sent out 30. Harquebusiers to their aide and a barrell of Powder on horseback By this new supply they drove back Mortons horsemen as fast as they had followed them before but while they are in filling of their measures out of the barrell the Powder being fired by some of their Matches killed and hurt some 24. or 30. amongst whom was Captain Melvin that did keep the barrell and distribute the Powder By this mean the losse on both sides was almost equall safe that there were moe killed of the Citizens and more of Mortons made prisoners having followed too eagerly at a straight place called the Queens Bridges This fell out the 2. of June Not long after this Morton was advertised that they of Edinburgh were gone to Leith to intercept Captain Weemes and 100. Souldiers who had served in Denmark and now being come home were waged by the Kings side They had gone to Fyfe and having refreshed themselves there a little while were now coming over to Leith to enter into the Kings service and some 24. of them being in a little Ferrie-Boat were taken by the enemie and carried to the Castle of Edinburgh the rest being in a prettie good big Barke arrived safe at Leith Morton came thither too late for the men of Edinburgh were all gone ere he came save some 10. or 12. whom he took and kept for the Souldiers that were carried away Morton lay long at Leith during which time there fell out a notable conflict and the most memorable that happened all the time of that Warre The Queen of England laboured to mediate a peace between the parties and for that purpose had commanded Sir William Drury Marshall of Berwick to deale with them and trie what conditions of agreement he could bring them to Drury went to Stirlin to the Regent he did also speak with Morton and was now come to Edinburgh to take his leave of them there seeing he could do no good nor prevaile with either side Morton in the mean time being wearied with watching and excessive paines and travell tormented also with a vehement sit of the Colick kept his bed which they at Edinburgh having notice of either to take advantage of his sicknes or to brave them of Leith in the presence sight of Drury to make him beleeve that they were the stronger and hardier they issue forth of the Town and march toward Leith having ordered and ranked their men as ready to give battell This was the 10. of June in time of their Parliament where the chief of their faction was present and did make Huntley Lieutenant for Queen Mary He with the Abbot of Kilwinning and Master John Metellane Priour of Coldinghame had the leading of the foot Balcleugh and Farnihaste were Captains of the horse These came as farre as the hill where the Gibbet useth to stand called commonly the Gallow-Law not farre from Leith Morton understanding hereof by the watch esteeming it a great indignitie and affront that they should offer to come so near to the place where he was forgetting his own sicknesse and infirmitie rose out of his bed and caused sound the Trumpets and beat up the Drummes and marching out of the Town set his men in order within halfe a mile and lesse of the enemie Sir William Drury rode betwixt the Armies and made them promise not to fight that day but then there arose a question which of them should retire first Morton alledged that those of Edinburgh ought to do it because they came out first and were in a manner the provokers But Drury to decide the controversie desired that when he standing in the mid-way betwixt them should give a signe they should both retire together at the same instant Morton was content but the other partie refused flatly threatning withall that unlesse he retired first they would make him do it with shame and would scarcely forbear till Drury withdrew himself who when he could not prevaile with them went aside and looked on saying GOD shew the right Morton who had yeelded before not out of fear but onely to satisfie the English thinking that he had done enough to show his moderation unto them began to march toward the enemie There were with him 3. Companies of foot which were Mercenaries under the leading of Captain Thomas Crawford David Hume of Fishick and Captain Weemes who was come out of Denmark all expert and valiant Captains Besides these there were some Voluntiers of the Townsmen of Leith and of Edinburgh also who had left the City to follow the Kings side The horsemen about 130. were conducted by William Douglas of Drumlenrigge James Hume of Coldinknowes and one Jordan of Aplegirth Morton had about himself a Company of Pikemen and such as carried Speares and long Weapons The fore-named Captains began the fight and made the enemies shot quickly to give ground and drave them back The horsemen in like manner beat the Rebels horsemen and routed them which Huntley perceiving fled also as they did There was no head or resistance at all made against them save onely by a few of the foot men in the Abbey Church-yard who made shew as if they would have defended that place of advantage but they were quickly forced to leave it and flee with the rest For some of them being slain some trampled under foot and divers crushed to death in the throng and crowde the rest ran away so disorderly and fearfully that they forgot to shut the Citie-gates and fled straight to the Castle And so great was their fear and confusion that if the followers had not been too much bent and eagerly set upon the pillage and spoyle they might easily have entred and taken the City There were slain in this fight about some 50. of whom Gawin Hamilton Abbot of Kilwinning was one there were 150. taken prisoners the chief of which was the Lord Hume being a little hurt by the falling of his horse James Culen Captain of a foot Company and a Kinsman of the Earle of Huntleyes had hid himself in a poor wives Aumerie and being found was drawne out from thence by the heeles and brought to Leith There so soon as the people saw him they made a great noise and clamour desiring that he might not be spared but punished according to his deserts For in the time of the Civill Warre at home hee had behaved himself both covetously and cruelly more like a thief and robber than a Captain or generous Souldier and abroad in France he was very infamous for many vile and base pranks he had played there And in the Warre betwixt Sweden and Denmark he had taken Money of both Kings to levie men and promised to aide both but performed to neither For these things besides many moe foule and horrible crimes which he had committed hee was publickly executed to the great contentment of all the commons Sir William Drury when he saw how things went contrary to his desire as
hate most honour brings Of George Master of Angus and sonne to Archbald the first HIs eldest son as hath been said was George slain at Flowdon designed commonly by the appellation of Master of Angus He was married to Elizabeth Drummond daughter to the Lord Drummond of whom we told how he defeated the Earle of Lennox His children by her were three sonnes First Archbald afterward Earle of Angus Secondly Sir George of Pittendrich Thirdly William Priour of Colding hame His daughters were First the Lady Yester Secondly the Lady Basse. Thirdly Jeane Lady Glames Fourthly Alison married first to Robert Blackader of Blackader and afterward to Sir David Hume of Wedderburne Fifthly the Lady Drumlanerige as I take it Also they mention a sixth married to a Baron in the North whom they name not neither do I know who he should be His age at his death to reckon from the 15. year of his fathers age in the 1469. to the year of his own death at Flowdon 1513. was not above 44. His actions because he never came to be Earle are not recorded Some dealing there was betwixt him as Governour of Liddisdale and the Lord Dacres in England with whose Deputies he agrees to meet at Dumfreis for doing of Justice in the year 1489. the year after the King was killed at Bannock-burne So at Cannabie he met with the Lord Dacres himself where they accorded not well For they intended both to send to the Councels of both Nations to have their determination of their differences He agrees the same year with Sir Robert Lundie of Bagonie Treasurer for a generall remission to Ewsdalde Eskdale and Niddisdale which I think should rather be Liddisdale for a 1000. pounds being at this time not above 20. years of age not out of Curatorie by the Laws though that was in his fathers hands Yet we see also Courts held in his name by his Bailiffs as a retoure of Adam Ker to some Lands in Selkrig in the said year which makes me to think he hath been then married Also he it is as we told above that excambes the Lands of Liddisdale for Bothwell with Patrick Earle Bothwell resigning the Lands of Liddisdale and the King disponing them upon the resignation in the year 1492. upon what reason either the Earle Bothwelshould have affected these or he preferred the other and not thought himself as fit to rule that unruly Countrey as any other I have not heard But it was done in his fathers life time who was no fool when he was in his greatest vogue the first three years of King James the fourth He allies afterward with this same Earl Bothwel marrying his sonne Archbald to his daughter but that must be long after except that he hath been married young as some say he was In the year 1510. he indents for the marriage of his fourth daughter Alison to Robert Blackaders sonne and apparent heir to Andrew Blackader of that Ilk. Her portion 300. marks the terms 1. at the compleating 40. pounds and 20. pounds at the feast of Martimasse next after and so 20. pounds termly till it were payed That same year he is infeft in Abernethie And this is all we have of him which we have set down chiefly for his children and the Historie that followeth of them Of Archbald the seventh Earle of Angus and the second Archbald TO Archbald the first succeeded Archbald the second his Grand-childe by his sonne George Master of Angus He was thrice married first to Margaret Hepburne daughter to Patrick Hepburne the first Lord Bothwell being as yet very young for at his second marriage he was not old but a youth or stripling Adolescens She died in childe-birth within the year as they say immediatly after the Field of Flowdon 2. His second wife was Queen Margaret relict of King James the 4. and daughter to King Henry 7. of England She bare to him a daughter Lady Margaret Douglas who was married to Matthew Stuart Earle of Lennox and bare to him Henry Lord Darnly that married Queen Mary of Scotland and father to King James the sixt of Scotland and first of great Brittain now happily reigning Lady Margaret had also another sonne named Charles who was father to the Lady Arabella 3. His third wife was Margaret Maxwell daughter to the Lord Maxwell She bare to him a sonne and a daughter who died both of them before they were 8. years old He had also a base daughter by a daughter of Traquairs Jeane Douglas married to the Lord Ruthven Some say that he begot this daughter in the Queens time while she lying in of Lady Margaret Douglas in England after her delivery went to London and stayed there with her brother King Henry the 8. and with her sister the late Queen of France and then Duchesse of Suffolk Others say that it was before He had also a base sonne as I take it commonly called George the Postulant to a by-name because I know not upon what claim or title he did postulate and claim the Abbacie of Aberbroth or Abernethock and not onely did postulate it but apprehended it also and used it as his own Having brought the house of Angus still increasing and growing in greatnesse and honour unto this man Archbald the second shall we suffer it now to decay or to take halt in his person No but we shall see it increase so much the more as he approacheth nearer unto that descent which is able to give honour unto basenesse it self far more to adde and multiply honour upon that which is already honourable Men do not onely take honour from their progenitors their posterity makes them honourable when they have much honour and that variable according to the degrees of their honour more or lesse Which seeing it is undeniable in what place of honour shall we rank this Archbald father to the Lady Margaret Douglas and by her great Grandfather to our Soveraigne King James of great Brittain This one thing is enough to lift him up to the highest top of honour All other things are but accessary yet are they additions of great importance Men are honourable by their marriage Who then so honourable as he Having married a Queen a Kings daughter a Kings sister a Kings mother Others also of the Subjects of this Countrey have married Queens I grant But none of them did marry Queen Margaret a Lady so vertuous None did marry a Queen so Royally descended and every way Regall in her father her mother her brother her sister her husband her sonne being all of them Kings or Queens None did marry a Queen without some blemish and diminition of her reputation but he None with the approbation of all men even of the Queens own chief Kinred with the allowance desire and exhortation of her Kinsfolks of King Henry the 8. But you will say perhaps that this hath been chance or fortune or ignorance in her blindnesse of an impotent woman who placed her affection
of some help to come out of France which had come indeed under the conduct of Martige of the House of Luxemburg but that the Civill Warres at home made him to be called back again The Earle of Argyle came to Glasgow with 600. horse and had some conference with the Hamiltons and others of that faction but they not agreeing he went home again and did nothing Huntley also with 1000. men was coming toward Edinburgh and was on his journey as farre as the water of Erne but the Bridges and Foords being guarded by the Lord Ruthven he went likewise home again Last of all they procured Letters from the Queen of England in which she desired that they would delay the meeting till such time as she were informed of their proceedings and justnesse of their cause why they took Arms against their Queen her Cousin of whose wrongs she behooved to take notice and be sensible It was hard to offend her but harderto suffer their adversaries to gain the poynt they aimed at which was in the Queens name and by her authoritie to keep a meeting and to forfeit all those who were on the K. side having already appointed a day for that purpose Wherefore they go on with their Convention and punish some few for example to terrifie others And for suppressing the daily incursions of the Niddisdale Anandale and Galloway men they raised an Army of 5000. horse and 1000. Musketiers which expedition because it was memorable for the extreame scarcitie of victuals when they came to Hoddam was called The Roade of Hoddam They set forth from Edinburgh the 11 of June and returned thither againe the 26. The chief thing that they did in that journey was that they seized the houses of Bog-hall Crawford Sanwhere Logh-wood Hoddam Logh-Maban and Annand Logh-Maban is a house of the Kings and was then in the Lord Maxwels keeping but now being surrendred Drumlenrigge is made keeper of it who was also made Warden of the West Marches Assoone as the Regent was gone from thence with his Armie Maxwels folks who had hidden themselves in some secret corner of the Castle turned out Drumlenrigges men and re-possessed themselves thereof again Logh-wood belonged to Johnston Hoddam to the Lord Harris and the rest to their severall Lords and Owners which were all spared on hope of their promised obedience Onely Skirlin was razed and Ken-Moore a house of Loghen-varres who was obstinate and would not yeeld upon any condition The Regent and Morton sent Sir David Hume of Wedderburne to him who was brother to his wife but no entreatie nor threatning could prevail with him or move him to submit himselfe When they threatned to pull down his house he said They should by so doing save him a labour for he meant to take it down himselfe and build it up again better Which was performed on both sides for it was cast down the 16 of July and he did afterward re-edifie it much better Many yeelded divers stood out of whom there came a thousand within a mile of the Regents Camp Who were their heads is not mentioned but as yet Maxwel Johnston Loghen-varre and Cowehill were not come in and whether it were any of these or some other we have not learned Morton and the Lord Hume with a thousand horse went out against them but they were gone before they came neere and fled to the Boggs and waste Marishes In their return at Peebles they received Letters again from the Queen of England wherein she renewed her former request to them that they would send some up to her to inform her of the equity of their cause The Regent himselfe undertakes the journey with whom went Morton Lindsay the Bishop of Orknay Master Pitcarne Abbot of Dumfermeling Sir William Metellan Secretary Master James Mackgill Master Henry Banaves and Master George Buchanan The Queene having heard their Justification and Defences made answer That she saw nothing for the present to object against their proceedings yet she desired them to leave some of their company behinde to answer to such things as might be objected afterward by their Queens Ambassadours While they are there Duke Hamilton came over out of France and desired the Queene of England to cause Murray give over the Regents place to him being as he alledged his due seeing he was next heire to the Crowne But the Queen perceiving that he intended to make some stirre and to raise new troubles in Scotland commanded him to stay and not depart till he were licensed The Regent with his company was dismissed and returned into Scotland the 2 of February Within a while after the Duke returned also being made Lieutenant for the imprisoned Queene and adopted to be her father He sent forth his Proclamations commanding that no authority should be obeyed but his which no man would obey And that none might fear him the Regent went to Glasgow with an Armie and there Hamilton came to him and promising to acknowledge the King and Regents authoritie he gave pledges to be kept till such time as he should do it prefixing a day when he would come in When the day was come he came to Edinburgh and began to shift and desire a longer day while he might have the Queens consent Then being asked what he would do if the Queen would not give her consent he answered that he would do nothing and what he had done already he had done it out of fear Hereupon he and the Lord Harris were sent to prison in the Castle of Edinburgh The next to be taken order with were Argyle and Huntley Both had been busie in the Regents absence but not alike Argyle had onely showne himself in the fields but had done hurt to no man Huntleys case was worse he had vexed the Mernes and Angus made Lieutenants about the water of Dee and behaved himself in all things as if he had been King After much debate Argyle was onely made to take an oath that he should be obedient in time coming and Huntley was also pardoned save that he was ordained to make satisfaction and restitution to the parties who were robbed and spoyled by him and his followers For the performance of which the Regent and Morton went to Aberdene Elgin and Inner-nesse with two Companies of Harquebusiers and Musquetiers where having received hostages and sureties of Huntley they returne to Perth to hold a Convention of the States Thither were brought two Packets of Letters from the two Queens The Queen of England made three Propositions First that the Kings Mother might be restored to her former Place and Crown Secondly that if they would not yeeld to that yet that her name might be used in all Writs and joyned with her sonnes and that the Government should continue in the Regents hands The third last was that if none of these could be granted she might be suffered to live a private life as another subject with as much respect and honour as
Marre having crossed the water of Aven a good way above Linlithgow they joyned their Troupes and came both safe to Edinburgh the 29. of April about twelve a Clock at night Thus were the two parties the one at Linlithgow the other at Edinburgh each accusing other and blaming other as authours of dissention yet they at Edinburgh offered to yeeld unto any thing and to come to any terms of agreement which might not be prejudiciall to the K. authority and upon condition that they would assure them of their concurrence to avenge the late Kings and Murrayes slaughter But they were so farre from accepting of these conditions that on the contrary they chose three Lieutenants for the Queen Arran Argyle and Huntley they appointed also a Parliament to be held in her name the 3. or 4. of August at Linlithgow In this mean time Sir William Drury with 300. horse and 1000. foot came into Scotland to pursue the Queens Rebels and such as received them as was given out but the Lords at Linlithgow fearing they might be brought against them assoon as they heard of their coming went toward Glasgow and besieged the Castle thereof which Minto had in keeping But he being absent and not above 24. of the Garrison Souldiers within the Castle notwithstanding was so well defended that having slain moe of the besiegers than they were themselves in number after six dayes stay hearing of the approaching of the contary partie they raised their siege and went every man unto his own home The Kings side with Drury and the English went into Cliddisdale and cast down Hamilton and other Houses belonging to the Queens faction After this the English returned to Berwick and Morton did go along with them the 3. of June having stayed some 20. or 22. dayes from the 2. of May. The 13. of July 1570. they chose Lennox to be Regent in a Convention holden at Stirlin and gave him the oath to observe the Laws and to maintain the professed Religion His first care was to stay the Parliament which the contrary partie had appointed to be kept at Linlithgow in August Wherefore he sends to Grange for some pieces of Ordnance out of the Castle of Edinburgh but he refused to send any pretending that he would be a procurer of peace and not an instrument of War and shedding of Scottish bloud Notwithstanding hereof the Regent goes to Linlithgow with 5000. men the 3. of August where he could see no appearance of a Parliament nor of any meeting nor hear no news of them at all save that Huntley had been at Brechin and placed a Garrison there of some hired Souldiers and that he had also commanded them to provide victuals and lodging for some thousands of men against the 10. of August Hereupon the Earle of Morton made haste to go to Brechin to surprize them before they were aware and sent word to the Lord Ruthven and Lindsay to go with him or before him because they lay nearer But the Souldiers having gotten some inkling of their coming fled and retired some to the Steeple some to the Castle where they thought themselves to be in safety Morton therefore lay about these places and not long after the Regent came thither himself in person and the Gentlemen of the Countrey about came all to him so that his Army did now amount to the number of 7000. men Those that were in the Steeple yeelded presently but they that were in the Castle stood upon their defensive at first and wounded some that approached to have assaulted the castle but hearing that the Batterie was to be planted and that Huntley who they looked should have come to their relief according to his promise had abandoned them offered to yeeld their lives only safe but when they could not obtain that they came in the Regents will simply without condition Thirty of them were hanged who had bin taken divers times before and bin pardoned upon their promise never to bear arms against the King the rest with their Captains were let go free This being done they returned to Stirlin the 15. of Aug. The Winter following was quiet and free from trouble In the beginning of February Morton was sent into England to Queen Elizabeth at her desire with whom went Pitcarne Abbot of Dumfermling and Master James Mackgill Clerk Register Being come to the Court the 18. of February he was remitted to seven of the Councel who were appointed to treat with him These propounded two heads to be spoken of one was that the Queen might be better informed of their proceedings and the equity of their cause then as yet she was and that their reasons and proofs might be so clear and such that both she her self might be fully perswaded thereof and that she might be able to satisfie others who should require her help against them The other point was to make some overture of Peace and to finde out some way of reconcilement that so the Kingdome of Scotland might be quieted and settled For the first point they gave in their Reasons in writing the last of February which when the Queen had read she answered by her seven Counsellours that she was not satisfied there with fully and therefore desired them to come to the second point what course was to be taken for pacification She propounded the first Head onely for a shew she knew well enough before what they could say and was sufficiently satisfied but would not be so at least she would not seem to be so As for the second Head they answered that their Commission was limited and that they could not consult of any such thing as tended to the diminution of their Kings authoritie neither would they take it upon them though they might nor use any such power although it had been given them The Queen was at Greenwich whither she sent for them and in a manner chid them for their obstinacie that they would not listen to a Treatie of Peace but did rather avoide that which did concerne their good so much and made large Protestation of her good-will toward them and their King willing them at least if they would do no more to hear what her Counsellours would say unto them On the morrow her Counsellours propounded many things for deciding the Title of the Crown betwixt the Mother and the Son Morton craved the Propositions in writing in regard there were many Articles and of great importance Which being given him after he and the others that were with him had considered of them they found them to be such as did diminish the Kings authoritie and were without the bounds of their Commission wherefore they returned answer that these were things of so high a nature that they belonged only to the three Estates and could not be medled withall by so few as they were This answer the Counsellours craved also to have in writing which was done accordingly the day following The 10. of March
Peace And for the preamble of a full Peace the Ambassadours obtained a Truce in July to begin the 1. of August 1572. and to last till December or January The conditions were simple that the Town of Edinburgh should bee patent to all the Kings Subjects which was as much to say as that they should render it up since they could keep it no longer And so it was done the first of August 1572. Before the expiring of this Truce the Regent sickened and died at Stirlin about the twenty eighth of October 1572. Thus have wee waded through those times and actions of the Earle Mortons which were inter-mingled with those of other mens in which though he were not the sole agent noâ—… the principall and first in place yet had he a main hand in all of them and in all the affaires of Estate he was ever a chief Actour during the reigne of the Queen-Mother and Queen Mary her daughter in the time of the three Regents Murray Lennox and Marre to all whom he was ever even more than a second Now we are come to that time and those actions which are absolutely and fully his own where he is the deviser and executer sole counsellour and sole commander of all where there is none to go before him none to share or partake with him in his praise or blame What hee doth aright the honour thereof is due to himself alone and if hee do any thing amisse the blame thereof must lye upon him onely The pain or pleasure the gain or losse touch and concerne him and none else For Marre being dead wee do not finde so much as any question made who should succeed him in the Government mens mindes had by presage designed him to it and the Lords meet to accomplish that presage rather than to consult of it Wherefore the twentie fourth of November he was by uniforme consent of all those of the Kings side chosen to be Regent Would you know the reason of their choice Be pleased then to hear it in the words of a stranger who is very impartiall and farre from lavish commendation that is Master Thin or Boteville in his Scottish Chronicle They sought sayth he a new Regent to succeed in Marres place that might in all respects defend the Kings Person and the Realme as he had done before Wherefore the Noblemen assembling did select by one consent the Earle of Morton to that Office a man no lesse wise than provident and such a person as both for the nobilitie of his birth and service to the Realme and to the King did well merit the same By which it appeares that he did neither ambitiously seek the Place nor got it by faction but was chosen to it for the good of the Countrey freely and advisedly He sayes indeed that it was after long consultation but it could not be very long being little more than a moneth which was short enough time to be spent in making the late Regents Funerall and to conveen the Nobilitie therein For according to himself the election was in December but our Acts of Parliament which are more authentick say it was the 24. of November But how ever long their consultations were we do not hear that he had any Competitour or that there was any other mentioned or nominated with him and seeing he sayes it was done by one consent then was there not any contrary Votes or contradiction and contesting but a perfect and full uniformitie and harmonie of minde amongst all of that side Nay even of those of the other side also who sent as some Notes say which I have seen Commission and Proxees to that purpose and namely the Duke and Earle of Huntley Others say these were at the Parliament where this Regencie was confirmed holden the 26. of January in Edinburgh They that delay it longer cast their yeelding in February at Perth where they name Huntley Argyle Athole and in generall the greatest part say they of the Nobilitie and so we see his entrie was free and right and duly approved by all the rest of his Office we have to consider It lasted the space of five years and three moneths till the twelfth of March 1577. which is the time of his dismission All this time the Countrey injoyed a full and perfect Peace save so much warre as they had in recovering the Castle of Edinburgh out of the enemies hands There were within the Castle beside Grange Captain thereof Secretarie Metellane and his brother Master John Priour of Coldinghame afterward Chancellour of Scotland who remained still in terms of hostilitie I know not why nor wherefore whether it was that they thought themselves so guiltie as that they could not be pardoned or that they had conceived such spleen and hatred against the other Faction that they would not be reconciled and so out of despair taking a desperate course or that they were borne up with hope of some change perswading themselves that this agreement among the parties could not last long being so ill cemented as they conceived but that some difference would soon arise upon some occasion or other and that the rather having their example for the present and the Castle of Edinburgh for a place of refuge when it should be needfull Upon these or such like considerations being also not altogether forsaken of the French who sent some small supply of Moneyes but large promises by James Kircadie brother to Grange who landing at Black-Nesse conveyed himself and it secretly into the castle they resolved to be the last in yeelding and to hold out so long as possibly they could assuring themselves that they could make their peace when they listed if it should come to the worst by surrendring the place upon good conditions There were with these forenamed as their followers the Lord Hume who was altogether led by Metellans counsell and Logan of Rastarig who depended upon Hume Pittadraw was Lieutenant to Grange the Captain and Sir Robert Melvill was Uncle to Grange The Regent being resolved to pull this thorne out of his foot caused the Castle to be inclosed with a trench and Souldiers set to keep it under the command of Captain Crawford and Captain David Hume before mentioned And because they of the Castle watered at a Well called S. Margarets Well Captain Michell was appointed to lie with his Company at S. Cutberds Kirk who hindred them from fetching water from thence and after a while he found means to poyson it and so left it without any Guard While the Castle was thus blocked up one Captain Bruce issued forth thereof to bring in victuals but he was taken by the Regents men saith Master Thin a thing very hard to be conceived how he either durst or could do it neither is there any mention or memorie of his being there any where else to be found Now because the Castle did annoy the City with their Ordnance so that none could walk in the
and not have leasure to think of him and his late greatnesse and that their furie should be powred forth on somewhat else While they remained yet at Stirlin the Earle of Athole died suddenly which was matter of much talk and gave occasion to Mortons enemies to lay that foule aspersion upon him that he had poysoned him For all the Doctours did affirme that he was poysoned save onely Doctour Preston who said it was no poyson but being desired to taste of it and having onely touched a little thereof with the tip of his tongue it had almost cost him his life and he did never after fully recover but languished and was sickly so long as he lived Wherefore seeing it was certainly poyson Who could give it him said they but Morton And yet they could never tell how he could doe it For hee was not in Mortons lodging nor Morton in his as they knew and doe themselves confesse Neither were any that belonged to Morton in his house and though they had beene they were neither Cooks nor Cup-bearers nor Carvers to him So blinde is malice or so malicious are impudent detractours Morton cleared himselfe of this imputation at his death And yet there are some to this day that are not ashamed to report it In the next yeare 1579. in June upon the Kings longing to be abroad it was concluded in Councell that he should go to Edinburgh the 25. of September next but he came not till the 30. day thereof Morton and Marre were still with him as his chief Counsellours They invited him to Dalkeith where hee remained a certain space and returned to the Abbey of Haly-rood-house the 16. of October The day following hee made his entry through the City of Edinburgh with great solemnity and pompe with great concourse and applause of people rejoycing to see him whom they loved heartily and dearly as they testified by their acclamations and prayers powred forth for his safety and welfare After this on the 20. of October he kept a Parliament extant in the printed Acts. Hitherto wee have seene our Earle of Morton though not an absolute Favourite of fortune yet so cherished by her that howbeit shee did now and then frown on him yet shee seemed rather to try his strength whether or not he were able to endure a storme and ride it out with resolution than that she meant to over-whelme him in her waves for the issue did ever prove advantagious to him and he became rather a gainer than a loser by his sufferings But now having raised him to the highest dignitie and pitch of greatnesse that a subject was capable of according to her accustomed levitie all of a sudden turning down that was up of her wheele she brings him so low as to lose life and estate There is nothing more deserves our observation than these vicissitudes of great places to see men of low made high and than again falling from their height and greatnesse to become low which is to be seen in this last Act and Catastrophe of his Tragedie so notably as is rare to be found elsewhere Who could and would truly discover the depth of the mysteries of these times and tell exactly who were the chief pâ—…otters and first movers of this work and who were the instruments and executers thereof as he should do a piece of good service for clearing of the truth of things to posterity the ages to come so do I confesse for my own part that it is too hard a task for my self to performe and more than I will undertake or promise to do All that I can do is to set down the actions which are evident in grosse and to follow such conjecturall probabilitie in the narration as my weak judgement can lead me to We have heard how the King Queens factions did long contend and how Morton had ever been on the Kings side and how in his Regencie he had so handled businesse that they that stood for the Queen had yeelded and acknowledged the King and him as Regent The keeping of the Castle of Edinburgh was the last Act of opposition and with the yeelding of it all was whisht Lithington and Grange were taken out of the way who were the strongest or the stoutest upholders thereof Yet the Society was not quite broken or extinguished with them Master John Metellane sometime Priour of Coldingame and brother to Lithington Sir Robert Melvin uncle to Grange Pittadraw the Bishop of Dunkell and some others remained These he had committed to prison for a short while afterward had pardoned them and set them at liberty They kept still their old minde entertained mutuall friendship and correspondence and wanted onely occasion to shew the effects of their former disposition Especially Master John Metellane and Sir Robert Melvin bore great hatred to Morton the one for putting his Nephew Grange to death the other because he supposed Morton would have done as much to his brother if he fearing so much had not prevented it by poysoning himself as the common rumour was Besides these private grudges the publick cause did also egge them on and animate them against him which they never forgot and looked upon him as the man who had beene the bane thereof Yet they set it on foot again by commending of it openly and advancing it all they could secretly and indirectly using all the means they could to make all things work for the Queenes advantage She had her Agents and Ambassadours in France together with her Uncles of Guise and wanted not her under-hand Favourers in England that still had their eye upon her as upon the rising Sunne whom they esteemed the hope of their Religion Their suite now was who would not think it so both plausible and modest to joyn the mother and the sonne in an equality of government being so near joyned in nature It could not but be for the good of the Countrey and make much to confirme and strengthen their title to England Thus they said but how can this bee done He is in possession of the Crown how can it be taken from him again How can he be desired to dimit And though he would demit yet those of his party will never be contented that he should doe it On the other side Shee is living and dis-possessed but who that hath ever worne a Crowne can live and bee content to want it What other mids then and meane can bee found out but association in the Crowne So shall both have it and both be satisfied a happy society from which will flow the sonnes love and the mothers blessing All shall so goe well and it will bee easie to perswade a childe though never so wise being unacquainted with such things especially one that is so gentle and of so towardly disposition onely the difficulty will bee to move his old friends thereto they will never consent to it they will bee jealous and fearefull of any party or
of GOD commands not any obedience at all to such a Bishop neither doth it ordain acknowledge or once name such a Bishop Thus either truly deceived or deceiving themselves that they might redeeme their ease by yeelding and cover their yeelding with an equivocation they found that it was all in vaine for they were not admitted nor permitted to expound it in that sort whatsoever their meaning was but were forced to accept of the exposition which the Court and the Bishops did put upon it who understood that phrase according to the word of God not as a limitation but affirmatively wherein it was acknowledged that the word of God did command obedience to them and therefore they promised obedience according to that command Notwithstanding of all this divers stood out and would no wayes be moved neither by threatnings nor by promises to give the least shew of approbation directly or indirectly by equivocation or any other forme whatsoever but spake plainly against them and prayed publickly for the banished brethren Of these Master Nicholas Dagleish was one who thereupon was accused as too bold to pray for the Kings Rebels He answered that they were no Rebels but true Subjects who had fled from tyranny and such as sought their lives by commanding them to doe against their conscience Hee was empannelled put to his triall by an assise and was cleansed in despite and maugre the Court so farre there remained conscience in men But the Courtiers will not let him escape thus dry-shod they labour to finde a hole in his Coat another way they search and finde that a Letter had come from Master Walter Balcanquell to his wife which because shee could not well read the hand shee had given him to read to her and he had read it Hereupon he is again put to an assise and they not daring to cleanse him yet would they not finde him guilty but desired him to come into the Kings will Hee was contented to submit himself to the Kings pleasure for so much as concerned the reading of the Letter and so was sent to the Tolbooth where hee remained three weeks and was from thence sent to Saint Andrews And thus went Church-matters In the civill government there was none now but the Earle of Arran he lacked the name of King but hee ruled as absolutely and commanded more imperiously than any King under the shadow of the Kings authority and the pretext that all that he did was for the Kings good and safety Hee had gotten before the keeping of the Castle of Stirlin he behooved also to have the Castle of Edinburgh in his power Alexander Ereskin Uncle to the Earle of Marre was Captain of it hee must needs favour his Nephew and his Faction wherefore it was taken from him and given to Arran who was also made Provest of the Towne Hee was Chancellour of Scotland and having put out Pitcairne Abbot of Dumfermling hee made Master John Metellane Secretary Hee did whatsoever hee pleased if there were no Law for it it was all one hee caused make a Law to serve his ends It was observed that his Lady said to one who alledged there was no law for doing of what shee desired to have done It is no matter said shee wee shall cause make an Act of Parliament for it If any man refused to do or grant any thing hee craved they were sure to bee tossed and vexed for it even the chief of the Nobility Athole Cassils and the Lord Hume were committed Athole because hee would not divorce from his wife and entaile his estate to him the Earle or Master of Cassils because hee would not give him a great summe of Money under the name of a Loane the Lord Hume because he would not give him his portion of Dirleton Also the Lord Maxwell then Earle of Morton was quarrelled because hee would not excambe his Baronie of Pooke and Maxwell his old inheritance for a parcell of the Lord Hamiltons Lands which were now his by forfeiture Many Lands had hee taken from many but was never satisfied ever seeking to adde possession to possession which was not impertinently remonstrated to him by John Barton Goldsmith a wittie and free-spoken man Hee had directed this Barton to make him a Seale and to carve on it his Coat of Armes duely quartered according to his Lands and Honours This he did pretty well to his contentment but he left one quarter thereof blank and void Hereof when the Earle asked the reason he answered That there maybe room for the Lands your Lordship shall purchase hereafter Hee took for his Motto Sic fuit est erit meaning that it was an ordinary thing in all ages for meane men to rise to great fortunes and that therefore it ought not either to bee wondred at or to be envied And it is true if the meane had been vertue and not wickednesse which ever was is and will be both envied and hated as it deserveth His ambition was such amongst other examples thereof that Queen Elizabeth must needs bee God-mother to his daughter whose Ambassadour was present at the Christening His crueltie though conspicuous many wayes did appear singularly in the causing execute Master Cunninghame of Drummewhasle and Master Douglas of Maines his sonne-in-law This Cunninghame was an ancient Gentleman and of an old house who himself in person had beene a follower of the Earle of Lennox the Kings Grandfather and had done him good service when he took in the Castle of Dumbartan and Douglas of Maines was esteemed to bee one of the properest men in the Kingdome and was a youth of good expectation yet both of them were hanged at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh The pretext was a forged conspiracie to have taken the King on a certain day at hunting and to have carried him into England Their accuser was Robert Hamilton of Inshemachon who was as hee said himself upon the plot or at least as hee said had been desired to bee of it by Master Edmiston of Duntreath Edmiston being apprehended related How they had plotted to bring in the exiled Lords on horses forsooth which had their eares their maynes and their tails cut themselves being disguised c. A tale which was so unhandsome toyish and ridiculous that no man did beleeve it but esteemed it a foolish fable yet did they make use of it to practise their crueltie upon such as they feared and to make themselves a terrour to all men To returne to the Earle of Angus he and his associats were removed from Berwick to New-castle in May. So it seemed good to the State of England seeing no appearance of their hastie restoring to their own Countrey to secure the Court of Scotland by taking that thorn out of their foot which was too near and too pricking at Berwick Besides these banished Lords were not greatly liked of by the Lord Hunsden then Governour of Berwick for hee entertained correspondencie with the contrary Faction either