that being once there Proclamation might be issued out to forbid any Nobleman or other to come to the Convention without being expresly called by Letter from his Majesty For this end it was advised that the Earl of March should invite his Majesty to be at St. Andrews two or three days before the Convention by reason of his preparation of wild meat and other fleshes that would spoil in case his Majesty came not to make good chear with him some days before Whereupon his Majesty went forward contrary to my opinion and the judgment of some others about him who though we were sensible of the inconveniencies which might follow durst not be so bold as to stay him though we told his Majesty our opinion that we judged it was hazardous for him to ride till the Lords who had been advertised to attend him might come forward Nevertheless he went on and advertised the Earl of March the Provost of St. Andrews and other Barons to attend him at Darsie Where meeting them his Majesty thought himself at liberty expressing great joy like a Bird flown out of a Cage passing his time in Hawking by the way after his meeting them thinking himself sure enough albeit I thought his estate far surer when he was in Falkland For when he came to St. Andrews he lodged in an old Inn a very open part the yard dikes being his greatest strength few of the Lords he had written for being yet come except only the Earl of Crauford who was near In the mean time I perceived the folly and went to the Provost of the Town desiring to know what forces he had within the Town at his devotion He answered Very few and those not to be trusted to I asked who was in the Castle He told me the Bishop with whom I dealt incontinently to have the Castle in readiness to receive his Majesty which he promised to do But when I returned to his Majesty believing that the Proclamation had been made That no Man should come to the Convention but such as had been written for I found that the Abbot of Dumfarmling was arrived out of Lockleven and the Earl of Marshal out of Dundee The Earl of Mar was still with his Majesty but all the Lords were advertised with diligence from Falkland that his Majesty was suddenly gone for St. Andrews desiring them to make haste to go thither else they would be late The said Abbot for his part was soon enough there and behaved himself with great dissimulation extolling his Majesties enterprise so that he gain'd so much credit as to cast down all their devices who were upon the King's side though he was a special doer for the contrary party He said it was not fit by Proclamation to stay the Nobility but rather to write Missives to them not to come accompanied with any more then two persons with every Nobleman When his Majesty told me this I was very angry and shewed him that this was the ready way to put him again in their hands without thanks from whom he had lately fled assuring his Majesty that they were coming forward very strong and in Arms and would be sooner there then those Lords he had written for adding that they might come in quietly themselves and cause their Companies to come in by two's and three's to the Town whereas it had been better to let them come in all together that their whole Forces might have been seen Yet his Majesty was loath to enter within the Castle that night for his greater security until it was very late after Supper giving those that were there already time to advise and to enterprise that same night to take him again in case he had gone to the Abby yards to walk as they had perswaded him till the Castle was prepared And some were already entred the said yard for that effect in Armour whereof I had some suspicion and therefore instantly advertised his Majesty who thereupon changed his resolution and past by the yard Gate to the Castle The next day the whole Lords as well written for as unwritten for arrived at St. Andrews the King's Lords quite without Armour the other Lords strongly Armed The Earl of Marshal and Mar and the Abbot of Dumfarmling lodged within the Castle with his Majesty where the crafty Abbot counselled the King to let none of the Lords come within the Castle accompanied with more then twelve persons He ever appeared to favour the King's intention and therefore this crafty counsel was followed The next morning the Castle was full of men and those of the contrary party being well Armed had already taken the Stair-heads and Galleries resolving again to be Masters of the King and all the rest which being too late preceived diligence was incontinently used to bring within the Castle all the Earl of March his Gentlemen with the Lairds of Dairsy Balcomy Segie Forret Barns and others with so many of the Town as were at the Provosts devotion which for that night prevented the foresaid design The Earl of Gaury was also a great stay in that matter for albeit he came thither as strong and as angry as any of the Lords yet he was advertised of the King 's good will towards him and so was drawn from the rest That dangerous day being thus past without any harm done the next day such order was taken as his Majesty was Master of the Castle following no more the said Abbot's counsel but declared his moderate intentions to all the Lords to the Fiffe Barons and Towns upon the Coast side who had been sent for and likewise to the Ministers and Masters of the Colledge Namely That albeit he had been detained against his Will for some time yet he intended not to impute it as a Crime nor to remember any thing done in his minority but that he would pass an Act of Oblivion as to all that was past satisfie the demands of the Church agree parties among whom there were differences and to carry himself to all his Subjects equally knowing none of them to bear him any evil will and that they had been driven to enterprise the thing they had done by the force of their Factious partialities using many other such words of clemency and discretion to all their contentments Thereafter he ordained four Lords two of every faction to retire them for a while to wit The Earls of Angus Bothwel Huntly and Crauford retaining all the rest about him as indifferent for his ordinary Council by whose advice he was resolved to settle his estate and thereafter to bring again to Court the whole Lords above-named Then his Majesty called for me before a number of the said Lords and gave me greater commendation and thanks then I had merited as being the only instrument under God of his liberty His Majesty caused also to make a Proclamation conform to his former promises and moderate intentions But I took no pleasure to be praised in presence of so many answering
Then another Souldier to win the Office took up the Ensign and went up likewise to the head of the Wall who was also killed Then the third and all the eleven one after another lost their lives not at all assisted by their Companies Notwithstanding that the Constable my Master stood by crying and threatning in vain for which he degraded their Captains and brake their Companies There was a Scotch-man Brother to Barnbougle called Archibald Moubray who with his drawn Sword ran up to the head of the Wall and returned safe But he got no reward though I used all my endeavours for him Thus many are readier to punish faults than to reward good deeds After this the King entered far in the Low-Countries burning and carrying away great Booties But so soon as the Emperour could convene any Forces together our Army began to retire homeward Then the Emperour sent five thousand Horsemen to see if they might perceive any occasion of advantage Which they frequently assayed assailing our Rear-guard at the passing over a little Water At which time the Constable staid behind himself and turning his face toward them he withstood their charge stoutly with the French Footmen and some Light-horsmen until the whole Army had passed over the said Water not far from Cambray So the Emperours Horsemen followed no further at that time believing that the King was resolved to return to France and dismiss his Army for that year But the King drew along the Frontier toward a place of great strength called Kenty where he planted his Camp and besieged the said place which I heard the Constable promise to deliver to the King in eight days Which promise was not performed for the Emperour came in person with his Army for the relief thereof Which Army the Constable rode out to meet with the whole French Horsemen leaving the Foot at the Siege For he had great intelligence and had heard where the Emperour was resolved to encamp marching along a great Hight which had a Steep towards the part where our Camp lay But it was easie to ride up and down at the side thereof Where our Horsemen did ride and the Emperour sent down some on Horseback to skirmish At which time Normand Lesly Master of Rothess won great reputation for with thirty Scotchmen he rode up the Hill upon a fair Grey Gelding He had above his Coat of black Velvet his Coat of Armour with two broad white Crosses the one before and the other behind with Sleeves of Mail and a red bonnet upon his head whereby he was known and seen afar off by the Constable the Duke of Anguion and Prince of Conde Where with his 30 he charged upon 60 of their Horse-men with Culverines followed but with seven of his number He in our sight struck five of them from their Horses with his Spear before it brake Then he drew his Sword and ran in among them not valuing their continual shooting to the admiration of the beholders He slew divers of them and at length when he saw a company of Spear-men coming down against him he gave his Horse the Spurs who carried him to the Constable and there fell down dead for he had many shots and worthy Normand was also shot in divers parts whereof he died fifteen days after He was first carried to the Kings own Tent where the Duke of Anguien and Prince of Conde told his Majesty that Hector of Troy was not more valiant than the said Norman Whom the said King would see dressed by his own Chirurgions and made great moan for him So did the Constable and all the rest of the Princes but no man made more lamentation than the Laird of Grange who came to the Camp the next day after from a quiet Road whither he had been commanded Now the Emperour set down his Camp two miles from Renty and in an instant entrenched the whole Camp round about save onely the face of the steep Hill that looked towards our Camp All that night there were many upon the Watches of both Armies for every man looked for a Battle the next day following And therefore the Emperour like an old experienced Captain seised upon a Wood in the night time that lay upon a Hill side between the two Camps which was not onely a great advantage to him but compelled the most part of our Army to stand in arms all night whereby they were rendred the more unable against the next day wanting the refreshment of rest and then the place of Battle was a plain Valley that lay under the said Wood. The next morning early after every man had said their prayers and taken a little refreshment we placed our Army in good order of Battle under the said Hill and Wood. The King himself that day commanded the Battle but he desired the Constable to abide with him to give Counsel as occasion would fall out The Duke of Guise led the Vant-guard and the Marshal of St. Andre the Rearguard First so many of our French Foot as are called Infant Perdews were led along the Hill and Wood beginning to skirmish with the Spaniards who were within the Wood who had so great advantage being covered with Bushes and Trees that they compelled our Foot to retire fearfully Which well favoured beginning the Emperour might well perceive from the Hill whereon he was encamped Therefore like a skilful Captain he took the occasion to hazard a good part of the Vant-guard with seven Field-pieces who by his direction came forward The Spaniards with their Fire arms through the Wood a thousand Lance-Knights with bright Corslets along the Hill side with long Pikes The Count of Swertsenburg with all his Reiters at the Hill Foot and the whole Light-horsemen of the Emperours Army upon his right hand At which time our Foot who were appointed to skirmish with the Spaniards retired more and more as also our Light-horsemen in the alley drew aside and gave too great place to the Emperours Vant-guard Which when it came where Monsieur D' Tavanes and Monsieur D' Lorge stood with their Companies seeing them make for defence they marched more coldly The Duke of Guise in the mean time said that he would ride back to the Battle and obtain the Kings Command before he would charge upon the Enemy But Monsieur de Lorge who was an old Captain alledged that there was no time to take Counsel for the Enemy said he will be as soon at the King as you Therefore it was resolved to charge couragiously upon the Enemy which being done and a little rencounter made the Reiters shot off all their Pistols and finding themselves not backed nor followed with the rest of the Emperours Army as they alledged was promised unto them they gave back and fled being pursued by our Horse who slew several of the Dutch Foot and some of the Spaniards for the Wood was their relief but the Horse all escaped within the Ramparts of the Emperours Camp Their
carried the Sword and Hat a little before to the King of France Which Cardinal was afterwards strangled by the next Pope Pius IV. for practising to bring the Great Turk into Italy against the Christians Which he at his death confessed he had for his own greatness This I understood afterward being at Rome Now to return to the Duke of Guise his Army abandoned by the Pope He returned to France with the loss of the most part dead for hunger and weakned by sickness and slain by the Spaniards who waited at their heels all the way Before the Duke of Guise his coming home to France the King of Spain was entered upon the Frontiers of France with a great Army of ...... thousand men Whom to resist the Constable my Master was sent with sixteen thousand The day before he took leave of the King at Rhemes in Champaigne riding to the hunting there came a man in grave apparel following him on Foot crying for audience for Gods sake Whereupon the Constable staid willing him to speak Who said The Lord says seeing that thou wilt not know me I shall likewise not know thee thy glory shall be laid in the dust This strange language put the Constable in such a rage that he strook the poor man into the face with the horse rod which was in his hand and threatned to cause him to be hanged The man answered he was willing to suffer what punishment he pleased seeing he had performed his commission The Duke of Nevers perceiving the Constable troubled drew near desiring to know the cause The Constable told him that such a Knave had been preaching to him of God Then the Duke did also threaten the poor man But as they did ride forward after the King I staid behind and asked the man what had moved him to use such strange language towards the Constable he answered That the Spirit of God gave him no rest till he had discharged his mind of that Commission given him by God Now the Spanish Army above mentioned was led by Emanuel Duke of Savoy along the Frontiers of France 〈◊〉 at last planted his Camp about the Town of St. Quintin Whith 〈…〉 onstable sent the Admiral of Chastillion his Sisters Son to de 〈…〉 he same and lodged his Camp at La Ferr five Leagues from the Town of St. Quintin which was not sufficiently furnished with Men and Munition wherefore he assayed the next day in vain to put in it more Companies under the Conduct of Mounsieur d' Andelot Brother to the said Admiral After the preparation of two days he marched forward with his whole Army toward St. Quintin carrying with him eighteen Cannons with some Boats that are commonly in Camps to pass the Army over Rivers and Waters For there was a little Logh upon the South-west side of the Town in the which the said Boats were set And Monsieur D' Andelot first with three hundred entered the Town that way but so soon as it was perceived the Enemy stopped the rest from entering But so soon as the Duke of Savoy was coming with his whole Army towards us the Constable alledging that he had furnished St. Quintine sufficiently drew homewards toward La Ferr in good order intending to eschew Battle if he could the other being more powerful than he His intention was to pass and besiege Calis but the whole Horsemen of the Enemy were hard at us against the time we had travelled four miles where the Constable stopped a little time At length he said that these Horsmen came to stay us till the Foot were advanced Therefore he thought best to pass forward to a narrow Post betwixt a Wood and a Village there to give them Battle if he could not escape them In the mean time the Marshal D' St. Andre a great Man for that time gave unhappy advice that all the French Servants who were on Horseback should retire from among the men at Arms lest they should be an impediment to them who were to fight there being as many Servants as there were Masters They were glad to get them out of the Prease spurring their Horse with speed homewards intending to stay upon some Hill to behold the Combat The Enemy perceiving so great a number of Horsemen as they thought flying in the very instant took occasion to charge upon our Light-horsemen Whereupon the Constable being in a Valley between two Hills marching toward the strait part where he intended to stay spurred forward up the little Hill that he might see how to resist and put order to the Battle which gave an hard apprehension to others that he was flying But when he turned on the top of the Hill to behold the Onset no man would tarry with him for any command Though he always cried return return their heads were homewards and their hearts also as appeared Then his Master of the Horse bringing him a Turky speedy Horse to run away with the rest he answered in anger That it was against his Profession and Occupation to fly addressing himself fearlesly against the greatest Troop of Enemies saying Let all true Servants to the King follow me though onely threescore Gentlemen accompanied him who were all overthrown in an instant The Constable desired to be killed but the Master of the Horse cried continually It is the Constable kill him not But before he was known he was shot through the thigh and then was taken prisoner I being hurt by a stroke upon the head was again mounted by my Servant upon a Scotch Gelding which 〈…〉 ed me through the Enemies who were all betwixt me and h 〈…〉 Two of them struck at my head with Swords because my 〈…〉 ece was strucken off in the first rencounter These two were standing betwixt us and home to catch Prisoners in a narrow strait But my horse ran through them against my will and through the Village for the Field between it and the Wood was full of smoke of the Culverins There most of our Foot were slain The leaping over a Dike separated me from the two and so being past the said Village there was room enough to escape So I came safe to La Ferr where I did meet with Mr. Henry Killegrew an English Gentleman my old Friend who held my horse till I sate down in a Barbers Booth to be dressed of the hurt in my head In the mean time a Proclamation was made that no man should remain within the Town but the ordinary Garrison because the Governour thereof looked for a Siege By the loss of this Battle the Town of St. Quintine and several other Towns were lost Whereby the King of France found himself reduced to so great straits that he was compelled to accept of a very hurtful Peace at Cambray where I was for the time with my Master the Constable yet a Captive With the said Constable was adjoined in Commission the Cardinals of Lorrain and Chastillion the Marshal of St. Andre the Bishop of Orleance and the
conference If any be afraid of your Majesty thinking that you have an ill opinion of them the assurance by a trusty Minister of your good will whom they may credit will quickly put them out of doubt and make them favourable enough They who are constantly yours are easily retained at your devotion Those who heretofore have born any favour and by the late occurrences are any way brangled will be brought home again when they shall see your Majesty now when it is fallen in your hands to use rigour or mercy as you please rather incline to the most plausible part in shewing your magnanimity when you have brought your Subjects to submission and gentleness as the good Pastour to reduce his Sheep that were gone astray home again to the fold Those who are yet neutrals by the same means and true information of your interest by Law may all be won to your side This done when the matter comes in question your friends will earnestly press your interest at this Parliament and you will without controversie bear it away This device in so far as concerns your reconciliation with your Subjects is not a fetch for their favour but is thought expedient for your service by many who have no favour for them and are different from them in Religion For it will bring the Queen of England greatly to favour you when she shall see such an Union in your own Kingdom of the Head and whole Members together She will not know how to disturb your Majesties estate especially when the Reconciliation takes effect in the hearts of the Subjects in England who will think themselves in an happy condition if they should come under the Government of so benign a Princess who can so readily forgive great offences For albeit it must be acknowledged that my Lord of Murray hath by his inconsiderate carriage given your Majesty great ground of offence yet it is hard to perswade the Protestants that your quarrel against him hath any other foundation then that he differs from you in Religion Upon this ground they find themselves engaged to espouse his quarrel If then they perceived your Majesty graciously inclined to take him again unto favour and forgive what is by-past the Protestants in England would doubtless declare themselves more affectionate to your interest when they shall see more of their own Religion so clemently handled And that your Majesty may have experience that it is your advancement your friends would by this means procure and not the advantage of those with whom your Majesty is offended a middle way may be followed as is frequently used in such like cases where not only the multitude is spared but the chief authors are preserved It may please your Majesty to cause a Letter to be pen'd in good terms and form and publish the same by Proclamation declaring the just cause of your anger against all of them and that yet for declaring your own good nature above their deservings you are content to remit the whole except such principles as you please to reserve and except by name from the general Pardon And that with whom you will not take such severe order as you might in Law till you have further tryal and experience of their Penitence The persons so to be nominated and excepted shall depart out of England to what Countrey pleaseth your Majesty there to remain during your pleasure In this mean time if your Majesty find that this benign usage of yours shall produce such fruit as is here spoken your Majesty may further extend your favour as you find convenient and profitable for your self For your Majesty hath still the crimes lying above their heads In the mean time all who favour them in England will plead in their cause with your Majesty so far as their power extends as if they were Agents for your Majesty They will in no ways if they can eschew it be again in the Queen of Englands debt neither by obtaining of any favour at your hand by her intervention nor yet for any support in the time of their banishment But rather it may please your Majesty that their charges be allowed them of their own Lands By following this advice which in no ways can be prejudicial to your Majesty but will much conduce for your interest you may recover the greatest part of the Bishops of England many of the greatest Nobility and Gentlemen who are yet Neutral Their Names were declared to her Majesty in Cypher by whose means he alledged her Majesty should obtain so great an interest in England that albeit that Queen would appear against her she needed not to care For in sending but one thousand Men of her own out of four parts of England a sufficient number should join with them by whose forces without any strangers her Majesty should obtain the thing which is wrongfully refused and retained When her Majesty had seriously pondered this discourse it had great influence upon her to move her to follow the desire thereof as well for the good opinion she had of him who sent it as being of her own nature more inclined to mercy then rigour she being also wise and being convinced that it tended to the advancement of her affairs in England She was therefore fully resolved to have followed the advice thereof and to prolong the Parliament which had been called to forfault the Lords who had fled Rixio appeared also to have been gained for counselling her hereto My Lord Murray had sued to him very earnestly and more humbly then could have been believed with the present of a fair Diamond inclosed within a Letter full of repentance and fair promises from that time forth to be his Friend and Protector Which the said Rixio granted to do with the better will that he perceived the King to bear him little good will and to frown upon him Following this advice and advertisement given by Sir Nicholas Throgmorton the Queens Majesty sent my Brother Sir Robert Melvil to remain her Ambassadour in Ordinary at the Court of England to be ready at all occasions in case any thing were treated at the Parliament concerning the Succession and to pursue the Design laid down by Sir Nicholas and her other friends in England In this mean time there was a French Gentleman sent home here called Monsieur d' Villamonte with a Commission to treat with the Queen that in no wayes she should shew any favour to the protestant banished Lords Because that all Catholick Princes were bandied to root them out of all Europe Which was a device of the Cardinal of Lorrain lately returned from the Councel of Trent He had caused the King of France to write earnestly to that effect Which unhappy Message occasioned divers tragical accidents For the Queen was loath to offend her friends in France of the house of Guise albeit she would have done little at that time by her own pleasure to satisfie the King of France who was but young and
the time and one called Mr. Lignish greatest in favour with the Duke of Norfolk and a good number of Knights and Gentlemen of York-shire with the most part of the Captains of Berwick Her Majesty was sufficiently informed by my Brother's writing to her and me what kind of language and entertainment was most proper for the Earl and each of them When all the rest of the Ambassadours were come they repined to see the English-men more friendly and familiarly used then themselves For then we had more to do with England then with France And the French Earl who was sent was no Courtier but a simple Man And Monsieur de Morat the Duke of Savoy his Ambassadour being far of came after the Baptism During their abode at Sterling there was daily Banqueting Dancing and Triumph And at the principal Banquet there fell out a great grudge among the English-men for a Frenchman called Bastien devised a number of Men formed like Satyrs with long Tails and whips in their hands running before the meat which was brought through the great Hall upon a Machine or Engine marching as appeared alone with Musicians clothed like Maids singing and playing upon all sorts of Instruments But the Satyrs were not content only to make way or room but put their hands behind them to their Tails which they wagged with their hands in such sort as the English-men supposed it had been devised and done in derision of them weakly apprehending that which they should not have appeared to understand for Mr. Hattoun Mr. Lignish and the most part of the Gentlemen desired to Supp before the Queen and great Banquet that they might see the better the Order and Ceremonies of the Triumph But so soon as they perceived the Satyrs wagging their Tails they all sate down upon the bare floor behind the back of the Table that they might not see themselves derided as they thought Mr. Hatton said unto me if it were not in the Queens presence he would put a Dagger to the heart of that French knave Bastien who he alledged had done it out of despight that the Queen made more of them then of the Frenchmen I excused the matter the best I could but the noise was so great behind the Queen's back where her Majesty and my Lord of Bedford did sit that they heard and turned about their faces to enquire what the matter meant I informed them that it was occasioned by the Satyrs so that the Queen and my Lord of Bedford had both enough to do to get them appeased It fell out unhappily at such a time and the English Gentlemen committed a great over sight to notice it as done against them But my Lord of Bedford was discreet and interpreted all things to the best My Lord of Bedford was rewarded with a rich Chain of Diamonds worth two thousand Crowns Mr. Cary with a Chain of Pearl and a Ring with a fair Diamond Mr. Hattoun had a Chain with her Majesties Picture and a Ring Mr. Lignish and five other of Quality had each of them Chains I was commanded with many others to attend them towards the Road. They parted all very well content and satisfied with the Queens Majesty but lamented that they perceived the King so much slighted My Lord of Bedford desired me to request her Majesty to entertain him as she had done at the beginning for her own honour and the advancement of her affairs which I forgot not to do at all occasions After the Baptism and parting of the Ambassadours her Majesty desirous to put good order upon the Borders sent the Earl of Bothwel before who in the pursuit of Thieves was hurt Her Majesty past afterward to Jedbrugh her self where the Earls of Bothwel and Huntly enterprised the slaughter of the Earl of Murray but the Lord Hume came there with forces and prevented that enterprise Her Majesty returned by the Merse and desired to see Berwick afar off where she was honoured with many shots of Artillery and Sir John Foster Warden upon the English Border came and conferred with her Majesty for keeping of good order And the mean time while he was speaking with her Majesty on Horse-back his Courser did rise up with his formost Legs to take the Queens Horse by the Neck with his Teeth but his Feet hurt her Majesties Thigh very ill Incontinent the Warden lighted off his Horse and sate down upon his knees craving her Majesties pardon For then all England did much reverence her her Majesty made him to rise and said that she was not hurt yet it compelled her Majesty to tarry two days at the Castle of Hoome untill she recovered again The King followed her about whithersoever she rode but got no good countenance So that finding himself flighted he went to Glascow where he fell sick it being alledged that he had got poison from some of his Servants In the mean time the Earl of Bothwel ruled all at Court having brought home the banished Lords and packed up a quiet friendship with the Earl of Mortoun After her Majesties return to Edinbrugh she reconciled the Earls of Huntly Bothwel Arguile and others From that her Majesty went to Sterling to see the Prince and returned again to Edinbrugh whither the King was afterward brought and lodged in the Kirk-field as a place of good Air where he might best recover his health But many suspected that the Earl of Bothwel had some enterprise against him few durst advertise him because he told all again to some of his own Servants who were not all honest Yet Lord Robert Earl of Orkny told him that if he retired not hastily out of that place it would cost him his life which he told again to the Queen and my Lord Robert denied that ever he spoke it This advertisement moved the Earl of Bothwel to haste forward his enterprize he had before laid a train of Powder under the House where the King did lodge and in the night did blow up the said House with the Powder but it was spoken that the King was taken forth and brought down to a Stable where a Napkin was stopped in his mouth and he therewith suffocated Every body suspected the Earl of Bothwel and those who durst speak freely to others said plainly that it was he Whereupon he drew together a number of Lords of his dependers to be an Assize which cleansed and acquitted him some for fear some for favour and the greatest part in expectation of advantage This way being assailed he remained still the greatest favourite at Court My Lord of Murray was retired from the Court several days before Her Majesty kept her Chamber for a while I came to the door the next morning after the murther and the Earl of Bothwel said that her Majesty was sorrowful and quiet which occasioned him to come forth He said the strangest accident had fallen out which ever was heard of for Thunder had come out of the sky and had burnt the King's House
to win thanks at his hands But he would credit nothing but such things as came out of the mouths of those who had crept into his favour by flattery In the mean time the Queen was convoyed out of Lockleven by George Duglas the Lairds Brother and the Regents half Brother who was for the time in some evil tearms with them The old Lady his Mother was also thought to be upon the Councel My Lord Seatoun and some of the House of Hamiltoun and divers of their dependers received her Majesty at her landing out of the Logh and convoyed her to Hamiltoun The Regent being for the time at Glascow holding Justice Eyrs Proclamations and Missives were incontinently sent abroad by both sides to convene so many as would act for them in the Country One French Ambassadour was come to Edinbrugh ten days before called Monsieur de Beumont Knight of the Order of the Cockle whom I had convoyed to Glascow and had procured to him a sight of the Queen while Captive He said to me that he never did see so many men so suddenly convened for he rode to Hamiltoun to the Queen and dealt between the parties for Peace but was not heard Her Majesty was not minded to fight nor hazard battel but to go unto the Castle of Dumbartoun and endeavour by little and little to draw home again unto her obedience the whole Subjects But the Bishop of St. Andrews and the House of Hamiltoun and the rest of the Lords there convened finding themselves in number far beyond the other Party would needs hazard Battle thinking thereby to overcome the Regent their great Enemy and be also masters of the Queen to Command and Rule all at their pleasure Some alledged that the Bishop was minded to cause the Queen to marry my Lord Hamiltoun in case they had obtained the victory And I was since informed by some who were present that the Queen her self feared the same therefore she pressed them still to convoy her to Dumbartoun and had sent me word with the French Ambassadour the same morning before the battel to draw on a meeting for concord by the means of the Secretary Lidingtoun and the Laird of Grange And for her part she would send the Lord Herris and some other She had also caused my Brother Sir Robert to write a Letter to me that same morning for that same effect but the Queen's Army came on so fiercely that there was no stay The Regent went out on foot and all his Company except the Laird of Grange Alexander Hume of Manderstoun and some Borderers to the number of 200. The Laird of Grange had already viewed the ground and with all imaginable diligence caused every Horse-man to take behind him a Foot-man of the Regent's to guard behind them and rode with speed to the head of the Long'sid'-hill and set down the said Foot-men with their Culverings at the head of a straight Lane where there were some Cottage-houses and Yards of great advantage Which Soldiers with their continual shot killed divers of the Vaunt-guard led by the Hamiltouns who couragiously and fiercely ascending up the Hill were already out of breath when the Regents Vaunt-guard joined with them Where the worthy Lord Hume fought on foot with his Pike in his hand very manfully well assisted by the Laird of Cesfoord his Brother-in-law who helped him up again when he was strucken to the ground by many stroaks upon his face by the throwing Pistols at him after they had been discharged He was also wounded with Staves and had many stroaks of Spears through his Legs for he and Grange at the joining cried to let their adversaries first lay down their Spears to bear up theirs which Spears were so thick fixed in others Jacks that some of the Pistols and great Staves that were thrown by them which were behind might be seen lying upon the Spears Upon the Queens side the Earl of Arguile commanded the Battel and the Lord of Arbroth the Vaunt-guard On the other part the Regent led the Battle and the Earl of Mortoun the Vaunt-guard But the Regent committed to the Laird of Grange the special care as being an experimented Captain to oversee every danger and to ride to every Wing to incourage and make help where greatest need was He perceived at the first joining the right Wing of the Regent's Vaunt-guard put back and like to fly whereof the greatest part were Commons of the Barony of Ranthrow whereupon he rode to them and told them that their Enemy was already turning their backs requesting them to stay and debate till he should bring them fresh Men forth of the Battel Whither at full speed he did ride alone and told the Regent that the Enemy were shaken and flying away behind the little Village and desired a few number of fresh Men to go with him Where he found enough willing as the Lord Lindsay the Laird of Lockleven Sir James Balfour and all the Regents Servants who followed him with diligence and reinforced that Wing which was beginning to fly which fresh Men with their loose Weapons struck the Enemies in their flanks and faces which forced them incontinent to give place and turn back after long fighting and pushing others to and fro with their Spears There were not many Horse-men to pursue after them and the Regent cried to save and not to kill and Grange was never cruel so that there were but few slain and taken And the only slaughter was at the first rancounter by the shot of the Soldiers which Grange had planted at the Lane-head behind some Dikes After the loss of the Battel her Majesty lost all courage which she had never done before and took so great fear that she never rested till she was in England thinking her self sure of refuge there in respect of the fair promises formerly made to her by the Queen of England by word to her Ambassadours and by her own hand-writ both before and after she was Captive in Lockleven But God and the World knows how she was kept and used for not only she refused to see her of whom she appeared so oft so desirous of a sight and a meeting but also caused to keep her Prisoner and at length suffered her life to be taken away or else it was subtilly taken against her intention This puts me in remembrance of a tale that my Brother Sir Robert told me The time that he was busiest dealing betwixt the two Queens to entertain their friendship and draw on their meeting at a place near York One Bassintoun a Scots-man who had been a Traveller and was learned in high Sciences came to him and said Good Gentleman I hear so good a report of you that I love you heartily and therefore cannot forbear to shew you how that all your upright dealing and honest travel will be in vain For whereas you believe to obtain advantage for your Queen at the Queen of England's hands you do but lose your time and
time and indigent of mony thought he would be very fortunate if again he could obtain the Dukes friendship and pardon so he was brought easily and secretly unto the Duke by Sir Nicholas At which time he granted his offence excusing himself the best he could by the craft and importunity of some of his Company The Duke helped him to frame his excuse alledging That he knew how his gentle nature was abused by the craft and concurrence of some of the Council of England who had joined with some about him That if he would for the future keep touch and be secret they should take a course with all those who had drawn on that draught The Regent promised as far as could be devised so that a greater friendship was packed up between them then ever The Duke had before told him That he was resolved to marry the Queen our Mistress and that he should never permit her to come to Scotland nor yet that he should ever Rebell against the Queen of England during her time Also that he had a Daughter who would be meeter for the King then any other for many Reasons Now the Duke took in hand to cause the Queen his Mistress to give unto my Lord Regent Two thousand pound sterling for the which Sum he became Cautioner and was afterward compelled to pay it After that the Regent had got this mony and had taken his leave of the Queen he was advised by such as had great credit about him to tell the Queen all things that had past again betwixt the Duke and him And to do it the more covertly it was devised That the Queen of England should send for him pretending to give him some admonition about some order to be observed upon the Border This being done and all things discovered to the Queen with a promise so soon as he came to Scotland and had received any Letters from the Duke by Cyphers or otherwise he should send them to England by an Express In the mean time the Duke wrote unto our Queen advertising her again of the new friendship between him and the Regent who was become very penitent and had been formerly deceived by craftier men then himself desiring her to let him pass by without any harm done to him or any in his company by the way At that time the Duke commanded over all the North parts of England where the Queen our Mistress was kept and so might have taken her out when he pleased And when he was angry at the Regent he had appointed the Earl of Westmerland to lye in his way and cut off himself and so many of his company as were most bent upon the Queens Accusation But after the last agreement the Duke sent and discharged the said Earl from doing us any harm yet upon our return the Earl came in our way with a great Company of Horse to signifie to us that we were at his mercy After the Regents safe return to Scotland Mr. John Wood his Secretary peocured upon the first occasion to be sent to England with all the Letters that had been sent from the Duke of Norfolk which could tend to undo him He desired Mr. Henry Balneavs to cause the Regent to give him the Bishoprick of Murray void for the time though he pretended it was neither for ambition nor covetousness of the Rents but that he might have an honourable Style to set out the better his Ambassage The said Mr. Henry being indeed such a man as Mr. John would appeared to have been was very angry and never liked him ester that my Lord Lindsay vented himself That he was one of the number who gave the Regent counsel so to do alledging that such promises as were made to the Duke of Norfolk for fear of life ought not to be kept A little after that Mr. John was come back to Scotland well rewarded for his pains the Duke was sent for by the Queen to come to Court Whereupon first he posted in haste to Secretary Cicil to demand his counsel for he reposed much upon him they being joined in one course The other made answer That there was no danger he might come and go at his pleasure no man would or durst offend him Which made the Duke ride up quietly only with his own train whereas otherwise he would have been well accompanied In the mean time Secretary Cicil informed the Queen That the necessity of the time obliged her not to omit this occasion but to take the matter stoutly upon her self and incontinent command her Guard to lay hands upon the Duke or else no other durst do it which if she did not at this time her Crown would be in peril The Queen following this counsel the Duke was taken and secured when he thought all England was at his Devotion who after long Captivity was Executed ending his Life devoutly in the Reformed Religion Shortly after Mr. John Wood's returning out of England there was a great Convention held at Pearth where the Regent was resolved to accuse Secretary Lidingtoun as being of Councel with the Duke of Norfolk but he had so many friends for the time that they durst not lay hands on him albeit from that hour forth he retired from the Court and remained with the Earl of Athol where the Regent entertained him with friendly Letters And upon a time being at Sterling he wrote for him to come and make a dispatch for England whither being come Captain Crauford was directed to accuse him before the Privy Council of the late King's murther and being accused of so odious a Crime he was committed to Ward Sir James Balfour was also taken out of his own House when he expected no such thing Then my Lord of Doun wrote to the Laird of Grange to be upon his guard for the Regent was resolved to take the Castle of Edenbrugh from him and make the Laird of Drumwhasel Captain thereof Which advertisement he had formerly given to Grange as also of the design to take the Secretary and Sir James Balfour But at the first he would not give credit thereto but now when he did see the Advertisement take effect he began to think that the Regent was strangely missed he would have been satisfied to have wanted the Castle and to have left the Court were it not for the desire he had to save the Lives of Secretary Lidingtoun and Sir James Balfour having upon his Honour engaged to protect the said Sir James upon his rendring up the Castle to him He knew they were wrongfully pursued only by the Malice and Envy of their Enemies for their Offices Sir James Balfour being taken sent unto the Laird of Grange minding him how he had joyned with the Lords and Regent upon the Trust he reposed on his Fidelity more than on all their Seals and Hand-writings which he had to produce Whereupon the Laird of Grange sent a Gentleman to the Regent but the Regent purged himself and alledged the Councel were
to his Majesty That I had already displeased all those who were upon the purpose of his detention Now matters being settled in appearance and this design successfully ended some of the King's Lords who had been slow in coming and when they were come finding the Lords of the contrary Faction strong and in Armour denyed that they knew any thing of his Majesties enterprise laying the whole burthen upon Colonel Stuart and me But when they saw appearance of a prosperous success they took the matter stoutly upon them and began in plain Council to tell how long they had been upon the counsel of that enterprise with his Majesty and how long waiting for his advertisement Of a truth his Majesty was of a merciful mind and gently inclined toward all the Nobility intending to win all their hearts by his own discreet behaviour and to that effect he went first to the House of Ruthven to let the Country see that he was entirely reconciled with the Earl of Gaury Where after he had Royally entertained his Majesty he fell down upon his knees lamenting that his Majesty should have been retained in that unhappy house at his last being there which he said fell out rather by accident then deliberation only for the safety of the Earl of Arran's life Alledging that he knew no other thing then that at his Majesty's being at Dumfarmling they were minded to present him an humble Supplication asking pardon for that accidental fault which his Majesty graciously promised never to impute to him knowing how blindly he was brought upon it by the practises of others In the mean time James Stuart Earl of Arran had obtained the favour to be warded in Kinneal his own house and sent and Congratulated his Majesties liberty begging that he might have access to come and kiss his hand which was plainly resused Then he sent daily his opinion and advices to his Majesty how to proceed against divers of the Nobility and others advising to bring back to Court the Earls of Huntly and Crauford which was too easily condescended to by the Earls of Arguile and Montross only the Earl of Gaury resisted alledging that the Earls of Bothwel and Angus were put in hopes to be brought in with them or as soon as they But the equality expected was soon forgot which moved the Earl of Marshal and others to retire to their houses The Abbot of Dumfarmling remained still at Court and to curry favour of Colonel Stuart then Captain of the Guard he gave him a Purse and thirty pieces of Gold at four pound the piece which pieces the Colonel distributed to so many of the Guard who bored them and set them like Targets upon their Knapsacks and the Purse was born upon a Spear point like an Ensign The Abbot shortly after was warded in Lockleven Mr. John Colvil the Laird of Clesh and Drumwhasel were also warded by the advice of the Earl of Arran and his Wife who continually solicited his Majesty that they might come to Court And at length I was requested by his Agent James Stuart to deal with his Majesty to permit the said Earl to come again to the Court For he said that his Majesty was favourable enough and that the Earls of Arguile Huntly Crauford and Montrose had not only given their consent but that the Earls of Arguile and Montrose had said unto his Majesty that they would ride themselves and fetch him only the Earl of Gaury resisted and that the King had shewn him that he would do nothing therein without my consent and advice I answered That his Majesty needed not my consent if himself and so many Noblemen were content He replied again That his Majesty reposed more upon me at that time then upon all his Council as his Majesty had shewn him and that he would not bring him without my consent Whereupon I went unto his Majesty and shew'd him what language the Earl of Arran's Servant had to me concerning his Master's coming to Court and that his Majesty laid too great a burthen upon me to say that he would do nothing therein without my consent Thereupon his Majesty took me to the Gallary of Falkland lamenting as he had been informed the loss of many of his best friends as the Earls of Lennox Athol and Duke of Lennox And now says he They will not permit the Earl of Arran who hazarded his life to relieve me to come and see me he desired me to acquaint him what might be the occasion they hated him so much My answer was That to tell the verity perilled my self to conceal the truth indangered his Majesty He would needs know my meaning therein I said The Earl of Arran is one of the worst instruments can come about you whereof your Majesty hath had too sure a proof his mis-behaviour being the only occasion of the late interprise and if he ever be again admitted about your Majesty the like or worse will follow Thereupon its dangerous to my self to acquaint your Majesty herewith seeing it will occasion him to be my deadly Enemy if he ever get notice thereof Then his Majesty desired only to let him come and kiss his hand promising he should not tarry intreating me to deal with my Lord of Gaury that he would also grant that he might but once come to Court and he should incontinently return to his house without any stay I said I should cause him to yield to his Majesties pleasure In the mean time I took occasion to declare unto his Majesty how that many great Princes are wracked by their Ambitious Counsellors who will rule all alone taking upon them a greater burthen then they can bear for remedy whereof his Majesty should spend every day but one hour to hear a chosen number of honest Councellors reason upon his affairs then himself to give his opinion what he thinks fittest to be done as the King of France used to do Which his Majesty granted very willingly and so long as he kept that order by the ordinary Council days his turns went rightly forward The whole Lords who assisted his Majesty were of his Council Sir Robert my Brother Colonel Stuart the Laird of Seigie and my self But as soon as the Earl of Arran got access to his Majesty he not only stayed at Court against promise but also within a short time altered all this way of procedour with a design to draw the management of all publick affairs to himself At his first entry he carried himself very humbly for after he had kissed his Majesties hand he embraced me and kissed my cheek giving me many thanks in his Majesties presence alledging That the whole name of Stuarts was obliged to me for the notable service he alledged I had done his Majesty As for him he said he should never take any thing in hand but be therein directed by my Brother and me But Colonel Stuart and he spoke not together until his Majesty desired me to agree them which after much
Majesty to his liberty albeit not without some peril with honour at the first and with the universal contentment of all his Subjects so soon as they understood his honest meaning and gracious deliberation as well by Promise as by Proclamation as is already specified For my part I forget not at all occasions to remember his Majesty I refused the Office of Secretary when offered by his Majesty in reward of my service because it was promised that no man should want his Offices Benefits Lands or Escheats I opposed my self in full Council against the Earl of Arran because he had formed a Proclamation against the Lords of the Road of Ruthven contrary to His Majesty's former Proclamation of Grace and Oblivion For which he leapt out of the house in a great rage at me and for despight he made a List of the Names of so many as should be upon the Privy Council and left out my name Likewise he named so many of his dependers as should serve in every Office which his Majesty was resolved not to acquiesce to without my advice Yet he prevailed with His Majesty to subscribe the same assisted by the foresaid Lords who took plain part with him So I was shut out of door and had no more place to do good His Majesty graciously excused the matter and said That the Lords had no will of two Brothers being upon the Council But when he should get a Wife I should be her Councellour and chief about her So that if they were glad to be quit of me I was as glad to be free of them and not to be partakers with them in advices tending directly to indanger the Prince and the Country Yet his Majesty assured me That he would go to Edinbrugh according to the advice I had given in my forementioned Letter and Convene the Nobility Barons and others whom I had named in order to the settling of the Country And in the mean time he told me That the Earl of Arran thought fit to send to England the Bishop of St. Andrews alledging That he was passing to the Spaw for recovery of his health Who passing through England might have Commission to deal with that Queen in his Majesties affairs And in case he found her willing to discourse friendly and freely he should then shew her that his Majesty would send me thither to satisfie her more sufficiently in such things as she would require And to that effect the said Bishop should send back word by a Gentleman Captain Robert Melvil who went thither expresly to be sent back with the said answer I was commanded to write in the Bishop's favour but he was too well known in England For Mr. Bowes who remained long in this Country had informed them sufficiently of the said Bishop's qualities who was disdained in England and dishonoured his Country by borrowing of Gold and pretious Furniture from the Bishop of London and divers others which was never restored nor payed for His Majesty nevertheless would have me to grant to go to England and to be in readyness He desired me to make my own Instructions alledging That I knew what was meetest for him to require at that time I would not take upon me to make my own Instructions but I promised to pen the Speech that I would think most proper to recite to her Majesty in case I went thither and which I would judge to be the fittest language that any sent thither could speak for the time After his Majesty had perused the same he much relished it and declared it was fully conform to his own intentions It was in these words MADAM ALbeit that your Majesty be as sufficiently certified of the King my Sovereign's conformable mind to satisfie your Majesty as well by Sir Francis Walsingham your Secretary as by the Bishop of St. Andrews his Ambassadour granting the one his whole desires by mouth and declaring by the other how strictly he hath observed and performed the same in effect more to satisfie your motherly mind by shewing the tokens of a thankful and obedient Son then for any great advantage he perceives you thereby seek for your self So that it is his Majesty's intention chiefly seeing he hath taken the Rudder into his own hand to discover to you ay the longer the more the perfect fruits of his hearty affection For now having attained unto some years of knowledge and dear bought experience by that which hath been oft beat in his Ears he is not ignorant how that your Majesties favour and assistance will be more contributive for his advantage and advancement then can be any or that he can obtain from all the other Princes in Europe Your Majesty being to him so dear a Mother and so near a Neighbour both your Subjects appearing to be but one People Especially since your prudent Government began the effects whereof hath not only been found by your own but by your neighbours The same having extended it self to the advantage of other Kingdoms especially overshadowing this whole Island to your Majesties everlasting honour For never in any Princes days hath been seen so much rest so great riches and felicity in England which likewise might have been in Scotland if the particularities of some of the Subjects had suffered them to have followed your Sage Charitable and Loving admonitions As the consideration thereof is the reason which induced his Majesty whom the matter most toucheth to direct me to your Majesty after ripe deliberation and upon the sure ground of the good information of such as are best inclined and have greatest experience to seek the assistance which he hath so oft seen sent unto him help and wholsom advice where he hath so oft found it and salutary Plaisters to be laid unto the Sores that yet daily breed and arise in his Realm as remains of the Canker and disorder ingendred during his Minority Seeing then the thing that he craves is your accustomed Kindness and Counsel which because the strength of your constancy will compel you to continue towards him he is the more humbly to suit the same as most seemly for his neerness of Kin Age and Estate to do Perswading himself that such friendly Offices might be used between you as may tend to both your contentments and weal of your Kingdoms which for lack of sure intelligence of others minds by secret and mutual conference of devotious and discreet instruments might otherwise turn to the contrary The King my Master knows that a mighty Man cannot stand upon one side he grants that he hath now greater need of your help then you of his in many things But he thinks himself as able and is as willing to deserve favour at your hand as any who can contend with him for the same or would presume to sound the Bell of Succession in your Ears For his part he requires no instant Declaration thereof but will continually crave by his behaviour all such preferment as an humble Son ought
same night by the way was advertised by one of the Earl of Bothwel's company that he was already in Fiffe and would be in Falkland against Supper-time Upon which advertisement he sent his Gentleman called Robert Auflock to acquaint his Majesty therewith and to request him to enter within the Tower in due time When the said Robert declared the matter unto his Majesty they all laughed him to scorn calling him a fool The said Robert returning malecontent to be so mocked met the Earl of Bothwel and his Company upon the highth of the Lummonds when it was already dark night and turned incontinently as if he had been one of their Company He used great diligence to be first at his Majesty Entring within the Palace of Falkland he closed the Gates himself and cryed continually to cause his Majesty enter within the Tower who at length believed him and mocked him no more The Earl of Bothwel at his coming had Potards to break up Gates and Doors It was not without ground alledged That some of those who shot out of the Tower for his Majesties defence charged their Culverins with Paper But some of his Majesties Houshold Officers shot out Bullets which gave the Earl and his Company a great scare as also his being within the Tower before he was surprised And supposing that the Country would gather together the said Earl and his Company retired and fled none pursuing them Whereas a few might easily have overtaken and overthrown them That same night I lay in my Boots upon my Bed expecting word from Falkland where there was one left to be ready for that effect At whose back-coming I with other friends and neighbours did ride to Convene the Country about Coupar to have rescued his Majesty But the King immediately sent me advertisement that the Earl was fled yet he desired me to bring these forward whom he knew I would Convene for his relief as they did to the number of 3000 that afternoon Thus God miraculously delivered his Majesty as he had done divers times before About this time came to his Majesty an honest Gentleman from Ireland called who made offers of consequence to his Majesty Whereof the Queen of England was incontinently advertised and desired to require the said Gentleman to be delivered to her Which the most part of the Council councelled his Majesty to do But the Justice Clark my Borther and I were of a contrary opinion Which deed did great harm to the settlement of his Majesty's Affairs in England and Ireland This I speak with great regrate because it was so far against his Majesties own mind and yet he suffered it to be done because the chief Ring-leaders advised it who have been always won to the devotion of England Now the Prince being born at Sterling the day of in the year his Majesty thought fit to send Ambassadours to England Denmark France and Flanders to require their Ambassadours to be sent to the Baptism of the Prince his first-born Son The Council were commanded to nominate such as were meetest to be sent on that message as they did Yet some obtained that Commission who were very unmeet for that Errand as Sir William Keeth for he could neither speak Latine French nor Flemings The Laird of Easter Weems procured to carry the Commission to France and also to England because he was to go thither about his own Affairs being the King of France his Servant But Mr. Peter Young sped best who sent to Denmark and to the Dukes of Mecklburg and Brunswick for he got three fair chains But the King of France nor the Queen of England gave nothing which they would have been ingaged to do if Ambassadours had been sent to them express Neither sent the King any Ambassadours here at that time The Queen of England was once resolved to have done the same till she was advertised by her own Ambassadour in France that the King was resolved to send none Then very late she sent the Earl of Sussex to let us see that she would ever be a ready friend when France would refuse and lye back On the other part the Dukes of Mecklburg and Brunswick were discontent that they were so far slighted as not each of them to be thought worthy of an Express A special day was appointed for Solemnizing the said Baptism The Ambassadors of Denmark and Dutchland arrived almost together His Majesty had sent for me to be there at their coming to receive them and to entertain them But the Ambassadours of Mecklburg and Brunswick would not ride out of Leeth in company with the Danish Ambassadour when they were Convoyed up to Edinburgh but desired a Convoy apart A few days after them arrived the Ambassadours of the Estates of the Low-Countries to wit Monsieur de Broderod and Monsieur Fulk great Treasurer of Holland and Zeland who landed at New-haven where I was well accompanied to receive them having Horse and Footmantles in readiness to carry them up to Edinburgh to their Lodgings A little before the landing of the said Ambassadours the day of the Baptism was delayed because there was neither word of an Ambassadour from France or Ireland and the King's Chappel in the Castle of Sterling which was cast down to be built again in a better form was not yet compleated So that the Ambassadours were ordered to remain in Edinburgh till all might be put in good order Therefore his Majesty appointed the Master of his Houshold and my Lord Tungland my Brother together with me to entertain them upon his charges and also to bear them company After that they had tarried longer in Edinburgh there being no appearance of any Ambassadours from France or England we were commanded with some others of the Council to Convoy them to Sterling where his Majesty made his excuse that they were so long delayed at Edinburgh But they alledged they had great contentment in our company Which his Majesty forgot not to declare before the whole Council giving me thanks alledging that I had done him good Offices and this among the rest which he would never forget and that he had three other of my Bothers all fit for such matters and for forreign Affairs Now being in doubt of the English Ambassadour's the Ceremony was to be Solemnized without longer delay In the mean time there came word that the Earl of Sussex was upon his journey toward Scotland for the Queen his Mistress on whom the action stayed The day of the Solemnity there was great business for their Honours and Seats that being agreed there was an empty Chair set before the rest for the King of France his Ambassadour The order of the Banquet and Triumph I leave to others to set out When the Ambassadours had Audience of the Queens Majesty I was appointed to stand a little behind and next unto her Majesty To the English Danish and Dutch Ambassadours her Majesty made answer her self But though she could speak seemingly French yet she
by the shiver of a Spear engaging with the Earl of Montegomery at the Iustings of his Daughter's Marriage with the King of Spain p. 28. And dies Eight days after ibid. Henry Prince King James his first Son born at Sterling 202. Herreis Lord is Imprisoned in the Castle of Edinburgh p. 101. Hume George turns William Kieth out of his place of Master of the Wardrobe when King James was in Denmark p. 182. Being Knighted is made Master of the Wardrobe p. 198. Hume Lord takes part with the Hamiltouns and Queens Faction p. 106. With whom the Regent Mortoun durst not meddle standing in awe of his Party p. 122. Dies shortly after being a Prisoner in Edinburgh Castle ibid. Hunsdon Earl hath a Conference on the Borders with the Earl of Arran p. 158. Contrives a secret Plot ibid. Huntley Earl is Chief of the new Faction about his Majesty p. 175. Endeavours to turn out the Master of Gray and Martland the Chancellor ibid. Procures the Gift of the Benefice of Dumfarmling ibid. Great disorders occasioned by the Dissention between him and other Earls p. 200. Is sent home hereupon p. 201. Triumphs and takes advantage of the Earl of Murray's Lands giving him just cause of Complaint ibid. Kills the Earl of Murray ibid. I JAmes the Fifth of Scotland his resolute Speech to the Prelates p. 4. Gives the Ward and Marriage of Kelly in Angus to the Second Son of the Lord Grange ibid. Gives ear to the Clergy to put off the Convention with King Henry the 8th at York ibid. Is forced to raise an Army to defend his Country upon that account p. 6. Is much troubled at the Defeat of his Army and useth severe Language against the Prelates who fearing his displeasure poison him with an Italian Posset ibid. His Character p. 7. James Lord Prior of St. Andrews the Natural Son of James the Fifth p. 25. Hears of Queen Mary's Resolution to return to Scotland and goes to France to request it p. 31. Returns to Scotland to prepare them for her Reception ibid. James the Sixth King born p. 69. When of Age he causeth the Heirs of the Lord Grange to be restored p. 123. Orders his bones to be taken up and honourably buried at Killingborn ibid. Is brought up at Sterling by Alexander Areskine and the Layd Mar p. 125. Hath Four Masters their Character ibid. The Earl of Mortoun being deposed he takes the Government into his own hands p. 128. Is surprised by the Lords in the House of Huntingtoun p. 132. Is conveyed afterward to Sterling and there retained ibid. Laments his mishandling during that Captivity ibid. Invites by Letters some of the Nobility to a Convention p. 133. Goes from Falkland to St. Andrews some few days before the Convention to the Earl of March p. 135. Thinks himself there at liberty ibid. Lodgeth in an old Inn there ibid. Becomes Master of the Castle p. 136. And declares his moderate intentions toward all the Lords ibid. Orders 4 Lords to retire and retains the rest as his Council ibid. Causeth a Proclamation to be made according to his moderate intentions p. 137. Returns the Author thanks as the only instrument of procuring his liberty ibid. Is gently inclined to all the Nobility and Treated particularly by the Earl of Gaury ibid. Solicits the Author to prevail with the Lord Gaury that the Earl of Arran might come to Court and kifs his hand p. 138. Promising he should not stay there ibid. Sends a Letter in Answer to Queen Elizabeth's p. 140. The Contents thereof p. 140 141 and 142. His Majesty is taken again p. 142. Gives Secretary Walsingham Audience p. 147. Sends a Letter to Queen Elizabeth promising not to bring again the Earl of Arran into Court p. 148. Is taken at the Road of Ruthven p. 149. And retain'd Captive ibid. Takes little care to prevent inconveniences yet obtains his liberty ibid. Assures the Author that he would Convene a Council of Lords at Edinburgh p. 150. His Dream concerning the Earl of Gaury p. 156. Writes for Melvil the Author to come and advise him p. 157. As also to come and entertain Wotton being sent to him by the Queen of England p. 159. Whom he loved before he saw by reason of the advantageous Character which the Master of Gray gave him ibid. Orders the Author to entertain the Danish Ambassadours 162. And because they were three in Commission wisheth him to choose two more to accompany him which he did ibid. Gives them Audience at Dumfarmling and is much dissatisfied at their ill handling ibid. Grows impatient to hear the Author speak against Wotton p. 164. Acquaints the Author that he was informed the King of Denmark's Descent was from Merchants ibid. But after he was informed of the truth he sends for the said Ambassadors p. 165. Promiseth them a speedy dispatch to their satisfaction ibid. Orders a Banquet for them is hindred from being present at it but being informed how matters stood goes thither and drinks to the King Queen and Ambassadors of Denmark to their great content p. 166. causeth their dispatch to be ready according to promise ibid. Sends to the Earl of Arran for a great Gold Chain which he got from Sir James Balfour to present it to the Three Ambassadors which was done accordingly ibid. Sends to agree with the Banished Lords at their coming to Sterling p. 169. Where it was agreed his Majesty should be in their hands and no rigour used to those about him ibid. Calls them Traytors at first but after grants them a Pardon ibid. Acknowledgeth the Earl of Arran to have been a bad Minister of State and that he should never be readmitted to Court p. 170. Hears the news of his Mothers Execution which highly displeas'd him p. 173. Convenes a Parliament desiring the Assistance of his Subjects ibid. When he at first hears they were about the Conviction of his Mother he sent Two Ambassadors on her behalf ibid. Sends for the Author to prepare him to go Ambassador to England ibid. Goes to the Western Borders to reform some disorders between the Maxwels and Johnstouns p. 175. Resolves to wait an opportunity to revenge his Mothers Death rather then trouble the Peace of the Kingdom of England ibid. Is Courted in Marriage by many great Princes p. 177. Asks Council of God by Prayer Fifteen days and then resolves to Marry the King of Denmark's Daughter ibid. Makes choice of the Author to go Ambassador to Denmark ibid. Perswades him to undertake that Embassy p. 178. Consents that his Brother the Lord Yungland should be joyned in Commission with him and gives him Commission by word of mouth ibid. Is angry-with the Author p. 179. Is advised to send to Queen Elizabeth to desire her Consent to his Marriage with Denmark ibid. Her Answer thereunto ibid. Is incensed with his Council for Voting against that Marriage ibid. Deals privately with those at Edinburgh to threaten the Council and Chancellor menacing him with Death if
the Queen's Lords are Routed p. 91. The King's Lords send for the Earl of Lennox to make him Regent in the room of Murray p. 104. They hold a Parliament at Sterling and the Queen 's at Edinburgh p. 113. Lords all written and unwritten for arrive at St. Andrew's to attend the Convention intended there by the King p. 136. Design to have the King in custody ibid. Lords met at Edinburgh pass a Vote unanimously being preoccupied by the Earl of Arran p. 153. Those Lords who designed the attempt on Sterling fly to England p. 157. Are forefaulted p. 158. They return and come to the Borders with Assistance p. 168. 3000 of the banished Lords enter Sterling fall on their knees and beg his Majesty's pardon p. 169. Which is granted ibid. The Lords gain great credit by their moderate behaviour p. 170. Lorrain Cardinal designs to promote Queen Mary to the Crown of England by alledging Queen Elizabeth to be Illegitimate p. 23. Causeth all Queen Mary's Silver Vessels to be engraven with the Arms of England ibid. After the conclusion of Peace is sent Ambassadour to Spain to take that King's Oath and to swear for his Master 's observing the same ibid. Proposeth two Matches to the Emperour of Germany p. 33. M MAcclean and others chief of the Highlands is subtilly brought to Court by the Chancellour p. 192. Are imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle accused of foul murther but get off ibid. Maitland Secretary is confin'd to his house with others p. 166. Opposeth the Author in Council p. 171. Mar Earl keeps the young Prince and will not deliver him to Bothwel p. 80. Is made Regent in the room of Lennox p. 111. Goes to Edinburgh to Convene the Lords in order to an Accommodation p. 118. In the mean time goes to Dalkieth and shortly after dies at Sterling ibid. Margil David one of the Duke of Lennox his Councellors p. 128. Marshal of Berwick besiegeth Edinburgh assisted by an English Army and all Scotland p. 120. Contends with the Ambassadour p. 121. Is forced to deliver up the Prisoners in Edinburgh Castle to the Regent being commanded by the Queen of England to do it ibid. Which he doth with much regret and returns to Berwick discontented ibid. The Laird of Cleesh having before offered them good Conditions to quit the Castle ibid. Takes the death of the Laird of Grange very much to heart by reason of the breach of his promise and thereupon quits his Employment of Marshal whose loss is much lamented being a worthy Captain ibid. Marshal Earl and others lodge within the Castle with his Majesty of Scotland p. 136. He and others retire to their Houses p. 137. Desires to supply the place of the Lord Atry as Ambassadour to Denmark p. 178. Which is granted ibid. But his Commission is so slender that he sends the Lord Dingual for a License to return or a power to conclude the Match with Denmark ibid. Which he receives and is presently dispatcht for Scotland by the Regent and Council and the Queen sent home with him well attended p. 180. But are driven by Tempest upon the Coast of Norway the winds being raised by the Witches of Denmark and the reason why ibid. Is not well thought of by the King upon the account of his Embasby to Denmark occasioned by the Chancellour's misrepresentation of him to his Majesty p. 182. Martland is made Chancellour in Scotland p. 175. Threatned to be kill'd p. 179. Hears of his Majesties discontent at the Queens delay of coming from Denmark and adviseth him to sail thither in person to fetch her home p. 181. Who goes with him privately ibid. Being at Denmark he deviseth many Reformations to be made at his Majesties return p. 182. Causeth the Lord Hume Earl Bothwel and divers others to be imprisoned for their disobedience during the absence of the King ibid. Misrepresents Sir Robert Melvil and envies him though a great friend to his promotion ibid. Emulation between the Council and him who design to turn him out p. 183. But prevents it being discovered ibid. Great hatred between him and the Duke of Lennox p. 198. He retires to his own House and is accused of several Crimes ibid. Procures again his Majesties favour and is re-introduced at Court p. 200. And at length reconciled to the Queen ibid. Mary Queen of Scotland the only Child left of King James the 5th p. 7. Born when he lay on his death-bed p. 7. After her Arrival in France great disputes arise about her Marriage between the two Factions in France but is at last wedded to the Dauphin p. 8. Proves a sorrowful Widdow after the death of her Husband p. 30. By degrees leaves the Court upon dislike ibid. Occasion'd by the Queen-Mother's rigorous dealing with her p. 31. Is advised to return to Scotland and behave her self moderately ibid. At length arrives in her own Country p. 32. Seems to approve of the Match proposed by Cardinal Lorrain between her and the Arch-Duke of Austria ibid. Advertiseth the Queen of England of this proposal desiring her advice p. 40. Which she Answers by Mr. Randolph ibid. and p. 41. Lays aside the thoughts of that Match p. 43. And the Reasons why ibid. Behaves her self very discreetly and gains great reputation in all Countries p. 53. Her Character p. 54. Is much taken with the Lord Darnly p. 56. Determines to marry him tho opposed by several Lords ibid. And is married to him accordingly p. 57. Is kept Prisoner by Douglas and his Party upon the murther of Rixio p. 65. Causeth the King to advise them to withdraw the Guards they had upon her ibid. So they went all to their home but the Queen King and some in their Retinue went at midnight to Dunbar p. 66. Subscribes Remissions for the Lord Murray and his Dependers lamenting the young King's folly ibid. Goes to Sterling to Ly In her time approaching p. 67. She mislikes the King who grows melancholick thereupon ibid. She is much troubled at that foul fact committed in her presence by killing her Servant Rixio to the endangering of her self and the Child in her Womb p. 74. Keeps her Chamber some time after the murther of her Husband Darnly p. 78. She wonders at the reports of her marriage with Bothwel but denies it ibid. Is forced to marry him the Nobility approving it and he having first Ravished her p. 80. Is married by Adam Bothwel after the Reformed Religion ibid. Resigns her self to the Lord of Grange and conveyed to Edinburgh p. 83. where she is respected by the Nobles but reviled by the vulgar ibid. Writes a Letter wherein she calls Bothwel her dear heart promising never to forsake him p. 84. Which being brought to the Lords by the Treachery of one of her Keepers they sent her to be secured in Lockleven ibid. Upon the Lord Lindsay's coming she subscribed to the Demission of the Government to the Prince and certain Lords named as Regents p. 85. Is conveyed from Lockleven