of the two Princes might suffer it For any spoil taken in these last incursions the interest considered upon both sides satisfaction should be given out of the publick contributions The Duke of Gloucester as forgetting and seeming not to know the grounds of their coming into the Country and looking to nothing more than his own Fame and Glory Answer'd his coming into Scotland was to right the honour of his Country so often violated and to restore the Duke of Albanie unjustly commanded to Exile to his own native soyl and the dignity of his Birth as concerning the Marriage of the Prince of Scotland with the Daughter of England He knew not how his Brothers resolution stood at the present whereupon he requir'd repayment of the monys lent to their King upon their first agreement and withal a delivery of the Castle of Berwick up into his hands or if they could not make the Castle to be render'd they should give their oaths upon the holy Evangelists that they should neither assist the Besieged or harm the Besiegers till the Castle were either by Force taken or upon fair conditions rendred The Lords having received this Answer yielded freely to all the Conditions except they found themselves perplexed in the rendring of Berwick it being a Town of old appertaining to the Crown of Scotland though by force and Violence the English had a long time kept it That did not take away their right and Title After much contesting agreeing to the surrender of Berwick they desired that the Walls of the Town should be demolished that it might not be a place of Tyranny and Incursion over their bordering Countries No arguments could prevail against the Duke of Gloucesters Resolutions and being stronger in Power he persever'd in his demands and in all likelihood this was agreed upon between the Duke of Albany and the Confederate Lords and the English before their entring Scotland Thus the Castle and Town of Berwick returned to the English the Twenty fourth of August One thousand four hundred eighty two after it had been delivered by Queen Margarite to gain Sanctuary for her Husband King Henry when expelled England and remained in the Possession of the Scots twenty and one years They likewise appointed a day for restitution of all the Monys lent by King Edward and promised upon a full discussion to make satisfaction for all dammages done the English by any Inroad of the Scottish Borders For the Duke of Albanies provision whose safety was principally pretended in this Expedition a general Pardon was promised for him and all his followers Together with an abolition of all discontents whereby he had given unto him the Castle of Dumbar with the Earldoms of Mar and March he should be reinvested in all his former Dignities and Places and by consent of the Nobility of Scotland he was Proclaimed Lieutenant of the Kingdom The Peace Proclaimed the Duke of Gloucester in
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
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
better at the hands of the Scots and that the Duke of Albany should have deputed men of their own nation to have governed them and not a stranger being a people delighting in Misgovernment ever well pleased at the Falls and tragical ends of their Rulers and joying to see any hard hap happen to them they deem happy The Bishop of Dunkell who had accompanied the Governour to France used such diligence at the Court that he was imployed to be the first Messenger to the Country of the great promises and many Ceremonies of the French at the confirmation of the League with their protestations for the preserving and maintaining the Liberties of the Kingdom of Scotland against all who would essay to empair them Not long after arrived the Earl of Lennox and an Herauld with Letters from King Francis and the Governour amplifying and putting a larger gloss on the same But when by other Letters the Queen and Nobles had received certain intelligence that King Francis and the King of England had composed their Quarrels entred in a new band of Amity a defensive League being passed between them Tournay rendred to the French promises upon either side solemnly made for a Match to be between the Daulphine of France eldest son to King Francis and the eldest daughter of Henry King of England when age should enable them for marriage and that in the large Treaty of Peace not one word was set down for the quietness and help of those who for the quarrel of France hast lost their King and endangered their whole Kingdom no care had of their welfare and prosperity they stormed not a little and thought their lives and travels evil imployed Then with as great hast as such a matter required they dispatched Letters back again to the Governour blotted with complaints and expostulations The year following to excuse his oversight the French King sent a Reason why he had not made mention of the Scottish nation in his league with England He had studied to give satisfaction to some of the Scottish Nobility obliquely touching the Duke of Albany whose minds he knew to be altogether averse from any peace or Truce with the English nation whose undaunted Spirits and great courages were only bent to revenge the deaths of their King Kinsmen and Compations This evasion not giving satisfaction to the best advised of the Council the French King interposed his endeavours with King Henry to have a cessation of arms for as short a time as he could devise Whereupon Clarencieux and one la Fiot coming to Scotland the one from the King of England the other from the French King a Truce was concluded between the two Kingdoms for one year and a whole day The reason of this Truce was thought mostly to be for that the Kings of England and France the next Summer were to have an interview and with all Princely courtesies entertain each other The Kingdom began to be sensible of the absence of the Governour factions increasing the Commons suffering dayly outrages the Nobility and Gentry deciding their Rights by their Swords The Earl of Rothsay and the Lord Lindsay contending which should be Sheriff of Fyfe with tumultuary arms invade each other and hardly by the Deputies were restrain'd till the one was committed to the Castle of Dumbar and the other to the Castle of Dumbartoun Robert Blackadour Prior of Coldingham with six of his Domestick Servants is killed by the Laird of Wedderburn The King out of a suspition that the plague was in Edenburgh being transported to the Castle of Dalkieth by the Convey of the Earl of Arran who was then Provost of the Town it being the season when the Townsmen make election of their Magistrates for the year following when the Earl was returned and sought to enter the Town he found the Gates shut upon him by the Citizens who alledged he came to invade their liberties in the free choice of their Magistrates the tumult continueth the most part of the night and the next morning early the people dividing in factions and skirmishing in the streets a Deacon of the Crafts is killed by the faction of the Hamiltons which alienated the minds of the Townsmen altogether from the Earl of Arran and made them encline to the Earl of Anguss some of whose friends and followers had rescued some of the Citizens and taken part with others which made many after conceive this discord was plotted by some Noblemen enemies to the Earl of Arran amongst which the Earl of Anguss was the chief After this tumult the Earl of Anguss and Arran sought likewise to cross each other in their proceedings the one maintaining the enemies of the other who had a quarrel against the Earl Arran the Earl of Anguss befriended him as the Earl of Arran supported and sided those who had any discontent against Earl of Anguss A suit falling between the Earl of Anguss and David Car Laird of Farnehast about the Ballywick of Jedbrough Forrest the Lands appertained to the Earl the Title and power to fit Judge belonged to the Lairds of Farnehast Sir James Hamilton the natural Son of the Earl of Arran assisted the Laird of Farnehast and besides those who out of good will friendship kindred vassalage did follow him he gathered fourty Souldiers such as were found upon the Borders men living upon Spoil and rapine to be of his parry The Laird of Cesfoord then Warden of the Marches who with his Counsel and Force sided the Earl of Anguss at the Rumour of the approach of Sir James to Jedbrough encountreth him and his fourty Hirelings abandoning him in his greatest danger Cesfoord killing some of his followers brought to make use of his spurs towards the Castle of Hume where after a long chase he got Sanctuary The day following the Laird of Farnehast held a Court in the Town of Jedbrough as Baily to the Earl of Anguss and the Earl himself kept his Court three miles distant in Jed-ward Forrest In the month of May after certain Noblemen assembled at Edenburgh to accommodate all quarrels and make an atonement between the Dowglasses and Hamiltons Many Lords of the West here meet attending the Earl of Arran the Earls of Lennox Eglintoun Cassiles the Lords Ross Simple the Bishop of Galloway Abbot of Pasley The Provost of the Town of Edenburgh Archembald Dowglas of Kilspyndie Uncle or Cousen Germain to the Earl of Anguss yielded up his place to Robert Logan Laird of Restlerig The Lords of the West by the advice of James Beatoun Chancellour in whose House they often assembled laid a plot to surprize the Earl of Anguss then attended but by some few of his Friends and as it were solitary they thought him too great and insolent a Subject to whose power never one of theirs alone was equal in all points and they had many things to challenge him upon when the Governour should return The Earl of Anguss forewarned of their intention imployed the Bishop of
Gavin Dumbar whom the King after advanced to be Chancellor of the Kingdom The Governour resenting highly the slighting of the Embassadours by the King of England but more the contempt and scorn of the Scottish Nobility in refusing to follow him in October by the West Seas past over to France promising that if a peace in this mean time were not concluded with England he would the next Summer bring such War-like Briggades of French and Germans that he should not stand much in need of his own Countrymen who had continued so refractory and backward to his designs He demanded from King Francis five thousand German Horsemen and ten thousand foot to be transported to Scotland which with the Scots who would accompany him he thought sufficient to continue a War with England The French could not spare so many men having Wars both with the Emperour and the English but they gave him three thousand Pikes and one thousand Launces The Governour intending to return to Scotland receiving intelligence that the Ports towards the coasts of France were watched by the English to intrap him in his passage bestowed his Ships so covertly here and there in small companies to avoid all suspition of any purpose he had to stir that year as that thereupon the English Fleet under the Conduct of Sir William Fitz-Williams which had attended and waited his coming forth until the Midst of August brake up bestowed themselves in convenient Ports against the next spring The Duke then watching opportunity and readily gathering together his dispersed Ships to the number of some fifty Sail imbarked his men at Brest in Bretaign the one and twenty of September and landed at Kirkowbry or the Isle of Arran in the West of Scotland In his company was Richard de la Pool who had been banished England and to his power faithfully assisted the Governour He arrived the same time that Jedbrough was burnt by the English for Thomas Earl of Surrey high Admiral of England the Marquess of Dorset and his Brother with a competent power entring Scotland had burnt many Towns and overthrown Castles and Piles At his coming the Duke assembled the Lords at Edenburgh where they agreed that an Army should forthwith be gathered and the 28. of October was appointed for their meeting at Dowglass-dale At the day prefixt the Army marched towards Coldstream upon the Tweed Out of this Army the Governour having selected a number of the hardiest Souldiers of Scots and French and convoying some Artillery over the water under the command of David Car of Farnehast on the last of October they besieged the Castle of Wark which was defended by Edward Lile or Lisle The Assailants upon the outmost Ward continuing their Battery entred by main force the second Ward but being there repulsed and beaten back a great Tempest arising and fearing the swelling of the River of Tweed might cut them off from their Army on the other side they turned back and repassed the Water the Report of the Earl of Surreys forces come to rescue the Castle and lying Anwick had also perplexed them not a little the Earl of Surrey at his approach finding the Enemy retired to the other side of the River the Castle safe and having no Commission to pass the English marches or to invade Scotland made no further pursuit In the mean time the Queen who had ever sought to make firm friendship with her Brother and break the amity of France sent to him to yield to a cessation of War hoping in that time to work some agreement between the two Nations Whereunto the King consenting the Governour finding the Scottish Lords averse to his intentions that he was this time served as he had been before they refusing still to enter upon England and that striving would but the more chafe them also condescended Thus a Truce was promised and faithful peace concluded till the last of November being the Feast of St. Andrews the Winter past without any invasion of the English on Scotland or the Scots on England During the time of this Truce many serious consultations were amongst the Lords of Scotland whether it were more fit to continue this War or give it over Many of them held it unreasonable that for the only pleasure of the French King the Realm of Scotland should suffer any more damage by the Contiuning of so needless a War and that the Duke of Albany was alwaies set to perform what the French desired not what was expedient for the Scottish Nation nor what was in their possibility to accomplish Wherefore they wished that their young King now having attained some years of discretion and passing the age of a Child might bear some sway in the Government of the Realm Some argued that a King sooner than the Sons of Noblemen went out of the bondage of Tutelage and enjoyed greater immunities his age often being reckoned from the time of his conception That the administration and charge of the Kingdom should early be given him that he might with his years grow in the 〈◊〉 of Governing Since we find the same to be usual in the perfection of other arts and Sciences Others entertained other thoughts That to a child who could not by the weakness of his judgment discern Right from Wrong the Helm of State should not be trusted and that the Peers of the Kingdom might be challeng'd of dotage by their Neighbor Countreys for giving to a Child the Sword of Justice which he might thrust in their own entrails one day or wound therewith the bosom of the Commonwealth The Governour finding the Lords divided amongst themselves and their reasons averse to his intentions and that not only the people but the Souldiery were weary of him and had bent their affections upon their young King foolishly preferring the ignorance and simplicity of a child to his prudency experience and long practice of State requested them to give him leave to return to France and to forgive him any errour he had committed which he protested was of ignorance not of malice Having from men distasted with him without any opposition obtained what he required far from any outward shew of inward discontentment or disquieting himself at the ingratitude of some whom he had advanced to Honors he came to Sterlin where after some days stay with the King when he had given him such instructions of State as he was able to understand for he was but then in the thirteenth year of his Age with many tokens of love and demonstrations of sincere affection he took his leave of him and his Ships attending his passage on the West with a great retinue of Scots and French he held his way towards them and recommended him self to the Sea in the Spring time now the third time for France after which he return'd not at all into Scotland He was a Prince adorned with many Virtues Active Couragious Resolute and knew how to use men as they are If he had not been
and surpass the affection of their hearts So in this Nation the affection of their hearts is far above all they can express by words Daign then Sir from the highest of Majesty to look down on their lowness and embrace it accept the homage of their humble minds accept their grateful zeal and for deeds accept that great good will which they have ever carried to the high deserts of your Ancestors And shall ever to your own and your Royal Race whilst those rocks shall be overshadowed with buildings buildings inhabited by men and while men be induced either with Counsel or Courage or enjoy any piece of Reason Sense or Life An Apologetical Letter March 2. 1635. My Lord IN a time when men for reading of Papers concerning State are challenged it must be a great hazard to write them and a greater to send them from home and the most to send them to one so near the Helm as is your Lordship who the next day perhaps may put in the Princes hands what is sent him And then though what is set down may be free of great faults yet must it pass and be understood as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it But what Marius Geminus said to Julius Caesar may be said to King Charles Caesar qui apud te audent dicere magnitudinem tuam ignorant qui non audent humanitatem And writing to your Lordship I know to whom I write Thus the way of glory lying near the Gates of danger I have adventured this sheet of Paper of which I beseech your Lordship to be both Judge and Patron What a noise hath been raised in this Countrey by prosecuting a piece of writing supposed to be derogatory to the Honour of the Kings Majesty No times have been without such men Wise men keep their thoughts locked up in the Cabinets of their Breasts and suffer the faults of times patiently Fools rail cry out but amend nothing What ever advice hath been given for the putting of Libellers to the extremity of Law I would say with all humble respect to grave Statesmen that in a matter of a Calumny and reproach with Subjects a Prince can do nothing more fitting his own fame and reputation than to slight and contemn them as belonging nothing to him and that 't were better to neglect than be too curious in searching after the Authors So Theodosius Honorius Arcadius were wont to say If any man speak ill of the Emperour if he do it of lightness it is to be contemned if of madness to be pittied if of injury to be remitted And Alexander the Great used to say Regium est benefacere male audire or as Plutarch reporteth it Regium est a quibus male audias magis esse iis beneficum Nero otherwise a terrible Prince when that Pasquil was given out against him Quis neget Aencae magna de stirpe Neronem Sustulit hic Matrem sustulit ille Patrem Or as DION citeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nero Orestes Alcmaeon Matricidae He took no notice of it followed not the Writers with any punishment sought them not as ye find in Suetonius Et quosdam ad Judicem delatos ad Senatum affici graviore poena prohibuit Writings which we scorn and make none account or themselves vanish and turn into nought If we chafe and fret it would appear that we have been therein touched and vively see in them our own faults and misdemeanor taxed and laid open If these Papers for the Kings honour were not to be seen and read or if they did derogate to the fame of the Nobles why were they not suppressed and hidden But is this the way to suppress and hide them To imprison arraign banish execute the persons near whom they are found Or is it not rather to turn them a piece of the Story of the Time to make such a noise about them and by seeking to avoid the smoak to fall into the fire What we would most evite and shun to be the Authors to bring upon our own heads What gained Queen Elizabeth the twenty three of her Reign by cutting off the hands of Stubbes and Page on a Scaffold for writing that Book against her Marriage with the Duke of Anjou save that out of horror of that new and unpractised punishment the People acknowledged her to be the right and not uncertain Daughter of King Henry the Eight and she began to be feared where before she was beloved of her Subjects Whom a People fear they hate and whom they hate they wish taken away A Prince should be more violent in revenging other mens quarrels than his own That unfortunate Duke of Buckingham in the time of Richard the Third could make good use against the Succession of the Race of Edward the Fourth in his Speech to the Commons of London by remembring them of the strange proceedings of King Edward against a Merchant named Burdet who dwelling at the Sign of the Crown and having said to his Son that after his death he would make him Heritor of the Crown meaning his own House was for this Tale in four hours after quartered which blot is eternally fixed to that Prince In the Reign of King Richard the Third who had ever known that Pasquil against three of his Courtiers Louell Ratcliff and Catsby The Rat the Cat and Louel that Dog Rule all England under the Hog If his Tyranny had not been mightily extended against that poor Gentleman Collingburn the Maker of it Ye will say it is in a Princes power to suppress such Papers by Authority That is the only way to make all men seek them and being found highly prize them Tacitus telleth us of certain Verses of Fabricius Viento against Church-men and Senators which were condemned to be burnt as long as the reading and finding of them was dangerous they were much sought for and with danger read but being afterwards licentiate to be read and the liberty of having them obtained they were forgotten and no man cared for them No Prince how great soever can abolish Pens nor will Memorials of ages be extinguished by present power the posterity rendring to every one his due honour and blame It is true that great men should direct their great care to Fame and hold nothing more dear unto them and he who contemneth it neglecteth those actions by which it is acquired But it is pitty men should be more careful and studious of fame for times to come in which they are not than of honesty in the present times in which they live Sometimes it is great wisdom in a Prince not to reject and disdain them who freely tell him his duty and open to him his misdemeanours to the Common-wealth and the surmises and umbrages of his People and Council for the amending disorders and bettering the form of his Government As if a man should tell King Charles That there is none in all his Kingdoms here can reckon himself Lord of his own Goods
That they would accordingly resent and Revenge it Rage prevailing against Reason and fears the Lords made that same answer to these Embassadours which they had sent to the King himself before As for the Popes Embassie which was sent by Adrian de Castello an Italian Legate was coming and the Lords fearing the danger of it for in those times it might have drawn the most part of all the Towns and the Commons for fear of Ecclesiastical Censures to have adhered to the King or stood in an indifferency made all possible haste before it should have been delivered to make Head against their Soveraign and decide their Quarrel in a Battle Urban the Fourth Armed Henry the Third King of England against all those that would not return to their due and old obedience to him and all his disloyal Subjects The King was in a strong Fort and if he had remained still there matters in a little time had faln forth more to his wishes and his Enemies might have been brought to a submission for his good Subjects of the North as the Forbesses Oguilbuyes the Graunts Frazeres Meldrums many of the Gordounes Keethes and others who adhered to him out of affection and duty were advancing towards him But whether misinformed or betrayed by some of his own who made him believe that unless he could command the Country about Edenburgh the Castle was of no such importance as was the Castle of Sterlin for him in consideration of the passage over the River of Forth at a Bridge for those were coming to his Aid The Lords of the Association counterfeiting a Retreat and dispersing themselves in the Country that they might draw him from that Hold he rashly and unadvisedly issued out of the Castle and left his beloved Town of Edenburgh The Earls of Montross Glencarn Lords Maxwel and Ruthen accompanied him to the Blackness his Forces here encreasing he marched towards Sterlin the Rendevous and destinated Place of meeting for all his Loyal Subjects there he displayed his Royal Standard Here the perfidious Constable an unparralleld example of ingratitude who had betrayed the Son in an Hostile manner kept the Father out of his own Castle Cannons mounted Pistols cockt and level'd at him and exposed him a prey to his Rebels In the amazement and deliberation what to go about being thus shut out of his Castle Tidings came to him That the Confederates were come near to Falkirk a little Town six miles Eastward from Sterlin that his Army should not be discouraged by this unexpected accident trusting to his right and present Power being more stout than prudent he resolveth to set all upon the hazard of a Battle The Confederates had passed the Carron a River under the Falkirk and were encamped above the Bridge near the Torwood The King set forwards with his Army upon the otherside of the Torwood near a small brook named Sawchy-Burn This field is a Plain not far distant from that Bannoch-burn where King Robert the Bruce overthrew the great Army of Edward Carnarvan Here both Armies advance forward in Battel array The Lords rang'd their Host in three Squadrons the Vanguard was led by the Lords Hume and Hailles and their friends consisting of East Lothian and March-men The middle ward was composed of the Liddesdale Annandale Ewesdale Tiviotdale Tweddale Galloway-men the main Battle was of West Lothian-men where most of the Lords were and amongst whom the Prince was kept In the Kings Army the Earl of Monteeth Lords Aresken Graham Ruthen Maxwel commanded the Vanguard The left wing which consisted of Westland and Highland men was committed to the Earl of Glencarn The Lords Boyd Lyndesay the Earl of Crawford commanded in the Rear or great Battel amongst whom was the King armed from head to foot upon a great Coursier easie to be known and discern'd from the rest The first Charge is valiantly given and Launce meeting with Launce the Vanguard of the Lords began to yield ground and was strongly repulsed But the next Charge being given by Annandale Men and the ranck Riders of the Borders The middle ward of the Kings Army is beaten back to the main Battle Notwithstanding of which it is Fought a while with marvellous obstination and great hardiness and assurance until the Standard Royal was beaten down and those who defended it were slain the violence of the bickering being mostly where it was planted The Kings Army now beginning to bow not being sufficient to resist the numbers of fresh Assailers the Horse-men obeying no direction turned their backs In this rowt and confusion of Horse and Foot-men the King seeking to retire towards the River of Forth where not far off some Boats and the Ships of Sir Andrew Wood attended the fortune of Battel by the fall of his Horse in leaping a Ditch being sore bruised was carried by such who knew him not to a Mill at Bannoch-Burn The day was now the Confederates and wrong had prevailed against Right when the Prince of Rothsay amazed at the noise and clamours of the flying and following Souldiers and in suspition of the worst gave out express and strait Commandment with threatnings to the Disobeyers that none should presume to pursue his Father nor others in the Chase Notwithstanding which he was followed and killed in a Mill in cold Blood These who followed him were the Lord Gray Robert Sterling of Keer Sir Andrew Borthick a Priest whom Fame reporteth after shiriving to have stobb'd him with a Dagger The Ensigns taken the Army dissipated and put to flight the Baggage rifled the Death of the King being rumoured through the Armies the Victors turned slow in the chase and gave field-room to all that would fly no severity being used against any found unarm'd for the Lords of the Association pursu'd the King not the People The discomfited fled towards Sterlin the victorious retir'd to their Camp and the next morning to Linlithgow On the Kings side Alexander Cunningham Earl of Glencarn was slain and as some have Recorded the Lords Areskin Simple Ruthven John Ramsey of Balmayn created Earl of Bothwell and his chief favourite with their friends and Vassals the Laird of Inneys Alexander Scot Director of the Chancery with some Noblemens Friends and Vassals many were hurt who recovered of their wounds and this Battle seem'd rather a brave encounter and meeting of Launces in some Lists than a Field of great deeds of Arms and the Victory was obtained rather by disorder and the rashness of the Vanquished than by the Valour of the Victorious This Battle was Fought the year One thousand four hundred eighty eight the Eleventh day of June which is the Festival of St. Barnabas the Twenty ninth year of the Reign and thirty five of the Age of this King He had issue James the Fourth who succeeded Alexander Arch-bishop of St. Andrews and John Earl of Marr The Conspirators with all funeral Rites and Royal Pomp as in expiation of the wrongs they had done him living near his